Kaio's POV (present)
My past self was half right. The first few months weren't very exciting. The only interesting things that happened were receiving visitors literally right after I finished fixing the first floor (literally!) and observing how a certain group from the nearby village managed to hold their own against a small mixed group of monsters.
Besides that, the hardest thing was enduring overwhelming boredom. I've read in novels and manga about characters who can endure being alone for months or even years, just with their thoughts.
I honestly have no idea how they manage to cope. I'm sure I almost went crazy several times; I only maintained my sanity because of Grumpy and the system I reactivated the assistance function when I leveled up.
Oh yeah, Grumpy is the hobgoblin boss who serves as the final boss of the first floor and is one of the only monsters that, in addition to understanding what I say, can also communicate back.
Let me clarify something: my goblins are quite generic, but not as horrible as my challengers or visitors (there's a difference between them) make them seem. I'd say that, since they fight to save their own lives, fear creates a kind of filter that makes them look uglier, but I consider them ordinary, kind of like dogs (it's a very rude way of saying it, but it's the best).
Anyway, the fact is that even with the boredom, my ability to get MasP and EnBP was constant and quite good, getting experience was so-so, but generally good, so much so that I'm already at level 2 and almost at 3. Oh, that's right, I remember, that was my status before I started fixing up my first floor.
[Name: Kaio
Race: Dungeon (child)
Title: Parasitic Dungeon
Level: 0
MasP: 790
EnBP: 386
Floors: 1 (+entrance)
Total area of influence: 10 Acres (40468.56 m²)
Exp: 34/350]
It's still level zero, but only a week later I'll be level 1. The important thing is that I went from 6 m² to 10 acres. I still don't understand how the system calculates the dungeon area, but that's one of those things I say: Who cares? More territory, more things for me to do and not go crazy with boredom.
Anyway, things are like this now.
[Name: Kaio
Race: Dungeon (Crescent)
Title: Parasitic Dungeon, Judge
Level: 2
MasP: 300
EnBP: 200
Floors: 2
Unique Monsters: 2
Total Area of Influence: 50 Acres (1 Floor), 100 Acres (2 Floors)
Exp: 600/2,500]
Okay, I guess I exaggerated when I said I was almost at level 3, but I'm still pretty proud of myself. If you're wondering why (which you probably aren't, but I don't care), it's simple.
In the beginning I had 10 acres of land, so although it was good land to work with, it was still kind of cramped. In the first few weeks I could only buy 2 spawners from the shop, 1 wolf spawner and 1 goblin spawner (one was a small cave and the second a branch hut) and a few other single monsters so things wouldn't be too empty.
Actually, I think it's easier to show than to tell, so let's go to the monsters/loot sub-tab. It shows the monsters I bought and where I placed them. Besides the loot drop percentages, this is how things looked after I finished arranging things on the first floor.
[Monsters 1st Floor: 1 large gray wolf den (spawner, maximum 30), 15 acid slimes (green), 5 corrosive green pythons, 10 screaming monkeys, 1 goblin nest (spawner, maximum 30), 5 jungle hobgoblins]
Okay, quick explanation: a spawner is a structure that passively offers me new monsters every day until I reach the maximum. I can even increase the spawner's level, which would increase the limit and give me stronger monsters, but it was still at level 0.
Therefore, at that time, these were already enough to make the terrain somewhat cramped, not counting the normal animals that served as food for them and as prey for the challengers.
One thing that also needs to be made clear is that spawner monsters are always a little weaker than those bought directly. Look at the difference:
[Race: Jungle Goblin
Level: 1
HP: 10/10
MP: 5/5
Damage: 3 (+2)
Defense: 3
Agility: 3.5
Wisdom: 2
Skills: Night Vision, Summon Allies (1 MP), Strong Strike (2 MP), Digestion, Run (1 MP)]
Honestly, I was even surprised that a goblin would have less speed than a slime. But remembering the speed at which it pounced on the centipede, I realized it actually made sense.
Finally, these would be the stats of a goblin spawning from a goblin spawner, while this is the stat of a lone goblin:
[Race: Jungle Goblin
Level: 1
HP: 12/12
MP: 7/7
Damage: 5 (+3)
Defense: 4.5
Agility: 4
Wisdom: 2
Abilities: Night Vision, Call Allies (1 MP), Strong Strike (2 MP), Digestion, Run (1 MP), Intimidation (1 MP)]
Certainly, brains aren't a characteristic of goblins of any kind, at least not until they become hobgoblins, but that's to be expected.
I think that gives you an idea of how things have changed.
Ha!, one thing I was very proud of was not spending anything on traps; I used the slimes themselves as walking traps. It was a pretty good idea, if I may compliment myself a little, and another was how I left the safe zone.
It's basically a vacation cabin on a lake, not too big, not too small; if you ignore the fact that it's in a dungeon, it would be a great place for a weekend fishing trip.
Complete with a stove that lights with magic or wood, a sink that works the same way, and even a refrigerator, a cozy fireplace, and always clean beds. No matter how much you bleed, the next day they'll be white and comfortable with a minty scent.
The pity is that the people in this world, or at least in this area, don't know what mint is and simply call the smell "the refreshing scent of the mysterious cabin".
One thing that amazes me is that even after 4 months, no one has gone to the second floor yet (I've already said this, I feel like I've already said it, well, it doesn't matter, it's very important to me). I really want them to go to the next floor, only then will I be able to create the 3rd, and I already have some ideas on how to do it. But not only that, I also want to see their reaction to the difference between the first and second floors.
Kukukuku, seriously I'm so excited, so...
WHY NO ONE IS GOING TO THE NEXT FLOOR AT ONCE!!!!!!!
That expedition from a few weeks ago has already been released after that knight gave his life to defeat Grumpy, don't let his sacrifice be in vain, come on people!!!!!!!!
********************
Third Person POV
While Kaio spent his time lamenting, his time boasting to himself or to an invisible audience, a distinct group of individuals approached the dungeon entrance.
It should be noted that although Kaio can perceive everything that happens in the dungeon and can "see" practically everything that happens in the total area of influence, he only knows what happens when he pays attention, like when an ant walks on his foot.
You might have a slight feeling, but only when you pay attention do you see it passing. Occupied with memories of the past and imagining what the future will be like, he ended up not noticing/ignoring the group arriving. He only noticed them when they were already climbing the steps to the entrance.
'Hum? Oh!, look who's arrived~~~, they took a little longer than last time. As far as I remember, they were with the expedition a few weeks ago, right Sys?'
[Correct, I believe they were taken to the capital or a city capable of obtaining their testimony regarding the incidents of that expedition, and that is why it took so long.]
'That makes sense, I hope the old man is recovering well. He was pretty messed up from what I remember, and I also hope Connor isn't blaming himself for what happened. Seriously, this kid has a lot of isekai protagonist vibes.'
[I believe this is inevitable, Kaio. In his mind, he must believe that those people died because he either gave them inadequate information or they discovered you in the first place.]
'Oh, very direct, but I can't deny it either. I kind of feel bad, but it was still a necessary act.'
[Yes, indeed.]
'As always, direct.'
While Kaio and his system, which he nicknamed Sys (Kaio: I already warned you that you weren't good with names and nicknames), were talking. The group finally arrived at the entrance; about four were still chatting animatedly, but the fourth was quiet and a little downcast, looking at the murals. At one moment he showed apprehension, at others anger, sadness, and a kind of guilty excitement.
"I hope we can reach the cabin. I heard that if you read the tomes there, your chances of understanding the techniques better increase," said a young man with dark brown hair, carrying a polished iron shield that covered almost his entire back, along with a short sword.
"I heard that too, but I'd say things are better prepared there; it seems the flavor is even better when made there," said a young woman who had just grown out of being a girl with pigtails in her emerald hair, carrying a spear taller than herself.
"Yes, from what they say, the animals in this place, even those that exist outside, taste better than normal ones. But cooked in the lake cabin, they taste even better, no matter if you only know how to burn the meat like you, little brother," joked the young man, almost identical to the first, though speaking somewhat seriously and in a tone that seemed indifferent. However, he had lighter hair and carried a large two-handed sword, and no shield.
"Hey!! Go to Kravar, Max!" the first one almost yelled to his twin brother. The only differences between them were their hair color, fighting style, names, and slightly different attitudes. The dark-haired, "younger" one was called Mavak, and the lighter-haired, older one was called Maxuel.
"And you, Connor, excited to go back?" asked the older one, a dark-haired young woman with a polished wooden staff, to the downcast young man.
"...Well, yeah, with a few things," he replied somewhat awkwardly, still lost in his own thoughts.
'I have to concentrate, I have to help them get out without problems, it's the least I can and should do for them after they helped me.' He thought definitively.