Dungeon Maker

It was impossible for Yong-ho to completely regain Aamon's power with just one evolution.

But it was definitely a step forward.

Aamon's power was in a different league.

Yong-ho definitely felt that way. He was thrilled with Aamon's power.

Of course, Aamon's power required that much mana, so much so that although Yong-ho himself was in a different league with five horns, even he felt that Aamon's power was simply too overwhelming.

Aamon did not have a clear shape on his hand. It could be described as the spear of flames at best.

Despite that, Catalina was awakened by Aamon's power that shook the entire Garden of Life. However, Yong-ho couldn't afford to glance at Catalina.

Two lights emerged from the magnetic field on his left hand.

One was aqua blue, a symbol of Scathach, the Immortal Witch, and the other one was dark red, a symbol of Aamon, the demon spear of the red lotus.

Yong-ho closed his eyes then faced the burning world, not darkness.

[My little master.]

The flaming eyes looked down at Yong-ho. It was Aamon's soul that he had encountered several times.

But it was different from now. Yong-ho could feel Aamon closer.

"Can we talk like this even if I don't go to the arena?"

[Not always. However, it is possible, though in a limited way, when you release my power like now.]

Yong-ho laughed awkwardly. It's because Aamon was outrageously eating away at his mana.

He could talk with Aamon now because Aamon could release a powerful mana thanks to his sudden evolution, and he gave Scathach mana subtly, but he wouldn't do it next time. It was questionable whether Aamon could maintain his current status even for several minutes even when he was focusing on fighting, let alone talking with Yong-ho.

However, it meant that Aamon had such a powerful strength.

It was clear that Aamon went one step closer to the power Mammon exercised.

[You may have heard it from Scathach.]

[Conquer the Labyrinth of Greed and subdue the 12 Spirits of Mammon. Then you will be able to complete the Godly Energy of the King of Greed.]

[I believe you can succeed in it.]

Yong-ho found Aamon's voice strict and serious, but at the same time, deeply affectionate.

His kindness was clearly different from Scathach's.

Yong-ho became somewhat embarrassed, so he changed the topic, feigning innocence.

"Come to think of it, if Scathach's star sign is Aquarius and Baphomet's is Capricorn… are they in the zodiac?"

The zodiac signs meant the twelve constellations that divided the sun's orbit.

Could it be true that there were 12 zodiac signs in the demon world like the human world?

[Yes. Mammon, my master, said that the 12 zodiac signs were learned from a different world.]

[Probably, this knowledge originated from your hometown, little master.]

It was not true that the 12 zodiac signs existed in the demon world.

However, it was clear that Aamon used the 12 zodiac signs as a motif and named the 12 Spirits of the House of Mammon.

Yong-ho himself was the descendant of the descendants left behind by Mammon in the human world. There was nothing strange about the fact that Mammon had knowledge of the human world.

"Uh… So, what is your star sign, Aamon? What about Gusion's and Elune's?"

[Gusion's star sign is Taurus, and Elune's is Libra]

[I've no particular star sign. My master said that I had better have an extra star sign because there was nothing befitting me. Actually, I am somewhat alien even among the 12 Spirits.]

"Wait a moment. If you don't have one, isn't it true that 12 zodiac signs are not complete from the beginning?"

[Yes. Moreover, there were a lot of vacancies since some of the spirits already died.]

[This is my little wish... I think it's good for you to fill the vacancies with new dungeon spirits.]

[I mean, you can complete the 12 new Spirits by combining those from the old and new generations.]

Unlike his usual attitude, Aamon spoke in a little excited tone.

Yong-ho laughed pleasantly. The names of each of the 12 zodiac signs came to his mind.

Which one was good for Catalina?

Virgo or Aries?

As if he already read Yong-ho's mind, Aamon blinked.

[Libra would suit your escort girl.]

[She is Elune's successor in many ways.]

Yong-ho was bothered by his mention of 'various ways,' but he laughed it off.

Aamon continued.

[And you may think I'm meddling too much, but I hope that you can put off your right to claim your wish that you obtained the other day.]

[I hope you can put it off until after you defeat Baphomet or the gang of the western region.]

Yong-ho blinked at that because he never expected it.

Moreover, Aamon mentioned even his right to claim his wish.

Aamon continued calmly while he was at a loss about how to respond.

[Whenever I think of you and your escort girl's right to claim the wish granted by Kaiwan, I see the little master's desire is overflowing.]

[Given the power of greed, it's clear that you are going to use it carefully. ]

[It is a catalyst of great power.]

[This does not mean that you should not use the right to claim your wish at all. If you postpone its use too much, you will not be able to use it as a catalyst. Project your desire more purely.]

[Namely, not delusional sexual desires, but what you, little master, really want.]

Aamon was extremely serious, which made Yong-ho even more embarrassed.

It was as if his parents discovered a secret folder that he had hidden.

Yong-ho wanted to tell Aamon that he should not be so serious about talking about such stuff, but he didn't.

Moreover, Aamon's last words needed to be heard seriously.

Aamon laughed again then said in a blazing flame.

[My little master.]

[I believe it.]

[Surely that day will come. I mean the day when I will call you my master, not little master.]

Aamon was the same as always. Confirming his sincerity, Yong-ho smiled brightly.

As he said in front of Scathach, Yong-ho straightened himself and responded, "It won't take so long."

[I look forward to it.]

The green flames came out of the red lotus, which soon engulfed the whole world.

Yong-ho closed his eyes then opened his eyes again to face reality.

***

Time passed fairly for everyone.

The moment when Yong-ho talked face to face, there were new developments in the empty western and eastern areas.

The house heads in the eastern region were never stupid. They could predict the future based on their judgment of the future.

They were safe now.

It was funny to discuss "safety" in the midst of dungeon battles following the turbulence caused by Embrio, but it was a fact.

While Embrio, who occupied the northern region, attacked the western region, the eastern region was also in great turmoil. The successive dungeon battles produced winners and losers, and from the moment the number of losers began to surpass that of winners, the eastern region gained a strange peace.

The increased risk held back reckless action.

Moreover, the surviving winners' power was big enough to threaten each other.

It was as if the six kings, who were ruling the current demon world, could not engage in such a conflict because they checked against each other. In other words, they entered the so-called Cold War status.

In the midst of this turmoil, Agares, who might break the balance of power recklessly, was removed. Moreover, since he was not removed by anybody in the eastern region, there was little possibility that the pendulum of power would swing to one side.

The house heads in the eastern region finally recovered their peace of mind and looked around.

In just a few months, the situation in the southern abandoned area changed completely.

Several dozens of house heads over there were reduced to 14 or 15, all told, in the whole southern area. Some of them were killed by others while others gave up their status as the demon king and chose to become their dungeon spirits.

The northern region was devastated. The only demon king left behind there was Embrio, the demon king of wolves.

The destruction of the western region was underway. The Western Owners' Alliance, who rose triumphantly, were facing the last fight. To simply discuss the number of troops, they were numerically superior to Embrio's forces, but few believed in their victory.

It was the southern region that produced the most unexpected results.

People often referred to the southern region without owners as an abandoned land.

'The southern region' was just an abandoned land in the vast south.

The number of house heads there was the least, compared with other regions, and the distance between the dungeons was also long.

It was truly amazing that such a region stood out amid the turmoil.

The House of Mammon.

It was no exaggeration to say that the house perished, no matter how wonderful its past glory was. Moreover, the head of the House of Mammon defeated Agares, who was considered to be the strongest in the entire blank area in the south.

Now, the house heads in the eastern region had to recognize that the House of Mammon in the south was no longer a fallen family. It was a powerful family that could exert influence over the entire deserted area.

The house heads in the eastern region thought of the future.

What was Embrio's next move? Would it be right for him to sit in the eastern region and watch the western region go to ruins?

The heads of the two houses that divided the eastern region joined hands instead of fighting to decide each other's superiority.

Now wasn't the time for them to fight. Their priority was to deal with the wolves approaching them from afar.

The heads of two houses began to move. Their activities were not confined to the eastern region.

"Is this the result?"

Ophelia, who returned to the Free City to deal with urgent affairs, calmly asked the uninvited guest in front of her. Instead of looking at him, she glanced at a small box on top of an oak bar.

The small box had a wet bottom. And what wetted the bottom was a red liquid that flowed out of the box.

The uninvited guest responded by acting. With a gentle smile, he opened the lid of the box.

Ophelia did not smile nor did she frown. Her gaze was cold to hide her agitation.

In the box was an object that she guessed when she heard it.

Junceros's daughter. It was her severed head, the head of the House of Abigail.

The uninvited guest did not cover the lid again.

Ophelia rolled her eyes to stare at the uninvited guest.

He was a devil from one of the eight tribes, who was hard to find in the southern region. He was covered with green skin, close to blue, dressed in a spacious attire common anywhere. He had a strong build, and his face had a sea urchin-like beard that matched well with his sharp ring eyes symbolizing a devil.

He said, "It's just a gift of friendship. It's always fun to get rid of the troubles in your neighborhood."