Monster Company Tycoon - Chapter 14

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Monster Company Tycoon
Chapter 14
The long conversation continued, but….
In the end, preventing Ragnar from entering the Dungeon turned out to be a failure.
But it wasn’t entirely without results either.
He had entered the Dungeon as a Visitor, not a Challenger.
“Now that I’ve confirmed a Dungeon exists near the Village, I can’t simply leave it be as an adventurer. I need to verify directly whether it will pose a threat or if we can maintain an implicit symbiotic relationship.”
Difficult man.
In the end, I couldn’t stop Ragnar, who refused to back down until he’d examined the Dungeon himself.
“Please, just take a look and go. Absolutely no combat!”
“Yes, if the situation poses no threat, I won’t draw my sword first.”
But didn’t that mean he’d attack without mercy the moment he found something threatening?
I couldn’t stand by and watch my newly hired employees get slaughtered before my eyes.
They were monsters who had only just tasted their first victory and regained their confidence.
They’d barely begun to shake off their sense of defeat—if they suffered another crushing loss here, their motivation would shatter. Rebuilding the morale of demoralized employees was grueling enough without a setback.
“They’re all so well-behaved too. Listen so obediently….”
“Well-behaved… monsters.”
I lavished praise on my treasured staff and gave the Visitors a tour of the Dungeon.
“It’s truly… empty, isn’t it? Newly generated? Even so, this is quite….”
Ragnar surveyed the Lobby and delivered his initial assessment flatly.
His words pierced my chest like a blade.
Someday, I’d build a Dungeon so magnificent that no one would dare dismiss it!
“Brother, my Wooden Sword!”
“Ah, were there any lost items in the Dungeon, by chance?”
“Haha, lost items, you say. Yes, ah… just a moment. Please stay right there. Don’t move.”
After warning them sternly not to leave the Lobby, I positioned myself before the first gate.
First, I removed my Glasses.
I knocked on the door and called urgently toward the inside.
“It’s me. The Manager! Not a Challenger!”
When I carefully opened the door, the monsters inside—who had been bracing to threaten a Challenger—awkwardly shifted their stance to greet me. I waved my hands frantically, signaling them to stand down.
Even as I did, I kept my eyes fixed on Ragnar, anxious his mind might change.
Those half-lidded, cold eyes bore into this place with an unwavering gaze. Eek….
“L-lost items have been reported! You know, those Wooden Swords the previous Challenger left behind?”
“My friend’s too!”
“Two of them. Two Wooden Swords.”
I pointed to the two Skeletons who had been holding the Wooden Swords. Speaking in a whisper so small the Lobby couldn’t hear me, I continued.
“I’m truly sorry we took them away. Next time, I promise I’ll get you far better weapons. So… could you please return the lost items?”
“We are prepared to obey any order you give us, Manager. Clatter. There is no need for your apologies.”
They obediently handed the Wooden Swords to me. My heart nearly broke with guilt.
“Aha, our staff members were keeping these lost items safe. Here they are.”
I put my Glasses back on and handed the Wooden Swords to Teon.
“These look a bit damaged, don’t they?”
“What are you talking about? They were in that condition from the start.”
Teon examined the Wooden Swords closely from every angle, muttering irritably.
“Well, you found them. You should say thank you, right?”
“Thank youuuu.”
“No, it was only natural for us to help.”
I forced a smile and looked toward Ragnar.
“Now… you’ve seen everything you needed to, yes? As you can see, the monsters here are quite docile and obey me well. They’re not threatening at all, are they?”
Ragnar regarded me silently for a moment, then slowly turned his gaze to the gate behind me. Those cool eyes lingered, seeming to pierce right through the gate and beyond.
His prolonged silence made cold sweat trickle down my spine.
Surely he wasn’t thinking he should exterminate everything right now?
“Very well. For now, I’ll leave things as they are.”
“Phew….”
“If all the monsters in the Dungeon are at that level, I could clean them out anytime without much trouble.”
My hands clenched into fists.
I’d barely managed to save the company from collapsing overnight!
“But are you truly alright? Really?”
“Hmm?”
He raised his hand and tapped the corner of his eye twice.
Not understanding what that gesture meant, I followed along without thinking, and my glasses slipped from my fingertips.
Could it be… he’d noticed that I struggled to see monsters with my bare eyes?
“Yes, I’m really fine. I’m delighted and happy!”
As long as you leave right now.
“…I understand.”
“Well, the tour is over now. I apologize, but this is business hours and I’m unable to attend to visitors for extended periods.”
I gave Ragnar a gentle push toward the exit, and he feigned reluctance as he stepped outside. Once out, he spoke quietly.
“I’d advise you to keep the contract you’ve made with the Demon King as hidden as possible. It would be wise not to expose the fact that you’re staying in the Dungeon either. Especially not to the Temple. Otherwise, you’ll be branded a Heretic and executed.”
A chill ran down my spine.
Ah, I’ve really landed myself in quite the predicament.
“Yes, yes, I’ll be careful. You’ll keep this secret too, won’t you? You said you’d cooperate with me, after all.”
He’d only said he’d leave me alone for now, not that he’d cooperate, but I pressed the point anyway.
Ragnar replied in a languid tone, his words carrying an eerie edge.
“By rights, I should have escorted you to the Temple the moment I learned your circumstances.”
“…….”
“But since I didn’t, I myself have become complicit in overlooking a Heretic. I’d rather not face punishment, so I won’t reveal this secret.”
“I’m grateful….”
He’d nearly ruined my livelihood in a single day, but perhaps he was actually quite decent after all?
“I’ll manage this place carefully, so please don’t worry at all. Oh, and if you could casually leak some information about the Dungeon to any beginner Adventurers who’ve just started their journeys, I’d be grateful. Really weak ones, mind you. We’ll handle them appropriately.”
“Beginner Adventurers, you say….”
“Yes, I’d appreciate your help with that. Well then, farewell!”
I devoutly hoped I would never see them again.
It was at that very moment I was thinking I’d scatter salt all around the Dungeon entrance if they left.
Ragnar rolled his eyes and said something completely unexpected.
“How would you feel about me inviting you to the Village?”
“…Sorry?”
“Oh! Hey, you wanna visit our Village? It’s really great!”
Just moments earlier he’d been calling me a Heretic and everything, and he knew I was allied with monsters, yet he wanted to invite me to his Village?
“Didn’t you mention that you need beginner Adventurers? You could find good opportunities in the Village.”
Good opportunities?
“And wouldn’t it be better for you to spend time with your own kind for a change and get some relief, rather than continuing to live among monsters? If you hide your situation, you’ll just look like an ordinary outsider.”
I hesitated. He had a point there.
I still hadn’t adjusted to the monsters’ gruesome faces, so having to constantly put on and take off my glasses was a bit inconvenient.
“Don’t you dare try to lure our Brownie away! That’s what this is, isn’t it? Trying to coax an innocent little one into going with you? Without our Brownie, the Dungeon falls apart!”
Brownie, who had been cowering in terror of Ragnar and hiding in my hair all this time, suddenly burst out in indignation.
“Brownie, don’t fall for it! That one’s got a heart blacker than coal!”
“My intentions are sincere.”
“Liar. You’re obviously going to sell us out to the Temple once you’ve been nice to us!”
“Then why don’t you come along as well? Seeing you travel with a Fairy will make people think you’re just an ordinary Spirit Channeler. It’s a place adventurers on journeys often visit anyway.”
At that, my ears perked up.
“Brownie too?”
“Y-you! You’re trying to sell me out too! You heartless, cruel fiend! Even worse than any monster!”
But Brownie was a Bound Fairy—couldn’t they not leave the Dungeon?
Ah, now that I think about it….
“I picked up coins people dropped and saved them. I gave up even buying candy because I was being thrifty with my savings, so use them wisely.”
The fact that Brownie brings back coins and retrieves cleaning tools from the trash suggests they can travel at least as far as the Village near the Dungeon.
I adjusted my glasses. I felt my guarded heart slowly beginning to soften.
It wouldn’t be so bad to slip out for a bit with Brownie and come back, would it?
I’m also a little curious about how people in this world live…….
“What exactly is this good opportunity you’re talking about?”
“Perhaps I could make it so beginner Adventurers regularly seek out the Dungeon.”
At that, Brownie, who had been grumbling the whole time, suddenly stopped moving.
“For real?”
Brownie looked at Ragnar with sparkling eyes.
“Of course, I’m only providing the opportunity. The rest depends on you.”
If I played my cards right, I could steadily attract customers to the Dungeon.
It was actually a rather tempting proposal.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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