Monster Company Tycoon - Chapter 15

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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 15
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A village out of fantasy.
That was my first impression the moment I arrived.
As if plucked straight from a storybook, the beautiful landscape left me spellbound without thinking.
‘It really is close to the Dungeon.’
About an hour’s walk on foot, though once Ragnar brought me a horse, we arrived in no time.
It was my first time riding a horse. My lower back still ached from how tense I’d been the entire journey, afraid I might fall.
“This place is crawling with inferior creatures.”
Brownie, hidden in my hair, complained ceaselessly.
Yet for the promise of securing a steady clientele, she’d come along with me all the same.
The village was quite sizeable.
Low buildings clustered together cozily, and the streets were neatly paved.
The residents seemed to know each other’s faces and exchanged greetings naturally as they passed, and everywhere buzzed with vitality.
“What a wonderful village this is.”
I could understand now why Ragnar had been so worried about invasions from Dungeon monsters—a peaceful place like this was worth protecting.
“Oh, Teon. You went for a walk with your brother?”
“Yes!”
The brothers exchanged greetings with the villagers as naturally as if they’d done it a thousand times, and soon their gazes began to drift toward me. They were looking curious, as if asking who this stranger was.
“An old friend I traveled with before.”
We’d already coordinated our story about my identity. I was supposedly a former companion from Ragnar’s days as an adventurer.
“Ah, I see. Any friend of Ragnar’s is a friend of ours. Welcome to Nest Village.”
“Yes, yes… thank you very much.”
I received the handshake from the bearded man with a bow, swallowing my confusion silently.
‘I thought something was off from the moment I started talking to Ragnar so naturally… and sure enough, every language just comes through without a hitch.’
Beyond being able to communicate with monsters without issue, it was fascinating that I could speak with people of this strange world entirely without difficulty.
Was this also the power of the Demon King?
“Are you not hungry? It will be lunchtime soon—would you care to have a meal?”
“Ah…”
My eyes went wide. I’d just realized something else odd.
Since arriving in this world, I’d never felt hunger even once. Since my stomach wasn’t growling, I’d completely forgotten the fact that I needed to eat.
Now that I think about it, I haven’t drunk a single drop of water either. How am I still fine?
“That’s strange. Now that you mention it, I’m suddenly starving.”
And I really was. My stomach rumbled urgently, demanding food immediately.
The moment I left the Dungeon, hunger came rushing back like a ghost.
Ragnar’s expression shifted to one of understanding.
“It is not wise for a human body to remain in the Dungeon for extended periods.”
Ragnar spoke in a grave voice, his gaze fixed on me.
“The Dungeon Effect dulls physiological needs like hunger and thirst. However, they do not disappear—only your sense of them grows numb. If left unchecked, your body will continue to weaken.”
So what he’s saying is that I’m not actually hungry, my senses are just dulled, but my body is starving all the same?
Feeling irked, I poked Brownie with my finger, and she yelped as she shot out of my hair.
“Chihuahua is different from you inferior creatures! Of course, ordinary humans are deliberately made that way—so they can concentrate on Dungeon exploration.”
What a brutal system it truly was.
Adventurers might get distracted and just leave the Dungeon without finishing it, so they’re completely cut off from physical urges in the first place?
“What’s different about me?”
“You’re not an intruder—you’re an Administrator. Your urges are dulled too, sure, but the Dungeon supplies you with energy directly, so there’s no problem. Have you ever seen monsters eat?”
“No… come to think of it, I’ve never seen that.”
“The Dungeon draws Earth’s Energy and supplies life force to monsters. That’s why they can live without eating or drinking. Since you’re an Administrator, you’re receiving those benefits too.”
“So I won’t get malnutrition? I won’t starve?”
“…Probably?”
I was shocked by Brownie’s vague answer.
“Why do you have to be so unclear?”
“It’s definitely fine for monsters, but human bodies might be different. This is actually the first time this has happened…”
That’s when Ragnar cut in.
“Your Demon King certainly is irresponsible.”
“How dare you insult our Demon King! I won’t let this stand! Only I and Chihuahua can get away with criticizing the Demon King!”
Brownie flew forward indignantly and bopped Ragnar on the cheek, then immediately dove back into my hair.
“Now it’s your turn, Chihuahua. Avenge our Demon King.”
If you’re going to be that scared, why pick a fight in the first place?
“Ah, I see now. Please don’t spend all your time confined to the Dungeon—visit the village often. Humans thrive when they live as humans should.”
“Brownie, don’t listen to that.”
Practically speaking, it wasn’t feasible. I didn’t have the means to visit town and eat out every time. I couldn’t very well drain the Dungeon’s operating budget to fund my meals.
Besides, the twenty million won I’d received upfront from the Demon King wouldn’t work here anyway, would it?
“…Maybe I should start a vegetable garden in the Dungeon….”
At least my body was still sound. I felt no fatigue, no loss of strength.
For now, it seemed I could get by on the Earth’s Energy alone that the Dungeon supplied.
Still, I couldn’t afford to be complacent. It seemed wise to eat properly from time to time.
Come to think of it, one of the monsters during the interviews had even asked whether the Dungeon provided meals.
The fact that they posed such a question despite being able to survive on the Earth’s Energy alone suggested there must be a real advantage to eating physical food.
‘Do I really need to set up a staff cafeteria?’
I was just finishing a simple meal at the restaurant, having taken Ragnar’s advice, when we stepped outside.
“Hm?”
A sheet of paper was posted on the restaurant door.
It was a help-wanted notice.
‘They’re looking for staff to serve during daytime hours only?’
At first, the characters were entirely foreign to me, but the moment I decided I wanted to read them, they transformed before my eyes—as if some automatic translation had kicked in—becoming Korean script.
The sight of it stirred something in my memory.
How casually I’d read those résumés the monsters had submitted.
They couldn’t possibly be writing in Korean, so… could this be one of those powers I’d gained through my contract with the Demon King?
It made sense—for the work to run smoothly, I’d need to understand this world’s language. It was a convenience built in, nothing more.
The thought occurred to me because of what I’d heard about the Dungeon sustaining my life even without eating.
‘This feels strange, somehow….’
Ragnar, following my gaze to the notice, spoke up matter-of-factly.
“Ah, the restaurant is hiring new staff. I heard their family member who was working here recently got a job offer in another city.”
“A part-time job….”
In that instant, a thought struck me like lightning.
The money used for Dungeon operations was exactly the same currency humans used.
So if I earned money through other means—outside the Dungeon—couldn’t I use that to fund the Dungeon’s operations?
Like a side business.
Right now, the revenue I could generate from the Dungeon alone was pitifully small.
And the environment was far too unstable to be picky about customers.
So why not bring in external funding to grow the Dungeon to a point where it could function properly?
Hire more staff, recruit more talented people, equip them properly, improve the Dungeon’s appearance, stock the reward chamber.
Then even a fairly strong Challenger who came along wouldn’t overwhelm us.
‘Challengers don’t stay in the Dungeon all day anyway, and the monsters in the field handle all the fighting. What I actually do is just watch. If I’m being honest… aren’t I just dead weight?’
An Administrator can only maintain authority when the people under them are running things properly.
At this stage, I’d already done my part by getting the Dungeon off the ground.
“What if I worked here?”
The moment I murmured it seriously.
“You! Are! Betraying! Us! I won’t let you get away with it!”
Right on cue, Brownie popped out and started clawing at me desperately.
“Calm down. Settle down and just hear me out first. This is basically like picking up coins people dropped.”
I explained my reasoning to Brownie patiently.
At first, the little creature huffed and refused to listen, but gradually, won over by my argument, they began nodding along as if entranced.
“Chihuahua… I never knew you thought of us that way… *sniff*.”
Before long, they were shedding invisible tears, their face a portrait of overwhelming emotion.
“I also think it’s a fine idea. And since they say they’ll provide lunch, it’s even better.”
Looking over the notice more carefully myself, the terms and conditions seemed quite reasonable.

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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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