Monster Company Tycoon - Chapter 25

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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 25
***
The East Forest of the Village—where the problematic monster had been sighted.
I’d steeled myself for this expedition, but the surroundings looked no different from any other part of the forest.
I’d expected something a bit more ominous, if I’m honest.
“If danger should strike, hide behind me. If that won’t do, run far from here—my blessing goes with you.”
Ruadis’s reassuring words melted something deep in my chest.
“I don’t see any monsters around, actually.”
I kept my eyes alert to the surroundings while earnestly gathering everything that caught my attention, stuffing it all into my sack.
Just to be thorough, I’d learned beforehand what materials looked like for crafting the Holy Stone Compass and Potions.
‘Once I’ve gathered enough, I’ll peel off that notice from the board and pocket the errand fee too.’
After wandering the area for quite some time without even a glimpse of the monster we were hunting, I’d simply become someone doing nothing but gathering.
“Shall we head back for today? I bet the monster fled because it’s terrified of you!”
Ruadis eyed my bulging sack with bewilderment before nodding in agreement.
“You’re something else. How on earth did you manage to gather all that in such a short time?”
This much manual labor was just standard for me.
There were weekends when I’d been dragged to my client’s home garden and spent the entire day digging up sweet potatoes!
As we stood there, I was already entertaining the naive thought that if I kept making these trips with Ruadis like this, I’d be able to collect materials in abundance.
Clang, clang.
The dull metallic sound resonated, and the air around us suddenly grew oppressively heavy.
“Wha—”
“Shh.”
Ruadis urgently clamped her hand over my mouth and yanked me behind a tree.
In the process, I lost the sack I’d been carefully carrying and found myself helplessly pulled into her embrace.
Her arms were so strong—like being pinned against an iron rod.
Clang, clang.
The sound came at regular intervals.
Like footsteps, almost.
Cold air clung to my skin, and goosebumps crawled up my arms.
I could sense it instinctively.
Something terribly dangerous was drawing closer to us.
My heart hammered wildly as cold sweat trickled down my spine.
Clang, clang.
The sound grew nearer, and though it was still midday, the forest around us suddenly dimmed.
I hunched my shoulders behind Ruadis’s body as a shield, stealing a glance past the tree trunk with the corner of my eye.
At last, the source of that eerie sound and ominous presence revealed itself—
And I felt genuinely grateful that Ruadis’s hand was covering my mouth. Otherwise, I would have screamed without thinking.
A monster as massive as the tree itself walked past the very spot where we’d been standing moments before.
Its entire body was encased in heavy Black Armor, and it bore a Great Sword across its shoulders—a blade as large as its own frame.
And most importantly of all… it had no head.
‘What on earth is that!?’
An armored knight without a head.
Given how many games featured such creatures, I could guess its identity readily enough.
Dullahan.
Despair followed immediately after. Because in multiple games, Dullahan was a Boss-tier Monster with considerable destructive power.
‘Now I understand why the adventurers got sent packing.’
I felt Ruadis’s body tense behind me, her grip tightening around my waist.
If even Ruadis was this on edge…
Thud!
The sack containing all my carefully gathered materials struck the foot of Dullahan as it walked forward like a machine. The impact made it stop dead in its tracks.
‘My precious materials…!’
I worried whether the kick had damaged anything, but… my life mattered more.
Swallowing grief in silence, Dullahan seemed to notice nothing and resumed its stride.
Only after the clanging sound had faded completely into the distance could we finally emerge from behind the tree.
“Phew…! Did you see that? It looked like an incredibly powerful monster!”
Nothing at all like our staff waiting in the Dungeon Company, yearning for my return…!
Suddenly, I felt no fear toward my employees whatsoever.
“Strange. How can Dullahan exist within the Barrier at all? And with an aura that strong?”
“Is that really such a difficult thing?”
“An Undead like that is absolutely impossible. The compatibility with the Barrier is dreadful. Either something went wrong with the Holy Stone, or there’s a hole somewhere in the Barrier itself. This has never happened before.”
“According to the craftspeople, the monster’s been around for about two weeks.”
Which coincided, conveniently enough, with the time I fell into this world.
I felt a guilty twinge, wondering if I might be partly responsible—my heart started racing.
“That Ragnar is irresponsible. Letting something so formidable roam about. Tsk.”
“But according to the craftspeople, if it’s the same monster they described, it hides the moment Ragnar appears.”
“Ah, that’s right. They did say it doesn’t attack first.”
So why hide then? Who wouldn’t hide after seeing something that terrifying?
“Um… what should we do?”
“We’ll need to consult with Ragnar. Having a monster like that prowling the forest near the village is dangerous.”
“I only suggested trying to communicate with it….”
Ruadis shook her head firmly.
Reluctantly, I folded away my dream of scouting for now.
***
“How can we just leave it alone!?”
When Brownie heard about what happened during the day, she didn’t just unfold the dream I’d put away—she pressed and ironed it with such vigor that she practically threw it in my face.
“That creature is incomparably more powerful than the weaklings we have! We need to bring it to our Dungeon right now!”
Brownie shrieked so loudly I thought my eardrums would burst. I had no idea how such a small body could produce such volume.
“You didn’t see it yourself. You have no idea how terrifying it was.”
I handed over the materials I’d gathered and lovingly caressed the three thousand Yeon in errand fees I’d received.
The craftspeople had decided to resume item production with the materials I’d brought, and they’d promised to sell the finished goods to me at a discount.
I’d even received a Hidden Quest.
Apparently, since I seemed to be on good terms with Ruadis, they asked if I’d defeat Dullahan—and if I did, they’d sell me directly some of the Holy Stone Compasses and Recovery Potions they’d crafted, rather than sending them to the general store.
If I could establish a trading route, I could steadily fill the reward room from now on!
“Terrifying? Then it’s the perfect condition! The challengers will weep tears of fear!”
Well, the scarier the monster, the better for the Dungeon.
“Then what do you want me to do? Ruadis said that even though I belong to the Dungeon, approaching the monster is too dangerous. She told me not to get close.”
“Chi-wa-wa, you’re not an ordinary person. Act like a Dungeon Manager!”
“I’m still weak either way.”
“You’re the principal! The monsters are subordinate!”
Where does she pick up these terms…?
“Listen, you’re under a massive misunderstanding.”
Brownie flew into my arms and jabbed me right in the chest.
“You made a direct contract with the Demon King. And you’ve received delegated authority from him. Don’t you understand what that means? While our Demon King sleeps, you’re as good as the Demon King yourself.”
The world suddenly spun.
I went from being an ordinary overworked office worker to a Demon King in another world?
The sudden pressure bearing down on my shoulders made me groan involuntarily.
“Of course, that doesn’t mean you should get cocky. That’s just what it means in theory.”
“Mm…”
“You said it was an Undead monster? Headless.”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s go.”
Brownie suddenly flew out of the office and urged me to come along.
“Where are we going in the middle of the night?”
“To scout it!”
There you go, pushing me straight into the tiger’s mouth.
“Wait. The monster Ruadis herself acknowledged as strong. Do you really think our Dungeon can match the salary that monster demands?”
My cutting question made Brownie flinch.
“You know exactly why we only employ weak monsters. If that creature demanded even ten thousand Yeon a month, our Dungeon couldn’t last two months before going bankrupt.”
Brownie fell silent, lost in thought, but then suddenly puffed up with renewed confidence and shouted.
“What’s there to worry about? That guy’s homeless right now.”
“Huh…?”
“He’s wandering around with no house, no dungeon—so who’s in need here? Haggle! Lowball him on the salary!”
Is this really not a reincarnated former company director?

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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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