The Archmage’s Destruction Strategy - Chapter 50

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#050. Munchkin Play

With Shirasaki Miyu, who had occupied an ambiguous position between ally and observer since joining the party in North Korea, now definitively joining as a ‘comrade,’ the cards Sung-jun could play had increased tremendously.

If he utilized her abilities—she had been counted among the strongest even before Sung-jun upgraded the Grimoire—he could carry out various plans even in places where Sung-jun wasn’t present.

Knowing this fact well, Sung-jun immediately began making major revisions to the plans he had originally held.

“Should we accept the proposal from that person called Shindo Ayaka earlier?”

“As Shirasaki said, that proposal has both advantages and disadvantages whether we accept or reject it. If we draw too much attention here, there’s a risk of being held back later, but conversely, if we can gain fame, we could be invited to clear not only Tokyo but also large dungeons like Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya dungeons. Moreover…”

“Moreover?”

Sung-jun was concerned about the pot that was a reward item from the deepest part of Nagano Dungeon.

A key item that could solve the food problem, one of the biggest obstacles in conquering the dungeons that had appeared in Japan.

If clearing other dungeons’ rewards was essential for conquering Tokyo Dungeon, it might be advantageous to postpone the Tokyo Dungeon conquest until last.

Conversely, if making him think that way was the opponent’s purpose, then spending time conquering other dungeons itself could be a trap.

When Sung-jun voiced these thoughts, his disciple Seoa presented a new opinion.

“Then how about temporary membership?”

“Temporary membership?”

“We need to gather information on-site to know whether reward items obtainable from conquering other dungeons are actually necessary for conquering Tokyo Dungeon, right? So we observe the situation first. For now, we accept Shindo’s proposal and participate in the 53rd layer raid as helpers, and decide whether to conquer all the way to the deepest part based on the situation inside the dungeon.”

“So you’re saying we should conquer moderately, gather information, and come out first?”

It was a good idea.

Anyway, as long as the supply problem wasn’t resolved, there was no guarantee that they could clear from the 53rd floor to the deepest part in one go just because Sung-jun participated.

Having coordinated their opinions this way, the three immediately called Shindo Ayaka, who was waiting outside, and conveyed their decision.

“You want to participate in the raid without joining the clan?”

“Right now, I don’t want to belong anywhere.”

“I’m sorry, but there’s a reason why raid clans are called raid clans. Only the five clans that have been granted raid assembly authority by the Japanese Government are called that.”

In Japan too, initially anyone could freely form parties to conquer dungeons.

However, after dozens of such adventurer parties were wiped out, the Japanese Government began designating party limits for conquering based on layers.

“It varies by dungeon, but for Tokyo Dungeon, from the 41st layer onwards is designated as raid-only.”

“What happens if you enter unauthorized by disguising your identity?”

“You don’t need to disguise your identity to go down to the 41st layer or below. It’s not like there are checkpoints set up to block access.”

“Then how do they control dungeon entry?”

“By preventing the use of base camps on the 45th and 50th layers.”

Unlike Nagano Dungeon that Sung-jun’s group had cleared, Tokyo Dungeon, classified as a super-large dungeon, became endlessly wider as you went down the layers.

Especially from the 50th layer onwards, it boasted an area almost the size of a small to medium city.

“The paths are already complex like a maze, and going down without a proper map is tantamount to suicide. Of course, there’s the method of exploring bit by bit while making your own map, but if you want to explore layer by layer while making round trips from the 40th layer, no amount of credits would be enough.”

The credits obtained from exchanging magic stones earlier were different from electronic currency operating on digitally built systems, in that they operated on magically built systems.

Even Sung-jun, who could hack and duplicate adventurer cards, had failed to hack credits, so Sung-jun was interested in the credit system used in Japan.

“I’d like you to tell me about those base camps.”

Basically, base camps were a kind of safe zone that humans established inside dungeons.

A place where Awakened employed by clans or guilds resided and took turns guarding the surroundings, storing and selling supplies brought from upper layers.

Like restaurants operating on remote mountain peaks unreachable by roads, base camps inside dungeons served as bases supporting explorers conquering the dungeon using a supply delivery system dependent on manpower.

“Tokyo Dungeon has been cleared up to the 37th floor, so base camps are set up every 10 floors rather than every 5 floors up to the 30th floor. Particularly, the large-scale Camps 1, 2, and 3 are also intermediate gathering points for materials harvested from harvest sites inside the dungeon, so they’re large enough to be called small towns.”

“Does that mean from the 38th floor onwards hasn’t been cleared?”

“We’re working hard on it. The definition of clearing means completing exploration of all unexplored areas within a layer.”

Through her conversation, Sung-jun was able to grasp the general system of how Japan’s large dungeons operated.

‘If it’s just about being under raid clan control due to supply problems, that part seems solvable somehow.’

Like Teacher’s favorite saying, magic was a means that could be called omnipotent if not almighty.

Sung-jun could sufficiently solve the supply problem with just the magic he could currently use.

However, the problem was the other large dungeons besides Tokyo Dungeon.

It was unknown whether other dungeons controlled dungeon access using only the means of base camp usage restrictions like Tokyo Dungeon, and to clear dungeons in Osaka or Kyoto, they would need cooperation from other clans holding raid authority for those dungeons.

And the fastest way to obtain that cooperation was not to request it from their side, but to make the other side come looking for them on their own.

“If we refuse to join the Guidance of the Goddess Clan, would we be unable to participate in the 53rd floor conquest?”

“That’s not the case. Since raid operations are difficult to resolve with personnel from a single clan alone, we receive cooperation from other small and medium clans whenever necessary. However…”

“However?”

“There’s a regulation that sub-clans participating in raid operations in a cooperative capacity are excluded from loot distribution. When magical artifacts are acquired in layers controlled by raid clans, ownership of those artifacts goes to the raid clan managing that layer.”

“Then no one would want to participate in raids.”

“Credits are paid as compensation. If I had to put it simply, the authority that raid clans have is like ‘first bidding rights’ on magical artifacts from layers they control. If an acquired artifact is absolutely necessary for the clan’s power enhancement, the clan acquires that artifact, and if not, it’s put up for auction later. And the sub-clans that participated in the raid bid on those auction items with credits received through raid participation.”

“Interesting.”

“Simply put, unless you join a raid clan, you won’t get a chance to receive the best items. That’s why I came to recommend clan membership to you all. If you’re passionate enough to clear Nagano Dungeon with just three people, you must be people looking for something inside dungeons.”

Looking at Shindo Ayaka, who was now openly looking at him with eyes saying ‘please join us,’ Sung-jun said.

“Well, then let’s do as you say. I’ll join.”

“Really?! You’ve made a good decision! Actually, even though there are several raid clans, it’s really hard to find a place with treatment as good as ours…”

“But not as a formal member, as a ‘temporary’ member.”

“…Temporary means…”

“It means I’ll interview whether your clan really has the ability to handle us and then decide.”

***

“It feels tremendously different from what I was thinking.”

To participate in the 53rd layer conquest being pushed forward by the Guidance of the Goddess Clan, Sung-jun’s group joined the raid with temporary clan member status.

And what awaited them was not Awakened armed with all sorts of equipment, but an enormous number of handcart units.

“Is that the supply unit Shindo mentioned? There must be at least ten thousand people.”

“Raid operations are large-scale operations that also serve as supply plans for existing camps.”

Shindo Ayaka, who had appeared beside Sung-jun’s group at some point, spoke to the three.

Appearing in fancy-looking light armor unlike when they met before, she explained the general progress plan for this operation.

“The conquest team participating in this raid totals 700 people. And there’s a rotation team of 1000 people participating to rotate with the guard team at the base camps inside. The supply materials loaded on each handcart contain enough supplies for one person to use for about 10 days. We’ll go down placing these at each camp starting from Camp 1.”

The biggest reason for taking such a troublesome approach was due to the expiration dates of supply materials.

This was because they needed to bring new materials with long expiration dates to upper base camps and gradually move materials with shortened expiration dates to lower floors to manage materials efficiently.

“Let’s simply assume the amount of materials we’re taking this time is 100,000. We bring 100,000 worth of materials to Camp 1 on the 10th floor, and 5000 people return to the surface with harvested goods gathered at Camp 1. Then 100 rotation team members remain at the camp while the remaining 900 people and 5000 supply team members go to Camp 2 with old supply materials from Camp 1.”

“Does the supply amount get halved as you go down?”

“Correct. 2500 people return to the surface from Camp 2 on the 20th floor, and 1300 people return from Camp 3. Each time we go down, we leave the food we brought at that camp and take down the supply materials remaining at the camp.”

According to her calculations, 600 people would return to Camp 4 on the 35th floor, and 300 people would return to Camp 5 on the 40th floor.

And 150 people would return to 6th Camp on the 45th floor, while the final Camp 5 would be joined by 700 conquest team members, 150 supply team members, and 200 rotation team members.

“The rotation team numbers are irregular for each layer.”

“These are numbers calculated considering the defense difficulty of each layer. It may look simple, but it’s quite difficult work. The rotation team responsible for guarding camps on each layer requires different numbers of personnel depending on the combat power dispatched. It’s not simply determined by numbers alone, but by considering the balance between the strength of monsters appearing on each floor and the dispatched personnel.”

“So Camp 5 is currently being guarded by 200 people?”

“That’s right. Actually, since personnel guarding camps don’t necessarily need to be clan members, usually many adventurers acting as mercenaries join.”

“How many Guidance of the Goddess Clan members are among the 700 conquest team members?”

“We decided to dispatch 300 people for this raid. The remaining 200 are composed of adventurers from affiliated clans in cooperative relationships with us and freelance adventurers.”

“Still, that’s 200 people short. What affiliation are the remaining 200?”

At that moment, a man wearing flashy armor that glowed red like flames approached Sung-jun.

Then he spoke to Shindo Ayaka beside Sung-jun.

“The clan master of the Guidance of the Goddess Clan seems quite leisurely? Seeing that you have time to chat with low-ranking clan members right before a raid.”

Looking at the man speaking in a seemingly provocative manner, Shindo Ayaka let out a short sigh.

Then she extended her palm toward the man and said.

“Let me introduce you. This is Kurosaki Ryusei, clan master of Black Spear, the raid clan of Osaka Dungeon, participating as a helper in this joint raid operation.”

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