Volume 2 Chapter 13 (2/2)

“Yeah, this can sell well.”

“We are unable to taste so we simply focused on the quantity, my lord.”

As long as the work involved was simple, there probably was no other superior to the Skeleton army led by Wight. They were like machines, repeating the predetermined movements accurately and indifferently.

“Wight, once the humans come,”

“I understand, my lord. It would be better for us to not wander above the ground. Our bodies are not normal, to say the least, and we would only become a hindrance to the city my lord is making.”

Wight anticipated my thoughts and said so.

His concerns were indeed valid. It was no surprise that, unlike the demihumans and the Golems, the Undead were regarded as an enemy of human kind. Normally, it would be absolutely impossible for them to show themselves without incident. However, this time was an exception and so, I smiled.

“What are you talking about? You’re my staff officer. I’ll be troubled if you don’t stay and help.”

“…that makes me happy but this body, my lord,”

“That’s why I had this prepared.”

I placed the mask on his face.

“This is a beguiling mask I had Elder Dwarf make. It has [Beguile] Enchant magic applied to it. As long as you wear this, you will have the appearance of a human. But [Beguile]’s effects are limited so you will have to wear your robe over your body, some long pants, and gloves.”

Upon hearing my words, Wight trembled with emotions.

He then spoke, still trembling.

“My lord, to make something like this for me. Even for the supreme dwarf, Elder Dwarf-sama, such an item, it couldn’t have been simple to make.”

“There’s no way I can neglect a good performing subordinate such as you. I had Elder Dwarf do the impossible and so, I’m expecting much from you, Wight.”

His quick wit, vast knowledge, and ability to perceive the subtleties of a person’s emotions were essential to the operation of this city.

“Yes, I am at your command, my lord.”

He then knelt immediately. I would be relying much on his abilities.

And like that, I left soon after.

◇

Afterwards, I went to the fourth special building: the inn.

Built under the assumption that it would accommodate as much as a hundred, it had a considerably high number of rooms, some of which were even large enough to accommodate groups of people. There were a large amount of blankets prepared too.

Actually, as I was in the inn, all I thought about was the services to be offered to those staying the night. And so far, I had only included the blanket. Multiple blankets were placed in each room and was to be used freely by the patrons.

The private rooms were set to be expensive while the shared large rooms were set to be cheap. Patrons could use the water wells along with the public bathhouse. Our inn wouldn’t serve any food so if they wanted to eat something, they could simply buy whatever it is they want to eat in the store. It was pretty much a self-service inn.

“As I thought, we’re really short on hands… I should actively hire human help.”

Shopkeepers, inn receptionists, advertisers, and bathhouse and inn cleaners.

These jobs could be easily filled up if we didn’t mind the quality of the employees. Perhaps even have some broke adventurers do some part-time work. Funds weren’t an issue either due to the silver coins that Elder Dwarf could make just like those used in the commercial city.

There was no reason at all to let my monsters do these jobs forever.

“Ideally though, I want some pros. It’s hard to have no connections at times like this.”

If only we could have good and skilled merchants we could entrust even the management of the inn and store to and maybe even get them to open up store branches of their own in this city, everything would be fine. This city having more fascinating things that would serve to attract humans in was far more important my own profits.

Deciding how city would develop would be an issue in the future but for now, even if it only had a facility that would be able to accommodate humans, I would consider it a success already.

I then went to the fifth and last special building of this city: the public bathhouse built on the hot spring. The male bath and female bath were also finished without incident. Hopefully, these would contribute to the satisfaction of the people staying at the inn as well as the sanitation of the city.

We also constructed a hidden and special bath for our use only.

With this, my inspection of all the city was complete.

From tomorrow onward, we would be able to invite the humans into our city.

◇

The early morning of the following day, I gathered all of my monsters in the city plaza, Skeletons included.

“My beloved followers, I thank you for your hard work. Our dungeon, no… Our city has finally come into being. There are still many things to do but at least now, we are finally able to welcome the humans to come into our city.”

The infrastructures were in place and the food and equipment which were to be our products were fully prepared. We also had an inn and pretty much a recreational facility.

“Today is the day we welcome the humans as well as the day we finally get to consume their emotions. Moreover, this day would mark the true start of our city management.”

Nothing is perfect from the get go but this would nevertheless allow us to advance forward.

“There may be some of you who think that instead of doing these dull things, we will be better off eating the emotions of the humans as we murder them. I can understand these sentiments but know that such methods are only for the short-term. We could only have the strongest dungeon by building a city where hundreds, thousands… no, tens of thousands of humans could laugh together. And I promise you that we can be the strongest dungeon.”

Compared to the dungeons of the other Demon Lords, ours would earn us more DP and allow us to eat a lot more emotions.

“Not to mention, this way is more enjoyable. If we run a proper dungeon, we will trick and kill the humans but we could also get killed by them. I will also have to use you, the monsters, as bait to lure in the humans. It might be naïve of me but I don’t want to lose any of you. Each of you is dear to me… Therefore, please lend me your powers to achieve my dream. No, give it to me. This is my command as your Demon Lord!”

As they heard my words, each of them expressed their resolve and immediately kneeled.

“Now then, everyone, let us open the gates of our city of hopes and smiles. Let us open our Avalon! Now, everyone, to your posts!”

Right after my shout, each tended to their duties.

First was to invite the humans and the rest would follow.