Nine days remained until the end of the dungeon protection period. Balak currently faced three major problems.

The first was the fortress in the arid plains, which he had acquired after driving out the orcs. Initially, he had planned to station a few soldiers there as an outpost, but the recent raid had cost him dearly. He had replenished his forces, but it was far from enough.

'I'm too low on Zen to make any major changes right now, but I have to prepare for future attacks.'

The first thing he needed was scouts. Just as Dungeon Masters had classes, so did their soldiers.

[Lowest-Grade Goblin]

[Rank: D]

[Level: 1]

[Class: None]

[Title: None]

[Affiliation: Balak]

[Loyalty: 50]

[Affection: 10]

[Obedience: 50]

[Skill: None]

[Special Ability: None]

[Strength: 1] [Endurance: 1] [Agility: 2] [Stamina: 1]

[Mana: 1] [Divinity: 1] [Affinity: 1] [Luck: 1]

Taehyun planned to assign classes to the goblins he had just summoned.

'I'm sure there was a Class Assignment Card in the soldier-exclusive shop. I'll invest some Zen to strengthen the fortress.'

While his main objective was to thwart dungeon raids, the fortress was a vital secondary asset. He purchased Scout Class Cards from the shop and promoted seven goblins.

'This will allow me to detect enemies in advance. I can inflict damage on them before they even reach the dungeon, or maybe even finish them off at the fortress.'

In any game, a player needed multiple strategies.

"In a way, you're quite lucky, Master," Riel remarked. "It's usually difficult to obtain a fortress during the tutorial."

As she said, he had been fortunate. Now he had to make proper use of it.

[Lowest-Grade Goblin]

[Rank: D]

[Level: 1]

[Class: Scout]

[Title: None]

[Affiliation: Balak]

[Loyalty: 50]

[Affection: 10]

[Obedience: 50]

[Skill: None]

[Special Ability: None]

[Strength: 1] [Endurance: 1] [Agility: 2] [Stamina: 1]

[Mana: 1] [Divinity: 1] [Affinity: 1] [Luck: 1]

'Good. I'll have these scouts and the Blue Eye patrol the area daily. Now, for the fortress repairs.'

The fortress gate and parts of the interior had been damaged in the attack. Like the dungeon, the fortress required Zen for repairs.

'Zen, Zen, it's all about Zen. I'm not critically low yet, but I don't have much to spare. I need to earn more, somehow.'

There were several ways to earn Zen. The first was through tutorial quest rewards, but that would end with the protection period. It was better to focus on the other methods Riel had mentioned.

"You can obtain Zen by selling loot from battles or items produced in the dungeon to shops or merchant guilds," she had explained. "You can also get it from raid parties or through certain events."

"I see. By the way, can I get a class too?"

"Yes, but not right now. You will likely be able to choose a class that suits you upon reaching level 10."

"Alright. I'll restore the fortress first."

Taehyun spent a portion of his Zen to repair the fortress, returning it to pristine condition.

---

[Please set the deployment of your soldiers.]

The second problem was the deployment of his forces within the dungeon itself. Balak was a simple, five-room dungeon connected by a single straight corridor.

[Mid-Grade Minotaur (Elite Soldier)]

[Rank: C]

[Level: 4]

[Class: None]

[Title: None]

[Affiliation: Balak]

[Loyalty: 60]

[Affection: 30]

[Obedience: 60]

[Skill: None]

[Special Ability: None]

[Strength: 4] [Endurance: 4] [Agility: 1] [Stamina: 5]

[Mana: 1] [Divinity: 1] [Affinity: 1] [Luck: 1]

This simple layout made the placement of his newly promoted Elite Minotaurs a difficult decision.

'Placing them in the final room with the Crystal Sphere is probably the most efficient, especially since the sphere's magic level is still low.'

The Crystal Sphere's magic level affected its own Endurance as well as the power of the entire dungeon's defenses. Since it only increased with mana stones or the Master's level, it was still weak. With no other choice, Taehyun stationed the minotaurs in the final room. He then distributed the remaining soldiers evenly throughout the other chambers.

'With the soldiers at the fortress, this should be enough.'

For now, the most important thing was to inflict as much damage as possible on any raid party before they even set foot inside the dungeon.

---

The third and final problem was the nineteenth quest.

[Helper Message]

[19. Invade the village of Dallas in the arid plains.]

[Warning: Failure to comply within one week will result in the destruction of the Crystal Sphere. The destruction of the Crystal Sphere leads to the Dungeon Master's death.]

The quest itself wasn't particularly difficult, but the thought of invading the village gave him pause.

'Do I really have the right to destroy their home?'

He may have been transported to another world, but these were still people. He might be a candidate for the next Demon King, but he was still human. As his indecision dragged on, Riel finally stepped in.

"Master Taehyun," she said, her voice firm. "You are a Dungeon Master. You are a candidate for the Demon King's throne. You cannot think as you did when you were an ordinary human."

"But I am still human," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I was just dragged here by chance. I never wanted any of this. All I want is to find a way to escape."

"If that is your wish, then you must become even more cruel," Riel pressed. "You are clinging too tightly to your human emotions. To survive, you must be decisive. To escape, you must be ruthless."

For the first time, Riel was pushing him, her words sharp and direct. She was right. To survive and escape, he had to change. But without some kind of catalyst, it wouldn't happen easily.

'Becoming a Dungeon Master should have been the catalyst, but I can't help but hesitate.'

He was torn. Proceeding with the quest felt wrong, but inaction meant certain death. He was trapped, forced to choose between two terrible options.

"Damn it!" he cursed, slamming his fist on the armrest.

He had made his choice.

"A wise decision," Riel said, a faint smile on her lips.

Taehyun said nothing. His hand was already moving toward the exploration icon.

---

[Balak's exploration team has discovered the village of Dallas in the arid plains.]

A peaceful village materialized on the Blue Eye's screen. From a distance, his exploration team stood by, awaiting his command.

"I can't believe there's a village in a place like this," he murmured. The very idea of people surviving in an arid land with no water or fertile soil was astonishing.

"You will likely receive a separate Zen reward for a successful invasion," Riel added.

"A bonus reward is some small consolation, I suppose," Taehyun replied with a bitter smile, his gaze returning to the screen. His entire force was mobilized, while the village's defenses were lax. Worse, the young men of Dallas were already locked in his prison, leaving only children and the elderly behind. The thought twisted a knife in his gut, but his decision was made.

'I'm doing this to survive,' he told himself, the words a hollow chant in his mind. 'There was no other choice. I have to get back home!'

And with that final piece of self-justification, Taehyun crossed a line from which there was no return.

[The invasion has begun.]

[A Mid-Grade Minotaur (Elite Soldier) smashes through the village's outer fence and charges.]

Balak's soldiers swarmed into the village. The minotaurs, exuding a terrifying aura, began to tear the place apart while the other soldiers rounded up the remaining villagers.

"H-How dare you… Get out of here!" an old man shouted, brandishing a rusty pitchfork.

"Just the children! Please, spare the children!" a woman pleaded.

"Woooow!" a child screamed.

As expected, there was no real resistance. The elderly villagers tried to fight back, but they were no match for his forces. Taehyun gave the order to capture them all. In a single day, the village of Dallas was wiped from the world map.

---

[You have successfully invaded the village of Dallas.]

[Invasion Success Bonus: 3,000 Zen.]

[The goblins' combat experience has slightly increased.]

[The experience of Balak's soldiers increases by 20.]

[The imps' combat experience has slightly increased.]

[The minotaurs' combat experience has slightly increased.]

[You have captured approximately 30 villagers from Dallas.]

[Helper Message]

[You have cleared the nineteenth tutorial quest.]

[Reward: 190 EXP.]

[Reward: 2,200 Zen.]

The invasion was a success. He had earned bonus Zen and cleared the quest. But he felt no joy.

"With this, only the final quest remains," Riel said. "You did well. However, you must decide what to do with the villagers quickly. They will drain your Zen reserves."

Despite her praise, Taehyun couldn't lift his head.

'There's no way this could ever feel like just a game.'

The scenes from the invasion were seared into his memory. The unforgettable screams of the villagers echoed in his mind, a relentless torment. He had done so well, all to avoid death, all to find a way home. But this quest had broken something inside him.

[By invading the village of Dallas, Dungeon Balak has become faintly known in the western Astral Continent.]

[The appearance of raiders is expected as soon as the dungeon protection period ends.]

[Prepare for the challengers to come.]

Even as the new message appeared, Taehyun remained seated, his head bowed in silence.

---

The day after the invasion, news reached the small city of Partren in the western Astral Continent.

"Did you hear? The village of Dallas was invaded."

"Seems a new dungeon has appeared. Balak, they call it."

"Should we give it a try? It's only a D-rank dungeon."

New raiders and adventurers showed a flicker of interest, some already preparing to challenge it themselves. Among them was a rookie raider named Reden.

"This is perfect," he grinned. "A D-rank dungeon is just right for a newcomer like me. Now I just need to find some comrades."

A former adventurer, Reden had just set foot on the path of a raider. Lacking experience, he had been struggling to find a party, but now an opportunity had presented itself. Tearing the Balak request from the bulletin board, he headed for the nearest inn, a wide smile on his face.

---

[The dungeon protection period has expired.]

[Raiders from the city of Partren and its surroundings are gathering at Dungeon Balak.]

Thirty days had passed. The protection period that had hidden Balak from the world map was over. Thanks to the village invasion, its existence was now known. The real life of a Dungeon Master was about to begin.

[Dungeon Name: Balak]

[Master: Taehyun Yoo]

[Rank: D]

[Location: A cave deep within the Silent Valley, on the western frontier of the Astral Continent.]

[Supporter: Riel of Healing (B)]

[Boss: None]

[Mercenary: None]

[Guardian & Keeper: None]

[Soldiers: Lowest-Grade Goblin (22), Lowest-Grade Imp (18), Lowest-Grade Wild Dog (8), Mid-Grade Minotaur (2)]

[Monsters: Lowest-Grade Goblin (22), Lowest-Grade Imp (18), Lowest-Grade Wild Dog (8), Mid-Grade Minotaur (2)]

[Servants & Maids: None]

[Traps: Sticky Trap, Hunting Trap]

[Installed Devices: Landrozel, Flower of the Abyss; Madria's Bookshelf; Hideous Spider Egg]

[Modifications: Corridor Alteration (Phase 1)]

[Rooms: 5]

[Dungeon Status: A D-rank dungeon at risk of being conquered. Its forces are strengthened by Mid-Grade Minotaurs, but its traps and installations are weak, and its passages are straightforward. The vitality recovery rate of its soldiers is increased due to the B-rank Named Supporter, Riel.]

'Come to think of it, I haven't really used the wild dogs at all,' Taehyun thought, conducting a final inspection in preparation for the coming raiders.

[Name: Taehyun Yoo]

[Age: 22]

[Nationality: Republic of Korea]

[Level: 7]

[Rank: D]

[Class: None]

[Title: None]

[Affiliation: Dungeon Master]

[Guild: None]

[Strength: 1] [Endurance: 1] [Agility: 1] [Stamina: 1]

[Mana: 1] [Affinity: 1] [Luck: 1]

'Still no skills, special abilities, or a class, but once I hit level 10, that will change.'

While his status hadn't changed much over the past thirty days, he was more than satisfied with the fortress and his elite minotaurs.

'Right. What's done is done. There's no turning back. I'll fight tooth and nail to survive!'

The guilt had tormented him for days, but he no longer had the luxury for such feelings.

"Master Taehyun," Riel's voice cut through his thoughts. "What are your ultimate plans for the humans in the prison?"

"I'll use them for labor, as you advised," he stated, his voice hard. "Or I'll make them soldiers of Balak."

"Using humans as dungeon soldiers… That will be very difficult."

"That's the best I can offer. Anything less, and I have no intention of showing any more consideration. My life is on the line."

He had accepted his fate. With his life at stake, hesitation was a weakness he could not afford. He had to be more cruel, more ruthless.

'Riel is right. I can't think as I did back in my old world. Clinging to my humanity will get me killed. I have to look forward and run!'

Taehyun steeled his resolve, ashamed of his former self. Beside him, Riel watched with an unreadable smile. A moment later, a red message materialized in the air.

[A D-rank raid party has appeared at the edge of the arid plains.]

The first challengers had arrived.

---

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