[You have succeeded in invading the small city of Myol.]

[Ownership of the small city of Myol will be forcibly transferred to Taehyun.]

[You have captured 981 residents of Myol.]

The army that advanced from Hylon Forest conquered the small city of Myol in just two days. Its lord, Baron Coris, was dead, and his raiders and soldiers had been annihilated.

[The small city of Myol has suffered great damage.]

[Damage rate of the small city of Myol: 68%]

However, because Baron Coris had refused to surrender, the city itself was heavily damaged.

"What do you think? Can you repair it?" Taehyun asked.

"It's always possible, as long as I have the materials," Larkan Yngwe replied, nodding as he studied the screen.

But as always, his alchemy required specific components. Taehyun had earned a considerable amount of Zen from the last raid, but not enough to purchase everything needed for a full restoration. For now, he would have to settle for expanding his territory to include the city and observing the situation.

"This seems rather early, though," Larkan remarked. "It hasn't been long since you fought off that B-rank raid party, and you've already invaded Myol."

"The biggest nuisance in the area was transferred to headquarters," Taehyun explained.

Branch Manager Gelix of Partren. The man who had been the only one to stop Balak's advance past Hylon Forest. Normally, Coris would have turned to him for aid. But according to Junhyun Cha's intel, Gelix had been reassigned. With no reinforcements coming and no political connections of his own, Coris had been isolated. Taehyun had seized the opportunity, moving up his invasion schedule. The result was a resounding success with minimal losses.

[B-rank Soldiers: 121]

[C-rank Soldiers: 486]

[D-rank Soldiers: 284]

In fact, his forces had suffered more damage when he'd had to split them to fend off the B-rank raiders.

"We barely managed to hold them off, but the damage to our soldiers was severe. On top of that, the top-tier B-rank archer's skill wiped out the fairies right before the final room."

"Thanks to Lady Angelina, the damage to the Labyrinth was minimized. However, the top-tier B-rank warrior smashed through all the maze's walls. We need Zen for repairs."

According to his supporters, repairing his forces and dungeon was urgent. Taehyun had anticipated this when he invaded Myol, and he had acquired a substantial amount of Zen from the conquest.

[Zen: 11,193,432]

The Labyrinth was the top priority, followed by restoring the soldiers and defenses of the second Balak dungeon.

"Riel, take three million Zen to Edchan and three million to Kinjo," Taehyun instructed.

"Understood."

He handed six million Zen to Riel and turned his attention to the B-rank installation options.

[Sentry Post]

[Watchtower]

[Settlement]

[Fortress]

With his new rank came a much wider variety of structures. Taehyun checked the price of the Watchtower.

'Two million Zen for one.'

It was incredibly expensive, but its automatic radar function could monitor a vast area.

"Can you craft this?" he asked Larkan.

"Hmph. I don't know why the shop prices are so exorbitant. With the right materials, I can craft one for about 800,000 Zen. It will require manpower, of course."

"Good. Get to work on it immediately. I'll buy the materials now."

"Understood."

With an alchemist at his disposal, he had to conserve Zen and utilize his workforce. Taehyun provided Larkan with the materials and assigned him a few of the Labyrinth's villagers. As Larkan began crafting the watchtower with his transmutation circle, Taehyun headed for the room with the crystal sphere.

---

[A-Rank Random Soldier Summon Card]

The summon card, purchased for a small fortune, rested in his hand. An A-rank soldier. He had originally planned to summon Guardians and Keepers first, but the Holy Kingdom invasion had shown him the raw power of A-rank soldiers. He could only summon five, but it was a worthy investment.

"Why am I more nervous about this than I was about blocking the raid?" he muttered to himself. The anticipation of what might appear always set his nerves on edge. He looked at the crystal sphere, which had grown significantly larger with each evolution.

"Give me a good one this time, too." The sphere's magic had often blessed his summons in the past. Or maybe it was just his own damn good luck.

[You have used the A-Rank Random Soldier Summon Card.]

[A summon circle will be generated.]

[The summon circle is generated near the crystal sphere, stabilizing the magic.]

At last, the five cards were consumed. Taehyun watched as a figure began to materialize within the circle.

[Great Success!]

[Synthesis!]

[Rank A Hero Soldier 'Rock-Throwing Golem Deshukar' has been summoned.]

But only a single soldier appeared. Taehyun stared blankly at the golem that now stood on the floor.

"Uwoh. Uwoh," it gurgled.

"…Hey," Taehyun said flatly.

"Uwoh?"

It had a tiny body that looked nothing like a golem, a form made of mud, and wide, innocent eyes. This was Deshukar, an A-rank Hero soldier with the appearance of a misplaced garden gnome. Taehyun looked down at the golem tilting its head and clenched his fists.

"What did you do with my other four A-rank soldiers?"

"Uwooooh!" it wailed.

"What are you even saying, you crazy golem bastard!"

---

[Hero Rock-Throwing Golem Deshukar]

[Rank: A]

[Level: 1]

[Class: None]

[Title: None]

[Affiliation: Balak]

[Loyalty: 50]

[Favorability: 9]

[Obedience: 50]

[Skills: None]

[Special Ability: Gigantification]

[Strength: 8] [Endurance: 4] [Agility: 1] [Stamina: 4]

[Mana: 1] [Divinity: 1] [Affinity: 3] [Luck: 1]

[Status: Sulking]

For a level one, its stats were certainly impressive. An A-rank Hero soldier, born from an automatic synthesis during summoning.

[A-Rank Soldier 100/5]

'This bastard takes up 100 population slots?!'

Not only was it a synthesis, but Deshukar was also consuming the population space of one hundred A-rank soldiers. Taehyun stared down at the golem with an incredulous expression. It had hung its head low, likely because he had yelled at it.

"Hey. Are you sulking?"

"Uuuu…"

"Just follow me. Let's test out that special ability of yours." He sighed.

"Uwoh!"

Its special ability was Gigantification, but he had no idea how large it would become. A miscalculation could destroy the entire dungeon from the inside out. Taehyun led Deshukar outside.

"This should be far enough. Use Gigantification."

"Uwooooooh!"

Deshukar's ability activated.

[A-rank Hero Soldier Deshukar has activated Gigantification.]

[Deshukar's body will return to its original form.]

It seemed its tiny size wasn't its true form after all. Taehyun watched with a hint of disappointment as the golem began to grow.

'What? It's only this bi—huh?!'

Suddenly, Deshukar's size exploded, increasing by dozens of times. In an instant, it towered over the valley, its head reaching for the clouds. Taehyun's jaw dropped.

"C-crazy! Why are you so big!"

"UWOOOOOOH!"

With a mighty roar, the entire landscape shook. The nearby Silent Forest was thrown into chaos as trees were uprooted and tossed aside. Oblivious, Deshukar looked down at Taehyun, its eyes gleaming with what looked like a plea for praise. Taehyun broke out in a cold sweat and stumbled backward. Just then, the communication device in his pocket rang.

—Edchan: Wh-what is happening, Sir Taehyun? I just heard a tremendous noise! Are you in danger?!

"…I'm in a lot of danger."

—Edchan: This butler, Edchan, will be there right away!

"No. It's fine. Just don't come."

—Edchan: Pardon? What do you me—

Taehyun put the device away and looked up at the colossal golem.

"You really are a Hero A-rank soldier. You're huge. No… you look strong."

"Uwooooh. Uwoh!"

"You're that happy to be praised?"

Deshukar rejoiced like an innocent child. Its intelligence seemed low, which would make raising its relationship stats much easier.

[A-rank Hero Soldier Rock-Throwing Deshukar is happy with the Master's praise.]

[Loyalty increases by 2.]

[Favorability increases by 4.]

[Rock-Throwing Deshukar's sulking status disappears.]

As if on cue, its stats began to rise, and its sulking status vanished.

"You can maintain that form continuously, right?"

"Uwoh."

"Damn it. What are you saying? Nod your head. Nod."

"Uwoh. Uwoh."

As if it finally understood, Deshukar nodded its massive head. Satisfied, Taehyun conducted a few more experiments.

"Release Gigantification."

"Uwoh!"

"Use Gigantification again."

"UWOOOOOOOOOH!"

Fortunately, the time it took to transform and revert was minimal. With no duration limit, it could change its form at will. Taehyun had Deshukar shrink back down and called for Grai.

"What is it, my Lord?"

"Sorry to interrupt training, but I need you to take this little guy and run through the Ice Palace for a bit. I'll transport you."

"Mm. Understood."

And so, Grai took Deshukar and teleported to the Ice Palace.

---

Grai returned three days later. Leveling up an A-rank soldier had clearly been a difficult task.

"You got him to about level 30," Taehyun noted.

"This was the limit," Grai reported.

"You did well. This is more than enough."

Taehyun dismissed Grai and checked Deshukar's information.

[Hero Rock-Throwing Golem Deshukar]

[Rank: A]

[Level: 30]

[Class: None]

[Title: None]

[Affiliation: Balak]

[Loyalty: 55]

[Favorability: 19]

[Obedience: 58]

[Skills: Rock Throw, Sweep, Roar of Fury]

[Special Ability: Gigantification]

[Strength: 17] [Endurance: 10] [Agility: 1] [Stamina: 9]

[Mana: 1] [Divinity: 1] [Affinity: 7] [Luck: 1]

Even at level 30, Deshukar's stats were comparable to Grai's. Moreover, its newly acquired skills all seemed to be area-of-effect attacks.

'This is a jackpot. With this, it should definitely be possible.'

Taehyun looked at the nearly completed watchtowers, a confident smile spreading across his face.

---

The small city of Myol had fallen to Balak. The news sent another shockwave across the continent. In Partren, the newly appointed branch manager, Criras, dispatched raiders to the Behetl and Lemagal territories, keeping a wary eye on Balak. Viscount Beldon and Viscount Perna sent their own soldiers to the same territories, engaging in a tense war of nerves under the pretext of protecting them from Balak.

The west was engulfed in tension, but the raiders were undeterred. On the contrary, they flocked to Balak's three known dungeons, lured by the promise of enormous rewards. Balak, in turn, annihilated these greedy fools, its influence growing with each victory.

---

Rustling, dozens of figures emerged from the hills near the lake. They lowered their masks and stared at the city of Myol in the distance. Its walls and gate were mostly destroyed, but the situation inside was unclear. The man in the lead took out a communication device.

—Viscount: Have you arrived?

"Yes. We can see the small city of Myol."

—Viscount: There will be soldiers lurking nearby. Infiltrate as stealthily as possible.

"Understood, my Lord Viscount."

The communication ended. The man scanned the area, noting the watchtowers. Their automated radars swept back and forth. Just then, a group of raiders, seemingly oblivious to the towers, walked right past one. The man was taken aback, but they passed through the scan completely unharmed.

"So they just let raiders pass?" he muttered.

"It seems those fools don't even know what a watchtower is," one of his subordinates commented.

"Even if they knew, there'd be no other way. Let's go."

Now that he'd confirmed raiders could pass freely, there was no need for stealth. Everyone in his group was registered as a raider. The man led his unit toward the watchtower.

"Gasp! Captain! A-a rock is flying this way!"

At that moment, a massive boulder soared through the air from the direction of Myol.

"D-damn it! Scatter!" the captain yelled.

"Run!"

"N-no!"

He tried to disperse his subordinates, but it was too late.

The infiltration team was completely annihilated.

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