[The Elite Siege Soldier, Rock-Throwing Deshukar, has killed 30 Raiders from the Perna Territory.]

Deshukar, stationed in the small city of Myol, had once again annihilated a group of raiders. His class change to Siege Soldier had considerably strengthened the power of his rock-throwing skill.

"Where do they think they're crawling to, those bastards?" Taehyun muttered.

He had already identified the infiltrators via the watchtowers. They had likely intended to sneak into Myol and assess the situation, but they never stood a chance.

Taehyun had long anticipated that the two lords would send raiders. With Balak having swallowed Viscount Crowley's forces and now expanding its influence by conquering Myol, they were undoubtedly concerned for their own territories as well as Crowley's. They likely predicted that Balak would target Crowley's now-leaderless domain next.

'They couldn't let the territory they were eyeing be snatched away by dungeon soldiers, so they tried to infiltrate beforehand to get the lay of the land. And it's obvious why they sent troops to 'protect' Behetl and Lemagal. How can two people have the exact same idea and still end up in a standoff?'

Even now, troops from both lords were positioned near Behetl and Lemagal. It was clear they were afraid—afraid of losing Crowley's territory, and terrified of Balak's influence creeping into their own lands.

"Deshukar is doing a great job in Myol," Riel commented from beside him, marveling at the golem's utility. She had been worried his immense size during Gigantification would be a liability, but the conquered city had turned out to be the perfect place to station him.

Reclassified as a siege unit, the creature's Rock Throw was now devastatingly effective. Taehyun nodded in agreement. "Exactly. I was worried it would be awkward to place inside the dungeon, so this is a relief. The watchtower will give it a perfect vantage point to hurl rocks."

"What if raiders decide to attack the watchtower itself?" Riel asked.

"It's fine," Taehyun assured her. "I have soldiers stationed near Deshukar and scouts with familiars positioned in every direction."

Rumors about Deshukar would soon spread: touch the watchtower, and rocks would fly; simply pass by, and nothing would happen. From now on, raiders passing near the small city of Myol would face a choice: press on toward the dungeon, or attack the watchtower and brave Deshukar's barrage.

Of course, most would choose the former. No one wanted to die before even setting foot inside the dungeon.

"If a B-rank raid party or a similar force targets Myol directly, I'll have to respond accordingly," Taehyun mused.

"So you're just going to let the raiders pass from now on?"

"That's right. We have to let them have the raid they came for. If we keep throwing rocks near Myol, they'll stop coming altogether. I need to give them an opening while still presenting a moderate threat."

"At this point, it hardly feels like we're managing a dungeon anymore," Riel remarked, a hint of jest in her tone. She was right; he was now not only thwarting raids but projecting influence far beyond the dungeon's walls.

Taehyun offered a faint smile. "Is there a rule that says we can only protect the dungeon from within its walls?"

---

At that very moment, inside an office in the Perna domain, Viscount Perna Ocean brooded over the raiders with whom he had lost contact. 'Communication is cut. Balak's soldiers must have gotten to them. At this rate, I'm completely in the dark about the situation in Myol. On top of that, I still have no idea how strong Balak's forces truly are.'

Having devoured Viscount Crowley's army, Balak would obviously extend its influence into the now-lordless domain. He was already locked in a war of nerves with Viscount Bedon; preparing for Balak on top of that would consume an enormous number of troops. Even if he managed to take Behetl and Lemagal, he might have to deal with Balak's army later. He had to eliminate Viscount Bedon cleanly before that became a factor.

'I must either seize the territory first or strike Bedon's domain directly.' With the lord of the Crowley domain gone, this was his chance. Viscount Perna made his decision and began to prepare.

Just then, a knight burst into his office. "What is it?"

"The lord of the Crowley Viscounty is—!"

"Lawrence is dead," Perna cut him off.

"The lord of the Crowley Viscounty has returned to his domain alive!" the knight exclaimed. "And he's brought an heir with him!"

"What?!"

---

[Through the use of an Information Manipulation Item, you will operate under the identity of the D-rank raider, Claim.]

[Through the use of a Disguise Item, you will operate with the appearance of the D-rank raider, Claim.]

[Through the use of an Information Camouflage Item, the identity of the B-rank Dungeon Master, Taehyun Yoo, will be hidden.]

The alias belonged to Claim, a D-rank raider—one of the many who had met an ignominious end attempting to conquer Balak. He was a young man with no family, whose only companions had died alongside him, making him the perfect identity to assume.

"My Lord Viscount Crowley! You've returned alive!"

"The knights and soldiers were all wiped out, but we are so relieved that you at least made it back, my Lord!"

"Oh, my Lord! My Lord!"

Taehyun, disguised as Claim, had returned to Behetl with Viscount Lawrence. Judging by the emotional cheers echoing through the city, Lawrence was undoubtedly a well-respected lord.

'Of course,' Taehyun thought wryly, 'he's also the same lord who abandoned this very domain to invade a dungeon for his son's revenge.'

Lawrence couldn't even lift his head, consumed by guilt. He must have finally realized the gravity of his actions. Taehyun smiled faintly and whispered in his ear, "These are the people of your domain, celebrating your return. If you try anything foolish, I'll slaughter every last one of them. Remember that."

"…I understand," Lawrence rasped.

And so, Lawrence announced his survival, returning with an heir. That day, he officially recognized Claim as his successor and began the process of seeking the royal family's permission.

---

"My Lord Viscount. I'm relieved you've returned safely." Gildan the butler greeted Lawrence for the first time in months. Communication had been cut off after he led his troops to invade Balak, but now he had returned, alive but alone. While Gildan had managed to protect the domain in his absence, it had weakened considerably. Seeing his lord again, he couldn't hide his joy.

"It's been a while, Gildan. Have you been well?" Lawrence asked, his voice weary.

"I endured great hardship in your absence, my Lord. Please, resume your duties at once."

"No. I intend to step down from my position. You've seen him, haven't you? The heir."

"If you're speaking of that D-rank raider, I won't stand in your way… but I am absolutely against entrusting the domain to him right now, my Lord," Gildan insisted. He had heard that the raider, Claim, had rescued Lawrence from his imprisonment in Balak. While he was grateful, entrusting the domain to a raider at this critical juncture was unthinkable. This was a man who knew nothing about managing a domain. How could he entrust it to such a person with a clear conscience? Gildan simply couldn't understand.

"My Lord. No, Lord Lawrence," he pleaded, "this is not like you. You may have abandoned the domain, blinded by revenge, but you have returned now. That is in the past, is it not? Please, do not abandon your people a second time."

This was the lord who cared for his domain more than anyone, who put his people above all else. This was the same Lawrence who had maintained a firm neutrality between the royalist and aristocratic factions to protect his domain, yet now he was trying to abdicate his responsibilities entirely.

"I'm sorry. Forgive me," Lawrence murmured. "I'm just so tired."

"My Lord Viscount!"

"Please leave. It has been officially announced; my decision regarding the heir will not change."

"…I will return later." Having failed to persuade him, Gildan left the office. Left alone, Lawrence let out a bitter laugh as he looked at the puppet reflected in the window. "I no longer have the right to live as a lord... no, as a human being."

---

From that day on, the Behetl domain knew no peace. Claim, the heir Lawrence had brought with him, was said to have rescued the viscount from prison by chance while active as a D-rank raider. The people, while anxious about the new heir, placed a certain degree of trust in the man who had saved their lord.

But contrary to their expectations, as soon as he was announced as the heir, Claim transformed into the domain's greatest libertine.

"Bring more booze!"

"Eek!"

"Damn it. That libertine bastard. He's here again. Let's get out of here!"

He began frequenting the tavern every day, carousing with the women of the domain.

"Claim," one of them purred, "is it really okay for you to be so uninterested in your duties as lord?"

"Who cares?" he slurred. "That butler, Gildan, will take care of everything. He always has."

"Mmm, I see. Oh my. Your glass is empty."

He seemed to have no intention of learning his duties, making it a habit to avoid Gildan's watchful eye. The people of the domain were greatly disappointed and protested to Lawrence, but he remained silent, refusing to intervene.

"That bastard Viscount Bedon and that bastard Viscount Perna are already eyeing us, and now the heir we finally get is acting like this!" one resident fumed.

"This place is ruined. I'm moving to another domain."

"I was a fool for ever trusting him. A guy who was nothing but a raider becomes the heir to a domain, so of course he sees everything as his personal playground!"

Some residents gave up on Behetl and left for other lands. Those who remained were on the verge of giving up, cursing Claim's name. Only now did the people realize that Lawrence had truly abandoned them, and they grieved.

---

"Lord Claim!" Gildan's voice was sharp with frustration. "Do you have any awareness of your position as heir? What do you possibly intend to accomplish by avoiding me every day to frequent taverns and carry on this licentious lifestyle? The people have already given up on the domain. Please, come to your senses!"

"Ugh! Booze… bring more booze," Claim mumbled.

Gildan sighed, the sound heavy with defeat. "You don't seem to be in a good state. I will return tomorrow." The dead-drunk Claim was beyond understanding a word. Gildan left the room.

Silence filled the room. Claim, who had been collapsed on the bed, sat up and poured himself a glass of water.

"Whew. Damn. This is no way to live," Taehyun muttered, the act of being Claim wearing thin. He had been playing the part of a libertine for some time now—frequenting taverns, seeking only alcohol, and enjoying a debauched life surrounded by women—but his body was not taking it well. He'd never drunk this much in his real life; he was practically becoming an alcoholic.

Taehyun sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, his head still throbbing. Just then, a mannequin slipped through the open window.

"Are you all right?" It was the top-tier B-rank raider, Roquin, disguised as a mannequin. She and her other dolls were keeping a close watch over Behetl, their surveillance extending even to Lawrence himself. She came every night like this to deliver her report.

"No. I'm not all right," Taehyun groaned. "I feel like I'm going to die."

"Th-Then should I skip today's report?"

"No. That's not acceptable either. Report now."

At his command, the hesitant Roquin began. She detailed the changes within Behetl, the soldiers outside, the mood of the residents, and even the raiders from the two viscounts who had infiltrated the domain. After listening for a while, Taehyun's lips curled into a smirk. The foolish fish were about to take the bait. The fact that they'd even sent raiders to infiltrate the domain meant they were getting desperate.

'It seems they even used vision items to infiltrate, but the only reports you bastards are getting are about Claim's debauchery.' Viscount Bedon and Viscount Perna were surely watching each other. Since the heir was a known libertine, they both likely thought they could win him over. But with each having the same idea, a direct approach was difficult. They had even given up on eliminating him, fearing the other would capitalize on the chaos. Each would try to be the first to approach him in secret, but that would not be easy.

Taehyun poured another glass of water, a vicious smile playing on his lips. 'Then I just have to be the one to approach them first.'

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