A surge of light enveloped my body, and in that moment, my senses sharpened. The oppressive heat of the Demon World was gone, replaced by a cool, damp atmosphere. When the brilliance faded, I found myself standing in a massive cave.
Notifications flooded my vision, lines of text hovering in the air:
[Occupation: Demon Baron (Dungeon Master) has been updated]
[The dignity of a Baron! 200,000pt will be paid.]
[An atrocious number of mana has been concentrated! A very large force is being constrained]
[The Beginner's Protection Period (240 days) has been applied.]
[A high-level creature will randomly be summoned on the 1st floor of the dungeon. This creature will disappear after the Beginner's Protection Period ends. Be careful! The creature summoned at random won't listen to the command of the Dungeon Master.]
The glowing text faded, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I looked around the cave, the only light source a pulsating blue glow emanating from the center of the chamber.
I inhaled deeply, savoring the clean, fresh air. It was a stark contrast to the suffocating sulfuric stench of the Demon World. A strange mix of nostalgia and unease washed over me.
"Back here on Earth," I muttered, my voice echoing in the cavern.
The thought was surreal. I had been gone for centuries, surviving the hellish landscape of the Demon World. My memories of this place—of Earth—were hazy, distorted by time and the constant battle for survival.
"What was it again? Sta... status—oh, right."
[Status Window]
The familiar interface appeared before me, glowing softly in the air:
---
[Name: Randalph Brigsiel]
[Occupation: Demon Baron (Dungeon Master)]
[Title: None]
[Base Stats:]
Strength: 64
Intelligence: 42
Agility: 59
Stamina: 72
Magic Power: 50
Uniqueness: None
[Skills:]
- Eternal Bond (N)
- Duplication (R)
- Ascension (R)
- Blacksmithing (N)
---
Seeing those numbers and abilities felt like a bitter reminder of the gulf between who I was and who I wanted to become. In the Demon World, I had risen to the rank of Baron, but my progress had stalled. The original Randalph Brigsiel from my memories had reached the rank of Earl before meeting his demise.
But I wasn't him. I had my own path, my own struggles—and my own skills.
---
My abilities, developed through countless experiments and battles in the Demon World, were both a blessing and a curse.
- Duplication (R): I could duplicate items, but the process had strict limitations. Each use required a month-long cooldown, and only original items—not replicas—could be copied. Still, it had been invaluable during my time as a blacksmith, allowing me to amass resources and create weapons.
- Ascension (R): This skill allowed me to improve the quality of items, though it was far from perfect. Initially, I could only enhance Normal-rated items, and even then, I often failed. But through persistence, I had become proficient, reliably upgrading items to Exceptional Normal Rating.
- Eternal Bond (N): This skill remained a mystery. Despite numerous attempts, I couldn't figure out how to activate it. In my desperation during the wars, I had even considered whether physical contact or emotional connection might trigger it—but to no avail.
Now that I was back on Earth, I wondered if this new environment might reveal its secrets.
---
Turning my attention to the Dungeon Core, I was struck by its size—taller than an adult human, its surface a flawless crystal emitting an ethereal blue light. This was the heart of the dungeon, the source of its power, and the anchor of my new role as Dungeon Master.
I approached cautiously, feeling the immense energy radiating from it. The original Randalph had lost his Dungeon Core due to arrogance and neglect, and I had no intention of repeating that mistake.
As I examined it, the core began to shimmer. A brighter light emerged, forming a shape that gradually took on definition.
Within moments, a small figure floated before me—a translucent fairy with emerald-green hair and glowing, lantern-like eyes.
---
The fairy twirled in the air, her delicate wings shimmering. She had an innocent, childlike beauty, though her presence carried an otherworldly weight.
"Hello, Dungeon Master! I am the Dungeon Master's companion fairy, Yihi! Yihi!"
Her cheerful voice echoed in the chamber, and I couldn't help but smile. Despite her small stature, she exuded boundless energy, her laughter infectious.
"It's good to meet you, little fairy," I replied sincerely.
Yihi landed gently in front of me, bowing with exaggerated formality. "Yihi will do her best to serve you! Yihi swears on the Dungeon Core!"
I studied her closely, remembering what I had read about the original Randalph. He had treated Yihi poorly, dismissing her as nothing more than a tool. In the end, his arrogance had cost him dearly. Yihi had died twice in his timeline, sacrificing herself for someone who didn't deserve her loyalty.
"I won't let that happen," I murmured under my breath.
Yihi tilted her head, her emerald eyes curious. "Has Dungeon Master seen Yihi somewhere before? Yihi feels like Dungeon Master knows her!"
I forced a neutral expression. "No, you just appeared. But it's good to have you here."
Yihi beamed, her wings fluttering. "Yihi will work hard for Dungeon Master! Just give the orders!"
---
As Yihi flitted around the core, explaining the basics of dungeon management, I felt a strange sense of calm. This was a new start—a chance to reshape my destiny.
The dungeon would be my fortress, my weapon, and my sanctuary. With Yihi's help and the lessons of my past, I would grow stronger.
But there was no time to waste. The Beginner's Protection Period would only last for 240 days. After that, the dungeon would become a battleground, and I would need to be ready.
I clenched my fists, determination hardening my resolve.
"This time, I'll do it right."
Yihi looked up from the core, her expression curious. "Did you say something, Dungeon Master?"
I shook my head. "Just thinking out loud. Let's get started."
And so, my journey as a Dungeon Master began.
---