Hijikata closed the streaming screen and took a deep breath. The broadcast was probably still running since he was still awake.
In front of him, Hisui and Inaho were getting acquainted, and it seemed like they were getting along well. That was a relief.
"Alright, now... what should I do about the dungeon?"
Pulling the floating translucent panel closer—he had started referring to it simply as his "device"—he opened the dungeon creation page. There were categories for the dungeon's foundation, decorations, resources, resource gathering spots, monsters, gimmicks, and even background music (BGM).
The larger the dungeon, the more DP (Dungeon Points) it consumed. The more luxurious the decorations, the more DP it cost. Stronger monsters, or those with higher rarity like in gacha, naturally consumed more DP as well. The same went for the gimmicks and BGM options, ranging from basic to extravagant.
Even though he'd been given a substantial amount of initial points, they were finite, and even saving up daily point distributions would take a long time.
Thankfully, the monster materials were predetermined by the monsters themselves, so he didn't need to stress over that. It was a relief not to have to micromanage such things. The materials and resources collected within the dungeon could be brought out into the real world. The government and various companies were probably drooling over these fantasy materials.
Creating gathering points for fantasy resources cost more DP than Earth-based resources, so it might be smart to focus on Earth resources and make fantasy resources a rare find. That would save some DP.
Maybe he could further differentiate the Earth resources into those common to Japan and those harder to find there, adding a sense of rarity. After all, obtaining real-world resources in the dungeon would probably be beneficial to the country too.
"Alright, I'll go with that approach for resources…"
He opened a word processor on his laptop and started jotting down notes.
"Now, what about the dungeon layout…"
The first idea that came to mind was a layered dungeon. The deeper you went, the stronger the monsters and the higher the grade of resources you could gather.
It was a classic structure, but he figured one of the other Japanese dungeon masters might have already gone that route. He had checked their streams, but their dungeon details were all blacked out, likely because he had asked his overseer to avoid spoilers. That left him with no hints.
Crossing his arms, he started to brainstorm. What kind of dungeon could he create that wasn't a typical multi-layered one?
Nothing came to mind other than the usual layered structure, which was frustrating.
He had heard from his overseer about gathering-focused dungeons, but that idea felt bland. A dungeon purely for gathering resources lacked the unique, immersive flavor a dungeon should have. It just wouldn't feel right.
As he mulled over the problem, he suddenly remembered a commercial he had seen on TV not too long ago. It was for a game featuring characters moving freely in a vast, open world.
"…Open-world… That could work."
Open-world games were a staple in online gaming. What if he created an open-world dungeon instead of a traditional layered one? Rather than a series of levels, he could build an entirely different world—a fantasy realm masquerading as a dungeon.
Concept: "Bringing an Open-World Game to Reality."
In light novels, manga, and anime, VR games were nothing new. They weren't yet fully realized in reality, but what if he brought that dream to life in his dungeon?
The thought made his excitement build.
"Let's see... It looks like there are two methods for creating a dungeon. One is to design it entirely through the device, and the other involves laying the basic framework first and then entering the dungeon to build it out from within. I think I'll start with the basic design here, then head inside to fine-tune it. And I should definitely use my own BGM instead of the pre-made tracks the gods provide. That would save some DP, which I could allocate elsewhere."
He muttered to himself as he jotted down notes, the ideas flowing faster now.
"I'll start small for the initial area since DP is limited. I can always expand it later when I accumulate more points. For now, maybe something that takes two days to circle if rushed, or a week if explored leisurely. I can calculate the area based on the dungeon framework... Ah, the terrain counts as decoration. I'll make the area look naturally uneven rather than perfectly round to give it a more organic feel. But… damn, laying the foundation takes up a lot of DP."
Hijikata added the DP cost for the foundation to his notes, then pulled up a calculator to subtract it from his total starting points.
"The foundation is important, so I can't skimp on that. I'll cut back on something else… probably the BGM. Though no BGM at all wouldn't fit the concept. Alright, time to reach out to my overseer."
He quickly sent a query through the help page to his godly overseer.
"Yes, yes, I'm watching, so I know what you're thinking. You want to use your own BGM, right? No problem! Just pull up the file on your computer screen, then open the 'Custom' section of the dungeon creation page. There's a button there to scan files. It'll enter camera mode, and you can scan the file on your monitor to upload it."
"…You're scarily perceptive, and this is some next-level tech. Got it."
"I've added instructions to the help page, so if you forget, just check there."
"Thanks."
With the BGM situation settled, Hijikata let out a sigh of relief.
"Next, I could save DP on the monsters. Using non-sentient, puppet-like monsters would cost far less than those with self-awareness. Even with respawning monsters, non-sentient ones are much cheaper."
Since the drop rate of materials wouldn't change between sentient and non-sentient monsters, there was no reason not to go with the cheaper option.
Sentient monsters came with their own moral dilemmas. It'd be hard on both him and the players to kill monsters with personalities. At least with non-sentient ones, the emotional toll would be less severe.
Monsters that came from the gacha were all sentient, so he could ask them to play important NPC roles in the dungeon. They could also help him behind the scenes or assist with everyday activities.
Setting up an in-dungeon currency to allow players to buy or upgrade equipment could be another good idea. Not everyone would have the means to come fully equipped, so giving them the option to earn gear by playing in the dungeon might attract more people. Plus, they could take that equipment into other dungeons as well.
In a way, his dungeon could serve as a beginner-friendly training ground.
As Hijikata kept scribbling notes, calculating necessary DP, and rechecking his remaining points, he noticed quite some time had passed. Looking back, he saw that Hisui had wrapped her tail around Inaho, and both were asleep, cuddling together.
Stretching his arms, he heard a satisfying crack in his back.
"Well, there's still a lot to think about. I won't start building just yet."
Though he knew he was already months behind the others, rushing the dungeon would go against his pride. He wanted to create something well-thought-out and aligned with his concept.
He already had a few tracks he had composed during his downtime that might fit the world he envisioned, but the main theme still needed work. For that, he first had to decide exactly what kind of world he was going to build.
There was so much to do, but he felt a sense of excitement building.
As Hijikata left his workroom, Hisui and Inaho woke up and followed behind him. The white, sterile room he had initially been placed in had been too harsh on the eyes, so he had redecorated it into a concrete room with minimal DP. The walls and ceiling were unfinished concrete, the floor was cheap wood, and a futon sat in the corner as his bed.
When he crawled into the futon, Hisui, now too big to be held, lay beside him, almost enveloping him. Inaho curled up next to his face.
"...Goodnight."
"Meow."
"Meow!"
With a gentle smile, he patted his two companions and closed his eyes, letting sleep take him. His thoughts drifted to the dungeon as he fell into the world of dreams, eager to continue planning tomorrow.