The Dungeon lord : Women, power and monsters

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Failed duty

Tolu’s eyes narrowed.

"So dungeon wars are..."

"One of the ways a dungeon becomes truly great."

Tolu understood.

A dungeon that hid forever could survive.

Perhaps.

But it would remain small.

Limited.

Weak.

A truly great dungeon had to compete.

It had to conquer.

It had to survive conflicts against other dungeons.

And eventually...

Its Lord had to lead those battles.

"You said I have to lead?"

"Yes."

Tolu frowned.

"Can’t I just sit somewhere and let the monsters fight?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because you are the Dungeon Lord."

"So?"

"Your authority is part of the dungeon’s strength."

Tolu’s expression became serious.

"If I fight beside them..."

"The dungeon’s forces can become stronger."

"If I direct them?"

"More efficient."

"If I personally enter the battlefield?"

"Your authority becomes directly involved."

Tolu thought about it.

The first dungeon war had been chaos.

He had survived because he had gotten lucky.

He had won.

But barely.

He had watched creatures die.

Watched the dungeon nearly collapse.

He had been terrified.

Tolu slowly smiled.

"Then I’ll do better next time."

The heart was silent.

Tolu’s smile widened.

"My first victory was a pyrrhic one."

"Yes."

"I don’t want another victory like that."

"What do you want?"

Tolu looked toward the window.

The city of Ilebi was hidden beyond the darkness.

Somewhere out there were powerful cultivators.

Rich families.

Adventurers.

Masters.

People who could crush him without effort.

And yet beneath the ground, hidden from all of them, was something that belonged to him.

Something that could grow.

Something that could eventually become powerful enough that nobody could simply take it away.

Tolu clenched his fist.

"The next time my dungeon fights..."

He smiled.

"I want an overwhelming victory."

The Dungeon Heart said nothing.

Tolu laughed quietly.

"I’ll build an army."

He looked around his room.

"An ecosystem."

His eyes brightened.

"A source of wealth."

He imagined the future.

A dungeon filled with valuable herbs.

Rare minerals growing beneath the soil.

Powerful creatures roaming its halls.

Specialized environments.

Hidden bloodlines.

Monsters that he had personally nurtured.

And himself standing at the center of it all.

Not as a poor adventurer.

Not as someone dependent on another person’s generosity.

But as a true Dungeon Lord.

Tolu finally lay down.

Tomorrow, he would train with Folami.

He would continue becoming stronger.

He would complete adventurer contracts.

He would learn more about Ilebi.

He would earn money.

And when he had the opportunity...

He would search for seeds.

Rare minerals.

Monster species.

Anything that could make his dungeon grow.

His eyelids became heavy.

For once, he wasn’t afraid of what tomorrow might bring.

He had a plan.

And for the first time, that plan extended far beyond survival.

Tolu closed his eyes.

"One step at a time."

The Dungeon Heart’s voice answered softly.

"That is how great things are built, my Lord."

A faint smile remained on his face.

Then he fell asleep.

------

The family hall was unusually quiet that evening.

Five people sat around the long wooden table at the center of the room.

At the head sat the Olori Ebi.

The family head rested both hands on the table, his expression unreadable as he listened to the four elders seated around him.

Among them was Folami’s grandfather.

He had said very little since the discussion began.

One of the elders finally broke the silence.

"The agreement has already been presented."

The Olori Ebi nodded slowly.

"I have read it."

"The Oriyomi family has made their intentions clear."

Another elder leaned back in his chair.

"They are offering us a partnership that could change the family’s position for years to come. Their trade routes, our smithing, their resources, our craftsmen..."

He shook his head.

"The profits alone would be considerable."

"And that isn’t all," another elder added.

His eyes moved toward the oldest man among them.

"The marriage proposal."

Folami’s grandfather’s expression hardened slightly.

The room became quiet again.

The Olori Ebi sighed.

"Folami."

The name hung in the air.

The youngest of the elders spoke carefully.

"The Oriyomi family has offered the second daughter of their family head."

"A daughter of the main branch," another added. "Not a distant relative. Not some insignificant connection."

"That is their way of showing sincerity."

Folami’s grandfather finally spoke.

"Sincerity?"

His voice was low.

The elder beside him glanced at him.

"They know what happened."

Everyone understood what he meant.

The Olori Ebi lowered his gaze for a moment.

"The matter happened many years ago."

"That doesn’t change what happened."

Silence.

Folami’s grandfather leaned back.

His eyes seemed to drift somewhere far beyond the walls of the hall.

"My son was not supposed to die that day."

No one interrupted him.

"He wasn’t even their target."

His fingers tightened around the armrest of his chair.

"He was caught in the crossfire."

The Olori Ebi remained silent.

The old man’s gaze lowered. "The Oriyomi family and ours were fighting at the time. Both sides had their reasons. Both sides lost people."

He swallowed. "But my son was one of them."

A long silence followed.

Finally, one of the elders spoke. "And the Oriyomis lost a child too."

Folami’s grandfather slowly turned his head.

The elder met his eyes. "They lost one of their own."

His voice was gentle. "It was a loss on both sides."

Another elder nodded. "That is precisely why they believe this marriage should mark the beginning of something new."

He placed both hands on the table.

"Neither family benefited from what happened back then. Years of hostility have cost both sides opportunities, money, and lives."

"The circumstances have changed," another elder added. "We have changed. They have changed."

"And now?"

The Olori Ebi finally spoke.

"Now both families have an opportunity."

The room became still.

The family head continued.

"Our smithing operations have grown. Their commercial network has expanded. If we combine the two..."

"Then the profits could be enormous."

"Not merely enormous."

The elder corrected him.

"Enough to change the family’s standing."

Folami’s grandfather looked toward the Olori Ebi.

"So we accept."

It wasn’t a question.

The Olori Ebi didn’t answer immediately.

He looked at each elder.

No one objected.

Finally, he spoke.

"We have to."

Folami’s grandfather’s eyes narrowed.

"Have to?"

The Olori Ebi nodded.

"The Oriyomi family has gone further than they needed to. They are offering their own daughter as a symbol of reconciliation."

He paused.

"Refusing would send a message."

"That we still hold a grudge."

"Exactly."

Another elder leaned forward.

"We cannot allow old blood to poison a new opportunity."

Folami’s grandfather’s jaw tightened.

"And Folami?"

"He is the only suitable member of his generation."

"He is not a bargaining piece."

"No one said he was."

The old man gave him a cold look.

"But that is exactly what you’re doing."

Nobody answered.

The Olori Ebi’s expression became solemn.

"We know this is difficult."

"Difficult?"

Folami’s grandfather gave a humorless laugh.

"My son died."

The room fell silent.

"My son."

He looked at each of them.

"Your brother’s son."

His gaze settled on the Olori Ebi.

"Your nephew. Your blood!"

The Olori Ebi lowered his eyes.

"And now, years later, after all of you decided there was nothing worth doing about it..."

His voice became quieter.

"...you are asking his son to marry into the family responsible for the death of his father."

"Not responsible."

One elder corrected quietly. "Both sides were responsible for the conflict."

Folami’s grandfather stared at him. "I know."

His voice carried no anger now.

That somehow made it worse. "I know exactly what happened."

He stood slowly. "I know the Oriyomis did not deliberately kill my son."

No one moved. "I know they lost someone too."

He straightened his robes. "And I know what this marriage could mean for the family."

The Olori Ebi looked up. "Then you understand why we must accept."

Folami’s grandfather stared at him for several seconds.

Then he nodded. "I understand."

The Olori Ebi released a breath.

"Will you tell Folami?"

The old man’s eyes hardened.

"Yes."

He turned toward the door.

"I’ll break the news to my grandson personally."

His hand touched the door.

Then he stopped.

Without turning around, he spoke.

"But before I leave, let me say something."

The four elders remained silent.

"You did nothing."

His voice was steady.

"You did nothing to avenge my son’s death."

Nobody looked at him.

"You did nothing for the boy who lost his father."

The elders lowered their heads.

"And now..."

He finally turned slightly, just enough for them to see the disappointment in his eyes.

"...you are pushing that same boy into a marriage."

The silence was suffocating.

"He may have a duty to this family."

His gaze passed over every ashamed face in the room.

"But this family failed its duty to him."

No one could answer.

Folami’s grandfather opened the door.

For a moment, it seemed as though someone might call him back.

No one did.

He stepped outside.

The door closed behind him.

And the four elders remained seated in silence, unable to meet one another’s eyes.l

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