Fantasy Dungeon Builder's Harem

"Get to the north wall now!" Crystal's little brother shouted in her mind. "You and your yuki-onna. All the monster girls to the wall right now!"

"Fuck," growled Crystal. She broke into a run, her surviving yuki-onna rushing with her.

She reached the main street that led to the administration building. Halia and her salamanders appeared from a side-street. Crystal's mother burst out of an alley with her three basilisks. Morana joined them while Lana, Garnet, and Vaivory soared over them

The group ran fast.

Fear thudded in Crystal's heart. She had heard the report from Marwo on how many monster girls were coming. Twice what they had barely defeated. She didn't see how any of them were surviving today.

Just so long as Leo survives and can close the dungeon. If he can do that, then we're fine. We just have to hold them back.

Crystal would. She would drive off these bastards for the halflings, for her family, for her little brother. She was born for this. Her life in the other world had been empty. Boys, parties, clothes, TikTok videos and Instagram posts.

Nothing that mattered.

This did. She was terrified and determined.

Leo turned to race to the wall after getting everyone moving.

Hagane grabbed his robed arm and yanked him short. He turned to face her, his flesh transformed into granite. He gripped his lightning spear in a tight hand, his brow furrowing in question at the animated statue.

"What?" Leo asked her.

"Where do you think you are going?" she demanded, arching a metallic eyebrow at him.

"The wall," he shouted, pointing to it rising over the buildings. "We have to hold him there long enough for Kassie to get the halflings out."

"No," Hagane said. "Your monster girls have that task. Your job is to be ready to activate the Void Crystal the moment you can."

"I'm the strongest one here," Leo growled at her. "You can't expect me not to be there. You'll need me to keep them off."

"No," Hagane said. "Halia, you need to protect Lord Leo. Get him into the dungeon. You, Kassie, Isatu, and he are the last line of defense. Leave the guarding of the city wall to the monster girls."

"Hagane!" Leo growled in shock and anger. "That's not where I'm going to be."

Hagane cupped Leo's face and stared into his eyes. "I know you can command me to do differently, but this is the logical thing to do. We come back. You don't. And you're the only one who can close off the dungeon."

Leo stared at her in shock. She kissed him.

Her eyes closed as she savored the warmth of his lips. They were so magnificent. This thrill rippled through the metallic girl's body. She savored the kiss, her fingers stroking his granite cheeks. The fear diminished for a moment.

"I love you, Leo Baldwin," Hagane said. "I am your animated statue. Trust my advice."

"Yeah," he groaned and nodded. "You're right."

She smiled, glad he listened to logic.

Ms. Trueno watched the kiss Hagane planted on Leo's lips. Then her student nodded and headed for the dungeon. She was so proud of him. He was making the hard choice. To send his women to fight. His pride would want him leading the battle.

But a commander had to stay in the rear, out of the fray of combat. You couldn't see the entire battle when you were fighting to stay alive in one small part of it. It was why you never saw generals on the front lines. Or if they were there, then things had gone badly.

It wasn't cowardice. It was a necessity.

As he headed off to the dungeon, Ms. Trueno glanced to the wall. It would do nothing for the thirty flying monster girls heading for the city, and Garnet, Lana, and Vaivory were the only fliers left. They would not last long.

Ms. Trueno didn't see much odds of their success.

I'm going to die, she thought. The other monster girls didn't view that as a problem. They would come back. She would come back. So long as her student lived.

She gripped the hope that they could pull this off as she headed to the wall. The others were arriving at the gate at the north side of the city. All the survivors. Ms. Trueno took in a deep breath as she faced them all.

"Okay," Ms. Trueno said, clapping her hands. Someone had to be in charge. There had to be a teacher leading the classroom. She looked out at the monster girls. "Baaghi, you, the werebears, the orcs, and the basilisks are going to hit the ground forces when they burst through the gate. Strike hard. Distract them. Make it hard for them to kill us."

"That is a good plan," Hagane said. "But the sky."

Ms. Trueno rubbed her arms. She glanced up. "Okay, this is what we do."

"Sorry, Lord Leo!" Marwo screamed in all their minds. "They'll be on the city--"

Ms. Trueno's stomach sank at the words cutting off. Marwo was dead. They didn't have much time to prepare.

Halia broke away from the reinforcements heading north and rushed to the building in the east. She ran, her endurance holding out. Lady Sherida blessed her limbs. She reached the dungeon itself, rushing through the stairs.

It was alive with halflings. Their voices filled the air with a cacophony of sounds. Shouts echoed. Some halflings were running up and embracing friends and family as they choked the tunnel, waiting for their turn to get to Astovin.

"Make way!" Halia cried. "Make way!"

"It's Lady Halia the Paladin!" a child cried. "Lord Leo's knight-champion!"

Halia blinked at that. She didn't think that any had heard of her.

"Anguin's mighty daughter!" another shouted. "Is that your father's Blessed Blade? Will you smite Sulanga down with it in Lord Leo's name?"

She swallowed. Her cheeks warmed with embarrassment. She nodded to them as she pushed by them.

"Lady Halia! Lady Halia!"

She reached the center where Kassie sent another group of halflings away. From the northern tunnel, shouts rose. The halflings were clapping. Cheering. "LORD LEO! LORD LEO! LORD LEO!"

Her lord and lover appeared, looking majestic in his gray robes. His spear gripped in his hand. Lightning flickered in the enchanted weapon. He glanced to her, nodded. He looked serious. Worried. He glanced up at the ceiling.

"Like standing in the throne room as they deal with the adventurers," muttered Lord Leo.

"Only this is more serious," said Halia, looking around. So many halflings left to funnel through. How long will it take?

"Stop gawking at Lord Leo and get on the circle," Kassie shouted. The mage seemed to tower over her fellow halflings. "Move it! Move it!"

"This is going to take too long," Leo growled.

If one of the enemies gets in the dungeon... If Sulanga...

Halia wasn't sure they would survive today. Leo was strong, resourceful, but Sulanga had access to more advanced magic. Who knew what sort of spells he could call upon. And his monster girls were powerful.

"Lord Leo," Isatu said. The dragon ran up, anxiety on her red-scaled face. She quivered there.

He put his hand on her head, rubbing at her black hair between her horns. He scratched her head. Her wings fluttered. The fear in her eyes faded. She looked up at him with such hope. He stared at her, thinking.

"You are the very last resort," he said. "I want you to wait to the south."

"Yes, Lord Leo," she said. "Can't I wait with you?"

He shook his head. "I'm sorry, Isatu." He kissed her on the mouth. She groaned into it. He broke it and said gently, "Go."

"Yes, Lord Leo," the dragon pouted. She headed south, the halflings whispering as they stared at her. Did they know what she was?

Halia hoped they didn't. If it got out Lord Leo had a dragon, it would only encourage more powerful adventurers to attack him. And Halia wasn't ready for that. She barely had begun putting together her plan to have adventurers.​