Fantasy Dungeon Builder's Harem

"Tuerien Ironbane," Fara said as she stood before a map of the surrounding area. It was mostly of the Kingdom of Myreman, the nation I had appeared in. Though, my dungeon lay on the fringes of the country. "That is the most likely candidate to send a death dragon to attack you, Lord Leo."

"Okay, why?" I asked. It was that evening after the attack. I had restored to life all my monster girls who had died. The harpies were patrolling the skies a half-day's ride from Astovin. We would have far more warning this time. "Why him?"

"Yes," Siwang asked. He sat at my meeting table, too, at the other end of the table. His monster girl companions occupied the seats by him. I had my companions, plus my claimed companions—Baaghi, Paanee, Feya, Smerta, Paetu, Esclava, and Vilkas. Halia and Kassie were in attendance along with Mayor Bevlin who represented the Astovinians. "Why?"

"He is the most powerful and dangerous dungeon builder to us, Lord Leo," Fara said. The elf's ears twitched as she traced down the map. She went south, past the estates of the troublesome Lord Shorvin to the capital of Myreman, Myrecilla. She went further south and stopped. "This is about where Tuerien Ironbane's dungeon lies. He started out with Metal, gained Fire, and now has Thunder and Death."

"That's not proof that he sent a death dragon," said Halia. "I maintain it was Fuegin. He is the most powerful dungeon builder alive. The odds that he doesn't have a dragon are staggering."

"You hate Fuegin," said Lana Fulmine. "That could be clouding your judgment."

"He knows about this dungeon," said Halia, her arms folded stubbornly across her armor. "He has been watching you, Lord Leo. Keep tracks on you."

"This Tuerien can be, too," said Crystal. "And he's a lot closer to us than Fuegin is, right?"

Fara nodded.

"We have to be careful of any powerful dungeon builder, honey," Mom said. "We just killed Sulanga Stormfury. A powerful dungeon builder. One stronger than you were. You're building a reputation, and Tuerien has to see how far your reach is. Sharithin is no farther from here than his dungeon is, right, Fara."

"They are comparable," Fara said.

"Yep!" Garnet said. She bounced up and down on her seat beside me. "Big Brother Dark Lord is a threat to all evil dungeon builders like Tuerien."

"And Fuegin," Halia muttered.

"So we have to be prepared to take on Tuerien," added Garnet. "He's a threat."

"You think Leo is a dark lord," Terra said, shaking her head.

"But not an evil dark lord," Garnet said. "He's a good dark lord!"

Morana nodded while the mayor furrowed his brow and glanced at my sister. I sighed. I wished she wouldn't say that stuff in front of people outside the harem. I trusted Mayor Bevlin, he was a good man who had sworn to me, but there had to be something in the back of his mind that made him wonder if he made the right decision to serve me.

And hearing me being called a dark lord wasn't going to help.

"Garnet, let's cool the fun and games," I said. "This is serious."

"I know it's serious!" she snapped back at me even as she pouted. "I do know. I'm not a child. I just like to make it fun. It's better then. A game. It's not..." She swallowed, her face paling. "It's just easier, okay."

I took her hand and squeezed.

"Okay, who is Fuegin," Alizee asked. "He sounds super dangerous."

"He killed my father," Halia said. "He controls much of the western part of the continent. The most deadly dungeon builder in a thousand years."

"Oh, no," Alizee gasped.

"And one who came to me with the hand of friendship," I said. "He wants to find a way to understand why we're here."

"You trust him?" Alizee asked.

"No," said Crystal. "That's why Leo hasn't told Fuegin about the shrines."

My cheeks burned as I said, "I... am cautious with him. But he's never given me a reason to think he was a threat. Not so long as he finds me useful, I think."

"He met with the twins when they first appeared," Smerta said. "Once. I don't know what they talked about."

"I didn't know that," Feya said.

"It was before you showed up," said Smerta. "I doubt those two dumb-asses wanted to work with him, arrogant pricks. Led didn't even tell Ziamili about the shrine, let alone Fuegin. The guy probably tried the same thing he did with Leo. Probably tries it on a lot of new dungeon builders."

"Just looking for a sap," I said, wincing.

"You're not a sap," Crystal said. She paused, smiling. "You're a rube."

"Thanks," I said, shaking my head as I grinned at her.

"Sulanga feared him," Vilkas said. "But he also feared Tuerien more. Their territory was close to each other. Well, close enough."

"But I never saw a death dragon in Tuerien's territory," said Paetu. "I never even saw any dragon." Her face tightened. "I was Sulanga's first. With that sadistic pig from the start." The djinn sighed. "I hope the real me doesn't have to put up with him any longer. Jealous prick. His brother was the better man. That's why I married him and not Sulanga."

I stared at her. "Do you miss your husband?"

Paetu's face contorted. "No, not really. I'm not the whole me, right? I'm the one that is willing to serve to keep myself from feeling pain. I would serve any, even him."

"Abusive bastard," spat Vilkas. Her lightning form crackled with fury. "I always wanted to fire him, he never gave me an excuse. Then he brought me here."

"As much as it saddens me to hear how Sulanga treated you two," Ms. Trueno said, "that doesn't solve if this is from Fuegin or Tuerien."

"The dragon went right for the entrance to Siwang's dungeon," Mom said. "Right to it. She didn't hesitate. Wasn't distracted. There was too much purpose. I think she was sent to eliminate him."

"Great," Siwang said. "Why me?"

"You swore to me," I said. "You're giving me more power. Imagine if you had to face two dungeon builders. I fought the Twins. It was a costly fight. If Led hadn't been as cautious—"

"A coward," muttered Feya.

"—and been more aggressive, I might not be here." I glanced down the table to Siwang. "That makes our alliance dangerous."

"But I'm weak," Siwang gasped. "Sure, I have three glyphs, but I only have Beginner Magic and Level 1 monster girls. My forces stood no chance against that dragon."

"Then we need to power you up. Get you another mana vein. Then you'll get stronger." I leaned back. "And we have to send your monster girls out to attack weak but dangerous dungeon builders." I hated this parasitical means of gaining power, but if more than that death dragon had attacked us... "We can build up your forces."

"I've been searching," said Siwang. "I can't find any mana veins, either."

I groaned at something. "Jindag's dungeon. I know where that is. It's up near your crystal. You should be able to claim it with your dungeon."

"Oh, no," Fara said. "He has claimed Jindag's mana vein. That's the one he occupied when he appeared. Not the same portion of the vein, but their dungeons are relatively close together."

I stared at Fara.

"I was curious and talked with your wildhounds," said Fara. "But since Siwang already had it, what was the point in telling you?"

"Well, Mthunzi's is out there," I said. "I never did learn where his dungeon was located. On the other side of the valley. Look west of Astovin, Siwang."

Siwang nodded. "Thank you."

"I should have thought of them earlier," I said. There was too much to keep track of. So much to do. So many monster girls that needed my attention. I shifted, feeling so stretched thin.

"And once more, Massster, we come back to who attacked usss?" hissed Paanee. My naga swayed next to Baaghi.

"I don't want to think it is Fuegin..." I admitted.

"Your gut is telling you he's not to be trusted, Lord Leo," Halia said, leaning forward. "Trust your gut. You've kept back the shrines for a reason."

"That still doesn't mean he sent the dragon," I said. "I want more than doubts. I want concrete proof that Tuerien or Fuegin or someone else sent the death dragon."

"Send scouts," Vilkas said. "Let me lead your wildhounds south to Tuerien's lands."

"I like the idea," Alizee said, the cheerleader leaning back.

"Go for it, dirty boy," Crystal said. "We need intelligence. Let's get it. That's what Hagane would say."

"It is," Hagane said.

"A sound idea, Lord Leo," Mayor Bevlin said. "Fuegin is a terrifying enemy. I would make sure he is one before acting rashly."

Garnet nodded and so did our mother. Mrs. Lucina and Ms. Trueno voiced their agreement. Siwang was for it along with his mother. Terra drummed her fingers while Baaghi looked disappointed she didn't come up with the idea.

"Fine, go," I said.

"We'll leave at one, Lord Leo," Vilkas said and rose, her electric body pushing back her chair. She marched out of the room, her voice ringing out to the monster girls for the wildhounds to meet her at the entrance to my dungeon.

The main one.

"It's a good idea, Lord Leo," Kassie said. "We need to worry about Tuerien. If he is that powerful and so close to you, he'll be a threat."

"He's between us and the capital," said Halia, shaking her head. "One of the largest armies in the world is found there. Myrecilla has never fallen to the dungeon builders. The king hordes his might there, protecting it and the countryside for three days around it. Tuerien isn't a threat to us."

"Let's find out," I said and sighed. I was exhausted. "Anything else?"

When no one said anything, I was relieved. I wanted to get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow, I would start making my Level 3 monster girls. Hopefully, there would be no new disaster that would distract me.

I would love just a week of peace. A month might be too much to ask for, but a week? I could get a week, right?

Siwang marched into his living quarters with his three companions. Today had frightened him more than anything else. He had nearly died. The dragon had come within a heartbeat of killing him. He had a fresh start in this world, but what would it matter if he could be so easily slain.

"Leo's right," Siwang said to his mother and the other two monster girls. He glanced at his wraith, lampetia, and cyclops. "I have to get stronger. I need another mana vein."

"He said search west of town," Mother said. The wraith swept forward and rubbed at his shoulders. "In the morning, you can begin."

"No," Siwang said, pulling away from her. "I have to do this now."

He marched into his Vault where the Soul sat up on her crystal. The dusky-skinned and motherly little woman smiled at him. He clasped it and sunk his awareness into it. The menus opened as he accessed his interface.

"West," he whispered and sent his tunnels out in that direction.

He had to get stronger to help his friend. There was no other choice. He would be worthy of this alliance. Get Level 2 Monster Girls. Then Level 3. He would become as strong as Leo. They would protect his world together.

It made Siwang feel like a superhero. He had been given power. He would use it.

So he searched for hours and hours until he could not stand any longer. He tried to be methodical, to find this dungeon, but sleep weighed down on him. He released the crystal without finding anything and stumbled into his mother's waiting embrace.​