My Dungeon Life: Rise of the Slave Harem - My Dungeon Life – Chapter 1388-1390

Chapter 1388

“She’s there!”

“Master?”

“Sapphire…”

Sapphire blinked. “I’m Sapphire.”

“What I mean is… when Sapphire, I mean the other Sapphire, when the little girl used her spell to bring everyone back, Twilight attacked her, destroying her lore and keeping you from absorbing it.”

Sapphire looked away. “I’m aware of that… my memories of my mother are limited. She doesn’t seem to have the same prejudices my father had, but seeing the sadness in her eyes over a daughter that doesn’t recognize her, it bothers me.”

“You spent your life trying to put your soul back together, and just as you were reaching the last few pieces, a piece was taken from you and destroyed. I understand.”

“It’s… not that important.” Sapphire bit her lip. “It’s been much harder to find pieces of my lore, and some of what I find might not even be me anymore. There are so many holes in my memory. I don’t even remember how I was shattered in the first place.

My eyes widened. “Really? It wasn’t Twilight?”

She shrugged. “I don’t believe it was. I recall living on the surface. I recall a tribe of deep dwarves. Then darkness. The next memory I had was Mary. Even my memories of the Deep and mother I only gained in the Twilight Dungeon.”

I shook my head. “You’re wrong about one thing though. It does matter. This is your history. This is your family. You need to at least remember where you came from. It’ll help you decide where you’re going.”

She gave a sad smile. “What was done, was done.”

“Or, maybe there is still a chance!”

She frowned. “What are you saying?”

“I’ve been digesting the lore like you recommended. This isn’t the best way. It’s sort of like tossing a locked diary into a blender to open it up and read the contents. What comes out is scattered and broken. However, there were things in here that King Diorite decided your people needed. I’m also learning a bit more about how he built his dungeon to block Twilight from the Infernal Dungeon. My Dungeon Builder has leveled a bit just by understanding how he built dungeons and incorporating that knowledge.

“Okay, but what does that have to do with me?”

“Oh, right! It was his dungeon that created the necromancer Sapphire. She might have contained a small fragment of your soul, but the lore and history were part of the dungeon. Some of it came from King Diorite, and some of it came from you. What I mean to say is that I found the piece of lore that belongs to her. I’m not saying it is Sapphire… it’s more like a Sapphire template. I could create a generic dwarf necromancer.

“I’m not sure I understand how this will help.” Sapphire frowned.

“I’ve been watching other dungeon masters. My Dungeon Master level is up to eleven just with my passive use, but combined with Dark Priest and Dungeon Builder, I believe I can create a copy of lore and give it to you.”

“A-a copy?” She made a face. “I’m a blacksmith, Master. I’m not interested in being a necromancer.”

I nodded. “You’re right. Normally, what I’m talking about would be the method to create job tokens. I’m still not certain I could make one without directly seeing someone else make one. However, in this case, I’m talking about recording what’s left of your memories, as well as the memories of you.”

Realization finally began to dawn on her face. “You can recover my memories of my childhood?”

I held up my hands. “I can record the lore and affix it to your soul. It’d be like a job, although there wouldn’t be levels. Right now, all you can remember are shadows, but with those memories as a reference, you may be able to gradually recall your youth… at least to the level any normal person remembers their life.”

I understood what Sapphire meant when she said it wasn’t important. How much did anyone remember their childhood? How much of it was even correct? We glorified things and half-remembered others. This wouldn’t bring that brave little girl back. However, this would at least give her some memories of her parents.

“Oof!” I made a noise as I was suddenly hugged tightly by Sapphire.

Although she wasn’t showing her face to me, the sniffling I was pretty sure she was crying. As much as she wanted to hide it, this was something that meant a lot to her. That’s why I had gone out of my way to look for it in the first place. With a light smile, I reached out and held her.

Chapter 1389

“Lapis says you’re the one I should talk to.”

Although dwarves didn’t necessarily have to fit the stereotype of being short with big beards, this guy certainly did. He was an old many with a grey beard, yet if you looked at his facial features, he probably only looked in his forties. However, for a dwarf, that could mean he was over a thousand years old. He had his feet up on a table in an area of my dungeon that had seemingly been turned into a tavern, and he had a mug in his hands.

“That depends on who is asking.” He responded grumpily.

“They say you’re a Master Blacksmith. They say that other Master Blacksmiths are only apprentices compared to you.”

“Is that what they say?” He turned and spit before taking another drink.

“I see… so it was all just words.”

“Geh!” He scowled. “What are you saying?”

“Sapphire said that the deep dwarves were great magic blacksmiths capable of creating powerful weapons.” I shrugged. “I believed her because of her talent, but perhaps she was just covering for you guys.”

There was the scrapping of several tables, and I had seemingly gotten the attention of every dwarf in this tavern. As much as Lapis was complaining about how the dwarves were bored and ready to fight, that was a bit of a fib. Bored dwarves seemed to be quite content drinking and acting boisterously. I had determined that her pleas had more to do with giving the dwarves something to do so they stopped fighting and causing trouble.

Three hundred dwarves were suddenly displaced. I had already put the miners to work harvesting materials and creating paths. Those that would be considered soldiers watched and kept them safe as they worked. Of course, I also exuded my dungeon to keep them out of trouble. As long as they didn’t wander too far away from our territory, they’d be relatively safe.

However, with the minders and guards gone, that left the blacksmiths. They were led by this guy whose name was Gabbro. He was the best, but that also meant that he was somewhat difficult. He had to believe you were worth his time before he’d offer you his services. Also, as it turned out, he was Lapis’s brother and by extension Sapphire’s biological uncle.

“Are you talking about that niece of mine?” He frowned. “She hasn’t even been to the deep forges. How could she know a thing about the art of smithing.”

“I personally witnessed her making a silvthril blade. That blade was used to defeat a demon lord.” I grinned.

“Silvthril?” He burst out laughing. “You think silvthril is anything? I make silvthril blades for practice!”

The other dwarves burst out laughing as well, but the smile on my face didn’t leave. “Oh? Well, when the darkness attacks, it’d be those silvthril blades that could keep us safe.”

I had already long reasoned out that in a battle against the darkness, we’d need silvthril weapons and a lot of them. They were the only thing that would damage those wraiths permanently. Although I had gotten rid of the dwarf wraiths, I had no doubt she had access to more.

“Look, boy… I appreciate you helping us and all.” He held up his hands. “But a Master’s hands are something special. If we were to work with inferior goods, then we’d lose our edge. I’ve retired from doing any menial job. If you’ve got something better for me, I’ll consider it. That junk sword of yours, for example. I might be able to fix it up a bit.”

“Junk sword!” Alysia cried out, her sword body appearing in my hand suddenly. “Did he just call me a junk sword?”

“Hehe… you’re all looks, no function. Why, without that soul controlling it, it’s barely even a weapon. If you’re done being just a pretty decoration to hang on a wall, you can beg me and maybe this daddy will make you into a real sword.”

I stopped Alysia from lunging at him by pulling her back into my hand, keeping the smile on my face, while giving her a quick reassurance. I found myself somewhat agreeing with him. After her soul was temporarily pulled away from the sword, it left me wanting. It was only a testament to Alysia’s strength and ability that the sword functioned so well.

“You got to understand. The enemy is coming. This is something that involves the fate of all of us.”

He took a swing and pursed his lips thoughtfully, and then nodded to himself. “Since I’m feeling generous, I’ll lend you our apprentice blacksmiths.”

Those listening all nodded in agreement. I had already been warned that dwarves were stubborn, and these dwarves had been the most stubborn of the lot. Just because I had rescued them didn’t mean that that would change.

“You’re concerned you lost your touch,” I responded, standing up. “Never mind then. I’ll consult someone who still has the skill.”

“Oi! What did you just say?” He slammed down his drink, finally pulling his feet off the table.

“I’ll just put Sapphire on the job. She’s skilled and capable. Honestly, they should be done by someone I can trust.”

He put on a vicious grin. “You think you’re going to pull me out of retirement?”

“You have nothing to prove to me.” I shrugged, leaning back. “Although Sapphire things you’re blacksmithing skill is embellished at best.”

Chapter 1390

“What did you do?” Sapphire cried out.

“I just made a friendly little competition.”

“Against Gabbro, the world’s greatest blacksmith?” Sapphire’s voice sounded a bit panicked.

“Has your memory already started returning?” I asked in surprise.

“No, but it doesn’t need to return to have heard about Gabbro! He’s so famous that his works on the surface are still talked about among blacksmiths to this day.”

“He’s that amazing?”

Lapis nodded. “Daughter is correct. My brother is synonymous with blacksmithing. He’s the reason people say dwarves are good blacksmiths. Those who have trained under him have all become famous. Before the fall of the deep dwarves, we’d get a few surface-dwellers every year that would come down to apprentice under him. Of course, most were turned away, and he reserved his most incredible techniques to deep dwarves only. Even before the fall, he had stopped working and gone into retirement.”

“I see… you know, that would have been good information to know an hour ago!” I growled.

Lapis’s cheeks turned red. “You asked me who the best blacksmith among the survivors was. I simply said my brother was their leader and they’d likely all follow his lead. I’m honestly impressed you even got him to pick up a hammer. I haven’t seen him hold a hammer in years. It’ll be so nostalgic…”

“Master… I trained for a while in that dungeon, but I barely have and level in Magic Blacksmith and almost no training with magical metals. I barely worked for a few weeks outfitting your army before the demon lord attacked.”

“We agreed to a simple item. Just a silvthril dagger. Um… actually, I have no clue how we’re going to tell who is better.” I frowned. “I suppose we need an impartial judge.”

“Master! I’m done for! There is no way I can win against him.”

“We might have a chance. Don’t forget, you have me! With my Slave Master ability, I can amplify your powers. He said you’re free to pick an assistant you want, so if we work together, we might have a chance.”

Sapphire lifted her head, looking slightly optimistic for a second, but then she shook her head. “No! It’s useless. Even with your state boosts, skill is skill!”

“My brother may be stubborn, but he’s not malicious. Even if you don’t win, it’ll probably be fine.”

“Uhh… actually, we need to win.” I coughed.

“What? Why?” Sapphire asked.

“Well, I mean, you see… to get him to take the bet, I had to offer up something of sufficient value to entice him to compete.”

“What did Master promise him?” Sapphire asked, immediately crossing her arms.

“Ahh… well… it sort of appeared after I started digesting the lore King Diorite left me. I didn’t even realize it could be stored in such a way. In retrospect, I don’t think he was trying to give me a cheat to fighting Twilight. I’m pretty sure this was the main reason he had handed me that piece of lore in the first place.”

“What are you talking about?” She frowned.

I sighed, and then pulled both girls into my Soul World.

“This is…the place we resurrected in…” Lapis frowned.

“This is my Soul World. It’s like an oversized inventory with an environment. Every dungeon has a treasure room at the end. Some dungeons hold onto their treasures, while others consume them in a desperate attempt to survive longer. Technically, every piece of treasure can be broken into miasma to keep the dungeon going a bit longer, but it’s not always worth the cost, and depending on the dungeon master, you can be left with a small treasure after defeating a dungeon.”

“Yes, we’re well aware of how dungeons work.” Sapphire frowned.

“Yeah… well, you dad also kept his own… treasury.”

I had hidden it just in case, but now I caused some trees to part, revealing a massive pile of resources. It was a variety of rare metals.

“That’s…” Sapphire’s mouth fell open.

“That’s the deep dwarf treasury!” Lapis finished. “When he fled the capital, he must have taken the treasury of precious metals with him! This is a kingdom’s worth of resources!”

“Wait! Why are you showing us this?” Sapphire spun to me.

I coughed. “Well, I might have bet it… on us winning the blacksmith competition.”