Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

Fennel stated as he once again stretched his hand containing the space ring towards Simon.

When Simon was about to reject the offer once again, Irene's tranquil voice sounded out from beside him.

"I know that you have already felt the sincerity and honesty in his words. His decision to pass it to you represent the thoughts and voices of all the Forest Spring Spirits currently on this floor. Instead of simply rejecting it, why not keep it in your protection for the time being. That way, the spirit orbs would be in safe hands and they won't have to worry about it being misused by someone. Plus there is no disadvantage in just keeping it with you is there?".

Even Irene was insisting that he keeps the spirit orbs, giving it some thought Simon finally decided to relent and keep the ring with him.

He was aware that Irene had said all that just so he wouldn't be burdened by the ideals and convictions that he had set for himself. Simon knew that sometimes being too headstrong about something wasn't a good thing.

Though he had no use for the Spirit Orbs, there was no denying that it might be helpful to him in the future. Taking the space ring from Fennel, Simon gave its contents a quick go through.

Inside the ring, there were seventy spirit orbs, low tier equipments, rations and gold. The spirit orbs were plundered from the Forest Spring Spirits while the rest were the possesions of Laris.

Simon simply kept the ring in his inventory. When their discussion was over, Cecilia along with a woman brought the tea for them. Simon remembered that the woman was her aunt Daphne.

A scented aroma came from the freshly brewed tea and assaulted their nose. Looking at the tea, he was quite curious to find its taste as this would be his first time tasting tea after coming to this world.

He wanted to know if the tea here was similar to the ones he used to have back on earth or was it different.

"Big brother here is yours," Cecilia said serving the tea.

Holding the cup in his hand, Simon felt the familiar scent coming off from the tea and before he even knew it, he was sipping off from it. Immediately, the fatigue he had accumulated from the past week of continuous training, started draining away from his body and his tensed mind relaxed quite a bit.

To think that the tea would have such an effect, the tea leaves used would be quite extraordinary. Apart from that, Simon also felt that the water used to brew tea was from the pond of serenity whose water had the added effect of calming one's mind.

While he was admiring the effects of the tea, he soon realised that his cup had been emptied. Cecilia who saw that her brother really liked the tea she brewed, couldn't help but display a complacent smile.

She pored out another cup of tea for him before asking "Big brother, Grandpa Fennel are you done with your discussion?".

Fennel who saw how eager Cecilia was to get a compliment for her work, smiled and replied "Hoho, we are just finished with our discussion. You chose the best time to serve the tea".

"Hehe… Big brother, elder sister did you like the tea?".

Simon replied with an honest "yeah" while Irene nodded her head and silently drank her tea.

While Simon was thinking of taking some of the tea leaves they had grown back to his main floor, a window suddenly popped up in front of him.

Intruder's Alert. A group of twenty outsiders have invaded the dungeon. Race- Humans, Current Progress- Floor 1. Average Level- 180.

It wasn't only him, Similar windows had pooped up in front of Irene and Cecilia too since they were assigned as the Guardians of the dungeon.

Simon creased his brows but didn't seem fazed at all. He knew that his dungeon was bound to be discovered sooner or later especially after he let those two humans get out of the forest. It wouldn't come as a surprise to him if the words about his dungeon is already circulating within the nearby city.

Irene didn't have much reaction either when the window popped up but that couldn't be said for Cecilia. The moment she read the information displayed on the window, she became panicked and her face was masked with dread.

Humans, to her who had lived most of her life within the confines of the village, the very first human she saw was a terrible bunch. With the nightmarish experience she had, it was difficult for her to not panic when she knew that humans were going to invade the place they are staying on once again.

Seeing her change her expression so suddenly, aunt Daphne who was beside her, couldn't help but speak in concern "What is wrong Cecilia? Why are you suddenly making such a worried face?".

Even Fennel noticed the obvious change in her facial expression which up until this moment was beaming with joy.

Cecilia didn't answer them immediately and instead looked towards Simon in worry "Big brother…".

When his clothes were being tucked, Simon finally reacted and saw the sickly worried face of the girl he took in as his little sister. Patting her hands with his wide hands, he revealed a wide(wicked) smile towards her and assured.

"There is no need to worry. My dungeon Laplace is not that easy to conquer. Especially when I am already expecting their arrival. Although they came earlier than I expected, it makes no difference. Rest assured none of them will be able to pass through the floors above and you also have me to protect you all. There is no way things are going to turn like the last time".

Hearing his confident reply, Cecilia finally dropped some of her worries and her wildly thumping heart relaxed a little. 'Big brother is here is with us, there is no way things would turn out like the last time. The adventurers have to descend down all the floors above us before reaching this place'

The fact that their village was now located inside the dungeon, gave her even more assurance.

From their conversation, Fennel and Daphne became aware that something was going on and therefore they asked "Lord Simon if I may ask… what is the matter?".

Simon pondered over it before deciding to tell them about the situation. Now that they have taken him as their lord and have established a village in his dungeon thus becoming one of its inhabitants, the matter at hand also concerned all of them.

But since he already planned and prepared his dungeon for a situation such as this, he didn't want them to panic over it for no reason.

Simon tried to describe the situation as positively as he could and reassured them that no harm would come to the Forest Spring Spirits and their village.

Fennel who was the eldest among here living for more than two hundred years, he took all of it in with a calm face. No hint of panic could be seen in his old wrinkled face.

"I see Lord Simon has already prepared for a situation such as this. Then that means that we have no need to worry. This is a dungeon after all; it is not unusual to see people delving into it. As your loyal subordinates, we are ready to help you any time if there is ever any need" his composed voice relaxed other around him and Daphne too eased up a little.

It was as he had said, before coming here they were all informed that they would be living inside a dungeon, under the protection of Simon.

The dungeon was a place filled with riches from the perspective of the humans and they frequently delve inside said dungeons to look for opportunities. The appearance of the humans was sudden this time but it'll soon become a daily occurrence.

More than that, the Dungeon Master himself said that the dungeon was perfectly prepared to receive the bunch of them. How can they doubt his words? By now, Simon's position in the hearts of the forest Spring Spirits had already solidified to the point of blind faith.

Putting his teacup down on the table, Simon stood up. "Alright, now that the matters regarding which I came to the Forest Spring Spirit floor had been settled, it time for me to go back" saying that, he turned to leave.

Irene too silently followed suit, she knew Simon very well and thus was aware that this sudden situation had ignited the determination within him to get stronger once again.

Irene wasn't wrong, Simon right now couldn't think anything other than training himself to get stronger as soon as possible. The adventurers right now were around level 180, in the future, there might be… no, there will be even more stronger ones coming to conquer his dungeon.

If he stayed the way he is right now, then when the time comes he wouldn't be able to save anyone. Much less keep his words with Aldebaran to protect the Forest Spring Spirits.

"Big brother I'm also coming back. As one of the chosen Guardians, it is my duty to help the dungeon master protect the dungeon" Cecilia said intently, the girl that was cowering a few moments was nowhere to be seen.

It wasn't only her even Fennel and Daphne bowed their heads and pleaded "Lord Simon if there is anything we can do with our powers please let us know.. We shall do our best to manage the dungeon and protect the peace of our village".