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Although participation in the <Dungeon of the Deep Sea> conquest was said to be up to individual discretion, the government couldn't just stand by and watch.

If they allowed just anyone, it could lead to international embarrassment or leakage of combat power.

'And if they failed...'

Loss of combat power would be waiting.

It was obvious that public sentiment would worsen and the Fairy government would be criticized as a result.

Therefore, there was a need for the government to intervene and lead to ensure successful conquest.

The person leading that role was none other than...

"What's important in black dungeon conquest is teamwork ability. So let's allow only players with clan evaluation B or higher, party evaluation A or higher, and individual evaluation B or higher to apply. In other words, BAB grade or higher."

The leader of the 4th generation Twelve Seats, <Monarch > Noh Eun-ha.

He set application criteria after discussing with Fairy Lim Ga-eul.

"Including minus grades too?"

"Hmm... Yes, let's include them. Regardless of minus, zero, or plus distinction."

"Seems fine. Alright. Then after application? How do you plan to filter?"

"First, we'll look at individual skills, second, teamwork ability, and third, conduct a personality test. We can't have people with personality issues causing problems if we take them out carelessly."

"That's true, but... For you to bring up personality..."

Lim Ga-eul covers her mouth and giggles, trailing off as if teasing.

Eun-ha retorted with a blank stare.

"What's wrong with my personality? If I have personality issues, wouldn't the person who put me in this position have issues too?"

"It's a joke. Can't I joke around? You're no fun..."

"I'm not having any fun either. Let's just do our work."

"Right, that would be better."

Like that.

The two, who had been bickering for a moment, decided to focus on the meeting.

Time passed.

"We'll set the application criteria like this... How many of the Twelve Seats are you thinking of taking?"

"How many would the Fairy Lady like to take?"

"Since we're going to Italy anyway, wouldn't it be a shame not to meet Big Mama directly for negotiations? So one person skilled in administration, and three people participating in the conquest including you. Maximum four people. Any more would greatly hinder work."

"Four people... I think the same. For someone skilled in administration, I'm thinking of the <Star-Counting Witch>. She'll understand and act on the Fairy Lady's opinions well."

"You thought well. Certainly, we can trust and leave it to her. Good."

Lim Ga-eul nods.

She puts down her teacup.

"What about the other two? Will you select them from your clan?"

"I've thought about it, but I'm planning to go alone from Pandora."

Currently, there were a total of five Pandora Clan members active as 4th generation Twelve Seats including Eun-ha: Ryu Yeon-hwa, Jin Pa-rang, Han Chang-jin, and Noh Eun-ah.

So Eun-ha wanted to select from among the clan members he worked well with, but...

Unfortunately.

"Yeon-hwa, <Divine Spear> is currently pregnant."

"That's right. She's going to step down from the Twelve Seats soon because she's carrying someone's child, right? That seat was originally <Yamma >'s, Hyeon-cheol's seat, so Blaze Clan will take it over. It's very regrettable that a reliable player is stepping down, but in a way, it's fortunate that your clan's ratio has decreased. It's somewhat more balanced now."

"Ahem! Well, that's true. Although we had to fill it with our clan members at first because of Baek Seo-jin, it was getting awkward by now. <Divine Spear> is stepping down at an opportune time. While receiving congratulations from people."

"I've seen her face a few times since she's the disciple of the previous <Divine Spear>... It's quite emotional that that child has married someone and is even pregnant. But it's ruined by the fact that you're the partner. How many wives do you have..."

"...Let's stop here."

Mentioning Ryu Yeon-hwa's pregnancy makes him feel awkward.

Eun-ha deliberately coughed and wrapped up the topic.

"What about the other three?"

"It's because of newlyweds and marriage."

Eun-ha gave a bitter smile.

Currently, Noh Eun-ah and Han Chang-jin, who had just held their ceremony recently, were enjoying their newlywed life.

Just thinking about it made his insides boil.

'I'm getting angry again. Han Chang-jin...'

Eun-ha hated Han Chang-jin.

He wanted to forcibly take him along, newlywed or not.

He actually tried to do so.

However...

—Eun-ha, please... Let me have a peaceful newlywed life with Eun-ah.

—...Should I really just take you?

Han Chang-jin begged and pleaded to the point of being unsightly.

Above all.

—Do you really need Chang-jin? If you need him... I guess it can't be helped. It would be very lonely without you and without Chang-jin...

—...

Noh Eun-ah subtly expressed not to send Han Chang-jin while stirring Eun-ha's sympathy.

Of course, Eun-ha was shocked.

"What's so good about that guy... How can she take his side... How much did I struggle to revive noona..."

"I understand your feelings for Eun-ah, but isn't it time to graduate from that? You have wives and children now. For a player representing a country to be so petty, really petty. How did you allow Eun-ah's marriage?"

"That's right. I'm amazed at myself too. Why did I do that..."

"Still, it's a shame about Eun-ah. Tell the <Shadow King>, no, that guy not to make Eun-ah cry."

"The Fairy Lady has good eyes. At times like this, our hearts match well..."

Anyway.

In the end, for Noh Eun-ah's sake, Eun-ha had no choice but to give up on Han Chang-jin's forced participation.

Lastly, in Jin Pa-rang's case...

'To think that immature hyung is getting married, it's still surprising. Grandmother should have seen this...'

His marriage to <Healing Notes> Kim Mary was scheduled during the <Dungeon of the Deep Sea> conquest period.

So he couldn't tactlessly ask Jin Pa-rang to participate.

Jin Pa-rang seemed tempted, but...

—Hey, how can this hyung not follow you? If it's really necessary, I'll talk to Mary and postpone the wedding...

Eun-ha was horrified and stopped him.

—Hyung, are you crazy? What if Mary breaks up with you for that... I appreciate the thought, but I'll handle the conquest, so please just have a good wedding. There probably won't be another woman in your life who's as crazy about you as Mary.

—Huh? This kid is trying to put me down. Hey, that's gaslighting. If I look hard enough, someone like Mary... No, there won't be.

—Admit it?

—Yeah, I admit it. Sorry, I'll get married!

—I'm sorry too. That I can't attend the wedding...

At that time, Eun-ha was so worried that Jin Pa-rang might carelessly make a mistake with Kim Mary...

Fortunately, after persuading him, Eun-ha sighed in relief.

'That hyung is so unstable. I hope Mary keeps him in line well...'

He can only hope that Jin Pa-rang and Kim Mary's marriage will be happy and smooth.

Eun-ha snapped out of his reminiscence.

"So it seems I won't be able to draft the Twelve Seats from our clan."

"With joyous occasion after joyous occasion, it can't be helped."

"Noona's matter isn't a joyous occasion, you know?"

"Of course. Then back to the main point, who will the other two be?"

"I've already decided on one. The <Time Witch>."

"The reason?"

"She's fluent in several foreign languages, and she's an excellent supporter boasting outstanding skills in healing magic and support magic."

"Indeed, there's no one more suitable than her. What about the last person?"

"That's what I'm pondering."

Eun-ha calmly fell into thought.

He considers who would be the most needed talent for the conquest team among the remaining Twelve Seats.

Eventually reaching a conclusion, he opened his mouth.

"<Wind Mage> Chae Seon-woo player from Myeongwang Clan. I think a ranger skilled in information gathering and reconnaissance would be better."

"Hmm, <Wind Mage>... Will that be okay? That person, although their skills are recognized, they tend to try to slack off at every opportunity... If you want a ranger role, how about <Summoner > or <Silent > instead?"

KK Clan's caster, <Summoner > Kang Ye-sol.

And Tempest Clan's sniper, <Silent > Yoo Su-jin.

Eun-ha shook his head at the two people recommended by Lim Ga-eul.

"I acknowledge <Summoner >'s ability to summon beings from other dimensions for reconnaissance, but she's weak in improvisation. The mana consumption to maintain summons would be high too. And <Silent > is... You know too, Fairy Lady."

"Right... If <Wind Mage> is cunning, <Silent > is lazy."

"If I have to choose between the two, the cunning <Wind Mage> is better. And we can't send a sniper who mainly operates from the rear for reconnaissance."

"You're right. I'll admit it."

With this.

Eun-ha decided on the Twelve Seats who would join the <Dungeon of the Deep Sea> conquest.

<Star-Counting Witch> Song Yun-seo, <Time Witch> Pricis Memory, <Wind Mage> Chae Seon-woo.

The three who received the proposal unexpectedly accepted readily, it's said.

"I've been all around the country, but it's my first time abroad... That's nice. I can feel like I'm going on a trip too."

"If I can be of help, I should go. Italy... It's been a while. Don't worry about interpretation, leave it to me."

"Black dungeon conquest is a bit much, but I can't miss the chance to go on an overseas trip. Wow, I heard there are many beautiful women in Italy, I'm dying of curiosity?"

* * *

'Just when I thought I'd be living leisurely for a while, I'm back to being swamped with work...'

Now that the role given as the leader of the 4th generation Twelve Seats is roughly finished, it's time to fulfill the role as Pandora Clan Lord.

Eun-ha officially issued a document to recruit clan members to participate in the <Dungeon of the Deep Sea> conquest.

The first people to come were...

"Eun-ha! Take us with you!"

"Yeah... We want to go too..."

"...What?"

It was <Maestro of Star Castle> Byeok Hae-su and <Light Painter> Baek Hyeon-yul, who was half-carried on his arm.

Eun-ha couldn't help but be flustered by the sudden appearance of these two production-class rather than combat-class people.

He was also dumbfounded.

"No, why do you and Hyeon-yul want to go to the <Dungeon of the Deep Sea>?"

"We're not saying we want to enter the dungeon, we want to go to Italy."

"So why there?"

"The mana alloys in Italy are good, right? I want to go see for myself, and I'm curious how the maestros in that country work."

"I saw the Italian scenery Hae-su hyung showed me, it was pretty... I want to go draw pictures."

Byeok Hae-su rubbed the bridge of his nose with ash smeared on his face, as if he had just come out from working in the workshop.

Baek Hyeon-yul yawned while rubbing his sleepy eyes.

Eun-ha clicked his tongue.

'Hyeon-yul falling for Hae-su hyung's persuasion is one thing, but this hyung seems to have really set his mind on it...'

Byeok Hae-su had been quietly doing his work in the workshop without causing any trouble.

Since it was a request from such a person.

'I'd like to grant it if possible...'

The problem was how to ensure the safety of Byeok Hae-su and Baek Hyeon-yul who would have to stay and live in Italy while the conquest was ongoing.

They could be kidnapped by people who coveted their skills.

'Scouting offers would be natural.'

Eun-ha, whose thoughts reached that point, shook his head.

"I'm sorry, but it won't work. It's dangerous. Who will protect you and Hyeon-yul while the conquest team is in the dungeon? What if you get kidnapped?"

"I can protect myself. If you're really worried, just assign some trustworthy people as bodyguards."

"Hmm, bodyguards..."

"And while you're going to Italy, you'll have to deal with monsters appearing in the sea endlessly, but what if there's a problem with your devices? How will you fix them? Although other maestros will accompany you, do you think there's anyone who knows your devices as well as I do?"

"..."

Eun-ha couldn't answer.

It was a valid point.

Then Byeok Hae-su snorted as if to say 'See?'

"And Eun-ha, you said you're going to receive national treasures from Italy, two of them. Before entering the <Dungeon of the Deep Sea>."

"So?"

"If I go along, I could make a sword for you right there. You're not going to enter the dungeon and start the conquest right away anyway, right? You said you'd have about a month's leeway after arriving in Italy... That would be tight but sufficient time to make your sword."

"..."

"We can borrow a furnace there. If we ask Italy to look carefully, wouldn't there be a furnace as good as Hephaestus's furnace? And actually, you were probably worrying about having to enter the <Dungeon of the Deep Sea> with the powerless Dawn Sword, weren't you?"

"...That's true."

It would be a lie to say he wasn't swayed.

Eun-ha nodded.

'Hae-su hyung is right. It would be better to conquer the dungeon with a new sword rather than the Dawn Sword. And if he's there, equipment management would be easier too...'

Eun-ha seriously pondered.

Meanwhile, Byeok Hae-su, confident in his victory, raised the corners of his mouth.

Eventually, Eun-ha made his decision.

"Alright. I'll allow it."

"Great!"

"Yawn... Then can I go back to sleep now?"

Byeok Hae-su clenched his fist in joy, and Baek Hyeon-yul closed his eyes.

Eun-ha gave a bitter smile at their reactions.

Then he cautioned.

"But be careful of your personal safety, and make sure to be accompanied by people from us or the Italian government."

"You mean don't go around by ourselves? Alright, don't worry."

"Still, just in case... I'll assign a trustworthy bodyguard too."

"Oh, who?"

"Hermit noona."

"Hermit noona? Oh... If it's her, she's certainly reliable. I agree."

Currently an administrative officer of Pandora Clan, and before the regression, a member of exorcism as Agareth, Hermit.

She would be sufficient as a bodyguard.

"It's perfect timing as I needed an administrative officer to handle miscellaneous tasks. I can send Hermit noona as the representative."

It's a good personnel selection.

With that, Eun-ha summoned Hermit and explained the situation

to her.

Hermit looked disgruntled.

"You want me as a bodyguard? As I've said many times, I came in as an administrative officer..."

"I know, I know. That's why I'm asking you to handle administrative work too."

"..."

"I'll give you a separate bodyguard allowance too. It'll be substantial. Ah, and travel expenses and hazard pay."

"And travel costs..."

"I'll give it, I'll give it all."

"I heard the Italian scenery is quite pretty, I did want to go see it once. Alright, I'll go."

Fortunately.

Persuading Hermit wasn't difficult.

Thanks to this, Eun-ha was able to ease his worries.