My Guardian System: The Trader

Jem was quite surprised by what the trader told him.

Inside the labyrinth, the monster\'s body would never disappear when he killed them. That\'s why it surprised him when the gobs turned into smoke and disappeared.

That\'s when the trader told him about their source of existence.

So, according to the trader, once the dungeon disappears, the monsters from it also disappear in a few moments.

After leaving the site where the dungeon appeared, he arrived in the market area. While walking along the street of the market, Jem suddenly stopped on his feet when something came into his mind.

<What\'s the problem, host?>

The trader\'s voice resounded at the back of his mind.

\'No, I just thought about it. When I defeated the Giant Gob in that dungeon just now, the dungeon disappeared. But when we defeated the 3-eyed guardian in the labyrinth, the labyrinth became my dimensional abode instead."

Exactly as Jem said. After defeating a very strong opponent inside the labyrinth, the labyrinth did not disappear. Instead, it became his dimensional domain.

<Maybe because the one who defeated it is the mother and child.>

The trader replied to him.

"Hm."

<Since the one who ended it is also a dweller of that labyrinth, the labyrinth did not disappear.>

The trader explained.

\'However, didn\'t you say that a dungeon or labyrinth needs a being with an abundance of magical energy to sustain it? To maintain its existence.\'

<Exactly as the host said.>

\'So, the one who was sustaining the labyrinth, could it be the three-eyed guardian?\'

<Exactly as the host said.>

\'And the one who supplied the dungeon is the Giant Gob?\'

<Yes, host.>

\'So that is the reason the dungeon disappeared after the dungeon guardian was killed by me.\'

<Yes.>

Jem squinted his eyes. Both the dungeon and the labyrinth lost their guardians. However, contrary to the dungeon, the labyrinth remained.

Here where his doubt lies.

In this case, there must be someone else who was supplying the labyrinth for it to remain in existence.

\'Who is currently supplying the labyrinth?\'

Jem asked curiously.

It can\'t be him as he has so little magical energy. Although he leveled up to three, his Ex-energy still can\'t compare to the real guardian of the labyrinth. Nor is it the mother or child? No, none of them had the energy comparable to the guardian.

<I see. I understand the host\'s worry. In this case, since the one who gives the last punch to the previous lord of the labyrinth is the mother and child, it is right to assume that both of them are the new labyrinth guardian.>

\'What?\'

<Once the guardian is killed by the same dungeon dwellers, the one who ended it will be promoted as the new guardian.>

<However,>

\'?!\'

<Since the mother and child are host\'s minions, under the effect of [Blood Oath], the host can be considered akin to an overlord of the labyrinth.>

\'Overlord of the labyrinth?\'

<Yes, host. It also explains why the host can summon the labyrinth entrance whenever the host likes it. That said, since the host is the overlord of the labyrinth and his minions are the guardians, the task of sustaining its existence comes to all of you.>

\'Hmm… I see. So that is the reason, huh. In that case, if I\'ve only let my minions kill the Giant Gob a while ago, will my minions become the new guardian of that dungeon?\'

<Perhaps.>

"....."

\'Then I\'ll be dried up with magical energy for that reason.\'

<Rest assured, host. Even though the host is spending his ex-energy to sustain the existence of the labyrinth, the ex-energy the host chipping in isn\'t as much as could harm the host.>

\'You mean?\'

<The labyrinth depends on the energy that its guardian can provide.>

<Probably, to not cause discomfort to its guardian.>

"So that\'s why its size sank to an unimaginable degree," Jem mumbled.

<Exactly.>

Just then, a sigh of relief escaped his mouth.

<Regardless, host.>

\'Hm?\'

<What are you going to do now?>

"I need cash. But the market was deserted."

Jem continued walking.

<Yeah. Probably the news about the appearance of the dungeon reached this place. Everyone escapes away in a panic from this place.>

"Yeah."

"Since the market has ceased to function as well, I need to find a place to stay for the meantime while waiting for both the market and train station to resume their activities."

His original goal was to earn money by assisting the vendors or merchants with minor jobs. But the market was inaccessible at the moment.

"Just that, renting a room is out of a question, huh. I don\'t even have a cent in me at the moment."

Aside from the market, he had no other idea where he could earn money. His talent lies in farming after all. So, he had no idea how he could earn money in the city. Also, after what happened to him, his view towards humans turned 180 degrees. He had zero affection towards them. The only exception was his grandfather. For him, humans and beasts were just the same creatures that only differ in figures. Both of them are monsters.

While he was mulling, <Why don\'t you sell the monster cores, host? I think the host can find some shops somewhere.> He heard the trader\'s suggestion.

"....."

"Hm….. You\'re right. I can sell those cores which I obtain after killing the gobs in the dungeon."

"I guess I have to do it then."

After saying it, he decided to look for a shop where he could sell the cores. However, he noticed that most of the buildings around had their doors and windows closed.

Well, since the place where he currently was, just near the site where the dungeon appeared. So, it was natural that the people here were already in hiding.

Just then, 

GORRFFF!

A fancy carriage stopped in front of him.

"Hey!"

A person climbed down from it as she called out to him.

"Ah, it\'s you! I know it!" Said the person as she stopped in front of him.

Jem glanced at her with his usual poker face. Right, he remembered this girl.