TtOW! - Chapter 168 - The Rise of an Empire (Patreon)

With all diplomatic matters resolved (or delegated to appropriate subordinates), NSLICE-00P stepped out of the Legion keep. Ateia, Taog, Estrith, and Agedia joined her, Agedia sharing a hug with Tiberius before she left.

Estrith most definitely did not eye her with envy.

As they stepped out of the gates to Castra Turannia proper, Taog turned to NSLICE-00P.

“So, what’s the plan now, Seero?”

“Answer: This unit must establish a base of operations and transportation node in the vicinity of Castra Turannia. Afterwards, this unit intends to begin subordinate upgrade routines.”

Taog nodded.

“So, we’ll go looking for dungeons?”

“Affirmative.”

Taog looked off into the distance and rubbed his chin.

“Does that mean…we’ll be heading back to the Forest of Beasts?”

“Affirmative Response: That is correct, unless there is a more efficient location to locate dungeons that lack strategic value to allied factions.”

Agedia rubbed her chin at that and shrugged.

“The Wild Lands across the North Sea, maybe? But the Forest of Beasts should be as good as any.”

Taog then took a deep breath.

“In that case…would you mind if we stop by my and Ateia’s old village? I would like to visit my parents’ grave if possible.”

NSLICE-00P’s robotic eye flickered. Visiting already terminated individuals did not provide any benefit or efficiency she was aware of, or could calculate. And from her records, Ateia and Taog’s old village likewise had nothing to offer their current mission. All her calculations indicated it was an unnecessary expenditure of time.

But…the logs from Taog’s cybernetic components indicated he was experiencing powerful emotions when making this request. NSLICE-00P still didn’t have the data to fully interpret that response, but could at least make the speculation that this request was of notable importance to Taog’s organic half. Rejecting it was predicted to cause negative emotional reactions, which would undoubtedly reduce Taog’s overall efficiency given his complete lack of emotional controls, and the preeminent role of organic components in CELIU models.

Not to mention, NSLICE-00P was currently attempting to avoid causing emotional damage within organic components, even at the cost of some efficiency. Or rather, she was rewriting some of her efficiency calculations from the ground up, given that they were written by Dr. Ottosen who had proven to have some inefficiencies of his own.

So, avoiding negative emotional responses in Taog was assigned a value, and then checked against the amount of time and effort required for the visit. She found that the time spent would not appreciably set back any current missions or directives. In fact, their village was in the direction of the Forest of Beasts in any case, so would not require significant detours in the first place.

“Answer: This unit finds the request acceptable, and will include the proposed detour into the transit plans.”

Taog smiled and nodded.

“Thank you, Seero.”

Ateia walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“I’ll go with you.”

Taog turned to her with a surprised look and shook her head.

“That’s ok, Ateia. I know now…you don’t really like that place, right? I mean…I don’t really either, but it is where my parents are.”

Ateia looked into his eyes.

“I loved them too. And I won’t let you go alone.”

She also clenched her fist and made a dark smile.

“Besides…the main reason I hated our lives there…no longer applies.”

Taog…decided not to ask her to elaborate on that.

***

NSLICE-00P looked for the nearest sewer grate and jumped down. Two limitanei yelped and grabbed their spears until they realized who had jumped in front of them. They saluted instead.

“Ah it’s her! NSLICE-00P, it’s an honor!”

“Greeting: This unit is designated NSLICE-00P, it is nice to meet you.”

One of the limitaenei grinned.

“The honor is all mine! I was here when you destroyed that dungeon, not to mention the Battle of Castra Turannia. Thank you, for saving our lives!”

“Acknowledged. Query: Has the Empire begun regular patrols of the sewer system, or are there hostiles in the area?”

The limitanei nodded.

“After that dungeon situation, we started patrolling the underground, at least near the Keep.”

“Acknowledged.”

After separating from the guards, NSLICE-00P began scanning the sewer system. As the guard had stated, there were now numerous signatures patrolling the area around the keep and the inner city, likely representing additional Legion assets. As such, NSLICE-00P adjusted her plans, and moved further out, to an area the patrols didn’t reach. Her maps indicated she was below the slums area of the city now.

She then used her Earth magic to dig into the wall, creating a small cave and closing up the wall behind her. After that, she dug down at an angle, creating a long diagonal tunnel that moved underneath the sewers.

Soon, she arrived, deep below the sewers, and positioned directly under the center of Castra Turannia proper. And here, she executed her plan.

[Unnamed Subordinate Core]

• [Bind Dungeon Master]
• [Dungeon Status]
• [Unlock/Restrict Functions]
• [Manage XP Allocation]
• [Transfer Subordinates]
• [Transfer Items]
• [Transfer Perk Points]

She once again stood in the core room of a new dungeon, one that would allow her to immediately relocate to Castra Turannia should her allies there require urgent reinforcements. She hadn’t yet announced her dungeon status to her allies at large, so she attempted to place the dungeon in a secure location that would not be discovered. All she needed to do now was select a Dungeon Master to manage it.

And she already had someone in mind.

“Query: Is NSLICE-Rattingtale willing to resume dungeon master duties?”

Rattingtale froze within the Monster Hangar. He started to tremble.

“Boss-Queen…what did you just say-speak?”

“Repetition: Is NSLICE-Rattingtale willing to resume dungeon master duties?”

His trembling grew violent.

“Boss-Queen…you are…offering-gifting a dungeon…a new realm…to me?”

“Affirmative.”

Rattingtale now trembled as fast as his body could move.

“W-Why would you do such a thing?!”

“Explanation: This unit has determined NSLICE-Rattingtale has a comparative advantage in dungeon management out of her current subordinates and so represents the most efficient choice.”

Rattingtale’s trembling was about to be considered dangerous and so his cybernetic components moved to dampen it.

“Y-You…believe-trust me…to manage a dungeon?”

“Affirmative.”

As NSLICE-00P’s calculations had determined, Rattingtale had the comparative advantage in this job. While his history as a dungeon master was inferior, the other former dungeon masters had other roles to play. Lilussees was the second best ritual and strategic mage after NSLICE-00P, and so a key part of the NSLICE network’s combat capabilities. Melion was currently responsible for research and development of new autonomous units that would significantly expand the NSLICE network’s scouting and strike capabilities. None of her other subordinates had any record of dungeon management and so their affinity for the role could not be predicted. Rattingtale had a record that could be analyzed, and would not impact the network’s overall capabilities by switching his duties.

And overall, this dungeon’s primary purpose was to open a door to Castra Turannia from her new world, and so even Rattingtale’s minimal history was sufficient given the low performance requirements for the actual dungeon. A secondary purpose, however, would be to covertly help the Imperials patrol the area. Rattingtale had been the monster in charge of the covert team that identified Cassius’s treachery during her first visit to Castra Turannia, so he had proven himself adequate at covert scouting as well.

Well, the ideal option would have been to subjugate an existing dungeon and subordinate its master, but there were no dungeons within or near to Castra Turannia, so creating a new one and choosing Rattingtale as master was the most efficient choice available.

Rattingtale’s eyes filled with tears. He fell to his knees, and bowed his head.

“T-This is…I-I…”

After all that had happened.

After all his schemes.

After all his failures.

After he had despaired.

After he had proven useless, in both deception and cooperation.

The Boss-Queen looked upon him…and found someone worthy. Someone she could trust with an entire realm.

She did not see a useless, treacherous rat. She saw a Great-High King, ruling the land in her name.

He took a deep breath, and raised his head.

“I will not forget-disregard this, Boss-Queen. Truly you are wise, mighty, and gracious. This Rattingtale swears-vows that he will not let you down.”

“Affirmative response acknowledged.”

[Dungeon Master NSLICE-00P has designated Rattingtale as the new master of subordinate dungeon Unnamed Dungeon.]

[Beginning binding.]

[Rattingtale is now the master of the Rat Warren subordinate dungeon. Primary Dungeon affinity determined as Rodent. Rat-lineage monsters unlocked.]

[Affinity shared. Rat Warren Secondary Dungeon Affinity set to: Cyborg.]

***

Rattingtale stood alone in the core room after NSLICE-00P had given him orders for the dungeon and left. He just stood in silence for long moment. He slowly walked towards the core, climbed up the pedestal, and lay his paw upon the core, rubbing it gently.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he smiled.

“A realm to my own, once again. And with the assistance-protection of the Wise-Mighty-Gracious Boss-Queen. No…Boss-Queen is not enough for her. This time…I, Excellion Formantus Rattingtale the Third, Great-High King Over This Land, Servant of the Wise-Mighty-Gracious Great-Ultimate Boss-Empress, shall truly rise-ascend, and create a perfect realm.”

Meanwhile 02S rubbed her legs in the corner of the room, waiting for Rattingtale to finally check the dungeon perception and notice her. NSLICE-00P, of course, had not wanted to leave the new dungeon entirely unguarded while Rattingtale got things set up, and 02S had volunteered as the guard. She giggled at the thought of his reaction when he finally noticed her…and at his grand speech.

“Yes, that’s what I want to see! Can’t wait to see how you’ll screw this up. Though…I guess this place is pretty important to the boss, so guess I won’t let you screw up too badly. Maybe it would be fun to see how you react to success every once in a while?”

And so the Realm of the Great-High King was reborn, as NSLICE-00P's empire of dungeons began.

Author's Note:

Yes, Rattingtale, NSLICE-00P believes in you! It definitely wasn't just process of elimination!

And Rattingtale definitely won't screw this up!

Anyways!

Will the new realm of the Great-High King rise to ascension? Did NSLICE-00P make an efficient choice? Will 02S enjoy Rattingtale's reactions to success? Tune in next time, to find out!