Isekai Dungeon Architect

"Qwy?"

"I mean, I did say we should go by ourselves…"

"Qwy."

"I'm just worried, you know? If there were more of you, we could have sent them to all of them. But I don't want to choose between them this time. The link should give us an idea if anything happens to them."

All of us had parted ways a while ago and now we were on our way to the nearby lake.

The wilderness around us was not concerning yet since we could still see some adventurer parties around the hunting ground so there were certainly people around us right now.

We were not alone here and for that reason, I did not really have to fight any beasts.

Concealing our presence, my baby and I were walking through a garden-like forest area, passing through a place that should not be easy for a rookie like me.

But then again, after the fight with the Naga mother, as well as everything that had happened after that, my perception of danger in this world had changed already.

'The knowledge and all the information that I obtained from the dungeon core was also an eye opener.'

With our presence concealed with the help of the World Energy, Qwy and I were strolling around the hunting ground, going to where the lake was supposed to be.

Reddy was going to visit the deepest part of the eastern hunting ground and see if she could find a (Great earth Hippo), a rare forest beast that looks like a combination of gazelle and a hippo.

It was a rare creature that also possessed the power of the earth element and was said to be one of the most versatile and reliable mounts out there.

To her surprise, one of them had been spotted around the edge of the eastern forest some time ago and she went on a search for that beast.

'It was a dangerous, ambitious wish, but she was at least going to get a strong enough east from that area even if she fails to find the target.'

Vice went to the western hunting ground in search of a rare leopard mutant that was said to be a field boss of that hunting ground.

It was a creature of darkness and was powerful enough to threaten even the Rank-5 adventurers.

While powerful enough to be a field boss, it should pose no threat to someone much stronger than Reddy. I was still weaker than either of the two if we consider my unstable energy control.

Even Cass was stronger than me if I say so myself. But then again, within the dungeons, that was not the case anymore.

"But we aren't in a dungeon anymore."

I have knowledge, I have my creation skill, but instead of using resources, I would rather just use them where I need them.

Being a support role, I was the best when I was supporting others. It was no fun dealing with things that waste resources unnecessarily.

"But then again, we have to test our new skills as well."

I got a skill as a reward for dealing with the Naga mother, and along with that, with my new knowledge, I know how to use the various blueprints I have in different ways.

*

"Qwy, time for a little magic practice. Let's try to catch a big fish."

"Qwy~!"

The small eyeball familiar chirped happily, fully understanding the task.

It floated slightly higher, its single eye scanning the forest floor and the shifting canopy above, not for danger, but for the subtle strands of energy that bound the world together.

'The World Energy is the key,' I thought while remembering the data bursts from the dungeon core.

'It's the raw material for creation, but it needs a structure, a blueprint. My {Enchantment Strings} skill is the perfect foundation.'

I extended my hand, the movement slow and deliberate.

Instead of drawing Mana from the surrounding air, which was messy and often attracted unwanted attention, I drew the fundamental energy from within– the World Energy that now resided in my core, amplified by the {Saint Origin} skill.

The energy felt different from Mana.

It was purer, less volatile, and reacted to our intention with immediate clarity. It wasn't about casting a fireball; it was about defining a new reality in a small, localized area.

-Oooooooooong!

Thin, almost invisible strings of power, our {Enchantment Strings}, peeled away from my fingertips. They weren't glowing yet; it was maintaining perfect stealth.

My goal was to create a subtle, powerful illusion, a 'Lure trap.'

'A wild beast mount needs three things: speed, endurance, and compatibility. A forest creature will have better endurance against the environment than a steppe animal. And a water source is a perfect place to catch something powerful and territorial.'

The strings extended, weaving through the underbrush.

They bypassed the trees and stones, sinking slightly into the earth, following the unseen paths of ambient magic towards the distant lake.

The blueprint I was defining wasn't a physical trap. It was a cognitive snare.

======

Goal: Attract a high-Rank forest-dwelling beast suitable for a long journey, capable of carrying a heavy load, and possessing good elemental resistance.

Method: Broadcast a subtle, irresistible signal of an easy, abundant, and completely unprotected food source.

Focus: A scent of fresh, high-grade magical herbs, combined with the low-frequency sound of a lost, injured Direwolf pup, a guaranteed lure for a territorial apex predator.

======

This was a complex construction. I was manipulating the senses and instincts of every creature in a kilometer radius without producing any visible or audible effect that a human or even Vice could easily detect.

It was a conversation with the environment, speaking the core language of creation to trick the natural order.

"Qwy, amplify the scent on the far side of the lake," I whispered. "I want to draw it towards the shallow inlet, away from the hunter paths."

The little one gave a delighted chirp, and the invisible strings pulsed. A silent, phantom signal began to radiate from the target area.

-Click.

-Click.

The strings, now charged with World Energy, began to pull. We felt a low-frequency hum resonate through the earth, a massive, slow-moving presence responding to the lure.

It wasn't a fast, sleek Wind-Steed, nor was it a giant Earth Hippo. The energy signature was dense, powerful, and distinctly aquatic, yet with strong terrestrial features.

'Ah, a true water beast that hunts on land. Perfect endurance.'

The energy signature grew stronger, accompanied by the distinct sound of heavy, deliberate steps crunching through the forest floor.

The creature was powerful enough not to care about stealth.

Aria quickly wove a secondary, much smaller blueprint.

======

Goal: Containment and non-lethal incapacitation.

Method: A focused Gravity Well beneath the target's center of mass, coupled with a Mana Drain Field to prevent the use of escape or offensive spells.

======

This was a test of her new skill, {Enchantment Strings}. She wasn't just enchanting an object; she was creating a localized, temporary reality within the laws of the world: a pocket of altered physics.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over the treeline.

It was colossal, a beast easily twice the size of a warhorse, with thick, mud-colored hide that was hard and scaly in places, reminiscent of a crocodile's armor. Its head was blunt and massive, with small, intelligent, angry eyes, and tusks that curved wickedly outward.

"Mooooooooooo!"

It was a River Lord Bull, a notoriously aggressive and solitary swamp beast, revered for its resilience and sheer pulling power.

It was exactly the kind of strong, durable mount Vice had suggested, but far rarer and harder to tame.

The beast sniffed the air, its eyes locking onto the phantom scent source near the lake edge. It let out a deep, rumbling growl that shook the leaves on the trees.

"Hurffff. Hurffff…"

I stepped out of the concealment, lowering my hood and dismissing the stealth illusion.

"Hello there," I smiled, my voice calm and clear. "I believe I have something you want."

The River Lord Bull stopped, its heavy feet digging into the earth.

It ignored the phantom food, its entire focus now on the tiny, fragile creature that had suddenly appeared in its domain.

Its eyes narrowed with pure, predatory rage, an insult to its territorial instincts.

-Thum!

It lunged, a surprising burst of speed from its heavy frame, aiming to flatten the newcomer.

We did not flinch. We simply smiled and activated our blueprint.

-WHOOSH!

The massive beast slammed into an invisible wall, not of force, but of impossible weight.

-Zaaaaaaa!

The Gravity Well activated, instantaneously increasing the local gravity by a factor of ten. The River Lord Bull, mid-charge, collapsed with a ground-shaking thud, its legs buckling under the sudden, crushing weight.

A second later, the atmosphere around it shimmered faintly—the Mana Drain Field activating. The beast's instinctual attempt to gather elemental Mana for a counter-attack fizzled out.

It was immobile, trapped under an esoteric weight it could not comprehend, its innate magical abilities useless.

Aria walked casually towards the snorting, frustrated behemoth. Qwy zipped past her, hovering just above the beast's head, emitting soft, rhythmic pulses of World Energy—a subtle, soothing frequency designed to calm its rage and bypass its defensive instincts.

"You're strong. Very strong," Aria noted, tracing a line on the creature's scaly hide. "But you don't react well to unexpected change. That's a flaw we need to work on."

She knelt beside its massive head and pulled out one of Reddy's specialized taming potions—a small, dark vial that glowed with contained magic. It was highly concentrated, capable of subduing even field bosses for a short period.

She uncorked the vial, and the thick, syrupy liquid began to smoke slightly.

"This is going to hurt your pride, but it's for your own good. We have a long road ahead, River Lord," Aria murmured.