NOVEL NEXT Chapter 44 - Operation Secret Entrance
This room evidently used to be another storage room of some kind, but no shelves are intact here. Most wooden objects in the room are little more than moldy pieces of debris, in fact. What has caught my eye is armor and weaponry, stored in the corner and miraculously intact. Pristine even, despite the clearly advanced age of this place, like many of the doors.
After excavating the room sufficiently, some of my monsters move into it as the familiar process of peeling the outer stone layer off and replacing it with spotless marble begins, but this time that is not the only thing I do.
Structurally, I like the building I find myself in, but there is no reason a core can’t do a little alteration or two, right?
The excavation process will take some time, but I begin hollowing out a larger section of stone, right up to behind the wall separating this hidden hallway from the lobby. I also intend this section to go along the wall of the hallway leading up to the stage, essentially hugging the outside of the walls of my “accessible” dungeon.
This is “Operation Secret Entrance”! A hidden room to spy on adventurers from for my monsters as they make their way through the lobby and up to the stage, through several peepholes I intend to install in discreet spots like, say, the eyes of a mask or something like that.
Not as effective if they volunteer, of course, but hey. It’s something.
I hope this will allow my monsters to make informed decisions about fighting the adventurers if it comes to fighting, and otherwise give me a chance to get some council about the adventurer's character and intentions.
Incidentally, it might also serve as somewhat of a help for my newest additions to our troupe.
I know doppelgangers can shapeshift into humanoids, like Juliette’s specialist skill, except it is no illusion but physical transformation.
To do so, they probably need a good idea of who they plan to imitate and, even if not, a general understanding of them as people makes acting as them a lot easier. No idea yet how or why this ability might come in useful, but it certainly seems like it could be fun.
While I consider how best to utilize my newest monsters, my trusty mannequins go to work on my proposed alterations.
I should really level them up, huh?
Right, let’s take care of some class selections.
Out of my mannequins, four have acquired that privilege. All four of you, come here for a second!
Obediently, my mannequins trot on over, and I explain to them that it is time to select classes and get names.
The naming portion is surprisingly swift considering I thought up an ingenious system.
None of these mannequins have done something to really distinguish themselves from the mannequin squad at large, so they all get names that start with Ma. You know, like “Mannequin”. Shut up, it’s hard to name a lot of things and this at least gives me a system to work with. Thus, the four monsters in front of me are swiftly bestowed the names Mathew, Manfred, Marie and Matt.
Thank you for your service, MA-Squad!
As for class selections, it turned out quite plain except for one slight exception.
All of them obtained “Animated Servant”... except for Matt who got “Excavator” and seems quite pleased with himself.
Good on you! Digging might not always be necessary, but based on these last couple days, maybe more often than I give credit for, and this will definitely help our efforts along.
Their skills are similarly a mixed bag with no real standouts.
Mathew got a skill that lets him lift and carry more, Manfred got a skill that helps cleaning and polishing surfaces and Marie got a skill that allows her to perform more gracefully while doing tasks for someone. Matt’s first “Excavator” skill allows him to… excavate. Unlike the others, it is an active skill, and he uses it enthusiastically as soon as he is released back unto the expansion site.
That dealt with, I believe it is time to check in with Sebastian, my handiest of attendants. He has figured out a way to make the stone door mobile while having it close with the surrounding walls near seamlessly, and the seam should be easily hidden by some clever applications of wall carvings and decor. However, to fashion a device to move the door, he would need some metal, as stone and wood simply are not good enough.
I wish I could create metal, but…
Wait a second. I can? Since WHEN?
OHHHH! It must have been the tribute from those adventurers. Gold is a form of metal, no? Apparently the system expanded my acquired evocation affinity to include all metal, which is very generous. Or, well, all nonmagical metal, which is apparently an important distinction.
This important discovery allows me to fashion some bits and bobs for Sebastian, who immediately begins the construction of the secret entrance that is vital for “Operation Secret Entrance”.
After a little tinkering we have a prototype mechanism that causes the stone to swing back upon the press of a button. Now we just have to build the mechanism into the wall and find a clever way to conceal the button. I have some ideas on that front already.