chapter 11 checking the monster and the shop

  Inside the lab, Luthar's focus narrowed on the data flowing across the holographic screen.

  The goblins lay motionless within the containment chamber, twitching now and then, but otherwise docile. He observed their physiology, tapping commands into the system with the slow, deliberate rhythm of someone trying to wring meaning out of junk.

  First, he examined the possibility of turning them into servitors—biomechanical hybrids integrated with machine systems. It was a crude concept, but in emergencies, any biomass could serve.

  Unfortunately, reality was less generous. The deeper his research went, the more obvious it became: converting goblins into usable units like servo-skulls was grossly inefficient.

  Despite their natural resilience, their biological structure had already begun to degrade. Removed from the dungeon's unique environment, their cells weakened and broke down. And that wasn't even accounting for their unstable behavior and malformed genetics.

  Keeping them alive long enough would cost more than they were worth.

  He sighed, pulling up their genetic profile.

  Even the DNA was barely worthy of the term. Fragmented, Attempting to make any changes would only result in total collapse.

  Complete waste of effort, Luthar thought, closing the files.

  His attention drifted toward his reflection in the screen. His mechanical eye whirred softly as it adjusted focus, flickering red in the dim lab lighting.

  I should look for the best to improve my body first. And I still don't have a proper weapon on hand… Not wise.

  As for experimenting with divine blood, he wasn't ready.

  He set the machines to begin producing a few standardized weapons. They would be sold in the coming days.

  Once the production queues were active, he left the lab.

  ---

  The moment Luthar stepped into the hallway, Hestia was waiting at the old wooden table, tapping her fingers against the wood with a mix of impatience and anxiety. She perked up the moment she saw him.

  "Luthar! You finally came out."

  "The table is not for sitting," he said plainly.

  She rolled her eyes. "You're such a delight to talk to, seriously."

  Ignoring the sarcasm, he moved past her. But then, she reached into a small cloth bundle and slowly unwrapped something.

  "This… used to be Bell's sword."

  She placed the object on the table.

  Luthar stopped.

  The so-called weapon was a warped, cracked blade—barely held together with glue and desperate patchwork.

  "Is this a kitchen knife?" he asked.

  "It's a sword!" she snapped. "Kind of."

  She let out a heavy sigh. "He's doing his best, but we don't have money for proper gear. I wanted to ask a friend of mine—someone with a forge—but she's really busy right now."

  Her voice dropped. "So I figured… Maybe you could help?"

  She motioned subtly toward the hallway, toward the armory tucked behind sealed doors.

  "Those weapons you keep displayed. They look like they haven't been used in a while. Maybe Bell could borrow one? Just until I can find something else?"

  Luthar didn't bother turning around.

  "No."

  Hestia blinked at the bluntness.

  "These weapons were built for enhanced users. Bell is not one. He would injure himself, or worse."

  She folded her arms, visibly annoyed.

  There was a short pause.

  Then Luthar added, "However, I've started automatic production of standard-grade weapons. He may pick one up tomorrow morning."

  Her expression softened. "Wait—you'll actually give him one?"

  "Consider it an investment. If he survives long enough, he may return with funds. That would allow access to better weapons later."

  "…That's actually helpful," she admitted, narrowing her eyes. "No conditions?"

  "No conditions."

  Hestia looked at him with curiosity. "What do you mean by 'automatic production' anyway?"

  Luthar paused at the stairs and looked back. "It means I press a button, insert raw materials, and the machine does the rest."

  The clunk of his boots echoed faintly as he ascended the stairs.

  Hestia remained seated, quietly watching the warped blade on the table.

  -

  The next morning, Luthar handed Bell a newly forged, mass-produced sword. The weapon lacked flair; it was durable More than enough for a beginner.

  Luthar didn't even stay to see how Bell reacted.

  His focus had already shifted. First, increase the church's security Then, Luthar moved through Orario's quieter alleys, a box of newly crafted swords resting in a cart behind him.

  His destination was little far—a modest building It had been empty for months. Now, it would serve as the storefront for his first official venture.

  After replacing the locks with a biometric panel, he stepped inside—empty shelves. Bare walls. Dust lingering in the corners.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  It would do.

  He started working on installing a reinforced weapons rack and laying out a few displays for better weapons.

  The current shop wouldn't attract the average adventurer so he decided to change the look from outside

  As he started to think about the design, the door creaked open revealing a man outside.

  "Ah, so the rumors were true," came a friendly voice.

  Luthar turned slightly, recognizing the blue-haired god leaning against the doorframe.

  The god stepped in with a calm smile, hands tucked into his sleeves. "I heard someone opened a shop near ours. I thought I'd come by and see what kind of neighbor we'd have."

  Luthar offered no pleasantries, only a nod.

  Miach glanced at cart inside; there was weapons and some tools.

  "If your planning to sell weapons, this is not a good place."

  "But it has a good rent," Luthar said. "And as long as I sell at 50% of the market, I won't have to worry about not selling."

  "then you wood loose money," Miach replied.

  "It's impossible for me to lose money," Luthar said, placing all the standard-grade swords in one corner under a wooden sign that read 50% Discount. He stepped back, arms crossed, eyes scanning the display with mechanical precisio"n.

  "It's just a one-time offer to attract adventurers. Once I start selling high-grade gear, the shop's location won't matter."

  Miach smiled at the confidence. "You've got a solid plan there."

  Then he extended a hand. "I just realized—we haven't properly introduced ourselves. I'm Miach, god of the Miach Familia. We specialize in affordable potions."

  Luthar glanced at the outstretched hand, then shook it with a firm grip. "Luthar. I'm a Tech-Priest who specializes in weapons, gear, and medical services."

  "Medical services? That's an interesting way to put it," Miach said with a small chuckle. "But aren't you dabbling in a lot of things at once?"

  Luthar's head tilted slightly. "Sometimes it's better to have more skills—especially when those skills complement each other."

  Miach chuckled. "That's an interesting statement."

  He paused for a moment, then added with a smile, If there's a chance, I'd like to work with you," Miach said warmly.

  "We'll see," Luthar replied simply, he didn't dismiss the idea.

  After completing his initial preparations, Luthar finally left the confines of his workshop.

  His crimson robes caught the sunlight as he stepped through the district of Orario. The city bustled with life—merchants calling out, adventurers laughing over recent kills—but wherever he walked, the crowd parted with instinctual caution.

  Perhaps it was the unsettling hum of servos, or the mechanical arm coiled behind his back like a predator at rest. Maybe it was the faint scent of incense and machine oil that clung to him—a strange blend of the sacred and the industrial.

  But if anyone were to name the true reason they gave him space, it would be the things that followed him.

  Two servo-skulls floated silently beside him.

  Because they were covered in metal plating and stylized paint, they no longer inspired raw fear—but behind them was a hulking humanoid servitor, its armored frame moving with eerie precision. One arm ended in a spinning chainsaw, the other in a compact laser cannon. Exposed pistons hissed with every step.

  His first stop was one of the poorer districts, where buildings leaned on each other like drunkards and the air carried the sharp tang of alchemical brews. Luthar moved past narrow alleys and uneven cobblestone paths until he reached a stretch of rundown market stalls and shuttered shops.

  His red mechanical eye scanned for vacant buildings—finally, he spotted one. A crooked "For Lease" sign hung on the doorframe.

  It would suffice.

  Within the hour, the paperwork was processed through a Guild intermediary. He paid the fee, secured the workshop, and registered the location under his personal authority.

  Next task: field testing.

  Without wasting time, he headed for the upper floors of the Dungeon.

  Inside was relatively quiet—only the occasional screech echoing through the stone corridors.

  When Luthar activated his chainsword, its mechanical shriek echoed off the walls. The weapon's teeth spun into a blur, vibrating with brutal precision.

  A single goblin, drawn by the sound, lunged at him with a crude knife. Luthar simply stepped forward and swung—cleanly bisecting the creature. Green blood splashed across his robes, only to vanish seconds later as the corpse dissolved into a magic stone.

  When a trio of goblins emerged from a side passage, Luthar gave a mental command.

  The large servitor surged forward, slamming one goblin into the wall with bone-shattering force. The servo-skulls hovered higher and fired their laser weapons, turning the other two into ash and crystal.

  Luthar gave further instructions—continue killing, collect crystals.

  As his machines carried out the clean-up, he began his real work.

  Sometimes he killed. Sometimes he only removed limbs. Each action was carefully observed and cataloged. What tissues reacted violently to pain? What organs held potential? Were they structurally viable for conversion?

  An hour later, a bag filled with neatly sealed monster cores hung at his side. But not all goblins had been killed.

  Three were intentionally left alive—restrained and gagged, bound with high-tensile cables. They twitched weakly with each step the servitor took, dragged like livestock.

  Luthar didn't spare them a glance.

  They weren't beautiful girls, deserving of attention or sympathy.

  They were test subjects—maybe for chemical trials, maybe as servitor prototypes. If successful, he wouldn't need to worry about manufacturing more later.

  To the average adventurer, goblins were walking coin purses.

  To Luthar, they were puzzles waiting to be taken apart.

  ---

  By the time he exited the Dungeon, two adventurers from the Ganesha Familia moved to intercept him.

  "Whoa there, friend," the taller one said, raising a hand to stop him. "You can't just walk around town dragging monsters behind you."

  Luthar didn't stop. "They are restrained."

  "That's not the point," the second one added. "Monsters aren't allowed outside the Dungeon. Even if they're tied up, it's illegal. They're supposed to be killed down there."

  Luthar's mechanical eye focused with a faint whir. "Do your people not also break rules when convenient? Besides, I have a secure facility for research."

  The two looked at each other, skeptical.

  "Look, unless you've got Guild approval, you're not allowed to bring Dungeon monsters into the city. What Familia are you even with?"

  "I operate under the divine will of the Omnissiah."

  The younger one blinked. "I've never heard of that god."

  The taller adventurer narrowed his eyes. "That's not a registered Familia. Are you messing with us?"

  Luthar's voice remained calm. "I am not affiliated with your so-called Familias. And if you wish to stop me, I suggest you speak with your own gods first."

  The chains on the goblins rattled as the servitor took a step forward. Both adventurers tensed, hands drifting toward their weapons.

  The younger leaned in, whispering, "Should we do something?"

  The older one sighed. "Let's check with the Guild first. If he's lying, senior members can deal with him."

  Luthar raised his hand and pulled out a paper. It was an official Guild permit, stamped with glowing seals. It clearly said he was allowed to take live monsters out of the Dungeon for research.

  The younger adventurer leaned in. "…Huh. It's legit."

  The taller one grunted. "Tch. Just be careful not to release them accidentally."

  Luthar said nothing more.

  As he resumed walking, dragging the goblins behind him, one of them let out a muffled scream.

  This time Neither adventurer moved to stop him.

  By the time he returned, the sun was about to set. Luthar moved closer to reinforced doors, while Servo- was carryinggoblins behind him like luggage.

  The church's systems recognized his approach, the doors automatically open to receive its unwilling guests.

  Servo-skulls drifted from their wall cradles, scanning the struggling creatures and clearing a path toward the containment lift below.

  The goblins growled and thrashed, but the energy shackles held firm.

  Then—

  "KYAAAAAAAA!!"

  A piercing shriek echoed through the hall like a proximity alarm. Luthar's mechanical eye twitched at the pitch.

  Hestia stood at the far end of the corridor, face pale, finger outstretched.

  "Wh-Wh-What are those?!"

  Luthar didn't break stride. "Specimens."

  "Specimens?! You brought monsters back here?! Into the church?!"

  "They are restrained. They will be deposited in the lab's containment bay."

  "They're goblins! GOBLINS! Do you know what goblins do?! They bite! They stab! They are terrible"

  Hestia stormed up to him, flailing her arms. "you are not bringing monster into my home"

  "it's my home."

  "it's a church and I am a goddess so that's my home You can't just drag goblins through the front door likegroceries !"

  "They are not groceries. They are biomass1. Possibly useful biomass."

  "biomass,biomass you can't convince me to allowed these monsters to be here"

  Luthar ignoring her protest, order a servitor to take them inside his lab and contain them.

  "see out of site out of mind you should get used to it or find a new place."

  Hestia was visibly trembling. "how can I sleep peacefully when I know there is a monster in basement"

  Without missing a beat, Luthar handed her a small wrapped bundle.

  She blinked. "What is this?"

  "Food.I acquired it on the way back, predicting your agitation and accounted for appeasement."

  Her frown cracked slightly. "…You got me dinner?" Taking the package "...Fine I am generously going to forgive you this time."

  Luthar ignoring her pretending silently left for his lab