Dungeon Core Academy: Books 1-7 (A LitRPG Series) by Alex Oakchest (book suggestions txt) 📕

ice mage, this information had gone straight to the hivemind, even though they were in different parts of the dungeon. Then, when they’d created a new jelly person he had fire damage, which was an elemental counter to ice.

It was capable of spreading information from one part of the dungeon to another with barely any delay, and it could use that to tailor the ooze creatures to match the enemy.

My new boss monster might not have been anywhere near as fearsome as Gary. It might not have had his delightful personality. But, it could be very, very deadly.

“Dark Magnificence,” said a voice. It came to me through my core hearing, so I knew it was someone in another room.

“Maginhart?” I said.

“Your crystal dust is talking.”

I felt anxious now. Anxious and excited. If the crystal dust was talking, it meant that my leech had made its way into the caverns, and to the meeting the Wrotuns were having.

Now, it was time to listen to them all talking behind my back.

CHAPTER 22

In the alchemy chamber, I hovered on my pedestal with a pinch of communication crystal dust beneath me. It was hard to hear the voices at first, and even more difficult with Maginhart humming to myself. After asking him to leave, I was alone. I concentrated, and the sound became a little clearer.

There were dozens of voices all chattering at once at first. The leech must have found his way into wherever they were holding the meeting. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to pick anything out.

Then I heard something banging again and again. I recognized the sound because it was burned into my memory; it was Godwin’s staff.

“Order! Order!” he shouted.

The voices trailed off one by one. Some became whispers, but soon, all were silent. Even so far away in my dungeon, I sensed there was tension in the room.

“I have called you all here for an important reason.”

“Yeah, Second-Leaf Gumkin started charging more for her stew!” shouted a voice.

There was muffled laughter before the banging of a staff stopped it.

“Do you think this is a time for jokes?” thundered the First-Leaf. “One of our own has died, and you laugh?”

The tension doubled. I almost felt it cling to me, even in my core room. Godwin seemed to have the whole fill-people-with-dread effect down to perfection.

“I am sorry,” he said, in a kinder tone. “I do not mean to call you all here to shout. I know that people grieve in different ways, and for some, laughter is a mask. But the Rushden family are here, and laughter is salt in their wounds.”

There were murmurs now, but no more heckling.

“The future of our people rests on what we decide here today, my fellow leaves. My family. My most beloved people.”

Huh. I really heard the emotion in his voice now. Say what you will about Godwin, but I didn’t doubt that he cared for the rest of the Wrotun.

“I want to hear your views. As you know, I try my best to foster an air of openness, and I like to think I am an amiable and approachable fellow. I only ask that you listen to me, first. To begin, I must acknowledge that I have made a mistake. And that mistake was purchasing our cores.”

The room exploded into a chorus of murmurs now. I couldn’t pick one sentence out from the next, nor did I recognize any of those who were talking. But Godwin didn’t bang his staff now; instead, he waited for the noise to die of its own accord. It seemed that he knew how to read a room, but I guessed that came with hundreds of years of practice.

“I am sure most of you know the details of what happened today, such as they are. We are still unsure of the particulars, and I have asked those who were present to refrain from discussing some of the more sensitive aspects.

Yet, one thing can’t be denied, nor ignored. A cherished Wrotun leaf lost his life in the dungeon near the mana spring. The very dungeon guarded by Core Beno; the one supposed to make us safer.

I know what some of you are thinking. It was my idea to pool our scant resources to purchase the cores. I even had to talk many of you around to my plans. I made promises to you. This is why, my dear ones, I must say something you won’t often hear from me; I have failed you.

Entrusting me with your futures was a gift, and I have mistreated it. I did not mean to do so; you people are my life. But intention is a horse that sometimes unsaddles its rider. I had imagined that a core from the esteemed Dungeon Core Academy would ensure our safety for generations to come, but I fear the arrow we have shot has rebounded, planting itself in our chests.”

He was silent then, giving them all the chance to comprehend his words. He really knew how to play a room for effect.

I wished I could say that I didn’t believe what I was hearing from Godwin, but it didn’t come as a surprise. I knew that the First-Leaf had been up to something, with how quick he had been to point his staff at Gary.

That had been an understandable reaction on its own, but when he had cast his spell to mute Gary, I knew he was up to something. Why mute him instead of letting me question him to find out what had happened?

He had distrusted Jahn and me from the outset, which didn’t make any sense. Bringing us here was his idea, as he said himself. Why would he be so quick to blame me for this? Why hadn’t he even talked to me about it?

“It is with