SSS-Rank Overlord: Defend the Dungeon or Die-Chapter 183: Episode _The Bus

The Momonte Anslake family was currently invested in five guilds: the Sapadin Guild, which Valona and Katarina had belonged to; the Bloener Guild, focused solely on Zen income; the Heinz Guild, composed mainly of mages from the Magic Tower; the Dekaron Guild, which specialized in dungeon clears; and the Taren Guild, a collection of irregular raiders. Each was backed by massive financial support.

The family’s training method was simple: guild raiders would raise their performance scores according to a strict regimen, while their comrades waited their turn. Through this system, an entire party’s performance score would be funneled into a single raider, allowing them to rank up almost overnight.

"Did you hear? Donald went from C-rank to a mid-tier B-rank raider. He’s like a different person since joining his guild."

"Konos was a freelancer, but he’s been climbing the ranks since he joined Sapadin. If you ask me, though, his fighting style is still a joke."

"Ugh. I finally got my turn after months of being a pack mule, but my gear is trash and my skill proficiency is rock bottom. I need someone to teach me how to actually fight!"

Lured by the promise of higher ranks, raiders willingly became porters, receiving funneled performance scores in a set rotation. While it was an effective way to mass-produce B-rank and higher raiders, the method had a fatal flaw.

The so-called "porter." The term referred to someone who did little more than carry the party’s luggage and trail behind them during a dungeon clear. While waiting for their turn, their level would rise, but their Zen income was zero. Their proficiency with weapons and abilities was abysmal, and they were never given enough Zen to afford decent equipment. All they gained was a high performance score, leaving them with virtually no real combat experience.

The Makdian Raid Party in the labyrinth, the porters he’d seen in the second Balak, the guild-affiliated raiders now flooding the original Balak—it was no exaggeration to say they were all products of the Anslake family’s training methods.

"You wish to open a new dungeon? Is that it?" Momonte’s voice came through the communication device.

"That’s right," Taehyun replied. "The original Balak has stabilized, so it’s time to open another. Your job is to gather all the raiders who have been working as porters."

"Gather them? You mean even the ones who aren’t in a guild?"

"Of course. There must be unaffiliated raiders who’ve only ever been porters. Guild members or not, I want you to gather every last one of them."

Some raiders had spent their entire careers as pack mules. There were undoubtedly many who entered dungeons with skills that fell far short of their ranks. The C-rank raiders of the Makdian party, for instance, hadn’t even known the basics of combat. He would gather these underdeveloped raiders, bring them to Balak’s new dungeon, and select a few skilled veterans to lead them on clears.

It was a multi-pronged strategy: it would generate additional Zen for Balak, elevate the standing of Momonte’s guilds, attract new recruits, create a large-scale training program for novices, and even improve the Anslake family’s public image. It was a massive promotional campaign in a single, neat package.

Momonte’s guilds would be strengthened, and Balak would become a magnet for raiders across the continent. This would, in turn, diminish Count Dinnen’s influence and establish the Anslake family’s own power base.

"I’m not sure it will work," Momonte said dubiously. "More importantly, will Count Dinnen even allow it?"

"Look at you, dropping the honorifics already," Taehyun noted with a smirk. "That man is loath to make what he considers a useless investment, but he’ll approve a plan that draws more raiders to Balak. You just have to present it to him in two different ways."

"Two ways?"

"One is a version run by Count Dinnen’s raiders. The other is run by your guild’s raiders. To make him feel like he’s getting the better end of the deal, frame the proposal like this."

Gelix, the count’s aide, would immediately see that this plan would increase the Anslake family’s influence. The proposal had to be structured to look as mutually beneficial as possible.

"Initially, Dinnen’s raiders will take the lead, guiding the novices. Your guild members will just be there to fill out the numbers, leading the rest. The crucial part is that your raiders—who will form the core of the operation—must be far more proactive and helpful in their guidance."

"I-I see," Momonte said, catching on. "Once he gives his permission, the plan is in motion. He can’t back out later without losing face. So, at first, I’ll operate it as if it’s all for his benefit."

"Exactly. And if you run it that way, rumors are bound to spread. They’ll say the guild-affiliated parties provide better treatment and teach combat more effectively than Dinnen’s."

"And through that, my guild members who formed the core will eventually become the main draw, naturally attracting new members... How in the world did you come up with this?!"

Those porter-raiders would be desperate to get gear worthy of their rank and fight like real veterans. Proactive instruction, equal treatment, fair Zen distribution, an enjoyable atmosphere—if Momonte’s operation was demonstrably better than Count Dinnen’s, the raiders would have no choice but to flock to his guilds.

Holding the communication device, Taehyun smiled.

"You sit in a dungeon long enough, and these things just come to you. Now, the name of this plan is..."

"I-is?"

"The Bus. The plan is ’Carry the Novice Raiders.’ From now on, we’ll call taking novices through a dungeon ’giving them a bus ride’."

"Ooh. I have no idea what that means, but it has a wonderful ring to it. I’ll trust you on this!"

It was a term straight from online gaming, but there was no way a noble like Momonte would know that. The joint operation between Taehyun and Momonte was officially underway.

---

[The Vedon Territory has been converted into a dungeon.]

[The name ’Vedon Territory’ will disappear.]

[Please set a new dungeon name.]

This was the integrated dungeon born from the absorption of four territories. Balak’s domain was now divided into regions named Ones, Twos, Threes, Fours, and Fives, with passages guiding raiders to each. The former Vedon Territory was now in Region One, the closest of the new dungeon-territories to the main entrance.

Taehyun gazed at the small crystal core, a wave of nostalgia washing over him.

"Now that I’m A-rank, seeing a C-rank crystal core feels like looking at a distant memory."

"Contrary to your words, Master, your expression is quite grim," Raviz observed.

"Well, I went through a lot. Anyway..." His eyes landed on Raviz, who was clad in a robe of magic silk. It was a risqué garment that left little to the imagination, but on her childlike frame, it looked dangerous in an entirely different way.

"I-I can see your pupils trembling, Master," she stammered, squirming and blushing. "I am suddenly feeling rather embarrassed."

Taehyun cleared his throat and quickly looked away. "All right. This dungeon’s name will also be Balak—"

"Master, a different name is required."

"Just a simple Balak—"

"Master, you must choose a different name."

As her favorability had risen, Raviz had become more expressive with not only her emotions but also her opinions. Taehyun scratched his cheek, thinking. He’d kept the names consistent for uniformity, but he had to admit it sometimes got confusing. For the sake of the bus plan, a distinct name was probably for the best.

"Hmm. How about Balak One?"

"That name is... beneath you, Master."

"Hmph. What about Balak Four?"

"That is an exceptionally poor choice."

His suggestions were shot down one after another. Feeling like he was being judged, Taehyun scowled.

"You know, it feels like you’re trying to lecture me."

"Anyone else would have shaken their head at those names, Master."

"Tsk. And here I thought my naming sense was better than that damn Seonghwi’s. Fine. How about Heimdall?"

"A vast improvement. Congratulations, Master," Raviz said, giving a small, polite clap.

And with that, the name was decided.

[The dungeon name has been set to Heimdall.]

[It is already integrated with the existing dungeon, Balak.]

[All authority is transferred to Player Taehyun Yoo.]

The fourth dungeon, Heimdall, was born.

[Dungeon Name: Heimdall]

[Master: Taehyun Yoo]

[Rank: C]

[Location: South of the western Astral Continent. Entrance of Balak’s territory]

[Supporter: None]

[Boss: None]

[Mercenary: None]

[Guardian and Keeper: None]

[Soldiers: None]

[Monsters: None]

[Servants and Maids: None]

[Traps: None]

[Installed Devices: None]

[Remodeled/Modified State: None]

[Rooms: 8]

[Dungeon Status: Lacking soldiers and a supporter, immediate summoning is required. Traps and installed devices are also currently needed.]

Being brand-new, the dungeon’s status was completely empty. Taehyun, however, was satisfied. He purchased a Random Supporter Summon Card.

"That makes four supporters now. I hope I get a useful one."

"You will, Master. I am certain of it."

"We’ll see," he said, turning his attention to the crystal core and activating the card.

[You have used a Random Supporter Summon Card.]

[A summon circle is being generated.]

[The summon circle forms near the crystal core, stabilizing its magic.]

A summon circle materialized near the core, a sight Taehyun hadn’t witnessed in a long time.

[A Troublesome Success!]

[The Rank D Supporter ’Vedder the Teddy Bear’ has been summoned.]

Finally, a figure emerged. It seemed his luck had run out, as it was only a D-rank supporter.

He was too stunned to speak.

It was a small, pink teddy bear. A cute, plush creature of indeterminate gender. Taehyun stared at it, his expression hardening. The bear blinked its large, button eyes and gave a little bow.

"A pleasure to meet you. I am Vedder the Teddy Bear. I pledge my undying loyalty to Master Taehyun... oof!"

It tripped and fell flat on its face mid-sentence.

Taehyun turned away, a grave look on his face. Raviz, on the other hand, was utterly captivated, her eyes sparkling.

"M-Master," she breathed. "I must have him."

"I am not an object... oof," the bear mumbled, tripping again as it tried to stand.

He fell silent.

Heimdall was off to a rather troublesome start.

---

<Bulletin Board Post>

’All who desire a proper dungeon clear, come forth! An opportunity to be personally trained by the best raiders awaits you. Sponsored by Count Dinnen, this "bus" will be a revolution for all raiders. Are you afraid of dungeons? Is your rank high but your combat experience low? Do you struggle on clears because you lack the Zen for proper gear? If so, we are looking for you. The so-called bus, sponsored by the Anslake family’s guilds, is also waiting.’

One day, these notices appeared on the Raider’s Association bulletin board.

"A ’bus’? What’s that, a new dungeon name?"

"High rank but low combat experience? That’s impossible. What nonsense."

"Sponsored by both Count Dinnen and the Anslake guilds? Are they drowning in Zen or something?"

Initially, the response was overwhelmingly negative. The idea of experienced raiders "training" novices for a fee was laughable. A high rank with no experience? It was absurd. It seemed far more efficient to just form a normal raid party.

The bus project seemed destined to be forgotten.

Then, a sudden flood of applicants appeared.

"This is a revolution! A bus is exactly what I need to fix my situation!"

"Look! It’s called a bus, and the fee isn’t even that high. If they really split the performance score and Zen equally, we can earn back way more than the cost!"

"Top-tier B-rank raiders are personally leading the parties! And the destination is that new Heimdall dungeon in Balak’s territory. It’s perfect for us!"

They were the porters, the raiders whose ranks had been artificially inflated by flawed training methods. They swarmed the Anslake mansion, all desperate to sign up for the bus.

---