SSS-Rank Overlord: Defend the Dungeon or Die-Chapter 210: Episode _Imminent

Aslan, the capital of Ernes, had once been a vibrant city, its population swelled by the proximity of Balak. Its streets had bustled day and night with Raiders, merchants, adventurers, and locals. But everything changed when Leon took the throne. The once-peaceful capital was now thick with tension, and many of its residents had fled.

"Your Highness Leon," Duke Centrix announced. "Baron Momonte Anschlake is here. He requests an audience."

"Let him in."

Amidst the turmoil, Baron Momonte had come. Duke Centrix personally escorted him in and forced him to his knees.

"Your Highness Leon! Please forgive this foolish subject! I see now that I have been nothing but a pawn, used by Count Dinen all this time!"

"Oh?" Leon said, gesturing with an intrigued expression. "Continue."

Seizing the opportunity, Momonte pressed his forehead to the stone floor. "Your Highness, I beg you, with your vast generosity, forgive this lowly worm! If you grant me your forgiveness, I swear I will strike down Count Dinen with my own two hands!"

"Baron Momonte, rise."

"Your Highness!"

"I said, rise."

After the second command, Momonte lifted his head. Ignoring the blood trickling from his forehead, he looked up at Leon with an expression of utter servility. "Your Highness, I have a plan! If you would only hear me out, I will devote my life and loyalty to achieving our goal!"

"And what plan is that?"

"Grant me the chance, and I will provide you with all of Count Dinen’s intelligence. Troop movements, territorial finances, his strategic plans, the location of key facilities—everything."

"That is a tempting offer," Leon mused. "However, you are a man who has already sworn fealty to Count Dinen. How am I to trust you?"

If Branch Manager Gelix was Dinen’s right hand, Baron Momonte was a more distant supporter. Everyone in the political sphere knew this, including Leon. Momonte’s visit was, in effect, a desperate plea. He needed to show his sincerity, not just offer explanations.

’This is not going to be easy,’ Momonte thought, his heart pounding. ’And with Duke Centrix standing right behind me, one wrong word and my head will roll.’ The image of Pol Navian’s severed head flashed in his mind. He focused, then spoke again. "I understand that it would be difficult to trust me immediately, Your Highness. That is why, as a show of my sincerity, I have brought... this..."

"Raise your hands high, Baron Momonte Anschlake."

"H-Hrk!"

The cold steel of a blade pressed against his throat. Startled, Momonte shot both hands into the air. Duke Centrix retrieved the pouch he’d dropped and inspected its contents.

"Thirty million... no, nearly forty million Zen, Your Majesty."

"Hmm," Leon said, a smirk touching his lips. "Is this paltry sum the extent of your credibility, ’Count’ Momonte Anschlake?"

"Th-That is merely a small token of my sincerity, Your Majesty! The Anschlake Barony will provide a monthly tribute of iron and war supplies from this day forward! All of Count Dinen’s intelligence and our full material support. I believe this should be more than enough to satisfy Your Majesty!"

The royal army was desperately short of soldiers and supplies. Momonte had just boldly offered to solve one of those problems. Leon smiled faintly and gestured. Only then did Duke Centrix sheathe his sword and step back.

"I will add one more condition."

"W-What is it, Your Majesty?"

"This ‘clever plan’ of yours is to act as a double agent, I presume. You intend to secretly extract information without Count Dinen ever finding out. But honestly, there’s more to it than that, isn’t there?"

"In what way?"

"The Raider Guilds, of course," Leon said. "Are they not the finest fighting force, ready to move at my command? I hear they’ve expanded their influence quite a bit since the bus raids. Just once. I want you to mobilize those guilds for me—just once, at a time of my choosing."

A request? No. This was a test. If Momonte were to mobilize the guilds as he asked, he would undoubtedly be exposed by Count Dinen. Was he willing to risk that much to align himself with the royal family? That was what Leon was testing right now.

’Taehyun Yoo was right,’ Momonte thought, his mind racing. ’This man wants the entire Anslake Barony for himself!’

He would have to offer everything—from Count Dinen’s intelligence to the guilds, Zen, and material support—just to earn the king’s trust. Momonte feigned all the hesitation he could muster before finally answering, "I... I understand. If that is what Your Highness desires, I shall do so."

"Excellent," Leon replied. "Now then, it is your turn. Speak. What is it that you desire?"

"I wish for..."

Momonte began to speak as Taehyun had instructed. All he desired was Count Dinen’s vacant position. But Leon wasn’t looking at him; he was staring into the empty air, the corners of his lips slowly curling into a smile.

---

[Wall construction is complete.]

[The territory of Balak itself has gained durability.]

[Larkan’s Transmutation Circle level has increased.]

[Tuperus’s Structural Analysis level has increased.]

At last, the wall around Balak was complete. Taehyun had created two gates near the entrance, connecting them to the main path. The routes for dungeon residents and Raiders were now clearly separated. He could welcome those who came to Balak with open arms.

"We finally have a wall," Riel observed. "Once the interior is properly developed, we could become a proper nation, couldn’t we?"

"I’ve told you before, I’m not aiming that high. Just think of it as simple fortification. Anyway, did you say Heimdal was calling?"

"Ah, yes. Veder is requesting a Guardian or Keeper summon."

"Hmm. I should probably stop by," Taehyun said. "You stay here and manage Balak. I’ll go alone."

The number of Raiders had dropped sharply, likely because Count Dinen was hiring them. Since he had promised substantial rewards, most of the Raiders who had been flocking to Balak had no choice but to head for Haven territory.

’The Raiders are in an uproar because of the Aneis Kingdom,’ Taehyun thought, clicking his tongue as he left the Master Room. The bus raids were still running, however, so Heimdal required his attention.

"Master, where are you going?"

"Ugh."

Just as he was stepping onto the teleportation circle, Hyena approached. Her favorability was already nearing seventy, making her difficult to refuse. Taehyun tried to slip away, but she stubbornly followed and blocked his path.

"Where are you going?" she asked again.

"Ahem. I’m heading to Heimdal. Happy?"

"Please take me with you, Master."

"...Sigh. Fine, follow me."

Unlike with his other core forces, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse her request. In the end, Taehyun visited Heimdal with Hyena.

[You have been transported to the C-rank dungeon, Heimdal.]

"Bear! Bear!"

"Aaaargh! The teddy bear is beating people up!"

"R-Run, everyone! Even our leader was taken down! We don’t stand a chance!"

The moment they arrived in the Master Room, the screams of Raiders filled the air. They were probably the last remnants of Pradio’s bus raid party.

"There you are, Taehyun," Veder said. "As you’ve instructed, Heim... whoa!"

Veder, Heimdal’s supporter, hadn’t changed a bit, of course. Hyena’s eyes sparkled as she scooped him up into her arms. Seeing this, Hendy, who was sitting nearby, immediately protested.

"Hey! That’s my Veder!"

"Who says he’s yours?" Hyena retorted.

"Ugh. He brought another woman this time," Hendy muttered. "He really is a wicked demon. You can’t fool my eyes!"

"Tsk. Inhye, can you take her away?" Taehyun asked.

At his request, Inhye dragged Hendy away. Just then, Hyena asked, "Master, do you spend time with other women often?"

"...That look in your eyes is a little unnerving."

"Please answer my question, Master."

"Hmph. Never mind that. Let’s go to the room with the crystal core."

The purpose of his visit was to summon a Guardian and a Keeper. He was definitely not avoiding Hyena’s murderous glare because he was scared. Taehyun hurried toward the final room.

---

At that moment, Count Dinen, the instigator of the rebellion, was trying to accelerate his plan.

’To think he would grant those lands to Duke Centrix and Viscount Crowell,’ he fumed internally. ’That damn bastard. He’s not going to give me an opening until the very end, is he?’

The Lichten and Ventner territories. These were two domains one had to pass through to reach the capital. Originally, they were held by nobles on Count Dinen’s side, but they had fallen to the royal family during the last purge. The Royal Guard and the kingdom’s army were already gathering around the two superhumans. Although Dinen still had the numerical advantage, he didn’t know when the Peyton Dukedom and the Holy Kingdom might make their move. He hurried down to the basement.

"How are the preparations coming along?" he demanded.

"We’re a little short on mana, but if we have a few more days, we should be able to complete it," one of the Raiders replied.

"Grr. We must hurry! If they make a move first, it’s all over!"

"We will do our best."

The five Raiders working on the project bowed their heads. Count Dinen let out a low groan and inspected the chamber. Fifteen large stone monuments were absorbing red mana. Their exact purpose was unknown, but their capabilities had been fully assessed.

’Just you wait,’ he thought. ’The day of your death is not far off.’

This was a plan he had been preparing for ever since Balak established itself in the west. Once those monuments discovered in the north were complete, he was certain he could turn the tables. Count Dinen sneered as he watched the crimson mana burn.

---

[You have used a Random Keeper Summon Card.]

[A summoning circle is being generated.]

[The summoning circle is generated near the crystal core, stabilizing the mana.]

Soon, a summoning circle formed near the crystal core. Hyena and Veder, standing beside him, watched with great anticipation, but Taehyun wasn’t one of them.

’Even though it’s a random summon card, in my experience, the result is heavily influenced by the crystal core’s rank. Heimdal is C-rank. It’s obvious what I’ll get.’

Slowly, a silhouette began to appear above the summoning circle. Taehyun checked the message with a bored expression.

[Perfect Super Success!]

[The S-rank Named Keeper, Tyrant Kumakuma, has been summoned.]

’An S-rank Named Keeper?!’

His eyes went wide. A giant teddy bear—an S-rank Named Keeper. In disbelief, Taehyun checked Kumakuma’s information.

[Tyrant Kumakuma]

[Rank: S (Named)]

[Level: 1]

[Race: Doll]

[Class: None]

[Title: Ruler of the Doll Empire]

[Affiliation: Balak]

[Loyalty: 50]

[Favorability: 30]

[Obedience: 30]

[Skill: Jumping Jumping]

[Special Ability: Advent of the Tyrant]

[Strength: 28] [Endurance: 35] [Agility: 2] [Stamina: 68]

[Mana: 1] [Divinity: 1] [Affinity: 32] [Luck: 14]

[Status: Excited]

Its race was Doll, perhaps due to Heimdal’s nature. As befitting an S-rank Named Keeper, its stats were extremely high. Taehyun saw its ’Excited’ status and turned his head.

"Human wench. Become my concubine. Kuma!"

"...Are you talking to me?" Hyena asked.

"There are no other wenches here but you. Kuma!"

Hearts bloomed in its round eyes. Kumakuma immediately hugged Hyena, looking satisfied. "I am pleased. Kuma!"

"Um, Master. What should I do in this situation?"

"...To think the first S-rank Keeper I summon is a pervert like this."

It was a lecherous teddy bear, plain and simple. Taehyun sighed, then his expression hardened. Kumakuma’s hands were gradually moving downward.

"Hey! You crazy bastard! Let her go right now!"

"Urgh. I must obey the Master’s command. Kuma."

Fortunately, its loyalty to the Dungeon Master was functioning properly. Taehyun pulled Hyena into his arms and stepped back.

"If you ever approach Hyena again, I’ll pull out every last bit of cotton from your body. Got it?"

"Y-You’re too mean. Kuma!"

"Shut up, you perverted teddy bear!"

"Kuma."

Kumakuma turned away with a dejected face. Only then did Taehyun let out a sigh of relief. Just then, he noticed Hyena, still in his arms.

"I-I can’t breathe, Master."

"Oh. S-Sorry."

He’d gotten so angry he’d squeezed his arms too tightly. Taehyun quickly let Hyena go and scratched his head.

"An S-S-rank Keeper!"

Meanwhile, Veder, moved to tears that the first Keeper was S-rank, came running toward them. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Taehyun, the first Keeper is an S-rank... whoa!"

They watched in stunned silence.

Tripping, of course, was inevitable.