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I glanced at him, appreciating his attentiveness but knowing full well that this next part was something I had to handle alone. "It\'s nothing, Alfred," I replied, my tone casual as I turned my gaze back toward the spiraling staircase leading up. "There\'s something I need to check upstairs. Wrap things up here."

Alfred\'s brows furrowed ever so slightly, a rare crack in his usually stoic expression. "My lord, perhaps it would be wise if I accompanied you. The tower is still in a state of dungeonification, and the creatures within are unpredictable."

I knew where his concern was coming from. Alfred was not only my butler but also a protector, someone who had sworn to stand by my side no matter the circumstances. But this task, this encounter waiting for me above, required a different approach. One that even Alfred couldn\'t witness.

I shook my head. "No, Alfred. I appreciate the offer, but this is something I need to handle alone. There are… aspects of this that I would prefer remain unseen." I allowed a brief pause, letting the weight of my words settle.

Alfred hesitated, his sharp gaze flicking between me and the staircase. His duty clashed with his instinct to follow orders, but he had long learned that my decisions were made with precision. After a moment, he straightened, bowing deeply with that perfect butler grace he had perfected over years of service. "Understood, my lord. However, if you call, I will come immediately."

A faint smile tugged at my lips as I acknowledged his loyalty. "I\'ll be fine. I\'ll be bringing the chimeras, the undead goblin king, and the hobgoblin devil servant with me. The Minotaur devil servant will be here as well, patrolling the area. There\'s no need for concern."

Alfred nodded once, but his eyes lingered on me for a second longer, searching for something, though he\'d never voice it aloud. "Very well, my lord. I trust your judgment." His voice was firm, though I could sense his lingering unease.

I gave him a final glance before turning away, my thoughts already shifting toward the encounter ahead.

There was a specific reason I had chosen to bring along my undead goblin king, the chimeras, the hobgoblin devil servant, and the newly captured minotaur devil servant. Their presence wasn\'t just a show of force—it was a strategic decision. The Magic Tower University dungeonification had provided me with the perfect opportunity to display them openly, without raising suspicion.

In normal circumstances, summoning creatures like these would be considered highly irregular, perhaps even dangerous. But here, within the chaos of the dungeonified tower, I could claim that they were part of my research. I could say I had found them within the tower, that I had captured them to study their mana flow, their physiology.

The professors who were now incapacitated on the lower floors would be excellent witnesses—should they wake and speak of it.

This event alone could fuel the next several research journals I had been planning to publish. The university had always been a hub for magical research, and dungeonification was a rare phenomenon. I could contribute findings on demonic energies, monster behaviors, and the application of summoning magic during such events.

It would not only solidify my reputation but also give me ample material to publish, years ahead of schedule.

Of course, I had no intention of revealing the full truth in any of these papers. A few theories, some well-placed observations, perhaps even a breakthrough or two—that would be enough. I would leave out the deeper intricacies of my summoning methods, the true nature of the creatures under my control. They would be my secret, my edge in the ever-shifting balance of power within the magical world.

By the time the academic community realized that my research only scratched the surface, I\'d already be several steps ahead, ready with new material that I alone would control. In this way, I\'d ensure my influence and reputation remained untouchable.

I felt the weight of the store currency in my mind, the reward I had earned from the recent events. Itching at the back of my thoughts was the temptation to access the store catalogue, to finally acquire the skill I had been saving for.

But not yet. Not now.

This next encounter, this person who had been watching me—if I bought the skill now, they might realize what I was planning. The skill I had been waiting to obtain was meant to be my ace, the card I would only reveal when necessary. If this person knew of it, they could counter it, or worse, they could spread word of its existence.

No, I had to wait. Meet this person first, deal with them, and then I could access the store and purchase the skill in peace. It would be safer that way.

I glanced at the Minotaur devil servant. With a single mental command, I sent it forward, its massive form lumbering ahead to spearhead my advance. The undead goblin king followed closely behind, its grotesque figure wielding its oversized club with brutal efficiency.

The hobgoblin devil servant and the chimeras flanked me, acting as my perimeter defense as we moved up the staircase toward the upper floors.

The creatures in the tower hadn\'t relented. As we ascended, trolls, kobolds, and ogres emerged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with malevolent intent. They attacked in waves, but they were no match for my summoned forces.

The minotaur\'s heavy steps crushed any kobold foolish enough to stand in its path, its brute strength clearing the way with ease. The undead goblin king swung its club in wide, sweeping arcs, smashing through troll skulls and sending their bodies crashing to the floor in pieces. The hobgoblin devil servant moved with a vicious grace, its claws tearing through the ogres that dared to challenge us.

The chimeras were equally devastating. Their coordinated elemental attacks—fire, lightning, venom—ripped through the monsters with surgical precision. One moment, a troll would charge forward, and the next, it would be engulfed in flames, electrocuted by lightning, or poisoned by a swift strike from the serpent-headed chimera.

I walked calmly in the midst of the chaos, my hands behind my back as I let my summoned creatures handle the fight. Their strength, their brutality—it was all part of the show. Each strike, each kill, only served to solidify their place in the tower\'s new dungeon ecology. They were not just summoned monsters—they were part of the story I would tell, the research I would publish.

As we neared the top of the staircase, the last of the creatures fell, their bodies littering the ground behind us. I didn\'t spare them a second glance. There was no need. My focus was on what lay ahead.

The upper chamber was silent, the air thick with anticipation as I approached the storage room door. I knew who was inside. I could feel their presence, subtle yet undeniable, waiting for me.

With a slow, deliberate motion, I pushed the door open.

The room was small, cramped with shelves lined with old scrolls and relics that hadn\'t seen the light of day in years. But none of that mattered. My eyes were drawn to the figure standing in the center of the room, her back turned to me.

Yuli.

I couldn\'t help the smile that spread across my lips as I took in the sight of her. She was exactly as I remembered—poised, composed, and always several steps ahead.

"What are you doing here, Yuli?" I asked, my voice low but laced with curiosity.

She turned slowly, a smile of her own tugging at the corners of her lips. "I could ask you the same thing, Professor."

And so it begins.

The next phase of the game.