“Miss Larriel, the other dungeon has to be dealt with,” said Marinus.

“But don’t hurt the beings inside! They could be good monsters,” said Theanore pleadingly. Larriel petted the little girl’s head and marveled at how soft her curls were.

“That decision is not up to me. The whole party has to agree. But why are you concerned? With the barrier, nothing can touch either of you,” said Larriel. Both children shared a look.

“Yes, but what if someone else gets hurt by the monsters left behind? Like those ogres that you fought,” asked Theanore.

“We fought just one. And it was a young one,” said Larriel. That meant that there was potentially a breeding pair of ogres in the dead dungeon, but Larriel didn’t want to worry the children with such facts.

But both Marinus and Theanore put two and two together. Seeing as all members of the forest of fireflies’ guardians have given them the same response, they went back inside the grotto to think.

“Maybe Tania can connect us to the other system?” Asked Marinus, and Theanore nodded.

“Tania, can you help us speak with the other system?” She said, and words flashed before her eyes.

I can. Stand next to the ghost aura so that its power and level can mask yours. That way, the other system would think twice about whatever or not she will send a raiding party to the apple grotto.

“Tania, what level am I?” Asked Theanore. She must be below level 90 if the ghost aura could mask her level.

You are level 3. You are four months old. Your skills are beast tamer, gardener, and apprentice enchanter. Marinus is a level 10 changeling. He is also a marine expert and apprentice enchanter.

“Only level 3? Why am I so weak?” Asked Theanore dejected.

Your apple tree is still a sapling. Grow it with mana to get easier access to levels. Warning: That will take away from your lifespan.

“Hm, I suppose I can wait and gain more skills as a human can. Just like Mari. Ok, Tania. Connect us to the other system.”

Who? Oh, a dungeon core.

“Hello, system of the cave of the forest of bats. I would like to speak with you!” Said Theanore exited. Even if the system ended up evil, she needed to get a chance to make the cave peaceful.

The only dungeon core I speak to is grandpa Odious Thinker. I won’t speak with a baby core who has to hide behind a dead fairy for me to be tricked.

“I am not a baby! I look as if I am two years old!” Said Theanore, brows furrowed. She heard a burst of laughter from the other side of the connection.

And how old are you, really?

“Well, four months old.” Said Theanore, holding up four fingers. Then she realized that the system couldn’t see her, and she blushed.

Oh, apologies! Why, you are practically a toddler! Listen, munchkin, I won’t send any of my residents to your little forest of fireflies. Just don’t step a foot inside the forest of bats, and we will be just fine. Ok?

“Grandpa Thinker scratched her off his monster supply list,” said Marinus, thinking quickly. “Do you have any harmless, or medium harmless, monsters that can be used for food?”

Oh? I am speaking with someone on the bad list? Well, I’ll tell you both a secret. I am on the bad list two. I suppose I can give you a couple of hamsters. Or maybe guinea pigs? I'm hardly capable of telling them apart. But what can you give me?

“We are enchanters.” Said Theanore proudly. “We're capable of making you a dual enchanted item for your treasure horde.”

What level on the scale?

“Level 300 for now, but we are working on higher levels. If only the items would stop catching fire…” Said Marinus. It was said in the enchanted book that this was a common hazard when enchanters reached their enchanting peaks. But the merman refused to believe that such a thing existed for them. They were a dungeon core and a merman. They were more magical than most.

300? The best item in my horde is level 78. With this item, I can finally become a dungeon core. An independent one without a system! Fine, children. I will supply you. The dungeon core I used to serve was called the core of variety. You both think about how useful that makes me.

Both children looked confused. Someone could be upgraded into a dungeon core? Theanore voiced the question and received an answer.

Only systems can become dungeon cores that way. Humans have to die just as they destroy the former core. Monsters have to eat the core that created them. I suggest you keep your livestock away from your adorable apple sapling. Least you are replaced and die.

Theanore paled at that. To think that Barry the rooster nearly became a dungeon core! But the ghost aura would surely protect her. Wait! What of the leaves that will fall with the changing of the seasons? She asked this question and received more laughter.

The core which created them, dear. You didn’t create what nearly ate from your sapling, did you? You bought it with mana through your system.

“I did,” said Theanore, calming down slightly.

Then there is nothing to worry about. As for the fallen leaves, don’t worry. Once they fall, they are no longer parts of the core. I even think that you can spare a few leaves to bugs and diseases. As long as the roots remain strong, you will be fine.

Then Theanore felt like the connection between the new system, and she cut off. She wondered what happened and she received her answer.

Grandpa Thinker has intercepted your communication with the other system. He stopped it. It is not in his interest for you to find a new supplier for monsters and plants. He means to hold the embargo on you until Yule, and then to allow for his list to decide if you were good or bad. So far, he has to keep putting you on the bad list because the list keeps putting your name on the good list.

“I won’t make a trade with grandpa Thinker, even if I end up on the good list forever! I have a new ally. The future core of the cave of the forest of bats,” said Theanore, and she hit the denounce button for the continent of Alerion. Let everyone know that the days of the hegemony of grandpa Thinker were over.