Chapter 10: Knowledge about dungeons and Fortresses.

Meanwhile, as if the image in his mind had come to life, Tsunda materialized before him, not a single strand of hair out of place from what he had envisioned.

Her enormous, breathtaking breasts remained just as he had imagined, and most importantly, she wore the exact same traditional grey-colored Japanese kimono from the anime he had referenced in his thoughts. It draped elegantly over her curvaceous figure, emphasizing her hourglass form.

As soon as she fully formed, Tsunda's eyes fluttered open. She blinked a few times, her gaze adjusting to the surroundings before finally locking eyes with Zachary. In that instant, she gracefully bowed, her hands neatly placed in front of her, and her soft, melodic voice rang out with unwavering respect.

"Master."

The moment those words reached Zachary's ears, a wave of emotions surged through him. He had been single for the past twenty years of his existence, with not a single female companion to speak of. And now, before him stood a stunning woman, fully devoted to him. His throat felt dry, his heart hammering in his chest.

But despite his excitement, he quickly composed himself.

"Don't call me Master," Zach corrected her with a smirk, suppressing the grin threatening to spread across his face. "I'd prefer it if you called me… Darling."

Without hesitation, Tsunda nodded. Since he was the dungeon's owner, his words were absolute.

"Darling."

Zach's breath hitched. It was even sweeter than he imagined.

"Say it again."

"Darling."

"One more time."

"Darling."

"Just once more, I swear."

Tsunda obliged, repeating the affectionate word with an innocent expression. Yet, with each repetition, Zach felt an intoxicating addiction growing within him. Her soft voice, her obedient demeanor—it was overwhelming in the best way possible. He could listen to this forever.

But then—something unexpected happened.

Tsunda's face, which had been neutral all this while, suddenly turned an adorable shade of pink. Her eyes widened slightly as realization dawned on her.

"Hmph! Pervert! I won't call you Darling anymore! You're teasing me!"

Her voice carried a mix of embarrassment and chiding playfulness, and Zach was completely taken aback.

For a moment, he simply stood there, stunned.

Then—Pa!

He slapped himself out of his daze, his blue eyes sharpening as he refocused on her.

His gaze drifted to Tsunda, who was now pouting shyly, her arms folded in front of her chest. Her kimono stretched ever so slightly as her breathing grew heavier, causing her ample bosom to rise and fall in a mesmerizing rhythm.

She was blushing.

She was pouting.

She was acting shy.

Zach's mind raced. "You can experience emotions? I thought AIs were robotic?"

At his question, Tsunda huffed, turning her head to the side as if reluctant to talk about it.

That reaction confirmed everything.

So the Dungeon Overlord System isn't just a lifeless program—it actually gave the Dungeon Core sentience?

Zach's thoughts ran wild as he processed this revelation. Tsunda wasn't just an AI; she was a full-fledged, self-aware, thinking, and feeling being.

She wasn't bound to mindlessly follow commands like a puppet. She had emotions, she had preferences, and judging from her bashful reaction… she even had the ability to feel embarrassment.

A genuine, living consciousness.

His heart pounded.

That meant if he ever lost Tsunda, he wouldn't just be losing a system-generated entity—he'd be losing an actual person. Someone who could understand him. Someone who could indulge in all his, ahem, fantasies without the risk of betrayal.

He had to protect her.

He had to grow stronger before someone else caught up to him.

Determined, Zach talk to her and one thing lead to another and he buried his face into her soft lap, reveling in the sensation of her warm thighs as they slightly trembled. It was as if she had never done something like this before, making the moment even more exhilarating.

"So, Tsunda." His voice was low, almost lazy, as he enjoyed the lap pillow.

"Yes, Darling?"

Her sweet voice made Zach feel like a newlywed husband being pampered by his wife. He grinned, tempted to tease her again, but he quickly swallowed that impulse and shifted his focus.

"Ahem." Clearing his throat, he adopted a more serious tone. "Tell me everything I need to know about the Dungeon Overlord System and Dungeon Masters."

Tsunda smiled knowingly, as if she had anticipated this question.

"The Dungeon Overlord Systems—or alternatively, the Fortress Overlord Systems—were created by the Heavenly Daos," she began. **"These systems were bestowed upon select individuals across different planets, enabling them to grow stronger through methods deemed fit by the system itself.

The only way a world can qualify to be governed by the Heavenly Daos is when a celestial-level figure—what you would call a 'big shot'—performs a ritual strong enough to attract the attention of the Heavens. Once acknowledged, that world is granted access to higher powers, with individuals chosen to wield the Dungeon Overlord Systems and Fortress Overlord Systems as a means of progression."

Zach's eyes glinted as he listened, taking in every word. This information was crucial.

So the system wasn't just some random occurrence—it was part of something far greater. It was a power tied to the fabric of existence itself.

"So, you're telling me that unless some big shot from the heavens or other realm pops into a world and performs a specific ritual, the Heavenly Daos won't even bother looking in that world's direction? And only then will they decide whether to open it up to the universe and grant people supernatural powers?" Zach asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, Darling. That's basically how it works," Tsunda nodded, her chest bouncing slightly with the motion.

Zach's eyes twitched. 'Dangerous.' He needed to keep his focus on the conversation before his brain wandered into other territories.

"So, in other worlds, do they also use Dungeon Masters and Fortress Masters to get stronger?" he asked, forcing himself back on track.

"No, no, not at all," Tsunda shook her head. "Each world has its own method of growth. Some develop their brains to terrifying levels, allowing them to comprehend and build insane technologies without much hassle. Others cultivate the Heavenly Daos and ascend to godlike beings. Some awaken as espers, wielding psychic abilities, while others rely on mechs so powerful they can take down entire armies."

She paused, then added, "But no matter the method, the pattern remains the same—those chosen by the Heavenly Daos are always a select few, never more than a few thousand per world. They're given something special that sets them apart from the masses, something that makes ordinary super people rely on them for survival. That's just how the Heavenly Daos operate. Beyond that, I don't know much."

Zach took a few moments to digest that information before letting out a soft sigh.

This universe is way too big.

Right now, he felt like a fish in a frying pan—one that hadn't even realized there was a much bigger cauldron waiting for it.

"Tsunda, let's not talk about the universe for now—it's still way out of my league. Instead, tell me what I need to know about Dungeons and Fortresses."

Tsunda smiled slightly as she adjusted her position, her silky kimono rustling softly.

"Dungeons and Fortresses are like two sides of the same coin," she began. "For people to grow stronger, they must enter dungeons, hunt monsters, and conquer them to earn rewards. The stronger the dungeon, the greater the rewards. On the other hand, as a Dungeon Master, your job is to eliminate intruders who step into your dungeon. That's the primary way for you to grow stronger and rank up your dungeon from F-rank to S-rank… or even as high as SSS-rank if you're good enough."

She gave him a knowing look before continuing, "As for Fortresses—well, as the name suggests, they're the only places humans can live without constantly fearing for their lives. Right now, Earth is crawling with monsters, and Fortresses are the only real safe zones left."

Zach rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Dungeons for power. Fortresses for safety.

Two sides of a coin, indeed.