As a dungeon core of a dungeon with six floors, the seventh currently being built to stop the nagging of a certain fairy, there were always people in Xu Han’s dungeon. New adventurers come in from the entrance, they go through the first floor, take the teleportation spell down to the second floor and make their way through one of the rooms. There was the occasional boss fight, some deaths, and then they’ll leave. Sometimes an adventurer party would decide to stay at the gathering point on the second floor for a night to gather themselves before attempting the rooms, but that’s generally how it went. However, recently Xu Han noticed a new phenomenon.

  Some of the adventurers weren’t leaving.

  Now, the occasional adventurer staying in his dungeon for a few days wasn't really a problem for him, but when the number of adventurers staying back increased, Xu Han found himself curious. Why were the adventurers doing this? He didn’t understand it, and had no way to find out.

  Xu Han remembered that one of the seniors in the dungeon chat group told him that sometimes it was good to take in the views of his minions as they had a more hands-on contact with the adventurers and could give him a different view of them. Taking the advice, Xu Han decided to call an emergency meeting.

  Xu Han, the dungeon core, did not have many minions working under him. Honestly, he has just two. Jemma, his dungeon fairy, and the Guardian of Cards, the former adventurer named Alessandro. Of the two, only Jemma worked for him. The Guardian belongs to Carda, the Lord of Cards, and while the Guardian had his own room within the dungeon, his god did tell him to serve Xu Han. As long as he did not go against the god, the dungeon core had no reason to question the Catkin’s loyalty.

  “So, now that both of you understand my problem, can someone tell me why are the adventurers aren’t leaving?”

  “Honestly, I don’t see the problem.” Jemma said. “So, they are staying back. So what? They are still giving power to the dungeon. That’s a good thing.”

  “Yes, but why are they doing it? I thought adventurers leave a dungeon the moment they were done.”

  “Not all. Some adventurers could stay on Rest Floors for years before leaving.” Jemma corrected.

  “The second floor is no Rest Floor. It has nothing. No food, no water source, nothing interesting, but they are not leaving.” Xu Han said.

  “Once again; so what? Core, the adventurers aren’t hurting you. They are just staying there.”

  “But why are they doing that?” Xu Han asked in irritation, before turning to the last person in the room. “Guardian, maybe you can enlighten me.”

  “They are hoping to be lucky.”

  “What?” Both Jemma and Xu Han exclaimed.

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  “You both need to look at it from an adventurer’s perspective. We have this young dungeon, discovered less than a year ago, giving out Dungeon Techniques, something no one had heard before. And then, it starts throwing out a Dungeon Quest. Again, something new that no one had heard of. The adventurers are wondering what else could this dungeon offer.” The Guardian explained.

  An explanation Xu Han did not accept. “So they are just going to stay till they get something? That’s stupid!”

  “Well, they aren’t going to get a Dungeon Techniques or Dungeon Quest outside the dungeon. Besides, it’s not like you told anyone what an adventurer need to do to get a Techniques or Quest. Staying down here is as good of a idea as any.”

  Jemma nodded at the Guardian. “Yes, that explanation makes sense.”

  “It does?” A shocked Xu Han asked.

  “Yes, it does.” The dungeon fairy answered with a chuckle. “Look core, it’s like the Guardian said. The Dungeon Quest and Techniques are stuff no one had ever heard of before. These adventurers are trying to get them, and the only way to get them is by staying in the dungeon.”

  “So, they intend to stay here forever?” Xu Han said.

  “Well, there’s the food and water supply problem, but if they could fix that, then ‘Yes’. And, it’s a good thing.”

  “No it’s not! They think my dungeon is so safe, they could stay in it for days without harm. It’s embarrassing.”

  Both Jemma and the Guardian laughed at that.

  “Oh, that’s the problem? Well, once the adventurers reached the Rest Floor, the problem will solve itself. The adventurers who want to stay will move to it, and-”

  “That doesn’t solve the problem I have now. It might take the adventurers months to reach the Rest Floor. I am not having the adventurers staying at the gathering point for months on end.” Xu Han fumed.

  “Well, you can only blame yourself for making your dungeon so tough. Most dungeons would had their fifth floor breached within the first year, but here you are.” Jemma laughed lightly. “And why not let them stay? You are gaining power with little to no danger from these adventurers. What do you have to lose?”

  “My pride! My dungeon is not an inn. The adventurers don’t get to stay inside for days on end.” The dungeon core fumed.

  “I understand,” the Guardian said soothingly. “Pride is important, but there are ways to keep the adventurers inside without making the dungeon feel like an inn. How about we brainstorm ways for the adventurers to rest comfortably but still have a challenge?"

  Xu Han turned toward the Guardian. Even if he had lost his memories, the Guardian was a former adventurer, so Xu Han recognised that he may have unique perspective on this matter. “What do you have in mind?” he asked.

  “The simple option is for the dungeon to provide sleeping space,” the Guardian said, and Jemma nodded in agreement.

  “That’s true,” Jemma paused in thought. “Let's start with something basic. A simple designated area for adventurers to rest, but with a stipulation that they can’t stay there beyond a certain period of time.”

  Xu Han objected. “No! That doesn’t help me. In fact, that will ruin my reputation further. I am not an inn.”

  “I don't see how a sleeping space will ruin your reputation. Most dungeons do this,” Jemma countered.

  “Is that true?” Xu Han asked, surprised by that.

  “It's a common feature at most dungeons. When dungeons reached a certain floor, they need to build the sleeping areas. Some floors are so big, there’s no way adventurers could complete it in a day.” Jemma confirmed.

  “That sounds right. Most adventurers would rather sleep on a comfortable bed in the safety of a well-lit room than pitch a tent outside in the dark. I know I would,” the Guardian said.

  Xu Han paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. He knew that his minions have a point, but something about this just didn’t sit right with him. “I will not have my dungeon become an inn. There must be other ways.”