Chapter 42 – Silver Sand

“Hahaha…”

I let out a hollow laugh. I had known about this dungeon from my previous life, of course, but the fact that there was oil here was news to me.

Rather than someone hiding this information, it was more reasonable to assume that no one else had been able to scout as effectively as I could, so they simply didn’t know.

‘Maybe I should dig deeper into the first dungeon too?’

Perhaps it was my mistake to listen only to the reports of the dungeon exploration team from my previous life and assume that was everything. Like this dungeon, others might hold far more potential.

However, that wasn’t my immediate goal.

‘For now, let’s focus on the Mithril.’

Finding oil was great, but this was crude oil. To use it properly, it needed to be refined. Right now, focusing on Mithril—which was essential for securing air superiority—took priority.

Of course, that didn’t mean I was going to let this opportunity slip away.

‘I’ll tell Seongjae first.’

I had never obtained crude oil even in my previous life, so I wasn’t sure how he would react this time. But I was certain that he would handle it somehow. And that he would be absolutely thrilled.

Sure enough…

“Crude oil? For real? You mean, like, black gold? And I get to build the refinery facilities with my own hands? Can I make plastic? Siwoo, is this for real?!”

He began to get incredibly excited.

“But I’ll need to research this more. Can you lend me some troops? I need more reference books. I’ll have to raid a library. Is there a library nearby—”

Then, after looking at the map, he spoke with a solemn expression.

“Siwoo. I shall raid the Seoul National University Central Library.”

Naturally, I decided to provide full support.

* * *

Meanwhile, I continued to explore the desert.

‘I’m sure they said there was an oasis…’

If I were to send people here later, they needed at least water, if nothing else. Other things weren’t particularly important.

After all, this dimension was nothing but an endless desert. Unlike last time, there were no mountains suitable for building something like a fortress.

There were only high sand dunes, and considering the types of monsters that frequently active here, I judged that this was actually a disadvantage.

In other words, this time, I would have to build defensive facilities from the ground up regardless. In that case, having water was better than nothing.

And… as I continued to send additional observation probes whenever my mana recharged, gradually expanding the scouting range…

I soon found what I was looking for.

“W-water!”

It was a small oasis with a patch of greenery.

After scouting the vicinity and confirming that the Mithril Mountains were not far away, I made up my mind.

“This spot will do.”

It was time to begin the full-scale fortification.

* * *

For this fortification, I needed the Rough Terrain Pioneer.

Deokchan, who suddenly had his favorite thing snatched away, gave me a tearful look, but when I told him I’d let him use one exclusively later…

He grabbed my hand tightly and suddenly asked if I wouldn’t consider becoming his son-in-law, making things incredibly awkward.

“D-Dad! What on earth are you talking about!”

Only after a bright-red Sua shouted at Deokchan did he clear his throat awkwardly and let go of my hand.

After positioning the prepared Rough Terrain Pioneer in front of the rift, I immediately stabilized the rift.

It was dangerous since there were no defensive facilities yet, but the terrain was such that construction would be difficult without the Rough Terrain Pioneer. However, the Rough Terrain Pioneer was Large-Class; it was too big to pass through unless the rift was stabilized.

‘Well, I just have to manage the defense.’

If things got desperate, I could just defend from Earth.

The defensive facilities on that side were already fully equipped anyway.

Having sent the Rough Terrain Pioneer, I followed up by sending worker bugs and a massive number of escort troops to begin the operation.

‘First, I need to solidify the ground.’

I attached a drilling machine to the mechanical arm of the Rough Terrain Pioneer.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Using the long construction tool to dig straight down into the earth, I first removed the sand to a considerable depth.

Sssssss—

The worker bugs stepped in and poured lava into the holes.

Then, they moved about one meter to the side and repeated the process. By driving dense pillars into the sandy ground of the desert, the foundation was stabilized.

Before regression, this was a method suggested by a construction engineer who had been dispatched to Dubai. Originally, the method involved pouring concrete instead of lava… but it was never realized.

The reason was simply that his personality was not very good. Many people feared that his influence would expand. It was a ridiculous reason, but in my previous life, everyone lived while bickering like that.

This time, that must never happen.

‘This time, if it’s something good, I’ll just do it.’

There was nothing to fear.

After all, no one could possibly match my influence.

Rather, there was something else to be afraid of.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The drilling machine striking the ground violently.

The creatures that would come searching for that vibration.

‘It’s about time they arrived…’

As if summoned by the mention of them, the ground began to shake.

In a pattern different from the drilling machine.

Rumble—

Something was approaching, shaking the depths beneath the sand.

KABOOM!

And then, something long burst through the sand.

“Kueeeeeek!”

To get straight to the point, this was not a [Sandworm].

* * *

Everyone who first witnessed this monster said the same thing.

That they had seen a ‘Sandworm.’

They said they heard a vibration, saw ten long tentacles bursting through the desert sand, and that those tentacles would instantly snatch people and drag them down beneath the sand.

Several more sightings followed.

Some harbored the rational suspicion that since ten always appeared, perhaps this entity wasn’t ten separate individuals but had a separate main body.

But the witnesses always shook their heads.

They claimed that the tentacles moved as if each had its own will, attacking the victims.

They questioned whether it could possibly be a single organism.

“Hah… how ridiculous.”

I laughed hollowly. The identity of this monster was only uncovered after countless people had been sacrificed.

“Fire.”

Why waste words?

I immediately gave the order to attack.

Bang—! Boom!

The moment the light from the Assault Cannon hit the tentacles…

“Queeeeeek!”

It flinched with a spine-chilling shriek.

Not just a single tentacle, but when one was hit, it was as if the pain rippled through, and all of them reacted simultaneously. If this thing had truly been ten separate Deathworms, such a thing would have been impossible.

“Keep pressing them.”

Bang—! Bang—!

As I continued to attack the tentacles, the creature began to be unilaterally overwhelmed, as if it couldn’t regain its composure.

This was the way to defeat this monster. It was one of the strongest beings to be feared in this desert, but to me, who knew the strategy, it was an easy opponent.

Unfortunately, these tentacles were not the main body.

“Rough Terrain Pioneer. Start drilling here.”

Taking advantage of the creature’s distraction while its tentacles were under attack, I ordered the Rough Terrain Pioneer to make a hole in the ground. It was the central point where the ten tentacles converged.

The machine began to move without hesitation—

Boom! Boom! Boom!

It began striking the ground once more.

And then, the long drill of the drilling machine piercing the earth…

The moment it reached a certain depth.

Screeeech!

It penetrated something other than the ground.

“Kiiiiieeeeeek?!”

Once again, a spine-chilling shriek.

This time, it was a high-pitched scream.

“Tsk, how grating.”

And then, the ten tentacles began to collapse powerlessly.

Victory.

“Good.”

I grinned and instructed the worker bugs to bring the carcass back to Earth, then continued the work.

* * *

A short while later.

Excluding Seongjae, who had gone to raid the Seoul National University Central Library, Sua, Deokchan, and the citizens of the fortified city began to gather and murmur.

“Is something wrong?”

When I asked, puzzled, Elder Deokchan asked with a confused expression.

“Um… you. Didn’t you say the area beyond the second dun-jon? Dungeon was a desert?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Well, not like a sea or something?”

“Huh? A sea?”

“Then where on earth did you catch a giant squid from?”

“Ah… that.”

I grinned.

“It’s a species that lives in the desert.”

Its name was the [Sand Squid].

And the reason I went through the trouble of bringing it to Earth was…

Not only because it was a large species with a Mana Stone big enough to be practically useful, but because there was another important reason.

“Oh. You can eat this.”

Not just edible—it was delicious. Though the people looked confused, a man soon stepped forward confidently.

As it turned out, he had originally run a raw fish restaurant, and he volunteered to take the lead in preparing the squid.

Once I left it to him, he quickly prepared the dish as he had boasted.

“T-this is delicious?!”

“It’s the best!”

It truly was the best parboiled squid.

* * *

Having filled my stomach, I watched the desert fortification site through an observation probe, a piece of grilled squid in my mouth.

‘This should be enough.’

I had driven lava pillars deep into the sand to create a foundation sturdy enough that Sand Squids couldn’t operate properly.

On top of that, I laid a flat layer of lava to level the area and then erected high city walls.

This was to force the Sand Squids to expose themselves in shallower sand if they wanted to attack properly.

However, since it was a sandy floor, there was a risk of the structure sinking under its own weight. Therefore, I built the base of the walls wider, constructing them in a sort of pyramid shape.

While I was at it, I built small huts for the people, and a perfect small fortress was completed.

“Good.”

It was as if the first foothold for stepping into the desert had been created.

I wanted to clear the surrounding area based on this defensive position, but unfortunately, no monsters were brazenly gathered under the hot desert sun.

They were all hiding their bodies in the sand, likely to avoid the artillery barrage of the Assault Cannons.

So, this time, leading a stronger escort, I continued toward the Mithril Mountains, creating a path of hardened lava with the worker bugs and the Rough Terrain Pioneer.

Sand Squids and the like bothered me along the way.

Every time they did, they were hunted, brought back to the city, and requested to be made into parboiled squid or dried squid strips.

“A-another one is coming?!”

Once it passed the third one, the man who prided himself on being a raw fish restaurant owner turned pale and began to tremble.

Apparently, butchering a giant squid was no easy task.

However, when I assigned four worker bugs to him and told him to give the orders, he looked delighted and claimed he would work all night.

‘You really will have to work all night.’

I hid a wicked smile from him.

* * *

And… the next morning.

A black path was completed in the middle of the desert.

It was a path of hardened lava.

That path crossed the sea of golden sand…

And led to the [Silver Sand].

“Finally, we’ve arrived.”

It was the Mithril Mountains.