Dungeon Monsters Keep Offering Sacrifices

53 – Monster Wave (1)

As Azmo managed the dungeon, the hierarchy was slowly taking shape with the assignment of subordinates.

Subordinates had been selected.

There was no urgent need to recruit more monsters right away.

“And depending on the species, they reproduce on their own.”

Moreover, it was quite common for monsters to reproduce among themselves.

A prime example was the blood-sucking butterflies in Zone 3 of the first floor.

Even without additional recruitment, their numbers were increasing on their own.

Since they were insect-type monsters, their reproduction rate was fast, so as long as an ecosystem was established, there was no significant problem.

“Now, should we try drawing miscellaneous items?”

It seemed like a good time to shift attention to something else.

How about trying to draw miscellaneous items?

The descriptions mainly mentioned equipment, weapons, or skills that usually came out in miscellaneous item draws.

I had actually tried drawing miscellaneous items once before, but at that time, only trash items came out.

“At that time, only garbage came out too much.”

While I couldn’t get a 1-star in monster draws, in miscellaneous item draws, there were items that could be considered trash even if labeled as such.

Not just unnecessary branches or leaves, but even rocks came out.

Luckily, the dress Celia was currently wearing came out, so that was something.

If something like that dress or equipment were to be drawn?

“It’s a profit even if you draw just one really good thing.”

With that thought in mind, I was about to touch the miscellaneous item draw option in the shop window.

Ding-

But before pressing it, an alert popped up.

– The number of monsters in the dungeon ‘Temptation of Illusion’ has reached a certain level.

– Increase the dungeon size or adjust the number of individuals through the monster wave.

– You can choose settings for the monster wave.

It was an alert signaling that Azmo’s dungeon, managed by none other than Azmo himself, was filled with monsters.

Looking at Azmo’s dungeon status, it seemed that the recent rapid increase was due to the surging number of ghouls.

“How many have we caught, exactly?”

Most likely, the surge in ghouls was because of the Death Knights.

Due to the Death Knights’ skill set, those slain were reborn as ghouls.

Originally, Azmo’s dungeon was an Incubus Dungeon.

The abundance of ghouls meant that the Death Knights had captured many intruders.

While the intruders might be like me, I felt no sympathy for them.

In the end, it was the other side who rushed to take what was mine first.

I had no choice but to try and protect what was mine.

“Indeed, the number of ghouls is staggering.”

With the addition of a subordinate there, the dungeon seemed even narrower.

“Hmm… By the way, can we set something regarding monster waves?”

Monster waves.

It referred to the phenomenon of monsters surging out of the dungeon.

The most plausible theory was that when the dungeon was filled with monsters, it pushed them out.

“Judging from this explanation, it seems plausible.”

The settings for the monster wave were straightforward.

It involved specifying the range of the monster wave and determining how many monsters to release.

Of course, by expanding the dungeon size, I could opt to avoid the monster wave for now.

But I had to consider a situation where the monsters reproduced among themselves as the number of my dungeons continued to increase.

I wouldn’t be able to personally check each one as they multiplied.

“Should I set it up for now?”

Fortunately, it wasn’t necessary to intricately set up each dungeon.

There was an option for the dungeon administrator or subordinate to make decisions autonomously.

“I guess that’s better.”

Considering what I’d seen so far, these monsters had a reasonable level of intelligence.

Since occasional neglect led to better outcomes, I chose that option without hesitation.

“Azmo should handle it well, right?”

Curious about how to respond to the current situation, I intentionally refrained from expanding the dungeon size.

“Perhaps they’ll send out the ghoul first from the dungeon.”

I might as well just draw lots.

* * *

“Hey, why do we have to deal with this crap?”

A hunter grumbled as he patrolled around the dungeon.

Another person next to the disgruntled hunter spoke up, expressing his discontent.

“We, at the bottom like us, just have to endure it. Well, what can we do?”

The person himself was equally displeased.

Patrolling here while giving up their holidays didn’t sit well with them.

They were hunters affiliated with the Phoenix Guild.

And the place they were guarding was an Incubus dungeon.

An Incubus dungeon.

It was the dungeon that the Phoenix Guild leader’s son, Jung Woojin, had entered for subjugation.

Of course, he failed.

Thinking there were only Incubuses, it turned out there was a Succubus as the owner.

Could the guild atmosphere be good when the guild leader’s son returned from the dungeon with a miserable face?

Naturally, the Phoenix Guild prepared for a second attack.

This time, they adjusted the gender ratio of the hunters to counter the Succubus, and not only hunters with skills specialized in mental defense but also artifacts were mobilized.

The leader of the attack force, as well as nearly half of the fifty hunters, were A-rank hunters.

In other words, the Phoenix Guild leadership was determined.

Yeah, this time the attack force was an absolutely guaranteed success.

But one variable occurred.

“Today will probably be another waste, right?”

“Sigh, are we going to be stuck here until the next day off at this rate?”

Despite a considerable amount of time passing since the Phoenix Guild’s attack force entered, there was still no news.

The dungeon had remained closed until now, and the life or death of the hunters inside had yet to be confirmed.

Whether the attack force would conquer the dungeon and come out again, or the people inside would perish and the dungeon would open.

And if none of that happened, the owner of the dungeon, like when Jung Woojin was there, would generously spare the attack force members and send them back.

It would be good if any of these three cases were confirmed, but unfortunately, the dungeon remained firmly closed.

In the uncertain situation of not knowing when the attack force that entered the dungeon would come out, the hunters of the Phoenix Guild continued to guard the surroundings.

This was a rather crucial matter.

Let’s assume that the members of the raid party conquer the dungeon and come out completely exhausted.

What would happen if there were individuals in that guild who harbored resentment?

It was so obvious that every guild dispatched two types of hunters for dungeon conquest.

The raid party conquering the dungeon.

And a patrol unit, waiting outside until news of the raid party’s success arrives, ready to provide support if needed.

And the hunters currently harboring dissatisfaction belonged to the latter, the patrol unit.

So, despite their grievances, they silently carried out their mission, knowing why they were here.

While patrolling, another variable occurred.

An intruder breaking the stillness of the silent night.

The energy of the dungeon began to fluctuate.

A moment later.

Wheee—

The sound of sirens echoed through the air.

It was a signal that the dungeon had opened.

“Damn. Of all times, why does the dungeon have to open when I’m here?”

He grumbled, but in his mind, he was thinking something else.

Please don’t let it be a monster wave or something…

* * *

Despite the loud sirens, nothing seemed to change.

There was nothing noteworthy to be seen.

“Is the measuring device malfunctioning?”

Choi Ji-hoon, a B-rank hunter leading the patrol unit.

He muttered while inspecting the measuring device inside the headquarters.

The device reacted to the energy of the dungeon, and the fact that it just rang meant the closed dungeon had opened.

“Hmm.”

But ultimately, nothing happened.

The dungeon remained closed, and there were no returning raid party hunters or monsters popping out.

“Well, it’s too early for a monster wave anyway.”

The Monster Wave referred to the phenomenon of monsters popping out of dungeons.

It was a common occurrence when dungeons were neglected, and the number of monsters inside continued to increase.

It was like this.

Think of it as if too many people were accumulating in a house, and they were being pushed out.

Dungeons were no different.

Anyway, the Monster Wave was truly tricky.

When monsters popped out, there were many aspects to pay attention to, so the government and guilds regularly cleared dungeons.

Choi Ji-hoon put down the measuring device in his hand.

The Monster Wave was indeed a much more serious matter than he had thought.

Even now, it seemed that there was not a single monster that had come out.

“Well, as long as the raiding parties that entered the dungeon don’t turn into monsters… I guess.”

He said, laughing at himself.

“Ha.”

It wasn’t reasonable in the first place.

Of course, there were beings that turned hunters into monsters.

Death Knights were representative of turning them into ghouls, and there were zombies that turned others into zombies by biting them.

Even vampires who turned their kin into monsters.

But this dungeon was inhabited by succubus and incubus.

They also had weapons of seduction, but those were not skills that turned people into monsters.

It was more like mind control.

So, Choi Ji-hoon didn’t consider any other possibilities.

“Commander Choi Ji-hoon!”

Someone entered the tent at that moment and called Choi Ji-hoon’s name.

It was his deputy.

“Oh, right. Did you check the headcount?”

When the siren had sounded a while ago, Choi Ji-hoon had ordered his deputy to check the number of people.

“Yes, right here!”

Choi Ji-hoon looked at the status board handed to him by his deputy and muttered to himself.

“Hmm, twenty-two people…”

The status board listed how many people were currently present, who they were, and their names.

“Today, were we roughly around twenty people?”

They were a patrol unit, patrolling around the dungeon, preparing for any unforeseen circumstances.

With the daily fluctuations in personnel, the headcount kept changing.

“Hmm.”

Choi Ji-hoon looked at the situation board, his chin resting on his hand.

Normally, they should thoroughly check the number of personnel.

“It’s fine. You can go now.”

Choi Ji-hoon gave the order to the subordinates and immediately contacted the guild situation room.

Since understanding the situation of dispatched hunters was crucial for the guild, this report was an essential element.

Soon, he was connected to the Phoenix Guild situation room.

“Yes, Patrol Leader Choi Ji-hoon.”

Choi Ji-hoon reported the current situation and the number of personnel.

“…So, currently, we have twenty-two members, and everything seems fine.”

With this report, their tasks for the day were practically finished.

As he was about to disconnect and take a break, a voice came from the guild situation room.

– Hold on.

It was the voice of the Phoenix Guild’s director.

– How many members do we have right now?

Ah, did I not hear it earlier?

Choi Ji-hoon slightly furrowed his brows and repeated.

“We currently have twenty-two members.”

However, the situation room asked again in a more serious tone.

– Is that really accurate? You didn’t miscount, did you?

Ugh.

Choi Ji-hoon let out a small sigh.

Though slightly annoyed, the other person was superior.

He composed himself and spoke politely.

“There are no peculiarities in the headcount. There wasn’t anything particularly problematic.”

However…

– Hey! You there!

A curse burst out from the team leader’s mouth.

– You didn’t count properly! I told you, there should be twenty-one of you today!

“Yes?”

Momentarily flustered, Choi Ji-hoon responded with a faltering voice.

– Quickly recheck the headcount!

Urgency resonated from the situation room.

Ji-hoon scanned through the status board handed by the lieutenant, stating each name one by one.

“…Kim Min-jae, Lee Nam-hyuk, finally, Seo Young-ho.”

Clearly, the board read ’22 members’.

There were no duplicated names.

– Choi Ji-hoon, what did you say at the end there?

“Yes? At the end? Oh, are you referring to Seo Young-ho?”

– You! Are you playing around right now?

Ji-hoon was also starting to get annoyed.

He always took things seriously.

But suddenly being cursed at while joking around, how could he not be angry?

“No! Please, explain properly! I’m not joking around. What’s going on?”

– …….

A brief silence fell.

And soon, a voice emerged again from the situation room.

– Hey, Ji-hoon. Don’t you remember? Seo Young-ho, he participated in this raid team. I’m talking about the dungeon you’re patrolling right now.

“…Ah.”

Right.

He remembered.

Seo Young-ho, the leader of the raid team that entered this dungeon this time, was an A-rank Hunter.

Why had he forgotten?

From Noble mtl dot com

“Oh, it’s just a coincidence with the name…?”

The possibility of having a namesake couldn’t be ruled out.

Certainly, that makes sense.

However, the response from the situation room shattered expectations.

“I just checked. There’s no one named Seo Yeong-ho in our Phoenix Guild.”

“Are you kidding?”

“I’m joking right now!”

Instead, the section chief raised his voice, causing a commotion.

“So, let’s do a headcount right away—”

Click.

Choi Ji-hoon ended the call.

Yeah, he needed a moment to think.

Maybe the lieutenant made a mistake.

“…”

But what if, by some chance—

Really, just hypothetically.

If it wasn’t a mistake?

Come to think of it, the siren had sounded before the personnel check.

No way…

“Damn it.”

Choi Ji-hoon burst out of the barracks, shouting,

“Everyone, gather!”

Something had gone wrong.