Dungeon Monsters Keep Offering Sacrifices

59 – Revised) Hell (2)

An unprecedented monster wave occurred.

Already, there were two confirmed A-rank monsters.

In response, the Hunter Association issued a mobilization order for hunters in the nearby area, and guilds dispatched their affiliated hunters.

“Hurry up!”

“Don’t push! It’s packed here too!”

The nearby area was in chaos.

Hunters were appearing, but the future was uncertain.

At least in the area where the monster wave occurred, it was best to stay far away.

Even in the dead of night, those who had those thoughts joined the long evacuation procession.

Hunters and soldiers were controlling the evacuees.

“Don’t go that way! It’s dangerous!”

“Please follow the instructions!”

But their shouts were nothing but echoes.

Of course.

Not just one, but a staggering two A-class monsters.

Even those who weren’t hunters knew well the prestige of an A-class monster.

And it wasn’t just A-class monsters there.

Monsters presumed to be of B-class, and numerous lower-level monsters, were also present.

It was a situation that could be described as nothing short of hell.

In other words, peace had been shattered.

With the breaking of peace, people recalled.

The nightmare of 25 years ago.

The time when dungeons and monsters first appeared in the world.

“Sigh, how long will it take this time? It would be great if it ends soon without much damage…”

A hunter at the scene grumbled discontentedly.

It hadn’t even been a day since this wave broke out.

No, it had been only a few hours, yet the atmosphere was bleak.

While overcoming the crises before, the world had been maintaining a sense of tranquility.

For a while, perhaps there was a belief in people’s hearts that peace would continue.

But that belief shattered.

Perhaps there arose an anxiety that incidents like this might occur more frequently in the future.

In reality, increasingly powerful monsters were gradually revealing themselves.

Just like now.

“It’ll be over soon. But aren’t we alright, considering our abilities?”

A colleague approached the disgruntled hunter.

They were hunters affiliated with the Phoenix Guild.

“The Divine Guild folks went to deal with A-class monsters. Two of them, no less.”

“If it’s the Divine Guild, Kim Suho must have gone too. It’s fitting for a paladin to be dispatched against undead, right?”

The A-rank monsters that appeared in this Monster Wave were both undead, Death Knights and Ark Lich.

For undead creatures, attacks with the light attribute were most effective.

And the most suitable guild for that was the Holy Guild.

Especially, Kim Suho was the most fitting.

Having received the title of Paladin from the White Order after going to the Eldorad Continent, he could probably easily eliminate the threat this time.

Even though they belonged to different guilds and considered each other rivals, in the face of such a significant crisis, they had no choice but to unite.

“Yeah, please don’t come to us alone.”

At least when it came to matters involving one’s own life.

“Tsk, by the way, what’s really going on in the world?”

I heard they still haven’t found the epicenter of the Monster Wave.

In such a situation, the combination of Death Knights and Ark Lich sent shivers down one’s spine just by hearing about it.

They were beings that transcended mere strength.

The skill of turning people into monsters was truly wicked.

If they couldn’t deal with them quickly, it was only a matter of time before this area would be filled with ghouls and skeletons.

In their minds, they were desperately hoping for the Holy Guild hunters to resolve the situation.

Of course, it would be dangerous, but one’s own life was more precious.

If there was any consolation, it was that they were lucky compared to the Holy Guild.

Compared to the Holy Guild, they were controlling the citizens from the rear.

While the two hunters were having a lengthy conversation, screams were heard from the back lines.

“Ahh!”

“What the heck! Why are there monsters here?”

Screams erupted from everywhere, and people began to flee.

It turned into complete chaos.

“Damn!”

Upon hearing the sound, the hunters also turned their heads.

There were indeed monsters there.

They were dwarves with green skin.

“… Goblins.”

Everyone was armed with equipment.

“Could it be that monsters keep popping up continuously!”

“Report to the higher-ups immediately! The rest, prepare for battle!” Shouted the hunter in control of the scene, commanding those around him.

Fortunately, the only monsters present were goblins.

If there was any consolation, goblins were not formidable opponents. While they could be challenging when acting as a group, as individual entities, they were truly weak.

“They’re coming! Get ready!”

The goblins were approaching.

Members of the Blaze Guild’s hunters assumed a defensive stance, preparing for the impending impact.

Swallowing nervously, everyone tensed at that moment.

“Huh?”

The goblins suddenly halted in their tracks.

“…Everyone, hold!”

Someone behind the goblins spoke.

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The figure emerged from among the goblins, revealing itself.

“….”

Everyone was astonished.

Simultaneously, they fell silent.

Some even rubbed their eyes to confirm if what they were seeing was indeed real.

“Wow, a crown…?”

The revealed goblin had a different appearance than the typical goblin. It had a larger build, and unlike ordinary goblins, it exuded charisma. Above all, the crown on its head hinted at its identity as the Goblin Lord.

“Does this even make sense?”

The hunters were in despair.

There were clearly two A-rank monsters.

Both of them were intended to be dealt with by the Divine Guild.

However, a third A-rank monster had appeared.

It was none other than the Goblin Lord.

Dealing with the Goblin Lord, who could command all goblins at will and devise strategies, was no simple task.

“Damn it! Hurry up and bring Team Leader!”

“T-Team Leader? Who’s the Team Leader?!”

“This guy! Wake up! It’s Team Leader Jung Yerin!”

The hunter shouted.

The name Jung Yerin Team Leader came out of his mouth.

The daughter of the guild leader, who had recently cleared a dungeon, coincidentally the Goblin Road dungeon.

Back then, when everyone thought it was impossible.

Jung Yerin subjugated and cleared the Goblin Road.

That’s why the hunters of the Firebird Guild were the first to seek Jung Yerin.

Even the monster in front of them was the Goblin Road.

So there was an expectation that Jung Yerin might do something.

“For now, everyone step back little by little!”

Now that they knew the Goblin Road was present, it was best to retreat immediately.

The hunters of the Firebird Guild began to step back, waiting for Jung Yerin.

The Goblin Road stopped in place, observing the movements of the other party.

The goblins, in a discreet posture, also waited for the commands of their boss, the mid-boss Goblin Road.

The current location of the Goblin Road was close to the dungeon with a dimensional portal.

They came here to secure an escape route in case they had to perform the orders of their great master and return.

Of course, as far as they were concerned, their strength was formidable enough.

Already, the Knight Commander, Death Knight, and even Inspector Ark Lich were present.

With Administrator Celia included, from the perspective of the Goblin Road, it was not something to worry about.

This kind of thing might not be necessary, but for now, it was an order from a superior.

It was just a matter of faithfully carrying it out.

“Keheut, some of you scout the surroundings!”

The Goblin Road ordered some of its subordinates to scout the surroundings.

The opposing humans had shifted into a full defensive posture.

So, the Goblin Road turned some of its subordinates to scout the surroundings, aiming to find gaps.

These guys already had experience as scouts.

Based on that experience, they naturally divided themselves and began searching the surrounding terrain.

And a moment later.

Whoosh-

A signal echoed from the reconnaissance team.

If you were a member of the reconnaissance squad, you knew exactly what the current signal meant.

‘Intruders…!’

As agreed beforehand, everyone sprinted in the direction from which the signal emanated.

“What’s going on? Goblins again?”

At the location of the signal, there were adventurers.

Everyone was armed.

An atmosphere akin to adventurers permeated the air.

Underneath them, goblin minions lay defeated.

The goblin lord opened his mouth with anger.

“Who are you, humans.”

But the opposition remained unfazed.

Instead, after scrutinizing the goblin lord, they boldly spoke.

“Crown? Captain, it’s the goblin lord.”

“Yeah. Didn’t expect the goblin lord to show up.”

The leader at the front was Jeong Ye-rin.

A member of the Phoenix Guild and the daughter of the guild leader.

Just a while ago, she had been struggling in the goblin lord dungeon.

Originally, it was supposed to be a break, but upon receiving the report from a guild member that the goblin lord had suddenly appeared, they had to rush out.

It was an A-rank monster, but she felt no fear.

Having already captured the goblin lord once, there was no sense of dread in the current situation.

“Everyone, prepare for battle!”

Rather, her strength surged.

Jeong Ye-rin shouted to her teammates.

The number of goblins was substantial.

Add to that the A-rank monster, the goblin lord.

But in Jeong Ye-rin’s expression, you couldn’t find a trace of tension.

Because it was she and her team who had conquered the goblin lord dungeon that everyone thought was impregnable.

Thanks to that, all the team members were in a confident state.

“After finishing this task, I really need to get in touch with Mr. Kang Hyun.”

The ability to subdue the Goblin Road dungeon was truly a stroke of luck.

It wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the man named Lee Kanghyun they met at the cafe.

Jeong Yerin recalled that incident and adjusted her posture.

“Everyone knows, right? The opponent is the Goblin Road! Don’t rush, just nibble at the surroundings!”

This strategy, too, was taught by Lee Kanghyun, and above all, they made a significant contribution to conquering the dungeon.

That’s why they were confident in this battle as well.

The hunters leaped towards the goblins.

Watching their movement, the Goblin Road also simultaneously unleashed its skill.

A faint red light began to emanate from its entire body.

[Aura of War]

Thanks to the Goblin Road’s skill, the bodies of the goblins around also glowed with a red light.

The breathing of all the goblins became noticeably heavier.

But it wasn’t difficult.

Rather, strength began to surge in their bodies.

Above all, their bodies felt incredibly light.

The strength of all the goblins was enhanced.

It was the effect of the Goblin Road’s skill.

The Goblin Road could never forgive its opponent.

Did the great master command it, and did the chief administrator, Ms. Celia, speak of it more?

“Minimize the damage….”

But they had already lost some subordinates.

In the end, it squeaked from the first step.

So, they had to make up for this mistake.

“Give it your all!”

Along with the Goblin Road’s shout, the goblins began to retreat.

The Goblin Road also chuckled and turned back.

It’s not running away.

After all, they were originally part of the reconnaissance unit.

The true strength of the reconnaissance unit emerges in guerrilla attacks.

Engaging in a full-frontal battle with the enemy was foolish and foolish.

All they had to do was snipe this place.

The night was long.

Everything would happen according to the will of the great one.

* * *

Riding a taxi in the middle of the night, we headed to the location where the monster wave occurred.

Of course, due to the danger, the taxi couldn’t get too close, so we had to get off at a nearby location.

“Let’s go, Maru.”

Maru, like last time, covered his entire body with a robe and a black mask.

And as soon as I got off the taxi, I covered my whole body with the robe I had prepared in advance.

Naturally, I also wore a mask on my face.

It looked suspicious to anyone, but it’s an emergency right now.

The Monster Wave.

Of course, the monsters that make up the Monster Wave are my possessions.

A game that started when I returned from the Eldorado Continent.

I played the game, raised dungeons, and gathered monster subordinates.

Those guys caused the current situation.

Since they have been my possessions from the beginning, they were not a threat to me.

So, I need to hide my identity even more.

Even if the situation escalates, those guys won’t attack me.

But if I blatantly show such signs, what would other people think of me?

It absolutely shouldn’t happen.

Things just got more complicated.

I walked slowly along the road with Maru.

The more we headed towards the center where Death Knights and Arch Lich were, the less crowded it became.

Even if we encountered people here and there, they were fleeing in the opposite direction.

How far have we walked?

Continuing forward, we unexpectedly encountered a group.

“What’s going on?”

A group of five people first noticed me and reacted.

“Next to us, it doesn’t seem like a person. Is it a summoned creature?”

“Anyway, it looks weak. What does it matter? It came here on its own.”

“Kick. That’s a valid point.”

They alternately looked at me and the floor, chuckling.

Their expressions looked incredibly malicious.

Behind them, people were lying down.

None of them looked normal.

Even the women had their clothes disheveled.

“….”

But that’s not the issue.

None of them were breathing.

They were all dead.

Not from being attacked by monsters, but simply killed by the people in front of them.

“Hey, did you enjoy the show? Since you’ve seen something good, take everything out that you have.”

One of the group said to me.

“Hey? That guy’s weapon looks good.”

Someone became interested in the demonic sword I had.

“….”

I couldn’t even speak because I was dumbfounded by their appearance.

The guys in front of me were also hunters.

There were occasionally these kinds of guys.

Those who only cared about themselves even in dangerous situations.

Certainly, the current situation with the monster wave was dangerous.

“Kneel and hand over that weapon. Got it? Do you know we might spare your life?”

They were persecuting their own kind when they were already lacking in protecting the region.

“Ha… This guy won’t listen even if we say it like this? Kneel on your own if you’re weak, bastard!”

When I didn’t say anything, they approached me with angry faces.

In an instant, memories of past events flashed before me.

Despite facing discrimination and harassment at the academy, I endured it with difficulty.

After barely graduating, I worked as a porter, but even that was far from a smooth life.

How was life in this other world?

Just until recently, weren’t there those who had their sights set on me?

Of course, even behind them was entangled a fellow student from the academy.

“Sigh.”

Yes, I know too.

If your strength is lacking, this is how it goes.

Now, it’s a world where only the strong dominate the weak.

The voice of the weak held no meaning.

If you’re strong, even if you commit a sin, it’s not a sin. But the opposite, just one weakness can be a sin in this world.

“…Nothing has changed at all.”

I murmured quietly.

Of course, it’s not for me to say.

Upon closer inspection, the current situation is undoubtedly happening because of me.

Perhaps the damage spread like a snowball, and it’s probably still ongoing.

Yes, I haven’t done anything right.

I know that well.

But they crossed a line in a different sense.

“Maru.”

I said the name briefly, and Maru raised the sword.

And with all his strength, he thrust the sword into the opponent.

Thud-

The sword was plunged into the heart of the person approaching Maru.

“What?”

In the blink of an eye, one person was fatally wounded.

The group that had accompanied him was in shock.

The expression on Maru’s face showed surprise at how powerful he was.

Most people reacted this way when they realized the opponent was stronger than themselves.

The faces of those who had tried to kill me in the dungeon were like this too.

Strength was something like this.

“I thought too weakly of them.”

It might have just been pity.

Perhaps I wanted to appear morally superior myself.

Their bewildered expressions were visible in my eyes.

And behind them, I saw the corpses.

What if I didn’t have this power too?

If the opponent was stronger than me?

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The person lying on the ground there might have been me.

But there is no ‘what if.’

They crumbled because I was strong.

No matter what story you tell, it ultimately resolves with strength.

No matter how much I emphasize moral actions, it’s just one conscience.

With that alone, you can’t change the world.

“Maru.”

Those who exploit twisted values and power.

“Kill them all.”

Eliminating them and changing the world ultimately relied on strength.

That power will be the key to creating the better future I dream of.

Bodies piled up on the floor.

It might be difficult to clean up under normal circumstances, but don’t I have a useful ability?

– The skill ‘True Dungeon Master’ has been activated.

– Would you like to use the corpses of these hunters as sacrifices for your dungeon?

The fallen bodies on the floor slowly disappeared.

This absorption was different from the sacrifices sent by Celia.

Their corpses were intended to be used for the advancement of my dungeon in the future.

It was soon to be my power.

But I know.

No matter how powerful the force is, it means nothing if I can’t control it.

“Let’s go.”

Now it was time to move forward again.

To enable oneself to seize power.

* * *

Before he knew it, he had reached the location where the Death Knight was visible.

And beside him, he confirmed the presence of Ark Lich.

Everyone was looking ahead, but what they were looking at couldn’t be determined.

However, Celia’s figure was faintly visible.

Celia must be doing well.

At least that’s what Ikanghyun thought as he gave orders to Maru.

“Maru, go and bring those guys here.”

As the command was issued, Maru, wielding a sword emitting a black light, rushed forward.

The targets were the Death Knight and Ark Lich.

“!”

But the Death Knight, a superior being to Maru, was not oblivious to this.

The Death Knight immediately turned and clashed with Maru’s sword.

Clang—

The sword and the shield adorned with a maid outfit collided, producing black flames.

And Ark Lich, standing next to them, opened his mouth.

“Tak, tak, ttak, ttak. Dalgdugdak.”

(You are like us, so why are you interfering with the plan? This is the plan of our great master.)

As Ark Lich spoke, he lifted a feathered quill.

Then, the skeleton holding an hourglass next to him opened a bottle filled with ink.

Ark Lich dipped the quill in the ink and immediately began writing something in the book he was holding.

– Daring to rebel against the master’s plan and causing a disturbance. This is a matter that cannot be resolved with a mere deduction, and an immediate request for dismissal from the position is required.

However, Maru also had a lot to say.

“Ttak, ttak, ttak, ttak.”

(This is an order from our master.)

At Maru’s words, Ark Lich raised his head.

And then, he felt a familiar presence.

In the distance, a figure in a black robe came into view.

Ah.

Ark Rich nodded.

– You listen to the words of the great and noble master very well. This is a commendable reason.