I thought the first dungeon subjugation would go smoothly.
After the subjugation, I would have gone to eat a delicious meal with a smile, as always.
I never even considered failure.
I definitely thought that, and believed it without a doubt.
However, the change came suddenly.
Ronnie’s body fell like a doll from an arrow that had flown.
“Kyaaak!”
Jane couldn’t stop screaming at the sight of Ronnie.
This must be a dream, right?
Yes, this is not reality.
Frozen in place, Jane tried to comfort herself and deny reality.
“Ronnie!”
Denver shouted and ran to Ronnie.
“Denver! We have to get out! We have to get out and get treatment!”
Jane cried out, shaking Denver’s body.
Despite her urging, Denver quietly shook his head.
The arrow had pierced Ronnie’s head precisely.
Ronnie was already dead.
He had an expression that conveyed he didn’t know why this was happening to him.
There was no way to bring back his death here.
So what should be done now?
One person had already died.
The dungeon was a much tougher place than I had expected.
Grabbing Jane’s hand and escaping this damned dungeon might be the right choice.
In a situation where who knows when another arrow might fly, staying here was no different than asking to be killed.
Denver took Jane’s hand.
It was a signal to leave.
“No…”
However, Jane had a different thought than Denver.
“I… I’m going to keep going.”
Jane, who had stopped crying at some point, shook Denver’s hand and stood up.
Her expression changed.
“I will destroy this dungeon. I will kill the monsters!”
As a child, she had lost her parents to monsters.
She thought she would never face such a miserable situation again, but today she lost Ronnie, her only family.
And it was also to monsters.
However, there was one difference from back then.
Back then, she was powerless and could only watch her parents die, but now it was different.
She had the power to take revenge through magic.
“Shield.”
As Jane chanted the spell, a blue barrier appeared in front of her.
Now, she could block arrows.
Of course, she was afraid.
But the emotion of revenge was more overwhelming than the emotion of fear.
“Jane! Let’s get out of here first. We can get revenge later!”
Despite Denver’s persuasion, Jane just kept walking forward.
Essentially, she had no choice but to flee.
“Ah, this is dangerous…”
Denver couldn’t leave her alone, so he followed behind her.
***
“That’s right!”
The skeleton archer deployed in Sector 1 had eliminated one intruder.
It was a precise headshot!
“Wow, the Death Knight’s blessing is really OP.”
Normally, the accuracy of a mere 2-star skeleton archer wouldn’t be that high.
But.
– Accuracy increases with the Death Knight’s blessing.
It was possible because he had received an accuracy buff through the Death Knight’s blessing.
“Honestly, the Death Knight can be used in various ways.”
Not only was its 5-star stat high, but it also had a buff for the same undead category. And it even had a skill to turn defeated enemies into ghouls, making it a versatile force.
Conversely, thanks to these intruders, the dungeon’s problems were also identified.
– Attack is impossible due to unlit vision.
When the intruders first came in, I tried to attack with arrows, but failed.
The reason was simply that it was too dark, so there was no visibility.
“It’s fortunate that the intruders lit torches.”
Thanks to that, I could shoot arrows towards the illuminated areas.
Even if I couldn’t catch them with arrows, I had skeletons and a Death Knight in my dungeon, so I wasn’t worried.
“I should place torches on the walls after defeating the intruders.”
In a way, it might be fortunate that this event occurred.
If I had overlooked this flaw, it would have been difficult going forward.
“There are surprisingly many detailed elements like this.”
After a moment of admiration.
The intruders, who had paused after losing a comrade, started moving again.
“Still, the game is merciful.”
It was a dungeon of the same rank.
Even with a 6-star monster, it being the same rank made me tense about how strong the intruders would be, so it was a relief.
“This time, let’s try facing them with monsters other than archers.”
These intruders don’t feel very strong. No, they feel like beginners among beginners.
I wasn’t planning to finish them off quickly.
I would toy with them as much as possible before finishing them.
While doing so, I planned to check all the monsters I had.
That way, I would know which ones to focus on training.
“Alright. Let’s go.”
***
Jane and Denver kept walking.
Fortunately, no more arrows were fired.
Even so, Jane kept her shield up, as arrows could fly at any moment.
Mana was consumed in real-time, but thanks to the artifact, it wasn’t a major burden.
“Where is this…?”
They kept walking and suddenly emerged into a wide-open space.
And there, they saw the skeletons.
“There are too many…!”
Denver despaired.
No matter how low-tier a monster a skeleton was, their numbers were too great.
Moreover, they had only just become adventurers.
Still, they couldn’t back down here.
If they turned their backs, not only would they be shot at, but all of them would charge.
There was no choice.
They had to fight as much as possible and escape when they saw an opportunity.
Denver readjusted his sword.
Jane also finished preparing to use her magic.
Clatter- Clatter-
The skeletons began to move.
The first to charge were holding rusty swords.
“Tsk.”
Even with Jane’s shield, Denver alone couldn’t block so many swords.
However, as if the enemies had another intention, the skeletons clashing swords suddenly retreated.
“……”
This time, skeletons holding wooden clubs stepped forward.
Fortunately, their numbers were not large.
“Mage! Be careful!”
Jane shouted, sensing a faint magical power from the opposing skeleton.
However, instead of magic, the skeletons swung their clubs and approached.
After swinging a few times in the air, they simply returned to their positions.
“……?”
What is this?
It felt like they were playing with them.
However, Denver interpreted it differently.
‘These bastards… they’re playing with us.’
Perhaps the enemy monsters were being careless.
If they could exploit this properly, maybe they could find a way to escape.
Thump-
But that was a misunderstanding.
A being whose sword and armor were all dyed black intruded.
“What the!”
A monster that suddenly appeared.
Its momentum and appearance were on a different level from simple skeletons.
Even I, who had just become an adventurer, could tell that the presence of the monster in front of me was immense.
I might die.
I might die!
Just its existence made it feel like I couldn’t breathe.
The monster swung its hand towards the shield Jane had erected.
“Kyaak!”
The shield was torn apart like paper.
At the same time, Jane was flung towards the wall and crashed into it.
“Jane! Are you okay?!”
It was a grim situation.
Now the monster’s attack would be directed at me.
“……”
As I waited, thinking it was my turn, the being in front did not move or attack even after time passed.
‘What is it?’
Just as that question arose.
Clap- Clap-
Someone appeared, clapping.
“She’s just stunned for a moment, thankfully she’s not in mortal danger.”
A woman appeared.
She was a very attractive woman, but the horns on her head made it easy to realize she was a monster.
“Are you the master of this place?”
Denver asked warily.
Every dungeon had a master or a boss monster that ruled it.
Fortunately, the one who appeared to be the master here seemed intelligent.
Denver recalled a story passed down among adventurers.
If the dungeon master had intelligence, a transaction could be made.
Some people earned gold and treasures through such transactions, while others saved their lives by paying a price.
“Let’s trade, let’s make a deal!”
Denver immediately proposed a transaction.
He didn’t know if there was a way for them to survive the current situation.
Suddenly, hope arose where there was none.
“Ho… To propose a transaction even in this situation. Your courage is commendable.”
The other party merely clapped a few more times, admiring him.
“Are you toying with me?”
Denver was enraged by the other party’s behavior.
“How could that be? I really like brave men.”
“……”
“However, a transaction is only possible when there is something to exchange. May I know the name of the man in front of you?”
“Denver.”
The being before him smiled slightly, then corrected his posture.
He then bowed politely and introduced himself.
“Let me formally introduce myself. I am Celia, the first servant of the honored one. I am currently managing this dungeon according to his will.”
“The honored one…?”
Denver mulled over what the person who introduced herself as Celia had said.
To serve someone meant…
“The dungeon master has a separate owner?”
“You are quick-witted. Heh heh. That’s right. I am merely his proxy. The one who manages the dungeon is my master.”
Denver quickly shouted in a loud voice.
“I formally request a transaction with the dungeon master!”
Celia frowned at Denver’s actions.
She was annoyed by his impolite behavior after daring to enter her master’s dungeon.
“Hmph… I have no choice.”
The other party requested a transaction with the master.
Even though Celia herself had authority over the dungeon, this was a matter for the master to decide.
There was a choice to handle things herself, but this would go against the master.
“A humble servant respectfully addresses the honored master.”
Celia spoke while looking at the air.
“Please give me orders on what to do with these foolish beings who have invaded your dungeon.”
***
“Disposition of the intruders?”
As expected, the intruders were easily subdued.
Of course, during the process, I realized the uselessness of the skeleton soldiers and magic trainees.
So, I immediately deployed the Death Knight.
I thought it was over, but suddenly one of the intruders proposed a transaction.
– Do you wish to accept the transaction?
I immediately pressed ‘No’.
“Am I crazy? What kind of fair transaction. They invaded, and they have horns of conscience.”
I needed a cautionary tale for now.
“But how do I issue an order?”
At that moment, a window popped up on the game screen.
– [Order] Please write down what you want to say.
Oh, it’s a narrative system.
It wasn’t a multiple-choice system.
Does it understand whatever I write?
I immediately wrote my command there.
“Make them regret coming to my dungeon.”
It was a short and strong command.
This should be satisfactory.
Then the monsters in the dungeon will handle it themselves.
By the way, I’m getting hungry.
Should I end the game here and go eat?
***
“The master has replied to me.”
Gulp. Denver looked at Celia anxiously.
“Come here.”
As Celia snapped her fingers, three goblins sprang out from among the crowd of skeletons.
“What is this…?”
Wasn’t this supposed to be a transaction?
Why goblins all of a sudden?
Denver’s mind was in turmoil.
“Hmph hmph. My master does not look favorably upon your presence here.”
It meant there was no transaction as expected.
‘Lies!’
Denver desperately wished all of this was a dream.
“Don’t make me laugh! We just entered here!”
They had done nothing wrong.
They had simply accepted a guild’s request and entered the dungeon.
However, the other party did not think so.
“The problem is that that place was the embrace of the honored one.”
Celia said as if it were obvious and looked at the goblins.
“Well then, shall we begin?”
As soon as Celia finished speaking, the three goblins approached the fallen Jane.
Although they had no weapons in their hands, Denver instinctively shouted.
“Stop!”
But his shout only echoed, to no avail.
“No!”
Amidst Denver’s desperate cry, the goblins began to tear at Jane’s clothes.
Jane💀💀