A dungeon.
It is an unknown world that exists beyond a veiled curtain.
However, adventurers explore the unknown world at the risk of danger.
Even though it is filled with monsters driven by desire and traps that threaten their lives, it was considered a land of opportunity for adventurers.
Great danger is always accompanied by great reward.
But that danger often transcends adventurers’ imaginations. No, even unimaginable horrors can swallow adventurers.
Nevertheless, adventurers step into the dungeon without hesitation.
To fulfill their endless desire for wealth and honor. And with the arrogant thought that they themselves would never die.
Just like them, who have entered the dungeon now.
“You sons of bitches! The information the guild gave us is completely wrong!”
Drun, a warrior of immense stature, roared with a voice filled with rage.
The Adventurer’s Guild had clearly stated that it was a dungeon that adventurers of the same rank could easily subjugate.
They were only told to be cautious because the goblins used bows.
However, the scene that unfolded was completely different from what they had heard.
It was a goblin dungeon, correct. They used bows, also correct.
But.
“When does the arrow stop!”
The arrows pouring down without a moment’s rest were like a downpour. The noise of the arrows flying was so loud it felt like it would tear their ears apart.
When they saw arrows being shot for several minutes, it meant that all the goblins had to pick up bows.
The number of goblins was probably not small.
“This is not the same rank! It should be Silver rank! Damn it!”
Rills, whose hand was pierced by an arrow, agreed with Drun’s words.
Although she was a mage, she was unable to use magic in this situation. She was just a novice who had recently begun her magical training, not a seasoned mage.
Rills was useless right now.
Drun quickly spoke loudly to the others.
“Gyro! What do you think! If we run away like this, can we get out of the dungeon?”
Gyro was an archer who primarily used a bow. He was also a Pathfinder.
Drun shouted to Gyro with a sliver of hope, but Gyro also had no answer.
“I don’t know! But there is one hope!”
“Hope?”
Drun asked back with an incredulous expression.
Hope in a situation where arrows are constantly flying?
But there was no other way now.
They could only wait with bated breath for Gyro’s next words.
“These goblin bastards! I don’t think they intend to kill us! They are only using the arrows as a threat!”
At Gyro’s words, Drun’s memory stirred.
Come to think of it, Rills only had her hand pierced. Vital areas like the head or heart were avoided.
If they had intended to kill them, they would have done so long ago.
‘Is it really as Gyro said?’
Rills got her hand shot by an arrow by trying to use magic unnecessarily.
Most importantly, there was the presence of Dambi, who had stepped forward.
Dambi remained standing still, and not a single arrow hit her.
Drun laughed in disbelief at the sight.
“Haha… These bastards aren’t so bad after all, are they?”
Not all monsters have low intelligence.
Sometimes, there are those who act tough like this to hide their weakness.
And after some time, they would try to negotiate with the adventurers.
With this much, Drun stood up confidently.
“Alright! I get it, I get it! Let’s negotiate! So stop shooting those damn arrows!”
But it was a misjudgment.
*Shwiik-*
*Phuk-*
An arrow that flew in embedded itself in Drun’s shoulder.
“Kkeuk!”
Fortunately, he had trained his body, so the arrow did not penetrate deeply. It was a minor injury that would heal quickly with treatment after leaving the dungeon.
But something felt off.
The arrow flew precisely towards his shoulder as soon as he stood up.
‘Were the goblins originally good with bows?’
It was strange to be a coincidence.
Most importantly, Dambi, who remained standing, was not hit at all. Even though she was in front of him.
As he was thinking it was strange.
“Oh, the arrows have stopped.”
As Novice Priest Hildon said, the dungeon became quiet again.
At the same time, footsteps were heard.
‘Not one or two.’
Probably all the goblins in the dungeon were moving.
Drun frowned and looked around.
He immediately stopped Rills, who was by his side, from preparing to use magic.
“Stop! Don’t do anything!”
The reason Drun stopped Rills’ actions was simple.
The opposing goblins had also stopped attacking.
Why would they stop attacking now?
“Everyone get ready. We will probably negotiate with the master of the dungeon.”
Drun was confident.
“Negotiation? Can’t we just sweep them away with magic?”
Rills showed a displeased expression, but the other two followed Drun’s words.
It was better to negotiate and preserve their lives.
If they could just get out alive, they could enter the dungeon at any time as adventurers.
As soon as they left here, they planned to complain to the Adventurer’s Guild.
Therefore, everyone quietly waited for the goblins.
“Still, isn’t it fortunate? At best, we’re dealing with goblins. We’ll probably have the upper hand in negotiations.”
Thinking of equal negotiations is foolish.
Negotiations were never fair.
Negotiations between adventurers and monsters were conducted by weighing the adventurers’ strength against the dungeon’s strength.
Of course, this was only when the monsters had intelligence, and if they had slightly less intelligence like goblins, they could take advantage.
“It’s as you say, Drun-nim. At best, we’re dealing with goblins. Perhaps we might gain a lot. This is also a blessing bestowed by the Goddess.”
Novice Priest Hildon also spoke in an excited voice.
Goblins must have hidden treasures deep within the dungeon. If the Dungeon Core is destroyed, the dungeon will disappear without finding those things.
However, through negotiations like this, they could expect hidden treasures.
Soon, the goblins revealed themselves.
For now, as it was a place for negotiation, Drun bowed his head and politely greeted them.
“Haha, my name is Drun. And you, sir-”
But he couldn’t finish.
It wasn’t just the number of goblins, but the presence of the leader who came out with the goblins that made him speechless.
“……!”
It wasn’t just Drun.
Rills, Gyro, and Hildon were also standing with their mouths agape.
“Welcome.”
Only Dambi, not them.
The reason they were surprised was simple.
“W-why, W-why is the Goblin Lord here!”
The one who led the goblins was the Goblin Lord.
Unlike the goblins, the Goblin Lord wore a golden crown on his head.
The goblins they saw now also wore crowns on their heads.
It was so intuitively easy to understand that everyone here could know.
“……”
The Goblin Lord is a 5-star monster.
It was a being that they, at their current level, could never hunt.
‘Kmm, no wonder the goblins were so organized…’
Drun, who regretted it too late, but it was too late.
With the appearance of the Goblin Lord, negotiations were out of the question.
The difference in strength was already too great.
To face the Goblin Lord, at least Gold-rank adventurers, no, Platinum-rank adventurers would be needed.
Only then could they barely hunt him.
But could four adventurers of the same rank defeat the Goblin Lord?
Judging by the presence of a large one in the back, Hobgoblins seemed to exist as well.
It was a complete miscalculation.
As everyone fell into despair, the Goblin Lord opened his mouth.
“Krrrh… Is there anyone you wish to save?”
He had clearly asked if there was anyone they wanted to save.
As expected of a Goblin Lord, his pronunciation was much better than the goblins, and the adventurers were filled with hope as they raised their heads at his words.
“S-saving someone, doesn’t that mean you want to live!”
Rills’ voice also rose in excitement.
Could it be that they were going to negotiate with their lives?
Everyone’s mind was racing with this thought.
However, someone else answered the Goblin Lord’s words.
“It’s a dilemma.”
Dambi said.
Dambi addressed the Goblin Lord, who belonged to the same dungeon and was of a higher rank, with respect.
“Can’t you save everyone?”
The adventurers were surprised again at Dambi’s words.
They were surprised by Dambi’s boldness even in this situation, and most of all, they were surprised by his attitude of wanting to save everyone, despite them having discriminated against him.
But the Goblin Lord shook his head.
“Only one is possible. Krub! The usable Banshee is Qt. Only one.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
The adventurers did not understand the conversation between the two.
But Dambi and the Goblin Lord were having an important conversation.
Only one of the four adventurers would survive.
That one person would be controlled by a Banshee to replace the adventurer’s role.
And then they planned to form a two-person party with Dambi and take on adventurer quests.
It would have been good if all of them present were replaced by Banshees, but there was a limit.
Most of the Banshees were currently controlling other adventurers.
And as per Celia’s orders, they moved to various parts of the continent.
Therefore, the only available Banshee was one.
“Let’s exclude the Novice Priest for now. After all, he belongs to the Church. I want to avoid troublesome situations.”
Hildon belonged to the Church.
Even as a Novice Priest, belonging to the Church might offer many conveniences.
However, Dambi shook his head.
When the two moved together, they had to consider the possibility of contact with other priests or Paladins.
In such a situation, it was possible that troublesome events would occur.
At Dambi’s decision, the Goblin Lord swung his fist at Novice Priest Hildon.
Hildon, with his sturdy physique, was sent crashing to the floor by the Goblin Lord’s blow.
His body was unrecognizable, and it was clearly a fatal blow.
“Hieek!”
The adventurers screamed at the sight.
They didn’t know why the Goblin Lord had appeared.
They didn’t know why the Goblin Lord was listening to Dambi.
But they knew one thing.
“Please…! Please save me! I apologize for everything. I apologize like this!”
Drun apologized to Dambi, prostrating himself on the ground.
Even though he didn’t understand the current situation, he felt compelled to beg Dambi for his life.
But soon, others also pleaded.
“Save me instead! I’m more valuable than that muscle-bound brute!”
Rills shouted, not wanting to be outdone.
As she did, she tore her clothes and revealed her chest.
But Dambi didn’t care about such reasons.
“A mage would certainly be good, but it’s different from a Banshee using magic, isn’t it?”
Even if a Banshee occupied the body of a mage like Rills, using magic was a separate matter.
Even if they controlled their minds, there was no guarantee that they would be able to unleash the full power of their magic.
But the Goblin Lord shook his head.
“Krrrh, the Great One. It’s much better. Kht! That’s not a problem at all.”
That was right.
With the Great One’s abilities, nothing was a problem.
It was the Great One who granted Holy Power to the Banshee controlling the Paladin.
Dambi hesitated for a moment.
Novice Priest Hildon was already dead.
And when he thought about it, he didn’t think a Pathfinder would be needed. Also, the warrior Drun was not particularly necessary.
Just by comparing their current combat power, it was much better for him to act directly than Drun.
That would leave Rills as the last one.
“Let’s save the mage.”
Rills shouted happily at Dambi’s words.
But it was not something to be happy about.
“Krhuk. Understood. I will kill the rest.”
As the Goblin Lord raised his hand to deal with the adventurers.
A Hobgoblin stepped forward from behind.
“Krrrt, Captain.”
The Hobgoblin continued.
“Sector 1 Sub-boss! Human. Request needed. Krrh!”
“Ah, I see. Kht!”
At the Hobgoblin’s words, the Goblin Lord seemed to remember something and lowered his hand again.
The Sub-boss of Sector 1, the Death Knight, had made a request.
He needed slaves for the dungeon’s siege construction.
“Krrrh, then, I will save everyone.”
Drun and Gyro were led away by the goblins without understanding why.
And Rills, who remained.
“Huh? What?! Aren’t you saving me—”
She was taken over by a Banshee who appeared out of nowhere.
“It is Celia-nim’s order to work with Dambi-nim.”
The Banshee, or rather, Rills, said.
Dambi simply nodded and stepped out of the dungeon with Rills.
* * *
The day was already waning.
As the adventurers’ footsteps began to cease at the Adventurer’s Guild.
“I’m back.”
Dambi, with a stoic expression, approached Katerin.
“Oh? Dambi-ssi? No, Rills-ssi’s hand, how did that happen…!”
Katerin looked at the two who had returned to the Adventurer’s Guild.
The problem was that five people had left for the dungeon.
But now, only two had returned. And Rills’ hand was injured.
Dambi handed over a large bag he was carrying on his back.
Inside were the heads of goblins.
They were goblins killed by the Goblin Lord who took over the dungeon.
Even if they were their own kind, the principle was to kill them if they defied the Great One’s will.
And he had cut off only their heads and given them to Dambi.
The reason was that the quest had to be completed.
“The quest is complete.”
There were indeed many goblin heads.
“But the others are dead.”
Katerin simply nodded at Dambi’s words.
Rills, the mage next to Dambi, had her hand bandaged, and blood was seeping through it.
‘Even the prickly Rills-ssi is quiet, so it must have been a tough dungeon.’
Some dungeons became stronger over time. For instance, the number of monsters would increase, or the dungeon master would become stronger, and so on.
This might have been the case this time.
Normally, it would be right to investigate, but Katerin let it slide.
After all, the mage Rills and the three adventurers who did not return were in the same party.
The two of them, who were not getting along well that morning. And it didn’t make sense for them to kill the other three to take their share.
Katerin thought that Dambi made another request.
“I would like the reward this time to be allocated to the three who died.”
At Dambi’s words, Katerin let go of her suspicions.
The adventurer named Dambi, as she had seen, was outstanding in both skill and character.
Katerin nodded with an expression of admiration and replied.
“I see. I also offer my condolences. Since it is late now, I will settle it tomorrow when you come.”
It would take quite some time to settle.
Most importantly, given Rills’ condition, treatment seemed more urgent than settlement.
Dambi nodded vaguely and was about to turn away.
“Ah, Dambi-ssi! Just a moment…!”
Katerin stopped Dambi who was about to leave.
“There is a requested quest for Dambi-ssi, do you have any thoughts on it?”
“Requested quest?”
It meant someone wanted to entrust a quest to Dambi.
Such requested quests came in when an adventurer’s recognition was high, and they were preferred because the rewards were also substantial.
Above all, it was easier to raise an adventurer’s rank.
“Yes, Dambi-ssi did so well catching zombies that this time a requested quest has come in.”
“Ah.”
He had completed the quest by capturing zombies alive in their original state.
It was likely that they wanted to assign him a mission again.
But Dambi shook his head.
“No, I will take another quest. I refuse that one.”
Come to think of it, the zombies from last time were also possessions of the Great One.
However, he had no intention of actively working as an adventurer by borrowing the Great One’s power.
Dambi intended to serve that person solely with his own strength.
“Yes! I understand. Dambi-ssi must also have other intentions. In that case, I will refuse this quest.”
Katerin also smiled and respected Dambi’s choice.
She believed that Dambi would surely grow into a great adventurer soon.
The Adventurer’s Guild’s day ended for today.
* * *
“Malcom-nim. There is something you need to see.”
A man in a black mask bowed and reported.
Malcom, with his prominent red, hooked nose, turned his head while smoking a cigarette.
“What is it again? Unless it’s about zombies, handle it yourself.”
Malcom waved his hand as if annoyed.
He was annoyed by everything except the High Council of the Black Hand.
In fact, he was annoyed by the meetings too, but he had to attend according to regulations, so it was unavoidable, and he usually delegated most tasks to others.
But this time, he couldn’t do that.
“But this is something you must see.”
“Why? Did you find the adventurer I mentioned?”
Malcom said as he stood up. Information gathering about the adventurer ordered by the Master during the meeting.
Malcom was very interested because it wasn’t just any adventurer, but an adventurer who had captured a zombie alive in its original state.
“That’s not it. However, there is someone who brought a Ghoul, not a zombie. The Ghoul is also in top condition.”
At the man’s words, Malcom’s eyes widened.
“What? A, a Ghoul? Is that true?”
“Yes, it is. For now, I have guided them to the reception room and am monitoring them.”
“Yes, well done. Is it perhaps the same adventurer this time?”
To capture a Ghoul, not a zombie.
Although a Ghoul is a 2-star monster, capturing it in perfect condition was another matter.
He just became an adventurer, and he’s already capturing Ghouls?
‘Truly amazing.’
But the man spoke of something completely different.
“It is not that adventurer. Their identity is unknown. However, they are holding a large notebook and communicate by writing. I assume they cannot speak.”
“I’m going right now!”
It didn’t matter if it wasn’t the adventurer who brought the zombies.
Malcom’s story about capturing zombies had already spread widely. Malcom himself had spread the story outside in the first place.
And even if the other party couldn’t speak, it was not a problem for Malcom.
In any case, if a useful talent approached, he would always welcome them.
‘Perhaps my plan will advance!’
Malcom headed to the reception room with a pleased expression.
And he could see.
A being entirely wrapped in a black robe.
It was a surprisingly strange being.
But that was also not a problem.
“Hmm, you said you brought a Ghoul…”
Malcom scanned the other party.
They were wearing a white mask to cover their face, and their hands were also covered with gloves.
Since their entire body was covered, it was impossible to guess who it was.
‘It has a similar aura to Master.’
Although the color of the mask was different from the masked Master, he felt a similar sense of kinship from that person.
But the monster behind them was definitely a Ghoul.
‘I can’t believe they brought it in perfect condition!’
Suddenly in a good mood, Malcom smiled and introduced himself.
“Heh! My name is Malcom.”
In response to Malcom’s question, the unidentified party also wrote something in a large notebook.
He was not surprised because he had received a report that the other party could not speak.
– My name is Necros.
“Hehehe. Yes, Necros. I want to talk with you more.”
Even if his identity was unknown, his abilities were extraordinary.
With the fact that he brought a Ghoul, his skills were already proven.
Moreover, such skilled individuals were rare. And beings that fit the atmosphere of the Black Hand were even rarer.
Malcom considered various factors.
The other party’s skills were genuine.
What if he offered to work together?
If he joined forces with the other party, things would go smoothly.
Even if they refused the offer, he had no worries about silencing them.
The dead tell no tales, so if they refused, he intended to make them experience it firsthand.
Malcom, belonging to the Black Hand, had enough power for that.
“I like money very much. Just like zombies. Hehehe. Are you interested in money?”
Malcom crossed his legs and put the cigarette in his mouth.
As Necros nodded, Malcom even clapped his hands with joy.
“As expected, you like money just like me! Hehe!”
Malcom stopped clapping and continued.
“Then, hear my proposal. Would you like to join hands with me? We can earn a tremendous amount of money together.”
It was an offer that anyone could see was sudden.
But Malcom pushed forward regardless.
For some reason, today he had a gut feeling.
He had a strong feeling that he had to join hands with that person here.
Necros wrote in his notebook again.
– What is it?
“Kuhuhu, it’s supposed to be a secret, but I think I can tell you. You have the same scent as me.”
Malcom chuckled for a moment and then opened his mouth.
“Actually, collecting zombies is not just a hobby. It’s all related to business.”
Business?
Necros tilted his head.
What connection could zombies have with business?
As if reading Necros’s doubts, Malcom continued.
“Curious? Hehehe. What I’m planning is a Monster Coliseum! A coliseum where monsters fight each other! What do you think? With your skills and me, we can make a huge amount of money! How about it, isn’t it a great business item? Hehe.”
