“Some say the progenitor of the Kalrn Empire was a dragon, but I’m not sure, heh.”
Celia’s eyes sparkled at Molu’s words.
Celia raised her glass of red wine, slowly twirled it, and asked.
“A dragon… that’s truly fascinating. Please tell me more, Mr. Molu.”
She thought she had gathered a lot of information about the continent so far.
However, this was the first time Celia had heard that the progenitor of the Kalrn Empire was a dragon.
Naturally, she hadn’t heard any similar rumors either.
The words that would come out of Molu’s mouth now and in the future were, in short, stories derived from the information network of the Underworld Merchant Guild.
Molu glanced around and leaned forward.
“Well, there are many stories. Some say the first emperor was a dragon who transformed into a human, and another rumor says the emperor was a hybrid of a dragon and a human.”
Molu took out a small leather notebook from his pocket.
“Some rumors even say that the human emperor gained power by drinking dragon’s blood.”
The rumors were truly all over the place.
Ultimately, Molu didn’t have precise information either.
“This is all that I know. I haven’t been allowed to know any more than this with my current authorization.”
How important were these stories that Molu couldn’t know even with his authority?
‘It seems I need to nurture Molu more reliably.’
Celia thought that if Molu climbed higher, she would be able to obtain more information.
Reflecting on her recent neglect of Molu, Celia decided to funnel achievements to him for a while.
As she was thinking that, she noticed something strange in Molu’s story.
‘Hmm.’
Humans are by nature fond of boasting.
What if their progenitor was related to dragons?
Normally, humans would spread such a mythical lineage widely.
However, the Kalrn Empire’s imperial family did the opposite.
‘They hide it, instead…’
Celia put down her wine glass and lightly tapped the table with her finger.
There was something suspicious.
Even the Wyvern bestowed by her Master was a being that received respect from humans.
What if it were a bloodline that inherited the blood of a dragon, not just a mere Wyvern?
That itself would be a symbol of immense authority and power, yet the Kalrn Empire chose to conceal it.
‘I should investigate this.’
The Kalrn Empire was also a place that would eventually need to be conquered.
To offer the entire continent to her great Master, it would be better to gather information in advance.
Celia, who had maintained a stoic expression, soon broke into a bright smile.
“You have given me truly valuable information, Mr. Molu.”
Deep calculations flashed within her crimson eyes.
* * *
Beneath the imperial palace of the Kalrn Empire.
When a maid opened her eyes, she didn’t know where she was.
The last thing she remembered was being selected as a ‘Golden Maid’ and attending a celebratory banquet. Then, after drinking a cup of sweet beverage, everything blurred.
“Hello… is anyone there…?”
The cold stone floor touched her bare feet.
It was so dark all around that she couldn’t see even when she stretched out her hand.
She tried to move, but the heavy iron chains wrapped around her wrists and ankles pulled her back.
“…Where is this?”
Her voice trembled. But there was no answer.
Only the sound of dripping water from afar and her own ragged breaths could be heard.
The air was damp and heavy, and the faint smell of blood pricked her nose.
Just then, a faint beam of red light suddenly descended from the ceiling. It was a color that looked as if mixed with blood.
Under that light, she could see where she was standing.
She was in the center of a circular room, and strange patterns were carved on the floor.
The walls were stained with dried blood.
“Hieek!”
She was terrified by the current situation.
“Please… I haven’t done anything wrong.”
Her trembling voice echoed.
“They said it was an honor to be selected as a Golden Maid…”
Golden Maid.
The Kalrn Empire periodically selected Golden Maids.
One child, pure in body and mind, was chosen as a maid for the imperial family, and there was only one condition for this.
Purity.
As long as virginity was maintained, it didn’t matter if one was a noble, a commoner, or even a slave.
The maid standing here now was also from a commoner background and was chosen as a Golden Maid while maintaining her purity.
It hadn’t been long since she rejoiced, thinking her bright future was guaranteed.
But look at her current state.
Instead of a bright future, she didn’t know what she had done wrong or why she had to go through this.
Her mind was filled only with confusion and terror.
Suddenly, from the deep darkness, she heard the sound of something moving. The sound of sharp claws scraping on the stone floor.
That sound alone sent a chill down her spine.
Her heart began to pound violently. She felt her chest constricting with fear.
“Who’s there?”
Her voice rose.
“Please, tell me!”
Just then, two golden eyes appeared in the darkness.
They were not human eyes. They were too big and too bright. The vertically slit pupils looked at her greedily.
“No…”
The maid whispered. Terror engulfed her entire body.
Her legs trembled, making it difficult to stand.
Due to the fear, her legs became wet. Her body reacted without her knowing.
Those eyes grew closer and closer.
Something was approaching her from the darkness.
The creature seemed to move on four legs, but she couldn’t see it clearly.
“He-help me!”
The maid cried out in panic.
“Anyone! Please!”
However, there was no one here to hear her voice.
As the creature in the darkness approached, she could see a part of it.
‘…A dragon?’
No. It looked like a dragon’s head, but it wasn’t a complete dragon’s form.
It was something… distorted, something that seemed to blend half-human forms.
When the creature opened its maw, she saw sharp teeth.
“Please… don’t…”
Her voice had weakened to an almost inaudible level. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
But it did not stop.
Slowly, but surely, it began to swallow the maid.
Its maw first dug into her shoulder and then reached her chest.
The sound of teeth crushing her ribs was clearly audible. Blood splashed everywhere, but it didn’t care and continued to swallow.
It had now swallowed her up to her waist.
Her upper body had already detached from her bones and was descending into its gullet.
A horrific sound echoed.
Gurgling sounds, the cracking of bones, the gruesome sound of flesh tearing mixed in the darkness.
The brutal feast continued for a long time.
How much time had passed?
Finally, the chewing sound stopped. Then, a satisfied purr was heard.
“Grrrrrr……”
A door opened amidst the darkness, and several figures entered. They were wearing red robes, and their faces were hidden.
“The ritual is complete. The next Golden Maid will be in a month.”
One of them said with a smile.
“Your Majesty the Emperor.”
* * *
As a commemoration of the causality being released, I immediately indulged in jewels.
“It has been a long, long time.”
Even though the price of jewels had increased significantly, I had enough money to charge.
“Now it’s time to properly manage the dungeon.”
Not only did I need to expand the dungeon, but I also needed to summon more monsters accordingly.
‘Since the Sail Empire’s territory has expanded, there will be many limitations if I only operate with the current monsters.’
Celia, Necros, Death Knight, Goblin Lord, and Wyvern.
The more high-rank monsters there were, the better.
“Alright, let’s summon!”
My hand moved towards the monster summoning in the shop window.
– You have summoned a Skeleton Soldier (★).
“Hmm, as expected.”
It was a Rank 1 monster that would be missed if it didn’t appear now.
– You have summoned a Goblin (★).
“Yes, I knew up to this point.”
Even with more money, I couldn’t adjust the gacha rates.
What appeared now was purely left to luck.
– You have summoned a Succubus (★★★).
– You have summoned a Rock Golem (★★★).
– You have summoned a Slime (★).
– You have summoned an Orc (★★).
– You have summoned a Succubus (★★★).
– You have summoned a Banshee (★★★).
– You have summoned an Incubus (★★★).
– You have summoned a Ghoul (★★).
– You have summoned an Incubus (★★★).
“Hmm?”
Today, for some reason, Rank 3 monsters were appearing frequently.
“Succubi and Incubi are appearing a lot?”
Demonic spirits that drain human vital energy in dreams, Succubi and Incubi.
Until now, the only demonic spirit in the dungeon was Celia, a Succubus.
“Well, it’s not bad.”
Just as Necros and Death Knight are for the Undead, and the Goblin Lord is for the Goblins, Celia is for the demonic spirits.
This means that even without my intervention, Celia can lead the Succubi and Incubi.
‘The more strategies, the better.’
It also meant that with demonic spirits, more related strategies would emerge.
As I continued to consume jewels and summon monsters.
– You have summoned a Zombie (★).
– You have summoned a Ghoul (★★).
– You have summoned a Succubus (★★★).
…
…
Still, while I was summoning for a long time.
– You have summoned a Cockatrice (★★★★).
“Oh, Rank 4.”
Finally, a Rank 4 monster appeared.
A Cockatrice is a monster that mixes a chicken and a lizard.
Its head, wings, and legs have the appearance of a chicken, but its body and tail resemble a lizard.
‘This guy is better than I thought?’
The fear of the Cockatrice lay in the saliva it spewed.
The saliva contained paralyzing agents, and those hit by it would have their bodies stiffen for a certain period.
The Cockatrice was a creature that paralyzed its enemies and swallowed them whole.
‘But who will control the Cockatrice?’
The dungeon was currently standardized to some extent.
Level 1, Sector 1 is inhabited by Undead, and the sub-boss is Death Knight.
Level 1, Sector 2 is inhabited by Goblins, and the sub-boss is Goblin Lord.
Level 1, Sector 3 is…
‘What was here in Sector 3?’
Sector 3 was the area managed by Celia.
‘It’s an area managed by Celia, so it might be a problem if I arbitrarily release the Cockatrice.’
Sector 4 was also vacant, but it was a space where a lake stretched out.
There would be severe spatial limitations for a Cockatrice to roam freely.
‘Moreover, Cockatrices like shiny things.’
They liked them so much that there were tales of jewels appearing when hunting Cockatrices, making them monsters obsessed with collecting gold and treasures.
‘It’s probably best not to release it in Celia’s area.’
The dungeon ‘Evil God’s Nest’ was already saturated with the current monsters.
There was no reason to burden Celia further, who was already working hard.
“Then there’s only one answer.”
I decided to release the Cockatrice in the dungeon ‘Nest of Corruption’, which is managed by Arch Lich Necros.
