The interior of the dungeon was dark.
The atmosphere was no different.
It felt heavy, as if a thick blanket had been thrown over my face.
Following the dark and heavy space, I saw someone writhing desperately on the floor.
The equipment they wore proved the person was a Hunter.
But the equipment had lost its light.
It might have been dazzling until a little while ago, but now it had lost its brilliance and was broken.
It would have been fine if only the equipment was broken.
It could always be replaced.
The problem was not that only the equipment was broken.
The wearer’s physical condition was as bad as their equipment.
“Please… please save me.”
A fragile voice echoed through the dungeon.
Blood flowed from the mouth along with the voice.
She was in so much pain that she was scratching the ground with her fingernails, to the point of breaking them and drawing blood.
She probably knew that her life might end soon.
The more so, the more desperately she begged for her life.
“Sob, please… I won’t report you, so please just save me. Okay?”
It was a desperate plea for salvation.
Her five party members behind her had already become corpses long ago.
All five had died instantly.
And it was by the hands of the two Hunters standing before her.
The difference was overwhelming.
All she could do was beg for her life.
She knew that too.
That her life was determined by their mood.
So she pleaded.
She turned a blind eye to their actions.
Even though she was humiliated, she could endure it if it meant her life was spared.
Despite her desperate pleas, the Hunters before her did not answer.
No, they were laughing instead.
They felt a thrill from the pathetic creature on the floor desperately begging for its life.
“Hic.”
After a moment of silence, someone burst into laughter.
“Haa, this is why I can’t quit hunting Hunters.”
Said one of the men in a villainous voice.
Yet, the woman lying on the floor pleaded more desperately.
She grabbed the man’s pant leg with tears streaming down her face.
But that action turned out to be a mistake.
“How dare a dirty bitch touch my clothes.”
*Crack*
With a single kick from the man, her arm twisted in a grotesque direction.
“Ah…?”
It happened so suddenly that she couldn’t even scream.
She couldn’t feel anything at all.
She looked at her broken arm and fell into despair.
Now, even hope was gone.
“……”
Now she knew.
No matter how much she cried and begged, they would never spare her.
In fact, it was foolish to even hope they would spare her.
She would rather die quickly than experience such pain.
That would be at least a more comfortable path.
But that was not how the world worked.
“Don’t worry. I won’t kill you.”
The man said with a sinister expression.
“Not yet. The night is long.”
“Ah…”
The men approached.
In her eyes, as she watched them, there was only despair.
* * *
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the familiar ceiling.
‘Has six hours already passed…?’
I remembered Celia fainting after offering sacrifices.
I distinctly remembered calling Maru to set up defenses before I fainted.
I immediately looked around.
Maru was indeed beside me, sword drawn and at the ready.
He was even thoroughly scanning the surroundings, as if searching for anyone who might approach.
Of course, the current location was inside my house.
Unless a thief broke in, there was naturally no danger.
“Pfft.”
The sight of Maru guarding with his sword drawn in an empty house was slightly amusing.
At the same time, it was touching.
If this were outside instead of inside my house, Maru would be the only one to protect my defenseless self.
“Maru, you can stop now and rest. I’m awake.”
As soon as I gave the order, Maru relaxed his body.
Maru seemed a little different after the Monster Wave, but thankfully, he listened to my commands very well.
What can I say…
When he had free time, he either meditated or spaced out, or did something similar.
I didn’t know the reason, but it was definitely after the Monster Wave.
Still, I felt relieved because he acted so diligently when ordered to protect me.
‘Well, as long as he listens to me, that’s all that matters.’
As I was thinking that, my stomach rumbled violently.
Then I realized I hadn’t eaten anything.
Hmm….
“Maru, you don’t need to guard anymore, so go and make me some ramen.”
As soon as Maru heard my command, he rushed out.
Seeing Maru’s actions made me feel proud.
Honestly, even though he had worked hard for six hours, I could let him rest a bit, but the ramen Maru makes is incredibly delicious.
He puts so much effort into it that the deep savory flavor is amazing.
Now I’ve reached a point where I can’t eat ramen unless Maru makes it.
After Maru disappeared from my sight, I turned my head.
“Speaking of which, is it night time already?”
Looking out the window, it was already dark outside.
I slowly got up, ready to move from my spot.
“Huh?”
But something felt strange.
My body felt too heavy as I tried to stand up.
“Why am I so tired?”
I didn’t feel refreshed after sleeping.
No, normally I should have felt light.
After absorbing the sacrifices, I gained abilities and felt so light I could fly.
But not this time.
It felt like the fatigue had accumulated and my body had become sluggish.
I had never experienced this before, so I was a bit flustered.
‘Did something go wrong?’
I immediately looked at my status window.
[Traits]
– True Dungeon Master (EX)
– Demonic Sword Master (S)
– Mana Affinity (A)
[Basic Info]
HP: C+
Attack: B
Defense: C
Magic: A+
Holy Power: F
[Skills]
– Knighted (S): Maru (Active)
– Goddess’s Heal (F)
“Ha…”
Was my prediction correct?
Nothing had changed.
I must have absorbed the sacrifices, but there was no change in my status window.
“What the?”
My traits were the same, and no new skills were added.
My stats were also the same.
Could it be that the level of the adventurers sacrificed was too low?
Or did something go wrong while absorbing the sacrifices?
Fearing that something might have gone wrong, I quickly grabbed my smartphone.
“No way…”
I hope my dungeon isn’t the problem.
In my anxiety, I launched the game and surveyed my dungeon.
“Phew.”
Thankfully, the dungeon was fine.
Moreover, all the monsters were doing their respective jobs in their sectors.
As soon as I confirmed the peaceful scene, my strength drained away.
“That’s a relief.”
Then what could be the problem?
I touched the alarm window.
– Successfully absorbed sacrificed adventurer.
According to the alarm, the sacrifices were properly absorbed.
But the problem was that there was no change in me.
I immediately checked the next alarm.
– Acquired adventurer’s stat [Holy Power]. Can be used for enhancement.
Huh?
The next part was slightly different.
While before, I absorbed abilities directly, now it said ‘acquired’.
I checked all the subsequent alarms.
– Successfully absorbed sacrificed adventurer.
– Acquired adventurer’s skill [Rapid Stab (E)]. Can be used for enhancement.
– Successfully absorbed sacrificed adventurer.
– Acquired adventurer’s stat [Holy Power]. Can be used for enhancement.
– Successfully absorbed sacrificed adventurer.
– Acquired adventurer’s trait [Berserker (A)]. Can be used for enhancement.
Generally, I gained one ability per adventurer, but some adventurers left behind two abilities.
– Successfully absorbed sacrificed adventurer.
– Acquired adventurer’s trait [Minor Recovery Regeneration (D)]. Can be used for enhancement.
– Acquired adventurer’s stat [Holy Power]. Can be used for enhancement.
The alarms continued endlessly, and it was the same with the other abilities.
Even though I absorbed the sacrificed adventurers, the resulting abilities were only acquired, not directly absorbed.
Most importantly, there was the phrase “Can be used for enhancement.”
“Enhancement? It can be used for enhancement?”
I immediately clicked around the game.
And then I saw a familiar window.
[Dungeon Monster Strengthening System]
Ah.
This strengthening system was created when I obtained the ‘True Dungeon Master’ trait last time.
It was originally locked, but right before I fainted, Celia had found clues to unlock it through the sacrifices she offered.
However, I thought it would take more time to use the system even though I had found the clues…
“It suddenly opened like this?”
Of course, it was good that it opened quickly, but something felt off.
I clicked on the strengthening system.
There, the abilities I had just acquired were listed.
[List of Acquired Abilities]
– Holy Power x13
– Minor Recovery Regeneration (D) x1
– Berserker (A) x1
– Rapid Stab (E) x1
– Mana Circuit (B) x1
– Steadfast Will (C) x1
– Fireball (E) x1
– Acceleration (E) x1
– Poison Coat (D) x1
– Flexible Body Movement (F+) x1
– Taunt (C) x1
…
…
Since Celia offered so many sacrifices, the acquired abilities continued endlessly.
It was overwhelming to check each one.
“So, by using these, I can strengthen anyone?”
After all, the name itself is Dungeon Monster Strengthening System.
If I can strengthen monsters using these, it would be a great advantage for me.
I immediately clicked on the next screen.
[Dungeon Monster Strengthening System]
– Dungeon Master ‘Kanghyeon Lee’ (Unlocked)
– Skoll (★★★) (Unlocked)
Ah, as expected.
Looking around the system, it wasn’t applied to all monsters.
Not yet, at least.
“By the way, why is Skoll here?”
Skoll was the one leading the Orc Dungeon.
I remembered him because I had directly assigned him the role of Lieutenant General.
The problem was that I couldn’t understand the criteria for this system to be applied.
“Hmm…”
Is it strength?
No, if it were strength, then Celia, who is 6-star, or Death Knight and Arch Lich, who are 5-star, should have benefited first.
I can understand that much as I am the owner of the dungeon, but Skoll, who is only 3-star, being on the list is incomprehensible.
“There must be something…”
No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t figure it out.
It was a shame, but what could I do?
For now, it was too early to fully utilize the strengthening system.
“It’s a bit of a shame.”
There were quite a few abilities among the acquired ones that would suit specific monsters.
For example, look at the C-grade skill, Taunt.
– Taunt (C): Skill. Focuses all enemy attention.
Although the description is simple, what would happen if that skill was given to Death Knight?
Holding a grand shield and taunting…
“No.”
Upon reflection, giving it to Death Knight didn’t seem like the right choice.
“That guy had a maid outfit attached to his shield.”
Even after the Monster Wave ended, Death Knight was the most popular in the entire world.
That popularity was still ongoing, with some Hunters even buying maid outfits and attaching them to their own equipment.
It would have been fine if that was all, but necromancers started a trend of dressing their summoned creatures in maid outfits.
“Just thinking about it makes me shudder.”
But setting that aside, I looked at the strengthening system again.
Even though Skoll was the only monster I could strengthen immediately, that wasn’t the important part.
“Is there anything I can use?”
While strengthening monsters is important, I am also important.
No matter how many abilities I have, what’s the point if I am weak?
It’s over the moment I die.
For now, prioritizing my own growth is essential.
I looked through the lists.
Since the adventurers sacrificed were not of very high rank, there were almost no high-ranking abilities.
Among them, I searched and searched for what I needed.
“Berserker?”
It was the only A-rank ability.
It was a trait that granted increased power as health decreased.
It was also dangerous, but it was a trait specialized for unleashing power at the last moment.
“It’s not for me to use.”
Of course, it wasn’t for me to possess.
I suited the rear position better than front-line combat.
In any case, Maru was scheduled to take on the front line, so I looked for other abilities.
“Mana Circuit seems like something I could use?”
Mana Circuit caught my eye among the list.
Mana Circuit was a B-rank trait, and its description seemed to fit me well.
“It creates paths for mana to flow through every part of my body?”
Mana Circuit would undoubtedly have a huge synergistic effect with my Mana Affinity.
“If I add Fireball to this, it would be perfect!”
It was precisely the Mage position.
I immediately selected those abilities.
– Do you want to enhance the trait Mana Circuit (B) to Dungeon Master ‘Kanghyeon Lee’?
– Abilities that have been enhanced cannot be reverted.
As expected, once enhanced, it can’t be removed?
If that were possible, it would have been a truly overpowered ability.
“I wasn’t expecting that anyway.”
I immediately touched enhance.
As soon as I touched it, mana began to flow into my body.
“Hah!”
The mana that entered my body gathered in my heart.
A moment later, starting from my heart, it spread throughout my entire body.
In this process, I felt pain all over my body.
It felt like someone was slashing me with a knife.
“Ugh…, Gak!”
I couldn’t breathe.
I couldn’t move either.
All I could do was endure the pain.
“…Fuck.”
A curse automatically escaped my lips.
Black blood began to flow from my mouth.
‘Did they create paths inside my body?’
If I had known this would happen, I should have prepared myself mentally.
I never dreamed such pain would come.
“Ugh…”
Fortunately, the period of pain was short.
As the pain gradually subsided, it stabilized.
“Hauu… Hauu….”
And then, all the pain disappeared.
Was it a success?
I took a deep breath and called up my status window.
“Status window.”
[Traits]
– True Dungeon Master (EX)
– Demonic Sword Master (S)
– Mana Affinity (A)
– Mana Circuit (B)
[Basic Info]
HP: C+
Attack: B
Defense: C
Magic: A+
Holy Power: F
[Skills]
– Knighted (S): Maru (Active)
– Goddess’s Heal (F)
“Ha.”
The result was a complete success.
I could now feel mana flowing through my entire body, which before was only felt outwardly.
“This is amazing.”
More importantly, the biggest gain was that I could extract only the traits and skills I wanted.
“Now I need to figure out the conditions for enhancement!”
I can’t just use something this good all by myself.
If I could even enhance Maru, I might become a one-man army.
I immediately touched the next ability.
Next was the E-rank skill, Fireball.
Unlike Mana Circuit, Fireball was acquired instantly without any pain.
“With this, I can at least do my part.”
Now I could be considered a proper Mage.
I had enough strength to raise my Hunter rank immediately, but that was for later.
“Now, I’m really hungry.”
It felt like my stomach was rumbling even more than before because of the circuits that were drilled into my body.
“Isn’t Maru done yet?”
By now, the ramen should have been ready, but there was no sign of Maru yet.
“Maru, is the ramen ready yet?”
Calling out to Maru, I headed to the kitchen. Maru was in the kitchen.
“Maru, why are you-”
??
As soon as I saw Maru’s actions, question marks popped into my head.
“What… are you doing?”
Maru was dipping his bone-like hand into the boiling water.
Maru slowly turned his head and said to me.
“Click.”
According to Maru, doing this makes it taste better.
This is really driving me crazy.
