“That happened?”
Celia nodded as she replied to Maru’s words.
“It seems Master was being considerate because it must have been difficult for you, Maru.”
Maru also nodded at her words.
“As expected, Master is very considerate. To think of us lowly beings like this, I, Celia, am deeply moved.”
Celia closed her eyes as if she was truly touched.
Hearing her words, Maru also felt assured.
Thinking about it, Maru was certain that Master’s consideration was why he had to stop eating ramen, which he had been enjoying greatly, overnight.
“Snap!”
Then, Maru brought up the words Master had entrusted to him before he came here.
“What? Master had something to ask of me?”
As they were the words of the Great One, Celia naturally became interested.
“Snap snap—”
Maru relayed Master’s words with gestures.
“Indeed.”
Celia rested her chin on her hand.
“Are you saying to send the corpses of dead monsters as sacrifices?”
And not monsters from another dungeon.
Master was saying to send the corpses of monsters currently in this dungeon as sacrifices.
“Oh my!”
Celia, who had been pondering Master’s words conveyed by Maru, smiled brightly.
“I understand the profound meaning that even the dead are embraced by Master! I shall send them right away!”
“Snap?”
(Do they have that?)
Maru expressed his doubt at her words.
Master had clearly said to send the dead monsters as sacrifices as soon as they occurred, but she could send them right away…
What was this situation?
Just then, a Skeleton Knight entered from outside. In the knight’s bony hand was a wooden tray, on which two cups were placed.
He naturally approached and placed the cups before Celia and Maru.
“Thank you, Knight.”
They were luxurious cups, filled with liquid inside.
“Ah, this is tea found among the adventurer’s belongings. It tastes very good.”
Celia offered the tea to Maru.
“?”
Maru stared at the tea, then took a sip.
It had no taste.
It didn’t feel hot or anything.
The liquid simply flowed into his mouth, down his body, and spilled onto the floor.
“…….”
As Maru looked around, Celia’s workspace contained various beverages and snacks.
There were plenty of teas like the one now, as well as cookies and dried meat.
This was possible because quite a few adventurers had visited here so far.
Adventurers all carried possessions in some form, most of them money or food.
Sometimes there were snacks like these, so Celia had a tea time.
“As expected, I enjoy the deep flavor of tea.”
Celia also took a sip of tea and savored it.
Then, she gave an order to the Skeleton Knight beside her.
“The ones who died in Sector 2, right? Please bring their bodies. Handle them very carefully, as they are for Master.”
At her command, the Skeleton Knight saluted and turned back.
“Did you have any other words?”
After the Skeleton Knight left, Celia looked back at Maru and spoke.
Maru thought for a moment and then said something.
“Snap—!”
This was the main point.
“Clatter- snap snap—!”
“I see.”
“Snap snap snap.”
“Indeed, I am merely impressed by Master’s insight.”
Maru spoke with the sound of bones clattering, and Celia nodded, impressed by his insight.
The story Maru conveyed was simple.
– Draft a plan for the organization and units required for the dungeon and report it.
Although there were already rough roles assigned, they weren’t systematic.
The dungeon would continue to grow in size.
It would be good to start laying the framework now.
Master had certainly said so.
Maru conveyed Master’s instructions to Celia as they were.
“That is certainly the right thing to say. For now, we only deal with adventurers, but we must look to the future. If we are to swallow the Kingdom, we will need various organizations.”
“?”
Swallow the Kingdom?
Something Maru didn’t quite understand came up, so he stayed silent.
“At that time, we will have to consider wars not only with human nations but also with other dungeons. The scale itself will be different. It is definitely right to prepare from now on.”
Celia understood Master’s purpose well.
However, Celia asked Maru for additional help.
“Then, Maru, what kind of organizations and units would be good?”
Maru was not an ordinary monster.
He was practically a subordinate officer assisting Master by his side.
He surely knew Master’s thoughts well.
That’s why Celia asked Maru.
“…….”
Maru paused for a moment at her question.
Organizations? Units?
What would be good?
Actually, Maru himself didn’t fully understand Master’s intentions.
He mainly did household chores.
However, regardless of Master’s intentions, he could help with Celia’s question.
This was because he used his smartphone every time Master slept.
Maru was a monster with a certain amount of knowledge, having consumed not only cooking videos but also videos of Hunters.
Using that knowledge, Maru spoke.
“Snap! Tap tap!”
“You mean the scout and vanguard units.”
Celia nodded, lost in thought.
Indeed, they were necessary units.
Currently, there was a scout team composed of goblins.
Therefore, there was no need to form an additional scout team.
However, a unit that would take the lead and break through enemy defenses was needed.
“Ah!”
The name “vanguard” was too ordinary.
It didn’t match Master’s dignity.
At least, for the Great Master’s unit, they should be able to break through the enemy front lines first.
Celia immediately began writing something on paper.
– [Shock Unit]: A unit placed at the very front, composed of a large number of skeletons.
Primary mission: Break through enemy lines.
If Master approves, Inspector Arch Lich is planned to be appointed as the commander of the Shock Unit.
One unit was immediately formed.
“What else is needed?”
Celia looked at Maru.
“Snap snap snap!”
“Indeed, that’s true. In war, replenishment is necessary.”
War is ultimately a war of attrition.
The side that runs out of resources first is bound to lose, and it’s crucial to properly support other units.
In other words, a support unit was needed.
Celia immediately had an idea.
“As expected, for troop replenishment, Death Knight is the perfect choice!”
Arch Lich was also possible, but he was already appointed as the commander of the Shock Unit.
Celia immediately began writing the next unit on paper.
– [Undead Replenishment Brigade]: Primary mission is to create an infinite number of ghouls to replenish troops on the necessary front lines. Prisoner management will also be included.
If Master approves, Death Knight is planned to be appointed as the commander of the Undead Replenishment Brigade.
Of course, Death Knight held the title of Knight Captain.
However, in Celia’s view, it wasn’t a good fit for Death Knight.
Two unit proposals were already completed.
Celia and Maru talked about various things and began to establish further foundations.
– [Special Operations Bureau]: A unit composed of Shadows and Banshees. Primary mission includes intelligence gathering and rear disruption.
Utilize the Shadow’s abilities for intelligence gathering and assassination of key figures.
Utilize the Banshee’s abilities for intelligence gathering and rear disruption of the enemy.
If Master approves, Celia is planned to be appointed as the commander of the Special Operations Bureau.
– [Reconnaissance Team] (Tentative): A reorganized unit from the existing goblin scout team.
Once activity restrictions are lifted, the mission will be expanded beyond patrolling the vicinity of the dungeon to scouting and reconnaissance deep into enemy territory.
The name of the Reconnaissance Team will only be changed, so Goblin Lord will remain the appointed commander as before.
Several other proposals emerged.
The Defense Command, which will defend all of Master’s domains in the future.
The Goblin Magic Guard, composed of half-goblins.
The firefighting unit that Master recently organized was reorganized into the Facility Safety Department with Maru’s help.
And events wouldn’t just happen on land.
Considering this, Celia even organized an underwater unit composed of Nagas.
“Hmm…”
Celia intended to continue increasing units and organizations.
However, she felt something was still lacking.
“As expected, we must form units solely for Master!”
A unit that would be loyal and guard Master alone.
It was the Imperial Guard.
“We must select special talents befitting Master!”
This unit would closely interact with Master, essentially being a unit by his side.
Therefore, the composition of the Imperial Guard had to be meticulous.
Not only fitting talents for the Great One, but they must act solely for Master and praise him alone.
However, she couldn’t think of any such talent at the moment.
“There’s no other way.”
Celia wrote only her own name for the Imperial Guard’s members.
For now, it became a unit whose only member was Celia.
Celia and Maru continued their conversation.
All of this was to strengthen Master’s forces.
No matter how long it took, it had to be done, so Celia diligently worked with her hands.
And then.
A Skeleton Knight arrived with a large sack containing something.
“Ah, you’re here early? Place them all on the altar.”
“Snap!”
At her command, the Skeleton Knight saluted again and dragged the sack out.
“It’s nothing important.”
Celia replied with a smile to Maru, who looked curious.
“They are simply those who died during training.”
“?”
Maru flinched for a moment. Training?
His beloved hometown, which he had returned to after so long, had become a terrifying place.
The corpses in the sack belonged to goblins.
Previously, at Master’s command to impart enlightenment, Celia had ordered Goblin Lord and Arch Lich to conduct training.
At the same time, she gave them the authority for summary execution, all of which came from the goblins.
Of course, Goblin Lord didn’t personally carry out the summary executions.
Some goblins had simply died from exhaustion.
After the Skeleton Knight left, a goblin entered instead.
It was clearly a Goblin Shaman who had been active in the scout team.
“Three, intruders here. They are strong. *Cough*.”
The Goblin Shaman reported to Celia that three intruders had appeared.
Their attire was ordinary, but their strength was no joke.
A single goblin scout team had been almost annihilated.
And the enemy was still moving in their direction.
“How dare these worms appear while I am carrying out Master’s orders.”
Normally, she would have left this to others.
But now, it was a crucial moment planning Master’s future.
And suddenly, intruders appeared and disrupted the mood?
Celia was enraged.
And she immediately gestured.
At Celia’s gesture, the movement of three individuals roaming near the dungeon halted.
It was her skill, Charm.
Due to Celia’s high rank, the individuals quickly fell under her Charm despite the distance.
“Since it’s been handled, please re-form the scout team.”
The Goblin Shaman replied “Yes” and stepped outside.
“Shadow.”
Celia spoke into the air, and a faint shadow appeared behind her.
It was a shadow monster pilfered from the Underworld Merchant Guild, and Celia was now controlling it.
“Interrogate why those individuals came here. After you finish them all, offer them as sacrifices to Master.”
The shadow bowed its head and disappeared.
“Haa. I apologize for this.”
“Snap!”
(It’s okay!)
“Since it’s come to this, let’s take a short break and continue.”
* * *
– Skeleton Knight offered the ‘corpse of a goblin’ as a sacrifice to Master.
– The ‘corpse of a goblin’ has been confirmed to belong to a goblin affiliated with the dungeon managed by Master.
– The sacrifice will be absorbed immediately.
– Acquired the goblin’s trait [Slightly Tough Stomach (E)]. Can be used for enhancement.
“Oh, what is this?”
There were a few things he had told Maru.
One of them was the command to offer the corpses of his subordinates as sacrifices.
But they were carrying it out so early.
The original intention of offering the corpse as a sacrifice was as follows.
So far, most beings that Celia had offered as sacrifices were adventurers or Paladins who invaded the dungeon.
And when they were offered as sacrifices, it took 6 hours to absorb them.
During these 6 hours, he was unconscious and defenseless.
Therefore, from last time, he had ordered Maru to prepare for any unforeseen situations.
It was a mission for Maru to protect him while he was unconscious.
However, when he offered objects as sacrifices, he did not become unconscious.
Last time, when Celia offered a Paladin and a Demonic Sword as sacrifices simultaneously, he only became unconscious when absorbing the Paladin’s abilities.
The Demonic Sword had no relation to unconsciousness.
Another type of sacrifice was his own affiliated monsters.
When they were alive, they could be summoned, but what would happen if dead monsters were offered as sacrifices?
At that moment, he was curious about this point.
And the result was already out.
His affiliated monsters appeared as abilities that could be enhanced immediately without the time needed for absorption.
Naturally, he did not become unconscious.
– Skeleton Knight offered the ‘corpse of a goblin’ as a sacrifice to Master.
– The ‘corpse of a goblin’ has been confirmed to belong to a goblin affiliated with the dungeon managed by Master.
– The sacrifice will be absorbed immediately.
– Acquired the goblin’s trait [Greed (F)]. Can be used for enhancement.
The problem was that only goblins were offered as sacrifices, so there were no particularly useful abilities.
“What can I use this for?”
If I raise Greed, is there any use for it?
While he was thinking for a moment, another alarm popped up.
– An unknown shadow offers a Paladin of the White Church as a sacrifice to Master.
– Absorbing the abilities of the sacrificed Paladin.
(Remaining time: 6 hours)
“?”
After the goblins, it was a Paladin.
“No, what on earth happened?”
Why is a Paladin in the dungeon?
And who is this unknown shadow?
When he looked around the dungeon, he had never seen anyone with that name.
‘Did Celia hire them separately?’
Celia sometimes increased the number of monsters through the Merchant Guild, and it seemed similar to that.
– An unknown shadow offers a Paladin of the White Church as a sacrifice to Master.
– Absorbing the abilities of the sacrificed Paladin.
(Remaining time: 6 hours)
And it was not just one sacrifice being offered.
– An unknown shadow offers a Paladin of the White Church as a sacrifice to Master.
– Absorbing the abilities of the sacrificed Paladin.
(Remaining time: 6 hours)
A total of 3 Paladins were offered as sacrifices.
