Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Ruin and Regret (1)
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I thought our first dungeon conquest would go off without a hitch.
Afterward, we'd laugh it off like always and head out for a nice meal.
Failure was the last thing on my mind.
That's what I thought. That's what I firmly believed.
But the unexpected struck without warning.
Roni's body crumpled like a ragdoll, pierced by a flying arrow.
"Kyaaak!"
Jane couldn't stop screaming at the sight of him.
This has to be a dream, right? Yeah?
That's it—this isn't real.
Frozen in place, Jane tried to console herself, denying reality.
"Roni!"
Denver shouted as he rushed to his side.
"Denver! We have to get out—now! He needs treatment!"
Jane shook Denver's body, wailing in desperation.
But even under her urging, Denver just slowly shook his head.
The arrow had pierced straight through Roni's skull.
He was already gone.
His face bore an expression of utter confusion, as if he couldn't fathom why this had happened to him.
There was no way to reverse his death here.
So what should they do now?
One of them was already dead.
The dungeon was far more unforgiving than they'd imagined.
Grabbing Jane's hand and bolting for the exit might be the smart play.
Sticking around in a place where another arrow could fly at any moment was basically begging to die.
Denver took Jane's hand.
It was the signal to head out.
"No..."
But Jane thought differently.
"I'm... going to keep pushing forward."
Her tears had stopped before she knew it. She shook off Denver's hand and stood.
Her expression had changed.
"I'm going to wipe this dungeon off the map. Kill every last monster!"
As a child, she'd lost her parents to monsters.
She'd thought she'd never face that kind of tragedy again.
But today, she'd sent off her only family left—Roni—to the same fate.
To monsters, once more.
But one thing was different this time.
Back then, she was powerless and could only watch her parents die.
Now, she had magic—the power to exact revenge.
A blue barrier unfurled in front of Jane as she chanted the spell.
Arrows wouldn't get through now.
Of course, she was terrified.
But her thirst for revenge overshadowed the fear.
"Jane! Let's just get out of here first. You can get revenge later!"
Despite Denver's pleas, Jane just trudged forward in silence.
Running away had never been an option for her.
"Damn it, this is dangerous..."
But he couldn't abandon her and leave alone. Denver followed behind.
"Nice!"
The skeleton archer I'd stationed in Sector 1 took out one of the intruders.
A perfect headshot!
"Whoa, that Death Knight blessing is straight-up broken."
A basic 2-star skeleton archer's accuracy wasn't supposed to be that high.
But...
That was possible thanks to the accuracy buff from the Death Knight's Blessing.
"Death Knights are definitely versatile."
Not just their high 5-star specs, but buffs for fellow undead, plus the skill to turn kills into ghouls. They were useful in all sorts of ways.
On the flip side, these intruders helped me spot some dungeon flaws.
The archers had tried firing when the intruders first entered but failed because it was too dark—no visibility.
"Lucky they lit torches."
That let me target the illuminated spots.
Even if the arrows missed, I had skeletons and a Death Knight as backup, so no worries.
"Once I repel these intruders, I should add torches to the walls."
In a way, this incident was a blessing in disguise.
Overlooking flaws like that could've spelled trouble later.
"There's some real detail here."
My admiration was short-lived.
The intruders, who'd paused after losing their comrade, started moving again.
"At least the game's fair."
It was an iron-rank dungeon, same as their rating.
I'd been tense wondering what strength they'd bring, even with 6-star monsters around.
"Let's try handling them with non-archer units this time."
These intruders didn't seem that strong. More like total newbies among newbies.
I wasn't planning a quick cleanup.
I'd toy with them as long as possible.
And test out every monster I had.
That way, I'd know which ones to focus on raising.
"Alright. Let's do this."
Jane and Denver pressed on.
Thankfully, no more arrows came flying.
Still, with the risk of sudden attacks, Jane kept her shield up.
Mana drained in real-time, but her artifact made it manageable.
"This place...?"
Before long, they emerged into a wide-open area.
Skeletons were visible there.
"There are too many...!"
Denver despaired.
No matter that skeletons were the lowest-tier monsters—the sheer numbers overwhelmed.
And they were fresh adventurers, barely started.
Retreating wasn't an option, though.
Turning their backs would invite arrows and a full charge.
No choice.
Fight as best they could and escape when an opening appeared.
Denver gripped his sword tighter.
Jane readied her magic.
Clack-clack- Clack-clack-
The skeletons lurched into motion.
The first wave charged with rusted swords.
"Nngh."
Even with Jane's shield, Denver alone couldn't block that many blades.
But the skeletons suddenly withdrew after clashing swords—as if that had been their goal.
"......"
Next came skeletons wielding wooden sticks.
Fortunately, fewer in number.
"It's a mage! Watch out!"
Jane shouted, sensing faint mana from them.
But instead of spells, the skeletons swung their sticks as they approached.
A few wild swings in the air, then they retreated.
"......?"
What was this?
It felt like they were just messing around.
But Denver saw it differently.
These bastards... they're toying with us.
Maybe the monsters were getting cocky.
If he played it right, could he create an escape?
Thud-
But that was wishful thinking.
A figure intruded—jet-black from sword to armor.
"What the—!"
This new monster was on another level from the regular skeletons, in presence and form.
Why is something like this here...?
This was an iron-rank dungeon.
Yet the creature before them didn't belong.
Even as a newbie adventurer, Denver could tell its aura was immense.
We might die.
We could actually die!
Just its presence choked the air from his lungs.
The monster swung at Jane's shield.
"Kyaaak!"
The barrier tore like paper.
Jane flew back, slamming into the wall.
"Jane! You okay?!"
It was grim.
The monster's next attack would be on him.
"......"
Bracing for his turn, he waited—but the figure just stood there, unmoving, not attacking.
What the hell?
Then...
Clap-clap-
Someone appeared, applauding.
"She's just unconscious. No threat to her life, fortunately."
A woman emerged.
Stunningly alluring, but the horns atop her head marked her as a monster.
"Are you the master here?"
Denver replied warily.
Every dungeon had a ruling master or boss monster.
This one seemed intelligent, at least—a relief.
Denver recalled a tale among adventurers:
If the dungeon master had wits, you could negotiate.
Some struck deals for riches; others paid to survive.
"A deal! Let's make a deal!"
Denver proposed it immediately.
There might be a way out for them yet.
Hope flickered.
"Ho... Proposing a deal even now. That takes guts—I commend it."
The woman just applauded more, impressed.
"You mocking me?"
Denver bristled at her attitude.
"Perish the thought. I adore brave men."
"......"
"But deals require something to exchange. What's your name, sir?"
"Denver."
The figure smirked faintly, then straightened and bowed politely.
"Allow a proper introduction. I am Celia, the first servant of the Exalted One. By His will, I manage this dungeon."
"The Exalted One...?"
Denver mulled her words.
Serving someone meant...
"So the dungeon has a separate master?"
"Sharp one, aren't you? Hehe. Indeed. I'm merely His proxy. The true dungeon lord is my Master."
Denver caught on quick and shouted loudly.
"I request a fair deal from the dungeon master!"
Celia frowned at his brashness.
Invading her Master's dungeon and acting without manners—it grated.
"Ha... No helping it."
He'd requested a deal with the Master.
She had dungeon authority, but this was His call.
Handling it herself would defy Him.
"This lowly servant humbly addresses the Exalted Master."
Celia gazed into the void.
"Grant Your command on how to dispose of these foolish intruders in Your dungeon."
"Dealing with intruders?"
As expected, the intruders were easily subdued.
Of course, in the process, the uselessness of the skeleton soldiers and magic trainees became apparent.
So I had deployed the Death Knight right away.
Just when it seemed to be over, one of the intruders suddenly proposed a deal.
I hit "No" without hesitation.
"Am I crazy? What 'fair deal'? They invade my place and now they've grown a conscience?"
I needed to set an example.
"How do I issue commands, though?"
A window popped up on the game screen.
Oh, freeform input.
Not multiple choice.
It understands whatever I type?
I typed my command right away.
"Make them regret ever coming to my dungeon."
Short and to the point.
Perfect.
The dungeon denizens would handle the rest.
Man, I'm getting hungry...
Maybe wrap up the game and grab some food?
"My Master has responded to me."
Gulp.
Denver eyed Celia anxiously.
"This way, please."
Celia snapped her fingers, and three goblins burst from the skeleton horde.
"What is this...?"
Weren't they negotiating?
Why the sudden goblins?
Denver's mind reeled.
"Hehe. My Master is quite displeased by your intrusion."
No deal, then.
Liar!
He wished it was all a dream.
Denver despaired inwardly.
"Don't screw around! We didn't do anything but enter!"
They'd done nothing wrong.
Just accepted a guild request and stepped inside.
But that wasn't her view.
"The problem is that it was the Exalted One's domain."
Celia stated it matter-of-factly, then glanced at the goblins.
"Well then, shall we begin?"
As her words ended, the three goblins approached the fallen Jane.
They had no weapons in their hands, but instinctively Denver yell.
"Stop!"
His cry echoed uselessly.
"No!"
In Denver's screams of anguish, the goblins began tearing at Jane's clothes.