Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Holy Knights Falling into Their Own Trap
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Aren dashed straight into the cave.
She hadn't given a single thought to what might be inside.
Avoiding the rain was her top priority.
The cave interior was brightly lit by torches hanging on the walls.
Perhaps because of the rain.
The walls and ceiling, and even the stone floor, were all soaked with moisture.
Aren stepped forward carefully, putting strength into her feet to avoid slipping.
Fortunately, the weight of the large sword wrapped in her bosom steadied her.
The cave depths were silent.
Only the occasional drip of water from the ceiling broke the stillness.
"Ugh... I'm not scared."
Aren felt a slight twinge of fear, but she pushed forward bravely, singing a song.
"Gather 'round, my friends—"
She wasn't sure of the rhythm, but singing definitely lifted her spirits.
How long had she walked?
Soon, a fork appeared with three paths.
"Three paths?"
She hadn't expected anything like this.
"Which way should I go?"
Aren pondered, then pulled a squirrel from her pocket and set it down.
It was one of the friends she'd made to combat loneliness on her journey.
The squirrel scampered away in fright the moment its paws touched the ground.
Aren watched the direction it fled.
It was the rightmost of the three paths.
"It must be right if my squirrel friend went that way!"
Aren clenched her fist and followed the squirrel's path.
A short walk later, a vast meadow opened up.
"Wow!"
Aren gazed at the meadow in awe.
There was no sunlight, but flowers of all kinds bloomed vibrantly across the field.
They seemed to allure anyone who entered, but Aren looked elsewhere.
"Oh, my squirrel friend..."
The squirrel lay collapsed on the grassy floor.
It was the one Aren had just released.
Countless butterflies swarmed over it, sucking its bodily fluids.
The butterflies were Vampire Butterflies, monsters.
Aren nodded as she watched them.
"The butterfly friends like my squirrel friend too, huh?"
Hehe.
Aren giggled and approached the Vampire Butterflies.
One fluttered over and stuck its proboscis into her arm.
Aren shouted at the sight.
"Friends are the best!"
Aren opened her mouth wide toward the Vampire Butterfly sucking her blood and swallowed it whole.
With each chew, the butterfly burst, spilling blood.
Gulp.
"Butterfly friends are now Aren’s important friends!"
Aren took a liking to the Vampire Butterfly.
As she watched the fluttering butterflies, something caught her eye.
In the corner, massive spiders with glowing eyes stared at her.
"Ugh."
The spiders were larger than Aren.
Their many legs bristled with thick fur, and their fangs clicked.
"Those aren't friends..."
Aren pouted and began backing away slowly.
At that moment.
"Oh my, what a pretty little miss we have here. Are you lost, by any chance?"
Someone called out from the opposite side.
Aren turned from the spiders and looked toward the voice.
There stood a single figure.
It was Celia, the lieutenant managing this dungeon.
"Pretty big sis!"
After the awful sight she'd just witnessed, this was a welcome change for Aren.
Even to Aren’s eyes, Celia was stunningly beautiful.
Moreover, the red luxurious dress she wore made her stand out even more.
Aren ran straight to Celia, her savior.
"Pretty big sis is Aren’s friend!"
She burrowed into Celia's embrace.
"You have a good eye for beauty, little miss."
Celia smiled warmly and patted Aren’s back a few times.
Then she met Aren’s gaze and spoke.
"What brings our little miss all the way here? Hugging such a precious sword, no less."
Celia had noticed the sword Aren held was no ordinary blade.
'A demon sword, no doubt.'
Demon swords were said to grant power to those who drew them.
However, the price of that power led to tragic ends.
Thus, it was best to avoid drawing them whenever possible.
That was the nature of demon swords.
So where had this vampire girl been heading with such a dangerous item?
Celia grew curious.
She wanted to pry out information—how she'd ended up here, what had happened.
'Master always said...'
Prioritize information.
Information was the power to dismantle one's foes.
Celia would obey her master's command and conquer this world.
"If you have nowhere to go for now, why not rest here?"
Celia flashed another charming smile and took Aren’s hand.
"Yes!"
Aren shouted energetically toward Celia.
With the heavy rain and no idea how to reach the Demon Realm, this was a godsend for her.
"Then let me guide you this way."
Celia gently held Aren’s hand and led her along.
They took a passage on the opposite side from Aren’s entrance.
This dungeon was enormous and wondrous.
Aren looked around curiously as she walked, turning her head this way and that.
They soon reached a vast lake.
Various creatures gathered at its shore.
Goblins scooped water into buckets, while nearby skeletons soaked themselves.
It was a peaceful scene.
"Wow..."
Aren marveled and headed toward the lakeside.
The moment she dipped her hand in to drink.
A monster burst from the water.
"An intruder without permission."
The serpent-shaped monster thrust its spear forward as it emerged.
"What a long friend! But kinda weird...?"
It was serpent-shaped, but its upper body had arms.
And one hand gripped a massive spear.
It was a naga.
"It's fine. She's my guest."
Celia assured the naga.
"As Lady Celia wishes."
The naga bowed to Celia and submerged again.
Everything felt magical to Aren.
Unlike her vampire-only dungeon, she'd never seen one teeming with such diverse beings.
Aren’s eyes sparkled.
Maybe living here was better than heading to the Demon Realm?
The thought even crossed her mind.
"All this was created by our great master."
The fork that turned two paths into three, the space with this grand lake—all thanks to her master’s power.
Celia approached the awestruck Aren.
"Pretty big sis isn't the master?"
"I manage it, but the master is someone else. A truly noble and great being."
Celia was merely the dungeon's lieutenant.
But Aren interpreted her words differently.
Having lived in a dungeon herself, albeit small, she had a rough idea of how they operated.
There was a dungeon master.
And that master served an even higher master.
Her parents had said the higher one was a mighty vampire.
The managed dungeon was larger than hers too.
So Aren understood: the pretty big sis was this dungeon's master, but she served another.
"Oh! Got it!"
Aren smiled and followed Celia.
Skirting the vast lake brought them to another passage.
This led to the dungeon's core.
Various facilities dotted the heart.
Near the dungeon core, called its heart, robed figures guarded the area.
In a prison-like space sat a human.
Not interested, Aren looked away.
Further on appeared a facility that screamed luxury at first glance.
"This is where I stay."
It was Celia's quarters and office: the lieutenant's quarters.
Skeletons with swords at their waists stood by the entrance.
"This too is master's mercy."
Celia gestured to the skeletons.
They were 3-star Skeleton Knights.
Yi Kang-hyun, whom Celia called master, had splurged recently, rolling gacha multiple times.
These were born from synthesizing 2-star Skeleton Swordsmen.
Even Celia's attire had upgraded from maid outfit to red luxurious dress.
All gifts from her master.
Thanks to his grace, Skeleton Knights—not mere soldiers—guarded the lieutenant's quarters.
Anyone could tell it was important.
"Now, little miss. Shall we share some sweet treats?"
"Yeah! Sounds great!"
Aren, overjoyed, set aside her demon sword and ran forward.
Celia led her inside the lieutenant's quarters.
"I still have some desserts from the incubi."
Berter Leovain.
He was the second son of the Leovain Ducal House, a noble family of the Karn Empire, and currently vice-captain of the White Church's Holy Knight Order.
Now, he mobilized the Holy Knights to hunt a vampire.
Just one, but to Berter, it was paramount.
Thus, even in the pouring rain, he pursued the vampire with his knights.
Naturally, grumbling arose among them, but he quashed it with his authority.
Berter had one goal.
'The demon sword.'
He wasn't pushing through foul weather for nothing.
His quarry wielded a demon sword.
Berter sought only that sword to reach this point.
Acquire the demon sword?
He'd gain immense power.
Common tales warned of tragic fates, but that was for the weak.
He was different.
He'd become its rightful master and wield true strength.
And the blade's edge would point to his house: the Leovain Ducal House.
Disinherited as successor solely for being the second son.
His inept brother became heir, propped up by their father, the duke.
The inept brother and the father who chose him.
Intolerable for a house member.
A duke must judge people well.
The position belonged to the worthy.
By that measure, their father didn't deserve it.
Nor did the brother.
A true duke propels the house forward.
Those without had vanished into history's shadows.
At least, that's what Berter believed.
With the demon sword, his blade would turn on his house.
Not rebellion, but salvation.
"Vice-captain! We found a trace!"
A Holy Knight searching nearby spotted a dead rabbit on the ground.
"Vampire marks."
Fang bites marred the body.
Definitely vampire work.
"Search every inch!"
Berter ordered all knights upon seeing it.
And soon, they found it.
A cave hidden among trees.
Whoosh—
Rain poured relentlessly.
The vampire must have sought shelter too.
"Yes! Footprints lead into the cave!"
Berter grinned.
"I'm too lucky."
Berter led the Holy Knights into the cave.
He was already consumed by greed.