Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: I Will Save the Little Lambs (1)
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A few days ago, the Monster Wave finally came to an end.
In the process, I managed to bring back Azmo and Better without a single scratch on them.
Well, was "without a scratch" even the right way to put it?
After the Monster Wave, a Death Knight and an Arch Lich were trailing behind them.
And that wasn't all.
Before I knew it, Celia had shown up right in front of them too.
With S-rank and A-rank powerhouses like that on the scene, it wasn't wrong to say I never faced any real danger.
Thanks to that, I completed the emergency mission and got a reward that let me relocate Azmo's dungeon.
'Moved it nearby, so no issues now.'
Azmo's dungeon was now positioned close to where I lived.
I figured it was better to have it near me than far away.
That way, if anything happened, I could respond quickly at my level.
Honestly, though, relocating a dungeon right by your house wasn't the smartest move.
Dungeons constantly emanate their unique energy.
That gives away their location like a neon sign.
But I had one reason for moving it close anyway.
"Why the hell was there an artifact in there?"
The moment I finished the emergency mission and went to relocate Azmo's dungeon...
I learned there was an artifact inside the dungeon.
And not just any artifact—it hid the dungeon's energy.
Jackpot.
"No wonder I couldn't find it."
I finally understood why I hadn't sensed Azmo's dungeon all this time.
Even I, its owner, couldn't detect it—the artifact was that powerful.
As long as it was there, no one would easily find Azmo's dungeon.
I transferred the artifact along with the dungeon, just like the alert said.
With that protection, I boldly moved the dungeon right next to my place.
"So two of my dungeons are concealed now?"
The Nest of the Evil God was already hidden.
That one used the ability from the Beginner Package I bought early on, not an artifact.
Now, adding Azmo's dungeon under his management, two of mine were fully concealed.
'Pretty impressive, honestly.'
Just the artifact alone would fetch a fortune, and I'd gotten a similar effect for a measly 1,200 won.
Needless to say, insane value for money.
"If only cash shop spending was unlimited..."
At this point, money wasn't the issue.
The game's built-in limits were.
Whenever I tried to splash big cash, it slapped on restrictions.
No spending past a certain point. Super annoying.
And it was the same now.
The emergency mission must've drained everything—most features were locked.
All I could do was stare at the screen.
Mindlessly tapping around...
"Huh, the miscellany gacha isn't locked?"
I noticed the shop's miscellany gacha was still available.
Miscellany gacha.
Unlike monster gacha, this pulled items.
The problem? Junk rates were sky-high.
Get lucky, and you might score something like Celia's outfit—a high-grade item.
Get unlucky, and it's total trash you can't even call an item.
Stuff like that. Utter garbage.
And these were all from my recent pulls.
"Just trash 'em all."
I scrapped everything in storage.
Thankfully, there was a discard option.
With everything else locked except miscellany gacha, I had no choice.
"Might as well pull some more."
I tapped it right away.
Junk from the start.
"Huh?"
The second one was weird—unlike the usual junk.
Still useless, but... different somehow.
"Gonna keep this one."
I stashed the Unicorn Horn Shard and kept pulling.
"?"
More nonsense started popping up.
Lots of junk later...
"Oh!"
After tons of duds, gear dropped.
An A-rank robe, no less.
[Sturdy Mage Robe (A)]
- Greatly increases defense when equipped.
- Skill cooldown -10%
- Mana recovery +20%
Solid stats.
The defense boost even patched up mages' weak spot.
"Can't I use this?"
Celia wore a dress, but this robe... I could rock it.
I tapped to check options.
"Tch."
No dice.
Wait, really? What if I sacrifice it as an offering and take it?
I tried.
Thoroughly blocked.
I couldn't use it anyway.
Bummer, but now—who to give it to?
"Hmm."
I glanced at Maru on the floor.
Since the Monster Wave, he'd been in some meditation pose.
Ignoring me even when I talked to him.
Right now, cross-legged and still.
For a split second, I thought of giving it to Maru, but shook my head.
"Robe's too flashy."
Way too eye-catching design.
Maru wearing that? Instant attention magnet.
And the media was still hounding the Monster Wave heroes.
Us—me and Maru.
Maru's finale sealed it.
Death Knight sent flying by his sword, Arch Lich crumbling—who wouldn't notice?
(It was all staged, but they didn't know that.)
Taking down two A-ranks in one shot? Shocking.
Couldn't reuse that robe and mask from then, and handing Maru this flashy one? No way.
Back to square one.
Who to give the robe to?
Then it hit me.
"Oh?"
The Arch Lich?
Undead mage-type monster.
Plus, I'd assigned it as Inspector.
Come to think of it, during the Wave, it was scribbling notes nonstop.
"Gifting hardworking guys feels good."
Diligent Inspector Arch Lich, logging praises.
Bound to slip up eventually.
Direct danger.
A defense-boosted robe would help big time.
Decision made, I tapped the robe.
Reaction was instant.
"?"
What did I just witness?
How many notebooks does this thing carry?
"Eh, it's happy, so I'm happy."
Reactions like that make gifting fun.
With the Arch Lich gifted, nothing left to do.
Outside was chaos from the Wave aftermath.
Bad time to move.
"Long time since I checked the dungeon?"
Most locked anyway—nothing to do.
Still, I poked around the screen.
"Any tributes lately?"
No intruders hitting my dungeons.
Celia's offerings dried up too.
"Wish some mages would show up."
If we're getting stronger, might as well have invaders.
Thinking that, I tapped through dungeon sections.
The Arch Lich inspected amid Skeleton greetings, scribbling furiously.
- The great, supreme, and magnificent Master has bestowed a robe upon me. This is an immense gift to cherish for life.
His logging didn't stop.
A Skeleton soldier even brought a fresh notebook when he filled one.
Arch Lich nodded and started on the new one.
His loyalty.
Praises for Master.
Glorious records for posterity.
Inspector's duty.
"......"
Someone watched from the side.
The owner of the "Demon Realm Scum" dungeon—a Skeleton Knight.
He sighed in relief.
The higher dungeon's Inspector hadn't found major faults.
Arch Lich was the Inspector.
One gesture could obliterate him.
Not just demotion—total erasure.
And the dungeon was all bones—no hospitality.
He tiptoed around Arch Lich's mood.
Then, a Skeleton soldier dashed up from afar.
"Clack! Clack-clack!"
It urgently reported.
Simple message.
(Adventurers are heading this way!)
"...!"
Skeleton Knight whipped around.
Arch Lich paused writing and turned.
Their gazes met.
Nod.
They nodded together.
Skeleton Knight: chance to shine against adventurers.
Arch Lich: chance to objectively log the dungeon.
Both rose.
The mountain-bound adventurer group split into two teams.
They were separate parties anyway—easy divide.
One team tracked mysterious footprints.
The other went opposite.
They parted ways.
Problem hit the opposite team.
"Fuck, should've followed those tracks."
A guy spat curses, venting frustration.
The track team got the elites.
More numbers too, naturally.
Theirs? Mid-tier adventurers mostly.
Fewer heads.
Mountains were quiet at first—no issues, nice.
But now? Boring as hell.
Endless similar trees.
Animals sometimes, no monsters.
Pure tedium.
Itching for action.
Too peaceful for mountains.
Almost deliberate.
But they didn't dwell.
Minds on quest rewards.
Trekking bored through woods...
Someone spotted a figure leaning on a tree.
Resting under it: ornate, gleaming armor.
Sword nearby? Even from afar, holy power radiated.
"...Holy Knight?"
One adventurer spoke up.
Devout White Church follower—dropped guard instantly.
"Holy Knight, sir!"
Not just relaxed—rushed over.
Others tried stopping him; ignored.
The resting Holy Knight spotted them, smiled.
"Oh my, lost your way?"
He stood, politely introducing himself.
"I'm Holy Knight Eric. I guide lost little lambs to the Goddess's side."
His manners eased the rest.
But they missed it.
The Holy Knight's bowed head, glazed eyes.
"If it's alright, may I lead you to the great one's presence?"