Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Reinforcement System At My Whim
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The dungeon interior was dark.
The atmosphere was the same.
It felt as heavy as if a thick blanket had been draped over one's face.
Following the dark and oppressive space, they found someone on the floor writhing in agony.
The gear worn on their body proved they were a hunter.
But the equipment had lost its luster.
It must have gleamed brilliantly just moments ago, but now it was shattered, devoid of its shine.
It would have been fine if only the gear had broken.
They could always replace it.
The problem was that it wasn't just the gear that had broken.
The wearer's body was in equally poor shape.
"P-please... please spare me..."
A frail voice echoed through the dungeon.
Blood trickled from their mouth along with the words.
In such excruciating pain, they clawed at the ground until their nails broke and blood flowed from their hands.
They must have known their life could end at any moment.
That only made their pleas for mercy more desperate.
"Sob sob, please... I won't report you, just let me live. Okay?"
It was a heartrending cry for life.
Her five party members behind her had long since become corpses.
All five had died instantly.
And at the hands of the two hunters standing right before her eyes.
The difference in power was overwhelming.
All she could do was beg for her life.
She knew it too.
Her fate depended entirely on their whims.
So she pleaded.
She squeezed her eyes shut against their actions.
She endured the humiliation if it meant surviving.
Despite her desperate begging, the hunter in front of her didn't respond.
No, they were laughing instead.
They took pleasure in watching the pathetic creature on the floor grovel for its life.
"Heh."
Someone finally burst into laughter amid the silence.
"Hah, this is why I can't quit hunter hunting."
One man spoke in a sleazy voice.
Yet the woman on the floor begged even more desperately.
Tears streaming down her face, she grabbed the man's pant leg.
But that proved to be a fatal mistake.
"Where do you get off touching my clothes, you filthy bitch?"
Crack!
With one kick from the man, her arm twisted in an unnatural direction.
"Ah...?"
It happened so suddenly she couldn't even scream.
No sensation registered at all.
Staring at her broken arm, she fell into despair.
Now, even hope was gone.
"......"
It was over.
Even if she screamed and begged, they would never let her live.
Clinging to the hope that they might was foolish.
She'd rather die quickly than endure this torment.
That would be even a little easier.
But the world didn't bend to her will.
"Don't worry. I won't kill you."
The man leered as he spoke.
"Not yet, anyway. The night is still young."
"Ah..."
The men approached.
Her eyes held only despair as she watched.
When I opened my eyes, the familiar ceiling came into view first.
'Already six hours passed...?'
I remembered fainting while Celia offered the sacrifices.
I'd definitely called Maru to stand guard before blacking out.
I immediately scanned my surroundings.
Sure enough, Maru was right beside me, sword drawn and at the ready.
He was even vigilantly watching for any intruders.
Of course, we were inside the house right now.
No danger unless a burglar broke in.
"Pfft."
Drawing his sword to guard an empty house was a little funny.
But also commendable.
What if we were outside instead?
Maru would be the only one protecting a defenseless me.
"Maru, stand down and rest. I'm awake now."
At my command, Maru finally relaxed.
Maru had felt a bit different since the monster wave, but thankfully he obeyed perfectly.
What was it?
He'd spend free time meditating or spacing out—something like that.
I wasn't sure why, but it started right after the monster wave.
Still, he followed my orders to protect me to the letter, so that was reassuring.
'As long as he listens well.'
As I thought that, my stomach growled.
Come to think of it, I hadn't eaten anything.
Hmm...
"Maru, no need to guard anymore. Go boil some ramen."
Maru bolted off at my order.
Watching him go filled me with pride.
He'd worked hard for six hours, so maybe let him rest, but Maru's ramen was no joke.
The depth of flavor from all that care was incredible.
I was at the point where only his ramen would do.
Once Maru was out of sight, I turned my head.
"It's already night?"
Peeking out the window, it was pitch dark outside.
I slowly sat up, ready to get out of bed.
"Huh?"
Something felt off.
My body was too heavy to move.
"Why am I so tired?"
I didn't feel refreshed after sleep.
No, normally I'd feel light right now.
After absorbing sacrifices, my body felt like it could float away as I gained power.
Not this time.
Fatigue had piled up, dulling my senses.
This had never happened before, so I was a bit flustered.
'Did something go wrong?'
I immediately checked my status window.
- True Dungeon Master (EX)
- Demonic Sword Master (S)
- Mana Resonance (A)
- Knight Enlistment (S): Maru (Active)
- Goddess's Healing (F)
"What the..."
My guess was spot on.
Nothing had changed.
I'd definitely absorbed the sacrifices, but the status showed no difference.
"What's going on?"
Traits unchanged, no new skills.
Stats the same.
Were the sacrificed adventurers too low-level?
Or did something go wrong during absorption?
Suddenly worried, I grabbed my smartphone.
"No way..."
What if my dungeon glitched?
Anxious, I launched the game and scanned the dungeon.
"Phew."
Thank goodness, the dungeon was fine.
Monsters were dutifully working in their zones.
Seeing the peaceful state drained my tension.
"Good."
So what was the issue?
I tapped the alarm log.
The log said absorption succeeded.
But nothing changed for me.
I checked the next one.
Hm?
This was subtly different.
Previously, I'd absorb abilities directly, but now it said "acquired."
I checked the rest.
Generally one ability per adventurer, though some left two.
The logs went on endlessly, all the same.
Absorbed sacrifices, acquired abilities—but not directly absorbed.
And crucially, "Can be used for reinforcement."
"Reinforcement? Use for reinforcement?"
I clicked around the game.
Then I spotted a familiar window.
Ah.
This system appeared when I got the "True Dungeon Master" trait.
It was locked before, but right before fainting, Celia’s sacrifices unlocked a clue.
I thought it would take more time to access even after the clue.
"It opened just like that?"
Great if sooner, but still weird.
I tapped the reinforcement system.
It listed the abilities I'd just acquired.
Celia offered so many sacrifices, the list went on forever.
Too many to check one by one.
"So I can reinforce anyone with these?"
The name was Dungeon Monster Reinforcement System.
If I could boost monsters with these, it'd be a huge win for me.
I tapped the next screen.
Ah, of course.
Not all monsters yet.
For now.
"Why is Skoll here?"
Skoll led the orc dungeon.
I remembered him as the vice-captain type.
But no clue on the criteria.
"Hmm..."
Strength?
No. If strength, 6-star Celia, 5-star Death Knights, or Arch-Lich first.
I'm the master, fine, but 3-star Skoll? Baffling.
"There must be something..."
I racked my brain, no luck.
Disappointing, but oh well.
Couldn't use the system fully yet.
"Kinda disappointing."
Some abilities matched monsters perfectly.
Like that C-rank Taunt.
Simple, but on a Death Knight with a grand shield...
"Nah."
Death Knight with maid outfit on his shield.
Even post-wave, Death Knights were world's most popular.
Still trending—some hunters bought maid outfits for their gear.
Worse, necromancers dressed summons in them.
"Dizzying just thinking."
Anyway, back to the system.
Only Skoll available, but that wasn't key.
"Anything useful for me?"
Monsters matter, but so do I.
Powerless me is useless.
Death ends it all.
Prioritize my strength.
I scanned the list.
Sacrificed adventurers weren't high-rank, few top abilities.
Searched for what I needed.
"Berserker?"
The only A-rank.
Trait: More power as HP drops.
High-risk, clutch finisher.
"Not for me."
I'm rear-guard, not frontline.
Maru handles front.
"Mana Circuit could work for me."
Mana Circuit (B-rank trait) looked perfect.
"Carves paths for mana through my body?"
With Mana Resonance, massive synergy.
"Add Fireball, perfect wizard."
Pure mage build.
I selected them.
Reinforce Dungeon Master 'Yi Kang-hyun' with trait Mana Circuit (B)?
Once reinforced, abilities cannot be undone.
Irreversible, huh?
Would've been OP otherwise.
"Didn't expect that anyway."
I confirmed.
Mana flooded into my body.
"Gasp!"
It gathered at my heart.
Then spread everywhere from there.
Pain ripped through me.
Like being hacked with knives.
"Ugh... Ack!"
Couldn't breathe.
Couldn't move.
Just endure.
"...Fuck."
Curse slipped out.
Black blood dripped from my mouth.
'Carving paths inside causing this?'
Should've braced myself.
Never imagined this pain.
"Ugh..."
Good thing: short duration.
Pain faded to stability.
"Hah... Hah..."
All gone.
Success.
Deep breath, call status.
"Status window."
- True Dungeon Master (EX)
- Demonic Sword Master (S)
- Mana Resonance (A)
- Mana Circuit (B)
- Knight Enlistment (S): Maru (Active)
- Goddess's Healing (F)
"Ha."
Big success.
Mana now flowed through my entire body, not just surface.
"Jackpot."
Best part: Pick only desired traits/skills.
"Now, figure out reinforcement conditions."
Can't hog this goodness.
Reinforce Maru? One-man army.
I tapped the next: E-rank Fireball.
Unlike Mana Circuit, absorbed painlessly in a flash.
"Now I can at least contribute."
Full-fledged mage now.
Hunter rank-up worthy, but later.
"Really hungry now."
Carving circuits amped my hunger.
"Maru still?"
Ramen should've been done.
No sign.
"Maru, ramen ready?"
Headed to kitchen, calling.
Maru was there.
"Maru, what are you—"
???
Question marks in my head at Maru's actions.
"What... are you doing...?"
Maru dunked his bony hand into boiling water.
He slowly turned, saying,
"Woof woof."
According to Maru, this improves the flavor.
I'm done.