Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Chapter 7: Underground Foes (2)
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Monster Waves occurred every year, but this one was on an entirely different level.
Raize City.
Engram City.
Hiasis City.
Balehain City.
A simultaneous Monster Wave erupted in all four dungeon cities that the Alteria Empire prided itself on.
The empire was already in disarray following the emperor's collapse.
And now, an unprecedented incident unfolded amid the chaos.
In fact, this Monster Wave marked the point when the empire truly entered an era of turmoil.
Not everyone suffered losses, however.
'It worked out well for me.'
Martin gave a bitter smile inwardly.
When he had fallen to commoner status and secluded himself in the Egret family estate, the Monster Wave had struck.
The endless monsters crawling up from underground inflicted devastating casualties on civilians.
The branch family heads, unwilling to see Balehain City—their prize—reduced to ruins, poured every ounce of their family's strength into the effort.
It made a difference.
They managed to resolve the crisis in two years.
Then the grand assembly convened again, aiming to decide who would become the head of House Adalbert.
But they failed to achieve their goal.
Martin, having successfully awakened his unique ability, stepped back onto the stage of history.
Thus, it was clear this event had been a great boon.
It had bought him time to shine while weakening the branch families' forces.
But this time was different.
He had to resolve the crisis swiftly and with minimal casualties—using his own hands.
It was a daunting task, but one he had to accomplish.
'An opportunity to become not just a family head, but a hero.'
By defeating Baldemar von Rustal, he had firmly imprinted his presence on the knights and nobles—the ruling class.
What if he thwarted this Monster Wave as well?
Perfectly, unlike the chaos engulfing other territories?
Then every citizen of House Adalbert's lands would support him fervently, and he could etch his name across the entire Alteria Empire.
"Bayren, branch manager."
"Yes."
"I'd like you to send out an official notice to the Adventurer's Guild."
"A notice, you say?"
"I want to gather as many D-rank adventurers and above as possible. Can you do that?"
"Hmm. Gathering them isn't hard, but is it really necessary? They’ll flock here on their own without you even calling, Young Master."
Bayren's doubt was reasonable.
More monsters meant more byproducts.
There were always those chasing a quick fortune, and once word of the Monster Wave spread, adventurers would swarm from all directions.
"That's not enough, which is why I'm asking for the notice. I'll waive the fees allocated to House Adalbert until this Monster Wave ends. That should draw a ton of them, right?"
"......A-Are you serious?"
"Would I joke about something like this?"
Bayren unwittingly gaped.
Adventurers couldn't just take their dungeon spoils.
They had to pay thirty percent to the family controlling the entrance, ten percent to the royal or imperial house, and ten percent to the Adventurer's Guild.
Nearly half went to fees.
That alone accounted for twenty percent of House Adalbert's annual budget, and Martin was casually offering to forgo it.
"I'm not a member of House Adalbert, so I have no reason to worry about finances."
"Exactly."
"Still, I have to ask this: Why go to such extremes to summon adventurers? Honestly, House Adalbert's forces and the adventurers already here could handle the Monster Wave just fine."
"If House Adalbert's strength were intact, sure. But do you think that's possible?"
"No matter how bad things are between you and the elders or branch heads, in a crisis like this..."
Bayren trailed off, shaking his head.
Even he lacked conviction in his own words.
He knew well how ruthless people became in the face of power.
They could kill blood kin; smooth cooperation between enemies was out of the question.
"What's the point of you saying something you don't even believe, Bayren?"
"Hoo. Looks like there won't be any real fighting after all."
"Exactly. Those guys will focus on nitpicking me rather than fighting. They might even stab me in the back. Better to deal with honest opportunists than them, don't you think?"
"I understand completely, Young Master. I'll send the notice as soon as I return to the branch."
"Thanks. And one last request: While you're at it, can you summon a specific adventurer for me?"
"Who would that be?"
"Christian Haberz."
"The F-Fire Dragon Sword?!"
Bayren's eyes twitched.
The adventurer Martin named was hailed for his recent stellar exploits.
He was arguably the strongest noble without lands, and many nobles were desperate to take him as a retainer.
Now Martin was entering the fray.
"......Planning to grant him the Rustal family's territory?"
"Who knows. I should meet him first, right? No matter how skilled the Fire Dragon Sword is, handing over lands based on reputation alone feels off."
"Understood. I'll take my leave then."
With that, Bayren left the office.
Alone now, Martin rose from his seat.
He gazed out the window, where the dungeon entrance came into view.
Crisis and opportunity always went hand in hand.
"I can boost my fame and snag some prime talent."
He was following the right steps steadily.
If he nailed the finish, everything he wanted would be his.
* * *
One week later.
Martin headed to the dungeon entrance with Sien.
To scout the interior before the Monster Wave truly began.
"Not regretting it, Martin?"
"What?"
"By rights, the grand assembly should be today. You'd have been named family head for sure."
"Hmm. I'd be lying if I said no regrets. But that's about it."
"What do you mean?"
"Who else could take my place as head? It's not like they can openly oppose it now."
"Mess it up, and they could brand you a traitor like Baldemar von Rustal."
"Precisely. I'm just 'Young Master' in title—I'm basically the head already."
After executing Baldemar von Rustal, most of the main family's key retainers had sworn loyalty to him.
Balehain City's high officials and capitalists followed suit.
In the end, Martin had seized complete control of House Adalbert and Balehain City. The tide had turned.
"Still, don't get complacent. Who knows what those snakes might do when chaos peaks."
"No worries. That's why I called in all those adventurers—to prevent that. You saw it, Sien. Their eyes lit up when they heard no fees."
"I saw the scribes and treasurers collapse on hearing the news. Shedding bloody tears over next year's budget."
"Pfft. We'll get plenty from what we handle ourselves, fees or no. The real win is all the new loyalists."
"They'll bail as soon as it's over."
"Still enough to keep the greedy ones in check. And if they try anything stupid, you can smash their skulls."
"Naturally."
Sien raised her right fist in response.
Feeling reassured, Martin chuckled.
The two continued chatting as they ascended to the dungeon entrance.
Upon arriving at the guild branch, they immediately sensed the unusual tension.
"Healer! Where's a healer?!"
"Bring potions now! As fast as you can!"
"Can't you see people dying? Move it!"
Adventuring was a profession that danced on the edge of life and death.
Even so, the scene was baffling.
Adventurers screamed in agony everywhere.
Guild staff, drenched in sweat and blood, rushed about treating them.
"What in the world......"
Sien scanned the surroundings with a hardened expression.
Monster Waves happened yearly, but she'd never seen this before the main event even started.
Martin, however, stayed calm.
'It's begun.'
A Monster Wave across the empire was horrific enough.
But there were other issues.
Monsters were always ferocious, but this time defied comparison.
The carnage before them proved it.
Step, step.
Martin headed straight for Bayren.
The branch manager looked disheveled, darting about frantically.
"Bayren."
"Y-Young Master! I was just about to contact you!"
"What the hell happened?"
"Everything's too chaotic to grasp fully, but all the adventurers are screaming that the monsters have gone mad."
"What does that mean? Monsters gone mad?"
Sien frowned and asked.
Bayren shook his head.
"Sorry! I don't fully understand it yet either. I sent people to check......"
"Forget it. I'll check myself. I'll rescue any surviving adventurers on the way."
"It's dangerous, Young Master!"
"Dangerous, my ass."
Bayren's eyes widened as he tried to stop him.
Martin just scoffed.
Monsters from beyond the 50th floor were another story, but upper-floor trash? No concern.
Even if this Monster Wave had abnormally heightened their ferocity, that didn't change.
"Contact the main house and city hall now. Send every healer and potion here. Don't forget to say it's a direct order from Martin Adalbert."
"Y-Yes, sir! Thank you so much, Young Master!"
Bayren bowed and hurried off.
"Things just got messy, but you'll stick with me, right, Sien?"
"You call that messy? Let's go. Before more casualties."
"Right."
After the brief exchange, they moved swiftly.
Reaching the dungeon's starting point—the first floor—they witnessed a shocking sight.
"Kieeeek!"
"Kurrgh-kurrgh!"
Goblins and kobolds.
The first-floor monsters devoured each other regardless of kind.
Their eyes blazed blood-red.
That wasn't all.
Crunch.
They even chewed up the magic stones embedded in their victims' bodies.
"They're......getting stronger."
Sien muttered in disbelief.
As she said, the goblins and kobolds that consumed magic stones looked vastly different.
Larger bodies, longer, sharper teeth and claws. Holding more mana, their auras intensified.
She'd fought in several Monster Waves over the years.
But monsters eating each other to grow? Never.
"......What the hell is going on?"
"One thing's clear. If they reach the surface, it'll be hell."
Unlike the flustered Sien, Martin remained composed to the end.
Clench.
But unconsciously, he gripped his fists tight.