Chapter 35
Chapter 35
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Festival of Receiving Flesh
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Participate in the Katabasis.
With my goal set, I immediately sprang into action.
'Better to aim for a duo slot than go solo.'
A supporter—especially a buffer's—efficiency scales with the number of people they enhance.
But right from the start, I hit a snag.
"Sorry, I've got family business to attend to."
Gold Solis and Horsdruk were out due to clan obligations.
The rest of my contacts were key figures in their own groups, it seemed, and none could clear their schedules during the Festival of Receiving Flesh.
Or perhaps they hadn't received permission to participate from the Church of the Goddess of War and Victory, like I had.
So I quickly moved on to my next option.
"Recruiting a vanguard crawler from the lower floors or below to join the Katabasis with you. Is that correct?"
Seria, the silver-haired beauty at the Crawler Guild's reception desk—our mascot—scanned the paper I'd handed her with her ruby-red eyes and spoke up.
"Yes."
"Understood. Given the tight timeline on your application, I'll look into it as quickly as possible."
Maybe it was because I'd recently paid off a good chunk of my loans.
Seria flashed a kind smile as she accepted my paperwork.
'Though I still owe over 300 gold.'
Shiver—
The moment I handed over the papers and stepped out of the guild, goosebumps prickled across my skin.
"…?"
For a split second, it felt like someone was staring.
But when I turned back and scanned the guild interior, no one was looking my way.
…Was it just my imagination?
It wasn't killing intent, but something sticky and unpleasant.
I expanded my senses and focused my mind, just in case, but even as I pushed through the swinging doors and fully exited the building, no gaze lingered.
Well, even if it wasn't my imagination, it was probably nothing.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A day later.
Finding a vanguard turned out to be quicker than I'd expected, despite thinking it'd take ages.
"Shall we finalize the contract terms like this? Mr. Asad."
"Yes."
A handsome young man with Middle Eastern features nodded.
He drew a curved jambiya dagger from the sheath on his thigh and swiftly sliced his thumb.
Without hesitation, he pressed his bloody print at the bottom of the contract.
"…You're decisive, aren't you?"
Unlike the man who stamped so boldly, I demurely inked my thumb and added my print.
"One last check before submission. You're truly fine with these terms?"
This was rare for me, but before having the guild notarize it, I confirmed with the other party.
I usually negotiate contracts aggressively—for rightful claims, of course—but this was my first time with terms this extreme.
'Honestly, calling this a contract is a stretch.'
To sum it up simply:
For the duration of the Katabasis, Asad would actively follow my lead, and we'd split any gains 9:1 in my favor.
It was basically a time-limited slave contract.
"The Jawhari do not forget favors."
Asad replied to my question in a dry tone.
Jawhari.
Back when I partied with Kaiden's group, we'd found a bait on the 16th floor with the Monster Train. The identification tag from that corpse belonged to Khalid Jawhari's clan.
And this man, Asad al-Jawhari, was from the Jawhari clan too.
'He seems like quite the esteemed fellow.'
I glanced briefly at Asad's profile, handed over by Seria beside the contract.
Age: 23.
Reached floor: 41.
Early records showed boosting via carrier parties up to 25, but everything after was solo skill.
And the "al" in his name.
Judging by age and growth rate, even a clan like Jawhari must value him highly.
He'd likely earn a title soon.
Honestly, I'd already claimed the bounty on that tag, and using talent like this under such terms felt iffy, but…
'If he's the one saying he'll repay the favor.'
Good is good, right?
Before Asad could change his mind, I dashed to the reception desk for notarization.
"…Miss Arjen. Contracts this unfair could cause problems later, you know?"
The silver-haired receptionist eyed the document like she'd caught a thief, narrowing her gaze.
I'm the victim here!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Arjen and Asad al-Jawhari. Registration complete. We wish you both victory."
With those curt words, the receptionist handed over two small iron tags marked "Duo Slot, 13" strung on cords.
"Looks just like an ID tag. Guess this is our entry pass."
"…"
Asad nodded silently, hung his around his neck, and followed me to the spectator seats.
The circular arena called the Amphitheatrum, where the Katabasis opening ceremony was about to begin, was packed.
In a world short on decent entertainment, nothing beat the dopamine rush of savage, bloody combat.
'Maybe that's why this church is the most popular—they deliver thrills like this every year.'
The crowd was already betting on which participants would shine brightest.
Here and there, folks ran informal gambling rings.
"They changed the rules this year to fighting monsters, and it looks like they've prepped a lot."
"…"
On stage, not just the Church of the Goddess of War and Victory, but dwarves and mages bustled about.
"…Yawn."
"…"
But for us waiting, it was dreadfully boring.
About an hour in?
I ignored the sidelong glances from people recognizing me and kept waiting, and soon the stage setup seemed done.
Moments later, a figure emerged from the VIP seats at the central balcony.
The roar filling the arena hushed as if by magic, and all eyes—like in a play—turned to one spot. Mine included.
And the one bathed in every gaze.
"It is I."
Spoke lightly to the masses, as if out for a stroll.
"Children of the mortal world. The season has come again this year."
The Goddess of War and Victory, manifest on stage before thousands, declared.
"I love strength. For the strong are beautiful.
I love courage. For it is the foe impossibility fears most.
I love struggle. For through it, humanity ascends to higher realms.
And at its end lies glorious victory."
1,700 years ago, the first expedition led by Katabasis survivors returned alive from the dungeon, then an unknown realm.
A laughable depth by today's standards, but humanity's first triumph over the dungeon.
1,100 years ago, explorers breached below 20 floors and faced what we now call a Floor Lord.
A mythic beast from ancient tales, claiming countless lives—yet they prevailed.
700 years ago, the great explorer Shackleton delved into what we now deem lower floors, returned safely, and revealed the bizarre laws governing their ecosystems.
Dismissed as tall tales at first, it paved the way for deep conquests—a grand victory.
And 300 years ago, humanity reached the depths.
Unthinkable from an era when upper-floor survival rates barely hit 20%.
"Yet peace has lingered too long."
The dungeon, once the world's dire threat, now intertwined inseparably with humanity.
Cities built by guardians to stem its harm brimmed with wealth- and fame-seekers, birthing an industry.
Save a handful of assault teams, none truly ventured deep.
Safely. Only as far as talent allowed.
This era's crawlers no longer adventured.
Only dreamers and fools chased true adventure.
"Tamed by the comfort of accumulated knowledge and habit, they've forgotten their essence—despite the archenemy they've warred against for over a millennium looming near."
The Goddess of War and Victory's lips twisted fiercely.
"Thus, to remind you what you've lost, this year's Katabasis shall proceed differently."
She snapped her fingers, and light erupted from the stage's center.
Rooooaaar—!
"…Insane."
I stared blankly at the monster that materialized and bellowed at its surroundings once the light faded.
Too rare to have seen one myself, but I knew it instantly.
A colossal silhouette like a living building.
Mycelium-hardened bark-skin draped like armor.
The Floor Lord of the 28th floor's primal forest.
Gigantus Arbor.
The disaster of a bulk rose slowly at the arena's heart.
Too surreal—had our thoughts frozen?
The packed seats around me, the entire amphitheater, stayed silent amid the roar.
"Ah… aaah…"
"Wha… what?"
But as some croaked frog-like gasps.
The crowd surged like waves in shock, rippling every which way.
"Gaaaaah—!"
"Outta the way!!"
"Monster! It's a moooonster!"
Panic-stricken spectators rampaged; the Floor Lord swiveled its massive head, scanning as if grasping the scene.
And amid it, the goddess spoke leisurely.
"Fear not."
Boom—!
With her words, a meteor crashed into the arena.
The monumental Floor Lord crumpled like a felled tree.
And then.
Boom! Boom! Boom—!
Thunderous booms echoed from the center amid choking dust.
Each blast jolted the fallen bulk where dust parted.
When the booms ceased and winds cleared the haze.
Eyes once screaming in terror fixed on the center.
The convulsing Floor Lord corpse.
A meaty lump at its end, presumably its head.
And the being behind the carnage.
The crawler hailed with Brain Emperor as this generation's strongest.
Heavenly General Tigran.
Rooooaaar—!
"Wooooaaah!!"
Tigran bellowed in battle frenzy, and the now-comprehending crowd roared back.
"Today, you shall truly learn what heroes face plunging into the abyss."
From the amphitheater's pinnacle, brimming with near-mad fervor.
"I declare the Katabasis open."
The Goddess of War and Victory proclaimed its start.