The Dungeon Monsters Keep Offering Sacrifices

The Dungeon Monsters Keep Offering Sacrifices – 169

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The underworld of the Sael Kingdom.

A shadowy place where all sorts of criminals gathered.

Because of this, some referred to it as the back alleys or the underworld.

However, it wasn’t only criminals who lived here.

People with various stories, such as those expelled from their families or too poor to pay taxes, also flocked to the underworld.

This place was the perfect hideout, not only from the Sael Kingdom but even from the White Order.

From the perspective of the state, it was a gathering of pests.

It was easier to manage all sorts of criminals when they were gathered in one place.

Rather than stirring up trouble, it was better to maintain the current situation.

Another reason was added to this.

Necros had become the new ruler of the underworld.

He had brainwashed the representatives of the organization ‘Black Hand,’ which previously ruled the underworld, using Kaleido’s illusion magic.

Although one of the representatives, Malcolm, had met his end in the arena and the whereabouts of the actual ruler of the Black Hand, ‘Master,’ and an unknown dark wizard were unclear, it didn’t matter.

Necros had not only taken control of the underworld but was also exerting immense influence using the monster arena as a stepping stone.

With Necros’s rise to power, the underworld fell heavily under Celia’s influence.

Thus, Queen Elena paid no attention to the underworld, and the White Order also refrained from interfering, deeming it a matter of the kingdom.

Hence, people referred to the inhabitants of the underworld as those abandoned by the goddess and the state.

Today, many more set foot in the underworld.

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A man in plain clothes headed down a dark alley. The deeper he went, the more eerie the atmosphere became.

Soon, the streets of the underworld would unfold before him. The man heading towards the underworld was Edwin, an apprentice priest of the White Order. Edwin was walking the path of trials to become a full-fledged priest. This journey was a sacred mission of performing good deeds across the continent and a vow to serve the goddess. It was a crucial task for Edwin.

The reason he had set foot in the underworld was simple: he believed it would be full of people in need of help.

‘The underworld… surely, there will be many people who need my assistance.’

The underworld was a place overflowing with criminals and the impoverished. If he could help them, he thought he could easily build a record of achievements.

‘The underworld is a place ignored by both the kingdom and the order. If my name resonates in such a place… I could rise high!’

The standing within the order was determined by the achievements accumulated during the path of trials. If he could convert the people of the underworld to believe in the goddess, the prestige of Edwin, who had accomplished such a feat, would soar to the skies. Success would open the doors to becoming a high priest. If he was fortunate, he might even be rewarded with a holy relic.

‘Hehehe, I will definitely succeed!’

With hopeful thoughts, Edwin arrived in the underworld and was taken aback. He had expected a gloomy neighborhood filled with criminals and the poor, but the streets were more lively than he had imagined.

“This is different from what I heard.”

He had heard that the streets would be filled with begging children, but in reality, it seemed quite ordinary. Just looking at the streets, he wondered if this place was indeed the underworld.

Edwin looked around to confirm if this was truly the underworld.

“Excuse me…”

At that moment, someone approached Edwin. Thinking they might be seeking help, he quickly turned his head towards the direction of the voice.

“Do you need any help?” Edwin asked, looking at the person who had approached him.

It was a young girl. She wore a black robe made of what appeared to be expensive, high-quality fabric.

‘A noble?’ he wondered. But it made no sense for a noble to be in the underworld. She was a peculiar girl, no matter how he thought about it.

Just as Edwin was about to shake his head and decline, the girl continued speaking.

“If you need help, please come to that building! Lady Sharia always says to be kind to others!”

Sharia? Edwin tilted his head in confusion, but the girl didn’t stop talking.

“Oh, and if you come, you’ll get soft bread and meat, so please do come!”

The girl pointed to a building, said her piece, and then left. Edwin pondered over what she had said and came to a conclusion.

‘So there are volunteers even in the underworld.’

The person named Sharia, mentioned by the girl, must be someone who provides bread and meat to the poor. And the reason the girl approached him was…

‘Did I look that needy…?’

He gave a bitter smile at the thought of coming to the underworld to help, only to be offered assistance himself. Apprentice priests walking the path of trials were not allowed to wear attire related to the order. Edwin, too, was dressed in plain clothes.

‘I should meet this Sharia.’

With a smile, Edwin fixed his gaze in the direction the girl had disappeared.

“She said it was that building, right?”

However, what caught his eye was not the building the girl had pointed to. Instead, it was a building across from it, where a large crowd had gathered.

“What’s going on over there?”

Unable to contain his curiosity, Edwin also made his way towards the building. As he got closer, he could observe the varied reactions of the people.

“Damn it, I lost money again. What am I going to tell my wife…,” one man muttered in despair, clutching his head.

“Hey, hey! Did you see that? I told you he would win! Haha, drinks are on me tonight!”

Another man shouted in excitement, boasting to those around him.

The area in front of the building was filled with a cacophony of cheers and groans, excitement and despair. The common thread among them was that they all emerged from the same building.

‘What on earth is in this building?’

Edwin wondered, looking up at it. It was an ordinary building, perhaps a bit more refined than the others around it.

‘Let’s go inside and see.’

Having come all this way, he figured it wouldn’t hurt to satisfy his curiosity. As he stepped inside, someone approached him.

“A new face, huh? Is this your first time here?” the stranger asked.

Edwin instinctively became wary at the stranger’s approach, reminding himself that he was in the underworld. Seeing Edwin’s guarded stance, the man raised his hands in a placating gesture.

“Whoa, whoa, my name’s Matthew. I just thought you looked like a first-timer and wanted to help you out.”

As the stranger took a step back, Edwin slightly lowered his guard. After all, this was his first time in the underworld, and he had no idea why people were flocking to this building. If the stranger could provide some information, it might not be a bad thing.

“What will it cost me?” Edwin asked, knowing that there was no such thing as free kindness.

Edwin asked Matthew about the cost.

“Haha, you’re quite the straight-laced one, aren’t you? If that’s the case, just buy me a drink later.”

Only then did Edwin lower his guard completely. A drink was a small price to pay. Even if Matthew had ulterior motives, Edwin was a member of the White Order. No one would dare touch him without facing severe consequences, even if he was just an apprentice priest. Besides, apprentice priests on the path of trials were required to contact the order as soon as they arrived in any country. Edwin had already informed both the kingdom and the order upon his arrival in the Sael Kingdom.

“Alright, let’s head to the basement. That’s where the real action is,” Matthew said, leading Edwin down the stairs.

As they descended, the sound of roaring cheers grew louder, enveloping Edwin like a wave of heat. It felt as if he were diving into a massive furnace.

When they reached the basement, Edwin was nearly breathless at the sight before him. The enormous underground space was packed with spectators, all focused on a circular arena in the center. The atmosphere was overwhelming, almost suffocating in its intensity.

“Welcome to the Monster Arena!”

Matthew exclaimed with a grin as he stood there, stunned.

Edwin stammered, struggling to process what he was seeing.

“M-Monster Arena?”

He understood what an arena was, but the addition of the word “monster” made it unfamiliar and unsettling.

“Do they really fight monsters here?”

Edwin asked, almost to himself, unable to believe such a place existed in the underworld.

“Yes, this is the famous Monster Arena. For those who live day by day, it’s pretty much the only entertainment they have. You’ll soon understand the thrill of it yourself,” Matthew explained.

Despite the fact that the match had not yet started, the crowd was already buzzing with excitement. There were men shouting at the top of their lungs, drunk on alcohol, elderly people focused on placing their bets, and even families with children in tow.

“Huh…”

Edwin was taken aback by the sight of children being brought to such a lowly place. He had initially wanted to help the people of the underworld, but it saddened him to see such a cruel form of entertainment had become part of their daily lives. The thought that this was their only escape filled him with a bitter sense of sorrow.

Just then, a man standing at the edge of the arena raised his hands and shouted, “Ladies and gentlemen! We will now begin today’s main event!”

He was the announcer for the match. His appearance brought a sudden silence over the crowd. All eyes were focused on the center of the arena.

The announcer enjoyed the moment of quiet, smiling to himself before he bellowed out with a powerful voice, “Today’s main event! One ghoul versus ten soldiers!”

At the mention of a ghoul, the crowd booed.

Booing and hissing filled the air.

“A ghoul, what a joke!”

Strictly speaking, a ghoul is a weak monster. Just one of them? It seemed like the outcome of the match was already decided.

However, the announcer continued with a sly smile, “But! Do you think we would set up such a predictable match?”

As soon as he finished speaking, all the lights, except those in the arena, went out. Then, the doors on both sides of the arena opened.

“Introducing the challengers who will face the ghoul! All of them have served as soldiers!” the announcer declared.

In response, ten individuals marched into the arena with disciplined movements. They held swords and shields in their hands.

“Disappointed they’re not knights? Haha, these challengers aren’t just any soldiers. They served in the fierce and notorious Kalen Empire!” the announcer continued.

As soon as he finished speaking, the ghoul appeared from the opposite side. Just as mentioned earlier, there was only one.

“Now! Place your bets on who will win, the ghoul or the humans! And don’t forget to choose who will be the last to die!”

The crowd began to place their bets frantically. It was easy to choose between the ghoul and the humans, but this match required them to also bet on who would be the last to die. The complexity of the bet meant that the potential payout was substantial. People considered various possibilities as they placed their money.

“Aren’t you going to place a bet?”

Matthew asked Edwin subtly, but Edwin was staring blankly at the arena. His gaze was fixed on the ghoul, a creature he had never seen before.

The ghoul had a purplish hue and was wrapped in something that looked like tendrils. Even as an apprentice priest, Edwin could tell that this was no ordinary ghoul. It had grown strong by consuming an immense amount of death.

He then turned his attention to the challengers on the opposite side. Despite their experience as soldiers from the Kalen Empire, Edwin was certain they couldn’t defeat this ghoul.

“Hey, aren’t you going to place a bet?”

Matthew asked again, this time tapping Edwin on the shoulder. Edwin snapped out of his thoughts.

“Oh, you mean betting…?”

Edwin wasn’t entirely sure how the betting system in the arena worked, but he had a rough idea. It involved placing bets and receiving multiple times the amount if one won. However, Edwin hesitated. Did he really need to participate?

As he pondered, Matthew’s voice reached his ears.

“Just try it for fun, just once. It’s okay to have a little fun, right?”

“Ah… That’s true.”

Moreover, Edwin could clearly see who would win.

‘The ghoul…’

It would be foolish not to bet when he already knew the answer. It was just for fun, after all.

‘And the last one to die will be…’

After some deliberation, Edwin placed his bet. Matthew Clinked his tongue at Edwin’s final choice.

“Huh… You think the humans will be wiped out by that ghoul? And all at the same time? You turned out to be quite an interesting fellow.”

Matthew laughed and watched Edwin quietly. Shortly after, the match began.

But the content of the match was shocking. As soon as it started, the ghoul emitted a green smoke. The challengers instinctively raised their shields, but it was futile. The smoke enveloped them, and their skin melted away as flesh fell from their bones.

Screams filled the arena.

The arena was enveloped in silence at the sight. The audience was horrified, and so was Edwin.

‘Oh, Goddess, what am I witnessing…?’

Edwin was in shock. The sight of people’s skin melting away upon contact with the green smoke was horrifying. However, the silence was short-lived. Soon, the crowd erupted in cheers, rooting for the ghoul.

“……”

Despite the deaths caused by the ghoul, no one seemed saddened. Instead, they shouted in excitement, finding the spectacle entertaining. The madness in their behavior sent chills down Edwin’s spine, filling him with a sense of revulsion.

‘Oh, Goddess…’

Edwin silently prayed to calm his mind. He realized he knew very little about this place. Just from observing this arena, he could see into the depths of their souls. For a moment, Edwin doubted whether he could save these people. Their enthusiasm for slaughter revealed the primal instincts lurking within human nature.

“……”

As Edwin wrestled with his inner conflict, a sweet voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Hello, sir. Did you place a bet on ‘the ghoul winning and the humans being wiped out simultaneously’ in this match?”

The person who approached was an arena official.

“Congratulations. You were the only one who got it completely right.”

The only one who got it right? Edwin was taken aback.

“And since you bet ten silver coins… Here, please accept this pouch.”

The official handed him a pouch filled with something. Edwin, caught off guard, took the pouch with a peculiar expression. It was quite heavy.

Should he really accept this? The heavy weight of the pouch seemed to press down on his conscience. He was destined to become a righteous priest of the Order. And yet, this pouch…

“……”

Edwin’s expression changed as he opened the pouch. He had expected it to be filled with silver and copper coins, but instead, it gleamed with a golden hue.

“Gold coins…?”

“Yes, the payout rate for this match was 2000 to 1. Since you bet ten silver coins, you won a total of 20,000 silver coins. However, since carrying 20,000 silver coins would be cumbersome, we converted it to 200 gold coins for you,” the official explained.

“Haha…”

Edwin felt a sense of emptiness. As an apprentice priest, he earned 30 silver coins a month. Considering that the average family’s monthly living expenses were around 20 silver coins, it was a decent amount. Moreover, the Order provided for all his basic needs, so it wasn’t a major issue.

Once he became a full-fledged priest, he would earn one gold coin a month. Although the amount would increase over time, it would take nearly 20 years to accumulate such a sum. Yet, with just one bet, he had earned 200 gold coins.

Unable to believe it, Edwin pinched his cheek. The pain confirmed that this was no dream.

However, human greed knows no bounds. A crack formed in Edwin’s heart.

‘What if I had bet gold coins instead of silver…?’

He could have lived a life of luxury. His life in the Order would have been more comfortable, and his future would have been different…

‘Why did I only bet that much?’

Regret washed over Edwin, and he began to loathe his own decision.

‘Should I bet more in the next match?’

His eyes wavered with uncertainty. There were plenty of matches, after all. Why not place a bet just for fun? For some reason, he felt he could win even more money in the next match.

‘Yes, that’s it. This is a sign from the Goddess! She wants me to win a lot of money to save the poor!’

Edwin consoled himself with this thought as he awaited the next match. His original purpose for coming to the underworld no longer mattered. The seed of desire had already begun to sprout within him.

Matthew, who had been observing Edwin’s behavior, stood up.

“I’ll be back in a moment; just need to use the restroom.”

Edwin didn’t respond, his mind solely focused on the upcoming match. Matthew smiled at this and headed outside. Instead of going to the restroom, he approached another individual—the same official who had spoken to Edwin earlier.

“Inform Lord Necros that the bait has been taken,” Matthew said with a sly grin.

From the beginning, Matthew had known that Edwin was an apprentice priest. When apprentice priests arrived in a particular country, they were required to report their location to both the state and the Order. Edwin had done just that upon arriving in the Sael Kingdom. Up to this point, everything had gone according to plan, but Edwin had no idea what was truly unfolding.

Little did Edwin know that the entire Sael Kingdom was under the influence of that person.

“I shall take my leave now. For the Twilight Order—”

“For the Twilight Order—”

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All current events were being reported to Necros in real-time. Matthew, who had been brainwashed by Kaleido’s illusion magic, had successfully lured in the apprentice priest.

“Clink, Clink.”

Since Matthew was an ordinary human, it had only taken a day to completely brainwash him. Other humans were also diligently working to spread the influence of the Twilight Order. Now, they just needed to bring in the apprentice priest, Edwin.

The reason for targeting apprentice priests was simple. The White Order had branches all over the continent, increasing their numbers by expanding their branches and recruiting more followers. In contrast, the Twilight Order lacked such a system. They couldn’t keep up with the White Order’s recruitment pace through normal means.

So, they devised a plan to steal followers. The idea was to convert apprentice priests, who were relatively easier to manipulate, into followers of the Twilight Order. Then, they would infiltrate the White Order and siphon off their followers. This was the so-called “Follower Poaching” plan.

Necros’s plan didn’t end there.

“Clink, Clink, Clink, Clink.”

(Send all the humans who win a lot of money at the arena to Kaleido.)

He intended to make full use of Kaleido’s abilities.