The Dungeon Monsters Keep Offering Sacrifices

The Dungeon Monsters Keep Offering Sacrifices – 130

EP.130 An Unexpected Encounter (2)

 

Just moments ago, Dambi and Lils had found themselves subjected to an impromptu inspection thanks to Baalzerith. To resolve the situation, they contacted Celia through the shadows. It wasn’t long before an officer in uniform appeared, wiping sweat from his brow and bowing respectfully before them.

“Apologies for the delay. I didn’t realize you were such esteemed individuals. I am Kael Ludens, responsible for the security of Lacusberry City.”

Given the city’s active trade, it was common for both soldiers and officers to be present. Kael Ludens had rushed over after receiving an urgent message.

‘A direct message from the royal family!’

It was a nerve-wracking situation. Kael’s gaze fell on Dambi, who appeared to be an ordinary adventurer, aside from his striking looks. But appearances could be deceiving. The royal family had contacted him because of this seemingly ordinary adventurer.

‘Who exactly is he?’

The royal family of the Sael kingdom had amassed significant power recently. There were even rumors that Her Majesty, known as the Saintess, might soon be officially recognized by the White Order. This alone spoke volumes about the royal family’s influence. And now, an adventurer with ties to the royal family had been subjected to an inspection?

As a senior officer, Kael wanted to reprimand his subordinates but restrained himself. There was still a way to make amends for this mistake.

“To apologize for this incident, I will personally ensure you are well taken care of!”

Kael Ludens bowed deeply to Dambi.

The surrounding soldiers quickly followed suit, their faces a mix of respect and fear.

“For now… Ah, yes. Since your identities have been verified, you may disembark. Welcome to the Sael kingdom.”

Kael Ludens addressed Baalzerith, who appeared much younger than him, with the same respect.

“Hmph, it’s good that you acknowledge your wrongdoing and seek forgiveness. But remember, my forgiveness is granted solely out of my mercy—mmph!”

Dambi swiftly covered Baalzerith’s mouth, silencing her. Letting her speak any further would only lead to more complications.

While Dambi kept Baalzerith’s mouth covered, Lils stepped forward.

“Thank you for your consideration. However, we have other matters to attend to, so we’ll just accept your kindness in spirit,” Lils said.

“Ah…”

The officer, Kael Ludens, looked disappointed. He had hoped to make amends and perhaps establish a connection with them, but it seemed futile. Pushing further would be impolite, especially since they might be on a mission from the royal family. Detaining busy individuals could lead to repercussions from above.

“Haha, that’s truly unfortunate. In that case, allow me to arrange the finest accommodations for you. While esteemed individuals like yourselves may not be concerned, the cost of living here is quite high. Please accept this as a token of my sincerity.”

Kael Ludens offered, determined to make some connection.

Lils nodded at his gesture.

“We appreciate it.”

Given the awkward timing to return to the capital today, accepting the offer of a luxurious, free stay was sensible.

“Then, please allow us to handle your luggage.”

Kael Ludens signaled, and soldiers quickly took charge of their belongings, leading the way. Kael discreetly observed their reactions. Though they didn’t seem accustomed to such treatment, they weren’t flustered either.

‘They’re different, indeed.’

Kael impressed, as he led them to their accommodations. He briefly frowned at the sight of the young lady being dragged along by the adventurers.

‘What an odd combination.’

He curious about their story but refrained from asking. As an officer of the Sael kingdom, his duty was to focus on his responsibilities.

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***

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Kael Ludens escorted Dambi and his companions to the most luxurious lodging in Lacusberry, situated with a breathtaking view of Lake Yenarian.

“Here is where you’ll be staying. Isn’t the scenery magnificent? If you need more rooms, just inform the counter, and they’ll arrange it without any hassle. I must take my leave now due to other duties. I hope you have a pleasant stay, and may the goddess’s blessings be with you always.”

With that, Kael turned to leave, having extended his best hospitality.

“Oh, and just so you know, the southern forest is off-limits. This restriction applies regardless of your status or rank.”

Kael Ludens added a brief warning before leaving the room.

Dambi and Lils didn’t pay much attention to the warning, as they planned to leave right after completing their mission. Though the officer’s hospitality was a bit overwhelming, the stunning view of the lake made Dambi nod in approval.

“This is acceptable.”

However, now was not the time to leisurely enjoy the scenery. Dambi drew the curtains, blocking the view, and turned to Lils with an apology.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect things to get complicated because of another vampire.”

In the end, they had almost been caught up in trouble due to a fellow vampire. As a vampire himself, Dambi couldn’t easily avoid responsibility for this incident.

“It’s alright, Dambi. We can visit the Adventurers’ Guild tomorrow. We arrived earlier than expected anyway.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Dambi replied, appreciating Lils’ acceptance of his apology.

Given the situation, going to the guild now would only draw unnecessary attention from the soldiers. It was better to rest today and complete their mission tomorrow. Lils opened a small container, revealing a fish-like monster swimming inside. While Lils unpacked, Dambi approached Baalzerith with a stern expression.

“Ugh. Don’t look at me with those eyes! How dare you!” Baalzerith exclaimed, reaching out blindly.

“Who are you?”

“How dare you address me so rudely! You have no manners!”

Baalzerith retorted, but Dambi’s expression grew more intimidating.

“Ugh. I… I am….”

Baelchelit hesitated, torn between revealing her true name or using an alias. Despite her naivety, she knew her name carried infamy.

“My name is… Riche!”

In the end she finally declared, opting for a pre-prepared alias. She had simply reversed the ‘Cheri’ part of her original name, Baalzerith.

Baalzerith, now calling herself Riche, was secretly impressed with her own cleverness, confident that her true identity would remain undiscovered.

“Hmm, Riche…”

Dambi mused, having never heard the name before.

“Are you from the Kalen Empire?”

His own origins tracing back to a vampire dungeon within the empire’s borders. However, that dungeon had mostly collapsed due to a crusade by the White Order, and many of his kin had perished. Dambi, who closely resembled a human, had managed to survive among them.

Riche nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. I came through the city alliance from the Kalen Empire!”

It seemed she might have been from the same brood, albeit from a different dungeon. But Dambi’s expression soured. A vampire suddenly appearing before him was suspicious.

“Why have you come to the Sael kingdom, then?”

The vampires he knew would at least try to conceal their identities, but this one was different.

“Huh…”

Riche was biting her finger, drinking her own blood.

Lils moved next to Dambi and whispered to him.

“It seems we’re dealing with a vampire who’s not quite right in the head.”

Dambi nodded in agreement and tossed a piece of an arm from a bandit he had killed the night before. The limb was still moist with blood.

“Oh! Thank you! You truly are kind!”

Riche exclaimed, sucking the blood from the offered human hand, then continued to answer Dambi’s question.

“I am searching for someone. They will surely remember me… I was on my way to the capital when—”

Tears began to stream down Riche’s face.

“Sob… I made a foolish mistake, and now that person… hic.”

The conversation seemed to be going off track, but Dambi and Lils nodded as if they understood.

“It seems like she’s been abandoned because she’s not right in the head.”

“That’s what I’m thinking too.”

The two whispered amongst themselves with Riche before them. Vampires were, after all, an intelligent race.

In times of adversity, it was common to discard those deemed worthless first. Dambi felt a sense of empathy for Riche, recognizing a kindred spirit in her.

“Sigh…”

Though he preferred to follow his master’s orders strictly, seeing a fellow vampire in a similar plight left him feeling bitter. Lils seemed to share his sentiment.

“Since we’re headed to the same destination, it wouldn’t hurt to travel together.”

After all, they needed to return to the capital after completing their mission. Dambi wasn’t so cold-hearted as to abandon a mentally unstable kin when their paths aligned.

“Riche, don’t worry. We’re heading to the capital too, so let’s go together.”

Lils offered, extending a hand to her.

“Really? You’ll do that for me?”

Riche, who had been crying moments ago, asked with a bright smile.

And so, Dambi and Lils found themselves taking on the responsibility of Baalzerith, now known as Riche.

====

***

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“I see. So, you encountered a vampire…”

Celia muttered, reviewing the documents handed to her by the shadows. The report detailed Dambi and Lils’ encounter with a vampire at Lake Yenarian. Concerned that they might get entangled in something troublesome, Celia had promptly informed Queen Elena.

Queen Elena had acted swiftly, ensuring that Dambi and Lils could pass through the inspection unscathed.

“Still, there’s a mountain of work to be done.”

Celia sighed, glancing at the towering stack of documents on her desk. She now had to oversee not only dungeon affairs but also matters of the Sael kingdom. The workload was overwhelming.

She had to send out the Goblin Lord to manage surrounding dungeons while ensuring the dungeon’s development wasn’t neglected. Now, she also had to review the kingdom’s affairs. Despite working tirelessly day and night, the tasks kept piling up.

Though her master had once sent an assistant, the assistant was currently useless. The assistant, named Wriggler, was under Aren’s care and wouldn’t be of any help for a while. But Celia saw this as a test from her master. Thus, she persevered with renewed determination.

“Still, the efficiency is lacking.”

It was time to find ways to enhance her workflow. Having someone to assist her could speed up the process significantly. However, there were no suitable candidates at the moment.

While it would be ideal if the Banshees could assist with administrative tasks by controlling adventurers, they were reserved for more critical roles. Goblins were excluded due to their low intelligence. The Undead, though capable of simple tasks, lacked the ability to think independently. Celia briefly considered Maru, but he was the personal guard of their master.

“Such a pity.”

She had also thought about the vampire Dambi mentioned, but after hearing reports of her mental instability, she dismissed the idea. Even as she pondered, Celia continued to scan through documents. Suddenly, her eyes stopped on one particular file.

‘…Jeremiah?’

The document from the royal family mentioned the name of an Inquisitor. Below the name, it detailed Jeremiah’s activities, including a visit to the inn where Dambi and Lils had caused a commotion. According to the investigator’s statement, the Inquisitor had identified a vampire named Baalzerith as the culprit behind a murder.

“Baalzerith…”

The Inquisitor’s suspicion had missed the mark, and it seemed that no one believed it, so Dambi and Lils were not under suspicion.

“That’s a relief.”

Minimizing unnecessary complications was always preferable. As Celia continued reading, her eyes landed on another intriguing detail.

“A 5-star vampire…”

Baalzerith, a 5-star vampire notorious among humans, was currently being hunted by the White Order. The mere fact that the Order was pursuing her indicated her danger level.

“If I could capture that entity…”

A bold plan began to form in Celia’s mind. Capturing such a powerful vampire and presenting her to their master would undoubtedly earn significant merit. The thought of how pleased her master would be filled Celia with excitement.

“Inform the royal family. Tell them to locate Baalzerith.”

Celia knew well from her own experience with the White Order’s seals that Inquisitors did not act on mere hunches. The presence of Baalzerith within the Sael kingdom was almost certain.

“To think the prey would come to us willingly.”

A smile crept up Celia’s face. A 5-star entity like Baalzerith would be a tremendous asset to her master’s plans.

One significant issue remained, would such an entity willingly follow them? Absolutely not.

“For now, station all forces within the dungeon.”

“Clank!”

At her order, the Skeleton Knights dispersed to various sections of the dungeon. Given Baalzerith’s notorious reputation among humans, she would not be an easy opponent. Though the documents classified her as a 5-star entity, Celia knew better than to make hasty judgments. Her job was to always prepare for the worst-case scenario.

“This is going to be interesting.”

To welcome such a dangerous entity, a thorough inspection of the dungeon was necessary. For that, she needed assistance with her administrative tasks.

“What are the kingdom’s nobles doing right now?”

Since Elena had become queen, many nobles had been imprisoned. Officially, they were said to be in jail, but in reality, they were held within the dungeon.

“Clank, Clank, Clank!”

(Some are still undergoing interrogation, while others are under the supervision of the Death Knight, working on fortifications!)

As the Skeleton Knight reported, not only captured humans but also nobles were being used for construction projects. They were currently expanding the lake in Area 4.

“I see. Then, ask if any nobles are willing to assist with my tasks. Inform them that they will be compensated for their efforts.”

Every hand was valuable at this point. Nobles, having been educated from a young age, were elites. Though not monsters, Celia believed they could handle tasks related to the kingdom’s affairs.

“From now on, we will actively utilize humans. Think of it as a preliminary test for when our master establishes a nation.”

This strategy would greatly aid their master in the future when leading a nation.

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