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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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It had been a while since I last visited Elvenguard. Since elves were a long-lived species, I hadn’t expected much to change, but the path leading to Elvenguard was completely different.
‘Mercenaries?’
The road was crowded with people, mostly mercenaries and merchants, by the looks of it.
What was going on?
“What happened in Elvenguard?”
“You haven’t heard? A new dungeon appeared in Elvenguard. They’re recruiting mercenaries to clear it. The reward is Elvenguard territory, so everyone’s going crazy.”
“Huh…”
A new dungeon? That was surprising, but even more surprising was the fact that Elvenguard was asking for outside help.
Elves, whose pride was their defining trait, were actually accepting outside help? It seemed they had learned their lesson after the Kali incident.
“Where is it? Is it in the World Tree’s underground?”
“No. I heard it’s a bit further away… The mercenary council sent a scouting party to assess its rank, but they’re having trouble reaching the boss room. There have already been casualties, and it might be upgraded from a Red Star to a Black Star dungeon.”
So, it wasn’t infesting the World Tree. That was a relief.
But Elvenguard, having experienced the consequences of neglecting a dungeon, probably wanted to eliminate it quickly, no matter how insignificant it seemed.
‘That’s the right call.’
It was a wise decision. Because the newly formed dungeons weren’t natural. Now that Draken’s power had been withdrawn, only the Heavenly Kings could create dungeons.
A unique dungeon.
A unique dungeon of either Luna or Belphegor was in Elvenguard. In other words, either Luna or Belphegor was currently in Elvenguard!
“This is a signal for me, isn’t it? Now that Draken’s power is gone, only the Heavenly Kings can create dungeons. They’re telling me to come find them.”
“Probably.”
I had to agree with Kali. They must have learned about her resurrection and were using the unique dungeon as a signal.
But why Elvenguard? A place overflowing with magical power and life force… Wait.
‘The undead army…!’
Creating an undead army required a massive amount of magical power and life force, and Elvenguard’s environment was perfect for it.
With enough time, they could create an army of undead, each as powerful as a knight. Creating a unique dungeon meant they were prepared for a direct confrontation.
This dungeon wasn’t just a signal for Kali, it was a provocation, a challenge for me to stop them.
“I have to go.”
I couldn’t refuse. They had challenged me to a fight with no escape route. This would be the final battle.
Either I would die, or the Heavenly Kings would be annihilated.
Those were the only two possible outcomes.
“Let’s drop off our luggage in Elvenguard first.”
“Are… are you sure it’s safe to enter Elvenguard?”
“Of course. I know the Oracle.”
“W-What…? You…”
Kali stared at me in surprise, then her expression changed to one of respect.
She must have thought I had infiltrated Elvenguard as a spy and befriended the Oracle. It was actually the opposite.
“Then there’s nothing to worry about! If we ask the Oracle, she’ll let us enter the dungeon alone. Then we can contact the Heavenly Kings secretly.”
“Exactly.”
Kali understood the plan.
We would gain priority access over the mercenaries, enter the dungeon alone, and eliminate the Heavenly King inside. If it was Luna, we could use Kali as a hostage. If it was Belphegor, we could overpower them.
…Or so I thought. A minor problem made that impossible.
“Let’s go…”
I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on, and entered the crowded square.
Elvenguard, unaccustomed to visitors, didn’t seem to have enough space to accommodate so many people.
After a while, a blue-haired woman, her silhouette unmistakable, approached, drawing everyone’s attention.
The crowd fell silent, all eyes on her.
Mia hadn’t even spoken yet, but few could resist the captivating charm of an elf.
“Greetings. I am Mia, the Oracle of the World Tree. I believe you are all here in response to our request for assistance in clearing the dungeon. Elvenguard will provide full support to ensure your success. To maintain order, we will assign the order of entry. First, please divide yourselves into groups and individuals… huh?!”
Mia’s calm explanation was interrupted by a sudden shriek. All eyes turned to me.
Mia was pointing at me, her lips trembling.
“You…! N-No, you! Come with me!”
“What? What’s going on?”
“The Oracle is calling him?”
“Who is he?”
I had planned to visit her discreetly later, but Mia had just blown my cover. The crowd parted, and I followed Mia.
“Now, I’ll continue with the instructions. Group leaders, please gather here, and individuals, please register over there-”
“Yoo-jin!”
As we entered a small room, the outside noise vanished. A barrier had been activated. Mia’s expression changed, and she rushed towards me, embracing me with tears in her eyes.
Undecided and Kali frowned.
“I was so worried…”
“Worried? Why?”
“Because… because I couldn’t reach you! Do you know how many letters I sent?!”
“Ah…”
The timing was unfortunate.
I had tried to contact her right after Linda self-destructed and was incapacitated.
“I’m fine. My communication device broke… Did you call me because of the dungeon?”
“Yes. Can you help us?”
“Of course. If I can…”
“Here’s the map of the dungeon, the monsters we’ve encountered so far, and…”
Mia showed me various documents, not giving me a chance to speak.
They hadn’t explored the entire dungeon yet, but the general structure was clear. And judging by the structure… it was definitely Luna’s unique dungeon.
The prevalence of undead-type monsters confirmed it.
“We detected a large amount of demonic energy inside. It’s highly likely that it’s a dungeon created by the same powerful enemy who infested the World Tree, the spider monster. We haven’t figured out their plan yet, which makes it even more unsettling.”
“Start preparing for the evacuation of Elvenguard. Find a place to accommodate the residents. If we fail to clear the dungeon, Elvenguard will be destroyed.”
We had to prepare for the worst.
During the Great Fire, the fire spread slowly, giving everyone enough time to evacuate, but if an undead horde attacked, most of the residents wouldn’t escape.
It was best to evacuate beforehand, but without prior arrangements, there was nowhere to accommodate so many people, and it might cause widespread panic. The best outcome was to successfully clear the dungeon.
“Do you know anything about the enemy?”
“I do, but I won’t be of much help. It’s best to give the information to the mercenaries who will be attempting the raid.”
“What? Why?”
“If I enter the dungeon… haa… never mind. It’s easier to show you. Lead the way.”
“Okay.”
Why wouldn’t I be of much help? It was easier to show her than to explain.
I followed Mia, puzzled, and we left Elvenguard, heading towards the wetlands on a secured road.
Elf warriors saluted Mia, and we reached the dungeon entrance without interruption.
A massive stone gate. I didn’t even need to enter. I placed my hand on the gate and looked at Mia.
[The monsters in this dungeon have been empowered by Saintess Jill’s blessing.]
[The monsters in this dungeon have gained a weak poison effect due to Witch Yulia’s curse.]
[The temperature in this dungeon has decreased due to Frost Lord Yerina’s resentment.]
“This is what happens when I enter.”
“…!”
Frost spread across the stone gate, and a wave of cold air washed over the area. The roars of rampaging monsters echoed from within. Mia’s face paled.
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