The Dungeon Monsters Keep Offering Sacrifices - Chapter 106: Civil War in the Sael Kingdom (3)

The dungeon monsters keep offering sacrifices – 106

EP.106 Civil War in the Sael Kingdom (3)

Princess Elena of the Sael Kingdom.

In fact, Princess Elena was not a princess from the beginning. Rather, she lived a life not different from a commoners.

And then, her life changed overnight.

In a moment, she became a member of the royal family and became a princess.

The reason for this was largely due to the fact that the former king had no heir.

With no heir to inherit the throne, the royal family began to search for those who could succeed the king’s bloodline.

But unable to find direct descendants, they had to trace distant families.

 

And thus, Elena’s father, Karendia, could inherit the throne.

 

But the problem started there.

Unlike the nobles who had family names from the beginning, Karendia had no inherited surname.

Because he was essentially no different from a commoner, his bloodline being much diluted from the beginning.

To the nobles who boasted of inheriting blue blood from birth, the fact that Karendia ascended to the throne was a thorn in their side.

“Such an unremarkable person as the king of the kingdom. This is a mockery of the kingdom!”

Furthermore, they began to see the king as a disgrace to the kingdom.

That was when it started.

The word ‘rebellion’ engraved in the minds of the nobles.

The nobles clashed with King Karendia even over trivial matters.

This conflict extended beyond the king and nobles, affecting even young Princess Elena.

“……”

Elena, lost in her old thoughts, opened her eyes.

“Are you tired?”

A charming voice sounded beside her.

“Oh, Lady Celia. I was just reminiscing for a moment.”

“Reminiscing…?”

Celia paused for a moment, then uttered a single word.

“Memories?”

To others, it seemed like an ordinary conversation.

But Elena’s expression slightly furrowed at the mention of memories.

She, who was once an ordinary girl, became a princess overnight.

As a commoner, she had to learn more than just manners and grace upon entering the royal family.

She studied language, literature, and soon delved into the history and politics of the kingdom.

After her studies, she learned music and dance.

There was no time for leisure.

Moreover, despite her father becoming king, the nobles despised him.

Their disdain inevitably extended to the princess.

All the maids and governesses who educated the princess within the royal palace were associated with the nobility.

Just by this, it was obvious that her royal life was anything but smooth.

‘Memories?’

No, Elena didn’t want to call those kinds of memories ‘memories’.

‘Where did it all go wrong?’

Since childhood, Elena had pondered over this issue.

Was it simply because her father had a diluted commoner bloodline?

Of course, that was partly the answer.

If her father had legitimacy, the conflict wouldn’t have escalated to the current situation.

But she believed the fundamental problem lay elsewhere.

‘All of this stems from a lack of power.’

Even if her father had legitimacy, without power, the situation wouldn’t be any different.

The same would happen when she ascended to the throne in the future.

Elena wanted to turn the situation around.

And for that, she needed power.

To gain power, she delved into forbidden texts.

Summoning demons.

And the result led to this moment.

“Well, shall we begin now?”

The voice beside Elena was always enchanting.

Its sticky quality gently wrapped around her ears, emitting sweetness.

Like whispers from a demon.

‘Come to think of it, she might as well be a demon.’

Just looking at the horns above Celia’s head made it apparent.

Even though she made a pact with a demon, it allowed Elena to gain power.

The demon didn’t even demand the princess’s soul.

Though the support within the kingdom was still weak, it wasn’t a significant issue.

She gained a much greater power than the support of the nobles.

‘Yes.’

The path to saving the kingdom now wasn’t through the support of nobles.

And her own father wasn’t the answer either.

Elena turned her head to look at Celia.

The uncertainty in the princess’s eyes from a moment ago was gone, replaced by determination.

“Lady Celia.”

She declared.

“I will take the kingdom into my hands.”

“Hehe, I’m sure you know what that means.”

Elena nodded subtly.

There was an existing king.

Yet, the princess claimed the throne?

In other words, she was plotting a rebellion.

It was an action no different from that of the nobles, but she had her reasons.

“It doesn’t matter. It will end up the same anyway if things continue as they are.”

Celia smiled softly at the princess’s firm response.

Then, she took Elena’s hand.

Elena, too, relaxed her grip and entrusted herself to Celia.

Celia gently maneuvered Princess Elena’s body as if directing a chess piece left carelessly on the board.

Elena’s hand, guided by Celia, grasped a single piece.

It was the white queen.

While still holding Elena’s hand, Celia moved towards another piece.

“Let’s start by cutting off the nobles’ hands.”

The first piece to fall by the queen’s hand was a pawn. However, the color of the pawn was the same white as the queen.

“We must make them pay for encroaching upon the domain of the great one.”

Elena nodded in response to Celia’s first command.

“Daring to send adventurers into the domain of the great one. They are insufficient even if they die a hundred times.”

There was a hint of anger in Celia’s voice.

“I will prepare immediately, Lady Celia.”

Elena also sympathized with her actions.

Certainly, entry into the Silent Mountains was forbidden within the royal court.

Yet, the one who broke that prohibition was a person named Henrik.

He violated the royal decree and even secretly employed adventurers to venture into the mountains.

Of course, most adventurers who ascended the mountains met their demise.

The surviving adventurers became prey for goblins.

Each adventurer paid their dues in various ways.

However, Henrik’s wrongdoings couldn’t be overlooked.

Firstly, the crime of infiltrating the domain of the great one.

Secondly, the crime of defying royal orders.

Thus, Celia chose Henrik as the first to pay the price.

Elena agreed as well.

Henrik was a loyal servant of the Count Bearton for a long time.

He must have a lot of information about the Count.

And the Count Bearton Henrik served as the leader of the noble faction.

To Elena, the noble faction was a thorn that needed to be removed in the future.

So, shaking the Count Bearton first wasn’t a loss but rather a significant gain.

“No, let me handle him. Elena, please prepare for the next plan.”

“Yes, Lady Celia.”

Now, they could forget about the matter concerning Butler Henrik.

Rather, the princess herself stepping forward would bring much more suffering.

Celia once again moved Elena’s hand.

The queen that had toppled the pawn began to move again.

“We don’t need nobles who have betrayed once.”

The queen that had toppled the pawn knocked down the knights, rooks, and bishops one after another.

Of course, all the pieces toppled by the queen were white.

“The downfall of the nobles.”

Elena murmured softly.

Haven’t they faithfully followed Celia’s orders to anticipate their downfall until now?

Now, it was only a matter of time.

“And finally,”

Only one white piece remained on the chessboard.

This time, Celia released her grip, but Elena exerted her own strength.

With a clear goal in mind, their actions were decisive.

It was Elena herself, not Celia, who toppled the king.

“Now, let’s spread His will throughout the world.”

A sweet demonic whisper was heard.

====

***

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The Count Bearton mansion was bustling with activity.

As one passed through the gardens tended by gardeners, the footsteps of servants echoed throughout the mansion.

In the kitchen, where flames flickered, the air was filled with the fragrant aroma of delicious dishes being prepared.

Though it seemed chaotic due to everyone being busy, upon closer inspection, everything was meticulously organized to ensure tasks were completed on time.

– Clap- –

Amidst the hustle and bustle, someone clapped their hands.

It was Butler Henrik.

“Make the space between the tables wider! I won’t tolerate mistakes in a place where the Count’s honor is at stake! Move quickly!”

Henrik, with his hair and face covered in white, wrinkled with the marks of time, exuded authority in his voice.

Although his scarred left eye, which could no longer see, and his hands were filled with scars large and small, he had no trouble issuing commands.

In fact, as the butler, he had more than enough tasks to attend to.

Suddenly, it was decided that a banquet would be held at the mansion tomorrow.

To prepare for this sudden event, preparations had to be made not only during the day but also throughout the night.

Thus, Henrik tirelessly directed all preparations.

Amidst Henrik’s busy movements, someone approached him.

“Yes?”

It was a maid.

However, she was a maid he had never seen before.

‘Was there a face I didn’t recognize?’

Henrik, who knew everything about the mansion, didn’t recognize her.

However, he didn’t particularly suspect anything.

‘Perhaps I’m getting old.’

Or perhaps these were new maids who had arrived a few days ago.

Henrik’s thoughts were brief.

Preparing for the banquet took precedence.

“What is it?”

Henrik asked the maid in a measured voice.

The maid smiled faintly and spoke.

“The Count wishes to see Butler Henrik.”

Now that he thought about it, the maid’s manner and behavior were sloppy.

‘Must have arrived a few days ago. I should instruct her again.’

Nevertheless, her appearance was beautiful.

No, it wasn’t just ordinary beauty.

Perhaps she wouldn’t just remain a maid.

“I’ll see His Lordship right away.”

Henrik immediately turned around.

Just as he was about to take a step, he turned his head.

“Right, what’s your name?”

If she was a new maid, he would eventually have to memorize her name and face. That’s why he asked her name.

“I am ■■■.”

“I see.”

Having heard the maid’s reply, Henrik immediately picked up his pace.

It would be rude to keep the Count waiting any longer, so he quickened his steps.

As he walked, Henrik thought about the mansion’s affairs.

He pondered how to wrap up the preparations for tomorrow’s banquet and even recalled his recent conversation with the maid.

‘Surely, she didn’t have a surname.’

Perhaps the maid was just an ordinary commoner.

After all, if she had noble blood, she wouldn’t have started as a maid from the beginning.

However, Henrik rated her beauty as top-notch.

Perhaps someone from the Count’s household would fall deeply for her.

The first son of the Count, who gambled with women, came to mind.

‘Women should be cautious.’

Well, if she became the target of the first son’s affections, it wouldn’t be so bad for the maid.

It’s the kind of relationship where the weak obey the strong.

That’s what life was all about.

Henrik stopped his miscellaneous thoughts and knocked on the Count’s study door.

“Yes?”

But there was no response from beyond the study door.

He knocked again, but the result was the same.

“May I come in?”

The Count’s study remained silent.

‘What’s going on?’

Henrik slowly opened the study door.

Simultaneously, he entered the study that the door had opened to.

Then he suddenly remembered the earlier incident.

The Count Bearton instructions he had been given.

“The delegation from White Order will return tomorrow, so make sure to thoroughly prepare for the party before then.”

Yes, the Count must have said that and then left.

It meant that the Count wasn’t present in the mansion right now.

Then why did the maid mention such a thing?

Could it be that he returned during that time?

However, Henrik soon shook his head.

‘No, that’s impossible.’

If the Count had returned to the mansion, there’s no way he wouldn’t have known.

‘I should give that maid a scolding later. What was her name again?’

The problem was, he couldn’t remember the maid’s name.

As Henrik pondered this, he slowly raised his head.

“…Huh?”

Inside the study, there was still no sign of the Count. However, instead of the Count, knights armed in armor were present.

“What’s the meaning of this?!”

The knights had entered the Count’s study without permission.

This was a challenge to the Count’s authority.

Henrik scanned the knights.

Their entire bodies were clad in armor, and their faces were covered by helmets, making it impossible to identify who was who.

But Henrik, filled with anger, approached one of the knights.

“Remove your armor immediately!”

And he removed one of their helmets.

“……!”

“A skeleton?!”

“Dik-dik!”

Why were monsters armored as knights?

Henrik looked around.

“Dik! Dik! Dik!”

It wasn’t just one monster.

Everyone here was not a knight but a monster.

“S-Surely not!”

The fact that monsters were inside the mansion couldn’t spread outside.

And to make matters worse, the Count was with the White Order’s delegation.

‘I need to call the knights immediately!’

It was urgent to inform them that monsters had infiltrated the mansion.

Henrik turned back towards the study door, but there, the maid he had seen earlier was standing.

She smiled brightly, but she looked different from before.

The horns above her head indicated she wasn’t a normal human.

“You!”

But Henrik couldn’t finish his sentence. A skeleton, disguised as a knight, struck his neck.

He lost consciousness.

………..

……

It didn’t take Henrik long to regain consciousness.

The problem was when he woke up, he found himself not in the luxurious mansion but in an unknown location.

It resembled a cave.

Although one might panic in such a sudden situation, Henrik instead raised his voice.

“Do you have any idea who I am? How dare you do this to me!”

It was clearly a case of kidnapping.

And not just any kidnapping, but the kidnapping of the butler serving the Count Bearton.

Currently, in the Sael Kingdom, the position of the Count Bearton was significant.

As the leader of the noble faction, the Count Bearton held as much authority and influence as the king himself.

In other words, kidnapping the butler, who was in charge, was akin to challenging the influential Count.

Knowing this fact, Henrik shouted even louder.

“I won’t be held you responsible for this incident specifically! So, it’s best to stop this nonsense!”

But his voice echoed without any response.

No one came out despite how much he yelled.

How long did he shout?

Henrik took a deep breath, catching his breath for a moment.

As the silence settled in, he saw someone approaching from afar.

“Enough of this nonsense.”

But when Henrik confirmed the approaching figure, his mouth shut.

“……”

The approaching entity was not human.

It was a giant monster with two heads.

Its height was like that of three adult men combined.

“O-Ogre…?”

Having served as the butler of the Count for a long time, Henrik knew a little about monsters too.

Ogres were monsters to be 3-star, which somewhat skilled adventurers could handle.

But Henrik had never seen one with two heads before.

And behind the ogre stood the maid he had seen earlier.

However, she was wearing a stylish red dress instead of a maid outfit.

“You dare you send adventurers into the realm of the Great One. Are you prepared to pay the price?”

Adventurers?

What was she talking about?

Henrik shook his head, confused by what the girl was saying.

After a few seconds passed, Henrik had a thought.

“Oh.”

Could it be that she was referring to secretly sending adventurers to the mountains?

But that was just sending them to the mountains.

It did violate the royal decree, but it had nothing to do with monsters.

As he showed his expression of not understanding, the girl who was the maid stepped back.

“Ogre here is a monster brought by the great master I respect.”

It was an ogre bought at an auction in the Demon Market.

“Mr. Ogre, please begin.”

The maid, or rather Celia, gave orders to the ogre while hiding her appearance.

At the same time, the ogre approached Henrik.

“What to do. Won.”

The head on the right side of the ogre, named “One,” spoke to the head on the left side, named “Won.”

“The manager said so. Torment the human. We follow the manager’s orders. One.”

To the question from the right head “One,” the left head “Won” responded.

The biggest difference between them was that the left head “Won” had an external eye.

Henrik looked at the absurd situation before him and tried to think as much as he could.

If monsters are coming out, then this place must be a dungeon.

But Henrik’s assumptions didn’t stop there.

He especially thought about the ogre in front of him.

An ogre is a monster with two heads attached to one body.

Although it has two heads, it was said that it’s not a significant problem because its intelligence is low.

Of course, that was when there were armed soldiers around, which is different from now.

“Won, torment the human. How?”

“That’s easy. The manager gave it to us. Power. Torture?”

“Oh, I see. Won.”

“That’s right. One.”

Clearly, having one body but two faces babbling to each other left Henrik baffled.

Since he didn’t understand what was going on in the first place or why he should be here, he just remained silent.

“One.”

“What’s going on. Won.”

This time, the left head “Won” spoke to the right head “One” first.

“Do you remember? One, when we fell into the water.”

“Yeah. That was terrible. I hate it.”

“Right, water is the answer. One.”

Then, another being revealed itself behind the ogre.

“Water…?”

A large mass of blue light, resembling water, approached while making splashing sounds.

It was clearly a water spirit.

But why was such a creature here?

Henrik could only blink his eyes in confusion.

“The manager said it’s okay to use water.”

“Wow, Won, you’re really smart!”

Saying so, the right and left heads thrust Henrik’s head into the water spirit.