The Dungeon Monsters Keep Offering Sacrifices - Chapter 125: Monster Arena (2)

The Dungeon Monsters Keep Offering Sacrifices – 125

EP.125 Monster Arena (2)

All monsters and miscellaneous items obtained through gem draws were bound to the dungeon. Managing these monsters and items was Celia’s responsibility.

“Hmm. This time, we got a lot of goblins. Does this mean we should actively utilize goblins?”

Although the monsters from the draws varied each time, Celia never took it lightly. She believed there was always a meaning behind her master’s choices and tried to understand his intentions.

“The new orcs can all be handed over to Squall.”

Celia categorized the monsters by species. Goblins were assigned to the Goblin Lord, and orcs were allocated to Squall, who led the ‘Red Head Tribe’ dungeon. Following Celia’s instructions, the skeleton knights busily moved about.

“The vampire butterflies have been sent by the master after a long time. Take them all to Area 3. Aren will handle them well.”

It was easy when existing monsters appeared. They just needed to be sent to the Areas where their kind resided. The problem arose when new creatures emerged.

“Hmm… What should we do with this?”

A fish flopping on the ground caught Celia’s attention. Naturally, it wasn’t an ordinary fish but a monster.

[Aqua Devourer]

It was a rare species due to its low population. Celia marveled at her master’s ability to send such a rare creature but also felt a twinge of concern. The issue was where to keep it.

The Aqua Devourer had a tough scale-covered body and fins with poisonous spines that could paralyze opponents. Of course, these features had no effect on Celia, who was a six-star being.

As Celia lifted the creature, its green eyes turned red, indicating its anger.

“This is quite troublesome.”

Celia was well aware of this monster. Though small now, it would grow much larger than most dungeons when it reached adulthood. The Aqua Devourer was not a monster that could be kept in the dungeon.

Moreover, the only water source in the dungeon was the lake in Area 4, inhabited by the Nagas. The Aqua Devourer’s aggressive nature could disrupt the ecosystem there.

Even as a baby, it was still a three-star monster. Killing it wasn’t an option either. It was a monster given by the master, and killing it would be an act of disloyalty.

After a brief contemplation, Celia made a decision.

“I’ll commission Dambi through the Adventurers’ Guild. The task will be to transport supplies to Lake Yenarian, with top priority.”

A skeleton knight, following Celia’s orders, moved into action. Since the monster couldn’t be kept in the dungeon, it would be released elsewhere—specifically, Lake Yenarian. This lake, situated near the Sael Kingdom, the Free City Union, and the Orovis Empire, was a suitable size.

Releasing the baby Aqua Devourer into the lake might seem irresponsible, but there was no need to worry. Its tough scales and poisonous spines would ensure its survival. The lake’s ecosystem might suffer, but that wasn’t Celia’s concern.

“With that settled, let’s move on to the next task.”

Even after sorting the monsters, her work wasn’t done. Next, she had to categorize the items and review the reports sent by Necros.

‘Monster Arena, was it?’

The reports from Necros, who had gone to investigate in the Sael Kingdom, detailed a business venture involving an arena in partnership with humans. However, item sorting took precedence over the reports.

“First, let’s organize the items.”

Celia muttered to herself as she looked at the scattered items on the floor.

“It’s been a while since we received items, hasn’t it?”

Her master occasionally sent such items. The dress she wore and the maid outfit attached to the Death Knight’s shield were all gifts from him. Typically, Lee Kang-hyun used gems to summon monsters rather than items, so this was a rare occurrence.

Having drawn many items during his recent bout of boredom, the dungeon was now filled with them.

“Let’s sort out the useful ones first.”

There were many useless items as well, a leaky water bottle, half-eaten bones, moldy bread, stones, and other junk that should be discarded. However, Celia believed even these were sent with her master’s intent and didn’t dispose of them carelessly.

“Take the moldy bread to the zombies.”

There were occasionally some decent items among the junk. Some were weapons and armor, but none were of high quality. They were the kind of gear one could buy at a regular shop, even inferior to what the goblin scouts were currently using. In other words, they were not particularly useful within the dungeon.

However, Celia believed these items also carried her master’s intent. As she pondered how to use them, Necros’s report came to mind.

‘Malcolm, the one buying zombies, and the Monster Arena project he and Necros are pushing….’

Could all of this be mere coincidence? Celia shook her head.

“That’s unlikely. It must be connected to the Black Hand.”

The Black Hand. Information gleaned from interrogating nobles revealed it. Initially thought to be a small organization, it turned out to be a large coalition of groups controlling the underworld of the Sael Kingdom. If her intuition was correct, Malcolm was likely part of this organization.

“The Monster Arena and the Black Hand are probably related.”

Perhaps her master’s provision of so many monsters and items was a directive to resolve this situation swiftly. Celia nodded at the possibility. The Great Master knew everything. This was likely another test for her.

Celia felt supporting Necros with monsters was a good decision. Running a Monster Arena required monsters, and with Necros handling them, Malcolm would see him as a valuable partner. Moreover, securing a place to infiltrate monsters into the kingdom was commendable.

“Let’s support them with the remaining equipment as well.”

Celia decided to take a more active role. She aimed to approach the Monster Arena and uncover the secrets of the Black Hand. She was certain this aligned with her master’s intentions.

“It seems the master desires a swift resolution….”

Celia ran her hand through her hair, causing the two horns on her head to vanish instantly.

Celia now appeared entirely human, with no trace of her monstrous nature.

“Alright, let’s head to the kingdom.”

Celia left the dungeon.

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***

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There was a saying on the El Dorad Continent.

Even the grandest mage towers cast shadows.

In the dazzlingly lit cities, there were those who lived difficult lives, hidden in the shadows of the grandeur. These were the people who struggled to survive each day, overshadowed by the city’s brilliance.

Cale was one of them. His life, much like his common name, was far from extraordinary. In fact, it was filled with misfortune. When Cale was just eight years old, his parents were killed in a monster attack. Suddenly orphaned, Cale became the head of his household.

As the new head, young Cale had to take care of his younger sister alone. To make matters worse, the following year, his sister fell gravely ill with an unknown disease. There was no way for young Cale to afford the treatment. They had no relatives to rely on, and in a world where everyone was struggling to survive, there were no neighbors willing to help the siblings who might soon die.

But Cale didn’t give up. To earn money for his sister’s treatment, he took on any odd job he could find. However, the money he earned was barely enough to keep his sister alive, and her condition only worsened over time.

Cale had many dreams and desires, but he gave them all up for his sister. He worked tirelessly, but all his earnings went towards her medical bills. Sometimes, everything felt futile. He wanted to give up. But he couldn’t abandon his only family, his sister. Saving her was his only hope and the reason he continued to live.

He endured this for seven years. But it seemed that hope was running out today.

“So, you can’t pay back the money?”

Two men with menacing looks, Garrett and Sam, glared threateningly at Cale. No matter how hard Cale worked, he only earned a pittance. It was barely enough to survive, let alone cover his sister’s medical expenses. Eventually, Cale had no choice but to turn to loan sharks, which led to his current predicament.

“Please, just this once! I promise I’ll work hard and pay it back. Just this one time!”

Cale pleaded on his knees, but the men’s expressions didn’t change.

Instead, Garrett grabbed Cale by the collar and lifted him up.

“You dare borrow money and not repay it? If it weren’t for Malcolm’s orders, you’d be dead already!”

Garrett glared at Cale, issuing a threat, then pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to him. Despite his hardships, Cale had made an effort to learn to read, and he could just make out the words on the paper.

[Monster Arena Participation Form]

“A- an arena application form…?”

Cale’s confusion was met with Garrett’s explanation.

“Didn’t you hear me? The merciful Malcolm is giving someone like you a chance. Sign this form, and your debt will be forgiven.”

“R-really?!”

Cale’s eyes widened at the mention of debt forgiveness. Just a signature to be free from his debt? But he also felt a sense of unease.

‘Monster Arena…’

The name alone sounded dangerous. He had a gut feeling that surviving there would be nearly impossible. As Cale hesitated, Sam spoke up.

“Don’t worry. If you survive, you can make a lot of money. It says right here that you only need to last 15 minutes.”

Sam pointed to a part of the form. Indeed, it stated, ‘Survival is considered if you last 15 minutes.’

‘Just 15 minutes…’

He had endured seven years of suffering; surely he could last 15 minutes.

“You won’t be able to save your sister if you keep working like this. Face reality.”

Garrett approached more gently this time. His words weren’t wrong. Continuing as he was offered no hope for the future.

“This offer is only available now. Decide quickly.”

Cale hesitated. It was a good offer. Surviving the arena would mean a fresh start and better treatment for his sister. But what if he died? What would happen to his sister then? It was a horrifying thought he didn’t want to entertain. Perhaps it was better to continue living as he was, rather than risk his life.

If he kept living quietly, wouldn’t his sister eventually recover, and wouldn’t he be able to pay off his debt? As Cale was deep in thought, a sudden shout interrupted him.

“Brother, the registration is closed! We can’t take any more!”

Garrett clicked his tongue in disappointment.

“Tsk, you should’ve taken the chance when you had it. It’s already over.”

A wave of regret washed over Cale.

‘Ah… I should’ve signed up.’

Realizing he had missed his chance, he now fully understood his predicament. He would have to work tirelessly today, tomorrow, and every day after, constantly worrying about his debt and his sister’s health. The thought of enduring such grueling days made him reconsider. Perhaps it was better to risk everything for 15 minutes.

Cale clenched his fists.

“I-I’ll participate! Please, give me a chance. I beg you!”

Seeing Cale’s desperate plea, Garrett and Sam exchanged uneasy glances.

“This is tricky….”

Cale continued to plead earnestly.

“If I participate, you won’t have to worry about me anymore. Please, just give me one more chance! I promise I’ll do well!”

Perhaps moved by Cale’s desperation, Garrett finally spoke after a moment of contemplation.

“Hmm, it’s not usually allowed… but I’ll make an exception for you. Just don’t spread this around. I’m taking a risk by doing this secretly.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

With a bright smile, Cale began to write his name on the application form, pinning his hopes on the 15-minute opportunity ahead. Garrett couldn’t hide his sneer as he watched.

‘Foolish boy. Do you think people are lining up for this?’

The Monster Arena had just opened and wasn’t well-known yet. Consequently, there weren’t many participants. They had merely tricked Cale into signing. But unaware of this truth, Cale dreamed of a brighter future, believing that his life could change in just 15 minutes.

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***

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“Hehehe, our long-awaited arena has finally opened! Isn’t it exciting?”

Malcolm grinned as he spoke to Necros.

The arena had been in the works for a long time, so the stage was already set. All that was needed were participants and monsters, the rest of the preparations were complete. Malcolm had recruited participants by threatening those who owed him money, forcing them into the arena.

The issue of monsters was resolved by Necros.

‘There’s definitely something special about him.’

Thanks to Necros’s efforts, they secured a variety of monsters, not just zombies but also goblins, orcs, and slimes.

‘It’s a pity.’

Malcolm thought it would be great to know Necros’s secret, but Necros was very secretive. Malcolm clicked his tongue in frustration, but there was still plenty of time to uncover Necros’s abilities slowly. He shook off his distracting thoughts and spoke.

“By the way, who do you plan to bet on? Hehe.”

An arena wasn’t complete without betting. The idea was to predict which participant would survive and place bets accordingly. If the participant one bet on survived, they would receive a payout based on the odds.

As the arena’s first match was about to begin, it wouldn’t be right for the organizers, Malcolm and Necros, to abstain from betting.

“I’m betting on this guy. Hehe. The odds are low, but he’s a former adventurer, so he should survive till the end.”

The person Malcolm pointed to was a silver-ranked adventurer, attracting many bets. However, because of the low odds, even if this adventurer won, the payout wouldn’t be substantial.

Malcolm shared his thoughts and waited for Necros’s choice. After a moment, Necros also selected a participant.

“Hahaha! You’re quite the joker! The kid you picked is only sixteen and probably has no experience beyond wiping his nose. Hehehe!”

The participant Necros chose had the highest odds, meaning the lowest chance of survival. But Necros didn’t retract his choice.

Who was Necros? He served the Great One and belonged to His dungeon. And who were the monsters in the arena? They also served the Great One and belonged to Him. With Necros’s choice, the outcome of the match was practically decided.