The Dungeon Monsters Keep Offering Sacrifices - Chapter 80: Skeleton Holy Knight (2)

The dungeon monsters keep offering sacrifices – 080

EP.80 Skeleton Holy Knight (2)

“Does this make sense?”

There are only three Holy Knights sacrificed as offerings.

From those three, I obtained 14 divine powers.

Additionally, I acquired one Trait and two skills.

“It seems obtaining only one ability from each sacrifice is not the case.”

Above all, this incident confirmed one thing for me.

Though I’m not exactly sure of the criteria, it’s clear that sacrificing one thing doesn’t necessarily grant only one point`.

There was another difference.

“The previous adventurers collectively had 13 divine powers…”

The divine powers obtained from adventurers sacrificed not long ago totaled 13.

This time, despite only three Holy Knights being offered, I gained a whopping 14 divine powers.

“Even with the same abilities, the amount obtained varies depending on the person.”

At most, an adventurer would grant one divine power.

In contrast, one Holy Knight gave 5, and the other gave 9 divine powers respectively.

The El Dorad continent fundamentally believes in the goddess.

Hence, the influence of the White Order is potent there.

“It wasn’t strange for adventurers to provide divine powers.”

Considering there are many who believe in and follow the goddess.

However, Holy Knights are members directly affiliated with the Order.

They gave more divine powers compared to adventurers.

To summarize. if divine powers are needed, one should seek out Holy Knights.

Then, what about magic?

This time, it would be appropriate to find a magician like Holy Knights.

Of course, it doesn’t guarantee obtaining what you desire.

“I obtained Magic Circuit and Fireball, but couldn’t acquire Magic Stat.”

There were also magicians among the adventurers sacrificed as offerings.

I acquired relevant skills but couldn’t obtain Magic Stat.

Instead, they only provide divine powers.

Ultimately, what you obtain depends purely on luck.

I promptly checked the abilities acquired this time.

[List of Acquired Abilities]

– Divine Powers X14

– Goddess Faith (D) ×1

– Judgment of Light (B) ×1

– Holy Shield (C) ×1

– Goddess Faith (D): Trait. When the loyalty and faith of a follower towards the goddess become excessive, this Trait manifests.

Firstly, the D-grade Trait, Goddess Faith.

This Trait doesn’t hold much significance.

It’s simply an ability that manifests when faith becomes excessive.

It’s mainly possessed by members affiliated with the Order, but it was said that not having it wouldn’t cause much inconvenience.

So, having this Trait didn’t really change anything.

“This one seems rather useless.”

I promptly checked the next skills.

– Judgment of Light (B): Skill. Casts a powerful judgment with divine light. Strikes enemies with powerful light attacks, purging evil. Additional adjustments are made based on the possessed divine powers.

– Holy Shield (C): Skill. A shield made of the goddess’s protection and divine energy. Blocks enemy attacks when wielded. Additional adjustments are made based on the possessed divine powers.

“This time, I obtained something decent, right?”

Judgment of Light and Holy Shield.

These are skills used by the Order’s Holy Knights and inquisitors.

I acquired appropriate attack and defense skills. Looking at the descriptions, I could understand why the Order’s skills are formidable.

“In the end, I need higher divine powers.”

Depending on the divine powers each individual possesses, even C-grade skills could yield greater efficiency.

It’s somewhat similar to the healing skill of the Goddess I obtained last time.

Of course, the Goddess’s healing skill’s grade directly corresponds to the grade of divine powers, so there was such a difference.

“In this case, it’s best for me to use the divine powers.”

There was a time when I reinforced Maru’s divine powers to 13.

Thanks to that, Maru’s current divine powers are of E-grade.

It meant that I, with F-grade divine powers, needed them more immediately.

I immediately touched the screen.

– Would you like to enhance the divine powers to the dungeon owner ‘Lee Kang-hyun’? –

– Enhanced abilities cannot be undone. –

– And I repeated this process continuously. –

– Would you like to enhance the divine powers to the dungeon owner ‘Lee Kang-hyun’? –

– Enhanced abilities cannot be undone. –

After enhancing all 14 divine powers, I confirmed that my divine power grade had risen to E-grade.

“Not bad.”

Though the journey ahead was still long, it was something I could progress through step by step.

Since I was reinforcing anyway, I also looked at additional skills.

“Hmm.”

Attack skills and defense skills.

Both were somewhat appealing skills.

Initially, I considered giving both to Maru, but I couldn’t neglect reinforcing myself too much.

Above all, the Holy Shield skill seemed suitable for my current usage.

I immediately began enhancing it.

– Would you like to enhance the skill Holy Shield (C) to the dungeon owner ‘Lee Kang-hyun’? –

– Enhanced abilities cannot be undone. –

When I touched the enhancement, a different effect appeared this time.

Powerful light appeared around me, enveloping my body.

The light seemed to absorb into me and soon disappeared.

“Fortunately, there was no pain.”

Given the intense pain I felt when acquiring Magic Circuit last time, I was slightly anxious.

But fortunately, there was no discernible pain this time.

I immediately wanted to confirm what I gained.

“Status window.”

<Lee Kang-hyun>

[Traits]

True Dungeon Master (EX)

Owner of the Demon Sword (S)

Magic Sensitivity (A)

Magic Circuit (B)

[Basic Information]

Health: C+

Attack: B

Defense: C

Magic: A+

Divine Powers: E

[Skills]

Knight’s Oath (S): Maru (Activated)

Holy Shield (C)

Fireball (E)

Goddess’s Healing (E)

My Divine Powers rose to E-grade.

And with the rise in Divine Powers grade, Goddess’s Healing skill also upgraded from F-grade to E-grade.

“Not bad.”

With this momentum, I considered learning Judgment of Light, but it wasn’t necessary.

“It’s not a skill I particularly need.”

While I might acquire another skill someday, it wasn’t very efficient for me right now.

It seemed better to give it to Maru instead.

– Would you like to enhance the skill Judgment of Light (B) to Maru (★★★★)?–

– Enhanced abilities cannot be undone. –

I immediately enhanced the skill to Maru.

While I didn’t need it immediately, it would be wasteful to just let it sit unused.

After all, Maru’s strength is my strength.

Currently, he is on the El Dorad continent, but when Maru returns, it will be a great help.

“By the way, Goddess Faith…”

Among the abilities obtained from the Holy Knights, the only one left was Goddess Faith.

This Trait had no use other than representing faith in the goddess.

It wasn’t particularly remarkable, so it was only a D-grade Trait.

“Where could this be used?”

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t come up with a useful application.

“I’ll just leave it for now.”

Honestly, even when I was with the Order, I heard that having this Trait didn’t make much of a difference.

But I couldn’t help but think ‘why bother’ when considering acquiring it myself.

“Let’s just leave it be.”

There was no rule insisting I must use something that’s currently useless.

So, I decided to neatly put this Trait on hold.

I touched Maru’s name to quickly review his abilities.

<Maru>

Grade: ★★★★

Race: Skeleton

[Traits]

Agile Movement (F+)

[Basic Information]

Health: B-

Attack: B+ (Adjusted +1 level due to Demon Sword)

Defense: C

Magic: C

Divine Powers: E

[Skills]

Knight’s Oath (S): Lee Kang Hyun (Activated)

Judgment of Light (B)

Maru also had room for improvement in his abilities.

However, his potential for growth was significant, so I wasn’t worried.

As long as there was an offering, of course.

Since this aspect wasn’t under my jurisdiction, I decided to wait patiently.

Thinking about when Maru might return, I looked at the ramen Coco made.

And as I took a bite.

“Wait, why does this taste weird?”

I put down my chopsticks.

“Coco, come here.”

Coco approached me upon my call.

“Why is this ramen so spicy?”

In response to my question, Coco headed to the kitchen and returned with something.

“Capsaicin?”

No wonder it tasted so spicy.

But Coco’s actions didn’t end there.

Coco casually started pouring capsaicin into my ramen.

“?”

What is this guy doing?

Confusion filled my mind.

====

***

====

Maru and Celia were still chatting.

The only thing that changed was the topic, their devotion to the great master remained unchanged.

“For the sake of the master, Sir Maru must also know how to do something on his own.”

“Tick!”

Maru responded to Celia’s question.

“For example, quickly figuring out what the master needs.”

Maru listened attentively to Celia’s words.

Indeed, that aspect was important.

“Currently, the master desires the Sael Kingdom above all.”

“Tick?”

It was news to him.

But Maru focused on Celia’s words.

Could possessing such insight make one a true manager?

“And as I mentioned earlier, the kingdom is currently in great turmoil.”

The kingdom was deeply divided.

There were the king and the nobles who followed him, the royalist’s faction.

And there were the nobles who asserted their authority, the noble’s faction.

The kingdom was in a state of great unrest, especially in the long run.

Moreover, didn’t the White Order also side with the noble’s faction?

In such circumstances, the king’s hand was not strong.

“So, we must take action.”

Celia smiled and pulled out a document.

“This is a contract we made with the demon merchant. We mainly use this to purchase what we need for the dungeon. Conversely, we also sell the loot obtained from adventurers.”

Maru looked at the contract.

It contained various traded items, including materials for dungeon expansion and ingredients for goblins to eat.

There were also weapons, and most importantly, records of trading monster troops.

“Tick?”

Maru expressed doubt upon seeing the contract.

Seeing recent transactions involving monsters, he noticed that multiple skeleton knights had been acquired.

Why?

The dungeons Maru knew of already had abundant troops.

There was no need to acquire additional troops through the market.

Yet, they had gone to the trouble of bringing in skeleton knights, even depleting the treasury.

Was it really necessary?

“As expected, you’re quick to catch on.”

Seeing Maru’s reaction, Celia smiled and replied.

“Since we, who follow the master’s will, have restrictions on our activities here, we brought in monsters from the market that aren’t bound by such restrictions.”

“Tick!”

Maru nodded as if understanding.

“Thanks to that, excessive spending isn’t a problem. They will all change the course of the kingdom.”

“Tick?”

“I gave a gift to Princess Elena.”

====

***

====

“Haha, this should be enough to understand the intentions of the Order.”

Count Bearton stared at his adversary with a sinister expression.

Count Bearton.

He was a noble who knew that the White Order had infiltrated the Sael Kingdom with Holy Knights first.

At the same time, he was also the leader of the confused nobles, leading them in the absence of Count Derek due to the recent turmoil.

In front of him was a Holy Knight infiltrated by the White Order.

It was Vice Commander Riana.

She had come to Count Bearton to convey the intentions of the Order.

‘If this matter is resolved well, the king will become useless.’

With the support of the Order, the tide turned.

Moreover, this matter was not something the Order or the kingdom could simply overlook.

It was a case where priests and Holy Knights of the White Order had disappeared.

If they remained silent, the authority of the White Order would be undermined.

Ultimately, if this matter were to be taken seriously, the king would lose authority and fall.

In that case, the real rulers of the kingdom would be the nobles.

‘Princess Elena is just a pawn.’

Now, there were no obstacles in his path.

“I trust that you will do well, Count Bearton. The White Order will never forget your favor.”

Vice Commander Riana said so as she lifted the contract she had given to the Count.

Then, as light began to glow from her hand, the contract burst into flames.

Currently, the atmosphere in the Sael Kingdom was one of confrontation between the royalists and the nobles.

And the White Order harbored ambitions to expand into the demon world through the Sael Kingdom.

In this situation, the mood in the Sael Kingdom wasn’t bad for the White Order.

The influence of the White Order in the Sael Kingdom was relatively minimal due to its distance.

However, by supporting the nobles, the Order created a small opening.

Now, it was possible for the Order to exert influence over the nobles of the Sael Kingdom.

Riana stood up from her seat. At the same time, Count Bearton also rose, following her lead.

“No, please, rest a bit more comfortably. Haha.”

As they were individuals who could resolve his concerns, Count Bearton graciously offered his seat.

Though it was a bit early, he intended to extend the invitation until the evening.

“It’s okay. There are many things to attend to before the Order arrives in earnest.”

But Riana politely declined, shaking her head. Well, her expression was slightly strained.

It seemed she had some dissatisfaction but Count Bearton didn’t catch on.

“Well… in that case, there’s nothing to be done. I’ll formally invite you next time, Vice Commander Riana.”

After Riana stood up, she glanced around the room.

There were several knights armored from head to toe, leaving no gaps in their armor.

Perhaps sensing Riana’s gaze, Count Bearton proudly spoke up.

“These are the knights who assist me. They’re all loyal fellows who protect my family.”

Pride resonated in his voice. However, Riana felt discomfort.

It wasn’t just because she had made the knights wait here. It was something else, something about the unusual aura coming from the knights.

“…”

That was also unsettling.

Though not certain because of their armor, she felt something.

Before Riana could approach them, a subordinate approached from behind and whispered softly.

“There is a problem.”

A problem?

“Three people are missing.”

Riana frowned.

While Riana conversed with Count Bearton, her subordinates were gathering information.

Now, three of them were missing.

“Let’s go out immediately.”

Riana forgot her previous discomfort and headed outside. At this moment, no variables were permissible.