Ch.5252. I Am the Master

What do I think makes a person truly human?

Conversely, one of the elements that makes a person seem inhuman is…

Not fearing death.

“UWOAAAAA!!”

I was terrified of these people claiming to be my followers.

“…Have they gone half-mad?”

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: …What’s going on?」

「The middle level of the dungeon has been cleared!」

“Wait a moment.”

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: W-why is everyone suddenly acting like this?」

“I don’t know either.”

I feel wronged too.

What wind has blown their way, turning them into fanatics overnight who are trying to clear the dungeon?

“Aren’t they afraid of dying?”

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: …They don’t seem afraid.」

Even constellations fear the death of their existence.

It’s not much different for their creations or humans of lower rank.

“Father God! Look upon me!!”

I clearly built this dungeon under the name of a different identity, ‘Black Abyss.’

So why are they calling out my name there?

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: At this rate, they’ll clear it…?」

“No!”

What about my constellation friends? What about that new taste I’ve been looking forward to?

My wish and desire to capture, bind, and beat them was fading before my eyes.

First, I needed to delay the rapidly progressing dungeon clearance.

They had already cleared half of it, but the exploration team hadn’t yet reached the lowest level and its surroundings.

“First, a maze.”

I deliberately added a maze-like structure with hard-to-find exits, hoping the followers hunting for monsters would tire themselves out.

According to my plan, the followers who entered the next stage began to wander, unable to easily find their way.

“Let me catch my breath.”

Now that I’d bought some time, it was time for my next stalling tactic.

「Child of the Lost Star: If we don’t find it quickly, the dungeon will be cleared soon.」

“Don’t just talk, help me find a solution.”

「Child of the Lost Star: Understood.」

The other constellations’ sects haven’t arrived yet.

The goal of this operation is to use the dungeon to prompt the constellations’ activities while luring them into the center of the hunting ground.

“Ragnis hasn’t even been deployed yet.”

Of course, I sent her as soon as the Dungeon City was activated.

I needed someone to observe the situation there more closely.

‘I wonder if she’s adapted by now?’

Enough time has passed that she should have settled into a routine.

“I’m going to meet her now.”

I was curious about how much she had accomplished, and it seemed like we needed to start the operation soon.

#

“Charge! CHARGE!”

The scene was drenched in madness.

“Kiriik…!”

A goblin that had been advancing to block the challengers was intimidated by their momentum—

And the moment it turned its back in the overwhelming situation.

—Thwack!

A blade pierced the slender(?) green body.

“GWAAK!”

“In the name of the Father God! UWOOOOH!”

“Ki, kiik…!”

Seeing their comrade being butchered, the other goblins couldn’t just stand by.

With trembling hands, they forcibly united with their remaining forces.

“Huk, heok…!”

They secretly approached behind an adventurer who was breathing heavily, and pounced.

“…?!”

Now!

Seeing the successful ambush, the goblins began to swarm the adventurer in unison.

Despite his muscular body and overwhelming physical advantage.

No one can withstand a group attack.

“You, bastards…!”

The man who had been calling out to the Father God was buried under goblins, and soon—

He died, covered in sweat and blood, beaten to a pulp.

—Fwssssh…

However, the man’s life wasn’t claimed by death.

Perfectly preserved and protected by divine power, he would be transported outside the dungeon to be revived in his original state.

“Ki, kiruk…”

“Kiek!”

The goblins felt dejected seeing this, but they had to find meaning in overcoming this crisis for now.

In other areas, fanatics who had lost their minds like this man were causing havoc.

—Thud.

Just as the goblins were about to return to their group.

“Kiek!”

A goblin’s sensitive hearing detected the presence of a figure.

Light and nimble footsteps.

Likely a woman.

“Kiruk! Kik!”

“Kieek!”

The goblins decided to hunt one more adventurer and coordinated among themselves to plan an ambush.

—Step.

One step. The presence approached close to where they were hiding.

—Step.

At the second step, confirming the intruder was within attack range, the goblin horde rushed toward the intruder with one mind.

“KEEEEK!”

Normally, living beings tend to be startled in unexpected situations.

The dungeon’s goblins were experienced hunters who had evolved through a history painted with the blood of their kind.

Their victim should suffer a terrible fate like the adventurer who had perished earlier.

—Whoosh!

Until they faced the unbearably hot fire that turned their vision black.

“I knew from the beginning.”

“…!”

Multiple goblins burst into flames instantly.

As if they had been soaked in oil from the start.

The fire, using their life force as fuel, didn’t stop until everything was reduced to ashes.

The ugly green faces, the two murderous eyes, even the screams of agony.

—Hiss…

Only after devouring all living beings did the black fire die down with satisfaction.

Ragnis, who had instantly killed the goblin group, coldly looked down at their remains.

Unlike her initial chaotic state, she had now become a proper member of the Dungeon City.

—That place will be your main area of activity now.

‘What… am I supposed to do?’

—If you live diligently there, I’ll come find you myself.

Her deity, the master of Black Abyss, had clearly instructed her so.

To become a respectable member of the Dungeon City and actively participate in dungeon exploration.

So she did her best to survive in this field.

She had joined a large exploration team aiming to conquer the dungeon, traveled a long distance, and settled here.

‘Seems like I’ve wrapped everything up.’

Today, her mission was to completely clear the already conquered stage.

Since the dungeon was unprecedentedly vast, many monsters remained even after a stage was cleared.

“Good work.”

After completing her mission, someone greeted her as she exited the dungeon entrance.

Looking at his appearance, she saw a man with a kind expression whose clothes were covered with symbols of a certain sect.

“…Yes.”

“Meeting an adventurer like you here, I must be fortunate.”

Ragnis’s achievements were well-known in the Dungeon City.

Her elven racial characteristics, combined with excellent combat abilities and strong divine power utilization, made her an outstanding adventurer.

“If it’s not too rude, may I ask which constellation you serve?”

“That is very rude.”

“Oh.”

Ragnis expressed her refusal without hesitation and quickly left the place.

There was no obligation to hide Black Abyss’s name, but the attempts to convert her to the Father God’s sect were very troublesome and annoying.

It was best to cut off the conversation before it continued.

“Sigh…”

Father God here, Father God there.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this Dungeon City was already strongly influenced by a specific sect.

—Creeak… Clack.

After returning to her lodging and unpacking, Ragnis turned to prepare dinner.

“It’s been a while.”

However, before she could sense any presence, a familiar voice made her turn around and bow respectfully.

“I greet you, Constellation.”

“Mm.”

A figure wearing a black mask.

The constellation who had saved Ragnis had arrived here.

“Have you been well?”

“…Yes.”

Ragnis answered the constellation’s friendly question.

“Thanks to your grace, I have successfully settled here.”

“As expected, you do good work. Yes.”

The master of Black Abyss patted Ragnis’s shoulder, praising her achievements.

“However, if there’s one concerning point.”

“Huh?”

“A certain sect’s influence is very strong… here.”

“…”

The master of Black Abyss was silent for a while after hearing this, then nodded.

“Well… here’s your first mission.”

The master of Black Abyss got straight to the point.

“I will follow your command.”

“Create some confusion for the dungeon exploration team.”

“I will ser… What?”

Ragnis, who had been listening obediently, raised her head to look at her deity.

She couldn’t see the face hidden behind the black mask, but she could sense that he was as perplexed as she was.

“As you know, you don’t lose your life in the dungeon.”

“…Yes. I know.”

“So, mark some dangerous individuals you’ve noticed while working here.”

What is this about?

If the dungeon isn’t conquered, natural disasters will occur.

It could cause massive damage on a national scale.

Therefore, dungeon exploration teams were treated like heroes.

Because they were willing to risk their lives to save the world.

‘You want me to stop them…?’

He wants me to stand against such heroes.

Who? My constellation.

“But, that’s—”

“Don’t worry about the Dungeon Break.”

“No, it’s—”

With such smooth answers, Ragnis was confused about where to start her objection.

“This dungeon is mine anyway.”

“…?”

After endless questions, what came back was a nuclear-level statement.

“Since it’s my property. Do as you please inside.”