Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Otherworld Demon King Survival Guide.

Episode 123: Let’s Defend The Dungeon! (5)

The path from the entrance to the middle of the dungeon was a straight line.

From there, a fork in the road appeared; the left led to the corridor with the children’s quarters, and the right led to the corridor with the master bedroom.

For now, I had blocked off the path to the quarters. I used earth and Sharan’s root growth magic to create a wall. It looked very natural. The intruders would turn right, where we were waiting.

Once they headed this way,

“They will fall into a trap.”

One of them would be neutralized after stepping on an ankle trap.

As I let out a battle cry, the pixies began their volley of shots, and the fairy started sprinkling her dust. Imsoong? He would probably start a fire at the entrance by himself.

Then, they would be caught in a dilemma.

It was impossible for the ambushed group to escape. They might have managed if they were professionally trained warriors, but there was a nun among the adventurers. If it had been a knight of the barony, they might have broken through.

“Vanessa is said to have a righteous personality.”

Reika had said that the Barony’s knight Vanessa had a righteous personality. It seemed she had a connection with the convent, and if she came with the nuns and got attacked, there was a high chance she would try to protect the nun.

Then it would be over. The fairies had already sprinkled their dust.

“If you don’t know, you’re bound to fall for it.”

If they had even a little bit of information about us, this strategy would fail. But they didn’t know about us yet. Then we would win.

“To your positions, everyone.”

“Cackle.”

—Rustle.

So, my soldiers formed a battle formation. The goblins formed a phalanx, and the pixies stood behind them. The tiny fairies moved into holes they had previously made in the ceiling of the dungeon corridor.

And then,

Humans entered the dungeon.

Pressing my back against the corner, I eavesdropped. While forcibly calming my heart that seemed ready to burst, I concentrated on my hearing.

ㅡTap.

Now.

Six humans stood in front of the dungeon, talking.

“Wow. This is amazing. Tree roots cover the inside of the cave. Is it a cave made by monsters?”

A thin woman’s voice.

A nun, perhaps?

“Hmm… I’m not sure. This is the first time I’ve seen something like this. This form… It doesn’t seem like something monsters would make…”

A man, presumably an adventurer, responded.

“So it naturally formed?”

“Yes. Perhaps. It might be that the cave dug by monsters was left unattended for a long time, allowing tree roots to climb down the walls. That’s what I think.”

“A cave dug by monsters. What kind of monster, I wonder?”

The woman’s voice was quite authoritative. Could it be the voice of Knight Vanessa? Definitely. Just by hearing her voice, you could tell she was a strong woman. Hopefully, she wasn’t some burly muscle woman.

Anyway, they were currently curious about the shape of the dungeon. The tree roots covering the ceiling and walls… it would look peculiar.

A shape that would pique curiosity.

“Judging by the size, it doesn’t seem like goblins… Hobgoblins? Satyrs? I guess it’s that kind of monster.”

Completely wrong.

“No problem. Let’s check it out.”

“Ah, but Vanessa.”

“What is it?”

“There are no traces around the dungeon. If it were hobgoblins or satyrs, there would be traces… It’s a bit too clean. There’s even weed growing.”

I had already cleared all the traces and asked Sharan to grow weeds for camouflage.

Completely fooled.

“Speak clearly. Are you saying it’s an empty cave?”

“I think so. It might have been abandoned.”

“Good. If it’s empty, it’ll save us trouble.”

They had decided to enter!

Alright!

“I’ve heard that monsters who make a base in a cave collect the bones of their prey. Even if it’s an abandoned cave, it wouldn’t hurt to check. Then.”

“Ah, aah!”

“Hmm?”

“Vanessa, the words you just said…!”

“…”

“Were they about Reika…?”

The nun asked Vanessa anxiously, the mention of bones likely leading her to that conclusion. There could only be one reason for her concern—Vanessa must have thought Reika was dead.

“That’s unknown.”

“…Sob.”

“That’s why we need to check.”

Vanessa comforted the nun with a voice that was slightly gentler than before. The nun seemed to have a weak heart.

“Don’t worry too much. Reika couldn’t have died.”

Echoing Vanessa’s reassurance, another nun attempted to comfort her faint-hearted companion.

“She must have just sneaked out as usual. Reika is always up to mischief, isn’t she? She’ll come back.”

“But, but the adventurers who went with her are missing too!”

“That is…”

The nun still appeared anxious, despite the attempts to comfort her.

“…”

They seemed like really good people.

And I had to do something terrible to them.

“Let’s be quiet for now. We need to focus on exploring. Let’s go in.”

I pushed those sentiments to the back of my mind. Only survival and growth mattered. There was no need to care about others.

“Ah, yes. Understood.”

The adventurer responded.

And with that, they all entered my dungeon.

Welcome to the Murder Dungeon.

“Vanessa, could this be a bandit’s hideout…?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. There’s no way bandits would be here. Are there any villages nearby to plunder? Merchants don’t travel this route either.”

“That’s true.”

“It’s more likely that it’s a temporary base for smugglers.”

“Smugglers… Of course, they’re no match for you, Vanessa.”

“Obviously. Keep moving.”

ㅡThud thud.

ㅡThud thud.

The sound of footsteps drew closer.

They should have been reaching the fairy trap by now. It was about time for Imsoong to act, but he would do well on his own. I trusted Imsoong. Thinking this, I cautiously returned to my position.

“…”

The moment they turned the corner and came in, it would start.

The moment one fell into a trap.

I would unleash everything.

That was all I thought about.

“…!”

“…!”

The goblins were tense, and the pixies covered their mouths. I quietly commanded them to load the Wind Cutter.

ㅡSsssh.

The pixies loaded the Wind Cutter, ready to fire at any moment. The once playful faces of the pixies turned serious, and soon anger surfaced. They felt rage as the humans drew near.

“What if a monster jumps out…?”

“Don’t worry, Vanessa is here. Be assured.”

The voices of the nuns echoed.

ㅡThud thud.

The footsteps grew ever closer.

“Vanessa, the path turns here.”

“Is there a problem?”

“No. None. Then I’ll lead, please follow me.”

“Understood.”

ㅡThud.

The leading adventurer’s step sounded.

ㅡThud thud.

And the footsteps that followed him.

ㅡWhoosh.

At the same moment, I saw the adventurer enter my field of vision. He was holding a lamp. Naturally, its light didn’t reach where I was. I already knew this from experiments.

“Hmm… It’s dark because the path turned.”

The path became darker as it turned away from the outside light.

“Be careful.”

The moment I heard Vanessa’s voice:

ㅡThump.

“Huh?”

The adventurer reacted.

ㅡWhoaaa!

“Aaaaahhhhh!!!”

He had stepped on a trap and fallen!

“What’s happening-”

“Pixie squad!!! Open fireeeeee!!!”

“What!”

I gave the firing order the moment he fell. We had to strike now! We needed to attack while they were in disarray!

“Just fire as you were trained! First row, open fire!!!”

We were about to unleash our violence on these unsuspecting humans.

ㅡBuzz!

The second and third rows of pixies took off low.

“Dieeee!”

“Perish!”

“Kill all the humans!”

“Kerrrrgh!!!”

ㅡSwoooosh!

ㅡSwoooosh!

The pixies fired the Wind Cutter. It happened simultaneously as the adventurer triggered the trap. The Wind Cutters launched by the first row.

ㅡGasp!

ㅡGahhh!

Pierced the bodies of the standing adventurers.

“Ugh!”

“Argh!”

Their cloth armor couldn’t protect them. The ones hit fell. There was no need to worry about the one who had tripped the ankle trap. He was already incapacitated.

“Aaahhh! What’s happening! Oh, no! Heal! We need healing!”

“Cough…!”

The power of the triple-shot was tremendous. One of the nuns at the back fell after a Wind Cutter hit her in the torso.

The only ones left standing were:

“What in the world is happening!”

“Vanessa!”

Only Vanessa and the nun she was protecting remained. Vanessa quickly swung her sword to deflect the incoming Wind Cutters, shielding the nun. But that was all she could manage.

“…!”

Success.

Everything was a success.

As soon as I had shouted the firing order, Imsoong must have set the fire, and the fairies would have sprinkled the hypnotic powder in the corridor.

It was our victory.

“Goblin phalanx squad! Advance! Pixies! Second volley!”

ㅡClick click click.

I pushed the goblins forward and ordered the pixies to fire again. The enemy was disoriented by the sudden ambush. Now was the time to strike for victory!

“What! What formation is that! The goblins…!”

Vanessa exclaimed in shock at the sight of the advancing goblins.

“Sister Irene! Hide behind me!”

“Vanessa! Liza! Liza has fallen!”

“Didn’t I tell you to hide!”

ㅡSwoooosh!

Another Wind Cutter flew.

“Oh no!”

ㅡSwoosh!

Vanessa swung her sword, deflecting the Wind Cutter. Of course, she couldn’t deflect them all.

“Huh?!”

A Wind Cutter grazed Sister Irene’s shoulder.

“No… I don’t want this! Aaaahhh!”

“Sister Irene!”

The nun turned and fled, leaving behind the fallen adventurer and her fellow nun. Of course, the entrance was already ablaze. The fairies’ hypnotic powder was also scattered.

“Vanessa…! Please save me! Sob!”

“Vanessa!”

“Cough…!”

The fallen adventurers cried out for help, and Sister Liza groaned in pain.

All that was left was the knight, Vanessa.

ㅡClick click click.

The goblins kept advancing.

“Pixies. Prepare for the third volley.”

The pixies reloaded their magic with hatred.

“Sob…!”

Vanessa’s expression twisted.

She was a very beautiful woman.

Black, glossy hair cascaded down her back with neatly cut straight bangs framing her face. Her red eyes complemented her hair perfectly. Reika was indeed beautiful, but Vanessa’s beauty was not to be outdone.

Hidden by her clothing, her figure nonetheless seemed remarkable.

She wore a leather coat over a metal breastplate and shoulder guards, complemented by gauntlets and greaves. A sword was her only weapon. Why did such details come to mind so vividly in such a critical situation?

I suppose I truly am a demon.

“Retreat for now!”

Vanessa made her decision swiftly, discarding her sword to pick up the fallen Sister Liza. Was she intending to abandon the adventurers?

Undoubtedly.

“Cough! Cough…! Va, Vanessa!”

Escape was futile.

“The entrance is on fire! Cough!”

“What?!”

Sister Irene materialized in front of Vanessa as she attempted to flee.

“Imsoong has done well.”

“We must kill all the humans!”

“Shaa!”

“Kerrrrgh!”

Serinu and Sharan, along with their goblin allies, cried out. They, too, sensed the nearness of victory.

And they reveled in it.

“Human! Are you trying to run away!”

I yelled.

“Who are you…!”