Comment and Coupon Thanks to Everyone! Episode 143
47. The Magical Beast and the Deepest, Darkest Dungeon #1
Through the eyes of the Black Fairy King, Osiris, the dazzling glories of the past flashed by. The greatest maze city of the continent thrived under the protection of a giant dragon, basking in golden splendor.
Their thousand-year empire soared in reputation, touching the sky itself.
But the days of arrogance and pride, as they reigned over the world like the Tower of Sumer, slowly led to the decay of his territory.
In the end, it even led to his own corruption.
Osiris cursed his rotting, decaying body, yet he had to keep fighting for survival.
As long as he was alive, a day would come when he could repay all that debt.
[Azidahaka….]
Osiris gazed at the horned woman bound like a slave before him. Her beautiful, fine red dress was in tatters, looking more like a rag than anything elegant.
Her bare feet, lacking even shoes, were caked with dust and sand, and her limbs were shackled with chains and a collar.
A slave.
Once a magnificent Fire Dragon adorned with splendid jewels, now reduced to a pathetic state easily defined by just two words: “slave.”
‘Even the goddess couldn’t escape the wave of decline that crashed over her like a tide. The age of gods, fairies, and spirits has ended, and truly, the age of humans is upon this world.’
Osiris felt a sense of kinship with Azidahaka, now fallen to the role of human property.
Of course, unlike his cursed form, Azidahaka’s robust skin radiated eternal youth, just like it always had.
‘It’s probably because I’ve changed so much that she doesn’t recognize me. But maybe that’s a good thing—there’s no need to hear her chastise me for my foolishness from those haughty days.’
Osiris pulled his black robe lower over his head.
[If you are indeed that goddess, perhaps you can save us from the curse that writhes beneath this underground and the chaos that crawls there…. But….]
Osiris fell silent, feeling the madness and blasphemous cries pouring forth from below his feet, from the very depths of the underground.
A thin wall separated them from the hell that had descended upon the world, and the past mistakes long forgotten gnawed at Osiris’s mind like hungry rats.
Crunch.
Fueled by irritation, Osiris slowly opened his mouth once more.
[The way down to the deepest depths will be harder than you think. From what I see, you seem pressed under a strong curse, barely able to unleash half of your true power. It won’t be easy to descend even a single layer with that body. One misstep could see you swept away by a tide of rats.]
—You know a lot about curses, don’t you?
The white-furred beast, quietly listening, suddenly raised its voice in inquiry. Osiris was curious about what this creature really was.
A being exuding strange magical power and energy, unlike anything he had ever seen, even in his thousand-year empire of wealth and glory.
It had captured and dragged the goddess Azidahaka in chains—certainly, it couldn’t be something ordinary.
Perhaps it could be some mythical creature from the great World Tree said to exist at the edge of the East.
‘Nah, too much curiosity is a bad thing.’
Osiris blinked and cleared his thoughts beneath his black robe. Curiosity and interest could lead to obsessive attachment, which might lead himself back to a cursed greed.
[I know as much as other fairies. Are you really thinking of going down there? I understand you’re a strong beast. But just being strong won’t help you survive.]
—If it’s just being strong, then maybe. But I’m not just strong—I’m truly freaking powerful. If I don’t like something, I could burn this entire place down.
[Ha.]
Osiris let out a small scoff at the white beast’s words. It was such a simple laugh, but when was the last time he had made a sound like that?
[You’re overflowing with confidence. I used to have such days too. But arrogance can become a curse that devours you.]
He spoke as if giving advice, yet he knew the white beast’s confidence was not without merit. Strong arms, sharp claws, excessively developed hind legs—a powerful tail.
The mere fact that it could crush and break upgraded automatons, which even the finest fairy warriors struggled against, exemplified its strength.
—Kyuuiing.
Most importantly, the Cloudring sitting above it implied that it was no ordinary creature.
Wildlings and Cloudrings were attracted to strong magical powers.
‘To break the curse of this tower, strong magical power is needed.’
If he went down with this beast, perhaps they could handle the fearful Walkers after all.
‘Is it fate?’
Osiris felt destiny from these beings. Perhaps now was the moment to plunge into the deepest, darkest underground, to stab a kn*fe through the heart of Nialli.
The man in the black robe said he needed to wait for the charging time.
He explained that the automatons recharged with geothermal energy from the surface, so they would return to a place called the “Management Room” once a day for about ten minutes of power supply.
[That will probably be the only time to descend to the lower levels. If we wait for that moment and go carefully, we should be able to leave this upper layer and head down.]
After a while, just as the man in the black robe had said, the automatons spread around the vicinity lined up and returned to a specific location.
Peeking cautiously out the window, I realized that the place they were heading was indeed the “Management Room.”
‘They’re like robot vacuums, just going back to charge on their own.’
[Now. If we don’t leave now, we’ll be stuck here until this time tomorrow.]
“I’ve already wasted a lot of time just trying to find this tower. I can’t afford to delay any further.”
Azidahaka rose from her chair.
Having returned to the tower, did she have an itch to quickly free herself from her bonds and curses?
If she was revving up, it wasn’t a bad deal for me.
With her powers and bindings lifted, if we could find the precious gem and obtain strong power quickly, then no one would hold me back anymore.
‘Then I can eat more delicious food.’
It was a simple reason and purpose; for now, all I enjoyed was feasting in this world, filled with deliciousness.
As I grew stronger and became the apex predator, I could even devour the mythical creatures known as the Feast of the Gods.
O Kong.
Nialli.
I recalled the mythical creatures that had intended to k*ll me. While I had no significant grudge against other creatures, those two were definitely going into my belly.
[Well, let’s get going.]
The man in the black robe opened the door leading to the rooftop and then took the lead, moving stealthily like a serpent creeping down a ladder.
Rustle.
He peered around as he moved between the buildings, only showing his head, then waved us over.
[No one’s here. Come this way.]
I quickly followed behind, pulling Azidahaka’s leash.
—What’s caused this sudden change of mind? Now you want to go down to the underground?
I questioned as I walked behind him, feeling his shoulders tremble slightly.
[You are the first other beings I’ve met in nearly ten years. Who knows when there will be another chance like this? You’re aiming to go down for the goddess’s room, but I plan to go deeper into the underground. I will stab Nialli’s heart with this.]
With a squirm, the black robe revealed a dagger with a hooked blade.
—Nialli’s heart is down there?
[Yes, the foolish old king of this country conducted forbidden experiments to gain infinite magical power. As a result, the thing that descended was his heart.]
—So Nialli can pop up all over the place because of the heart in this underground?
I grinned as if I’d heard delightful news.
The beast’s power was known as Transformation. It could go anywhere and become anything, or so it was said.
I figured it was quite a cheat-like ability, and it seemed its essence branched out from a heart hidden away in a place like this.
—If we destroy that, then Nialli won’t be able to escape outside the magical realm anymore?
[Yes, that’s correct. All of the cursed minions it has sent forth will be dragged back into that accursed ancient magic realm.]
—Now, that’s good.
I came here to deal with the Fire Dragon Azidahaka, but now I had a chance to reduce Nialli’s power and influence over the world.
—But why did that king bring such a thing upon his own kingdom?
Before I could finish, the black-robed man stopped walking.
[Foolish words. The rise and fall are the laws of nature. He desired to rule this world forever, greedy as he was. The result? Endless decline.]
“No, that’s not it. Osiris had a son who fell ill. He was studying immortality to heal him when he was corrupted by Nialli’s schemes. He wasn’t some greedy fool.”
Azidahaka’s response left the black robe silent. I glanced at that wriggling back and opened my eyes wide.
—So, what should I call you? We’re about to go down to the underground and smash Nialli’s heart, and I’d like to at least know your name.
[Ha, are you willing to come with me? Thank you then. My name is Usir.]
—Usir, huh? Another name for Osiris? Are you perhaps the king of this underground palace?
“That’s unlikely; Usir and Osiris are common names among the fairies.”
[Indeed, the foolish king was burned to d*ath by the flames of the Fire Dragon. So, what’s your name, White Beast?]
—Me? Uh, um. It’s, uh, White One.
[Your name is White One? You’re joking, right?]
—I wish it were a joke, but nope.
[Um… well, it’s quite a nice name. It’s a friendly name. It suits you.]
—Enough with the coaxing, okay?
As I clicked my tongue, Azidahaka, who was listening from behind, burst into giggles.
“It’s not a joke. It truly suits you. I can feel the love and affection from the one who named you. Naming is no easy task. One day, in your moment of destiny, that name will become a great power for you.”
—White One?
I pondered how much this round and fluffy name might help me, contemplating with furrowed brows.
Then suddenly,
The man in the black robe, Usir, came to a halt and raised his fist as a signal to stop.
[Shhh… we have to be quiet now. Do you see that Guardian ahead?]
At Usir’s words, I peeked forward to the end of the long road. There stood a figure clad in ashen armor.
—A Hunter.
The golden identification tag around its neck was the same kind I had encountered with the Hunters in human villages.
But under that ashen armor were tentacles resembling those of an octopus or squid, dangling down.
—Tentacle hunters in an ancient kingdom, huh?
“Hunters… Those must be Adam’s subordinates who infiltrated to lure me out over ten years ago. Some humans entered this tower back then. They must have gotten entangled with Nialli’s minions and never managed to return.”
—Nialli’s minions, huh.
Seeing the twitching lower body of the Hunter made my expression grim. Tumors popped out on its neck and face, resembling a living corpse.
[—. —.]
From its bubble-filled mouth came a sound like a wind blowing, incomprehensible and disconcerting to hear.
If there was any shame in the words appearing to me, just hearing that noise would make that shame plummet to the ground.
[There are stairs leading down below, behind that Guardian. We just have to wait for it to leave. Causing a ruckus to take it down will be too loud…. Where are you going?]
Usir spoke in a soft but firm voice. I half-ignored his concern and moved toward that corrupted Hunter.
—I’ve had enough of waiting.
I inhaled and activated the skill Invisibility. Then I approached the Hunter with its wriggling tentacles and swiftly slashed its neck with my five claws.
Shwish!*
The cursed, Gold Grade Hunter fell to the ground, spraying bl**d like a fountain. I carelessly shook off the gore covering me and shrugged my shoulders.
—What are you staring at? Let’s go already.
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