Gamers of the Underworld

“I’m a Succubus who just graduated three months ago.

Within three months, I have lost five jobs.

Yesterday, I was arrested and taken to the Garrison Guard Station. A kind superior Devil saved me. Thank you, Lord Sherlock.

I am without income, so I have to leave my rented condominium and live on the streets.

But Lord Sherlock gave me a place to stay. He brought me to his Dungeon, which I had sold to him for a commission.”

Evelynn wrote in her diary and lifted her head to look at a group of Goblins. They had cryptic green words above their heads. They surrounded the Dungeon Core Main Hall and placed their faces on the door so that they could look in through the door window.

Because the door was closed, Evelynn couldn’t hear the Goblins’ chatting, but she recalled the Goblins shouting when she walked past.

“Preposterous! Sherlie brought a Succubus back!”

“That’s hilarious. The development team’s putting sexual content online?”

“Make haste, make haste!”

“Why does the Succubus in the game have this conservative dressing style? Are you neglecting male gamers like us?”

“I feel it’s okay.”

“Wah! I’m crying. Sherlie brought a Succubus back. The discussion forum will definitely have a Sherlie and Succubus album. All the female gamers will feel jilted.”

…

Evelynn felt that she should avoid interacting with these Goblins.

Evelynn took out her diary and continued writing.

“Day 1 of a new beginning:

I plan to send out my resumes and find a new job so that I won’t impose on Lord Sherlock. I’ll pay rent…”

…

“Day 2:

Today, some Goblins died. They brought the corpses to find Lord Lich.

They were chatting jovially, and I was surprised.

Lord Lich was the famous Brainiac, the once-in-a-thousand-year genius.

I didn’t expect Lord Sherlock to recruit such a powerful Lich. His benefits must be very good.”

…

“Day 4:

Lord Sherlock gave me a newspaper to read. It seems like I have become a wanted criminal in Winterfell. My resumes didn’t get any replies.

I was dumbstruck, but Lord Sherlock told me not to worry and to stay in Eternal Kingdom. He told me he wouldn’t accept my rent payment.

I feel I have to contribute to the Dungeon within my means.

The Goblins had too many questions. I ignored them.

Many Goblins perished tonight.”

…

“Day 6:

I would like to be Lord Sherlock’s secretary, but he has a secretary already, a small Black Dragon called Eggface.

Why does he have such a name?

Eggface wanted to give me titles, but Lord Sherlock stopped him.

Lord Sherlock wants me to be the manager of the Commerce Area. What am I supposed to do?

Sherlock has a Black Dragon as a servant. That’s awesome.”

…

“Day 8:

I’m familiar with my job now. I only need to sit in a small stone house in the Commerce Area. They deposit their items for consignment sale, and I just smile and forget to keep records. Why am I not allowed to record what items they deposit? Soon, other creatures will retrieve the consignment sale items.

The Goblins called me an Auction Manager?

Thank goodness. Due to Lord Sherlock’s Mana, they are unable to touch me. Otherwise, they might climb on top of me.

The Goblins are scary.”

…

“Day 10:

There are many Gnomes appearing. My daily job is getting busier.

The Gnomes and Goblins started to set up stalls at my place.

The Dungeon started to assemble Short Bows and Longbows, but the other Goblins are hostile to the Goblins who carry bows.

Lord Sherlock asked me to collect tax from them. That is to use a strange card to collect bronze coins and silver coins?”

…

“Day 15:

The more I interact with the Gnomes and Goblins, the stranger they feel.

They brought a lot of Large Lizard Skins to sale. The smell was unbearable.

Why were they discussing the reincarnation of the Houndhead Man? And Eggface too.

Wait, did they not see Eggface before? He was always in the Dungeon Core Main Hall with Lord Sherlock.

Why am I wanted in Winterfell? Was I not on bail? I feel like working to support myself. I don’t want to impose on Lord Sherlock…”

…

“Day 20:

Capricious Gnomes and Goblins!

(✿◡‿◡) Stupid Lord Sherlock!”

…

On a crimson hill that was burning with flames, a green Mana-simulated Hades inferno reached for the skies.

A fat young 1.5-meter Black Dragon with a hood stood on the hilltop. A cauldron with green, bubbling, and sticky liquid was placed by his side.

The Goblin Peasant stood in front of the Black Dragon. Behind him was a group of Goblins and Gnomes who were watching.

Eggface grasped his old and broken cup and filled it with the green liquid. Then he passed it to Peasant, who was holding his two-handed Axe with a single hand.

“Drink, citizens of Eternal Kingdom—this is your destiny. You’ll become hounds.” Eggface’s words were extremely tempting, and his voice was hoarse and mysterious.

“Little Eggface…” Peasant received the green liquid and said, “What’s the price?”

Eggface extended his chubby claws, and his voice floated to a faraway distance.

“All of these.”

Peasant looked determined as he drank all the green liquid. His body emitted green sparks.

Peasant grasped his throat and moaned in agony.

“Ah—ah, ah—!”

The Goblins behind him started shouting.

“You can’t feel the pain! Stop pretending! Make haste, we’re going to challenge the Instance Dungeon!”

“We’re going to kill all the Large Lizards. We’re going to accumulate the Reputation Points from the Marsh Inkspewers!”

“Get lost after drinking! The next in line, drink quickly! I’m reincarnating as a Houndhead Man!”

“Waaaa—a.”

“Don’t worry. The Goblin who shouted was hammered to death.”

…

Peasant, who was reincarnated as a Houndhead Man in the green flames, waved in embarrassment as he picked up his armor and weapon. The armor had to be reforged to fit his new size, but the weapon could still be used.

Arthur, NotWearingPants, Sylvanas, and BurningChestHair had become Gnomes. They went forward to welcome the Houndhead Man, Peasant.

“Veteran gamers, where shall we go?”

“Let’s go for the Marsh Inkspewers’ Reputation Points. I haven’t gotten a Darting Bird.”

“Wah, the Reputation Points requirement for the Darting Bird is too high. I’m thinking of challenging Specter College.”

“Let’s go for the Marsh Inkspewers mission. The Large Lizards are full of valuable materials, and the skin can be used for making armor that is incredibly beneficial for a sudden critical strike warrior like me. I’m going for the Marsh Inkspewers.”

“Marsh Inkspewers.”

The five of them turned their backs on the non-existent green Hades flames and walked towards the nearby Eternal Kingdom.

Eternal Kingdom was bustling with activity. The gamers worked diligently at the construction sites at the designated locations to achieve their “Dreams.”

It was a scene of serenity, calm, and prosperity.

At the abandoned and desolate Ancient Ruins No. 85 excavation site, a Goblin wearing a yellow safety helmet dozed off in a chair.

The Rune entrance in the deep pit shimmered with white brilliance.

The blinding light woke up the Goblin guard. He rubbed his eyes and walked to the deep pit to check.

He saw visible fissures appearing in the deep pit, which was a few hundred meters deep.

“What the heck?”

The Goblin gaped in astonishment as the fissures became larger and larger.

In the next instant, the Rune entrance cracked open!

“Boom—!”

A black figure broke out from the ground.

The ground and huge rocks cracked open. The walkways and platforms at the sides of the deep pit disintegrated as the black figure flew up rapidly.

The sudden force knocked the Goblin to the ground. Small pebbles fell down and hit his helmet, causing pit-pattering sounds.

The huge black figure flew high up in the sky and extended his large wings, which were a few hundred meters wide.

“Let the world… experience suffering.”

Muffled voices came from the sky.

Red hot flames shot down.

The flames swallowed everything.