Dungeon Hunter - Chapter 90
Chapter 90: Episode 25. Achievement Store (1)
Hashumal thought long and hard. Overwhelmed by confusion, she agonized and contemplated, and delayed making her decision. That strange demon was telling her to join him in his quest to eliminate other demons. And included in that were four demon archdukes currently holding absolute authority over the Devildom.
She initially thought that he was lying. She was a “Dominion,” and as such, fairly clued in on the Devildom’s information. The ones that needed to be eliminated no matter what were the so-called archdukes. However, they were famed for rarely leaving their castles, and even she didn’t know the detailed information about them.
“For now… I must analyze this place first. A dungeon like this existing in another dimensional has never been brought up in the Celestial World. There is a pressing need to find out all the details.”
Hashumal acknowledged the severity of the current crisis. If what that strange demon said was true, then this event would not be simple at all. Although this location was deeply unpleasant to her, and she was currently nothing more than a hostage of a measly little demon, her priority was to study everything in her surroundings first.
This strange demon – did he say his name was Randalf Bruciel?
He granted her freedom of movement. At least, he lifted the restriction on her so that she could roam around freely in the dungeon’s interior. She couldn’t tell whether he was stupid, arrogant, or had some other ulterior motive, but regardless, him not doing anything about her moving around freely was very strange.
Hashumal actively investigated the interior of the dungeon.
“This dungeon. It’s as if I’m looking at a living ecosystem.”
She started from the lowest floor of the dungeon.
Monsters at the bottom of the barrel were seemingly doing whatever they pleased on this floor, but… When she took a closer look, a functioning ecosystem had already been established here. She was deeply stunned by that.
A perfect synergistic natural predator-prey cycle was in full effect, taking into account the levels of the monsters present. Their population was being steadily maintained, and the cycle of life was extremely quick. Some monsters even went on to establish villages. When she discovered an Orc village located near a lake that exhibited signs of basic “civilization,” she stood there staring at them for a very, very long time, unable to take a step away.
With the Orc Shaman serving as their center, they worshiped their own deity, and even utilized advanced tools. A reason for this had to be one of the special features of the dungeon, where items that the various races could use were liberally strewn about everywhere. The Orcs had gathered up all those items and began the work of modifying them to suit their needs.
The adults went out to hunt, while the Orc children learned various skills. Mothers remained in the village to look after their offspring, while the chief priest made important decisions.
Orcs weren’t the only ones. Any race with a modicum of intelligence all displayed similar actions, with varying degrees of sophistication.
“This isn’t surprising to see. However, this is inside of a dungeon. Isn’t this place supposed to be a hub for darkness?”
Of course, it was not surprising to see intelligent beings create civilizations in a regular environment.
However, a normal dungeon was usually created in a location where the intense power of darkness had amassed. Due to all sorts of Black Magic installed within, it was only normal to see the monsters existing inside a dungeon to lose all their ego or stay true to their base instincts. Meaning, it was impossible for them to think about anything constructive.
But the story was completely different in this dungeon.
The unpleasant Mana felt more or less the same, but this didn’t influence the monsters too greatly. No, it seemed that everything here was organized with the monsters’ advancement and development in mind.
Suitable environment, abundant food supply, the well-balanced food chain of the monsters… No matter how she looked, harmony not lacking in any regard had been achieved here.
In that case, could this place even be defined as a dungeon?
Shouldn’t it be seen as a separate ecosystem?
Hashumal fell into a pit of confusion.
“Dwarves that have created a community. Vicious mid-grade monsters that defend their individual territories. If everything I have witnessed so far is not falsehood, then this place, it’ll become even more powerful as time goes by.”
It was her first time seeing a dungeon of this scale, and also, every lifeform found within being so lively like this.
Regular dungeons were incredibly lacking. Most of them were created from the very beginning with no consideration towards the lifeforms that lived inside. Indeed, all of the inhabitants would devour others like a bunch of wild animals and painfully eke out a living in that manner.
However, this place was different. An impetus to develop further existed here.
All the required foundation was set, so once enough time had passed by, it’d grow into a truly formidable combat force.
“Is the demon named Randalf involved with the creation of this ecosystem? This level of harmony should be impossible to achieve without an indescribable amount of hard work… Even more so if the one in charge is a demon.”
No matter how hard she thought about this, it was too strange. It would’ve made sense if this dungeon was set up like this from the very beginning, but the more she looked, the more convinced she became that this dungeon was created not too long ago.
The traces of a consistent, continuous administration could be found here and there. An intense level of interest, the work that required an enormous level of dedication.
However, the species called “demon” was infamous for their lack of carefulness.
For sure, his assertion of being not a normal demon seemed to make more and more sense.
“I can feel certain auras that won’t permit my approach the higher I go. One of these must be the dungeon’s core, while the other…”
Hashumal continued to move. She didn’t miss anything in her surroundings and committed them all to her memory before climbing higher in the dungeon. And when she finally reached the 15th floor, she witnessed a truly shocking spectacle.
“The Tree of Origin…!”
How long had it been since the last time she was stunned like this?
There also existed a single Tree of Origin in the Celestial World. Referred to as the “Tree of the beginning and the end,” the King of Heaven personally tended to it and not many could approach it. Although this tree was much smaller and its aura much weaker than the one back in her homeworld, there was no doubt that it was the Tree of Origin.
There was a grave near the tree. It looked as if the ground was dug out without much care, and a wooden signboard stuck in front. But the words “Mr. Angel” written on this very board left a powerful impression.
It was then, someone abruptly stopped her.
“Please halt. My dungeon master might have permitted you to move around, but the Tree of Origin falls under my jurisdiction. Getting any closer than this will not be accepted.”
It was the Dark Elf woman, Krithli.
Hashumal asked, her hands trembling ever so faintly, “Who… who buried an angel over there?”
“It was miss fairy of the Dungeon Core.”
“Ah, ah! Is it possible for me to meet this fairy creature?”
“She’s not currently here. If you have business with her, I’m willing to pass on the message.”
Krithli tilted her head. For some reason, Hashumal was excited.
“Every angel wishes to be buried under the Tree of Origin. Although we commenced an attack on you as your enemies… I’d like to express my gratitude,” said Hashumal.
“Is that how it was?”
Krithli learned something she never knew before, and quietly accepted the new finding.
The reason why she left the grave alone was because the Tree of Origin absorbed the nutrients from it noticeably well. She had been pondering whether there was a connection between the corpse of an angel and the Tree itself, but Hashumal showed up just in time and solved that quandary.
“I shall pass on the message. And also, we shall bury the rest of the angels here, if you wish.”
“W-will that be fine?”
“It’s not a difficult matter, after all.”
Krithli softened her stiff expression and smiled.
She already heard from the dungeon master that he wanted to bring Hashumal under his wings. If she could get some nutrients and earn a few extra points along the way, it’d be killing two birds with one stone.
“I’m grateful.”
Hashumal sighed greatly as if a heavy load was taken off her shoulders. Even though she was the one and only Hashumal the Dominion-ranked angel, the death of her subordinates would’ve weighed greatly on her mind.
“You should express that gratitude to my dungeon master.”
“That… I’ll consider it.”
Her preconceived notion of a demon being a demon hadn’t been broken yet. So, her saying that she’d consider it was already a noticeable stride forward.
For a long time afterward, she stayed there staring at the Tree of Origin.
“I don’t see the Spirit of Origin.”
Was it because the tree was still so young?
Only the King of Heavens knew the details of the Tree of Origin. Hashumal stopped worrying about it and recommenced with her dungeon exploration.
There were quite a few empty floors, but more surprises were in store for her in the shape of the highest-grade monsters Griffin and Gigantes. Regrettably, she couldn’t get near the Dungeon Core, but, she was more or less finished with analyzing the current situation in this dungeon.
“This shouldn’t be the only dungeon.”
Hashumal wished to leave this dungeon. She wanted to see everything from an even wider perspective. She made a request without expecting anything, but much to her surprise, the demon named Randalf easily permitted her.
Although Krathra had to accompany her, she didn’t pay it any mind.
And so… she traveled around Earth for one week. Moving around while riding on a Pyrok in the cloaked state meant her traveling speed was rather fast. She had a lot of time left, in fact.
Which was why she even recklessly entered other dungeons. There was no danger of being found out because she had lost her divinity, but the state of the dungeons she entered was the absolute worst.
Unlike Randalf’s dungeon, not a single one had a functioning ecosystem built inside. No consideration was shown towards the needs of each race, and because of the poor conditions, the monsters couldn’t even propagate properly. Every single one of them had a poor system where only the strong monsters survived.
From afar, she even witnessed monsters or demons attacking humans, too. There were plenty of really powerful beings, as well. She then discovered a demon she suspected to be an archduke.
“If this is left alone, this planet will be destroyed.”
The inside of her mouth dried up. Randalf the demon didn’t lie to her. This place was a competition arena. She sensed the demons’ desire to destroy this world no matter what.
“I can’t do this alone. I’ve lost my wings. If I don’t recuperate for a long time back in the Celestial World, I won’t be able to recover my divinity.”
She clenched her fists.
Was she supposed to sit back and watch this annihilation unfold?
She couldn’t communicate with the Celestial World, and waiting for a Dimensional Gate to open up again, which it should do so in the future, was not promising enough. Also… even if a Dimensional Gate did open, there was a possibility that she might not even be able to return. Didn’t someone interfere and alter the Gate’s code earlier?
―You must never be stained by the darkness. Your role is to purify the darkness and give birth to light.
Hashumal abruptly recalled the voice she heard as she broke out of the egg. It was the King of Heaven. She could never forget the words of that warm, gentle voice.
“Please forgive my sin, my lord.”
However, it was her duty to purify the darkness and bring forth the “light” into this dimension. If she wanted to regain her strength, there was no other way but to taint her “exterior.”
She could claim success if she could at least delay the destruction of this world until the Celestial World’s aid reached here.
“The one who walks alone. The hunter who will kill all the other demons…”
A week later, Hashumal made her decision.
She would use him.
**
Corrupting an angel was quite simple.
All that’s needed was for the individual to reject being an angel and willingly be tainted by the darkness. Meaning, it was to go against the law that all Celestials should be upholding. Not forced by others, but through one’s own choice.
“It happened quicker than I thought.”
I studied Hashumal as she stood before me with a hardened expression. My initial plan was to slowly corrupt her, but the angel herself wanted it and reached out to me first.
That went to show how grave she found everything happening right now in this world. On top of that, this also meant that she had acknowledged me as “different” from the other demons. At least, there wouldn’t be a better card than me when it came to holding the demons back.
“My name will henceforth be Tashumal.”
“Are you saying that you shall abandon the name you were given as a Celestial?”
“Correct.”
Hashumal was quite determined, having already made up her mind.
Only one syllable might have changed, but she still must’ve agonized a great deal over this, as much as she tried to hide it.
Whatever the case might have been, one of the pressing issues had been resolved. She had willingly rejected her identity as a Celestial, so all that remained now was to go against the law.
“The easiest law to break for the current Hashumal. The sin that has the most far-reaching consequences.”
That was to lay with a demon. Unless the act was forced, the punishment would be quite severe.
This was something I’d been hoping for. Because it would mark Hashumal as completely mine.
She’d be ruled by me under the dungeon’s system. Hashumal would’ve never even dreamed of this, but once that happened, she would not be able to harm me. I was about to be given the compelling power to make her do my bidding against her will.
“Oh, Hashumal. You have pulled the best, and perhaps the absolute worst straw in your current situation.”
With a thin smile on my lips, I spoke to her.
“Get undressed.”
**
[An impossible achievement! You are the first to corrupt an angel.]
[2,500,000pt have been awarded.]
[An impossible achievement! The Dominion ‘Hashumal’ has become a subordinate of the demon ‘Randalf Bruciel.’]
[3,000,000pt have been awarded.]
[The achievement score has broken past the ten thousand mark. The second-level Easter Egg has been unlocked!]
[‘Achievement Store’ is now accessible. From this point on, you can purchase all sorts of rare items not sold in the general store by using your achievement points. Also, by attaining specific achievements, you will be able to purchase items or races relevant to the achievement itself.]
