The Dungeon Monsters Keep Offering Sacrifices

The Dungeon Monsters Keep Offering Sacrifices – 177

EP.177 Production of Top-Grade Mana Potions (3)

In the ‘Nest of the Evil God’ dungeon, where Celia serves as the general manager.

Nariel was tenderly caring for the man-eating tentacle plants in the grassy Area 3 of the 1st floor.

With her pale blue-tinted silver hair neatly braided down her back, she gently stroked the writhing plants with her slender hands.

“Grow quickly, little ones.”

Nariel’s clear voice echoed throughout.

As the elf’s touch reached them, the plants stretched out their stems and grew.

Although they were plant-type monsters, at their core, they were still plants, making this possible.

Area 3 had made tremendous progress since Nariel joined.

Even though it had been swept away once when the Lamia horde invaded, the fact that it could recover was thanks to the elf Nariel’s power.

In short, Nariel was essentially in charge of strengthening the forces.

However, Nariel does not belong to this dungeon.

The reason she works so diligently despite this is because of a friend held hostage in the dungeon.

‘I wonder if Isrin is doing well…’

Nariel felt lonely as she thought of her friend who had been an adventurer with her.

Isrin was the first human Nariel had befriended after leaving the forest, a precious friend who treated her, an elf, without hesitation.

Above all, Isrin was a promising magician.

She had the ability to live comfortably as a domain magician under a noble, even if she quit being an adventurer.

But now, that Isrin was trapped deep within the dungeon.

Moreover, in a situation where even her body had been taken by Banshee.

‘She must be doing well.’

Though curious about how Isrin was doing, she couldn’t know.

Because Celia, the succubus managing this dungeon, was keeping it thoroughly hidden.

“……”

But she had no thoughts of resistance.

Hadn’t she already confirmed Celia’s power when she was captured and brought here?

“Monster….”

It was literally a monster.

A monster beyond comparison.

She simply worked hard today too, believing that Isrin must be doing well.

While tending to the plants for a while, she felt a familiar presence.

Nariel immediately stopped her work and bowed her head in that direction.

“Lady Celia, what brings you here?”

Celia, the general manager of the dungeon, was present.

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**

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“You’re talking about the Terleaf tree?”

“That’s right, Nariel. The master wants information related to the Terleaf tree.”

There was one reason Celia came to see Nariel.

It was to seek information about the Terleaf tree from Nariel, who is an elf.

Celia already knew that top-grade mana potions could be made from the tree’s leaves.

The question here was about a more fundamental aspect.

“The Terleaf tree….”

Nariel murmured, brushing back her snow-white hair.

The monster before her eyes was the powerful succubus managing this dungeon.

But Celia had said she served a separate master.

Just like now.

‘Just how powerful a being could it be….’

Though curious about Celia’s so-called master, that wasn’t important right now.

The information Celia requested was about the Terleaf tree.

As it was something well-known to elves, there was no reason not to share it.

She closed her eyes briefly to organize her thoughts and began to speak.

“The Terleaf tree is a tree that our ancestors modified a very long time ago.”

Elves are a long-lived race.

When an elf says something happened a long time ago, it truly means a long time ago.

Celia asked with curious eyes in response to Nariel’s words.

“So you’re saying it wasn’t a naturally existing tree to begin with?”

“That’s right. Originally, it was just an ordinary tree. But our ancestors created a new species to prepare for mana depletion. However, I don’t know why they specifically created the Terleaf tree. There were no related records.”

“Hmm, I see.”

She had learned that the Terleaf tree was created by ancient elves.

However, the reason for creating the tree remained unknown.

But that didn’t matter.

The content Celia had been ordered to obtain was the description and growth method of the Terleaf tree.

“Nariel, in that case, I’m curious about how to grow the Terleaf tree.”

“I’m afraid I can’t help you with that part. Not all elves can manage Terleaf trees. If it were my younger sister, maybe…”

“Younger sister?”

Having never had a deep conversation with Nariel, even Celia didn’t know she had a younger sister.

“Yes, to grow a Terleaf tree, you need magical power. Specifically, only elves who have contracted with wind spirits can manage them.

It required not just any subject’s magical power, but an elf’s magical power.

And only elves who had contracted with wind spirits could manage Terleaf trees.

Given the unexpectedly strict conditions, Celia asked a different question.

She inquired about the younger sister Nariel had just mentioned.

“Then where is your younger sister now, Nariel?”

Nariel’s expression darkened at the mention of her sister.

“…I don’t know. She suddenly disappeared. That’s why I left the forest to look for her, but…”

Celia nodded silently as she listened to her story.

It was a story of leaving the forest to find her sister, but being unable to do so.

Celia looked intently at her face.

‘Left to find her sister, huh…’

Elves are rare.

Naturally, they were traded at high prices.

There was a high probability that she had already been captured by humans or other dungeon masters.

Even if she had managed to save her life, she wouldn’t be able to live a normal life.

If captured by a dungeon, she would likely be sold to the demon realm’s trade association, and if captured by humans, she would obviously become a slave.

Given that elves are a race known for their beauty, it was obvious what kind of slave she would become.

Of course, there was no need to inform Nariel of this despair.

No, Celia rather saw the current situation as an opportunity.

First, she planted a seed of hope.

“Don’t worry. I’ll help in the search for your sister, Nariel.”

“……!”

Nariel’s expression was one of shock at Celia’s words.

She was grateful even for just the offer to help find her sister.

“Th-thank you.”

Nariel thought to herself that perhaps Celia wasn’t all bad.

However, Celia’s true intentions were different.

‘I see.’

Celia had been unable to understand why the elf was so obsessed with the human magician.

But now she felt she knew the reason.

Nariel had been filling the void left by losing her sister with Isrin.

‘How fortunate.’

She had been wondering if she could continue to control Nariel with just Isrin.

And now, to be given the opportunity to put on her own collar.

Celia smiled coldly.

‘No, this might all be the master’s will.’

If the master hadn’t asked about the Terleaf tree, she wouldn’t have been able to hear about Nariel’s family situation.

‘As expected of the master.’

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**

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I needed detailed information about the Terleaf tree.

The knowledge Vetter had was only fragmentary.

I thought Celia might know more details, so I gave her instructions, and unexpectedly obtained an important clue.

“So, we need an elf who has contracted with a wind spirit, right?”

I learned that not all elves can grow it, and that the Terleaf tree is actually a variety improved by ancient elves.

“Things are going well from the start.”

As it happens, Ciel, whom I have with me, is an elf contracted with a wind spirit.

I immediately returned home and was about to take Ciel out.

“Um, are we really going out?”

At first, Ciel was flustered by the sudden talk of going out.

However, when I said that help was needed with tree management, her eyes sparkled.

‘I guess an elf is an elf after all?’

Thus, Ciel was able to safely arrive at Vetter’s general store under Maru’s thorough protection.

Of course, to hide the fact that she was an elf, I had her wear a hoodie to cover her ears.

“Wow, isn’t this a Terleaf tree?”

Ciel immediately recognized the sapling Vetter was holding.

Afterwards, we headed to the vegetable garden behind the building, guided by Vetter.

The general store built by Azmo was originally an abandoned building.

As it had been a business site, the land area was not small, and behind the general store were Azmo’s dungeon and a vegetable garden.

In the vegetable garden, the sight of young trees withered and twisted miserably could be seen.

It seemed that Vetter had made efforts to grow the saplings in his own way.

But since Vetter was not an elf, this was the natural result.

“Ah…”

Ciel felt sorry seeing that sight, but was relieved that one sapling remained.

I immediately got to the point.

“Ciel, I need your help.”

Even if Ciel was an elf contracted with a wind spirit, it would be useless if she had never grown a Terleaf tree before.

Moreover, as there was only one sapling left, we needed to be careful.

Fortunately, Ciel nodded.

“I-I’ve grown them before, Master.”

Ciel carefully received the Terleaf sapling from Vetter.

Her blue eyes were filled with a caring heart towards the sapling.

She held the sapling in both hands and looked at it for a moment.

Perhaps because of the elf’s touch, the sapling that had looked withered quickly regained its vitality.

Soon, Ciel placed the sapling in a suitable spot in the vegetable garden.

And with her slender hands, she gently dug the ground, carefully creating a place for the sapling to take root.

A moment later, the sapling was firmly planted in the nest created by the elf.

A green smile played on Ciel’s lips as she tidied the soil. She took a deep breath, then brought her hands together around the sapling.

“Spirit of the wind, please bestow your blessing upon this tree.”

As if responding to the elf’s prayer, a warm breeze blew around Ciel.

Her white hair fluttered in the wind, and the sapling’s leaves swayed.

Soon, a greenish-blue light bloomed from the tips of Ciel’s fingers.

The light flowed into the young trees, as if enveloping them.

“…!”

Vetter and I, watching the scene, let out exclamations.

The Terleaf sapling that had looked withered was visibly changing.

Not only that. The other saplings that had been dying were also beginning to regain their vitality.

Stems starting to show green vitality, hard bark softening, a feeling of sap flowing through the dried leaf veins.

As if time had been fast-forwarded, the saplings continued to grow.

“This is amazing.”

I couldn’t help but agree with Vetter’s inadvertent words.

Ciel was single-handedly growing the Terleaf tree that the government and guilds couldn’t grow even after pouring in vast amounts of money.

Now that we know we can cultivate the Terleaf tree, all that’s left is to make it into mana potions and sell them.

Since top-grade mana potions would be produced, raking in money was a certainty.

But I became even greedier.

‘At this rate, we could probably grow more, right?’

There were a total of 6 saplings in the vegetable garden currently.

Unless Ciel was struggling, there was no sign of difficulty in her appearance.

Rather, a confident smile hung on her lips.

It meant she still had room to spare.

I spoke to the dazed Vetter.

“Vetter, try to get some more of those saplings.”

If we could get more, that would be great, and if not, it couldn’t be helped.

Vetter responded to my order with a booming voice.

“Yes, Master. I’ll bring them even if I have to subjugate a dungeon right away.”

Wait, why subjugate a dungeon?

Weren’t you just given the saplings to share?

But Vetter had already left his spot.

**===

**

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Vetter was amazed.

“As expected of an elf.”

Didn’t a miracle occur as soon as the elf’s hand touched it?

Vetter could only be in awe of the miracle wrought by the elf and nature.

But that wasn’t the important thing.

“Master, you are truly great.”

He never thought the Master would bring an elf.

Thanks to the Master’s grace, the Dungeon Corporation would soar even higher.

But with that came a concern.

“How should I repay this grace…”

He had received so much grace, but he didn’t have anything suitable to give to the Master.

“Ordinary items won’t do.”

The Master owns a dungeon and keeps a Skeleton Holy Knight as a bodyguard.

On top of that, he even has an elf, so ordinary items wouldn’t satisfy him.

“I guess I’ll have to ask Mr. Azmo.”

Vetter thought that since Azmo was also a dungeon manager, he would know what the Master would like.