“This is the last one!”

“Creeeaaak!!!”

With a terrifying scream, a man cuts the monster's throat.

As he said, the battle came to an end as we defeated the final foe.

I wiped the blood off my blade and spoke.

“Damage report.”

“Yes!”

Soon, one of the soldiers approached to report the results of the battle.

“Among the citizens who came as supporters, three were injured. One member of our unit sustained minor injuries. No other issues reported.”

“Not bad.”

It was to be expected since the members of our unit were seasoned in combat.

The civilians, with lower levels and less combat experience, still managed to perform admirably in battle.

‘For now, we are clearly at an advantage.’

We had just descended into the water to begin our assault on the dungeon.

If Chang-soo's words were true, the monsters in the outer regions were relatively weak.

No matter how many buffs I provided, it was still a significant factor that allowed these people to fight effectively.

[Ingredient Identification (Enhanced)]

[Deep Sea Dasmurian Entity]

The monsters in the outer regions are weak.

Which means—

“Kaahhh!”

“Grrk!”

Stronger monsters will appear as we venture deeper.

“What the hell are these guys!”

“Be careful! They’re incredibly strong!”

As we defeated the outer monsters and pushed toward the center, stronger monsters began to emerge, ones that were far beyond anything we had encountered so far.

[Deep Sea Dasmurian Brute]

[An advanced form of the Dasmurian, the guardians of the deep water world.]

[It is said in folklore that consuming the flesh of the Dasmurian, who protect the creatures of Dasmur, grants one immortality.]

[They are a highly potential race but currently unable to fully utilize most of their capabilities.]

Previously, the merfolk we faced were [entities].

Their size was only slightly smaller than that of an average adult male.

But the ones now appearing were [brutes].

They were nearly 2 meters tall, with unnaturally long arms and legs.

It wasn’t just their size that had increased; their strength and the toughness of their skin had doubled.

“Everyone, calm down!”

“There aren’t that many! If two or three of us take each one on, we can handle it!”

The good news was that their numbers weren’t overwhelming.

The leaders of each group guided their teams, forming a line to engage the enemies.

As a result, the damage was somewhat mitigated.

“It’s a relief that their numbers are low.”

“Right. It’s probably thanks to that last magic.”

“It’s impressive when you think about it. All those corpses floating on the water must have been these kinds of monsters.”

Normally, as we approached the center, the number of monsters would increase, and their strength would escalate.

Thanks to Min-jae and the mages contributing their powers, the large-scale lightning magic had significantly reduced the number of monsters in the central area.

“If it were the norm, these monsters would have come at us in swarms.”

“Just imagining it is terrifying…”

Though battery fishing is illegal, the effectiveness was immediate.

It was fortunate that we had set it up.

Moreover, it was only the city's inhabitants who were struggling against the stronger monsters.

*Swish—*

With a knife shaped like a crescent, I dispatched the merfolk.

Was it happy to be used for its intended purpose?

It felt sharper than ever.

‘Though the average level of the monsters has risen, my team and even Chang-soo's group should be able to handle them alone.’

While the rising water levels toward the center were problematic, the damage dealt to the boss had caused the water level to drop.

Now, there were no obstacles as we advanced toward the core.

* * *

Just as I was about to wipe the blood off and search for the next monster—

-Karanak… Das…

“…….”

The monster, on the brink of death, muttered something resembling a language.

“These creatures use language.”

Gwang-il, fighting nearby, noted the monster's words.

As he said, unlike the monsters in the outer regions, these ones could articulate something resembling speech.

“There’s definitely something different about them compared to the outer monsters.”

“I felt it too. It’s as if they possess some intelligence.”

The outer monsters were [entities].

These ones had progressed to a higher stage as [brutes].

‘If they’re like elementary school students among humans, then it’s not surprising they can talk.’

It wasn’t my first time encountering monsters that could use language.

The goblins that had taken over Inje County could do so.

Even now, vampires were battling monsters outside our line of sight.

Their leader, Ariel, who had become part of my entourage, spoke fluently as well.

The difference, however, was that while I could communicate with those two, I couldn’t understand the language of this monster.

“Take a break!”

“We’re entering the next building!”

As we paused for a moment to rest, I sat down and lowered my head to speak to the shadow.

“Now that I think about it… how did you and that goblin communicate with me back then?”

An extraterrestrial being.

Ideally, it should have only been capable of uttering incomprehensible sounds like those merfolk.

-It’s simple.

A response soon came from within the shadows.

-I learned the language.

“You learned the language?”

-It’s likely the same for the dwarves. Although it’s rare, some races can quickly learn the languages of other species. Though judging by their awkward speech, they may not have high intelligence.

“Forget about those guys. What about you?”

-My case is a bit special.

Special, huh?

So it’s not that it learned the language like the goblins.

-After I was suddenly summoned to the bunker, the first thing I did was make the human in front of me my first follower.

“And then?”

-At that time, I drank their blood and absorbed some knowledge.

“What?”

Absorbing knowledge through drinking blood?

Is that even possible?

-Of course. Blood contains part of the essence of that being. Among high-ranking vampires, there are those who eat humans and pretend to be them.

“My goodness.”

Eating humans.

And pretending to be one based on that knowledge.

‘That’s more like a different kind of monster than a vampire…’

Why?

Like a doppelgänger.

“I don’t remember any vampires having that sort of backstory.”

-…In the first place, the name 'vampire' itself is a mistake.

“?”

-I understand why you refer to me as a vampire. However, I am a noble of the night. The pronunciation of my race's name in the language of my world does not overlap with ‘vampire’ even by a single syllable.

“Ah.”

Thinking back, I was told that the monsters are beings from another world.

‘Vampires are a creation found in human fiction.’

It’s rather odd that the name of the monster’s race would be a name we are familiar with.

It seems that this one has never introduced itself as a vampire.

‘Every time, it only referred to itself as a noble of the night.’

The reason I ended up calling it a vampire was…

[Vampire Baronet]

‘Because of the status window.’

The status window does not lie.

In reality, it wouldn’t be strange to call this being a vampire.

…Could it be?

Since there was no proper name for it, I simply used a similar one like ‘vampire’?

‘That’s absurd.’

This status window.

It seems to be rather sloppy in many ways.

Anyway.

This being also only learned the human language.

It means it cannot communicate with normal monsters.

‘Wait a second.’

Is it special?

Then I looked back at the shadow and spoke again.

“You said you learned the human language by drinking blood, right?”

-Yes.

“Can you learn the language of those merfolk as well?”

Those merfolk who turned this city into a dungeon.

From our perspective, they’re no different from other monsters.

‘They not only use language, but also have their own architectural style.’

Perhaps they possess a more advanced civilization and knowledge than we initially thought.

‘They might know something.’

The monsters that suddenly appeared on Earth.

The reason for their invasion still remained unclear.

The only monster I successfully turned into a follower was Ariel.

She had said she regained consciousness to find herself on Earth after being sealed.

‘She didn’t even understand why she came to Earth.’

But those monsters are a bit different.

They’re in significant numbers.

And they are even terraforming the Earth.

‘I might be able to learn about the reasons behind the invasion of Earth.’

However.

-I understand the intention, but… it will be difficult.

“Why?”

-Because I’m just a low-ranking noble.

It seemed that I couldn’t use the method I was hoping for.

-Only high-ranking nobles can absorb the memories of that being entirely. For me, absorbing language knowledge is only possible with similar species…

What? This being is more incompetent than I thought.

-…Hoho. I didn’t expect you to say that, Master…!

“?”

-…Originally, I was supposed to grow stronger and at least rise to the rank of a baron. If it weren’t for someone coming and killing all the followers I painstakingly raised and drinking their blood…

“Ah.”

Indeed.

This current weakness was the result of my actions.

Now that I think about it, the [Shadow Veil] had also significantly shrunk as it weakened.

It had originally been large enough to barely function as a [Mobile Fortress], but not anymore.

And.

There was one more important point.

‘Monsters can grow too.’

Thinking back

 to all the monsters I’ve encountered,

Unlike us, who have a clear standard of growth like levels,

Monsters did not seem to have levels.

So, I thought they were incapable of growth, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

A phrase I recalled when I made this being my follower suddenly came to mind.

[The ranking as a bloodline is merely a seat of no importance, but the follower possesses considerable talent.]

[Treat your follower with care and raise them!]

[Depending on your assistance, they have the potential to reach even higher realms.]

‘I thought of them merely as monsters to exploit.’

To utilize them properly, I would need to help them grow to a certain extent.

This mere baronet wouldn’t be useful at all.

At the very least, it should become a count before it could be of any use.

‘So, does that mean… communication will be difficult?’

It’s unfortunate, but it cannot be helped.

To have casual conversations with other races,

They would need to be an immensely advanced being.

* * *

After a brief rest like that.

We continued advancing, engaging in several battles.

“The water is rising steadily.”

“Hmm.”

How many battles had we fought?

Suddenly, I realized that the water, which had previously only reached my waist, had risen significantly.

Just as the shorter soldiers began to feel uncomfortable with the water rising to their chests—

“Over there! I see it!”

The submerged cityscape we had just witnessed disappeared, revealing a massive structure made of some white material.

“Is that a temple… or something?”

“I wonder.”

The building was surrounded by gigantic columns.

Strange patterns were engraved into the walls of the columns.

It evoked a strangely majestic atmosphere reminiscent of a temple.

We couldn’t know for sure if it served that purpose.

Near the central structure, there were smaller buildings as well.

It felt like gazing upon an ancient sunken city.

Perhaps the fact that it was built underwater was what set it apart.

Looking at the water that had risen to my chest, I thought.

‘Now’s the time to raid.’

Originally, that huge building had been entirely submerged.

Even with the [Environmental Adaptation - Water] buff, fighting underwater wouldn’t have been easy.

Because the large-scale lightning magic cast by the mages had damaged the boss, we could enter now.

‘On the contrary, that means we must wrap things up quickly before the boss recovers.’

It was rather hasty of us to enter so rapidly for that reason.

If the boss regained health and the environment here changed, the difficulty of the assault would increase significantly.

I moved closer to the temple-like building.

In the center, there was a massive door.

“It’s huge.”

“Considering those monsters are about 2 meters tall…”

“That door seems overly large!”

The enormous door seemed to be at least 5 meters tall.

Just as I reached out to open it—

[Step back.]

“……Huh?”

Startled by the sudden voice, I looked around.

Other people also seemed surprised, glancing around.

[Step back.]

And the voice echoed again.

Only after hearing it a second time did I notice.

‘It’s not Korean.’

It must be the language used by those monsters.

While I still struggled to comprehend the sound itself, for some reason, the meaning flowed into my mind as if translated.

The thought I had just a few hours ago resurfaced.

To communicate with a race that had a completely different language,

‘They would need to be a highly advanced being.’

As if to prove that thought—

-Oho?

A voice echoed from within the shadows.

-A delightful scent of blood is wafting from inside.