Chapter 936

“

Kyuuu!

What’s the matter, owner punk?”

“Are you seriously asking that?”

“

Kyu?”

“The undead won’t be able to detect us if we wear these masks.”

“

Kyuuu?!”

“That means we don’t have to fight them anymore, right?”

“S-Seriously?!

Kyuuu!”

“Yeah, I am.”

Siegfried grinned at Hamchi before rummaging through the remains of the fallen undead monsters.

[Alert: You have obtained Mask of the Dead!]

[Alert: You have obtained Mask of the Dead!]

[Alert: You have obtained Mask of the Dead!]

(omitted...)

[Alert: You have obtained Mask of the Dead!]

After rummaging through the corpses, Siegfried managed to collect fifteen Masks of the Dead.

Given that they had taken down around five hundred undead monsters, the drop rate of the mask was pathetically low.

Of course, there was a reason behind the extremely low drop rate. The Mask of the Dead was so fragile that even a normal attack would destroy it into pieces.

“At least we got this much.”

Siegfried took one mask for himself and one for Hamchi before distributing the remaining thirteen to his party members.

There weren't enough masks for everyone, but that was a problem that would be resolved by obtaining more masks.

‘

Is there anything else...?’

Siegfried examined the corpses with his Rune of Insight.

[Alert: You have obtained Garment of the Dead!]

[A ceremonial garment worn by the undead during their festivities.]

[It is surprisingly luxurious despite the dark colors.]

[Wearing this robe allows the user to conceal their presence from the undead.]

[Type: Apparel]

[Rating: Magic]

[Durability: 1/1]

[Note: This garment is extremely fragile. Even the slightest touch may break it, so handle it with caution.]

But that was not all...

Ding!

A message popped up in front of his eyes.

[Alert: You have completed the Festival of the Dead Set!]

It turns out that the Mask of the Dead and Garment of the Dead were parts of a set.

[Festival of the Dead Set]

[A ceremonial set worn by the undead during their festival]

[It grants the wearer a mystical ability to hide their living presence from the undead.]

[Set Components: Mask of the Dead, Garment of the Dead]

[Durability: 1/1]

[Set Effects: +250% Disguise Efficiency]

[Warning: This set is not foolproof. Powerful undead monsters may still see through the disguise, so relying on it is extremely dangerous.]

“Oh?”

Siegfried smirked after finding the dungeon’s hidden local specialty, the Festival of the Dead Set.

If they could collect enough Mask of the Dead and Garment of the Dead to equip the whole party, then they would be able to reach the boss monster without engaging in unnecessary battles.

“Hot damn... Hey, Hamchi.”

“

Kyu?”

“You really did good this time. I swear you’re the only one I can count on.”

“

Kyuuu!

That’s right! Hamchi is a reliable companion!”

Hamchi jumped up and down upon receiving Siegfried's praise. It had been a long time since Siegfried had praised him to such a degree, after all. He had always been helpful, but it had been a long time since he last helped.

Siegfried couldn’t help but find his trusty companion adorable, but then he narrowed his eyes. ‘

This guy is supposed to be a ridiculously handsome great spirit? I really wonder which one is his true form...’

He remembered how Hamchi looked so cool last time, and he couldn’t help but compare his current form to that.

Of course, this wasn't the time to dwell on that.

‘

We need to move.’

Siegfried continued moving through the dungeon.

The death toll was still climbing, and it was climbing fast.

Thus, he couldn’t afford to waste even a second.

***

Siegfried shot up into the sky as soon as he donned the Festival of the Dead Set.

The Death’s Carnival dungeon was so vast that even Inzaghi’s Clairvoyance couldn't scan the entire map.

“

Tsk...

Damn...” Siegfried surveyed the dungeon from the sky and clicked his tongue in disbelief.

The dungeon was so massive that he couldn’t see all of it at once. And far in the distance, one colossal structure stood out. The entire place was washed in gray, but the towering structure in the distance was the lone crimson building in the dungeon.

‘

Ah, why is this place so huge? Even the Marchioni Empire isn’t this—’

It was then.

‘

Wait, what?!’

Siegfried’s eyes widened, realizing that the dungeon looked strikingly similar to the capital city of the empire. No, it wasn't just similar to the empire’s capital city.

He transformed his +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp into sniper mode and aimed at the towering crimson structure on the horizon. Then, he peered through the scope, and what he saw made him gasp.

‘

The... Palace of Blood?’

Siegfried recognized the structure to be none other than the Imperial Palace of the Marchioni Empire, the Palace of Blood.

The realization that the Death’s Carnival dungeon wasn't just some random necropolis of the dead struck Siegfried like a lightning bolt. It was the Marchioni Empire’s capital city transformed into a city of the damned.

And if that was the case...

‘

I hope the boss monster isn’t Emperor Stuttgart...’

Siegfried suspected that the undead version of the emperor was the boss monster of this dungeon.

However, the thought lasted only for a moment.

‘

I guess it’s only going to be harder from now on...’

Siegfried worried.

With the dungeon confirmed as the Marchioni Empire’s capital city, there was no doubt that the monsters would only get stronger the deeper they ventured into the city. These monsters were not going to be just any ordinary undead monsters—no, they would be the Marchioni Empire’s finest warriors.

The elite warriors of the mighty Marchioni Empire turned undead monsters would most likely become their opponents.

Were they going to be weaker as undead monsters? That was highly unlikely.

‘

This isn’t something we can brute-force our way through. We need to keep circling the outskirts and gather as many Festival of the Dead Sets as possible first,’

Siegfried thought, his mind kicking into overdrive.

He knew that charging straight first into the heart of the dungeon was suicide, but thanks to this revelation, he managed to come up with a strategy that could help them clear the dungeon.

Hamchi indeed played a huge role in finding a key hint to solving this dungeon.

Siegfried immediately led his party members, “All right, let’s go this way, everyone.”

One of the party members asked, “

Huh?

But that’s not toward the center.”

“Yes, it’s not.”

“Eh?”

“We’re going to...” Siegfried proceeded to explain the plan.

“Damn!”

“Holy shit!”

“Amazing!”

“That’s absolutely genius!”

As soon as they understood the plan, the party members gasped in awe.

Rather than recklessly forcing their way through, they would gather the Festival of the Dead Sets first. Once the whole party was equipped with them, they could just waltz past the hordes of undead straight to the boss as if they were VIPs with fast-track passes.

***

Siegfried’s party circled the outskirts of the city, farming Mask of the Dead and Garment of the Dead, both components of the Festival of the Dead Set.

Along the way, Siegfried made a surprising discovery.

‘

Huh?’

While scouting ahead of the group, he found himself walking right past a parade of undead monsters.

He was surprised to find that they didn't react to him at all.

‘

No way... They can't notice me at all?’

Judging by their lack of reaction, the undead monsters had to have either failed to notice him or simply mistook him as their own.

“Imhotep... Imhotep...”

“Imho... tep... Imho... tep...”

Siegfried decided to test his theory by blending into the ranks of the marching undead.

There were about five hundred of them, marching in perfect formation. The fact that they could march in perfect formation despite their overwhelming numbers was proof of their discipline.

However, this also meant that they were conveniently packed closely together, making them easy targets.

Flash!

Siegfried activated Absolute Zero to freeze the entire procession solid.

And then...

He transformed his +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp into a blade and readied to swing at the necks of the undead monsters.

Sukeok!

He spun once, unleashing Quick Draw, the secret technique of the Sword Emperor, Betelgeuse.

Thud...! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The undead monsters collapsed in unison, their severed frozen heads rolling on the ground.

[Alert: You have obtained Experience Points!]

[Alert: You have obtained Experience Points!]

[Alert: You have obtained Experience Points!]

(omitted...)

[Alert: You have obtained Experience Points!]

Siegfried collected a massive amount of Experience Points, and quite a few of the key items he needed to clear this dungeon had dropped as well.

[Alert: You have obtained Mask of the Dead!]

[Alert: You have obtained Mask of the Dead!]

[Alert: You have obtained Mask of the Dead!]

(omitted...)

[Alert: You have obtained Garment of the Dead!]

[Alert: You have obtained Garment of the Dead!]

Since he had cleanly decapitated the undead monsters, the Masks of the Dead and Garments of the Dead were intact.

“Hurry up and put them on now!”

“

Kyuuu!

Get dressed! Quick!”

Siegfried and Hamchi hurriedly ordered their party members, and the party scrambled to loot the remains and put on their disguises.

“Perfect,” Siegfried muttered with a satisfied smirk after seeing his perfectly disguised party.

From this point on, everything became ridiculously easy.

“The festival... has begun....”

“We are... the dead...”

“Imhotep... Imhotep...”

Siegfried and his party members mixed in among the undead monsters, joining their procession and repeating the same words they were uttering.

‘Oh! It’s working! It’s working perfectly!’

Siegfried exclaimed inwardly.

The undead monsters did not even spare them a glance, even though they were walking right beside them.

Their disguises were flawless, and they could now move safely through the dungeon.

One hour later...

“Let’s take a break,” Siegfried said.

He decided to take a break after noticing that his party members were exhausted. Of course, he was drained as well.

Thus, the decision to take a break was as much for himself as it was for them.

***

Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!

Siegfried downed a whole bottle of Mint Chocolate Ade to quench his thirst while resting.

“

Ah!

That hits the spot!”

One of his party members seemed intrigued by the way Siegfried had chugged down the drink with such satisfaction.

“What are you drinking?” he asked.

“Oh, this? It’s one of my favorite drinks. Do you wanna try it?” Siegfried replied, offering a bottle.

“Oh! Sure, thanks!”

Taking Siegfried’s offer, the party member took the bottle and took a huge swig.

Exactly two seconds later—

“

U-Ughh... Arhhh...!”

His face turned deathly pale, and his lips turned blue.

“

Bleuuurghhh!”

Then, he vomited out every last drop of the Mint Chocolate Ade.

“

W-What... the hell is this...?”

he groaned, his face looking haggard and drained.

“Excuse me? Hey, I was being generous, and this is how you repay me? How rude!” Siegfried growled, glaring at the party member while tightly gripping his +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp.

It was then.

“

U-Ughhh...! A-Aah...!”

The party member convulsed, and his eyes rolled back into his skull as he foamed at his mouth.

Ding!

And with a final twitch—

[Sudden Death]

[Cause of Death: Neurogenic shock leading to cardiac arrest after drinking Mint Chocolate Ade.]

[The extreme shock to the nervous system disrupted neural transmissions, causing a rapid drop in blood pressure and sudden heart failure.]

“H-How the hell does drinking this kill you?!” Siegfried screamed, completely outraged.

It was not like he had poisoned him or anything! He simply shared his favorite drink, the delicious and refreshing Mint Chocolate Ade!

But he actually died upon drinking it?!

“Wait... Could it be that... it was so good he went into shock?” Siegfried muttered, genuinely considering the possibility.

‘

No, dumbass. He died because that shit was disgusting.’

Hamchi looked at him with utter disappointment, shaking his head.

Aside from that episode, the break was rather peaceful.

‘Hmm... Five hundred fifty-five people have died so far, which is not that big of a jump. Not bad,’

Siegfried thought while checking the death count.

Last time he checked, it was five hundred twenty-nine, meaning only twenty-six people had died. For a dungeon of this difficulty level, their survival rate was actually decent.

It seemed that the players were adapting to the dungeon and finding their ways to navigate it.

‘

Good. I’ll share our strategy with them if we run into another party,’

Siegfried thought with a smile.

Just then...

Shwoooong...

Boom! Boom! Boom! Kaboom!

Out of nowhere, a rain of artillery shells came screaming toward them.