[What what what what?!!!!!!!]
[What is Butterfly Frairy doing?]
[Butterfly Frairy is protecting the newbie? That's rare.]
[She's kind-hearted too; maybe she doesn't want to see something so bloody on the very first day, which is way too unlucky.]
Arthur's unfocused gaze also shifted toward the girl sitting on the sofa.
"Meddling in other people's business, that's not like you at all, Aria." Thora's cold voice carried apparent dissatisfaction at Aria's actions.
Aria didn't pay much attention to his attitude. Narrowing her eyes, she said slowly, "Everyone's here. The dungeon is about to begin."
The implication was clear: he should stop.
Thora sneered, but in the end, he had no choice but to pull his foot back.
After all, he would deal with everyone he wanted to deal with.
He didn't think he was weaker than Aria—in fact, he figured he could play around a bit and then kill her afterward. After all, the viewers in his live stream loved to watch that kind of thing.
In the end, Arthur was spared a life.
He struggled to get up from the ground. His forehead, having slammed hard, was now swollen with a large bruise, bluish-purple, with fresh blood seeping out.
His head was spinning so badly he could hardly see anything clearly, but nothing would pause for his sake.
As soon as this farce ended, the castle seemed to shift—it was as if it had "come alive." That's right, the fire, which had looked like a mere painting before, now flickered to life, radiating heat. Even the household furniture was no longer unnaturally cold and eerie, but looked like it could be used.
"Zzzzt—"
A sound rang out. The old radio was in the corner—crackling to life and beginning to broadcast.
[Static… static… a tragic murder occurred at xx xx xx, at xxx. The victim was male, dead, with no clues left behind. Before death, he was highly excited, in the posture of intercourse. His lower body was hacked to pieces. The police are currently investigating, and hope to catch the culprit soon!]
The case was broadcast once, and then the station updated with various news stories from the day.
Aria gazed over everyone and said, "My identity is that of a university lecturer. What about you all?"
Since Aria had spoken, the others quickly reported theirs as well. Their identities were all different, with no apparent connection between them.
The only reason they were here was the game—if they successfully survived and escaped the castle, they would receive a considerable sum of money that could turn their entire lives around.
"I think we might need more detailed information about our identities. That might give us more clues."
A girl with short black bobbed hair spoke up. She adjusted her glasses, her expression serious, though her somewhat childlike face gave her a touch of cuteness.
Her clothing, however, was stitched together in a strange, patchwork fashion.
The upper half of her outfit was a black tube top that accentuated her chest—entirely at odds with her cute face and petite figure. Over it, she wore a worn-out reddish-brown leather jacket. On the left chest of the coat, a little black bunny was attached, its head and four paws sticking out.
A skirt covered her lower half, the pleats made up of layered neckties in black and red tones. As her toes shifted slightly, the bunny ears on her boots—matching the jacket's color—wobbled back and forth.
Rank B Player – Alice – Title: Eccentric Alice.
She had only recently been promoted to Rank B and was one of the four players in this dungeon.
Everyone agreed with Alice's suggestion, but no one knew how to find clues.
Just then, the footsteps from the staircase suddenly drew everyone's attention.
Looking over, they saw an older man with snow-white hair and beard slowly descending.
Though aged, his back was still straight. His tailcoat and monocle made him appear all the more refined. It was certain—he must be the butler of this castle.
As expected, he stopped before the players and began to speak:
"Honored guests, it is my great privilege to welcome you to this castle. I regret our lord cannot greet you personally, but he has left words for you."
His eyes swept across the group before he continued:
"First, after 11 o'clock, I must ask that you not leave your rooms or wander about. No servants are in the castle, so be careful not to be deceived. The second floor has enough rooms for all of you; you may choose whichever you like, but once chosen, I ask that you do not change your decision. The third floor is our lord's floor. Please refrain from wandering there—it would be truly dreadful if our lord were to be angered."
Everyone listened silently, even Thora, who usually seemed rash, now stood with a serious expression.
[Something smells fishy here…]
[I feel it too. What kind of Rank B dungeon has so many restrictions?]
[Maybe it's because it's a rank-up dungeon, so it's different…]
[What's wrong with that newbie over there?]
Arthur was standing off to the side. His body was no longer trembling from dizziness—it was almost frozen stiff.
His eyes were wide open, brows drooping, mouth slightly ajar. His expression was shocked and terror, as if the butler before him was not a refined and polite gentleman, but an ugly monster.
And indeed, the butler in Arthur's eyes was truly a grotesque monster.
[Intellect F – 90/100].
The so-called "butler" appeared massive and slimy, his body swollen like a bloated frog, purple and grotesque. No—perhaps he was a frog, for no human skin could be so slick and poreless, oozing mucous as it did.
His head was perfectly round, and where his eyes should have been, there was only a single enormous mouth—constantly flapping as it spoke.
Cold sweat dripped down Arthur's face. He didn't even know where to rest his gaze, standing rooted to the spot as though nailed there, unable to move.
Suddenly, the top of the butler's head split open. What spilled out was not blood, nor brain fluid—but eyeballs.
The pupils wriggled like tadpoles hatching, swaying back and forth until they locked onto Arthur.
Arthur jolted violently, struggling to stop looking directly at that hideous thing.
"Honored guest, you did hear what I just said, did you not?" The butler's voice rang out, directed at Arthur.
Arthur clenched his fists, head hanging lower and lower, as the stench of fresh, swampy rot mixed with the metallic tang of blood suddenly closed in, blowing straight into his nose.
[Intellect F – 85/100].
The pop-up appeared before Arthur once again. Even without any experience in games or systems, he could guess—if that number dropped to zero, his ending would not be pleasant.
The butler drew nearer and nearer. Arthur could already imagine the scene of that enormous mouth gaping wide and swallowing him whole in one bite.
His hands trembled uncontrollably. Breathing was difficult. The stench, the filth—it was unbearable.
[Passive skill: Activated!]
"Ahaha, my friend here is a little quiet, introverted and shy, you know? But he heard you. We'll obediently follow the rules, so why don't you return to your duties, Mr. Butler?"
A hand suddenly slung over Arthur's shoulder. She was short, maybe only about 1.55 meters, but her strength wasn't light—her grip pressed down on Arthur's shoulder, making his already cowering posture shrink even further.
Arthur faintly caught a scent drifting to his nose, something like gunpowder.
The butler looked at Alice, then glanced back at Arthur, before leaving as if somewhat regretfully.
"Even just an NPC, and it already made you look like this, hahaha. You look like you're about to piss yourself." The moment the butler disappeared, Thora immediately burst into laughter, pointing straight at Arthur.
The comment feed was also filled with mocking laughter—after all, Arthur's pitiful appearance was laughable.
Alice could feel the body under her arm stiffening. She figured Arthur must have been stung by Thora's words. She quickly lowered her hand to pat his back, smiling as she said:
"Newbie, don't worry. Whether you die early or die later, death comes anyway—chill. I'm Alice. What's your name?"
[Haha, that doesn't sound much like comfort at all.]
[The last person Alice personally got chummy with… the grass on their grave must be three meters tall by now.]
[Shh shh, don't say that—Alice is still a good person.]
Arthur felt like her patting would punch a hole through his back. Pressing his lips together, he answered softly, "Arthur." Then he shifted slightly, trying to move away from Alice's hand.
Alice looked surprised for a moment, then laughed loudly. "Did I hurt you? Oh my, you've got to tell me if I did."
Arthur said nothing, lowering his eyes in silence.
"That mole of yours is something, haha—it's got a certain charm, very alluring."
"So, why are you here anyway? Tell me a little about your story?"
"Don't worry. Here, everyone's equal. Some people didn't even mean to commit crimes—the system just sees a bit of blood and decides they're evil. Unreasonable!"
"Arthur, say something. Arthur, talk to me. Say something, Arthur."