Gamers of the Underworld

The green stone slabs glimmered with gray light after being illuminated by magical road lamps.

The frightening shadows on the ground mimicked the frightened rat that scurried across the street.

In Winterfell, the peace-loving Underworld inhabitants extinguished their magical lamps, kissed their family members’ foreheads, and enjoyed the peace of the night…

Barbecue smells, various strange smells, and rowdiness pervaded the Underworld’s nightlife.

“Kebab! Kebab! Fresh Worm Kebab! With clay flavor! You don’t have to pay if it’s not tasty!”

“Can it be cheaper? It’s for Stitches. Can you reduce the price? It’s not for eating, it’s for stitching on his body.”

“Handsome lad~ come~ our learning materials are interesting~ come and learn~”

“No, no, it’s harmful to the body.”

The magical lamps illuminated both sides of the street that were filled with various stalls. Gnomes, Werewolves, Orcs, and other strange Underworld creatures strolled by. The stall keepers were selling censored merchandise.

“Oolalalalala~!”

A Gnome with a punk hairstyle rode on a multi-colored bird and shouted in a shrill voice as he traveled on the chaotic street.

An Orc who rode on a young Beetlemon also yelled, “Oolaoolaoola~!” The Orc rider was chasing after the Gnome rider.

Their reckless behavior invited curses from the crowd.

An old Orc jumped up and threw a bottle at both young riders as he scolded, “Young lads nowadays! No speed at all! Slow as dogsh*t! I used to race with Beetlemons at Bright Autumn Pit and negotiated the bends without damaging my cargo of Slimes. The Gnomes were tailing me all the way! You’re trash!”

After he finished scolding, the old Orc trembled as he walked back into his shop and said to a young Orc, “Tuotu! Deliver the Slimes!”

A tall built figure that was draped in a black cloak passed through the crowd. He walked past the old Orc and sat down in his shop. Then, he raised his hand and said in a hoarse voice, “A plate of Slime mucus.”

The old Orc went to the kitchen and came out with a plate containing a small, trembling Slime that was looking around wide-eyed. He poked a straw skilfully into the belly of the Slime.

The little Slime closed its eyes and emitted cute sounds.

“Moo Yee!”

The dark figure lowered his head and gazed at the cute Slime.

“That’s how we drink in our shop. Don’t finish the mucus. Leave about half. He will grow back after I add some water,” a young Orc named Tuotu explained.

The tall figure nodded and extended his gloved hand to pinch the straw as he leaned forward. He sucked like a tornado.

The little Slime was stretched and distorted by the tremendous force. Half of the mucus was finished, but he continued sucking.

“No—!”

The Slime gave a shrill scream and extended a hand to extract the straw. He jumped up and punched his sticky fist at the tall figure.

His voice was no longer cute. Instead, he said furiously, “D*mn you, can’t you understand common Underworld language? D*mn you, I was almost sucked dry. I’m quitting. I’m unable to do this job. I’m always meeting country bumpkins like you.”

The Slime jumped off the table and ran to the kitchen. Arguments and loud banging sounds were heard.

The little Slime dragged a small piece of luggage as he walked outside. As he passed by the tall figure, he spat at him violently.

“Ke— Pui!”

Then he scolded furiously as he left.

As the Slime left, Sherlock, who was wearing a windbreaker, walked by the Slime. Sherlock turned to look at the mysterious tall figure sitting in the shop.

He walked over and sat opposite the tall figure.

“It has been a long time since we last met.”

Sherlock said directly, “Why are we meeting here? I thought we would be meeting in Winterfell’s tallest tower or an empty alley.”

“Lord Sherlock.” The figure hidden within the cloak spoke in a hoarse voice. He turned his head, and the hidden face was directed at Sherlock before he continued speaking.

“I’m here to convey a message.”

Sherlock frowned and waited for him to continue.

The tall figure remained silent. They gazed at each other for a few seconds before Sherlock raised his hand and invited him to continue.

“Continue. What did he say?”

“I am the past, the present, and the future glory. I am the summoning of Hades, the opposer of the Eternal Oracle. Use the Sacred Teachings to fend off the Heavenly Blame, and leave the Kingdom of Heaven towards…” The tall figure spoke in a hoarse but poetic voice.

Before he finished, Sherlock lifted his hand and flung away the cloak of the tall figure.

There were three alternate white and black hamsters stacked on each other.

The topmost hamster pinched his own throat to produce the hoarse voice. As the cloak was unveiled abruptly, the voice came to a stop. He stared wide-eyed at Sherlock.

The middle hamster hugged a large fruit and placed it underneath his large teeth as he gnawed on it and filled up his cheeks. After the cloak was unveiled, he was stunned, and his chewing came to a halt as he stared at Sherlock.

As for the bottommost hamster, his two legs were trembling, and his eyes were closed. He didn’t know how long he was going to last.

“Enough of the nonsense. Get straight to the point. Who is the person, and what is the message?” Sherlock asked.

The top two hamsters jumped down to their right, and the three hamsters gathered together. Then they sat down from left to right consecutively.

The rightmost hamster spoke in a voice that sounded as though he had breathed in helium. “Lord Sherlock, let us inquire about why you disappeared.”

The middle hamster put down his fruit and said in the same voice, “What are you doing recently? You’ve established a Dungeon?”

The leftmost hamster said, “Slime mucus? Wasn’t it agreed upon that I would take a little?”

Sherlock folded his arms and pondered before saying, “Please bring a message back that I have not disappeared. I’m doing some preparation. I didn’t establish a Dungeon. Why would I do that?”

Sherlock spread out his hands and looked innocent.

The leftmost hamster took some documents out from his back. They had the words “Lord Sherlock’s Investigation Report” on them. He slapped his paws on the table and asked, “Really? We have proof here. We found your name and Mana traces on the contracts of several shops. Don’t Have the Most Expensive Stuff, Only Have the Most Expensive, and Secret Garden.”

The other two hamsters slapped on the table and said simultaneously, “That’s right!”

“Pom, pom, pom.”

Sherlock knocked on the hamsters’ heads quickly using his knuckles. He took the investigation report and walked out of the shop.

The three hamsters looked at each other.

“What are we doing here?”

“Who are you?”

“Where’s my Slime mucus?”

Sherlock vanished into the crowd.

“Your enemy? Or your childhood friend? Destiny lover? The person must be a female to have such cute pets. Wah, Lord Sherlock, I am noticing that your history is pretty exciting.” Bru’s voice appeared beside Sherlock’s ear.

Why do you think that I have a relationship with a female?

Sherlock said, “Keep it a secret. I’m leaving for a day. Take care of Eternal Kingdom and the gamers. Do not bother me unless there are special cases. If there are problems with the gamers, let Brainiac handle them. Make use of the missions to appease them. Are you good?”

“No problem, Lord Sherlock.”

…

Brainiac stood in his room. In front of him was an endless stream of Goblins requesting healing and revival.

The Goblins were extremely excited.

Those bothersome Goblins had been harassing him by touching him and ransacking his luggage for the past few days.

Today, there were only a few of them.

Most of them were busy. They brought their comrades’ corpses and their own injuries for healing and revival. After leaving, there would be another batch of Goblins requesting help.

Some Goblins would shout outside.

“Gather! Gather! The third wave of the expedition into the Houndhead Men’s lair! Gather quickly! The Beetlemon will set off in ten minutes!”

“Shucks! The Beetlemon isn’t running? Is it hungry? Who has Spider Meat with clay? Feed the Beetlemon! Mine’s finished!”

“Wait for me, I’m going for a quick meal! Give me ten minutes, wait for me!”

“When we engage the Houndhead Men, memorize the skills of our enemy. Whoever is in the wrong position will not be in the next expedition. Don’t sabotage our expedition!”

“Awesome, you have found the Houndhead Men’s lair?”

…

Brainiac frowned. What were those Goblins doing?