Chapter 2: Lilith’s Doll (1)

“Welcome to the Death Game.

Current Game Dungeon:

Lilith’s Doll

Dungeon Duration: 6 hours

Dungeon Background:

Lilith is an extremely adorable little girl. She owns a very beautiful doll.

However, just a few days ago, her doll mysteriously disappeared. Lilith was heartbroken. She thought about it day and night, until finally…

One night, she dreamed that her most beloved doll had appeared inside a certain castle.

Determined to uncover the truth and rescue her precious doll, Lilith decided to visit that castle. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

You happen to encounter Lilith while she is on her way there.

After hearing her story, driven by overwhelming curiosity, you decide to accompany Lilith into the castle.

Dungeon Clearance Prerequisite:

Protect Lilith.

Dungeon Clearance Conditions (Complete and submit any ONE of the following):

1. Discover the complete truth behind the disappearance of Lilith’s doll.

2. Return Lilith’s most beloved doll to her.

3. Hidden Mission: This objective will not be displayed unless triggered. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Notice: This dungeon contains a special hidden item. Upon completing the hidden mission, players may take the item out of the dungeon.

Successfully submitting a mission will count as clearing the dungeon. Players will receive the corresponding points and return to the real world.

Failure to successfully submit a mission will count as a failure. Players may spend the corresponding amount of points to offset their failure.

(Offsetting a failed dungeon run requires 1,000 points. Players with insufficient points will be eliminated.)

Death inside a dungeon is equivalent to death in the real world. Any attempt to evade the game’s rules will be considered a violation by the player and will result in immediate elimination.

Please take this game seriously.”

As soon as the system announcement ended, Li Changming opened his eyes without hesitation.

He glanced around— Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

The five pairs of eyes briefly scrutinized one another before everyone simultaneously looked away, as though they had reached an unspoken understanding.

Apart from Li Changming himself, the Knight of the Golden Court Conference, the other three men and one woman were also familiar faces to one another.

They were An He, the Sage of the Dawn Conference; Ye Lingmei, the Snake Woman of the Changheng Squad; and Doro, the Giant Fir, and Bai Xing, the Poplar, both from the Forest Conference.

That settled it. Everyone here was someone whose name they knew. Even if they weren’t particularly familiar with one another, at least there were no deep-seated grudges between them that would make anyone likely to launch a sneak attack.

Just as the initially tense atmosphere began to ease, and before anyone could exchange a few pleasantries—

A sudden, crisp child’s voice rang out from deep within the corridor, gradually drawing closer.

“Rain from the heavens falls ever so softly,

A beautiful doll shall dwell in the tower. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

A magnificent prison, chains long and cold,

A lovely little doll shall have no home.

Scalding blood, a beating heart,

The beloved doll closes her eyes.

Sharp, jagged edges, flames rising high,

Oh, doll, my doll—

You shall never see the break of day again—

You shall never, ever see the break of day…” Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

The girl’s voice was sweet, her pronunciation clear, and her words carried the distinctive innocence of a child.

Yet, in their current surroundings, that sweetness and innocence only made the scene all the more spine-chilling.

Li Changming immediately went on guard.

While committing the lyrics to memory, he kept his eyes fixed on the corridor from which the singing originated.

Based on his past experiences of being thoroughly beaten down by dungeon games, he knew that in these instances—especially intelligence-based dungeons like the one they were currently exploring—things such as nursery rhymes often conveyed the buried truth of the dungeon from an entirely different perspective.

In any case, there was no harm in remembering them.

The other four clearly thought the same.

Just as everyone was concentrating on memorizing the lyrics, in the very next instant— Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

“What’s wrong?”

One second after the singing stopped, an adorable little girl suddenly appeared before them, slowly opening her eyes.

Her sapphire-blue pupils gazed innocently at the five players. Her tender little face was filled with unmistakable confusion.

“Why did you stop following me?”

That voice…

Was this little girl the one who had just sung that song?

Li Changming raised a hand to stop Doro, who was about to ask something.

Looking at the little girl before them, who clearly seemed unaware of anything, Ye Lingmei stood to his rear left and smiled gently. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Recalling the dungeon’s background information, she spoke to the bewildered little girl as naturally as possible.

“Lilith, are you really sure you know the way?”

“Of course!”

Hearing what sounded like a challenge to her claim, Lilith was easily distracted.

“Are you questioning adorable Lilith?!”

She glared indignantly at Ye Lingmei, puffed up her cheeks, and planted both hands on her hips. Completely forgetting everything else, she raised her voice in anger.

“Don’t you believe that Lilith can find her beloved doll?!”

That wasn’t it. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

I simply wanted to use the opportunity to strike up a conversation while confirming whether you were indeed the Lilith mentioned in the dungeon background—the obviously important main-story NPC.

With a slight shift of her eyes, Ye Lingmei chuckled softly and answered without the slightest hesitation.

“How could I, my dear Lilith? Even if I were to doubt myself, I could never bring myself to doubt someone as adorable as you.”

Hmm?

I-Is that so?

Then…

F-Fine!

Looking earnestly at Ye Lingmei’s sincere expression, Lilith finally believed her. Suppressing the smug smile threatening to creep onto her lips, she put on an act and gave a little huff. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

“I know what you want.”

“Don’t waste any more time! Don’t worry. Once we rescue my beloved doll, I’ll give that thing to you.”

Having been successfully placated, Lilith turned around and resumed walking deeper into the corridor with light, cheerful steps.

The five players quickly followed, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far from her.

“What do you think?”

The smile on Ye Lingmei’s face had completely disappeared.

The thing they wanted?

What thing was she talking about? Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Hadn’t they followed Lilith into the castle simply out of curiosity?

Was this a clue related to the hidden mission?

But for a hidden-mission clue to be presented so openly right in front of them…

Why did it feel so unreal?

She idly twirled a loose curl that had fallen over her shoulder, her eyes growing unfathomably deep.

“What else is there to think about? Isn’t the simplest way to clear this dungeon already obvious?”

Doro let out a scoff, completely missing what Ye Lingmei was implying.

“The clearance prerequisite is to protect the NPC. Most likely, dungeon monsters will try to attack the NPC leading us later. All we have to do is eliminate those monsters, find the doll, and return it to the NPC. Then we can clear the dungeon without any trouble, can’t we?” Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

As he spoke, he rolled his wrists, producing a series of loud cracking and popping sounds.

The others frowned slightly at the noise, but Doro paid them no mind.

As far as he was concerned, this dungeon was already in the bag.

“Relax. Isn’t this a piece of cake?”

Such an outrageous claim…

Ye Lingmei fell silent for a moment. Then, following Li Changming’s example, she forced a smile that was awkward yet perfectly polite.

An He, meanwhile, wordlessly pushed up his glasses. His expressionless gaze shifted toward Bai Xing, who was standing nearby, practically covering his face as though pretending not to know Doro.

An He looked at him with sympathy in his eyes. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

“I’ve long heard that the Giant Fir of the Forest Conference has a… rather honest and simple disposition. It seems the rumors were not misleading.”

Bai Xing, who could no longer keep up the pretense: …

He wiped a hand over his face and was just about to explain something when—

Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed that Lilith, who had been walking ahead of them, had stopped at some point.

Was she…

Bai Xing’s pupils abruptly contracted.

“No!”