Child from the Dungeon-Chapter 209: Spin-Off Vol.1 ’Dark Stranger ’: Orphan Stranger

( Days After. )

[ The Oraklis Orphanage. ]

" Duncan, do you like your 'Magic Milk'*? " said Father Priest, as Duncan drank it.

" Hmm, 'tis good, what it's made really of, Father Priest? " Duncan asks the Father Priest, the Head Priest, and the Head Caretaker of this Orphanage.

" Made from the purest of milk, imbued with great Mana. " Father Priest said.

" A milk perfect for kids like you to increase your growth, since we always believe some of you may lack nutrition before your parents get you here. "

" This milk is a 'free' voluntary merchandise from the 'Black Merchant', he used to come here as he found those who need a home... " Father Priest explains.

" Black Merchant, huh? " Duncan sighs, as he then remembers his deal back then with the 'Black Merchant'.

...

( Back in the past, 'Goblin's Nest Dungeon' )

" It seems my Merchandise had proven efficient once again. " Black Merchant smiles as he sees DG-525 successfully transformed into his 'human' form.

< Skin Creation Complete. >

< User's Skin: [" Fake Human Mage Disguise 'Duncan Grimshaw' " (A)] >

< Skin Type: 'Semi-Permanent' >

" Since it's 'Semi-Permanent' skin, you still need some help to make it cover your identity thoroughly. " Black Merchant tells Duncan as he gives him some pills.

< Black Merchant's Special: Pills for Perfect Disguise (Legendary) | (10) >

< This pill is made to make sure the User's identity won't easily be revealed by the humans. If the User has already seen the symptoms of the Disguise Skin's deterioration, then the User is advised to quickly consume it. >

" Use it every time when you're disguise is getting revealed, slight reversal of your disguise would give you trouble since the humans will see your monstrous skin as a threat. " Black Merchant reminds Duncan.

" Is that so? " Duncan asks as he's in his human form, he looks at himself, so little than what he used to be in that state, and he realizes that he has the current body of a child, a child in the age of early-teenager.

" It seems after getting upgraded, you are struggling to return to your original 'humanoid form', hmph... " Black Merchant sees it and comments.

" No matter... "

" After you consumed Captain Duncan Grimshaw from the Elysium Knights, his human DNA might've helped you maintain your new 'human form'. "

" Alongside with the pills. "

" But still... "

" Since your form had many resemblances to Captain Duncan right now, I advised you to come with me, as I'll take you to the 'Remote Region' of Elysium Haven, to evade the knights from noticing you, for now. " Black Merchant says to Duncan.

...

( In the present. )

"( That's why I was taken here, huh? )" Duncan says as he walks around his Orphanage, helping his fellow Orphans as they clean the Orphanage using their muscles and magic. 𝗯𝐞𝗱𝐧𝗼𝐯𝐞𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"( It's very good here, unlike the 'facility'... )" Duncan tries to forget his days as DG-525 in the facility.

"( I'm no longer subject DG-525, I'm Duncan Grimshaw now. )"

"( With my current form, maybe I could achieve my dreams that I could never achieve within that slaughterhouse 'facility', a happy life. )" Duncan says to himself as he sees himself in the nearby mirror.

He sees his new looks, his black hair, and green eyes, alongside his new human skin, it makes him feel good as he loves how it looks in the mirror.

"( This is me, now. )" Duncan smiles while mirroring himself, he tidies his hair and clothes as he hears the Orphanage's gate is opened.

"( Is it time? )" Duncan asks himself as he goes to the nearest balcony, trying to see the people who want to come inside.

" Oh, it's the Nyx Nocterra Royal House. " Duncan says as he sees the Nyx Nocterra Logo, the 'Dark Moon', symbolizes the Nyx Nocterra's very dominance over the 'Dark Magic'.

" If I remember, these 'Nyx Nocterra's are the only Royal House family who is permitted to use 'Dark Magic'. "

" With their family's power over the dark corners of 'Elysium Haven', the other Royal Houses stand no chance to forbid their Dark Magic practices. " Duncan says as he looks at the coming people of the Nyx Nocterra House.

" Guess Black Merchant was right to make me beware of all Royal Houses... "

" If they're the ones who found out... "

He sees the Knights who accompanied him and opens the door for them, Dark Armored Knights, the Knights of Nyx Nocterra House. As the Dark Knights made their way, the Nyx Nocterras came with their Car, which looked like a long Dark Limo.

" Greet the Nyx Nocterra House! " said the Dark Knights, shouting the very name of the House as the people came out from their car.

" The 'Oraklis Orphanage', finally... " said an old man, shrouded with Dark Cloak as he came out alongside a child.

" Is this the place you told me to find some 'ingredients', Father? " said the child, a boy with a well-made suit, who came down and followed his father as the two came to see Father Priest, the Orphanage Owner.

" Keurkh! " Duncan is startled as he sees them from afar.

< Mana Sense Activated >

< (!) WARNING (!) >

< The Scanning Target is stronger than the User. >

...

< Scanning >

< Name: Tyrannus Nyx Nocterra >

< Level: 60 >

< Tier: Tier V. >

< Race: Human >

< Age: 56>

< Class: Mage >

< Status: >

< HP: 600.000/600.000 >

< MP: 600.000/600.000 >

...

< Name: Tenebrae Nyx Nocterra >

< Level: 55 >

< Tier: Tier V. >

< Race: Human >

< Age: 13 >

< Class: Mage >

< Status: >

< HP: 550.000/550.000 >

< MP: 550.000/550.000 >

...

" Gah! " Duncan stutters as the System Scans it, showing the 'Visible Words' in front of him, showing the Numerical Values as well and Duncan witnesses how powerful the people he just scanned and sensed are.

" *Gulp* So this is the power of the Royal Houses? " Duncan gulps as he can only shake his head over the power level of the Royals he just saw, he decides to retreat from the balcony, retreating himself to make sure he eases himself before following the others to meet the Nyx Nocterras.

" Hmph? " Meanwhile, Tenebrae Nyx Nocterra felt something, he felt his senses tingling as he just felt that he was being watched.

"( Which one of these losers dares to spy on me? )" Tenebrae wonders as he enters the Orphanage's Guest Room prepared by the Orphanage Priests.