Chapter 263
Chapter 263
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 263
Chapter Title: Chapter 6-2. Labyrinth
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Before heading down to the second floor, the group decided to recover from the fatigue that had built up so far on the first floor. Fortunately, the exit wasn't the spot where a door connected to the demon realm would open, so even when the sound of new demonic beasts pouring out from somewhere far away echoed, everything remained intact. The door leading to the second floor was also unscathed and firmly shut, preventing any demonic beasts or heat from the lower level from rising up.
Before settling in for rest, it was impossible to keep asking Arhil to maintain the orb of light, so they pulled out mana stones that emitted light and set them up like lanterns. It wasn't as cozy and bright as the orb sustained by holy power, but it was sufficient to illuminate the surrounding darkness. After that, they ate a meal, took care of business, and enjoyed a fairly leisurely deep sleep.
Once they had slept enough and woken up, the party checked their equipment one more time before opening the door to the second floor. The sealed iron door had no lock, so it could be forced open with strength. With a grating creak from Judah's push, the door swung open, and by the time they descended the stairs, it had closed on its own.
The air seemed to be flowing from somewhere, as a scorching wind blew up the moment they reached the second floor. The wind carried a strange smell that wasn't particularly pleasant. Lime recited a spell and waved her hand, freshening the air somewhat—no one knew what magic it was, but it made Judah think once again how endlessly versatile magic could be. He looked around the second floor.
While the surface and the first floor of the labyrinth had black flames burning, the flames here felt like molten lava. The dark red flames smoldered slowly, like smoke.
Kraaaah!
Clank! Clank!
From not too far away came the roar of a demonic beast, accompanied by the sound of chains.
"!?"
Startled by the sudden bellow that echoed through, Arhil, who was following behind, flinched dramatically. Since Judah had just resummoned the wraith knight and was watching her, he caught the full sight of her surprise.
"Don't worry. As long as we're together, I'll protect you absolutely, just like always."
"...You say such embarrassing things so casually."
He had meant it seriously. Still, there was some reaction. Arhil glanced at Lime and Iris, her face flushing as she pouted her lips. Watching her, Judah chuckled softly and turned away.
"Let's go. From what I know, there are no traps on the second floor."
Tap tap!
"?
—So what's there? What did you see in your dream?
Something was there, of course.
Didn't that roar just now tell them?
Judah read the words on Iris's notepad, full of curiosity, and answered aloud so not just her but Lime and Arhil could hear, rather than writing back.
"There are demonic beasts. Stronger ones than what we saw on the first floor. They have high resistance to fire and are vulnerable to ice magic or that attribute."
—What about the chain sounds?
"Well... who knows. I don't know that much."
He didn't know what the chain sounds accompanying the roar were. He'd have to see for himself.
"Let's go check it out first."
With a troubled smile, Judah asked Arhil to create an orb of light. Though dark red flames burned along the walls, emitting light, they only made the atmosphere more eerie. They couldn't illuminate everything like Arhil's light.
She obliged his request without hesitation.
With the surroundings brightly lit, they walked along the path. Unlike a maze on the second floor, it was a straight corridor, not complicated at all. They just had to pass through several rooms to reach the next floor. As far as he remembered, there were no traps here. But Iris insisted on caution, walking a few steps ahead of Judah, and they finally arrived at the first room.
Iris poked around carefully for traps, shook her head side to side, and pushed the door open. Like the massive iron door from the first to second floor, it opened smoothly.
Kraaaargh!
As the heavy door ground open with a rumble, what were presumably demonic beasts inside let out roars. It seemed like cheers at the arrival of fresh prey. But surprisingly, when they entered and raised the orb of light high, the scene that unfolded was nothing like what they'd imagined.
Clank! Clank!
The room was like a prison. A prison for holding demonic beasts. Iron bars stood at each corner, with the beasts chained inside like prisoners, unable to move beyond a certain area. They looked like ordinary iron chains and bars at a glance, yet these hideous creatures boasting tough muscles couldn't break free. Having been confined for quite some time, piles of bones littered the areas near the restrained beasts. They must have been fed on the demonic beasts that emerged when the door to the demon realm opened.
Grrr...
Four demonic beasts had human bodies, ox heads, and snake tails. They reminded him of the Minotaur from Greek and Roman mythology, but the snake tails were unusual. Drooling and growling from deep in their throats, they shuffled forward on chained limbs and gripped the bars.
Clang!
The bars, which seemed like they might crumple at any moment, held firm against their strength, keeping the beasts trapped. Their allowed space was only within the bars. They thrust out their snake tails forcefully, but the narrow gaps caused them to collide and bounce back.
"Was it... always like this?"
Lime asked, puzzled. Judah couldn't answer. He had no memory of making those bars. Nor of chaining up demonic beasts. In other words, someone who had broken through the walls and entered before his party might have set this up.
But why?
If they had the skill to imprison these beasts, they could have just killed them. Why go to the trouble of restraining and locking them away?
"A ability user? Or magic?"
But could it maintain such strength for so long without the caster present? Clearly, those bars hadn't guarded this spot for ages. They must have been made long after the labyrinth was created—and recently, at that.
"For now, since they can't move, it seems best to pass through quietly."
Lime said, staring at the four beasts whose eyes were fixed on them. There was no need to fight needlessly and tire themselves out. They agreed. The room's exit was naturally opposite the entrance, about 100 meters away. It was quite a distance, but as they reached the center of the room, wary of the beasts that might charge at any moment—veins bulging on an arm that gripped the bars without budging them before, now crumpled them.
Kwoh?
One beast tilted its head. The bars that hadn't yielded no matter how hard it tried were crumpling. Hoping against hope, it yanked on the chain deeply embedded in the wall. It came loose with a snap, effortlessly. Pathetically so. How long had it been trapped in that narrow cage? Finally free. The beast slammed its fist into the ground and roared.
It was free!
Scorching heat poured from its entire body. The beast turned its gaze toward the humans who had entered the room. The human it had encountered before was an impossibly strong foe, but these ones sneaking toward the exit would be terrified by now.
Come, time for a feast with my comrades!
With that thought, it turned its head. But what was this? The humans in the center of the room showed no sign of fear at its release. Their frowning faces seemed to say it was a hassle.
"I had a feeling something like this would happen."
Judah sighed. Behind him, Lime activated her magic immediately. First, dozens of ice spears formed.
"Magic is ready. I'll take the one in the rear."
"Then Iris, you handle the rear right. I'll deal with the two in front."
Nod.
Without needing to tell her, Arhil cast blessings on everyone. Toward the beast that had crumpled the bars and was charging first, spewing hot heat from its body, Judah drew his yakal and slashed upward. Before the unique sharpness of the fragments, the beast's tough hide and emanating heat were irrelevant.
Shlaaash!
Its arm severed in one stroke, blood spraying like a fountain. The blood scattered in the air gathered under Altemia's influence, forming a massive blood-red spear that shot like an arrow toward the beast charging from the opposite side, barreling toward Judah bars and all. The beast braked abruptly with surprising agility for its bulk and dodged to the side, but by then Judah—who had already diced one completely—stood before it.
Kwoh...
The beast couldn't comprehend the situation. It rolled its bloodshot eyes around the room. Its kin, long confined to the bars, lay as cold corpses where they fell. Slumped or in pieces, they were dead. It was the only one left.
"It's hot."
Judah muttered as he beheaded the beast with incredulous eyes. The yakal sliced through tough hide and sturdy bone like tofu, then was tossed into the bag. The corpse still radiated intense heat. In time, it would cook itself deliciously in its own blaze.
Turning back, he saw Lime and Iris had easily dispatched theirs and were walking over with Arhil. One was a high-ranking magic sorceress, the other a spirit sword wielder with fragments to boot—and even higher level than Judah. Demonic beasts like these were a piece of cake.
"Shall we go? Let's clear this floor before the day ends."
Judah shrugged and pointed to the room's exit. The Iron Labyrinth—more boring than expected.