Chapter 34: 3rd Floor Hidden (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 34: 3rd Floor Hidden (2)
“We thank you for your assistance! We are Holy Knights of the Order, performing a sacred mission under the radiance of Paeli, the God of Dawn. And who might you be?”
The knights greeted me with clear goodwill. All three were middle-aged men.
Holy Knights, huh? It seemed they were definitely allies.
“I’m just a traveler passing through. I saw you fighting the undead and decided to help,” I introduced myself, trying to sound as natural as possible to avoid suspicion.
The Holy Knight acting as the spokesperson nodded with a grave expression. “I see, a traveler. You must have been quite startled.”
“Excuse me?”
“I mean by this temple suddenly appearing in the middle of the Natmon Plains. I suspect this is a temple from the ancient Rune Magitech Empire.”
Are we dumping lore right from the start?
Needing to understand the situation better, I simply nodded along.
“Yes, it was quite a shock when it suddenly appeared. But you say this is a temple of the Rune Magitech Empire?”
Since I just repeated what he said, the Holy Knight continued his explanation.
“Indeed. I suspect a barrier that had been maintained since ancient times finally failed, revealing its form...”
“A barrier failed?”
“Precisely. Unless it was barrier magic, there is no way such a structure could suddenly rise from empty land. We were investigating the undead problem in this area when we discovered this temple.”
“You came to investigate the undead?”
The knight stopped mid-sentence and looked at me.
Ah, I overdid it.
Tilting his head slightly, the knight introduced himself and his companions. “Come to think of it, we haven't properly introduced ourselves. I am Delant.”
“I am Slavan.”
“I am Philip.”
“Ah, I’m Kim Seo-hyun.”
The knight named Philip asked, “Are you perhaps from the Eastern Lands? I have heard stories that the people of the East have black hair and eyes.”
“Ah... yes! That’s right. I’ve come from the distant Eastern Lands.”
Since the knights all looked Western, my appearance must have seemed exotic to them. I doubted 'the Eastern Lands' referred to Asia on Earth, but I decided to just roll with it.
After the introductions, the knights decided to take a break and built a fire right there.
“Would you care for a cup, Sir?”
“Thank you.”
They even brewed tea, so I joined them for a somewhat unexpected tea break. It tasted like black tea, but it wasn't very good.
“...And so, we came here to investigate the undead issue, but we never dreamed we would find a situation like this.”
“I see.”
“Are you familiar with the legends of the Rune Magitech Empire? The stories of the fall of Rune and the Last Emperor?”
“No, I don’t know much about it.”
We continued the conversation while sipping tea. Just like during the 2nd Floor Hidden Route, I needed to understand the flow of the story to deduce the clear conditions, so I listened intently.
“Katerun, the last emperor of the Rune Magitech Empire, fell into a cult in his later years. The Nocturn—those heretics who still persist like cockroaches today. Katerun became obsessed with their corrupted faith and sought to summon an Archdemon. To that end, he committed the atrocity of building temples and sacrificing countless people. It seems this is one of those legendary temples.”
“I see. So this place is related to the undead?”
Delant nodded.
“According to legend, the being Katerun tried to summon was an Archdemon named Valuk, who is said to wield power over the dead. We suspect that as the temple's barrier failed, the residual power of the Archdemon leaked out and attracted the undead... but we won't know for sure until we investigate the temple.”
Delant’s face was grim.
“Katerun’s method for summoning the demon involved corrupting holy relics and utilizing their power. Because of this, the Paeli Order suffered terrible persecution during the reign of the last emperor. The emperor seized the Order's holy relics to use in his summoning rituals, so there may be lost relics of our Order within this temple. Specifically, the ‘Holy Grail of Dawn,’ which was like the heart of our Order, might be here. Investigating the undead is important, but finding any relics that might remain in this temple is our most vital mission.”
Having heard the explanation, I organized the information in my head.
Let’s see.
The goal of these Holy Knights is to find the relics in the temple. Specifically, the Holy Grail of Dawn. The predicted enemies are the Archdemon Valuk and... the Nocturn cult? That was about it.
I couldn't deduce the exact clear conditions from this alone, but for now, it seemed I should help these knights find the relics.
“By the way, um, Sir Kim Sun-un...”
“It’s Kim Seo-hyun.”
“My apologies. I am not used to Eastern pronunciations. Sir Kim Seo-hyun, I was surprised by your exceptional skills despite your youth. I thank you once again.”
“Oh, it was nothing.”
Delant looked at me with an expectant gaze. “On that note, would you be willing to assist us in investigating the temple? We will ensure you are properly rewarded in the name of the Paeli Order.”
I knew it would go this way.
I nodded. “I’ll help. I’m quite interested in the ruins of the Magitech Empire myself.”
“Oh! Thank you!”
After finishing our tea, I moved with the Holy Knights to find the entrance to the pyramid-shaped building.
Wait, what is that?
I looked up at the top of the pyramid. The summit was flat, as if the tip had been sliced off. I noticed a massive structure sitting there.
A cannon? It looked like some kind of cannon...
“Undead!”
Delant shouted as he spotted more undead. It was another large one, like before. As the three prepared for battle, I immediately launched a Flame Strike.
BOOM!
Unable to withstand the explosive force, the undead burst apart amidst the flames. The three men stared at the scene, their mouths agape.
“Sir Kim Seo-hyun... may I ask what rank of mage you are?”
“Rank?”
What’s that? I don’t know anything about ranks.
“Ah, I see. You likely don't use such a system in the East. I was simply startled because you possess both high-level martial arts and powerful magic.”
“I have never seen magic cast with such speed. Eastern magic must be truly different!”
They chatted amongst themselves and came to their own conclusions. We spent some time wandering around, easily disposing of the undead roaming the temple's exterior.
“This looks like the entrance.”
We finally found the entrance and stepped inside the pyramid. The interior was pitch black, without a single ray of light. Slavan pulled a lamp-like object from his robe to provide light. It probably wasn't electric; maybe a magic tool?
Philip occasionally sprinkled a glowing powder on the floor, so I asked, “Are you marking the path so we don't get lost?”
“Yes. We mustn't lose our way when we head back out.”
I stayed alert and kept watch on our surroundings. We were currently passing through a narrow corridor. Since the entrance, the path had been nothing but a maze.
Something should be showing up soon.
I didn't think the hidden route would be as simple as just finding a relic. Even if that was the goal, the process would likely be grueling—like the temple being infested with traps.
Delant voiced exactly what I was thinking.
“I have heard that during the era of the Magitech Empire, known as the golden age of magic, magitech engineering was incredibly advanced. Be on your guard, brothers. You too, Sir Kim Seo-hyun.”
Hearing him say that made me certain there were traps. I spoke to Delant, who was leading the way.
“Sir Delant, let me take the lead. I have a good eye for spotting hidden traps.”
The reason I offered to go first was because I was worried the Holy Knights might die if they triggered a trap. They might be essential NPCs who shouldn't die, like Haylin on the 2nd floor. I was confident I could handle it with my Sixth Sense.
“Oh, I see! As a mage, can you perceive magical traps as well?”
“Yes, well, something like that.”
“Then I shall leave it to you.”
And so, I began to lead the way. As we moved forward, I suddenly flinched and pulled back the foot I was about to plant.
“Sir? What is it?”
“...Wait a moment. Step back.”
I felt it. I backed up a bit, glared at the corridor ahead, and fired a Light Bullet at the floor.
Bang! WHOOSH!
As soon as the Light Bullet hit, fierce flames erupted from the walls on both sides. The three men watched the scene in shock.
“There was a trap.”
“How did you know? Did you sense the faint mana of the trap?”
“Um... yes, that’s it. I felt the mana.”
“Oh! As expected!”
It was all thanks to Sixth Sense, though. We avoided the trap and took a different path.
“Another trap.”
Next, we came to a room. When I fired a Light Bullet into the air, the ceiling opened, and things resembling Gatling guns popped out.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
The Gatling guns spun furiously, spitting out bullets made of light. The floor was devastated in an instant. Of course, since we were standing at the entrance and hadn't entered, we weren't hit.
Wow, seriously...
I was a bit dumbfounded. Even Gatling guns?
“Let’s find another way.”
After that, several more traps appeared. My Sixth Sense skill never failed to filter out these types of traps. What would I have done if I hadn't obtained this skill? It was a truly reliable 'bread and butter' skill.
By dodging and weaving through the traps, we finally emerged from the maze-like corridors into a wide space. It was a magnificent room, with walls and floors decorated with golden gems.
“Sir Delant! Look over there!”
However, the three men didn't even glance at the treasures; they all looked in one direction. A circlet was placed on the head of a gargoyle-like statue in the center of the room.
“This holy aura... it is undoubtedly a relic!”
The three of them rushed forward, but I stopped them. “Wait! There might be a trap.”
“Ah, right. I was too hasty.”
I stepped forward first and circled the statue. Even as I approached, I didn't feel any particular sense of danger.
“It seems fine.”
I personally took the circlet off the statue and handed it to Delant. Delant examined the circlet with an overwhelmed expression, then spoke as if he had realized something.
“This is...!”
“What is it?”
“It appears to be the Circlet of Saint Randahill!”
“Oh! This is the legendary Circlet of Saint Randahill?!”
“The Circlet of Saint Randahill! Is it true?!”
What on earth is that, you geeks... I mean, noble Paladins.
Delant, who had been handling the explanations so far, filled me in. “The Circlet of Saint Randahill is a relic said to have been lost by the Paeli Order in the distant past. To think it was actually here.”
“Congratulations. That’s great.”
“Haha! It is all thanks to you, Sir Kim Seo-hyun. The power of this circlet is to emit a red light if there is a wicked presence nearby. Look, if I infuse it with divine power like this...”
Hummm.
The circlet in Delant’s hand suddenly began to glow with a red light. Delant stopped mid-sentence. The expressions of the other two also hardened.
“...It turned red?”
Huh? Wait.
The three of them slowly raised their heads and looked at me. I stared at the circlet, stunned, then shook my head.
“No, it’s not me. You’re misunderstanding something.”
Why the hell did it suddenly turn red? Naturally, I felt wronged, but the three of them were already radiating hostility toward me.
“You, what is your true identity?”
“No, I’m telling you, it’s not me. Why would I be a wicked presence? I’m a perfectly normal human.”
“Are you saying the holy relic is lying?”
“...Maybe it’s just broken because it’s so old?”
“How dare you!”
The three of them drew their swords and lunged at me. I hurriedly backed away.
Ah, the déjà vu from the 2nd floor.
“I’m telling you, it’s not me!”
After I worked so hard to help them get here, their eyes changed instantly, and they attacked. Since the three of them weren't that strong, I decided to try and subdue them first.
But the moment I dodged Delant’s sword and kicked him—
[You have failed the Nightmare 3rd Floor Hidden Route. (2/3)]
[Exiting the Tower.]
With that message, I was instantly returned to my room. I blinked blankly for a moment before flopping down onto the floor.
“Sigh... here we go again.”
I thought things were going too smoothly. I didn't even kill him, so why? Is it a failure just for attacking them this time?
...Let’s think about this. Attacking the Holy Knights results in failure. And the relic that filters out wicked presences somehow emitted a red light.
Am I considered a wicked presence in that world for some reason? Or, if not that, then maybe...
[Would you like to enter the 3rd Floor (Nightmare)?]
Time for an immediate retry.
I organized my thoughts and re-entered the 3rd floor. I activated the Sun Emblem in the basement, killed the boss, and moved quickly to the temple.
“I’ll help you!”
I found the three men fighting the undead again, helped them, and proceeded with the story.
“...So, Sir Kim Seo-hyun, would you be willing to assist us in investigating the temple?”
“I understand. I’ll help.”
As we entered the pyramid, I watched the backs of the three men. The relic that detects wicked presences—if it wasn't pointing at me...
Then it must be someone else.
There was a traitor among us. That was my conclusion.