Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Dungeon Circumstances (2)
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"A magic stone was found?"
"Yes."
El Academy professor's research lab.
The elderly professor, his face weary with age, lifted his glasses.
"Let me see... Hmm. Uh... Huh."
The old professor paused for a moment, glanced around at the empty surroundings, and scratched the back of his neck.
"Hand over the magic stone for now and go to class."
"Professor. Isn't this a serious issue?"
"Nah, nah. It happens sometimes. Don't worry about it."
The professor waved his hand dismissively. Caught off guard, I couldn't say another word and left the research lab.
'Is this really okay?'
The discovery of a magic stone in an artificial dungeon was a major incident.
It could spiral out of control in any number of ways, and even a single small magic stone had often triggered disasters.
That's why I'd come to report it. But the instructor didn't seem fazed at all.
'Maybe it really is nothing?'
He'd said it so confidently that doubting him felt ridiculous.
Then again, what could possibly go wrong at the world's top academy?
Even with my help, they'd quelled that cult infiltration pretty quickly.
Still, better safe than sorry. I'd just prepare for the possibility of being trapped in the dungeon.
-Tap, tap.
As I walked down the hallway, I pulled a sealed container from my bag.
Opening the translucent lid with a click released a fresh, natural aroma.
Inside was a perfectly made acorn jelly, proudly on display.
'Thank you, cafeteria ladies.'
Acorns were tough to eat raw, so I'd casually asked the ladies that morning on my way to breakfast, and they'd happily obliged.
Something about having to grant a hero's request? That's why reputation matters.
I speared a piece with a starch toothpick and popped it in my mouth.
The salty soy sauce was followed by the addictive, slightly bitter flavor unique to acorn jelly.
Finely chopped green onions added to the texture.
Not bad.
I devoured it in the blink of an eye, like melting snow, and finished my snack.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A pitch-black room shrouded in blackout curtains.
In the ebony space encircled by thorny vines, several Wood Persons solemnly placed fists over their hearts.
A black cotton crown, jade beads etched with mystical patterns rolled heavily across the floor.
-Roll, roll.
Clad in full-body uniforms, they stared coldly at the center of the execution chamber.
And in that center lay a girl with her eyes rolled back.
"Ah... Uh."
At a loss for words, she gazed hazily at her lower abdomen with blurred vision.
Seeing the chunks of flesh spilling from there, she wore a look of utter despair before squeezing her eyes shut in resignation.
"Kuh... Hnng. Kugh."
A long tug-of-war with death.
Under the girl, who had finally succumbed, the form of a black tree emerged.
-Ahiiiii.
Countless branches split into dozens, reaching the ceiling.
The massive tree, enclosed by fabric, glanced at its followers once before silently shaking its branches.
One believer stepped forward before her.
"Are the preparations complete?"
-Crack, crunch.
The giant tree engulfing the girl's corpse extended a branch over the believer's head.
The believer flushed with ecstasy. Soon, envious voices arose from around them.
"Ahh, World Tree..."
Dull eyes staring into the far distance.
And beside that giant tree stood the only man in normal attire.
The saint. Raymond.
As the World Tree's proxy, he announced to the believer in a stern, resolute voice.
"I shall now convey the World Tree's will."
What their worshipped World Tree desired.
That was...
"El Academy cadet, Lee Si-heon. The World Tree desires his neck."
The death of a maggot-like intruder in the perfect world.
Left alone, he would surely become a headache, and lately, he'd been focusing on Flower Magic.
"He has wickedly abused the system."
Raymond calmly preached his misdeeds.
"He has deceived innocent World Trees with his schemes."
Taking one step, Raymond approached the giant tree's side.
The black tree parted its branches, allowing his approach.
Raymond halted. His eyes blazed with hatred.
"He spreads false achievements far and wide, deceiving humans and Wood Persons alike."
Crack, crunch. Blood seeped from his clenched teeth. His jaw trembled.
Their actions required no personal emotions.
They had to understand the World Tree's stance more fervently than anyone, forcing comprehension of even incomprehensible feelings.
Even if it wasn't morally right. It didn't matter.
If it was the World Tree's will. They were the sort who wouldn't mind dying and reincarnating a hundred times over.
At Raymond's words, the believers clasped hands in prayer, fueling their hatred.
To them, the brilliant lie was like a blessing.
Raymond scanned the believers with fierce, piercing eyes.
"Heavenly punishment!"
"Death to Lee Si-heon!"
Frothing at the mouth as they screamed.
Their transformation stemmed from a form of brainwashing, but what did these fools know?
They were mere day-old pups, destined only for use.
Raymond extended a hand to two believers, caressing their shoulders.
They removed the cloths covering their faces, revealing themselves to him.
Lovely girls with brown eyes gazed at Raymond with their dull ones.
"My daughters."
""Yes."""
"I grant you one day with your sisters."
Despite the tight timeline, they nodded as if it were natural. Only then did Raymond flash a smile.
Alpha. Beta.
Nameless Wood Persons.
"Remember that the crueler you are, the more it pleases the World Tree."
"Yes, Father."
"Understood."
The two girls bowed, rose from their seats, grabbed their tools, and kicked open the door.
-Creak, creak.
The rusty hinges rattled. A sliver of light leaked through the blackout curtains.
"World Tree, the preparations are finally complete."
Raymond let out an ecstatic sigh, unable to contain the venomous smile spreading across his face.
For weeks, he had prepared meticulously. The World Tree's transcendent power made his plan feasible.
A plan solely to kill Lee Si-heon.
Even if he were innocent, the plan wouldn't change.
If the World Tree desired his death.
That man had to die, even if they fabricated crimes for him.
No. Earning the World Tree's hatred was already a crime beyond redemption.
Raymond stood in place and opened his notebook.
The things the World Tree had prepared for him filled its pages densely.
How to lure him out,
And how to kill him in the most amusing way.
His mindset already resembled that of a serial killer.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The center of the cave, now narrower than usual.
In that humid spot where even breathing was labored, we pressed shoulders together, squeezing through the wall crevice.
"Si-heon, can't you go a bit faster? It's too cramped here."
"Quit complaining... Scouting's tough enough."
I gave a perfunctory reply to Suyeong's grumbling.
Indeed. The narrower it got, the more the discomfort built.
Off condition. It affected magic and mana use too.
Even pro hunters constantly strived for peak form for good reason.
-Hum, hum!
The resonating mana spread only 20 to 30 meters.
Normally, I could extend it 50 meters easily, so this drop showed the environment's influence couldn't be ignored.
I tilted my eyes and slowly took the lead.
-Keeiiiik!
A cave snake coiled between ceiling stalactites lunged at us.
"Eri!"
The moment I spotted the snake, Azalea called out. Her mana surged instantly to the spirit flitting across the ceiling.
-Eriit!
The little angel-like spirit fired a burst of light at the snake.
"Kyaak!"
Its head severed, it fell before us.
The snake's eyes still gleamed coldly.
"Handled it."
"Thanks."
Azalea beamed at my words.
I drew a dagger from my pocket, stabbed the snake's head, and gathered pebbles to cover it.
These actions all earned bonus points.
As I finished burying the corpse...
-Roll, roll, roll.
A large magic stone tumbled from the snake's neck.
A red magic stone.
Infusing it with mana, it was already activated.
In the emergency, my facial muscles stiffened.
"Suyeong."
"What?"
"Do they normally use magic stones to sustain artificial monsters?"
"Huh? Never heard that before."
I turned to Azalea.
She shook her head wide-eyed, equally clueless.
I pulled out the magic stone that seemed ready to burst and showed it.
"......Huh? What the hell is that."
"Magic stone. Looks high-grade by size."
"Right? You're not seeing things?"
"You doubt me?"
"No, it's just..."
Azalea lifted her flower petals to inspect the stone, her face shocked.
As expected. Not normal.
'No wonder that professor's smug face rubbed me wrong yesterday.'
Someone who handles things sloppily with an annoyed look. Of all people, I run into that type.
'Hurry.'
We just needed to get out now.
Seven cadet teams training in this dungeon.
Too far to head back to the entrance.
Had to abandon scouting and head for the exit.
I picked up the pace.
Azalea, flustered, called from behind.
"W-Why so fast all of a sudden?"
"Bad feeling."
"Yeah? Then run faster."
Suyeong and Azalea sped up in turn.
The tight cave crevice widened, light bathing our faces.
The 2/3 point. An open area with thin oxygen.
-Flash!
"Grrr..."
Dozens of monsters waited there, ready to pounce.
"This is..."
"No escaping, I think."
Azalea murmured, breathing hard.
'Worse than imagined.'
Cave snakes, gray bears, kobolds, cave bats, etc.
The monsters surrounded us like a single mind, poised to attack at any twitch.
They seemed almost rational.
Barricades of gravel and stones.
Even trap-like pitfalls.
Not behavior for artificial monsters.
Problems mounting.
"Krek."
A kobold took a step forward.
The monsters bared teeth and claws, growling roughly.
"H-Hey, what do we do?"
Suyeong asked, drawing her back-mounted bow taut.
"Dunno."
Honestly, no good ideas.
Blitz attack it was.
I spread mana through my body, about to order her to fire.
"First, these guys—"
-Sting.
A spinal prick sensation.
Combat-Type Physique reacted sharply.
The predator's terror only the weak could feel.
Feeling it again after so long, I stiffened and spread mana to check behind.
Something. Magic targeting us.
Not ordinary magic.
"Si-heon...?"
Azalea looked at me questioningly, then widened her eyes at my expression.
Probably shocked by my paling face.
They didn't sense it, but my instincts screamed danger.
-Thud, thud, thud!
Mana waves charging like wedges from behind.
Familiar nature. Analyzed in seconds.
A spatial magic variant of teleportation. Mana volume and spell complexity suggested days of prep.
'Trouble.'
Drip. Sweat fell from my chin.
Should've pushed harder back then.
Regretting my knowledge gap, I bit my lower lip and told Azalea.
"Hey. If I bind these kids, can you two bolt?"
"What're you talking about?" "Huh?"
"Call the instructors. Hurry."
I compressed space with full-body mana.
A degraded version of Supremacy Aura from before.
"Kik!?"
But enough to suppress these small fry.
"This... No, wait. Are you insane? Staying alone?"
"Yeah, seems like it. Something's coming from behind."
"But... This is an emergency."
"Exactly."
"You're staying alone again?"
I ignored Azalea and glanced at Suyeong.
She got it instantly, nodded, grabbed Azalea's shoulder, and ran.
"Thanks, dude. See you later if I survive."
"Wait, let go! I said let go!"
"Come on, Azalea. Don't stop the guy who wants to die instead."
Suyeong left coolly. She'd mentioned real combat experience last time. Solid handling.
Azalea... No choice. She owed me from before.
'Fuck, but I never said I'd die instead.'
I'll deal with that bastard Suyeong later.
I turned to face the incoming light orb from behind.
The light swallowed me the instant I spotted it.
-Flash!
Vision inverted, nausea hit.
Adapting to the new space took ages.
Flung out like trash, I spat out the pain of crushed lungs.
"Kahak, cough. Ugh, shit."
The magic ignored the target's condition; blood sprayed.
The stabbing pain throughout wouldn't stabilize even with powers.
Where was this?
[What is that?]
A chilling voice directly in my ear. I slowly raised my creaking neck.
[...A lewd human.]
[Human?]
[In this world.]
Several trees and dozens of ents.
No, not ents—literal tree humans.
[...Male.]
[That scent... Addictive just sniffing it.]
The trees' low, lewd murmurs made my face harden.
[A naughty male♡]
Chills.
"Fuck!"
I knew I was screwed.