Chapter 59: D-Rank Labyrinth — Library of Sin (2)
Chapter 59: D-Rank Labyrinth — Library of Sin (2)
“Listen carefully. I’ll only explain this once.”
Pendrick listened attentively while holding Astrimia.
“Before clearing the labyrinth, we’re going to find the Hidden Piece of the Library of Sin.”
The black mage Bartimir spoke as he walked between the shelves.
A suspicious-looking demon whose upper body—including his face—was wrapped in bandages.
“According to our Devourer Mage Tower, since the labyrinth’s setting is a library, the Hidden Piece is most likely related to books. Among the countless Mystery Tomes, a few of them probably trigger some special event.”
His voice was ominous, befitting a demon, and his tone was blunt.
Combined with his unsettling appearance, it naturally created an even stronger sense of unease.
“But searching for those books would give too much advantage to that Evil God cult over there. So I’m planning to find the other Hidden Piece.”
“Wait. There are two kinds of Hidden Pieces?”
“That’s what our Mage Tower’s analysis suggests. We don’t know exactly what they are. We only detected them through mana fluctuations.”
Bartimir casually pulled a book from his robe.
“Based on the analysis, I brought a few books from the Mage Tower library. All of them contain brutal content fitting for the Library of Sin. I’ll handle the rest myself, so you two just do what I tell you. Don’t strain your heads thinking about it.”
He clearly wasn’t acting kindly.
Yet strangely, he kept seeming considerate and thoughtful.
Pendrick even asked Astrimia about it, and the beautiful Ego Sword seemed to feel the same.
— I was scared because he’s a demon, but he doesn’t seem like a bad person.
“Right?”
— He’s like Sir Kar. A cultist who isn’t deceitful. Even though he’s a black mage and a demon, he isn’t vicious. Though he does look extremely sinister….
“Hey, are you two even listening?”
Bartimir pointed at them irritably.
Then he suddenly narrowed his eyes.
“Are you two dating or something? Why are you so close?”
“Ah, yes. That’s correct. Asmi and I have been nurturing our love since our time in the Eastern Continent.”
“Huh? Really?”
The demon stared blankly before nodding.
“A handsome guy and a pretty sword… yeah, you match.”
He said it in a displeased tone, yet the words themselves were warm.
Pendrick stroked Astrimia’s hilt and whispered,
“See? He’s not a bad person after all.”
— Right!
“I said be quiet!”
Just as Bartimir snapped again—
— Grrr…
Low, ferocious growls echoed as monsters appeared between the shelves.
Demonic Realm Watchdogs.
Monsters Pendrick had fought endlessly in the Nightmare World.
But these looked a bit strange.
— Their bodies are books?
Four legs and a tail.
But their torsos looked like piles of books bound together.
Only their heads appeared normal, which somehow made the appearance even more disturbing.
“Library Watchdogs.”
Scratching his chin, Bartimir stepped forward.
“Level-3 monsters. They look ridiculous, but they’re more violent than the original Demonic Realm Watchdogs.”
Rosalia held a red-bladed dagger and glanced at him.
“What? You want to kill them yourself?”
Nod.
“No, leave it. I’ll handle it.”
“Um… Captain Bartimir? What is your Soul Rank?”
“Level 2.”
So a Level-2 individual intended to defeat a pack of Level-3 monsters alone.
And a mage class at that—one whose physical abilities should be inferior.
“Are you sure that’s safe?”
“It’s fine. Just stay still.”
“Why fight alone? Do you not trust us?”
“No. It’s about time my rank increased.”
Bartimir calmly began unwrapping the bandages around his hands.
At that moment, the Library Watchdogs lunged.
— RAAAGH!
Their movements were sharper and faster than ordinary Demonic Realm Watchdogs.
Pendrick exchanged a glance with Rosalia and prepared to intervene.
But soon realized there was no need.
CRACK!
A horrifying bursting sound.
The sound of flesh and bone exploding.
Bartimir’s fists—wrapped in murky green energy—had instantly crushed a watchdog’s head.
“Nice impact!”
The demon shook his body once before smashing the heads and torsos of the charging monsters one after another.
His speed was so fast it was hard to follow.
Each punch and kick sent monsters rolling across the floor.
CRUNCH! SNAP!
Even the largest specimen collapsed after two blows.
His attacks were disciplined and decisive—movements any warrior would want to learn.
The only problem was that Bartimir’s class was a Black Mage, not a martial artist.
— …What exactly am I looking at?
Astrimia murmured blankly.
Pendrick smiled.
“So Captain really had no intention of recruiting ordinary explorers?”
Rosalia glanced between Pendrick and Astrimia before nodding slowly.
“Whew. That was a bit tough.”
Soon Bartimir returned after defeating every watchdog.
“Good work. That was impressive.”
Pendrick spoke casually, then flinched.
Bartimir’s hands had hardened like stone—and were cracking apart.
“…Are you alright?”
“Ah, don’t worry. I’m fine.”
Was a mage’s curiosity so intense that this counted as “fine”?
Before Pendrick could respond—
The shattered hands suddenly regenerated.
Still as hard as stone.
“…What?”
“It’s a disease called Petrifying Body.”
Bartimir calmly wrapped the bandages around his hands again.
“It gradually turns your body into stone, starting with the hands and feet. It becomes extremely hard, so you can use it offensively like I just did.”
— …Does the disease also regenerate lost limbs?
“Of course not. That’s the effect of the curse Treacherous Companion. It strengthens and maintains every disease in the body. When my hand broke earlier, it treated it as ‘healing’ and reattached it.”
The explanation made sense.
But it was hard to accept.
It sounded as though he had intentionally inflicted himself with diseases and curses.
“Alright. Let’s move again. And if you see any books emitting fraud-like energy, tell me.”
— Why?
“Reading them lets you learn vicious Mysteries almost like curses. The fraud itself can be useful too.”
— ……
It really did seem like he intentionally welcomed disasters of mind and body.
Watching the demon walk ahead, Pendrick whispered to Rosalia.
“He truly is an unusual person, don’t you think?”
Rosalia silently looked between Pendrick and Astrimia before shaking her head and walking ahead.
“Why is she acting like that, Asmi?”
— I have no idea….
Neither of them could understand her reaction.
In a region where shelves grew densely together, Kar and the siblings rested briefly in a circular clearing before continuing.
Abel whispered quietly,
“Why has it suddenly become dark?”
“In this labyrinth, everything grows dark when night falls.”
The library that had been bright as daylight earlier was now completely dim.
Fwoosh.
Kar lit a candle and attached it above his head with spider thread.
“At night, monsters’ physical abilities increase slightly. So we must move even more carefully than during the day.”
Slowly.
Calmly.
Without panic.
If those three principles were followed strictly, any labyrinth could be cleared.
Of course, sometimes unfair circumstances appeared that no calmness could overcome—but in those cases it was best to accept it as fortunate luck in disguise.
— RATTLE!
Nearby shelves began shaking violently.
Books rattled and resonated.
— Grrrk!
Suddenly books burst from the ceiling and rushed toward them.
{Small Magic Book (Level 2)}
{Low level but extremely numerous and violent. Do not underestimate them.}
“Children, get ready.”
Kar transformed his right hand into black lightning with Black Thunder Blossom, while preparing flames in his left.
“Now you’ll see the true nature of the Library of Sin.”
All monsters in this labyrinth were nocturnal.
WHOOSH!
The flying magic books instantly became burning fuel and crashed down.
“They burn well!”
Marlin slashed wildly with the dagger First Breath, while launching the throwing blade Final Breath repeatedly.
“But won’t the whole library burn down?”
“It’s fine. The Library of Sin is a building-type artifact that automatically repairs itself.”
Slash!
Abel also performed brilliantly.
Using the chef’s knife Devouring Teeth, he sliced through incoming magic books.
“Patron. These books unexpectedly contain parts classified as ‘biological.’”
“That reminds me! The demons’ publishing technique—”
“Stop explaining and run!”
Sadly, Marlin interrupted the educational moment before it began.
Kar burned books with flames in his left hand and black lightning in his right while sprinting forward.
Squirm.
The snake tattoo biting the Spark of Glory ring grinned widely.
Leria seemed delighted that her believer was finally performing “acts of faith” again.
“Truth, find the books!”
{I am already exerting full effort to read the information of every book!}
“Watch out!”
Kar blocked a magic book attempting to bite Marlin, and Abel split it apart with a single strike.
“AAAAH!”
While running from the small magic books, they encountered another expedition also fleeing.
The explorers’ faces briefly brightened—then immediately darkened.
Another thrilling encounter had arrived.
— GRRRR!
A Large Magic Book flew toward them.
Faster than during the day.
At night its level increased to 8—but the difference between being crushed by a giant or by a giant golem was negligible.
WHOOSH!
Kar released his strongest flames.
While the burning magic book twisted in pain, the two expeditions silently agreed to cooperate and ran together.
The bald expedition leader running beside Kar suddenly brightened.
“A blond cultist… Could you be Kar, the Evil God cult whom Valentin praises so highly?!”
“That’s correct.”
“Please guide us to a safe zone! We’ll reward you generously!”
“I don’t know where any safe zones are.”
“…What?”
The books changed location every time.
Why would safe zones remain fixed?
Labyrinths never treated explorers kindly.
Even rest areas moved randomly.
“Still, if we cooperate—”
The bald leader suddenly froze.
— Grrrk!
Two Large Magic Books blocked the path ahead.
Another burned one pursued from behind.
And countless Small Magic Books swarmed around them.
Slash!
A warrior from the bald leader’s team split a shelf wall with his axe—but another thicker shelf appeared behind it.
“…Damn.”
“O Artein….”
The battered explorers closed their eyes or covered their faces.
In a normal labyrinth, the expedition would have ended in total annihilation.
“…Kar.”
“Patron.”
But the siblings called him.
They believed without doubt that he would solve the crisis.
“…Trust me.”
He had to boast confidently.
He had already failed to meet Yunji’s expectations once.
He would never repeat that mistake.
“Everyone, don’t give up. Press tightly against the shelves on both sides.”
“…What?”
“Hurry!”
Startled by the siblings’ urgency, the bald leader quickly dragged his team against the shelves.
It might be risky, but explorers entered labyrinths prepared to die.
Kar honestly didn’t care about strangers’ lives.
He was acting for Marlin and Abel.
— Grrrk!
Kar charged straight toward the incoming Large Magic Book.
Tentacles burst from its pages and seized him.
CRUNCH. SNAP. RIP!
His body twisted, shattered, and tore apart.
The monster had begun “reading” him.
An unimaginable agony.
He nearly lost consciousness.
If Truth hadn’t activated Delayed Wound Barrier, he would already be in the hell governed by the Benevolent Gods.
Biting his tongue, he shouted,
“Run!”
“…We will never forget your sacrifice!”
While the magic books focused on reading Kar, the bald expedition escaped.
Good.
They didn’t hesitate out of guilt.
“You two go as well!”
“…Kar.”
Marlin hesitated briefly before grabbing Abel and running.
Meanwhile the third Large Magic Book arrived and joined the reading.
Three books reading him at once.
Agony flooded his body.
But Kar smiled.
Because this was exactly what he wanted.
Once the children and explorers were far away, he lowered his left hand and turned his palm upward.
“…Care for some fire?”
WHOOOSH!!
Maximum flames erupted.
The fire spread like a wildfire.
Small magic books burned and fell.
Shelves were consumed by flames.
— KRRRK!
The Large Magic Books twisted in agony.
Normally their Level-8 resistance would render Kar’s flames useless.
But there was one moment of vulnerability.
When they were reading.
Squirm!
The snake tattoo released Sa · Yeom · Hwa, burning the books.
Thud.
The burning tentacles released him.
Kar fell to the floor.
His ruined body collapsed as Truth displayed a status window and scolded him.
{Remaining Life: 7 / 100}
{Remaining Mental Power: 10 / 100}
{Please value your life! You might actually die like this!}
“…I won’t die in a place like this.”
Never.