Chapter 89
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 89
As the iron door swung wide, a staircase descending into the abyss was revealed.
Creeeak—
An eerie chill and the faint, mournful wails of ghosts drifted up from the depths. The bone-chilling cold and the sound of those spectral cries felt as if they were draining my very mental fortitude before I even set foot inside.
“……”
I stared down into the darkness shrouding the stairs. It’s exactly how the game described it.
This was the [Spooky Dungeon], one of the Academy's Seven Great Mysteries, known as the “Abandoned Schoolhouse Ghost Story.”
According to the lore, this dungeon was created during the early development of the underground city. When a corrupted ley line was purified, the displaced evil spirits latched onto nearby ruins. The site was left abandoned for hundreds of years until it was rediscovered during one of Union's expansions.
Eredor, the landowner of the area, had sealed it behind a door forged from Millennium Cold Iron to ensure the students' safety, but…
The seal wasn't perfect.
Ghostly wails echoed through the school building every night. Apparitions haunted the dormitory hallways, and spectral figures were seen through the windows during late-night study sessions. Plagued by constant incidents and unsettling rumors, Eredor eventually abandoned the building and the surrounding area to develop elsewhere. It naturally became a desolate, untouched ruin.
That happened in the early days of Union's founding. Now, only the shell of the legend—the [Abandoned Schoolhouse Ghost Story]—remained, its true history long forgotten. It had dwindled into nothing more than a spot where brave (or foolish) clubs occasionally came for tests of courage.
“Ugh, this is creepy.”
Chloe hugged herself, shivering. Beside her, Ciel narrowed her eyes in silence, listening to the ghostly wails rising from the bottom of the stairs.
“Still… since we're here, I should probably collect some samples.”
Despite her reluctance, Chloe remembered her duty.
Click—
She snapped a photo of the descending staircase with her camera and carefully gathered debris from the landing into a glass vial. It seemed she intended to use mana dating to pinpoint the exact age of the structure. Once finished, she handed each of us a mask.
“A space sealed off for hundreds of years could be filled with mold or bacteria harmful to humans. Here, put these on.”
The masks were processed with mana—standard gear for exploring ancient ruins.
“Thanks. I’ll put it to good use.”
We donned the masks and began our descent, cutting through the oppressive gloom.
Goooo—
The deeper we went, the thicker the dark energy became, pressing against my skin like a physical weight. Yet, for some reason, the darkness and the eerie energy felt cozy—almost warm. My half-demon trait was likely reacting to the demonic energy permeating the dungeon.
Walking a few paces ahead, Chloe hesitated and looked back at me. “D-Do I really have to take the lead?”
“What’s the point of bringing an archaeologist if not for this?”
“Right. Of course.”
“Don’t worry too much. If the worst happens, I’ll make sure to recover your remains.”
“Hey! Don’t say things like that, even as a joke. It’s bad luck!”
“If you’re really that scared, I’ll take the lead. Don’t push yourself.”
As I reached for the flashlight, Chloe stopped me.
“No, this is my job. It’s too dangerous for a civilian.”
With Chloe leading the way, we continued down the stairs, the beam of her flashlight the only thing piercing the dark.
Step. Step.
Our footsteps echoed sharply in the narrow passage.
Whoooosh—
Even the whistling wind sounded like the scream of a banshee. Chloe swept the light across the walls, her voice trembling.
“…This feels different from what we saw above. The iron door was definitely 400-year-old craftsmanship, but the architecture down here feels much older. And the energy… it doesn’t feel like ruins. It feels like a dungeon where monsters live.”
She’s sharp.
This place was, in fact, a dungeon wearing the skin of ancient ruins. It was a lethal zone teeming with terrifying evil spirits and monsters drawn to the concentrated darkness. I didn't bother telling her that, though.
No need to scare her into turning back.
Chloe needed to record this exploration to write her article, after all. Unaware of my thoughts, Chloe rubbed her arms and groaned, her resolve wavering.
“Ugh. I have a really bad feeling about this. I keep hearing things, and I’ve got the chills… How about we just head back?”
“Stop making a fuss and keep moving.”
“A-A fuss? I’m telling you, something is seriously wrong!”
Chloe broke out in a cold sweat, insisting we leave. I couldn't blame her. The sinister energy and the wails she sensed weren't products of her imagination; they were real. In the game, players were hit with a ‘Mental Fortitude Down’ debuff the moment they entered.
But there was no need for alarm. If my predictions were correct, the spirits here wouldn't be able to touch us. In fact, I was confident we could clear this place more easily than any other dungeon.
I smiled, leaning into the dark energy that wrapped around me like a familiar cloak.
Because the Spooky Dungeon has perfect synergy with me.
That was the real reason I was bold enough to challenge it. I reassured Chloe in a calm tone.
“Nothing is going to happen. In the one-in-a-million chance something does, Ciel will protect you.”
“Ehh…”
After descending for a while longer, we reached a dead end.
“Ah, it’s blocked.”
A massive stone door barred our path. Chloe shone her light over it, examining the circular design. A carving of an old man’s face was etched into the center, its mouth agape—a hole just large enough to fit a hand.
“There’s writing above it, too.”
Just as Chloe noted, glowing blue script hovered over the door. It was a language I’d never seen before, with winding characters reminiscent of Arabic, yet I could read it perfectly.
“I think it’s Runic. Just a moment…”
Chloe pulled out a notebook and began to painstakingly decipher the characters.
“Mou… th…”
Finding her pace too slow, I provided the translation.
“It says ‘Mouth of Truth.’”
“What? Way to spoil the fun. You can read Runic?”
I shrugged. Ever since I arrived in this world, I had been able to speak and read every language without difficulty. Knowledge of the world’s various scripts seemed to be a perk granted to the player.
“That’s surprising. I heard you were terrible at your studies.”
“Rumors are always exaggerated.”
Ciel, who had been listening silently, spoke up bluntly. “It is not an exaggeration. You were, in fact, terrible.”
Chloe wiped a bead of sweat from her brow and nodded. “Ah… I see. So it’s true.”
“……”
She really didn't have to be that honest.
Click—
Chloe took a photo of the door and the Runic script, then pointed back toward the stairs.
“I’ve finished my records. Shall we head back? We don’t even know how to open this thing.”
She seemed satisfied with her material—or perhaps she was just looking for an excuse to flee. But I had no intention of leaving until this dungeon was cleared.
“Who said we can’t open it? There’s a way.”
“Huh? There is?”
I nodded. I pulled off my glove and bit the tip of my finger. A small wound opened, and a drop of crimson blood welled up. I reached out and inserted my bloodied finger into the mouth of the stone face.
Chloe pouted as she watched. “Hey. Have you been reading too many web novels? You really think a few drops of blood will make the door—”
Rumble—
“It’s opening?!”
The moment my blood touched the mechanism, the passage began to shudder. Dust rained from the ceiling as the sealed stone door ground open as if inviting us inside.
Clank—
With the heavy sound of machinery locking into place, the door opened fully, and a violent surge of energy erupted from within.
Whoooosh—!
A fierce gale blasted out, whipping our hair and clothes. Simultaneously, a terrifying scream tore through the dungeon.
Kyaaaaaaah—!
The ear-splitting wail sent goosebumps racing across my skin.
“Gah!”
“Kgh.”
Startled by the sudden blast and the horrific scream, Chloe and Ciel flinched, taking a sharp step back.
Kieeeeeek—!
The chilling scream echoed through the void like a physical blow, evoking a primal sense of dread that made my spine tingle. That was the reaction of my human half.
But my other half—my demonic blood—reveled in the malice.
Throb—
Like a predator sensing prey, my heart raced with a thrill of excitement.
“Huu, huu… th-this is really dangerous.”
“Lord Roen, we should turn back,” Ciel urged. “It would be better to return with a proper exploration team.”
Chloe gasped for breath under the crushing weight of the sinister aura. “Miss Ciel is right! We don’t have the manpower. Entering a place like this with only three people is suicide. The number of adventurers who go missing in dungeons every year is—”
“It’s fine. Nothing dangerous will happen. Just follow me.”
I remained calm, my confidence unshaken.
The true terror of the [Spooky Dungeon] lay in its evil spirits and their powerful mental status effects. With your resistance lowered by the dungeon’s debuff, the constant ‘Fear’ status inflicted by the spirits was a nightmare. Furthermore, the door required a blood sacrifice, inflicting a ‘Bleed’ status on the one who opened it. If you took too long, your health would simply wither away.
Clearing this place usually required status-effect immunity artifacts or a high-DPS party for a blitz attack. We had neither, but…
There is another way.
Thud—
I stepped past them, standing boldly at the threshold where the ghostly wails were pouring out. This stone door was a boundary, a barrier separating the world of the living from the darkness within.
Swoosh—
As the wind from the abyss tossed my hair, I gazed into the depths. It was a darkness so profound its end was unfathomable—an incomprehensible malice emanating from a world without light. Amidst the rampaging spirits, I could feel emotions that had fermented over centuries.
The evil spirits trapped behind the ‘Mouth of Truth.’
Are they merely energy from a corrupted ley line? Or are they the vengeful spirits of those who died with unresolved grievances?
The Mouth of Truth… what truth is it hiding?
There was a secondary theory regarding the dungeon’s origin. It suggested these weren't displaced spirits, but the ghosts of miners sacrificed during the city's construction—hundreds of men trapped by a sudden collapse and left to rot.
Goooo—
I didn't know which story was true, but perhaps these spirits had been waiting for a human touch more than anything else. Like a wounded kitten that hisses while craving warmth.
Kieeeeeeeek—!
As I moved to enter, the spirits violently rejected the intrusion. Their malice surged past the doorway, reaching out to tear me apart.
Flick—
A blade of materialized emotion grazed my cheek, leaving a thin red line. I didn't stop. Pushing through the thick resentment and the repulsive mana, I took a step into the dark.
“W-Wait! It’s dangerous to go in like that—!”
Chloe reached out to grab me, and at that exact moment…
Thud—
My foot crossed the threshold and touched the floor inside.
Fwoosh—!
An intangible ripple erupted from my step. It spread in an instant, washing over the entire dungeon like a tidal wave, enveloping every spirit in its path.
Then, silence.
“……”
The ear-splitting wails, the bone-chilling cold, and the fierce, constricting winds vanished in a heartbeat. A tranquil stillness settled over the space. The resentment built up over centuries, the rage that seemed capable of burning the world—it all melted away like mist in the sun.
Not a single stir, not a single sound. Only a profound, heavy quiet remained.
“……”
In the midst of this strange silence, I stared wordlessly into the darkness.
And then.
Ting—
[You have acquired a new title.]
[Comforter of Vengeful Spirits (False)]
• Your presence has brought peace to countless souls. However, it is unknown whether this was truly the right way.
• Mana +1
[You have acquired a new item.]
• [Karma Orb]
• Classification: Equippable Item
• Grade: [Ancient]
• An orb in which the karma of souls has accumulated. Its purpose is not yet known.
I looked at the notification windows floating in the dark and smiled faintly.