The Escape from the Dungeon
Upon hearing the identity of the sword spirit Seipier, I couldn't believe my ears. The founder of the Seipier family. In other words, she was the very person who had established the house that currently held me prisoner.
‘W-wait a moment.’
The other sword spirits were urging Seipier on, but I interrupted, feeling flustered by the situation. While it was good news that there was a way out, I had questions about Seipier’s actions.
‘I thought you were of this family…’
‘Yes. But is it really okay for you to save me?’
A sword spirit who had been asleep for ages suddenly appears and interferes with her own descendants? They say blood is thicker than water, after all. It was only natural to be suspicious.
Perhaps the perspective of sword spirits is just different. But Seipier had said she was sleeping and ignoring the users for a long time.
‘…Understood.’
Since Seipier had said it herself, I eventually nodded. I didn't have any other options anyway.
If I summon the sword now, there’s no turning back. While I could bring the sword to me, I couldn't send it elsewhere. Once summoned, it would either be a successful jailbreak or I’d be caught by the guard. I peered through the bars. The guard who had just finished his patrol was nodding off at the entrance. I took a deep breath and steeled my resolve. The sword appeared in the air.
As it turned out, there was a secret passage in this prison. But why would the founder build such a thing in a dungeon? It was Emperor Augustus who unexpectedly provided the answer.
Did the founder of the Seven Star Sword Families have to think that far ahead? I had heard that the history of the Seven Star Sword Families was tumultuous.
It was terrifying that Seipier and Emperor Augustus were on the same wavelength. ‘Then, do the later heads of the family not know about the secret passage?’
She died without even telling her successors. That meant no one in this world knew of the passage. I followed Seipier’s instructions, pressing the bricks in a specific order. As I pressed the 27th brick, the floor in the corner slid open. I scrambled inside just before it closed.
The passage was well-maintained. There was no dampness, and no signs of rainwater. Glowing stones were placed throughout, providing enough light to walk by. ‘It’s underground, yet so well-kept. It must have been built a long time ago.’
We reached the end of the passage. Seipier pointed out a small box containing gold ornaments. ‘Take those and sell them to secure funds. I didn't put much in, just in case, but it should be enough for your journey.’
I climbed the stairs, and when I reached the top, I asked, ‘What’s up here?’
The eastern forest was where the subjugation mission had taken place yesterday. It was a place plagued by monsters recently. I emerged into the forest, guided by the sword spirits. I ran through the woods, filled with the snoring of monsters, using the moonlight and the faint glow of the stone as my guide.
‘Where are we going?’ I asked, though I had no destination. I had nowhere to go. If the Seipier family pursued me, I had no ability to evade them.
I ran until I was breathless. My stamina was the problem. The forest was too vast for a normal person to cross in a single night. ‘I’ll have to walk for a bit. Phew…’
I kept moving, despite the exhaustion. The sound of my footsteps echoed through the silent night forest. The darkness was so thick I feared a monster might jump out at any moment. I felt as if the Seipier family’s swordsmen would be on my heels at any second.
Two hours passed. The Invisible Sword’s voice, which had been guiding me confidently, suddenly changed.
‘What’s wrong?’
A chill ran down my spine. I gripped the hilt of my sword with both hands and lowered my body. I soon understood why he had told me to stop. A bizarre, eerie sound began to echo through the air.