The Secret Room (1)
"It's just an ordinary wall. At least on the surface."
"Have you checked the other areas?"
"Yes. Do you see the pattern on the floor here?"
"Oh!"
"The cracks might make it confusing, but I remembered the priest saying this pattern symbolizes the Evil God, so I made sure to memorize it."
"Well spotted. That couldn't have been easy for someone seeing it for the first time. Impressive!"
"Haha, if we didn't remember things like that, the whole team would be in danger. The problem comes from not knowing. Tell us once and we'll remember it, then put it to use like this."
"This does seem to be the right place, but we couldn't find any kind of mechanism. Honestly, I wasn't even sure there would be one here."
The entire area was covered in ice, so the very idea of searching for a mechanism felt absurd.
"I suspect we need to return to the mural and try something there. This really is just a bare wall with nothing on it."
"May I take a look?"
It was Melody who stepped forward then.
"Yes, of course."
"Heretics often use tricks to hide from prying eyes. Like cockroaches that must constantly stay hidden, their skill at concealment is genuinely impressive."
Those grim words from Melody marked the start. Divine power radiated from her body. The ability she was about to use had to be one unique to heretic inquisitors. I watched her every move, unable to hide my fascination.
"Their basic ability is illusion. They make our eyes and senses register this as a wall. But the truth is different."
The instant the light from her palm touched the wall, we witnessed a sight that defied belief.
"What?!"
It had been a solid wall, yet the moment she placed her hand against it, the barrier vanished completely. I'd never once doubted it was real, so goosebumps raced across my skin.
"Wow... We were completely fooled."
Everyone took turns touching the space where the wall had stood, intrigued by the revelation.
"It's normal for ordinary people to miss it."
Melody answered the stunned group in her usual calm tone, then drew her weapon.
"This is likely the path they used, so it should be safe. Still, I'll take the lead just in case. If the heretics have laid any traps, I'll notice them first."
After seeing the heretics' impressive abilities, Melody's decision to go ahead felt deeply reassuring. I was certain that even if a living heretic appeared right now, she would handle it without breaking a sweat.
"Everyone, gather up!"
The leader called the team together before they committed to this new route.
"The passage is narrow. We'll need to move carefully."
"At least it's not dark. That's fortunate."
Once the group seemed ready...
"Let's move."
"Please take good care of the priest."
Since the front was the most dangerous position, I had no choice but to separate from Melody.
"Don't worry about me. Focus on your own safety, Melody."
"Yes."
In truth, the warning was unnecessary. Among our team, Melody ranked among the strongest. And if her opponents were heretics? She would be in her element, like a fish returned to water.
"Do not step on this pattern. Proceed with caution."
"Um... is that because it's the Evil God's symbol? Why can't we step on it?"
The pathfinder, staying close behind Melody, wanted to understand the reason for the warning. Melody didn't brush off the curiosity. She explained patiently.
"Stepping on it may trigger a curse. It's an old trap, so the effect might have faded. Better to be safe."
"Whoa. They did that to their own god's symbol?"
"The fact that it activates when stepped on suggests they view it as an insult. A true heretic wouldn't carelessly tread on the symbol of their god."
"Ah, so this is part of the trap too."
"Correct."
The pathfinder's voice carried clear excitement at acquiring new knowledge.
"Wow. That's brutal."
Meanwhile, the man guarding me in Melody's place stayed glued to my side. Yet the gruesome sights around us kept stealing his attention. He asked me in awe.
"Priest, it looks like these bastards have made themselves a home here. Living hidden inside the Labyrinth like this would make them incredibly hard to find. Is this allowed? Nothing stops more of them from doing the same later."
His question was surprisingly sharp.
"Yes. I expect that will happen."
"Whoa! Then isn't that incredibly dangerous?"
"The Holy Empire is already taking action, so there's no need to worry. Just don't trust people too easily. A heretic could hide their identity and join a party."
My warning must have chilled him. He rubbed his arms.
"Ugh, that's creepier than ghost stories. The idea that a heretic could be hiding among us with a friendly face..."
To ordinary people, heretics probably seemed like psychopathic serial killers. The kind of vile existence that feels distant and unrelated to daily life. Learning one could be standing right beside you must feel like discovering your kind neighbor was a murderer all along.
"As long as you're with me in the Labyrinth, you don't need to fear heretics. So don't be afraid."
"Haha! You're incredible, sir."
Of course, it would be Melody who actually eliminated any heretics we encountered. But I couldn't show weakness in front of frightened people. I projected calm confidence, as if I could dispatch any heretic in a single breath. The man stopped shuddering and smiled, visibly reassured.
Ha... Are all those dark stains blood?
As we continued, the horrific scenes created by the heretics came into full view. Honestly, no one could look at such things without feeling their blood run cold.
"Ugh..."
"Their taste is something else."
Their preferences were nightmarish. Or perhaps they had deliberately made the path this eerie. We followed the narrow trail the heretics had carved. Traps waited along the way, but Melody dismantled every one from the front, guiding us safely.
"Another twist here."
Movement halted briefly. Melody channeled her power once more, and a new path appeared where we had believed only a wall stood.
"Whoa! What the hell?!"
The pathfinder recoiled in shock. Even if they had reached this point by luck, the second illusion would have left them completely helpless.
"What would have happened if we missed this and went the other way?"
"Whatever you imagine, the reality would have been worse."
"......"
"Still, since it was made three hundred years ago, it probably wouldn't have killed you instantly."
He didn't seem to realize his words only frightened everyone more. In any case, it had nothing to do with us.
"This is the place."
"Oh?"
That appeared to be the final trap. The passage that had felt inherently sinister suddenly opened into a neatly organized interior.
"Is this it?"
The leader studied the map. His finger kept darting across it, suggesting he couldn't pinpoint our location. I moved ahead of the group and joined him.
"May I see it for a moment?"
"Ah! Thank you."
The leader greeted me like a savior. The pathfinder, meanwhile, was still offering possibilities while examining the map.
"It might be this way... or maybe not...?"
"Isn't it here? There's a mark right beside it."
"Hmm..."
I focused on the map as well, working to identify our position. Then...
"It's here."
I pointed at a wall on the outer edge of the map.
"There?!"
"Um... Priest, there's no path there."
It was natural for them to look at me strangely after I pointed straight at a wall. But I had reason to be certain.
"It doesn't seem we've followed the official route. I believe this is the correct area. It's not certain, so please treat it as a reference only."
I deliberately added that it wasn't certain. Speaking with too much confidence might have made them rely on me for every map check afterward.
"If the priest says so, it's worth investigating."
"True. Everything the priest has said about the map so far has been accurate."
We checked the surrounding paths on the map with my indicated spot at the center. And...
"No need for further discussion. This is the place."
"We can't call you a pathfinder in front of the priest anymore. You read maps far too well."
"It was just luck this time. What would I really know about maps?"
I earnestly asked the pathfinders not to trust my words too much in the future, explaining that the ice castle had simply been a special case for me.
"It's strange for me to step forward when two professionals are already here. This only concerns heretics, so please don't rely on me too heavily."
"Understood. But if you notice anything like this again later, you must tell us."
"Yes."
Fortunately, the pathfinders didn't seem offended that I had intruded on their expertise. That lifted a weight from my mind.
"Since this direction is correct, let's start searching!"
Now that we had found the route to the secret room, there was no reason to hesitate. We gathered and began diligently searching for the entrance, which lay a short distance away. Despite searching the area multiple times, no one showed any sign of fatigue. After all, it would be strange if the treasure visible before their eyes didn't set their hearts racing.