Chapter 119
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Change of Mind (3)
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......Two hours ago.
Gerkken began exploring the maze.
As always, he had no team.
Solo play only.
But he wasn't reckless. He calculated meticulously and planned perfectly.
First, he roughly gauged the maze's size using mana mapping. Then he activated 「Enhanced Ritual: Clear Mirror Still Water」 to detect what lay beyond the walls.
「Clear Mirror Still Water」 was a ritual that emitted mana like sound waves to map terrain and objects. The ritual's grade itself was only mid-low, but its performance varied wildly based on proficiency. Gerkken could scan a 200-meter radius while standing still.
So he pressed forward while maintaining 「Clear Mirror Still Water」.
It wasn't difficult.
Until he was ambushed by some "phantom beast"...
"So what kind of trap is it? Just tell me that."
I cut off Gerkken's story, which seemed like it would drag on.
He summarized the conclusion.
─From around here on, swarms of those octopus-like phantom beasts patrol the area.
Shooooaaah-!
Even now, flashes kept bursting from the side.
I zoomed in on the one flashing like a camera with the SZX-9500 Mana Optics Microscope.
It was some floating mechanical octopus. Its single eyeball resembled a lens, and its tentacles sparkled like fiber optic cables.
The thing clustered its three legs in a triangle, relentlessly firing off blasts of light.
─The octopus detects sound, mana, and movement, then chases you down and unleashes some unidentified mana ritual. It resonates with the entire maze, imprisoning humans in these cells...
Gerkken scanned me up and down.
─......I don't get it. Why aren't you affected?
"Beats me."
Shooooaaah-!
─Are you resisting it?
"Nah."
Shooooaaah-!
It was weird.
I wasn't even trying to resist, and I hadn't activated Mana Body or anything, yet it just naturally didn't affect me.
I glanced around Gerkken's cell.
"So. You can't get out of there?"
─Not yet. No way out.
"Hmm~ Got it. Good luck then. Figure it out yourself."
I waved and turned to leave.
─Hey.
Gerkken called out. I just turned my head to look at him. My lips twitched for no reason.
─......I can be of help.
I can be of help.
The words could be interpreted so many ways, packed with implications. I couldn't quite grasp it.
"What? Can't hear you."
─......
Gerkken bit his lower lip slightly. I averted my gaze from him and took a step forward.
"I'm off. Bye."
─Help me, and I'll help you.
Gerkken's offer grew more specific.
"Help? You saying we party up?"
─If that's what you want.
Well, having Gerkken in the party wouldn't hurt me. He wouldn't betray me during this exam, and he was diligent and strong.
But I just didn't feel like it.
"I'd love to help, but there's no way how. No hints or anyth—"
Shooooaaah-!
"......Damn, that thing."
The octopus that had been flashing nonstop was getting on my nerves.
I charged at it. The octopus didn't flee. I cocked my fist to smash its head but hesitated.
Sniff sniff— sniff sniff—
It smelled like money.
This octopus reeked of cash.
"......What is this."
I examined it closely.
Gerkken had guessed it was a "phantom beast," but it didn't seem like one.
It felt more like an "artifact."
A money-scented artifact.
"......"
Was there a rule saying I couldn't take exam items?
I pondered briefly.
"This could fetch a nice price......"
I placed my hand on a switch-like spot at the back of the octopus's head. Click. The mechanical octopus lost power instantly and plummeted to the ground, spitting out a key.
"Oh."
How did I know how to operate it?
No idea.
Probably instinct from 「Treasure Hunter」.
[......You can easily discern an item's value.]
The relic description had this line.
Being able to judge value easily also meant intuitively grasping the item's usage and structure.
Anyway.
I stowed the mechanical octopus in my inventory.
For reference, the [Dungeon System] inventory had rules. No living creatures, and slots varied by size and weight.
The 「Mechanical Octopus」 took up a whopping 3x3—nine slots total.
"......This thing."
Next, I picked up the key from the floor.
I shook it as I walked back to Gerkken.
"Hey. Think I found it?"
Gerkken's eyes lit up behind the bars.
"Feels weird helping a rival."
I paused for a moment.
─......
"What. Not gonna say? Fine, I'm go—ing."
─Thanks. If it opens.
Just a single "thanks."
But I knew better than anyone how hard it was for Gerkken to say that. He rarely expressed likes, dislikes, grudges, or favors.
He was the man who understood the weight of words more than anyone.
The most honest betrayer.
That was my view of him.
"Kinda boring response."
I jammed the key into the mana barrier. There was no keyhole, but it fit perfectly. Clunk. I turned it, and the barrier briefly deactivated.
"Come out."
"......"
Gerkken stepped out just as the mana barrier reformed.
At that moment, the prison flashed. Another mechanical octopus had apparently captured someone else.
─......Hm? What is this place?
It was a familiar face.
Soliet.
"Hold on. I'll open it right now."
I hurried over and inserted the key into her mana barrier. Soliet tilted her head curiously as she walked out.
"What happened?"
"You meet that octopus? The mechanical one."
"Yes."
"It shoots some weird mana ritual. If it hits, you're locked in a prison."
I explained to the clueless Soliet.
"Ah, I see."
"Yeah......"
Then our eyes met Gerkken's.
His pupils were coldly sunken. Dead-fish eyes.
"......What. Can't a guy discriminate a little?"
A three-man party was formed.
A somewhat unbalanced one.
All members were swordsmen, and the rankings were 1st, 2nd, and 4,000th.
We advanced as quietly as possible.
We didn't get lost. Thanks to Gerkken's 「Clear Mirror Still Water」.
For the record, when that 「Clear Mirror Still Water」 reached its peak, it became the famous 「Heavenly Net Earthly Web」.
If Soliet's talent leaned toward the sword, Gerkken's was a once-in-a-century genius in mana rituals too...
"Hold up."
I halted those two ridiculous talents.
Essentially, I was the party leader.
Sniff sniff—
Then I caught a scent.
Sniff sniff—
Money. No, treasure.
Sniff sniff sniff—
I followed the smell.
It only took a few minutes to reach a dead end and spot a treasure chest.
"Oh. Something's here."
Soliet looked surprised. Gerkken was suspicious.
"Could be a trap."
I approached and opened the chest. I had high hopes. Maybe two gold coins?
Creak!
"......What the."
Disappointing.
Three red bean buns, a bottle of drinking water, a one-touch tent, and a card fragment.
"Looks like we need to collect these card fragments."
The card seemed necessary to escape the maze, and the tent came with instructions.
[One-Touch Tent: Press the button to deploy. Lasts 4 hours when used. Safely hides you from the maze's phantom beasts.]
"Guess these are scattered all over the maze corners. Nothing but the card frag—"
I turned around and flinched. Gerkken's eyes were glued to the red bean buns. Soliet was trembling as she held out her hand.
"Can I... have some water? I know you found it, but..."
She licked her parched lips.
"Ah."
Seems I'd only thought from my perspective. These two had blazed through the maze so fast that food must be an issue.
"You guys eat it all."
I tossed all three red bean buns to Gerkken and the water bottle to Soliet. Gerkken passed one bun to Soliet. She left about a third of the water and gave it to Gerkken.
It felt oddly natural.
Like we'd done this before.
Was that old rumor about Gerkken training with the Arkne family actually true?
"Let's pitch the tent and rest for today."
I checked my wristwatch.
34 hours remaining.
We'd been wandering this maze for nearly 6 hours straight.
Rustle rustle rustle!
Amid Gerkken's noisy eating, I pressed the tent's button.
Flutter!
A tent big enough for four unfolded in the maze corner. I unzipped it.
"Pretty cozy."
The crimson interior had a lamp, pillows, sleeping bags, and more.
"Come on in. Let's rest."
"Yes."
Rustle rustle! Gerkken, having devoured even the crumbs, crawled inside.
"......"
"......"
"......"
We three sat in silence.
Smack smack.
In the quiet tent, Soliet and Gerkken savored the aftertaste.
Made sense. It wasn't enough, especially for knights with insane basal metabolic rates.
"Got more food."
I emptied my bag for them.
Lunches, triangle rice balls, 3 liters of water, instant ramen, a pot, chocolate, meal kits... all gifts from Terence's party.
"!"
"What is this?!"
Gerkken's eyes widened, and Soliet looked like she'd struck gold.
"Where did you get all these treasures?"
"Ran into a party by chance. Guess you guys haven't eaten much?"
"Yes. Everyone's in the same boat."
Soliet's stomach growled.
"I have weapons instead of rations. Want to share?"
She pulled three swords from her inventory—60-70 cm blades forged from beast bones tempered in fire.
"I prepped in the snowy mountains."
Gerkken unpacked his bag too. Lots of beast haunches frozen solid with mana rituals.
"Put that away. It's basically a corpse."
"......"
Gerkken repacked it sheepishly.
You have a new message from ElizeEEM.
Sender: ElizeEEM
: Are you trapped in the maze prison by any chance?
A message suddenly popped up from Elise.
She had EXP to spare. Each message cost 3, so why keep sending them?
Nope, not trapped. You trapped?
I figured if she was locked up, I'd help—for give and take.
Sender: ElizeEEM
: Would I get trapped? I just thought you'd rushed into the maze without any plan or prep.
Her party had Rae. Those two could handle phantom beasts easily if they wanted. Their mana ritual proficiency outstripped most pros.
I tore open a triangle rice ball as I said,
"This tent only lasts 4 hours? Let's rest at least 3."
"Agreed."
Gerkken nodded and grabbed the chocolate first. Soliet started prepping ramen.
After that, it was nonstop farming and advancing.
Gerkken's 「Clear Mirror Still Water」 found the paths. My 「Treasure Hunter」 spotted chests to open. Three faces peered into the contents.
Gerkken's 「Clear Mirror Still Water」 found the paths. My 「Treasure Hunter」 spotted chests to open. Three faces peered into the contents. If a mechanical octopus showed up, I handled it.
Repeating that, we completed the card fragments.
It was a card key.
Like the ones for apartments.
The remaining issue was the maze itself.
"......24 hours left."
Soliet said. Gerkken had gone off to scout, so we were crouched side by side in a corner, waiting.
"Yeah. Wandered 16 hours straight, no exit."
Rustle.
A presence stirred. Both our heads snapped toward it. A mole.
"Familiar?"
"Looks like. Probably another team."
Soliet approached the mole. I stood beside her.
"Can you see us—?"
The mole alternated glances between us.
"What team—?"
The mole fled without answering Soliet's question.
Just then, Gerkken returned. He beckoned us.
"Found it."
"You found it?"
Gerkken nodded.
"Definitely a different resonance."
......
The same moment.
At the maze's heart, Elise stood blankly.
Blinking as she replayed the scene from the mole's eyes.
Soliet and Sion.
Sitting side by side. Close, like old friends.
Had they partied up?
Promised to from the start?
"......"
Elise was curious.
Curious for no reason.
Since when? How had they grown close?
From when Sion mentioned the Nightmare to Soliet—three months ago—to now. What had happened in between?
Elise bit her nail without realizing.
—Elie. I think I found it almost.
Rae whispered softly. Elise startled and looked her way.
—Really?
—Awesome.
Kain and Esher reacted quietly. Mechanical octopuses might come.
—Yeah. Follow me. Let's go.
Elise and Rae's combo was overwhelmingly strong in a maze like this. They could command nearly 50 familiars combined.
—Follow! Go!
—......Okay.
—Sweet~ We're top 10 for sure?
Elise's party followed Rae.
But she kept spacing out.
Strange mood.
Gloomy, maybe.
Chest felt stuffy.
A feeling she'd never had before.
Couldn't put it into words.
And...
Elise didn't know why.
Why Sion's face kept floating up. That smile from the hot air balloon, joyful. Lingering since last night.
While finding paths, eating, fighting—why did it cloud up in every gap, then scatter?
Elise opened her message inbox.
[5029]
Still no reply.
"Haa."
—Whoa! Elie!
Rae smacked Elise's arm.
—Why the big sigh? Something wrong?
Rae asked urgently. Elise replied tiredly.
—Nothing.
—You just sighed huge!
—......Did I? Sorry.
Elise shook her head.
Didn't know why, but she was definitely off.
Not her normal self.
Fatigue? Or cracks in her mentality from everything?
Had to fix it before it got worse.
—Let's go. Sure about the path?
—Yeah. Just follow me.
In the first place, no need to care.
Whatever Sion and Soliet did, whatever they became—no relation or use to her...