Chapter 17: Ant Cave (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 17: Ant Cave (2)
It was deep into the night.
As I stepped off the carriage, a massive gorge loomed before me. Bathed in nothing but the pale glow of the moon, the sight was magnificent—almost hard to believe it was only four hours away from the academy.
The entrance to the Tantak Underground Cave sat directly ahead. At first glance, it looked like any other cave, but I knew that once I stepped inside, a pitch-black path would lead me deep into the earth.
“Are you sure about this, lad?” the coachman asked, his voice thick with concern.
To be honest, I’m not…
Still, I couldn’t be rude to someone showing genuine worry. I offered a thin smile and a nod. “I’ll be fine. Get home safe.”
“Students these days…”
Muttering to himself, the coachman took the payment, turned the carriage around, and began the trek back.
I had finally arrived. Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I stepped into the maw of the cave.
…It’s pitch black.
I pulled a luminous lamp from my magic pouch. The portable device hummed to life, radiating a steady glow that carved out a small sanctuary of light in the gloom.
[Portable Luminous Lamp]
A lamp containing glowstone. Convenient to carry.
Rank: Tier 9
Flap, flap—!
“Gah!”
As the light hit the ceiling, a colony of hanging bats took flight all at once, their wings beating a frantic rhythm. My heart hammered against my ribs as if it were trying to break free.
I really hate scary things…
“Haa… that actually terrified me.”
I pressed a hand to my chest, taking several deep breaths. Even if I had come during the day, it would have been just as dark down here. There was no point in regretting the timing; this was the path I had chosen.
Besides, it wouldn't stay this creepy forever. Once I went deeper, I’d find the glowstones Garzia’s mana had created to mark the way.
Just hold out until then. It’s not like there are actual ghosts.
I began to move forward.
The path soon gave way to a gentle, downward slope. If I followed this all the way down, I would reach the underground labyrinth. Having been a veteran player of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, I had the layout of the labyrinth memorized by heart.
I descended carefully, making sure not to slip on the damp stone.
Ah, seriously though…
Darkness is the worst.
The lamp’s radius was limited. Beyond that small circle of light lay a void of absolute shadow. My mind began to betray me, conjuring images of pale, distorted faces peering out from the blackness. If a ghost actually appeared, I’d probably pass out on the spot.
I swallowed hard. Every quiet footstep felt deafening in the oppressive silence.
Then, it happened.
“Gyaaa—!!”
──CRASH!──
“...!!”
A blood-curdling scream echoed from behind me, followed by the thunderous sound of collapsing rock. My heart sank into my stomach. I nearly lost consciousness from the shock, but I managed to grit my teeth and keep my head.
That was a woman’s scream. Ghosts didn't scream like that.
I spun around and sprinted back up the slope toward the entrance.
“...?”
When I reached the top, I found the entrance littered with shattered stone. I swung my lamp forward, and the light revealed a familiar figure huddled on the ground.
A female student with light-green twintails, wearing the same Märchen Academy uniform as mine, sat there trembling. When she saw me, she quickly turned her head away, wiping tears from her eyes.
[Kaya Astrea]
Lv: 91
Race: Human
Elements: Wind, Ice
Danger: X
Psychology: [Mortified to have been seen in such an embarrassing state.]
Why is Kaya here…?
“Kaya…?”
“Ah, Sir Isaac. I mean, I…”
She’s definitely the one who screamed. Did Garzia’s minions get to her?
I rushed over and knelt beside her, looking her in the eye. “What happened? What scared you?”
“...”
“Did you run into a giant ant?”
“B-bat…”
“Huh?”
“A bat… it scared me…”
…I see.
“I’m sorry…” Kaya whispered, her shoulders slumped in dejection.
There was no need for an apology, but at least she wasn't hurt. As long as there wasn't a real threat, it was fine.
“It’s okay. But why did you follow me?”
“...!”
She had clearly been tailing me, and her reaction confirmed it. But why? I knew she admired me, but was she really the type to stalk someone?
“I… I have a reason for being here, too.”
“You followed me.”
“Ugh, that’s… I can’t tell you why.”
Perhaps I was seeing a side of Kaya I hadn't known before. If she didn't want to talk about it, I wasn't going to force her.
“Can you get up?” I asked, reaching out a hand.
“...”
[Kaya Astrea]
Psychology: [Finds your sudden sociability awkward.]
Kaya stared at my hand blankly.
Oh, right. I had been playing the part of the cold, arrogant elite lately, pretending I had finally shown my "true colors" now that I was powerful. I couldn't let her know I was actually weak, so I had to maintain the persona.
“Haa,” I sighed, pulling back slightly. “You didn’t come here just to get in my way, did you?” I asked, my voice now laced with cynical edge.
Only then did Kaya’s suspicious expression melt away, replaced by a mix of awe and fear.
“Ah, no…! No way!”
She scrambled to her feet, standing at attention as if she were facing a military inspection. I ignored her and started back down the slope. Kaya hurried after me.
“By the way, Sir Isaac… why are you here?”
I didn't see any reason to lie about my objective. “To hunt a demon.”
“I knew it!” Kaya responded, her eyes widening. “So there really was a demon here…”
“You shouldn't have come. It’s dangerous.”
Kaya would be in over her head if things went south. Even if Garzia wasn't at full strength, he was still a higher level than her.
“No, I want to help.” Kaya stepped up beside me, her expression hardening with resolve. “I want to protect the academy.”
[Kaya Astrea]
Psychology: [Believes it is heroic to protect the peace of the academy.]
What is she even imagining right now?
Whatever it was, her imagination was clearly running wild. She probably saw us as two heroes venturing into the dark to purge evil.
On second thought, having her here might not be a bad thing. This was uncharted territory for me in this life, and I couldn't account for every variable. Kaya was exceptionally talented; she could cover my back if things got messy. If Garzia attacked, I would just have to make sure I defended her.
“...Do as you please,” I muttered, feigning reluctance.
Kaya’s face lit up. She nodded vigorously and focused on the path ahead. She drew a wand encrusted with a green magic stone, her posture shifting into a high-alert combat stance. She actually looked reliable.
We walked for twenty minutes, guided by the lamp. Eventually, the slope leveled out into a dim passage—the entrance to the underground labyrinth.
“Where are we?”
“The labyrinth. It’s easy to get lost, so stay close.”
“Oh, yes…!”
I quickened my pace, and Kaya stuck to me like glue. As we entered the maze, light-brown glowstones embedded in the walls began to appear. They were placed in an orderly fashion, fueled by Garzia’s rock mana to mark his territory.
The ambient light was enough to see by. I draped a cloth over my lamp and tucked it away.
I held my breath, navigating the maze with purpose. Every time we hit a fork in the road, I chose a direction without a second of hesitation. The layout was identical to the game.
“Sir Isaac.” Kaya stopped abruptly. “I’ve been wondering… how do you know the path so well?”
…Wait.
Am I being too obvious?
I glanced back at her and checked her status.
[Kaya Astrea]
Psychology: [Suspects you were once allied with the demons and have now turned against them.]
What kind of fanfiction is she writing in her head…?
Her overactive imagination was going to be a problem. I needed to give her a plausible explanation before she decided I was a reformed demon lord or something.
“I’m just sensing the demon’s mana,” I said, throwing out the first lie that came to mind. “I’ve been tracking it since we were back at the academy.”
It was total nonsense. Sensing mana from miles away through layers of earth was impossible for someone at my level. The range of mana perception was tiny.
But, as expected, Kaya bought it.
“Wow…” Her mouth fell open in awe. “I couldn't feel a thing… Is this the mana perception of an Archwizard?”
She really was too simple-minded for her own good.
“You’ll learn to feel it eventually,” I said dismissively.
We kept moving. I could feel her gaze lingering on the back of my head, her eyes twinkling with admiration. It was a bit much.
Suddenly—
Skitter-skitter-skitter…
The sound of sharp legs scratching against stone and the dry rubbing of chitinous antennae echoed through the tunnel. We both froze.
Skitter-skitter-skitter…
Garzia’s minions: the Disaster Ants. They were one of the main reasons 「Act 2, Chapter 4」 was such a nightmare to clear. They had a high collective intelligence and used actual tactics to swarm and overwhelm players. On Hell difficulty, they were a literal plague.
If Garzia was nesting here, there could be as many as three hundred of them guarding the labyrinth.
Skitter-skitter-skitter-skitter-skitter-skitter—!
A massive insect lunged out of the darkness ahead. Its antennae flickered wildly as it snapped its jagged mandibles. Its bulbous eyes glowed with a hateful red light.
[Disaster Ant]
Lv: 70
Race: Demon
Elements: Dark, Rock
Danger: Upper-Intermediate
Psychology: [Wants to butcher the intruder.]
“What is that?!” Kaya gasped.
Fortunately, it was just a lone scout. But if there was one, the swarm wasn't far behind. Even with my Demon-Limited Hunter traits, a coordinated assault from a hundred of these things would be dangerous.
[A demon has been recognized as an enemy.]
[The unique trait ‘Hunter’ has activated!]
[Temporary boost to Level and Stats applied!]
[Skill Tree expanded by +10!]
There was only one way to handle a swarm.
I stepped forward, extending a hand toward Kaya. I poured my mana out, weaving it into a shimmering, translucent veil of frost.
「Ice Barrier (Ice Element, ★6)」
“Isaac, what are you doing…?”
SKITTER-SKITTER-SKITTER—!
The Disaster Ant charged, its six legs blurred with speed. I dropped into a low stance, slamming my right hand onto the cavern floor.
“Freeze the entire labyrinth.”
I unleashed the full weight of my ice mana.
「Frost Wave (Ice Element, ★6)」
KRR-R-RACK————!!!
A violent surge of absolute zero erupted from my palm. The wave of frost roared through the tunnels like a tidal wave, instantly encasing the charging ant and every one of its hidden brothers in thick, jagged ice.
In the blink of an eye, the damp stone labyrinth was transformed into a glittering palace of frozen death.
“Haa…”
A cloud of white mist escaped my lips.
If the ants wanted to use their collective intelligence to swarm me, I just had to make sure they couldn't move a single muscle.