The Curse That Permeates Everywhere

Cheshire opened her eyes. She immediately scanned her surroundings. Fortunately, she sensed nothing. The underground guards had not yet noticed their intrusion. They were safe for now. For now.

“Ugh…” Shortly after, Han Aram fell behind Cheshire, landing hard on her backside.

“Where are we…”

“Shh. Keep your voice down…”

“Ah… right…” Han Aram immediately clamped her mouth shut at Cheshire’s warning. If they were caught the moment they entered, things would become incredibly difficult. It would mean they’d have to turn back before even clearing the first floor.

‘If that happens…’ The security would only tighten, and the raid on the underground levels would have to be postponed. And there was no telling when the next opportunity would come. It would take a tremendous amount of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠time for the tension in the underground levels to loosen again. Cheshire was determined to retrieve the soul fragment in this attempt. She felt as if the world itself was stepping in to help them with this expedition.

“Let’s see…” Meanwhile, Han Aram activated her Darkness Surveillance skill to secure her vision. Since there was no light source whatsoever in this place, the skill was essential. If she were to create artificial light, they would be discovered in an instant.

Soon, thanks to the effect of Darkness Surveillance, her eyes began to adjust to the pitch-black darkness where not a single photon existed. As the surrounding scenery began to come into view, Han Aram felt as if she had been dropped into the middle of an infinitely sprawling labyrinth.

‘A strange smell… This is… Magi…’

Furthermore, Han Aram sensitively detected the Magi subtly permeating the air of the labyrinth. The moment she felt the Magi, she began to absorb it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. As a Demon Slayer who grew stronger the more Magi she absorbed, she was practically a human air purifier.

Cheshire wore a satisfied smile as Han Aram began to absorb the Magi. Those who were not Magi users would continuously take damage just by ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠entering this place. However, thanks to Han Aram’s presence, that was no longer a concern. Han Aram was proving to be an asset to this expedition just by existing.

‘But… what is this…?’

With her vision fully piercing the darkness thanks to the Darkness Surveillance skill, Han Aram could clearly see the interior of the first underground floor and Cheshire, who was waiting for the rest of the party. While Cheshire was busy rummaging through her bag, Han Aram looked around the labyrinth and spotted mysterious characters carved into the dark, stone-cut corridor. Following those characters, she found a wall densely packed with reliefs.

Han Aram tried to examine the pictures drawn on the wall in detail. This series of actions was a kind of pull that transcended her own will. From the moment she saw the characters on the wall, she was already ensnared. She had failed to notice the malice embedded in the wall and had stared directly into it. If only she hadn't been able to see an inch ahead… perhaps that would have been better.

‘A human pulling out a heart… and a worshipped… demon…? Perhaps… it might be a god…’

As she began to read the pictures and characters, which seemed as if they had been carved by a survivor of an ancient civilization who had poured their entire life into the task, Han Aram was quickly captivated by the wall. She felt the pictures on the wall were beautiful. She was drawn in. Into the trap.

‘A little more, I want to see a little more…’

What stimulated her was curiosity. Yes, this was intellectual exploration. No, this was to reach the truth…

‘Sacrifice… worship… praise… offering… advent… crown?’

The goggles she was wearing for cognitive interference began to crack. Han Aram set down the heavy hammer she had been holding firmly. She had let go of her duty as a Demon Slayer. Faced with the temptation of a demon of a different caliber, Han Aram lost her way. Soon, uncensored, unredacted, and forbidden information—foul, sinister, and evil—began to seep into Han Aram’s mind. In the process, she felt her consciousness expanding. It felt like a blessing. If left like this, Han Aram would be sucked into the wall and dragged to the ‘King’s Chamber.’

What was carved on the wall was such a curse. It was the King’s guidance for his successor. Moreover, this was the desire of those who covet. For those who have fallen into the curse of knowledge, a fitting formality is required.

Human greed calls for the crown. The blood of the half-human, half-demon boils. A rightful succession shall take place. The truth is recited slowly. The truth discusses love. Han Aram opened her ears to eavesdrop on the truth.

Han Aram stood at a crossroads: whether to surrender her body to the massive pull or to reject it and maintain her humanity. She desperately resisted the desire. She rejected and resisted the self-destructive urge to just let herself go with the flow and become free… She knew all too well that if she were swept into this, there would be nothing but ruin. Of course, that ruin was so sweet that the thought, the impulse to give in, kept rising.

“Aram.”

At that moment, Cheshire’s voice reached her, as if to anchor her encroaching consciousness. Han Aram couldn't tell if it was truly Cheshire’s voice. She was simply pulled backward by physical force.

-THUD!!

“Hhh…!!!!”

“Aram, are you okay?”

“Uh… Unnie… Unnie… I…”

Cheshire had yanked Han Aram away from the wall she had been pressing her face against. If she had been a moment later, Han Aram would have died. No, she wouldn't have died, but… it would have been better to be dead. If that had happened, it was obvious that instead of Cheshire’s soul-seeking mission, a rescue operation for Han Aram would have begun. Perhaps a full-scale war with the demons would have been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠triggered by an enraged Jang Jojun. Of course, Cheshire, having sensed the unpleasant movement of the demon beforehand, had saved Han Aram. Han Aram owed Cheshire her life.

“Ugh…”

“It must be mental contamination. Aram, take this pill first…”

Cheshire immediately began emergency measures. Since curses were rampant in the underground levels, they always had to be vigilant of one another. ‘I hope… I hope we weren’t discovered by that just now…’ Cheshire prayed desperately that they hadn't been. If their existence were discovered by a Named Demon, their future plans would be completely ruined. It was easy to misunderstand because Jojun had been going around slaughtering demon-possessed individuals, but a demon-possessed person and an actual ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠demon were in different leagues. Even among Named Demons, Cheshire couldn't handle the ones with high numbering. If a high-ranking Named Demon were to appear… it would be an absolute catastrophe.

“Here, water.”

“Th, thank you…”

Cheshire gave Aram a pill to alleviate mental contamination and the mushroom water she had, praying that luck would be on her side. Cheshire didn't blame Han Aram, as it wasn't her fault that she had been bewitched by the malicious characters carved into the wall. In this place, one never knew when or where they might fall victim to a curse. There were entities that cast curses directly, and one could also be covered in malicious curses from places one would never expect. Therefore, Cheshire had to consider the curse on the wall that Aram had almost fallen into as just a bit of bad luck.

-Gulp. Gulp…

Han Aram swallowed the unknown pill and water Cheshire handed her. The water was mushroom water, but she didn't care. She just wanted to quench this unquenchable, dizzying thirst. The thought that she might have reached a higher level if she could have peeked just a little longer wouldn't leave her mind.

‘This is…’ Han Aram shook her head. Then, she emptied her thoughts. Becoming blank. That was Han Aram’s specialty. Soon, she buried everything she had seen and heard moments ago and cast it to the back of her memory. It was a wise decision. Because the more one thought about and recalled Paimon’s crown, the deeper the craving it demanded, so it was better to pretend not to know and forget it.

“Eww…!”

“Ribbit!”

Soon, Kesia and Kekere also fell into the underground level. They, too, kept their mouths shut following Cheshire’s warning. Both of them had lived in the dark deep sea or gloomy swamps, so they quickly adapted to the darkness. Only after Jojun and Aila, who had landed quietly, gathered did they proceed forward. For reference, Han Aram didn't bother telling Jojun about what happened earlier. She didn't want to cause him unnecessary worry.

Cheshire warned the party to avoid looking at the characters or pictures carved into the walls as much as possible. Everyone nodded as they listened to Cheshire’s whispering voice.

“Let’s see…”

Soon, Aila took a necklace out of her pocket to find the direction the party should take. She then let it hang long and poured her magical power into it. Then, the transparent crystal at the end of the necklace emitted a soft light, pointing in the direction they needed to go.

“Straight ahead that way.”

Having found the direction, Aila quickly tucked the necklace back into her pocket. There was no need to expose the light for long. It was better to get to their destination as much as possible while they hadn't been caught yet. The party moved forward in silence. Suppressing noise as much as possible, there was no conversation, except for the occasional moment when Aila used the necklace to detect the direction. Thus, they pushed through the terrible darkness and continued to move forward, maintaining silence. Until they found the hole to move to the second floor… continuously… And something was slithering behind them, following them.