Chapter 75
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: The Labyrinth of Auksol (3)
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The Labyrinth of Auksol (3)
Right. If its a labyrinth, its only proper for something like this to show up.
After defeating the scorpion, a rectangular corridor with a sealed ceiling appeared. The walls were all gray, and repeating patterns of the sun and moon were drawn on the walls, ceiling, and floor.
Lord Yuren. What in the world is this place?
Its a maze, just as you see.
This is a maze?
Its a natural feature of any labyrinth.
Ugh
Mocagun bit his nails, cautiously peeking his head into the mazes entrance to get a look.
Lord Yuren.
Yes.
Have you perhaps been to this labyrinth before?
Of course not.
Then how are you not even the slightest bit flustered, moving through this place as if youve lived here your whole life?
Theres nothing particularly difficult, so theres no need to be flustered. Its all been quite easy, hasnt it?
Good heavens
Mocagun, seemingly shocked by my answer, stood with his mouth agape, looking utterly dumbfounded. Id said it partly to show off my abilities to him, but it was true that nothing had been very difficult.
Ive met many heroes while traveling with my merchant company, but I believe you are the most astounding of them all, Lord Yuren. I take back what I said earlier about having a good eye for people.
Youre saying some strange things.
Im being sincere!
I chuckled, looked away from Mocagun, and turned my attention back to the entrance before us.
That aside, a maze is inconvenient.
Even if I was the author, there was no way for me to know the correct path through the maze. I remembered that the exit was in the eleven oclock direction, but of course, I didnt know the way to get there.
But that wasnt a problem.
Bbaekbbaegi.
Bbaek?
Bbaekbbaegi, who had been preening his feathers on my shoulder, lifted one foot. It seemed to be his way of telling me to speak.
Its your turn again. Bbaek-Navi. Go.
Bbaek?
Bbaekbbaegi looked at me with an expression that clearly said, What is he talking about?
Bbaekbbaek.
Hm?
Instead of taking off, Bbaekbbaegi nudged his beak toward me.
Bbaek.
As if demanding a tribute for his services, Bbaekbbaegi opened his beak wide.
Ha.
It was absurd, but since I was the one in need, I took a melon-like fruit out of my pocket. It was a Porian, a fruit I carried for hydration, though it didnt taste great.
Bbaek!
Hm?
The moment I took out the Porian, Bbaekbbaegi left my shoulder, landed on Mocaguns backpack, and started tapping it.
That little
If you didnt understand the meaning of that action, you couldnt handle this sly creature.
Lord Mocagun.
Yes?
Do you have any more of that fruit you gave me earlier?
Yes! Of course, I do. Shall I give you some?
Could you give me just one, then?
Mocagun took two Duraks from his bag. I took them and waved one at Bbaekbbaegi.
Bbaek.
Bbaekbbaegi flew back to my shoulder and nudged me, as if telling me to hurry up and give it to him, but I just pointed toward the path ahead.
Youll get it when were done.
Bbaek.
Bbaekbbaegi let out a sigh, then flapped his wings and entered the maze first.
Hes a tough one to get moving.
Arent you going to give him the fruit?
He may look cute, but hes a bit of a sly one. If I give him the fruit first, he might just eat it and fall asleep.
In truth, if he sensed real danger, he would have moved on his own. The fact that he was dawdling like this meant we were probably at the very front of the pack in this labyrinth.
I-I see. Hes a peculiar one.
He is. Very peculiar.
The original spirit beast, Belo, was kind, diligent, and even self-sacrificing. But I have no idea who Bbaekbbaegi takes after to be such a slacker, just because he gained one little trait.
Bbaekbbaegi is waiting. Lets go.
Yes!
At the first fork, Bbaekbbaegi immediately turned right without a second thought. At a three-way split, he unhesitatingly went straight down the middle.
We moved in various directions, but our overall trajectory was toward the eleven oclock position.
Bbaek!
Lord Yuren. I think this is the end. I see light!
Good job, Bbaek-Navi.
Having followed Bbaekbbaegi without much thought, we soon reached the end of the maze. A sunset-colored door had formed in the otherwise gray labyrinth.
Bbaek!
I handed Bbaekbbaegi a Durak, and he immediately started pecking away at it, chirping. He seemed to have taken quite a liking to this fruit.
Lets go.
Ah, yes!
Is this the eighth one now?
After passing through the maze, we overcame four more monsters and traps. The room we were about to enter was the eighth, which meant only two remained before the final trial in the tenth chamber.
You are truly amazing, Lord Yuren. Im exhausted just from following you
After passing through eight chambers, Mocagun had become a devoted follower. He looked ready to hand over his entire fortune without a moments hesitation if I asked.
Were almost there. Lets go in.
I will follow you.
Vwoom.
Hm.
Huh?
The eighth chamber was a round space, like an open lot or a small sports field. There were no monsters or traps, but a transparent wall in the middle of the room divided it in two.
To think wed get this one.
In the original story, this was the Chamber of Battle, where the protagonist on the Path of Day would face an enemy from the Path of Night. Since there were three paths, it seemed I had been chosen at random.
This place looks like it was made for fighting.
Youre quick on the uptake.
It just seems like a place set up to make us fight each other.
Mocagun said, swallowing dryly.
Who do you think will come?
Who knows. It doesnt matter who it is.
Th-thats true. Since you are here, Lord Yuren.
Having witnessed my abilities, Mocagun now trusted me completely.
I wonder if the people from my company are alright. I hope theyre all safe
The quiet of the room seemed to have reminded Mocagun of his companions.
I could have offered words of hope, but I said nothing. Mocaguns companions were surely no longer among the living.
Ugh
Seeing Mocagun on the verge of tears, it seemed he too had an idea of what state his companions were in.
Ah, I was being sentimental. My apologies.
Not at all. I understand.
I still cant believe Im in some unknown labyrinth. The Labyrinth of Auksol, you called it?
Mocagun swallowed his tears and raised his voice, as if trying to change the mood.
You dont seem to recognize it by that name. This labyrinth has another name.
Another name?
Youll know it when you hear it. The Labyrinth of Regeneration.
Ah!
Startled, Mocagun shot up from his spot and stared at me.
I-is that true? This place is one of the ten great hidden grounds, the Labyrinth of Regeneration?
Thats right.
Ah
Learning the true identity of the labyrinth, Mocagun shook his head back and forth.
So there was a reason this place was so difficult. The Labyrinth of Regeneration. Of course
What weve faced so far hasnt been particularly difficult.
Pardon?
The true difficulty of the Labyrinth of Regeneration begins in the tenth chamber. Everything before that is just a warm-up.
Th-then how will we
Ill clear it myself, so you just need to stay put like you have been.
Haaah
Mocagun sighed, a pained expression on his face.
I am truly ashamed. To come here and rely on you for everything, Lord Yuren I have never felt so useless in my life.
Its fine.
Lord Yuren!
Mocagun looked at me as if he were seeing an angel. Of course, I was no angel. I planned to work him to the bone outside in exchange for the help I was giving him here.
Vwoom.
A portal-like rift opened on the opposite side of the chamber.
Th-theyre coming.
Someones right foot emerged from the portal. It was a desert boot. In that case, there was no need to wonder.
What is it this time? Are we waiting again like before? Kukukuk!
Boss! The bastard who killed our men earlier is here.
Oh, look at this! This place seems to have been made just for me to slice you to pieces, doesnt it? Kuhaha.
Pindolf and his bandits entered the room. Their numbers, which had seemed to be around seventy with the merchants and mercenaries, had dwindled to thirty.
Furthermore, among the thirty, not a single merchant or mercenary was to be seen; they were all bandits.
Too scared to talk? Why dont you run that mouth of yours like you did before? Kukuku.
Uwahahaha!
Kyahahaha!
Pindolf and his bandits began to laugh mockingly at me. Now that I looked, it wasnt just Pindolf; all the bandits were gripped by a frenzy.
It seemed the bandits were driven mad by their fear of Pindolf and their anxiety about the labyrinth.
Where is my Company Head! Molly! Kran! Not a single one is here! What did you do to them!
Your precious Company Head died a long time ago. Did he have a hole in his ass or something?
Thats right. Kyahaha!
Molly and Kran? Dont know who they are. Were they the ones crushed by the fists that came down from the ceiling?
Kheuheuk! You demonic bastards!
The suspicion about his companions deaths had now become a grim reality, and dark veins stood out in Mocaguns eyes. His lips trembled as tears streamed down his face.
Ah, Ill thank you on their behalf. Thanks to your friends, we made it here safely and comfortably. It was great fun shoving one of them into each trap! Kuhuhu.
Hahaha!
Kukuku.
H-how can a human being be like that!
This is the Chamber of Battle.
As Mocagun cried out and slammed his fists on the ground, the labyrinth spirits voice echoed once more.
There is only one path from this chamber to the next.
The wall will disappear in one minute.
Go when it says go, kill when it says kill. This place is so simple, I love it!
Indeed. Kuhuhu.
I told you, didnt I? That Id chase you down and kill you no matter where you went. I just didnt expect wed meet so soon, did you?
Hahaha!
Pindolf and his bandits kept trying to intimidate me, hoping to see fear, but I maintained a blank expression.
Lord Mocagun.
Keuheuk.
Ill take care of this. Stay here.
What?
I patted his shoulder once and walked toward the wall in the center of the room.
Zzzzzk.
The wall began to disappear.
Ill cut off your legs and drag you with me! Kihehe!
One of the bandits drew his sword and charged swiftly. His eyes were half-crazed with a lust for blood.
Thwack.
Urk!
The bandit, who took a lightly thrown dagger to the crown of his head, collapsed to the floor without even getting close to me.
Huh?
Wh-what!
A dagger?
The bandits who were about to charge from behind stopped in their tracks when they saw me casually flick another dagger.
What are you doing? Werent you going to kill me? At this rate, Ill die of old age waiting.
What are you all doing! Kill him, quickly!
Even while being mocked by me, Pindolf didnt step forward, instead sending his bandits first. It seemed he wanted to observe me.
Fwoom!
Wh-what!
Whats with this sudden smoke!
Cough, cough!
Its a fitting gift for trash like you.
As the bandits who heard Pindolfs command approached me, I detonated a red smoke bomb in their midst.
Wh-what is this!
Where is he!
Forget the smoke and get him!
After setting off the smoke, I remained standing in the same spot.
Huh? Uwaaaah!
Its a monster!
A monster, a monster has appeared!
The bandits enveloped in the smoke began screaming and swinging their swords at each other.
There was no need to dirty my own hands; I had released the Salhonyeon to make them kill each other. The weak-willed bandits were completely consumed by the Salhonyeon in less than five seconds.
Snap out of it! What are you all doing!
Aaaah! Its a scorpion!
A-a Sandworm!
The men, crazed with bloodlust, swung their swords at the bandits right next to them.
One minute.
That was the time it took for the thirty bandits to stab each other to death, wiping themselves out.
You bastard
Pindolf emerged from the side, untouched by the Salhonyeon smoke. I could have filled the entire chamber with it, but I couldnt let Pindolf die so easily.
What in the hell did you do!
You all seemed to enjoy going crazy, so I helped you go properly insane. You should be thanking me.
Grit. That kind of cheap trick! It wont work on me!
Pindolf gripped a scimitar filled with aura and charged at me. His speed and movements were far lighter and nimbler than his bandits.
Swoosh!
Pindolf, reaching me in an instant, swung his sword down diagonally.
CRASH!
Before Pindolfs sword could strike me, I used Lightning Shadow to move behind him. The ground where his sword landed cracked and exploded.
You bastard!
Shwaaak!
Pindolf, sensing I was behind him, swung his sword backward to cut me down, but I used Lightning Shadow again to move behind him once more.
Heres a prediction.
What?
You will die without ever seeing me.
You son of a bitch! Do you know who I am!
Pindolf swung his sword in a wave-like motion, aiming for my torso, but I had already circled behind him, nicking his arm with my dagger.
You coward! Show yourself! Keuk!
With my continuous use of Lightning Shadow, Pindolf couldnt even catch a glimpse of my shadow and was just spinning in circles. Each time I used the technique, I stabbed him somewhere with my dagger.
Wounds like this cant kill me. If you want to kill me, youll have to take my head!
Theres no need for that.
If youre going to keep this up, then Ill make my move too! Kuhaha!
Pindolf started running toward the opposite side of the chamber from me.
Lets see if youll refuse to show yourself even if I kill that man! Kukukuk.
Pindolf was targeting Mocagun, who was watching the fight from the edge of the room.
Right. Thats more like it.
Snap.
Huh?
At the same time as I snapped my fingers, Pindolf, who had been charging like a tiger, froze in place.
Wh-what!
Pindolf began to rub his eyes furiously with his fists.
I-I cant see! Keoheok!
As he rubbed his eyes, Pindolf fell to his knees, clutching his stomach as if to tear it open.
Uwaaaah!
His right arm, which was clutching his stomach, began to melt away, while his left arm became rigid, unable to move. His legs, kneeling on the ground, trembled like a leaf in a storm.
Keoheoook! Wh-what is Aaaack!
Pindolf collapsed completely, his entire body convulsing on the ground. He was lost in the excruciating pain.
The ten poisons I had injected while inflicting ten wounds on him were now taking effect, each in its own way.
I told you, you would die without ever seeing me.
Keoheok, s-save
Under the effects of a paralysis poison, Pindolf felt the extreme agony but couldnt move a muscle, his eyes shaking as if an earthquake was tearing through them.
Die alone, feeling the pains of hell.