Chapter 13: Dungeon (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 13: Dungeon (2)
The dungeon's interior was a world away from its shabby exterior.
A colossal pillar cut through the center, and the marble floor perfectly recreated the grandeur of an ancient temple.
Elegant patterns were carved in various places, and a sacred aura enveloped the space.
It might have been different if this were a Skeleton Cave, but this was a Double Dungeon.
“Mm, this is nice. I feel my condition improving.”
Cheon Yeo-wool said, taking a small breath.
Her expression softened, and a faint glow emanated from her face.
Her hair, now glossy, flowed like silk.
This dungeon—or perhaps I should call it a tomb.
This was the tomb of Iano, Japan’s legendary shrine maiden.
About five years ago, Japan was thrown into an uproar.
It was because a will left by Iano during her lifetime had been discovered. Its contents were as follows:
‘A fake in the homeland, the real one in a foreign land.’
According to the will, she had left a fake tomb in Japan, wary of looters, and hidden her real tomb deep in the mountains of a foreign country where no one would know.
Her prediction had been spot on. Not long after, Iano’s fake tomb in Japan was plundered.
The problem was the truth revealed by that will.
The tomb that Japan had protected for hundreds of years was, in the end, a fake.
Based on the will, Japan searched the entire world for her real tomb, but they failed.
And now, that very tomb was right before my eyes.
“What was your Tier?”
The question was for Cheon Yeo-wool.
Not content with placing her tomb in a dungeon in a foreign land, Iano had hidden it thoroughly.
It would judge anyone without befitting divine power as unworthy and would never reveal itself. The minimum standard was at least Tier 3.
However, the aura Cheon Yeo-wool had just displayed was hard to believe it was merely that of a Tier 3.
“Hmm… I was definitely Tier 3.”
Cheon Yeo-wool tilted her head, touching a finger to her lips in response to my question.
“Why? You don’t think so?”
She then asked me in return, a relaxed smile on her face.
I scanned the dungeon’s interior again.
This was a Double Dungeon. It should have been filled with complex puzzles and obstacles at every turn.
Too clean.
There wasn’t a speck of dust on the marble floor, and the path that should have been a tangled mess stretched out in a straight line.
This was a state that only occurred in the game when you used a cheat to bring in a priest of Tier 7 or higher.
A typical Tier 3 priest wouldn’t stand a chance.
…Could it be?
We did use the highest-grade Holy Water. It was something the Old Man treasured immensely, and it was incredibly valuable.
Besides, Cheon Yeo-wool was no ordinary priest. Even if she was the same Tier 3, the quantity and quality of her divine power would have been on a different level from other priests.
It was a good thing, really. A very good thing, but…
“I memorized everything…”
Before going to bed last night, I had memorized every strategy and puzzle.
It was gut-wrenching not to be able to use any of it.
“How strange. I never thought something like this would be behind that tiny dungeon.”
Cheon Yeo-wool said, casually looking around.
We walked along a path that stretched out straight, as if a red carpet had been rolled out for us.
At the end of the path, a massive door stood firmly shut.
It was quite a distance; this path was originally supposed to be filled with countless traps and puzzles.
What a relief.
I decided to forget my foolish thought from a moment ago.
“How did you know?”
Cheon Yeo-wool asked as we walked.
“You even brought Holy Water. It seems like you knew everything.”
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at me.
She had every right to be curious. I turned my head slightly and gave her the answer I had prepared.
“This is Iano’s tomb.”
“Really?”
Cheon Yeo-wool’s eyes widened slightly.
It seemed she knew about Iano as well.
“While searching through historical documents, I found a record of Iano visiting Taebaek in the past.”
Japan had actually come this far in their search. They just never found it.
“Taebaek has a sacred aura flowing through it thanks to the mountain range, yet there’s an undead dungeon here. It’s a contradiction, isn’t it? So I guessed it might be here.”
Cheon Yeo-wool nodded, listening intently to my words.
“Well, ninety percent of it was just luck.”
Cheon Yeo-wool smiled quietly.
“You’re being modest.”
By the time our conversation ended, we had arrived in front of the massive door.
The sight that unfolded before my eyes was once again breathtaking.
Once all the traps are cleared, this door opens automatically.
Rumble…
It seemed we were being treated as if we had cleared all the traps.
The massive door began to open slowly with a magnificent sound.
As soon as it opened, a soft, warm breeze blew out from within, carrying the faint scent of flowers.
“Wow…”
An exclamation of awe escaped my lips.
The scenery beyond the door was a completely different world.
There stood a residence filled with an oriental atmosphere.
A roof of black tiles, red pillars, and a neatly manicured garden came into view.
In particular, a cherry blossom tree standing tall next to the house was so enormous it seemed to touch the sky.
The scattering cherry blossom petals fell to the ground like snow, adding to the serene atmosphere.
“The mood has changed, hasn’t it?”
Cheon Yeo-wool said, looking around in surprise.
This was a tomb modeled after Iano’s home from when she was alive.
And in the middle of the courtyard stood a giant statue.
It was the figure of a samurai in armor. With its sword planted in the ground, it stood as if it were a guardian protecting this place.
Everything was in perfect harmony, as if we had stepped into a space that transcended time.
Just as we were admiring the scenery of the tomb…
CRASH!!!!
The massive door behind us slammed shut with a deafening roar.
“In front!”
Cheon Yeo-wool shouted.
The giant statue before us was moving as if it had come to life.
I instinctively backed away to create some distance.
The statue, shaking the ground with its heavy steps, pulled its sword from the earth and pointed it menacingly toward us.
“…This is a place where there is no distinction between past, future, or present.”
A red glow flashed from between the gaps in its helmet.
And its massive sword slowly turned to aim at Cheon Yeo-wool.
“Are… you… worthy?”
An aura emanated from its sword, shimmering as it enveloped Cheon Yeo-wool.
It was enough to create the illusion that the very air around us was trembling.
The statue’s red eyes briefly lost their light before it slowly opened its mouth again.
“…Your worthiness is acknowledged.”
“You’ve got a good eye.”
Cheon Yeo-wool replied nonchalantly.
The statue remained completely unfazed by her joke. Instead, it turned its sword toward me.
It wasn’t surprising that she, the next Saintess candidate, would be acknowledged.
The problem, however, was me.
“Are… you… worthy?”
This time, the aura wrapped around me.
I gripped the spear at my waist tightly.
It seemed it was time to fight.
“Prepare for battle.”
At my quiet words, Cheon Yeo-wool gave a slight nod.
“If you wish.”
She closed her eyes, clasped her hands, and began to pray.
The statue would probably bring that huge sword down on me at any moment.
My muscles contracted as if they would burst. I was ready to spring forward at any time.
“…Your worthiness is acknowledged.”
“…Huh?”
The statue lowered its sword, its red glow fading as it continued to speak.
What is this?
The statue began to utter incomprehensible words.
“O one who defies providence, have you finally laid down your burden…?”
Providence? Burden?
I didn't know this part of the script.
The standard progression was to fight a huge battle, win, and then be acknowledged by the statue.
“And you who have shared that burden…”
Cheon Yeo-wool slowly opened her eyes.
“…Feel its weight.”
CRACK-!
As soon as it finished speaking, the statue cleaved itself apart with its greatsword.
It slowly crumbled like a cracked stone, revealing glittering objects from within.
“…Okay.”
Cheon Yeo-wool murmured quietly.
“I’ll feel it.”
Her expression held a hint of resolve.
On the pedestal where the statue had stood, a cross and a transparent bottle were placed.
I slowly approached them.
A glittering cross and a liquid in a transparent bottle.
One was Iano’s Cross, imbued with an unimaginable amount of divine power.
And the other was a legendary Elixir.
An elixir straight out of legends that forcibly expanded the channels of mana and maximized their efficiency to the extreme.
I had planned for the former to be Cheon Yeo-wool’s share, and the latter for Seong Si-woo.
And if I were to monetize their respective values…
I can't.
The value of these artifacts was beyond imagination.
“A shame. If I knew this would happen, I would’ve requested a distribution agreement,” Cheon Yeo-wool said casually.
I held the cross and hesitated for a moment.
Should I give it to her now?
Even if she accepted the cross’s divine power, it would take time for her to fully absorb it as her own.
Handing it over here and now was more convenient in many ways. Once we were outside, the Association would surely swarm us, causing delays.
Having made my decision, I held out the cross to her.
“You take it. I didn’t expect a reward like this either.”
“Besides, I might not have made it this far without you.”
Hearing my words, she gave me a tender look for a moment.
But she soon shook her head, her expression shifting to her characteristic playful smile.
“That’s nice, but should I tell you an even better way?”
She approached me and said in a low voice.
“Sell this to our temple for a high price.”
Then she whispered in my ear.
“The Cult will give it to me anyway, no matter what.”
She took a step back, a captivating smile on her face.
“How about it?”
…She was a genius.
I was momentarily speechless at the unexpected method.
“…Is that okay?”
“Yep.”
She nodded with a bright smile.
In the end, I put both the cross and the elixir into my bag.
“What are you going to do with that elixir? You’re going to drink it, right?”
“No, I have a use for it.”
I have to give it to Seong Si-woo. It will give wings to his innate Mana Capacity.
“…Is that so?”
Cheon Yeo-wool nodded and started walking with me toward the dungeon entrance.
“Wait.”
But she suddenly grabbed my arm, stopping me.
“What if it’s dangerous? Give me that elixir. I’ll check it for you.”
I knew it wasn’t dangerous. But her suggestion was reasonable, so I nodded and took the elixir out of my bag.
“Don’t open the lid. The effect might disappear.”
As long as the lid wasn’t opened, it would be fine. The energy, condensed over a long period, would dissipate completely if not consumed immediately after opening.
I carefully handed her the elixir.
Then I turned my head and started walking forward.
Pop.
?
What pop?
Startled by the sound of a lid opening, I quickly turned around.
Shove.
And just like that, she shoved the elixir straight into my mouth.
“Umpf!”
Gulp.
A searing hot liquid slid down my throat.
She held me tight from behind and said.
“That’s right… that’s right… drink it all down.”
An irresistible energy exploded and spread throughout my body.
My strength drained away, my legs giving out. I couldn’t stay standing without leaning on her.
“Yes, my dear Hae-in… such a good boy, aren’t you?”
She whispered in a soft voice into my ear.
“Just rest in your nuna’s arms… and have a nice, long sleep, okay?”
In that moment, my mind grew distant from the surging flow of mana.
It was the sign that the elixir’s effects were beginning to take hold.
Hmph, do you know how precious this is? Who were you planning to give it to this time…
Beyond my fading consciousness, her voice echoed.