Underground Dungeon

"H-Here it is... Why has it changed like this?"

"...Who knows."

"Who knows!? You're the one who said you knew the secrets of this place!"

Perloché, who had been leading the way in front of me, was trembling and shouting. As the saintess of the Church of the Sun God, and having experienced even worse in previous loops, she still seemed terrified of the darkness.

Of course, I hated dark places just as much. But what could I do? This was a matter of life and death for Perloché.

"B-But... do you know the way?"

"...No, just keep going forward."

Of course, for something involving Perloché's life, I had placed her at the front. It made me look pretty pathetic, but with my body in ruins, I couldn't lead. It was actually safer for us if Perloché, blessed with the Solar God's Blessing, took point instead of my weakened self.

"Ah...! The path splits into two...!"

After walking for a while, the path forked. As expected, this maze followed a classic structure—one correct path, the other a dead end or trap, the worn-out cliché.

"F-Frey! Which way?"

"Hm..."

If I had even one more stack left, I'd have distracted Perloché and slashed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠both paths to check. But in my current state, that was impossible. So, second-best option it was.

"...You, get behind me."

"Pardon?"

"Watch the rear for a bit."

I pulled Perloché, who was tilting her head at the fork, behind me. Once she started scanning the back with sharp eyes, I began circulating my Star Mana.

"Hup..."

After deploying Star Mana ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠forward for a while, an odd dissonance emanated from the left entrance.

"...Right."

The feeling was unnatural, so I narrowed my eyes and pointed right—when suddenly, a roar echoed from the left passage.

Startled, I grabbed Perloché to dash into the right path, but...

The girl who had been glaring sharply behind us just moments ago had vanished.

"Perloché!?"

"Yes?"

Panicking, I yelled, and astonishingly, her reply came from the left passage.

I drew my sword from my waist in horror and leaped into the left entrance, where Perloché stood covered in dust, grinning triumphantly.

"For a maze like this, just smash through everything!"

"...Ha."

In front of her lay a boulder—obviously rolled in at high speed—shattered to pieces.

"...Keep going straight."

Resigned at wasting mana for nothing, I pushed forward with our strategic weapon, Perloché, smashing through the maze at rapid pace.

- Crack!

"...By the way, when was this massive space built in the church's basement?"

After breaking through the fifth fork, Perloché snapped an undead orc's neck and dangled the limp corpse as she asked me.

"Probably bit by bit."

"I see... So the church's corruption has been going on for quite a while."

She nodded at my answer and began purifying the undead orc with her divine power.

...The Second-in-Command's doing too?

Of course, that wasn't the full truth I'd tell Perloché. Even for the Church of the Sun God, constructing such a vast underground space would be impossible without high risk of discovery. Magic must have been involved—likely the Second-in-Command's space domination magic, given its 'Main Quest' scale.

"...Ah, look at this!"

As I pondered, Perloché halted abruptly, eyes wide with wonder as she scanned around.

Wondering what it was, I looked ahead. The cracked basement walls gave way to pristine white marble adorning every side, with sun-shaped ornaments scattered about, emanating warm light.

"Could this be sunlight?"

"It feels like sunlight on my skin. But why would sunlight leak from these ornaments?"

Her words stirred unease, so I moved to knock one off—but remembered touching suspicious objects here was suicidal. I hurried her along, but...

"Wow... So amazing..."

Perloché had already pried off a few and was fiddling with them, making my judgment moot.

"Th-That...!"

- Clank!!

"...Damn."

I urgently shouted for her to put them back, but a strange mechanical noise echoed from somewhere.

"Kyaa!?"

Panicking, I shielded Perloché, drew my sword, and tensed—yet nothing happened after a tense wait.

"Wh-What are you doing?"

Perloché stared blankly, puzzled.

"No reason. You just look prettier today."

I switched to a lecherous grin and groped her.

"...Let go."

She turned icy and shoved me. Thanks to the Solar God's Blessing, even a light push nearly sent me flying—I barely braced my legs.

"...Kuhk."

I didn't fly, but I was hurled back, slamming into the wall with a groan.

- Creeeak...

"...Hm?"

Then, something unexpected: the spot I'd hit revealed a hidden door, swinging open from the impact.

I watched dazedly as Perloché strode in without hesitation.

"...I've seen this somewhere before."

"What?"

I tried to stop her urgently, but her words made me frown. Rising, I peered inside.

".....!!!"

Moments later, my eyes widened in shock, frozen.

"Why... why is this here...?"

The cracked, faded stone tablet bore 'Hangul' text.

"This should be the Second-in-Command's created space...? Why is our ancestor's language here...?"

Staring at the ominous phrases in bewilderment, I scanned around when Perloché suddenly clapped and muttered.

"Ah! Right! I saw something like this in the Western Continent before!"

"...You've been to the Western Continent?"

I frowned. She fidgeted before speaking.

"Y-Yes, on a pilgrimage with the church... The Western branch managed spaces very ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠similar to this."

"Hmm..."

"I got curious and tried to look, but they said it was Class 1 secret—even I, the saintess, couldn't enter. If even I can't know, it must be important!"

Her sparkling eyes left me stunned momentarily. I turned back to the tablet, reading on.

The text cut off there.

"What have you been staring at?"

"Some strange writing here."

Disappointed at the missing continuation, Perloché approached with a sun-leaking ornament, illuminating the tablet.

"Hm... What's this? I've never seen letters like..."

- Rumble!!!

"Kyaa!?"

As she muttered at the lit text, the room shook violently.

"...I-It’s collapsing!"

"Damn."

The room crumbled. I stared blankly at the splitting tablet before leaping out with Perloché.

...An unexpected clue.

Gazing at the buried room, I pondered silently.

The Prophecy Book mentioned no 'Moon God' or 'Star God.' Our ancestor would have noted them. But this tablet clearly had Hangul.

Meaning, a new clue from beyond the Prophecy Book and System.

I must visit the Western Continent no matter what.

Filled with hope for new possibilities, I vowed to go soon, stood, and dusted off.

"Ugh... My butt hurts..."

"Hand that over."

"N-No!"

I spotted Perloché clutching her rear and tried to snatch the ornament, but she twisted away.

"Why? It feels so warm... like a mother, maybe?"

Her orphan words softened me. Sighing deeply, I said,

"If you don't want to be trapped here forever cozying up with me, don't touch anything from now on."

"...Yes."

She nodded coldly. She really hated the idea.

"Alright, let's move."

Putting her back in front, I urged onward dully, muttering inwardly.

...Someone's following?

I'd felt eyes on us for a while.

.

.

.

.

.

"Wow... So many ornaments? With this many, taking a few more won't..."

"No chance."

The long passage's clinging sun ornaments bathed us in steady light. Not mere decor, given the consistent glow—but with the Main Quest pressing, I ignored it.

"Ah! Light leaking from there!"

"...Yeah, looks like it."

After walking far, light appeared ahead. Tensing for whatever came next, we approached a massive door leaking brilliance.

"...Magical seal."

Close inspection revealed a complex magic circle. As a swordsman, I recalled Serena's childhood play-lessons and past-loop knowledge—easy to analyze.

Top-grade sealing circle.

But solving it? No. Staring troubled at the layered spells, Perloché asked impatiently,

"Not going in? What are you doing?"

"...Sealing magic circle."

"Sealing?"

I pointed gravely. She tilted her head, then stared.

"...If it's sealed, just unseal it."

Her innocent brightness tempted a flick, but I held back and explained patiently.

"Even ten Magic Tower mages couldn't crack it in a day."

"Why?"

"Multiple interlocking seals and anti-destruction spells synergize, protecting each other. Needs a high-sensitivity mage to unravel painstakingly over time."

".....???"

She just tilted her head, chin on hand.

"...Like a super sturdy lock—even with the key, it'd take ages and effort."

"Aah..."

Simplified to her level, she finally nodded.

"Simple solution then!"

"...What?"

Nodding vigorously, she crossed arms smugly.

"If the key won't work... smash the lock!"

"..........."

Staring enlightened at her grinning face, a sudden idea widened my eyes.

"You... can target a 'magic circle' with Solar God's Blessing?"

"H-How did you know I have it!?"

"Never mind. Can you? Or not?"

"N-Never tried, but..."

Seeing her hesitate, I grabbed her arms, positioned her before the circle.

"Use Solar God's Blessing on it."

"...O-Okay! Let go!"

She shook me off irritably, took a deep breath, and punched the circle fiercely.

- Shatter!!!

The multicolored sealing circle exploded into fragments.

"...Shatter? It's not glass."

Reminded of the Blessing's power, I shook my head at beaming Perloché. We opened the door and entered.

"...This place is huge."

A stadium-sized space sprawled before us.

"You! Time to tell the truth!"

Perloché gaped, then scowled at me.

"A tiny warehouse outside becomes this vast inside! The complex maze, malicious traps! And this endless plain—what's it for..."

"...Insane."

"Y-Yes?"

I ignored her, cursing as I looked up.

"Wh-Why...!"

Perloché followed my gaze, freezing too.

"Sacrifice... magic circle..."

The distant ceiling bore a sacrifice circle several times larger than the commoner dorm incident's.

"Wh-Why is that there? What's going on?"

"........."

"T-Tell me the truth! Frey!"

She paled, shaking me wildly.

"Who knows..."

"Eeek...!"

I knew nothing, so I stonewalled stiffly. She gnashed teeth, then clapped.

"Aha! Like before, destroy it with my Blessing..."

"Your Blessing targets one entity. And like the dorm, it's scattered everywhere."

"B-But...!"

"Plus, how to hit that height? Your arms don't stretch or shoot."

"Ugh..."

Fuming, she suddenly scanned around wide-eyed.

"...What now?"

"Something's off."

Frowning deeply, she said gravely,

"I feel sinister and holy auras... at the same time."

"Where...?"

"...Below us."

Glancing down instinctively, the ground quaked.

- Roooar!!!

"Kyaaak!"

Perloché fell again, bum-planting with a wince—when a white spear erupted before ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her.

"Grrr..."

"Grooo..."

"This is crazy..."

Countless fully armed undead rose from the earth.

"Th-There’s too many... just like... back then..."

Terror crept over Perloché's face.

Despite her overwhelming might via Blessing, it was vulnerable to multiples. A 1v1 specialized technique, it faltered against groups—why the Demon King's army captured her last loop.

"...Why freeze?"

"I-It’s a crisis!"

"This a crisis?"

No worry now. They were undead.

"Shut up and emit divine power."

"...Ah."

Undead are insanely weak to divine power and fire—mere touch neutralizes them.

"O Sun God in the heavens, look upon me... no, me and share your power..."

- Shiiiine...!

Intense divine power blasted outward.

"Kieeeek!"

Touched undead writhed.

"Ah! Exit over there!"

Spotting the distant exit amid chaos, Perloché yelled joyfully and ran—but

- Swish!!

"...Hngh!"

An arrow pierced her leg; she tumbled again.

"...Damn, couldn't block that."

I'd deflected six arrows charging her, but frowned at her leg.

"Wh-Why...? Divine power hit, but the undead..."

"They're holy knights buried in the church basement."

"Pardon?"

I didn't know the culprit, but holy knights revived as undead—fused perfectly with dark energy, not mere residue. Her power didn't weaken them; it strengthened them.

Absurd, but... one thing to do now.

"Anyway, used enough divine power? Perloché?"

"Y-Yes...?"

"That was your last reserves today, right? You’ve got no strength left to move."

"H-How..."

Inferred from her orphanage warehouse burst and this emission's intensity.

But what I told trembling, disbelieving Perloché differed.

"...How? Planned it from the start."

".....!"

She squeezed eyes shut. I approached slowly, smirking.

"Truce this, agreement that... Can't trust a Demon King's subordinate like me so easily."

"Y-You..."

"Be grateful? Prepared this sunlight spot to drain your recoverable power."

Her face darkened further. Worried about cleanup if she escapes, but... to save her from these soon-fully active undead, no choice.

"...Going to kill me?"

"Dunno... Shall I? Make it look like an accident, per orders?"

Now before her, I whispered lecherously.

"Or stay here, cling to me..."

"Hyaah!!"

She yanked the arrow from her leg, hurled it at me, and bolted for the exit full-tilt.

"Argh!!"

Side grazed, I slumped. She reached the door, paused to glance back.

I muttered at her silhouette,

"...Those ornaments really were sunlight."

Constant exposure would let her recover and escape safely.

Smiling faintly, I gripped my sword as undead twitched toward me.

I didn't know this damned place's purpose or the ceiling circle's target, but...

I'd buy time here, holding them off.

So exhausted Perloché could flee safe.

"Groooaaar!!!"

"Hope no more traps ahead? She'll make it out fine?"

Gripping my sword at the howling holy knight undead, I gathered mana, murmuring quietly.

"...Ah, not the time to worry about others."

My chest throbbed several times worse today.