Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Lavina Lorentze.

Two years younger than Persica, she had known Persica for a long time as a daughter of House Lorentze.

At first, their relationship had not been this bad.

Rather, they had been close, like an older and younger sister, but as the two of them began receiving their houses’ training in earnest, their relationship gradually started to go awry.

“Lavina hated the dungeon, but I was trying to go to the dungeon.”

“Then the reason she acts like that is…….”

“She is sulking.”

She had wanted Persica to remain on the surface with her, but Persica had not done so, so she was being spiteful.

Persica did not truly hate Lavina either. She felt more like an immature younger sister.

After speaking with me for a moment, Persica let out a faint laugh.

“She originally was not going to learn Holy Spell Arts either. But when I said I was going to the dungeon, she forced herself to learn it. Kind of cute, is she not?”

“Her house did not force her?”

“Lorentze can also live in politics or as members of the clergy. It is not mandatory.”

Even though she trembled at the mere mention of the dungeon, she had tried to go along if Persica asked.

But there was no way Persica would take someone as frightened as her along, and because she could not even get in contact with her, she had eventually ended up sulking. That was the current situation.

“She is not a bad girl. Though her face-lover tendencies are a bit severe.”

“That makes sense.”

“……It is a little irritating that you are affirming that yourself.”

“It is true. Ishara is my original body, after all.”

The universally acknowledged greatest beauty in the world was my original body, so of course my face was dazzlingly handsome too.

Perhaps Persica could not think of anything to refute it with, because she merely glared at me.

In any case, since we had rescued Lavina, it was time to continue heading into the Demonic Region.

When we told her that, Lavina, who had been wailing beside Jin Sohwi, began to throw a fit.

“You are!! Going to keep exploring the Demonic Region!!? You should take me back first!!”

“We came here to train. Rescuing you was second priority at most.”

“You are telling me to stay in this creepy forest? And with you and this ugly one!?”

Jin Sohwi, who had suddenly become an ugly one, looked wounded.

The honesty of children sometimes became a dagger that lodged itself in one’s chest.

“If you keep throwing a tantrum, we will leave you behind.”

“Urk…….”

At the words that we would leave her behind, her shrieking fell silent.

However, her puffed-out cheeks showed that she was still dissatisfied.

“Anyway, that is our plan. Why did you come here?”

“……Why should I tell you that?”

“Suit yourself. We will abandon you instead. Even if you die, it will not be our fault.”

“Hhk…….”

Lavina’s complexion turned deathly pale.

Perhaps slightly worried, Jin Sohwi whispered to me.

“Are you really going to leave her to die?”

“As if I would do that. She is the type who only becomes obedient if you scare her a little.”

“…….”

Even though Lavina was two years younger than her, Persica was merciless.

Lavina clutched the pendant hanging from her neck tightly, stamped her feet, and then opened her mouth with a tearful expression.

“I am sorry, Ancestor……. That damned girl is really trying to kill this maiden…….”

“Lavina?”

“Hiiik! I-I came to investigate South Spirit Mountain.”

At the words South Spirit Mountain, I flinched slightly.

I recalled what Jin Baek had said, that even Ebla had become unsettled due to the mountain’s disappearance.

‘Is Trinity watching it?’

No, perhaps not.

They were not people who moved easily, so it was likely only a small degree of interest for now.

Strictly speaking, what had happened at South Spirit Mountain had not been done by me, so there was nothing in particular for me to feel guilty about, but the problem was the fact that I had been there at all.

‘Lorentze is…… dangerous.’

Lorentze was the house that oversaw Ebla’s law and religion.

As guardians of strict discipline, they were closely connected even within the Golden Order to a powerful institution called the “Enforcement Division.”

The Enforcement Division, where the Inquisitors of the Order belonged.

As befitted those who dealt with heresy, they were all paranoid, and if they caught even one thing, they were fanatics who first dragged people to the Stake and looked later.

For Lorentze, which could command such people, to take an interest in me could be dangerous.

The Temple regarded Possessors as targets for Reeducation, and depending on the situation, they could execute them on the spot.

‘I do not think I should stay close to her…….’

But Lavina kept looking at me whenever she had the chance.

Her eyes sparkled as though merely looking at me purified her.

“Persica, did you pick your expedition members based on their faces? How can a person look like that? He looks new no matter how many times I look.”

“Stop talking nonsense and just follow us. There is no way I would do that.”

“Mm…… Well, since there is also an ugly one beside you, I suppose not.”

Why did she keep attacking Jin Sohwi, who was just standing still?

In any case, Lavina was someone I had to be wary of.

Deciding to avoid her as much as possible until we returned, I stopped thinking about it and focused on the Demonic Region before my eyes.

Because monsters had begun gathering after hearing the commotion.

“H-Hiiik! A-A-A swarm of Puppets! What do we do!”

“What else? We catch them.”

“D-Do I prepare too?”

“We do not need you. Just watch.”

“…….”

Lavina, who had never coordinated with us and was only timid, was not particularly useful.

That must have been what Persica meant by those words, but for some reason, Lavina glared at her as if she felt a little hurt.

“What are you going to do with only three people…….”

“Haha. Not only three people.”

Jin Sohwi chuckled and gave me a sidelong glance.

I let out a slight sigh and drew my sword.

“……Right. For now, the Demonic Region comes first.”

Now was the time to deal with the monsters before us.

***

The Forest of Returning Souls was a Demonic Region teeming with Undead.

In Demonic Regions, monsters became stronger than in ordinary fields, and due to the nature of Undead, they often pushed forward with sheer numbers, so these kinds of Demonic Regions tended to be avoided.

In the case of the Forest of Returning Souls, that tendency was even stronger, and the reason lay in the characteristics of its main monster, the “Puppet.”

Puppets had low Health, but they had to be killed with a blow containing a Trait.

“At the level of the Second Floor, it should be difficult to Bloom a Trait…….”

Adventurers at the level of the Second Floor, who found it difficult even to Bloom a Trait.

To those who had not even removed their Apprentice Badges, the Forest of Returning Souls was no different from a grave.

Two apprentices and one Adventurer at the Late Stage of 2-Star.

According to common sense, it was by no means a force capable of breaking through a Demonic Region, yet Lavina witnessed that common sense being thoroughly shattered before her eyes.

“My goodness…….”

When Persica examined the battle situation and quickly gave instructions, Jin Sohwi rushed forward and swung his saber, rapidly breaking down the formation of the Puppets.

Then Persica plunged into the opening and ended the Puppets’ lives before they could regain their senses.

And while the two of them cleared out the numbers,

Isran would either kill commanding entities like Puppeteers, or even cut down a Mid-Boss and return.

“That is an apprentice……?”

Persica and Jin Sohwi were both impressive.

However, she was certain that the real one among them was Isran.

He had learned Mysticism, a minor Trait no one learned, and was throwing out Parrying as if it were a basic technique, something she had only seen mentioned in documents and had never seen anyone use in reality.

On top of that, the swordsmanship he displayed through that Parrying…… It was more like watching the realm of art.

No matter how large or powerful the monster was, it would only be played with like a marionette by Isran’s swordsmanship, then lose its head.

Amid the violet light of Mysticism blazing like radiance, Isran flicked the blood from his sword without even disturbing his breath.

His figure absolutely did not look like that of a 2-Star Apprentice Adventurer.

‘That is…… at least 4-Star, is it not?’

Although she had not entered the dungeon, Lavina still had an eye for gauging realms.

She had learned plenty of that in the Temple.

That was why she could tell.

Only the Output of Isran’s Core was 2-Star; his realm was already no different from 4-Star.

“……He is an extraordinary talent.”

She understood why that hysterical Persica was taking him around.

It was not simply because of his devastatingly handsome face.

Being an apprentice meant that less than a year had passed since he had graduated from the Selection Grounds, yet in that time, he had already achieved a 4-Star realm.

It was a talent that would make any house lose its composure.

She swallowed dryly and clutched the pendant hanging from her neck.

If Lorentze were to introduce him to the house’s Ancestor…….

“Do not even think of trying anything.”

At that moment, Persica’s voice cut through Lavina’s thoughts.

“Wh-What?”

“I marked him first.”

At those words, Jin Sohwi also looked back.

“What are you talking about? Isran will become a member of our Jin Clan. Just look at how he learned the White Cloud Sword Method─”

“Stop talking nonsense, ugly. Why would Isran go there?”

“Even you are calling me ugly now……! I am not ugly. I look manly!”

“What are you saying, ugly?”

As she watched the two of them squabble childishly, Lavina bit her lip.

House Ortanis and White Cloud Castle.

Formidable houses had already marked Isran.

She wondered if it was not strange that such prestigious houses were expressing interest in a single person, but…….

‘With that kind of skill…… they have no choice.’

She looked at the Demonic Region being cut apart by Isran’s hands.

The Forest of Returning Souls was famous enough that there was hardly anyone among Second Floor Adventurers who did not know of it.

And an Adventurer who was merely an apprentice was tearing apart a Demonic Region renowned as such a difficult place.

Not only hundreds of Puppets, but even the Mid-Boss that had blocked the way had long since died and turned into Mana Stones.

And yet, Isran himself, who had accomplished it, showed no change in expression.

He did not even seem aware of what monstrous thing he was doing.

‘Now I am curious. Why did he come here?’

There was nothing for him to gain from the Forest of Returning Souls.

If he needed Mana Stones, he could go to a more difficult Demonic Region, and with his skill, even fighting here would not give him much experience.

Rather, Persica and Jin Sohwi, who had come with him, had more to gain in terms of experience.

It did not seem as if he had come to show the two of them a Demonic Region either, so what exactly did he want from clearing this place?

“Ah, we are here.”

While she was thinking, the party came before a single enormous Clearing.

A secluded Clearing where a faint light had settled.

There, the corpse of a headless martial artist stood in a strange posture.

“……That appears already?”

The headless warrior.

The fact that it appeared meant that this place was the Demonic Region’s Boss Zone.

They had reached the Boss Zone of the Demonic Region in less than a single day.

“…….”

Lavina’s mouth fell open.

***

“Is it all right for this to be this easy?”

I looked awkwardly at the fist-sized Mana Stone placed in front of me.

It was the Mana Stone spat out by the Headless Warrior, the boss of the Forest of Returning Souls…… which had been fighting me until just moments ago.

‘I do not think it was even a match.’

Although it was Undead, it was still a creature that used a sword, so there had been a very brief time when we clashed through swordsmanship.

But even that had only lasted around two or three minutes.

After I got a feel for it, I used Secret Art: Ethrana and beat it down one-sidedly.

“Sorry. I should have left some of your share too.”

“Why are you apologizing for that? We caught it, and that is enough.”

Persica now seemed to have accepted it as normal, and Jin Sohwi looked slightly disappointed.

Only Lavina stood frozen at a distance with her eyes wide open.

‘Why was it this weak……?’

[What a strange thing to worry about. If I may dare judge, that swordsmanship you use was created by the sleeping True Person, was it not?]

‘That is true.’

[Hmph…… Then that means it is a “Divine Art.” You have learned Martial Learning that touches the heavens, so it would be stranger if a monster of this level were not easy.]

‘…….’

So, since I had learned the technique of a Master, it would be stranger if it were not strong.

Hyeollyeo’s evaluation felt unreal, yet for some reason, it was convincing.

‘Come to think of it…… I beat Vormir with a Unique Ability I only unfolded briefly.’

Since coming to the Second Floor, there had been no chance for a proper Boss Battle, so I had forgotten.

The Unique Ability I had used against the Floor Boss of the First Floor, which had lasted no more than a few minutes.

The swordsmanship of Secret Art: Ethrana had overwhelmed Vormir with only that much. And that had been against him after his gimmick had activated and made him far stronger.

The current me had completely made the first chapter of Secret Art: Ethrana, which I had once only been able to use for a few minutes, my own. I had also constructed a Core through Hyeollyeo’s Dragon Jade.

Certainly, it would have been stranger if things were not easy.

‘Once I finish Mana Stone Absorption, I should be able to challenge the Third Floor right away.’

At this level, there seemed to be no problem with catching the Floor Boss.

I only had to overcome the side effects, so all I needed was to complete the Mana Stone Absorption smoothly.

After finishing my thoughts, it was time to go obtain the long-awaited reward.

We went to the back of the Clearing and climbed the tallest hill in the forest.

“Oh. You can see the Styxia River from here.”

Perhaps because the terrain was high, the dungeon’s enormous river came into view at a glance from the hill.

A river winding through this abyss and flowing backward toward the surface.

Seen like this…… the river was so wide that I could not even see the opposite bank.

‘It is a magnificent sight, but entering it would be hell.’

It was only beautiful on the outside. The Styxia River was a deep blue living hell crawling with powerful Aquatic Monsters.

If a living creature fell in, it would immediately become fish food…… an almost quasi-Instant-Death Zone.

Recalling that insane environment, I shuddered.

“You said there was something to obtain here, right?”

“Yeah.”

We left the scenery appreciation at that and decided to claim the reward.

The reason we had come here was to obtain the Skill that would serve as the axis for constructing my Cultivation Method.

“This is it.”

After searching the hill a little more, we found an old Puppet kneeling there in silence.

It was much closer to the shape of a human than the ones that had appeared before.

Covered thickly in moss and broken, it looked so old that its age was apparent even at a glance.

“What is this?”

“Oh…… It looks even more human than the ones that were moving.”

It seemed the two of them did not know what this Puppet was and found it fascinating.

Because the Forest of Returning Souls was unpopular, the existence of these remains did not seem to be well known either.

Lavina also seemed not to know, but I knew its identity.

‘One of the relics of the Ancient Dungeon.’

I remembered seeing the setting that it was a Puppet created with the ancient technology of the dungeon, infinitely similar to a human.

If one went to the Sixth Floor, one could sometimes see moving ones, and each and every one of them was so horrifically strong that they made players shudder.

‘Still, they were quite useful if you acquired them.’

Sometimes, you could obtain an intact one, and I remembered them being quite useful because you could have them learn Skills as you wanted and also make them Party Members.

Since these things did not occupy a Slot even when added to the party, they let you enjoy the effect of bringing one extra person into a Boss Battle.

Well, useful or not, they were not creatures I wanted to meet if possible. Even with late-game specs, they were truly disgustingly strong to the point of making people sick of them.

And with Hyeollyeo here, it was not a relic I particularly needed to obtain.

What I had business with was the inside of that Puppet.

“Then shall we break it?”

The Secret Manual appeared when that Puppet was destroyed.

I drew my sword immediately and swung it toward the Puppet without hesitation.

It was at that moment.

Bzzzt─

As if noise had filled my vision, everything around me stopped.

The world turned gray.

A world where everything had stopped.

There, above the broken Puppet’s body, a single sword appeared.

It was a sword that seemed to have broken the Puppet and lodged itself in the ground.

The sword, rusted and chipped as if it had endured long years, rang once and let out a sword cry.

‘What the……!?’

[One who has revealed this sword. Answer my question.]

A whitish phantom appeared above the sword.

The phantom of a man formed from white mist.

It was difficult to make out his face, but I felt as though I knew who it was.

[Are you the “Great Master”?]

White Cloud Zen Master, Jin Ryeon.

The voice of a Master was calling to me.