NOVEL NEXT Chapter 51
After encountering an acid slime and finishing the battle safely…
With vigilance now extending to both front and back, I felt even more fatigued as I continued onward.
How long had I been walking…?
⋯A fork in the path.
I momentarily set down the torch and unfolded the map.
“What a dilemma. This shouldn’t be a point where the road splits just yet.”
I wasn’t unfamiliar with this sort of phenomenon. I knew that up to the middle layer, the terrain was based on the map, and every time the entrance portal opens, something special gets added or taken away.
For example, new paths might emerge here and there, leading to spaces with unique traps or hidden treasures.
Or, with a rare probability over a certain period, a special species or unique individual that had never been seen before might appear.
Additionally, for reasons no one knows, there are often forgotten gods’ sanctuaries or places related to remnants of the past that randomly appear regardless of the layer.
Especially the last one, if you can take something from that place, it could be considered a chance to turn your life around.
But it was supposed to be an extremely rare occurrence.
Unless caused by some artificial factor like when Epusio appeared, altering the very terrain that makes up a layer completely.
Even if there was a sudden fork in the road, if I kept going steadily, the paths would surely connect back like the map.
The problem was, I had no idea what might be down each branch.
“Which way should we go? Right? Left? Or just ignore it and go straight?”
It was a matter that required careful consideration, but there was a lack of reasoning no matter which direction I chose.
In times like this… yeah.
Let’s trust Yeriell, who has the highest luck and an innate lucky trait.
“Yeriell, which way do you want to choose between the two?”
“Huh? But…”
Yeriell trailed off, looking confused.
I understand. It’s not surprising to feel flustered when suddenly asked to make a choice in the face of the unknown.
I hurriedly added, “It doesn’t matter which way we go; we have to keep moving forward anyway. Besides, among the traits and stats related to luck, you’re clearly the best at it, right?”
I shrugged and scratched my cheek.
“As they say in the labyrinth, innate luck is also a skill, and since the moment to choose one of the options has come, I thought it might be a good idea to test it out.”
“Oh come on, if something bad happens because of this, don’t blame me for it, okay?”
“Of course. Don’t feel pressured, just pick easily. If traps or monsters show up, we can break through them like before, right?”
Lumia, who had been silent, chimed in, “Exactly. And at least, if I choose, one thing for sure is that there won’t be a good result.”
That wasn’t exactly wrong, but why the suddenly self-deprecating comment?
Yeriell, who was looking flustered like a spinning top, fidgeted with her fingers.
Then, as if she gathered her thoughts, she nodded and pointed with her index finger decisively.
The finger pointed unmistakably to the right.
“I feel like there’s something this way… But hey, that’s just a vague feeling, so don’t trust it too much!”
Feels like there might be something, huh.
“Alright! Then it’s settled, let’s not waste any more time and go!”
Once a decision was made, we wouldn’t hesitate.
With vigor, I turned to the right and set off.
*
Entering the right fork, I walked quickly.
Splash.
‘As I walked along the path, the areas withstanding water were increasing. What does this mean?’
Is it simply because I’m entering the central part of the area? Or could it be a precursor to the emergence of new monsters?
Whatever it was, I felt that the situation would suddenly change the moment I encountered whatever was ahead.
Yeriell whispered softly, “Ugh, it’s musty. I totally get why other adventurers prefer beast areas; monsters often pop up there.”
“Yeah, it’s more stressful and frustrating when nothing comes out at all.”
Lumia shook her head in agreement.
Seeing her ears that usually perked up now drooping showed that the atmosphere was quite oppressive.
‘Yeah. It’d be better if something did show up.’
It had already been two to three hours since we’d been walking without encountering anything.
In that dark, humid space, maintaining our tension and not letting our guard down was consuming a considerable amount of mental strength.
“If we can make it close to the resting area without any problems, that’d actually be nice. Everyone, let’s just hang in there a bit more─.”
Huh?
Suddenly the path ended.
No, to be more precise, a massive stone door was blocking our party’s way.
Yeriell gazed at the door, looking up in awe.
“Wow! It’s huge! To just appear out of nowhere like this? Something’s definitely off!”
Meanwhile, Lumia closed her eyes the moment she spotted the door.
With her ears perked up in focus, she spoke, “I can’t tell if there’s simply no life forms or if the space ahead is special enough to block detection, but for now, I can’t sense anything.”
So that’s what it is.
Since the path ends here, there are only two choices available.
To open the door and enter, or to go back the way we came and return to the point of the three branching paths.
‘If I had to choose between the two, I’d definitely pick the former. What’s down the other paths?’
“Alright. Let’s go inside.”
Taking a deep breath before the massive stone door, I placed my hand on it.
Just as I was about to push and put some strength into opening it, Creeeak─
,The low rumbling sound announced the door was starting to open on its own.
The stone door didn’t fully open, only enough for one or two people to pass through, but that was more than enough to observe the interior.
‘It doesn’t seem like there are any monsters here. There’s something altar-like in the middle… and is that a treasure chest?’
With the door being as massive as it was, it was expected that the inside would be spacious, and indeed it was.
But just a single large treasure chest sitting there in that wide space? The likelihood of it being a trap was almost guaranteed.
I turned back to look at the others and said, “That’s definitely bait. It might trigger a trap or release monsters if we get too close. Lumia, why don’t you summon a familiar to send in first?”
“Got it. Darkness, my servant. Move forth. …Huh?”
“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”
“I don’t know why, but the familiars are refusing to be summoned. They seem to be feeling something uneasy…”
Hmmm. I nodded and then fell into thought.
Alright! Let me dig through my backpack to see if there’s something to throw in.
The core of a woodman! This should be perfect.
I pulled out the core.
“If familiars won’t work, let’s try with inanimate objects. So, before entering, I’ll use this to have a look. Do you both agree with using leftover materials?”
While these didn’t tend to cost much in calculations, clearing even these little matters was vital for avoiding accumulated grudges or conflicts later on.
Both nodded their heads nonchalantly.
Okay, then let’s start with the ground.
I rolled three round cores onto the ground. They rolled to the vicinity of the treasure chest in different directions.
“It doesn’t seem like there are any traps on the ground.”
Next, I hurled the tightly gripped core with all my might.
Boom! CRASH.
‘Shit. Of course. Who would want to touch a chest right away without being blinded by greed?’
I watched the core hit the box and freeze upon impact.
One, two, three.
CRASH. CRACK. CRASH.
“Ugh!”
Every one I threw froze solid, but I kept throwing the rest in succession anyway.
Four, five, six.
CRACK. CRASH. BOOM!
Oh! The first five would freeze just fine, but after the sixth throw, it hit the chest and just bounced off without freezing at all.
‘What’s the principle here? Let’s think simply. Since most parties are made up of five members, did it stop freezing anything after contact with five?’
I tentatively threw one more, but it didn’t freeze anymore, and when thrown upwards, there was no response either, suggesting further caution was meaningless.
After swinging my arms with all my strength, I slowly caught my breath.
“I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have failed at the summoning, making this more troublesome.”
Seeing Yeriell looking gloom over the spell’s failure again, I quickly cut her off.
“No, it’s not like you wanted it to happen. Let’s go now. We’ve done everything we could without going in.”
“Okay.”
I gently patted Lumia’s head and we all entered.
It was broad and empty.
The thought that entered my mind as soon as we stepped in was evident.
A dark and silent common area.
In the center stood something like an altar, glowing faintly with blue crystals that looked as cold as ice.
“Hmm.”
On the square altar lay a colossal treasure chest, proudly displaying its size.
Yes. That treasure chest I had struck with the woodman’s core earlier.
Other than that, it seemed there was nothing else particularly noteworthy.
CLANG! Creeeak─
‘Damn it. What now?’
At the sound of clanging, I turned to see the door closing rapidly behind us.
Sigh, well. I wasn’t planning to leave anyway.
I slowly walked towards the altar.
“What’s this?”
I could see the engravings on the altar.
Due to the peculiar language, it was a language I had never seen before, but it was quickly deciphered.
Let’s see…
‘Offer up, and you shall live anew.’
That feels a bit ominous?
Anyway, nothing happened just by getting closer, and soon I could visually absorb the appearance of the treasure chest.
It was as blue as ice, just like the altar, and a chilling aura was seeping out from the inside.
“Whoa! I’ve never seen such a treasure chest in a labyrinth!”
“I wonder what’s inside?”
[Chaos is curious about the contents.]
‘I broke a gimmick earlier, but there can’t be something else right?’
I squinted, focusing all my attention on the chest.
Alright! It seems suspicious, and within the chaos, it felt like I could see something.
A blue line, thick as my forearm, pierced through the ceiling and stretched endlessly above.
Connected to something…
[Luck smiles upon the user.]
GAAAAAH!!
“Aren?! Heal with light!”
[The healing effect restores the injured area.]
“My, blood from my eyes!”
The blood vessels in my eyes burst, and blood tears streamed down.
[Chaos is asking what on earth was just seen.]
‘Frozen ground… and the back of a white-haired figure in a swirling snowstorm.’
Ugh. My head and eyes hurt so much. I think it’s best to stop thinking about what I just saw.
Seeing Yeriell pouring healing spells all surprised and Lumia looking uncharacteristically sad, I reassured them that I was fine.
And just as I was rubbing my throbbing eyelids…
“Ho, a mere mortal peeks at remnants of memory.”
What the hell?
“My altar is connected to this pitiful place, and now I meet a human with such curious eyes. How amusing.”
‘Who are you? Are you… a god?’
“No, merely a specter of the past. I won’t go into lengthy details. Place your hand upon that before you and offer a trait. Then I shall bestow you with a blessing.”
What the hell? Why would you suddenly appear and demand I offer a trait?
If I can’t conclude this in any way, we’ll all be stuck here. But…
‘Offering a trait, does it matter which one? Can I choose?’
Cold sweat dripped down my back. What if it’s random? The moment my mind went dark.
“Yes. Simply showing your intent through the act of offering is sufficient. This meeting with you is a fate in itself; you won’t have to sacrifice your original traits or massive lifespan in this equivalent exchange.”
So, he’s saying that if the chest was unknowingly touched by five people, I would have to pay such a ridiculous cost to open it and get something out of it to escape?
This is completely insane!
‘…After I place my hand, how do I offer the trait?’
“Merely wish strongly. Say that you intend to offer it to me.”
I opened my status window and looked at my traits.
────
[Aren]
[Strength: D] [Agility: C-] [Durability: D]
[Stamina: D+] [Magic: EX] [Luck: D]
[Held Traits] (Fold)
Chaos Inside
Dragonheart
Weak Power
One Language
Rudimentary Concealment
Tough – Draconian
Violet Lightning
Super Rookie
Ivelyn’s Style – Swordsmanship
Killing Intent Accumulation
Whispers of the Wind
Mark of the Slayer – First Slayer
Gentle Breeze’s Kiss
Single-Point Concentration
Inscribe of Magic Devour
────
Okay. This is just right.
Ever since I got this, I’ve never been able to use it once.
Acquiring a garbage trait and making it to this point… was there really something?
Anyway, it feels like the time has finally come for you to be of help.
Farewell, ‘Rudimentary Concealment’.
Leaving the girls who still looked at me with worried eyes behind, I placed my hand on the chest and fervently wished.
“I offer it!”
GULP.
“Ugh.”
I felt something inside me being pulled out forcefully.
[The trait ‘Rudimentary Concealment’ has been deleted.]
“Truly a lowly trait… Cough, yes. It does not matter what you offered. Consider this an honor. The inheritor of this power, though starting weak, shall end grandly.”
Creak.
The treasure chest, which seemed like it would never open easily, began to slowly creak open.
Alright then. What will the boastful author give me?
A chilling white mist spread as the interior of the chest was revealed.
Inside, there was─