As we stood at the crossroads, the previously carefree atmosphere among the group became solemn.
Well, even I could see that the diverging passages exuded considerable intimidation, so it might be a natural reaction.
Especially the lower level—riddled with holes and nothing truly threatening except for… those guys who held the platform.
Are those guys really a threat?
It might be worth reconsidering, but we likely won’t meet them again, so it holds no real significance.
So now, the important question is… which way do we go?
“Which way should we go?”
“…Hmm, I’m not really sure either. Let’s check around first; there might be some kind of hint.”
“Hmph…”
Down below, Park Jin-soo, who had previously stolen my brilliant deductions, also seemed at a loss this time, as he looked around with a dark expression.
I thought it was my turn to step up, but honestly, I didn’t have a brilliant plan either.
Perhaps I should confront this honestly.
There’s only one path ahead, guarded by a ferocious creature. Moreover, the route is lined with unreachable walls, leaving no way to bypass it.
Because it’s simple, ironically there’s only one method left.
That method, naturally, involves figuring it out with brute force.
Although how exactly I’ll figure it out with brute force remains unknown, based on my accumulated experience (from games and movies), there’s definitely a trap ahead.
This doesn’t seem like the kind of place where a treasure chest would be obstructing the path.
By the way, why would anyone even place a treasure chest in a blocked path in the first place? That seems excessively vile. People should think about how someone might feel having to find their way back.
It seems that now even the thought of returning is nostalgic. I must’ve been quite bored up to now.
Regardless,
The important thing now is finding the right path, bypassing any obstructed areas where there’s no treasure chest, because this could be life-or-death.
Well,
Should I use the Jelly on my finger and flick it?
Listening to Park Jin-soo and the strange guy chattering while deep in thought, I loosened my grip on Lee Yoo-jin’s wrist and brought her hand forward.
When I let go, Yoo-jin seemed to wear an ambiguous expression, though it was too subtle to really tell.
As she looked at me with curiosity, I extended my index finger coated with Jelly into my mouth (the same way you’d stick something into a potato) and swirled it around before pulling it out.
Upon withdrawing the Jelly-coated finger, I could sense others staring—Yoo-jin included.
Although they pretended to discreetly observe, I caught every glance in my peripheral vision.
It didn’t really concern me, but the feeling of being watched made me slightly self-conscious, even though what I was about to do wasn’t that big of a deal.
In the stories I’ve seen, there were multiple ways to escape this kind of maze, and this method was plausible, just like what I’d seen before.
But being watched with anticipatory eyes made it awkward.
Anyway, with Jelly smeared on my finger, I tried to sense the wind’s direction.
My reasoning was simple—if there was an exit, the wind would be flowing towards it. This was one method that seemed reasonable, even from my distant perspective.
But in practice, it wasn’t so easy.
I could feel the wind, but it was unclear in which direction it was flowing, leaving me uncertain.
I removed the Jelly to see if it was affecting my senses, but the wind remained steady, flowing uniformly.
Hmm.
Either what I saw in games and movies was wrong, or this world is slightly different. In any case, it seemed this method was utterly useless.
As I fidgeted with the Jelly, the two men mimicking me tilted their heads and shook them, clearly agreeing that it was futile.
With a sigh as my only acknowledgment, I gripped Yoo-jin’s wrist again, and this time she gave it willingly, as if used to it.
As I began tapping my toes impatiently, I felt something faint on the soles of my feet, distinct from anything I’d felt before.
It was a peculiar sensation—almost as if the Jelly had seeped subtly into the surface.
In simpler terms, there was a subtle groove worn into the floor.
Unseen by ordinary eyes, it was carved shallowly.
What is this?
Walking with Yoo-jin’s wrist in hand, following the subtle groove, I realized it was actually a path leading somewhere.
And it seemed to connect to only one of the two diverging paths.
Thus,
I discovered the way.
Before Park Jin-soo! He appeared completely unaware of this discovery.
Though I tried to suppress my excitement, I felt myself grinning and tugged on Yoo-jin’s wrist, eager to share my great discovery.
“What’s the matter—Eeek!?”
My excitement got the better of me, and the usually quiet Yoo-jin let out a shrill scream, casting a shadow over me.
Soon, with a thud, Yoo-jin landed on top of me. Despite having been physically close to many women before, I still felt awkward at the thought of forcing her down.
No… I didn’t intend for this to happen.
“What’s going on?”
“Huh…?”
The two men, startled by the commotion, rushed over.
While I didn’t particularly want the strange guy around, I figured it was something I’d have to explain anyway, so it worked out.
Yoo-jin looked around dazedly as I tapped her wrist gently, apologizing silently. Once her eyes met mine, I pointed to the floor with the hand that had touched her wrist.
“Did you find something…? Wait, then… Why didn’t you say anything…? Isn’t it… too vague…?”
She stared at me with an ineffable expression, then tilted her head before speaking again.
“Hmm… What did you find? I don’t see anything…”
Ah… Can’t see it, huh.
So it’s invisible to the human eye.
The two men who arrived later couldn’t see it either. Confused, they knelt and touched the floor with their hands. Once they did, they seemed to sense it too, slapping their hands together in excitement.
“Wow!”
“Tch. How did you notice such a subtle difference…?”
“…Great work.”
Park Jin-soo seemed pleased as if it were his own accomplishment, while the nameless guy gave me a curious glance. His look irritated me, so I hid behind Yoo-jin, which improved my mood slightly.
Even Yoo-jin was impressed, satisfying my ego. It felt nice to show off my intellect, which I couldn’t do earlier, down below.
Now that we’d found the path,
There was no more reason to linger at the crossroads like a restless puppy. Following the subtle marks on the ground, our group set off.
I wondered what awaited us in the other passage we ruled out, but I forcefully suppressed my curiosity. It wasn’t as if I could wander off by myself now.
After walking for some time following the marks I’d discovered, a new crossroad appeared ahead, confirming my method was correct.
Seems like this theme continues to be about choices.
When the new crossroads appeared, the nameless guy approached me playfully.
Not exactly,
“Alright, you’re up again. Pleas─”
Clunk.
I blocked his hand with the one gripping Yoo-jin’s wrist. I didn’t want his touch, plus the other hand had Daesik, leaving me with no choice.
His hand, which was likely aiming for my head, ended up brushing against Yoo-jin.
It was a minor collision, but the nameless guy seemed to think Yoo-jin had done it, glancing at her with a sullen expression.
Surprisingly, even after noticing it was me who moved her hand, Yoo-jin cleared her throat softly and murmured.
“Seems like she prefers not to be touched by male hands.”
There was some hesitancy in her voice, but the man didn’t press further, stepping back.
He resumed his muttering—about how I had come to this point despite everything he’d done.
Despite his grumbling retreat, I could sense a certain emotion smoldering in his eyes.
Was it anger toward the Foundation?
Or… ugh.
I stuck out my tongue at him internally, then gently gripped Yoo-jin’s wrist again.
At first, she seemed to be the least reliable person, but now, she felt like the only one I could trust.
Even Park Jin-soo, whose name I still hesitate to say, seemed dubious in trusting, given his relationship with that guy.
Now, I even doubted their stories.
They said they were forced into this place by the Foundation… but is that really true?
Hmm.
We’ll figure it out once we get out.
Surely my kind (if a bit distant) friends are waiting anxiously outside?
Though one of them might not be the kindest.
In any case, having found the subtle grooves again, I led the group forward.
After facing a few more crossroads, we came upon a space that seemed to be the exit.
The usual crossroads gave way to a massive door standing firmly in front of us.
Some distance away, a large lever lay like an invitation to pull it.
The group hesitated for a moment before deciding to attempt pulling it upon realizing the door wouldn’t open by hand alone.
Creak… creak…
As the lever moved, the mighty door creaked open…
And spat out a massive stone sphere.
Literally the size of a house.
After making a creaking noise, the stone sphere began rolling slowly…
Wait, what?
Why is it rolling… toward us?
