The night quietly retreats.
However, the darkness does not disappear. The sky is heavy with dark clouds, as if it might shed tears at any moment.
The exploration team busily prepares to depart before the rain pours down. The noblewoman changes into exploration attire, tidies her hair, and lightly dusts her face with powder.
They eat salt-cured pork and soaked hardtack, quickly slinging their bags over their shoulders. It has already begun to rain, with drops starting to fall.
“We’re entering now!”
The exploration team takes out their staffs, each topped with a magic orb. Three magic orbs illuminate the front, middle, and back of the procession.
The passage leading underground is quite narrow, requiring them to descend one by one. From the old earthen walls, roots stick out like whiskers, and insects scuttle about.
Though the noblewoman sees a centipede the size of her thumb crawling along the dirt wall, she merely gasps instead of screaming like a noble maiden. It truly is daunting to pour a fortune into an exploration team where success is uncertain.
As they move further down the seemingly endless dark and narrow corridor, Yuric feels as if he has been swallowed by a gigantic snake.
After a considerable descent, he hears a voice from the front of the line, “It’s a flat floor.” Not long after, Yuric too steps onto a level surface. From here, instead of dirt walls, polished stone walls enclose the entire space. Judging by the shape and material, it is granite.
The stairs have ended, but the passage continues. However, the width of the passage has visibly increased. Now, the leader of the expedition, Recadi, orders them to shift into two ranks. The very front is occupied by Acho, a tomb raider who claims to specialize in traps, standing alone. Her role is to find physical traps that cannot be detected by mana sensing.
Yuric positions himself somewhat in the middle of the line. Beside him is the archer, Dimnos. She frequently scans her surroundings with hawk-like, sharp eyes.
The long corridor is filled with the sound of dozens of footsteps, but there is not a single sound of conversation. Occasionally, hand signals directing the team to stop are given, causing the expedition team to halt almost simultaneously. With tense expressions, they scan their environment, needing to react immediately should a trap activate.
Yuric continuously performs mana detection into the dim distance of the corridor. So far, he has detected no mana responses warranting caution.
“Let’s take a short break here!”
Although it doesn’t seem like they’ve come very far from the entrance stairs, the cautious pace has drained considerable time and energy. However, taking time for a safe expedition is inevitable.
“Don’t touch anything in the vicinity! Just sit tight in your places and rest!”
Recadi warns the expedition team like this. It is fundamental etiquette in dungeons not to carelessly disturb anything.
The expedition team sits in place, chewing on dried meat or dried fruits.
“Something should be coming out. Otherwise, we might as well have not come here and just received a bonus.”
Bald Victor seems to be hoping for treasure, wanting at least a few gold coins for their trouble.
Of course, not all dungeons are treasure troves. Some are entirely empty, filled only with trash of no value, or are riddled with traps meant to kill intruders.
After a short break, the expedition team resumes their walk down the corridor. With every breath, the cold air pierces their lungs. The air smells of damp earth.
After walking for a while longer, they finally emerge from the passage.
“……It’s a room.”
A spacious area. However, it was impossible for the dungeon to end here. Naturally, there were no treasures in sight, let alone garbage.
It was a gigantic room. Perhaps as wide as the lobby of an inn. Yet, the arched ceiling was so high that it would take several grown men standing on each other’s shoulders to reach it.
Of course, all of this was thanks to the skill of ancient mages. If creating a dungeon required countless laborers, there wouldn’t be so many dungeons existing today. Most of them were likely created by spell-slinging mages, who would have dug and carved granite to erect the walls.
‘It’s good I came to the dungeon. The feeling is different from just reading about it.’
Yuric realized how incredible the existence of a spell-slinger mage was. It must have been how civilization was able to flourish while continuously fending off frequent demon incursions. He thought perhaps modern mages had shackled their potential with the rune language.
“Leader, I don’t see any other passages.”
In the underground room, there are no other passages visible except the one they entered.
“There must be a mechanism. Everyone, search around. Do not touch anything!”
The leader lets the noblewoman and two workers stay in the middle to rest, while the others are instructed to roam around the room and look for anything unusual.
While Yuric is carefully investigating the surroundings, he notices that a section of a wall is ever so slightly indented. It is such a minor difference that a casual glance would not register it as unusual. Had it not been for his keen observation, he would have searched for quite some time before discovering it.
“Here, I think there’s something!”
“What’s there? Over there?”
Hearing Yuric’s shout, the expedition team hurriedly gathered. However, no matter how they looked at it, it just appeared to be a wall.
“Magic? I see nothing with my eyes.”
“No, the wall is slightly recessed. It seems to be a pressure plate.”
At that, several people moved closer to the adjacent wall to check for any height differences.
“It’s true. It’s really low, like a rat’s ass!”
“Definitely a mage; your keen eyes are impressive.”
Recadi gestured for Acho to check it out. She took out a brush made from the fur of a deer’s chest that was strapped to her waist and gently brushed away the dust around it. There was indeed a slight crack. She slowly inserted a very thin stick into the opening, feeling for anything that might catch. For now, there seemed to be no trap mechanism inside the gap.
Acho also examined the floor and ceiling thoroughly, to avoid any unfortunate incidents such as poisoned darts shooting out or collapses from the floor or ceiling.
“For now, it seems safe.”
There is no absolute safety in a dungeon. Only the chance of being safe exists.
Acho then cautiously motioned for everyone to step back while continuing to observe the surroundings, and slowly pushed against the wall. The opposite wall from the entrance they had come through creaked open.
“Done-!”
Fortunately, there were no traps, and only a passage leading to the next area remained.
The expedition team advanced through the dark passage once again. The cobwebs hanging from the ceiling added a shuddering layer of eeriness. The atmosphere, which had been filled with excitement just moments ago, swiftly chilled.
Then, Yuric felt mana for the first time. It wasn’t too far away.
“Leader.”
Yuric quietly called out to Recadi. He seemed to nod in acknowledgment, as if he already knew.
The next passage ended quickly, opening into another room. This one was even larger than the previous one, with the light from the magic orbs barely reaching the other end.
“Over there, there’s a door!”
This time, instead of searching for a passage, they could see the door clearly on the opposite side.
However, their gazes didn’t just linger on the door. They were also drawn to a stone statue standing beside it, which must have been at least three meters tall.
As soon as the three mages confirmed it, they almost simultaneously used mana detection, sensing a mana response from it.
“…It’s a golem.”
A golem, an ancient weapon created by spell-binders.
Though small golems could be crafted in mage towers, creating one of such size was beyond their capabilities. These were made with the very essence of spell-binding, and records of how to make them no longer remained. Modern mages could not even interpret the magnificent relics of that era.
“Damn it, starting off with a golem…”
Moreover, golems were notoriously difficult opponents to face in a dungeon.
“Everyone, form up!”
The expedition team hurriedly arranged themselves. Those who would not contribute to the fight backed away to the passage they had just come through.
At that moment, the golem awakened. A massive wave of mana surged, and its eyes flashed red. Yuric sensed that its mana pulse was slightly unstable, indicating a potential issue with the mana orb embedded within it after hundreds of years. With enough impact, the internal mana orb might crack.
The two in front, Engelgard and Madorot, stepped forward, raising their shields. Right behind them, Haral tightly gripped his sword, ready to spring into action.
The three mages also prepared their spells. However, considering the golem’s defense, the spells might be less effective than they hoped.
‘We need to deliver a shock that conveys a force to break the mana orb.’
As Yuric contemplated this, the golem approached rapidly, swinging its massive fist.
—!
With a noise resembling an explosion, Engelgard, who held the shield, was thrown back to crash against the wall. Almost immediately, a mana sphere struck the golem’s head, causing a blast.
Yuric could have used more powerful spells, but he also had to consider the possibility of impacting the walls and causing the ceiling to collapse. They needed to avoid burying the expedition team while dispatching the golem.
‘Then a mass spell would be better than a mana sphere that could miss.’
The golem, hit by the mana sphere which broke part of its head, unbothered, swung its other fist. This time, Madorot was struck and sent flying.
Its strength was beyond what a single person could withstand. Each punch had nearly the power of a spell.
At that moment, Haral dashed forward, swinging his sword. However, unless he was a master whose blade could reach the heavens, that level of swordsmanship couldn’t inflict damage on the golem. Their matchup was heavily unfavorable.
—!
The golem swung its arm again, but Haral ducked low to avoid it. He then rolled to evade the downward swing.
Dimnos, the archer, who had been waiting for an opportunity, accurately shot an arrow into the golem’s eye, but it was all for naught. Though it was thought to be a weakness, it turned out to be a miscalculation.
Victor, watching Haral dodge the golem’s attacks, finally cursed loudly and charged forward. However, before he could attack, he was knocked out by a single punch from the golem. It appeared the impact was quite severe from his crumpled form.
Recadi and the middle-aged mage fired another mana sphere at the golem. This time, it aimed for the torso rather than the head.
As the mana sphere connected with the golem’s body, Yuric swung the hammer made from mass magic at its head. The golem fell forward with a thud. Nevertheless, it seemed the damage was minimal.
“Smash it!”
Finally recovering, Engelgard and Madorot rushed to climb atop the fallen golem, attacking its back with their axe and shield. Yet before they could deal sufficient damage, the golem managed to rise again.
“Get away!”
As Yuric shouted, the two quickly moved aside. He then swung the mana hammer powerfully at the golem’s chest.
Boom—!
With a powerful shock, the golem fell backward. This time, there was definitely an impact. The evidence was in the unstable mana pulse it emitted.
Its arm twitched as it attempted to rise again. However, its movements were noticeably slower now. At that moment, the mercenaries rushed in, hammering at its chest. Each strike made the golem shudder until they completely shattered the core nestled within it.
Finally, it ceased all function.
The mercenaries lay sprawled on the ground, cursing and panting heavily. The non-combatants, Acho and the workers, rushed over to check if they were injured.
“Damn it, my whole body aches!”
“I think my left arm is completely smashed.”
The three mercenaries who took direct hits from the golem’s attacks had suffered multiple fractures. Yuric quickly rummaged through his bag and pulled out a potion, giving each of the three mercenaries a sip.
“Ugh, damn! What’s this taste?! Did you bring me sewer water?!”
“It’s effective, so don’t spit it out. If it’s cracked, it’ll heal quickly.”
“I feel like it’s hanging on to me too much.”
“It’ll heal eventually, even if it takes a little time.”
Though everyone had a potion or two on their person, there’s nothing like the taste of someone else’s free potion. …Although this one indeed tasted like drinking murky water.
Yet, it was undeniably effective, as the frontline fighters, Engelgard and Madorot, swiftly shook off the dust and waved their arms as if they were fine.
“Tastes like crap, but it actually works. I feel almost healed already!”
“It looks like it’s not completely healed yet. You should rest a bit longer.”
“Damn, tough bastards.”
Still pained, Victor watched the two who had already recovered and clicked his tongue.
The noblewoman, who had sneaked back from the passage, seemed to have just realized the dangers of dungeons after witnessing the battle.
“Surely the leader has a good eye. Yuric, this kid is quite impressive, huh? Thanks to him, we got through this.”
Engelgard tousled the younger one’s hair. Honestly, none of them had expected him to perform so well. The only one unfazed by this was Recadi, who had already recognized his genius.
The expedition team took some time to eat and rest in this place. Afterward, they completed their preparations and opened the entrance leading to the next room.
Once again, they feared there might be some contraption, but fortunately, the door opened normally. However, since it was a stone door made of granite, Engelgard and Madorot had to push hard against it. Of course, they also considered breaking it with magic, but it was unnecessary to take that risk.
They emerged into another dark passage. This one was quite long.
“…How long has it been?”
“It’s definitely past noon. My navel clock is accurate.”
Unless there was a major accident, even the largest dungeons could typically be cleared within a day. Usually, half a day would suffice, and smaller dungeons could even be cleared in less than that. Of course, while it was a comparison based on the sizes of dungeons, each dungeon was indeed massive.
The lead tomb raider, Acho, finally spotted a trap. As soon as she noticed it, she signaled the team to stop. The entire line came to a halt.
“Do not step here.”
She placed a damp piece of paper over the area that shouldn’t be stepped on. It was a signal to avoid it. The expedition team maneuvered around it.
“We should be nearing the final room soon.”
Generally, a room beyond a corridor with traps indicated there was something of importance. Especially before the final room, traps were notoriously abundant. This meant that Acho’s expertise would shine the brightest.
“Everyone, be careful from now on. There’s nothing more unfair than getting caught just before a treasure.”
As expected, traps were numerous. The ones attached to the ceiling were particularly perilous if one wasn’t cautious.
Having passed a total of four traps, they finally entered the final room.
…Ah…!
It was distinctly different from other rooms. Instead of granite, the spacious chamber was made of luxurious marble, so vast that the light from the magic orbs couldn’t even touch the far end. They activated a few more magic orbs to brighten the area.
“Where’s the treasure?! Where’s the treasure?!”
“Shhh. Calm down. It’s not over yet.”
The leader reassured the noblewoman. The mercenaries remained tense. If this truly was the final room, there would undoubtedly be defenses in place. If the previous room had a golem, this one would certainly be worse.
They formed up and advanced forward. …And slowly, something began to come into view.
…!!
What caught the expedition’s eyes was a pure white marble statue.
It was not a golem. Rather, it was closer to treasure.
“Oh…!”
The statue was positioned behind an altar. The expedition team cautiously approached the altar while remaining vigilant.
Yuric performed mana detection several times, but found nothing in this place. It felt empty, as if it weren’t the final room at all.
“Ah…!”
Certainly, there appeared to be treasures on the altar. Dozens of gold coins and three gems. But nothing else was present.
A clear expression of disappointment was etched on the noblewoman’s face. Compared to her investments, it was hardly worth mentioning. While the gems might be quite valuable, none of them came to endure this hardship merely for a few gems.
“Don’t touch it yet. There might be a mechanism.”
The leader naturally refrained from carelessly touching the treasure. Especially since it was undoubtedly a suspicious altar. It would be hard to believe there weren’t any mechanisms at all.
“Acho, investigate it.”
“Yes, Leader.”
The tomb raider, Acho, meticulously examined the altar and the surrounding area. Naturally, this took time, and they were forced to be patient.
During that time, the expedition team rested on the stairway where the altar stood.
“This is lighter than I expected.”
“Perhaps this isn’t the final room after all.”
“Then why has it been decorated so splendidly like a final room?”
“Maybe someone has already taken the treasures.”
“Then why did they leave that behind?”
“They likely left it because it was too heavy to carry.”
“Bullshit. If they were mercenaries, they would have shoved it up their asses to take it.”
“True.”
The mercenaries laughed slightly, feeling their tension ease.
Meanwhile, Yuric approached the marble statue and began examining it.
There were indeed inscriptions upon it. They were not greatly different from modern text, although some were illegible.
It was a tribute to the achievements of the hero Tubalu. The statue depicted three figures, with the central one being the hero Tubalu, the left being the mage Titon, and the right seemingly the priest Norbert.
‘…Could this perhaps be their mausoleum?’
Yuric also read the inscription that appeared to reference the mage Titon.
—He always indicated the path to be taken. For you all of the future. Behold!
Just then, someone exclaimed softly, “Hey, look at that statue in the middle. It has a sword in its hand. Is it a real sword?”
The leader took a magic orb closer to the statue to confirm. It was indeed not carved from marble, but a real sword. The blade was a whitish hue, causing it to be momentarily unrecognized.
The noblewoman’s eyes sparkled instantly. Clearly, if the sword was real, it would undoubtedly be an enormous treasure!
“That’s the true treasure of this dungeon! We have to take it!”
Gold coins and gems no longer grabbed her interest. Even to someone as ignorant as she, the sword certainly radiated a magical quality.
“We need to verify if there are any traps.”
“Even if there are traps, I’ll take it! Its value is worth it!”
The leader ordered Acho to check it out. She called for the bald Victor to come over and then climbed onto a stool.
“It’s really heavy!”
“Don’t shake it, you idiot!”
After a thorough examination, Acho discovered a small device in the hand. Yet, she could not determine what it was connected to.
“I think if I pull this out, something will happen.”
Normally, one would avoid touching such items.
However, it was evident that the noblewoman had no intention of reconsidering her stance. Her determination to take that sword seemed unwavering.
“It could be the mechanism to cross into the final room, right? No guarantee that this is the final room.”
Her argument was not completely baseless. When the leader regarded Acho, seeking her opinion, she too conceded that there was a possibility, albeit slim.
“I hope you try it, Leader.”
Ultimately, the final decision rested with the noblewoman who had hired them. The leader nodded in agreement.
“Then I will pull out the sword. Since there’s reportedly a mechanism, everyone get down and prepare for any situation.”
The expedition team lined up. The workers gathered the gold coins and gems that had been declared safe.
Confirming their preparations were complete, the leader instructed Acho to pull out the sword. The one on the stool, Acho, carefully drew the sword from its holder.
“………?”
But nothing happened.
“The device…… it must have rotted and is no longer functioning!”
At Acho’s shout, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Just then, Haral shushed them, urging silence.
“……What’s wrong?”
“Don’t you hear something?”
Everyone listened carefully.
…From the corridor ahead, they could definitely hear a noise.
Then, suddenly—
Splash!
A tremendous stream of water began pouring from the corridor.
“Damn it!”
Everyone was in shock, not knowing what to do. Water started to gradually fill the room.
Surely a drowning trap!
“Shit! I told you not to touch it!”
Profanity burst forth violently. The noblewoman trembled in panic, unable to do more than shiver.
Yuric, too, was momentarily stunned by the unforeseen situation, his mind clouded.
‘…No, no! Get a grip! Get a grip! It’s not over yet. There must be a way out. There has to be.’
Yuric took a deep breath and vigorously shook his head from side to side.
In the meantime, the water had already reached their ankles.
“Leader! What do we do?!”
“Shut up! I’m thinking!”
“Damn, just stick the sword back in! Stick it back in!”
“I’ve already done that, you idiot! It won’t stop!”
The water continued to rise. The mercenaries climbed onto the highest elevation of the altar or the statue. Though it barely extended their survival, it was all they could do.
“Damn it, I don’t want to die. I really don’t want to die like this!”
Yuric recalled the entirety of what he had seen before, retracing his memories from the passage to the room.
‘Please, think. Stay calm. Think. Think…!’
There had to be a way out. There was bound to be a resolution.
There had to be a path…!
In that moment, something lit up in Yuric’s mind.
The words of the mage Titon.
—He always indicated the path to be taken. For you all of the future. Behold!
And he saw it.
The outstretched arm of the mage Titon and the finger pointing forth.
The path to take.
The final room.
“Everyone, get ready to move!”
Yuric shouted loudly, his voice snapping everyone back to attention.
And he struck the wall where the finger was pointing with the mana hammer. Once, twice, three times…!
Bang! Bang! Bang! A loud noise erupted as the wall finally crumbled.
“Run over there! Move it!”
The expedition team sprinted through the opening created by the collapsed wall.
Into the final room.
