Chapter 324

324 The Price of Sin #1

“Yeah, you’ve made a good decision. This area is dominated by Echidna’s Monster Forest, so the sun doesn’t set quickly. However, staying here in the forest may risk an attack from the monsters.”

“….”

“This forest is dangerous, but having a roof and walls in the maze is far better. As the forest keeper, I can assure you of this.”

“….”

“Though it’s called a maze, it’s actually very secure as we have strongholds up to the halfway point, so there’s no danger.”

The man who called himself a forest keeper continued talking non-stop while leading us. His incessant chatter seemed as if he wouldn’t allow even a moment of silence.

It was common among the smaller races. The nymphs did it, the dwarves did it, they all loved to chatter.

“Ah, I haven’t properly introduced myself to you. I am Talis, an 8th-grade forest supervisor in the peripheral department of the Delphi Administrative Office. Have you ever heard of my position?”

Given his question, I decided to reply appropriately.

“No.”

“That’s expected. It’s one of those obscure, unremarkable jobs in an insignificant department. No matter how hard I work, no one acknowledges it, and even if I don’t work, no one notices either.”

Swish. If you don’t work but still don’t get noticed, isn’t that a considerable merit even for a low-ranking official? Civil servants typically hold stable jobs with long-term prospects, but the fact that you can do nothing and still get by might also be an advantage.

As I was thinking this, the man calling himself Talis continued.

“So, it also gives me the opportunity for side jobs. At night, I become someone who guides people through the maze for entertainment purposes.”

At that moment, Hippolyte, who had been listening quietly until now, said:

“Isn’t it forbidden for officers to have side jobs?”

“Of course, officially it is, but it’s just a secret. If we don’t have a side job, it’s hard to make ends meet. In reality, there’s a line that’s generally accepted. Now, anyway, we’re almost there.”

This man was leading us to Pluto’s maze. The way he boasted about side jobs and tours just now raised some suspicions, making me quite tense.

According to what he said, it sounded like a charitable act, but my principle has always been that there is no such thing as free goodwill in this world.

Those merchants who use the facade of goodwill often talk a lot, just like this man.

Still, the reason I followed this man was because he mentioned something about a dark-haired monster, which piqued my interest.

Pitter-patter, pitter-patter.

After passing what seemed to be uninhabited mountain paths and dirt trails, what we saw under the dim evening sky was the light of torches gleaming.

Mysterious stone structures placed between trees. Beside the dark entrance stood two men with torches, gripping swords and spears, their eyes glaring fiercely.

Were these the soldiers who managed this forest? But they didn’t seem to belong to the regular army.

Their casual clothing and varied armaments made them look more like mercenaries, bandits, or marauders.

Upon noticing us, one of them spoke first.

“Keeper, who are those people behind you?”

“They got lost in the forest and seemed dangerous, so I brought them here. Can you prepare food and a place for them to wash?”

“That’s naturally what we’d do. Ah, but before going inside, make sure to sign here.”

The soldiers extended a small placard-like object towards us. It was a wide wooden board with a leather scroll hanging from it.

The contents written on it forbade mentioning anything that was seen on the inside to the outside world, and the seal of a skull at the bottom caught my eye.

“Desros-.”

“Ah, you recognize that seal?”

It was a pattern of a snake winding through two skulls, the symbol for Desros human hunters.

Why I knew about this seal didn’t need any explanation.

Were they still active in this area?

I fell into a moment of deep reflection. Meanwhile, the mercenaries, who seemed to be Desros private guards, continued.

“If the items written here are violated, Desros trackers will relentlessly chase you down, be it day or night, and claim the price of sin.”

Then they let out a low and sinister laugh. Luna, looking curious, questioned.

“What exactly is ‘the price of sin’?”

“Naturally, d*ath. Anyway, welcome. Please go inside and, young ladies, let’s hope we don’t meet again too soon. By the way, isn’t Samaritan…?”

The men, after casually scanning over Luna and Hippolyte, turned their gaze on me.

“Have we met somewhere before?”

Perhaps they were guards of the Desros arena two years ago. If so, they might have recognized me. But I didn’t want to cause any trouble, so I simply replied nonchalantly.

“No idea.”

“Is that so, well, please come inside.”

Thus, we squeezed into the dark entrance they opened for us. It was damp and musty, and there was an eerie smell coming from the inside.

Grrr…

The intermittent sounds we heard could be either wild beasts or monsters, adding to the eeriness. At that moment, Hippolyte ran her hand over the cold stone wall and said something.

“Apparently, this maze is not registered with the Delphi authorities. Occasionally, we hear about grave robbers or bandits making their camps within undeclared labyrinths…”

“More importantly, why didn’t they verify our identities? Isn’t it strange to handle things this loosely?”

Elpride asked as if she understood it all. But I knew exactly why this maze was skipping such complicated procedures.

At that moment, the keeper who was walking ahead and leading us through the maze spoke.

“There’s no need.”

“What? Why isn’t there a need?”

“It means that whoever enters, and whatever disturbances arise, they have the confidence to control it. In a place flying the flag of Desros, who would dare to cause trouble?”

He spoke as if it were a sufficient explanation. Unlike his earlier chattering, after entering the maze, he became relatively silent, making him feel quite strange.

Was his earlier chatter the real forest keeper, or is this demeanor the real face of a forest keeper?

Of course, it wasn’t important right now.

“Hotan is right. There seems indeed to be some kind of reaction ahead.”

Nearby, Luna was constantly watching the Karma detector.

“It seems like something that was spinning underground. Could it be that Gloria’s brother is really here?”

Luna asked as if she knew nothing, but Hippolyte just clicked her tongue in response.

“What does it mean to be in Pluto’s maze? That means he has already died and become a spirit. Pluto’s maze is not a hideout for bandits or grave robbers; it’s Hell itself.”

Hippolyte hadn’t seemed very happy since we entered the maze. It was the same with Elpride, who was constantly frowning or clearing her throat.

Of course, I understood.

As Hippolyte said, the maze was originally the gateway to Hell.

It’s only natural that a living person stepping into such a place would feel physiological discomfort. Even Paranoi looked very upset, as though grinding her teeth.

“How dare, how dare Pluto’s maze be unjustly occupied by thieves like Desros? Everyone, everyone deserves the d*ath penalty!”

Of course, there seemed to be other reasons for her unhappiness. At that moment, the keeper walking ahead suddenly stopped.

“Miss Nymph, you seem to be a follower of Pluto, a cultist, right? If so, you would enjoy something once inside.”

“I wonder if there’s any candy inside? Or sweets? Or a pile of gold coins?”

“…Candy? No, I don’t know about that. But deep within, there is Pluto’s proxy.”

Reacting to that wasn’t Paranoi; instead, it was Hippolyte.

“Pluto’s proxy? Is that true?”

“Hmph, you’ll see when you get there.”

After answering Hippolyte’s question adequately, the keeper finally pulled down a strange lever forcefully.

The wall that had been blocking us slowly descended, and soon an endless array of lit torches and crowds appeared.

“k*ll! k*ll them!”

“Smash his head! That’s right! This evening’s show is starting off great!”

Cries rang out from all directions, and my senses were immediately heightened. I had seen this kind of scene somewhere before.

“Completely an underground arena. I’ve heard of mazes in this form, but… .”

Hippolyte was correct.

After activating the lever, the massive cavity exposed was, without a doubt, an underground arena with a broad circular space that dipped downward.

It seemed like the Desros Arena from above had descended underground following a fire.

I almost felt dizzy just looking at it. However, I decided to vividly imprint every detail in my mind without averting my eyes.

Then I realized how this place was somewhat different from the Desros arena I knew.

Grrroooaar!!!

“Ooooh, the female warrior contender who endured eleven stages-! She succumbed to Cain Billicus, the skeletal guardian of stage 11!”

Grrroooaahh…

Finally, a female warrior, unknown to me, was pierced by a skeleton wielding a sword, spewing out bl**d. A duel with a skeleton was something the Desros arena had never showcased as such an overtly gory spectacle.

“That yyyaarrrkk!”

Caaaawww!!

Naturally, the scene was disturbing, which made me instinctively frown in distaste, the same as my companions. Luna became so angry she burst out.

“They’re treating the dead and souls as entertainment! They use spirits for their amusement!”

For Luna, the voodoo priestess, treating the dead as entertainment was utterly intolerable. The keeper smirked strangely in response to her trembling.

“Miss, you’ll faint if you see the upcoming events.”

“Future events?”

Just as Luna tilted her head out of curiosity,

I noticed that everyone’s gaze in this underground arena was directed toward a particularly elevated seat.

There stood an odd platform, not fitting the labyrinth or the underground at all.

Decorated with multicolored silk banners, the chair gleamed like gold, and something strange sat there, idly swirling a goblet of red liquid while chatting lightly.

Stand up!

Instantly, the surrounding air turned icy. The lively chatter from a moment ago felt like it had never happened, as an intense silence enveloped everyone present.

Stand up, you worthless wretch. Worthless, useless one, rise and fight! Surely you’re not thinking of resting because you’ve died a little?

His low, eerie voice swept through the crowd like a ghost.

Grr, Aaaargh…

Soon, the female warrior who had been bleeding out before everyone’s eyes made strange groaning sounds as she came back to life. Or, rather, it was questionable to call this “coming back to life.”

Grraaahh!!

As the battle between the skeleton and the female warrior resumed, such questions were quickly brushed aside.

I had to finally ask.

“What exactly is this?”

“What else. It’s just a pastime. Brothers, you wouldn’t want to try yourselves? If you clear all twenty stages, you’ll gain the right to challenge the owner of this maze.”

And if you quit halfway through, that’s fine too, as he mumbled. I asked further:

“What happens if you challenge the owner?”

“You’ll become the master of this maze then. You’ll be able to occupy that grand chair there, replacing that skull. You’ll gain the privilege and rights to all of this. Ha, wouldn’t that be something to envy?”

I paused briefly to think, taking a moment.

Taking that chance, Hippolyte asked:

“Is the master you speak about the undead necromancer sitting up there? Indeed, he seems quite worthy of the title ‘proxy.'”

“Undead necromancer…? I know nothing about that. I just introduce a few people to challenge this maze and earn a little money. Anyway, think it over. If you wish to participate, it costs 1 silver.”

I guess I’ll leave now- As the keeper casually walked away without a sense of responsibility.

Ultimately, we were left in the audience of this strange arena. Listening quietly to this conversation, Elpride looked up and explained:

“That thing up there, it’s obviously a lich. I never imagined there’d be a lich in this kind of maze. We might find it hard to deal with alone. Hotan, aren’t you Pluto’s son? So, isn’t that guy a friend of yours?”

Elpride seemed to ask me if I could somehow manage this situation.

But I was still suffering from endless flashbacks.

-Useless creature. Pointless thing! Get up! Fight! You won’t get rest until you d*e!

His cruel, abusive tone ingrained in my brain over several months.

That menacing voice that haunts my nightmares, the owner of which I thought had died in a fire, was now sitting right before me, swirling the crimson goblet.

His appearance was truly nightmare-inducing.

Next participant anyone? Participation fee 1 copper. You can earn double the participation fee for each stage you overcome. If you survive till stage 20, you’ll receive a reward worth over 100 golds.

Murmur, murmur..

The mention of 100 gold drew a noticeable stir among the audience.

1 copper leading to 100 gold. 100 gold can make even the most useless and meaningless things or lives valuable. So, step up. Fight to the end and achieve the golden glory.

“Or, become a completely useless corpse. Skargard.”

Swoosh.

As I approached the railing near the stage, I noticed his hollow, red eyes focusing on me.

That line has changed over time. It’s fight to the end, earn golden glory, or d*e as a corpse fighting for me, useless one.

“…”

I could not think of anything to say as I looked at him. His snake-like face was vividly superimposed over his skull.

Clack.

The b*stard opened his dry mouth and spoke.

Long time no see, useless wretch. You, a Samaritan, who couldn’t even k*ll a man without trembling, what nerve do you have to come here?

“Do you remember me?”

Remember you? Of course. The fiery pain of being burned is like setting fire to fleshless bones. I spent every night thinking of eating your flesh. Well, you came at a good time. So, are you here to challenge?

“….”

After being taken in and fed, now you repay kindness with hostility-! Can you not hear the aggrieved lament of Castor, who died unfairly at your hands?

“I think you’re here, that guy.”

Heheh, that’s right. He’s here. The one you trusted but stabbed in the back, do you think he had a peaceful d*ath? If you want to meet him, challenge me. If you have the guts, that is.

“Paranoi, coin.”

“As you wish…!”

I held the 1 copper coin that fell from Paranoi’s mouth and flicked it forcefully with my thumb and index finger towards the lofty figure of the lich, Skargard. The sharp metal struck the skull of the skeleton standing nearby with a “bang,” shattering it.

This b*stard, how could you destroy the skull warrior I cherished…

“Watch closely from there.”

Finally, I leapt over the railing towards the stage.

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