Chapter 133 – District 2 (12)
16. District 2 (12)
Drurreuk- thump-!
“Uh… ?”
It was dark under the lamp, and the moment I entered a secret room within a secret room that was accidentally revealed near the tent, the door I had never touched closed with a heavy sound. In an instant, the surroundings became dark. I stepped back and pushed the door, but it wouldn’t budge.
‘Fuck, should I have woken up and come in with you?’
It was dark, so I couldn’t see, but I didn’t think the door would open if I stayed still. So I proceeded cautiously. It was a fairly narrow single road, so I moved little by little, pointing to the wall with my right hand.
Click-
“Ah!”
Then I heard the sound of something pressing and a ball of light about half the size of my fist came to mind. The ball of light came in front of my face and then spun around my body. I wanted to touch it, but of course I couldn’t.
‘I don’t know what it is, but it doesn’t seem to cause any harm, so it can be used as a substitute for a torch… What kind of space is this?’
The ball of light that had been spinning around my body floated in front of my eyes again. Growing and shrinking seemed to urge me to do something without going forward. As he took a step forward, the ball of light grew farther away. It was clear. Was guiding me The actions of that unidentified ball of light were reviving the embers of anticipation that had gone out.
The guidance of the light was not very long. From a distance of a few hundred steps, a ball of light suddenly soared upward. It got dark again in an instant, but it brightened again. And I couldn’t help but be embarrassed in a different sense.
“What’s this… ?”
There was a flat stone in front of the two fork in the road, and a wad of old paper and a rosary were placed on it. The small sign stuck in front of the stone was the problem.
← Benevolence
Tolerance→
‘Love and generosity? Could it be that the nun written there was a healing nun serving Raella-sama?’
If so, it seemed highly likely that the rosary was a keepsake of a nun.
‘It’s better than no reward at all…’
It just didn’t look great or expensive. I felt a sense of disappointment for a moment, but I decided to look at the wad of paper first. I touched it with my finger before unfolding it. There was nothing wrong. I just got through the first chapter. On the paper, something similar to the diary of another speaker was written in a different handwriting.
“At least here, there is no mercy and tolerance.”
“Her.”
It was intense from the first sentence.
「Of course, I was still able to demonstrate Raella-sama’s power. That is to prove the reality of Raella-sama, and since Raella-sama is the very concept of loving-kindness and tolerance, it is undeniable that loving-kindness and tolerance live and breathe in this world. But, to be sure, it wasn’t here. There was no mercy or tolerance towards him or those who served him. Also, love and tolerance did not work.”
Despair emanated from the neat and understated handwriting.
「Then, what kind of existence am I supposed to live here? Should we just live our lives as miserable animals named survivors who consume water and food and vomit filth and irritation? Others praised me saying that I was able to hold on until now because of me, but I don’t know. If it wasn’t for the miracle that Raella-sama’s power is working in a place like this, I would have been just a useless burden.”
“A staunch warrior, an excellent hunter, and a good guide. It was best to run away from him. After running away repeatedly, we became the last survivors, but is there any meaning in simply existing alive?”
“The guide grabbed the boat.”
“At the last refuge, there was nothing to eat. For some reason, his energy seemed to be blocked, but it was unknown when it would be discovered. However, Raella-sama’s ability was still usable.”
“The hunter grabbed the boat.”
“The warrior didn’t grab the boat, but the strong mind and body that protected the survivors even in the harsh escape life were shrinking.”
“La Ella.”
「From now on, I ask you to show mercy to my actions, and please show mercy to the other survivors. Please take care of me so that I don’t feel guilty.”
“Wouldn’t it last for a few weeks with just my body?”
“…”
The article ended there. As soon as I took my eyes off it, the paper rustled and disintegrated. What was left was the feelings of despair and resignation left by the old rosary and the unknown nun.
I never thought that there would be survivors here. Because the dungeon has been created for at least a hundred years. However, it was very different from just vaguely knowing where the survivors last stayed, and knowing this bitter and hopeless behind-the-scenes story. I tend to be immersed, and I imagined the situation at the time of the final four, a reliable warrior, a faithful nun, an excellent hunter, and a good guide.
“Why are there four of us?”
Of course, my discovery of this place and reading of the journal must have been accidental. But it worked.
Shay, the trustworthy crusader, Kaya, the faithful battle nun, me, a bounty hunter despite not being brilliant, and Illumina, a beastman with excellent physical senses, though not like a guide.
It was as if we had unlucky imaginations that our end would be like this.
‘No. Let’s not make a fuss with useless delusions.’
Slapped the cheek I was alert. I had to quickly grab something and get out of this secret room. My colleagues are probably in a deep sleep, but just in case.
I picked up Rosario.
[Rosario of Sacrifice]
– Applies to: Combat Nuns, Healing Nuns
– Companion healing effect + 20%
– Can’t heal itself
– When a healing skill is activated, 1 HP is consumed
“…”
It was an artifact with a bitter name. The artifact effect would have stopped at the level of thinking that the penalty was a bit strong, but it became more bitter after knowing the origin. Still… Got it once
The problem was the crossroads.
Charity on the left, tolerance on the right.
What does this fork in the road mean, and what is at the end of the fork in the road?
Charity to take care of the surviving comrades until the very end?
Toleration for making people do things they shouldn’t, even if it’s for the sake of their colleagues?
After thinking about it, I stood in front of the road on the left. The basis for the judgment was not a big deal.
Persimmon.
It was because I read the nun’s diary, now crumbled, and thought that the nun’s ‘charity’ was in the despair and resignation she first felt when she picked up the rosario.
“Warm kindness and cool generosity.”
As I stepped onto the left path, a ball of light came out and illuminated my path again. It seemed that he now knew the purpose and identity of that light.
“A faithful nun whose name I do not know.”
Whiik-
The ball of light moved left and right. Did you want to deny what I said?
I muttered, not paying attention to how the ball of light moved.
“Among my colleagues, there is a nun who follows Raella. If she is, she may be as willing to sacrifice herself as you are.”
Burr-
The ball of light flickered violently.
“But that will never happen. My colleagues are strong. We came here on our own. We are not fugitives. Not even the last survivor. A challenger, and will be the first conqueror. That damn fear-abandoned voyeur pervert is going to be fucked.”
The ball of light stopped moving. The ball of light that had been floating in front of my face for a while soon came up to the top of my head. It was like wearing a helmet with a lantern.
“Okay, so please watch. I will honor your souls and avenge the people who turned this place into a fucking dungeon.”
The light got stronger The road looked better. I wondered if a memento of a guide or hunter would come out. I thought that if I went through one or two, I would be able to get out of this place naturally. Moved forward
The second crossroads appeared, probably because my steps were quicker. There were no flat stones this time. There were only a few daggers on the floor, a crossbow with bolts on it, and a small note.
“Are you a hunter this time?”
I picked up the note. Compared to the former soldier and the nun’s wad of paper, the size was small and there was only one piece of paper, so it didn’t seem like there was much written on it.
“How can I be called a hunter, hiding in a den without knowing when I will die? Although I’ve acted like a frightened rabbit until now…
Right before I die, I will die as a hunter.”
“…”
The hunter’s note was short and thick. I grabbed the handle of the old dagger. Then, I imagined what would be the end of the hunter, who did not know if it was a man or a woman. Did he really go after the fear worshipers until the very end, as written on this note? Or was it just self-reliance on one’s situation, a bravado that could not bear it?
[The Last Dagger]
– Applies to: Treasure Hunters, Bounty Hunters
– ATK +1 when HP is below 50%
– ATK +2 when HP is below 25%
– ATK +3 when HP is below 10%
– ATK +5 when in near death state
[Silent Crossbow]
– Target: Crossbowmen
– Critical strike rate +33 only for the first attack
“… I will carry on your end.”
The light became brighter, and a dagger and crossbow hung from my waist as I walked vigorously.
**
“No matter how much I search, I can’t find it.”
“There is no sign of it leaving here.”
“Ah…”
It’s been hours since Hendrick disappeared.
Although they fell asleep deeply, Kaya and Shay, who woke up shortly after not sleeping with Hendrick, felt extremely anxious when Hendrick was nowhere to be seen. When Hendrick was nowhere to be found even though he searched her last shelter like a rat, he tried to wake up her Illumina, but she was having a nightmare that made her feel sorry for her.
The expression on their faces as they sat in a daze looked very sad.
“Maybe it’s wrong… ? Something like a hidden trap was triggered, so what if Hendrick got hurt?”
“Don’t say such nonsense.”
“Didn’t you look at it in the first place? There were no traps.”
“There’s no sign of leaving, and if you’re not inside… Then where did it disappear to… ?”
“That…”
Kaya and Shay were speechless at Illumina’s bewildered question. No, she wanted to tell her to look for a bit more while she was talking about that, but she couldn’t because Illumina’s expression was so desperate.
“What kind of dream have you been dreaming about? You keep saying negative things.”
“Ah… I guess I just had that dream…”
“So what is it?”
The Illumina gave her a glimpse of her own dreams. Kaya Langshey, whose mind had been sharpened, could not hastily pursue further.
“When I had that dream, it always happened… Losing something precious, or losing someone close to you…”
“A dream is just a dream. Do not worry. The captain is not the kind of person who will disappear without a word.”
“Shey, she’s right. Dreams may be real, but dreams are not real. It is true that the captain disappeared for some reason, but if you wait calmly, the captain will come back proudly. He might come with an unexpected gift. If you don’t like waiting, you can search again. The captain will not abandon us.”
“That’s a great captain.”
“Yes. The captain is a good captain, so put aside such ominous predictions… Huh?”
With a rosary around his neck, a dagger and a crossbow on his belt, and a compass and a folded map in his left hand, Hendrick broke into a cold sweat as he watched the three pairs of eyes staring at him. He scratched his head and hung his head.
“Uh… First of all, sorry.”
“Captain!”
“Hendrick!”
“… Eugene!!”
“Uh huh? Evil! Wait a minute! Bone, bone hit! Aaaaa!!”
“Where would you go! Gone! Talk! Sun! Do it! No!?”
“That’s right! You were worried for nothing!”
“Okay, I was wrong, go to sleep!! Aww! Kaya, Kaya! Not there! Explode! It explodes!!”
For some reason, it seemed that the sighs could be heard from the mementos of the last survivors.
