Episode 607: Corps Commander (4)
A moment of silence follows my suggestion to give it a try.
Raven, who had been looking at me with truly harsh eyes during that time, shook her head with difficulty.
“Oh, but you can just experiment right away, right?”
“There are a lot of things in the labyrinth that you won’t know unless you try them yourself.”
“That’s true, though. “It’s something I cherish quite a bit…” “I think it would be a shame if it disappeared without much use.”
If the original owner of the crack stone spoke like that, I have nothing to say.
Even if some hidden piece is really activated, it’s a problem.
I plan to continue exploring as soon as the rainy season ends, but if I lose too much time, my schedule will be disrupted.
‘Still, we’ve all become sensitive without knowing it because we’re all trapped here…’
Therefore, the plan to activate the statue with Cambormere’s crack stone is put on hold for now.
“Then let’s go!”
Afterwards, Raven left, saying she was thinking of a name for the wreath, leaving me alone in the barracks.
I had a lot of thoughts in my head.
It wasn’t a thought about stone statues and cracked stones.
‘As expected, it’s official.’
The power of Hwagwan that I heard about from Raven keeps lingering in my mind.
After all, the effect attached to the item obtained after killing the archbishop who had become a priest of Karui is mental immunity?
‘Just looking at the arm, it looks like an item to be used in that chapter…’
I’m concerned about the red portal that I had no choice but to check last time and couldn’t get out of.
What was beyond that?
If I have this crown, I might be able to see it with my own eyes the next time I take on the challenge.
Well, it’s not like I can try again right now.
‘You can’t try again right away, right?’
First, the crack was judged to be clear.
Guardian statues below the 5th floor, which were a condition for opening cracks, are now in a situation where portals do not open even when touched.
Right now, there is nothing you can do other than take the portal in the stone chamber and go outside.
‘How long is the cooldown time?…’
Well, you will only find out once you get out there.
If you leave and come back in, you may have a chance to try again right away, or you may have to wait until the cooldown.
Considering that the first basement floor is covered in everything unknown, we cannot rule out the possibility that if it is a one-time crack, you may never be able to enter again.
Sigh.
As I sat in the empty barracks for a while gathering my thoughts, I took out a backpack from subspace.
A backpack received from the village chief before entering the rift.
The village chief said that he had put a notebook in this backpack and that he had written down all the answers to my questions in it.
So I came out and read the whole thing as soon as I finished my work.
But…
‘No, if I just tell the whole story calmly, will I have a fatal disease?’
To the extent that this thought occurred to me, this notebook had the property of becoming more mysterious the more I looked at it.
[If you feel like something is nearby on Library Island, leave for a day and then come back. Then all the messy bookshelf will be organized.]
This is probably a Ham-sik story.
[If you find another dimensional tombstone, never pay attention to that tombstone. Again, the exit you are looking for is the one in our village.]
I think this is about the dimensional monument on Giant Island.
However, everything down here is significant.
[If you are exploring Giant Island and a large shadow suddenly appears on the ground, never look up. If you wait a while, the shadow will disappear and you can continue your journey.]
[There is nothing on the top of the island you called Tree Island. If you see something or hear a sound, wear an eye mask and earplugs and hold your breath. Then you will be able to pass safely.]
[If waves start to roll in during the rainy season, stop your journey immediately and find a place to hide. There’s bound to be at least one place to hide on any island. Just don’t go to the rocky island you first saw when you came here. Isn’t it because that island is the only place where there is no place to hide?] [
The Golden Book won’t really help you achieve your goal.]
[If you see a horse running in the sky outside of the rainy season , don’t act hastily. If you don’t attack first or get close, there won’t be any problems.]
At this point, I think the purpose is not to convey information, but to spread ghost stories. However, the last item was still easier to understand.
[If dimensional collapse occurs someday and the entire hierarchy begins to collapse, head to the island where our village was located. The portal to the ground will be open.] Searᴄh the NôvelFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
If a dimensional collapse occurs, you can escape from the first basement level.
And one thing that can be inferred from this.
‘I don’t think the village chief knows any other way to escape than this?’
Just waiting for dimensional collapse.
This is the only escape method the village chief knows.
Then, it is understandable that he left this layer alone using the [Pagan Altar] instead of trying to escape with us.
Because even the village chief doesn’t know the time of my escape.
If I hold on and endure and escape only after the dimensional collapse occurs, it is unclear how much time will be needed until then…
‘There is no talk of Rainbow Island.’
I read the notebook several times and looked through the backpack the village chief gave me, but there was no mention of Rainbow Island.
I think Rainbow Island might be the key to escape.
‘Did I know but didn’t write it down? Maybe I didn’t write it down because I didn’t know….’
As of now, I had no way to check.
It’s not like you can grab the village chief by the collar and ask him questions, as he must have woken up in the city a long time ago.
‘I guess I can go there in person.’
In the end, there is no choice but to continue exploration.
Like an explorer.
***
As soon as the rainy season ended, we boarded the portal and went outside.
A towering stone gate in the middle of the sea.
The boat we came here on was nowhere to be seen, and as soon as we got out, it fell into the silver sea.
But….
‘Ahu, this is such a hassle.’
After going through several cumbersome processes, all members of our exploration group were able to board the summoned ship safely.
And one piece of information I learned during this process.
That stone gate was not always open.
“The door is sinking beneath the sea!”
The moment the last member jumped out of the portal, the huge stone gate closed and began to sink to the bottom of the sea.
‘…I guess I can’t try again right away.’
It was a little disappointing, but I decided to plan for the next time.
Eventually, when the cooldown runs out, you will come up to the surface of the water.
Unless it’s one-time content.
“Baron, preparations for departure are complete.”
As I watched the stone gate sinking in front of the bow, I glanced around.
Three warships floating around as if escorting my ship.
“Raise the departure flag!”
As soon as my instructions were given, the ship began to move and the flag went up on the watchtower.
Ssssssssssssss-!
Three warships sailed after us, who set off first, wading through the silver waves.
Are you saying don’t worry about life?
Until we got here, we were just following those warships from behind.
“Aren’t you hungry Bjorn?”
“Ah, thank you.”
Soon, as I was walking around chewing the snacks provided by Secretary Misha, Amelia started talking to me.
“…What is that?”
“This? “This is a snack given by the secretary.”
“…How long do you plan on playing that ridiculous position game?”
Uh…
even if I say it that way, it hurts me a little.
“Are you doing this because you don’t like the position of search leader?”
For your reference, the search leader is a position that oversees the overall management of talent suitable for scouting missions.
Since she could be seen as a contributor to the founding of the country, they created a position that did not exist before and gave it to her….
“Haa…”
In response to my question, Amelia just shook her head and disappeared to do her work.
‘There’s nothing to do…’
After that, I patrolled for a while, but there wasn’t. ‘t really anything for me to do or do, so I ended up spending time resting in my room or chatting with my colleagues.
And how much longer has passed?
“I’m going to go alone for a little while.”
Finally arriving at Library Island, I got off the boat alone and headed down the island.
All of the books we had made a mess were already in order, and even the sound of me walking echoed several times.
‘It’s quiet.’
First of all, there is no sign of ham eating.
Are you sleeping at home?
“Hamsik—!!”
I called out loudly, and soon a furry creature cautiously peeked out from the side of the bookshelf.
“Oh what? Were you there? “Why aren’t you at home?”
[…Are you asking this because you really don’t know!!]
Oh, that’s right. Before we left, they gave us a piece of shit.
“…sorry.”
[under! So what are you doing here? And that too alone.]
“I came to see you for a moment. “Your colleagues are waiting above, so come here.”
[….]
Was my visit unexpected?
Hamsik looked around as if he was a little wary and then appeared outside.
[You came to see me…?]
“Yes.”
[Why?]
Well, the reason is simple.
Because I saw him at a crack I visited a while ago.
[My name is Ham Sik!] Another
Ham Sik I met in the cave who didn’t even know he was Ham Sik After meeting the so-called second Hamsik, I thought.
Hamsik is hiding something big secret.
Even if you don’t know it.
“I’m so sorry!
“Do you need a reason to come see your friend?”
However, once he approached Hamsik with a bright smile, hiding his true feelings, Hamsik became even more wary.
[Don’t lie!]
“…?”
[There’s no way you just came here! There must be some purpose!]
Afterwards, this much water has already been added.
It used to be easier when I was a naive ham-style person.
Soon I smiled and spoke honestly.
“Yes. , there is a purpose.”
[joy! I knew so—.]
“Hamsik, let’s leave here with me.”
[…What?]
Hamsik was very surprised but stared at me with an expression of incomprehension.
I knew this would happen, so I tried to oil it up a bit and reveal it.
[Let’s leave together… what do you mean?]
“That’s literally it. If I stayed here, wouldn’t I just be busy organizing books? “There would be nothing to clean up without us.”
[….]
I wonder if this part was like disgust. Hamsik looked somewhat displeased.
However, a shock is always needed to change life.
“It’s been a long time at this point. So now, let’s get out of here with me.”
[…What will change when I leave?]
“A lot of things.”
Hamsik didn’t seem to really feel what I was saying.
So I told him more specifically.
“First of all, you will be able to see with your own eyes what is outside. “In the first place, you’ve been here. for so long that you don’t even know what’s out there.”
[I’m not really curious.]
“The wide silver sea. An unknown island… You’re not curious about anything like that?”
[I’m not curious.]
It was an unexpected reaction.
Just looking at it, it seems like he is being sincere and not just making fun of it…
“Then how about this? You forgot all your memories, right? So I don’t even know who you are. “Maybe if I wander outside, I might be able to regain my memories.”
[…How can you be sure of that?]
Oh, judging by the slow response, I wonder if this is something I’m craving?
I confidently responded to Hamsik’s reasonable rebuttal.
“What about you? “Are you sure there? is absolutely no such way?”
Hamsik must have been speechless for a moment, but after a long moment, he finally opened his mouth.
[… That’s far-fetched.]
Well, it’s not wrong.
But I could say it with confidence.
“But it doesn’t.” t change the fact that if you stay here your whole life, nothing will change.”
This was also my life philosophy.
As the saying goes, well begun is half done.
0 and 1 are different.
It may seem similar at first, but over time, the gap widens enormously.
However, Hamsik could not take steps easily.
‘For some reason, I feel like I just need to push my back a little bit here… ‘
[Just one.]
“… ?”
[Answer just one. Why are you trying to take me out?]
Oh, you’re so persistent.
I sighed inwardly and said, not looking at the ham-sik, but looking into space.
“…How can you just watch?”
[…?]
“My friend is stuck at home in dire straits.”
This was another reason why I wanted to take Hamsik out.
I keep getting worried as to whether or not I’ve become attached to him.
***
Hamsik’s answer came after a very long time.
[I’m going. I follow you out.]
It seems that my persuasion that I will take him here at any time if he changes his mind later worked.
“Well thought out.”
[…But if I’m nearby, there’ll be trouble. Because other people… look at me horribly.]
“Can’t I just hide my appearance anyway? “You should always hide in the cabin.”
[Then nothing has changed, right?]
“A hiding place?”
[….]
“I guess I lost my house anyway. The cabin also has a bed. “It’s also incredibly soft.”
[….]
“Why are you hesitating! The decision has been made, so let’s go! “I don’t have time for this!”
I was afraid that Hamsik would change my decision, so I hurriedly took Hamsik with me and got off the island.
And…
“Tell everyone to stay inside for a while.”
After clearing the entire deck, I let Hamsik into my cabin without attracting anyone’s attention.
“How do you feel? Are you okay? “There is a window here, so you can see the sea well.”
[joy. What is that? I’ve already seen it a few times.]
“Oh, I guess you’ve come up there by yourself a few times? “It seemed like he had no interest in the outside world.”
[….]
“Anyway, I’ll come back later. “I have to tell the kids outside that they can come out now and we have to leave.”
[…Do it yourself.]
Afterwards, I hid Hamsik in my room and went outside to restore the personnel arrangement to its original state.
And….
“Set aside!!”
We resumed our journey again.
The destination is the unknown Rainbow Island, located about a month away from the current location.
Ssssssssssssss-!
It was a time when four ships were heading towards this, braving the current.
“…Huh?”
It had been some time since we set sail when suddenly there was a commotion on deck.
When I went out to the deck, I saw everyone there looking up at the sky blankly.
“…word?”
“Yes? No matter how you look at it, it looks like a horse, right?”
…word?
When I quickly raise my head, I see the shape of a really shining white horse flying in the sky.
I quickly took out the village chief’s ghost story notebook.
[If you see a horse running in the sky outside of the rainy season, don’t act hastily. If you don’t attack first or get close, there won’t be any problems.]I never thought I’d see it so soon.