Chapter 292: Abandoned Disciples (3)

Chapter 292: Abandoned Disciples (3)

4.

The secret passage was dark and gloomy.

Shine, Shiny. What are you doing not shining quickly?

[Shiny feels joy at hearing an order after a long time.]

[Shiny feels a severe sense of self-loathing for feeling joy in such a situation]

Since becoming a complete entity by integrating with all the sister swords, Shinys emotions had become much richer. Yes, just like a cheese pizza topped with camembert, cheddar, and gouda cheese.

[Shiny points out that you forgot Parmesan cheese!]

Shiny shone intensely as if craving a cheese pizza.

Despite being abandoned for a hundred and fifty years, the passage was fairly intact. There were parts where the rock walls had collapsed, blocking the way, but that was nothing a slash of aura couldnt handle.

-Dont even look to the northeast.

Bae Hu-ryeong occasionally gave advice.

-Even if you do look, make sure to break it off before 23 seconds. Their security system is active even underground. Ah, and dont release the aura gathered in your eyes. See that slightly differently colored stone floor? Never step on it.

Okay. Should I head this way then?

Where not to look, where to go, Bae Hu-ryeong knew it all perfectly. I managed to avoid every trap, which was set at an average interval of 12 seconds.

-Turn left at the first fork.

Hmm. This time, this way I guess. Just a hunch.

The stronghold of the 50th-floors strongest power was nothing less than a quattro cheese pizza in front of me.

-Right. Theres a monster trap ahead. Just go alongside it and wall run.

Wow. Right again. Lucky me, really lucky. Somehow, I had a bad feeling about turning right at that fork.

All the while, I kept muttering to myself.

Of course, it wasnt because I was insane.

-Werent you?

Hey. What do you take me for?

-Well, for you.

Contrary to Bae Hu-ryeongs wicked imagination, it was to confuse the watching constellations.

As if I was continuously overcoming obstacles due to sheer luck. As if I had a fortune or exploration skill that made avoiding traps so easy, I didnt stop babbling like that.

[The Lone Seeker of Truth is at a loss for words at your pace of advancement.]

[The Thirsty Noblewoman wants to smack you on the back.]

[The Incarnation of Love and Lust thinks about smacking your butt too!]

[The Eye Living in the Labyrinth is very suspicious of the skills you possess.]

Okay. Even though there are some weird fellows, these constellations sure are taking the bait well.

I swiftly traversed the secret passage. I could feel myself getting closer to the headquarters of the Mage Tower. As I walked, something similar to aura, but much stickier and dense like a toxic fog, became stronger.

-Stop.

Abruptly, I halted at Bae Hu-ryeongs command.

-This part is crucial.

There was nothing visible on the passage floor illuminated by Shiny.

But Bae Hu-ryeong spoke seriously, as if there was a red starting line drawn.

-The mages of the Mage Tower, commonly known as [Spiders], all have biometric engravings on their bodies. These engravings serve as a sort of ID, allowing them to move freely. From this point onward, anyone without the Spiders engraving is recognized as an outsider, and an alarm will be triggered.

Hmm. Somehow, it feels like recklessly walking from here on would be a big mistake.

-But thats also a [Detection Magic]. It takes time for the magic to actually activate.

It seems like its not an instant-reactive trap, judging from a quick look

Bae Hu-ryeong chuckled at my natural acting.

-6 seconds.

Bae Hu-ryeong lifted his left hand and pointed ahead.

-You need to pass through in 6 seconds.

.

-In truth, Im not sure if its 6 or 7 seconds. Anyway, when I tried it in the past, running through in 6 seconds didnt trigger the alarm.

I turned my head. The passage stretched endlessly. It was a dark abyss, too deep for Shinys light to fully illuminate.

I casually picked up a stone.

Filled with aura, I threw it with all my might, like a baseball player.

Hmm.

The stone flew straight ahead. Apart from the sound of the projectile piercing through the air, there was silence. Only after a while did a faint thud! indicate that it had hit something.

Even as an empty statement, the exit of the passage did not seem close.

-Its a bit far, isnt it?

Bae Hu-ryeong chuckled.

-Che. Do you now have a sense of how great I was back in the day? I was like a comet streaking across the sky. And you know, my hair was red too. It fluttered like the tail of a comet.

.

While listening to him, I looked around the passage.

So, you crossed it in 6 seconds, right?

-Of course.

Bae Hu-ryeong shrugged his shoulders.

-Walking like I was taking a stroll, it took me 6 seconds.

Perhaps.

The person in front of me seemed to be cleaning this underground area.

Looking around, I realized that the end of the secret passage was actually a sewer.

The smell of cheese past its prime wafted from various places. It was clear that this place was neglected, and thus, whoever had to clean such a place was definitely not of high rank, nor a child of someone with high rank, nor even a friend of a high-ranked officials child. In short, they were surely at the very bottom of the hierarchy.

Uhh uh-uh-uh, uhh

The young magician, who looked like a low-ranking one, was holding a broom, his eyes wide with terror.

He wiggled his toes as if to move (he was barefoot) but didnt make a move. Rather, he couldnt. He was completely frozen in fear.

Intruder intruder theres an intruder!

Hello.

I grabbed the boys shoulder, chin up.

With a gentlemanly, soft smile on my face.

Nice to meet you.

Hic!?

The boy clammed up.

The belated realization was, from the boys perspective, I was a man who had just broken through a massive wall with his bare body. Moreover, I was completely fine except for feeling a bit stiff.

I might have been covered in dust from head to toe, but a man looking less than human, smiling softly, was probably not very effective in forming a favorable impression.

Right now, Im a bit lost.

Still, I always tried to be kind to anyone. With a beaming smile and as gently as I could, I spoke to the boy.

Im not quite sure where I am. Could you perhaps guide me?

Gu Guide? This place, its the Mage Tower! The second division of the Mage Tower

Surely, this place isnt the Mage Tower, right? Like, even if one simply loses their way and ends up here, theyre automatically treated as an intruder, and theres a need to quickly eliminate the intruder, and since the intruder doesnt want to die, they have to secretly kill any witnesses they encounter Its not that kind of terrifying Mage Tower, is it?

Eek!?

The boy dropped his broom.

No, no! This isnt the Mage Tower! Its not! Mage Tower? I dont know where that is! Please, I didnt see anything I didnt see anything!

Ah. Good. Thats a relief.

I nodded in genuine satisfaction.

I wanted the other person to know I was satisfied, so I gave him another smile. The boy finally seemed relieved, swallowing hard with a gulp!

Now he must have realized that I was harmless.

Im looking for the followers of Hamustra. I have some business with them Sorry, but since this place isnt the Mage Tower but just a confusing location, could you guide me?

Eh. The, the followers of Hamustra they are strictly managed. I, I am I

Ah.

Squeeze.

People should help each other out, right?

I patted the boys shoulder a bit more heartily.

You can guide me, cant you?

Yes, I

The boy trembled.

Tears welled up in his eyes.

Surprisingly, most of the human body is made up of water, which sometimes gets expelled through the eyes.

Ill do it Ill guide you just please, please spare my life.

Ah, see? Theres still kindness in the world!

I patted the boy on the back.

Thank you. Nameless Spider. Ill surely repay you later. Ah, of course, if I safely escape this place, wherever it is. Lets work together to escape safely!

Huh Yes.

I am Kim Gong-ja. And you are, magician? Whats your name?

Cha, Charumu is my name Huaa.

For some reason, the boy shed even more tears.

I was satisfied that things were going better than expected and belatedly realized I had been in the middle of boasting to Bae Hu-ryeong.

Ah, right. Anyway, Sword Emperor~nim. I was 1 second faster than you. 1 second accumulates to 10 seconds, 10 seconds to a year, and a year to a hundred years, so its fair to say Im a hundred years ahead of you, right? In other words, the Demonic Cults Lightfoot technique is the best.

-.

Do you admit it? Mr. 6-Seconds. Huh? Humbly acknowledge that youre a hundred years behind me, who made a 5-second cut? Mr. 6-Seconds.

-Uh.

For some reason, Bae Hu-ryeong had a look of utter disdain.

-Yeah no wonder Venomous Snake is your rival.

Huh?

-No, just go ahead and be the best.

Good.

Everything is perfect.

Now, lets go save people in a righteous manner!

***

Note: From the previous few chapters, I have used the term disciples, which can also be interpreted as believers or followers. If you see me use a term from these three, it means the same thing.

P.S. Todays last chapter. More chapters tomorrow.

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