Chapter 44: The Maze

Chapter 44: The Maze

My ahog- I mean Knowledge pouch perks up.

At first, I thought it simply moved according to my movements.

So, to verify, I tried moving my jelly slowly and moving my jelly in a different direction from where the knowledge was pointing.

But as if ignoring the law of action and reaction, the knowledge pouch pointed in the same direction as if wanting to guide me somewhere.

Not even a compass would be this upright.

When I think of it, the movements of the knowledge pouch are sometimes a bit strange.

It perked up strangely right before I was almost captured by someone and also when passing by that bizarre statue.

Sometimes, it perked up while passing through corridors, but since the knowledge pouch only perked up without talking to me, I couldn’t know exactly why it was doing that.

Hmm.

I tried to recall the moments when the knowledge pouch perked up.

At first, I was kidnapped, and the next time, I was forced to dawdle in front of a statue that ate people.

...Isn’t this weird?

Every time it perked up, something unfortunate happened.

When passing through corridors... I couldn’t figure out why, but reflecting on the major events, it was definitely the case.

I’m debating whether I should pluck out the perking knowledge pouch.

Staring at my jelly while pondering, I made a decision after much thought and moved my jelly.

First, I went ahead bouncing and retrieved Sosik, pierced by a spike that shot up from the floor.

...The knowledge pouch is enigmatic, but this fellow is also problematic.

Does it want to become just jelly instead of Sosik at this rate?

*Tsk tsk.*

Clicking my tongue at the jelly inwardly, I picked up Daesik, who was wriggling obediently below me. Sosik was included.

Holding two blobs against my chest... it felt somewhat uncanny.

Quickly shaking off that feeling, I proceeded through the maze-like space, following the knowledge pouch’s guidance.

And lo and behold.

Surprisingly, nothing happened.

I proceeded cautiously, recalling Sosik getting pierced by a spike earlier, but as if ridiculing my actions, nothing happened.

After that, my jelly that had shrunk expanded, and my steps gradually gained confidence.

Daesik and Sosik also didn’t wriggle as if enjoying the peaceful stroll.

Then I saw peculiar things.

Objects that are somewhat foreign to this space.

But familiar objects to me.

Like guns.

Well, those kinds of things.

Seeing the scenery indirectly telling me what happened here, my jelly stiffens again.

Meanwhile,

“Ooooh!”

A bizarre sound was heard from the direction the knowledge pouch was pointing.Diiscover new stories at novelhall.com

An eerie, strange sound that made me uncertain if it was a beast howling or what.

While the deceiving walls were no big deal, the strange sound emanating from where the knowledge pouch pointed felt somewhat meaningful.

Can I really trust this thing?

...Han Seori said I’d be able to return when the time comes, I think.

When would that be?

Could that possibly be now?

Now, please!?

Couldn’t it be now?

Despite the cry in my heart, there was no reaction around me.

Only Daesik and Sosik wriggled against my chest.

The knowledge pouch urged me on as if nothing was going on.

And ran.

*Crash!*

The moment I moved, I saw its huge axe cleaving the ground. I could sense the raw power behind each swing just from the way the fragments flew in all directions.

Pebbles bounced off me as I learned the taste of rocks, and I ran like crazy, looking at the arrows reflected on the floor.

The knowledge pouch swayed loosely as if it had done its job, so the only thing I could trust now were these arrows.

...There’s no way I can memorize that long, long maze, right?

I’m starting to feel bad for thinking it was a bomb necklace for a moment.

Anyway,

I jiggled Daesik, Sosik, and the jelly as I ran and ran.

Thanks to my expanded vision, I could clearly see the figure of the fellow chasing me from behind. It was a very good advantage, but...

Being able to keep staring at it...

This means I can’t look away even if I want to avoid that sight.

The figure of a two-legged cow wielding a huge axe.

It really looked like a mythical monster.

What the hell is it so upset about that it’s chasing me as if to kill me...

*Slice!*

The huge axe blade grazes above my head.

*Splat!*

With that sound, the knowledge pouch is scattered on the floor. A new knowledge pouch immediately regrows in place of the severed one.

Experiencing a part of my body being lost, I think I know why it’s chasing me.

...It’s probably because of the orb trembling inside my body even now.

But,

I think it’s too late to go back and return it now. Even if I didn’t bring it in the first place.

Frankly, it would be impossible to avoid that axe and muscular cow to put it back.

I’d be lucky not to become squashed jelly.

*Slish! Splack!*

Only my innocent knowledge pouch keeps getting chopped off.

The feeling of being gradually eaten away doesn’t bode well.

There’s still a long way to go before escaping,

But if the knowledge pouch keeps getting severed... it doesn’t seem like it will end well.

From the experience of my body being sliced, my body size also got smaller the more my body was cut.

...A smaller body might be able to hide in a mouse hole,

*Swish!*

I avoided the swinging axe again, but the knowledge pouch was severed again.

...But avoiding what’s chasing me would become very difficult.

It became a match between being completely devoured by that mad cow or escaping this place first.

I briefly considered charging at it like I dealt with the guardian totem before...

But the situation was quite different from that one.

That one was fixed in place at the end and had no arms or legs.

...If I cling to that fellow now,

My jelly will surely be ripped apart.

Even without that axe, those bulging muscles would undoubtedly tear me to shreds.

*Slice!*

Sure enough, the knowledge pouch falls to the floor with a *splat!*

...What should I do?

“Moooo!!!!”

Hearing its irritated roar, I thought I should come up with a countermeasure quickly.

...Before I get caught and shredded, that is.