The Pitch Black Labyrinth had been placed under special management by the Federation and the North’s major guilds.
Perhaps it was thanks to their efforts in retrieving the tokens scattered nearby that the number of huge monsters in the vicinity had significantly decreased.
Whenever a labyrinth appears, countless people are bound to seek it just as insects swarm toward light; some seek a fortune, and others want to test their limits.
Whatever their purpose was, the labyrinth was a fairly appropriate place where they could achieve their goals.
That's why it wasn't surprising that all factions wanted to get a grasp of such a place.
That was also the case now.
The Federation and related guilds had dispatched troops to block the Pitch Black Labyrinth’s entrance.
"Hey, is everything okay?"
"What could go wrong? How many people are gathered here? I guess they came to change shifts."
"Huh, but isn’t this a bit too showy?"
"You aren't wrong. Who would dare interfere with the Federation’s affairs unless they have multiple lives?" The guard on duty said while relaying the special instructions for the shift change.
"But what kind of crazy person would enter such a dark labyrinth?"
"They are troublemakers. Most are transferees. They seem desperate to die."
While they were switching shifts, their superior approached the labyrinth’s entrance.
"Ugh, look at how quickly they came just because we talked a bit."
"Tsk..."
The reason their superior had come to pay them a visit was different from what they expected.
"The tokens’ owners have been decided."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Yes? R-Really?"
If his superior's words were true, it would mean they managed to collect all the labyrinth's tokens in less than two weeks since its appearance—it was a small peek into the Federation’s power.
"Who... No, which side got the tokens?"
Their superior bluntly told them the results.
"One for a Federation’s Watcher, one for the Testimony Society, and two for the New Humans. They also took a reserve position."
"So the New Humans have secured three spots. Is there something special about them?"
"Well, some people said they exercised some influence, but we aren't sure about that. All of the figures they put forward exceeded expectations. The other guilds also presented quite capable individuals."
"Are they all transferees?"
"It seems so. They’re probably the only ones willing to enter such a dark place."
"I agree with that."
At that moment, there was commotion nearby.
"H-How did he get here?"
"Stop him! Don't let him get close!"
Upon hearing the disturbance, the superior poked his head out to inspect the scene.
Step... Step...
A man wearing a robe was slowly approaching the entrance of the labyrinth they were guarding. But for some reason, he wasn't being stopped.
"S-Stop!"
"Didn't you hear?! Stop?!"
Everyone was shouting, but no one tried to block him.
Just as the superior was about to scold the guards angrily, he saw the eyes of the man in the robe.
When he met the man’s golden eyes, his body froze.
"Huh..."
He heard a low voice.
"I'm passing by."
Whir...
A dark energy swirled around the man. It was a feeling of being overwhelmed.
"Y-You cannot do anything without a token!"
"..."
"I don't know what you're looking for, but don't cause unnecessary conflicts. You won't be able to gain anything here..."
At that moment, the man removed his gloves and extended his hand forward.
A ring engraved with a strange phrase reacted with the door.
Whoosh...
Crack...
[The Flagellant's Seal activates.]
[Entering the Pitch Black Labyrinth.]
"..."
"H-Huh?"
Then, the man disappeared in an instant.
The people gathered at the labyrinth’s entrance couldn't hide their shock; they just rolled their eyes at each other, mouths agape.
Unfortunately, their catastrophe wasn't over yet.
From behind them came another voice.
"This is bad! Phihi... I'll go catch him!"
Phihi...
'Phihi?'
The superior recalled that among the people here, only one woman laughed that carelessly and turned his head.
"You... No, both of you..."
With an expressionless face and a body as rigid as an iron tower, a Latin woman with a greatsword on her back stood next to a handsome white man.
They seemed to recognize each other.
The woman grinned and brought her hands together as she pretended to pray.
"I was wondering how to pass! But having someone take the lead is too convenient for us, isn't it? To think someone was more vicious than us!"
They extended their hands.
Whoosh...
Crackle!
The black lightning swallowed both of them simultaneously.
The situation was escalating.
Paf—!
"Phihi.. We met immediately! Hi! Where did you come from?"
"..."
Seol looked back at them for a moment and furrowed his brows.
'An exploration team? No, that's a seal.'
It had been quite a while since Seol had conquered the Labyrinth of Penance, so there were most likely others who had conquered other labyrinths.
He didn't know how much stronger the Transferees had gotten, but he thought that they should at least be stronger than him when he overcame the Labyrinth of Penance.
'Well, maybe not. But... she has overlapping patterns.'
Seol was slightly surprised upon seeing Lucia's seal, but seeing the patterns in detail gave him a clearer understanding.
The public considered Lucia as an expert who had conquered two labyrinths. But Seol, who knew the truth, evaluated her differently.
'The Labyrinth of Blood and the Labyrinth of Plague... She was lucky. Did she only encounter the most basic labyrinths?'
The Blood and Plague labyrinths were relatively short compared to the Labyrinth of Penance. They also weren’t that difficult in comparison.
Of course, besides the seal, their rewards were quite bad.
That's why it would be safe to say that the only thing you could get from them were the seals.
This was something only Seol, someone who had explored several labyrinths, knew. So they had no way of knowing that.
"Hmm? Maybe you're the quiet type? Want to join forces? I'm Lucia! If the exploration team or whatever comes, they might attack us, right? Let's make a temporary alliance. Although there are two of us, there won't be any kind of hazing. Right?"
Nod...
The man wearing the iron armor remained expressionless and didn't join the conversation.
Seol looked at the two for a moment and then shook his head.
"I'll pass."
"Hm... Really? Why? No... What's your name?"
"I'm Seol..."
"Seol...? Hmm... I guess it can't be helped. But don't trail us, okay? And... What about you guys?"
Flinch...
The masked individuals had been quietly observing the situation since being transferred.
They waved their hands in response to Lucia's question.
"Well, fine. I'm fine, too!"
Lucia crossed one arm and swung the other one to choose a door.
"Where should we enter..."
Although she seemed carefree, Seol didn't value that highly.
'It's an important choice. Especially in the Pitch Black Labyrinth.'
If they casually decided it like that, it might cause trouble for them later.
To alleviate his own guilt a bit, Seol gave them a hint.
"Don’t underestimate this place. It’s..."
"Are you worried? Pfhihi... How cute. Although I might look like this, this is my third labyrinth. So..."
The iron-plated man looked at Seol and said.
"You're overstepping."
Seol shrugged his shoulders and ended the conversation.
"Then, I'll go here...!'
Each pattern had a different shape, and the meanings inside were different, too. The patterns symbolized Blood, Light, Darkness, Storm, and Dreams.
"Hmm... Since there's no sword pattern, this one seems the best. I'll go here! Don't follow, everyone."
"..."
"Then, Lucia's off!"
Seol watched her and the iron-plated man cross the Blood and Storm doors, disappearing through them.
The masked individuals extended their arms as if telling Seol to choose first.
Since Seol knew very well what the patterns next to the square symbolized, he decided without hesitation.
Whoosh...
Seol stood before the door of Darkness, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
Ziinng...
A strange reaction emanated from his belongings.
【Yaksha is crying.】
"..."
As Yaksha, which Agony hadn't fully absorbed yet, stood before the door of Darkness, it began vibrating.
Seol nodded slightly and then disappeared through it.
Creak...
Before the door closed, Seol whispered.
"There's one thing I haven't told you, Jamad."
- What?
"From here on..."
[You are entering the door of Darkness.]
[Your vision is restricted.]
"I must do this place alone."
[Your connections to all your Shadow Summons have been severed.]
[A strong darkness is approaching.]
Whoosh...
A cold sensation overcame him.
That was his first impression of the darkness.
Seol felt a sense of loss.
Since his summons constituted the largest part of his worth, a huge sense of emptiness came over him when their connections were severed.
They were connected through the lineage, so he could recognize their presence, but in places where there was no light, there were no shadows either.
Seol vowed while in a place where nothing could be seen. No matter how long it took, he would conquer this place with his own strength.
"Yes... From here on, I have to walk this path by myself."
At Seol's self-deprecating words, a response came from nearby.
A small life form was clinging to Seol's arm.
【But Agony is still here...】