Chapter 96

Chapter 96

"...A maze?"

While other places had stones stacked haphazardly, here they were neatly arranged. Huge stones were piled on top of each other, creating a path barely big enough for two adults to pass through.

The place was full of such an unusual atmosphere that I felt like I shouldn't enter inside.

"Hoo...”

When I looked up–the stones almost reached the ceiling. I looked around–it was completely blocked–so the only way forward was this narrow path.

“...”

"Oh, wait...!”

Baek Si-hoo started walking forward without saying a word. Why is he so selfish? What a villain anyway.

While I cursed inwardly, I followed Baek Si-hoo into the maze. But as soon as I entered, there was a wall blocking me. And the path forks into two directions.

“...”

“...”

Right or left. I felt like I was facing a crossroads in my life. If I made the wrong choice here, I would get lost forever. I felt as if I was trapped in a huge cage and it was suffocating me.

Once again, Baek Si-hoo moved first. He left me alone and walked to the right. I panicked and subconsciously grabbed his sleeve.

"No, don't go so recklessly like that...!"

"...Let go."

"..."

Fierce. So fierce. Why is he glaring at me so scarily when I didn't even touch him? I wonder if I can apply my auxiliary skill to him later. Thinking unnecessary thoughts, I shook my head and released my grip.

“Why don't you think about it a little harder...?”

“There's no point thinking about it any harder.”

"That's true, but...”

What Baek Si-hoo said was not wrong. In a situation without a clue, going right or left had the same fifty-fifty chance, and it might be better to go random for now.

I also don't want to feel frustrated by it. However, this ominous space surrounded by stones seems to continue to make me feel uncomfortable. Baek Si-hoo silently looked at me as I gulped down.

"You wait here."

"Huh...?"

"If it's hard for you to move, just wait here."

"..."

What's wrong with Baek Si-hoo? Why did he suddenly become so considerate? When I looked at him suspiciously, Baek Si-hoo frowned and quickly turned his head.

No, it seemed like he was just trying to get rid of me because he thought I would be a burden. He probably kept me alive because of my auxiliary skill, and he seemed annoyed that I kept hanging around him.

I tried to nod in agreement. I also had Yong-sun with me, so I knew that nothing serious would happen while I was here waiting for Baek Si-hoo. If Baek Si-hoo doesn't come back... I'll have to think about it later.

"Ppii!"

"Yong-sun?"

Yong-sun, who was on my shoulder, suddenly jumped down. When she landed on the ground, she moved her small face from side to side as if she was looking for something, and then she started running past Baek Si-hoo.

"Huh? Yong-sun-a! Stop!"

Her tiny body moved incredibly fast. I was surprised and quickly chased after Yong-sun.

“Han Yi-jin!”

But then I remembered that I hadn't met any monsters in this maze. Since we were in a dungeon, I thought there would be monsters everywhere, but even now I didn't feel anything approaching. Could it be that there are no monsters in the maze? That couldn't be possible.

"Ugh... Cough."

I felt like things had quieted down, so I raised my head. Perhaps because the stone had collapsed, there was hazy smoke before my eyes. I coughed and swung my arm around. The scenery in front of me slowly emerged.

"Gasp."

Baek Si-hoo really destroyed the wall perfectly. It was amazing how well he managed to break through such a high wall–that the entire wall doesn't collapse and only leaves space for someone to pass through.

He must have a surprisingly high agility stat, or he has an artistic temperament.

For a moment, I had a horrifying thought and carefully approached Baek Si-hoo. He just stood still in front of the broken wall.

"What on earth is... here?"

“...”

I peeked from the side, and it turned out that there was a very large space inside the wall. A hidden room in a hidden area. It was a mysterious place within the maze. I quickly scanned the area to see if there were any monsters.

But there was nothing. I shouldn't be doing this, but I felt despondent. I frowned and saw a pile of stones in the middle.

The glowing black stones were piled high. It looked like a clunky altar.

Thinking of it as an altar, I vaguely understood the unnatural atmosphere of this place. Even though it was an SS-rank dungeon, monsters rarely appeared, and the atmosphere was quiet. And their appearance is also strange. They were clearly in the form of beasts, but with their limbs twisted, it felt unsettling.

I wondered what this altar was for, and why there weren't any monsters around. I felt strangely uneasy and bit my lip.

"Ppiiik!"

"Yong-sun?"

"Ppii, ppiii!"

Yong-sun, who was on my hand, immediately jumped from her spot. And at that moment, fire suddenly erupted from the altar.

"Urgh...!"

"What's that?"

The flames from the altar instantly enveloped the surroundings. Yong-sun, who was in my arms, jumped and fell to the ground. And she squeaked loudly while blocking my way.

"Ppiii!"

"Yong-sun!"

I wanted to move forward, but the fire was too hot to do so. The heat was on a different level from where Yong-sun was nesting. I felt like my whole body was going to melt. While I was struggling, I heard someone's voice in my ear.

An offering...

"...What?"

After a long time... A sacrifice...

“...!”

An eerie voice rang in my ears. Despite feeling the heat from the fire just a moment ago, this eerie voice gave me goosebumps all over my body. I felt someone looking at me from the altar, where there was nothing but flames.

"Ugh...!”

Then someone pushed me backwards and I looked at the person in front of me.

"Stay still."

“...!”

Baek Si-hoo said it calmly.