Returning to Basics

As we ventured deeper into the Cave of Wails, the dampness and unpleasant humidity we felt at the entrance began to fade. In its place, a chilling malevolence grew stronger. By now, having encountered the undead several times, we had all somewhat adapted to the eerie atmosphere.

Following a decision made by Ansol and me, we took the path to the right and had been walking for a solid thirty minutes. Upon passing Point 5, most paths, regardless of their direction, eventually led to Point 10. Of course, we had to pass through Point 7, but this reduced the burden of choosing the right path.

After an additional ten minutes of walking, we sensed we were nearing our target. I raised my right hand to signal a stop, and the footsteps of my companions behind me ceased simultaneously. I heightened my magical senses to scrutinize the surroundings and spoke in a low voice.

“About 200 meters ahead. To be precise, around 180 meters. There are things within our detection range.”

“How many?”

“Two. But they’re not moving, and I can’t sense any life from them. They’re just standing there, which is a bit odd. We’ll need to get closer to find out more.”

“Let’s be cautious. They might be similar to the wraiths we’ve encountered,” Ha-yeon advised.

I nodded, preparing for battle. My memory of this part was a bit hazy, so it was best to be fully prepared. After a brief period of preparation, we moved forward with the caravan.

The light orb dimmed again, and instead, I enhanced my vision with magic to pierce through the darkness. Prolonged use of magic on the eyes wasn’t ideal, but using it briefly when necessary was manageable.

We stopped again, leaving a small distance between us and the unknown. Go Yeon-ju stepped forward slightly, scrutinizing the path ahead.

“They seem like guardians. They’re standing on either side of a barred iron door. Just as user Kim Su-hyun said, there’s no reaction from them.”

Using my third eye, I confirmed Go Yeon-ju’s observation. A few more steps forward, and they would have recognized us as intruders and activated. I nodded and called Ha-yeon. Fighting was an option, but the narrow passage we were in wasn’t ideal for combat. It was better to deal with them from a distance before they could react.

“Ha-yeon, do you remember the spell you used against the LadolRofs?”

“If you mean Rapid Fire, yes, I remember.”

“Can you use it again now?”

“Of course. I memorized it during our last preparation.”

Seeing Ha-yeon’s confident smile reassured me. I guided her forward and pointed to a corner of the door. Her eyes briefly glowed a watery blue as she gathered her magic.

“Is that where I should aim?”

“Yes. I don’t sense any magical protection, but just in case, prepare at least three shots.”

“Understood. I’ll start the incantation now.”

Ha-yeon closed her eyes and began chanting. I stepped back, watching her alongside Go Yeon-ju. The mention of a door had brightened everyone’s spirits. It seemed they were excited at the prospect of finally receiving a reward since leaving the small town of Mule.

I, too, felt a thrill at the thought of capturing a Chaos Mimic. I tried to maintain my composure, but the potential rewards were enticing. If luck was on our side, we might obtain an elixir to boost our stamina. If we did, I planned to combine it with the Heart of Belphegor and Vivian’s Elixir for a powerful concoction. Though, perhaps I was getting ahead of myself.

A refreshing flow of mana filled the air. Ha-yeon’s short hair, which lightly covered her neck, caught my eye. As I admired her graceful neck, she finished her preparations and extended her staff. A faint light flickered from her necklace, and her clear voice resonated through the passage.

“Ice Spear! Rapid Fire!”

The familiar long, pointed ice spears began to form. But Ha-yeon’s incantation didn’t stop there.

“Pierce!”

“Hmm.”

“Oh? Even Pierce? She must have mastered quite a few advanced spells,” Go Yeon-ju remarked, impressed by Ha-yeon’s additional incantation. I wholeheartedly agreed. While others might not see me as a novice user, my skills were largely due to the special abilities I had acquired.

When I first met Ha-yeon, I thought, “She might be a user who can reach the tenth level.” As a second-year magic user, her skills were exceptionally refined.

Ha-yeon gently waved her staff, and the spears began to fire one by one, likely with a time delay in mind.

The first ice spear shot forward, and as it entered their detection range, we heard a grinding noise. The statues, which had been standing still, turned their heads toward us, their helmets glowing red. Then, ominous voices emerged from the darkness.

“Intruder detected. Initiating defense protocol.”

“Executing primary command. Eradicate the intruders.”

As the two guardian statues swiftly turned toward us, Ha-yeon’s first shot struck the designated corner of the iron door with precision.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

<<Static, intruder attack confirmed, static.>>

Boom! Boom! Boom!

<<Static, static, static.>>

Ha-yeon’s six spears struck the door without a single miss, eventually shattering the central mechanism and even breaking one side of the door. The power was truly formidable.

The statues, which had just turned toward us with an imposing presence, crumbled with a mournful sound. Without a source of magic, they were nothing more than statues.

”…….”

”…Is it over?”

“I’m not sure either.”

The swift outcome left even Ha-yeon, the caster, bewildered. After confirming the statues’ status with my third eye, I couldn’t help but chuckle. With the third eye, I was confident we could complete this journey in two rounds. Without it, we would have had no choice but to fight. But by identifying and destroying their core, I had resolved the situation effortlessly.

Leading my bewildered companions, I stepped through the iron door. With one side already open thanks to Ha-yeon, there was no need for further effort. As we passed through, the scenery changed from the rugged, irregular passageways to neat, square paths and sharp corners. The sudden shift in atmosphere left the others glancing around curiously. Clearly, this place bore the marks of human craftsmanship.

This was the midpoint that divided the Cave of Wails. After a brief survey of the surroundings, I led the caravan down the straight path ahead.

As we walked, I placed my hand on the right wall, tapping lightly as I went. Go Yeon-ju, walking beside me, seemed puzzled but soon joined in, mirroring my actions on the opposite side.

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap.

The rhythmic tapping echoed through the corridor. Somewhere around here, the caravan leader had punched the wall in frustration. The others asked what we were doing, but it was Vivian who answered. Having spent time in dungeons herself, she understood the significance of our actions. Her comment, “We’re looking for a secret room,” amused me.

Tap, tap, thud, thud, tap.

There it was. Among the walls I tapped, one sounded different, and I stopped. Turning around, I saw everyone watching me with eager anticipation. Go Yeon-ju approached, tapped the wall a few times, and nodded.

“This part is definitely different. We’ve found a secret room. But be careful. Just because it’s a secret room doesn’t mean it’s safe. How did you figure it out? I almost missed it.”

Go Yeon-ju cleverly shifted the conversation, asking how I sensed it rather than how I knew. But I wasn’t about to be caught off guard. I shrugged as usual and replied.

“Just a hunch. It seemed odd that a place with signs of human activity wouldn’t have a room. I thought it was worth checking.”

“Are you joking with me? No one taught you to do that….”

“At the User Academy.”

Interrupting her, I replied, and Go Yeon-ju shot me a glare with those pretty eyes of hers. She let out a long sigh and trudged back to the group, looking defeated. I felt a twinge of guilt, but I couldn’t just hand over what little I had to offer.

After sending Go Yeon-ju back, I calmly surveyed the interior with my third eye and senses. There were three distinct reactions inside—likely Chaos Mimics. Swallowing hard, I felt along the wall. Soon, I found a spot that felt different from the rest and pressed it without hesitation. A section of the wall indented, revealing a slight gap. Applying more pressure, the gap widened.

“Let’s go in.”

I tossed the words over my shoulder to the group, who were nervously swallowing. Their eyes lit up with a strange eagerness, which, to be honest, was a bit unsettling.

Once we widened the gap and stepped inside, we found ourselves in a secret room. It had a drawer, a bed, and a bookshelf. The cold, hard ground made it hard to call it a proper room, but it was proof that someone had once lived in the “Cave of Screams.” Not that I cared much about that. The investigators could worry about such things later; we were only interested in the spoils.

As three light orbs floated up, the room, previously shrouded in darkness, was illuminated. With our vision clear, we spotted treasure chests in a corner. Oddly, the chests seemed to be breathing, as if alive.

“Mimics. We’ve hit the jackpot,” Go Yeon-ju whispered cautiously, but I merely offered a faint smile. Would it really be that simple? The others were ready to rush at the chests, dazzled by the jewels adorning them. But I quickly signaled them to stay quiet and still, then crept forward alone.

Chaos Mimics. They looked like ordinary mimics, but their nature was entirely different. Capture one, process it properly, and inscribe a subjugation spell, and you’d have a perfect backpack without needing to carry anything else.

Moreover, they could absorb chaos-based defensive magic, and their ornate appearance made them highly coveted, especially by female users like priests or mages. They were incredibly useful, and these were fully loaded, making them ideal monsters.

The mimics seemed to be in a deep sleep, unaware of the world. Watching their gentle breathing, I bent down and picked one up. The moment my hand touched it, the mimic flailed its box-like body in surprise. It blinked its split opening like a pair of eyes, then suddenly froze, as if staring at me.

A moment passed. Realizing the situation, the Chaos Mimic suddenly opened its mouth wide, revealing a black hole-like void inside. And then…

“SCREEEEEECH!”

It let out a harsh, monstrous scream.

“Ahh!”

“What… what is that sound?”

The group behind me let out low cries, and Go Yeon-ju, realizing this was no ordinary mimic, sounded alarmed. She should have known the characteristics of a Chaos Mimic. My guess was confirmed when she shouted, “No way?!” and screamed at me to drop it when she saw the swirling black energy pouring out of its open mouth.

“User Kim Soo-hyun! Drop it and step back! It’s not just a mimic, it’s a Chaos Mimic! How is this possible…?”

“Got it.”

I replied calmly, leaping back and stomping down hard. The other mimics, awakened by the scream, might have tried to escape. As I pinned two of them down, Go Yeon-ju’s voice rose in frustration (not that I paid it any mind).

Once I had the two secured, I raised my hand calmly. A clear flame enveloped my right hand, and with a light flick, I scattered the black energy the mimic was emitting.

Then, through the dissipating, burning energy, I swiftly thrust my hand into the mimic’s gaping mouth.

---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=

(We’ll skip the reader comments for this chapter and include them in the next one. Apologies.)

Hello, this is Ro Yu-jin.

It’s just past midnight, a time when I’m usually lost in my thoughts, and the game master’s comment really struck a chord with me.

I’ve read through all the comments you’ve left. Your requests for more chapters, your questions, the times you teased me as “Erotic Yu-jin,” the support you gave during the H-scene controversy, your sharp insights into my foreshadowing, and even your comment about going to the military.

I’ve been through the military myself. This is my second year in the reserves. I’m sure others have given you plenty of advice, but let me add one thing.

The most important thing in the military is to come back healthy.

I once strained my back trying to lift a food waste bin as tall as my stomach by myself during basic training. I didn’t think much of it at first, but who knew it would bother me for over two years? Ha ha.

Later, it hurt so much I couldn’t even turn over in bed, and I remember being hit with a pillow for groaning in my sleep. (….) But I’m much better now.

Anyway, I heard you’re going to the 102nd Supplementary Unit. (I went through the 306th.) I can’t stress enough how important it is to take care of your health. The military is a place where the basic principle is to follow orders. It might be dirty, tough, and unfair at times, but if you endure, there will come a day when it all pays off.

I remember something my company commander said during basic training.

The path my father took, the path my brother took, the path I’m taking now, and the path my son will take someday—that’s the military. The situation might be unstable, and you might feel anxious, but since most Korean men go through it, and given your cheerful nature, I’m sure you’ll have a fun and healthy military life.

Ah, this note is getting too long. Sorry, I’m just feeling very sentimental today. Ha ha. I have a morning lecture, and I hope I don’t fall asleep. :)

I’ll wrap it up here. I wish you a safe and successful two years in the military, and I’ll have plenty of chapters ready for you when you come back on leave.

Have a good time in the military! ^-^/