“They’re playing to their nature.”
Recalling the information I had gleaned about Marvolo with my third eye, the phrase made a certain kind of sense. Steeling myself, I pushed open the wooden door in one swift motion. As I stepped forward, a strange gust of heat enveloped me, wrapping around my body and assaulting my senses with a pungent odor.
“What… is that smell? It’s so strange…”
“Ugh.”
Ansol and Lee Yujeong, perhaps more sensitive due to their gender, covered their noses and retreated behind me. The other clan members remained silent, but I could tell the stench was getting to them as well. It was hot and overpowering, even to me.
“Hanbyul, you can cancel the light.”
Judging by the time it took us to descend the stairs, the basement was quite deep. There were no windows, so it should have been pitch dark. However, the ceiling was studded with light stones, and torches were sporadically mounted on the walls, illuminating our path.
The sphere of light gradually faded away. We walked along the rough, reddish bricks. Initially, the passage stretched straight ahead, but soon it branched off to the sides, and we paused at a dead end.
“Right or left?”
Unfortunately, I didn’t know much about the castle’s basement. The records didn’t detail its structure. After a moment of contemplation, I turned to the clan members.
“From now on, everyone will use magic detection.”
”…”
“Spread out a bit more. You can either do a general circular scan or focus on specific directions. If you sense anything, report it to me immediately.”
I wasn’t just asking them to find someone; there could be anything down here, so we needed to be prepared. The clan members quickly began their magic detection. I could feel the various flows of magic spreading across the floor. Nodding, I turned left.
“Go Yeonju, you mentioned sensing something before we entered, right?”
“Yes, I still feel it. The shadows are telling me.”
Her calm response made me pause, but then I realized she might be right. If Go Yeonju hadn’t said anything, it was likely because the direction I was heading wasn’t wrong. Or perhaps it didn’t matter which way we went.
We walked for about five minutes through the passage. The basement was eerily silent, the only sound being our footsteps. Just as I began to feel the passage narrowing, a faint, unfamiliar noise reached my ears.
Clink… Clink…
“Suhyeon.”
“Yes, I heard it.”
“If you keep going straight, the passage will turn right. From there, it gets very narrow, just enough for two people to pass. The sound is coming from there.”
“Let’s switch to a two-line formation. Clan members on the left, step forward two paces. We’ll proceed in this formation.”
Go Yeonju naturally moved to the back. After confirming the diagonal formation of the clan members, we picked up the pace. As she said, the passage was visibly narrowing. When we reached a wall blocking our path, I noticed another passage branching off to the right. As soon as we turned, we stopped in our tracks at the sight before us.
“I think I understand the layout now.”
The passage was just as Go Yeonju described. It was narrow, just wide enough for two people, with large holes at regular intervals on the right wall. Thick iron bars were embedded above and below each hole. If the wall in front of us was a giant rectangle, there were likely similar holes on the opposite side.
“It’s not a maze… It’s a dungeon.”
As Kim Hanbyul noted, this was indeed a dungeon. As we entered the passage, the stench we had initially encountered grew stronger. We had grown somewhat accustomed to it, but as we approached the holes, the foul odor intensified.
Clang… Clang…
The sound of chains echoed again. As I cautiously peered through the iron bars, the first thing I saw was a cavernous space about five pyeong in size. And then…
“Oh my god…”
“This is too much… sob…”
A female user was hanging from the ceiling, her arms bound by chains. But what truly made the clan members grimace was the state of her body, which was clearly in dire condition.
She was naked, her body covered in bruises, with whip marks etched into her sensitive areas. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and the pungent odor of male sweat, and her lips, chest, and private parts were smeared with a hardened, whitish substance. It was clear what had transpired here.
“Ansol, prepare a healing spell.”
“Sob… Yes!”
I immediately drew my sword and began cutting through the iron bars. Mere steel was no match for my power, and I quickly created an opening large enough for a person to pass through.
“Hyung, but how do we lower those chains…?”
Once inside, I swung my sword at the chains in the air.
Ping! Slash! Clang!
Anhyun, who had been looking for a mechanism or key, fell silent as the chains snapped and the woman fell into my arms. I gently laid her on the ground. Her breathing was faint, but her chest rose and fell slightly, indicating she was still alive.
”───. ───. ───. Cure!”
A warm glow enveloped the woman as she lay groaning on the floor. But one healing spell wasn’t enough. As Baek Hangyeol handed me healing potions, I poured them over her body, watching as the wounds began to close with a hiss of white smoke.
“Ugh…”
The woman finally opened her eyes after three healing spells and two potions. She looked at us with bleary eyes, then suddenly widened them in terror and scrambled to her knees.
“Are you conscious?”
“Aaaaaah!”
“Please, wait a moment.”
“Please, spare me! I was wrong! I was really wrong! Please, spare me!”
”…”
Her first words were a scream, followed by a plea for mercy, ending in a wail. As the others looked on, unsure of what to do, I gently lifted her chin to meet my gaze. Her eyes were filled with abject terror. She quickly lowered her head again, sobbing.
“Please, calm down and look at me.”
“Spare me, please. Just once, forgive me.”
“The sorcerer is dead. We are the second rescue team sent to save you. You can relax now.”
“Forgive… Spare…?”
I spoke with authority, ensuring she heard me clearly. The woman, who had been bowing and pleading, hesitated slightly at my words. She scanned our group with trembling eyes before fainting, her eyes rolling back.
”…Suhyeon, this woman…”
“She’s likely one of the captured users.”
“I know that. But what do we do now…?”
“She’s breathing. Her mind was pushed to the brink, and she fainted from relief.”
I spoke calmly, gesturing to Ansol, Kim Hanbyul, and Baek Hangyeol. The three approached the fallen woman hesitantly, swallowing nervously as they looked at me.
“The users’ conditions are worse than expected. We’ll need to divide roles from here on out. You three will form the healing team. Ansol, start the healing, with Kim Hanbyul assisting. Hangyeol, have potions ready.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll go around cutting through the bars. Yujeong, follow me. If we find any users, we’ll bring them out for treatment.”
“Okay, oppa.”
“Go Yeonju, Anhyun, you two form a team. Go Yeonju, check if there are other dungeons in different passages. If you find anyone in critical condition… Anhyun.”
“Yes, hyung.”
I paused, handing my sword to Anhyun.
“I’ll lend you my sword. It’s better than a spear for this. You should be able to cut through the bars. Take some potions just in case. If Go Yeonju finds someone, bring them to Ansol immediately. Understood?”
“Understood.”
“Let’s move now.”
Finally, with the Ilwol Divine Sword in hand, Ahn Hyun exchanged a glance with Go Yeon-ju and dashed forward. Watching Yoo Jung drag the fallen woman outside, I too drew my sword anew. Facing the three pale figures, I spoke up.
“Let’s get started.”
With only one priest, the rescue operation was inevitably slow. So, we divided our roles. The process was simple: I would cut through the iron bars, and Yoo Jung would immediately enter to bring out the captives. The waiting medical team would then begin treatment right away. Occasionally, I had to go in myself, especially when the captives were suspended high or completely restrained, like the first woman we found.
Sometimes, we found empty cells with signs of previous occupants. Regardless, the priority was treating the captives, so I focused on breaking the bars to facilitate easier access for treatment.
My judgment proved correct. Each cell in the corridor held at least one, sometimes two captives.
The problem was that the further we went, the worse the condition of the captives became. They were both physically and mentally devastated. The first woman we found was in relatively good shape. Even the second and third captives—a man with bruises all over and a woman with a distended belly—seemed okay in comparison. At least their limbs were intact.
But the ones we rescued afterward were in such a pitiful state that it was hard to look at them.
“Ha…”
“Hey, something’s wrong with this one!”
“Heh heh…”
About thirty minutes into the rescue, we reached the last cell in the corridor where a naked boy was imprisoned. At first glance, he seemed unharmed, certainly better off than the others who had suffered grievous injuries. But his eyes were unfocused, and he kept making a deflating sound with his lips.
“Why is he like this? He doesn’t seem hurt…”
“He’s probably mentally broken. Just get him out.”
“Okay, but his injuries…”
“Lay him face down. Make sure his backside is visible.”
“Huh?”
Yoo Jung tilted her head in confusion but did as I instructed. A weak scream escaped her lips when she saw the boy’s back. It was caked with dried blood and horribly mangled. Yoo Jung’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“They did this to him too? Even though he’s a boy?”
“Who knows? Maybe it was female vagrants.”
“Those sick bastards!”
Yoo Jung’s face twisted with pity, then erupted in anger. The boy seemed more mentally than physically damaged, his expression completely vacant. Watching him, I let out a deep sigh. We had only checked one corridor. With no more cells ahead, it was time to explore the remaining two sides.
Just as I was about to turn around—
“Aaah!”
“Waaah!”
The sudden mix of retching and crying made me rush back to the main area. There, I found An Sol and Baek Han-gyeol collapsed in front of a male captive with grotesquely twisted limbs. Kim Han-byeol stood nearby, her face pale.
“Hey.”
Kim Han-byeol’s voice trembled. Her gaze wasn’t on the captive or me but fixed on someone behind me. I turned slowly. There stood Ahn Hyun, holding onto someone’s waist. The lower half of the body was missing. In his hands was a male captive, limbs severed, head bowed.
“Is he still alive?”
“Yes, they said he is. We should take him.”
“Alright. Let’s get him treated. Lay him down over here.”
“Yes, yes.”
Ahn Hyun quickly laid the man on the ground. There was no movement from him. As Go Yeon-ju had said, he was alive, but barely. I gestured for Kim Han-byeol to bring the others over and asked Ahn Hyun.
“How far did you check the corridors? How many were there?”
“Both corridors. And there was only this one man.”
My hand paused as I was about to open a potion. One man. Ten clan members from Yeoulgan, fourteen from the first rescue team. We confirmed one death, so twenty-three were captured in total. I counted the captives lying in the corridor. Seven. Which meant sixteen were still…
“Oh, and Yeon-ju told me to pass on a message.”
“Go Yeon-ju? What did she say?”
“She found a passage leading to the second basement level.”
At that moment, a conversation with Marbolo flashed through my mind.
‘Margarita… well, what do you think happened to her? Heh heh.’
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
I barely made it in time to write today because of a prior engagement. Oh, but I discovered something interesting. Readers who didn’t flinch at the mention of BL are reacting to the dismemberment! Oh… oh… oh…!
PS. Today’s consecutive updates are uncertain. If nothing is posted by noon, feel free to scold me. (?!)
『 Reader Comments (Episode 266) 』
Hanbangmode: Congratulations on being first! You seem to be the most frequent first commenter these days. :) Enjoy this episode!
dbss: Thank you for the coupon and recommendation. I’ll keep working hard. (__)
Joajukgetne: The academy… I still wake up in a cold sweat. ㅜ.ㅠ
Eojjeodajeoreoni: Hmph! I didn’t write this just for you! I just wanted to get some items quickly! Thanks for the coupon! (__)
Hyeonoh: Help. Please. ㅜ.ㅠ Today’s consecutive updates are very uncertain. If I take a short break and fall asleep… ㅜ.ㅠ
『 Reader Comments (Episode 267) 』
Cheonhaeryeong: Hooray! Congratulations on being first! New faces often appear first during consecutive updates~.
Jirisan’s Wolf: It’s impossible for even the admin to be first at midnight. But one day, I will be first. :D
Strategic Mobile Force: Help. I really messed up. ㅜ.ㅠ
Pacheonmagon: Pegasus hatching is possible. It sounds adorable just thinking about it. But the fate of the Pegasus egg is already decided as a fried egg… (smack smack!)
Center Runner: Thank you for the support. If I have time, I’ll definitely do consecutive updates. I came home late today, so I couldn’t start writing early. ㅜ.ㅠ
Thank you for always reading. Your recommendations and comments are a great source of strength.
I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.
Recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.