Dungeon of the Alchemist (2)
“Hold on, we should change our formation.”
“What? Oh, okay. How should we do it?”
“Line up behind me, one by one. The person behind should hold onto the collar of the person in front. Once you grab it, don’t let go, no matter what.”
Normally, they might have questioned my instructions, but as soon as I finished speaking, they moved quickly. There was a brief commotion, but soon I felt Ansol, who had taken the spot right behind me, grab my collar with a grin. I had a hunch why they were suddenly so quick to follow my lead.
After confirming that Ansol, Yujeong, and Anhyeon were lined up behind me, I continued in a calm voice.
“The area we’re about to enter is called a ‘Pathway Barrier.’ If we take even a slightly wrong turn, we might get separated. So, never let go of the person in front of you. It’s best to step exactly where I step. And… never mind. Let’s go.”
I wanted to add that they shouldn’t be surprised by anything, but I held back. Even I couldn’t predict what we might encounter. Steeling myself, I took a slow, deliberate step forward.
The kids were following my instructions diligently, though I could feel their curious eyes on me. Keeping my ‘Third Eye’ ability active, I carefully placed each step.
One step. Two steps. Three steps… My gaze was fixed on the ground, but I could sense we were on the right path. The colors of the plants around us were regaining their original, vibrant hues. The occasional murmurs of awe from behind bolstered my confidence.
But that didn’t mean the Alchemist’s Dungeon would appear immediately. While the kids might have been following me without a care, I was maintaining intense focus, tracing every clue. Keeping the ‘Third Eye’ active for so long was no easy feat.
How much time had passed?
“Phew. You can let go now.”
We had finally reached our destination within the barrier. After nearly 40 minutes of tracking, the strange atmosphere surrounding us had dissipated. I took a deep breath, feeling the hands still clutching my collar. Occasionally, they tugged, which was quite annoying.
I turned slightly and grabbed Sol’s hand to make her let go. Her hand was soft and warm against my palm. When I touched her hand, Ansol looked at me in surprise, her face turning a shade of pink. I was just trying to get her to let go because it was bothersome…
She twisted her hand around mine, reluctant to release it, but I managed to pry it off. I gestured for the others to gather around. Hyun and Yujeong quickly joined me, all eyes on me, so I pulled them closer.
“Wow…”
Anhyeon gasped at the sight of the ancient marble castle standing before us. When I pointed it out, Sol and Yujeong stared at it in a daze. After seeing nothing but a dark forest, the castle surrounded by radiant foliage left them speechless.
After a moment of silent admiration, Anhyeon spoke in a dazed voice.
“This castle is…”
“We suspect it’s the dungeon of the ancient alchemist, Vivian. We’ll only know for sure once we go inside.”
Watching their awestruck faces, I felt a sense of pride. I had agonized over which unique ability to choose. In the end, I picked the ‘Third Eye’ because it seemed the most versatile and efficient in the whole plane. In the past, finding caves or dungeons was a struggle, but now, with just a bit of information, I could locate them. It felt like I had made the right choice.
“Hyung… I didn’t think you’d actually find it.”
“Neither did I. I just followed the traces and my instincts… Beginner’s luck, maybe.”
Hyun’s eyes were filled with admiration. I responded modestly. If they were already amazed, how would they handle future explorations? But I couldn’t let myself get too carried away. While the scene outside was peaceful, I knew better than anyone how hellish it could be inside.
“Wow, oppa, the castle is so pretty. I thought dungeons would be dark and creepy.”
Oh, it will be, once we go inside and head underground. I kept my thoughts to myself, not wanting to spoil the mood. Ansol, too, spoke with excitement.
“It feels like a fortress. Just like in the movies…”
As Sol spoke dreamily, I noticed a hint of bitterness on Hyun’s face. I wasn’t sure why, but it seemed like the word “movie” was a trigger.
Yujeong looked eager to go inside, her body language urging me forward. Just a moment ago, they were all downcast, but the change in environment had lifted their spirits. They seemed to be quite the mood-driven bunch.
“Oppa, you’re amazing. When we passed by earlier, there was no sign of a castle. How did you find it?”
“Well, I guess I just got lucky.”
“Oh, come on. I know you’ve been studying records and stuff. It’s like you plucked a star from the sky.”
I chuckled softly at Yujeong’s words. Kim Hanbyul suddenly came to mind. I wondered what he was up to. If he were here… I shook my head. He’d probably be arguing with me non-stop.
In any case, it was too soon to relax. No, it wasn’t just too soon; this was only the beginning. As I moved toward the castle, the others hurried to follow.
“Wait a moment.”
I stopped in front of the castle gate. There were traces leading inside, meaning a caravan had already entered the dungeon. Judging by the tracks, there were five sets of footprints. Either there were originally five members, or one had died along the way. Puzzled, I cautiously opened the door blocking our path.
“Wow.”
“Whoa…”
We had finally entered the castle. Inside, the kids were too busy gawking at the surroundings to pay attention to anything else. The circular lobby was far from pristine. Broken chairs and shattered windows were scattered about. It had an old-world charm, but a slightly eerie atmosphere lingered.
Still, the white marble ceiling was a sight to behold. The large domed ceiling and the marble columns supporting it were reminiscent of a European church.
“What’s this? There are no treasures or monsters. Did someone already loot the place?”
”…”
Did you really think it would be that easy? I rubbed my forehead at Yujeong’s disappointed remark and pointed to the center of the room. There, embedded in the floor, was a wooden door with an iron ring.
“Oh, a secret base.”
”…It’s a door to the underground prison. How old are you, calling it a secret base…?”
“Whatever, it’s the same thing. Oppa, you’re always picking on me.”
She seemed excited about discovering the castle. Earlier, she had been like a scolded puppy, but now she was getting cheeky again. I decided to let it slide for now.
The original meaning of “dungeon” is “underground prison.” The absence of monsters in the castle lobby was unexpected but not inexplicable. Either there were no monsters to begin with, or the caravan had already dealt with them. Given the lack of bodies or signs of battle, the former seemed more likely.
“So, we just go in here?”
“That’s right. We can’t just leave after finding it.”
I nodded and grabbed the handle. It looked heavy, but with my strength nearing 94, it was no match. With a bit of effort, the door creaked open, revealing a large, square hole in the floor.
“It doesn’t look too deep. I’ll go first, and you can follow one by one.”
With that, I jumped down. The faintly visible floor below grew closer until I landed with a thud. Seeing me land safely, Hyun and Yujeong nodded at each other and jumped in together.
Another thud, and a cloud of dust rose. Anhyeon, with his naturally high physical stats, seemed unfazed. But Yujeong was crouched, clutching her foot. Worried, I approached her, and she looked up with a pained expression.
“Ugh… I landed wrong.”
Hyun and I sighed at the sight of Yujeong’s teary face. Looking up, I saw Sol hesitating at the edge. She seemed reluctant to be left alone, and when Hyun teased, “A ghost will get you if you’re alone,” she closed her eyes and jumped. She didn’t want to be left behind. Watching her land softly… Wait, did she have her eyes closed?
“Catch me!”
Sole squeezed her eyes shut and screamed as she descended. Hyun and I exchanged puzzled glances, tilting our heads in confusion. Yujung, watching us with an incredulous look, let out a sigh. Really, was this the time for sighing?
Splat!
“Aaah!”
There was a squelching sound as something soft was crushed. Sole, who had let out a sharp scream, landed unceremoniously on the ground. She rubbed her backside a few times, wincing in pain, then looked up at us with a face full of betrayal. It seemed she hadn’t expected that no one would catch her.
Watching Sole pout at us, I felt something was off. She had fallen on her backside, yet instead of a thud, there was a squishy sound. I quickly summoned my magic to enhance my vision. And then…
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Today, I got a call from my father. After he arrived, a relative briefly regained consciousness. They spoke for a moment before the relative slipped back into a coma. We’re trying not to lose hope, but listening to the doctors… I’m not sure. I keep feeling anxious, and my heart races.
Thank you sincerely to all the readers who have wished for a recovery.
I’ll keep this brief.
To Saramin, congratulations on the first comment. Thank you, Blami, for your constant support and comments.
Thank you, GradeRown, for your well wishes. The mana reflux wasn’t real; it was just a pretense. Thank you, hohokaya1, for your encouragement. I’ll try to stay strong.
A stamina level of 70 is by no means low. It’s above average.
However, compared to the top 10 or the high-ranking members of large clans, it does fall short.
Thank you, Aintje. And to everyone else who wished for a recovery, thank you sincerely.
Please. Please. I hope for a recovery.