episode_0119

Time passed, and the day finally came when the warrior’s tomb was opened.

The atmosphere of the camp, which had been filled with subtle heat and energy, suddenly subsided.

This was because they knew very well that what was about to unfold from now on was not a very comfortable space for them to enter.

Most people waited for the door to open with nervous expressions on their faces.

And, it was no different for our group.

“Soon.”

“Sure.”

“My heart is pounding as I wonder what on earth is waiting for me.”

Max, Johanna, and even Hector, who was temporarily relieved of the request by safely escorting the client to his destination.

We were ready to enter the tomb together, waiting for it to be opened.

Even though all three of them except me were veteran mercenaries, there was obvious tension on their faces.

Even Johanna, who usually rarely shows such signs.

It was worth it.

The place we are going to enter from now on is the Hero’s Tomb, a space created by the Archmage who is said to have reached the pinnacle of magic.

What kind of environment and danger may be waiting for us within it?

Even those who have been working as mercenaries in the forest for a long time cannot help but be nervous.

I also had the same facial expression as usual, but I was nervous in my own way.

However, the reason was different from others.

If the warrior’s tomb is real and the tomb’s creator is Berhaville, there is nothing to worry about.

Honestly, no matter what happens, I don’t think I’ll be in any danger.

However, if this is not the case.

I couldn’t help but feel nervous imagining what if Berhaville wasn’t the one who created this tomb.

Because it is completely impossible to predict what purpose the ‘organization’ has and what tricks it has pulled out.

I just hoped that it was a problem that I could handle.

Anyway, I waited for a while, swallowing my tension and anxiety.

“The door opens!”

Finally, it was time.

Kuuuung─

The huge stone door began to open on its own with a loud noise, even though no one or anything had done anything.

And what was revealed behind the open door was a black space where nothing could be seen.

“… Indeed, is it really not ordinary from the beginning?”

It was just a black space, but that’s why everyone in the room realized it.

The fact that beyond is a completely new space.

An unknown space where you don’t know what awaits you inside.

Even a warrior with outstanding skills would be hesitant to step foot there.

With such a delicate atmosphere in the air.

“This body goes in first!”

A man ran into the door, screaming so hard that the inside of the tomb shook.

It was Kahim, a white-haired man.

“Ha… … .”

His younger sister, Fana, followed behind with a sigh, and the white-haired siblings jumped into the black space behind the door and eventually disappeared.

And, that was the beginning.

“We’re going in too!”

“Let’s go!”

Originally, the beginning was the most difficult, but Kahim cut off the most difficult beginning, and from then on, the flow continued like a torment.

Everyone who had gathered began to jump into the black space.

The momentum was so great that it was visible that the number of people remaining even after filling this vast space was decreasing.

“Okay then, let’s go in quickly.”

Max, who was watching the flow from afar, said.

Everyone nodded, and we jumped into the space behind the door.

***

“Hmm… … .”

In a forest with endless trees, one person was lost in worry.

Inyoung, who had been thinking for a long time with her arms crossed, finally opened her mouth.

“… Well, I guess I can just go here.”

After deciding on a direction, Inyoung walked straight ahead as if there was no hesitation.

Just like that, the figure of Inyoung soon disappeared behind the dense trees.

***

A strange sensation of moving through space passes through my entire body.

When I opened my eyes, I was standing in a space I had never seen before.

It was a room surrounded by stone walls.

Only one side is open.

“… … .”

I slowly looked around.

All I could see was a wall made of stone.

There wasn’t a single person in sight.

‘… This is the way it is.’

I thought there was a high probability that the structure of this space itself would be like this.

A structure that separates everyone who enters.

Although I ended up alone in an unknown space, I felt relieved rather than anxious.

If a group member was next to you, you wouldn’t be able to do your activities properly because you would be concerned about their gaze.

Considering what I came here for, it would be better if there were no people around.

However, it was also true that I was worried about the group that had become separated.

This is probably a very dangerous place.

And aside from that, Max is probably extremely embarrassed.

Max is playing the role of my protector on this journey.

Even if that role isn’t actually needed, in Max’s perception, I’m just a rookie mercenary who needs care, so I think he’ll probably feel dizzy the moment he realizes I’m not around.

However, that didn’t mean I had any intention of going to look for my companions.

There’s something I have to check here, and I don’t have enough time to wander around looking for my companions.

I must move forward.

After organizing my thoughts, I immediately started walking along the only path.

The road continued for quite a long time.

There was no change, and the same road continued, so for a moment I had the illusion that this road continued infinitely.

How far did he walk under such strange sensations?

Finally, a change appeared on the road.

A room appeared.

I walked into the room without hesitation and was able to face him.

A stone doll slightly larger than a human.

As soon as I saw it, I recognized its identity.

‘It’s a golem.’

Golem.

To put it simply, it is a doll made by magic.

They are relatively easy to make as long as you have the ingredients, and they are often used by wizards as guardians because they faithfully follow orders.

‘It’s standard.’

Made by the Archmage Verhaville… It is said that the first gateway to the Tomb of the Hero was a golem.

Considering that it was made by a wizard, it is a truly standard guardian, but if you think of it as being made by Berhaville, it can be seen as a somewhat disappointing first hitter.

First of all, the appearance and size don’t seem special.

Wow─

As I was quietly observing the golem, it seemed to have finally recognized me and began to move, making a small movement sound.

And then he rushed towards me.

Its speed was so fast and agile that you couldn’t even imagine it from its dull appearance.

Even if you are a skilled fighter, you could inadvertently lose your breath.

However, there was no sign of embarrassment on my face despite the sudden movement.

I extended my fist towards the golem that was rushing towards me.

Break!

A hole was created in the golem’s upper body.

And then the golem stopped moving.

What I did was simple.

I simply smashed the part where the golem’s core was with my fist.

The core is the golem’s power source.

If the core is broken, the golem can no longer function.

Therefore, this golem can no longer move.

“… … .”

After catching a glimpse of the golem that had completely stopped working, I started walking down the path that the golem had turned its back to.

Probably, among those who entered this tomb, there would be very few who would be stopped by that golem.

Most of the people gathered around the tomb were people with some level of skill.

There may be some who struggle, but most will pass without difficulty.

With that thought in mind, I continued on my way.

After some time of continuing like that, a second room appeared.

However, this time there was no guardian inside.

However, there was one difference from the previous room.

That is, there is not just one path.

In the room, there is a road opposite the road I came in from, and a road on the right wall.

There were a total of two roads like this.

“… … .”

I worried about that crossroads ahead.

This was more of a pain to me than the Guardian.

For me, who needs to get there as quickly as possible, crossroads are a headache.

I don’t have enough time to stop by and check each route one by one.

However, it is difficult to detect it by spreading magical power. Perhaps because of the special nature of this space itself, magic power cannot penetrate the walls.

Destroying it itself seems possible, but doing so without even knowing what kind of place this space is is virtually the same as inviting disaster on your own.

If an uncontrollable situation arises as a result, I don’t know, but other people will probably not be safe.

Because of that, there was no suitable solution, and I had no choice but to worry.

But, fortunately, my worries soon disappeared as if washed away.

I felt a presence on the street across from me, and a woman walked out.

“… Uh.”

The woman saw me and opened her eyes wide, then smiled.

“This is how we meet again?”

She said that, shaking her rare white hair.

***

“… … .”

In a space where only a stone wall could be seen, he raised his head.

After looking around, he realized that he had successfully entered the space, and immediately began to move forward without hesitation.

There was no time to sit idle.

If you lose your mind, your best-prepared plans will be in vain.

This time, I had to tell ‘him’ the good news.