Chapter 116: The Lake and the Box

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‘The water at night was so dark that it was no wonder people feared it.’

Sugar, who had entered the water while holding onto a wolf-like magical beast, suddenly had that thought.

The magical beast was one tamed by Professor Trace. She had created a barrier using wind magic near her face to secure air.

Trace, who knew how to manipulate blood flow, had also created an air barrier. For a magician, nothing is as important as the mouth. Those who perform miracles through words must always be prepared to chant spells at any moment.

Having prepared like this, the two descended slowly into the pitch-black lake, illuminating it with the light from their staffs.

‘Where did Venom go?’

It’s already a black lake. It’s hard to see.

The thought was to go down to the bottom first.

Soon, the professor gestured toward something.

‘…A cave?’

Squinting, she could see a hole in the distance where bubbles were popping up. It was big enough for a person to enter.

The two approached it. Venom was standing there, stretching its long body.

‘Is it telling us to go in here?’

Trace entered the cave first. Soon, a flash of magical light signaled affirmation. Sugar also entered.

Holding tightly to the wolf, she followed the cave until, at some point, a wide space opened up. It was too dark to see clearly, but the sound echoed loudly, so she assumed it must be so.

A cave inside a lake.

“Wow…”

Finally out of the water, Sugar shivered and used magic to dry herself off.

She hated the water. Really, she hated it terribly.

‘Drowning is terrifying.’

In her past life, she had lost her life in a similar way. When she entered the water, her body would stiffen.

“Thanks, wolf.”

For a land beast, it was a good swimmer. It shook itself off and plopped down.

“It’s amazing how you can tame them like that. Honestly, I thought you were a heretic earlier when we were fighting.”

“With the right method, intuition, and a bit of bait, anyone can do it.”

“Experts always say that.”

If anyone could really do it, there wouldn’t be so many incidents caused by magical beasts.

“Somehow, it feels like we’re on a field trip.”

Sugar looked around the cave as she spoke.

“Given the subject I teach, I often take students out for practical lessons. Though I don’t teach first-years.”

“Then in my second year, I’ll really get to go on field trips with you.”

“If I don’t report you, that is.”

“Wow. Testing me, huh? That’s too much. I’ll have to lock you up.”

“Finally showing your true colors huh.”

They exchanged light banter as they walked.

Come to think of it, Venom was nowhere to be seen. It had disappeared somewhere. The cave was larger than expected, so they would need guidance.

As they looked around, their gaze focused on one spot.

In the darkness, something felt off.

“…This way.”

“Do you see something?”

Sugar walked without answering, following her instincts. She quietly walked through the dark lake cave, passing through a wide cavern and entering a narrow crevice. Following a shallow stream, she crouched and crept forward until she saw a familiar structure.

Sugar shone her staff’s light on it to examine it.

“This is… what on earth…”

“Stay there for now.”

She calmly spoke to Trace as she felt her way around the crystal tower.

“Black energy. And minerals… It feels like it’s blocking the energy. For something of its size, it gives off no presence. Are those minerals from the Gem Dragon?”

“That’s what I’m guessing.”

“If that’s true, this era will be remembered in history books.”

An alliance between dragons and heretics. It’s an event that could spark a holy war.

Sugar scolded him for saying such terrifying things and continued to observe the crystal tower.

“Hmm… Nothing unusual. I guess we’ll have to go inside.”

“Go inside? Into that structure? What is it? The energy inside, even to the naked eye, is unusual. If something happens to those minerals…”

“It’s a crystal from the Gem Dragon or something equivalent. It won’t break. Even if it does…”

Sugar quietly looked up at the tower. Then she continued—

“I’ll stop it. If it’s me, I can do it.”

There was not a hint of falsehood in her words.

Trace quietly closed his mouth.

“Wait here for now. Only those affiliated with the cult can enter right now. If something jumps out, feel free to knock it down without hesitation.”

“Those affiliated with the cult? So you are…”

“Ah! I’ve received baptism in the Holy City. It’s complicated, okay?”

Sugar grumbled as she circled the crystal tower.

As she blinked, the surroundings changed in an instant.

.

.

.

‘Huh…?’

This wasn’t the space she had expected.

A sky filled with stars. Beneath it, a girl with black hair flowing in the wind stood.

The girl was looking up at the sky as if her neck would break, standing there aimlessly.

‘Where is this…’

Sugar sniffed the air and waved her hand. It didn’t feel real. It was like watching a scene in a movie.

As she tilted her head in confusion, another figure appeared before her.

“Sis, are you looking at the night sky again? You’ll get scolded by the adults.”

A boy who looked slightly younger than the girl. He approached her with a mischievous look and scolded her.

“It’s just… it’s so vast and high. I want to keep looking at it.”

“It just scares me. It’s creepy.”

“I heard people outside say it’s beautiful.”

“That? They must be crazy.”

“No, they’re just pitiful. But…”

The girl, who had been looking at the boy, turned her gaze back to the sky. Her black eyes sparkled with starlight.

“It’s not that I don’t understand.”

The girl reached her hand toward the distant sky. The wind brushed past her hair and fingertips.

The girl’s expression was one of thirst for freedom.

In contrast, the boy was only anxious.

“…Let’s go back. You’ll really get scolded.”

“Okay, Claude. I’ll go.”

The girl with clear eyes forced a bitter smile.

With that, the short illusion ended.

Sugar opened her eyes.

“…”

She took a deep breath, clenched and unclenched her hands.

Looking around, it was a familiar place but much smaller. A closed space surrounded by ashen walls. The interior of the crystal tower.

Inside, there was no one, just a round pedestal in the center. And on it, a small box. A metal box that fit perfectly in Sugar’s hands when she held it.

‘I guess I need to take this out?’

The reason Venom led her to this cave. Since this is the only thing inside, taking it out should be enough.

Tucking the box under her arm, Sugar looked around. She held her staff, wary of guards appearing like last time.

‘…No one’s coming out.’

The space was small. Maybe there were no guards because of the cave’s location inside the lake?

Let’s just get out. If there’s no one, all the better.

Sugar examined the walls. To get out, she’d need to make a hole in the wall first. Then cause an explosion in the crevice and make a grand escape—

“Wait, the walls are all sealed…”

Last time, there was one unprotected wall she could break through. Now, every part of the wall was protected by crystals. The faint evil energy in the space hadn’t faded.

So, she was trapped?

“…”

Sugar tried using magic on the wall. The result was a clean miss.

‘The wound on my wrist hasn’t healed yet… I need to use magic carefully.’

But. Saving magic or not, she needed to escape first, right?

Thinking that, Sugar unleashed magic in all directions.

The result was that she had to use one mana potion. Now only one remained.

“What the… Am I really trapped? Just like that?”

Holding the metal box, she plopped down on the floor. The evil energy surrounding her seemed to mock her, making her angry.

Hmm, wait.

Evil energy.

Sugar rolled her eyes, observing the faint evil energy in the space.

A thought suddenly came to her mind. She quickly sat up and clasped her hands together.

When nothing else works, there’s one thing people always do. When you try this and that, and nothing works, and you think human strength alone isn’t enough.

“Please… I, whom you cherish so terribly, pray to you.”

In such times, prayer is the answer.

“Please let me get out of here.”

Nothing to lose.

‘You cherish me, don’t you? You want to keep me like a doll, don’t you? If I’m asking, you should grant me this much.’

Muttering a prayer with an arrogant heart, the black energy began to flow slowly in one direction. It seemed to envelop Sugar, then soon circulated throughout the entire space.

Watching this closely, Sugar had an ‘Ah!’ moment of realization.

The direction of the flow. It was the opposite of when she had circled the crystal tower earlier.

‘Could it be?’

Sugar followed the circulating energy and made a large circle around the room.

The moment she completed one full circle, the scenery changed.

“Oh, you’re finally out. Did you finish your task?”

In the dark cave, the old magician greeted Sugar.

‘Is this the right way to get out?’

In other crystal towers, there were enemies and devotees everywhere, so it was chaotic. She’d have to check later if she went to another place.

“I think I’m done for now. There was a box inside, so here…”

As Sugar held up the box to show Trace, something shot out from the wall, snatched the box, and disappeared.

“…”

“…”

“What did I just see? Something like a big fish came out of the cave wall and took it.”

“You saw correctly.”

“As a magical beast professor, can you explain?”

“It’s simple. That’s a land fish. A fish that lives in the ground, so it’s a land fish.”

Just as the simple explanation ended, the cave began to rumble.

Thud thud thud— The violent shaking felt like an earthquake.

“Ah, to experience this firsthand. They say when land fish go wild, earthquakes happen.”

Soon, a monstrous roar echoed.

Grr… Grr… Kwooooor!!

“Judging by the sound, it seems the thing it swallowed earlier is causing problems.”

“You can stop explaining now! Let’s get out of here!”

This place is too narrow. If it collapses, it’ll be a disaster. At the very least, they needed to get to a larger cavern.

Running out, they saw the land fish thrashing above ground. Sharp scales, fins, a plump belly. It was bigger than a human body, about the size of a small whale. It made strange noises, flailing about as if in pain.

Who told it to swallow random things? Sugar clicked her tongue and aimed her staff.

At that moment, the land fish’s eyes widened. What followed made Sugar’s jaw drop.

“That thing… it’s getting bigger. Does it have that kind of trait?”

“Not that I know of.”

What the hell did it eat?!

This was no time to lose focus. They needed to subdue it—

“Wait, let’s get to safety first.”

“How?”

“We’re inside a cave. That thing lives underground, and it swallowed the box. We’ll have to deal with that big thing here, but it’s too risky.”

“Right…”

If the cave collapses, there’s no way to deal with it. Above is the lake. The location isn’t ideal.

Moreover, the beast’s appearance was strange. Its body was growing larger as it roared, creating an ominous atmosphere. What was once a small dolphin-like creature was now the size of a large whale.

“So, I’ll go inside it.”

Sugar wondered if she had misheard, but Trace’s expression was as calm as ever.

“…You’re going to tear it apart from the inside, or something?”

“You catch on quick. Yes. Just hold out until then.”

“Professor, you’re really bold… Okay. I’ll hold out.”

“A proud student of Steele.”

Trace leapt with agility unbefitting his age. At that moment, the land fish, now large enough to swallow thirty people, opened its mouth wide and lunged.

Without a single groan, Trace disappeared inside it.

“Magicians are all crazy…”

Sugar, who wasn’t in a position to judge, steadied herself.