Chapter 173

Chapter 173

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 173: The Underground Labyrinth (1).

The carriage racing across the desolate sand plain finally came to a halt only after the sun had set and darkness had enveloped the night. The reason for moving to the middle of the wasteland rather than along the riverbank was to avoid any possible pursuit. The carriage tracks would soon be erased by the fiercely blowing sandstorm. Of course, they would still have to set up a watch just in case.

Group Leader Luis, who had stepped out of the carriage, entrusted his injured body to Believer Luka for treatment. Sitting blankly on the sand, he appeared quite shocked by the completely transformed appearance of the Countess.

“Are you alright?”

“…Yes, I’m alright.”

“Once we eliminate the main source, everything will return to normal, so don’t worry too much.”

Allen glanced at the sealed wooden barrel loaded in the carriage compartment and spoke. Then, something like a firm resolve slowly etched itself onto the face of the young man from the West.

“I will definitely, absolutely eliminate it…!”

He muttered as he strongly clenched the sand in his hand. Excessive enthusiasm could be a problem sometimes, but it was better than having none at all.

After finishing the camp preparations and having a simple meal, the Allen-Mercenary Group and the Luis-Mercenary Group sat in a circle, relying solely on the moonlight.

Allen, upon confirming that everyone was gathered, cleared his throat quietly, and began to discuss the future schedule in earnest.

“Since we’ve secured the doll, we’ll now go to eliminate the root cause.”

“…What on earth did those Magic Tower bastards do to the doll to cause such a horrific thing to happen?”

Allen answered the mercenary from the Luis-Mercenary Group candidly.

“It’s called the Soul Transfer Technique. It connects the soul of a living being to the body of a doll like this… It’s a very vile magic. The method and purpose are so evil that it’s forbidden, but as you can see, the Magic Tower did it.”

Considering all the things secretly done underground, it was no surprise that the Magic Tower was doomed. Facing the wrath of the dark mages who were forced to swallow dark mana and became necromancers was, in a way, their karma.

“Then… what is the cause tied to the doll?”

Of course, Allen didn’t know exactly what the cause was. Naturally, with the randomness of [Guild Master], even the entity inhabiting the doll was random.

It could be a demon, a monster, or perhaps a beast.

“I don’t know. Even I couldn’t possibly know what’s buried underground in the Magic Tower. However, it won’t be some insignificant thing. They wouldn’t have used a trivial subject for experiments involving forbidden magic. Don’t you agree?”

Several people murmured in agreement. Just hearing it made it clear how troublesome it was.

Of course, they couldn’t even imagine that there might be an underground labyrinth in the Magic Tower. If it were known, it would’ve caused quite an uproar.

“Anyway, since we’ve secured the doll, it’s best to handle things as quickly as possible. I know it’s been exhausting and difficult to get here, but given the circumstances, there’s no other choice. So, I hope you understand and follow along.”

After all, they acted according to their own interests.

The Allen-Mercenary Group for money and the Luis-Mercenary Group for the city.

“Then, disband.”

The mercenaries scattered to their respective mats, using the wagon as a windbreaker, and pulled their blankets up to their necks.

The cold sand wind howled eerily and gloomily all night long.

They moved almost in a straight line toward the Magic Tower, passing only a few small desert villages. There was no need to go to cities near the riverbanks and risk leaving traces for potential pursuers. In fact, it would have been best not to pass through villages at all, but they had no choice but to stop by to secure drinking water and food supplies.

Anyway, after enduring the tedious crossing of the sandy wasteland for several days, they finally reached the vicinity of the Magic Tower. It had been about ten days since they fled the mid-city of Aldessa.

The tall tower lay on its side, shattered into pieces, creating a spectacular scene. Those who witnessed the once-prosperous Magic Tower fall so pitifully could indirectly sense how tremendous the war in the West had been. In truth, even the Allen-Mercenary Group had only heard rumors of the war; none of them had experienced it firsthand.

“…Damn, is it really this big? Can this actually collapse…?”

Furball Geese, despite witnessing the giant Magic Tower toppled on its side, seemed unable to comprehend how something so massive could fall. Most of the mercenaries shared similar thoughts. This was also Allen’s first time witnessing it with his own eyes, and he was honestly a bit surprised.

The area around the ruined Magic Tower was already full of signs of looting. Evidence that anyone and everyone had come and dug haphazardly. Even recently, a group of looters seemed to have visited, as there was still a pile of ashes that hadn’t cooled down.

Having conducted a grueling forced march up to this point, Allen decided to take sufficient rest before entering the underground.

They camped for a night at a spot seemingly favored by looters. Of course, because they were close to the main body, the doll’s frenzy intensified throughout the night.

Screech screech.

The box sealing the doll rattled, letting out chilling screams continuously. Therefore, the mercenaries couldn’t get a good night’s sleep.

Allen, tossing and turning restlessly and unable to sleep, finally got so heated that he ordered the box to be buried deep in the sand. That seemed to quiet it down a bit.

Sometimes, in the middle of the night, someone possessed by the doll would wake up with their eyes half-rolled back, furiously digging at the sand until they were stopped several times by the sentry. Allen, too, had endless nightmares of being torn apart by a terrifying presence.

As they repeatedly woke and slept like this, before they knew it, dawn was breaking.

Judging by everyone’s haggard faces, it seemed they hadn’t slept well due to nightmares. Though some fatigue had been relieved, it was hard to say their condition was at its best.

However, they couldn’t afford to delay any longer here. Having reached the Magic Tower, speed was of the essence.

After a hearty breakfast, Allen’s group conducted a final equipment check. Then they retrieved the box deeply buried in the sand. In the morning, the doll was also feeble, so there was none of the chaos like the previous night.

The Northern Musclehead Pergamond was tasked with carrying the doll barrel on his back. True to his self-proclaimed honor of the North, he readily followed Allen’s instructions without any resistance.

“Ordnung, can you see it?”

“Faintly, but yes.”

With the Blind Saintess leading the way, having removed her blindfold, the mercenary group began to move in earnest.

Ordnung chose the hole closest to the mana thread connected to the doll. It was one of the many holes dug by the grave robbers.

Before entering the hole, Allen made a final round of eye contact with each member to solidify their resolve. Just a silent gaze was enough to have the desired effect.

“We’re going in.”

The Blind Saintess entered the hole first, followed by Pergamond carrying the box, Old Dog Kalisman, Itty Titty Natasha, Milk-Jug Mage Elena, and Allen brought up the rear.

The hole was so narrow that one had to bend halfway at the waist to barely fit a single person. A space that could induce hyperventilation in someone with claustrophobia.

The crunch of the dirt and sand breaking underfoot and the rough panting echoed in the narrow passage, heightening the tension further.

Allen, too, continued walking through this endless passage, staring only at the backside of the person in front. No matter how experienced one was, the tension felt every time a task was undertaken would never disappear. The more you know, the deeper the tension might grow. As the saying goes, ignorance is bliss.

After walking through the winding passage for quite a while, a space appeared where they could slightly straighten their backs. Of course, it wasn’t wide enough to accommodate the entire mercenary group, just about five or six people.

In the center of the space was a hole leading downward, and it seemed like they had to enter through there.

I really don’t want to go into that hole…

But what can I do? This is the work of a mercenary.

“Going in.”

They tied a sturdy rope twice around the iron pillar they had prepared in advance, securing it horizontally to prevent it from falling into the hole, and got ready to descend.

Again, in the same order as before. The Blind Saintess Ordnung, Musclehead Pergamond, Old Dog Kalisman, Itty Titty Natasha, Milk-Jug Mage Elena, and then Allen also descended the rope into the hole.

The floor was not the same dirt floor as before. It was clearly a processed stone floor. The walls, too, were artificially made, built with bricks. An underground room clearly belonging to the Magic Tower.

The room cluttered with odds and ends was far removed from any magic experiments. It was probably used as a storage space. The scavenger who discovered this place first must have hit the jackpot.

Fortunately, this place was much more spacious compared to the area dug for looting. It was roomy enough to accommodate more than twenty mercenaries comfortably.

“Is everyone okay? If you notice anything strange, report it immediately. Even the slightest thing. We need to take action as quickly as possible. And from now on, don’t touch anything. Don’t touch the walls, and don’t step anywhere. From here on, this is the domain of the Magic Tower. Nothing here should surprise you, understood?”

“Yes, Group Leader.”

“Alright, let’s move out.”

Since Group Leader Luis entrusted this exploration entirely to Group Leader Allen, he obediently followed his instructions. Although he was also a group leader of a mercenary group, his was affiliated with the Count’s household, making him unfamiliar with such requests. In terms of establishment years, the Luis-Mercenary Group was much older, but in terms of experience, the Allen-Mercenary Group was overwhelmingly superior. Naturally, this meant they were skilled in such missions.

In the room, there was a massive iron door that seemed impervious to any damage. It looked easier to break through the wall next to it instead.

They targeted the hinges of the large arched iron door. After a long struggle, they finally succeeded in tearing the iron door off.

Beyond the breached iron door, a large and wide corridor greeted them. Cold and dark, it was eerily reminiscent of the jaws of hell.

“Let’s go.”

Allen lined up the mercenaries in two rows and gave the signal to depart.

The group finally began their earnest underground exploration.