episode_0046

[Stealth]

Befitting a basic card that cost 2, the effect was considerable.

Even during the test with Grace, the probability of her noticing my movements wasn’t very high.

That was also only possible because she knew I was using [Stealth] and because she was an explorer with considerable senses even on the Mid-Floor.

Therefore, these ordinary warrior-type guards would definitely not be able to discover us.

As we slowly descended the stairs, it grew darker.

After descending three more floors, to the point where I wondered if we had come the wrong way, a small door awaited us.

Swish, swish.

Grace moved her hands.

A gesture meaning she would try to get through this.

Grace put her hand on the door, listened, and moved as if trying to solve various secrets, but the door just opened anticlimactically.

“……”

Without a word, we entered.

A vast, open auction house.

A space so wide it could be seen in a single glance.

However, compared to its large size, there weren’t many people.

If the auction house above was white, filled with white marble.

The auction house below was black, decorated with black stone.

‘They called it the Black and White Auction House, and it’s living up to its name.’

I thought it was just because the exterior looked black and white, but it seemed the upper and lower parts were clearly divided.

We took seats in a suitable spot and looked around.

The White Auction House and the Black Auction House.

Just by hearing the names, they seemed like legal and illegal, respectively.

Unfortunately, looking at the faces of the people walking around, there were Holy Knights and nobles were occasionally seen.

A unique point was that not a single soldier was seen inside.

It seemed the reason was probably because they weren’t needed.

An explorer who would come to a place like this would be very strong, and if someone was of high rank, they would have already hired people.

I roughly understood what kind of place this auction house was.

“Is it a place for VVIPs?”

“Seems like it. There aren’t any guards or soldiers inside.”

Now that we had checked the internal atmosphere. We released stealth and blended naturally into the interior.

Fortunately, no one recognized us.

Sniff, sniff.

Grace sniffed and nodded her head.

“Found it.”

We moved following Grace.

The atmosphere inside the auction house was quite chaotic.

Perhaps because only people who couldn’t possibly be restrained gathered here, the atmosphere was extremely free.

Everyone was wearing flashy, good equipment, to the point where we actually stood out.

“Did the Holy Knights find it?”

“No. It seems like they’re just spread out wide, collecting information, but it’s too noisy inside, so I can’t hear clearly.”

If so, it seemed Han Yerim’s location hadn’t been revealed.

We quickly cut through the crowd and arrived at a location.

Room 23.

Fortunately, there was no one guarding the front, so we opened the door and went inside.

“Who is it?”

Han Yerim, wary.

I raised both hands, signifying I had no intention of fighting, and removed the cloth covering my face.

“Oh, oh! Hyun…”

At that moment, Han Yerim discovered Grace next to me.

“Ahem, what’s the matter? Iban.”

Han Yerim, covering up that I came from another world. I wondered what I should call her then.

“Ah, just call me Noah.”

“…Noah.”

Immediately, we closed the door and sat next to Han Yerim, Noah.

“The Ariel Church is chasing you.”

“Are you allowed to tell me that? What if you get caught?”

“It doesn’t matter since I’m not affiliated with the Ariel Church.”

“…Oh? It seems I’m treated a little differently? Well, let’s hear about that gradually. So, will you help? Is there a way?”

“Yes. A way to escape without causing a commotion.”

I immediately checked my hand.

[Stab(1)] [Stealth(2)] [Dodge(1)] [Ambush(1)] [Stab(1)]

I had already prepared my hand so that I could use [Stealth] at any time.

I immediately used [Stealth] towards Noah.

Noah’s body disappeared. Soon, nothing could be seen.

“Oh, interesting? Did you get in with this?”

“Yes.”

“I wondered why, a mere 4th-floor explorer managed to get in here.”

“Just where is this place anyway…”

At that moment, Grace approached.

“Someone is approaching. Precisely towards this location.”

“What?”

Before I could even grasp the situation, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

Thump thump thump!!!

“We are from the Ariel Church! Apostle of the Evil God, come out now and receive judgment!!!”

A huge voice.

At this level, it would draw the attention of those around, but it felt like they didn’t care about that at all.

In other words, they were already certain that Han Yerim was here.

“By any chance, was there something that would get you caught?”

“To get in here, you need to have a strange emblem, and I got one from the Black Mages, you see? Since I used it, they would naturally come like this, right?”

“No, why did you do something so sure to get you caught?”

“Well, it doesn’t really matter, does it?”

Noah released stealth.

And then, cracking her neck, she prepared for battle.

“Were you planning to fight from the beginning?”

“Of course. Unlike someone, I’ve been strong since the moment I was possessed. Strength is the best, you know?”

Powerful mana burst out around Noah’s body.

That unique, slightly dark mana of a Black Mage.

And as it came out from inside, sounds were heard from outside.

“He’s planning to fight!! Evacuate the people around!!!”

Noisy, noisy.

The atmosphere inside the auction house immediately became noisy.

Simultaneously, a loud voice was heard.

[Ah, a chaotic incident has occurred inside at the moment.]

[It will be resolved soon, so visitors, please…]

However, before the broadcast even finished, the door was broken.

A powerful wave of light came in and attacked us.

“Get back!!”

As Noah waved her hand, strong mana flew and deflected the wave.

Srrr.

The cards returned to the deck.

『Battle Start. Draw 3 cards.』

『Energy 4/4』

[Stealth(2)] [Stab(1)] [Dodge(1)]

With the deck I currently had, being merely a 1~2nd-floor-level mage, I retreated.

Simultaneously, countless Holy Knights entered through the broken door and surrounded the area.

“Declare Territory!!”

Immediately, as the Holy Knights stuck their swords into the ground, pure white mana, Divine Power, surged up, creating a cube-shaped space around them.

It was clear what effect this had.

『A Holy Knight has declared a Divine Territory.』

『2 [Heaviness] cards are added.』

[Stealth(2)] [Stab(1)] [Dodge(1)] [Heaviness(Status Effect)] [Heaviness(Status Effect)]

The moment 2 status effect cards were added to me, Grace, who was next to me, knelt down.

That is, the power of this territory seemed to be a force that applied strong gravity to enemies.

Noah also seemed to be affected by that force, her robe flapping wildly and sticking to the floor.

But all of that was broken with a single touch from Noah.

Crash!!!

As if lightning was born around Noah, black mana burst out and broke the territory.

The mana that immediately extended out attacked one Holy Knight.

Although it was blocked by a shield wrapped in Divine Power.

“Tsk.”

Noah, with a displeased expression, immediately looked at me.

“Will you get angry if I kill these guys?”

Noah, suddenly asking for permission.

I didn’t know why she was asking me this question, but I answered.

“…Do as you please.”

“So, you mean don’t kill them.”

Noah, who interpreted my words as she pleased, immediately scattered black mana everywhere and began to break everything around her.

Watching that happen, I helped up the collapsed Grace.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. Mr. Iban, you’re fine, aren’t you?”

“…Because I’m barely affected by Divine Power.”

In reality, it feels like cards interfering with the deck are just increasing, but it’s not wrong.

After all, Divine Power probably can’t deal damage to me.

Paaaaaat!!!

At that moment, the mana suddenly fluctuated violently.

It was the same feeling as when I unfolded my senses and read the surrounding mana.

The auction house’s system, which detected that mana was moving, had been activated.

The target was obvious.

“Wh- What?!!”

Noah, attacked by strong interference.

She staggered and collapsed.

The Holy Knights who saw that immediately began to act quickly, as if it was something they had already predicted.

The Holy Knights quickly spread a second territory.

The situation unfolding smoothly.

Noah couldn’t endure the territory’s power and collapsed.

Grace, who was within that territory, also collapsed with her.

“Ugh…”

『A Holy Knight has declared a Divine Territory.』

『2 [Heaviness] cards are added.』

[Stealth(2)] [Stab(1)] [Dodge(1)] [Heaviness(Status Effect)] [Heaviness(Status Effect)] [Heaviness(Status Effect)] [Heaviness(Status Effect)]

Of course, for me, only my hand increased.

This was a dangerous situation where Noah could be caught like this.

That cannot be tolerated.

“Wait.”

I proudly walked through the territory and arrived next to Noah.

I immediately unfolded my senses.

Whether the auction house’s interference system had poured entirely onto Noah, there was nothing interfering.

I looked at the unfurled Divine Territory.

At a glance, it was drawn in my head how that could be released.

The moment I tried to move the mana within my body to release the territory.

Ddiring!!

『Are you really going to make this choice?』

The status window blocked my front.

I immediately swiped it away.

Ddiring!!!

『This choice cannot be reversed.』

Frowning, I swiped away the status window.

“Don’t try to scare me unnecessarily. I’ll handle it myself.”

I moved mana and broke the territory.

Crash!!!

Watching the territory break, the Holy Knights couldn’t close their mouths.

It seemed like it was a situation they had never even thought of. They were staring blankly.

Not missing that, I threw the card.

[Stealth]

Noah’s body immediately disappeared.

Her presence immediately vanishes.

What would other people think seeing this?

The probability is high that they would think I teleported her.

Indeed, the Holy Knights, convinced that they had missed Noah, pointed their swords at me and shouted.

“Do you know what you just did?”

“He’s a heretic!! Arrest him!!”

Holy Knights spouting all sorts of words.

No matter how I look at it, my favorability towards the Ariel Church is gradually decreasing.

The Holy Knights slowly approaching, as if they could attack at any moment.

The deed is already done, what should I do now?

My deck isn’t in a state to fight right now either.

It’s a deck that hasn’t even started farming yet, a deck that can only operate on the 1st floor.

In the end, only trusting in the Defense Golem, is the only option left to escape?

Praying that 2 [Stealth] cards would be drawn in the next draw, the moment I was about to draw the next card.

Someone intervened.

Kwaaaang!!!

Someone who came in by breaking the wall.

A giant who would likely be 3m tall is noticeable.

“Witch Slayer, Iban. Ha! I didn’t know he was such a fiery guy.”

The man just walked slowly as he was, approaching me.

Holy Knights trying to stop that.

However, the moment his hand touched them, they fell down in droves.

Just who is this person?

I immediately unfolded my senses and read him.

“……”

He was immense.

That feeling from when I first saw the Saintess’s Divine Power.

A strong individual who I absolutely cannot face no matter what I do.

I recalled my senses and looked at the man with both eyes.

The man’s upper body wasn’t wearing anything. His bronze-colored muscular body is noticeable.

Above all, looking at the countless tattoos embedded there, I at least didn’t feel like approaching him.

But if there was one thing that stood out more than anything, it would likely be the explorer pass hung around his neck.

Not a gold-silver-bronze colored explorer pass, but a teal-colored explorer pass.

There wasn’t a single person in the Labyrinth City who didn’t know what that meant.

“Adamantium Pass… Why is a Deep Floor Explorer here…”

The flustered Holy Knight Captain shouted.

“L-Lower your swords!!!”

The Holy Knights immediately retreated their swords.

The Deep Floor Explorer who saw that smiled and was already standing in front of the Holy Knight Captain.

“Hey, Holy Knights. I wouldn’t care what kind of mischief you cause in your sanctuary, but it’s different here. This place is the explorers’ sanctuary. It’s not a place for you guys to recklessly rummage around.”

“But… the Apostle of the Evil God is here.”

“That’s none of my business. Who ordered you? Was it that bitch Aria?”

“D-Do not speak the Saintess’s name so carelessly!!!”

The Holy Knight Captain, emitting light and Divine Power, ran and swung his sword at the Deep Floor Explorer.

Tok.

The sword, smeared heavily with Divine Power, couldn’t even pierce the Deep Floor Explorer’s skin.

Ttak!

The Holy Knight Captain’s sword shattered into pieces with a single flick on the forehead.

The Holy Knight Captain dropped the broken sword from his hand.

“If you face me, bring a Cardinal or something. No, in the first place, to catch that Apostle of the Evil God or whatever, shouldn’t someone of that level come?”

Something curious arose, and the Deep Floor Explorer was already standing near me.

And he finds Noah, who was in stealth.

“What?!”

Lifting one of Noah’s arms in her flustered state, the Deep Floor Explorer examines her here and there.

“Hmm. She’s not someone to be ignored, you see. Did they plan to cut her off if something happened? I can’t understand. Those damned fanatics.”

The Deep Floor Explorer returned in front of the Holy Knight Captain.

“Anyway, get out of the auction house quickly. I have something I need to buy here, you know.”

“Ah, the Ariel Church will remember you!!”

“Well, it’s not like it’s the first time…”

The Holy Knight Captain was full of anger, but seemingly knowing his place, he escaped quickly.

And as the Holy Knights disappeared, a different scene was visible to my eyes.

Countless people who had already come around us, watching.

They are all explorers.

I unfolded my senses.

And I felt only one fact.

“Haha, still a long way to go.”

Although I thought I had become quite strong on the Mid-Floor, it’s still mountains beyond mountains.

To think there would be so many strong individuals like this.

“Are you that Witch Slayer or whatever they call you who’s rising lately?”

The Deep Floor Explorer had already arrived in front of me.

I immediately extended my hand.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Explorers help each other, don’t they?”

We shook hands.

During that time, mana swept over my body.

Is he trying to figure me out?

“…I can’t understand something. You. Not strong and not weak, nothing is read. This is the first time I’ve seen someone like this.”

The Deep Floor Explorer put his hand into subspace and took out something resembling a business card.

“Come find me after reaching the 8th floor later. Only when you are around that level does it seem like we can have a proper conversation.”

As soon as I received the card, it melted and was absorbed into my hand. And something lightly engraved on the back of my hand.

“Alright, alright! The situation is sorted out, so scatter!”

As the Deep Floor Explorer waved his hand, the explorers scattered while feeling regretful.

Immediately, the inside of the auction house is being tidied up.

An explorer who appears to be a mage was returning the broken places back to their original state.

As if it was something that happened often.

“Then I’ll be leaving too.”

Having said that, the Deep Floor Explorer made a big leap and disappeared far away.

Watching that happen, I checked the something engraved on the back of my hand again.

[Diver’s]

Those were the letters written on the engraving given by the Deep Floor Explorer.