episode_0121

The black magician who introduced himself as Cain.

However, despite stating his name and identity, no one in the vicinity could focus on that.

First, the left side of his face was human, but the opposite side had the skin of an unknown monster. Where the human and monster skin connected, there were visible stitches, as if sewn with thread, stitch by stitch.

His right hand had long, sharp claws like a demon’s, and a long thorn on his elbow that pierced through the suit he wore.

And lastly, something like a dinosaur’s tail was moving behind his suit, so it was obvious at a glance that he was not a normal human.

Furthermore, even though he was wearing a thick suit and only his hands and face were visible, this was the extent of it, making it unimaginable how much more gruesome he might be inside that suit.

“…Nice to meet you.”

Erica tried to extend her hand for a handshake on behalf of the group.

But Cain withdrew his hand.

“Many people get injured by this hand, so you don’t necessarily need to shake hands.”

Cain put his hands behind his back.

“Then, you must be tired from your long journey. Please come inside.”

He entered the mansion.

They briefly hesitated whether to follow, but Noah and Yuria went inside.

It would also be strange to leave those two behind, so they immediately entered the mansion.

*

Looking only at Cain’s outward appearance, one might have thought that only the exterior of the mansion would be fine and the interior would be strange.

Fortunately, the interior was very clean.

Ghost-type monsters were roaming around dusting, and small monsters, short enough to be kicked if you didn’t see them by mistake, were wiping the floors with rags.

This place looked like a nobleman’s house, and it wouldn’t be strange at all.

However, seeing these monsters roaming around with no intention to fight is something I can never get used to, no matter what.

I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

The party members and Erica’s party looked at a loss.

Well, of course. They are explorers who fight life-or-death battles with monsters every day.

They arrived at the reception room following the 안내 (guidance).

There was no grand meal or anything like that, but a warm cup of tea was prepared.

“Please take a seat first.”

Saying that, Cain sat down in the main seat.

We immediately sat down in our designated seats.

As soon as we sat down, the smell of the tea pricked the tip of my nose.

I didn’t know what it was made of, but it was quite good.

However, that didn’t make me want to drink it.

Perhaps because it was tea given by a strange black magician.

However, Noah, looking uninterested, sipped the warm tea.

As she did that, Cain soon cleared his throat a few times and then looked directly at the client and spoke.

“Yes, you look just like your grandfather.”

“You know my grandfather? But…”

Cain’s outward appearance didn’t look very old.

Even if you estimate generously, he was between his 30s and 40s.

Of course, there are species that live long.

Representatively, even Elves or Beastmen live longer than average humans.

However, he clearly wasn’t an Elf, and if he were a Beastman, the part that wasn’t a monster was unmistakably human.

Cain quickly provided the answer to that.

“I have attained immortality. That’s also why I don’t look old.”

The black magician said something unbelievable about obtaining immortality.

However, no one questioned that statement.

Because Cain immediately took off the 마의 (upper garment) covering his upper body and showed his body.

“Less than 7% of what was human in me remains. Of course, I’m contemplating grinding that away too.”

Cain said, laughing as if it were nothing.

Seeing that appearance, you definitely get the feeling that he is not normal.

‘…I shouldn’t stay here long.’

Just as I made that resolve.

Cain had somehow put his clothes back on.

“Even if that fellow hadn’t helped me, I wouldn’t be in this position. So I even gave him a book and told him to visit later, but he never made it here. After a long time, his grandson has reached this place!! Of course, it’s a pity he couldn’t come himself.”

“…I don’t know why my grandfather couldn’t come, but I’m glad the mystery is solved.”

“Of course, I made it hard to find. I shouldn’t let this place be discovered by falling into the hands of others. So I’m saying this. You all…”

Suddenly, killing intent burst forth, and the monsters surrounding them instantly stopped all movement. And they all turned their heads with a click to look at this place. Unconsciously, my body tensed up in fear.

“You won’t tell anyone else about this place, right?”

“Of course not.”

As Noah, who was next to me, answered, Cain’s stiff expression softened again, and the monsters resumed moving. Cain also regained his smile.

“Then, I have something private to discuss, so could you please leave?”

We immediately left the reception room, leaving only the client behind.

“Will he be okay? If that person harms him…”

“He’ll be fine.”

Noah answered quickly.

Immediately, everyone’s gaze gathered on her.

“That person is an enemy of the mainstream black magicians, or should I say, a traitor. Anyway, he’s that kind of person.”

“Are they like those black magicians who made money using strange information on the 5th floor?”

“Roughly similar, I suppose. Unlike the Ariel Church, which is divided into various factions and is all-inclusive, black magicians have just one mainstream faction, and everything outside of that is treated as heresy and considered an enemy. They view them more severely than the church people, you know.”

Erica made a surprised expression at the newly learned fact.

“I thought all black magicians were bad guys.”

“Well, most are, but sometimes there are people who aren’t. Most people in the Ariel Church are good and faithful, but sometimes there are bad guys, right? It’s similar.”

That was true.

They say if five people gather, one is garbage. Unless it’s a small group, it’s unlikely there wouldn’t be strange people in a group exceeding hundreds of thousands. The problem is that the scope of that strangeness is different.

“You probably don’t have to worry. Rather, I’m the one who should be worried.”

Just then, monster maids and butlers rushed out in a group.

Seeing that only monsters that looked a bit round and mascot-like, rather than those that looked a bit grotesque, came out in a group, we felt they were being considerate towards us.

In particular, one small white ghost monster attached itself to each person.

And they immediately began to guide everyone to their places.

“Let’s get settled first and then meet in the lobby.”

Everyone nodded at Grace’s suggestion.

Everyone went their separate ways.

Following the guidance down a long corridor, guest rooms came into view.

I was guided into one of those rooms and went inside.

The room was very ordinary, but I could tell that no one had used it recently.

Perhaps Cain receiving outside visitors was something that happened very rarely.

Just then, something suddenly popped into my head.

“Usually, in a situation like this, people disappearing one by one is a horror movie cliché.”

Thinking that, I wanted to get out quickly.

Since I didn’t have much luggage anyway because of the subspace bag, I just roughly hung up the coat and equipment I was wearing. When I went outside.

“Ah, you came out quickly.”

Grace was at the door.

“Are you also feeling uneasy?”

“…Yes. Noah is a black magician, and I can think that there might occasionally be benevolent black magicians. But I don’t know what kind of person that man is.”

Just then, Noah appeared from beside us.

“Well, since someone with that much skill saved us, I think it’ll be okay? Besides, my situation is similar right now.”

Indeed, Noah was also being chased by mainstream black magicians. Seeing someone who seemed to be in the same boat might bring a little bit of camaraderie.

However, the unease still didn’t disappear.

“Let’s go together, the three of us. It’s a little scary to go alone.”

Naturally, the three of us headed to the lobby together.

Fortunately, everyone successfully rejoined safely.

Rather, a few explorers were interacting with the monsters that guided them. Even though they looked cute, I couldn’t help but wonder if they shouldn’t be a little more cautious.

“This one is very precisely made.”

“It is a little cute.”

Even Noah and Grace had completely lowered their guard.

Just then, Cain came out to the lobby with the client.

Fortunately, the client was also fine.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting. You must have many questions and suspicions. Please, enjoy this brief moment of leisure. For your information, the portal to outside the labyrinth does not open here, so if you want to leave, you’ll have to exit through the portal you entered through. Then, rest well today.”

Saying that, Cain slowly moved away from the lobby.

“Indeed, it’s nighttime now. It is time to sleep.”

We had planned to leave through the portal that appears at midnight if the 7th floor was dangerous. So, unless we were nocturnal, it was indeed right to rest now.

“Just in case, we decided to sleep in one room.”

Erica’s party seemed still suspicious of Cain and decided to stay together in Erica’s room.

Of course, they offered it to the client too.

“I’m fine. He doesn’t seem like a bad person.”

The client said he would sleep alone and left, and Erica’s party also left.

“What should we do?”

“Well, I think it’s right to sleep in one room.”

“Right?”

As expected of explorers who doubt everything and are cautious, their mindset was not to give even a single opening. I willingly decided to join them in that intention.

Naturally, we gathered in the room I was staying in.

However, there was only one bed. Fortunately, it was given to me, the original owner of the room and the clan leader.

“We should stand watch too, right?”

“Do we really need to go that far?”

Noah opposed, but he couldn’t stop the decision to stand watch.

Moreover, I was given consideration and took the first watch.

“Shall I stand with you?”

“It’s okay. I don’t know how things will turn out tomorrow, so get some good sleep.”

While everyone was asleep, I sat on a chair in front of the entrance and stood watch.

About an hour passed without anything happening.

I was getting bored reading the book I brought from the magic tower and was spacing out.

“……?!”

Suddenly, my perception expanded and sensed a human.

‘Who is it?’

I was not the same as before, who only sensed mana traces. Now I could perceive the form to some extent.

It wasn’t a maid or butler monster.

It had a human form, but it wasn’t Cain. It was short.

Roughly shorter than Grace, similar height to Noah.

‘Is it Erica or Yuria?’

I figured I’d know for sure if I saw the face.

I carefully opened the door and went outside.

“…Ah!”

I made eye contact with someone walking from the end of the corridor.

The startled girl froze in place.

She just stood there, exchanging gazes with me.

The girl was wary of me but absolutely did not back down.

She was wearing a neat dress like a noble lady.

None of that mattered.

‘…Does she look exactly like Noah?’

Because her face looked exactly like Noah’s.

While my mind was complicated by that fact.

The girl took a deep breath, and then slowly walked towards this place.

And then she looked up at me and confidently demanded.

“Can I come in?”

I seemed to understand why the girl was saying that to me.

But just in case, I asked again.

“Reason?”

The girl looked directly into my eyes and said.

“…I came to see my sister.”