(EP-102.2) Eyes #3
102 – Piercing Eyes #3
The Devil’s Nest was also called the Labyrinth.
Probably because it was intricately connected like a labyrinth.
“Was this really built by one person?”
I asked Mirna while walking in what felt like an ancient ruin. I couldn’t imagine that a lone Mage managed to build this gigantic structure.
“It is said that Solomon’s wisdom and skill were beyond human standards. He was perfect in every way…. No one knows why he became a madman.”
“That’s, I suppose so.”
In the original novel, Demon King Solomon Angmar was just a kind of plot device.
He was like a deus ex machina-like element that answered unexplained situations or events by using ‘Demon King Solomon made it!’.
For example, if someone asked how it was possible to build this place alone, it’d simply get explained by, ‘Because it’s Solomon’.
Reading this in the novel didn’t really strike me as anything noteworthy, but now that I was experiencing it myself, the feeling was bizarre.
Why did such a brilliant Mage turn insane?
“From what I heard-.”
After walking in the labyrinth in silence for a while, Mirna decided to speak up first.
“It’s rumored that he fell into deviation while researching some kind of magic.”
I’d noticed this before, but Mirna was actually quite talkative. Perhaps it was because she lived alone in a quiet mansion, and yearned for a chance to talk with others.
I also listened to Mirna’s story without much objection. After all, walking through an unpredictable labyrinth was a psychologically burdensome task. This would, at least, help relieve some of that stress.
“Solomon went astray while studying magic? Do you know what kind of magic it is?”
“I heard it’s a magic that manipulates time.”
Time controlling magic?
Was it something like those time stopwatch tropes?
Could it be real!?
“Turning back and stopping time… does such magic really exist?”
Mirna shook her head at my question.
“It’s impossible. Otherwise, the Demon King wouldn’t have been subjugated by the four families.”
“I see…”
That made sense. If he could literally control time at his disposal, he wouldn’t have been crushed by the great houses.
I guessed there were things even a Rank 10 godlike being couldn’t accomplish…
It was then that I suddenly heard some rustling in front.
Then, a white skeleton appeared at the corner of the hallway, revealing itself to us.
Its skull was flashing red eyes.
━Grraaah!
It immediately rushed at us after making eye contact. I didn’t know how a skeleton with no muscles could be so fast.
Fortunately, there was a few meters between us and I was able to get my wand and cast a spell in time.
Paaang-!
Kwajik, kwadeudeudeu, hudeududuk-.
The skeleton shattered into pieces. As I looked at its scattered remains, I stabilized my breathing and asked Mirna.
“What was that?”
“They are the guardians of this dungeon. It’s run by our family. They can be revived, so you can defeat them as much as you want.”
“Ah.”
So this was what a dungeon run by the Draco Family entailed.
Befitting a family of necromancers, they revived the undead and used them as dungeon monsters, hunting them down to gain experience.
━Graaah-!
━Gieuaak!
Pang, paaang!
In fact, I could see Mage’s experience points increase in increments of 5 to 10 as I defeated them.
This place was a gold mine!
I soon stumbled into a big stone door, which was marked ‘II’.
I supposed it meant Stage 2.
“Moving forward, there will be skeletons armed with clubs and even swords. They are monsters that Rank 2 Mages or higher can face.”
“Is the method of opening the door the same as the entrance?”
“Yes.”
At Mirna’s words, I casted a spell towards the huge and heavy stone gate. There was a little dizzy feeling from the constant usage of magic, but I still got some gas left in the tank.
Paaang-!
The stone door immediately opened with a rumbling noise as the air bullet hit it.
It was becoming increasingly fascinating to see what kind of structure and principle this space was built on.
Then I suddenly became curious.
“How many stages are there?”
Edited by: faker
