Episode 505 Reunion with Soonbok (2)
Ray wandered the dungeon for hours looking for the door to the lower floors.
Thanks to that, I found a few stone chambers, but I still couldn’t find a door that could lead to the basement.
he scratched the back of his head.
“It is strange. If I’ve been around like this, I’d probably come out at least one place.”
After that, I looked all over the place, but there was nothing that could be called a door.
There was only one gigantic cave in place, like a beast opening its mouth.
I’ve been to almost all of this area.
If you doubted it, only that cave was left.
Ray, who was examining the cave with uncertain eyes, let out a drool.
“Come to think of it, I think I’ve seen this cave somewhere before.”
Probably the first time I was thrown into a dungeon.
It seems that the entrance to the lower floor that I saw on the first floor at that time also looked similar to this.
I don’t know the details because I didn’t have a chance to look around because I came down to the second floor without hesitation.
No matter how you think about it, it is quite similar to the entrance at that time.
“Let’s go down first.”
I grabbed my leather backpack and moved on.
Upon entering the cave entrance, the aura of integrity made my head clear.
Could this also be the supernormal ability of the cave?
Without much hesitation, Ray went down the stairs that were placed in front of him.
The entrance looks a little different, but the inside wasn’t that different.
no.
If I had to pick one, there would be a group of lights coming down from the ceiling.
Whoaaah-!
I saw countless jewels embedded in the low ceiling.
Among them, there was also a gem that glowed, but the name must have been Fluorite.
It seems a little different from the modern Flolite, though.
Every time the colorful light illuminated the surroundings, the wind blew and I felt the scent.
I closed my eyes for a moment because I didn’t feel bad.
The wind gently blows my bangs.
Unlike the 16th floor, which was full of miasma, the road down to the 17th floor was absolutely peaceful.
Even the weak roar of the dungeon gradually disappeared.
Only a gentle breeze brushed my cheeks.
How comfortable would it be if only this layer continued?
It’s a peace that I’ve never felt before in a dungeon.
After enjoying the surroundings so as not to leave any regrets behind, Ray opened his eyes and went down the stairs again.
It wasn’t long before the door to the 17th floor came into view.
A door made of stone, just like the stone chamber.
A little bit of moss even made it look old-fashioned.
Ray carefully pushed the door open.
Kugoogu Palace-
The huge stone gate was pushed back little by little, revealing the outside scenery.
Could it be the land that the monsters rush to?
If not, is it a place where the fire is overflowing this time?
With a little bit of anticipation, I pushed the door completely.
However, the sight in front of Ray was neither full of monsters nor a land overflowing with firearms.
There was a place that seemed to be just a small study.
A slightly messy desk.
Some books fell on the floor.
The sunlight coming through the window and the dust reflected in it.
A small robe over a chair and a green field beyond the window sill.
Somehow my eyes were cold.
I couldn’t open my eyes properly to the scenery outside that I hadn’t seen in a long time.
I’ve spent over a year in a dark dungeon so far.
I ate the meat of the monster and went to sleep curled up in the dirty shade.
It was a daily routine of fighting in a mess when the day was bright and running away from them at night.
Whether or not Hana knew her own sorrow, the scenery outside was still beautiful.
Ray sat down in a chair.
There was black tea on the desk that looked like someone had been drinking it.
tea
Unknowingly, I reached out and grabbed the glass.
Bring it to your lips and take a sip of the tea.
Gulp-
I was somewhat moved by the unique scent that went over smoothly.
As if protesting against him, he took two sips of black tea.
In the mouth, the spiciness of black tea left a soft aftertaste over the throat.
When Ray is enjoying his tea time after a long absence.
Tak Tak Tak Tak -!
I heard a sound coming down the stairs from somewhere.
Could there be monsters in a place like this?
I’m a little wary and I’m watching the direction the sound came from.
“huh? Who are you?”
A child’s voice was heard.
Ray’s head creaked like a machine.
This is a dungeon.
In addition, it is the number of layers that can be called the deep layer among the deep layers.
There is no way people’s voices can be heard in such a place.
Before Ray had time to say anything, the child quickly came over and took the glass Ray was holding.
“oh! This is my black tea!”
A girl came into view.
With only one look, Ray was able to recognize who the girl was.
“Mien……?”
It wasn’t difficult to recognize, even though the young spots weren’t peeling off.
Short hair that goes down to the shoulders.
There was no miasma, but the soft eyes matched those of Mien.
Maybe it’s because people I don’t know call me by name?
Little Mien looked at Ray with a slightly surprised look.
One surprise was short-lived.
she shot ferociously.
“Who are you to come into someone else’s house and drink black tea as you please!”
“….”
“Don’t you know that adults shouldn’t steal children’s things?”
Ray apologized without realizing it because he shot so much that he couldn’t come to his senses.
“sorry.”
Certainly, drinking black tea is his own fault.
It was only natural that he could not have imagined that a dungeon like this would have a study with an owner.
Did he think the apology was sincere?
Mien put her index finger to her lips, thought for a moment, then sat herself down in a chair.
“Sit still.”
Even to the point of being selfish, he resembles Mien perfectly.
No, judging from how she reacted when her name was called, it was probably Mian herself.
Mien headed for somewhere with quick steps, and soon brought a cup of steaming black tea.
Blowing heavily with her small, bracken-like hands, she brings tea and smiles at herself.
“drink.”
Was it purely because of my mood that I felt that the way I spoke was overbearing?
Rei took the cup from Mien and slowly drank the tea.
warm
For some reason, the scent of tea seemed to calm my mind.
But why is Mien in a place like this?
Could it be that he has been living here ever since he came to the dungeon?
Mien held out her hand and said, probably noticing Ray’s curiosity.
“I am Mian. I’ve been living in this library since I was very young. Where are you from?”
At her question, Ray held Mien’s hand.
‘Where are you from?’
In Ray’s mind, the image of Mien being torn to pieces came to mind.
The ground turns upside down.
A storm raged.
Soon, only people’s screams filled the dark place.
But the thing that came out the most in the midst of it all was the one word that Mien shouted with all her might, ‘Run away from me’.
Ray looked at young Mien.
Untainted, innocent eyes met his gaze.
Now Ray could figure out what this place was like.
The deepest layer where the core of the dungeon is located.
That would mean that the girl staring at him right in front of him is the nucleus of the dungeon.
Ray said with a bitter smile.
“I came from afar. A place very far from here.”
“Hehe… you mean you came from outside? All the people from outside the study are black people… I’ve never seen a white person before.”
The girl describes herself as a ‘white person’.
The shadows of the black shapes that are glimpsed outside are defined as ‘black people’.
Mian smiled brightly.
“The black people only bring me what I need, they don’t want to talk to me. It’s the first time I’ve ever had a conversation like this with someone.”
It seems to be genuinely enjoyable.
The girl lightly shook her hand.
“Take care of me, tea thief.”
let out a mischievous laugh
Ray also nodded, hiding his feelings.
“Please take good care of me.”
‘Until I kill you, who turned into a dungeon.’
The intentions of the two were completely different from the beginning.
* * *
Hafman’s Mercenary did not immediately respond to negotiations with the Seongguk.
As if drying the kingdom to death, he reacted slowly and looked at their reaction.
Then, it was Seongguk who became impatient.
In order to put an end to the civil war and religious war, a lot of supplies and funds are needed, but the blood has dried up because the upper half of the half man is not moving.
In response, Seongguk sent another letter, but the reply he heard from Hafman was speculative.
– We are also in a bad situation, so it will take a little more time to negotiate the price.
The tone in the letter is extremely polite.
However, how can you not know the dark heart hidden within it?
Negotiate for the top.
Since a large amount of money is coming and going, he must be thinking of hitting the price of the top while watching leisurely.
Eclay tapped the throne with his fingers.
“Halfman is overdoing it.”
That’s what he said, but the Seongguk had no other choice.
Unless it was a gigantic merchant company of the level of the Halfman Merchant, there would be no company that could buy the Holy Kingdom’s Merchant, and he had been indebted to the Halfman Merchant from before.
I mean, it’s true, even if the cost of moving the Hafman Company in case of emergency, I would have bought two or three of the decent size of the company in its entirety.
Even the fairly powerful priests bowed their heads and gave advice.
“His Holiness, they will somehow try to buy this caravan at a cheap price. Then, rather than wasting time for nothing, why not proceed with the work according to their tastes?”
“I am of the same opinion. If we try to hold out any longer than this, there is a risk that the Demonic Cult will prosper even more than it does now.”
Prosperity of the Demonic Church.
It was also in line with the meaning that the position of the Holy Kingdom would decrease.
Fortunately, thanks to the satellite bridge these days, it was possible to intensively check the Demonic Church, but there was a high probability that it would not be able to do even that if the upper half of the half man did not provide supplies.
Eclay sighed.
Anyway, I didn’t have a choice.
“I didn’t have a heart to look down on him because he was just a merchant, but I need to change my mind.”
In the first place, he must have sent a letter after finishing the work behind the scenes so that he had nowhere to run.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to devise such a detailed plan.
If he had found out that Halfman had supported the top of the kingdom for the same opportunity a few years ago, Eclay would have gone on a rampage.
“I will send you a letter. Bring the parchment.”
In the end, Seongguk bowed its pride to the will of the Hafman Upper House.
