Chapter 142: The Labyrinth of Time (5)
0nzS10O“Let’s stop this and leave! Any objections? Hey, open this iron door!”2iCzP1o
FGm1The leader banged on the iron door. His pride was crushed, and he could no longer bear the cold stares of his comrades.75UD
3zVxDmh“Does everyone agree?”PWq
FlNQ6The man asked, but no interpretation was needed. The mercenaries nodded without a word and headed towards the door.LUMY0ho
m5KLSiPThey were in a miserable state. Entering this place was truly a bad decision. They tried to make a quick profit through a loophole but ended up damaging their morale and wasting their money.tcch1
kwsUvZb“Come on, let’s get out of here. This way.”rrqHVLp
L4EAThe mercenaries’ attitude had changed from before. They felt a huge sense of defeat, but given the extraordinary skills of the children, it was best to be cautious around them.G81ifKL
wf0gHowever, Shirone and his group didn’t move and just watched the mercenaries.L5l7Ct
4mt7iBThe mage became slightly anxious. A bad premonition always seemed to come true, as Amy coldly stated,mDVRQR
BjiQnl“We don’t want to leave yet.”lGf6
fi8Nn5The mercenaries all turned their heads at once. Their eyes flickered with a mix of anger, confusion, and fear.nokQ
JM1HThe relatively quick-witted mage swallowed her anger and tried to appease with a soothing tone.jWIQigb
wll“Why don’t you want to leave? It’s over, isn’t it? We’re too tired to do any more.”y8lD
eVIfTBK“That’s your problem. Once we’re in here, we’re all in this together. Didn’t you know? It’s not okay to just leave on your own without considering our opinion.”3djKWAr
hX48XRTThe mage was upset but had no choice but to appease Amy for the time being.410s
2sWT“Alright, I didn’t consider that. Let’s leave then.”Jgw6
KqTr“Sorry, but we can’t do that. We need to pass through here and head to Kergos.”BCI
xEMIJFv“But there’s no way to go! Ah…!”wJxeg0
cC8The woman’s face turned pale. There was a way.pRfXgg
SkPjy1MThis was a room of achievement and sacrifice. It wasn’t necessary to only prove achievement.9ne
yP64bZThe man with white tattoos softly said,MEm
1aTgr“Will you leave or stay? If you wish to prove your skill, pass through the fabric of the maze. If you want to prove sacrifice, 4 sacrifices will send 4 through.”R5Er
dGMoVGw“Eh? What did he say?”jSl2
jyKNLpWBefore Rian could even ask, the archer translated. Of course, the translation was completely distorted and transformed.qocAk
mhJYcO“Ah, if you’re done, just go already.”Z95
WyzAmy smiled and said,h82Q
J9J“Strange, I heard it clearly. ‘4 sacrifices will send 4 through.’”U5c9
SsBdfEnShock filled the archer’s eyes.gjrrD
JakYNym“You… you knew the native language?”wlcWSFl
5Sl3tzt“What are you talking about? It’s something I heard when we first came here. Do you think we’re fools who can’t even remember what we heard once?”NfOvHR
qmwXOZThe archer stood dumbfounded. Ah, so that’s it? No, but isn’t it strange to remember something you heard for the first time?blVsPc1
Vb4OHf“Anyway, 4 sacrifices. One, two, three, four. That makes 4 of you.”3U42
ofM61The mercenaries’ faces drained of color. The girl was seriously considering sacrificing someone.vutCLk
9R8e9J9Rian and Tess also felt the tension as if in real combat. Especially Tess, who was hopping mad at the sudden ferocity of the cute Amy.QMUo5
Zn4d“Shirone, is this really okay? Eek, Amy is so scary.”O8SWG
uxZ6y“It’s fine. She’s doing it on purpose.”gYxGF
OXOEqN“On purpose? It doesn’t seem like it.”iqSTDg
2i9QU“Just wait and see. Amy will handle it well.”vvQkLPW
VRMvNOThe mercenaries looked at each other. If it came to a fight, they would surely lose. Rian and the warrior were evenly matched, and Tess was stronger than the leader.moR
bHFuMQRMoreover, they were overwhelmed in the mage’s combat, and the archer’s presence was useless in front of Shirone’s photon magic.BqvERl
yogO“Come on, if you dare. You all seem reluctant to be sacrificed. Anyway, you have to do your best.”we9aZ
d38IQ“Why are you doing this? Is it because of what we did in the bar?”dmQEz
XZOTn5BAmy tilted her head teasingly.2s2mE
24nEl“Uh-huh?”CfL9b
eEoThThe archer realized that a half-hearted response wouldn’t diffuse the situation. He walked over to where Shirone and his group were and bowed politely.qlsd
khmuq“I’m sorry! We underestimated you and made a mistake. Please forgive us this once. Hey, you guys come and apologize too.”3D0
16qAs the archer turned back with his head bowed, the other three came forward reluctantly. But given the stakes, their apologies were sincerely polite.vWSeOa
sFcaLQ“I’m sorry! I was too arrogant. Please forgive me.”dsyKX
POWWl“We won’t do it again. We’ve learned a lot from this incident. Can we forget the mistake we made in the bar?”VtWL
UrWksAmy frowned and said,QOZr
rtjZ“Hmm, I really can’t tell. What exactly did you do to us? Wait, the bar? Were you there? Strange, why didn’t I see you?”uP9teDc
YuzRdXThe mercenaries’ faces turned red with embarrassment. Their pride was not just crushed but thrown to the ground and trampled.sabFrZ
Id6wxHKThis time, even Shirone couldn’t help but shiver at Amy’s persistence.A5QtYBR
YlikHx‘If you anger Amy, this is what happens.’LIcCnp
MUFByAmy and Tess were the ones who received the most ridicule in the bar.1wT
E8EkdThey were subjected to all sorts of insults and humiliations just because they were women. Amy was not someone who would forget such an incident, even if decades passed before she could get her revenge.Mggnh
CIr8But in a way, it was a classic example of a mage’s obsession with efficiency.YN4vCVx
eTo8Even if it wasn’t necessary to go that far, a mage would be annoyed by not utilizing a given advantage to its fullest.GK0KoGU
hqR5Fw8That’s why people often say mages are quirky. Indeed, many mages lack humanity.mTFlT
7JuJibHowever, it was this relentless pursuit of efficiency that allowed magic to develop to this day and will continue to do so in the future.15frv4
7fqaNK‘What the hell are they asking us to do? Damn it.’ONtEMrD
HfzgThe mercenaries were at a loss, merely bowing their heads. The sound of grinding teeth seemed almost audible.oTQ6U
PmRjrAmy finally got to the point.KJH
cMIMQX2“Let’s make a deal. If you accept, we might leave together.”MBU4
pxWxF“What kind of…?”usIM
WYa“You said we need a password to enter here, right? What’s the password?”iO3
NCxThe archer realized. These kids planned to attempt again. They would conduct numerous investigations and ensure sufficient possibilities before returning here.EXd
rQI“Kertias, ro haima. Acrasias, widmias benshen. That’s the password.”nGPdO5
xqApxMK“What does it mean?”D7Ga
JRGKQp“Knock on my door. And it shall be opened.”HSJ
20HAmy turned to the man with white tattoos and repeated the ancient language he had provided without missing a beat.6qoCxZp
bwL“Kertias, ro haima. Acrasias, widmias benshen?”bu16X
yU7The natives guarding the exit nodded in recognition of Amy’s intention.AXf
oepMOPThe archer felt a mix of annoyance and admiration. How meticulous she was!Rqm
47ezLo“Damn it! Trust me a little! Would I lie in this situation?”EHC
SGU“No one’s accusing you. It doesn’t hurt to be sure. Anyway, thanks.”zMQ78
yLzdXkAmy, as if nothing had happened, cheerfully returned to her friends. Tess clicked her tongue at the chameleon-like change in emotions.i2F85
8eXujjy“Was all this just to get the password? I was so nervous, thinking we were really going to fight.”nTgh
Zvwx29“Hehe, if we’re coming back anyway, it’s good to know. Let’s leave now.”KZE
49CCShirone and his group, as well as the mercenaries, expressed their intention to leave, prompting the man with white tattoos to pull a lever next to the iron door.myB
AzbBkThe entrance vibrated violently, leading the way out.bjCz
krmeZuhAs when they entered, the mercenaries went up the stairs first.oRAXf
gBaRewBut the atmosphere was entirely different this time. They all hung their heads like defeated soldiers, and no one spoke.zya
SyZShirone’s group was also silent.nLfFL
6vjtVThey didn’t manage to enter the autonomous district, but strategizing for that would come later.ap1
p0pMore pressing were their thoughts on the day’s experiences with the fabric of the maze.EvSzyIn
dA3sX‘The fabric of the maze. What was Miro’s purpose in creating this device? And why such a cruel rule? What lies in Kergos that warrants this? Was there always a connection between Kergos and Miro? I want to know. Perhaps Miro is…’NAs
jbVAs Shirone analyzed Miro, Amy was lost in her thoughts.solRn
48e‘There’s not just one way to investigate a ruin. Let’s devise all possible strategies. Shirone seems to have his own ideas, but we can’t rule out exploring underground with the Spirit Zone. Even if we pass, there’s the issue of interpretation. Once we’re outside, we need to find someone who can interpret. There must be someone local.’6af5
BjmSTess was also impressed by the place, especially the ability to quantify one’s power.cMn
bGG4‘The impact of a triple-bladed sword is indeed stronger than a blunt weapon. But ultimately, it couldn’t match magic. Can a swordsman pass through that door? If so, to what extent? Shirone’s magic approached 5,000, which is about ten times my strike. If the pass mark is roughly doubled, could Father make it? Ugh, if only I knew the cut-off, I could set a goal. Since Shirone said he’d come back, I’ll investigate more then.’HPXH
pZSrRian, bringing up the rear, was also silent, deeply furrowed in thought.Oz7NiL
mCFwJ‘What should I eat when I get out?’7N5d
KU1BoAfter about 30 minutes of walking, Shirone and his group arrived at the surface altar.d9Dbr
RuEYZKnocking from the inside, a native opened the door, but the learned inertia from below made them tense.tRz
ZiTeAJbStepping outside, the fresh air cleansed their lungs. It felt as though the sun hanging in the sky wasn’t the same one from just a few hours ago.ECSif
F1E00MShirone’s group and the mercenaries split in opposite directions, but they didn’t lose sight of each other. Shirone’s group wanted to savor the aftermath, while the mercenaries were on the brink of collapse.pAv
Nw8MShirone summed up the day.2sBEi0C
IIa“What should we do now? We got more results than expected, so shall we end today’s exploration here?”TjtHJ
QiaJAmy was in full agreement.MXwf
1KS9dl“Let’s do that. I’m tired after using some strength for a change. We should go back early and plan our next move.”xyZ6M
VL7DnRian, as if he’d discovered something great, suggested,mwWz7z
lbm“How about a bowl of noodles before that? That place earlier was delicious.”tGmhFuZ
FZgxhTess glared at Rian.I4PB2mW
u6eK5G“Do you only eat noodles? At least offer something like buckwheat noodles. That’s why you’re so simple.”bfla
FX8suNC“What’s wrong with that? I’ve given it a lot of thought!”8yLc
VhK4“What’s the use? You’re just going in circles.”Dvzkmn
mY18khrWhile Rian and Tess argued over the menu, the mercenaries approached. Shirone’s group stopped their conversation and turned to look at them.6QfY90
YT3sThe warrior, the mage, and the archer were there, but the leader had disappeared.pvZ
Qj3n9CThe mercenaries exchanged glances, unsure of what to say. Finally, the mage, deemed the most suitable, was pushed forward, though she seemed awkward about the situation.3DHmOvg
pXjVhtR“Um… would you like to join our mercenary group?”TI1
6PhsL1F“Mercenary group?”F87
ul7v“Yes. Being a mercenary has its perks. Not just honor, but also a lot of money. Especially with your skills, you’d become stars right away. As you saw, our leader has left us… Oh, you could be the new leader if you want. We’ll follow any orders, and if others join, we’ll treat them really well. What do you say?”Q7gu3p
ZzhShirone stared intently into the mage’s eager eyes and immediately responded without a second thought.rYB
FNZ“No, thank you.”vuEiX
pkBbBmuWith that, he turned and walked away, his friends following without hesitation.Xmv
7uysU“Let’s just go for the noodles. It was delicious, wasn’t it?”I8asvjn
uYl“No. You just want to fill your stomach no matter what. If we wait a bit, we can eat something much better.”m9jI1qr
38XMU8The mercenaries watched Shirone’s group walk away, dumbfounded.6Xs
tlKy2The mage’s face fell, and she let out a sigh filled with sorrow.46Z5q7
Xna6N“Ah, the misfortune of my life.”8Cgm
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!