Chapter 217

“The first thing we must consider is the existence of this village.”

“…It is certainly strange, but was there something suspicious about it?”

“Hmm. I didn’t sense any particular malice from the villagers either?”

Shin Noeul and Sophia pondered repeatedly, but their expressions showed they truly didn’t understand.

However, the reason was actually quite simple.

“The population.”

“Population?”

“Roughly checking, the current villagers number just over a hundred. Of course, even that is quite a lot in this treacherous labyrinth.”

But, stepping away from that perspective and thinking from a general viewpoint, something strange immediately becomes apparent.

“Could the number of people who settled in this village, continuously accepted outsiders, and passed down through generations be merely that small?”

Even just watching related documentaries would tell you.

According to the journal, this village was first established over 400 years ago. Considering the outsiders who have drifted in since then, a mere hundred people doesn’t make sense.

“Now that I hear it, it certainly does…”

Because there were so many elements to be mindful of, it wasn’t easy to think of that part, but even from a simple common-sense perspective, it’s clearly unnatural.

“Then, are the villagers deceiving us?”

“That’s probably not it. As Sophia said earlier, I didn’t sense any such hint from them.”

In other words, the conclusion I reached was this:

“This village itself is a gateway prepared by the witch. If you are deceived by the apparent comfort, settle down, and seek rest, that alone is already the end.”

It’s not certain, but there is probably some mechanism here that periodically excludes such dropouts.

If you spend time here after laying down your courage and will, you will soon completely lose your qualifications, coinciding with that period.

‘And that…’

It most likely directly leads to the literal death of the subject. Thinking that way, the village’s abnormal population also becomes explainable.

“But Oppa, how could the villagers not know such a fact?”

“For those who have already lost their qualifications, it wouldn’t be strange if their memories were manipulated by the labyrinth’s power.”

Moreover, I’ve said it many times: the name of this labyrinth is ‘Blind Mountain.’

“How many among them do you think can truly be called people like us?”

“……”

It could be dismissed as somewhat far-fetched talk, but it was a story with enough possibility.

What is certain is that staying in this village for long is not good.

Just as the party’s expressions were turning serious, Yeon Jaki, who had been silently listening, moved her lips.

“Earlier. You said you found the answer.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“That means you’ve figured out more besides that, right?”

Certainly so. As I said before, I had already somewhat deduced a way to break through this labyrinth.

‘Others might not, but from my position, I can’t be fooled even if I tried.’

The second thing to consider is the journal’s content that from the beginning, there was no way to break through this labyrinth.

For someone who entered the labyrinth unknowingly, it would be a bolt from the blue, but not for me.

‘Could there really be no way from the start?’

This labyrinth is a space where the Ancient Witch left her knowledge to pass it on to someone in later generations.

So, the idea that there is no way to break through the labyrinth makes no sense from the outset.

‘The method definitely exists. And the hint too.’

Thinking from that perspective repeatedly, I was finally able to grasp the clue.

“That hint also existed in the journal.”

It had been bothering me from the start in various ways.

Despite the detailed content, the names of the author or their companions were nowhere written, and the fact that this object from the past, existing in only one volume, has been passed down in such intact condition is also strange.

From that, I could think of one possibility.

‘This journal was prepared from the beginning for those who would visit the village.’

The numerous castaways who have visited this place so far probably found despair in its content, had their spirits broken, and were gradually eroded by the village’s comfort.

However, there was definitely a part that needed close attention.

“Right here.”

[There is no passage leading to the final zone. This place was a false space from the beginning.]

In my opinion, the stage concept of this Blind Mountain is precisely truth and falsehood.

From the moment we entered here, our eyes have been blind. So, we must not believe what we see.

The unseen witch’s Synthetic Beasts and this village that only appears peaceful prove that.

“The journal’s content itself is likely true.”

Our experience with the first gate we personally went through was like that, and I hear those who went to check the second gate so far also all gave similar testimonies.

So, this part, which seems written as if the pen was crushed in resentment, can also be considered truth in itself.

“But isn’t it strange?”

As if realizing what I meant to say, Yeon Jaki muttered with an interested face.

“Depending on interpretation, the meaning could change.”

That was exactly it.

The sentences: there is no passage leading to the final zone, and this place was a false space from the beginning.

Contrary to what meets the eye, they can be interpreted in several ways.

And I judged the true intent of the content as follows:

“Following the journal’s content to break through the gates is itself the wrong path from the start.”

There is no passage leading to the final zone. But there definitely is a way to pass through the labyrinth.

Then, isn’t there only one answer?

“This mountain range itself is the final zone. The clue to break through the labyrinth is definitely here.”

I can’t say one hundred percent, but the party decided to first follow my opinion and search for the answer in this mountain range.

And the conclusion was simple.

“If it’s not up, then of course it must be down, right?”

“Hmm. That’s right, isn’t it?”

Those who first fell into Blind Mountain would, of course, instinctively head upwards.

That’s because below the mid-slope, there was no path to move, and if there was something, it was conventional wisdom that it would be at the summit.

But considering this place’s stage concept, even that is highly likely to be intentional.

Ultimately, what we must do is not climb the mountain’s summit, but go down.

“However, there is something to do before that.”

Somehow, the village’s secret bothers me.

We only made various speculations; we haven’t actually confirmed anything.

‘Moreover, if my prediction is correct…’

The village’s guardian beast mentioned by the village chief and Hailo likely holds some key.

‘In the Black Forest too, we needed to obtain the horns of the field bosses, the Manticore and the Seven-Horned Serpent, to enter the Trial Hall.’

I think the one playing that role here is the village’s guardian beast.

Since the opinion that we must check it once was a valid argument, the party nodded and immediately finished preparations to take action.

“I believe it was said that when a violent conflict occurs, it steps in to punish?”

With a slight smile, Yeon Jaki immediately deployed her unique Cursed Technique and began firing at me.

Crack!

Crackle!

“…Wall of the Azure Sky.”

Zzzzzzzzzz─!

Despite the light action, due to the considerable power contained within, I could barely block the attack even after using the Wall of the Azure Sky and summoning Black Yin.

Anyway, whether it was enough to attract the guardian beast’s attention, soon a monster with a bizarre appearance, as if drained of pigment, revealed itself somewhere in the forest near the village.

‘A gargoyle?’

It was slightly different, but simply put, it was that kind of creature.

Its rock-hard body made its defensive power palpable just by looking, and it was a full head larger than the Manticore we saw in the Black Forest.

Brushing off the swirling dust, I checked its information with the Appraisal function.

Ding!

【Wigwalt】

▶Level 69

‘…Outrageous specs.’

Certainly, with such a creature standing guard, no one would recklessly start conflicts out of fear.

Soon, perhaps having heard the noise and grasped the situation, Hailo, who was nearby, began running towards us with an urgent face.

“What on earth are you doing!”

Looking at me and Yeon Jaki confronting each other, Hailo shouted with an expression of utter incomprehension.

“Stop fighting! If you provoke it, both of you will die!”

“That won’t do.”

“Why…?”

As I turned my gaze towards the creature, the other party members also each took out their Cursed Tools and entered Combat Posture.

I spoke softly to the utterly bewildered Hailo.

“We will capture that creature and open the true path of this labyrinth.”

“What on earth is that?”

“Though it’s probably words that have lost meaning to you.”

Hailo said he has lived here helping the village chief for over a decade.

If that’s true, it means he has maintained his life intact even after laying everything down and losing his qualifications.

And what that means is simple.

‘He has already become part of this labyrinth.’

Once I realized that, his expression changing moment by moment only looked like a well-made clay doll.

Forcing down a bitter feeling, I shifted my gaze back to Wigwalt before me.

“Seems it was the correct answer after all.”

A witch’s Synthetic Beast at Level 69. There’s no way it’s merely acting as a watchman guarding the village without any meaning.

The purple crystal embedded deep in its core somehow stole my gaze.

‘That’s it.’

No need to test the waters hesitantly.

As I’ve said many times, I already had all the estimates before entering here.

‘With this team, no problem.’

Shadows flowing out in all directions entangled like a net, slowly constricting Wigwalt’s body.

It was the Bowl Slaughter Shadow Capture I used in the previous battle with Imeris.

“Well, first we just need to smash that thing, right!”

Seizing that moment, Shin Noeul immediately began reciting an Incantation, and Yeon Jaki glanced at Wigwalt and constructed a Binding Spell Formula to lend me power.

It thrashed violently, but it was still lacking the strength to shake off the Restraint of two High-Ranking Exorcists in an instant.

Whoosh!

“Transferring Divine Power.”

Seoa, who had closed in to its immediate vicinity, immediately deployed a Cursed Technique, implanting strands of Spiritual Power into various joint parts of the creature.

Alone, it’s meaningless, but it’s a special Art Formula that amplifies damage in a chain reaction when receiving the power of other Cursed Techniques.

In the current situation, it was truly the best judgment.

“Now.”

“Right!”

And towards its center, Shin Noeul’s proud Grand Art was driven down.

“Great Thunderclap Strike.”