Deep Within the Dungeon

Although Zotes had repeatedly stressed the dangers of exploring ruins, Moria still set out without making much preparation.

The underground ruins beneath the Black Forest were not far from the Fey Market, but Zotes did not lead them to one of the common entrances.

"I discovered this myself. No one else knows about it. Going in through this entrance will take us straight to the lowest dungeon."

The gnome shifted aside a wooden plank, revealing a deep, dark opening below that sloped down into an unknown distance.

A dungeon?

Li Wen carefully considered the word. She had thought the gnome had called it a dungeon before merely to conceal the underground ruins, but it seemed there truly was a dungeon here. But why? Shouldn't this have been an alchemist's laboratory? Where had a dungeon come from?

She knew far too little about this region, or even the entire Black Dragon Territory. The only thing she knew concerned The Final Codex. The Fey Market and the Alchemy Master's laboratory were both things she had never heard of in either her past or present life, so she could only suppress her doubts for now.

Gnomes lived in dark caves year-round and possessed natural darkvision, so Zotes walked at the front to scout the way for them.

They had not brought torches, so Moria expended mana to use Divine Art, creating a glowing sphere.

"The dangers in ruins mainly come from traps and Demonic Beasts that may dwell within," Zotes muttered quietly. "But once a ruin becomes known to everyone, the dangers are no longer limited to that... Those adventurers who come seeking treasure, those who travel alongside you—they might take your life at any moment. Ah, sorry, I wasn't talking about any of you..."

Morris did not mind. He merely recited an admonition from the doctrine: "Never let wealth blind your eyes, for those eyes are meant to gaze upon Radiance."

Li Wen walked behind him without offering any opinion. The two Wild Mages behind her were already driving her mad.

"I think that gnome has a huge problem." The female Wild Mage whispered beside Li Wen without bothering to hide it, as if afraid Li Wen would not hear. After the introductions they had decided on themselves, Li Wen had learned that the female Wild Mage was named Nasha, while the man was called Halik.

"I think so too," Halik agreed. "He reeks of garlic. It reminds me of the smelly socks I left under a tavern bed."

"You actually left your socks under a tavern bed?" Nasha was utterly stunned.

"I know that was bad. After all, a pair of socks costs three pence..."

Is that really the point?

Li Wen quickened her pace, wanting only to get away from the two of them as soon as possible.

But the pair clearly had not realized what Li Wen meant and sped up to follow her.

"Hey, don't walk so fast. It's dark and slippery here. I'm really afraid I'll accidentally fall and slide off to who knows where."

Then they should go wherever they ended up. Besides, Moria had already lit the passage with Divine Art. It was not that dark here.

"Were you kidnapped by that knight too? We're working out a brilliant escape plan. Want to join us?" Nasha whispered, casting a wary glance at Moria ahead of them.

Li Wen could no longer endure it. She said directly, "Can't you see it? He's completely absorbed in exploring these underground ruins. If I were you, I'd run away immediately instead of buzzing around here like flies with a stranger. Do you understand what I mean? Huh?!"

The two Wild Mages seemed frightened by Li Wen's sudden outburst. They shuddered and shook their heads in perfect unison.

"No, no, you have no idea how terrifying that guy is. He pretended to be friendly and said he'd perform magic for free. We were looking forward to it, but then he actually made all the money and treasures we stole—cough, earned—appear right before our eyes... We'd never seen such incredible magic. The audience nearly killed us because of it."

What a pity they didn't kill you. Li Wen thought to herself.

At last, they reached the end. They emerged through a crack in a wall, and just as Zotes had said, this was a dungeon.

The entire dungeon was about one-third the size of the Fey Market, divided by solid walls and iron bars into separate cells. The place they had emerged from was one such cell.

The cell was filled with shackles, fetters, and instruments of torture of every kind. All bore signs of use, with dried blood and unknown stains remaining on them. The cell walls were covered in scratch marks and bloody handprints, seemingly attesting to the inhuman torment suffered by the prisoners once confined here.

No matter how one looked at it, this place had nothing whatsoever to do with the Alchemy Master's laboratory.

Li Wen noticed that some of the torture devices seemed excessively large for humans. This suggested that the prisoners held here might not have been limited to intelligent races of human stature.

"There are sounds overhead."

Moria spoke at that moment.

"That is normal. The main body of the ruins lies above us. It is like a vast maze or underground castle, receiving countless visitors every day. Right now, adventurers from all over are searching for secret treasures or dueling monsters above our heads, so naturally you can hear them," Zotes said faintly.

"Then is this where you found the potion?"

Li Wen was the one who spoke. This dungeon was far too strange, and she only wanted to find the potion and leave as quickly as possible.

"No, it is deeper still... Please follow me."

After a moment of silence, the gnome led them farther into the dungeon.

Along the way, they saw even more horrifying instruments of torture. Everything from their construction to their purpose radiated strangeness and grotesqueness. Mummified corpses lay on dissection tables, their abdomens split open and rock-like scales growing across their skin. Farther on, all the cells had abandoned barred doors in favor of more tightly sealed metal ones. Noises and screams continuously came from behind some of them, as though someone inside was undergoing torture.

Everyone who heard the sounds changed expression. Only Zotes showed no reaction at all, as though he had grown accustomed to it.

"Do not pay attention... It may be resentful spirits, or something even more terrifying. But whatever it is, do not pay attention."

"It seems this place has gone through... something very painful?"

Moria had originally wanted to open the iron door and investigate, but there were Wild Mages here who lacked combat ability. To avoid unnecessary accidents, he restrained himself.

"It always has," the gnome said. "But what does that have to do with us?"

Moria frowned, wanting to say more, but just as he opened his mouth, Zotes spoke first.

"We're here. This is it."

A door appeared in the darkness. Li Wen had not even had time to make out its appearance before the gnome pushed it open without hesitation.