Chapter 16: The Brother’s Tomb
The bonus stage, The Brothers Tomb, was a puzzle that didnt require any particular strength to clear, fitting the theme.
To be precise, keen observation and memory were required. Even that could be easily done with notes.
Right oval, triangle above, the second candlestick to the left, and a trumpet below
Shiron held a pen and paper, meticulously documenting the inside of the cave as he moved forward.
The way he looked around, making sure he didnt miss anything, raised questions to anyone watching.
However, Lucia and Berta just quietly watched Shiron.
It was a good plan. Berta was very curious about the bait that Shiron mentioned, but due to Lucias icy stare, she had to keep her mouth shut.
The wound on her neck from Lucia still stung.
Shiron, having turned his back to them, chewed on the beef jerky he had brought with him.
He was worried that maybe the thieves from before might have damaged it, but fortunately, it was just a needless concern.
Artifacts were placed all around the cave, showing signs of human modification and having magical properties that made them invisible unless one focused on recognizing them.
Slowly.
Was it done?
Shiron wiped the sweat that had formed on his forehead.
Finding hidden pictures in the dark cave was harder than he thought. Having spent quite a bit of effort, when he reached the end of the cave, Shiron put a period on the paper.
He squinted his eyes and quickly skimmed through the densely written notes. It was to contrast and check if there were any discrepancies from his memories.
I was a bit worried.
Contrary to his concerns, nothing was missing or added. Relieved, Shiron looked up.
He faced a pale blue stone wall.
Unlike the paths he had passed, this space had no distinct features, making it stand out and quite obvious to Shiron. He thought of it as an impurity in the game.
In the game, when you brought the cursor close, there was a spot that flashed.
But now, there wasnt even a mouse, let alone an interface.
He had no choice but to touch the stone wall and meticulously check for any differences.
Shiron slowly brushed over every corner of the stone wall.
He briefly considered asking for Lucia and Bertas help, but soon, he found a section that felt slightly different to the touch.
What followed was predictable.
He pushed forward with all his might. That was all.
Koo-goo-goo-gong-
Suddenly, there was a loud, earth-shaking effect.
!
Sir?!
Lucia, who had been watching, widened her eyes in shock, and Berta staggered, calling out to Shiron.
Lucia. Dont open your eyes until I say its okay. And dont move.
Understood.
Shiron turned his head to warn her, and Lucia obediently closed her eyes.
Refusing his request at this point seemed foolish. She decided not to ask unnecessarily about what Shiron wanted to show her and how he knew about this place. She felt shed find out when they reached the end of the cave anyway.
Sir? What about me?
Berta found it strange that Shiron hadnt said anything to her.
Do as you please. If youre curious, keep your eyes open.
Ill Ill close them!
Once he confirmed that she closed her eyes tightly, Shiron lowered his outstretched hand.
And then, the wall in front of them disappeared.
The clichd event of a stone wall crumbling down to reveal a secret passage did not occur.
Instead, the scenery around them changed rapidly with every blink of an eye.
Once.
Twice.
From an endless blue meadow, suddenly, it transformed into a sun-beaten sandy beach. The abrupt change in environment, even without any physical movement, disoriented their senses and induced nausea.
Even though I prepared myself, its still making me dizzy.
Ugh.
While lost in such thoughts, the sound of someone retching came from behind.
However, Shiron didnt stop altering the scenery with his blinks. Its best to get through such situations as quickly as possible.
The place changed dozens of times. They finally reached a point where the scenery remained unchanged, no matter how much he blinked. Shiron exhaled deeply and looked back.
Were here. You can open your eyes now.
With Shirons permission, Lucia slowly opened her eyes.
Upon doing so, she saw they had arrived at a fog-covered graveyard. Just a moment ago, they were in a dark cave. Moving so suddenly to a different place, Lucia recalled a particular term in her mind.
Is this a transfer maze?
She felt a hot and dry wind, and then soon after, a cool grassy scent wafted by. Feeling not just through sight but other senses, Lucia subtly realized they were headed somewhere. And now, there was a smell of vomit.
Ugh. Bleh. Transfer you said?
I told you not to open your eyes, but you defiantly did anyway.
Im sorry.
With teary eyes, Berta apologized, and Shiron looked at her with disdain.
The source of the smell was none other than Berta.
Whatever she had thrown up had disappeared somewhere during the repeated transfers, but sadly, the rest hadnt. Lucia took two steps away from her.
How in the world did such an imbecile become a special force inspector what happened in the last 500 years?
Lucia felt like leaving Berta somewhere completely different.
While moving through the fog-covered graveyard, it was Lucia who spoke up.
Shiron. This one here we probably need to get her changed. She smells terrible.
Perhaps.
Um Sir? I promise I wont mess up again. Please.
Berta seized the moment, speaking with desperation in her voice. She couldnt bear it any longer.
What was so unbearable for her? The situation itself was a great ordeal for her.
She was familiar with the scent of blood and filth. Even a noble lady who would never come face-to-face with a corpse in her entire life, would eventually become indifferent to these scents, having served in the special forces.
However
Berta held the position of an inspector within the special forces. Having always been involved in high-profile tasks like VIP protection or assassination - in other words, glamorous tasks - her current situation felt deeply shameful.
She was always at the forefront, slaughtering enemies.
After sweeping away the enemies, Berta, the mad dog of the special forces, would gulp whiskey from her hip flask and light up a cigar.
She was quite pleased with her renowned nickname as it flashed before her like images from a movie.
But what on earth was her current state?
The current Berta was the complete opposite of that image.
There were stains of whatever she had vomited all over the tightly tied ropes. Even those ropes were part of her personal items that she usually carried.
To make matters worse, those who currently had her restrained were children who were not even at their prime age.
No matter how prestigious the Prient family was in the empire, being defeated by mere kids and paraded in such a humiliating manner was unthinkable.
The situation was more than enough to destabilize her mental state. It wouldnt be an exaggeration to say she felt like she had fallen into a bottomless pit.
Moreover, she was constantly ridiculed for the smell.
Tears welled up in Bertas eyes, but she desperately held back from shedding them.
Enough is enough.
Shiron, while setting up some pieces on a tombstone, looked at Berta.
Inspector Berta.
Yes.
You just lied, didnt you?
Shall we go over it again? What? Close your eyes? I clearly warned you to keep your eyes closed. But you defiantly opened them and started retching.
Im ashamed.
Berta was at a loss for words. Her voice, filled with defeat, was tinged with tears.
Its fortunate that I didnt kill someone who has already lost my trust once. Regardless of it being a mistake, you aimed a knife at me. Consider this a punishment.
Shiron then turned his attention back to arranging the pieces.
I might need to learn some magic. The inconvenience is not just a little bit.
From what he had seen of Lucias sword prowess earlier, he felt that knowing magic would allow various applications for his benefit. Even now, if he could use wind or water magic, he wouldnt have to listen to Bertas whining.
Shiron twisted a grave piece statue of a dolphin and an angel blowing a horn in a clockwise direction, solving the last puzzle.
A short while later
Not only the stone coffin in front of Shiron but also the numerous other coffins around him dispersed like mirages, leaving only one behind.
Shiron approached the last remaining coffin.
The coffin of the Brother.
He opened the lid, which only had a single line of pitiable writing on it.
A sword?
Lucia, who had approached him, raised an eyebrow questioningly.
Inside, there lay a lone sword with a pristine white blade.
Its not just any sword.
Shiron took out the brilliantly shining sword.
Its a Holy Sword.
Holy Sword.
At the mention of that burdensome name, Lucias fingertips trembled.
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