"Is there something we need to take with us?"
Kang Sihyun replied while surveying the interior of the collapsed pyramid. All that was visible were the frail corpses of the Decumanus under piles of rocks, and more rocks, and more rocks. Sand, glowstones, and rocks were all that could be seen.
Essentially, there was nothing but rocks.
When they had entered, it had been a splendid pyramid, impressively daunting. But now, half-collapsed, it was nothing more than ruins.
No matter how much he looked, there didn't seem to be anything worth taking. It was at that moment, his expression drawing a question.
-I feel the power of my weapon.
"Your weapon's power?"
-Not perfect, but I faintly feel it. You need to take that with you. And you also need to find the trace you must remember.
"......".
Perhaps due to differing knowledge, Sihyun found it hard to understand the voice, but he didn't bother asking again. He realized the entity had a similar character or way of speaking as him.
Asking would not yield a straightforward answer, so it was better to figure it out on his own to avoid wasting time.
"Then where is this weapon?"
-Here.
"You mean, inside the pyramid?"
-Not the pyramid. I'm talking about this place. Right where you are.
"...Here?"
Sihyun answered uneasily and looked around again. As he tilted his head, wondering where it could be, the voice reacted to Sihyun's movements.
-Yes, here. For example, somewhere high up. But not there.
-Right, exactly there.
As Sihyun looked around and lifted his head at the mention of something high, the voice spoke. The timing coincided exactly with when his gaze met the eyes drawn on the ceiling.
The three eyes on the ceiling flickered faintly, emitting light similar to sand grains sparkling in the sunlight. Sihyun moved, kicking away the rocks under his feet, and asked the entity within him.
"That? Is that what you mean?"
Isn't that the weakness of the Decumanus?
Though he had fainted, the memory of piercing one of the three eyes with his own hands was vivid. He thought the utility of that place was exhausted with just exploiting its weakness, but to hear there was more was utterly suspicious.
Considering how vast the building was, to have two important things located at its core seemed pointless.
Sihyun objected, but the voice was insistent, strongly claiming that place was correct. As Sihyun hesitated, the voice sighed and reprimanded him.
Then, telling him to take care of the child himself if he knew everything, Sihyun surrendered.
"Alright, I'll look there."
Without the wit to counter, Sihyun muttered with a frown and felt the mana remaining within him. Though draining, he had enough mana to create a spear. Stopping to take a deep breath, the team looked at him with curious expressions.
"What's wrong, Sihyun?"
"Just a moment, there's something I need to find..."
"Find?"
"What?"
"Who?"
The foreign awakened team members poured out questions, but Sihyun, focusing on circulating mana, ignored them. He felt too awkward to explain who had instructed him.
Whooom, whooom.
The energy spreading thinly throughout his body concentrated at his fingertips, and then a vibration occurred. With a short tremor, a blue wave flowed from Sihyun's hand. Due to the small amount of mana, it was only enough to wrap around one arm.
However, if not facing an Irregular, this much was not bad for merely piercing the ceiling.
Holding the spear made of water, Sihyun took a breath.
Swoosh!
The spear thrown by Sihyun flew towards its target. Propelled by mana, it did not lose momentum and struck precisely in the middle of the three eyes drawn on the ceiling.
Crack!
-Well done.
It was the first compliment he had received from the voice, but he felt no joy. The ceiling, already partially collapsed, seemed as if it might collapse completely, leaving no room for happiness.
Crrrrack.
The sound of something splitting grew louder. And then.
Crash!
The entire ceiling cracked, and something like glass began to fall. Surprised, Haewoon moved the team out of the falling glass's range. Emma created a protective barrier and watched the situation. Everyone was worried the ceiling might collapse.
If it really did collapse, it would be embarrassing for Sihyun, so he watched the ceiling with a bit of anxiety.
Clatter.
Sharp sounds of breaking glass shards hitting the ground. It didn't seem like there was glass, but where did it come from?
When the voice mentioned a weapon and a trace to find, Sihyun looked around, inspecting the fallen glass.
Thud.
Suddenly, something fell from the sky.
A white
rod emitting a brilliant light that could be described as radiant and an old book that seemed to bear the marks of a very long time.
They fell from the sky right in front of Sihyun. The voice said nothing, but it was clear these were the weapon and trace it mentioned.
"Just a moment."
After asking for understanding from the team, Sihyun stepped out of the protective barrier. Crunch. The sound of glass shards under his shoes was threatening, but without slowing down, he walked to the center of the pyramid and picked up the book and rod.
"Is this them?"
-Yes, having lost two mediums of power, the pyramid will soon collapse completely. We'll check when we get back.
"What?"
He should have mentioned that earlier!
It would have been nice to know before throwing the spear. Having done everything and now being warned about the building's collapse, Sihyun angrily thought to himself and quickly looked back at his team. By then, the team had approached, curious about what had fallen from the sky, but unfortunately, there was no time to let them enjoy the view.
"The pyramid itself will collapse soon. I've decided to explain in detail once we're out, so let's hurry and escape."
"Escape? We don't even know the way."
"Just a moment..."
Haewoon raised a question, and Sihyun called to the entity within him earnestly.
"Now that we've found the weapon and trace, please show us the way."
-The path is always before you.
"What do you mean?"
-Exactly what I said.
The voice sounded slightly amused, as if joking about something that wasn't its problem, making Sihyun furrow his brows and press further.
"Please, tell me properly. It's urgent."
-The path is always before you. Maybe it's above.
Above?
Blinking, Sihyun looked up. A small gap in the ceiling was visible. Come to think of it, it seemed like sunlight was coming through that gap.
"You mean there?"
The exit seemed too small to consider, but the voice confirmed it. Sihyun chuckled and braced himself as the pyramid's shaking resumed.
Can't help it.
Since the voice had saved them from the Decumanus, following its instruction seemed harmless for now.
"Is there any reason we should stay inside the pyramid?"
"We haven't finished our investigation, but since we don't know when the pyramid will collapse, it might be better to evacuate first and then return to headquarters to reorganize. After that, we can search the completely collapsed pyramid's remains. Otherwise, we might all end up crushed under the building."
"Okay. Shall we go, then?"
"Do you know where the exit is?"
Asked by Haewoon, who adjusted his glasses, Sihyun pointed upward.
"That's the exit, or so I'm told."
"There?"
"Yes."
"...The ceiling?"
"...Yes."
We just have to break through.
To escape the awkwardness, he emphasized that it was something he heard from someone else, but the feeling of embarrassment did not fade. Touching the back of his neck, he looked up. At that moment, everyone was giving Sihyun incredulous looks.
Rumble rumble rumble.
As if the building had no time for minor feelings like embarrassment or shame, it made a loud noise again. Clatter. Grains of sand began to fall.
The collapse was imminent.
"...It does seem like the fastest way out. If we gather our remaining strength, it doesn't seem impossible, so let's try."
Haewoon spoke, and James nodded. Sihyun and the other team members also felt tense about the idea of climbing the walls.
"Why don't I just make a platform?"
Emma, who had been listening, raised one hand and spoke.
"Ah."
A brief silence spread among the team. Haewoon, who had been about to climb the wall first, cleared his throat and sheathed his sword before lightly kicking the ground.
"Then... please, Emma."
‘Embarrassing.’
‘He's embarrassed.’
‘How cute, Haewoon!’
After a moment's hesitation, Haewoon made a small request, and the team members exchanged looks. Especially Sherry, who was sending enthusiastic glances, quickly climbed up the platform created by Emma and reached the ceiling.
"I'll make a hole. Be careful with your heads!"
The woman spoke cheerily and aimed her gun at the crack in the ceiling.
Bang! Crash!
The loud sound followed the gunshot, and the ceiling collapsed. Emma, gritting her teeth, covered all the team members with a protective barrier and urged them to hurry up. The giant pyramid began to completely collapse.
Rumble rumble rumble.
The building seemed to sink into itself. Then, as debris was falling from the ceiling, a bright light poured down, illuminating the team.
It was sunlight.
"Now! Let's get out!"
Sherry shouted, stepping on the last platform and passing through the hole
in the ceiling. Following her were Haewoon, James, Tom, Jihye, then Sihyun, and finally, Emma carrying Haewoon. Once all the team members had escaped and climbed onto the sharp building top, the collapsed pyramid settled with a loud crash onto the debris.
They had just narrowly escaped being caught in the collapse.
"......"
Catching their breath and briefly reveling in the escape, Haewoon straightened up and looked down at the collapsed pyramid. He seemed thoughtful. Watching his slenderly opened eyes, Sihyun realized he was thinking about the Decumanus.
"...Quite a bizarre place."
Finally breaking from his long thoughts, Haewoon let out a short impression. Still thinking about some being buried in the pyramid, Sihyun recalled the words of the Decumanus.
'Was the paradise we were expelled from enjoyable?'
'I've waited only for this moment while trapped in the abyss.'
"Decumanus."
"The twelfth child of the mother..."
Sihyun quietly mulled over the Decumanus's words, then swallowed and slowly exhaled at the mention of the twelfth.
This was not the end.
This pyramid incident was just the beginning. The start of something very threatening and cruel.
Some signs were appearing in this world.
-It will start soon.
As if answering his inner thoughts, the voice that had been silent finally murmured.
"Indeed."
Sihyun, whether agreeing with Haewoon or the voice, muttered something indiscernible and slowly diverted his gaze from the pyramid.
It was time to return.
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