Vision 7 - What is this? (2)
Two men stood in front of a large door, both wearing white guard uniforms.
"Hey, do we really need to stand here? Let's sit. My legs are exceptionally sore."
The man on the left side of the door spoke while yawning. His eyes were heavy with sleep, as though he could doze off at any moment.
"You're always sleepy. We have night duty once a week. What were you doing all day?"
The man on the right side looked at his colleague with a disappointed expression. He was someone who took his job seriously.
The man on the left scratched his head with an apologetic look.
"Today, the Modern Continent football match was happening between Libertis and Gistea."
The man on the right raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Who won?"
"Gistea. It was a tough call. I thought Libertis would win for sure, but in the end, the new player scored the goal."
"Really? I thought that guy was just for show. Did he actually make the last goal?"
"Yeah. I thought the same thing, but the guy was good."
"I shou—"
Click.
Suddenly, the guard on the right stopped talking mid-sentence. The man on the left looked confused and asked,
"What?"
"Did you hear something click?"
"Hm? No. Must've been the wind or something."
The man on the right looked around once more, then shrugged his shoulders.
"We should keep watch. The Church isn't somewhere we should slack off."
"Yeah. People from the Church sure are strict about its security."
Both men were guarding the main door of the Church in the city of Brigians. They stopped talking and resumed their watch.
Inside the Church, everything was silent. However, a man in a long black coat and a purple mask, with swirling filigree, could be seen near the window on the roof, illuminated by the moonlight streaming through the stained-glass windows.
Obviously, that was me.
I floated through the topmost window of the Church, suspended effortlessly in the air. The grand hall stretched before me, vast and ornate, with towering pillars lining the sides and rows of long wooden pews arranged neatly down the center.
Ahead of the pews, a series of statues stood solemnly on the elevated stage, their faces carved with expressions of divine grace and stoic reverence.
The Church itself was immense, filled with quiet corners where wooden desks and chairs waited for visitors seeking counsel or offering prayers. On one side, a large pond shimmered softly, brimming with vibrant blossoms that floated on its tranquil surface.
I shook my head, bemused by the sheer opulence of the place.
"Please check for any sensors."
I looked around, mumbling to myself, but obviously, I was talking to Persephone.
I had learned that I couldn't use all of Persephone's skills because my body couldn't handle them. Additionally, I couldn't use more than one skill at a time.
She flew around and then landed on the red carpet where the rows of seats began, each row stacked on either side.
"Come here. There are no high-level sensors, but walking straight through the carpet is safest."
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[The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is satisfied with your cautious nature.]
[200 points donated.]
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Points are always good, but getting them for being cautious while breaking into a sacred place? Hm...
Anyway, focusing on the task, I flew toward Persephone and landed on the red carpet in the middle of the Church.
"It's a smart move."
Although I had meant to ask it as a question, I concluded that stating it as if it were intentional would be the smarter decision.
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[The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is pleased with you.]
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But the people of the church did a smart job by letting all the surveillance on the spot where one would try to hide.
Persephone nodded in understanding. No one would just walk straight down the middle of the Church. Most people would try to sneak in, moving around to cover their tracks.
I calmly walked through the middle of the red carpet toward the statues. If anyone were to see me now, they'd say that I am crazy, for walking openly into a place I was trying to sneak into.
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[The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars and Candy' comments, "At least try to be more discreet."]
[The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments, "It's cooler this way."]
[200 points donated.]
[The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds for the Heartbroken' likes your calm attitude.]
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I ignored the useless comments I was getting. Why would I do anything else? I am only walking through the path that wouldn't detect me. Then I stepped onto the stage where many statues stood. I looked at the beautiful sculptures, each around three feet tall.
There were statues of gods forming lines, their forms standing tall in quiet dignity. The faint glow of moonlight touched their faces, casting gentle shadows. I made my way toward one statue in particular—the statue of Ariadne, Dionysus's wife.
People worshipped her here. In mythology, she was the immortal wife of Dionysus, so it was understandable for people to worship her. I looked at the statue as if sizing it up. Then, I extended my hand and rubbed the back of the statue.
"What are you doing?"
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[The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is disturbed by your action.]
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What—? These people are accusing me because of a statue? Persephone was looking at me with a dumbfounded expression, and I even got a message about Dionysus's emotions.
What the hell? These people are crazy.
I refocused on what I was doing—no pun intended. I rubbed the back of the sculpture gently. Then, I felt something like a button on the back of the statue. I pressed it.
Poof.
As I did that, I heard a small sound of air being released from a section of the wall behind the statues.
I walked along the wall, running my fingers over it, looking for some discontinued feel on it. After a while, I felt a section of the wall that felt loose. A smile formed on my lips, and I pushed that section further. The wall opened like a door, revealing stairs leading downward.
"Would you look at that?"
A smile widened into a smirk on my face. A hidden chamber in a sacred place? What could be hidden in a place that is meant to protect normal citizens?
Persephone came beside me, and I motioned with my chin for her to move in front of me. She flew downward, and I followed her. As we descended, lights began to illuminate the path.
"There are sensors for lights, but I don't sense any security sensors," Persephone said casually.
So far, it seems that the only sensors were upstairs. Maybe they didn't want others to find out about this place. The Church would even require people to install everything. Or were they just careless? Or is there nothing worth hiding?
No, if there are no sensors here, they must have placed them somewhere else. We walked down the stairs, and at the end of it we reached a black door.
"Clear?"
"Yes."
As she replied, I opened the door, which swung open easily. The room inside resembled an office. It had a large desk in the center, bookshelves lining the walls, leather couches, and a tea set.
Persephone flew over and sat on the couch with ease, showing no concern.
"Whether they're dumb, or there's nothing here."
Her statement seemed to be true, but it made me frown. If there really is nothing, then I had come here for no reason. Persephone sensed my disappointment.
"Come on now, don't be so disappointed. A shame, though—I had hoped to see what you'd do with their spoils."
Her eyes lingered on me, a flicker of curiosity and a soft chuckle I could feel, as if humoring a child who had just learned a lesson.
A hint of an expression left a bad taste in my mouth. I could understand it.
"Ah, well. Maybe we could find it somewhere else."
Could I? I wasn't someone with great luck to begin with. Should I just go to another Church?
But that could take a lot of time and then I'd also be late for Trivia. I don't have the luxury of time—there are a lot I need to do. I had thought about visiting some churches in the future, but since I needed the essentials now, I decided to target this one.
No. I didn't come here just to leave empty-handed. After dinner, I read Battle Through the Dream World to recall some information. I tried to remember what I knew and what I'd read.
There are shady businesses behind all the churches. The Church acts as a pillar of justice, but most of them are connected to and work behind the Nobles—or sometimes with them.
The only problem is that there are too many churches on this continent. I couldn't dream about all of them, nor do I have the time to read everything in the text files. So, I didn't know exactly where the "things" were in this church.
"Search for places with any security."
Persephone stood up from the couch and made her way toward the large desk.
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[Persephone has used the skill 'Detection Lvl. 9.']
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She used an S-grade skill. I wished I could use the skill myself, but right now, I am not able to handle any of her skills above B-grade.
After a few seconds, her closed eyes slowly opened, locking onto me with a certain calm sharpness. I just knew that she'd found something.
I became curious and hopeful, I had confidence in her. Then, suddenly, I sensed frustration from her through the Soul Contract.
What—? Now what the hell did I do? Why is she so serious?!
She walked and stood right in front of me. My confidence in her suddenly turned to confusion. She looked into my eyes.
"You should have said that earlier," she said, as if she was the only choice I had. "You could learn to rely on others more."
Rely on others? I looked at her like she was stupid. No, she is stupid. I've been relying on her since I came into this world.
Even with all the knowledge, I wouldn't have been able to survive in this world with my stats. Still, she thinks I should rely on her more?
She should realize that the confidence I had was because, of course, I am relying on her.
Sigh...
I sighed and looked around as if I am still trying to find something. It wasn't like I could answer her casually—after all, the Nubeculas were watching. I stayed silent, invoking my Fifth Amendment right.
Persephone didn't show much reaction to my attitude.
"There's a door behind the bookshelf that has a security device."
She pointed toward a door on the right wall. I nodded and moved toward the wall.
The bookshelf looked heavy. First, I moved the carpet, then I tried to move the bookshelf. It was really heavy. I pushed harder and managed to move it a little, revealing a door behind it.
I peered at the door through the small gap I'd created, but again, I felt someone looking at me. She was looking at me.
I knew I could just ask to share her strength stats, but I didn't want to unless I really needed it. It wasn't ego... Okay, maybe a little.
I cursed in my mind and then moved the bookshelf in one go. I didn't want a hole in my head, and the way she was glaring, it felt like she might make one.
"You're very stubborn."
I heard that.
Once the bookshelf was out of the way, I walked toward the door. It was an old-style wooden door, but that was only the outer layer.
When I opened it, a new door appeared behind it. This door was completely different—it looked futuristic. It had no handle, just a huge keyboard with keys arranged in weird patterns.
Seeing the door, a huge smile appeared on my face. Then I spoke to no one in particular.
"So, did anyone figure out the answer to the riddle from earlier?"
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[The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds for the Heartbroken' comments, "I don't know."]
[The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars and Candy' comments, "No."]
[The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' comments, "Energy."]
[The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is thinking again.]
[The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments, "Repeat it again!"]
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I looked toward Persephone. She thought for a second and then shook her head. I turned to the mysterious door with no handle.
"I am the beginning of everything, the end of everywhere. I am the beginning of eternity, the end of space and time..."
As I spoke, I moved my finger toward a specific key. The door looked like it could contain an infinite number of combinations, but to open it, the key was a specific 'key.'
I spoke the answer to the riddle and pressed the key on the door at the same time.
"It's the letter 'E.'"
I pressed the letter 'E' on the door. After I pressed it, light began to flow from the square keyboard button, as if someone had turned on the backlight.
Then, with a single streak of light, the door split into two and slid into the walls.
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[The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds for the Heartbroken' comments, "Oh, the letter 'E.'"]
[The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars and Candy' comments, "That was cheating."]
[The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' comments, "Very clever."]
[The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is nodding his head.]
[The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments, "I'll get it next time!"]
[800 total points donated.]
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I stepped past the opened door, satisfied by the donation I'd received.
The atmosphere of the room beyond the door was completely different from the office earlier. In fact, calling it a room was an understatement—it was a large hall of an experimental facility.
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[The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments, "Woah!"]
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I walked further inside the facility. I could see many types of equipment that could only be obtained from the Modern Continent. It was weird that such equipment was here, but I ignored it.
I already knew what was going on here, but more importantly, I am not here for that. It doesn't matter to me.
I walked around for a while and then reached a part of the facility I wished I hadn't.
"The true nature of existence with intelligence is always disgusting."
Persephone casually commented that statement as if it was obvious.
I looked around. The place we'd reached was where test subjects were stored.
More specifically, it was where actual people were stored inside huge glass chambers.
Of all the places, do I have to find this place first?