Chapter 51 The Underground Labyrinth

"What... what's going on here... Why has it become like this?"

"... Who knows?"

"What do you mean, 'Who knows'! Didn't you say you knew the secrets of this place?!"

Pelosh, who was walking in front of me, was trembling all over and screaming. Even though she was the Saintess of the Sun God Cult and had experienced even more terrifying things in the last reincarnation, she still seemed to be afraid of the darkness. Of course, I didn't like dark places either. However, this was related to Pelosh's life, so what else could I do?

"U-um... Do you know the way?"

"... I do. So, just keep moving forward."

Although it was about Pelosh's life, I still made her walk at the front. This made me seem like a coward, but in my current physical condition, I really couldn't walk in front. "Rather than having the weak me take the lead, it's actually safer for us to have Pelosh, who has the 'Blessing of the Sun God', walk in front."

"Ah...! The path has split into two..."

After walking for a while, the path indeed split into two. It seemed that this labyrinth really had a very typical layout. One side was the correct answer, and the other side was either a wrong option or a trap, a cliché pattern.

"F-Frey! Which way should we go?"

"Hmm..."

If I was in a slightly better condition, I might have distracted Pelosh for a while and then swung my sword at each of the two fork roads to test them. But in my current physical condition, this was obviously not possible. So, I had to choose the second-best option.

"... You, come behind me."

"Huh?"

"Keep watch on the rear for now."

I pulled Pelosh, who was hesitating at the fork, behind me. After confirming that she was scanning the rear with sharp eyes, I began to activate the Starlight Magic.

"Whoosh..."

After continuously releasing the Starlight Magic forward for a while, an unusual feeling started to come from the entrance on the left.

"... It's the right side."

That unusual feeling was extraordinary. I widened my eyes and pointed to the right. Suddenly, a loud noise came from the left passage. I was so startled that I wanted to pull Pelosh into the right passage... But she, who had been watching with sharp eyes behind me just now, had disappeared without a trace.

"Pelosh!?"

"Hmm?"

I shouted in a panic, and unexpectedly, her response came from the left passage. I was so frightened that I quickly drew the sword at my waist and rushed towards the left entrance. There was Pelosh, covered in stone powder, smiling triumphantly.

"For this kind of labyrinth, why not just smash through it!"

"...Heh."

On the ground in front of her, there were clearly remnants that had been shattered by the boulders that rolled down at high speed.

"...Let's keep moving forward."

Thinking of the wasted magic power, I suddenly felt a sense of relief. I might as well let Pelosh, this strategic weapon, take the lead and help us quickly break through the labyrinth.

——Crack!

"...But when was such a large space built in the basement of the cult?"

Just when we broke through the fifth fork in the road, Pelosh suddenly appeared, twisted the neck of the undead orc, and then dragged the limp orc's body towards me and asked.

"It was probably built in spare time."

"I see... It seems that the corruption of the cult has been going on for a long time."

After listening to my answer, she nodded and began to release the divine power to purify that undead orc.

"...Was this also the doing of the second-in-command?"

Of course, what I told Pelosh was not the truth. Even for the Sun God Cult, it was no easy task to build such a huge underground space, and it was extremely easy to be discovered. Therefore, the involvement of magic ability was necessary for such things. If it was significant enough to be judged as a "main quest", then it was likely that the "Space Domination Magic" of the "second-in-command" was at work.

"... Ah, look at this!"

Just as I was making such speculations, Pelosh, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped and looked around curiously. I was wondering what had happened. When I looked forward, I found that the cracked walls of the basement that had been extending all the way were gone. Instead, there were white and smooth marble walls surrounding us. There were sun-shaped ornaments on the walls, emitting a warm light.

"Is this sunlight?"

"Looking at the sunlight surrounding me, it seems to be so. But why is there sunlight coming out of the ornaments?"

Hearing her words, I felt a strange sense of unease for no reason. I was about to take off the ornaments on my body, but I suddenly remembered that touching suspicious items in this place was tantamount to suicide, so I urged her to leave quickly...

"Wow... It's amazing..."

However, my judgment was meaningless. Pelosh had already taken off several ornaments and started playing with them.

"T-that..."

——Crack!!

"...Damn it."

I quickly wanted her to put the ornaments back in place, but I heard a strange mechanical sound coming from somewhere.

"Ah!?"

In a panic, I quickly protected Pelosh, drew my sword, and looked around warily. But after a long time, nothing happened.

"What are you doing...?"

At this moment, Pelosh, who had been looking at me blankly, showed a confused expression.

"Nothing. It's just that you look especially beautiful today."

So I immediately showed a cunning expression and started to act affectionately towards Pelosh.

"... Let go of me."

She pushed me away coldly. Perhaps with the blessing of the Sun God, although it was just a gentle push, if I hadn't tensed my legs instantly, I would have almost been pushed flying.

"... Cough."

Although I wasn't pushed flying, I was pushed quite far away and hit the wall heavily, and I started to groan.

- Creak...

"... Hmm?"

However, something completely unexpected happened. On the wall that I hit, the hidden door began to fall backward due to the impact. I stared blankly at the scene in front of me, but Pelosh walked inside without hesitation.

"... I seem to have seen this place somewhere before."

"What?"

I quickly wanted to stop her, but I frowned at her words. She said she seemed to have seen this place before, so I stood up and began to carefully examine the interior.

".....!!!"

A moment later, I widened my eyes and froze in place.

- At the beginning, there were the Sun God, the Moon God, and the Star God.

"Why is this thing here...?"

Because on a cracked and mottled stone slab, there were clearly such "Korean characters" engraved.

"This place should be the space created by the 'Second Person'...? Why is there the language of our ancestors here...?"

For some reason, I stared at those meaningful words with a confused expression and then looked around. Just then, Pelosh suddenly clapped her hands and murmured in a low voice.

"Ah! Right! I saw it when I went to the Western Continent before!"

"... You've been to the Western Continent?"

I frowned and asked. Pelosh hesitated for a while and then played with her fingers and said.

"Yes, I once went on a pilgrimage with the cult... The Western Continent branch of the Sun God Cult manages many spaces that are very similar to this one."

"Hmm..."

"For some reason, I felt very curious and wanted to take a closer look... But they said this was a Class 1 confidential matter, and even I wasn't allowed to enter. Since it's a secret that even I, as the Saintess, can't know, it must be a very important secret!"

I stared blankly at the Saintess whose eyes were shining with light. After a moment, I turned my gaze to the stone tablet and continued to read the remaining content.

- Under the protection of the three gods, the world was once full of balance and peace. However, a crisis suddenly struck.

"... A crisis?"

- One day, the sun suddenly split into two...

The content of the stone tablet ended here.

"What have you been looking at since just now?"

"There are some strange characters here."

I felt very sorry that there was no more content. At this time, Pelosh had somehow come to my side, raised the ornament emitting sunlight in her hand, and began to illuminate the stone tablet.

"Hmm... What is this? I've never seen such characters before..."

- Thud!!!

"Ah!?"

Pelosh stared at the characters under the sunlight and murmured to herself. Suddenly, the whole room began to shake, and she let out a scream.

".. It's going to collapse!"

"Damn it."

Soon, the room began to collapse. I stared blankly at the gradually cracking stone slab and rushed towards the exit together with Pelosh.

"... I didn't expect to find a clue here."

I stared blankly at the room buried in rubble and fell into deep thought.

The "Book of Prophecies" had never mentioned the "Moon God" or the "Star God". If there was such a record, our ancestors couldn't have not recorded it. But what I saw on the stone slab just now was clearly "Korean characters". That is to say, I found a new clue outside the "Book of Prophecies" and the system.

'It seems that I have to go to the Western Continent.'

With the expectation that I might find new hope, I made up my mind to go to the Western Continent as soon as possible. I immediately stood up and started to pat the dust off my body.

"Ugh... My butt hurts..."

"Give me that thing."

"Ah, no way!"

Seeing Pelosh sitting on the ground, holding her butt, I tried to snatch the ornament she was holding tightly, but she twisted her body and dodged my hand and said, "I don't know why, but it feels very warm... Just like a mother. Can I say that?"

Hearing this orphan say that she felt the warmth like a mother, my heart softened, and I let out a deep sigh and said, "If you don't want to be trapped here for the rest of your life and live a comfortable life with me, then don't touch anything from now on."

"...I see."

Pelosh nodded coldly, and her face was full of displeasure. It seemed that she really hated this.

"Then, let's set off again."

I pushed Pelosh to the front again and urged her to quicken her pace in a cold voice. At the same time, I muttered in my heart.

"...Is someone following us?"

Since just now, I've always felt that someone was staring at us somewhere.

.....

"Wow... There are so many ornaments? If there are so many, it should be okay to take a few more, right..."

"Don't even think about it."

In the long corridor, the densely packed ornaments reflected the sunlight, constantly illuminating our way forward. Judging from the fact that it emitted a fixed intensity of light at regular intervals, it seemed that it wasn't just a simple ornament. But considering that solving the "main quest" was more urgent, I decided to ignore it for the time being.

"Ah! There's light leaking out over there!"

"...Yeah, it seems so."

After walking for a long time like this, light began to appear in the distance. Since I didn't know what would pop up this time, I approached nervously and found that a huge door was emitting a faint light.

"...There's a magic seal on it."

After I got closer, I put my hand near the door, and a rather complicated magic array emerged. Although I was indeed a prosecutor, Selena had taught me some knowledge when we were playing house when I was a child, and I had also accumulated a lot of experience in the last round. So, analyzing something at this level was a piece of cake for me.

'... This is the highest-level sealing magic array.'

However, even so, I couldn't easily unlock this magic array. I was frowning and staring at the sealing magic array in front of me, which was superimposed with multiple complex spells. At this time, Pelosh showed an impatient expression beside me and asked, "What are you doing here if you're not going in?"

"... This is a sealing magic array."

"A sealing magic array?"

I explained in a low voice and pointed to the magic array that emerged in front of me at the same time. Pelosh tilted her head and thought for a while, and then stared straight at me and said, "... Since it's a sealing magic array, why not just lift it?"

She looked so innocent and bright that I couldn't help but want to flick her on the head, but I still closed my eyes tightly and held back my impulse and began to explain patiently.

"Even if ten mages from the Magic Tower come, they can't unlock it within a day."

"Why?"

"Because various different sealing magics and anti-destruction magics are superimposed here. These magics are intertwined with each other, forming a synergistic effect and protecting each other... It requires someone with superb magic perception to spend a long time cracking them one by one."

".....???"

I explained seriously, but Pelosh just put her hand on her chin and tilted her head, looking confused.

"...It's like an extremely strong and complicated lock. Even if you insert the key, it will take a long time and a lot of effort to turn it."

"Ah..."

Finally, I explained it in a way that Pelosh could understand as much as possible, and she finally nodded, as if she understood.

"Then, the solution is very simple!"

"... What?"

Pelosh nodded for a while, and suddenly put her hands on her chest and showed a proud expression and said.

"If the key can't open the lock... Then just smash the lock!"

"....."

After saying that, she smiled at me, and I stared at her with a knowing expression. Suddenly, an idea flashed through my mind, and I widened my eyes and asked, "Can you designate the target of the 'Blessing of the Sun God' as the 'Magic Array'?"

"H-how do you know I have the Blessing of the Sun God!?"

"Never mind that. Can you do it or not?"

"I haven't tried..."

Seeing her show a embarrass expression, I grabbed her arms and brought her in front of the magic array and said, "Write the Blessing of the Sun God into the magic array."

"...Ah, I see! I see. Let go of me!"

She shook off my hands irritably, took a deep breath, and punched the magic array.

——Crack!!!

Immediately after, the sealing magic array in front of us, which was burning with gorgeous colors, shattered instantly.

"...Crack? It's not like glass breaking."

I once again felt the power of the "Blessing of the Sun God", shook my head, and together with Pelosh, who was smiling triumphantly, pushed open the door and walked into the room.

"...This place is really big."

At this moment, a huge space appeared in our field of vision, and its scale was enough to make an ordinary arena pale in comparison.

"You! It's time to tell the truth now!"

Pelosh opened her mouth wide and stared at the scene in front of her. Suddenly, she frowned and stared at me and began to say.

"It was clearly a small warehouse from the outside. Why has it become such a vast space after we came in! What are those intricate labyrinths and malicious traps! And what is this boundless flat ground used for..."

"... This is crazy."

"Ah, ah?"

However, I ignored her reaction, looked up at the ceiling, and cursed.

"How could you...!"

And Pelosh, who followed me and looked up, also showed the same expression.

"Sacrifice... Magic array..."

On the towering ceiling, there was a sacrifice magic array that was several times larger than the one used in the "Civilian Dormitory Attack Incident".

"W-why is that here? What on earth is going on?"

"..."

"Hurry up and tell the truth! Frey!"

Seeing this scene, Pelosh turned pale and began to shake me vigorously.

"Well..."

"Ugh..."

Of course, I also knew nothing and could only perfunctorily answer stiffly. She stared at me with gritted teeth, and suddenly clapped her hands and said, "Aha! Just like before, use my 'Protection of the Sun God' to destroy it..."

"Your protection can only target a single target. And that magic array is scattered everywhere just like during the 'Civilian Dormitory Incident'."

"B-but...!"

"Moreover, how can you destroy such a high magic array? Unless your arm can stretch or be launched, it's simply impossible."

"Ugh..."

Hearing these words, Pelosh angrily widened her eyes and began to look around.

"... What's wrong again?"

"I feel something is wrong."

She frowned and looked around, and then showed a serious expression and said.

"I can feel both the evil and the divine aura at the same time..."

"From where...?"

"... Under our feet."

Hearing this, I subconsciously looked down, and the ground suddenly began to shake.

- Rumble!!!

"Ah!"

At that moment, Pelosh lost her balance due to the wind and fell to the ground with a painful expression on her face. Suddenly, a white spear rose from the ground in front of her.

"Gurgle..."

"Ugh..."

"Damn it..."

Immediately after, countless fully armed undead emerged from the ground.

"S-so many... It's just like... that time."

Seeing this scene, a look of fear began to appear on Pelosh's face.

Although Pelosh had the "Protection of the Sun God" and could exert overwhelming force, the reason why she was so afraid was that her protection was quite vulnerable when facing "a large number of enemies". The "Protection of the Sun God" was a skill specialized in one-on-one battles. It could only designate "one target" to exert overwhelming force. Therefore, if there were multiple people attacking at the same time, it was easy to be broken. In the last reincarnation, the reason why she was captured by the Demon King's army was precisely because of this.

"...What are you doing?"

"This, this is a critical moment!"

"Is this even considered a critical moment?"

But there's no need to worry at all right now. Because, they're the "Undead" after all.

"Shut up and focus on releasing the divine power."

"...Ah."

The Undead are extremely vulnerable to "divine power" and "flames". Just a slight touch is enough to make them lose their combat effectiveness, so obvious are their weaknesses.

"Oh, Sun God in the sky, have mercy on us... No, have mercy on me and bestow your power upon me..."

——Whoosh...!

Pelosh chanted the incantation hastily, and a powerful divine power began to burst out in all directions.

"Ahhhhhh!"

Immediately after, countless undead that came into contact with her divine power started to struggle in pain.

"Ah! There's an exit over there!"

Just as the undead were in chaos, Pelosh spotted the exit in the distance. A delighted expression appeared on her face, and she shouted as she ran towards it. However——

- Whoosh!!

"... Ugh!"

An arrow flying at a rapid speed hit her leg, and she had to fall to the ground again.

"... Damn it, I actually couldn't block it."

At the same time, I had already drawn my sword and cut down six arrows flying towards her. But seeing the arrow stuck in her leg, I couldn't help but frown.

"Huh, why...? Why, even though the divine power has been used, these undead..."

"Those guys are said to be the 'Paladins' buried underground by the cult."

"What?"

Although I don't know who used what method, the Paladins with divine attributes have been resurrected in the form of undead. This isn't just a matter of the remaining divine power; they're in a state of complete fusion with the dark aura. Because of this, these guys aren't weakened by Pelosh's divine power; instead, they seem to have become even stronger. Although I don't understand how this unreasonable thing happened... But right now, there seems to be one thing I must do.

"By the way, have you used up all your divine power, Pelosh?"

"Hmm, huh?"

"That was the last bit of divine power you could use today, right? Thanks to it, now you don't even have the strength to move."

"How, how could you..."

Of course, I deduced this from the large amount of divine power you poured out to me in the orphanage warehouse just now and the intensity of the divine power I felt when you released it just now. But what I'm about to say to Pelosh, who is currently trembling and looking utterly disbelieving, is a bit different.

"... How could it be? How could you not know? I've been scheming against you from the very beginning."

".....!"

Hearing these words, Pelosh tightly closed her eyes. I slowly approached her, a slight upward curve on my lips.

"What truce agreement... You can't just believe someone from the Demon King's Army like me so easily with such things."

"You, you..."

"You should be grateful to me, right? To deal with someone like you who can restore your divine power under the sun, I specifically prepared this place."

Hearing these words, Pelosh's expression gradually darkened. Seeing her like this, I can't help but worry about how to deal with the aftermath later... But to save Pelosh from the undead that are about to fully wake up and run amok, this is the only way.

"...Are you going to kill me?"

"Hmm... What do you think? Should I quietly eliminate you as ordered, or..."

Before I knew it, I had come in front of Pelosh and whispered to her with a sinister smile.

"Or, stay here and throw yourself into my arms..."

"Ah!!"

But at that moment, Pelosh pulled out the arrow stuck in her leg, threw it at me, and then rushed towards the exit with all her might.

"Ugh!!"

Because of this blow, I was injured in the side and staggered to the ground. When I managed to prop myself up and was about to open the door of the exit, I glanced back at her and muttered to myself: "...The light emitted from that jewelry is really sunlight."

If she keeps relying on the sunlight emitted by that jewelry to restore her strength, Pelosh should be able to escape from here safely, right? Thinking of this, I can't help but show a faint smile. However, the restless undead around me have already started to stare at me, and I tightly grip the hilt of my sword. I completely don't understand what the hell this damned place is for, nor do I know who the huge magic array on the ceiling is aimed at... I will block these undead here and buy as much time as possible. Only in this way can Pelosh, who has exhausted her divine power and is extremely tired, evacuate safely.

"Ahhhhhhh!!!"

"Could there be more traps ahead? Can Pelosh escape smoothly?"

Looking at the Paladin undead who suddenly roared at me, I tightened my grip on the sword hilt, mobilized the magic power in my body, and murmured in a low voice: "... Ah, this isn't the time to worry about others."

My chest is especially painful today, as if several times more intense than usual.