Turmoil (7)

From afar, the heavy sound of stones rolling could be heard. Small pebbles on the floor bounced up. The air filling the underground chamber trembled with moisture.

Orlie spoke of a release, and therefore, it must have been the sound of some kind of dam breaking.

The underground labyrinth of Sinistra was a place built to contain 'it,' centred around the sacred pond. However, it was merely a place to get lost in, without any means of attack or significant traps. I thought that was strange. Just holding onto 'it' for a long time—what purpose would that serve?

Whether pouring oil or shooting arrows, there should be a way to kill and deal with the things that are captured for the labyrinth to fulfill its role as a labyrinth.

Yes. The elevator connected the underground sanctuary of the church with the underground labyrinth. And the walls of the labyrinth bore traces of water stains. How were the captured things dealt with using the labyrinth?

I finally understood the answer.

Grumble!

That wasn't the sound of stones rolling. It was the sound of an immense volume of water pouring out. Since ancient times, the divine has had a tendency to sweep away sins with water, and that's a very typical interpretation of folklore. The water that flowed over the labyrinth's walls had already risen to my ankles. The speed at which it was rising was too fast. The current made my body sway.

"Leo!"

In my urgency, as I called for Leonardo, someone grabbed me. I quickly scanned him with the innkeeper's keen insight. Fortunately, it wasn't something disguised; it was Leonardo.

The only advantage in this situation was that the Count couldn't attack us just yet. As soon as the Count touched the water, he staggered, his features melting away. It seemed the water flowing from the sacred pond had some effect on him. The exit of the labyrinth was not far away, so I had to escape during this opportunity.

While Leonardo sheathed his sword and hoisted Vittorio onto his back, I began to move along the map, keeping an eye on the deep darkness surrounding us. Aside from the sound of splashing beneath my feet when the lantern's light went out, I couldn't tell if I was stepping on air or ground. However, Leonardo followed me without hesitation, firmly trusting me as his guide.

We began to wade through the water. It rose quickly, lapping at our waists. As the water level rose, our pace slowed considerably. The water stung where it touched my wounds. My cloak had floated away, and my shirt clung to my skin, soaking wet and uncomfortable. I hadn't checked my stamina, but it was clear it wasn't high.

As the water rose, Leonardo lifted Vittorio onto his back, holding him high, and wrapped his arms around my waist. The sudden warmth of another person in the cold water startled me. He had noticed that I was lagging behind. As if to soothe my surprise, Leonardo brushed his hands up and down a few times before pulling me close to him. With his support, I managed to lift my feet.

"How much longer?"

"Just a little more, just a tiny bit further. Are you okay, little one?"

"Yeah… I can swim, and I can hold my breath too."

"Okay…"

I tried to respond calmly, but a chill ran down my spine.

I can't swim.

The water gradually rose to my chest and soon reached beneath my chin. If I didn't push off the ground with my feet to stay afloat, my whole body would be submerged.

"Huff."

Water kept splashing over me, and I ended up swallowing some. My throat burned, and it wasn't just regular water; it was salty, making my thirst persist and tasting both spicy and bitter.

Tears streamed down my face from the physiological reflex, but I tried not to let it show. Leonardo, pressed tightly against me, seemed to sense my condition through my shudders and used his arms to push me up, giving me a chance to gasp for air above the water.

Vittorio, riding on Leonardo's back, rubbed my cheek with his wet hand, crying softly. It didn't help much since his hand was damp. As we mindlessly pressed forward, I noticed something blocking my chin. Did I get caught? How embarrassing.

Blinking my stinging eyes, I felt around and found a burlap sack filled with stones and sand. Not only that, but a pile of solid stones was stacked high, completely blocking the narrow passage of the labyrinth. Even though I was sure I had outpaced the Count this time.

'It seems something has been set up to collapse when the time comes. Is that why the Count hurriedly left during the last reset?'

Maybe I was sleep-deprived. My judgment was clouded. How could I think that just outpacing the Count would be enough?

While I was lost in self-recrimination, Leonardo said he would check things out and dove underwater with a splash. Vittorio, floating in the water, was struggling to support me, and I had to insist that he stop for fear of him falling in as well.

I was losing strength, which made it easier to stay afloat. If I had more energy, I would have been thrashing around and would probably have been unable to keep myself above water.

In the meantime, Leonardo surfaced a few times before diving back down again, seemingly working to break down the barrier blocking the escape route below.

[Check the current status of 'Sinistra's Suspicious Innkeeper': Health (10/80), Mental Strength (10/80)]

The water continued to rise, now high enough to bang my head against the ceiling of the chamber.

'This has to be the last reset.'

I waited anxiously for a while longer. Suddenly, Leonardo shot up from below, looking around before swimming toward us.

"I made a small hole below. We can escape one by one."

His palm was completely skinned and covered in blood. While I was trying to gather my hazy thoughts, Vittorio finished talking with Leonardo and took a deep breath before plunging into the water. Being small, he seemed to slip through easily.

Leonardo approached and whispered, "Just a little longer."

That's right.

"Don't worry about breathing too much. You don't have to open your eyes. I'll guide you. Just nod your head, don't answer."

I squeezed my eyes shut and nodded. Leonardo lightly patted my back as if to encourage me and quietly started counting.

3, 2, 1.

Splash.

With my eyes tightly shut, I was swept underwater. As I reached out blindly and felt the pile of stones, Leonardo firmly grabbed my lower body and pushed me through the hole. If I can get through here, I will be free. I gathered my strength with that thought.

'Ugh?!'

Then, suddenly, I was yanked backward with a rough force.

Something was pulling me underwater. I hastily opened my eyes to see the Count's face grotesquely melting as he clutched my ankle, hanging on. Even as I struggled and kicked hard to shake him off, he clung tighter, like a noose, pulling me in with all his strength. The breath I had been holding ran out. Air bubbles gurgled and clouded my vision. That thing resembling the Count crept up from my upper body to my waist and pressed down on me. Was it trying to drown us both? My vision flickered like a malfunctioning machine connected to a power supply. Then, a strong force pulled me backward. I instinctively recognized it was Leonardo from the familiar shape.

'Ah, I'm alive. At least this isn't my exit as a minor character.'

All the strength and tension drained from my body at once. The Count, who had been desperately clinging to my waist, was thrown off as Leonardo kicked him, his face getting smashed in the process. As I watched that creature being swept away by the current and growing smaller, my consciousness faded.

***

Splash!

Beyond the pile of stones blocking the labyrinth, on the slope leading to the third floor, air filled the space instead of the relentless water. Leovald emerged, supporting the innkeeper's body as they exited the water.

The unconscious, limp form was pulled along without resistance. Vittorio, who had gotten out first, was flailing about as he held onto the innkeeper, pulling with all his might.

In the meantime, Leovald dove back under the water and struck the stronghold he had made with the hilt of his sword, causing it to collapse. This would prevent anything from squeezing through.

When he resurfaced, he found Vittorio in tears, crying out, "He's not breathing!"

The child was shaking the fallen man, who remained motionless. Leovald approached them, water dripping from his wet body. The pale-faced man lay unconscious. Suddenly, Leovald noticed that the wet sleeve of the man he was trying to help was stained with a red mark, splotched and smeared. Blood was spreading chaotically. It was a wound he didn't recognize.

'When did he get hurt?'

Leovald frowned at the unknown injury that had appeared without his knowledge and lifted the man's chin. Holding his breath, he pressed his lips against the man's, forcefully blowing warm air into him. The man's chest heaved. Due to his habit of chewing his lips, he felt a somewhat rough texture from where they connected. Leovald tasted the salty moisture as he continued to blow air into the man. After several repetitions, the man's body jolted and surged upward.

As Leovald pulled away from his lips, the man turned to the side and began to expel water. A gasp broke the silence, followed by intermittent breaths. Leovald gently patted and stroked the man's back, soothing him. Perhaps needing support, the man surrendered his body to Leovald. After a while, he called out Leovald's name in a hoarse voice.

"Leo."

Leovald suddenly remembered that he couldn't respond in kind by calling the man's name. It felt somehow unfair.

"I'm here. It's okay now."

The man gazed into the air, somewhere far away. His eyes, which were usually quick to smile, were now hiding something deeply concealed, seldom shown.

"Yeah… it's finally over."

In his tendency to hide himself without revealing much, the man's eyes were just like his master's. Leovald involuntarily twitched his fingertips. Sometimes, as he watched thoughts flit across the man's eyes—thoughts he could never fathom—he felt a desire to take them out and examine them closely.

If he rolled them in his hand and pressed lightly, they would feel soft and pliable. After all, the eyes were a tender part. The area around the pupil would be slightly convex, and the surface would be smooth, easy to roll.

But in the next moment, as the man slightly furrowed his brow in relief and tilted his head against Leovald, that subtle impulse faded away. He stood up, lifting the innkeeper in his arms. The man, completely drained of strength, offered no resistance. Vittorio, with a relieved expression, held onto the man's limp hand.

The three of them exited the underground as they were.

Then, behind the spot they had left…

Clatter.

A dark clump of mud-like substance wriggled through the gaps between the stones underwater.