"Alright, it's about time you stopped staring at that thing; it doesn't know what's happening on the other side."
In the Count Mansion in the afternoon, Grandpa looked at his childhood friend sitting quietly in her chair and couldn't help but speak up.
"I like staring at it; why do you care so much? Are you scared of it or something?" village chief grandma twisted her eyebrows, retorting unkindly.
"And besides, haven't you been here since this morning? What's the difference between you and me?"
Grandpa's face, which was always stern, was now even more wrinkled with frustration, but after a moment of silence, he chose not to argue and instead turned his gaze to the Fourteenth Princess.
"I'm terribly sorry, Princess, to have you keep company with us two old people…"
"Not at all, it is my own wish." The Fourteenth Princess smiled and shook her head, shifting her gaze to the Crystal Ball on the table.
Completely unconcerned about being watched by everyone, the sealed little Knowledge Hunter was swirling quietly in the Crystal Ball as always.
Before the Hero set off, she and the little Knowledge Hunter had reached a new contract: in a critical moment, she would communicate via the Great Hunter and have the little Knowledge Hunter assist in opening a Teleportation Gate to help her escape.
And after the completion of the Exploration, regardless of whether the Knowledge Hunter contributed or not, the seal would be lifted as a "release upon serving the sentence."
After all, locking it up for ten or half a month really made no sense; for Knowledge Hunters, as Conceptual Elements, time is the least of their concerns.
"Moreover, the Hero did not refuse my request; it is only right and proper, both emotionally and rationally, for me to wait here with you both."
Remembering the impact of the offhand comment the village chief grandma made when the Hero put on her Equipment, the Fourteenth Princess coughed lightly and spoke seriously.
The brief conversation ended and the group once again turned their gaze to the Knowledge Hunter in the Crystal Ball, praying that it wouldn't stir, yet afraid to miss any slight movement it might make.
Even though they knew that if something did happen, they couldn't be of any help, they still did not leave.
[The Hero's protection was successful, Exploration successful, Hero has passed through the Hidden Passage]
[The Hero has reached the deepest part of the Curse Temple]
"Finally, it's over—"
The Hero, her face pale, walked briskly out of the gloomy and dark tunnel, and upon seeing the scene suddenly open up before her, she showed a relieved expression.
As she had initially anticipated, even though the environment within the Hidden Passage was harsh, she did not encounter other substantial threats.
Those sticky substances, which seemed to be the product of decayed Corpses and long-term fusion with miasma, were extremely Poisonous, but after all, they were inanimate objects and did not actively Attack the Hero.
Even though the Hero suspected that if she casually filled a water bottle with the miasma from this passage and opened it on the streets of the town, she could probably easily poison a dozen passersby.
But with complete protection, she managed to pass through the passage unharmed.
After all, she was wearing a collar named Wind Moon Night, delicate and luxurious, a piece of Legendary Inherited Equipment.
Although she had recently nearly forgotten this fact and kept thinking about how not to call out that name and take the thing off, the Blessing of the Equipment was not diminished by her dislike.
A legacy that endures for a thousand years.
Even an ordinary person with no Combat Profession could slay back and forth seven times in a Goblin's nest with this collar.
With the force of Steel Wind circulating on the surface of her body, even if the Hero accidentally stepped on the filthy substances, they would be promptly dispelled before coming into actual contact with her.
Even though the psychological discomfort was inevitable, creating a feeling of frustration—as if wearing heavy Armor and being harassed by dozens of Goblins without being able to smash their heads—the Hero eventually came out of the passage clean.
However, the air quality outside the passage was not much better.
Although the Equipment on her body filtered out most of the harmful substances, the air steeped in decay for many years underground did not become sweet, and the Hero dared not take deep breaths. She could only breathe lightly, slowly settling her breath, before once again spreading her Perception to scout the center of the Sanctuary.
1. A large Sacrificial Altar
3. A pale Solution Cave
4. A gigantic Divine Throne ♛
9. Throne on the steps (ROLL)
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure
According to the Knowledge Hunter's information, the center of this Sanctuary was once the lair of the Devouring Curse Demon, hence the exceptional spaciousness of this area.
After confirming there were no enemies around, the Hero signaled the Gleaming Scale Serpent to release a stronger Light. However, as if devoured by the Darkness, the light didn't go far before disappearing without a Trace, unable to reach the end of this Space.
Even though the years had gone by, the ground here was full of cracks and damage, and the atmosphere was still filled with concentrated negative Magic Power, the Power of a Curse permeating the air, forming a domain in this underground space, supporting the dome deep below.
The black cat leapt from the Hero's arms, with silent paws stepping onto the long-sealed stone tiles.
Without need for the Hero's instructions, the cat took the initiative to slip into the darkness.
It seems the experience of being held tightly in the Hero's arms, with eyes closed while waiting for the Hidden Passage to end, had greatly wounded the cat's self-respect.
In such darkness, the Night Tiger felt right at home. Following the guidance of the emerald-green, light-reflecting cat eyes, the Hero followed the black cat with equally light steps, exploring the center of the Sanctuary.