103 – Piercing Eyes #4
From Stage 3, skeletons in armor started appearing.
Hence the name "Skeleton Knights".
Of course, unlike the shiny plates of real human knights, the skeletons' was crude armor made by adding leather to metal pieces. However, there was a big difference between wearing this thing and not.
Because of the armor, it became even more challenging to destroy them. However, once you did defeat them, they'd drop loot like herbs and bandages. It was actually enjoyable.
While picking up the dropped coins and herbs, I asked Mirna.
"Why are the Skeleton Knights carrying herbs?"
"It's Narmi's idea. She said it'll be more fun if there's loot."
The bright and cheerful Narmi flashed through my mind. Speaking of, I wonder what she was doing right now.
"So, what is Lady Narmi doing now?"
"… Why are you curious about that?"
I was just asking casually, but Mirna's attitude suddenly changed like a sharp hedgehog. We were talking fine just now, so this was awkward.
Did I ask something I shouldn't ask?
"I didn't mean any harm. I'm sorry if it was a rude question."
I sincerely apologized, but Mirna was still upset and looked at me with suspicion.
Now the atmosphere was really getting awkward…
As I was hesitating, Mirna sighed and said.
"How many more times can you use your strange magic?"
With her question, I felt my remaining capacity.
My total magic power was around 200 and Paimon consumed around 10, plus I'd already used it 12 times.
"About five more times."
Technically, there was still 8 left in the tank, but 5 should be the ideal number where I could use it stably.
However, Mirna asked in confusion.
"No, we're going to take a break anyway. There's a rest area near here."
"It's a place where the dead don't approach."
Mirna proceeded to lead me somewhere.
Then she suddenly started touching the stone wall. She must have been trying to press a button, since something soon clicked as a door revealed itself. ṙαƝôＢĘs̈
"There was a hidden door."
It was like a secret room about the size of a studio apartment. Inside were lit torches, dry logs and wooden boxes.
Inside a box, there were necessities like a blanket made to be stored for a long time. This place felt like a shelter.
I could also see clean flowing water from the sink-like fountain.
"Is the water safe to drink?"
"Yes. It can also help with the healing a little."
The water tasted sweet and refreshing like a sports drink. After all the magic usage, I could feel my exhausted body recovering.
'A secret area with water and food?'
It was like your own secret base. This really awakened my child's heart.
"Are there any other secret places besides this one?"
"There is one rest area for each stage. I've searched, but I couldn't find anything other than that."
With that, I decided to look around.
Then I suddenly noticed something on the stone wall. There were letters scribbled with black ink, but it was hard to tell what was written.
"Someone wrote something here."
"It's said to be King Solomon's record. I don't know what it means."
Mirna's explanation made me take a second look at the letters. Them being here meant that the Demon King used to occupy this place as well, right?
My, Theo Gospel's grandfather?
I just couldn't understand.
I wondered what he wrote, but the letters were so squiggly and bizarre. It was almost like a cipher. As I traced along the letters, Mirna said.
"These characters were created by King Solomon. Perhaps, he's the only one who could read them. There are quite a few of such characters in the dungeon."
I wanted to know their meaning, but couldn't read them. It was then that I remembered about my all-seeing eye.
Thus, I put some power to my eyes and activated《Farsight》.
With that, a strange scene began unfolding before me.
The squiggly characters started to squirm like earthworms, before eventually forming complete words.
「Stage 3. Boss. Observer. Strong magic resistance. Intense gaze. Physically vulnerable.」
However, I couldn't get a coherent idea from the broken, inconsistent words.
Just as I frowned, I saw a mark that was shaped like a palm.
It looked like someone had put ink on their hand and slapped it onto the wall. Strangely drawn to the strange mark, I unconsciously placed my hand over it.
Surprisingly, the size and shape of the mark exactly matched my palm, as if it was the model.
It felt weird and I naturally had some doubts.
At that moment, I suddenly heard a loud noise. The surroundings started shaking as if they were about to collapse and the ground rumbled to and fro.
"What!? What did you just do!? What have you done, Theo Gospel!"
Seeing that Mirna was shocked, she also seemed to not expect this to happen.
From what I previously thought as empty, the rest area's wall slowly lifted from the bottom-up, revealing a new space. Meanwhile, I just stood there stunned while all this was happening.
Like Mirna said, it was a corridor.
A passageway lit with torches on both sides.
There was darkness at the end, from which I could sense something lurking with my keen Half-Fairy sense.
I could feel that something dangerous and eerie had set its eyes on me from within the shadows…
Then, it finally dawned on me regarding what this 'rest area' actually was.
─It's the safe space before the boss room!