LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 49
Chapter 49: Whispers in the Wilderness
“Hey, don’t you think… this forest is absurdly vast?”
“Is this really a dungeon?”
The party’s mage, hailing from the Danor region, frowned in response.
“Are you doubting my judgment now?”
“No, it’s just… A forest this huge as a dungeon? The sun hangs perfectly in the sky, and the wind feels too real. It’s like we’re still outside.”
“No matter how you slice it, we’ve been transported to a massive forest…”
The mage explained patiently.
Sigh…
“Listen well. The Dungeon Core can control everything within the dungeon. Inside, it’s akin to a deity. Conjuring a fake sky is a trivial task for it.”
“That sky is fake?”
“It’s a figure of speech. For all we know, it could be projecting the sky from outside.”
The mage felt it was pitiful that they were still arguing whether this place was a dungeon or not.
“Damn, even the sun has set. Hey, do you see anything up ahead?”
“…Not a chance.”
“Let’s rest here for now, then.”
“Everyone seems a bit on edge, so I’ll take the first watch tonight.”
The other party members gave a thumbs-up to the adventurer who had just volunteered.
“Then, let’s make peace.”
“I was too irritable earlier.”
“No, I was prickly too.”
The adventurer who offered to stand guard sighed.
“These kids…”
“Hahaha! If we’re careful about the bugs, it seems like a splendid place to sleep, doesn’t it?”
“Enough with the useless chatter, let’s prepare our beds.”
“Even so, I’m not idle. I can sense magic, but there are no monsters in sight.”
“For a dungeon, it’s suspiciously quiet. That’s all the more reason to be cautious.”
“…Why?”
“In places like this, it usually means the wild creatures have been cleared out. There’s a high chance that a creature with commanding power is reigning as the pack leader.”
“That’s one way to look at it.”
The adventurers discussed the dungeon as they finished setting up camp.
“Do you think we’re the first to discover this dungeon?”
“What do you think?”
The question was directed at the mage, the spiritual pillar of the party.
“I don’t know. The portal itself might be someone’s doing. But legend has it that a core with immense magical power can create its own portals.”
“Is that true?”
“Yes, the reason is unknown, but perhaps the core accumulated more magic than it could contain.”
This thought inflated everyone with anticipation.
“So, you’re saying a forsaken Dungeon Core, weary of loneliness, called out to us?”
“It’s possible.”
“Wait… So, the Dungeon Core we’ll find here might be brimming with so much magic that it’s overflowing?”
“…That’s also a possibility.”
The adventurers’ expressions turned grave.
In this era, the value of a Dungeon Core was beyond words. Even an empty shell could buy a mansion tied to the system.
If they could obtain a Dungeon Core filled with magic, the party members wouldn’t need to fight over it; it would bring immense wealth to everyone fairly. In other words, they could live a life far removed from adventuring forever.
And curiously, there were many adventurers who dreamed of such a life… just like them.
“Anyway, let’s sleep on it and think tomorrow.”
“Light the fire.”
Whoosh…
The party’s mage, trained in ice magic, could still perform basic fire spells, so the campfire blazed up quickly.
Crackle…
Thump…
The smoke from the campfire felt warmer than usual. Was it because of the rosy future they were painting? Even sleep, which would usually be restless with tension, couldn’t be pushed away.
Hehe…
“Mmm…”
Hehehehe…
The adventurer dreamed.
They dreamed of sitting around the campfire, discussing the hopeful future.
Hehehe…
I’ll build a mansion by the sea.
I’ll make my parents nobility.
I’ll buy a horde of demon slaves to do my bidding.
I’ll purchase a carriage and guards to wander the lands.
Such mundane dreams, really.
I just want a normal family life.
Hehehe…
Hehe…
Who’s been laughing all this time?
Puhahahaha…
I shall invite you.
In that moment, their eyes snapped open.
All the adventurers opened their eyes.
Strangely, they faced each other in their dreams.
The sixth wish was not what they had hoped for.
A bizarre creature sat by the campfire, laughing as it handed something out.
[Santo’s Basic Ability: The Wandering Troupe Has Arrived! has been activated.]
[You have received an Invitation to Madness.]
[A 12-hour time limit is set.]
[Until you respond to the invitation, you will be exposed to various mental damages, which intensify over time.]
[The closer you are to the fire, the stronger the mental damage effect.]
The invitation was scorching hot, and as soon as it touched their hands, it vanished like foam, leaving a mark on their palms.
Sizzle…
“Ugh…”
“What in the world…”
They all groaned as they woke up.
“What’s going on! Who was on watch? How could something like this approach us…”
“It’s strange. I was definitely awake…”
The party’s mage gathered everyone with a grave expression.
“It seems this dungeon… is dangerous.”
“What? What do you mean now…”
“There are a few specters that have appeared in Solaria that we need to be especially wary of… It seems one of them resides in this dungeon.”
“Specters?”
Gasp…
Ghosts, phantoms, or monsters.
A type of undead collectively known as specters.
“Yes, the Playma, a specter… They’re all dangerous. Usually, they burn down a village without a trace and disappear.”
“Why would such a dangerous creature…”
“Can’t we just subdue it?”
The mage’s erudition shone through here.
“It’s a mixed blessing… Playma doesn’t live to kill. It’s not its nature.”
“Then what?”
“Play. It just wants to play with the living. However… that often leads many to death.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“We must accept Playma’s invitation. If we follow the rules, Playma will simply disappear. This is the word of survivors, so it’s not false.”
Everyone nodded.
“Indeed… For a dungeon of this size, it’s likely such a creature would be the leader.”
“It’s actually a bit anticlimactic, don’t you think? With a dungeon this big, I expected a dragon or something.”
“You all exaggerate too much.”
“Let’s look on the bright side. If it were another monster, we’d struggle, but if we just follow the rules, we’ll be fine, right?”
The mage hesitated with a stern face before answering.
“Um… no, that’s not necessary… You’re right, we just need to respond to the invitation within the limited time.”
“But how did it get so close to us?”
“It’s probably because we lit the fire. Playma is a specter that thrives on flames and nightmares.”
“I see… We shouldn’t light campfires in the future then.”
“What about resting? Are torches safe?”
“Torches are dangerous too. It’s best to be cautious.”
“That’s absurd, are we supposed to march at night without torches?”
The usually silent warrior spoke up.
“Did we come here to play? It’s not the time to be cautious. Hey, mage. What happens if we don’t accept Playma’s invitation?”
“The outcome is obvious.”
“…Indeed.”
Clank…
“Move it. If you’ve got time to flap your gums…”
The warrior, usually silent, commands the party with his presence when unrest stirs. His role was crucial.
“The journey to meet Playma will be arduous. Beware of illusions and hallucinations; they can cause real harm if you’re ensnared.”
“Ha! As if I’d worry. Mere illusions are all they can muster! Pffft!”
The adventurers pressed on through the forest, torches unlit, quelling boredom with idle banter, which soon dwindled.
The reason: illusions and hallucinations.
“Hey, wait… Your pace is too qui—”
Thud.
When he turned the leading adventurer around by the shoulder, Santo’s grotesque face appeared, its grin terrifying.
“Puhahahaha!”
“Ahhhh!”
The cleric fell with a thud, startled.
“Panting… What happened?”
“Puhahahaha!”
Santo’s laughter still echoed around them.
“No, it’s nothing… Just got a bit startled.”
The mage helped the cleric up.
“Don’t let the illusions consume you.”
“What happens if they do?”
“…Let’s go.”
He didn’t bother explaining why Playma was considered one of the most dangerous specters in Solaria.
“Ahhhh!”
“Your face… it’s burning…”
“Stop! Enough!”
In that brief moment, the party looked haggard.
Fear wasn’t something you could control by preparing for it. They were slowly succumbing to Santo’s madness.
They knew.
If they fought like this, disaster was imminent.
But they had to pretend all was well. To break Playma’s rules was to walk into death’s embrace.
Never be late to the invitation.
Never.
“Look, over there.”
Where the warrior pointed, a structure stood tall, seen only when the sun was bright.
“A castle… in the forest?”
“No, it’s cruder than that… It’s an earthen fort.”
“It looks like it could crumble with a touch.”
“Be careful, there might be something inside…”
Whoosh…
Suddenly, numerous torches lit up on the fort’s wall.
Gurgling…
“Goblins?”
The adventurers’ spirits lifted.
“Welcome, you little devils!”
“We worried for nothing! When would you show up…”
Only the mage and the warrior watched ahead with grim faces.
The warrior shouted.
“Everyone, behind me!”
[Tonju uses the Umbrella Shield.]
[The shield’s defensive range expands, effectively blocking projectiles, excluding magic.]
Whoosh…
Even with an expanded defensive range, the shield couldn’t protect distant party members from arrows.
“No!”
“Coughing…”
The cleric fell, an arrow piercing her heart. Her eyes were already lifeless… and she emitted a strange sound as she died.
“Puhahahaha…”
“Those damn goblins are coordinated… They’re not ordinary! Break through!”
Blazing…
Flames erupted on the fort’s outer wall.
Prepared oil met the flames and ignited.
“Stop them!”
[Ballon uses the Ice Siege Ram.]
[A solid ice pillar is launched, dealing massive physical damage. If the target is an object, the damage is doubled.]
Boom…
The mage brought down one side of the fort’s wall with a single spell. Goblins poured out, swarming the adventurers.
“Puhahahaha!”
Flames surged around them. For a moment, everything seemed to be engulfed in darkness.
Damn it… Can’t be late.
If late to the invitation…
He cut and smashed through anything in his way.
“Puhahahaha!”
Crash…
“Aaargh!”
“Choking…”
Boom…
Blazing…
The battle raged on amidst the flames.
The blaze obscured whether any comrades were safe.
“Ahahahaha!”
The mage burst through the flames and fired an ice spear at Santo, who was walking atop a large, round object, disappearing.
“Damn you!”
Whizzing…
Santo’s painted face melted away, revealing the face of a comrade.
“No… I…”
The warrior, enraged, charged at the mage.
The mage realized.
He, too, appeared as Playma to his comrade.
“Eeeek!”
He couldn’t just die, so the mage pierced the warrior’s leg with ice.
Piercing…
Simultaneously.
The warrior’s sword pierced the mage’s heart, and the mage’s magic pierced the warrior’s leg.
“Curse…”
The warrior roared in the flames.
“Aaaaaah!”
He cut down everything in his path. The party had lost its function, and likely no comrades were alive.
Roaring…
The warrior thought so.
Howling…
“Hahahaha…!”
When the flames died down, the warrior was alone. Despite the long battle, only a few goblin corpses lay around.
The warrior looked towards the source of the laughter. A goblin sat on a troll’s shoulder, grinning.
The Goblin King.
The warrior chuckled emptily.
“Are you the master of this dungeon?”
“…Foolish human.”
The shadow of the troll, ridden by Jakim, overlaid the warrior.
Crash…
The warrior’s head was crushed under the troll’s foot.
“Puhahahaha…”
Even from his corpse, Santo’s mocking laughter could be heard. Despite his head being crushed.
“…Not delving deeper may be a blessing for you.”
After opening the dimensional gate relay, five parties that found the Rotten Root all failed to surpass Jakim.
At Faust’s Dungeon Core, souls are gathering.