Chapter 60
Five days passed. Seong-Hwi distributed food to the prisoners in the morning and snuck out of the lodging at night to search every nook and cranny of the underground floors. Although he failed to find anything that seemed like a dungeon entrance, he managed to get very close to the rabbit beastfolk Thumper and hear many stories from him.
“Today’s soup is great, human friend. Does it have some good meat in it?” Thumper asked.
“That’s carrot soup,” Seong-Hwi replied.
“T-there’s no way! It’s not orange!”
“That’s because there are other ingredients in there. Be honest with me, Thumper. You don’t like meat, do you?”
“No, I love meat! I’m a carnivorous rabbit!”
Seong-Hwi and Thumper often chatted about trivial topics like this.
Seong-Hwi’s eyes shone as he asked, “That aside, Tutobure headed deeper underground through that door?”
“Yup. He sent all his subordinates away and went down alone.”
“Alone, huh?”
Seong-Hwi turned to the iron gate at the end of the west wing.
It’s protected by sorcery. Dozens of times stronger than the sorcery on the steel bars of the cells.
Seong-Hwi could feel another unsettling energy other than mana—it was Sorcery Force, the secondary force of goblins. The steel bars and the prisoners’ restraints were infused with barrier sorcery and sealing sorcery to prevent them from escaping. Still, the energy Seong-Hwi could feel from the iron gate was on another level. Even the average Ranker would have trouble breaking it.
“I’d bet something important is inside,” Seong-Hwi remarked.
Thumper’s ears twitched as he replied, “Who knows? I’ve never been down there, but there’s a rumor that the sub-third floor holds a superior race.”
“A superior race? Which one?”
“I don’t know. If it’s true, I’m sure they’re hidden thoroughly because of fear from the backlash.”
Seong-Hwi nodded and thought, An iron gate only Tutobure can open, huh? That’s some good information. The dungeon entrance might be in there.
Thumper stared oddly at the thinking Seong-Hwi and remarked, “That aside, you’re quite curious, human friend.”
“What?”
“Most humans walk around grumpily and do nothing but complain, but you’re always calm. It’s as if... You have a different objective.”
Seong-Hwi shrugged and replied, “A different objective? What could I be aiming for? I’m just trying to earn Coins and live another day.”
“There you go again with the lies! I thought we were close!” Thumper shouted angrily as he hopped in place, the steel ankle cuffs clanking. He stopped hopping, stared at Seong-Hwi for a while, and continued, “Huuu. Okay, human friend. Let’s be a little more honest with each other. How about we play a game of truth? We’ll exchange questions back and forth, and no lying!”
A game of truth, huh? Seong-Hwi thought. He became sure of something after hearing Thumper’s suggestion. I knew it. This rabbit is planning something.
Thumper had been trying to feel Seong-Hwi out from the first day they met. Seong-Hwi did not know how, but Thumper could tell when he was lying. Hence, he was forced to think about his answers so Thumper couldn’t detect that they were false.
Why is Thumper trying to feel me out? There’s only one answer. He’s trying to determine whether I can be trusted.
It was as if Thumper was cautiously but hurriedly searching for a collaborator.
There’s only one reason a prisoner would search for a collaborator on the outside.
The rabbit was searching for someone to assist in his escape. Seong-Hwi smiled and accepted Thumper’s proposal.
“Okay. You can go first,” Seong-Hwi remarked.
“I like your style, human friend! Alright! Okay, then... what’s your real name?”
“Cheon Seong-Hwi.”
“Cheon Seong-Hwi? What a peculiar name.”
As Thumper recited Seong-Hwi’s name, Seong-Hwi immediately went straight to the point. “My turn. How are you planning on escaping, Thumper? Do you have a plan?”
Thumper’s expression instantly hardened. The air around them grew heavy once the innocent-looking rabbit beastfolk got serious. On top of that, the nearby prisoners simultaneously exuded bloodlust, different from the fearful bloodlust of the other prisoners who had given up on life, toward Seong-Hwi.
[Activating Trait: Hundred-Man Killer.]
Seong-Hwi matched their bloodlust, the screams of nearly a hundred and fifty vengeful souls echoing. The Hundred-Man Killer trait freed Seong-Hwi from the prisoners’ overpowering bloodlust.
He felt his tense muscles relaxing as he continued, “I see... You weren’t planning on escaping alone. Are all the prisoners in this hall your accomplices?”
Several voices sounded from the other cells.
“Grrr! What do we do, Thumper?! Should we kill him?”
“Chwik. Don’t resent us, human!”
“All of you, stop! Don’t make a commotion! The guards will come!” Thumper shouted. He swept back his ears once he calmed the other prisoners and stared at Seong-Hwi. “Huuu. You noticed?”
“Of course. You need an outside collaborator, don’t you?”
“We do.”
“Then let’s go back to my question. How are you planning on escaping?”
Thumper made a troubled expression and said, “Hmm... Can I answer that question later? Do you have another question?”
“That’s fine. Here’s another question. Have you heard rumors about a prisoner vanishing without a trace in their cell?”
“A prisoner vanishing in their cell, huh? Of course, I have.”
“You have? Which cell?”
“Wait! It’s my turn,” Thumper interjected and fiddled with his ears, appearing to be thinking hard about something. He then stared at Seong-Hwi and asked, “Don’t tell me... Did you infiltrate this place in search of the dungeon? Are you searching for the Forgotten Fairy’s Hideout?”
“What?” Seong-Hwi expressed shock.
How does he know about the dungeon?
The dungeon wouldn’t be discovered and explored until a few years later, hence Thumper couldn't know about it. Thumper smiled at seeing Seong-Hwi’s response; he had figured out Seong-Hwi’s objective.
“Hehe, I haven’t heard your answer yet, human friend.”
Seong-Hwi realized he had nothing to hide since Thumper knew about the dungeon.
Rather, I should be getting his help.
He would save immense time and effort if Thumper gave him information about the dungeon.
“Yes. I’m here for the dungeon, but I didn’t know it was called the Forgotten Fairy’s Hideout.”
“How did you find out about that dungeon? Did you hear about it from someone who escaped from the Tin Can? Or are there several entrances to that dungeon? If so...” Thumper slurred.
I see. He knows about the dungeon, but hasn’t been inside, Seong-Hwi surmised from Thumper’s response.
“Wait. It’s my turn to ask,” Seong-Hwi interjected.
Thumper pursed his lips, his ears twitching.
Seong-Hwi asked, “Where is the dungeon entrance?”
“Look, human friend—no, Cheon Seong-Hwi. Aren’t you being too selfish? You’re only trying to get what you want before listening to our demands.” Thumper hopped toward the steel bars and outstretched his small white fist toward Seong-Hwi. “Humans give quests like this, right? If you accept my quest, I’ll answer your first question and tell you where the dungeon entrance is.”
Seong-Hwi stared at Thumper’s fist and bumped it with his.
[Escape Collaborator (Common Quest)
Rank: B+++
Description: Help the rabbit beastfolk Thumper and his friends escape to the utmost of your ability. Detailed information about the escape plan and the location of the dungeon, Forgotten Fairy’s Hideout, can be obtained by accepting the quest. However, all obtained information must be kept strictly confidential.
Penalty: Internal injury equivalent to death.]
Seong-Hwi examined Thumper’s quest.
Its rank is excessively high for its description, and so is the penalty. It can only mean one thing.
“Have you put your life on the line, Thumper?” Seong-Hwi asked.
“Hehe, of course. Did you think a rabbit who wants to escape this place would be sane?”
Seong-Hwi nodded. A quest ranked B+++ was almost on par with an A-rank quest. On top of that, the penalty was equivalent to death. The person who offered the quest had to set an immense price to make such things possible; for example, millions of Coins or the annihilation of an item with at least A-rank potential.
However, Thumper did not appear to have many Coins, Karma, or good items. Hence, Thumper must have set his life as collateral to establish the penalty.
He set a penalty by putting his life on the line... Was it not simply to recruit an outside collaborator?
Thumper’s escape plan might already be nearly complete, and he just needed one more piece of the puzzle to execute it.
“What do you say, Cheon Seong-Hwi? Are you willing to become our true friend?” Thumper asked, urging Seong-Hwi to answer.
Seong-Hwi weighed the pros and cons.
I could make a concrete decision if I knew about their escape plan, but... I doubt they’d reveal their plan until I accept the quest.
Seong-Hwi could weigh the risks and gains if he knew his role, but this would be impossible since they did not trust each other yet. To forcibly establish that trust, Thumper had set his life as collateral to create the penalty.
I have much to gain from accepting the quest.
He could save tons of time by getting information about the dungeon and taking part in Thumper’s escape plan to escape the Tin Can. He could also accept the Rescue quest given to all humans in the Tin Can to earn a Karma jackpot.
The problem is the possibility of not being able to do what Thumper wants after accepting the quest.
If that happened, Seong-Hwi would take the full brunt of the quest’s penalty, an internal injury equivalent to death. The Akasha Message did not lie; he could never recover from such an injury. In other words, he also had to set his life as collateral.
I need... time to think about this.
There were too many things on the line to decide on the spot.
“Could you give me time to think about it? It’s too sudden for me to accept the quest right now,” Seong-Hwi said.
Thumper grimaced and replied, “Look... We’ve taken on a massive risk by telling you this. I’d appreciate it if you could decide right now.”
“That’s your circumstance, and I have mine. You never know, I could find the dungeon entrance without your help if I spend more time searching for it.”
“Cheon Seong-Hwi! Are you seriously going to be like this?!”
“I won’t tell a soul about our conversation, so don’t worry. I’ll give you my answer as soon as possible,” Seong-Hwi replied as he turned around.
Just then, Thumper growled ferociously as he exuded thick bloodlust. “You expect me to believe you? Our plan is done for if you tattle to the goblins. We can’t afford our plan to be exposed when the perfect opportunity has arrived.”
“Oh? What are you going to do about it, then? Are you going to silence me?”
“Exactly.”
The bloodlust filling the hall heightened. The voices of the enraged prisoners sounded.
“Grrr! Thumper! I’ll kill him!”
“We can’t let him leave!”
“Sorry. I thought we could be friends,” Thumper remarked sorrowfully and called the tiger beastfolk, “Tigrinus!”
“Growl! I know!”
A long tiger tail with orange and black stripes extended from the left cell like a whip. However, its power was reduced due to the barrier and sealing sorcery’s effects. The tail whipped where Seong-Hwi had been.
Seong-Hwi stared at Thumper after evading the tail and said, “So, this is how you’re going to play it, huh?”
“You accepting the quest was the only way for us to establish trust. I’m sorry it turned out this way, but getting out of here is all that matters for us!”
The other prisoners agreed with Thumper.
“Chwik! I knew humans couldn’t be trusted. All they do is betray!”
“Yeah. From what I’ve heard, the humans helping the goblins right now are traitors to their kind.”
“We have to kill him before the guards come! The same as before!”
From their conversation, Seong-Hwi realized what position Miguel’s friend, who had been in charge of food distribution before Seong-Hwi, had been put in.
They gave him the same proposal, and he was silenced because he refused.
However, there was a fundamental difference between Seong-Hwi and Miguel’s friend. Seong-Hwi could escape from this situation. A golden card appeared before Seong-Hwi with a flash of golden light.
[Activating Unique Skill: Borrowing Destiny.]
[Iljimae the Gentleman Thief of the Plum Blossom]
Seong-Hwi borrowed Iljimae’s destiny, weakening his sense of presence.
Someone gasped and shouted, “Impossible!”
Seong-Hwi drew out considerable mana to activate two skills.
I also have to escape before the guards come!
[Activating Unique Skill: Symbol Embodiment.]
[Hermit’s Robe, one of the symbols of No.9 The Hermit]
[Activating Exclusive Skill: Shadowless Plum Blossom Branch.]
Seong-Hwi embodied the grey Hermit’s Robe, concealing him like Chaya Singh Rai’s Concealing Cloak. He then activated Iljimae’s exclusive skill, Shadowless Plum Blossom Branch, which erased his presence, footsteps, and shadow. Coupling it with the Hermit’s Robe surpassed Chaya’s Concealing Cloak in stealth.
“W-what?! He disappeared!”
“Chwik! Don’t panic! It’s a stealth skill!”
“Chlor!” Thumper called Chlor, an elf with the best detection ability among the prisoners.
He was in the cell across from Thumper, but his eyes, shining with an emerald light, shook in shock.
“T-that’s impossible!” Chlor shouted.
“What are you doing, Chlor?! Tell us where he is!” Thumper shouted.
However, Chlor was still out of it.
“Growl!”
Tigrinus, unable to wait for Chlor’s instructions, swung his tail like a whip to attack the hall randomly. Since they couldn’t detect him, he widened the area of attack. However, his tail struck nothing.
“Grrr! We lost him!”
Seong-Hwi had escaped the hall without even a sound.
“What do we do, Thumper? If he tips off the goblins, our plan is done for!”
“Chwik! We were too hasty! We acted too soon!”
Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the distance.
“Krrrk! What’s all this commotion?!”
“It’s from the west wing! Kreeek! Alert the warden!”
Thumper blamed himself as the resentful voices of the prisoners mixed with the goblin guards’ footsteps.
“Cheon Seong-Hwi! Cheon Seong-Hwi!” he mumbled.
Now that Seong-Hwi managed to escape, their destinies were in his hands. Thumper had been careless because Seong-Hwi was a human, an inferior race. He thought he could use the same method as they had done with the other humans, and had been too hasty because of the opportunity that arose from Tutobure’s injuries. All those factors resulted in Thumper making a fatal blunder.
Dammit... If worse comes to worst... I’ll take all the blame and pay with my life!
Thumper only hoped it would end with just his life.