Chapter 62
“Our plan is simple, Friend Seong-Hwi,” Thumper said happily once Seong-Hwi accepted the Escape Collaborator quest.
“Simple is good. Complicated plans only stand out,” Seong-Hwi replied.
“Step one: Secure the keys to the cell door and restraints. Step two: Free as many prisoners as possible and secure the northern plain. Step three: The negotiation team will break through the thinned security as the goblins are occupied with the other prisoners in the northern plains, and meet the fairy. Step four: Negotiate with the fairy and have them create a warp gate at the edge of the northern plain,” Thumper explained concisely.
“I understand steps one and two, but what’s with the following steps?” Seong-Hwi asked.
Thumper took a bite of one of the carrots in the bucket and said, “There’s a fairy Semi Ranker in Trophy’s base. They can create a warp gate.”
Seong-Hwi nodded. The fairy had been the one who created the warp gate for the Edu attackers to retreat. Warp Gate was a skill that rarely appeared in B-rank skill cubes. It was so rare that some even considered it an A-rank skill.
However, just because one obtained the Warp Gate skill did not mean they could use it freely. Because it was a skill that manipulated space, one required tremendous skill mastery and talent to use it effectively. Otherwise, those who entered the warp gate could be squished between the cracks in space and die. Hence, those proficient in the Warp Gate skill were rare and expensive to hire since the skill was strategically irreplaceable.
“A fairy, huh? I get it. They’re not a Trophy clansman, are they? They’re probably hired,” Seong-Hwi remarked.
“Exactly. Fairies are the dragons’ subordinate race. The dragons, their ruling race, are forcing the fairy to help Clan Trophy; they’re not loyal to the goblins.”
The fairies were an unfortunate race whose Race Stone was taken by the dragons. As a result, the dragons colonized the fairies’ territories, and the fairies were reduced to tools the dragons could take advantage of. The dragons forced fairies to hunt Chaos and convert the Karma obtained to Coins, used them like mercenaries by allowing other clans to hire them with Coins, and much more.
“And that’s where we come in. We have the perfect card to negotiate with the fairy,” Thumper remarked.
“The Forgotten Fairy’s Hideout.”
“Yes. We’ll ask the fairy to open a warp gate in exchange for information about the dungeon. Fairies jump at anything that involves dungeons from their dimension.”
Seong-Hwi thought deeply about Thumper’s plan and nodded. “I see... it has a high chance of success.”
“Right? Right?”
“So, what do I have to do?”
Thumper replied, “Ahem. All the other parts of the plan are ready to go. We gathered information about the northern plains when we were purchased as prey for the canned hunts, and narrowed down the dungeon location and where the fairy resides. But...” Thumper trailed off as he pointed at the cell door. “We don’t have the keys to begin step one.”
“The keys? So, that’s what you want me to do,” Seong-Hwi said.
“Yes. As you know, all the keys for the sub-second floor are attached to Warden Chanagita’s belt.”
Seong-Hwi recalled information about Warden Chanagita. He was a Semi Ranker placed 1,097. An individual at that level would be at least a Single-A.
Meanwhile, I’m a Double-D. Even if I invested all the Karma I’ve collected, I can’t get anywhere close to that, Seong-Hwi thought as he frowned.
Thumper noticed Seong-Hwi’s conflicted expression and said, “But of course, we don’t expect you to defeat Chanagita. You just have to steal the keys—”
“Do you think that’s possible?” Seong-Hwi interjected and shook his head.
There was no way Chanagita wouldn’t notice the keys being taken from his belt—unless he had an F-rank Sense stat.
“You have your stealth skill, Friend Seong-Hwi! I don’t know how high its potential is, but it was amazing!” Thumper hopped as he praised Seong-Hwi’s skill.
Among the prisoners, only Chlor had just barely detected his presence.
Seong-Hwi considered all the possibilities.
The synergy between Shadowless Plum Blossom Branch and Hermit’s Robe was much better than I expected, but... Could it work if I invested all my Karma into Destiny Force and Magic to boost the skills’ effects?
Seong-Hwi could steal the keys at the perfect time if Chanagita had his guard down, but the problem came after; there was no way Chanagita would not do anything after his keys were stolen, meaning Seong-Hwi would have to escape from a Semi Ranker.
“This won’t be easy,” Seong-Hwi mumbled as he stared at the steel bars.
The cells weren’t made of regular metal. He had heard it was a mixture of several rare metals. On top of that, the sealing sorcery infused in them made the cells nearly impossible to break. Chanagita’s keys weren’t just for unlocking the cells and restraints but also for dispelling the sorcery.
Seong-Hwi mumbled to himself, “Is there another way? Hmm... huh? Come to think of it... steel?”
Steel contained iron. An idea flashed inside Seong-Hwi’s head.
He looked around and asked, “Is there a dwarf here?”
“There are a few, but why?” Thumper asked.
“Where are they?”
“Muka!” Thumper called.
Muka, four cells away from the cell across Thumper’s, answered, “Over here!”
Seong-Hwi headed to Muka’s cell and saw a male dwarf in handcuffs and anklecuffs. His black beard reached his belly button, and his thick eyebrows made him look the stubborn type.
“You were looking for me?” Muka asked.
“Yes. Are you an artisan?”
“Hah! Of course. Dwarves are artisans from the moment they’re born, regardless of gender and age!”
Seong-Hwi pointed at the steel bars and asked, “Do you know which metals make up these cells? Are they easily rusted?”
Muka frowned and shook his head. “They’re made of veteel, graphite steel, amateel, shizteel, and more that don’t rust easily. It also has trace amounts of janateel.” He raised his wrists and continued, “I’m sure dwarves made these. Only dwarves can handle janateel to this level of quality. I swear I’ll find out which bastards of my kind did business with these damn goblins once I get out of here!”
Seong-Hwi raised his right hand as he listened to Muka’s rage.
[Activating Skill: Rust of Ruin.]
An unsettling, dark-red aura spread throughout Seong-Hwi’s hand.
Seeing that, Muka shook his head and remarked, “It looks like you have a rusting skill, but a mere skill could never rust a metal that contains janateel.”
Seong-Hwi ignored Muka and grabbed the cell bar with his right hand, enveloped in Rust of Ruin. Just then, dark red rust quickly spread throughout the cell.
“This... can’t be happening!” Muka shouted as he stood up in shock.
The sound of the cell rusting sounded like metal screaming for its life against its natural enemy.
How did he rust a metal that contains janateel, albeit in trace amounts?
Muka approached the cell bars and examined them. “I-I can’t believe it! It’s just the surface, but it undoubtedly rusted!”
I can’t completely rust it with the skill’s current stats, Seong-Hwi thought as he let go of the cell bar.
A purple aura enveloped the cell and drove away the dark red rust.
It’s because it’s not ordinary metal and is infused with the goblins’ Sorcery Force. But it’s more than possible!
One would expect this from a skill with S-rank potential. Although Rust of Ruin was only D-rank at the moment, it was stronger than average B-rank skills. Seong-Hwi smiled as he clenched his fists.
Muka stared at Seong-Hwi and mumbled, “You... could this be?”
Seong-Hwi walked to Thumper’s cell and asked, “Are you willing to trust me, Thumper?”
***
“Krrrk. What’s the problem?”
“Krek. No idea. I don’t see anything off.”
The goblin guards tilted their heads as they stared at Muka’s cell. They came because the alarm linked to the cell rang, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
“Then we should have the barrier and sealing unit examine it later.”
“Krek. Sounds good. There have been a lot of issues in the west wing lately. It’d make our lives so much easier if the Trophy Hunters bought every prisoner here.”
The guards walked away. Once the prisoners confirmed the guards had left the west wing, Qwee asked, “Chwik. Are you sure we can trust that human, Thumper?”
The naga Sayo agreed. “I was thinking the same thing. I didn’t expect you to tell him the dungeon location first. That information is crucial for our negotiation with the fairy.”
Thumper replied, “It’s okay. The quest is still intact. The payment just turned into an advance, that’s all. He won’t survive if he doesn’t keep his promise.”
Thumper recalled Seong-Hwi’s proposal, which he accepted.
“I have a skill that can incapacitate the cells and restraints without the keys, but it’s not strong enough right now. I need Karma. Can you tell me where the dungeon entrance is first? I promise I’ll return.”
Many prisoners opposed, but Thumper ended up telling Seong-Hwi where the dungeon was.
We have no choice but to trust Seong-Hwi. Only he can make this escape plan a success!
Seong-Hwi had kept his promise not to tell a soul about their conversation and even accepted the quest with a penalty equivalent to his death. Therefore, Thumper had to trust Seong-Hwi as well. Of course, possibility also influenced his decision.
“Are you sure Seong-Hwi’s skill can incapacitate the cells, Muka?” Thumper asked.
Muka, seemingly conflicted, answered, “If it’s the power I’m thinking of, then... Yes, I’m certain. That ability is the destroyer of iron, the natural enemy of metal. It’s still weak, but it’s hiding a power more terrifying than anything.”
“That settles it, then. We’ll trust Seong-Hwi and wait for his return. Everyone, be ready so we can move at any time.”
Although betrayal of trust was gut-wrenchingly painful, it made the elation a thousand times better if the trust was repaid.
I’ll trust you, human friend, Thumper thought.
***
Night fell. Although the environment did not change since it was underground, it was quieter than usual.
Seong-Hwi moved like a ghost under the effects of Shadowless Plum Blossom Branch and Hermit’s Robe. He headed to the torture chambers in the east wing of the sub-second floor with no footsteps, changes in the air, or a shadow to reveal his presence. The torture chambers were for extracting as much information from the new prey as possible.
Seong-Hwi entered the seventh chamber of the thirteen and canceled the two skills as the small noise of the door closing sounded. The inside of the chamber was rather simple. In the center, there was a large metal chair covered in dried blood, and various torture tools decorated the shelves and hooks on the walls.
Seong-Hwi approached the metal chair with restraints of various sizes to match each race.
He stared at the chair and mumbled, “I never thought the entrance would be in a place like this.”
Dungeon entrances were randomly hidden inside natural and artificial objects in the Mirror World. In other words, they could be anywhere, which was why they were so difficult to find unless one was a finder specialized in discovering dungeons.
Thumper was imprisoned on the sub-second floor for the longest out of the prisoners. He considered the possibility of a dungeon after hearing rumors of a prisoner vanishing without a trace. Hence, he caused a disturbance with the other prisoners on purpose to be repeatedly sent to solitary confinement and torture chambers. After many attempts, he discovered the dungeon entrance hidden in the metal chair of the seventh torture chamber.
To discover a dungeon, you have to project your mana with the desire to find it.
Seong-Hwi placed his hand on the metal chair and infused it with mana. The metal chair slightly shook, and a cylinder about ten centimeters in diameter and thirty centimeters in height slowly rose from one of the armrests.
[Entrance of Dungeon: Forgotten Fairy’s Hideout, discovered.]
[Dimension: Pavelaya - Larayu Cradle.]
[Time: Future]
[Enter?]
Seong-Hwi smiled once he saw the Akasha Messages.
I’ve finally found the first foothold to the top!
The Ancient Fairy Queen’s Wings, the artifact he had decided was the top priority to obtain once he reached the Mirror World, should be in there.
[Karma: 188,358]
Seong-Hwi realized this was the time to invest the Karma he had saved. Residents of the Mirror World usually formed discovery teams to explore uncharted dungeons. Even if the dungeon was already charted, challenging it as a party was common sense. However, Seong-Hwi was alone. It might look like suicide, but he had a plan.
“Purchase Magic stat cubes.”
Seong-Hwi used eighty thousand Karma to purchase eight bronze cubes.
[Magic D(15) obtained.]
[Magic D(11) obtained.]
[Magic D(8) obtained.]
[Magic D(10) obtained.]
[Magic D(11) obtained.]
[Magic D(9) obtained.]
[Magic D(14) obtained.]
[Magic D(12) obtained.]
[Extinguishing excess Magic D(2) points.]
[Magic D(11) → Magic D(99)]
Seong-Hwi did not stop there. He invested his remaining hundred thousand Karma to purchase one C-rank Magic stat cube.
[Magic stat cube
Rank: C
Description: A 5x5 iron cube made up of 125 small cubes. The user’s Magic stat will rise randomly between C(5~15).]
A metal cube approximately one meter in each dimension appeared before him. It was commonly called an iron cube. The smaller cubes were shuffled like a Rubik’s cube. The 125 cubes stopped and scattered, revealing a white light that entered Seong-Hwi’s solar plexus and shone.
[Magic C(13) obtained.]
[Magic D(99) → Magic C(13)]
Mana, higher in quantity and quality, filled Seong-Hwi’s heart. Seong-Hwi felt like he had taken a one-liter shot of espresso. The wild mana ran throughout Seong-Hwi’s body, burdening him because his Health stat was only E-rank, two ranks lower than his Magic stat. It was like the horsepower of a supercar in a regular small car; the car would be faster, but its balance would fall apart.
“Hmph,” Seong-Hwi groaned as he closed his eyes and reigned in his wild mana.
The mana desired to run rampant, but Seong-Hwi calmed it down so it would fall under his control. A regular person would have suffered serious internal injuries, but it was no problem for Seong-Hwi, who had experience with S-rank Magic. The mana slowly began to move according to Seong-Hwi’s will.
“Huuu!” he exhaled forcefully and opened his eyes.
Unlike before, his irises carried a faint blue light.
I’m a Single-C now! Seong-Hwi shouted inwardly.
Although he could only use his full power to the point that his low Health stat would allow, he was powerful enough to be accepted as a key clansman in any clan. His growth speed was unbelievable for someone who had only been in the Mirror World for two months.
I’m ready.
Although he forced himself to be capable of using C-rank mana, the power of his skills and their variety had increased. All that remained was to challenge the dungeon. Seong-Hwi reached for the cylinder on top of the metal chair.
[Entering Dungeon: Forgotten Fairy’s Hideout.]