Episode 217
“The first thing we need to point out is the existence of this town.”
“… It’s certainly odd, but was there something suspicious about it?”
“Well. You didn’t feel any ill will from the villagers, did you?”
Shin No-eul and Sophia looked at each other while pondering over and over again.
However, the reason was actually very simple.
“It’s the population.”
“population?”
“As far as I can see, the number of residents in the current village is a little over a hundred. Of course, this alone is a lot in this difficult maze.”
However, if you think about it from a general point of view outside of that point of view, something strange is immediately revealed.
“Can’t there be only that number of people who have settled in this town and have continued to accept outsiders for generations?”
At the very least, you can tell just by watching a related documentary.
According to the journal, the village was first established more than 400 years ago. Considering the outsiders who have flowed in since then, the number of only 100 doesn’t make sense.
“I heard it for sure… … .”
It is difficult to even think about such a part because there are so many factors to be concerned about, but it is clearly unnatural even if you look at it from simple common sense.
“Then, are the villagers deceiving us?”
“It will not be. As Sophia said earlier, I never felt that way about them.”
That said, the conclusion I came up with was this.
“This town itself is a gateway laid out by the witch. If you are fooled by the seeming comfort and settle down and rest, that’s all.”
I’m not sure, but maybe there is some kind of action that excludes such dropouts here on a regular basis.
It was said that if you spend time here with your courage and will down, you will soon be completely disqualified at such a time.
‘which… … .’
Literally, there was a high possibility that it would directly lead to the death of the subject. If you think of it that way, the unusual population of this town can also be explained.
“But, brother, how could the villagers not know about that?”
“Those who have already lost their qualifications, it is not surprising that their memories are being manipulated by the power of the maze.”
Besides, as I have said many times, the name of this maze is ‘Blind Mountain’.
“How many of them do you think can really be called people like us?”
“… … .”
It could have been dismissed as a bit of a whirlwind, but it wasn’t entirely possible.
What was certain was that there was nothing good about staying in this town for long.
Just as the group’s expressions became serious, Yeon-ja, who was silently listening, licked her lips.
“just now. You said you found the answer.”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“That means, you know, there’s more to it, right?”
It certainly is. As I said before, I was already inferring how to break through this maze to some extent.
‘Even if other people don’t know, I can’t be deceived unless I’m deceived.’
The second thing to point out is the contents of the journal that there was no way to break through this maze from the beginning.
For someone who got caught up in the maze without knowing what it was, it might sound like a clear blueprint, but it wasn’t for me.
‘Is there no way in the first place?’
This maze is a space for ancient witches to leave their knowledge and pass it on to future generations.
So, it was absurd from the beginning that there was no way to break through the maze.
‘There is definitely a way. And the hint.’
After thinking over and over from that perspective, I was finally able to get my hands on that clue.
“The hint was also in the journal.”
From the beginning, I liked it in many ways.
Compared to the details, the names of the author or his colleagues are not written anywhere, and the fact that there is only one book of the past has been passed down in such an intact form.
There I came up with a possibility.
‘This journal is a thing prepared for those who will visit the village in the first place.’
Read at noblemtl.com
Many of the victims who have visited this place so far must have been engulfed in the comfort of the village with despair and broken hearts.However, there was definitely something to watch out for.
“That’s the part.”
[There is no passage to the last area. This was a false space from the beginning.]
In my opinion, this Blind Mountain stage concept is true and false.
From the moment we enter this place, our eyes are blind. So don’t believe what you see.
The invisible witch’s synthetic beasts and this peaceful village were proof of that.
“Perhaps the content of the journal itself is likely to be true.”
It was the experience of the first gate that we experienced firsthand, and it is said that all those who have gone to check the second gate have given similar testimonies.
Therefore, it is safe to say that this passage, which seems to have been written by crushing a tea pen in bitterness, is also true in itself.
“But isn’t it strange?”
Soon, as if he realized what I was trying to say, Yeon-ja muttered with an interesting face.
“The meaning is subject to change depending on interpretation.”
That was it.
A statement that the passage to the last area does not exist and that this place was a false space from the beginning.
It can, in fact, be interpreted in many ways, unlike what it appears to be.
And I judged the truth of the content like this.
“In the first place, breaking through the gate by following the contents of the journal is the wrong way.”
There is no passage to the last area. But obviously there is a way to get through the maze.
Then there is only one answer, right?
“This mountain range itself is the last section. The clue to breaking through the maze is definitely here.”
***
I can’t say 100%, but the group decided to first look for the answer in this mountain range based on my opinion.
And the conclusion that came out was simple.
“If it’s not the top, it’s definitely not the bottom, right?”
“Ugh. Is that so too?”
Those who fall on a blind mountain for the first time will, of course, instinctively turn to the top of the mountain.
That’s because there was no way to move at the bottom of the mid-slope, and the orthodoxy was that if there was something, it was at the top.
However, considering the stage concept here, it is highly likely that even that was intentional.
In the end, all we have to do is go down the mountain, not climb it.
“But before that, there is work to be done.”
Apparently, the secret of this town is on my mind.
They made several assumptions, but nothing was actually confirmed.
‘Besides, if my predictions are correct… … .’
There was a high possibility that the village chief and Halo, the town’s guardian, were holding the key.
‘In the beginning, even in the Black Forest, I had to obtain the horns of the field boss Manticore and the Seven Gaksa (七角蛇) in order to enter the test chamber.’
I think it is the guardian of the village who has that role here.
The opinion that it was necessary to check him once was the right opinion, so the party nodded their heads and immediately got ready to take action.
“Obviously, did you say that if a violent conflict arises, you will be punished?”
With a small smile, Yeonjagi developed his unique magic and started shooting at me.
Kwajik!
Quazy!
“… The wall of heaven.”
Wow-!
Contrary to light actions, due to the considerable power contained within, I was able to barely block the attack by summoning even the dark sound, even using the wall of the sky.
In any case, it was enough to attract the guardian’s attention, and soon a strange-looking monster appeared from somewhere in the forest near the village, as if the pigment had escaped.
‘Gargoyle?’
It was a little different, but to put it simply, it is a living creature with that kind of feeling.
Its rock-hard body was enough to feel its defense just by looking at it, and its head was bigger than the Manticores we saw in the Black Forest.
I checked the information about him with the emotion function, shaking off the dust that was flying around.
Tiling!
【Wigwalt】
▶Level 69
‘… It’s a crazy spec.’
Surely, if such a guy was standing there, he wouldn’t be able to cause a conflict without fear, even if it was out of fear.
Perhaps after hearing the noise and grasping the situation, a nearby Halo started running towards this side with an urgent face.
“What the hell are you doing!”
Halo, who looked at me and Yeon-ji who were facing each other, shouted with a sign of incomprehension.
“Stop fighting! If you provoke him, both of you will die!”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“why… … .”
When I turned my gaze to the guy, the other party also pulled out their own guinea pigs and entered a battle stance.
I opened my mouth softly against Halo, who was very bewildered.
“We’re going to catch him and open the real path of this maze.”
“What the hell is that?”
“It may have already lost its meaning to you, though.”
Halo said that he had been living here for ten years, helping the village chief.
If that statement is true, it means that he has given up everything and is still alive despite losing his qualifications.
And what that meant was simple.
‘He must have already become a part of this maze.’
After noticing it, his face, which changes moment by moment, is seen as nothing more than a well-made clay doll.
I struggled to shake off my bitterness, and once again I turned my gaze to Wigwalt in front of me.
“It seems to be the correct answer.”
A composite number of witches who reached level 69. There’s no way he’s just pretending to be a watchman to protect the village without meaning.
The purple crystal embedded deep in his heart somehow caught his attention.
‘Is that?’
There is no need to look at the liver in a haphazard way.
As I said many times, before I even came here, all the estimates were out.
‘There is no problem with this member.’
The shadows that flowed in all directions entangled like a net, slowly entangled in Wigwalt’s body.
It was the Udo Firearm that was used in the last battle with Imeris.
“Well, for now, all you have to do is hit it and destroy it!”
Taking advantage of that opportunity, Shin Noeul immediately started reciting mantras, and Yeonjagi glanced at Wigwalt and organized a redemption ceremony to help me.
It struggled violently, but it wasn’t strong enough to shake off the restraints of the two high-ranking exorcists in an instant.
Whoops!
“Iga Shin Power.”
Seo-ah, who came close to him, immediately performed a spell and planted a stalk of spiritual power in every part of the man’s joints.
It is meaningless by itself, but it is a special technique that receives the power of other magic and amplifies the damage in a chain.
Under the current circumstances, it was the best decision.
“Now.”
“okay!”
And towards the center, the great magic that Shin Noeul is proud of fell straight down.
“Daejeong Byeok Gyeok (貸霆霹靂挌).”