31The second word overturns the game board (Episode 164)
Everyone's eyes in the carriage turned to Mael..
“Me, really.?”
“how do i do that now….”
“…….”
Chameli was the one who asked innocently, but the person who most desperately needed this information in this situation was Frannan..
Mael also seemed to know this as he looked straight at Frannan and spoke..
“I… Holy Highness. Do you remember that I belong to the Relic Society??”
“To say the obvious. If it weren't for this, our conversation like this wouldn't have happened. why but?”
“All kinds of records gather in the relics association. The treasure trove of knowledge is the Zodiac, but the Relic Society also has extensive records..”
“Are you saying that the ancient document was also taken from there??”
“you're right.”
“here… Take a look at this document.”
Frannan took the thick paper and made a puzzled expression..
“hmm? There was this kind of material in the relics association.?”
“In order to collect information related to Alkatron, I searched through the archives of the Relic Association day and night. Among them, there were many ancient documents whose contents were difficult to understand. is one of them.”
“I can't understand the content... why?”
“There are many reasons. Things created with a religious meaning are quite difficult in their content. Most of them are like that. Usually, the content has no value because it is full of nonsense sentences and language that do not match the meaning..”
“another reason is?”
“what… There are several other reasons, but the one that applies to this book is that there is no matching language..”
“Hmm… It seems like it exists, but I can't interpret it.?”
“you're right!”
Two people talking about something seemingly incomprehensible.
The conversation was between Frannan, who had great academic achievements, and Mael, who was curious about the end of his knowledge, so the rest of the party just listened in silence..
“It's probably lost because it's so old..”
“What if a local language was simply lost??”
“It's not impossible.”
Snowfall glanced sideways at the book and asked the twin knights in the shadow space..
‘That language, the language of Montra?’
The answer Kang Seol received was completely different from the answer she expected..
- No, not in Montra's language..
‘hmm….’
Mael brought up other questionable points..
“And the material of that paper, isn't there something strange??”
“Right. It's the first material I touch. do you know what?”
“Although the Society of Relics tried their best, they were unable to find out the material of the paper. but… Here's one thing I found out….”
What Mael held out was a drawing drawn on paper..
“Is this what Alkatron looks like??”
“yes. This is one of the drawings of what it looked like at the time of excavation..”
“Um, there's a similar picture in the book..”
“yes. Since it is a pattern engraved on the front of each locked room, it is assumed to indicate the purpose of the room..”
“But this….”
“you're right. In addition to the fact that the patterns are explained according to a certain framework in the book, the patterns are mixed and placed in front of Alkatron's room. This must be... Doesn't it sound like the number we use??”
“That's a possibility, there's a number in front of the room... It's locked?”
Chameli and Kangseol, Jamad and Frannan looked at each other at the same time..
“persimmon… jade?”
“I can't think of anything else..”
“Alkatron could be a prison that restrains something.….”
“Okay… The more I know, the more I don't know. Rather, even if you know it's a prison, isn't it hard to be sure??”
“here… I did bring this.”
Mael took out something that had been hidden in his luggage all along..
Squeak… Squeak…
It was a monkey in a cage-like cage..
Frannan's expression hardened for a moment..
“It can't be an ordinary monkey... Is this really what I guess??”
Mael grinned..
“you're right. I'm an addict.”
“Unbelievable… Aren't the addicts a rare resource among the few in the Relic Society??”
It was a rare creature that was well known for its gluttony and snowfall..
‘The relic society brought the addict?’
Chameli poked Mael's side and spoke to him..
“Ugh… The sides are weak.”
“Sorry, sorry.”
Not long ago, it was the first time I met a troll in human society, so it seemed strange to me, but it seemed like we had become closer..
“By the way, what is an addict??”
“The vicar doesn't know the addict..”
“Yes, the Relics Corridor does not have much contact with the operation of the diocese.….”
“The addict is a thinking monkey.”
“That's all?”
“If that was all it was, there wouldn't have been any names left. The learning speed of these monkeys is astounding. If you give them material that fosters knowledge of anything, they will acquire it very quickly..”
“oh….”
Squeak… Squeak…
The addict chewed the fruit that Mael gave him and ate it..
“…But why can’t I speak??”
“When you lose interest, you bury everything in the back of your mind and become an ordinary monkey..”
“What is that….”
“That's why you can indulge in new things. Because it has to be empty before it can be filled..”
Everyone laughed softly at something a monk would say..
Frannan asked..
“But the Relic Society even sent that monkey to you.?”
“That's right. It seems that he is very interested in Alkatron itself rather than because I am trusted..”
“Because they are the kind of people who will jump up and down their pants as soon as you put the word ‘Korea University’ in front of them. Anyway, did he do anything??”
“While there has been no response yet to the records or other ancient documents I handed over, there has been a response to the documents I personally brought with me..”
“…I brought it personally?”
Tuk.
Mael brought out something again..
“Ugh… What kind of book smells like this?.”
Chameli held her nose..
“ha ha ha… Please be patient..”
Frannan asked..
“what is that?”
“It was an old book acquired during a previous excavation, and it was left lying around at the excavation site. This was also written in an unknown language, so the addict's help was desperately needed..”
“So, was the interpretation successful??”
“…Kiki, whatever it says there?”
The monkey looked at the book for a moment and spoke in human language..
〔The excavation status of the yet-to-be-named ruins is recorded here..〕
“The monkey speaks!”
“quiet….”
“town…”
The addict continued to say.
〔The name of this ruin is Alkatron. I don't know why it's called Alkatron. Just, from the moment I came here, the name Alkatron came to mind..〕
“this… Isn't it the same as the records of the Relics Association??”
“you're right. The origin of the name Alkatron began when the excavation team members there themselves called it that..”
“no way… Are there people who reached Alcatron before the Relic Society??”
“The addict will tell you that in the future….”
It was then.
It's good…
Suddenly the carriage procession stopped..
“What's going on??”
“that is….”
When the coachman hesitated and could not answer, the whole group ran out..
Traces of the campsite, a bonfire still warm.
There were things scattered around that would have caused hardship if left behind..
‘campsite?’
Everyone got off the carriage..
“This is Alkatron..”
“lie… The entrance is gone?”
“Where are the other personnel? Judging by the fact that there is a campsite here, it appears that the detour people arrived before us.?”
Frannan slowly touched his chin and smiled and said..
“First of all, there is no need to go through any trouble preparing for accommodation. Some search around, some take some much-needed rest..”
“yes!”
There was no need to do anything extra since the accommodation preparations were well done..
If the original owners of this place return, then they can expand the camp or make plans to enter Alkatron..
‘however… Alkatron is gone?’
Kang Seol didn’t know much about Alkatron..
I probably only have a similar level of information as most of the people who participated in this expedition..
“Has the entrance disappeared??”
The assumption that Sato fluttered and filled the entrance to Alcatron also made no sense, but it was a situation that could not be explained otherwise..
At this time, when everyone was troubled by this strange incident, someone shouted..
“person! there is someone here!”
“It's the wizard of balance! This is the guy who headed towards the detour.!”
“where!”
People rushed to see him..
The man was lying down sweating profusely..
Frannan asked him..
“Hey, is that you??”
“Frannan… sir….”
“Why are you doing this? Where does it hurt??”
“This is a symptom of mild exhaustion… You will recover soon.”
“I'm glad you said it was light, but what happened here??”
“that is… How should I explain this?….”
A wizard named Yoran opened his mouth with difficulty..
“We arrived here exactly three days ago..”
* * *
3days ago.
Jofimba yawned and said,.
“It's a lie?”
“I worked so hard to get here, what is this, Yofimba??”
“therefore… I'm just scratching my head right now. what? The entrance is gone.”
“Hmm… This is right?”
“Are you sure. There are traces of excavation here and there. What on earth??”
The entrance to Alkatron has disappeared..
Does this make sense?.
Yofimba's expression became serious..
‘No, then I'm saying that Libra has disappeared to somewhere.?’
Searching for the scales was a problem, but more than that, the fact that Alkatron, which the Relics Association had been excavating, had disappeared completely confused Yofimba..
“The ruins are gone….”
“What should I do? Should I give up the search like this??”
“Compensation is paid properly, this?”
people making noise.
“Let's build a camp first and then make a decision when the Holy Highness comes. After all, he is the decision maker..”
“okay. But what should I do with that wizard who is making noise??”
“The Magic Tower staff will take care of it, so don't worry too much. Even if problems arise, it's not our fault..”
“Did I speed up too much? Anyway, you should know that wizards have poor physical strength..”
They spent the night without any trouble. But the next day a problem arose..
“…They said they were empty.?”
“Yes, some of the watchdogs have disappeared..”
“Unbelievable….”
Yopimba and the leaders of the mercenary army responded by increasing the alert. But that was a mistake.
The next day, it was already too late when we realized that more people had disappeared..
“Damn it! What the hell is going on?!”
“What should I do?”
“Don't think about anyone! Something must be happening at night.!”
* * *
Time returned to the present, and Frannan asked:.
“Hey, so what happened??”
“every… I headed there as if I was fascinated. Don't go... Even though I dried it.”
“That place, no way….”
Yoran nodded his head with difficulty..
“yes… Alkatron. The ruins were not lost. It appears at night. And it seduces people by pushing its mouth towards them. every… I headed there.”
“……In the end, you have to wait until night comes. Yoran, can you recover by night??”
“The pilgrims have been taking care of me for a while, so I'll probably feel better soon..”
“Good thing.”
Snowfall was so absurd that I laughed out loud..
‘It's a ruin that only appears at night.?’
It was not that there were no such places in Pandea. However, it's my first time seeing it in person, so I'm just a little embarrassed..
Kang Seol and the group immediately got into discussion..
“What should I do? Even if Alkatron appears at night….”
“Is there a chance that the search team that went in first will come back??”
“Probably not?”
“My power was cut in half..”
“If you enter Alkatron, you will recover again..”
“damn… It's difficult….”
Frannan said meaningfully after thinking for a while..
“I'm thinking of going in. Even if I think about it, there is no answer.”
“I also think the same way. Many brothers headed there.”
“It would be a bit awkward to come this far and back out..”
“Then we should prepare for entry tonight before it's too late..”
That's how the meeting ended.
Kang Seol has already decided that this situation itself is like riding on a tiger’s back..
‘Alkatron… What are you hiding? Why did the scales head here??’
At first, he came simply to pay for a transaction, but as more and more bizarre situations unfolded, he began to become interested in Alkatron itself..
‘Whatever it is, we'll find out for sure tonight. What happened to the expedition and what Alkatron is?.’
The sun was setting, and the campsite was bathed in black darkness..
“There is no change?”
“that… That's right?”
“First of all, let’s not fall asleep and get ready..”
A lot of time has passed since night fell..
Contrary to what Yoran said, the situation did not change suddenly or anything strange happened..
No, I thought it wasn't happening..
Slurp… slurp…
All the torches inside the camp began to go out..
It's not like the wind is blowing, but it's very natural..
“Hey, look over there.!”
“It's Alkatron! It's Alkatron!”
“Ruins appeared!”
The entrance to the strangely carved ruins has been revealed..
The entrance to the ruins was intended to be underground from the beginning..
[Great experience! Found Alkatron.]
[All abilities increase by 2.]
Alkatron appeared, and the group stood in front of him, sharing the luggage they had prepared..
“Really... There will always be a very good memory in the end..”
“Mael, I'm right next to you.?”
“Can't you see me? It's this big?”
Grief stirred in the light of the snowfall.
【Tsk tsk tsk… While going down the stairs, it makes a strange wind noise. iced coffee… Just imagining it is thrilling. I think of you crying, covered in snot..】
“don't do it! Stop! Please stop him!”
Frannan said with a serious expression..
“A few of those with torches should take the lead and the rest should stay away from each other! don't know what might happen!”
That… Jeopuk…
They stepped into the entrance of Alkatron..
Squeak…
Squeak…
Chameli pinched Mael..
“Well, what is it?!”
“It appears that the addict interpreted the following sentences:.”
“is it so? thank god….”
“Kiki, will you read the next passage??”
[Entered Alkatron.]
[Compensation is set.]
[A linked adventure continues.]
[This adventure is very dangerous.]
[All adventures must be completed to obtain rewards.]
A monkey called the glutton said.
〔Alkatron is a prison.〕
“also!”
In the next verse, the people's expressions suddenly darkened..
〔There is definitely something very terrible sleeping here..〕
Their steps slowly descended into the darkness..
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