The 31st Piece Turns the Tables
chapter-166

Clench…

The veins in Seol’s eyes began to throb so intensely that the blood vessels became visible.

“Urgh… Grahhh… It hurts…”

“Does it hurt that much? You can cry if you want. I’ll pretend like I didn’t see anything.”

“Ahhhhhh!”

Clench!

Thud.

Seol stopped moving.

“......”

“Is it over already? Good work.”

“Haah… Haah…”

Seol’s eyes slowly fluttered open.

[Due to the Blood of Origin’s influence, the Eyes of Perception has transformed into the Eyes of Foresight.]

[You awaken Passive: Foresight.]

[Passive: Good Lineage activates.]

[Those connected to your bloodline also receive the Eyes of Foresight.]

[Your creations can temporarily use the Eyes of Foresight.]

[You are able to perceive invisible matter.]

[You are able to perceive the various flows of power.]

[Your vision greatly improves.]

[You are able to see the statuses of elite monsters more clearly than before.]

[You will be able to see more statuses, as well as the statuses of stronger monsters, the more you train these eyes.]

[There is a high chance of seeing the explanation of important objectives.]

[You will be able to see rarer objectives at a higher chance the more you train these eyes.]

[Insight’s proficiency greatly increases.]

[Insight has reached its maximum proficiency.]

[Talent 'Insight' has advanced to 'Intermediate Insight'.]

[Insight now activates more frequently.]

[Insight now activates for more reasons than before.]

“Urgh…”

“Man… your eyes look so much cooler now.”

Seol’s eyes were now a beautiful blend of gold and scarlet.

However, as he cried blood, it looked more horrifying than anything.

‘...Did the Blood of Origin take effect?’

The Blood of Origin demanded ceaseless changes to Seol’s body. Even minor, mundane transformations could become drastic if the Blood of Origin took effect.

As such, there was no greater treasure than this to enhance your body.

‘Even so... I can't believe Eyes of Perception wasn't enhanced, but instead transformed into the Eyes of Foresight.’

According to Seol’s knowledge, once you acquired an eye-related ability, you were stuck with them unless you replaced your eyes entirely.

Even when enhanced, the natural process for the Eyes of Perception was to remain as the Eyes of Perception.

Seol even took that into consideration when he first unlocked them, deeming them a worthwhile investment.

‘Foresight… is this what I think this is?’

[[Passive: Foresight]

- You are capable of predicting events in the near future.]

‘These effects are essentially… no different from future sight… What is this?’

- There are too many effects!

- The Blood of Origin…? Again…?!

- These effects are insane though haha

- Honestly, I was getting a bit tired of the lack of rewards, but… I should be fine now 😀

- I don’t know what half of these effects do…

- Proficiency up = flashing eyes!!!

- What the fuck is going on lmaooo

‘And the part about it affecting those connected to my bloodline... it means it affects my summons too, right?’

Though Seol didn’t know the specifics of these effects, he doubted they would be harmful, especially considering how they also applied to his summons.

‘Regardless, I didn’t expect my creations to be affected by this as well.’

As Seol continued to think to himself, Ner interrupted him.

"Mind letting me join you instead of keeping it to yourself?"

“Ah, sorry.”

“And I’m sorry to say this, but… your monkey’s been acting weird since a while ago.”

“...Are you talking about Kiki?”

“Yeah, look at it.”

Ooh ooh… ah ah…

Kiki's eyes had been laser-focused on the unknown person's excavation logs in his hand since he entered Alcatron.

Seol carefully approached Kiki.

“Kiki, I’ll find Mael for you soon, so don’t worry, and…”

Kiki, without turning around at all, spoke out loud.

[We encountered difficulty the moment we entered the ruin. Twenty people have already died so far from unknown reasons.]

“...Kiki?”

[With each passing day, more members succumb to mental illness. They continue to complain about hearing a voice beyond the firmly locked door, yet we remain unable to open it.]

“......”

Kiki hurriedly flipped through the pages.

[Is this a dream? Even though we excavated this place and completely cleared it out yesterday, it’s filled to the brim with rocks and debris again.]

Seol felt a sense of déjà vu from the section that Kiki had just read.

- Right now, the area we're walking through was once filled with rocks and debris. Yet, for some reason... we're able to continue forward.

‘What Mael said before!’

Even though the Artifact Association hadn’t excavated through it, it was completely cleared out with no debris in sight. If that was possible, then the events in Kiki’s records must also be possible.

Kiki continued.

[Someone is clearly watching us.]

- You can stop reading now, Kiki! I’m going to piss myself!

- Why?! Why do you have to read?! Kiki! Waikiki!

- Not a bad pun…?

- It was good, huh? 😏

- It’s fucking scary, though.

Ooh ooh…

Ah ah…

Kiki stopped reading the documents and quickly scurried toward Seol, longing for a hug.

Ooh ooh! Ah ah!

“Your monkey looks a bit scared…?”

“...He does. Ner, how long have you been in here?”

"I don’t know. I don’t know how long it’s been, but I do know that I only woke up recently."

“Then are all of the prisoners here alive too?”

"I doubt it. I've definitely seen some bodies rotting away in the cells, as well as prisoners who've taken their own lives.”

“Then there shouldn’t be many prisoners roaming around in Alcatron, right?”

“That’s just wishful thinking! Alcatron is massive! Even if a portion of them died, there are still way more than your entire party. I wonder how they made a place like this…?”

Seol placed his hands on his chin and pondered.

“Now that I think about it, I didn’t even think about that. Who made Alcatron?”

“I doubt anyone knows. Didn’t you hear that monkey just now? It’s ancient, even before the previous era.”

“Then, Ner… could you please help me?”

“I’m helping you already, aren’t I?”

“My friends are…”

"Ah, now that I think about it... were the people who came before you your friends too?"

Ner was likely referring to Yofimba and his party.

“You saw them?”

“I did.”

“Where did they go?”

“I think they went a bit deeper than here? I don’t know the specifics either. But… a few of them definitely went down to the floor below.”

“...How many floors are there?”

“At least four underground floors.”

“At least…?”

“I don’t know how many more floors there are after the 4th one. There could be one, there could be multiple. Ah, just so you know, the deeper down you go, the more wicked the criminals become.”

“Have you seen the criminals on Floor B4?”

“Of course. There’s no way I couldn’t have.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You’ll understand once you see. Hehehe…”

Seol then asked the most important question.

“Are they… strong?”

“Of course.”

“Stronger than me?”

“Probably?”

- I hereby announce… we’re fucked!

- We’re so fucked!

- Fucked! Fucked! Fucked! It’s joever!

- Snowman: Since I’m alone now… maybe I should just go home…?

* * *

Translator - goguma

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

Fwip!

Ner turned his head, toward a different direction.

“Over there! I see another one of your friends!”

Dash!

Seol quickly sprinted toward the direction that Ner pointed at.

While Seol could easily defeat a monster like that with a simple punch, it would likely be a challenging opponent for the other members of the expedition party.

As Seol ran further and further, the silhouette of a human slowly emerged.

“D-Don’t come any closer!”

Those words weren’t directed at Seol, but at a large hedgehog-like monster in front of him.

[[1st Floor: Yorman]

Rank: Rare

Estimated Level: 27~32

A monster of unknown origins.

The thorns on its body are capable of piercing through even armor.

Basic Skills: [Thorn Cover 1], [Thorn Spray 2], [Secrete Poison 3], [Cut Steel 1], [Ball Roll 5], [Great Spin 2]

Unique Skills: [Golden Thorn 2]]

“Ah…”

As Seol swiftly passed by the man’s side to face the monster, he shouted out as well.

“Watch out!”

Fwirl!

Kieeeeeee!

Yorman quickly curled up into a ball, turning its thorns toward the front.

After calmly dodging the attack, Seol aimed to counter with his right fist.

Faaade…

‘...Huh?’

An afterimage-like mirage gave Seol an image of Yorman’s next movements.

Seol quickly pulled back his hand and swung his left hand instead.

Kieeee!

Yorman thrust its head forth, as if attempting a headbutt, but it failed to connect with Seol’s right hand. Instead, Seol’s left hand landed perfectly on its chin.

BAAAM!

Kieeek…

Craaaaackle!

Ki… Kieeek…

Yorman quickly collapsed in an instant.

Thud.

[You have defeated 1st Floor: Yorman.]

‘Was that… Foresight?’

Though Seol originally planned to reserve judgment on Foresight until after the Adventure was over, he had somewhat reached a decision after just this combat.

‘It’s… better than I thought?’

Furthermore, considering that his summons were also affected by these effects, Seol's combat capabilities increased by an indescribable amount.

‘Still, they will take some time to get used to.’

As Seol scratched his nose after defeating Yorman, the man who was chased by the monster ran up to him.

“Y-You’re Aspect Magician Frannan’s apprentice… right? It’s me, Yoran!”

“...Yoran? Ah, that…”

“Yes, I was the one lying down from an illness, haha!”

“What happened?”

“Did you not go through the same thing that I did?”

“So you were transferred as well…”

Seol then exchanged some more information with Yoran, but he did not learn much.

Just as he was beginning to feel disappointed, Yoran said something peculiar.

“Did you hear the thing… about ‘Loners Must Die’?”

“Loners Must Die?”

"Yes, moments before I was transferred, I heard that in my head. I remember other people talking about it as well. I’m sure everyone must have heard it, no?"

“Hm…”

Loners Must Die.

Seol still had no clue what that meant or what would happen if he was considered a loner.

Regardless, Seol was no longer a loner now that he had found Yoran. After welcoming him, the two then wandered around, looking for a path.

Seol did not know how much time had passed.

‘Damn it. Since we can’t see in front of us, it’s taking way too much time just trying to find our way…’

Seol then asked Ner a question after coming up with a great idea.

"Ner, could you tell us how to head to the lower floor?"

“Well…”

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t… think I’m allowed to.”

“...Huh? What do you mean?”

“I hear voices too. A voice telling me to split all of you up.”

‘They must be a massive psychopath if they’re talking to ghosts too,’ thought Seol.

“What are they saying?” asked Seol.

“To… stop getting in the way of their fun.”

“...their fun?”

“I don’t know… I don’t think I can help you with this. You need to do this on your own.”

“I understand. Calm down, Ner.”

Ner was trembling.

Seol wondered who could scare a ghost with just their voice.

Regardless, Seol was nearing the end of his Remaining Time.

The only lives he had met after an entire day were Kiki and Yoran.

‘Did everyone else head down?’

And just then, Seol found someone.

“Mael!”

“S-Snowman! Kiki too? And Yoran as well?”

“It is!”

“Hahaha! I guess it was a good decision to walk in this direction. Vicar Chameli is with me as well.”

“Snowman, it’s me!”

Seol couldn’t help but smile after seeing the two of them.

He had been worried about them, fearing that something terrible might have happened, especially considering that the two of them were incredible assets if he could be with them.

“By the way, did you hear that? The thing about ‘Loners Must Die’.”

“Ah, that… I heard about it from Yoran.”

“So I guess transferees can’t hear it… I heard that we were given a day. Did you hear that as well?”

“Yes, that was what I heard as well.”

“This is a huge problem then… The day has almost passed.”

“Then we should move for now. Let’s exchange information while we look for the way downstairs.”

“A good idea.”

The party began to move.

“...You met a ghost?”

“I did.”

“...Where is he right now, then?” asked Chameli.

“Well… he’s right next to you, vicar.”

Chameli quickly stiffened up.

“Wh-what the…”

- What the fuck!

- What the hell!

- I kind of want to see her swear haha

“Don’t say something so scary… You’re messing with me, right?”

“I’m not.”

“Kyaaaaaa!”

Chameli quickly leaped to Mael’s side.

Thud…

As she did, she accidentally kicked something by her ankles.

“Wh-what was that…”

“...A corpse.”

“Hrgh…”

“Wait, he’s… He’s the leader of the Ghost Wheel Mercenaries.”

“No way! How could someone like that die alone here…”

The party then exchanged glances.

“...alone?”

“A… loner?”

“Don’t tell me…”

[You have acquired new information about Loners Must Die.]

[Those who are alone die when time runs out.]

Rumble!

As mysterious mana began to swell in the air, Mael shouted.

“Damn it! It’s coming agai—!”

[The space around you distorts.]

[Your body is deprived of its freedom.]

[Hidden Adventure ‘Get Caught and You’ll Die’ is now active.]

Hummmm…

Mael’s mouth was clearly shouting, but nothing could be heard.

Thud!

This time, Seol was transferred without losing consciousness. However, Kiki, Yoran, Mael, and Chameli were all gone.

“Are you up?”

“Ner… you found me right away.”

“Yeah! I am a ghost, after all.”

“Damn it. Was this… repeating?”

“Right…? I didn’t know either.”

Seol ground his teeth as he checked the new Adventure.

“Get Caught… and You’ll Die?”

Seol looked around to see if anything had changed on the 1st floor. Unlike before, something caught his eyes immediately.

‘...What is that?’

The Eyes of Foresight then detected something ominous walking around within the darkness.

Seol, after seeing their information, quietly whispered to himself.

“A… warden?”