The party members heatedly debated whether to tackle the library or the court.

Unfortunately for them,

"The correct answer is, none of the above."

I drew an X over all three routes. Everyone’s mouths fell open in shock.

"If you were to follow the standard clear route, you would have to target one of these three places. But I know this dungeon all too well."

Indeed, I know it all too well.

I charted a new route from the base camp, skipping past the library, the grand park, and the court which comprise the 4th Zone.

We would eventually visit these three places, but not today.

"Today, we’ll follow a secret passage, skipping the 4th Zone and heading straight to the 5th."

I stopped my chalk there.

"Our destination is the 5th Zone, ’The Colosseum’."

After writing ’The Colosseum’ in big letters, I dotted the ’i’.

"We will conquer this place."

"..."

A moment of silence passed.

A hesitant Evangeline finally asked,

"Wait a minute. Isn’t the 5th Zone supposed to be more difficult than the 4th? Can we clear it right now?"

"Of course."

Actually, at this point, this is the easiest place to clear.

"There’s a little trick to it."

Both the dungeon gimmick and the boss monster.

This dungeon is optimized for trickery. In fact, I had planned to raid here as soon as the base camp opened.

"Don’t worry about clearing. I’ve got everything figured out."

Confidently, I traced the path between the base camp and the colosseum with my hand.

"However, as you can see, the distance is quite significant."

The depth of the base camp is 3.

From here, we have to go to the Colosseum, which has a depth of 5.

In other words, we have to delve deep into the dungeon.

"We’ll have to travel a considerable physical distance. It’s inevitably going to take us overnight."

"I see..."

"I’ll explain the trick as we go. The journey will be long, and we’ll have nothing to do but talk."

I put down the chalk and wiped my hands with a handkerchief.

"That’s all. Any questions... we’ll address them as we go."

Evangeline and Junior, who seemed to have many questions, reluctantly lowered their hands. I smiled.

"If you don’t want this to turn into a three-day trip, let’s get moving. You’ve already spent too much time preparing."

***

[Now Loading...]

[Tip - The base camp has many paths leading to various places in the Lake Kingdom Dungeon. Explore freely!]

***

We arrived at the base camp through the teleport gate.

This time, the blacksmith Kellibey was nowhere to be found. Only Coco, the space sorceress, was there to greet us.

"Oohoho, my little ones! Are you here to play again?"

No, we’re not here to play. We’re risking our lives on this exploration.

"Goodness, it seems you’ve lost more weight since the last time? Wait a minute. I’ll give you something delicious."

"Ah... I’m sorry, Granny Coco. We’re really busy right now."

When Coco tried to take out some jellies from her workshop, I stopped her and looked around.

"But where is Kellibey?"

"That dwarf? I don’t know. He said something about gathering materials and went into the dungeon."

"Hmm..."

Kellibey was always the NPC with perfect attendance here. So, does he even leave his post?

Well, he’ll manage. Regardless, Kellibey is stronger and higher-level than us at this point. He won’t suffer a premature death.

"Granny Coco, I just have one more favor to ask..."

I brought Granny Coco to the center of the base camp.

At the center of the base camp, something akin to a manhole cover was installed. I pointed at it with my hand.

"Could you please unlock this for us?"

"Uh-hi-hi, are you sure? The path below here is the infamous ’Path of the Overlord’."

Granny Coco looked at me with a face that was struggling to suppress a smile.

"You might break down while passing through."magic

"I’m fine. I won’t break."

"If you can’t conquer the battlefield at the end, you won’t be able to come back. It becomes one-way. Are you really okay?"

"I’m fine. Because I’ll conquer it."

"Uh-hit, uh-hi-hi-hi! Kellibey did say that this new recruit is quite good. Indeed!"

Granny Coco, who was clutching her belly in laughter, lightly waved her hand.

Clang!

Then, a spark flashed from the manhole cover, and it gently opened upwards.

"Alright, go on! I’ll be waiting for your epic tales."

"Thank you, Granny."Granny Coco backed away with hands on her hips. I pointed at the manhole with my toe and signaled to the party members.

"Okay, shall we go?"

The inside of the manhole was pitch-black. The unique three-dimensional darkness of a dungeon was throbbing.

Being an already dark place leading to an underground path, it was even darker.

As I approached, an information message popped up.

[Path of the Overlord]

- All skills will be sealed while passing through this corridor.

- If you do not clear this sector, this path will be closed.

- Only the truly courageous should attempt this challenge.

Crackle, crackle...

The sound of insects gnawing echoed harshly within the corridor.

"..."

"..."

Everyone seemed too scared to make a move. Even Lucas.

Well, it’s a physiological problem after all.

"I’ll go first."

Before Lucas could say anything, I pulled out a ’Blue Flame Torch’ from my inventory.

It was an ever-burning torch that I had received as a reward in the past.

I threw it into the corridor.

The torch lit the surroundings in blue as it fell inside. A ladder was densely installed in the long vertical cylindrical corridor.

Thump!

After not too long a fall, the flame bounced off the floor.

"It’s not that deep, right?"

I gave a slight smirk and pushed myself into the corridor first.

All other party members, with determination on their faces, followed me one by one.

***

What would the darkness do, if it had a will?

That thought occurred to me as we descended the vertical corridor.

Crackle, crackle...

The sound of insects gnawing never ceased to ring in my ears.

It almost felt like the creatures were gnawing at my ears.

Something seemed to be visible at the edge of my dim vision. But when I turned to look, there was nothing.

Crackle, crackle...

It was as if the darkness was whispering something.

As we went deeper, the insect sounds started to form a language. It was getting clearer in my ears.

Die.

Fuck you.

Explode.

Die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die.

"..."

It’s scary.

Honestly, it’s terrifying.

However.

’It’s less scary than game over.’

I have to get past here to reach the Colosseum, and I have to go to the Colosseum to get the Crystal of Darkness, and if I get the Crystal of Darkness, I will have a way to face the Vampire King.

Then I have to move.

If that’s the only way to clear the game, I have to jump in, whether it’s in the dark or in the lava.

Thump.

The seemingly endless vertical tunnel ended, and my feet hit the ground.

The moment my feet touched the ground, all the bug-eating noises, the curses, the hazy something that blurred the edge of my vision, all disappeared cleanly.

"..."

I picked up the blue torch that had fallen on the floor and held it up.

A straight, neatly trimmed white marble corridor stretched out before me.

’The Path of the Overlord.’

It sounds cool, but it’s just a secret passage.

Speedrunners aiming for the fastest time in ’Protect the Empire’ all used this path to reach the Colosseum first.

It might seem strange to speedrun an RPG, but that was the achievement’s name...

Thump-!

Lucas fell gracefully down the tunnel behind me. I turned to look at him.

"Was it okay coming down, Lucas?"

"..."

Lucas, his pale face drenched in cold sweat, looked at me and cautiously asked,

"May we... take a moment to rest, My Lord?"

"Of course. Let’s wait until everyone comes down."

As soon as I finished speaking, Lucas collapsed onto the spot like he was crumbling.

I didn’t ask what he had seen or heard. I just stood next to Lucas, laying my hand on his shoulder.

"...Thank you."Lucas quickly regained his composure. Thankfully.

’In this Path of the Overlord, all skills are sealed.’

This means even my passive skill, ’Unyielding Commander’, was sealed.

I can’t defend party members from mental status effects. All I can do is hope that each person overcomes this trial.

Thump!

The second one to come down was Damien.

Damien rolled down the tunnel, huddled in the corner shaking.

"I did wrong, I did wrong, I did wrong! Please, don’t... don’t hit me..."

"Damien."

"I’m sorry, Ban. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for being alive. I was wrong. So..."

"Damien!"

I grabbed Damien’s shoulders, forcing him to meet my gaze.

"I’m here."

"Hah, hah, hah..."

"Whatever was up there, it’s over now. And it won’t bother you again."

With trembling eyes, Damien scanned me and croaked out in a drained voice.

"Your Highness. Please... hold my hand..."

"Sure."

"And Sir Lucas, too. Please."

"Okay."

Lucas and I each held one of Damien’s hands. Damien squeezed his eyes shut, trembling.

Thump-

Next came down Junior.

"Hmm."

Junior looked up the tunnel with intrigued eyes, adjusting her wide-brimmed hat.

"I see. So, that’s how this curse works... Interesting."

"Interesting?"

"It’s a bit old-fashioned, being from five hundred years ago, but it’s fascinating."

I beckoned towards Junior’s legs.

"Your legs are shaking."

"No, it’s just... wizards aren’t good with physical stuff. It’s not because I’m scared."

"Sure, let’s go with that."

Then, Junior, looking our way, narrowed her eyes.

"What are you three doing right now?"

"Come here too, help hold Damien’s hand."

"Huh?"

"Hurry. Can’t you see the guy trembling? He needs human warmth."

Hesitantly approaching, Junior carefully extended her hand and rested it on top of Damien’s.

Thump!

The last one to land was Evangeline. She lowered her shield and landed in style. Are you Captain Crossroad?

"Wow! I’m drenched in cold sweat."

Evangeline, with her hair soaked in sweat, complained as she brushed her hair back.

"Why did I take a shower?"

I’m talking about water, you brat.

Then Evangeline, looking our way, had the same reaction as Junior.

"What are you four doing now?"

"Well... shall we hold hands and go around?"

"..."

Looking at us with a somewhat reluctant gaze, Evangeline extended her hand and dashed towards us.

"I want to join too."

"Do so."

Pop.

Evangeline’s tiny hand was placed on top of Damien’s.

"Um, that is..."

After a moment.

Damien, rolling his big brown eyes, glanced at us.

"Um... I’m okay now..."

"Huh? No, no. You’re still trembling. Let’s just keep doing this a little longer."

"Well, it’s a bit... embarrassing..."

"No, it’s okay! Being scared of such a curse is never something to be ashamed of! Stay strong, Damien!"

"Stay strong!"

"Stay strong!"

"Let’s be strong~!"

"Uh..."

Damien’s neck and ears turned bright red, and he lowered his face.

We looked down at Damien and laughed heartily. It was fun to tease him.

I don’t know what horrific past Damien has experienced, and how deep the wounds he carries are.

But here, he has his party members.

Just as we hunt monsters together, I hoped that we could also overcome these painful memories. That’s what I thought.

--TL Notes--

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