Chapter 23: One-Man Army

Manager (5)

After taking a break, I surveyed the third floor.

It was a large, spacious area, but it seemed to be nothing more than a combat space for a massive monster, lacking any particular functions or features.

Behind the monster's resting place was a staircase leading down, apparently to the fourth floor.

Dan Ga-yeon pondered whether to descend to the fourth floor or exit the Dungeon, report the interim results, regroup, and return.

『Since you defeated a boss-level monster, there's a high probability a relay is there. Go quickly!』

The Princess urged. Since it was a voice only audible to the Necromancer, only Comet understood, regardless of the content. If they could destroy the relay on the fourth floor without returning, the operation would essentially be a success.

『Tell that commoner quickly. Even if you hide my identity, you can still make speculative remarks, can't you?』

Comet was somewhat puzzled. It was unusual for the Princess to urge her on with something like this.

After some deliberation, Dan Ga-yeon made a decision.

"Let's advance a little further. If it seems like it will take too long, we'll return, regroup, and come back."

Since Dan Ga-yeon only lost a sword to the lava and suffered no major injuries, she seemed inclined to proceed further. She couldn't simply ignore what lay on the next floor, guarded by the boss-like monster.

We descended the stairs to the fourth floor. A vast space was revealed. The floor and walls were covered in massive magic circles. At the far end of the space, a magical device was visible. A crystal floated in the air, surrounded by magic circles and small components that levitated and moved.

We exited the staircase and moved only to the area not touched by the giant magic circle.

"That thing over there seems to be the relay, right?"

"It seems so."

The Magic scholar exchanged words with Dan Ga-yeon, examining the massive magic circle covering the floor and walls.

"Even if that's the relay, this is a magic circle I've never seen before. The level is too high…"

The Magic scholar sighed.

"Could it be a trap?"

"Perhaps… but I don't think so. It probably serves the role of supplying and controlling Mana. The things around that crystal alone couldn't supply and control Mana. If that were possible, the technological gap would be frighteningly wide. I don't want to assume it's that advanced."

Comet listened to their conversation and whispered to the Princess.

"What kind of magic circle is it?"

『Don't ask me about things I don't know. That's neither blood nor shadow.』

"Well, I guess academia is like that. Fields outside your major are just for laymen."

『Hmph.』

Dan Ga-yeon consulted with the Magic scholar and decided to move a few more steps away from the magic circle.

"Let's not destroy it. Let's record it first and then return for now. There are no obstacles, so we can study it and destroy it gradually."

Upon hearing Dan Ga-yeon's words, the Magic scholar took out a camera from his bag and took pictures of the entire space. Then, he took out a camcorder and recorded a video.

During that time, Comet hovered around Dan Ga-yeon for no particular reason. Dan Ga-yeon glanced at her, then ignored Comet and watched the Magic scholar's actions. The devices returned to the bag.

"Now, all that's left is to record the Mana flow. I'll have to look at it in detail later, but it requires preparation, and it's not my area of expertise."

This Magic scholar had participated to clear the Dungeon, not to conduct Magic research.

Dan Ga-yeon nodded, and the Magic scholar began drawing a magic circle on the floor.

He had drawn about half of it when an anomaly occurred. The magic circle the Magic scholar was drawing arbitrarily crumbled and turned into a small Mana mass.

"What is this?"

The Magic scholar muttered, seemingly experiencing the phenomenon for the first time. The Mana mass floated off the floor and then sped towards the giant magic circle.

『Hehehe.』

The Princess let out a meaningful laugh.

The Magic scholar was horrified and jumped up.

"We have to stop it!"

Even before he finished speaking, Dan Ga-yeon was already throwing her sword. Her improvisation was quick. The sword flew towards the speeding Mana mass. The sword collided with the Mana mass, and the Mana scattered and disappeared.

The Magic scholar breathed a sigh of relief. It disappeared before it could reach the giant magic circle.

『Hehehe! It's already too late. In the first place, you shouldn't use Mana in this space.』

As she said, even though the Mana hadn't touched it, the giant magic circle began to glow. In a flash, a massive wave swept through the space.

Comet, who had raised her Spiritual Power to resist, felt nothing and wondered what was happening.

Meanwhile, Dan Ga-yeon and the Magic scholar coughed up blood and staggered. They seemed to have difficulty maintaining their balance, but they didn't fall. They just seemed to be in so much pain that they couldn't move.

『Hehehe! How is it! It's a Mana Sealing Array!』

Comet blinked at the surprising revelation.

『You dared to ignore me, thinking I couldn't possess you. Let's see if I can't possess you now!』

The little jellyfish shouted confidently.

A portion of the ceiling crumbled and fell directly towards the group. A part of it collided with the Magic scholar. Blood splattered. The ground rumbled slightly.

Comet looked at Dan Ga-yeon. She seemed too out of it to dodge on her own. She raised her Spiritual Power to deflect the falling ceiling fragments.

Since such futile deaths were abundant in the world, one had to embrace complete death when the opportunity arose.

『Hehe…?』

The Princess's laughter abruptly stopped.

Comet smashed the ceiling debris falling above her head with her fist.

"Mana Sealing Arrays are scary, I guess."

『…Aren't you struggling?』

The Princess asked in a noticeably anxious voice.

"I guess so. It only affects Mana, right?"

『That can't be! Mana Sealing Arrays affect the body as well.』

"Really? Well, I guess."

Comet examined the Mana Sealing Array. It had lost its light. It wasn't a continuous type but a one-time use type.

"It's excellent for neutralization. But I don't have Mana in my body."

『Don't lie. Mana is the foundation of the world!』

The little jellyfish denied reality.

"But Spiritual Power isn't Mana. Even the Princess is fine, right?"

『Even so, how can a commoner's body have no Mana at all!』

"You'd understand if you studied Necromancy deeply. I intentionally didn't leave any Mana in my body."

That's why she bothered to ask Chairwoman for liquid Mana and use it to draw the magic circle.

『Hmph. Enough! I saw through your lies. Hehe. You're quite the actor. You're definitely struggling inside, aren't you? There's no need to hide it. It's already over.』

"More importantly, are there any Spiritual Power Sealing Arrays? It's theoretically impossible, but I'm just curious."

If that were possible, it would mean that magic-type professions could handle Spiritual Power. Then most Necromancers would quietly enjoy free meals in prison. That wouldn't be such a bad world.

『You're really good at acting! But this is the end!』

The Princess said that, but her voice was trembling slightly, as if she herself wasn't sure. Comet scratched her cheek.

The bloodstains scattered by the dying Magic scholar began to stir. A small blood storm arose.

Comet watched the miracle the Princess was creating. Was it a belief that a handful of blood droplets could change the world? The faint blood storm had already grown and reached the ceiling. A red wave crashed down.

But the soul is stronger than the flesh. Comet reached out her hand. The Magic scholar's soul was grasped in her hand and then crushed. A black flash occurred. The wave burned black and evaporated.

Taking advantage of the gap, shadows stirred, and shadow tentacles attacked from all directions. Comet glanced at them and left them alone. As the tentacles touched her body, Comet's soul and the Princess's soul collided. Sparks flew. The tentacles burst, and the Princess screamed.

『Kkyaaaaak!』

Before long, the Princess fell silent. It was impressive that the Princess, who didn't even know Necromancy, was using magic in a soul state, but trying to possess a Necromancer was too greedy.

Comet looked around the space, picked up the out-of-it Dan Ga-yeon, and exited the Dungeon.

#

Arriving at the Dungeon entrance, Chairwoman was anxiously waiting. She must have been waiting aimlessly, not knowing when they would come out.

Chairwoman examined Dan Ga-yeon, who was still out of it and being held, then quietly asked Comet.

"Was it manageable?"

The Magic scholar dying was probably within expectations.

"It was manageable."

"To what extent?"

"I could do it alone."

"As expected of you."

Chairwoman gestured, and an aide carried Dan Ga-yeon away first.

"There were more casualties than expected on the blocker side. There was a trap in the place where the blocker was located. That was apparently the final blow."

"It seems their capture was faster than ours."

"What floor was this?"

"The relay and trap location were on the fourth floor. Get a detailed report from Officer Dan when she comes to her senses. It's not a major injury."

"I will. The blocker is smaller in scale than this."

Between communication blocking and rift formation, communication blocking was less important.

"Originally, I was thinking of pushing it a bit and targeting the devices in the Gyeonggi area…"

"If the range is wider, the Dungeons will be more difficult. Even if we clear them, many people will die in the short term, right? Everyone still has a low assimilation rate."

Chairwoman nodded.

"So that's your opinion too. It's right to gradually recover from the lower stages. We don't have enough data."

Chairwoman patted Comet on the back.

"I keep saying it, but you've done a great job! Thanks to you, we've recovered Seoul."

『It's not a complete recovery. Destroying the small relay that was in charge of the weak monsters will only prevent weak monsters from appearing in Seoul in the future. Strong monsters are still coming out because they are in charge of the large-range relays. It will be good for maintaining public order.』

The quiet Princess replied. This Princess seemed to recover her mentality quickly.

Comet conveyed the words.

"That's what she says."

"Still, it's a big difference. It means that once we clean it up, there won't be any stray monsters hiding. Are citizens more afraid of hidden stray dogs or noisy tigers? We can restore some normalcy to Seoul."

Comet felt a little disappointed at the news that security maintenance would improve even beyond Yeouido. It would be better to gradually stop the nightly walks. It wasn't like she was desperate for every soul she collected while strolling anymore.

Good was good.

"That's great."

"We're planning a ceremony to commemorate the success of the operation in a few days. I'll get you a suit, so wear it and attend. The press will be there, so look presentable."

"I will. Speaking of the press, I can feel that the communication blackout has been resolved."

"It's only within Seoul, but it will make work much easier."

After talking some more, the Chairwoman left first. Comet had dinner at the outpost she had set up right in front of the Dungeon and came down the mountain.

While spending time taking a walk, waiting for Dan Ga-yeon to recover to some extent so they could return together, she noticed something. The military was controlling access to the mountain, but beyond that, civilians were gathered.

Comet wondered what it was and approached.

A man in religious attire was giving a speech on a makeshift platform that they seemed to have brought themselves. He was saying that this mountain was a sacred mountain where alchemical herbs grew well, and it was unfair for the government to control it.

It was a decent argument, but Comet felt strange. The content of his speech was fine, but the matching religious attire of the group felt foreign. He was doing strange religious advertising in between speeches, and the name of the religion was one she had never heard before; it seemed like a new pseudo-religion.

Her curiosity was satisfied.

Comet was about to return to the outpost where Dan Ga-yeon was resting when she suddenly stopped, noticing a familiar face.

The power plant employee also seemed to have spotted Comet, as he avoided her gaze and cleared his throat. He seemed embarrassed. His name was probably Kwon Hyung-seung? Unfortunately, he was wearing the pseudo-religious attire.

Comet felt really strange.

This was why complete death was necessary.

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