The 31st Piece Turns the Tables - Chapter 164
Episode 164
Everyone’s eyes in the carriage turned to Mael.
“Are you serious?”
“How can 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 directly at Frannan and spoke.
“Um… Holy Highness. “Do you remember that I belong to the Relic Society?”
“Of course. If it weren’t for this, our conversation like this wouldn’t have happened. “Why but?”
“All kinds of records gather at 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 brought from there?”
“you’re right.”
“Here… take a look at this document.”
Frannan took the thick paper and made a puzzled expression.
“hmm? “The Relic Society had this kind of material?”
“I searched through the archives of the Relics Association day and night to collect information related to Alkatron. Among them, there were many ancient documents whose contents were difficult to understand. “It’s 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 is full of nonsense sentences and language that do not match the meaning, so it has no value.”
“another reason is?”
“Well… there are a few other reasons, but the case that applies to this book is that there is no matching language.”
“Hmm… It seems like it exists, but I can’t interpret it, right?”
“you’re right!”
The two are talking about something seemingly incomprehensible.
Because it was a conversation between Frannan, who had great academic achievements, and Mael, who was curious about the end of his knowledge, the other party members just listened in silence.
“It was probably lost because it was so old.”
“What if the language of a region was simply lost?”
“It is not impossible.”
Kangseol glanced sideways at the book and asked the twin knights in the shadow space.
‘Is that language, Montra’s language?’
The answer Kang Seol received was completely different from the answer she expected.
– No, it’s not Montra’s language.
‘Hmm…’
Mael brought up other suspicious points.
“And isn’t there something strange about the material of that paper?”
“Right. It’s the first material I touch. “Do you know what it is?”
“The relic society tried everything, but was unable to find out the material of the paper. However… there is 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 paintings that showed what it looked like at the time of excavation.”
“Well, there’s a similar picture in the book.”
“yes. “As it appears to be a pattern engraved on the front of each locked room, I presume it indicates the purpose of the room.”
“But this…”
“That’s 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. “Isn’t this… the same 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 faced each other at the same time.
“prison?”
“I can’t think of anything else.”
“Alkatron could be a prison that restrains something…”
“Ugh… The more I know, the more I don’t know. “Even if you know it’s a prison, isn’t it hard to be sure?”
“Here… I brought this.”
Mael took out something that had been hidden in his luggage.
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’m guessing?”
Mael grinned.
“you’re right. “He’s a glutton.”
“How can this be… Aren’t the addicts a rare resource, one of only a few even in the Relic Society?”
It was a rare creature that the glutton Kangseol was also familiar with.
‘The Relic Society brought a glutton?’
Chameli spoke, poking Mael’s side.
“Ugh… my side is weak.”
“I’m sorry.”
Until recently, it was my first encounter with a troll in human society, so it seemed unfamiliar to me, but it seemed like we had become closer.
“But what is a glutton?”
“The Vicar doesn’t know who is addicted.”
“Yes, when it comes to operating the diocese, the Relics Corridor doesn’t have much contact…”
“The addict is a thinking monkey.”
“Is that 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 and ate the fruit that Mael handed him.
“… But why can’t you 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. “You have to empty it in order to fill it.”
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?”
“There has been no response yet to the records or other ancient documents I handed over, but there was a response to the documents I personally brought with me.”
“… You brought it personally?”
Tuk.
Mael brought out something again.
“Ugh… what kind of book smells like this?”
Chameli held her nose.
“Hahaha… please be patient.”
Frannan asked.
“What is that?”
“It was an old book acquired during the last 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, what does it say there?”
The monkey looked at the book for a moment and then spoke in human language.
[The excavation status of the yet-to-be-named ruins is recorded here.]
“The monkey speaks Ma!”
“Quiet…”
“Uh…”
The addict continued to say.
[The name of this ruin is Alkatron. I don’t know why it’s called Alkatron. The name Alkatron came to mind from the moment I came here.〕
“Isn’t this… the same as the records from the Relic Society?”
“you’re right. The origin of the name Alkatron began when the excavation team members there directly called it that.”
“Could it be… that there were people who reached Alcatron before the Relic Association?”
“The addict will tell you that in the future….”
That was then.
Squeak…
Suddenly the carriage procession stopped.
“What’s going on?”
“That’s it…”
When the coachman hesitated and couldn’t 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.”
“You’re lying… The entrance is gone, right?”
“Where are the other personnel? “Given that there is a camp here, it appears that the detour crew arrived before us?”
Frannan slowly smoothed his chin and said with a grin.
“First of all, there is no need to prepare for the camp. “Some search around and some get some much-needed rest.”
“yes!”
There was no need to do anything extra since the preparations for the accommodation were well done.
If the original owners of this place return, then they can expand the camp or make plans to enter Alkatron.
‘But… Alkatron disappeared?’
Kang Seol didn’t know much about Alkatron.
He probably only has 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 puzzled by the strange occurrence, someone shouted.
“person! “There’s someone here!”
“It’s the wizard of balance! “He’s the one who headed towards the detour!”
“where!”
People rushed to him.
The man was lying down sweating profusely.
Frannan asked him.
“Is that you?”
“Frannan….”
“Why are you doing that? “Where does it hurt?”
“It’s a symptom of mild exhaustion… I’ll recover soon.”
“I’m glad you said it was light, but what happened here?”
“Well… I don’t know how to explain it…”
A wizard named Yoran opened his mouth with difficulty.
“We arrived here exactly three days ago.”
* * *
3 days ago.
Jofimba yawned and said.
“You’re lying, right?”
“I worked so hard to get here, what is this, Yofimba?”
“So… I’m just losing my mind right now. what? “The entrance is gone.”
“Hmm… Is this right?”
“Are you sure. There are traces of excavation here and there. “What the heck?”
The entrance to Alkatron has disappeared.
Does this make any sense?
Jofimba’s expression became serious.
‘No, then where are you saying that the old man disappeared to?’
Searching for the scales was a problem, but more than that, the fact that Alkatron, which the Relics Society had been excavating, had disappeared entirely, confused Yofimba.
“The ruins are gone…”
“What are we going to do? Should we give up the search like this?”
“Is compensation paid properly?”
People making noise.
“Let’s build a camp first and then make a decision when the Holy Highness comes. “After all, he is the one who makes the decision.”
“okay. But what do you do with that wizard who is making noise?”
“The Magic Tower staff are taking care of it, so don’t worry too much. “Even if something happens, 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’re empty?”
“Some of your watchdogs have disappeared.”
“This can’t be right….”
Yopimba and the leaders of the mercenary corps responded by first increasing the alert. But that was a mistake.
By the time we realized that more people had disappeared the next day, it was already too late.
“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.
“So what happened?”
“Everyone… headed there as if possessed. “Even though I told you not to go… even though I tried to stop you.”
“I can’t believe it’s that place….”
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. “Everyone… headed there.”
“… In the end, we have to wait until night falls. “Will you be able to recover by night?”
“The pilgrims have been taking care of me for a while, so I will probably regain my strength soon.”
“Thank goodness.”
Kangseol laughed out loud because it was so absurd.
‘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 any chance that the search team that went in first will return?”
“There won’t be any, right?”
“The power has been cut in half.”
“If I go into Alkatron, I will recover again.”
“Damn… this is difficult…”
Frannan said meaningfully after thinking for a while.
“I plan to go in. “No matter how much I think about it, there is no answer.”
“I think the same thing. “Many brothers headed there.”
“It would be a bit awkward to come this far and then back out.”
“Then we should prepare for entry tonight before it’s too late.”
The meeting ends like that.
Kang Seol had already decided that this situation was like riding on a tiger’s back.
‘Alkatron… what are you hiding? ‘Why did Libra head here?’
At first, he just came to pay for a transaction, but as strange situations began to unfold, 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 campground was bathed in black darkness.
“There is no change?”
“Iknow, right?”
“First of all, let’s not fall asleep and get ready.”
Some 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 wasn’t even the wind blowing, but it was very natural.
“Look over there!”
“It’s Alkatron! “It’s Alkatron!”
“Ruins have appeared!”
The entrance to the strangely carved ruins was revealed.
The entrance to the ruins was meant to be underground from the beginning.
[Great experience! Alkatron was found.]
[All abilities increase by 2.]
Alkatron appeared and stood in front of it, carrying the luggage that the party had prepared.
“Really… I’m sure I’ll have some very good memories in the end.”
“Is he next to Mael?”
“Can’t you see me? “Is it this big?”
Grief stirred in the light of the snowfall.
【Tsk tsk tsk… While going down the stairs, it makes a strange wind noise. Ah… 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 you with torches will take the lead and the rest should not move away from each other! “You never know what might happen!”
Leap… Leap…
They stepped into the entrance of Alcatron.
Squeak…
Squeak…
Chameli pinched Mael.
“What is it!”
“It appears that the addict has interpreted the following sentences.”
“is it so? Thank goodness…”
“Kiki, will you read the next verse?”
[You have entered Alkatron.]
[Rewards are set.]
[Continued adventures continue.]
[This adventure is very dangerous.]
[You can obtain rewards only after all adventures are completed.]
A monkey called the Addictor said.
〔Alcatron is a prison.〕
“Of course!”
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.