Chapter 146: Chapter 146

Based on the information obtained from the interrogated necromancer, the cult of the Dark God had taken control of the western part of the Maleficus Dungeon, using it as a base.

Due to the vastness and the many damaged sections, they couldn’t use the entire area. About 20% of the area served as their residential quarters, while the rest remained inaccessible to humans, overrun by monsters and evil spirits.

Edia was said to be imprisoned in the deepest part of this residential area. Officially, the reason was to keep new recruits from wandering around the dangerous dungeon, offering them the safest place. But in reality, it was simply to imprison her to prevent escape.

To rescue Edia, there were two options:

A direct breakthrough through the residential area, where the cultists would be heavily guarding.

Or, a stealthy route, bypassing through the non-residential area, swarming with monsters and evil spirits.

At first glance, the latter might seem advantageous, but it’s not necessarily the case.

It’s like saying the back of a fortress is lightly guarded because it’s a steep cliff, which makes it vulnerable to attack. But why is the cliff lightly guarded in the first place? Because most who attempt the climb fall to their deaths before reaching the top.

Even so, some extraordinary individuals manage to scale such cliffs. Karnak’s party was just that kind.

***

In a desolate underground hallway, a group of monsters charged through the darkness. These creatures, a mix of hedgehog and wolf, were known as Sakad Wolves.

Like most dungeon monsters, they had claimed a part of the Maleficus Dungeon as their lair.

“Grrrraaaa!”

Their red eyes gleamed with excitement, clearly agitated. It was understandable—an unknown human had dared to trespass into their territory.

Driven by primal instincts, the Sakad Wolves relentlessly searched for the intruder.

“Grrrrr…”

Their fur shimmered, lighting up the darkness. As creatures of the underground, they had developed bioluminescence.

Beyond the glow, a human shadow flickered. Upon spotting their target, the Sakad Wolves charged down the corridor.

“Kaaa!”

Just as they burst into the stone chamber where the shadow had disappeared…

“Grck?”

The wolves hesitated, looking around in confusion.

The human they were chasing had vanished without a trace. The only thing that echoed through the empty space was a sinister voice.

“Well done, luring them here.”

“Choosing advantageous ground is part of being a Treasure Hunter.”

A blonde knight, a red-haired beauty, and two young girls appeared one by one. At the rear stood a black-haired mage, who spoke calmly.

“I’ve put up a barrier, so relax and slice them, Laficel.”

“Yes!”

Leading the charge, the ash-haired girl and two aura users fell upon the Sakad Wolves. In a flash of blade light, the heads of the three leading monsters flew off simultaneously.

“Kaooo!”

“Kaaak!”

Their aura-infused swords gleamed as the wolves, twice the size of real ones, died easily.

Screams filled the air from all directions. But no other monsters were drawn by the noise—Karnak’s soundproof barrier encased the entire chamber.

With a swift movement, Laven emerged from the shadows, embedding his sword into a wolf’s forehead.

As he finished off another, he calmly spoke.

“Be mindful of vibrations in the area. If you break anything recklessly, the walls might carry the tremors.”

It was practical advice—strong aura users or mages could collapse buildings if they weren’t careful.

Laven continued handling the Sakad Wolves efficiently, slashing, dodging, and moving fluidly through the flow of combat.

[Sir Laven is stronger than I expected.]

Indeed, he was living up to his Strauss family lineage. Considering he was only 20 years old, his skill was remarkable.

[At this rate, he could even stand against Laficel without being overwhelmed…]

But Baros stopped mid-sentence. Complimenting him for merely not being overwhelmed felt trivial considering the difference in their ages, physique, and gender.

[Feels like I’m watching a fallen idol.]

[Not fallen, just not risen yet, in this case.]

Karnak chuckled as he continued casting his spells. A blazing fireball burned through the monsters.

Boom! Boom!

The entire Sakad Wolf pack was exterminated in less than three minutes.

The chamber was littered with the dismembered and charred remains of the monsters.

Laficel, watching the scene, suddenly bit her finger.

“Are these… edible?”

Serati gasped and asked in disbelief.

“Why? Are you hungry?”

“No, it just seems like a waste of meat.”

Baros and Karnak began whispering through telepathy.

[Laficel wasn’t always like this, was she?]

[Maybe we’ve starved her for too long?]

[Seventy years is a long time, indeed.]

Meanwhile, Laven had already stepped out of the chamber.

“Let’s keep moving.”

***

When exploring ancient ruins, having a Treasure Hunter is essential. Even finding the correct path is no easy task.

In such old places, you never know when or where something might collapse. It’s not uncommon to find a seemingly clear path suddenly blocked.

You need a keen eye to assess everything and choose a safe route. It’s not just about strength—experience in treasure hunting is crucial.

Laven was a highly capable Treasure Hunter.

He frequently tapped the stone walls and floors, checking for vibrations and comparing the structures to ancient architectural designs to find the safest path.

Whenever he spotted traces of monsters, he skillfully avoided encounters as much as possible.

“This seems to be the habitat of Darkbles. They aren’t particularly dangerous, but…”

There are plenty of tales about arrogant adventurers who, after defeating a few monsters, accidentally knocked over a pillar and got themselves buried alive.

“If there’s an option to turn back, it’s best to take it.”

No matter how strong you are, fighting in a dungeon carries its own risks.

They had been progressing for tens of minutes, and yet, no other monsters had appeared. This was a testament to how well Laven had mapped out the route.

Karnak, observing his back, muttered absentmindedly.

“This is the first time I’ve explored a dungeon like this.”

Serati looked surprised.

“Huh? You’ve never been to a dungeon before?”

“Why wouldn’t I have been?”

He had, many times.

“I just mean it’s my first time with a Treasure Hunter.”

Karnak smirked and switched to silent telepathy.

[I was never an explorer. I was a resident.]

In his prime, Karnak didn’t venture into dungeons for treasure or monster hunting. He aimed to become the ruler of the dungeon itself.

So his approach had always been different—gradually expanding his territory, like a game of land conquest.

This method was entirely different from the treasure hunting Laven was demonstrating now.

Karnak mused with a newfound sense of nostalgia.

[From taking over others’ homes to sneaking into them… I must be getting soft.]

Serati’s expression became peculiar.

Treasure hunting wasn’t illegal, and it was a perfectly respectable profession, yet…

[What you said isn’t wrong, but the way you said it is… a bit…]

Just then, Laven stopped abruptly. He examined the architectural style and the collapsed surroundings before calling for Millia.

“This looks like a place where wraiths might appear. Please confirm, Priestess.”

“Again?”

Millia sighed.

“How do you always know these things, even better than me, a priestess?”

Even Karnak was impressed.

‘I don’t know how either. How does he know?’

Laven responded casually.

“Well, that’s why I said it’s a good spot for wraiths to appear, not a hidden spot.”

Laven didn’t possess any special ability to sense hidden wraiths—that was the realm of priests or necromancers.

“It’s the same logic as detecting traps.”

Most dungeons were ancient constructions from long-gone civilizations. Their structures followed certain cultural patterns, which meant that trap locations and wraith appearances also had commonalities.

Over time, such information accumulated into what could statistically be called the “most likely spots for traps and wraiths to appear.”

“This is precious wisdom passed down among frequent dungeon-treading Treasure Hunters.”

In a way, it was similar to how a seasoned commander could predict ambush points based on terrain and avoid or prepare accordingly.

It’s always possible there wouldn’t be any wraiths, in which case, they’d simply move on without issue.

Karnak began gathering his mana.

“Millia, get ready.”

Millia pulled out her wand.

“Understood, Captain.”

Karnak cast a spell on her, and she advanced a bit further.

Sure enough, Laven’s prediction was spot on.

Translucent, dark wraiths began to appear, seeping out from the walls, floor, and ceiling, emitting eerie moans.

Uuuuuu…

Uuugh…

The wraiths circled around, some even approaching right up to Millia’s face.

However, they didn’t attack her.

Uuuh?

The wraiths glanced around, confused. They had sensed an intruder but couldn’t locate their target.

Millia raised her staff high.

“Latiel, cleanse the souls of these wretched beings!”

A brilliant wave of light swept through the wraiths, erasing them one by one.

Screeeech…

Though these wraiths were too powerful to be vanquished by a mere purification spell, the surprise attack from an unexpected direction proved too much for them.

After wiping them out, Millia sighed in admiration.

“Wow, this magic is incredibly convenient. It’s called the Circumventer of Necromancy, right?”

***

The Circumventer of Necromancy.

Like the Redeemer of Necromancy, it was a specialized spell Karnak had developed exclusively for advanced necromancers.

“I got paid handsomely by old man Deltros, so I couldn’t just take the money and run.”

Unlike the Redeemer of Necromancy, which reuse the necromantic powers, the Circumventer of Necromancy was specifically designed for dealing with evil spirits.

Anyone under its effects could completely hide from evil spirits.

At first glance, it didn’t seem like an extraordinary spell—there were similar divine techniques used by priests.

However, the actual effect was vastly different.

Most deception spells were temporary; they would break if the user exerted too much power or made a significant movement, exposing them to the spirits.

But the Circumventer of Necromancy had no such limitations.

Once cast, the user could freely wield aura, cast spells, or even use divine spells without the concealment breaking.

In simple terms, it allowed someone to be invisible while mercilessly beating down evil spirits!

“I’m also working on something called the Mediator of Necromancy, but it’s still incomplete.”

“What does that do?” Millia asked, intrigued.

Karnak smiled.

“A spell that fakes necromancy using necromantic materials.”

It had originally been a lie he told to trick Prince Lloyd. But later, Karnak realized how incredibly useful such a spell would actually be and began developing it in earnest, hoping to profit from it once completed.

Laven’s predictions were proving accurate again—just as he expected, wraiths had appeared exactly where he anticipated.

Baros was puzzled.

[He’s not just an experienced Treasure Hunter, is he?]

Laven’s skills indicated someone with extensive experience. Where could someone like him, trained only in martial arts by the Strauss family, have gained such expertise?

[I suppose I could just ask. It’s not like it’s a secret.]

“When did you start treasure hunting?” Karnak asked casually.

Laven responded nonchalantly.

“It’s been about four years, I’d say.”