After searching thoroughly through the ground floor of the temple. the group found nothing of particular attention.

There were skeletons decorating the space around the statue like macabre offerings. And behind the idol, concealed by shadow and deliberate architectural misdirection, they discovered a secret hiding place.

If one could call it that.

A pit covered with metal lid, its edges were corroded by centuries but the structure remained remarkably intact. And fortunately, it was filled with chopped wood.

Most had rotted to varying degrees, transformed by time and moisture into something between timber and compost.

But that didn't matter. They would burn it regardless.

They continued up to the first floor through the stairs, that creaked with each step. The sounds echoed through darkness with volume that made everyone wince.

So they decided to ascend in groups of two, spreading weight distribution. Each pair was holding sconces whose flames cast dancing shadows on walls.

Carefully they reached the first floor.

This level wasn't entirely consumed by darkness. Thin streaks of moonlight pierced the gloom from footholds Ishiki had created two months ago.

'Crap... why didn't I peek inside back then?'

Shrugging off his foolish actions of past, they all concentrated on the new secret this floor has revealed.

It was a completely empty, vast and cavernous room. There was nothing else in here, except for a very strange and terrifying object situated at the center.

A pot made up of the same obsidian material from below. It was large enough to swallow a whole human body.

And there seemed to be no bottom to the cursed thing.

Because the surface didn't reflect light properly. Instead of showing distorted reflections like normal materials, it simply absorbed illumination and gave nothing back.

The pot's interior appeared as empty black void, bottomless abyss contained within ceramic.

Ishiki gulped hard looking at it, his body involuntarily shivered.

'Holy... I need to get away from this.'

'What was this used for?'

There was... no answer.

***

Finding nothing else, the group retreated back out of the temple. They had indeed accomplished what they'd entered for. The pit full of logs would provide fuel for another month if used correctly.

After that...

After that they would need to seek alternatives. Maybe even dismantle and burn the houses slowly.

Ishiki couldn't help but wear dark expression contemplating that future.

Was this what was left of their life? What would happen if someday the unknown barrier or the thing protecting the clearing broke and the beasts made their way in?

He shuddered at the thought. But it was the dark truth they all avoided acknowledging. By remaining here, they were merely postponing inevitable death.

Walking to the settlement's edge with thoughts spiraling toward despair, Ishiki found himself standing beside the lone house that stood architecturally distinct from all others. The one where he had found himself after surviving from the Crimson Canopy by a thin stroke of luck.

'Luck? As if. The only thing that saved me was my own self, if i wouldn't have acted. I would be dead.'

Lingering for a moment, he chuckled. 'Maybe, fate has some other business with me.'

He walked in front of the house and sat on the porch area, looking at the sky and then at the moon. The Crimson Night hadn't yet ended, he was waiting... waiting for it to end so that he could... celebrate.

It was a special day.

Today Ishiki turned 17. Or maybe yesterday? the day before?

He frowned. 'What is even today and yesterday in this hell?'

He was just randomly checking his system screen and saw that the window showed his age as 17 instead of 16 now.

With nothing to do, Ishiki summoned the Scenario information screen and read through it with a somber expression.

========================

⌜Scenario Details⌟

Total Participants - 1,493

Objective - Kill the Emperor of Aethelburg

Rewards - 20,000 Data Fragments, 50,000 NC, Skill upgrade.

========================

The number of participants had gone below 1,500. That meant over 500 players had lost their lives.

It was yet another reason to celebrate.

They... they have completed their own objectives.

'Rest... in peace. Your Scenario is Completed.'

Ishiki didn't even knew if his so called teammates—Kaori and Kenji were alive or not. Honestly speaking, he did not worry much about of Kaori, but Kenji... he didn't have a combat skill.

Just then a truly dark thought appeared in Ishiki's mind. His eyes widened.

'Kaori... damn it. How could i forget.'

He clenched his jaw. kaori's corruption made her ten times weaker during night.

'And there is nothing but night here. Screw it!'

Now he was not sure... of anything.

With a resentful expression, Ishiki went on and drew a cake on the ground. Just like his mom used to make.

He sighed.

His mom was not here anymore, his best friend Ren was not with him anymore. 'Guess, I'll be turning seventeen alone.'

'Or wait.'

He summoned the Scenario information window again and focused on the 'Admin' chat. The new window materialized with messages flowing across the screen.

[Admin 83 - What is the kid drawing?]

[Admin 292 - looks like something... I don't know. ]

[Admin 92 - What is a it used for?]

[Admin 77 - Maybe some kind of spell]

Ishiki couldn't help but let out a small laugh, looking at the messages. Then he looked at the window and said with a sly grin.

"Not so intelligent, are you? You don't know what a cake is?"

[Admin 81 - How are we supposed to know what that is?]

[Admin 176 - Its interesting, I wish to know what that is]

The admins truly didn't know what a cake was and after some more teasing from Ishiki, they went into a frenzy.

'They're actually annoyed.'

[Admin 83 - Tell us now boy, don't be so rude]

[Admin 77 - Don't you get information from us? We know]

[Admin 176 - Your window is still not accessible]

"Well, you know what? You guys have NC, right? I need it to buy armor. So if you can somehow give me money, I'll tell you."

The proposition felt absurd even as he spoke it. But hey... everyone needs money, don't they?

[Admin 292 - Okay, Is that what you wish]

[Admin 176 - Sure, take it]

'They're giving me money for explaining what cake is? This is the easiest currency acquisition ever.'

'I should have been selling human cultural information from the start!'

A greedy grin split across Ishiki's face.

[Admin 83 - But we can't give you NC directly]

Ishiki's grin suddenly vanished.

'Jackasses...'

Before he could think anything else, the next message caught his attention.

[Admin 77 - Don't be discouraged boy, we have our ways]

Suddenly a new window materialized in front of him. This was a completely new interface and the contents almost gave Ishiki a heart attack.

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