It's dark.
A world of inky blackness stretched out as if night had fallen.
Raon swallowed dryly as he gazed at the gloomy forest, so dark it made his eyes strain.
'What in the world is going on here?'
It was bright daylight outside, but he could understand it being dark since they had descended underground.
But what lay before his eyes now was a forest of magnificent scale. He couldn't understand why such a vast woodland existed underground.
Raon narrowed his eyes as he examined the branches and leaves of the trees composing the forest.
'Not only is the presence of the forest strange, but the leaves are odd too.'
One can guess the climate of a region by looking at the leaves and branches.
Thin leaves indicate a cold region, while broad leaves suggest a hot area, but this forest had both types mixed together.
'Moreover...'
What's with that sky?
If this is underground, there should be a ceiling no matter how high it is.
But even when he extended his aura perception above his head, he couldn't sense a ceiling. Even if the fall had been long, this didn't make sense.
"Huh?"
Raon's hand trembled slightly as he raised his gaze.
'Could that be the moon?'
In the left corner of the sky, a crescent moon smaller than a pinky nail was visible. Unlike the real moon, it emitted only a faint light, but it seemed to be a moon nonetheless.
'What on earth is this place?'
Just in case, he pinched the back of his hand, but felt pain. Meaning this wasn't a dream. This bizarre land was a place that existed in reality.
'A barrier? A formation?'
Was it a trap after all?
Unlike his anxious mind, his instincts didn't feel like this was a trap.
For some reason, it even felt familiar.
'I have no idea what's going on here.'
He frowned, recalling the entrance to the Sword Saint's Tomb.
'If it really is a trap, there shouldn't be an exit...'
-That's not the case.
Wrath suddenly popped out from the bracelet.
'What do you mean? Do you know where this is?'
-I don't know.
He waved his hand dismissively after pretending to know.
'Then what did you mean by what you just said?'
-It means that contrary to your worry, there is an exit we can use to get out.
Wrath pointed at the moon floating in the air.
-You must realize that this isn't a normal space.
'Yeah.'
-Whether it's a barrier made by magic, a formation made by sorcery, or even a space created by martial arts, if there's an entrance, there must be an exit. That's the law of dimensions that governs completed spaces.
He wagged his finger, saying that even if it's hard to find, there must be an exit to the outside.
'I see.'
Fortunately, he had gained information that this wasn't the worst-case scenario. Despite being like a parasite, the demon king was sometimes helpful.
'Thanks.'
-If you're grateful, hurry up and get out of here to buy me some ice cream. I heard there's a new flavor out.
"..."
I don't know how someone who can't even communicate with others gets information about ice cream. As he was shaking his head, the swordsmen of the Light Wind division dropped down one by one behind him.
"What the... Where is this?"
Burren frowned as he looked around.
"It was definitely daytime, wasn't it? Why is it dark?"
Krein tilted his head as he looked at the gloomy forest.
"Idiot. We came underground. Of course it's dark!"
Martha flicked Krein's forehead.
"There's a moon."
Runaan raised her finger. The thin crescent moon reflected in her vacant eyes.
"Huh...?"
"Why is there a moon when we've come underground...?"
Martha and Burren gaped at the moon Runaan was pointing at.
"It's... an amazing place. Amazing enough to make me want to leave right away..."
Dorian, already seeming scared, trembled as he reached into his belly pouch. A burning torch appeared in his hand.
"...What's that?"
Raon blinked at Dorian. It wasn't materials to make a torch, but the torch itself that came out. No matter how many times he saw it, he couldn't get used to that pouch.
"It's a torch. A necessity."
Dorian chuckled as he distributed torches to the Light Wind division swordsmen. Though he didn't know why burning torches were in the pouch, it helped dispel some of the darkness.
"But the others aren't coming in..."
He looked around, smacking his lips.
"We can't see the people who entered before us either."
Burren shook his head as he looked around.
When they jumped into the Sword Saint's Tomb, there were many people ahead of them and waiting behind, but now no one was in sight.
It seemed that the landing location changed depending on when they entered.
"Is this a barrier made by magic?"
Rimmer frowned as he looked around.
"I've never heard that the Sword Saint used magic."
"That's right."
Lisurn, who had entered the tomb last, nodded.
"The Sword Saint wielded only swords and sabers his entire life. He never learned magic or sorcery."
"Then what is this place?"
Rimmer furrowed his brow as he looked up at the dark sky that seemed moonless.
"There were a few magicians and shamans who were acquainted with the Sword Saint, but none capable of creating a space of this scale."
Lisurn recited the information as if he had done extensive research on the Sword Saint.
"What kind of person was the Sword Saint?"
"You probably know he was a martial artist who reached transcendence, so aside from that, I'll say his temperament was close to that of a righteous person. He had no faction, but he wandered the entire continent, focusing only on performing righteous deeds and honing his martial arts. And..."
"And?"
"This isn't confirmed information, but there were stories that he admired a martial artist of Zieghart."
"Is that true?"
Raon's eyes widened, as he hadn't heard this even from Denning Rose.
"Yes. But it's said he never sought out or met Zieghart. That's why I mentioned it's not certain."
"I see."
It seems Denning Rose, as the disciple of the Black Market master and a branch manager, only spoke of confirmed information, which is why he didn't mention this story.
Raon lowered his eyelids as he stroked his chin.
'If that's the case, this place must be one of three things.'
First, a place created by the Sword Saint, who formed no faction, to pass on his martial arts to future generations.
Second, a place already created by someone else that the Sword Saint utilized.
And lastly, the third possibility: a trap.
At the moment, the third seemed most likely.
"Let's move for now."
Raon nodded as he looked at the Light Wind division.
"Since there are people who entered before us, we'd better catch up quickly."
"We don't know if there's an exit, right? It could be a trap."
Burren approached, revealing worried eyes.
"No."
Raon calmly shook his head.
"This space is already a complete place. Whether it's a formation or a barrier, if there's an entrance, there must be an exit according to the rules of the world. Even if it's hard to find, there's definitely an exit."
He recited the information Wrath had told him.
-T-That's what I said!
Wrath widened his eyes in disbelief.
"Was there such a rule?"
"I didn't know that."
"It's my first time hearing it too."
"As expected of our Division Leader. He's knowledgeable even in areas like this."
The Light Wind division gaped in admiration.
"Th-That's right. Whether it's a formation or a barrier, if there's an entrance, there must be an exit. Most people wouldn't know that, you're amazing."
Lisurn also nodded with a dazed expression, as if amazed.
-You damn bastard!
Wrath yelled, grabbing at Raon's collar.
-Bring me those praises directed at you right now! Why are you receiving praise for my information!
'Does it matter who receives it?'
-Wow! This shamelessness! I'm just amazed now! You two-faced scoundrel!
He shook his hand in frustration.
'That's not it...'
As Raon was about to wave his hand, a message popped up in front of his eyes.
[You have received surprise and admiration from
[All abilities increase by 1 point.]
'Oh?'
-...Huh?
Wrath blinked at the message.
-This, this isn't right! Is your head filled with pasta? Do you really think this is praise?!
Regardless of his outburst, the message disappeared as if it had done its job.
-Come out right now! Today, either you die or I die, let's see who goes first!
Wrath grabbed and shook his own hair, his anger not subsiding.
'Stop it already.'
-Would you stop if you were me?!
'Sigh.'
Raon shook his head and entered the forest visible in front of him.
"Let's go this way."
As he was about to move forward after deciding on a direction, a rustling sound came from inside the forest.
'It's not human.'
It's heavy and smells of blood. Not a human presence. It was the dull movement characteristic of monsters.
Kuoooo!
With a rough roar that seemed like it could push down the entire forest, orcs with yellow protruding teeth appeared.
"What? Orcs?"
"Ha, just orcs."
"I got nervous for nothing."
The Light Wind division smirked as they looked at the group of orcs. There were many, but their expressions suggested they weren't even worth a fist.
"Don't underestimate them."
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the orcs.
"What do you mean by that...?"
Burren tilted his head, seemingly unable to notice anything despite looking at the orcs again.
"These aren't ordinary orcs."
The orcs' appearance was the same as those outside, but their eyes and aura were different. They weren't ordinary orcs.
Moreover, warm blood was splattered on their skin. It seemed they had already killed other martial artists before coming here.
"You'll understand if you experience it firsthand. Krein."
"Yes!"
As soon as he received the instruction, Krein stepped forward using footwork. He plunged into the group of orcs in one breath and swung his sword down.
Chiiiing!
Just as the aura-infused blade was about to cut the orc at the front, a double-edged axe that had been lowered suddenly shot up like lightning.
Jeoooong!
Krein's sword was blocked by the orc's axe and was trembling.
"What the..."
"Fighting spirit?"
Martha frowned as she saw the red fighting spirit rising from the orc's axe.
"How can an ordinary orc use fighting spirit?"
She let out a sigh of disbelief.
Hwuuuung!
The battle progressed as rapidly as Martha's surprise.
The orc pushed Krein back with its strength and swung its axe down.
"Tch!"
Krein frowned as he focused his aura on his sword. A pale light blazed along the blade, and both the double-edged axe and the orc's neck split simultaneously.
"The Division Leader is right! These aren't ordinary orcs! They can use fighting spirit, albeit weakly!"
He steadied the hand holding his sword and caught his breath.
Kyaaaaa!
The orcs, seemingly excited by their comrade's death, charged forward with a strange cry.
Their movement speed was also on a different level from ordinary orcs. It felt like watching the black-skinned orcs said to be the strongest among orcs.
'Not bad for training purposes.'
Raon raised his finger towards the orcs.
"These are the ones who killed people. Cut them all down."
"Yes!"
Having witnessed the battle between Krein and the orc firsthand, the Light Wind division raised their sword aura from the start.
Each orc was strong, but they were no match for the Light Wind division, who had grown both in martial prowess and mentally.
The swordsmen split the orcs along with their fighting spirit, filling the forest with green-skinned corpses.
"Huh."
Lisurn let out a sigh as he watched the Light Wind division advance like a storm.
'How are they all top-tier Experts?'
The Light Wind division members were in their early twenties. It was unbelievable that all those young swordsmen were top-tier Experts.
'What's going on here?'
One genius like Raon could appear, but it was even more surprising that all of them were prodigies who had risen to the level just before Master.
"This side is almost fini... Ugh!"
Krein groaned as he cut down the orc warrior in front of him and moved to the left. He limped back, favoring his right leg.
"Urgh!"
"W-What's going on!"
Other Light Wind division swordsmen also cried out around the same time as Krein.
"What happened?"
Raon approached Krein in one step.
"Th-There seems to have been a trap."
"Lift your foot."
As he said, there was a hole in the sole of his right boot as if he had stepped on a trap, and blood was flowing out.
'Is it an orc trap?'
A trap with black needles was set among the weeds where Krein had been standing just moments ago.
However, apart from Krein's blood, there was a purple-tinged liquid on the needles.
"Is it poison?"
"P-Poison? Am I going to die?"
"Orc poison isn't that strong. You should be able to push it out with your aura."
"Ah, that's a relief."
"But this doesn't seem like orc poison?"
"Aagh! Which is it!"
Ignoring the panicking Krein, Raon scraped off some of the poison with his finger and put it in his mouth.
"D-Division Leader!"
"What are you doing!"
"Raon!"
Burren, Martha, and Runaan ran over simultaneously. Martha and Runaan seemed to have forgotten their vow to use polite speech, shouting informally.
"Don't worry. I can handle it."
Thanks to the Ring of Fire, his body itself has strong resistance to poison, but he also has the Poison Resistance trait.
No matter how strong the poison, he could expel it, so the best way to identify it was to taste it directly.
'It doesn't affect the internal organs, but stimulates the muscles, body, and energy center.'
As expected, the purple poison wasn't the paralysis poison used by orcs.
'Bella's Flower.'
It's a poisonous plant I occasionally used in my past life. It's not strong, but it quickly drains stamina and accelerates aura consumption. It was used to wear down the target's mental state.
"It's poison made from Bella's Flower."
"B-Bella's Flower?"
Lisurn, befitting an assassin, reacted first.
"W-What's that?"
Krein raised his voice in panic.
"It's not a strong poison, but it quickly drains stamina. It's quite troublesome to treat."
"Phew, that's somewhat of a relief..."
"It's not something to be happy about. This poison can't be pushed out with aura. And there's no way there's an antidote here..."
He shook his head, indicating the situation had become difficult.
"Dorian."
Raon gestured to Dorian, who had a stiff expression.
"Do you happen to have Pelen flowers and Roseren leaves?"
"Of course I do."
Dorian nodded and pulled out several flowers and stems from his belly pouch.
"They're essentials, aren't they?"
"..."
Now he wasn't sure what wasn't considered essential, but he took them anyway. After grinding the two ingredients in a mortar for herbs, he applied the mixture to the feet of Krein and the injured swordsmen.
"Huh?"
"The pain has lessened, and the trembling in my hands has stopped."
The swordsmen clenched their fists, indicating they could move again.
Just as the treatment finished, monsters appeared again. This time, it wasn't just orcs, but medium and large-sized monsters were mixed in as well.
"Don't think you're just fighting monsters. Think of it as fighting this space itself."
"Yes!"
The Light Wind division let out a sharp battle cry and leaped towards the monsters.
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the pile of martial artists' corpses behind the monsters.
'Sword Saint.'
What exactly do you want?
* * *
"Those, those monsters... what are they..."
"Zieghart's Light Wind division..."
"Who's asking because they don't know that? Even if it's Zieghart, they're only in their early 20s. How are they all top-tier Experts!"
"The monsters' level is high, but those kids seem even higher."
"Their martial prowess aside, they don't even get tired. They're almost like monsters themselves..."
The martial artists slumped here and there in the forest clicked their tongues as they watched the Light Wind division slaughter the orcs and trolls.
"Huh..."
Lisurn also let out a sigh as he watched the backs of the Light Wind division turning monsters into corpses in an instant.
'They're literally monsters.'
This place was a small hell. Night had been continuing for days, they didn't know their exact location, and reinforced monsters kept appearing endlessly.
With traps and pitfalls scattered throughout, there were too many things to be wary of.
It was an environment where even the most skilled martial artists or assassins would be exhausted and struggling. In fact, even the Black Market agents, including himself, were half-closing their eyes from fatigue.
But the Light Wind division was different.
They slashed monsters and broke traps with vigor as if they had just started fighting.
This wasn't the mental fortitude that martial artists in their early 20s could show.
In reality, they had encountered quite a few martial artists and magicians while moving.
There were groups with more members and more experience than the Light Wind division, but all of their faces were shadowed with exhaustion.
Many people had given up on moving and were just resting in place.
However, the Light Wind division kept moving forward without wavering, like deeply rooted trees. Now, beyond admiration, he was becoming curious about them.
Lisurn approached a Light Wind division swordsman moving at the rear. It was the swordsman named Dorian, a peculiar individual who would produce a dining table and stove during meals, and a tent when sleeping.
"Excuse me."
"Yes?"
Dorian turned his head with a bright smile.
"Are you alright?"
"About what?"
He shook his head as if he didn't understand what was being asked.
"You've been fighting in this darkness for days. Aren't you tired?"
"Of course it's tough."
Dorian sighed and shook his head.
"Then how..."
"Because we've been through something even tougher than this."
"Something tougher?"
"Yes. Before coming here, we went through 3 weeks of special training with the Division Leader. That was..."
"Hell."
Krein finished Dorian's sentence.
"Right. Compared to those 3 weeks, this place is heaven."
Burren nodded in agreement.
"Don't even bring up that story. It makes my hands shake."
Martha bit her lip, telling him not to even mention it.
"Ugh..."
Even Runaan, who usually had a vacant look, clutched her head.
"W-What on earth did you go through..."
"For 3 weeks, we fought while getting less than an hour of sleep a day. We had to fight not just the Division Leader and Squad Leader, but also other members whenever we met them. We nearly died."
Krein explained their training with a deep sigh.
"I don't even want to remember it..."
Dorian broke into a cold sweat as if recalling that time.
"Huh..."
Lisurn blinked and looked at Raon walking at the front.
"There's a trap over there. Don't step on it."
Raon pointed out traps one after another that were barely visible in the darkness.
To precisely point out traps in the darkness that even he, who had lived as an assassin, would struggle to detect - that wasn't something a mere martial arts genius could do.
'He's a real monster.'
He knew Raon was strong, but he didn't expect him to be so well-versed in poisons, traps, and formations, as well as having the ability to train his subordinates so well. There didn't seem to be a single flaw.
Lisurn swallowed dryly as he watched Raon's unwavering back.
'The Branch Manager really found a gem...'
* * *
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the largest zelkova tree he had seen so far.
'That's...'
It was the first self-illuminating place since entering the Sword Saint's Tomb. It was such an obvious sign that even a fool could understand.
"It looks like an exit!"
Krein, who was behind, cried out almost like a scream as he saw the glowing ground.
Though he didn't show it outwardly, it seemed he had grown tired over the four days.
"Unfortunately, it's not an exit."
Raon shook his head as he fixed his gaze on the glowing ground.
"They wouldn't have created this place just to give us this level of trial."
The monsters were strong, and the traps and snares were varied. Although it drained a lot of stamina and mental strength, it wasn't enough to severely damage a master.
It seemed more like a barrier to separate the wheat from the chaff, so the glowing hole was likely not an exit, but an entrance to the next level.
"It's probably the next level."
Burren nodded as if he had the same thought.
"I'll go first."
Raon pushed the Light Wind division back and examined the glowing ground. It was a hole similar in shape to the one they entered when coming into the Sword Saint's Tomb.
However, unlike from the outside, the rectangular shape of the hole felt familiar.
'Why does this feel so familiar...'
As he narrowed his eyes to examine the hole, golden flames erupted from inside the white opening.
Raon's hand trembled on the ground as he felt his vision being filled with golden flames.
'Again?'
No, why has this person been everywhere!