Chapter 55: Monolith Part 2

Released:

In Abyss City, the way monsters come into existence varies depending on their type.

Some monsters increased their numbers through reproductive acts among their own kind. On the other hand, monsters like machines or spirits, which lacked typical reproductive processes, were brought into this world through special methods.

There were two primary methods for this extraordinary process.

The first was dimensional rifts which were believed to be connected to other worlds.

Most of these rifts appeared suddenly in midair, causing havoc, but the most well-known example that was constantly talked about by people was the Void Whale.

This monster, which created dimensional rifts within its enormous maw, had wiped the southern superpower of Solarea off the map.

The second case was the black monolith which had swallowed Rohan and the two girls.

Originally, the Monolith had the same characteristic as dimensional rifts in that it created monsters, despite differing in form.

At some point, however, it began to exhibit an additional abnormality. It would transfer pedestrians within a certain range into another space.

And now, that “some point” had turned out to be this very moment.

The space the Monolith transported people to would later be called a dungeon, in line with the natural order of Abyss City.

Even without stepping into such a space, the term’s intuitive meaning was easy to grasp.

“…….”

Rohan, who had been lying on the ground, opened his eyes. As he did, what filled his vision was the blazing sun hanging high in the sky.

He turned his head left and right to scan his surroundings and was relieved to find no dangerous creatures in sight.

All that met his eyes were shattered statues and broken stained-glass windows, along with walls that were cracked and split, letting sunlight pour through.

This isn’t a church. This is that temple…

The structure suggested there should have been a roof above the walls at some point.

Judging by the vines of unknown plants clinging to the statues and walls, it seemed the place had been abandoned for quite some time.

Adding to that, the heat pressing against his skin felt as scorching as the peak of summer.

The faint breeze blowing through the cracks in the walls carried such intense heat that it could only be described as a scorching wind.

At any rate, it was clear to anyone that this place was not the Academy City of Elysium.

“Heuuh…”

“Ugh…”

Rohan gently patted the backs of Clara and Sion, who had collapsed on top of him, as they let out faint groans in their unconscious state.

They must have clung tightly to him at the last moment to avoid being separated, which resulted in this current situation. Thankfully, Rohan was the one at the bottom.

It doesn’t seem like they’re hurt.

It appeared Clara and Sion were merely asleep.

Both were breathing steadily. Their rhythmic exhalations were coupled with an intoxicating softness and a sweet scent that tickled Rohan’s senses.

Under normal circumstances, this would have been a situation where he’d need to silently sing the national anthem in his head to calm his emotions.

But Rohan’s mind had already cooled as if drenched in ice water.

The ominous aura emanating from the Monolith, the tension that mysterious stone had inflicted, still left his muscles stiff with unease.

“Hoo…”

Exhaling deeply, Rohan began to organize his thoughts while waiting for the two girls to awaken naturally.

It was a rare moment of quiet meditation, though brief.

His mind was in such disarray that he needed to gather his scattered thoughts.

The first dungeon was supposed to be something the protagonist experienced.

If this really was the first appearance of a dungeon caused by the Monolith… No, there was no need to assume. Rohan recognized this place.

Could he dismiss getting caught up in this event as mere coincidence?

The more he thought about it, the more he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was somehow replacing the protagonist in this storyline.

[The Country That Worships the Sun]

◇ Quest Objective: A Monolith, a symbol of anomaly, has appeared in Academy City. Escape safely with your companions from the distorted space!

◇ Type: Sudden Quest

◇ Rewards for Success: 3,000 points, full party recovery, 1 use of Seneca’s Luck

◇ Penalty for Failure: None

The Country That Worships the Sun… and this temple…

Rohan carefully read through the notification window that appeared before him. He started processing the information thoroughly.

He remembered what kind of dungeon this was.

Even if it wasn’t certain that he could clear it smoothly due to its difficulty, having information itself was an incredible stroke of luck.

The more points, the better. A full recovery is obviously great, but what’s Seneca’s Luck? I’ve never seen that before.

While he was pondering over the strange reward, Clara and Sion began to stir.

“Ugh… O-Oppa…?”

“Ah! This place is…”

As Rohan’s hand gently patted them, the two girls lifted their hazy gazes toward him.

“Are you both unharmed? Are you okay?”

Clara who grew startled quickly sat up from where she had been leaning against Rohan.

Sion blinked a few times before sitting back down on the stone floor and hurriedly checked her body.

“I-I’m fine…”

“All my gear’s here, and my body’s fine too. The real problem is figuring out where we are.”

Having regained full control of his body, Rohan slowly sat up, and at the same time, he pulled out his smartphone to start a timer in order to track the time.

Only after finishing this series of actions did he glance outside through a gap in the wall.

Just as I thought.

The interior of the place gave off the impression of some kind of cultural heritage site, but outside, it was filled with buildings that had the same modern aesthetic as Academy City.

However, there were no pedestrians, and the air felt devoid of life.

Every window was shattered, and signs were either crumpled or overtaken by creeping vines.

There didn’t seem to be any place with working electricity either.

The ground was a mess. Some parts were covered in a random patchwork of asphalt and paving blocks, while others were completely upturned.

So, there are problems here after all.

The problems became apparent the moment he observed the area.

In Abyss City, the dungeon stages had transitioned in a set format, but dungeons that materialized in the real world never cut corners in size.

This one too was ridiculously vast.

When Rohan finished checking and pulled his head back from the wall, Sion and Clara were waiting for him to explain what he had seen.

“Oppa, we…”

“It’s okay. Clara, don’t worry. I’ll figure something out, no matter what.”

First and foremost, he needed to calm Clara who felt an unusually strong sense of unease in unfamiliar places and situations. Only then would she be able to perform to her full potential.

“Rohan, did you see anything?”

“For now, there’s no one around, and I didn’t spot any monsters either.”

“Hmm.”

Sion walked up to the gap in the wall and checked the outside for herself.

“The temperature feels strange. This isn’t Academy City’s usual weather.”

“It feels like midsummer. Are you two okay? Is it too hot?”

At Rohan’s question, the girls shook their heads. That was a relief.

“I don’t handle the cold well, but I’m fine with heat, so it’s not a problem.”

“This much is manageable. Still, if we start moving, I might sweat a bit.”

Clara, meanwhile, was fixated on Rohan and kept following closely behind him like a shadow. Sion began scanning their surroundings.

After confirming that the style of the surrounding buildings differed from the one they were in,

Sion voiced her curiosity.

“This building might be some sort of religious facility.”

“It’s similar.”

“Oh? That’s a knowing tone. Do you have any information about it?”

“It’s a temple dedicated to the sun.”

“The sun?”

“Yeah. That thing up there in the sky.”

Rohan pointed his finger toward the ceiling of the world above them.

Clara grasped the meaning faster than Sion did as her gaze followed his hand. Her eyes widened in realization, which was only natural.

It was impossible not to draw a connection to Rohan.

“A temple dedicated to the sun? If there’s a country where such a faith might exist, the only one that comes to mind is Solarea… But that country is already…”

“That’s right. It’s a country that no longer exists. You’re well-informed.”

Sion murmured to herself, and Rohan gave a straightforward confirmation.

When the princess’s gaze demanded an explanation, Rohan continued.

“This doesn’t mean we’re in Solarea.”

“You sound so certain. Have you been to the South before?”

“It’s where I’m from.”

“……!”

The sudden confession clearly startled her, as Sion’s lips that were hidden beneath the shadow of the ceiling parted slightly in surprise.

Rohan acted as though it were no big deal and made his way toward the door tangled with chaotic vines.

Crunch! Crack!

The tough vines that were resilient even under this intense sunlight refused to dry out and clung stubbornly. Rohan began calmly removing them in preparation to open the door.

“Let me handle it, Oppa…!”

Clara who had been clutching the hem of Rohan’s clothes pulled a butterfly knife from her pocket.

In the hands of a skilled wielder, the short blade was far more effective than an ordinary machete.

With a swift whoosh! Clara swung it, and the strike precisely sliced through the gap in the door.

The vines were cleanly severed, leaving the door in a state where it could be opened with a strong pull.

Having secured the entrance, Rohan turned around before opening the door.

“Before we head out, I’ll explain what’s happening. I’ve studied the Monoliths at the Academy, and there’s some additional information I know.”

“That sounds useful. I’ll listen carefully. I’m practically ignorant when it comes to things like this.”

“Me too…!”

There was no need for Rohan to give a long-winded explanation. The method to escape from a dungeon created by a Monolith was simple.

You just had to destroy the Monolith that was located somewhere within this vast space. That was all there was to it.

Whether the Monolith created the space itself or transported them to this specific location was still a mystery.

The Monolith, having exhausted its magical power, had weakened significantly compared to when it first appeared, so it was easy to destroy.

“There’s nothing in sight right now, but there’s a high chance there will be monsters outside.”

“Is that so? Let’s be prepared.”

Hearing that they could return, Clara seemed to regain her focus.

It wasn’t the look of someone afraid of battles or monsters.

“Does anyone happen to have something I can use as a weapon?”

“J-Just a moment…!”

Clara hurriedly fumbled to pull out a weapon other than her butterfly knife, but before she could do anything, Sion handed a dagger she had been holding to Rohan.

“I have a spare. Use this.”

“Thanks. Next time, I’ll ask Clara.”

“Mhmm!”

Rohan was quick to notice. The girl, whose lips had been about to pout in disappointment, now nodded with a satisfied expression.

“Before we move, does anyone need more time? Feel free to speak up.”

“Rohan.”

Sion’s voice drew everyone’s attention.

Both Rohan and Clara naturally turned their heads toward her.

“Could it take several days to escape from here?”

“It could.”

“Hmm…”

At Rohan’s answer, Sion rubbed her slender chin and let out a low hum.

Her face clearly showed signs of concern. She was unable to hide the fact that she found the situation difficult in many ways.

Clara didn’t understand why Sion was hesitating, but Rohan instantly realized what kind of problem the princess was likely facing.

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