Hero's Coffin Chapter 103

Chapter 103

They all moved in the direction he had indicated. Though this place wasn't as complex as the eastern Encroachment Zone, they still decided to walk while being wary of their surroundings just in case.

Swoosh, suddenly Mela approached his side.

"Isaph."

Though he thought she had just happened to come closer while searching, Mela actually addressed him. As it happened, he had trauma related to having quiet one-on-one conversations with her.

Why, what, what business? Could it be that since this Encroachment Zone seemed dangerous, she would transform into a demon again? Was she going to entrust her necklace to him like last time? As he quickly hid both hands behind his back, Mela spoke quietly. She lowered her voice to almost a whisper as she informed him.

"When climbing the snow mountain, actually the Commander told me to stay by your side."

"...What?"

"He said to watch over you from nearby since the path was dangerous."

Blink blink, he blankly opened and closed his eyes. It took time to understand since it was very different from the topic he had expected. No, perhaps he was just lost because this truth was so surprising.

He felt embarrassed thinking about how much he must have staggered while climbing the snow mountain for Haren to assign a subordinate to him out of concern, and on the other hand, the fact that Haren had looked after him despite being uncomfortable made his heart stir strangely. Now his heart was churning even though Haren wasn't right beside him.

As he tried hard to settle his motion sickness, Mela's eyes narrowed slightly. He now knew that small change was her smile.

"I don't know what problem you had with the Commander, but I'm glad you seem to have made up well."

"No, not really a reconciliation... or anything..."

Her tone seemed pleased, which brought tremendous embarrassment. And if she had felt there was a problem between him and Haren, shouldn't she naturally take the Commander's side, why had she wanted them to reconcile?

At his bewildered look, Mela shrugged her shoulders and left. He barely managed to settle his churning insides at her retreating figure that withdrew lightly as if delivering that message had been her only purpose. Why was he like this when the cave wasn't even shaking?

Soon they reached the black wall.

"It seems exactly the same as the wall we saw in the Encroachment Zone..."

"Though the area is relatively small because the cave's shape is different, that ominous feeling is certain."

Kalterik and Noi spoke in turn. As they turned the corner, everyone braced themselves in case there was another mountain of corpses piled up like before, but that horrific scene didn't appear again. There was just a black wall existing like a cavity among the crystal mine.

It was similar to yet different from the torn sky they had seen in the western Encroachment Zone. Though it had been shocking then to see the Dium appear through the black gap that appeared when the sky cracked, this time there was a slightly more fundamental and incomprehensible revulsion.

Come to think of it, light seemed to have burst forth from here before the map changed, what phenomenon was that? And why had that spring sound been heard?

While he traced each memory, his companions were also having an intense discussion.

"It seems we can't figure anything out just by looking..."

"Should we try an experiment?"

Kalterik spoke while smashing bang! the mineral attached to the wall. Since it was an unsettling space to touch directly, it was his will to check with objects, and as soon as Haren nodded, he threw the mineral. Whoosh- the mineral that flew in an arc surprisingly went over the wall.

"W-wasn't it a wall?"

Kalterik spoke dazedly. Though they had expected the mineral to hit and fall, it passed through there and even the sound cut off abruptly. Beyond not hearing it fall to the ground, even the sound of it flying disappeared midway.

Noi also opened his eyes wide and threw several more stones from the ground. This time too it was silent beyond the wall, and then Mela alternately shot holy power and demonic energy. It remained quiet as expected.

"Could it be connected to somewhere...?"

"That seems closer to a 'boundary' than a wall, but it's strange that we can't hear any sound. It's as if there's nothing at all on the other side..."

Haren spoke in a sunken voice. Though they had wondered what reaction there might be if they used holy power too, nothing happened, and moreover, the longer they looked carefully, the more they felt an unpleasant sensation as if facing a space of nothingness.

The feeling from when they first encountered it remained.

They might die if they crossed over.

Though no one said it aloud, he could tell everyone shared that impression. At this point it wasn't just simple worry but a warning given by instinct.

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Cross over.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just then a blue window appeared before his eyes.

...Well, it must have appeared by mistake? He turned his head pretending not to see it, but a blue window appeared again in that direction.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cross over the boundary of □!#&.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Huh?

Though at first he had ignored it out of antipathy towards the terrible game pushing him to die, he was surprised when broken text appeared next. This had never appeared like this before.

Actually, even if the status window urged him, he had planned to stubbornly resist since it would probably just threaten "Cross over" again. But when it appeared like this...

Ah, he couldn't resist this.

The biggest element that stimulates players in games is curiosity. If something seems hidden, you want to check it out once, and you want to mess with it for no reason. It's player psychology to think "A secret chest? Ah, I have to open it. A forbidden area? Ah, I have to go in."

Of course, such curiosity would be backed by the certainty that 'I' won't die no matter what. Since you can replay even if the character dies. In that sense, though he probably should be extremely careful, still...

This game wouldn't let the hero die, right?

Though he would have felt uneasy if he had to cross alone, now it was a situation where they had to move as a group. The quest from the NPC was to help the hero, and until now the status window had very faithfully followed that purpose. Just reviewing how it had connected their souls regardless of the player's pain showed that.

–Meow.

Swoosh, just then the black cat approached his side. Though he had seen it once nearby while walking through the eastern Encroachment Zone, he hadn't seen it since the map changed. You got swept up too? He finally welcomed the NPC accompanying the player. He had needed a suitable excuse anyway.

While picking up the cat, he spoke to his companions.

"We need to cross that boundary. It's information confirmed through En."

"W-w-what? Walk into there?!"

Though Kalterik was immediately shocked, he nodded even more nonchalantly. He even stroked En's head with a gesture of approval. Though En glared at him with very displeased eyes, it stayed still as if guessing his intention.

"Yeah, they say if we cross there we'll arrive at the eastern Encroachment Zone."

They didn't know necromancy well anyway. Since they had just seen Haren make an absurd wild guess, he acted with confidence. Though they might have dictionary knowledge about necromancy, they wouldn't know everything, and moreover, Isaph often did things that exceeded their expectations.

At his confident attitude, Noi muttered.

"Her Highness did say that familiar wasn't ordinary..."

But though they acknowledged his ability, everyone hesitated as if reluctant to approach the boundary. Also, it would be hard to completely trust Isaph's words. Like maybe there actually was an exit from the cave, and he would push everyone into the dangerous boundary to deal with them and escape alone. It was very plausible.

Hmm, while wondering how he could guide them, he opened his mouth.

"Then I'll go first..."

"Let's cross together."

He spoke almost simultaneously with Haren. He had thought they would only believe if he acted first, but Haren spoke calmly while looking around at his companions.

"Don't worry. I'll protect everyone somehow."

"Haren..."

"No, we absolutely don't worry! How could there be worry on a path with the hero!"

"We resolved to follow no matter what happens, so this much..."

Noi, Kalterik, and Mela answered in emotion-filled tones. Then they each started preparing solemnly, and though it was surprising how Haren's one statement had reversed the atmosphere...

With that body?

'Protect your own body.'

When he glared at Haren and mouthed the words silently, Haren let out a "pft" laugh. He seemed amused by his behavior of fuming alone among companions packed with loyalty, which made him even angrier.