ESMLT 36

Chapter 36

In the end, I entered the cave.

I knew a cave not marked on any map was dangerous, but I judged there was no place more fitting to serve the Crown Prince’s investigative purpose.

‘I’ll just take a quick look around and then head straight back to the Empire.’

That was what I thought as I walked.

The deeper I went, the more the smell of the sea filled the air.
It was damp and clammy.

My boots sank heavily into the soggy sand, and as I struggled forward, the Crown Prince stretched out his hand.

“Take it.”

I hesitated for a moment before placing my hand in his.
First, I was surprised at how warm it was.
Second, I was startled when his thick, rough fingers slid between mine, brushing the soft skin.

The Crown Prince looked back at me with a grin.

“Why are you trembling like that? Afraid?”

“No. I’m not scared at all.”

I couldn’t exactly say, ‘It’s because you’re holding my hand weirdly.’
So I pretended it was nothing.

The farther we went inside, the darker it became.
At some point, the sandy ground gave way to uneven, hard earth.

“I can’t see.”

“Just a moment.”

I pulled the last remaining lightstone from my pouch.
The jet-black cavern lit up brilliantly.

Fwaaa—!

That was when it happened.

Something black and fast shot past us. I flinched, crouching down, and the Crown Prince pulled me into his arms.

With my face buried against his chest, I slowly lifted my head.

“What was that?”

“A bat.”

Releasing my shoulders, the Crown Prince lowered his gaze and smirked mischievously. His amber eyes, narrowed to slits, gleamed in the lightstone’s glow.

“You scare easily.”

I pulled away from him as if shaking him off and dusted my shirt.

‘Being startled doesn’t mean I’m scared.’

That’s what I told myself… but in truth, I hated the occult, and this cave was definitely giving me the creeps.

Deeper inside, we found a passage with stone steps. These stairs were clearly man-made, not something erosion alone could create.

“A constructed cave.”

“A labyrinth?”

“Perhaps. Be careful, my lady.”

His hand tightened around mine.

Together we descended stairs wide enough for three people to walk side by side.

Who knew how far we went down?

From below, a soft golden glow spilled upward, illuminating the landing.

We stepped onto the landing and, staring blankly at the chamber glowing with golden light, glanced at each other.

“Stay here.”

The Crown Prince barred me with his arm and entered first, wary.

I waited until he gave me the signal to come.

Even from the entrance I could glimpse the inside, but stepping in was far more astonishing.

From floor to ceiling, the walls were covered with hieroglyph-like and Hebrew-like characters, etched densely.

The carved lines shone with golden radiance so bright it was dazzling.

Opposite the entrance stood a sarcophagus and a rectangular stone table, with silver candlesticks placed at each side.

Examining every corner from ceiling to floor, stepping carefully, the Crown Prince murmured,

“Ancient script.”

“Can you read it?”

He shook his head slightly.

“Because of constant campaigns, I received no education beyond essential imperial studies—certainly not linguistics or archaeology.”

“I see.”

Well, he was a Crown Prince. He’d have interpreters and scholars at his command; no need to learn it himself.

I ran my fingertips along the left wall and said,

“This might sound strange, but… I can read it.”

“You can?”

The Crown Prince looked at me, startled.

I nodded casually, though I was surprised myself.

‘Possessing the local language is one thing—it comes with transmigration perks—but how do I know ancient writing too?’

It came so naturally that it unnerved me.

“My lady.”

He jerked his chin, urging me to read.

Tracing the carvings with my fingers, I glanced at him uneasily.

“…The same phrase is repeated over and over.”

He raised an eyebrow and folded his arms across his chest with his spear tucked in. Clearly telling me to go on.

“Uh, well…”

‘It sounds exactly like the kind of creepy slogan a cult would use to brainwash followers. Saying it aloud makes my skin crawl.’

Swallowing my embarrassment, I mumbled softly,

“Come forth, light of darkness. On the day of glory, you shall awaken. You shall cover the light—”

That was as far as I got.

Rrrrrrrk—

The stone lid of the arched sarcophagus shifted to the side.

‘What the—?’

The Crown Prince and I exchanged looks and backed away from it.

I gripped my hammer; he readied his spear and stepped in front of me.

Rrrrk—!

The sarcophagus lid slid further open.

‘Wh-what is happening?’

My heart thundered, palms slick with sweat.

Then the movement ceased. Just as we stood, tense, staring at the sarcophagus—

Thud—!

A crash sounded outside the chamber. Startled, we rushed out.

The tiny patch of sky at the entrance was sealed off as a stone wall dropped from the ceiling, completely blocking it.

The Crown Prince and I looked at each other, our eyes wavering.

“We’re trapped, aren’t we?”

“Undoubtedly.”

We glanced around.

Above us were only a few dozen steps. Below, more curving stairs descended into darkness.

The only way left was down.

Rrrrk— Thud—!

The cavern shook again.

My heart pounded wildly, my mouth dry.

I adjusted my grip on the hammer and started to step back into the chamber when—

Thud!

A single foot landed outside the sarcophagus, the ground trembling.

Thud!

A second foot struck, scattering small stones.

Thud!

Something rose from the sarcophagus, bathed in golden light, towering like a mountain.

Slowly, I raised my head.

A monster.

A round, rocky body with limbs attached.
It staggered, swaying as it tried to find its balance.

Its two arms were human.
Its two legs were those of a lion.

On the jagged rock body, multiple human and animal eyes and mouths were embedded.

A dozen bloodshot eyes darted restlessly.

Ki-kik… kikik…

From one crooked mouth came a ghastly chuckle, dripping sticky green saliva.

Flap—!

Under its left arm, a tail twitched—clearly a shark’s, shaped like a lopsided gray heart.
And at its belly, gills opened and closed as if carved into raw flesh.

‘D-disgusting…’

Shivers ran up my scalp. I stumbled back, plastering myself against the wall.

It wasn’t just fear—it was an overwhelming, nauseating repulsion.

Urk. Covering my mouth, I gagged.

The Crown Prince’s face twisted in disgust as well.

I tugged at his shirt, swallowing my bile.

“Your Highness, does the Empire even have monsters like that?”

“A grotesque hybrid. I’ve never seen its like.”

Thank goodness. For once, he didn’t look at me like I was stupid.

I’d studied bestiaries until they were falling apart before the zombie region—never once had I seen a creature like this.

‘What the hell is that? This isn’t like the desert scorpion beast at all…’

As we gaped at the abomination—

Kueeeeek!

A zombie burst up the stairs behind me.

Crash—!

The Crown Prince yanked me close and swung his spear, sending the skull flying. It smashed against the wall and tumbled down the stairs.

‘N-no way…’

My heart raced. As I peered into the stairwell, a dreadful suspicion chilled me.

‘Don’t tell me…’

The black passage below lay silent, like a sea before a storm. A foul, cold draft blew upward, tossing my bangs.

And then—

Thunk!

A skeletal, claw-like hand shot out from the darkness, gripping the wall.

‘Agh!’

I jumped in fright just as—

Kueeeeek!

Dozens of zombies surged up the stairs.

‘Shit! What the hell!’

Crash!

“My lady!”

While I froze, the Crown Prince pulled me back, cutting down the one scrambling up.

Then he struck down another that climbed over its comrade, grabbing my wrist and dragging me back.

Crash! Crack! Smash!

“One, two, three, four… damn, no point counting.”

Out of breath, he cut down more and glanced at me.

“Damn it… are you alright?”

No, I was not alright.

I told you—this goes against every zombie apocalypse survival rule!

Smash—!

Finally regaining myself, I swung my hammer and shot him a glare.

Sensing it, he awkwardly called out while fighting,

“My lady, I take it back!”

Kueeeeek!

Crack—!

“…Huh? Take what back?”

“Maybe it isn’t ‘probably’ after all!”

His earlier words roared in my head as if blasted through a loudspeaker:

‘You won’t die… probably.’

Kueeeeek!

I looked ahead.

Pale skulls, like bargain-day customers, jostled up the narrow stairs, some getting stuck and thrashing.

I looked left.

Ki… kikik! Kik!

The abomination in the chamber grinned with multiple mouths, mocking us.

Shutting my eyes tightly at the nightmare before me, I muttered,

“F***…”

Somebody, please—just knock me out.