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Chapter – 46
As Helen had said, night operations were extremely dangerous.
There was a reason Kudo had once mentioned that in the blood-soaked lands of Kuberin, savages weren’t the only enemies.
Monsters, sorcerers, dark mages, unidentified beings, escaped criminals — at night, every sort of dangerous creature roamed freely. One misstep, and you could disappear without a trace, swallowed by the darkness.
To make matters worse, the already rough terrain turned pitch-black once the sun went down, making it impossible to see. Even those familiar with the land would easily lose their way without a compass.
And yet, Helen had approved the operation because she was desperate — clutching at straws.
If the Butcher Tribe abandoned ambushes and instead launched an all-out assault, Fort Bowden would be wiped out.
They needed to raid even a mage’s dungeon, hoping to find something — anything — that could strengthen their forces.
“Private Carlisle.”
“Yes, Dame Helen.”
“How many personnel will you need for the operation?”
“Hmm.”
Carlisle thought for a moment before answering.
“Four or five should be enough.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
“Very well.”
Helen nodded, turning toward the scouts.
“Scout Captain Begman.”
“Yes, Dame Helen.”
“Prepare to deploy immediately. Total of five members — Captain Begman, Corporal Kudo, Corporal Marder, Private Derrick, and Private Carlisle.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Once the team was confirmed, the operation moved quickly.
Carlisle armed himself and joined the scouts as they departed from the fortress.
“If there’s even the slightest sign of danger, you are to abort the mission and return immediately. The dungeon is important — but your lives are more so. Don’t forget that.”
“Yes, Dame Helen.”
“Then, may you return safely.”
“We’ll be back before sunrise, heh.”
Begman grinned as he saluted Helen.
“Let’s move out.”
“Yes, Captain.”
The exploration team left Fort Bowden at once — heading toward the dungeon of the mage Antiros.
The dungeon lay roughly five kilometers from Fort Bowden.
Under normal conditions, that would be an easy one-hour march across flat ground — but trekking through rugged mountains at night in heavy rain was another story.
They dared not use lanterns, fearing to draw unwanted attention from the creatures lurking in the dark. As a result, their progress was agonizingly slow.
For ordinary soldiers, or engineers with little combat experience, such a mission would have been unthinkable.
Only elite scouts — with their endurance and combat ability — could manage a night operation under such conditions.
After nearly two hours, the team reached the designated area.
“So this is where the mage’s dungeon is supposed to be?” Begman asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“And how exactly are we supposed to find the entrance?”
“You’ll see an engraving between the rocks. Well, you probably won’t see it — best to feel around with your hands.”
The darkness and the pounding rain made it almost impossible to see ahead.
If not for the faint moonlight breaking through the clouds, the operation might not have been approved at all.
“Ugh, this place gives me the creeps. Something’s gonna jump out, I just know it,” muttered Russell, visibly nervous.
“Whatever you do, don’t wet yourself,” Begman snapped. “Wouldn’t want to deal with that mess.”
“I—I’m not that scared, sir!”
“Then quit whining and look for the engraving.”
“Yes, sir…”
“Honestly, what a coward.”
Begman glared at Russell, who shuffled along awkwardly, then began feeling the rock walls himself.
If I remember right, it should be around here somewhere… the coordinates match.
Carlisle, too, searched the tall rock formations one by one.
About thirty minutes passed.
“I found something!” Marder called out.
“Yeah? Hand me a lantern. Rookie, get over here. The rest of you, block the light from leaking out.”
“Yes, sir.”
Begman lit the lantern within the improvised “wall” of raincoats the others had raised to conceal the glow.
A true veteran — even in this weather, he never forgot basic field discipline: stealth, concealment, and light control.
It was no wonder he had been appointed captain of the scouts despite not being an officer.
(Though, to be fair, Helen was the only officer left at Fort Bowden.)
“This it?”
“Yes, that’s the one.”
Carlisle examined the mark and nodded.
It was the same sigil he had seen in Overlord, the game — the dungeon of the mage Antiros.
“So what now?”
“We recite the spell to open the entrance.”
“A spell? You know magic?”
“No.”
Carlisle shook his head.
“You just have to inject mana and speak the password. I think.”
“Mana, huh? Then I’m out — can’t use the stuff.”
“I’ll do it.”
Carlisle placed his hand on the sigil and began channeling mana.
What was the phrase again…? Ah, right.
He took a breath and recited:
“Longing for creation, courage to defy taboos, the ecstasy of seeking the realm of gods — masterpiece born atop failure.”
As he finished, the engraved boulder split cleanly down the middle, revealing a narrow staircase descending underground.
“So the rumors about the Sigmund family’s library were true,” Kudo murmured, astonished.
“Can’t believe an actual mage’s dungeon existed…”
“Are we sure it’s safe to go in? What if we die?” Marder and Russell looked uneasy.
“Let’s go,” Carlisle said calmly.
“Hold on,” Begman grabbed him by the collar. “You’re not just going to walk in there, are you?”
“Should I not?”
“That’s not what I—”
Even Begman, a hardened veteran who had survived nearly ten years in Kuberin, hesitated before the unknown.
He’d fought savages before — but never a mage.
And in this world, mages were rare and terrifying.
The unknown was always the most frightening enemy.
“Mage Antiros lived over two hundred years ago. He’s probably dead,” Carlisle said.
“Or maybe he turned undead — could still be around!”
“…?”
“You know, one of those… uh, Li… Li-something…”
“Li-something?”
“Li… lichu? Litch?”
“You mean Lich?”
“That! Yeah!”
Begman might’ve been clueless about magic, but he’d clearly heard a few stories.
“You don’t have to worry. Antiros was insane, sure — but not a dark mage.”
“Really?”
“And his field of study wasn’t necromancy, so we’re safe.”
“Well… good. Ahem.”
Begman coughed awkwardly, trying to hide his embarrassment.
“It’s not exactly safe, but with the info I have, we’ll manage. Don’t worry too much.”
“Who said I was worried? Just saying — be cautious.”
“Same thing, isn’t it?”
“You little—”
“Let’s go.”
Ignoring Begman’s glare, Carlisle stepped down into the stairway.
The interior of the dungeon — or rather, the laboratory — was surprisingly pleasant.
Despite being underground, the air was dry and comfortable, with no trace of dampness or cold.
It even felt warmer than outside, almost cozy, like stepping into a well-kept home.
Dozens of glowing mana stones lined the walls, filling the entire hall with soft light.
“Wow! Amazing! To think mages can make such a cozy place underground!” Russell gushed, clearly impressed — a country boy seeing magic up close for the first time.
“Shh.”
Carlisle silenced him.
“It’s not completely safe. Keep quiet.”
“O-oh, right.”
Russell clamped his mouth shut.
“There could be traps,” Marder warned, scanning the area like a hawk.
“There probably aren’t any traps,” Carlisle replied. “But there will be sentinels. That’s what we need to worry about.”
“Sentinels?”
“Dungeon guards, basically.”
Kudo nodded grimly. “Count on it. A facility like this wouldn’t go unguarded.”
Carlisle stopped at the end of a narrow corridor.
“Why are we stopping?” Begman asked.
“It’s dangerous past this point,” Carlisle said.
“Dangerous?”
“The corridor opens up into a large hall. If we’re surrounded by multiple hostiles in there, we’re done for.”
“You’re right.”
Begman nodded.
The laboratory ahead was vast — easily as large as the parade ground back at Fort Bowden. If they were ambushed inside, escape would be impossible.
“Wait here. I’ll scout ahead.”
“You?”
“Yes.”
Begman hesitated. He didn’t like the idea of sending a green private into danger alone — it felt wrong.
“It’s not about showing off,” Carlisle said. “I’m the only one who knows anything about this place. I’m also the fastest. That’s all.”
“Hmph…”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Hey—! Rookie! Wait! Get back here!” Begman called out, but Carlisle ignored him.
It’s not like I want to go, Carlisle thought bitterly.
Who in their right mind wanted to walk into a deathtrap?
Especially someone as lazy as him.
But explaining everything would take too long — and there was no need.
He stepped into the hall.
They should appear right about now…
Just then—
Ssshhh… clink, clank.
From the metal cages lining the walls, something began to stir.
Clatter. Clang.
The cages opened on their own.
“Grrrrrr!”
“Graaaagh!”
The things inside emerged one by one.
“Wh-what the hell are those?!” Russell yelped, falling backward.
They weren’t beasts. They weren’t monsters, either.
They were abominations — grotesque, unnatural lifeforms that existed only within this place.
Among those who studied magic, there was a word for such creatures — beings born from alchemy and sorcery intertwined.
Chimera.
That was the name given to these cursed creations — the products of forbidden magic and twisted science.
