27 Return

Yes. Please help me escape from this dungeon, RED.

[Solution: The user does not currently possess the Magic Core of the dungeon boss. When the Fae created the dungeons of the world, in order to prevent thief based classes from stealing the valuables without killing the boss, they charmed the Escape Crystals to only work for a party with the Magic Core of the boss in their inventory.]

I wanted to smack myself. I hadn't even considered that.

I found it easier to move now that I consumed the mana potion and I quickly climbed into the boss's room. The corpse, like a mountain, laid unmoving in the center.

RED, how do I retrieve the Magic Core?

[Solution: The simplest method is to store the entire corpse in the Spacefold Item Pack and retrieve it later.]

Won't the corpse start to stink as it rots?

[Solution: The Spacefold Item Pack stops time for all objects and creatures inside.]

Oh that's handy… Wait. Creatures?

[Solution: If the user has the class Tamer they can store Magic Beasts that they've tamed in the Spacefold Item Pack.]

So I could become a Pokemon trainer?

[Solution: Essentially.]

Holy shit!

I mentally added another thing on my 'to do' list. With a wave of my hand the entire dragon's corpse vanished from sight. Now that I think about it, how much storage space does my Item Pack have? I remember there being encumbrance limits in SHO.

[Solution: The user's Spacefold Item Pack is currently Expert Class. Total storage space used is 300/10000]

Wow. Okay, so I have a metaphorical ton of storage space. The only thing in my storage at this time was the small bit of treasure from the back room and the dragon body. The dragon body consumed only about 300 units. I could literally store an army of pets when I earn the Tamer class.

I slapped my cheeks when I realized how off topic I'd gotten. I quickly took out the Escape Crystal and activated it. Once more I felt a lurching sensation in my stomach as a chunk of mana disappeared into the ether. I closed my eyes for a moment out of dizziness.

When I opened them again I was standing in the middle of a field with the evening sky overhead. I looked around and noticed a large rock protrusion with a cave entrance behind me. A broken signboard was hanging over the top: "Danger". A short distance away was a boomtown, most likely it existed off the income of dungeon divers.

RED, which way is the Gransus Kingdom's Capital city?

[Solution: The Gransus Capital is 422 Kilometers due North. The user is currently near Fort Clyfton, the southernmost point of the Gransus Kingdom.]

With RED's help, I started running in the right direction. My reserves weren't full, but I didn't hold anything back as I moved. My speed was astronomical. To an outside observer I'd be a blur. I didn't stop for things as small as trees or water either.

[-New Skill Acquired-

Journeyman Class Skill: Water Step]

I kept moving my feet. My tiredness was pushed to the back of my mind as I pushed myself forward as hard as I could.

The roads, for the most part, were straight lines. This made it easier and less painful than running through trees… For both me and the trees. Even at my top speed, 422 kilometers was a long distance. It would take me at least five to ten minutes to arrive.

At the sixth minute mark, the Capital came into view. I skidded to a stop, causing smoke to fill the air behind me.

The city was on fire. The blaze was roaring with a ferocity unlike anything I'd ever seen.

How could a mostly stone city be set on fire?!

[Solution: High Ranked Fire Spells are capable of making their targets flammable. There are also a large number of mana infused objects in the Capital. Mana-infusion makes everything susceptible to mana-eating flames.]

Where are Lily and James?

[Solution: Lily and James are currently in Headmaster Endyrion's office at the Royal Arms Academy.]

I took off running again. I could feel the brick road breaking under my feet with every step. My speed began to increase further than I thought possible.

[-Level Increased-]

I found the right street and turned down it. I could finally see the Academy's gate. There, impaled on the fence, was the body of the professor Gertrude. I shuddered at the sight, but I didn't have time to dawdle. I leapt over the fence in a quick motion and ran to the principal's office building.

As soon as I entered the main room I found James. He had his sword out and was currently fighting with two men dressed in black with white masks on. He was covered in wounds, but he seemed to be fine. I didn't waste any time as I flicked both men, knocking them out.

"Calliope! I thought you were teleported to the Calico Labyrinth!" Cried James as he finally recognized what was happening.

"We'll talk later, James. Where's Lily?" I asked.

"Her and Endyrion moved further inside as the assassin's kept coming. I held off as many as I could."

I finally noticed the five bodies scattered across the floor. I didn't feel bad for them. It wasn't because of -Combat State- either.

"I'll go help Lily, tie these two up," I said as I ran down the hall. I heard his sword pierce their bodies immediately after. I didn't think anything less of him for his decision, either.

In the main office the first thing I noticed was Lily's bleeding body lying on the floor. Endyrion was currently being pinned down in a fight by a man I recognized.

It was the assassin who tried to kill me just a few nights ago.

I had forgotten something. Even Endyrion, as high leveled as he was, would have a hard time stopping an assassin at that level.

I ignored Endyrion's fight and ran to Lily's body. She was breathing, but the wound on her chest looked bad.

[Solution: Lily will die within the hour if she's not treated.]

My blood ran cold at that. She looked up to me and I could see the surprise in her eyes.

"I," she stopped to cough, "I was shown a recording of you being teleported by the Tartarus Charm. I didn't think I'd ever get to see you again, Calliope."

The happiness in her tone cut me deeper than any knife ever could.

"Just relax, Lily. You'll be fine. I'll take care of everything," I forced myself to say. She smiled.

"I know how badly I'm hurt right now, and I know Gertrude is already dead. There's no one who can heal me now. Calliope, I'm going to die. It's okay. I'm happy just to know you're safe."

I gently lifted her up and set her down on Endyrion's desk. I desperately wanted to cry, but I held it in. I walked over to the old man and the assassin, both so absorbed in their fight they hadn't even noticed me, and I grabbed the dagger wielding bastard by the neck. His mask popped off and his eyes went wide when he realized just what was happening.

"You… You shouldn't be here. It's not possible for you to be here! How could you find your way out of that maze of a dungeon?!" Cried the assassin in a choking tone.

"I didn't climb out of the maze. I cleared the dungeon and killed the boss to escape."

I don't know if it was my tone, or how deadpan I said it, but the assassin started to laugh. Endyrion collapsed to the ground in the corner of my eyes, but he was wearing a smile as well. If he had the energy to do it I'm certain he'd have joined the assassin.

"What's your name?" I asked, as I met the killer's eyes.

"Don't have one, demon. Never did. People just called me The Oni," he replied with a smile.

"My name isn't demon," I said as I snapped his neck, "It's Calliope."

I was starting to think that, maybe, some men did not deserve the gift called life.