Chapter 22: Answer

For those who seek wealth, there are gold and treasures

For those who seek fame, there are monsters and checkpoints

But for those who seek answers, sometimes, they don't exist

"How long until we find the treasure of this dungeon?" - Darvic yawns

"I don't know. Sooner we find it, the better. Right now, time is not in our favor." - Polwil glares around

Cold stones, flickering light and short breaths. Humans are weak creatures but yet the strongest. Demons, elves, dwarves, orcs and goblins fear humans in many aspects. Whether the determination, the will to outlive the danger or the suicidal bravery. Elves might outsmart humans but do not have such grit to outlast. Dwarves might be braver and stronger but do not have such determination to hold a lunatic human. The wildest orc cannot compete the suicidal braveness of a human. Demons and goblins are no match for the cunning of some humans. After all, the demons might trick some humans but not the smartest trickster of all. 

"I don't have such endurance like you three. We should camp here for our first day" - Mawra stops her steps

"I agree with Mawra. This place should make a camping site." - Polwil points at the gap in the wall

"But we should make haste the next day." - Darvic grunts

"I know your determination to quickly come back. If this treasure is proven to be not great as it should be, we have to find another" - Polwil hands over a piece of dried meat.

First watch, Tiary looks after the flame, she continues to give mana to keep it going. Second watch, Mawra wakes up, she gives the mana to the flame before Tiary sleeps soundly. Looking at the roaring light, Mawra sighs. She hopes that there will be no encounter with anything at all. The fewer monsters, the quicker they can go. 

As all wakes up, they march toward the next room. No one can say what lies inside that chest in front of their eyes. Could be a trap, could be a mimic. Mawra first checks the chest by forming a barrier and floods it with water inside. Mimic cannot survive underwater. That leaves out the monster. Tiary throws her mace into the ground nearby to create a hole to check outer layer traps. That made quite a noise. That leaves outer layer traps. The last kind of trap, the chest itself, since Mawra has the defense gift, she opens the chest and surprise, a flame bursts into her face. Her high defense leaves her unscathed.

"At least you still look fine" - Darvic smirks

"You want me to choke you near death then make you suffer?" - Mawra points her staff

"I don't want that to happen but anyway, what is there?" - Darvic points at the chest

"Some gold bars and a ritual dagger. I think we might be inside a ruin of barbaric civilization. And this room is a sacrificial chamber. How fascinating, I need to draw all these symbols of this magic circle" - Mawra shines.

"You know something about these things?" - Polwil sighs

"Apparently, this could be a spell for conversion for two living beings. One might be sacrificed for the vessel and the other shall go into that vessel. This could be an answer for our problem" - Mawra closes her note - "But there are problems. First, the vessel must be equal to the one who we want to transfer to. If the vessel is deemed not fit for the soul, there will be characteristic loss. Secondly, both of the beings must be in a conscious state or they will wander endlessly and make things longer. Finally, you must have a large amount of mana to maintain at all times or we will lose both."

"What if the first problem can be solved by having multiple vessels?" - Polwil strokes his chin

"Are you saying that…" - Tiary shivers

"That method is not acceptable nor working. Unfortunately, the lich method is a taboo and closer to the dark side. Her holiness's soul is light one so once you tear that to multiple pieces, her soul will be gone. That case only works if you are just normal humans and not having any holy attribute. Our only hope for such a vessel is to capture a holy beast, a high elf, a human of similar attributes as her." - Mawra sighs

"There is no other way?"- Darvic looks around

"No. Simple as that" - Mawra frowns