Deceit IV — Ambrosya

"Then—" Faeldrin was about to jump at the opportunity to get such a valuable item.

"Hold on," Galad said, cutting him off. The way she looked at me was unsettling. It was clear that she was still very much wary of whatever I was spouting from my lips. "What about the puzzle-solving path? Are there any benefits to that?"

I blinked, "Eh... Well, there are, but I'm not really familiar with their exact characteristics."

"Then we'll go for that," Galad waved her hand, "We'll try taking the Spark of Survival later."

This development was not in line with my plans. I wanted to take the combat path no matter what because I needed Faeldrin to get the Spark of Survival.

I planned to present Galad with the Tears of a Goddess, which we would come across coincidentally, before obtaining Cronus' Silver Sickle. Once those three items were in one room, I could then begin a special ritual.

Using the Spark of Survival to signify the desire for life, the Tears of a Goddess to signify an unintended end, and Cronus' Silver Sickle to signify the inevitability of time, I would be able to siphon the life out of the three fairies.

Then, I would craft a new, greater treasure out of their essence and blood.

[ Scythe of Lifelines ].

A weapon as light and ethereal as a fairy's wings, yet lethal beyond imagination. It culls the lifespan of any living being with each slash, slowing making them wither with old age.

As for the extracted life force, it would simply dissipate into nothingness. If I wanted to transfer that life force into my body, I still needed another treasure.

Or, my own enchantments.

'But this woman is keen, as expected.' I secretly bit my lips, 'Was I too obvious with my intentions?'

I had to guide the group away from the depths of the abyss. We were not going to fight beasts aplenty.

This change in plans is uninteresting.

Instead, I showed them to the deep end of the lightning bolt-shaped crevice. We walked down a gradual slope for a few minutes, listening to the dull clang of our shoes against the metal floor.

Whenever a beast appeared to attack, Faeldrin and Aeloria would make quick work of them. Seeing their displays of power and the lethality of their sonic movements really hammered into me how helpless I was at this moment.

Meanwhile, Galad kept her eye on me. She was making sure that I did nothing suspicious, and that there was no chance for me to escape after leading them into a trap.

Galad followed closely behind me as she questioned me about the events on the Hadra continent. I was wrapped in discomfort the entire time.

Luckily, I did not have to do anything aside from providing reliable information right now. I was occupied with adjusting my plans in my mind.

I had a plan B. Well, I also had a plan C, D, E, F, G. I was ready to make the use of everything I could at this point given Galad's behaviour.

"Stop," I ordered, "There should be a lever around here... Miss Galad, can you please increase your light output?"

"...Bear with this for now. I don't want to attract any unwanted beasts." She replied as she put on an apologetic expression.

"Alright..." I sighed inwardly, "Then I'll look for the trigger now."

I made a show of slowly and systematically searching for the lever. I pretended not to know the location and searched blindly in the darkness.

Eventually, I slipped my fingers into a crevice and pulled out an extremely malleable piece of metal. It was like moving clay as I pried open a steel tile, unearthing the control panel beneath it.

I then moved closer to the control panel. My fingers hovered above a set of buttons, but I instinctually felt Galad activate a few spells.

I froze in place. A few spells came to my mind at this moment. [ Sense Intent ], [ Gauge Usage ], [ Trace Circuit ], [ Programming Intuition ].

These were all spells that helped mechanics navigate machines that weren't theirs.

I quickly altered my decision. I located the only lever on the control panel and activated it.

I did my best to keep a neutral expression as I cleared my throat. I then spoke, facing the wall.

"We are simple visitors. Please guide us through your tests so that we may prove ourselves worthy."

A single mana program then started glowing in a beautiful pale blue. It was like a rune inscription, artistic and beautifully carved into the metal wall.

"I was wondering what that symbolised," Aeloria was next to me and her warmth reached my skin. She pretended to be interested in the mana program with a small smirk on her face.

'Playful,' I remarked in my mind, 'But nothing you do will affect me. Stop trying.'

Despite my thoughts, I maintained a neutral expression. I left Aeloria with a passing glance as I stepped forward and walked into the wall.

"Hm? Oi, human child—!" Galad reached out to me, but I wasn't going to listen to her.

As I moved through the metal, it rippled as it accepted me into its embrace. I felt a certain cold caress my skin and comb through my hair. It was like I was walking through gelatin.

When I appeared on the other side of the wall, my eyes flashed. I looked behind me, and the other three had yet to follow me in.

Around me was a maze of mirrors. A puzzle based on movement, with lethal traps aplenty. A special monster lived in here, and I was going to make use of it.

I had a little more space to work with thanks to that barrier. Galad was no longer breathing down my neck.

It was finally time to act.