Chapter 21: 21 Trial Dungeon. 

“Dungeon?!”.

Dungeon, which used to be called a Disaster, was a phenomenon where a subspace was created where strong Miasma or ‘grudges of monsters’ accumulated in one place for years. It is not only a subspace, but it can also give birth endlessly to numerous dangerous monsters that would cause calamities if it’s not addressed properly.

It can cause tremendous damage to the surrounding area, spewing hundreds to thousands of monsters in a single day, killing every living being in sight.

In some nations, including the Eira Kingdom, the state usually manages dungeons, using them as a source to farm a huge amount of mana stone, which can then be used as an enchantment weapon or magical tool like the one Jin owns, the bracelet.

“Have you tried it, Mrs Iris?”.

“Well, yeah, in some place…”. She nodded her head and looked at Jin in a probing manner.

As someone who reached Gold rank as an adventurer, Iris had filled herself with experience diving into a dungeon somewhere.

“Well, it was good then. Can you help me with something?”.

“What is it?”.

Jin took out the golden key he obtained from completing the quest from his bracelet and showed it to Iris. However, contrary to Jin’s expectation, Iris only tilted her head in wonder and stared at the item completely blankly.

“What is this?”.

“Eh?!”. Jin stiffened upon hearing Iris’ genuine question. He looked at her face and the key before sweating, ‘Did I make a mistake?’.

“Jin?”.

“Ah, no. Do you really not know what that is?”.

Iris shook her head, then took the key from Jin’s hand and started to inspect it. She felt no magical reaction or that the item contained much mana, even with the shining red jewel on its tip.

‘No matter where I look at it, it was just some fancy key. But earlier, Jin asked me about Dungeon…?’. She pondered for a brief moment before her eyes flashed in different glints. Iris stares at Jin with eyes wide open.

“Jin, don’t tell me this is?”.

“Yeah, it said that the item will lead us to a Dungeon”.

“…?! Impossible”.

Never in her life had Iris heard something like that; she stared at the key in her hand before tossing it back to Jin.

“Let’s see it first if that thing is true or not!”.

“Thank you, Mrs. Iris”. Jin nodded, feeling happy that he received help from a senior adventurer.

The two resumes walked on the wide grass plains, but now Jin was the one who led. After an arduous hour that seemed long, his feet brought him toward the place within the east forest, where he found the cave and a pretty calm place compared to the south one.

Jin lifted his gaze and saw that the sun had shifted a bit to the west. The wind had also changed its temperature, dropping a few degrees colder.

With the key in hand, Jin looked to his side and saw Iris, who seemed restless about all that was about to happen. As far as she knows, a dungeon usually took the form of a cave-like structure, filled with many mazes and traps to trick or prevent the adventurer from arriving at its core.

However, something in front of her tells her otherwise when Iris sees Jin thrust the golden key into an empty space. Her vision distorts, as does her surrounding space.

The distortion starts to crack, and slowly, it crumbles open to reveal twin gold doors carved with intricate godly text along the edge, standing tall like a door to the heavens. The design is simple yet awakens the onlooker’s sense of awe and respect for the one who created it.

“Woah?! This is something…”. Jin looked upward, seeing this amazing phenomenon.

Meanwhile, Iris’s face hardened upon seeing something so magical that it would never be heard in the history of the world. She glanced at the door; the way it was built was something a mere mortal couldn’t fathom.

[The Key to the Trial Dungeon]

[Would you like to use it?]

[Yes or No?]

“…Yes!?!” Jin spoke his mind, but suddenly, another translucent panel appeared, and his thought halted for a second.

[String of Fate active]

Would you like to challenge the Trial?

1. Face it and Gain power

2. Leave it and Challenge later.

Suddenly, his vision started to dim, and he focused only on the String of Fate in play. Time stretched out as his mind raced through the choice that was hovering before him.

‘What should I do?’. Lost in his own maze of thoughts, Jin decides to harden his resolve and choose option number one in the String of Fate. ‘One!’.

When he chooses the option, his vision catches the different colour of grey, which was previously the blinding platinum colour. The world started to revolt back, and all living beings began to move normally in his eyes.

“Jin, are you alright?”. Iris’ dumbfounded voice shook Jin’s soul as he turned back.

“…Yeah, I’m fine”.

Jin faces the door ahead and slowly inserts the key toward the keyhole right before his face. It clicks perfectly, and then he twists the item to open its lock mechanism. ‘Crick!’ ‘Crack’, and several other noises begin to rumble on the door before it stills.

A golden curtain that blocked the view inside stood around the door, welcoming Jin with its warm embrace.

“Let’s go, Mrs. Iris”.

“Alright, I am right behind you”.

Both of them clenched their weapons tight, ready if anything worse happened. However, Jin’s feet halted as he stepped forward when another translucent panel appeared before him.

[Face your Trial from God!]

[Only the one who holds the key may enter the place!]

“What?!”.

Two voices overlapped as they saw a gibberish letter hovering on the golden curtain that stood guard. Jin and Iris stood still, unable to decide which path to take.

“Jin, let’s stop this! We don’t know what is behind those golden lights!”. Iris grabbed Soma’s shoulder, preventing him from taking a step further.

However, Iris’ perception of the boy, who always had a calm and mature air around him, shattered. Because the truth is far from it, Jin is rather an Impulsive and meddlesome person at heart.

“Mrs Iris, please contact my parents in the house if I don’t return by night. Also, Thank you for escorting me to this place.”

“Haa? Jin, what is wrong with you?” Iris’s brow twitch indicated that she didn’t like the flow of the conversation.

“Don’t do anything stupid, Jin! Hey!”.

“I’m sorry! Go; Nina is waiting for you. Call my parents, please! Don’t worry; I will be fine!”

Iris saw Jin’s body, which was soon engulfed by the golden curtain on the door before it got sucked and disappeared before her own eyes.

The door that was opened slowly slammed shut, manifesting a golden halo that pushed a thin layer of golden barrier throughout the east forest—a barrier coated with powerful light magic that chases away evil.

“Jin…You…?!”. Iris was furious as her fists clenched tight until they left a trail of blood mark; his last words and actions reminded her of the unpleasant past she wanted to bury deep.

She looked toward the door, emitting a calm and soothing aura. Above her, a translucent panel appeared, informing the world of what had happened.

[Trial of God has begun!]

“You better come back, Jin! Or else…!” But, contrary to her hopes, Jin never came out even after a day almost passed, and now the surrounding area was filled with tension.

*****

Jin opened his eyes and stood dumbfounded to see himself inside a luxurious garden with trimmed grass and a straight, crossed path from paved stone. A tree that lined up cast a soft canopy that blocked the sunlight on his skin, distracting his tense mind.

In front of him stood a majestic mansion with two-storey floors. Its structure was solid, with one extravagant detail painted in white, which gave it pristine beauty. Several windows were painted in black, which could absorb light and offer some privacy to the outside world.

“Where is this place?”.

“Oh, there is a guest!”.

In a blink, Jin jumps forward while twisting his position to face the source of the woman’s voice behind him. He lowered his stance and prepared himself in Iai-position.

“…Hoo, you had a pretty good sense for battle!”.

The woman was amazed as she shut the thick book in her hands and stood up from the wooden seat near the fountain.

It was modest yet graceful, made from carved white stone. The water reserved in it rippled gently by the flowing water tier above. The fountain had several levels that got smaller to the top. It lets the waterfall on the edge, creating a continuous stream.

As if the world welcomed the woman’s presence, a gentle breeze blew away the stilled tree, making it dance with the rhythm of the rustling grass—a flowery scent, along with a beautiful sculpture, approached Jin.

“…Who are you?”. Jin hesitated before straightening his spine and staring at the Goddess of beauty before him.

“…My name is Thena, pleased to meet you, Mortal!”.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep