CHAPTER 130: 130 - LABYRINTH OF THE NURTURER [2]

"Adelle!"

"Are you okay?!"

The moment Eve and the others realized what just happened, they all hurried to Adelle’s side.

TAP- TAP- TAP—

Their footsteps echoed loudly inside the stone chamber, weapons still half-drawn.

Their faces painted with both concern and disbelief. Even though the danger had already passed, they acted instinctively, crowding around her as if trying to shield her from any further harm.

Then, at that moment—

"Calm down guys, I’m fine."

Adelle reassured them with a small grin tugging at her lips, her tone calm but firm.

The relief in her voice was genuine, but her heart was still beating faster than normal. She could feel it pounding in her chest, reminding her of how close the arrow had been in her face. Still, she pushed the unease aside and gave her teammates a smile that told them she was alright.

She was honestly touched seeing how worried everyone looked. It made her feel warm inside, knowing that despite the rough start, they all cared for her safety deeply.

After convincing the others that she was really unhurt, Adelle turned her eyes toward Raven. Her expression softened, and with a genuine smile that reached her eyes...

"Thanks."

She said that.

Her gratitude carried weight, and even though the word was simple, the sincerity behind it was undeniable.

Meanwhile, Alec and the others couldn’t take their eyes off Raven either. But unlike Adelle’s expression, theirs were complicated.

Why?

Because they had witnessed the entire thing clearly. They saw Raven’s sharp, almost inhuman reaction that saved Adelle from being pierced through the head by that poisonous arrow.

’The speed of that arrow... it was just as fast as my own arrows.’

Aoi bit her lip, a bitter feeling swirling inside her chest. She prided herself on her vision and reflexes, yet even she had failed to act.

’I saw it coming, but I couldn’t move fast enough... I wasn’t able to react at all.’

Curtis admitted in his mind, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword. It was a humiliating realization, and he hated it.

But Raven didn’t seem to notice, or perhaps he simply didn’t care about the thoughts running through their minds.

"You’re welcome."

He replied to Adelle casually, as if what he had done was nothing more than a natural reflex, not worth making a big deal out of.

Then Raven lowered his gaze to the arrow still resting firmly in his right hand.

’That was fast... faster than most would expect. If I hadn’t been ready for it, I might not have caught it in time.’

He thought quietly, turning the shaft between his fingers. His expression remained calm, but his eyes sharpened slightly as he shifted them to the massive stone door in front of them.

’In the novel, this was one of the first traps. After a healing spell is used to unlock the door, a hidden mechanism activates. A poisoned arrow shoots straight at the healer, targeting them deliberately.’

Raven’s thoughts were steady, recalling the details he had once written himself.

’It’s the dungeon’s way of crippling a raiding party right at the start— eliminate or injure the healer, and everything becomes harder.’

Those were the cruel designs he had woven into this labyrinth.

In the original novel, when Alec and his group— older, more experienced versions of themselves— first entered this dungeon, it had been Adelle who effortlessly caught that arrow mid-flight.

But in that timeline, they were sophomores. Stronger, sharper, more battle-hardened. Not the current first-year versions of themselves who were still growing.

Right now, their development was impressive, faster than what he remembered, but it still wasn’t enough to match their future selves.

That was why Raven knew— predicted even— that none of them would be able to deal with this particular trap.

So he stepped in.

’If anyone got hurt here, especially this early, it would create problems for me too. Better to handle it myself.’

Raven concluded to himself firmly, shifting his eyes back toward Alec and the others, who were still staring at him as if waiting for answers.

They had questions— so many questions. But none of them voiced them aloud. They already knew what would happen after all. Raven wouldn’t explain, not properly. He never did.

"..."

So they all just remained silent.

Raven could tell exactly what they were thinking, but his face showed no care for their conflicted emotions.

"Let’s go."

He suggested, his voice level, almost bored.

"Yeah, we should go."

Eve quickly followed, agreeing with his words to keep everyone moving.

The others nodded in unison, silently agreeing as well, and they began rearranging themselves into their original formation.

Only this time, Raven had naturally placed himself at the front.

No one bothered to complain or tell him otherwise. They knew Raven well enough by now— if he wanted to lead, it was better to let him. He wasn’t the type to drag them into unnecessary danger recklessly anyway.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Their boots echoed against the cold stone floor.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The group’s mood had shifted after the arrow incident. Every one of them was much more on edge now, their eyes scanning, their ears twitching at the faintest sounds.

And then, as they all stepped fully into the chamber beyond the great door—

CREEEAK—

B O O M!

"!"

"!?"

The massive rock door slammed shut behind them, trapping them inside!

"AOI!"

Eve immediately called out without hesitation.

"I know."

Aoi responded quickly, her tone clipped. She raised her hands, activating her skill without delay.

S W O O S H—

Presence Detection spread out around her.

After a few seconds, her eyes widened and her face paled slightly.

"A lot of enemies are moving this way... they’re slowly surrounding us!"

Her voice carried urgency.

"Shit."

Eve cursed under her breath, tightening her grip on her weapon before addressing the others.

"Everyone, get ready for battle!"

At her command, Alec and the rest swiftly reached into their [Quick Slots], pulling out their weapons with practiced ease.

Raven, however, was already prepared. His blade [Emmeranne] was already drawn, glinting faintly in the dim light, and his body was wrapped in the defensive layer of [Celestria].

"Yuki."

He called softly.

-Kyuu!

Yuki chirped back, flying upward immediately and circling overhead, her presence sharp and eager.

"Hey, guys."

Raven’s voice cut through the tense air.

"Huh?"

Alec and the others glanced his way.

Once he was sure every pair of eyes was on him, Raven’s lips curved into a smirk—

"Don’t slow me down."

And then he muttered that!

The sheer arrogance in those words was enough to set Eve and the others on edge.

Their jaws tightened, their expressions twisted with irritation!

But before any of them could snap back at him—

BAM!

Raven had already kicked off the ground, launching himself with incredible speed toward the direction of the approaching noise!

*****

(Raven’s POV)

-Grrrrahhh...

-Gruuuuhhh...!

The closer I got, the clearer the sounds became.

"Just as I expected."

In front of me was an entire army of undead, marching forward with eerie, coordinated steps. Their numbers filled the chamber ahead like an overflowing tide of death.

I wasn’t surprised at all. I was the one who placed them here, after all.

’They haven’t noticed me yet.’

I crouched low behind a large chunk of stone, watching carefully.

Contrary to the usual sluggish depictions in other novels, these undead weren’t slow. Their movements were quicker, more aggressive— something I had personally designed.

Moving on, I studied the undeads...

"..."

Rotting flesh clung to bones, some missing arms or legs, their grotesque forms made even more revolting by open wounds that never healed.

But their appearance didn’t bother me.

"They fucking stink."

I muttered, wrinkling my nose at the rancid stench carried in the air. That bothered me far more than their looks.

"Sariel."

I called silently.

[Got it.]

=====

[Undead]

Rank: E

Strength: F+

Agility: F+

Stamina: E

Intelligence: F-

[Skills]

Poison Breath

Physical Damage Resistance

=====

Sariel immediately projected the status window of one of the undead in front of me, already knowing what I wanted.

I scanned it quickly, my mind processing the information.

’Good... nothing has changed. Still weak enough to handle without any issue.’

SHING—

I drew [Emmeranne], the blade sliding free from its sheath with a cold, sharp sound.

-Kraaaahh!

-Grrrrhh!

-Kruuuuhhh!

The undead noticed my presence now, letting out guttural, twisted cries as they shuffled and rushed toward me.

I shifted my stance, right foot forward, left foot braced behind me.

Mana surged through my body, sparking faintly across my skin.

"Let’s get started."

I murmured, lips curling into a confident smile as I prepared to explode forward.

CRACK—

The ground beneath my right foot split slightly from the pressure.

"Here I g—"

SWOOSH—

SWOOSH—

SWOOSH—

"...?!"

But before I could even launch myself forward, three figures suddenly darted past me, their speed startlingly fast!

I caught a glimpse of them clearly—

It was Alec, Curtis, and Eve.