CHAPTER 599: CHAPTER 403: NO LIGHT AREA AND THE HORROR SCREAM DEMON

Lake Lienia.

As the only region within the Sain Dungeon where people can reside permanently, it cannot be compared with other regions when discussing which is the most popular.

Because if there’s a Lake District, people would surely choose it.

Apart from its convenience and the ability to learn magic, due to the large map and the highly random resources, even a regular person can wander around and have a chance to escape danger and bring back some treasures.

If one could open a shop in each safe zone, even selling food could make money, as adventurers always have various needs.

As the center of Lake Lienia, Reyalucaria Magic Academy is naturally a popular map. People believe that this academy could be a standalone region, proving just how vast the Lake District is and how rich in content.

Besides the mainstream magic known as Luminous Stone, soul, Crystal, and Kalia, there’s a chance to learn some strangely effective but highly useful unknown magic at the academy, attracting magic enthusiasts to frequently visit, keeping its popularity high.

However, the Holy Light Church’s goal isn’t these magic skills, but the Underground Maze connected to the academy, particularly a segment devoid of light.

The Underground Maze matches people’s stereotypical impression of a maze, with constantly changing paths, different types of monsters, and temporary resting safe zones. The only thing distinctive about Sain is the blessings of various gods.

Within the complex Underground Maze lies a special area—the No Light Area, as adventurers call this dark map.

In some way, the No Light Area is famously popular in some adventurer circles, yet notorious in others, with opinions starkly divided. Those who like it especially love it, while those who hate it want to avoid it at all costs, only wanting to rush through with a torch when forced.

The reason is none other than its unique mechanism.

Whether due to magic, physiological factors, or some other force, without a torch for illumination in the No Light Area, those inside feel psychological pressure that increases the longer they remain in darkness.

Though one might drink some spirit-reviving potion to resist, without a torch, the pressure inevitably increases, just at varying speeds.

When the pressure reaches a critical point, interesting things happen.

People’s faith is tested; if they fail, they’re tormented by the pressure, overwhelmed with negativity, randomly becoming violent, cruel, greedy... these negative emotions can accumulate.

If they pass the test, however, their virtue grows, and they may even acquire saint-like qualities, becoming morally upright individuals.

Whether it’s torment or virtue, both can impact the adventurer’s abilities, this unpredictability intriguing to some, making it irresistible, yet utterly loathed by others, wary of revealing embarrassing secrets in moments of negativity.

There was once a man who, overwhelmed by despair, admitted to dating five people simultaneously, resulting in a bloody incident as all five were teammates.

Currently, whether one is tormented or gains virtue seems linked to the adventurer’s mental resilience; those with firm resolve may even max out virtues.

Exploring the dungeon might even change one’s personality, something adventurers have never heard of, fueling curiosity about the No Light Area.

One reason bold adventurers explore with curiosity is that whether virtue or torment, they only apply within the Underground Maze; once outside, you revert back.

After all, if effects couldn’t be reversed, few would gamble on becoming saint-like.

Negative emotions dissipate after leaving the maze, but virtue leaves a trace of influence; some adventurers indeed return from the No Light Area more sunny and positive.

Thus, among those wanting to experience another side of themselves, test their faith’s firmness, or alter their character, the No Light Area is highly popular.

Count Charon once proposed using the No Light Area for corrective education of criminals.

Yet, criminals go insane in there; four go in, five come out deranged, and the proposal was shelved.

Regardless of the popularity of the No Light Area, as a region with a unique mechanism, it holds decent fame among adventurers, with recent challenges to endure its pressures garnering respect and admiration.

This also led Albud to recommend it to the bishop, who accepted after consideration.

After all, aside from the Church, there’s little room to discuss the dungeon with adventurers; sending Holy Light Knights to conquer new areas or offering Resurrection Houses for free would be costly and impractical.

Bed City, Holy Light Church.

Albud walked along the corridor within the Church, daring no one to meet his stern gaze, all quickly exchanging greetings and passing by.