Chapter 8
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Episode 3 - Emergency detour [2]
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Creation of Darkness.
The stigma bestowed by the constellation Lord of the Night and the constellation sponsoring Yuri.
The stigma of Creation of Darkness was simple.
It could create anything using darkness: magic, weapons… even people.
One of the strongest stigmas I've created in this novel.
Yuri was the first character with a stigma. Moreover, it was powerful enough for her to become Seth's companion until the end of the story.
Creation of Darkness wasn't the only stigma granted to her by her constellation, but that's something to be revealed later.
The reason Seth distrusts Yuri is precisely this stigma, which represents the evil beings of this world.
However, with all the time spent by her side, Yuri proved she didn't belong to the side of evil.
Instead, she revealed herself as someone neutral.
Seth ended up accepting her as a loyal companion until the end. There was never betrayal or fighting between them.
Now I should intervene.
The relationship between the two shouldn't deteriorate at this point.
The real conflict would come after the third main scenario.
So I cleared my throat and spoke with a voice firm enough for both to hear me.
"Both of you, stop."
Yuri was cold, but also sentimental. Seth, on the other hand, distrustful, though kind at heart.
Every character is destined to have a duality, like Clarisse.
"We were all chosen by the system. After accepting, they brought us here without warning. I know… with time, secrets will arise, and we might start to distrust each other. But…"
I paused briefly. I managed to capture their attention.
I needed to make something clear. So I continued:
"This isn't a world where good or evil, trust or betrayal, work the same as before. Here, we could easily die if we don't work together. There will be distrust… but this place forces us to collaborate."
I walked toward the rift of the Detour, passing by them. My eyes fixed on the opening.
I extended both hands, gripping the edges tightly. Then I said:
"Let's work together. If someone betrays… it doesn't matter. In this world, nothing matters more than surviving."
With those words, I opened the rift with all my strength.
It widened enough for a human to pass through easily.
"Wake up, Clarisse."
Yuri woke Clarisse after a few seconds of silence.
"Are we going now?"
Yuri nodded.
"Yes… we'll enter the Detour."
The four of us positioned ourselves in front of the rift.
I looked at Seth and Yuri, and took a step forward.
"It might be something unexpected. Be careful."
I crossed the rift, casting a final glance over my shoulder, observing their faces… just before my vision faded.
Darkness.
But soon, a light replaced it. And at that very moment…
"Let us pray."
"Oh, Great Light that sees all, guide our steps in this darkness and protect us from the abyss that stalks us."
"Oh, Great Light that sees all, guide our steps in this darkness and protect us from the abyss that stalks us…"
I opened my eyes upon hearing the prayer repeated by many voices.
As I looked up, I saw several people dressed in white, kneeling, heads bowed, hands clasped holding a rosary.
I briefly observed my surroundings.
It's the temple.
Indeed, this Detour transported us to the temple's past.
And at that very moment…
— — — || Ruined Temple || — — —
Type: Scenario
Difficulty: F
Conditions: The temple worshiping the constellation of Light is about to be invaded by the monsters of the abyss. Prevent the disaster of the invasion.
Time Limit: 5 hours
Failure: Death
Progress: In progress.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
I let out a long sigh and looked around again.
I realized the rest of the group was dressed like me, in white robes.
For a moment, our eyes met. Everyone nodded at the same time.
I lowered my head and imitated the others, pretending to pray as well.
Detours are phenomena that send us to the past of certain ruins.
Of course, that depends on whether the Detour is in a routine, like this one.
Common Detours are similar or even identical to the dungeons that appear in other novels.
I wanted to make a distinction with them, which is why I changed their name. Additionally, I created two types of Diversions.
The invasion of the abyss monsters should begin in ten minutes. That should be enough time to find the Rings of Light.
Originally, Seth finds two rings in one of the priests' rooms before the start of the abyss monster invasion.
Since just one ring was more than enough, he gave the other ring to Yuri.
"But the Ring of Light is perfect for Clarisse."
It didn't match Yuri's abilities.
Yuri was more related to darkness, but Clarisse was more on the side of light.
Seth simply handed the ring to Yuri without knowing this, because he actually didn't know the abilities of both girls well.
"The relationships between the characters must change, but also the rewards they obtained in the original story."
Shortly after, I got up from the bench in the church.
Without anyone noticing, I left the temple and walked through the silent stone corridors. The walls were adorned with ancient tapestries, and the wrought iron chandeliers cast long, unsettling shadows.
Upon seeing the long hallways with multiple doors, I wasn't entirely sure which room it was.
"Seth simply entered a room and found the two rings."
Since I didn't specify exactly which of all the rooms, I was now a bit lost.
Making a mental calculation of the time that had passed since the Diversion mission began, I had less than three minutes left.
"I wasted time in the church, but if I hadn't stayed, it would have been suspicious…"
Upon turning a corner, I suddenly stopped dead in my tracks.
"….."
A pair of blue eyes stared at me from less than a centimeter away.
"H-haah… I'm sorry, I was distracted."
It was a paladin.
She wore full-body armor that gleamed under the dim light, and she carried a sheathed sword at her waist. Her posture was upright, her gaze confident.
Besides that…
"She's strong."
Not as strong as Seth or Clarisse, but she was on par with me in power.
I took a couple of steps back, faked a smile, and shook my head awkwardly.
"Oh, sorry, I was the one distracted, my apologies."
"No, I was the distracted one. Sorry."
The woman with golden hair and blue eyes bowed slightly with elegance as she apologized.
I waved my hand, still somewhat thrown off by the sudden encounter.
"It's fine… I'll be going then."
I passed by her, but at that moment, a faint scent reached my nose.
"That smell… it matches that description…"
I quickly turned my head.
"Hey…"
But the woman was no longer there.
I searched the hallway with my eyes, even taking a few steps in the direction I thought she had gone.
"She disappeared…"
I cursed under my breath, gritting my teeth.
The people here were merely illusions, nothing was real… but dying was. And, just like that, I could also take any real object I found.
"If she appears again, I should ask her…"
The smell I sensed from her didn't come from her body, but from something she was carrying.
With that thought in mind, I resumed my search and finally found the right door.
It stood out from the rest: more ornate, with golden inscriptions above the frame. Fortunately, I had described that door somewhat, thinking it wouldn't be important.
I turned the handle carefully and pushed the door.
A faint creak echoed in the empty hallway, breaking the silence as if slicing through it with a dagger.
I entered the room and closed the door behind me.
The interior was perfectly organized: shelves filled with books, sober decoration, and a polished wooden desk accompanied by a cushioned chair.
And then I saw it.
"There they are."
Resting in a black box next to the lamp, inside the box were the two rings.
Upon taking the box and opening it, a golden flash emanated from within for a moment, briefly illuminating the room.
Two rings.
Both were silver, without any engravings, stones, or particularly striking adornments at first glance.
「Ring of Light.」
「A ring that increases physical recovery, mental recovery, and boosts magical power at Level 20, and has the ability to regenerate using magical power.」
This was the description of the first.
「Ring of Double-Sided Light.」
「Light affinity increases by 30%, dark abilities and affinity are reduced by 50%, attack against dark beings increases by 20%, and using magical power activates the holy shield effect.」
Upon seeing the second ring, a radiant smile escaped my lips.
Originally, these two rings were for a betrothed couple.
"Oh, here's the letter."
I found it carefully folded beneath the box.
The letter was from the groom.
"Father, I entrust you with the wedding rings. If it's not too much to ask, I would like you to give them a blessing."
The blessing the father gave them are the effects the system showed me.
I shook my head with a slight exhale and placed the letter on the desk, where the dim light of the lamp barely reached it.
"The description isn't detailed enough."
After the second scenario, quite interesting functions are unlocked.
Among them is the 'Inspection' function, which allows me to see in detail the objects I hold in my hands.
The description it shows me right now is vague, short, and incomplete.
'Of course, the benefits of both rings are not just these.'
The double-sided light ring should fit Clarisse perfectly, and mine would be the light ring.
The regeneration ability when using magical power was a very satisfying reward.
"Now…"
I stopped abruptly, as if something had clicked in my mind.
I calculated the time. My eyes widened as I realized.
"The invasion is now."
'Rumble! Rumble!'
The entire temple shook violently.
Screams were heard almost immediately from outside the room.
I turned and ran down the hallway. The lamps on the walls vibrated with each impact, and the air itself seemed charged with tension.
When I looked through one of the windows overlooking the central courtyard, the sky had turned a deep red, as if it were burning from the horizon.
"When you write a scene with pure text, you imagine it as incredible… but seeing it in reality is something else."
A massive black stain was opening in the sky, like a hole torn in the very fabric of the world.
Suddenly, creatures began to emerge.
They had countless mouths scattered across their bodies, dozens of eyes blinking randomly, and wings made of black flesh that flapped with a viscous sound.
Just at that moment…
'BOOM!'
From the black stain, gigantic tentacles began to descend like the roots of a rotten tree. Each one was several meters wide. What was emerging was a creature of the abyss, a colossal and grotesque being that seemed to have no defined shape.
"Ha… I really had to include this bastard."
An A-rank creature.
'Good thing it's not the Detour participants who have to fight that thing.'
The knight of light would fight that creature after it descended upon the temple. That was the established narrative.
The lesser creatures that had emerged were now flying all over the temple grounds.
Screams of horror, desperate prayers, the clash of steel, and the deformed roars of the invaders could be heard.
Then I saw her.
The woman from a few minutes ago.
She was at the temple's entrance, sword unsheathed, surrounded by chaos. Her armor shone like a beacon in the darkness, and her expression was firm, resolute.
'I should go ask.'
There was something I wanted to know.
This was the past of the ruined temple, yes… but the words of these people were real.
And if any of them said they had left something somewhere… then, upon completing the Detour and going to that place, I might find what they mentioned.
'The sword of faith.'
That scent. That essence.
She exuded the same aroma as one of the S-rank swords. A lost relic.