Chapter 27: Four Chapels
"Hey... there’s no way the Rift’s boss is just there, right?" Diana asked, lowering her voice as much as she could.
"It doesn’t seem hostile, even when we’re within its range," Murray remarked, his expression still grim.
He was right. In fact, Kethsura hadn’t moved at all. It lay as silent as a stone statue, waiting for something.
"I’ll go up to it," Artemi monotoned. She didn’t seem frightened by the monster at all.
Schwartz immediately stepped into her path and smiled at her.
"No, Art. While I commend your eagerness, it’s an Ancient Rift — not a normal one. Please stay back."
Art scoffed at his words, but she was reasonable enough to stay where she was.
Schwartz turned to the monster.
"I’ve cleared many Ancient Rifts before," he boasted, "but this is my first time seeing the guardian appear this quickly. I can tell it’s a 3-Star at a glance."
A gasp escaped Diana. Murray seemed to stop breathing for a moment.
"A 3-Star Rift..." Diana trailed off.
’Damn it.’
Nuri didn’t want this reality to come true, but it had. There was a full two-star differential between him and the guardian of the Rift, and it was a Legendary being, to boot. That meant its overall prowess was equal to a 4-Star.
He panicked for a moment.
’How the hell am I going to survive this?’
[Calm down, Nuri. Focus on the present first.]
’...Yeah.’
Hearing Rosaria had always soothed him, and she was right. Kethsura was still asleep. It did not seem like she would wake up and annihilate the party right away. Even if Ancient Rifts were dangerous, they never dealt out something as unreasonable as instant death for everyone.
He believed the Labyrinth was fair, even in matters of life and death.
Nuri tried to push past his fear and recalled what he had learned about Ancient Rifts. As an Academy student, he had what most other Explorers lacked — knowledge of the Labyrinth.
The academy had taught them some things about Ancient Rifts, but not in much depth for several reasons. The main one was that first-timers shouldn’t even consider challenging an Ancient Rift in the first place.
That was why Schwartz had sugarcoated it as "fortunate," when in reality it was a stupid and reckless decision.
It didn’t matter anymore. Nuri had to make use of the limited knowledge he possessed.
His eyes left the giant spider for now and searched for clues around the cathedral’s nave. Kethsura’s most distinctive feature, aside from herself, was the four thick silk ropes anchoring to her body.
’Four...’
It was strange. Kethsura had already been melded to the stone altar, so what purpose did these four ropes serve?
Even though he hadn’t figured it out, he still felt the need to say it aloud.
"This boss, I believe there are—"
"Conditions," Schwartz interjected. "Right?"
Nuri pursed his lips. That motherfucker had just stolen his thunder, and he kept smiling?
Nuri hated passive-aggressive bastards like him.
Before he could continue, Schwartz was already on a roll.
"I thought so too. Ancient Rifts love progression. They won’t let you walk straight up to the boss and start swinging. Only normal Rifts allow that," he rambled.
"Yes, that’s right," Diana agreed. "I remember our last Ancient Rift run. We had to clear certain conditions to reach the guardian’s room."
Schwartz nodded.
"Correct. And I believe our Nuri has an answer?" he asked, smiling.
’What the...?’
[Wow. This guy is really sly. And here I thought you are the sliest out of all.]
’That’s what I’m saying!’
Schwartz stealing his line wasn’t enough. Now he was making Nuri do the explaining for him, too. That way, Schwartz still came off as someone who knew what was going on and as a leader who listened to his teammates’ opinions, while Nuri would do all the actual talking.
’...This little snake.’
Nuri gritted his teeth. He had no choice but to endure it for now. It wasn’t hostile, but it still bruised his pride. He didn’t like being pushed around like that.
"Those four ropes," he said, pointing toward the ones hanging from Kethsura’s abdomen. "They’re connected to something."
"The chapels," Artemi bellowed.
"Chapels?" Murray repeated, his eyes fixed on the silk ropes.
Then, Hugo stepped forward, distancing himself from the party.
"Hugo! What’re you doing?" Murray stormed, surprised by his brother-in-law’s action.
Hugo took another step before stopping. He turned around with his eyes wide.
"Chapels! She’s right — the ropes are connected to the rooms on both sides!"
Hugo had enhanced vision, so he could make them out. For the rest of them, however, the sides were pitch black, so they hadn’t noticed the rooms off the nave at all.
Schwartz stepped forward and turned to the party.
"I believe we have our answer. At the very least, we need to uncover what these chapels hold before we mess with the spider."
’There he goes again, inserting himself at the last moment to feel important.’
[I recommend you go punch the guy.]
’Save your words, please.’
[I have popcorn.]
Nuri chuckled to himself.
’Eat it and shut up.’
[Yum.]
Nuri quickly ignored Rosaria, as usual, and focused on the ongoing matter.
"—our course of action. Everyone clear?"
’Eh?’
Murray looked at the members, one by one.
When the gaze landed on Nuri, he quickly nodded, even though he had missed most of what Murray had said.
But the moment Murray looked away, Nuri’s stomach sank.
’...What was the plan?’
[You really weren’t listening, were you.]
’You distracted me!’
[Excuses, excuses.]
Nuri had never felt a stronger urge to punch the air than he did right now.
’Just tell me what he said.’
[No.]
’Rosaria.’
[I am eating popcorn.]
Nuri cursed under his breath. It didn’t matter whether he listened or not. Since he was at the back, he could read everyone else’s movements and follow along just fine.
The party turned away from the altar and headed for the closest of the four chapels.
Hugo and Schwartz took the front. The rest of them fell back into the same formation as before.
Nuri kept his eyes on the nave’s side walls. As they approached, the darkness gradually thinned, and the chapel’s entrance came into view. It was a tall stone arch with an ornate wooden door. It looked normal compared to what he had seen so far.
Hugo reached for the handle and pushed.
The door swung open without a sound, and with it came a darkness that seemed unliftable.
The moment everyone stepped inside, a notification popped up and welcomed them.
[Your party has entered the Chapel of the Sacrament.]
