Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! Chapter 46: 46-Labyrinth Of Knights

Read chapter 46 of Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! by A_Random_Turtle on NovelPedia.

Standing before the Simulation Room’s door, Merlin was not exactly sure how to feel. He was nervous, that much he’d confirmed, unable to look at neither his roommates’ nor sister’s way. He couldn’t help but wonder if he was really going to do good. Another sigh escaped his lips for like the umpteenth time. “Chin up,” Kim Minji said from his side. Her mouth was quivering, but her facade of being composed was expertly done. “We’ll be fine. Let’s just do our best.” I hope so… Merlin wanted to say, but he’d been called a killjoy enough by Hakyun already. He smiled instead. “Sure,” he replied simply. Kim Minji nodded with a smile of hers. She really was a sweet person, wasn’t she? Well, enough of that . He inhaled deeply and exhaled. He needed to compose himself. Professor Jung fiddled with her smartwatch for a few seconds more, then she cleared her throat, and, finally… “Begin!” she voiced. Merlin swallowed dryly, his fists clenched as he watched the white door slide open, its glowing blue edges even brighter than they had seemed from where he was still seated a minute back. When it opened fully, all he could see was an empty space within, black like a void. He had to step into that, he thought, expectant of how the whole experience would feel. Kim Minji moved, and he put his thoughts away. He walked in. Surprisingly, there was no erratic spin or any of the sort. It was simply like he had gone from his sitting room into his bedroom. What disoriented him, though, was that the void-like space he had seen just a second ago was nowhere to be found. He had not blinked, but he had not even noticed his scenery change. It baffled him so much that he could not stop his lips from pushing to the side slightly. Crazy… They had stepped into what seemed to be an ancient stone chamber, lit dimly by blue flames in a few sconces mounted from the walls. Three separate paths branched out from the center of the room, where a ceramic altar stood, a sword laying on top of it. And, just beyond it, set into the alcoves of the far wall were five stone knights, each with their hands clasped tightly around the hilt of their own swords driven into the ground. Unlike the one on the altar, though, which seemed to be quite real, theirs was made of stone just like them. The whole place carried an eerie chill that crept under Merlin’s skin, sending shivers down his spine. And, as he’d thought… I really didn’t end up in a Dungeon I remember from Singularity Mage this time… However… He clenched his fists. That was not an excuse. He was going to give it his all. Kim Minji, on the other hand, looked pale. Merlin sighed, recalling that she was a rather meek individual. If he left her that way, getting out before the time limit would prove difficult. “Hey,” he called out. Kim Minji turned to him. “Mind if I speak to you casually?” The girl nodded rapidly, her hands holding each other and pressed close to her face. “Alright. I understand. You’re scared. I’m scared too. But it’s just a simulation. No matter what happens here, it won’t affect us once the test ends. So let’s just do our best, okay?” Kim Minji looked away for a moment and heaved out an exhale. She loosened the tension plaguing her body and nodded. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I was just…” “No need to explain. I get you.” Merlin smiled. “On the other hand, we have to figure out how to escape. I counted while the others took their tests, and we’ve got about two to three minutes to discuss before the Dungeon starts reacting to our presence. We should use it wisely.” “I understand,” Kim Minji replied. “Good. One minute has passed already. Now, to the more important thing. Do you know how others escaped?” Kim Minji shook her head. Merlin licked his lips and approached her. “I’ll whisper it to you.” This was the only way he could figure out where the mana concentration was the highest in the Dungeon. He could only hope that Kim Minji was just clueless on what was being done, not how it was being done. Otherwise, they