I know I said the cost is massive when it comes to the price for the exit of this place, and that remains the truth. However, my shooting star ring allows me to cast two [ Wish Upon A Star ] spells without any cost.
It was supposed to be three charges, but I already used the first charge in trying to free Shalltear. Teacher Yamaiko gave me another shooting star ring, but I don't have it right now.
It's in the treasury.
Should I use this right now? Wish for an exit?
It's been three days since I was here, and there was nothing, no sign of people or any sign of activity. It feels like I am counting the seconds that tick while staring at the walls instead of exploring. My drive for exploration was replaced with bored apathy.
There was nothing to do here. The idea of using a single charge of wish to get out of this place grows stronger each hour.
Then a ping, one of my undead saw something. I instantly swapped places with the undead, and what I saw was just two dead, rotting bodies. They were beyond recognition; some sort of black mold was growing from the rotting carcasses, and it was spreading.
I could smell the stench despite my lack of nose. It was nauseating. "Oh? Their shirts, it's modern."
They had Japanese symbols on them and English words. There were numbers etched on the clothing; it looked like jerseys. A type of clothing a sports athlete would wear.
My interest was instantly piqued. I tried to read the symbols.
Seiren. Rakuzan.
They do sound Japanese, but I have no idea what those words mean. Are they schools, maybe brands? I could resurrect these two right here and right now. However, judging by this place of yellow office dungeons.
I doubt their minds are clear and coherent. They probably died of starvation and maybe madness from trying to eat each other.
"Hm?" I noticed a faint presence from afar. It wasn't one of my skeleton warriors. It was something else. It felt like seeing someone stare at you, then they look away instantly and vanish into the crowd.
It's not approaching, and I do not sense it looking at me anymore; it seemed to have fled somewhere else. I already know I wasn't alone, but I don't know what lurks beyond the walls or the shadows.
I intend to find out.
"Paranormal Intuition. Life Essence. Sense. Detect Magic. Discern Enemy. Greater Magic Vision. See Through. Sensor Boost."
The most basic spells to gauge an enemy. There are indeed more, and I silently cast them as I scanned the area, looking for any signs of the observer.
I don't want them to think that I have a lot of spells. Silent magic is the key to deception.
"Widen Magic: Shockwave." The spell shot forward, an invisible wave of energy. It cracked the walls and ripped the wallpaper, even destroying the corridor in front of me.
"Nothing." Though I still kept an eye out.
This place is creeping me out. What if it was just my nerves? I really need to find the exit. This place is making me crazy, and that stupid buzzing.
"Silence."
It reminded me of being an overworked wage slave. I hate it.
"Ah, minimum wage. I should present that policy to the guardians. Everyone deserves a living wage, maybe then they'll see me as a proper leader." I muttered, walking away and looking for something else.
...
...
...
Five days. It has been five days since I was here. I've tried several spells of escape. Flight, teleportation, gate, and plane shifting, but none yielded any decent results.
I've extended my surveillance and even summoned Death Knights and more mobs, but nothings. Nothing but the sight of this damned nightmarish place.
My hollow eyes darted to my hand again, to the finger adorned with the shooting star ring. My only hope. I think I've exhausted all the possibilities here, cast my spells, even the most powerful ones, but nothing.
Yesterday, I destroyed a wall, and there was nothing beyond it. Just a sea of the black, empty void and an endless bottom. I've sent several flying mobs to scout the outside, but it was massive, an expanse so wide and deep that it made me feel small.
There was nothing beyond the void. In a video game's terms, it was like going beyond the map, no clipping, and going out of bounds.
There's nothing beyond.
Maybe another day, seven days, that's my limit. I'll exhaust whatever combination or possibility there is, and only then, when it's all exhausted, I will turn to my trump card.
I tried communicating, even pleading for an escape. I received nothing in reply. Maybe I didn't grovel or grasp my hands in prayer? Let me try again. My plan was to capture them.
Nothing.
I tried destroying the whole place, casting whatever spell I had to attract some sort of attention, be it good or bad. Explosion, Acid, Fire, Ice, and even an instant death spell.
Nothing.
This must be an elaborate prison, but prisons have wardens, and I've yet to locate one. I was now staring at a vending machine, which produced a spark in my hollow eyes. A vending machine was my lifeline when I was a wage slave.
Instant noodles, soda, candy bars, chips, and other sugary treats. The basic staple food that the body needs, according to those corporations. It must be true since I am craving these nutritional meals again despite my undead constitution.
I know I can't eat, but to feel that cold soda on my mouth again.
I broke the vending machine, and I could already feel my disappointment forming. These things were mock-ups. Now that I have taken a closer look, their labels are gibberish. The insides of them were empty or just blocks with textures of food.
What a waste of time.
...
...
...
Almost a week now. I have no choice. This does not mean I am defeated. Nazarick shall not know defeat. I shall conquer this place when I return.
[ Wish Upon A Star ]
Take me back to Nazarick, return me to my throne and children. The magical runes materialized beneath me, pulsing with an phantasmal luminescence then..