Novel Bin Chapter 7: Sensitive nose
Chapter 7: Sensitive nose
[Holy Skeleton] reached level 14
[Holy Skeleton] reached level 15
[Shenanigans] reached level 49
Nobody found the rat. As it turned out, the place was even larger than Sofia had thought, it was worthy of being called a fortress. The cloister where she was ended up being quite close to the entrance, it seemed more like an afterthought in the whole design than a place made specially for the Saintesses. There were lower levels but they were devoid of any human presence so likely no jail cells in there, weirdly enough. Maybe that was the only reason she wasnt in one. These underground levels werent fully mapped out, there had to be something dangerous in there as the rat had retreated early, but it wasnt a human.
The doors on the other side when you crossed the garden led to what was probably the maids and workers' quarters on one side, seeing how everyone slept in communal rooms, and to the paladins quarters on the other, where they had individual rooms. She couldnt tell what was in the other rooms as the rat didnt report any people in there. But it had told her where guards were posted, and it had found two exits.
One was likely the main entrance, near the banquet hall she had seen before. It was guarded by at least eight people. The other exit was a bit weirder, somewhere far away in the second floor, she had no clue what it could be. The second floor had very few people in it, barely a few duos here and there, probably guards, it was surely more lively during the day. She could already see ways she could reach that second exit at night if she was good with her timings around the patrolling guards, but it was a gamble since she didnt know what the rat had considered an exit. Maybe she wouldnt even fit through, maybe it led to a cliffside, even then she still felt she had better odds there than with the front door.
Going to the second floor in the first place was a bit tricky, the stairs from the main entrance hall led directly to the third floor so they werent an option, the only ways to the second floor were two sets of stairs, one in the center of the workers aisle and one at the end of the paladins corridors. There had to be a staircase leading up the oracle's tower somewhere that had access to all floors but the skeleton hadnt found it, maybe it was behind locked doors. There were quite a few places the rat couldnt enter.
The next morning, she was drinking her daily bowl of soup without enthusiasm when a tall man in armor entered her room, Magisterium Ovohen.
Hmm, youre wearing the saints headband, you really reached level twenty then. Good. Follow me. The man didnt even wait for an answer, he just turned around and left.
Does wearing this thing mean Im level twenty? Theres a level restriction or something like that? Its really a magic item then!
Sofia gulped down the rest of the food while leaving her room. The man marched straight down the same way leading to the kitchen, but entered the long corridor going to the right midway. They passed a few paladins walking around. Everyone stopped to greet the man when they saw him. If her understanding of the layout of this place was correct, they had passed under the main entrances stairway to the third floor. At the far end of this corridor was the entrance to the lower levels. They went through the open passage at the end, the door was made of iron bars that could be lowered with a lever system from the corridors side. Two paladins were guarding the doorway from the inside, facing the light incline going down. Theyre here to keep things from coming out? They wore golden plate armor akin to the magisteriums but much less ornate. It was a mystery how the rat managed to go in and out the previous night without getting caught by the paladins.
[You have entered the dungeon: Abyss of the damned - Lv. 100+]
A dungeon right here in the capital! I get why the church built the fort here. They can just train all of their paladins here. The damned if it ends up being full of undead weak to the holy its a walk in the park for a paladin to level up here!
That might also be an opportunity for me Im a saintomancer, right? Theres no way I dont find a way to make use of a place full of undead! Please let my next spells be good!
The duo entered what looked like an abandoned underground prison, the cell bars were rusty and broken, the whole place was littered with stone and metal debris, and thick dust permeated the air. The only light came from the magisteriums longsword he had unsheathed, it was glowing with a light blue hue.
Stay behind me. He tossed a sheathed dagger to Sofia. Use this to finish off the zombies. Any questions?
Wouldnt I get more experience if I was alone? She was actually curious as to why he would personally help her to level up. Couldnt he send just any other paladin?
Oh you would, if you didnt end up dead.
He started to walk slowly, checking inside every cell.
Killing just two or three undead here might even be enough to get you to level fifty like that. Theres no way youd be able to take out even one. Not before youre level ninety. But you wont ever get there.
They kept walking in silence for a while.nove(l)bi(n.)com
Dont you feel bad locking people like me in here? Leveling up a Saintess until shes thrown out for the next one?
It was something she had wondered about since coming here. The fate of the Saintesses was all on that guys shoulders it seemed, but despite the weird treatment she got, and being kidnapped, she was still treated rather well for a prisoner. She had seen the orphanages director get violent multiple times and she had feared the same thing would happen to her here.
The man stopped.
It is the will of God, I interpreted his holiness the Oracle's words myself, the magisterium said in a somber tone.
So he doesnt really like it but hes following the will of God? Youre not making the task of getting rid of you any easier, old man!
... Your God sure is weird if this is how he wants the saints he chooses to end up.
Young girl, you cannot perceive Gods great designs! Nor can we. As such we need to diligently follow His guidance, for He will guide us to a greater realm! He got a bit zealous by the end, but quickly regained his composure.
Now quiet down and focus on your task, we are merely following Gods plan.
Sure, thanks for the preaching. Where do I sign up to leave?
They kept advancing through the empty prison pathways, the white robe Sofia was wearing was already a bit gray from all the dust in the air. Sofia was bored out of her mind. She kept sending the rat skeleton useless commands to level up her skill. Spending mana was slow since the skeleton was near. Isnt it dumb that leveling the skill is easier the further you are from the summon? My skills really dont make any sense.
[Holy Skeleton] reached level 16
She still kept half her mana available just in case something went wrong. The zombies finally showed themselves a good hour of walking later. It didnt take Ovohen long to take care of the twelve strong group of zombies roaming the corridor. Holy fuck they STINK! Im happy I dont even have the [Raise Undead] skill, Im never making a single skill with zombies. Skeletons are great, they dont smell like ass and they dont make dumb noises. Regular necromancers use these all the time? No wonder they have a bad reputation, I also wouldnt associate with someone that reeks like that!
She went on an internal rant about undead hygiene while the magisterium seemingly danced with his sword through the group of undead, leaving behind a bunch of limbless zombies lying on the ground, unable to move.
Even with the things in that state, she had a hard time coming close to finish them off. In the end, she still did, making sure to hold her breath for as long as she could. The dagger glittered with holy light when she took it out. Another magic item! She plunged it in the first zombies head. It didnt die. She had to stab it eight times before a system message popped up.
Your party has defeated [Sinner zombie - lv. 112]
She expected a level up message. It never came. Wow, the shared experience isnt so good I was worried I would reach 50 faster than I could find a way to get out but it seems that wont be the case.
Your party has defeated [Sinner zombie - lv. 125]
Your party has defeated [Sinner zombie - lv. 98]
Your party has defeated [Sinner zombie - lv. 79]
The further they went, the larger the hordes of zombies became, but the magisterium wasnt even touched once. They were in there for ten hours straight before he had to carry her back when she fainted from exhaustion.
This wasnt all for nothing, however.
You gained a level!
You gained a level!
[Holy Skeleton] reached level 17
You gained a level!
You gained a level!
You gained a level!
You gained a level!
[Holy Skeleton] reached level 18
You gained a level!
[New Passive Skills are available!]
You gained a level!
I had never met such a vile creature, even from afar, the wet gargling sounds that it produced echoing through the vast tunnels made my stomach churn.