Mastermind
Copyright© 2026 by FantasyTranslater
Chapter 8
Alon’s ostensible reason for coming to the Estrovan territory was to build connections. However, the real reason he endured a journey of over a week to get here was because of a labyrinth located to the south of Estrovan.
“ ... Is this the place where you said you had some business?”
“Yes.”
“It took us two weeks to find this place, but ... there’s nothing here?”
As Evan slowly scanned the empty forest, he spoke. Alon also looked around.
Indeed, the only things around were an unpaved road and forest that seemed to have been neglected for a long time; there were no features that stood out.
‘That’s why I had to go through so much trouble for two weeks.’
Alon’s face remained expressionless, but he let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
After the ball, Alon had spent nearly twenty days in Estrovan, investing his time in finding this labyrinth.
‘I took it too lightly just because it was easy to find in the game.’
Thinking that, Alon shifted his gaze to a small ravine visible beyond the forest. He began to walk toward the only clue that had allowed him to find the labyrinth.
“Are you sure this time?”
Having already wasted two trips, Evan grumbled as he followed Alon.
Sensing Evan’s footsteps behind him, Alon quickly organized his thoughts.
‘The name of the labyrinth is the “Whispering Labyrinth.” It’s a labyrinth accessible around the middle of the game, and the reward for clearing it is the item called “Constraint.” Once I get that, my business in the labyrinth will be done.’
Recalling the characteristics of the labyrinth he had visited hundreds of times in Psychedelia, Alon walked without hesitation. Soon, he arrived at a small ravine beyond the forest.
“ ... This place looks strange no matter how you look at it.”
Evan spoke as soon as they reached the ravine.
Just as he murmured, the ravine was small, but it had an unmistakable sense of wrongness.
Despite the sun hanging high in the sky, the interior of the ravine was excessively dark, as if it were repelling the sunlight.
This triggered a sense of alarm and caution in Evan.
“Let’s go.”
“Young Master!?”
But instead, this phenomenon filled Alon with joy.
The effect in the ravine was identical to the field effect of the Whispering Labyrinth he was searching for.
This meant that the Whispering Labyrinth was indeed here, so he stepped into the dark ravine without hesitation.
Evan watched Alon with a shocked expression but had no choice but to follow him inside.
Entering the ravine felt like the presence of the sun a moment ago was a lie; the interior was shrouded in darkness.
In the darkness, various stones, carved with what seemed to be artificial patterns rather than natural formations, could be seen scattered around.
Walking past these, Alon soon spotted an entrance submerged in pitch-black darkness.
Alon stood staring blankly at the door, which was undoubtedly artificially constructed, covered with various patterns.
“How did you know this place existed?”
“Because I’ve been here often.”
“What?”
Realizing he had made a slip of the tongue, Alon quickly corrected himself.
“It was a joke.”
“ ... A joke? With that face, it didn’t sound like a joke at all ... So how did you know about it?”
“I have my ways.”
“For someone with ways, it did take you quite some time to find this place.”
“ ... I didn’t expect it to take this long either.”
As Alon briefly recalled playing Psychedelia, Evan asked another question.
“So, who made this unpleasant place?”
“It was made by a fellow named Palaon.”
The Whispering Labyrinth.
Alon recalled that in some online communities, it was also referred to as Palaon’s Water Rocket Labyrinth.
“Palaon, you say?”
“Let’s go in.”
Without answering any more of Evan’s questions, Alon walked toward the labyrinth entrance, and Evan, looking nervous and cautious, followed him.
Soon, no one was left at the entrance of the labyrinth.
Screeeeech~!!!!
Crack! Crackle! Crunch!
A Hell Gargoyle, which would only be defeatable around the mid-story progression of Psychedelia, was being slowly crushed to death as if caught in a massive stone press that had fallen from the ceiling.
Evan looked on with a pale face.
“O...”
Watching such a powerful monster, which he could never defeat alone, die in such a futile and gruesome way was enough to leave a mark on his normally stoic disposition, honed by years as a mercenary.
However, what made Evan’s heart pound even more was the realization that the massive stone currently crushing the Hell Gargoyle hung above their heads as well.
‘How can the young master be so calm in this situation...?’
Evan looked at Alon.
Despite the fact that failing to solve even one puzzle in this labyrinth would lead to a brutal death like the Gargoyle’s, Alon’s face remained expressionless.
He seemed to be waiting for the door to open, completely unfazed by the situation.
Seeing Alon like this only intensified Evan’s curiosity about him.
Usually, no matter how inscrutable a magician might be, four years together would reveal at least a little of their true nature.
Moreover, Evan had helped Alon with many things over the past four years.
Sometimes he saved orphans.
Sometimes he took down evil organizations.
Other times, he helped a slave girl or paid off an old man’s debt. If not, he’d deliver messages with no apparent meaning to acquaintances. He dealt with all sorts of tasks.
Yet, despite handling all these tasks, Evan still didn’t know Alon.
This was because none of the tasks Alon had assigned provided any clues about his true intentions.
The closest thing to a common thread was that Alon seemed to take a sustained interest in some of the children he had saved, sending them to orphanages.
Apart from that, there was much Evan didn’t know about Alon.
For example, how Alon knew about such a place despite never having left the Palatio estate.
Or how he understood the workings of this eerie labyrinth and could confidently answer its questions.
Nevertheless, despite the suspicions he harbored, Evan had developed a peculiar trust in Alon, which was enough for him to follow Alon into this suspicious place, partly due to the fact that all the tasks Alon had undertaken ultimately led to good outcomes.
‘What exactly is he preparing?’
But even with this trust, his curiosity wasn’t fading. Evan looked at Alon with eyes mixed with admiration and intrigue as Alon inspected his surroundings with an indifferent expression.
‘ ... I think I’m going to be sick.’
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