Chapter 146: Trap
Lights of various colors began to bloom in this perfectly sealed basement.
A complete magic circle wasn't constructed. This was for maximum effect with minimal cost.
The target is that chest.
It was a chest that could never be opened by any method outside the predetermined events.
No magic or spells could open it under the game's system.
I abandoned the automatically calculated spells and magic. Then I calculated and executed everything manually.
"Well, it's always been like this."
I felt as if the dozens of masks covering the basement walls were staring at me.
The masks were already of various shapes and forms.
Now, those masks were bathed in lights and shadows of all colors. This created a truly bizarre scene.
Buzzzzzzz...
Lines of magical power that formed geometric trajectories were following my will.
Runes were recombined in a way that would have made other mages shout "fraud" if they had seen them.
Previously, it had been a more difficult task, but now the [Perception] hanging in my eyes provided immense help with this intricate work.
However, I can't use this in actual combat.
A surge of dizziness overwhelmed me.
[Perception] was not a simple spell.
Even the information contained in just one chest made it feel like my eyes and brain were going to burn out. An ordinary person's brain would have already melted.
This place is the best-protected area, so it activated, but using this elsewhere would leave me too vulnerable.
Now, it was time to stop wasting time. I could think about it once the work was done.
I moved the things I could handle.
[The unique effect of the L-rank accessory 'Carcosa's Mask', 'Madman's Dexterity', has been activated.
Madman's Dexterity: You can unlock the hidden abilities of an artifact or attempt modifications to bestow other powers.]
Shaaak!!
Bright yellow tentacles extended in all directions.
Kiki, kikiki, kukuku...
Laughter echoed from somewhere. Was it a hallucination?
Clatter, clatter, clatter, clatter...
Dozens of masks placed on the walls twitched, wobbled, and shook individually.
Creak, crackle.
The tentacles scraped against the chest which created an unpleasant noise.
I drew upon my magical power.
I dug into the weakest part of the chest.
Pook.
Yes, it went in.
Through the golden glowing tentacles, the will of the chest was conveyed.
- More blood, more chaos.
The bizarrely designed chest expressed its sinister desire.
- More death, more destruction, more despair.
No matter what the chest babbled about, I continued to pour my will into it.
What you want cannot be achieved. No more chaos. Spit out what you have inside. That mask is mine.
Rumbleee!!
The entire dark basement shook violently.
The unopenable chest was opened.
I had twisted the game's settings and ignored the laws of this world. I opened the chest.
"Ugh..."
I felt exhausted. If I kept going, my brain might actually burst.
I released the [Perception] spell bestowed upon my eyes.
Blood trickled down my cheek. Was it flowing from my eyes? There was no time to wipe it away.
In my blood-red vision, I saw something astounding.
Pazzt, pazzzic! Pazzzzzzz!
Unreal noise.
The chest was supposed to be a tangible object, but now it was no longer just an object.
Pazzzic! Pazzzic! Kikikikikiiing!!
What I had just done was not merely opening the chest.
I had forcibly shaken the very reason for the chest's existence in this world, in the [Cthulhu World].
Having lost its reason for existence, the chest had also lost its identity as a material object.
And so, the chest now flickered violently and emitted sharp flashing sparks.
Pazzt! Pazzzic! Pazzzzzzz!
This is...
A graphical error?
It looked like a glitch, a phenomenon where graphics break due to a physics engine error.
I spoke in a certain direction.
"How about that? I somehow managed to open it after ignoring the forced event."
For now, there was nothing but empty space.
"Well, go ahead and say what you want to say."
A very brief loading.
Wait, hold on a moment. A message window appeared in the empty air.
The message window said...
[Achievement unlocked! /Null has /Null-ed.
"Unexpected Command"
"Unknown Command"
"?xyz98@!# cannot be referenced."
Restore the system?
Restore it?
Restoration at N%]
"It doesn't look like it's in good shape, does it?"
The corners of my mouth lifted slightly. It seemed like I had landed a blow on the message window.
This was probably the second trap prepared by the message window.
The first trap was the masquerade itself.
And the second trap was.
Did they expect me to open some kind of blood ritual to open this chest?
Saying that I would never do such a thing is meaningless.
If I had truly succumbed to madness, I might have done such a thing regardless of my will or common sense.
[Restoring]
["The event path has been reset."
Initializing abnormal objects.]
The chest emitted a brief but intense intertwining of vivid green and purple light. It was something beyond description.
Then it vanished. What it left behind...
"Ugh, what is that?"
It was an incredibly bizarre object.
At first, it looked like a white mask emitting a faint blue light on its own, but in the next moment, it was the shape of a hypercube projected into three-dimensional space. In another moment, it was a violently oscillating wave, then a particle too small to be seen with the naked eye, then an excessively bright light, and then a crown of death formed from some terrible last moments...
[System: The unique trait 'Madness of the Abyss' has been activated. The effects of ■■■ have been nullified.]
Crackle!!
"Ugh,"
Damn it, that was something.
The mask possessed such overwhelming power that looking at it for too long would destroy one's sanity. It was an insane object surpassing even the L-rank [Carcosa's Mask].
That mask contained the raw and turbulent power of the most unpredictable being among the beings of the abyss.
If the creator of this mask had intended it, it might have become an incarnation realized in the form of an artifact like the [Book of Greed and Destruction].
"So how long are you going to squirm? Just skip ahead and show me your form and information."
I said it because I didn't have the strength to stand any longer, but the object which had been swaying in a surreal manner began to slowly stabilize as if responding to my words.
It really looks like it's skipping ahead.
Soon, the mask's shape solidified.
It was a plain mask with the shape of a mouth twisted in a groaning expression. A crude mask with the grain of the wood still visible.
It was rough, primitive, and grotesque.
The mask floated in the air in that state.
[Mask of the Faceless One (L-rank Accessory): Shining darkness. Endless void. The wearer of this mask receives the blessing of the Faceless One.
Wear the mask: You will receive a blessing!
Further research is needed to obtain more detailed information.]
"Hey, who wouldn't know this is a trap if you put it like that?"
This was probably the third trap.
300 cultists had clung to the chest to obtain this mask, but those who wore the mask would be transformed into a high-ranking monster named [Faceless Acolyte].
If I hadn't intervened and stolen it away, the next event would have been a fight with the [Faceless Acolyte].
And this is the blessing bestowed by a being of the abyss. Even I am not an exception. If I wear this mask, I too become a monster. In short, it is a mask that I cannot and should not wear.
It doesn't matter, I didn't go through all that trouble just to put it on my face.
[Mask of the Faceless One].
The [Faceless One] was an avatar of Nyarlathotep.
In other words.
It was the most definitive clue to grasping the power of Nyarlathotep.
And that message window must be related to Nyarlathotep.
Ultimately, this mask was the first clue to tracking the one who trapped and toyed with me.
It would be difficult for now, but I will pursue it to the end.
"Now, if I seal this again..."
It will be over.
But at that moment.
Crackle!!
A spark emitted a light so intense that it felt like my optic nerves were burning.
"Aah, what is this?"
My eyes were already bleeding. I hurriedly concentrated my magical power to protect them.
[Research has been completed!]
The mask's research had been completed on its own.
Following the spark, the message window's information distorted, and the new details about the mask began to print out at an incredible speed.
[Wear the mask: Utmost happiness and pleasure will be with you.
Wear the mask: You will become stronger and wiser.
Wear the mask: I will give you the power to escape this world.
Wear the mask: Your wishes will come true.
Wear the mask: You intended to do this from the beginning, didn't you?
Wear the mask: Wear the mask.
Wear the mask: You don't really need a face.]
Wear the mask. My heartbeat quickened.
It wasn't madness manifesting. But I wanted to wear the mask.
I knew this was a trap. But I wanted to wear the mask.
I must not wear the mask. But I had to wear the mask.
Calm down. Didn't my face have a mask anyway? Masks could be seen everywhere. So which mask?
[Wear the mask.
Wear the mask.
Wear the mask.
Wear the mask.
Wear the mask.
Wear the mask.
Wear the mask.
Wear the mask.
Wear the mask.
Wear the mask.]
There was no need to think any further.
I want to wear the mask.
The sound of my heart beating was so loud it felt like I might go deaf.
[You have finally overcome all trials and hardships to reach this point. Moreover, you have opened the chest, which could only be opened through a blood ritual, using a completely different method. Once again, you have proven that you are special.]
I slowly reached out toward the mask.
I could see my hand trembling.
[Yes. This is your reward. Wear this mask. With it, you won't have to suffer anymore.]
"Ah, really..."
Was that really my voice? It felt strange.
[What are you thinking about? Wear the mask. There's no need to think further. There's no need to suffer anymore. True freedom awaits you.]
The moment my hand touched the mask.
Somewhere, a horrifying laugh echoed.
Kekekekeke, kuhuhuhuhu!!
The effect prepared in advance was activated along with the sound of laughter.
Ding—
[The unique effect of the S-rank magical tool 'Silver Bell of the Underworld ', 'Pure Silver's Dominion', has been activated.
// Pure Silver's Dominion: Automatically casts the 'Voice of Authority' spell on a designated target and increases the effect of 'Mind' spells by 100%.]
[The unique effect of the A-rank magical artifact 'Keystone', 'Mental Keystone' has been activated.
Mental Keystone: When used, there is a random chance to cure a target from a state of distortion. However, if the check fails, the distortion may worsen.]
These were artifacts that were set to act directly on my mind.
In an instant, my mind cleared.
I can move.
Yes. I am not in a state of distortion.
It was just the mask's magic stimulating the mask obsession buried in my head. This much can be ignored.
Dozens of masks placed along the walls of the basement come into view.
And the mask already worn on my face.
Yes, I already have more than enough masks.
"So!"
I drew up my magical power and created a powerful binding force.
"I don't really need to use this!"
Buzzzz!!
A crimson pentagram emerged from the floor.
And runes with clear meanings floated in the air all around.
Sealing, Binding, Suppressing, Oppress, Restraining, Weakening, Silencing.
Crack!
Layers upon layers of multiple barriers wrapped around the [Mask of the Faceless One].
However.
Zzzzt!
A tremendous amount of sparks erupted from the [Mask of the Faceless One] along with tremendous repulsive force.
[You attempted to seal the 'Mask of the Faceless One' with a sudden action, but it is not an easy task. You lack the rank to seal an artifact consecrated directly by a being of the abyss.]
The message displayed was mocking me. The magic circle collapsed in an instant with a cracking sound, and the runes drifted and lost their meaning.
Unable to contain my anger, I shouted.
"Hurry up and help! This thing is talking nonsense!"
Creak!
The sound of a door opening echoed out. The barrier containing the [Book of Greed and Destruction] opened.
A large door opened like the jaws of a ravenous monster.
Khehehehe, khahahahaha!!
A horrible laugh echoed.
The pitch-black mist and the illusion of bones spewing out from the barrier neutralized the power emitted by the [Mask of the Faceless One].
At the same time, I changed the meaning of the collapsing magic circle and runes.
Conversion, Enhancement, Flight, Movement, Acceleration, Surging, Throwing.
An enormous density of formulas and calculations flooded in within a fraction of a second. I felt a pressure like my brain was going to explode, but I resolved it all.
[Stop, wait...]
Something tried to display in the message window, but I ignored it and shouted.
"Shut up and stay put!"
The [Mask of the Faceless One] flew helplessly.
Kekeke, wahahahaha!!
Crack, clatter, snap!
Bones and black mist extending from the barrier engulfed the [Mask of the Faceless One].
Did I hear a swallowing sound? I'm not sure.
What I was sure of was hearing Cheong-ho's voice from inside the barrier. Something like...
"Kekeke, a cellmate has arrived."
Yes, that's what it said.
The [Book of Greed and Destruction] spoke to me using Cheong-ho's voice.
"I kept my promise. Now keep yours, Kim Shin-hwa."
Boom!
The door of the barrier closed with a tremendous noise.
Now everything was silent.
"Haah."
I used too much power. In the end, my legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the basement floor.
"Phew. Seriously."
If I had come down just yesterday, it would have been disastrous.
If I hadn't prepared for this and that over the course of the day, I would have been caught off guard.