Chapter 44: The Maze


    My ahog- I mean Knowledge pouch perks up.


    At first, I thought it simply moved ording to my movements.


    So, to verify, I tried moving my jelly slowly and moving my jelly in a different direction from where the knowledge was pointing.


    But as if ignoring thew of action and reaction, the knowledge pouch pointed in the same direction as if wanting to guide me somewhere.


    Not even apass would be this upright.


    When I think of it, the movements of the knowledge pouch are sometimes a bit strange.


    It perked up strangely right before I was almost captured by someone and also when passing by that bizarre statue.


    Sometimes, it perked up while passing through corridors, but since the knowledge pouch only perked up without talking to me, I couldn’t know exactly why it was doing that.


    Hmm.I tried to recall the moments when the knowledge pouch perked up.


    At first, I was kidnapped, and the next time, I was forced to dawdle in front of a statue that ate people.


    …Isn’t this weird?


    Every time it perked up, something unfortunate happened.


    When passing through corridors… I couldn’t figure out why, but reflecting on the major events, it was definitely the case.


    I’m debating whether I should pluck out the perking knowledge pouch.


    Staring at my jelly while pondering, I made a decision after much thought and moved my jelly.


    First, I went ahead bouncing and retrieved Sosik, pierced by a spike that shot up from the floor.


    …The knowledge pouch is enigmatic, but this fellow is also problematic.


    Does it want to be just jelly instead of Sosik at this rate?


    *<em>Tsk tsk.</em>*


    Clicking my tongue at the jelly inwardly, I picked up Daesik, who was wriggling obediently below me. Sosik was included.


    Holding two blobs against my chest… it felt somewhat uncanny.


    Quickly shaking off that feeling, I proceeded through the maze-like space, following the knowledge pouch’s guidance.


    And lo and behold.


    Surprisingly, nothing happened.


    I proceeded cautiously, recalling Sosik getting pierced by a spike earlier, but as if ridiculing my actions, nothing happened.


    After that, my jelly that had shrunk expanded, and my steps gradually gained confidence.


    Daesik and Sosik also didn’t wriggle as if enjoying the peaceful stroll.


    Then I saw peculiar things.


    Objects that are somewhat foreign to this space.


    But familiar objects to me.


    Like guns.


    Well, those kinds of things.


    Seeing the scenery indirectly telling me what happened here, my jelly stiffens again.


    Meanwhile,


    “Ooooh!”


    A bizarre sound was heard from the direction the knowledge pouch was pointing.


    An eerie, strange sound that made me uncertain if it was a beast howling or what.


    While the deceiving walls were no big deal, the strange sound emanating from where the knowledge pouch pointed felt somewhat meaningful.


    Can I really trust this thing?


    …Han Seori said I’d be able to return when the timees, I think.


    When would that be?


    Could that possibly be now?


    Now, please!?


    Couldn’t it be now?


    Despite the cry in my heart, there was no reaction around me.


    Only Daesik and Sosik wriggled against my chest.


    The knowledge pouch urged me on as if nothing was going on.


    Not being able to sigh when I want to is so frustrating.


    No, should I be d? They say sighing brings bad luck, so not being able to sigh means…


    Pushing such stupid thoughts aside, I took inevitable steps.


    “Ooooooh!”


    The sound gets closer and closer.


    After proceeding through the tedious but tense maze for who knows how long,


    *<em>Perk, perk.</em>*


    The fellow perking above my head finally led me to where it wanted.


    Honestly, it was hard to gauge how long I had walked since my legs didn’t hurt and my feet didn’t ache.


    I used to get signals from my legs after walking a certain amount, but this body doesn’t have that, which is both nice and bitter.


    Anyway.


    I approached what the knowledge pouch was pointing to, feeling a strange sensation.


    *<em>Ooh, ooh, ooh.</em>*


    On something that looked like an altar, I saw an orb floating like a superconductor. The knowledge pouch clearly pointed to that.


    A mystical sight.


    Taking in the sight that seemed like a treasure for me upon reaching the heart of the maze, I felt somewhat excited.


    nkly standing there, I approached it slowly like a treasure hunter.


    Did someone pulling a sword from the stone feel this way, too?


    …No, if it’s like that, I shouldn’t approach it.


    Then a ring…


    …Let’s forget it.


    Whatever I imagined, it didn’t seem very pleasant. I don’t know why I keep thinking of such things.


    As I stood in front of the orb with light seeping from it,


    *<em>Click, click.</em>*


    A strange sound beganing from my neck.


    For a moment, I thought it might be a bomb ne activating to dispose of me, who was no longer needed, but thinking rationally, that possibility was low.


    …Being alone in an all-white room seems to have only improved my strange imagination.


    It might have been a bit better if Daesik or Sosik could talk.


    Meanwhile, aser shot out from the ne that was making a peculiar mechanical sound,


    And an arrow appeared on the floor.


    It looks to be pointing the way I came from.


    Ah.


    This is a sign to return.


    How did it even know I found something? Could it be… that it was watching the whole time?


    …I really hope that’s not the case.


    Anyway, since the timing was so uncanny, I didn’t give much thought to taking the orb.


    It seemed to be telling me to hurry up and bring it out.


    An orb floating in midair wasn’t surprising anymore, albeit mystical.


    It would be natural, considering the number of mon sense’ I’ve killed to get here.


    Putting Sosik down briefly, I grasped the rather heavy orb and turned around, pondering where to put it.


    *<em>nk!</em>*


    Almost simultaneously with a sharp, metallic sound, a huge silhouette appeared.


    *<em>Whoosh!</em>*


    With the sound of something bing lighter on my back, I hear the contents of the bag on my back scattering.


    Soon, a shadow loomed over my body, and I saw a monster that suddenly appeared in my sight.


    It was holding a veryrge axe, and it seemed the axe it swung had sliced the bag on my back.


    A brutal monster that suddenly appears like the ones that melt away.


    I put the orb in my body, which was ironic considering I was just wondering where to put it, grabbed Sosik,


    And ran.


    *<em>Crash!</em>*


    The moment I moved, I saw its huge axe cleaving the ground. I could sense the raw power behind each swing just from the way the fragments flew in all directions.


    Pebbles bounced off me as I learned the taste of rocks, and I ran like crazy, looking at the arrows reflected on the floor.


    The knowledge pouch swayed loosely as if it had done its job, so the only thing I could trust now were these arrows.


    …There’s no way I can memorize that long, long maze, right?


    I’m starting to feel bad for thinking it was a bomb ne for a moment.


    Anyway,


    I jiggled Daesik, Sosik, and the jelly as I ran and ran.


    Thanks to my expanded vision, I could clearly see the figure of the fellow chasing me from behind. It was a very good advantage, but…


    Being able to keep staring at it…


    This means I can’t look away even if I want to avoid that sight.


    The figure of a two-legged cow wielding a huge axe.


    It really looked like a mythical monster.


    What the hell is it so upset about that it’s chasing me as if to kill me…


    *<em>Slice!</em>*


    The huge axe de grazes above my head.


    *<em>St!</em>*


    With that sound, the knowledge pouch is scattered on the floor. A new knowledge pouch immediately regrows in ce of the severed one.


    Experiencing a part of my body being lost, I think I know why it’s chasing me.


    …It’s probably because of the orb trembling inside my body even now.


    But,


    I think it’s toote to go back and return it now. Even if I didn’t bring it in the first ce.


    Frankly, it would be impossible to avoid that axe and muscr cow to put it back.


    I’d be lucky not to be squashed jelly.


    *<em>Slish! Sck!</em>*


    Only my innocent knowledge pouch keeps getting chopped off.


    The feeling of being gradually eaten away doesn’t bode well.


    There’s still a long way to go before escaping,


    But if the knowledge pouch keeps getting severed… it doesn’t seem like it will end well.


    From the experience of my body being sliced, my body size also got smaller the more my body was cut.


    …A smaller body might be able to hide in a mouse hole,


    *<em>Swish!</em>*


    I avoided the swinging axe again, but the knowledge pouch was severed again.


    …But avoiding what’s chasing me would be very difficult.


    It became a match between beingpletely devoured by that mad cow or escaping this ce first.


    I briefly considered charging at it like I dealt with the guardian totem before…


    But the situation was quite different from that one.


    That one was fixed in ce at the end and had no arms or legs.


    …If I cling to that fellow now,


    My jelly will surely be ripped apart.


    Even without that axe, those bulging muscles would undoubtedly tear me to shreds.


    *<em>Slice!</em>*


    Sure enough, the knowledge pouch falls to the floor with a *<em>st!</em>*


    …What should I do?


    “Moooo!!!!”


    Hearing its irritated roar, I thought I shoulde up with a countermeasure quickly.


    …Before I get caught and shredded, that is.