Chapter 182: Shadows of Doubt "Grey Smoke, can you please stop pacing like that?" Rever growled. "You’re making me nervous."
"Lord Schrodinger isn’t out yet," Victor replied, his spectral form still flying back and forth in the air.
When players met their demise within a dungeon, they transformed into ethereal specters, tiny floating souls lingering just outside the dungeon’s boundaries.
As long as at least one group member remained alive in a dungeon, they remained in this state.
However, if the entire group was wiped out, in order to reclaim their avatars, they had to pay the EXP penalty.
In the open fields, however, death came with an immediate cost –– players had to pay the EXP penalty on the spot to revive, regardless of whether they were in a group or not.
These were the advantages of dungeons. In contrast, the disadvantage was the many restrictions and numerous traps inside.
"I-I’m sure Lord Schrodinger is alright," Yuzuro chimed in, her voice laced with uncertainty. She was worried as well, but she trusted Xin would get out of this like he always did.
"We’ve been waiting outside this dungeon for ten minutes now," Victor said, frustration evident in his spectral tone. "That Hag had low HP, and this . . . thief died. It means the last Hag should be dead as well. That woman must have done something," he added, directing his words toward Midnight Duchess, who stood at a distance.
Rever and Yuzuro worked to pacify Victor, attempting to reassure themselves that Xin was safe. There had been no notification of his death yet, providing a glimmer of hope amid their growing concerns.
On the sidelines, Midnight Duchess remained silent, her eyes fixed on the chateau.
Other players and spectral forms floated nearby, a typical sight in the dungeon that no one found unusual.
Such scenes were common within the dungeon, and players had grown accustomed to the sight of lingering souls.
Midnight Duchess pondered the absence of Lord Schrodinger. The Hag should have been defeated by now. Why hadn’t he emerged yet?
The notion of another boss crossed her mind, and she frowned at the possibility.
If there indeed was another boss, Lord Schrodinger’s chances of survival would be grim, given his current level.
Her only source of solace was the absence of any notifications indicating his demise.
After a few tense minutes, a familiar notification appeared on their screens, accompanied by the congratulatory ding indicating their victory over the boss.
Instantaneously, their faces lit up with relief and joy, knowing Lord Schrodinger was alive and well.
Their happiness soared even higher upon realizing that they could finally regain their physical forms without any penalty.
In a matter of seconds, Lord Schrodinger materialized, and everyone rushed toward him, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.
They bombarded him with questions, eager to know what had happened.
Xin stepped forward, his voice steady as he explained, "The boss had entered a Last Stance Mode, a state where it became invulnerable."
Rever’s eyes widened. "N-no way."
"No wonder other guilds kept silent about it." Victor sighed, shaking his head in understanding.
Yuzuro was amazed, and she praised Xin. "And you defeat it? You’re awesome, Lord Schrodinger!"
Rever frowned and asked, "But how did you defeat it, then?"
At that moment, Xin concocted a lie to mask the truth with a straight face. "There was a unique item in the area," he said, his voice measured, "that could seal the soul of the Hag. I managed to find and use it, leading to our victory."
"Hmm . . . I see." Victor nodded. "There are dungeons designed like that."
No one even thought that Xin was lying.
Yuzuro praised Xin even more. "You even managed to think calmly under that situation? You’re awesome. I can never do that . . ."
Rever laughed as well. "I got to say that you save our asses here. Good job, Lord Schrodinger."
Rever then changed the topic, his eyes shining with expectations. His hands rubbed together eagerly. "So what did we have for killing that boss? We should get a lot right, considering that it was hard to defeat."
Victor nodded and affirmed. "We’ve got quite a haul."
Yuzuro listed as she muttered, "Hag’s Essence Gemstone, Hagbane Bow, Soulbinder’s Amulet, Shadowweaver’s Cloak, Hag’s Vengeance Blade, Coven’s Veil . . ."
"There’s even a lot of EXP and gil!" Rever exclaimed, feeling like heaven. "It was definitely worth all the trouble."
Definitely, Xin mused to himself. His level had shot to 50+ just from defeating the Hag alone, and that was even shared EXP.
He also got a good amount of gil and items as well as the last piece of the spell for the quest [Secret Prisoner].
It was definitely a good hunt.
As the group eagerly examined their hard-earned rewards, Midnight Duchess discreetly made her way to Lord Schrodinger’s side.
. Her eyes glimmered with relief as she addressed him, her tone light despite the gravity of their recent battle. "I’m truly glad to see you unharmed, Lord Schrodinger," she said with a playful smirk. "I was beginning to worry I might fall out of ranks because of this adventurous escapade."
Xin’s expression turned serious as he faced her. "I’m sorry."
A soft smile graced Midnight Duchess’s lips. "Is this about because I saved you and I got myself killed? You have nothing to worry about that. I have made the right decision, it seemed. We’ve won this fight because of you."
Before Midnight Duchess could say anything further, Lord Schrodinger added, his voice firm yet gentle. "It’s not that," he said, his gaze meeting hers. "It’s a matter of trust."
"I didn’t trust you and . . . I let my guard down because I was worried that you might do something when it was just us left in there, causing you to die because of my blunder. So . . . I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have doubted you."
Midnight Duchess’s smile wavered for a moment. She nodded in acknowledgment, her tone lightening once more. "Fair enough. I couldn’t exactly fault you, given my past deeds . . . And not trusting me is the best decision you’ve made."
Xin didn’t get her last words since she spoke it so low. He was about to ask when Victor and the others called them to distribute the rewards.
"Coming." Xin went over to the others, leaving Midnight Duchess to herself.
Midnight Duchess carefully observed Lord Schrodinger and licked her lips as she broke into a calculative smile.
It’s too soon, my little cat . . . I will definitely get what I want.