ATP 11

Chapter 11

✠

Today was another bright and sunny spring day.

It had already been three weeks since I, having possessed “Seguhui,” had landed in this fantasy world, free from worries about fine dust.

To survive in a world where the original story starts off with insane survival difficulty, I had spent my tutorial period wisely.

I had completed 22 early morning prayers for the healer job advancement.

It was a lofty goal, but I had been steadily keeping at it without missing a single day.

My cooking had reached Level 4, unlocking “Recipe Insight” and “Significant Taste Boost Lv.1 (Passive)”. Honestly, I felt like I had learned enough cooking for now.

From Level 4 onward, skill mastery slowed down anyway, and with Recipe Insight, I could recreate any dish I had tasted once. I guessed that future level-ups would mainly improve my passive skills rather than unlock completely new ones.

Alchemy, meanwhile, was a step behind at Level 3.

I could now make not just ointments and basic remedies, but even healing potions that adventurers clearing dungeons would find useful.

But my diligent self-development didn’t stop there. I also spent time being Bianca’s playmate and reading a lot of books.

Thanks to the wide range of knowledge I’d gained, I had acquired enough common sense to live comfortably on the continent of Serentra.

Now, no one could suspect me of being a clueless outsider from another world.

Knock knock knock.

“Via, it’s me.”

“Come in, Ai. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Once again, I fulfilled my duty as her playmate by visiting Bianca’s room. We shared freshly baked chocolate madeleines while planning the day’s activities.

“Ai, the library just got some new books. I waited for you so we could go together.”

“Really? Let’s go!”

I was touched by the young countess’s loyalty and immediately sprang from my seat. I dashed to the door, teasingly saying,

“Lead the way, milady.”

Instead of scolding me for using casual speech, Bianca lifted her chin proudly.

“Just trust me and follow.”

We laughed and quickened our pace.

The vast library of the Count’s estate had an antique charm that never got old.

“I don’t see the librarian. Maybe they stepped out?”

“Want me to go look for them?”

“No, Ai. I know the library well enough to find what I need.”

Despite her confidence, Bianca stopped and frowned.

“What’s wrong, Via?”

“The library’s layout…”

“Huh?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. Let’s just go pick out a book for you first. You said you wanted to look at dungeon-related books last time, right? I’ll recommend one.”

I followed her, thinking it was just a minor quirk.

Still, the deeper we walked between the shelves, the faster the light seemed to dim—like stepping into a tunnel.

We came to a halt.

“Let’s see… ah, here it is.”

Bianca pulled out a book titled “Rift to the Demon Realm: Dungeon Buried Beneath Gillette Castle”.

Then it happened.

Rrrrriiiiip!

From the empty space where the book had been, a black hole yawned open, like the gaping maw of a monstrous creature.

It was going to swallow us!

“…!”

“…!”

Instinctively, Bianca and I screamed—but instead of letting go, we grabbed each other’s hands tightly.

The darkness that had engulfed us vanished in an instant, revealing a warped space, twisted as if someone had kneaded it.

Just as I was about to feel dizzy, the space stretched out, and the scene before us became clear.

“This place…”

Countless tombstones jutted from the ground under a blood-red full moon. Before us lay a grim, nighttime graveyard.

“Wh-what is happening…?”

I felt Bianca’s trembling through our clasped hands.

A graveyard in a Count’s estate? A night sky that distorted time? A strange crimson moon?

A system message clarified this surreal situation.

[<System> Entered A-Rank Dungeon: ‘Graveyard Buried Beneath Gillette Castle’]

…Ah, of course.

The fate that Prinz had mentioned for Aylet in the original story came rushing back to me.

“It’s your sister’s keepsake. She stepped into the dungeon sealed deep within the castle…”

Today was apparently the day my poor possessed body was supposed to meet its untimely end. And with Countess Bianca no less.

This solved the mystery of how the reckless heir could run amok in the original story, but it didn’t make me happy.

“How… chaotic.”

I automatically raised both hands to my head—not to tear my hair out, but to press on my pink pigtails as I thought.

There were only two ways out of a dungeon:

1. Explore every corner and find the exit gate, wherever it might be, or

2. Inevitably encounter and defeat the dungeon’s owner along the way.

Neither option was something two ordinary ten-year-olds could handle.

“So… they want us dead.”

Then it happened.

[‘The Word of World-Building’ hurriedly rushes in, asking what’s going on.]

The compulsion from the original story had activated, I guessed. Why did it have to select a possessed child who was about to die…? Ah, this wasn’t the time to complain.

I quickly sent a message in my mind. The system allowed communication through pure thought.

“Lord Word! You said the tutorial period’s survival difficulty would be F-rank. But now there’s an A-rank dungeon—couldn’t this be a bug?”

[‘The Word of World-Building’ shakes its head, flustered. A bug in its own world? Impossible!]

“I’m sorry, but isn’t it common sense that people shouldn’t die in the tutorial area? I hardly see how this isn’t a bug…”

[‘The Word of World-Building’ vehemently denies it.]

“Ah! You mean… this was intentional from the start? I was already upset about dying and being forcibly possessed, and now I’m supposed to die again in this world…”

[‘The Word of World-Building’ is at a loss in the face of its favored disciple’s despair.]

I pressed my case.

“Either make the dungeon weaker, or make me stronger! Please do something!”

In other words: give me bug compensation!

A moment later, a message appeared.

[‘The Word of World-Building’ says that, after consideration, it will temporarily grant you access to Divine Power.]

“Temporary…?”

Trying to take it back? Not acceptable.

[‘The Word of World-Building’ hurriedly changes its answer: it will provide powerful items helpful for the dungeon’s conquest.]

“Of course, I hope these aren’t consumable.”

I smiled, confident.

[‘The Balancing Critic’ whispers that it seems the Word can’t cheat.]
[‘The Word of World-Building’ sighs.]

I felt I had made my point. After that, I quietly waited.

[‘The Word of World-Building’ agonizes.]
[‘The Word of World-Building’ agonizes.]
[‘The Word of World-Building’ agonizes.]

Meanwhile, the graveyard began preparing for intruders.

Skeletons clawed themselves out of graves, clicking their jaws, while pale ghosts rose from the tombstones, swirling chaotically under the night sky.

It was a bona fide horror attraction.

Bianca, her face pale, looked at me.

“Ah, Ai.”

“It’s okay, Via. The gods will protect us.”

“I’m an atheist, by the way.”

I realized even a world with Divine Power had atheists.

“…Shh. Let’s believe in God.”

It was a moment of unintentional proselytizing, conscious of divine gaze.

[‘The Word of World-Building’ resolutely makes a decision.]

[<System> ‘The Word of World-Building’ grants you the skill ‘Divine Descent’.]

Divine Descent?

[‘The Balancing Critic’ scolds that even the head of the HQ would need to write a report over this.]
[‘The Word of World-Building’ is dragged off to write the report.]

With the god exiting, the system explained the skill instead.

My impression after reading it:

“This… is incredible.”

All my worries vanished. Instead, my heart raced with anticipation.