Rogue Villain-Chapter 367: Underwhelming

The tunnel toward the question mark was steeper than the previous tunnel network. But it wasn’t enough to slide down it, so Ackster rode the bird, and Shanshi walked.

The tunnel also carried a new degree of intensity, similar to when Ackster stepped beyond the area with the bird’s home and entered the tunnels that led him to the gatekeepers. But it wasn’t quite the same oppression and threat in the air. It was more like the air was filled with mystique and promise.

Ackster didn’t like it.

But it wasn’t like he could ignore it. He glanced at Shanshi. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Try to keep up."

Without waiting for a response, Ackster urged his bird forward. He encouraged high speed.

Shanshi looked at the bird with wide eyes before sighing and transforming into a bat of blood. He flapped as hard as he could. Ackster’s words weren’t just a suggestion. He had used the power of the Deal to order Shanshi.

"Damned brat."

*I heard that.*

’Damned brat.’

Shanshi arrived with heavy breaths and a haggard appearance. That was too much exercise for an old man like him. Fortunately, at least, his hard work didn’t go unrewarded. Ackster had prepared a floating sphere of blood for him to consume upon arrival that was more than enough to restore Shanshi to his best state.

"So why did you stop here?"

Shanshi wiped his lips, even if there wasn’t any blood on them since he consumed it all, with a satisfied expression before asking Ackster, who was busy staring into thin air a few steps ahead of them.

Ackster nodded toward something ahead of them.

"You can’t sense it, then?"

Shanshi sharpened his senses and focused them in the direction Ackster indicated.

"...No."

He slowly shook his head. The only thing he could sense was the tunnel.

"I guess space isn’t your strong suit. Well...—Try to be useful sometime."

Ackster closed his eyes and strode forward. Shanshi grumbled nonsense in displeasure. Ackster had beaten him by the skin of his teeth. Why was he so cocky? And why did he close his eyes?

However, after Ackster took a few steps, Shanshi’s questions disappeared as another took his place. Where did he go? All of a sudden, Ackster vanished.

"Ah...That’s why he talked about space."

Shanshi stared at where Ackster had disappeared for a moment before belatedly remembering that teleportation arrays didn’t necessarily teleport two people in a row to the same place.

"Shit."

He hurried to catch up to where Ackster had disappeared.

"Shit!"

Shanshi ran back and forth, covering much more distance than Ackster. But he didn’t teleport away. It was a one-time use teleportation array.

Shanshi sighed. So much for being useful. He was left behind with no idea how to catch up to Ackster. All he could do now was continue down the tunnel or turn back and try to escape Ackster.

Shanshi was tempted. But he eventually decided it wasn’t worth it. Ackster would track him down sooner or later. And if there were someone who could torment and kill Shanshi in this world, it would be Ackster or the Sword God. And Ackster just so happened to be the Sword God’s disciple.

Although being Ackster’s servant wasn’t optimal, he at least provided delicious blood.

With another sigh, Shanshi began jogging down the tunnel, hoping it would lead him to Ackster and somewhere else at the same time.

However, unlike before, the path wasn’t an easy one. Traps hid behind every brick and corner. And they were traps made by someone known as the Creator. Even Shanshi had trouble avoiding most of them. And those he couldn’t avoid took a decent chunk of his stored blood with them.

Jets of fire, water, and poison, followed by spikes, spears, blades, and darts, all of them powerful enough to injure Shanshi, made for a hellish trip. Shanshi felt like it would never end. But since it was already too late to turn back, he decided to see it through to the end.

Eventually, he came upon a simple wooden door. It was still a sturdy and masterfully crafted door. But, compared to the gates Shanshe had gatekept, he couldn’t help but think it was suspiciously simple.

Still, there weren’t any forks in the path, nor were there any other doors on the way that he could have entered. Whether Ackster was behind the door or if it was another trap wasn’t something he could tell by looking at it. He had to open it.

With a tired sigh, Shanshi turned the handle and pushed open the door. Instantly, he had a golden white sword pointing in his face. He stopped moving, but his senses told him he had come to the place. The problem was that Ackster wasn’t the only person in the room.

"Uh..."

Shanshi raised his hands as he tried to see past the sword that pricked his eyes with its light.

"I come in peace?"

"You’ll come in pieces if—"

"Relax, Karandiel. He’s with me. I picked him up on the way."

As soon as Ackster spoke, Karandiel’s sword faded into motes of light before disappearing entirely. When it did, Shanshi saw all the guests of what he assumed could only be the Creator’s personal study.

Ackster sat at a desk with a book in his hand. But to one side of the room were a whole bunch of other people. Five of them looked at him with mixed curiosity and wariness. Shanshi was the same. He could smell several different interesting smells from them.

The group of humans and the occasional elf in a corner of the room didn’t earn more than a glance from Shanshi. Compared to the others in the room, those hiding away in a corner in fear weren’t worthy of attention. They were weak.

Shanshi glanced around the room. It was simple. The stone walls were mostly unadorned. There was a desk where Ackster sat and a few doors. One of them was open, and Shanshi saw a stack of documents behind it. It felt underwhelming for it to be the endstation of the Alchemaze.

Ackster closed the book in his hands and grabbed another.

"The Creator definitely earned his title, Shanshi. It wasn’t just about his potential."