A Simple Game

"So this was Beckford’s trump card?"

Yinsen could only smile without saying anything. This might have been a huge problem for Brent and the others, but to Yinsen and his group, it was practically a joke. None of them relied on Magic Stone Technology—Yinsen had poured all his resources into the Goddess of Dawn, and he himself hardly possessed any Magic Stone Equipment.

Moreover, as his own strength had increased, he had gradually escaped the awkward situation of relying purely on items to cast magic. Even if none of the Magic Items he carried could be used, he was not without ways to respond. Besides, this strange sealing effect did not affect his magic.

That made things rather interesting.

Perhaps in Beckford’s plan, without the aid of Magic Stone Equipment, these adventurers would surely fall into trouble when facing the castle’s various monsters.

Unfortunately, Yinsen’s group was anything but ordinary. As a result, they could still charge through the castle unchecked. Even when a somewhat stronger monster occasionally appeared, it took no more than a single Magic Missile.

"This game seems kind of interesting."

"What a childish game."

Loki thought this game of wandering around and searching for imprisoned "companions" was not fun at all. Even though he could carve through monsters as easily as cutting vegetables and show off his strength in all sorts of ways, he still found it dull.

"I think it’s pretty fun."

Laura, the child, was the happiest. She felt as if this were a live-action adventure game. She even kept asking Logan for different weapons and tried each one in turn.

What should have been a bitter battle had somehow truly turned into a game.

Since the monsters could not pose any threat, no matter how large the castle was, it could not stop the group from rescuing their "companions" hidden in every corner.

The team grew larger and larger, but after realizing the situation, no idiot stepped forward to cause trouble for Yinsen and the others.

Not only did the rescued adventurers stop causing trouble, even Brent and Blade barely spoke, quietly watching Yinsen’s group perform.

"How many people have we rescued?"

Laura had been silently keeping count. Since she was the most immersed in the game, she immediately gave an accurate number. "Seventy-one."

"Only seventy-one?"

Yinsen felt as though he had nearly gone through the entire castle. Though the castle was not small, it would not take much time to make a quick sweep through it.

"We’ve already gone through every room, haven’t we? Yet we’ve rescued only a little over half the people. That proves there are still many hidden in more secret places."

It was not strange for a castle like this to have dungeons or secret rooms, but what was the point? Was it simply to increase the game’s difficulty?

"No. All of this is to keep us in the castle longer."

When they returned once more to the area by the main gate, where the space was relatively open and everyone could gather, Yinsen directly had Selene examine everyone.

"What is it?"

"I have a bad feeling about this."

Things could not possibly be this simple. Yinsen felt that Beckford definitely had another move waiting. Not only did he have Selene inspect everyone, he personally checked each person as well.

"There really is a problem."

The examination revealed that every one of these "captives" had been implanted with a "seed." The seed was extremely inconspicuous, normally concealed inside the body and causing no effects at all.

Yet it contained dense Death Energy, enough to turn someone into a powerful undead creature in an instant.

This thing was troublesome, but only after it activated. They did not know under what conditions it would activate; perhaps Beckford could remotely trigger it. But as long as it had not erupted, it was no challenge for Yinsen.

He removed the death seeds one by one. Selene’s holy light spells, which she had never been especially skilled with, also became much more proficient through repeated practice.

As everyone present watched Yinsen "draw" clusters of energy radiating dense Death Breath from their bodies, they all felt chills run through them. Even if they did not know what it was, they could tell it was definitely not something good.

After clearing the seed from the last person, Yinsen finally let out a breath. Then he examined Brent and the others as well, and the result was far from reassuring.

"The situation isn’t good."

Brent nodded. He had realized it as well. Although Yinsen had not drawn any energy clusters from his body, the wisps of something like black smoke that had been extracted did not look like anything good either.

"This castle… may contain powerful Death Energy even in the air we breathe. The longer we stay here, the more this energy accumulates inside us. They must have used some special method to keep us from noticing it."

The seeds inside those people had not been deliberately planted. Rather, they had formed from Death Energy slowly condensing after those people stayed in the castle long enough.

"The most troublesome part is that even knowing this, we have no good way to prevent it."

Yinsen himself had nothing to worry about; neither did Selene. This kind of Negative Energy was actually beneficial to her.

Loki? Such a small amount of Negative Energy could not harm an Asgardian like him. Logan and Laura needed no concern either. They might have encountered some trouble before, but after coming into contact with Druid teachings and learning some Druid knowledge, even without becoming true Druids, guarding against this little Negative Energy was not difficult.

The people who would truly be affected were those other than Yinsen’s group. Especially with such a large group in tow, it was like carrying a crowd of bombs that could explode at any moment.

"They can’t stay here any longer."

Brent realized this as well. Not only could these people not remain, he and Blade were not suited to stay either.

"Although splitting up is a terrible choice, we have no choice but to separate now."

"But even if we take everyone out, nearly half the people still haven’t been rescued. What about them?"

Yinsen shook his head. "I’m not telling you to leave directly. Take this group out of the castle first, then wait outside to receive the people rescued afterward."

For now, that was the most suitable method. They just did not know how long Yinsen would need to find everyone. It did not look like an easy task.

"Actually, it isn’t difficult."

"What are you planning to do?"

"I’m going to tear this castle down, floor by floor."

No matter how secretly Beckford hid people or how many traps he set, it only worked if Yinsen followed the rules he had designed for the game. Before, when Yinsen could not understand Beckford’s plan, he had not acted rashly. Now that he had discovered they could not waste any more time, he could not be bothered to keep playing by the other man’s rules and instead chose his preferred method of solving problems.

His most commonly used method: brute force.

Starting from the top floor, he would tear down one room after another. No matter how hidden the mechanisms were, he would not bother to disarm them and would simply demolish the walls. How could anything remain hidden then?

With a blast of magical artillery, he blew open the wall and allowed Brent and the others to leave the castle. Then Yinsen began this unreasonable, cheat-code-like "way of playing," and he quickly found the remaining people.

Every person he found was examined by Yinsen to ensure they had not been imprisoned long enough to completely become undead creatures.

"You’re basically cheating in a game like this."

Laura looked down on Yinsen’s "playstyle." It required far too little skill. Yet Yinsen did not think there was anything wrong with it. Problems that could be solved simply were best solved simply. Why make them so complicated?

Besides, their enemy was the one who wanted to play games. Making the enemy unhappy was the right choice.

It did not take long for Yinsen to tear the castle into ruins. The people rescued afterward also directly left the castle to join Brent, who was waiting outside.

After some time passed, it no longer mattered whether they were inside the castle or not. The entire castle had been completely destroyed, reduced to a broken ruin. Even from a distance, they could see what Yinsen was doing.

Brent counted the people and discovered that only one remained missing. Moreover, this was someone he knew rather well: Bruno, who had agreed early on to join this expedition.

"Magic Heart still hasn’t been found."

If he was not above ground, then he had to be underground—assuming Beckford had not lied to them. More importantly, Yinsen had demolished the entire castle, yet Magic Stone Equipment still could not be used while standing in this area. Therefore, the technology or device capable of disabling Magic Stone Equipment had to be underground as well.

"How do you plan to find him?"

Yinsen looked at Loki. The Prince of Asgard immediately understood what Yinsen meant.

"I’ve only just recovered a little. Can’t you think of another way?"

"You only need to use that scepter. You don’t need to draw upon the Casket of Ancient Winters’ power, so it won’t put much strain on you."

"I was just making up an excuse. I simply don’t want to help."

Although he said that, Loki still took out the scepter in his hand. But just as he prepared to attack, Captain Bruno—the only person they had not found—actually appeared on his own.

"Captain Bruno?"

Yinsen did not go to meet him. Instead, he remained completely on guard. This man’s appearance was too strange, and the equipment he wore was clearly a Combat Suit found only in the Sea of Miracles.

Once Bruno spoke, Yinsen knew that the person before him was not the companion he needed to rescue.

"I never expected you to possess such tremendous strength, enough even to destroy Lord Beckford’s Death Castle. I find that truly unbelievable."