Popo looked at the cliff. He felt suffocated. It was an enormous geostructure. It grew sharply from the ground and straight-forward stretched into the sky. A vertical wall that devoured his gaze no matter the direction that he faced. It made him feel insignificant and lonely.

"I don't understand why they call it Mount Silver Lane. What mountain? There is no slope whatsoever!" He mocked and reached out to feel the protruding rocks. Forget it being a mountain! There was nothing silvery either! The cliff was one entire grey, dull rock.

Despite the glaring sun, it was cold and gave off a strange sense of stagnation and antiquity. It was as if time and the vicissitudes of the weather didn't matter. It stood here since time immemorial, and would continue to do so for eternity; an impenetrable, unclimbable barrier.

Squeak!

On a rare occasion, Ro didn't argue with him and squeaked out an agreement. It stretched its forelimbs and took a single glance. It wasn't interested in this cliff. It couldn't care less for something so unedible. Instead, it returned to the important business. It groomed its beautiful fur and snuggled deeper in its master's pocket.

"Yes, yes, whatever you say..." Popo ignored him and turned to face the entrance of a cave.

The opening was very narrow. It barely fit one fairly tall person without making them crumpled and uncomfortable. Of course, this didn't include those suffering from claustrophobia. The idea of going inside would likely make them flee in tears.

He narrowed his eyes and looked inside. He strained his senses to the maximum. Beyond the first few meters extended an eerie darkness. He couldn't see anything, and his ears and nose suffered unknown interference. He couldn't pick up any tell-tale scents or noises, thus gaining nothing from his efforts.

"The sunshine can't reach the interior." He spoke to himself and stretched his neck to look above. Today the weather was calm, no clouds were blocking the glare. The sun had already climbed to the zenith, but even so, it was powerless when faced with this peculiar cave.

"From this angle, the light should have outstretched further. Did the cliff and the nearby forest block or dissipate the rays? Are they acting like a physical barrier?

"Hmm, that's rather problematic. My sight is poor. As a mouse, I can use my hearing and strong sense of smell to proceed, but the terrain may prove complex. I don't know much about cavern explorations..."

Squeak~ Squeak~

Ro squeaked perfunctorily. The inside of the cloth pocket was cozy and warm. It felt very comfortable and it yawned in satisfaction. At times like these, it felt that Popo was not his master but his servant. He fed him, petted him, and carried him around. This was the luxurious life of a noble it deserved.

Sigh, should I try and tame a new mouse? This one is utterly useless. A lazy glutton who doesn't do anything yet always complains...

Popo crossed his hands in front of his chest and thought helplessly.

He opened his mouth to ask if they should follow the half-ling and enter the cave but instantly reconsidered and pressed his lips together. It was purely a waste of time. Even without asking, he could guess at Ro's suggestion - 'Go home and eat some meat." He shook his head and pondered silently.

What should I do? Midnight entered five minutes ago. Should I go now, wait longer just in case, or stalk outside?

I don't know anything about the environment inside this hollow, but one thing is certain - it is dark. I can bring lighting, but if the ground is rock, there won't be notable traces I can follow. The sounds and smells inside are likely mixed as well. I must hurry up with the decision or I will lose his tracks.

But what if this is an ambush? Me, Ro, and Midnight in a cave alone. This sounds like the beginning of a horror story with one murderer and two victims.

Yes, the main question is, what is he doing inside?

For five days, he hunted and sold materials like a madman. Grinding mobs for cash is normal, but not to this extent. Heh, the only explanation is that it is related to his test. Did he choose the 'Monster Subjugation'?

Then what is his benefit from exploring the cave? Simple curiousity? Is he searching for something found inside? Or perhaps it is indeed a trap?

He doesn't strike me as a curious traveler. This leaves me with two possibilities.

Let's say it is the former. He needs a lot of cash, in addition, he needs something hidden in this cave. It may be a monster, material, or treasure. Money and materials remind me of another challenge - the Creation Challenge. Midnight is a craftsman? Phaha, the hell, the image of an earthbound master craftsman doesn't fit his character at all. He gives off the impression of a powerful and crafty mage instead. This possibility is low.

Then, it must be the latter.

I kept an eye on him, but I was very well concealed. I was careful not to repeat the same mistake and kept my distance. I am confident he hasn't sensed me. However, he is prudent, smart, and shrewd. I am just an information dealer. I may have left some clues behind while unaware. And there were the happenings of our last encounter. He must have kept his guard. Yes, I should accept that he is likely aware of my tailing. He knows he can't escape my sight while stuck inside Lesotte...

Then this sudden exploration does make sense.

What he did before was just a childish trick. A first-time warning. With my persistence, he must be annoyed. The only reason he hasn't retaliated yet is because he can't lock on my location. If he can't find me, all he needs to do is to fish me out instead. I am about to deliver myself on a silver platter for him! Fuck, he can crush me in a second! How vile! I am too young and handsome to become a deep-fried mouse. Dream on!

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Countless thoughts and suspicions passed through his head. He felt baffled and scared. To follow Midnight in the cave was way too dangerous. It was a meaningless risk he shouldn't take. Between satisfying his itching curiosity and life he obviously chose the latter. Cautiously he gave up on pursuing Midnight, shivered, and exhaled.

Phew

It is just a wild hypothesis, but better safe than sorry, right? Heh, unless he earns his escape ticket in the cave and teleports directly to a city, I can always track him down. Yes, his things are still in the inn. He will return to his room at least once.

And wherever he steps, whatever he touches, whatever he leaves, even unconsciously, will serve as a silent witness against him! There is no need for me to stay in this dangerous forest.

He made up his mind, opened his pocket, and said to the mouse, "Let's go back."

Squeak! Squeak~

Ro nodded and added that it was just on time for lunch. As if to reinforce those words, its stomach gurgled loudly.

Sigh

"From today, I am cutting your rations in half. You need to learn some temperance!" Popo replied heavily, and his whiskers shook above an evil smile. While the mouse screamed in despair, he closed the pocket, gently pressed it, and stifled the squeaking and trashing inside. Then, with one last glance toward the cliff, he turned around and covertly returned to the village.

...

Five minutes earlier.

|You entered Mount Silver Lane's Hole of Darkness.

A special environmental rule is in effect. All forms of light that aren't of biological origin are under a mysterious restriction.

Note: Clumsy people, please pay attention to your footsteps!|

Pitch blackness, darker than a cloudy night, instantly embraced him. The air was cold, humid, and extremely stagnant. It was heavy with the scent of mold.

Midnight looked around. His pupils dilatated, and his eyes shone brightly. He was unperturbed by this environment. His gaze pierced through the night and the pit's interior was reflected in his retinas.

He saw the walls dripping down with water. With pitter-patter sounds it hit the rocky ground and assembled into countless puddles.

The rare dry locations were covered in a thick layer of dust. Be it half buried in it, or sticking out of the puddles, he saw many animal remains. Bones long since lost their flesh and spirit.

He slowly moved his gaze toward the ceiling. It looked magnificent and heartless. Stalactites reached toward the ground. They resembled stone-cast Willow trees that sadly wept while desperately stretching their branches for a warm embrace.

Occasionally, their wish was granted. They met with pointy stalagmites and formed mineral formations known as columns. These bumpy structures seemed to bear the weight of the enormous mountain high above, but in fact, were just a bunch of unique, salty decorations.

He took in this strange and gloomy beauty and didn't feel stifled by the noisy silence or the scent of decay. Instead, he found himself enjoying it. He inhaled deeply and felt the humid air expand and soak his lungs. All of these sensations were strange, provocative, and novel. Yet, he somehow felt nostalgia burbling in his heart.

It kinda resembles my humble abode back on Earth. Dirty, messy, gloomy, and enclosed with no escape. Heh...

He pursed his lips, lampooned his sluggish nature and inability to keep his own home clean, and shot a look behind his shoulder to observe the entrance. It was barely ten steps away, but the outside world was already invisible.

It must be the result of the mentioned rules and prohibitions. The hole of darkness. What a dirty naming sense!

He giggled and wasn't in a hurry to explore. First, he checked his items, then found a hidden place and squatted down behind a column. He concentrated and outlined an offensive structure in his mind. He kept it dormant but ready for the what-if situation. After the struggle with the Lord, padded with hunting countless boars and rabbits, his spell-casting and mana pool improved by leaps and bounds. Now, he could sustain two spells without a problem. If they were simple, even more.

With his preparations done, he waited patiently.

1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes...

Fifteen minutes later, when his legs began to cramp, he shook his head and let the structure melt away.

Phew, that mouse didn't follow me inside. I bet that he is scared. Maybe he thinks I led him in a trap? Perfect. Exactly as I hoped. Now, I can explore the cave without his surveillance and unnecessary interventions.

But, seriously, how can such a tiny person be so persistent and annoying? He is like bubble gum stuck into my hair... Maybe I should have killed him then and there. Instead of a water spell, a blast of fire would have done the job.

He heaved a silent breath and cracked his knuckles seriously considering the option. Two weeks had passed inside Euclex, and he already felt numb to death and killing. From his initial sadness and disgust, through slight disturbance, to a natural consideration of a murder. Unknowingly he had changed a lot.

He felt a shiver travel down his spine and grimaced.

It is horrifying how adaptable and heartless I became. No, it's not just me. It is a problem of humanity. Deep down humans are a brutal species. Perhaps, this state rivalry and killing is our real nature. This is one of the allures that make more and more players join Euclex. Here we can submit to our primal urges, and experience things impossible in restricted peaceful times. Only time will show if this game is a boon or bane...

He stood up, stretched his limbs, and inwardly reproached himself.

However, I can't submit to this mentality. Others have a real life. They can always pull away, refresh, and join the game again. They can even stop playing altogether if they become fed up with Euclex or the dev team bans them. But, I am different. This is the only place I can be free. I need to pay attention and don't do stupid shit.

Yes, for example, taunting, threatening, and troubling my stalker is fine, but thoughtlessly initiating a serious attack is not. I can't incite him any further. For now, he is just observing me without malice.

If I hurt him, he will judge me as an enemy. Cornered rats will bare their teeth. He will instantly sell my information. He saw the things I hid beneath the bed and is aware that I killed the Lord. And Lesotte is his playground. He has eyeballs everywhere. The inn, the general store, the natives manning up the other shops or strolling through the streets. If he targets me, I can't escape or hide for long.

He is weak, but he doesn't need to personally deal with me. He can sell rumors, like 'Midnight has good materials and a hypothetical first-blood reward'. This will definitely attract enought attention. Besides, until I leave Lesotte, he can find me anytime and notify his business partners.

He felt his temples ache and his scalp was tingling. His life inside Euclex always switched between poverty and problems. At times, both were present at the same time!

Yes, I should bear his scrutiny and lay low. Meanwhile, I should prepare for the test and clear it as soon as possible! The teleportation ticket is my only chance to rid myself of this pursuit.

Phew

"I haven't done anything, yet I am forced to act like a fugitive and flee! Did that damn Lady Snake curse me in her death shout?" He grumbled, unable to contain the stress. His voice resounded in the cavern and echoed back to him gloomier and deeper.

The man's scrutiny over the past five days was mortifying.

The alert mouse kept his presence hidden. Midnight couldn't pinpoint his exact location, but he constantly felt him in the periphery of his senses. It was like a mental tinnitus, or the sound of nails scratching on a glass. It drove him crazy. He was constantly on edge. It would have been fine if he hadn't noticed, but once felt it was impossible to dismiss this strange perception.

He gently slapped his face and muttered.

Finally, I can have some silence. No matter how dangerous this cave is, it is still better than the passive-aggressiveness I bore before.

I can't sense any enemies around, the earlier cacophony didn't draw them either. Still, I have to pay attention and reduce all sounds. This is just the beginning. I have no idea what may lurk deeper in this 'Darkness Asshole'.

With a lighter heart, he didn't miss the chance to mock the AI's naming sense. He left the entrance and carefully proceeded deeper.