As we ran through the narrow halls, we finally reach a wide area.

Normally, we would feel tired or fatigued for a bit for running such a distance and would be gasping for breath right now, but since we’re undead, we don’t feel tired at all.

Not a single drop of sweat even forms.

This would elicit some surprise to others.

But that would only refer to my companion.

After all, regardless of his identity, he is still an old man.

“Hmm… According to the map, we should be close to the floor filled with dolls…”

I recall from memory that old map.

Given his abilities, Llednar has also memorized the map already.

Llednar nodded.

“I believe that man called it… The ‘Theater’…”

“Hah… What a vain yet simple name for a place… Fitting for that mad fool.”

Llednar muttered hoarsely.

“Indeed...”

I look around for a bit.

In front of us, was a rather gaudy designed door decorated with withered roses.

“How vain.”

“Utterly worthless.”

We say our impressions.

Although we look upon the design with disdain, we still retain our guard.

It’s because…

We can clearly feel it… The malevolent aura stronger than ever flowing through that door…

“Enough of this. Let’s go.”

I said.

We don’t have the time to waste staring at this door all day.

Llednar follows my lead.

I draw my sword and shield and advance.

I walk cautiously to the door.

Upon reaching it, I slowly began to push the door open.

Llednar had already drawn his daggers.

We remain vigilant, ready for battle at a moment’s notice.

And upon opening it, what awaited us there was-

A red carpet leading to a stage with chairs to sit upon on the sides.

“…”

“…The heck is this?”

I was stunned while Llednar asked with disbelief written in his face.

There was no malevolent aura at all.

There were even bright lights leading us there to the stage.

There’s no one here.

Although this place was empty, I could still sense a festive mood in the air.

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It’s similar to being in a theater just like those I entered back in the days where I was still royalty.

I joined many of those, partly because I enjoyed them and mainly due to my status and my obligations as a son of the king.

Still… Why on Earth is there a wide stage here like this underground?

I simply can’t understand.

From what I’ve read in the diary, he found this place by chance and began doing renovations to it.

According to the diary, this was just a regular mansion.

A typical mansion any noble would have.

With secret rooms and passages for escape.

But still… That man worked by himself to build all this…?

The decorations here are hard to match, even by the most prestigious theaters in the capital.

I’m certain even those famous artisans and architects would be stunned with this show of art.

And it was all the efforts of one man alone.

Apparently, that man wasn’t only talented in terms of martial prowess and medicine but was also skilled in the arts of masonry and art.

How wasteful…

To give such a twisted madman so much talent.

That in the end, it was used purely for the sake of evil.

I was slightly dazed at the sight of this.

“Wake up laddie.”

Until Llednar shook me from my dazed state.

Coming to my senses, I scan my surroundings once more.

“Thank you for bringing me to my senses. Still, there must be an exit here somewhere leading to the other passage.”

This place wasn’t in the map I memorized.

I think for a bit.

By the looks of things, this place must have been built later on after the map was drawn.

Perhaps that man finished this area but failed to update that map.

If so, then that means he died after finishing this stage and was not given a chance to arrange that map.

If that’s true, then what other contraptions and mechanisms are present here that we are unaware of?

Perhaps some passageways were remodeled…

I look upon the stage with a cold gaze as I understand that the map we’ve had would not be as helpful as I thought.