第102章 仪式的准备已经完成
迷雾小镇，破旧的旅馆门口悬挂着“幽林小憩”的招牌，门可罗雀的大堂只有趴在柜台上打盹儿的老板和看不见的幽灵作伴……如果幽灵愿意来这儿的话。
别看这儿似乎有些萧条，但其实这里已经是整条小镇上条件不错的旅馆。
端着餐盘的服务生踩着发霉的木地板，在走廊尽头的房间门口停下脚步，小心翼翼地敲响了那破旧的门板。
“客人，您的晚餐。”
这间屋子里住着一位古怪的客人。
一个月前他来到这里，将一堆零零碎碎的魔晶扔在柜台上表示要住店，随后便拿着钥匙去了角落的房间，并且进去之后再也没出来过。
虽然他从来没有订过晚餐，但为了不让他饿死在自家的旅馆，老板还是默认他有这个需求，每晚都会让人送来。
如此一来既可以从他的账上多赚点钱，顺便也能看看他是否还活着，防止尸体臭了才被人发现。
不同于那些有领主的小镇，迷雾镇属于莱恩王国在地下世界的飞地，主要由冒险者公会经营，为那些前往迷宫更深处的冒险者们提供差旅上的便利，同时监视迷宫里的魔物活动。
由于这里是法外之地，因此除了冒险者会来这儿之外，偶尔也会有一些在地表活不下去的人躲到这里。
“幽林小憩”的服务生们和后厨的厨师们没少议论这位古怪的客人。
有人说他欠了很多钱，也有人说他得罪了不该得罪的人。
还有人说他是被通缉的逃犯。
不过无论怎样，这里是迷雾镇，并不是领主的地盘。
只要有人愿意付钱，他们就会提供相对应的服务，并对与此无关的事情装聋作哑。
哪怕给的不是钱，而是魔晶或者其他能换成钱的贵金属。
门背后半天没有声音。
就在门口的服务生寻思着这家伙会不会是死掉了的时候，沙哑的声音忽然透过门缝传来。
“放在门口。”
“好，好的……”回过神来的服务生立刻将餐盘放在门口。
在这里，脾气古怪的旅人不少。
本着多一事不如少一事的原则，他并不想多管闲事儿。
不过出于好心，他还是善意的提醒了一句。
“对了先生，您的房费快用完了……如果您还想继续住下去，最好在三天之内预定房间。当然，这只是建议……”
房间内沉默了一会儿，没有回答。
就在服务生正要离开的时候，嘶哑的声音从房门内传来。
“知道了。”
那声音充满了不耐烦，又像是做出了某种决定似的。
不敢在这儿多做停留，服务员脚步匆匆的从走廊离开了。
屋内。
蓬头垢面的米兰达看了一眼怀表，深吸了一口浑浊的空气，走去门口将餐盘拖了进来，然后看也不看的倒进了垃圾袋。
虽然有些可惜，但他不得不这么做。
理论上任何与他直接或者间接接触过的人，都有可能成为诡谲之雾的使徒，直接或者间接地参与到其不可名状的阴谋之中。
为了不成为那不可描述之阴谋的牺牲品，他只能远走他乡来到这里，躲藏在这个不受外界影响的小镇上，并且尽可能的减少与其他人的联系。
不过事到如今，他也快撑不下去了……
那冥冥之中的声音又飘到了他的耳旁，用带着一丝遗憾的声音说道。
“那块抹着黄油的面包看起来真的很美味……你真的不尝一口吗？”
米兰达没有回答，只是从行李箱中取出干粮咬了一口，随后用红肿的眼睛盯着桌角的镜子，嗓音沙哑的说道。
“我们是时候做个了断了。”
所谓的了断，即是结束他自己的生命。
当灵魂从肉体中彻底解放，烙在他灵魂深处的印记也会随着他的灵魂回归主的怀抱一并消亡。
任何以此为锚点的阴谋都将烟消云散。
哪怕是诡谲之雾诺维尔，也无法对抗那亘古时代便存在的真理。
虽然死在迷宫里的人，灵魂无法回归神灵的怀抱，而是会被迷宫本身吃掉……但结果都是一样的。
用牺牲换取最后的胜利，是他在尝试了所有的方法之后，眼下唯一能做的事情。
似乎是感受到了他的决心，摆在桌角的镜子忽然泛起了一层层诡谲的涟漪。
浓稠的迷雾弥漫在了镜子里的房间，遮住了所能遮住的一切。
包括米兰达自己。
一声轻笑从虚空中传来，无处不在的眼睛就好似在注视着一只愚蠢的蝼蚁。
“你觉得这样就能摆脱我吗？”
“少虚张声势了。”米兰达死死的盯着镜子，手已经握住了餐刀。
有那么一瞬间他也不确定，虚张声势的到底是那千变万化的雾，还是被雾笼罩着的自己。
那无形的眼睛依旧注视着他，用慢条斯理的声音轻声低语。
“我不是在虚张声势，只是觉得……有点可惜。”
“可惜？”
“是的……在即将胜利的前夜，无法与我的友人分享这份喜悦。我永远会记得，你是我的第一位仆人，将我从沉睡中唤醒。”
米兰达冷笑了一声，将锋利的餐刀抵在了自己的脖子上。
“你所谓的胜利不会有了。”
白雾注视着他，轻声笑道。
“那可未必。”
米兰达的瞳孔微微收缩了几分，眼睛危险的眯起。
“什么意思？”
那冥冥之中的声音继续说道。
“你是计划中的一环，棋盘上的棋子之一。完成宿命的人本该是你，但也不必是你。”
米兰达的眼中写上一丝疯狂，用几乎咆哮的声音吼了出来。
“那你就去找那个人好了，这里的一切已经与我无关！”
“是吗？但他可不会就这么放过你，发誓要找到你，哪怕是你的尸体。他会将你复活，这对于完成仪式的他而言不会很难。你以为死亡就能摆脱我，但其实死亡只是一切的开端。”
“你这家伙……”
眼中浮起一丝恐惧，米兰达咒骂着，丢掉手中的餐刀，将颤抖的手伸进了行李箱，取出了放在夹层里的火柴。
然而那双无处不在的眼睛只是注视着他，在他的大脑里轻声低语。
“想自焚是吗？我告诉你没用的……就算你烧成了骨灰，你的灵魂也会留在原地。”
米兰达：“这不可能！你休想骗我！”
冥冥之中的声音嘲笑着。
“这就是事实。迷宫的确会吃掉无处可去的灵魂，但前提是活着的迷宫。这片迷宫已经死掉了，你该不会刚才知道吧，呵呵呵呵……”
心脏有那么一瞬间停止了跳动，米兰达的眼神陷入了深深的绝望。
而也就在这时，那如幽灵般的声音在他耳边继续说道。
“这样吧……强扭的瓜不甜，而对于你，我差不多也厌倦了。”
“那就赶紧从我的脑袋里滚出去！”米兰达从喉咙里发出压抑的低吼。
“别着急，我会这么做的……但为了让这一切结束的快一点，你得替我做最后一件事情。”
米兰达：“想都别想！”
“你有权利拒绝，不过……不打算先听我说完再做决定吗？”
“……”
米兰达没有说话，用行动默许了那冥冥之中的声音继续说下去。
他并不是个伟大的人。
也从未真正的想过要牺牲自己来拯救他人……哪怕这场祸端因他而起。
或许诺维尔正是看穿了他的心思，所以才压根没有把他的威胁放在心上。
米兰达的表情渐渐扭曲，痛苦地抱住了头，恨不得掐死自己，却又不要放住那一线生机。
那冥冥之中的声音继续低语。
“你渴望变强，渴望改变自己的命运，所以不惜冒险尝试了连你的导师都不敢轻易尝试的仪式和咒语。然而就在你赌上一切的时候，你却发现命运和你开了个玩笑。你取悦的神灵不是别人，而是我……来自于混沌的真正的外神。”
“你恐惧着我，而我却从未抛弃过你，我甚至为你铺垫了一条最最最一帆风顺的路，你只要按照我说的做下去，你的成就不会低于林特·艾萨克，你将是这片大陆上的第二个巫师国王……而且不费吹灰之力。”
“但你做了什么？你一直在抗拒着我，你的愚蠢和对未知的恐惧阻碍了你的进步，我试图将你劝回正确的轨道上，但可惜你一而再再而三地将自己的使命抛在身后逃跑。”
“现在，曾经垂青于你的神灵已经厌倦了你……不过祂到底是仁慈，即便你不止一次辜负了祂的期望，祂仍然会给你第二个选择。”
米兰达放下了抱着脑袋的手，缓缓抬起了头，眼神空洞的看着镜子。
“你要我做什么？”
他已经放弃了抵抗。
深陷漩涡的他已明了，在那诡谲之雾的面前，任何挣扎都是毫无意义的。
不可名状的雾中传来鬼鬼祟祟的窃笑，仿佛在欣慰着他的变化。
“很简单……”
“帮我完成仪式的最后一环。”
"Miranda's story has been deeply rooted in people's hearts. Twenty-seven lives are enough as sacrifices. But now there is only one last step. Only death can put the legend to rest!"
"We have to let the undead alchemist named Miranda be killed by our sharp-eyed detective."
"You're going to kill me?!" Miranda held her breath, a hint of fear appearing in her empty eyes.
Just as Norville guessed, this guy didn't have the courage to sacrifice.
Therefore, he is destined to never be able to glimpse the truth.
"Of course not... Only when the lie becomes the truth, can we be considered to have successfully distorted the truth. The one who is killed must be the false Miranda, and the real Miranda...that is, you, will inherit the name of the deceased."
Miranda muttered to herself.
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"So you want me to find a necromancer who knows alchemy... where can I find one for you?"
Norville whispered with a smile.
"You don't need to look for him. He is in the maze and is heading here..."
…
Deep in the misty forest, a group of adventurers are heading towards a small town in the forest.
After successively killing several monsters that were waiting for an opportunity to attack, Luo Yan, Alex and others finally came to an open area with relatively sparse trees.
Unlike the dead forest that was shrouded in murderous intent, this place was not only quieter, but also had less murderous aura hidden in the mist.
Sarah lowered the dagger and quietly raised her arm to wipe the blood on her cheek.
That was left by the previous demon wolf. She had never had the time to clean it up, but now she finally found the opportunity.
According to the map provided by the Adventurer's Guild, the nearby area is the logging camp of Misty Town.
The road from here to Misty Town is a relatively safe area. Not only is there a clearly defined cobblestone road, but there are also fewer monsters active nearby.
Through the thick white fog, everyone could even vaguely see the scattered lights.
“It’s right ahead!”
Alex had an excited expression on his face, and so did his two companions, who also had surprise on their faces.
However, for some reason, Luo Yan felt that there was a pair of eyes watching him secretly.
Is it a night elf?
Or something else...
"Speaking of which, Mr. Lolo."
A voice from the side interrupted Luo Yan's thoughts.
Looking at Alex who was talking to him, Luo Yan spoke in a casual tone.
"What's wrong?"
Alex asked with a hint of curiosity in his voice as he put his sword back on his waist.
"Please forgive me for not meaning to offend you. I am just a little curious. Why would someone like you become an adventurer?"
Luo Yan thought about it and said casually.
"If I have to find a reason, it's probably to become stronger...what about you?"
"What a coincidence," Alex said with a smile, "I have the same reason as you. I also want to try to surpass myself."
This is not easy.
Luo Yan smiled faintly.
Youyou can see soul levels that ordinary people cannot see, but unfortunately, this young man's soul level is only bronze, and he must have stayed at this level for too long, just like himself in the past.
This is also the helplessness of mortals.
Supernatural powers are not something you can possess just by wanting them. There are only two ways to break through the soul level that is determined at birth.
One is to use evil necromancy rituals to continuously devour and fuse other souls, making oneself no longer pure self.
Another way is to please the gods through certain special behaviors, making the latter admit that they have made a mistake and consume precious power of faith to improve their soul level.
Killing the Demon King is the most famous way.
There are many other ways besides this... such as becoming a legend passed down by word of mouth.
However, these methods are too abstract. There are very few adventurers who become legends, and the vast majority of people end up becoming nutrients in the maze.
However, like most adventurers, Alex doesn't think so.
He has a heartfelt desire to become a legend.
"...There is a legend among adventurers that if you kill 100 minotaurs, you can break through your bottleneck."
Luo Yan thought for a moment and said.
"I've heard of it, but as for the results...I'm afraid it depends on the person."
Alex said with a smile.
"But it's a solution, isn't it? I want to give it a try."
Luo Yan looked at him with some curiosity.
"Why are you so obsessed with becoming stronger? With all due respect, your decent conversation doesn't sound like someone who needs to worry about life."
The soul level of most nobles is not low, but not all nobles are keen on becoming powerful knights or magicians. Instead, they prefer to send their second or third sons who have no inheritance rights to the empire's academy and war states for training.
Hearing this, a hint of hesitation appeared on Alex's face, and finally he sighed softly.
"Maybe... it's because I'm unwilling."
"Not willing?"
He nodded and spoke ambiguously.
"You may have seen... my family is not ordinary. Like you said, even if I do nothing, I don't have to worry about life... but that's all."
Luo Yan: "Are you the second son of the family?"
"Yes," Alex nodded, looking towards the direction of Misty Town with a complicated expression, and continued, "Because I am the second son of the family, neither the territory nor the supernatural power has much to do with me. The grace bestowed by the gods on our family has been inherited by my elder brother. I can only watch my brother enjoy all the glory alone, and no matter what I do, I will not be praised by my family...even if I do better than him."
Finally speaking out his true feelings, Alex let out a long sigh, looked at Luo Yan and said with a smile.
"You must think I'm childish, right?"
Luo Yan shook his head.
"Not really, it's just an attitude towards life. I understand people who are different from me."
Alex smiled and turned his gaze back to the misty town ahead.
"Thank you for your understanding. Anyway... I don't want to spend my life in such a muddle, so I plan to become an adventurer. Who knows? Maybe I can encounter some adventures during my journey and change something, such as becoming a great swordsman."
Luo Yan: "I must say, this idea is very naive."
“Hahaha, I actually think so too…” Alex also felt a little embarrassed. He laughed heartily and said self-deprecatingly, “There aren’t that many adventures in this world, and even if you do encounter one, it may not be a good thing.”
really.
Sometimes being favored by the gods is not always a good thing.
Moreover, this guy would never have imagined in his dreams that the person standing next to him at this moment was none other than the Demon King himself.
Just when Luo Yan couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth, Youyou, who had disappeared for a long time, suddenly appeared in his ear again.
"Master Demon... Youyou has a bad feeling that something dirty might be hiding in that town."
Luo Yan's eyebrows raised slightly.
"Dirty things?"
"Yes..." Youyou's voice was timid for the first time, and she whispered cautiously, "It may not belong to this world, but something outside..."
Luo Yan thought for a moment and asked seriously.
“Is it strong?”
Youyou: "Not really... on the contrary, it's still very weak for now. But it's hard to say, it didn't just appear, and due to the connivance of the people there, it has quietly existed for a long time."
Luo Yan touched his chin.
"So if we leave it alone, it will become a bigger problem?"
Youyou whispered guiltily.
"Perhaps...but doesn't your territory still reach the fourth floor of the maze?"
It's rare that this guy who is always looking for trouble would be timid.
Although Luo Yan was alert, he had no intention of retreating.
"Youyou, if a bad thing is doomed to happen, I would rather nip it in the bud than watch it ferment into a monster that no one can handle, and then complain about why I didn't act sooner."
Speaking softly in a voice that only Youyou could hear, Luo Yan paused for a moment, then continued with a smile.
"Besides, since when did my territory start being measured in layers?"
"Everything here——"
“They are all mine!”
(End of this chapter)