Once more, Anderson's hands clenched Gil's clothes, his face contorted in anger. "What's the meaning of this, you damned brat?! Don't tell me you fell for a scam? Because that chest is empty!"
Gil let out an irritated click of his tongue. He was annoyed by Anderson's explosive temper, but he needed to give an excuse. "Release your grip, you asshole. Didn't I just explain before? Someone tossed it onto this dungeon floor."
Upon hearing the explanation, Anderson released his hold on Gil, though his expression remained etched with frustration. "Then pray to tell, where on earth was that wand thrown?"
"Somewhere on this floor, obviously," Gil said, deliberately turning his face away.
Unbeknownst to the others, including Anderson, Gil was weaving a lie. As previously noted, two chests were supposed to appear after defeating the boss, yet only one had existed. This strongly suggested that the gun might not actually exist. Nevertheless, Gil was not ready to concede defeat. The difference between this dungeon and the one at the game fueled his belief that there was more to uncover.
Driven by impatience, Anderson was eager to wrap up this quest swiftly. He then looked for the gun himself. Lack seemed also to have the same thinking. Meanwhile, Gil wanted to inspect the area around the chest since he couldn't go saw as he recuperated from mana exhaustion.
But as each of them prepared to carry out their intentions, Elise's voice resonated, putting their actions on hold. "Gil, there is a rune trap there. Be careful."
Gil blinked repeatedly, utterly bewildered by Elise's warning.
'A trap here?' His mind grappled with confusion.
Gil's bewilderment stemmed from his knowledge of the game, which had never included traps in this dungeon as far as he knew.
Elise said the presence of a rune trap positioned behind the chest, guiding Gil's attention to its location. He directed his gaze downward, where an intricate array of unfamiliar symbols adorned the floor, emitting a blinking luminescence.
Just as Gil was poised to examine the trap more closely, Anderson's cautionary voice sliced through the air. "Kid, can't you hear? It's a trap! Quit causing problems and start searching for what you looking for." With his reprimand delivered, Anderson strode away.
Gil emitted a low growl in response to Anderson's comment. Although he was pissed, this quest would never end if he just bickered with him back and forth. Opting to disregard Anderson's remark, Gil turned his attention to Elise, his curiosity still aflame regarding the rune trap.
"Do you know what it says in that trap? I believe the ancient word was written on it," Gil inquired.
Elise's expression conveyed uncertainty as she responded, "I didn't know that much, but is it important?"
"Don't know. But I feel this rune connected to what I searching for."
Elise's features twisted into a puzzled expression. "Gil, you must know that a rune that appeared in the dungeon meant either a mechanism needed to be solved or it was a plain trap. So there is no way that rune was your wand. Tell me, is your informant telling you that was where your wand was?"
Gil's muscles tensed at the mention of his fabricated informant. Obviously, it was something he made up before so everyone wouldn't question him.
"N-no..." Gil denied it. Hoping to divert the conversation, he quickly redirected with another question. "T-that's right. Since you said it's also for solving a mechanism, does that mean a puzzle?"
Elise nodded in response. "Yes, on occasion. Alternatively, it might simply serve to unlock a door." However, Gil's attempt to divert to another question was noticed by Elise. "But why the stumble in your words just now?" She leaned in with a quizzical look.
A playful grin formed when Elise realized the informant's subject was making Gil stutter. She leaned in closer to Gil. "Tell me. You are lying, don't you? About that so-called informant of yours."
Gil's lips tightened slightly, his mind racing to navigate the situation. After a moment of contemplation, he devised a strategy to avoid further complications after being exposed by Elise.
"If I did, so what? You want to tell the other? Only trouble happens if you do that, you know it." Gil retorted with a resolute tone.
Elise was taken aback by his response, not anticipating such a firm retort. What's more, she hadn't predicted that her own words, mirroring her previous concerns about Anderson, would be used against her.
Gil's point was also valid. Revealing his deception could trigger Anderson's temper, escalating into a full-blown confrontation. It was clear that nothing positive could emerge from such a scenario.
"Fine then. I won't spill the beans to the others," Elise conceded. She then turned her attention to the ancient rune. "I can only decipher these particular ones," she explained, pointing to some of the largest symbols on the rune. "It spells out 'Nova'."
Gil's face displayed a mixture of shock and delight at the revelation. Nova was the name of the premium gun he had been looking for in this quest.
"You sure it says that? Cause that's the name I've been looking for."
"I believe so... Ancient runes aren't exactly my strong suit," Elise admitted.
Despite Elise's disclaimer, Gil's excitement wasn't dampened. With confirmation in mind, he reached out and touched the ancient rune with his hand.
"Wait, what are you doing?" Elise exclaimed in surprise.
But it was too late. One by one, the runes that formed on the ground burst into brilliant, vivid colors. The air crackled with raw power, and arcs of ethereal energy leaped between the runes, forming an intricate web of light.
Upon realizing something was amiss, Gil swiftly attempted to retract his hand, only to discover that he was now immobilized, unable to free himself. "What the heck?!"
As his efforts proved futile, the rune that had adorned the ground abruptly coiled around his arm. Anxiety tightened its grip on Gil as he grappled with his powerlessness. Then, a luminous aura enveloped his arm, accompanied by searing heat pressing against his skin.
"Arrrggghhhh!"
The intensity of the heat was so overwhelming that Gil lost consciousness, his body convulsing in a seizure-like manner while the rune continued to envelop his arm.
Watching with trepidation, the others took a cautious step back, fearful that Gil had set off some catastrophic event. Yet, as time ticked by, no extraordinary phenomenon unfolded. The once-present rune on the ground had vanished, and remarkably, Gil's arm remained unharmed. However, a distinct mark was now imprinted on his skin.