I Hate Systems

Chapter 117: Keep At Least Three Layers of Backup Plans

“W-What is happening?” Princess Raecha was flabbergasted once she woke up, noticing that she was carried by a Haggon that sprinted through the place, having entered Level 2.

“It seems we have been captured by the Haggons.” Wakuta said, “I did feel something was off by how tired I felt before. I’ve never done any work to feel that tired in all my life. So, it was confusing.”

“Then why didn’t you alert me?” Princess Raecha snapped back. “We could have avoided this fate if you had done that.”

“It was too late by the time I realised it.” Wakuta said, “Besides, doesn’t it seem strange that these Haggons are carrying us after tying us up? Why haven’t they eaten us yet?”

Only then did Princess Raecha realise the issue at play, afraid upon noticing that the Haggon hadn’t even glanced at her once. Besides, when she tried to sense her Chikon, she was unable to detect it, feeling tense.

Moreover, her tiny puppets that she carried with her for safety reasons weren’t there too. And like before, she was unable to sense them. ‘All of them were Darble Puppets. How were they taken from me?’

She also noticed the expertness with which she had been tied up. It didn’t seem like the work of a Haggon, but of a human that was an expert with tying humans up. That was why she was unable to move in the slightest as the ropes bound her in a certain way that her joints were positioned in such a manner that she wasn’t able to gather strength in them.

After a day passed, the two Haggons arrived before a hill where they handed over Princess Raecha and Wakuta to another pair of Haggons that carried them now and began to sprint once again, confusing the two.

“Just…what is happening?” The two were confused, unable to understand just what was happening when they fell asleep once again. For the greater part of the journey, they had been in a state of sleep, barely staying awake for a couple of minutes at most.

Eventually, the two Haggons arrived in Level 4, presenting the two women to Compass Carburettor that gazed at them, nodding once before saying through telepathy, “Good! Ensure that they are unconscious all along. Wake them up when I give the signal. Until then, keep them asleep.”

“Yes, Lord Spirit.” The two Haggons took on human forms, wore some clothes, and carried the two women with them, entering a cave to keep them captive there.

‘The plans are proceeding somewhat smoothly. But, I shouldn’t be careless. Regriel erupted with the power of a Transcendent before. At least, that power still conformed to the rules of this world. If he uses some other mysterious power, we’ll be at a disadvantage.’ He sighed, thinking, ‘In such a case, Princess Raecha and Wakuta would be the bait to lure him to the location.’

‘We can simply act like the Secret Society has saved them and give them enough information about the treasure. That’ll be bound to lure the Slave Harem System’s attention. This way, it’ll give Regriel a Quest to save his companions.’ Thinking as such, he continued to run, ‘But, it’s not enough. I should at least prepare three layers of backup, just in case. I have no idea as to how deep the powers of my opponent go.’

‘My only advantage is that I am in hiding. The Slave Harem System has yet to notice my existence. That’s my lead to defeating it.’ Finalising his plans, he relayed numerous commands to everyone through telepathy, causing many Haggons to begin the preparation.

He accompanied the Dungeon Boss, going around as they finished turning all the citizens of the Great Megwest Empire into members of Secret Society in Level 4. Soon, they reached the final level, beginning to head towards the mountainous Iron Castle in the centre where the remainder of the Haggons had gathered.

…

“Let’s move now. Raecha and Wakuta are waiting for us.” Regriel said, “They might have been injured from the attacks before. So, let’s see if we can try to meet up with them before the appointed meeting spot.”

“We have no other choice but to travel on foot. That’s bound to tire us out further.” General Artica said, “We no longer have my Iron Puppets to use either.”

“And without Wakuta, we cannot simply use our Darlac as we pleased like before.” Rikune sighed, bringing them atop the cliff, asking Regriel, “Are you still able to use that power from before? If we use both that and my power, we’ll be able to use the river to travel quickly.”

“Unfortunately, it seems I can’t.” Regriel sighed, clenching his hand into a fist, “I still cannot understand from where this power appeared.”

“It seems your past isn’t as simple as it seems.” Rikune said, “Once we leave this place, let’s investigate more into it. Your healing ability and this mysterious power of Transcendence that you used without attaining the state of Transcendence, all of them make no sense.”

“So, we have to get to the truth of the matter.” She concluded.

“I am of the same opinion myself.” Regriel nodded, beginning to run on the ground, “But first things first, we need to meet up with the others quickly. Without that, it’ll take us forever to traverse through the many levels of this Dungeon.”

“You’re right about that.” Rikune nodded, intending to say something when they noticed a Haggon pop out of the swamp before them.

The moment it exited the swamp, it roared, causing a powerful shockwave that would have ruptured their eardrums had they not blocked their ears quick enough. Immediately after, it exited the swamp, gazing at the three humans before it, grinning as it expressed its hunger.

“Be alert!” Rikune shouted in alarm, feeling her back be drenched by cold sweat, “It’s not a regular Haggon. It seems to have reached Transcendence.”

“What? Transcendence?” General Artica was alarmed, trembling in fear.

“A Haggon…that reached…Transcendence?” Regriel muttered slowly as the reality sunk into him, turning his face pale as he shuddered in fear, for a moment failing to process information as he noticed a shadow looming above him.