Chapter 10

The wolves began to howl in unison.

In the next instant, the cursed rock appeared right before my eyes.

"Whoa!"

I took a defensive stance, arms outstretched in front of me...

But a part of my mind calmly analyzed that this wouldn't do any good.

*Thud*

A loud noise accompanied by pain... Wait, it's not painful.

When I checked carefully, the cursed rock had embedded itself in the opposite side of the cave wall.

Moreover, the shape of the cursed rock had changed.

It had become smaller.

When the cursed rock emerged from the wall, it moved along the wall.

It seemed to be putting distance between itself and me.

I hadn't done anything to it.

What happened?

It did collide with me... Was that an attack?

Ah, it must be a barrier.

The barrier must have protected me effectively.

But the result is different from what I expected.

Why did it embed itself in the wall?

This space is larger than where the wolves were.

The entrance we came through is near one of the four corners of the space.

Since it's rectangular, the cursed rock, which moved to the opposite corner, looks smaller.

There must have been something it was trying to escape from, but I can't figure out what.

Was there something that scared it?

Or does the cursed rock have a will of its own?

I tilted my head and looked at the wolves.

They stared back with their round eyes.

It was a heartwarming moment in such a place.

But the tension had eased.

When I tried to get a little closer, the cursed rock collided with me again.

I decided to let it attack me and see what happens.

The attack was blocked by the barrier, which then glowed and counterattacked.

...Counterattack?

Several beams of light pierced the cursed rock like spears and disappeared.

It happened in an instant.

What, the barrier attacked? What is this?

Is the barrier so terrifying?

The cursed rock had embedded itself again in the farthest wall.

Initially, it seemed to be about 25 meters tall and almost reached the cave ceiling... but it had shrunk significantly.

It had become about two-thirds smaller and was now probably 7 to 8 meters tall.

Well, the one who attacked first was in the wrong, so I hope it can forgive me.

The fact that the barrier can attack is surprising.

The wolves tilted their heads at me.

I don't understand.

Thinking about the barrier is a waste of time, so I'll leave it alone.

The problem is the cursed rock.

Since my attacks don't work, I decided to get as close as possible.

It didn't budge from the corner of the wall.

Am I imagining things?

The cursed rock seems more like the wolves I first met.

Is it a living rock?

Is that why it can be cursed?

I decided to try purifying it.

The cursed rock glowed for a moment, and the black surface thinned, but it quickly returned to its original state.

It seems the purification's power is too weak.