Kaito stood before the throne, the only structure in the chamber that was still whole. Everything else the marble pillars, the carved walls, even the great chandeliers had cracked, fallen, or burned during the battle. Yet the throne remained untouched, as if the chaos around it had never touched its surface.
Up close, Kaito could finally take in the details. The throne was carved from a single block of obsidian-like stone, smooth and cold to the touch. Fine silver patterns, like rivers frozen in time, ran along its armrests. The back of the throne rose high, shaped into the form of twisting mist and shadowy wings, a reminder of the Mist Queen's dominion. Despite the damage that the throne room had suffered, not a single mark or chip could be found on its dark surface. It was unnaturally pristine, almost defiant against the destruction that had filled the chamber.
Kaito placed his hand against the armrest and let his fingers trace the lines, his mind recalling the events of his past life. He knew that somewhere here was a hidden groove a mechanism cleverly worked into the design. The player who had first discovered it in his previous life had stumbled on it by accident, but Kaito had the advantage of foresight.
He moved slowly, inspecting every edge of the throne with careful patience. His eyes sharpened, his fingertips brushing along the underside of the seat and the base. Then he felt it a faint depression, so subtle that anyone without purpose would miss it. A hidden groove.
Without hesitation, Kaito pressed down.
The floor beneath the throne gave a deep rumble. The heavy chair trembled, then slid backwards with surprising ease, as if moved by invisible gears. Dust and bits of loose stone shook loose from the ceiling as the throne glided away. A large square opening revealed itself in the floor where the throne had once stood.
The grinding sound drew attention. Mei Rin and the others, who had been catching their breath nearby, all turned their heads sharply. Their eyes widened as they saw the throne moving on its own.
"Brother Kaito?" Mei Rin called, her voice laced with surprise.
Kaito only gave a small nod, his gaze fixed on the opening below. The sound of stone against stone grew louder until, at last, the movement stopped.
From the revealed hole, a staircase of black stone slowly unfolded, each step sliding into place with a dull echo. The stairs spiraled downward, vanishing into the darkness below.
The team rose to their feet and gathered around, curiosity lighting up their exhausted faces.
For the others, it was their first time seeing something like this. They had assumed, like in any other game, that once the final boss was defeated, the dungeon would end. But now, with a hidden passage opening beneath the throne, their hearts raced with curiosity. It felt new, strange, almost unreal like the dungeon still had secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Kaito turned to them and spoke calmly, "Wait here. I'll go down and take a look."
The others hesitated, their eyes full of questions. But in the end, they could only nod. As much as they wanted to follow, they trusted his judgment.
Kaito had his reasons. In his previous life, he had read about the hidden mission from the player who discovered it. That player had boasted about completing the quest, but even then, he never revealed the exact details of what lay below. Not a single word about the dangers or the trials. Because of that, Kaito didn't know what to expect now.
He was simply being cautious. With his skills, movement techniques, and experience, he believed that if there was danger, he could at least find a way to escape. But if he brought the entire team with him, and something went wrong, none of them might make it out alive. He couldn't take that risk.
So, after a steady breath, Kaito placed his foot on the first step. The stone stair was cold under his boots, the air below heavy and thick, carrying a faint smell of damp stone and something far older. Step by step, he began his descent, disappearing slowly into the shadowed passage while his team remained above, watching him go in silence.
...
Kaito descended the stairs slowly, both of his blades drawn Solstice Blade in his right hand and Dragonfang Blade in his left. Every step echoed faintly, the silence around him almost pressing down on his chest. Mist gathered thickly as he went deeper, curling around the stone walls like ghostly hands. If not for the Lumina Sight potion he had taken earlier, he would have been completely blind. Thanks to the potion, faint outlines glowed through the haze, allowing him to see clearly.
At the end of the stairs, the passage opened into a small chamber. The room was plain, empty of treasures or traps, but at its center stood a single coffin. Its surface was cold, made entirely of ice, shimmering faintly with sealed runes.
The moment Kaito stepped into the chamber, a system prompt appeared before his eyes:
[Congratulations, Player Raen. You have discovered a Hidden Mission. Do you accept it? Yes / No.]
He didn't hesitate. Without a second thought, he chose Yes.
The moment he accepted, the runes carved into the coffin flickered to life. Symbols of light and shadow flashed across its surface, glowing faintly before dimming again. Kaito immediately raised his guard, blades at the ready, his eyes fixed on the ice coffin.
But nothing attacked him. The seals only pulsed with faint light, as if acknowledging his presence. With his senses sharpened, Kaito slowly stepped closer. The ice was clear enough that he could see inside.
And then he froze.
Within the coffin lay a woman. Her beauty was breathtaking, even more dazzling than any NPC or character he had seen before. Long silvery hair framed her pale face, her eyes closed as though she was only sleeping. She wore a regal gown, faint traces of noble embroidery still visible even beneath the frost.
Recognition struck him like lightning.
"The princess…" he whispered to himself.
It was Princess Leona the missing royal daughter of the King of the Solaris Kingdom. Since the start of Glory, the princess's disappearance had been a mystery woven into the main storyline. In his previous life, Kaito had never uncovered the truth. She had simply returned one day, but at a level far beyond his reach, he had never learned the reason behind her absence.
Now, standing here, he finally understood.
This was why she had gone missing. The princess had been captured and sealed within the Misty Palace.
As Kaito's mind raced, another system prompt appeared before his eyes.
[Hidden Mission Objective Unlocked.]
Hidden missions in Glory were unlike normal quests. Even after accepting them, the objectives were not revealed until the player uncovered key clues. Now that Kaito had found the princess's coffin, the mission's details were displayed clearly:
…
[Hidden Mission: The Lost Princess]
Objective:
Princess Leona of the Solaris Kingdom has been abducted by Abyss Demons and sealed within the Misty Palace. Their intention is to sow distrust between the Solaris Kingdom and its neighboring kingdoms, creating chaos through which the Abyss Demons can infiltrate the kingdoms.
Reward: ?????
Failure Penalty: ?????
….