Chapter 25
It felt as though invisible chains had wrapped around Suhyeok’s body.
A chill ran down his spine.
The meaning behind Taeo’s question was obvious.
...He suspects me.
Considering everything Suhyeok had done until now, it was understandable.
His actions were almost completely unprecedented.
But there should not have been any evidence.
The only one who knew Suhyeok had regressed was the Administrator at the very top who had sent him back.
If he already knew I had regressed, there’s no way he would calmly ask me like this.
Administrators were essentially hosts who showed the Players’ progress to the Constellations.
If Taeo had clear evidence that Suhyeok had already climbed the Tower once, he would have killed him immediately.
In other words...
The question was only meant to test his reaction.
Suhyeok calmly replied,
“Here I thought only Leon talked nonsense.”
He met Taeo’s eyes.
“Do all Administrators constantly say ridiculous things?”
Taeo stared at him with a meaningful smile.
He was thinking.
Trying to decide whether Suhyeok was telling the truth...
Or lying to fool him.
“Your achievements have been impressive enough to surprise even me.”
Taeo placed a hand on Suhyeok’s shoulder.
The gesture looked gentle.
Yet Suhyeok could not avoid it.
“One hundred and sixty-five goblins.”
Taeo smiled.
“You killed them alone with average stats that had not even reached ten.”
His smile widened.
“At first, I couldn’t believe it.”
He leaned closer.
“Who could imagine a human like that existed?”
Suhyeok frowned.
“So what does that...”
“But now that I’m standing before you, I find something else even more suspicious.”
The smile slowly disappeared from Taeo’s face.
His voice became cold.
“How can an insignificant Player remain this calm while standing before me?”
Suhyeok flinched.
RUMBLE!
The pressure suddenly increased to an entirely different level.
The entire space began shaking.
“Urgh...!”
A terrifying killing intent invaded Suhyeok’s mind.
One knee slammed onto the ground.
[The effect of ‘No. 21 Mental Immunity Ring’ has been neutralized.]
[Warning! The user’s Mental Power is beginning to collapse!]
His vision blurred.
His fingertips trembled violently.
Dark blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
Hummm. Hummm.
“......?”
The sword inside its sheath began vibrating.
The trembling in Suhyeok’s hand slowly weakened.
The bleeding stopped.
Hummm...
No way...
Is it trying to help me?
Taeo stared at the sword.
“Oh?”
His interest deepened.
“You endured that.”
He smiled.
“Impressive.”
Then his eyes narrowed.
“And an Ego Sword as well...”
Taeo tilted his head.
“Was my suspicion correct after all?”
Suhyeok painfully raised his head.
He clenched his teeth and glared at Taeo.
“Stop... talking... nonsense...!”
Taeo seemed entertained by Suhyeok’s resistance.
He clasped his hands behind his back and began walking.
Tap. Tap.
“Lee Suhyeok.”
Taeo spoke calmly.
“You discovered the Hidden Dungeon on the 1st floor.”
His footsteps continued.
“And now you have found this place by yourself as well.”
He stopped beside the frozen Leon.
“You obviously knew about the Moonstone too.”
Taeo gently stroked Leon’s fur.
Then he glanced down at Suhyeok.
“Can all of this truly be called coincidence?”
CRACK!
“Urgh...!”
Thud.
The pressure became even stronger.
Suhyeok’s remaining leg collapsed.
“Cough! Cough!”
Dark blood spilled onto the floor.
The smell of blood filled his nose.
It had been a long time since he had experienced this metallic scent.
If he lost focus for even a moment...
He would lose consciousness.
A drop of blood landed near Taeo’s shoe.
Taeo looked down.
“...Hmm. Troublesome.”
His voice turned ice-cold.
“These are new shoes.”
He stared at the blood.
“And now they’ve been dirtied by human blood.”
His expression twisted.
“Disgusting.”
“......!”
Suhyeok’s entire body stiffened.
Goosebumps spread across his skin.
Then...
Taeo smiled again.
“Oh, forgive me.”
His polite tone instantly returned.
“Sometimes, like today, I have trouble controlling my anger.”
He smiled.
“I would appreciate your understanding.”
Suhyeok stared through his blurred vision.
Now he understood.
Taeo acted like a polite gentleman on the surface.
But underneath...
His very nature was filled with hatred toward humans.
...I can’t die here.
If he died now...
Everything he had done would become meaningless.
Clench!
Suhyeok desperately held onto consciousness.
His eyelids tried to fall shut.
He forced them open.
Taeo looked down at him with a satisfied smile.
Then he asked again.
“I will ask you one more time.”
His purple eyes narrowed.
“Have you ever climbed this Tower before?”
“Cough... I...”
Just as Suhyeok’s consciousness began fading...
Light suddenly flashed in the air.
Fwoooosh...
“......?”
Light touched the back of his hand.
The moment it spread, his collapsing mind recovered slightly.
What...?
How...
Taeo looked genuinely surprised.
“...Ha.”
His expression darkened.
“I didn’t think you would go this far.”
He looked upward.
“To think you would protect him so openly.”
Suhyeok struggled to remain conscious and followed Taeo’s gaze.
Three brilliant lights floated above him.
...Right.
It was the same back then.
On the day Suhyeok reached the 100th floor alone after losing every one of his companions...
Countless Constellations had floated above him in that white space.
The lights before him now were definitely Constellations.
But this was different.
This time...
It felt as if they were standing there to protect him.
Why...?
System messages appeared.
[Constellation ‘Master of Scorching Heat’ stands in front of you and raises his hammer.]
[Constellation ‘Ruler of the Battlefield’ curls his finger and asks whether Taeo wishes to fight.]
[Constellation ‘One-Eyed White-Haired Elder’ declares that he will personally fight despite his aged body.]
They were all Constellations who had sponsored Suhyeok before.
The moment the messages appeared, the pressure crushing his body became lighter.
Taeo looked toward the lights.
“You must have spent a considerable amount of Intervention Power.”
His expression became complicated.
“To interfere this actively...”
Taeo sighed.
“It seems this situation will not be easy for me to continue.”
Suhyeok did not know why they were protecting him.
Maybe they wanted their entertainment to continue.
Maybe they had simply changed their minds.
The reason did not matter.
There was only one thing Suhyeok knew.
What he needed to do now.
[‘No. 21 Mental Immunity Ring’ partially neutralizes the mental attack according to the user’s will.]
[Achievement ‘One Who Resisted Divinity’ acquired.]
[Your Mental Power has exceeded the limits of the current floor by an overwhelming amount.]
Suhyeok slowly forced himself to his feet.
When their eyes met...
Taeo’s face twisted.
Suhyeok wiped the blood from his mouth.
Then he spoke.
“Give me my reward and get lost.”
Taeo stared at him.
Then...
“Hahaha.”
His smile returned.
“You truly are entertaining.”
His body began fading like smoke.
“I suppose this is a situation where I have no choice but to retreat.”
Even until the very end...
That unpleasant smile remained on Taeo’s face.
“I sincerely hope we meet again.”
His purple eyes disappeared.
“Player... Lee Suhyeok.”
The moment Taeo vanished...
Time began moving again.
Leon, who had been frozen in midair, suddenly moved.
[...Huh? What? Why is there nothing here, nya? And the broadcast suddenly turned off, nya...]
Leon looked around in confusion.
Then he saw Suhyeok.
Covered in blood.
“......!”
Leon noticed the blood Suhyeok had coughed onto the floor.
His fur stood on end.
“W-Why do you look like that, nya?!”
Leon immediately rushed over.
He touched Suhyeok’s face and body, searching for more injuries.
His mouth hung open in shock.
He was clearly terrified by Suhyeok’s condition.
“Tell me right now, nya! Why did this suddenly happen?!”
Leon grabbed both of Suhyeok’s cheeks.
Squeeze.
He looked ready to keep demanding answers until Suhyeok talked.
“I’m fine, so let go first and let me explain...”
“No, nya! Tell me right now!”
Suhyeok eventually explained what had happened.
Only then did Leon release his cheeks.
“So that’s what happened, nya...?”
Leon’s ears suddenly drooped.
His expression became devastated.
