Chapter 53

Chapter 53

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was a path enclosed by wide brick walls.

It seemed I had entered the maze safely.

• Oh, so this is the inside?

• It looks seriously gloomy.

• Can anyone even escape this place? Isn't it way too huge?

• The traps looked brutal too ㄷㄷ

Leon, who had been clinging to my shoulder, quickly turned his head and spat out sand.

[ Ptooey, ptooey! This is seriously the worst, nya! If he'd at least warned us beforehand, this wouldn't have happened, nya! Ptooey! Ptooey! Kyaak! Sand keeps coming out of my mouth, nya! ]

While Leon complained, I checked the surroundings first.

No one was there.

Taesu, Yumi, and Hyuna were nowhere to be seen either.

They had probably been dropped somewhere else in the maze.

The exit is in the center anyway. We'll all end up heading to the same place, so that shouldn't matter.

The real problem was something else.

[Warning! The layout of the maze changes every 24 hours.]

[Destroyed traps and monsters will respawn every 24 hours.]

The maze was so enormous that crossing it normally would take at least ten days.

The moment someone stopped progressing, the layout would eventually change and trap them inside.

I placed a hand against the brick wall.

This wall in particular wasn't ordinary.

Complex mana circuits had been built into it.

They spread mana signals in every direction, preventing anyone from releasing energy to locate the exit.

• I heard this thing was a nightmare to design.

• Yeah ;; And destroying it is hard too. It'll probably regenerate the moment you break it.

• (with a proud expression) I wonder who could've designed something like this ^^

• So it was you ㄷㄷ

It didn't matter.

I had already prepared a way out.

I raised my right hand.

The Ring of the Great Spirit began to shine.

[ Sylph! ]

A low-grade wind spirit appeared.

Sylph.

I had contracted with it immediately after leaving the banquet.

For now, escaping this place came first.

And Sylph consumed the least mana, making it perfect for the job.

[ Sylph! Sylph! ]

Sylph fluttered its wings and flew ahead, guiding the way.

We moved through the maze without hesitation.

About an hour later...

"Th-There! Haha, I was right!"

"You're Lee Suhyeok, aren't you?"

A group stood across from us.

One adult man.

Two adult women.

And behind them, a girl who looked about middle-school age.

The man who appeared to be their leader sighed in relief and walked toward me.

I immediately tightened my grip around the hilt of my sword.

He stopped.

"H-Haha... please calm down. We have absolutely no intention of attacking you."

"M-Me neither...."

He quickly raised both hands.

The others followed his lead.

[Targets eligible for Trait Plunder have been detected.]

"Um... my name is Kim Gyeongho."

He cautiously lowered his hands.

"If you don't mind, would you consider traveling with us? Since this entire place is a maze, I figured sticking together would be safer."

[Trait - Kim Gyeongho]

• Area Taunt (B)

• Basic Swordsmanship (C)

• Hunter's Eye (C)

He continued carefully.

"Even if you don't want us as companions, please at least let us follow you. We won't be dead weight. We've been through quite a lot on the lower floors."

"He always says that, then ends up being the one who makes mistakes. Still, he's pretty reliable."

"H-Hey...! Why would you say that now...? You're going to give him the wrong idea, haha...."

"Pfft. Stop pretending it isn't true."

The two women teased the man.

The young girl watching from behind them smiled softly.

They were clearly different from the people who had swarmed me like a pack of wild dogs earlier.

I checked the other two.

[Trait - Kim Hyerin]

• Magic Missile (B)

• Low-Grade Area Buff (C)

• Low-Grade Barrier (C)

[Trait - Im Jina]

• Precision Aim (B)

• Fire Arrow (C+)

• Quick Step (D+)

The smell of blood drifted over from behind them.

They had probably just fought monsters.

And judging by the lack of injuries, they seemed fairly capable.

Then the girl slowly approached me while holding something in both hands.

Jerky.

"My name is Sua. Jeong Sua."

She held it out to me.

"Mister, let's travel together. Okay?"

"..."

I stared at the jerky in her hands without saying anything.

Then I looked past her and casually asked the others,

"...Did all of you get dropped here together?"

"Luckily, yes. Coincidence or not, all of us landed pretty close to each other."

"..."

"Just thinking about what might've happened otherwise gives me chills. We could've already been dead if we hadn't found each other. Ugh."

"Don't worry too much. As long as we stay together, we'll survive somehow."

They trusted one another deeply.

They had clearly been through a great deal together after entering the Tower.

"M-Mister...?"

The girl looked up at me.

Without the slightest hesitation, I grabbed her hand and pulled her behind me.

"Aah!"

"W-Why are you doing that...?!"

"S-Sua!"

The moment they became confused by my sudden action, I drew my sword and rushed them.

I cut down the two women first.

"Keugh!"

"Kyaa...!"

By the time the man tried to attack, it was already too late.

I lightly deflected his descending sword and sent it clattering to the ground.

Then my blade pierced straight through his chest.

Blood spilled from his mouth.

"Cough... cough... w-why...?"

"Why... why?!!"

The girl clung to my leg and screamed.

I pulled the sword free without hesitation.

She immediately rushed over to the man and pressed both hands against his wound.

"N-No...! You can't d-die like this...."

Blood poured through her tiny fingers.

Far too much for such small hands to stop.

The man had already gone cold, his head hanging lifelessly.

"Sniff... h-hic... N-No, oppa...!!"

[Several Constellations look upon ‘Player Jeong Sua’ with pity.]

[‘God of Love’ expresses mourning over the current tragedy.]

The girl glared at me with hatred.

She forced her trembling voice steady and spat out words filled with thorns.

"It's... it's all because of you!! You piece of trash! Murderer...!! Hic... i-if it weren't for you...!!"

I glanced at the jerky lying on the floor and answered coldly.

"If you have eyes, then look properly at what you've been following."

At that moment, the corpses slowly transformed.

Their bodies hardened and warped...

Until they became wooden dolls.

The girl's expression froze.

"H-How...?"

She stared blankly.

"No.... That's a lie. Th-There's no way they were doubles.... They were just talking to me...."

I'd realized they were doubles because of one short exchange.

Luckily, yes. Coincidence or not, all of us landed pretty close to each other.

[Trait ‘Lie Detection (A)’ has activated.]

[False.]

It wasn't just one of them.

All three adults had lied.

Only the girl had spoken the truth.

Their plan had probably been to use the child to approach me before killing me.

They could always deal with her afterward.

I clenched my jaw.

...Nothing's changed from my previous life.

It had been the same then.

Everyone who had entered this place had met the same fate.

Killed brutally by doubles wearing the faces of their companions, friends, or lovers.

"...Are the real unnies and oppa... s-still alive?"

Her eyes were hollow.

She was desperately clinging to the last thread of hope.

When no answer came, she lowered her head and swallowed her grief.

There was an unspoken rule that had developed among people after entering the Tower.

Irresponsible hope only led to greater despair.

[ ...Tch. I normally don't say things like this, but that kid really does look pitiful, nya. ]

Just as Leon showed an unusual hint of sympathy, Seong-a manifested herself.

She slowly walked over and held out her hand to the girl.

"Here. Take my hand and stand up."

Smack.

"Hic... no.... I don't need anything anymore.... Th-They're probably all already dead-"

"No. They're definitely alive."

Seong-a smiled.

"So come with us."

The girl's hand hesitated.

Seong-a looked at me.

She was asking for permission.

I sheathed my sword and started walking.

"...Do whatever you want. Whether you follow is your choice."

Night eventually fell.

The maze, which had been bright before, suddenly plunged into darkness.

Only the blue mana circuits running along the walls illuminated the path.

"Ugh...."

Jeong Sua was clearly exhausted after walking for so long.

Still, we couldn't simply stop and rest.

If the maze layout changed while we were stationary, we'd be in trouble.

"Sylph, still haven't found it?"

[ Sylphhh.... ]

What I was looking for was the hidden piece concealed somewhere inside this maze.

To clear this maze properly, I absolutely had to reach it.

The bigger problem is my double.

I didn't know exactly where it was, but it was undoubtedly wandering somewhere through the maze.

If it encountered Taesu, Yumi, or Hyuna before I found the hidden piece, things could become troublesome.

I prepared insurance, but I should still hurry.

Then...

[ Sylph! Sylph! ]

Sylph suddenly brightened.

It flew in circles around a certain wall as if to say it had found something.

"Good work. Go back and rest."

[ Sylph! ]

Leon covered his mouth, looking nauseous.

[ Ugh. Seriously, what the hell is supposed to be here, nya? Isn't this just another wall? I've seen so many of these I'm about to throw up the Churu I ate earlier.... ]

Ignoring him, I ran my hands across the wall.

Eventually, I found a spot that sank inward like a button.

I pressed it.

Rrrrrrumble!

A new passage opened in the floor.

Torches lined the walls.

Beyond them was a staircase that seemed to descend endlessly.

I looked back at Jeong Sua.

"I won't blame you if you leave."

She was still holding Seong-a's hand tightly.

After a moment, she seemed to make up her mind.

She shook her head and looked me straight in the eye.

"...It's okay."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"I-I'll follow you."

We descended the stairs.

At the bottom was a large chamber.

It looked like the inside of a pyramid.

• Oh, where is this? We can get excited, right?

• Is this some hidden dungeon or something? Someone answer.

• (eyes widening in confusion) H-Huh? Even I don't know this one??

• If you don't know, who does ;; Damn.

• Seriously, your knowledge level is pathetic. Tch.

We passed through a long corridor and eventually reached a massive door.

Rrrrrrrrrrrk...

Dust filled the air as the door slowly opened.

Beyond it stood a towering hexagonal structure in the center of the chamber.

And something enormous lay beside it.

"...Grrrr."

It slowly lifted its head.

"To think a mere player discovered this place."

Its eyes narrowed.

"And you even...."

Our gazes met.

A lion's face.

Its mane was made of writhing snakes.

Even its bizarre tail ended in the shape of a serpent's head.

[You have entered the hidden piece ‘Sphinx's Resting Place’.]

[No one may leave this place freely.]

I looked directly at it.

"I want to challenge you."

The Sphinx froze.

Then it rose to its full height and burst into booming laughter that shook the entire chamber.

"Khahahaha! Challenge me, you say...?"

Its eyes gleamed.

"It has been centuries."

Then it smiled.

"Very well."

The snakes growing from its mane lowered their heads and stared down at me.

"The contest will be simple."

"You and I will compete to see who possesses greater knowledge."

It leaned closer.

"Do you accept?"

I nodded without hesitation.

At that moment, the open door slammed shut.

BOOM!

The Sphinx bared its teeth in an ugly grin, clearly delighted.

[The ‘Contest with the Sphinx’ has been established.]

[Challenger: Player Lee Suhyeok.]

[Each participant must stake a condition.]

"It's been so long since I've had a challenger."

The Sphinx chuckled.

"I'll generously let you go first."

"Tell me what you wish to gain."

"I want the key that can erase the maze."

I continued.

"And I also want ‘Heracles' Shield’ that you possess."

"Khahaha! You even know about that?"

The Sphinx looked genuinely impressed.

"Very well."

Its smile widened.

"Then I shall take your souls and your knowledge."

The air turned heavy.

"And your bodies will be petrified and used to decorate this place."

[All participants have placed their stakes.]

[The ‘Contest with the Sphinx’ begins.]

[Each participant will take turns presenting their knowledge.]

[Victory Condition: You win if you state knowledge about the ‘Tower’ that your opponent does not know.]

[Warning! If you lie during the contest, you will immediately lose.]

The Sphinx spoke first.

"Then I'll begin."

It hummed thoughtfully.

"Hmm... what should I choose?"

Then its mouth twisted into a grin.

"Ah. Something light should do."

It lowered its massive head and stared directly into my eyes.

"I know... the age of your soul."

"...!"