Chapter 64
Following the employee's guidance, we slowly climbed the stairs.
Even the steps beneath our feet had an entirely different atmosphere from the floor below.
This is where the real thing starts.
The second floor Suhyeok was heading toward wasn't merely a space reserved for VIPs.
Claire.
Before his regression, she had another name.
The Gambling King.
I... l-lost.
Countless Players had challenged her.
And every single time, they had been crushed.
Naturally, those who lost didn't simply lose Coins.
Oh my. It seems I won.
What a shame. You were skilled enough to make this rather entertaining.
Then, as promised... I'll be taking both of your arms and legs.
In other words, this floor existed to satisfy her personal amusement.
[Several gambling-loving Constellations urge you to hurry and place another bet.]
[Several evil-aligned Constellations watch the situation with great interest.]
The previous round of betting had heated up the Constellations considerably.
Sponsorship messages had poured in so heavily that they nearly blocked my entire view.
Everything was going according to plan.
[ Kyahaha! That was seriously satisfying, nya! Did you see the faces of those idiots who were looking down on you earlier, nya? They're morons, nya. You never know who's better until you actually compete, nya! ]
Leon had been nervous only moments ago.
Now he was laughing happily as Coins continued piling up in real time.
[ Hm? We're here, nya. This place looks really luxurious, nya. ]
We had reached the second floor.
A lavish chandelier hanging from the ceiling immediately drew the eye.
But this was merely the entrance.
The real place must be over there.
Two corridors stretched out from either side of the center of the floor.
Neither seemed to have an end.
"As an especially valued guest of our casino, we'll escort you to one of our private rooms."
The employee smiled politely.
"The owner has gone ahead and is waiting for you."
"Please follow me."
Step. Step.
Bong Taesu, who had been following behind Suhyeok, glanced around and quietly whispered.
"Ahem. Now that it's over, I can admit it, Hyungnim. Back there, I thought my heart was going to burst."
He lowered his voice.
"You kept betting so recklessly that I honestly wondered whether I should stop you halfway through."
"Well, isn't that what gambling is?"
Yumi walked lightly as the dealer's distant screams echoed up from the lower floor.
"Did you see that dealer's face earlier? He was grinning like he'd caught the easiest sucker of his life."
She smirked.
"Serves him right."
About twenty minutes passed.
Kim Hyuna suddenly stopped walking.
"...Mister, doesn't something feel strange?"
She looked down the corridor.
"We've been walking for more than twenty minutes already, but this hallway just keeps going."
She was right.
The building had looked large from the outside, but nowhere near this large.
The interior itself didn't match the casino building's actual structure.
"...Indeed."
Taesu frowned.
"I've felt like we've been circling through the same path for a while now."
He pointed ahead.
"I swear I've seen that same corner at least ten times."
Yumi closed her eyes for a moment.
Then she seemed to sense something and nodded.
"You're right."
"The surrounding mana changed too."
She frowned.
"It's almost like the air itself has gotten heavier."
Hyuna looked around.
"And all the traces I left behind earlier have disappeared."
"The presences we could sense from outside are gone too."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Is this a trap?"
The Constellations also began offering theories.
Something's definitely weird. Anyone know what's happening?
Maybe they set up some kind of formation in the corridor?
Probably not. They don't use that kind of system on the 30th floor. They shouldn't even have the manpower required to maintain one.
True ㅇㅇ
(pushing up his glasses) Oh-ho. Could this be a maze? If so, there must surely be some specific trigger.
[ Another maze, nya? But this feels different from the 21st floor, nya. Sniff, sniff... something smells weird, nya. My nose kind of stings! ]
Suhyeok silently observed the surroundings.
The endlessly repeating corridor.
The sudden change in the flow of mana.
And the mana circuits spread throughout the entire building.
[‘No. 21 Mental Immunity Ring’ does not activate.]
It wasn't a mental attack.
If it had been, the System would've warned him immediately.
There was only one conclusion.
They had cleverly mixed different methods together so that it wouldn't be classified as a mental attack.
The likely culprit was the mana fragrance being emitted by the mana circuits.
Step. Step.
"..."
The employee walking ahead of them.
He ignored everyone's suspicions and kept moving.
There wasn't even the slightest hesitation in his steps.
Almost as if...
The entire situation itself was a test.
...So that's what this is.
[‘Maze Architect’ has sponsored 10,000 Coins.]
[Message: (pointing somewhere with complete confidence) The trigger is that employee!]
Suhyeok tightened his grip around Seong-a's hilt.
Taesu and the other two immediately looked startled.
The employee in front of them was both an illusion created by the maze...
And something real.
He existed between reality and delusion.
That gap was the key.
"Hyungnim, why are you suddenly drawing your swor-"
Shing!
Suhyeok kicked hard off the ground.
Mana scattered in an instant.
His sword traced a semicircle through the air and struck toward the employee's neck with speed and precision.
Drip. Drip.
Blood trickled down the man's neck.
The blade had only cut shallowly.
Just deep enough to avoid causing fatal damage.
Only then did the employee stop walking.
At that exact moment...
The illusion surrounding them vanished.
"...!!"
Their vision returned to normal.
The scenery changed.
The endless hallway now had a clear end.
They were standing directly in front of an enormous door.
The employee stood before it, trembling violently after the sudden attack.
"W-What happened?"
Taesu looked around.
"What? We're back."
Yumi blinked.
"So it really was an illusion?"
All three were visibly shaken.
Suhyeok kept the edge of his sword pointed sharply toward the employee.
"How much time passed?"
"T-Three minutes."
The employee swallowed hard.
"I-I didn't do anything.... So please, spare my life...."
If there had been direct hostility, Suhyeok would've noticed immediately.
The reason he hadn't sensed anything was because the employee truly hadn't attacked them.
More precisely, mana had been continuously released throughout the entire space, gradually deceiving their five senses.
Had they remained exposed a little longer...
They might have died from mana overload.
[Several Constellations express deep concern for you and your companions.]
[Constellations who enjoy revenge demand that you bring down judgment upon them!]
Suhyeok lowered his sword.
Then he spoke in a cold, quiet voice.
"Open it."
His gaze sharpened.
"Unless you want to die from mana poisoning right here."
"I-I'll open it...!"
Creeeak.
The enormous door opened.
Beyond it was a vast chamber lined with massive pillars.
Employees densely filled the spaces between them.
...They're all combat personnel.
They intend to prevent us from escaping.
Suhyeok walked toward the prepared table.
Once he sat down, the woman across from him slowly lowered her fan in greeting.
"First... no, we already met downstairs, so this isn't exactly our first meeting."
She smiled.
"Still, allow me to formally introduce myself."
"I am Claire, the owner of this casino."
"..."
"You seem rather displeased."
Her smile didn't disappear.
"I hope you'll understand."
"It was simply one of my little tests."
She glanced behind him.
"Although... I admit I didn't expect the three people behind you to pass it as well."
