Chapter 40. The Cursed Section

The 10th floor of the Tower was known among hunters as the Cursed Section.

A truly overwhelming and ferocious difficulty level. Without serious preparation, countless hunters fell behind at this threshold.

"Do you really think I can do this?"

Even Philip, who had bulldozed through the 6th floor in one go, was breaking out in cold sweat and gulping nervously.

From the shadows before the tense Philip slithered a massive skeleton lich.

Its size was comparable to—or perhaps slightly larger than—Soul of the Mountain. Blue mana leaked from its otherwise empty eye sockets like glowing embers, and in its bony, emaciated hand, it clutched a censer that was small for it but enormous for any human.

"They say that censer contains the vengeful spirits of all the hunters who failed to pass this floor."

It was a symbol of terror so profound that absurd rumors like that circulated.

"Awakener. I shall give you a trial. First..."

The lich, draped in a robe like a vast curtain, slowly opened its mouth.

"There are fifty goblins, three ogres, and twenty elves. If you must make the goblins victorious in this battle, what process would be required? Note that not all races use magic."

The trial was none other than a subjective essay question.

"Urgh! This is a real trial...!"

Even Jeonghyeon's perpetually relaxed expression hardened. Who could have predicted essay questions for hunters who'd spent their lives fighting?

Naturally, most hunters blanked out and failed here. If only the thinking time had been longer, that might have been a mercy.

"When the flame in this censer dies, the trial ends. Return for another chance next time."

And there was even a time limit. Worse, coming back meant a completely different question.

This damn 10th floor spawned past exam leaks, model answer research labs, and eventually even cram academies.

Memories from his previous life even recalled proxies who cleared it for others—proof of just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠how brutal this trial was.

'Hah, back then I just smashed it.'

Jeonghyeon had crushed the 10th-floor lich through sheer force. Overcoming the flames of eternal fire that would incinerate ordinary awakeners without a touch, he'd simply unleashed sword energy infused with Solgaleh's radiance and cleaved it in half.

The first and last favor from Solgaleh.

The light dragon who'd never shown him proper kindness watched him fail over twenty times and finally snapped out of frustration, offering help only here on the 10th floor.

"How many chances do we get?"

"One question, two chances. You've already used your question with that one."

To make matters worse, Philip's idiotic question had wasted their one shot at a hint.

"Damn it. Did all the Kingdom Guild members pass this?!"

"Nah, probably only Serin or Junseok made it past the 10th."

Jeonghyeon started racking his brain.

Drawing on memories from his previous life.

Fifty goblins, three ogres, twenty elves.

"Elves are masters of archery and herbalism, with long lifespans, right? They're better at defending sieges than even dwarves."

"How do you know that?"

"Learned it in a textbook."

What kind of textbook? Kingdom Guild must've handed them out while Jeonghyeon wasn't looking.

"Ogres, on the other hand, each one boasts overwhelming strength and aggression. In small-scale fights, they'd never lose."

This was info Jeonghyeon knew firsthand. Elves might be great at defense, but if berserk ogres charged with no regard for death, even a village could be wiped out by just one or two.

"But goblins..."

Compared to that, goblins had no real strengths beyond living in hordes and decent language skills.

"Time is almost up. The censer's flame will fade soon."

"Hey, come on! Slow it down! That thing's huge!"

The lich flinched at Jeonghyeon's words.

"It's my treasured censer."

"Son of a bitch."

No matter how hard the two brainstormed, with just two brains, beating the double-speed time limit seemed impossible.

"Alright. Two chances, so let's swing for it."

"Yes, sir! I believe in you!"

Philip clapped Jeonghyeon on the shoulder in encouragement. Jeonghyeon nodded with grim resolve, wiped the sweat beading on his forehead, and stepped forward.

It had an unnecessary air of epic drama, like he was marching off to face the Demon King himself.

"Hey, lich. What do you think goblins are as a race?"

"No questions."

"Goblins' abilities vary wildly by habitat and tribe temperament. Some hide in tall plains grass, snacking on rabbits now and then. But those from harsh lands full of predators? Each one's a combat beast."

"Don't stall—the censer pauses only during answers."

"Busted? Damn."

Not even Jeonghyeon's cheap tricks worked.

"No immediate answer, and I'll restart the censer."

"Fine, got it! Three assumptions. First, all goblins are one tribe. Second, they're in high mountain ranges. Third, ogres and elves aren't allies."

"Ho. Intriguing. And?"

"Mountain goblins have killer mobility. Plus, horde life and good communication mean they can watch each other's backs. They kite around, forcing elves and ogres to clash."

"Solid approach. Go on."

The lich seemed impressed.

"Elves can't beat ogres whether it's twenty or thirty. Once only ogres remain, goblins hide, starve 'em out, wear 'em down, and pick 'em off!"

The lich bellowed with delight at Jeonghyeon's confident answer.

"Kuhaha! Entertaining! Excellent approach. Quite satisfying."

"Right? We pass?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"No, but not the answer. Last chance. Ten seconds."

"What the fuck! You said satisfying!"

This wasn't some Sphinx riddle. For a scenario he'd brainstormed on the spot, it was perfect. In his weaker days, he'd handled dark lord ogres—ogre superiors—that way.

"Ogres can't handle hunger!"

"Wait! Let me add one more!"

"Ho? What? Last chance."

Philip suddenly pointed at Jeonghyeon.

"The goblins luckily run into Jeonghyeon-nim in the mountains!"

"?"

"What?"

Both the lich and Jeonghyeon looked baffled.

'Has this guy lost it...?'

Jeonghyeon was about to yell at Philip when the lich spoke first.

"And?"

"Jeonghyeon-nim hears their plight and has a quest to hunt ogres anyway, so he does it for them! It said 'make the goblins victorious,' right? We're involved, so we made them win!"

The lich paused at that.

Then burst into hearty laughter.

"Kuhaha! Absurd answer! First wrong one like this I've seen. But... tricked by my own ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠question! It's valid. I accept it as correct."

"Huh?"

Jeonghyeon was more shocked.

"I wanted how goblins beat ogres tactically, but passing it to a third party like that? Perfectly satisfying. You pass."

The lich laughed merrily and shattered its censer with mana.

'Treasured my ass, you prick.'

Jeonghyeon inwardly cursed as the lich retreated into its robe.

"Awakeners, I support your path. Just as you escaped my question with a new answer, break from fate and conquer the seas."

It bowed to Jeonghyeon and added,

"'This time,' succeed. Though I doubt your current self can."

"What...? Wait, hey! What do you mean? You know something?!"

Ignoring him, the lich dimmed its fiery eye-mana sockets like a wink and vanished into the curtain.

'Damn. What the hell was that?'

A portal to the next floor opened before the bewildered Jeonghyeon.

"Jeonghyeon-nim! We did it! Well, I just added a spoon to your dish, but still! Wahaha!"

Philip, oblivious and deaf to the lich's words in his triumph, whooped. But Jeonghyeon's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mind grew complicated again.

'Yeah. I've been too complacent about my situation.'

Jeonghyeon's face darkened upon reaching the 11th floor.

Meeting Philip, Serin, the Wakin sisters—it had lulled him into forgetting his place amid nostalgic flashbacks. His will to crush the Demon King never wavered, but he'd momentarily forgotten the devastating power of that Demon King Malekith, by whom he'd been so utterly defeated.

It hit him: even with mana stone weapons and Epic Weapons, victory wasn't guaranteed.

"Hmph! Come at me~!"

And could he really reach the top dragging along naive, joyful Philip who knew nothing?

"Haa."

Jeonghyeon sighed involuntarily, realizing it was no time for laughs. He opened the Demon King Shop, ready to spend his saved points.

'Damn. Pathetically short.'

He'd been saving for Philip's Epic Weapon liberation boost, but needed nearly 300 more points.

'Then what's left...'

Jeonghyeon eyed Philip smashing ahead and opened his status remotely.

Domination EXP.

The EXP that subordinates like Philip gained from training, which Jeonghyeon could claim via EXP Sharing or pass on via EXP Transfer to grow them.

He pondered. After the lich's words, he felt uneasy unless he spent all points to level up either himself or Philip.

But the dilemma was here.

Should he invest in himself to grow stronger solo?

Or in Philip, making a subordinate powerful as the Demon King desired?

"You coming? Boss room soon!"

After agonizing, Jeonghyeon reached out to his skill window at Philip's distant call, resolute.

"Yeah. All in."