Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: How Do You Know That?
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“Sir Oh, getting to know my father will be a great help to you in the Central Plains.”
That's certainly true, but...
“I understand.”
Refusing now might make it seem like I was avoiding him, so I nodded.
“What about your companions...”
“My companions will stay here for a bit.”
My companions all grabbed at my clothes, every one of them with a worried expression.
“Hyeon-ung, why are you going alone?”
“We'll go with you...”
“No. I think it's better if I meet him alone. Nothing will happen, so just wait.”
If I took them with me and they found out I was a Summoned, things would get complicated.
Besides, I can always summon my companions to my side or unsummon them.
I explained this to them until they understood, then entrusted Geum-yong and Nyx to Hanna and Alpen, respectively.
“My companions said they're tired and want to rest.”
“I see. Gwi-ong, you know the annex behind the inn? Please show them to it.”
“What? But that's where you always stay, Young Mistress. Then where will you...”
“I can just use the room next to my father's. Sir Oh, shall we go up?”
After seeing my companions off, I followed Go Hwa-yeon up the stairs.
Security personnel?
I could feel faint presences hidden among the beams and pillars.
“Sir Oh? Is something wrong?”
“It's nothing.”
There's no need to let on that I noticed.
We went up one more floor and arrived in front of an ornately decorated door.
““Long live the Heavenly Demon! May the Divine Cult rise again! We greet the Young Mistress.””
Two men in black martial arts uniforms at the entrance bowed their heads at the sight of Go Hwa-yeon.
“Is the Lord inside?”
“He is. But that man behind you...”
“He's the one who saved me when I was attacked by the Flying Heaven Unit. I'm introducing him to my father.”
They looked me up and down before stepping aside.
I opened the door and went inside. Dozens of lanterns were installed everywhere, making it as bright as day.
In the center, a very well-built man sat cross-legged with his upper body bare.
He was the only person in the room, and I was a little surprised by how young he looked for a man with a grown daughter like Go Hwa-yeon.
What was it called?
Ah! Did he undergo some kind of age reversal?
“Long live the Heavenly Demon! May the Divine Cult rise again! Left Guardian of the Young Mistress, Go Du-pal, greets the Lord.”
“Long live the Heavenly Demon! May the Divine Cult rise again! Right Guardian of the Young Mistress, Go Jeong-pal, greets the Lord.”
“Long live the Heavenly Demon! May the Divine Cult rise again! Young Mistress Go Hwa-yeon greets the Lord.”
It made sense for Du-pal and Jeong-pal, being guardians, but it was strange for a daughter to greet her father like this.
“Yeon, you're here. Who is the man beside you?”
“This is Sir Oh. He's the one who helped me when I was attacked by the Flying Heaven Unit on my way here.”
The Heavenly Demon looked at me.
The men standing guard outside had also looked me over, but this felt completely different.
“Oh Hyeon-ung. I'm from the Western Regions, and this is my first time in the Central Plains.”
Feeling as if he were seeing right through me, I introduced myself first.
“The Western Regions? You don't look like it at all.”
“Have you been to the Western Regions?”
The Heavenly Demon shook his head.
“It's not like there aren't people who look like me there.”
“True. We've had many exchanges, but this is the first time I've seen someone with your looks. You speak our language well, too.”
I was obviously speaking Korean, but he probably felt that way because of the automatic translation feature, a trait of the Summoned.
“I'm from the Golden Dragon Sect in the Western Regions. I heard its founder was from the Central Plains.”
“Ah, I see. My apologies for doubting you. Not even those bastards from the Martial Alliance would be crazy enough to send a spy who looks like you.”
He approached and offered his hand, so I took it.
Hmm?
He squeezed my hand, as if trying to start a battle of wills.
He obviously wasn't using his full strength, but this was nothing to me.
I squeezed back slightly, and the Heavenly Demon quickly pulled his hand away.
“Have you trained in external arts? You're incredibly strong.”
Of course I am, with my stats.
“Father?”
“Yeon, could you leave us for a moment? The guardians should leave as well.”
“What? Why all of a sudden...”
“My Lord, no matter how much he helped, he is still an outsider.”
“It's fine. He's definitely not from the Martial Alliance. I have something important to discuss with Sir Oh.”
He gave me a grin that made me uneasy, but Go Hwa-yeon and the guardians left the room.
“It's a bit awkward to keep talking while standing. Why don't you have a seat over there?”
The Lord offered me a chair, and I sat down.
“Would you like some tea?”
“I'll pass. What did you want to talk about?”
“Hmm, well, getting straight to the point isn't so bad. You're from the outside, aren't you?”
“I already told you I'm not from the Central Plains.”
“I think you're misunderstanding. I'm not asking about the Western Regions. I'm asking if you're a being from outside this world.”
I tried to deny it, but it seemed useless.
I knew there was a reason he sent Go Hwa-yeon out...
How did he find out?
I thought I did a pretty good job acting like a martial artist...
“From your expression, I take it I'm right.”
“So what if I am? Do you want to fight?”
“Well, those fools from the Martial Alliance or the Imperial Family might try to fight you, but I have no desire to be enemies with an Outsider.”
Outsider?
I guess that's what they call Summoned like me.
Anyway, wasn't I supposed to become a public enemy of the martial world if I was discovered?
“Besides, Outsiders aren't beings who stay here forever. You're just passing through, aren't you?”
Oh, he seems to know more about the Summoned than I expected.
“That's right. So why did you reveal my secret?”
“To tell you how to pass through.”
Oh, I thought things had gotten seriously complicated with my identity exposed, but this might actually be a good thing.
The lord of a demonic cult should know the location of the portal to the next floor.
“Where do I need to go?”
“It's not a place.”
Not a place?
****
After finishing my conversation with the Demonic Cult's lord, I returned to the annex where my companions were waiting.
Geum-yong and Nyx were lying on the bed, off in dreamland, but all my companions were awake.
“Hyeon-ung!”
“Mister, what took you so long?”
“The conversation went on a little longer than I expected.”
“He didn't ask you to become his son-in-law or something, did he?”
What kind of delusion is Rina having?
“It's not like that. I heard about how to get to the next floor.”
“Really?”
“So that's why you were gone for so long.”
The Lord knew far more about the Summoned than I thought.
He said he'd actually met one before.
It obviously wouldn't have been someone from Earth. It must have been one of the previous Summoned, like Young-ju. But that raised a question.
I don't know the exact period when the previous Summoned descended through the Labyrinth, but from what Young-ju said, a lot of time has passed.
I thought the Lord must be incredibly old, but he said he met the other Summoned not long ago.
About a year ago, he said?
My personal theory is that if no Summoned enters the 65th floor, this world's time either stops or flows much more slowly.
“Where's the portal?”
“Is it close to here?”
“It's not about moving through a portal. And it seems like it's going to take some time.”
“If it takes a long time, isn't the Labyrinth closing soon, Hyeon-ung?”
“Ah, right. Check Labyrinth closing time.”
[Time until Labyrinth closure: 3 hours, 53 minutes, 47 seconds.]
Less than four hours left.
Looks like it'll be impossible this time.
“So how do we get out?”
****
“There are three ways for Outsiders to leave this world.”
“Three?”
“Well, it's really the same method, just with different people.”
He kept beating around the bush, which was frustrating.
“If you're going to tell me, just say it.”
“Why do you think Outsiders become public enemies of the martial world when their identities are revealed?”
Because they bring harm to the martial world?
Wait, then could it be...
“You catch on quick. You must kill one of three people: the emperor of the Imperial Palace, the leader of the Martial Alliance, or me, the lord of the Divine Cult.”
[Information on the 65th floor has been acquired. You can now proceed with the quest.
Defeat one of the three great leaders of the Central Plains.
The Emperor of the Imperial Palace, Ju Won-hong
The Leader of the Martial Alliance, Sword God Lee Ki-bong
The Heavenly Demon of the Sun and Moon Divine Cult, Go Hyeok
Quest Reward: Access to the 66th floor, All Stats +30]
****
I explained the information I got from my conversation with the Lord to my companions.
“If that's the case, can't we just take one of them out and move on?”
Rina nodded at Elaine's words, which was a little disconcerting.
“None of the three have done anything to harm us directly.”
This wouldn't be my first time killing, but everyone I've killed so far deserved it.
“True, the Lord did give us information. So we have to choose between the emperor and the Martial Alliance leader, right?”
“Right.”
The Lord said he didn't care as long as it wasn't him, but he seemed to be subtly hoping I would kill the Martial Alliance leader.
He went on and on about the leader's evil deeds.
Well, even without that, those guys from the Flying Heaven Unit we first met were subordinates of the Martial Alliance leader.
The Martial Alliance leader seems like the most likely target, but I can't take the Lord's word for it, so I plan to investigate myself.
As I discussed our future plans with my companions, the sky outside began to brighten.
“Looks like it's already morning.”
“Hyeon-ung, shouldn't you get some sleep?”
Just as I was about to say I wasn't very tired, my surroundings began to shake.
It seems the Labyrinth's closing time is here.
“Mister, you know it's our turn this time, right?”
“Hyeon-ung! We'll be waiting!”
“I'll be looking forward to it, too.”
Hanna, Rina, and Alpen all brightened up.
They didn't seem to mind at all, even though they wouldn't remember any of this.
“Hyeon-ung, can't you take me instead of Alpen?”
“Why are you picking on Alpen? See you all next time.”
The moment I waved to Elaine, Timi, and Milli, my vision changed.
[You are currently ranked #1 among all surviving Summoned for reaching the lowest floor of the Kramis Labyrinth. You have acquired the title: Pioneer.]
[You have obtained a Random Item Box.]
A familiar notification window appeared, and the Kramis Plaza spread out before me.
I pushed through the dense crowd and returned to Kavisa.
Luke usually greeted me on the day I returned, but he was nowhere to be seen today. Maybe it's his day off.
I always thought he was a nuisance, but his absence felt a little empty.
Still, Luke wasn't my priority right now, so I returned to my room.
In the corner was a huge pile of cola, and next to it were stacks of brown clothing boxes.
Those were the clothes from our last shopping trip. Seeing them already made me miss my companions.
The whole reason I'd hurried back was to summon my companions.
Of course, I couldn't call Timi, Milli, and Elaine this time...
Once I reach the 100th floor and get the Orb of Wishes, I'll be able to be with everyone.
Being alone was starting to feel a little depressing, so I quickly shouted.
“High Priestess of the Dyna Order, Rina Alsmeyer! Knight of the Golden Flash, Hanna Pogani! Maldina's number one Tamer, Alpen!”
Two streaks of red light and one streak of blue burst forth, and Rina, Hanna, and Alpen appeared.
“Hyeon-ung? Is this really... huh? I can't feel any strength in my body...”
“It's always like that here.”
“Ppoyo! Ppoyo!”
“Kkyuing!”
Geum-yong and Nyx, who had been sitting on my shoulders, leaped over to Hanna and Alpen.
“Geum-yong. Have you been well?”
“Nyx!”
“Mister, is this your house?”
“Not a house, just a place I'm staying.”
“It looks amazing. Mister, you were rich.”
“It's all thanks to you guys.”
Just like the other companions when they first arrived, they were busy looking around.
“Is this cola?”
“Yeah. Want to try some?”
I got out a cup, poured her a glass of cola, and she sipped it happily.
“Wow, this is delicious!”
“It's fizzy and sweet. It's like a drink from another world!”
“There's plenty, so drink as much as you want.”
Hanna and Alpen were engrossed in the cola, but Rina only had one glass and continued to look around the room.
“Hyeon-ung, what are these boxes?”
“Ah, those are clothes the other companions bought on a shopping trip.”
“You bought them clothes, too?”
She glared at me.
“I can buy you whatever you want too, Rina. Let's go shopping later.”
“I'm not really interested in clothes, but can I take a look anyway?”
She says she's not interested, yet she wants to look. She's really not honest with herself.
“Just don't make a mess or break anything.”
I nodded without much thought.
I was heading over to Hanna and Alpen to get a glass of cola myself when I felt a chill from behind me.
“M... Mister?”
Rina was holding up a piece of purple mesh underwear and glaring at me.
“What do you mean, what is it? It's underwear.”
“No, I mean, someone wears something this vulgar?”
“I think that's Timi's. It's her personal taste. You should respect it.”
I answered nonchalantly.
It's not like I forced her to buy it; she picked it out herself.
“Anyway, that vixen Timi, even her underwear is just like her... No, wait a minute.”
“What?”
“Mister, how do you know this is Timi's?”