Chapter 19: 2nd Floor Hidden Route (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 19: 2nd Floor Hidden Route (3)
You see it all the time in fantasy novels and comics.
A character senses the aura emanating from an enemy and realizes they’ve encountered a truly monstrous foe.
I was experiencing that for the first time.
Before me stood a knight in black armor, dripping with molten lava. Even without sensing his aura, his strength was plain to see. How could a being that walked calmly out of a furnace, drenched in liquid fire, be anything but a monster?
He was obviously powerful as hell.
Friend or foe? The identity of this Black Knight was the most important thing right now.
"Sir Carlos!" Haylin called out, her voice bright with relief.
Thank god. It looked like he was an ally.
The knight named Carlos turned his gaze toward us. A sinister chuckle escaped his helm before he spoke.
"Out for another midnight stroll behind the servants' backs, Lady Haylin? I’ve been searching for you for quite some time. I feared you might have fallen into the lava and perished."
Haylin’s expression slowly froze. Having read the room, my face stiffened as well.
Ah, shit... Is he an enemy?
"Sir Carlos, surely... was this your doing?"
Carlos nodded. "I did it."
Haylin was incensed. "...Why! How could you, the Knight Commander, betray the Dafriya family!"
"I was never loyal to begin with, so it is not betrayal."
"How dare you! Do you think you can handle the consequences? When my father returns...!"
"I cleared away the nuisances in advance for that very reason. When the Count returns, I shall take his head and end this loathsome oath."
Their conversation, which sounded like a cutscene from a game, barely registered in my ears. I watched for an opening, then launched a preemptive strike at the Black Knight with Flame Strike.
Boom!
"Huh?" Startled, Haylin turned to look at me.
I simply said, "The first strike wins the fight."
If things look suspicious, attack first. That was the lesson I’d learned from defeating the elder mage on the 1st floor... but it didn't seem to apply here.
As the flames cleared, the Black Knight stood there, completely unscathed. He was so disturbingly fine that for a moment, I wondered if I had missed.
"..."
The Black Knight glanced at me. I gave an awkward laugh. Haha.
I'm screwed, aren't I?
Without a single word—not even a "Who are you?"—the Black Knight raised his sword. The moment the blade swung, I stopped time.
...What the hell is this?
In the frozen world, dark red blades of sword aura were descending upon us like a giant net. I was going to die. I was really going to die.
Sensing my life was on the line, I focused my mind. The moment I resumed time, I teleported through a gap in the incoming net of sword aura.
Rumble, crash!
A massive explosion followed, and the shockwave sent my body flying like a scrap of paper.
I’m dead... No, I’m alive. Am I alive?
"Ugh..." Dazed, I managed to push myself up halfway.
The surroundings were devastated, looking as if they'd been carpet-bombed. It was hard to even comprehend what the Black Knight had just done. How did all this happen from a single swing of a sword?
"...!"
Through the dust, I saw the Black Knight. He didn't even care about me, treating me like a mere insect. He walked up to Haylin, who had collapsed on the ground, and raised his sword.
Slash!
The sword fell, and Haylin’s head fell with it.
A message appeared before my eyes.
[You have failed to clear the Nightmare Difficulty 2nd Floor Hidden Route. (1/3)]
[Exiting the Tower.]
* * *
Back in my room, I lay blankly on the bed to rest. Fortunately, my body wasn't injured, but I was in a state of mental shock.
"That’s just insane..."
A single attack from the Black Knight had leveled the area. I had almost been torn limb from limb. Flame Strike, my strongest attack, hadn't worked at all. It meant he was an opponent I couldn't damage by any means.
Maybe I’d been stupid from the start. The guy had walked out of lava perfectly fine, after all. He was an opponent clearly far beyond my level. And I was supposed to defeat that?
It doesn't make sense.
I reached a conclusion quickly. He wasn't an enemy meant to be defeated. And if Haylin dies, the clear fails.
Thinking about the story progression: Encounter Haylin > Persuade and Cooperate > Knight Commander turns out to be a traitor > ?
Well... what else could it be? The goal must be to escape from that Black Knight while taking Haylin with me.
I only had one chance left. After finishing my rest, I used my final attempt and entered. It would be a shame if I couldn't clear it, but I decided not to push too hard. My life was the most important thing.
[You have entered the Nightmare Difficulty 2nd Floor.]
Past the platforms, past the Minotaur, and back to the forest. I stayed alert, waiting for Haylin to ambush me.
Clang!
"Wait! I have no intention of fighting!"
"Shut up, human! Die!"
As expected, Haylin wouldn't listen. Only after showing her the difference in our power, just like before, was I able to talk to her.
"See? We have no reason to fight."
"...I understand for now."
Predictably, Haylin made the same proposal.
"In that case, human, you shall serve as my bodyguard for a time. I have not yet fully cast aside my suspicions, so if you are truly innocent, assist me. Of course, I shall grant you a fitting reward later."
"Bodyguard?"
"Yes. My current situation is dire. My castle being covered in lava is due to magic running wild..."
This was the branching point. I listened to the full explanation and nodded.
"Of course I'll help. But we can't go back to the castle."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"I saw it—there was an incredibly powerful intruder. I barely managed to escape without being noticed. No one else survived. We have to get out of here right now."
Since telling her the Knight Commander was a traitor would only invite suspicion coming from a total stranger, I explained it this way.
Haylin’s eyes turned fierce as she shouted, "You mean that intruder is still near the castle! Where is he!"
"Huh? No..." What was she talking about? Did she not hear me? "I said he’s an incredibly powerful intruder. I can't beat him, and you definitely can't beat him. If we run into him, we die."
"So you are telling me to flee like a coward, leaving behind the intruder who destroyed my family's castle!"
I was speechless. Why was she being so stubbornly prideful?
"I am going back to the castle. You, follow me at once."
"I'm not going. Do you think I'm crazy enough to go there and die?"
"You coward! Then get lost! I shall go alone."
Haylin turned her back and started walking toward the castle.
Oh, for the love of...
Realizing persuasion wouldn't work, I blocked the reckless Haylin’s path.
"I told you, you'll die if you go! Just listen to me."
"Move! You lowly human, do you realize whose path you are blocking!"
Was the theme of this 2nd floor hidden route "taming a brat"?
"Listen to me, please. This isn't fleeing; it's a strategic retreat. You have to be alive to get revenge, don't you? Why walk right into the intruder's hands and die? Right?"
I tried my best to persuade Haylin while suppressing my irritation.
"Why are you trying so hard to keep me away from the castle? Now that I think about it, you must be up to something suspicious!"
The crazy demon answered my efforts by swinging her sword again. This was driving me nuts. After exchanging a few blows, I teleported again and caught Haylin off guard.
"Gah!"
Kicked in the back, Haylin fell to the ground.
"Can you please just listen to me?"
Haylin bit her lip hard and shouted, "Human, do not think you can make me submit through force!"
She just wouldn't listen.
"Y-you... urgh!"
I fought Haylin again and landed a few more hits. As the damage accumulated, Haylin lost her strength, and I struck her sword hard.
Clang!
The sword flew far away, and I kicked Haylin in the stomach, knocking her down. To the pained Haylin, I said, "I’m really asking you. Who do you think I’m doing this for? You’ll die if you go to the castle."
Haylin shouted, "Silence! Just kill me! You wretched human!"
It seemed she was now completely filled with distrust toward me. She was the one who attacked me, yet she was the one feeling wronged for getting hit?
Okay, I give up. I finally gave up on persuasion.
Thwack!
I teleported behind Haylin and struck the back of her neck with the edge of my hand.
"Ugh."
Hit in the neck, Haylin slumped forward. She didn't pass out, though. She rubbed her neck and glared at me as if I were absurd.
...I guess it doesn't work like in the movies. I just forcibly tucked Haylin under one arm and picked her up.
"Let go! Urgh, let go! You human!"
I was naturally stronger, and since she was exhausted, her resistance wasn't very strong. Perhaps because the Exhilaration effect was still active, my stamina was still going strong.
"Let's just go. I'm busting my ass to save your life!"
"I said let go... Let go of me!"
Ignoring her, I started running. I headed down the path stretching away from the castle. Haylin, who had been struggling, suddenly started crying, seemingly overwhelmed by frustration.
"A mere human... to subject me to such humiliation...! Waaaaah! I’m going to kill you!"
She’s really doing it all, isn't she? Since she stopped struggling once she started crying, it was easier. Fine, keep crying.
Not knowing how far I had to go, I just kept running. To be honest, I wasn't sure if this was right. It was just the path I chose because fighting that Black Knight didn't seem like the answer no matter how I looked at it. If it wasn't, well, too bad.
Seeing that the sobbing Haylin seemed to have calmed down, I asked quietly, "Where should we go to escape? That intruder might be chasing us right now."
Haylin kept her mouth shut and didn't answer. I really wanted to give her a noogie...
"...!"
Suddenly, a chilling sensation ran down my spine. I looked back. Haylin must have felt it too, as she lifted her head.
"...Sir Carlos!"
Shit, is he really chasing us? I started sprinting as if my life depended on it.
"Sir Carlos! Over here! I am here!" Haylin started shouting at the top of her lungs.
I shouted back, "Shut up! That guy is the traitor!"
"What nonsense! Now that Sir Carlos is here, you are dead, human...!"
Yeah, no. You're the one who's going to die. He didn't even care about you.
It was a waste of breath to keep talking, so I just ran with everything I had. Actually, I needed to refill my willpower first. I stopped time and fully restored my depleted willpower. Then I ran again.
As I ran, I saw something chasing us. It wasn't that monster Black Knight; I could feel that he was still far away.
"What are those now..."
Black dogs with red eyes and bodies shimmering like a haze were chasing us at high speed.
"They are Sir Carlos’s tracking familiars! You are finished!"
Thanks for the explanation. Soon, the dogs were right on our heels. It would have been fine if they were just tracking us, but they looked ready to pounce and bite at any moment, so I attacked.
Boom!
I fired a Flame Strike, and their numbers decreased, but a few were still left. No, they were increasing again. Shit, how many of them are there?
"Ugh...!"
Suddenly, Haylin started thrashing her whole body. I momentarily lost my balance, and we both fell. Haylin scrambled up and put some distance between us.
"Hahaha! I told you! You are finished!"
While we were down, the dogs caught up. Haylin shouted happily, "Over here! Come and seize this man—?!"
The dogs lunged and attacked her. I ignored them and focused only on Haylin.
"Kyaaa! W-what are you doing!"
Haylin flailed her arms, trying to shake the dogs off. I watched blankly for a moment before moving to help her. When I slashed at the dogs' shimmering, smoke-like bodies, they were easily cut and disappeared. They were fast, but not very strong.
"Stay close!"
As another pack swarmed toward us, I grabbed Haylin by the waist and used the Leap skill. Soaring high into the air, I dropped a Flame Strike toward the dogs gathered below.
Boom!
Only then was I able to wipe them out completely. Landing on the ground, I set Haylin down. She was bleeding from a few bite marks, but they didn't seem like major injuries.
Haylin stood there blankly, panting heavily, before looking at me. "...Why are they attacking me? Sir Carlos’s familiars?"
I clicked my tongue and answered, "I told you, he’s the traitor. They weren't chasing me from the start; they were chasing you."
"That’s impossible."
Haylin looked deeply shocked. Good grief, I really...
"It is possible. Now that you’ve grasped the situation, let's go quietly. Run on your own feet."
I was incredibly annoyed, but it was enough that she’d finally come to her senses. I was worried she might have another fit about wanting to fight the Black Knight, but fortunately, Haylin kept her mouth shut and started running behind me. Seeing that even this crazy demon could control her temper, that guy must be really strong.
"A bridge will appear if we go a bit further."
"A bridge?"
"From there, it is outside the territory. Carlos cannot leave this Dafriya territory due to his oath, so we only need to cross the bridge."
Is that so? Now I could see the clear condition. It would be over once we crossed the bridge.
"Huff, huff."
As we ran, Haylin kept falling behind. Was her leg hurt? I could see her limping. I didn't have much stamina left either, but I approached and picked Haylin up again.
"W-what are you doing!"
"It’ll be faster if I just carry you."
Since we were almost there, this was better. If we get caught, we die. Haylin didn't struggle and stayed quietly tucked against my side. I gritted my teeth and sprinted, then looked back and asked urgently, "How much further?!"
"...One more minute at this speed!"
There was a reason for the urgency. I could feel that he was almost here.
"...!"
A red flash suddenly flared from behind us. I used the Leap skill to jump forward.
Rumble!
The sword aura didn't hit us directly, but trees were uprooted and sent flying along with a shockwave.
"Gah...!"
Haylin and I couldn't completely escape it and tumbled across the ground. Ah, should I just quit? I want to leave. But it would be a waste after all the trouble I’d gone through to get here, so I groaned and stood up. I grabbed Haylin and started running again.
"...!"
The bridge came into view. But... the bridge was quite long. To exaggerate slightly, a massive viaduct like the Han River Bridge connected the distant cliffs.
"We just have to cross that!"
The final spurt. I ran. Dashing across, when we reached about the middle of the bridge, I looked back. The Black Knight looked as small as a dot. As if he really couldn't chase us any further, he had stopped in front of the bridge.
The thought that we would have been screwed if we were just a bit later flashed through my mind... but wait, what is he doing?
Thump—!
As the Black Knight struck the ground with his sword, a massive vibration echoed out. Crazy bastard. Dark red energy surged like a tidal wave and covered the bridge. About a third of the bridge was instantly destroyed, followed by a chain reaction of collapses.
"Aaaaaah!"
I screamed as I raced across the crumbling bridge. The speed of the collapse was gradually catching up to us. When there was only a short distance left, I made one final, full-power leap. Immediately after, the ground beneath me gave way.
I flew toward the land on the other side. The distance... is not enough!
"Kyaaaaaak!"
Sensing that we would crash into the cliff face and fall, Haylin screamed at the top of her lungs.
Just stay still, we’re not dying.
I threw Haylin toward the other side with all my might while in mid-air. Then I stopped time. Teleportation.
Arriving on the other side first, I caught the flying Haylin. Having been thrown by me and then caught by me, Haylin looked up at me with a dazed expression, unable to process the situation.
Rumble.
The massive bridge completely collapsed. I set Haylin down and stared across the cliff. The Black Knight, looking like a tiny dot in the distance, seemed to be watching us.
What are you looking at, you prick? I thought you couldn't leave.
I was worried that monster might do something else crazy, but fortunately, he seemed to have given up and was turning back. Exhausted, I slumped to the ground.
Brat rescue... successful.
"Phew..."
Haylin stared blankly at the other side for a while before turning to me. I exchanged a look with her, my gaze not particularly friendly. Because of her, I felt like a path that should have been easy was ten times harder.
"...Human, what is your identity?" Haylin spoke. "How did you know the Knight Commander had betrayed... No, more importantly, why did you go to such lengths to save me?"
I was too tired to even respond, so I just waited for the clear message to appear. But the message didn't appear. What the hell, why isn't it appearing? I did everything.
"Human! I am asking you. What is your identity, and why did you save me?"
"Geez... You’re alive, isn't that enough? Why are you being so annoying?"
"Do not evade the question!"
Would you even understand if I told you the Tower made me do it? I gave a half-hearted answer.
"I just saved you because I wanted to. Happy?"
Haylin tilted her head, then suddenly looked flustered and stammered. "W-what...! I am a demon! We are of different races!"
"Pardon?"
"As a human, could you possibly harbor such feelings for me...? Of course, my beauty is enough to transcend racial boundaries, but... ugh!" Haylin put her hands on her cheeks and shook her head. "V-very well. I, too, like a man who can risk his life for me. You have already proven yourself... so it is not as if I cannot give you a chance..."
What is she talking about? How could she interpret my words that way?
As I stood there speechless in disbelief, Haylin smiled shyly and said, "My name is Haylin Dafriya. What is your name?"
"...Kim Seo-hyun."
"Kim Seo-hyun? That is a unique name."
She said it was a strange name before, but now it’s been upgraded to "unique." Haylin took off the necklace, bracelet, and ring she was wearing and held them out to me.
"Since you have saved my life, I must grant you a fitting reward in the name of Dafriya. Choose one of these three. They are all precious treasures."
...Huh? A reward? Bewildered, I looked at the jewelry on Haylin’s palm. Could this be the hidden reward? I have to choose right here?
"What do these do?" I asked first. I had to know the effects to choose.
"The necklace is a medium that allows one to contract with a powerful familiar. I have not yet attempted it, but you, Kim Seo-hyun, might be able to."
"A familiar?" Like those dogs that were chasing us earlier? "What kind of abilities does the familiar have?"
"Did I not say I have not yet attempted it? You must check for yourself to find out."
As I shifted my gaze to the bracelet, Haylin continued her explanation. "The bracelet is a totem inhabited by a dark spirit. If you are to the spirit's liking, you will be able to borrow and use its power."
"A dark spirit... and its ability?"
"It allows one to see through the darkness."
"...Is that it?"
"I-it is because my affinity with the spirit is not yet high. The higher the affinity, the more abilities you can use."
Finally, the ring.
"The ring is an heirloom engraved with the seal of the Dafriya family. The ring itself does not have any special abilities. However, if you were to visit the Dafriya family with this ring later, they would grant you any one request within the family's power."
So it was trash. We won't see each other again once I leave. Besides, isn't the family ruined now?
"Hmm..."
I debated whether to choose the necklace or the bracelet. I touched them to see if item information would pop up, but nothing appeared.
"Will you choose the bracelet?"
"No, wait a second."
Ah, I don't know which one is better. But can't she just give me all of them? I went through all that trouble. I’m her savior, after all.
"They all look great."
"Indeed. All three are wonderful treasures!"
I glanced at Haylin. When our eyes met, Haylin looked away.
“W-what are you staring at? Hurry up and choose.”
...Maybe? Should I give it a shot? It wouldn't hurt to try. Embarrassment is fleeting, but the rewards are forever.
I dropped to one knee and gently took her hand.
“Lady Haylin.”
“W-what—”
“Could you give me all of them? Since they belong to you, Lady Haylin, I want to treasure every single one.”
Haylin’s pale skin turned a visible, deep shade of crimson. It’s fine. I’m not embarrassed. I’m not embarrassed...
As I repeated the mantra to myself while maintaining a straight face, Haylin lowered her head and whispered her reply.
“T-then... just take them all...”
[You have successfully cleared the Nightmare 2nd Floor Hidden Route.]
[Completely absorbing the floor's power.]
[Level up.]
[Level up.]
[Level up.]
[Level up.]
[Level up.]
[Moving to the Reward Room.]
The scenery shifted in an instant, and I was transported to the Reward Room. Looking around, I saw Haylin’s three accessories and a Skill Stone.