Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 290: Vessel of the Thought-Form

Isaac swallowed and secretly nodded.

'I did it!'

One wrong move and I would have been completely cornered and destroyed.

Naturally, there were no rules on the final floor. Before leaving his thought-form behind, Isaac had entrusted it with full authority over the final trial. He believed that for those who had climbed this far, the final decision should be made after seeing them in person.

While there were no set rules, it wasn't as if he hadn't considered the final test at all. First, anyone Isaac personally acknowledged would clear the dungeon immediately.

However, for those he did not acknowledge, the decision was entirely up to him.

He could send them back or, if he judged them to be evil, kill them. He could administer an entirely new test or even erase the fact that they had ever reached this place. Truthfully, he wanted to teach them a lesson right this instant. But Isaac himself knew better than anyone that it was impossible.

'Formidable monsters…'

And he didn't just mean their appearance. The power they possessed could only be described as monstrous. Even with his own power, which had earned him the title of a genius magician, he could at best handle one of them. From the one who could shatter the dungeon's outer walls with sheer force, to the ones who subdued an army of chimeras with only a bow and spear, to the werewolf that slaughtered golems in an instant and the minotaur that blew away magic soldiers with a single blow—if creatures like that charged him all at once, even he wouldn't be able to withstand it.

No, "withstanding it" wasn't the issue. He'd be torn to shreds and sent to the great beyond in the blink of an eye.

'That son of a bitch.'

And the one with horns and a tail standing before him had tried to make that happen. After branding him as "corrupted," he'd immediately tried to clear the dungeon.

'You bastard! You're the one I can't forgive.'

Thankfully, he'd managed to escape the crisis by pretending to be corrupted, but he couldn't help the feeling of self-loathing.

'This was the only way.'

I am not corrupted. Tears welled up in his eyes for no reason. But this was no time to be lost in sentiment.

A single slip of the tongue could get him obliterated. That demon's knack for picking apart every word was extraordinary. He never imagined that misusing the word "person" once could lead to such a result.

If he made one more mistake…

He could even incite them, claiming there was no "pure Isaac" within him to begin with. He would surely come up with some plausible reason to prove that Isaac was completely corrupted.

I have to keep my wits about me. Isaac swallowed again.

"How fortunate that you'll accept the test... Kukuku. It seems you're quite desperate to save the 'pure Isaac' within you, aren't you?"

The demon before him didn't seem to care one bit about any "pure Isaac," but for now, the response was favorable. That bastard was clearly playing to the crowd.

"What must we do?"

This was the crucial part. He had to control the difficulty of the test himself. If he had his way, he'd say, "Kill the one with horns and a tail!" or "The test is to leave this dungeon quietly." But such a ridiculous test would only give the demon an opening.

'I have no allies here. I must decide carefully.'

He had to decide on something that was difficult, but wouldn't give them an excuse to turn on him. He may have put the "inner Isaac" up as a hostage, but these were the kind of people who would flip the script the moment things went wrong, twisting the narrative to their advantage.

They might even stand over his dissipated form and mutter, "So I guess there was no pure Isaac after all."

Since he'd decided to test them, a test must be held. That was the rule.

But he had to come up with a reasonable test, one with a chance of success, so they wouldn't have an excuse to turn on him. Time was running out. Isaac nodded.

"If you can get past me and touch the artifact behind me, victory is yours. O, challengers."

The weapon in which his thought-form resided. Revealing this was a gamble for Isaac.

"This is the artifact in which my thought-form resides. This artifact has slept here for a very long time. If you touch this artifact and become its master, you might even be able to drive out the corrupted Isaac. Hahahaha! What say you! Can you do it, challengers! Is it possible!"

'That sounded plausible.'

It wasn't bad. Everyone seemed to be nodding in agreement.

"Let's begin the test at once."

As they all looked ready to charge at once, Isaac spoke again.

"However, there shall be only one challenger."

One-on-one, he should be able to hold them off to some extent. Besides, the vessel of his thought-form was protected by a magical barrier incomparably stronger than anything they had faced so far. It would be impossible for them to conserve their magic while fighting him. If they used too much magic, they wouldn't be able to break the barrier. If they tried to break the barrier, he would interfere. It was a perfect plan.

"Hmm... May we have a moment to discuss this?"

"I shall grant you that much time, challengers. But do not forget that even as we speak, the pure Isaac is fading away."

Just as he was thinking that it didn't matter which one of them came forward, a troll-like figure spoke up.

"I, Storm Shadow, would like to lend my strength to aid you."

It was the one who hadn't moved until now. Just as Isaac was about to nod, he was forced to swallow hard. Seeing the troll slowly build up his aura, he couldn't possibly nod.

'Not this one. I'm screwed.'

This one was on another level. He'd be obliterated in an instant. In the end, Isaac had no choice but to speak.

"Ah... unfortunately... I... I must exclude you."

"Hm?"

The moment he thought he'd shown an opening, the demon's attack came flying in.

"What is the reason, Cor.rup.ted. Isaac? You aren't having any strange ideas, are you?"

He couldn't just say it was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠because he thought he'd lose. Isaac pushed up his glasses with one hand and swallowed saliva that wasn't there.

"Well..."

"Answer quickly, Corrupted Isaac. Or are you perhaps lying? O, Green Skins! This Isaac is telling a wicked lie!"

'That son of a bitch! That bastard!'

Rage erupted like a volcano. He wanted to rip out those sneering fangs right now. In his past life and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this one combined, Isaac had never hated a single being this much. It was enough to make him want to cast a spell on the spot. He had to do something about this guy. Isaac nodded and spoke.

"The test is reserved for the one who detected this Isaac's corruption. O, demon with the tail and horns. You are the protagonist of this trial."

'I'll make you suffer.'

As expected, the demon's face showed a flicker of surprise. Come to think of it, he had never seen that one fight properly. He looked formidable, but the same was true for Isaac himself.

'I'll show you the essence of magic.'

"It can't be helped. Blood Dagger, we'll leave it to you."

"I have wagered myself. What will you wager?"

He couldn't stop here. Originally, a wager wasn't necessary, but it was only right that he repay the grudge he'd built up.

"Hmm... If you insist, then I shall wager myself as well. I will live as a slave to this dungeon."

"The contract is sealed."

Thinking him a fool, Isaac smiled.

*

I smiled.

'Foolish bitch.'

I understood exactly what the reward was in this secret magic tower of Isaac's. The artifact that housed the thought-form itself. The artifact behind Isaac was the prize. Of course, besides the weapon being used as the vessel for his thought-form, there would be countless other rewards.

There was probably a treasure room, or a workshop for research and crafting.

But if I had to pick the best prize, it was undoubtedly the artifact behind him. This outcome was far more beautiful than simply destroying him. The conclusion would be perfect.

In fact, if I had destroyed him, it could have been a disaster. I had no information on how the artifact being used ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as his vessel would be affected by the disappearance of the thought-form. In the worst-case scenario, the artifact's stats could have been lowered.

I grinned, and Isaac's eyes, behind the glasses he was adjusting with a small hand, were burning with rage. All the conditions had fallen perfectly into place.

"Blood Dagger, you are the only Green Skin who can save Isaac, for you were the one who detected his corruption."

Starting with Goff, and then...

"Hmm... I wonder how you were able to sense Isaac's corruption..."

...even a curious Silver Fang. I had instructed Choi Seulgi and Choi Eunju to look serious and worried, so they were now staring at me with immense concern.

"Can you do it, Kim Taesung?"

"Honey..."

Amidst it all, Choi Seulgi's acting was superb. I had expected her to be a good actress, but she was doing even better than I thought. Seeing her, Isaac shouted with even more bravado.

"If you have a change of heart even now... you are free to turn back. Of course, I will not insult you for it. Though the pure Isaac will suffer."

Knowing that I cared about public opinion, he was now starting to use it against me. He was trying to set me up so that if I backed down, I'd be branded a coward who abandoned the pure Isaac. It was so absurd I almost laughed. I bared my fangs in a vicious smile.

'I'll make you suffer, pure Isaac.'

Forcibly swallowing the words that almost escaped my lips, I took a step forward.

"Your courage is commendable... But do not underestimate the power I have gained through corruption!"

He seemed excited, almost drunk on his own performance, but there was no way I'd be scared.

"Let's begin."

I drew Isaac's Throwing Dagger, and Isaac laughed at the sight.

"Hahahahahaha! Isn't that the cheap dagger I made long ago! Hoho, so you had one of my artifacts. You knew the value of this dungeon. But! Do you really think you can stop this corrupted Isaac with that!"

"............................."

"I, too, was once a wizard who took the era by storm. It would be wise to draw the weapons behind you. There will be no second chances if you lose from carelessness! I will make you live as a slave to this dungeon for the rest of your life! Along with the pure Isaac!"

No more words.

".......................!"

Isaac began to chant a spell.

And I…

swapped the position of Isaac's Throwing Dagger…

with the artifact behind him.

'Weapon Switch.'

I hated it at first, but it truly is a beautiful unique ability. I thought it might be impossible because of the magic barrier, but a large staff was now perfectly grasped in my hand. It had been hard to see, hidden by curtains and veils, but it seemed that, being a magician, he had sealed himself in a staff. A rather simple design. I wanted to check its stats, but for now, just seeing its appearance was enough.

I slowly opened my mouth.

"I've won."

"Huh.......?"

A face of disbelief.

Isaac's glasses fell to the floor with a clatter, and the heavy book he was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠holding dropped as well. He collapsed to his knees. Tears were welling in his eyes, his mouth agape.

I looked at the corrupted Isaac—no, the now-uncorrupted Isaac—and spoke.

"Welcome to my collection, Isaac."

"H-Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiik!"

His scream echoed throughout the dungeon.