Before Entering the Fainting Mirror Room
I'd finished coordinating with the veteran explorers from the Upper Layer and above to a certain extent.
Of course, the coordination was all about the Evolution Body raids, and the reason it was necessary boiled down to the high cost and rewards of those Evolution Bodies.
That day when the Giant Rock Lizard evolved through the power of the inscription, only seven Dragon Speech Bracelets dropped as rewards—not just a matter of contribution points. That's why this coordination was essential.
"Who would've thought the rewards were that stingy...."
The inner core only held seven bracelets, meaning not everyone in a single raid could walk away with one.
Veteran explorers could clear a Skull Rock Lizard with just a small group anyway, so seven people tackling it was an option.
But the real issue was supply not keeping up with demand. There were tons of people who wanted them, but not enough to go around.
Lately, with second job changes like Jeonbung-i's becoming more common, Kkomangi was wrapping inscriptions way less frequently than before.
Considering Kkomangi's health, mass-producing inscriptions was out of the question.
So, it made more sense to leverage this for special items that couldn't be obtained normally. I figured I'd use the coordination as an excuse to farm some rare materials.
I'd planned to do business with inscriptions from the start anyway.
These were veterans, after all—they'd each have something incredibly valuable or two.
"Hmm... but why only seven bracelets?"
Was it because their value was so much higher than slime jelly?
Nah, maybe it was just the nature of Evolution Bodies. The Giant Rock Lizard had evolved from a Skull Rock Lizard infused with a tiny amount of dragon factor via the inscription.
With limited dragon factor in the boss, the rewards carrying that power were limited too.
If rewards scaled with the monster's cost, then the Skull Rock Lizard was worth exactly seven Dragon Speech Bracelets.
Thinking about it, the Dragon Speech Bracelet was an absurd item. It let you use Dragon Speech—limited, sure—but it also infused the wearer's body with dragon factor.
The effects varied wildly based on compatibility, but it was undeniably a cheat item that shattered growth limits.
The day those bracelets dropped, Joodak messaged me first. That said it all.
According to Joodak, embedding Dragon Speech into an item was impossible with current tech—only ancient artifacts had it.
Long story short:
Dragon Speech was like magic but different.
Magic painted your imagery onto reality using mana as a medium...
Dragon Speech bent reality to your will—like the difference between painting on paper and changing the paper's color itself.
Why? Dragon-kind's existence density was ridiculously high.
Varies by individual, but ultimately, Dragon Speech was a unique ability granted only to dragons, whose very being was like overwhelming sorcery.
So, non-dragons couldn't use it. Even knowing the mechanism, replication—or crafting into magic tools—was impossible. Joodak's words.
No wonder she was shocked when it dropped as a dungeon reward.
Most veterans craved these Evolution Body rewards.
Unlike low-layer explorers, they could capitalize on even the slightest stiffness or knockback from Dragon Speech. Great compatibility? Even stronger.
For those who'd maxed their potential and hit endgame specs, it was irresistible.
But Kkomangi's inscription limit... and the number of veterans who could claim rewards... both capped.
I couldn't pass up this juicy setup, so I legally extracted "coordination fees."
In two weeks: Inscription auction for veterans at Starlight Lake Park Dungeon's plaza.
"Auction might not be the right word?"
I'd evaluate and buy items they offered.
Five inscriptions that day.
Teams of seven submit items; I approve the ones I like. Total: 35 veterans get bracelets.
Of course, I'd send proxies to check the items.
With rare items and monster mats sourced, next up:
"Time to tackle the Mirror Room issue."
The Mirror Trial was prime enhancement content for Mid to Mid-Upper Layer explorers.
Better if Jeonbung-i-types and other classes could access it.
Earth reclamation was my endgame—everyone needed to power up.
"Kkomangi, entry."
I headed into the dungeon.
*
I made an empty field and entered.
Slime Hill base. No monsters, no people.
"Hmm... how do I find it?"
From second-jobbers like Jeonbung-i, you needed a "well" to enter the Mirror Room...
But it didn't appear on command—only in front of Mid to Mid-Upper second-jobbers, for some reason.
And my class was mage-like, not warrior.
No well for me, ever...
But this was my dungeon. Mirror Room was an extension. No way I couldn't enter.
Plus, something to test: Joodak's Dragon Speech explanation.
If density lets will move the world... my density here surpassed dragons.
So...
"Appear."
......
"Not it?"
Felt like dungeon control, but nope.
"Then..."
I dungeon-crafted a pond.
Visualized the Mirror Room.
I knew it existed now. Creating an entrance? Easy.
Like ticket-making: Amp up imagery, make the pond a portal. Existing function—just hijack it.
The water soon reflected light like a mirror.
"Nice, let's go!"
Splash—
*
Shallow pond... swallowed me whole.
Buoyancy followed, body surfacing.
Splash.
Feet hit floor. Eyes open: White space, mirrors everywhere.
"Made it."
But different from reports. Mirrors filled the irregular space.
Reflecting infinitely—no sense of scale, endless.
Kaleidoscope dizziness.
"Hmm... nothing?"
Mirrors, but no anomalies.
No hallucinations, echoes, visions...
Nothing.
Developer tools brute-force? Not functioning right...
Explored awhile—no gains.
Dungeon sync felt disrupted...
No progress. Headed back.
"Come again later..."
I returned, missing that the space held more than mirrors.
*
Entered to enable other classes... still no grasp.
Sent acquaintances like Yeomje, Dragon Mask Padak, dwarf brothers—no visions or echoes.
But learned facts:
1. Entering doesn't trigger trial.
2. My well leads to the mirror-filled room only for me. Others get normal Mirror Rooms.
That's it.
Sought advice—mostly shrugs.
Only Sticky Thing Lover suggested a way for others:
"Ah..."
Sudden chill.
*
Soon after Sticky Thing Lover chat.
Another message.
*
"Eh..."
Saint Lymea Kreina heard the unbelievable in her office.
The sacred relic... gone...?
"Ah... ahh..."
Thud—
A dull sound. Nun outside: "Saintess? You alright?"
No reply. She entered...
"Kyaaaaaaaah—!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Saiiiintesss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Saint Lymea Kreina had fainted.
*
"Ah... she fainted... No wonder no reply..."
Guess it is my fault...