Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Catching the Hidden Rat
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The plan had nearly gone off the rails, but in the end, it wrapped up perfectly. Seo Mi-na had awakened, we'd gained justification to kill Lee Ji-hyeong, and we'd conquered the first floor of the hidden stage.
Once all the boss rewards were distributed, the next message popped up, forcing a choice upon us.
'That's it! The mythic-grade sacred relic that promising rookie bragged about endlessly before my regression!'
The sacred relic was a massive disk shaped like the sun itself. It floated above like a halo, granting enormous buffs and boasting countless functions. Unlike my wing, which could only unleash a twelfth of its power, this was a complete mythic-grade cheat item in full glory.
But I resolutely passed on the reward. No—not passed. I chose to accumulate.
Clearing just one more floor would surely yield even greater rewards. No way was I passing on that.
"I'm heading up."
"I have no intention of passing either. Even if it kills me."
Our choices aligned. This wasn't some stray dog next door you could revisit anytime. Once you leave, it's over. Why pass?
Even by my pre-regression knowledge, hidden stages had only been discovered three times total.
No way I'd squander such a precious opportunity on a half-hearted note.
Even if it meant death, pushing further was the right call.
But I was a bit surprised that Seo Mi-na—who'd truly brushed death's doorstep—declared she'd go without a hint of hesitation.
'Must be scary as hell. Guess she's fully committed now.'
Of course. She'd learned and gained so much from just this one real battle. No wonder she didn't want to quit. But miracles like before wouldn't happen again. That had been luck borrowed from my authority's power, after all.
Honestly, she could've died there, and it wouldn't have been strange.
'Can't rely too blindly on pre-regression info.'
With that thought, I sheathed my sword.
"Let's rest a few hours, then move. We can't keep banking on miracles like before—if we push too hard, we really might die."
"Haa...! Great idea. I'm basically tapped out right now."
As soon as I finished speaking, Seo Mi-na slumped against the wall like she'd collapse. I let out a dry chuckle at the sight, then took a seat opposite, closed my eyes, and sank into thought.
'Got justification. Got witnesses. Time to clean house. With my Misfortune around, I can't leave loose ends trailing us.'
Having sorted my thoughts, I curled my lips into a sinister grin.
That rat had pinged my senses three times already. Once while digging in the desert, once entering the hidden stage, and again during the boss fight.
'But I can't just kill him easily. Not after what he's done to us.'
Now, I'd prepare a trap. Make him suffer maximally, die in terror.
I opened my inventory to check ownership. It had surpassed 8.5%. I could withdraw up to general-S grade items, total of 50 slots.
During our three-hour rest, I'd scoured the inventory for trap-worthy items. Then, we ascended to the second floor.
The second floor's layout was ridiculously simple. Just a massive passageway ahead, beckoning like it was serving up a full-course trap feast just for us. Come on in.
"Luckily, no monsters in sight."
Phew... Clearly nervous deep down, Seo Mi-na clenched her fists, put on a tough front, but let out a secret sigh of relief as she scanned the surroundings, reassuring herself.
'My senses aren't picking it up.'
Not a single trap in the passage had triggered yet. No matter the stealth item or skill, you couldn't fool the stage itself.
The rat was surely hunkered here, too cowardly to challenge the trials, just brute-waiting for us.
'Invest 1 point in Infinite stat.'
Infinite rose to 31, sharpening my senses a touch. But still not enough. His skill seemed decent-grade; it kept evading my detection.
'Guess I have to use it.'
Not unexpected. I'd only sensed him clearly when I equipped the wing—thanks to the massive 10-stat boost. Before that, only when his stealth nearly slipped.
But I had a fix ready.
I opened inventory, used one of my 50 slots, pulled out a vial of glowing green liquid, and downed it in one go.
Gulp!
Reel!
I staggered, unadjusted to the sudden sensory surge. Even Infinite Heavenly Veins' tough body couldn't fully fend off the dizziness.
"You okay? If you're feeling off, rest more here!"
"N... no. Just dizzy from the stat boost."
And with my heightened senses, I spotted him. Cowering in the corner, anxiously gnawing his nails, glaring at this place—a single human.
'Found you!'
"Shall we go?"
Preparations complete, I cracked my neck and boldly stepped into the trap-filled passage. Exactly ten minutes after we entered, a faint shadow slipped in from the corner.
The traps were simple yet vicious. Arrows shooting from front, back, left, right. Axes plummeting to crush skulls. Pitfalls yawning open to swallow you whole.
And the moment we hit the traps, two senses vanished—hearing and sight. Like some penalty.
Nothing to hear. Nothing to see.
Each step dripped with the thrill of death's terror.
'Good call chugging that sensory buff potion.'
Even sans sight and sound, my amplified remaining three senses let me navigate every trap flawlessly.
Seo Mi-na trailing me was awestruck by the perfect run.
"Bury that one here, hang this over there."
Truth be told, it was too easy, letting me set my preparations with finesse.
Using 40 of my remaining 49 slots, I'd withdrawn countless trap consumables.
From magic landmine bombs to poison gas potions that burst on shatter, mystery carnivorous liquid slimes I didn't even want to know about, tear gas mists, and more.
More vicious, malevolent traps than the ones I'd bypassed filled our path. Whoever followed would emerge crippled at minimum.
About thirty minutes of trap-dodging and trap-setting later...
The same vast cavern from our initial summon appeared as a rest area, and the clear message floated before us.
"Nice...! Second floor was a total cakewalk!"
Ignoring Seo Mi-na's glee, I planted my sword in the ground at the dark trap passage entrance, quietly awaiting a certain dimwit who'd never walk out.
"Come on out, show your face, you bastard."
A malevolent smile twisting my lips.
'Ah...! Thank god! I'm alive!'
Lee Ji-hyeong, who'd arrived first on the second floor to wait for Shin Juha, spotted Seo Mi-na next and barely stifled his urge to whoop.
How panicked and shocked had he been?
He'd only flung open the boss room door to harass Shin Juha leading the charge, but the boss was way stronger than expected.
Prospect training mentioned tough bosses, but not this tough. No way one prospect solos it normally.
That panic half-broke his stealth, forcing a blind escape without seeing the end.
Luckily, they hadn't noticed. His mana control was still clumsy, low mastery making stealth flicker.
Even if they sensed something off, no biggie. He'd kill them here anyway, and they couldn't detect his stealth.
'Ambush Shin Juha when they tank traps with their bodies and tire out.'
Lee Ji-hyeong fondly stroked his ring finger, pictured the duo vanishing into the trap passage, and rose.
"Plenty of time's passed by now."
He could've followed right away, but what if that monster Shin Juha noticed something and rigged a trap?
Thus musing on what lay ahead, Lee Ji-hyeong stepped into the trap passage.
Click!
BOOM!!
Instantly, he trod on a magic landmine bomb at the entrance.
"What the fu—!!!"
A massive blast erupted, flames engulfing him without mercy.
"Gaaahhh!!!"
Amid choking smoke, his body blistered red like full-body burns; he screamed, rolling on the ground.
"Damn! Damn! Damn!!!"
Cursing viciously amid agonized shrieks, he pounded the floor, grinding his teeth.
'What the hell?'
Why a mine right at the entrance?! Did they dodge and clear it?
Like some prophet! Possible?
Without his ace Fire Body Incarnation skill, both feet would've been blasted off—that mine packed that punch.
Gov't strictly controls magic stone bombs and mines; not easy to snag.
So Lee Ji-hyeong never dreamed Shin Juha planted one.
"Ugh, fuck. If hearing and sight hadn't vanished... I'd have spotted it!"
Mouth spewing curses and wails, but zero sound reached him.
Small mercy, he consoled himself, gulped a prepped potion, and pressed on.
Seemed he'd dodged the mine right. Other traps lay broken and scattered.
'Damn recovery potion won't fully heal!'
Problem: burns reddening his whole body resisted full recovery. No plans for hidden stage, so scout didn't give high-grade potions.
Internally raging, exactly five steps later...
Thud!
'Huh?'
Evading floor traps, something bumped his foot and shattered, form lost.
'Annoying as hell.'
Assuming spent trap junk, he stepped over the shards.
Shhh.
Suddenly cooler feet—no shoes, melted away. He freaked.
'Fuck! What now!'
Sniffing, acrid, stinging air hit. Realizing poison gas instantly, he bolted madly.
With more experience, he'd avoid such basic traps, but he was just a green prospect.
'Damn!!'
Just cursing and sprinting, triggering most of Shin Juha's setups.
Tormented insanely, half-conscious in pain—how long?
A faint light pierced his blind vision.
'Finally!'
Sanity snapped back; sweet hope of end drowned his agony. He lunged forward.
Squelch!
As if baited, he stomped the final malice-filled trap: a puddle-like carnivorous slime. Feeling his sole chewed off, he screamed into tears.
"Aaaahhh!!!"
'No.Hurts.Save me.Help. Kill me. Going mad.Who am I.Where. Hehehe. Aaaaaaah!!!'
Half-mad at last. Yet desperate to escape this horror passage, he crawled on hands, trailing bloody smear, finally emerging.
And in that liberating joy of "it's over," a cold, chilling voice rang out.
"You're here? So it was you after all. Flame Demon Lee Ji-hyeong."
Lee Ji-hyeong looked up with trembling face. Seeing Shin Juha staring down with icy eyes, he pissed himself on the spot.