Trapped in the Maze
A maze...???
To conquer floor 16, I first needed to assemble a party.
It wasn't that hard to find people. A quick scan of the postings was all it took.
"So from floor 16 on, taking down just one named mob lets you exit right away?"
"Yeah, named mobs are as tough as bosses. That's probably why."
"Whoa..."
"Which is why we need to recruit at least ten people. Five? That's the perfect number to get wiped out."
Master spoke with a serious expression. She always got like this when it came to business—kind of admirable, really.
But I knew exactly what kind of perverted lusts she harbored. Made me wonder if even this side of her had some hidden agenda.
"Anyway, I'm doing all this for you. Got nothing for me in return?"
"...Here we go again."
"Answer me."
I'd told her a dozen times that forcing answers like this wasn't cool. She never listened.
But in this relationship, all I could do was obey her orders. In the end, I surrendered my lips as she wanted.
"Mm..."
Another wave of strength drained right out of me. This listless weakness was torture, even if I hated to admit it...
Why did kissing Master always leave me so drained? Was every kiss like this?
"Hmph, I can taste the cigarettes on you, Master."
"Smoked one earlier."
"Cigarette smell sucks... Can't you quit?"
I could maybe understand the kissing. But at least ditching the smokes would be polite.
"Who the hell are you to boss me around? Why should I quit for you?"
"'Cause it reeks every time we kiss."
"Even the director wouldn't let me quit, so give it up."
That damn smoking habit... Even with a player's tough body, chain-smoking like her had to be bad news.
But she'd ignore me anyway. I gave up trying to convince her.
"Fine, then at least clean up. What is this mess... Even a pig would call you 'sis'."
"It's my room anyway!"
"You're the one always dragging me here. Honestly, I feel like I'll catch something just being in here."
I meant it. A bug crawling by wouldn't surprise me in this dump.
How the hell did she live like this?
"Ugh... Nag, nag, nag. Fine! Fine! I'll clean later."
"That's a promise."
"What promise? I'll clean, that's it."
Even saying that, I doubted she'd follow through.
A few months living together had taught me her personality, like it or not.
Master thought she was the best thing since sliced bread.
And she pretty much was—but that made her assume her superior status justified everything she did.
Sigh.
A sigh slipped out, but I kept it low-key.
No point nagging; she'd just pretend to listen.
"Now go clear that floor!"
Master issued her marching orders. Damn... My illusions about her were shattering one by one.
The players gathered at the Babel entrance for the floor 16 raid.
To a normie, they'd look like folks heading to Seoul Comic World—cosplay outfits and all.
"Looks like everyone's here. I'm Seongwol Shin, leading the floor 16 raid. Nice to meet you."
The woman in the biggest suit of armor spoke up.
Seongwol Shin. Rising star of the Invincible Incheon guild.
It's only been a few months in this world, but... I still can't get used to this getup.
Park Hyunwoo felt chills—not just awkwardness—at how casually everyone tossed around gaming terms.
"Oh? You must be Park Hyunwoo. Heard you're Sword Saint Ryu Ga-eul's disciple."
Amid the unease, hearing his name made his heart drop.
A lifelong loner with no friends, the stares from a dozen people were overwhelming.
"Y-Yes! That's me. Park Hyunwoo, direct disciple of Master Ryu Ga-eul."
"Nice to meet you. Truth is, I don't usually pick male players."
Seongwol looked down at the notably short Hyunwoo among the guys and kept talking.
It was narrow-minded bullshit from her tiny worldview.
"Male players get scared and bail on their positions. But Sword Saint's disciple? You won't do that, right?"
"Nah."
"Great!"
Having eaten solo for years, Hyunwoo vaguely got why she'd blurt that out.
Per the posting, she was a promising member of a big guild, Invincible Incheon.
Her status would dominate the party, and she'd probably stepped on weaker folks plenty.
Then along comes Sword Saint's direct disciple.
Time to belittle me and shine brighter.
Why else attack him in front of everyone?
Pathetic bitch.
He'd heard players were mentally off plenty of times, so no real offense taken.
Just anxiety. Could he trust a leader like this?
Way better off solo.
Too bad Babel didn't care about social anxiety newbies.
"Just follow my lead, and we'll clear Babel safely! Not to brag, but I've cleared 16 a few times."
Then why the hell was she here? Hyunwoo already knew.
Probably just a raid lackey. Carried gear, didn't fight...
Hunting mismatched levels yielded crap rewards. So she must be around level 16.
Still, might as well follow for now.
A few clears meant she'd know the patterns...
"Entering first, then briefing."
And so, the 15-person raid—including Hyunwoo—stepped into floor 16.
And there were watchers.
The rulers of Babel.
Many players called them constellations.
When Babel appeared, humans awakened superhuman powers via the constellations' system.
One purpose: Entertainment to spice up their immortal lives.
Babel's constellations wanted the show to last forever.
Anything disrupting it got axed. Sword Ghost was a thorn in their side.
Even their own thunder god got offed.
So instead of direct action, they sponsored proxies to make a Sword Ghost-slaying champ.
Park Hyunwoo was one candidate.
Arriving on floor 16, Hyunwoo looked around in confusion.
Party members? Gone. Just him.
Constellations sponsored favorites—power grants or item copies.
Trapped in the maze, Hyunwoo had no clue what hit him.
Nor that time inside flowed way faster than outside.
Four days until Park Hyunwoo's next contract renewal.