Strange World
“Is this… a dungeon?”
Kane, leader of the Adventurer Guild’s 3rd Scout Squad, let out a hollow laugh at the scrap heap before him. Right inside the dungeon entrance sat a steel box about the size of a single room, completely out in the open. Next to it was a sign reading ‘Elevator’ and two buttons. That was it.
“Hey, take another look. This is really a dungeon?”
“Location checks out. But… it looks like something scavenged from a junkyard.”
The others wore equally dumbfounded expressions. The scout squad’s job was straightforward: survey newly discovered dungeons, assess their danger level, and assign a rank. Dungeons were monster lairs, sure, but also mines rich with rare resources. Rather than smash them outright, they evaluated value first and reported back to the guild.
Those ranked dungeons then became quests under the banner of adventurer training.
“Hmm.”
But this dungeon was empty. Nothing but that so-called elevator scrap pile.
Kane rapped on the elevator door. Clang-clang. Hollow steel echoed back.
“Doesn’t look dangerous… Let’s go in, check if it works. If it’s nothing, rank it F and pull out.”
“Got it.”
This was no sleek magic lift from the city’s high-rises. It was rusted, ancient. The door creaked ominously as it cracked open.
“Alright, let’s hop in. It’ll probably work.”
Grumbling, they crammed into the cramped box.
“What’s that perfume smell?”
A fishy, cloying scent assaulted their noses. Whatever it was, it wasn’t pleasant.
“Let’s look around.”
Inside: a mirror, a flickering floor indicator, and a single sticky note.
[How to Go to Another Dimension]
- Press the floors in order.
4th Floor - 2nd Floor - 6th Floor - 2nd Floor - 10th Floor - 5th Floor
“Another dimension? What bullshit.”
Kane snorted and jabbed the 4th floor button. The dungeon owner must’ve gone overboard with the gimmick. He pressed without a second thought.
Whirr— The elevator jolted with a mechanical groan.
Half-doubting, Kane followed the note: 4th, 2nd, 6th… Each time the doors slid open, nothing but pitch blackness outside.
“What the hell? It’s empty.”
“Just broken? Wasted our time.”
Boredom set in around the 5th floor. Ding-dong. Doors opened—to the same landscape as the entrance.
“What? We’re back outside?”
“Failed, I guess. Another dimension my ass.”
Deflated, the squad piled out.
“No real danger here. Rank it F for now, report to the guild just in case.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Alright, call it a day. Head home, rest up. See you tomorrow.”
“Good work, sir!”
Kane waved them off. A nagging unease lingered, but nothing had happened, right?
Just my imagination.
Maybe the weird dungeon had gotten to him. Shaking it off, he headed home.
“I’m back.”
A savory aroma greeted him as he opened the door.
“Oh, honey, you’re home? Early today.”
His wife didn’t turn, just kept chopping. Thwack-thwack-thwack. The knife sang against the board.
“Yeah, nothing much. Where’s our son?”
“In his room.”
Kane went to check. His son sat with a picture book, shoulders shaking.
“Son, Dad’s home.”
“……”
No reply. The book hid his face. Was he laughing? Crying?
What’s up?
“Son?”
He stepped closer—but his wife called from the kitchen.
“Honey! Dinner’s ready! Come sit!”
Reluctantly, Kane turned and took his seat. She set down a steaming bowl of red tomato stew, chunky with meat.
“Eat up. It’s your favorite.”
She sat across, chin in hand, beaming at him. Her mouth seemed wider than usual, lips stretched ear-to-ear. Her eyes didn’t smile. Empty pupils stared.
“…I’ll dig in.”
Kane lifted his spoon. Déjà vu prickled, but fatigue, probably. Starving, he scooped a bite. Chunks bobbed in red broth.
Chew. Squelch. Soft meat. But fishy aftertaste.
Chew again. Crunch. Something hard. Bone?
He spat it out. On the table: a white bone fragment. No—a child’s pinky knuckle, tiny nail attached.
“……!”
Kane’s hand shook. The spoon clattered to the floor.
“H-honey? What the hell is this?”
She still grinned. Wider now. Jagged shark teeth filled her mouth.
“Why? Not tasty? It’s our son’s finger.”
“What…?”
His mind blanked. Our son?
Laughter echoed from the living room. Kee-hee-hee… Kee-hee-hee… Kee-hee-hee…
No child’s giggle. Metal scraping metal.
Kane bolted up. Something was wrong. This wasn’t home.
“Where you going? Finish your meal.”
She rose. Her neck snapped sideways. Crack.
Undeterred, she pulled something from under the table: a severed child’s foot. Small, pale. His son’s.
“Still got the foot. No pickiness allowed.”
She bit in. Crunch-crunch. Bone splintered, flesh sprayed.
“Gaaah!”
Kane screamed, bolting for the door. Escape this madness.
He burst outside. The street was wrong. Purple sky, two moons—one red, one black. Neighbors, baker, guard… all walking backward, joints reversed, eyes on the backs of their heads, watching him.
“Hi? Where ya headed?”
“Play with us.”
“Try walking backward.”
Dozens closed in, dancing grotesquely, encircling him.
“What the… fuck……”
Despair crushed him. Home, village, family—insane. The world itself mad. Not his world.
Then it hit: The dungeon. That elevator!
The one to another dimension. Back there. His only exit. Press buttons reverse, maybe return.
“Gotta go back!”
He ran like hell, shoving backward-walkers under the violet sky.
Finally, the dungeon. Elevator doors open.
He leaped in. “I’m safe!”
Trembling, he reached for buttons. Reverse order? He eyed the note.
[How to Go to Another Dimension]
- Press the floors in order.
4th Floor - 2nd Floor - 6th Floor - 2nd Floor - 10th Floor - 5th Floor
But grotesque followers grabbed the doors, lunging.
“Nooo! Stay back!”
Kane drew his dagger. Fight to live.
He slashed wildly. Flesh sprayed, screams rose.
“Die! Die! All of you!”
Until the last fell. He stabbed and stabbed.
Blood-soaked, he collapsed. Safe. Now escape.
Flicker. Lights stuttered. Bzzz.
Hallucinations faded. Monsters vanished. Left: cramped elevator, corpses on the floor.
“…Huh?”
He rubbed his eyes. The faces… familiar.
“W-why……?”
No monsters. His squad mates, bloodied.
One’s chest impaled by his dagger.
“Ah… aaah……”
His hands shook. He’d killed comrades. Thrashing in illusion, butchering reality.
“No… this can’t……”
He clutched his head, wailing. Reality didn’t budge.
Mirror showed a blood-drenched maniac weeping.
Then, speaker crackled.
- First floor.
Ding-dong. Doors opened.
But he couldn’t exit. Over corpses, sole survivor? Worse than death.
“I… I……”
He gripped the sticky dagger. Stared at his reflection. No brave leader. Just a mad killer mocking him.
Go back. Where everyone is.
He reversed the blade. Thrust into his throat.
“Gurk… glk.”
Hot blood surged. Vision reddened, strength fled. He crumpled.
There was a backstory to crafting the elevator dungeon.
Lucky break.
I’d planned to hit Blooming Night, using the VIP pass from Queen Lilith to snag some incubus perfume.
Share vitality stipend, get the perfume—profitable.
Incubus perfume: induces hallucinations via charm. Victims need days to recover, but perfect for this tiny elevator hell.
But then.
“Here. What you were after.”
Team Leader Liliane tossed a small vial onto my desk. Purple liquid sloshed alluringly.
“Huh? This is……”
“Incubus perfume, right? Saw you fiddling with that pass. Figured you needed it. Could’ve just asked me.”
She said it casually.
“But taking it for free—”
“Reward for hard work. Thanks for the project, Aiden. Your dungeon successes have boosted Sales Team 3’s standing.”
She smiled. “Plus, a half-demon like you hitting Blooming Night alone? They’d drain you dry. Recovery’s no joke there.”
“Th-thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. Can’t stand my subordinate getting sucked off by other bitches.”
Joke? I chuckled awkwardly, pocketing the vial.
Guess I’d underestimated Blooming Night.
Still, easy fix.
I used the perfume in the elevator dungeon. Turned a one-room box into infinite hell.