Gallery Whispers and the Tower of Despair
Even if ExplorationLogan went to scout that abandoned mansion and vanished, why hasn't FactChecker bro shown up? Dude used to spam like 10 posts a day, but it's been 3 days with no sign. Am I the only one getting bad vibes?
Who's this Mary guy? Total FactChecker stalker fan, right? Obsessed af. Check the timestamps—comments every 1 minute. But FactChecker doesn't reply once... Kinda creepy, no?
Fr, who cares if FactChecker's dead or whatever? Let's talk dungeons.
Still not cleared? It was hot for a bit but quiet now? No news on anyone beating it?
"Phew."
A man let out a deep sigh as he closed the Adventurer Gallery. His name was Alex, a dungeon analyst for the Adventurer's Guild and known online as DungeonAppraiser.
Alex adjusted his glasses and looked down at the report spread on his desk.
"The Red Mask..."
The so-called Red Mask dungeon. When the Adventurer's Guild first scouted it, it was a standard goblin dungeon. Crude traps, low-level monsters—D-rank rating.
But just days later, adventurers entered to find no goblins, only a woman in a strange mask.
"Most survivors came back with their mouths torn."
Alex skimmed the survivor testimonies. Rambling accounts, but one common thread: the question 'Am I pretty?' Answer yes, no, run—death anyway. Or not quite. Say yes, and your mouth gets torn. Those who made it out despite that had higher survival odds. Most bled out first, but the Guild got valuable intel.
"Can't explain it with standard monster ecology."
Alex stroked his chin. Monsters act on instinct—hunger drives eating, threats trigger attacks. High-level intelligent monsters might bend that, implying the masked woman wasn't low-tier.
"Just a mutation?"
The Guild took it seriously, bumping the rating to A-rank. As the gallery said, even B-ranks were getting wiped.
"But rank isn't the issue. It's the rules."
Alex believed the Red Mask dungeon had rules. Adventurers had tried breaking them.
"What about the one who said 'neither pretty nor ugly'?"
He flipped a page.
Cause of Death: Neck Severed
Not the answer. No tolerance for non-committal replies. Some tried counter-questions, asking if she was pretty. Result: 'You'll be pretty like me.' Mouth torn.
Counter-questions failed too.
"Headache."
Alex's eyes sharpened. How long since one dungeon threw the whole Guild into chaos? They were prepping A-rank insertions.
"Hm."
But his worries didn't end there. Recent gallery buzz: Fog Forest's abandoned mansion. Vacant since the vampire count fled, now flooded with eerie reports.
"Two posts."
Alex recalled. First: the Yellow Room. Endless yellow rooms, buzzing noise, no exit—poster ranted madly, got banned as troll. Alex thought the same at first.
"But maybe not a troll."
Then ExplorationLogan's post grabbed attention: heading to scout the mansion.
"He entered via 2nd-floor window, saw someone in a bear doll mask."
Then silence. Last post: pulling out. No more Logan.
"What's the connection?"
One mansion, yet infinite maze vs. playroom? Two spaces in one building? Lies? Or...
"Separate spaces?"
Alex re-analyzed posts meticulously. First poster: 1st-floor entrance. Logan: 2nd-floor window.
"Different entries lead to different spaces..."
If true, new pattern. Even dungeon expert Alex was stumped.
"And."
FactChecker's disappearance too.
"Last post: entered a doll-only dungeon."
Alex checked comments on that post.
"Coincidence?"
Alex couldn't say. But one thing was clear: something was happening.
"Hm."
The problem? Not knowing exactly what.
"Guess I'll report to the Guild."
Time for a formal investigation on the mansion too.
"Big success again."
Team Leader Liliane beamed, thick envelope in hand.
"Client raved about your dungeon, Aiden. 'Overwhelming Power' theme nailed perfectly and creatively."
"Too kind."
I'd just checked my status—HR Score up.
Now at -45 points.
10 points from this one. Dark elf pulled her weight. Raw power wowed the strength-worshipping client.
"Team results soaring thanks to you. HQ's watching."
Liliane eyed me oddly.
"You... how far you planning to climb? Might pass me soon."
I shrugged.
"As far as I can. Can't get fired."
She smiled, satisfied, handing over a file.
"Sorry to assign more right after."
"No issue. More work's better."
Gets HR Score and points faster.
"Another creation request?"
I asked casually. She shook her head.
"No, different. Remodeling an existing dungeon."
Remodeling. Companies handle repairs, but structural changes or concept upgrades fall to sales/planning teams.
"Which one?"
"Despair Tower. Old one."
She spread the file.
"Standard tower dungeon, but owner's unhappy. Adventurers too jaded. Wants more shocking, innovative scares."
"Hm, shocking."
I scanned: orcs, goblins, skeletons per floor. Mass-produced bore.
"So, what do they want from me?"
"Do whatever. Scariest within budget. Swap all monsters if you want."
"Oh?"
Free rein. I smirked.
"Got it. I'll take this request."
"Thanks, Aiden."
Liliane smiled, returning to her seat. I grabbed the file and left.
Despair Tower...
Walking the hall, I pondered upgrades. Bland stairs and corridors—how to twist for spine-tingling fear?
Another urban legend?
Nothing fit. Fox stairs too cliché. Repetition risks pattern-reading.
Needs variation.
I paused, staring into space. How'd I make the Yellow Room? This world's my old game made real. Exploited system glitch like gamer days—easy here too.
Try it again?
Idea sparked.
"Could be fun if done right."
Turn boring tower into something beyond reason.