Mary's Phone
A new comment.
Dungeons in this isekai world each have their own unique concepts or stories. Sure, some were just brute-force monster dumps, but most makers used the Dungeon Editor program to weave in original tales. 'That's the only way to keep adventurers from cracking them too easily.' In that sense, this dungeon would be...
'Alright, let's go with that urban legend.'
I set the letter aside and dove into planning the new project.
If the Red Mask was a one-shot insta-kill the moment you encountered it, this horror needed a completely different mechanism. The core of this legend was gradual proximity. It started far, far away. Then it closed in, bit by bit.
'Might as well go all out while we're at it.' Destroy the very notion of a safe zone. That had to be the essence of the mind-shattering terror the Succubus Queen craved.
First, I checked the resources assigned to this project.
'They really deposited 10,000 points.'
VVIP Lilith Majesty Dungeon Project
Base Cost: 1,000 points
Performance Bonus: 10,000 points
Total Available Points: 11,000 points
That was enough to buy several high-end monsters from the company catalog. But I didn't even glance at the monster list. Overwhelming power wasn't what I needed.
I dove straight into the catalog's deepest recesses—the overlooked stockpile no other salesman bothered with.
"Search: curse-type magic, tracking function included."
The catalog responded to my voice.
A-rank Curse: Shackles of the Soul Tracker (25,000 points)
Description: Chains the target's soul directly. Tracks their exact position to the ends of the earth.
B-rank Curse: Bloodhound (8,000 points)
Description: Summons a bloodhound from a single drop of the target's blood. It memorizes their scent and pursues relentlessly.
C-rank Curse: Lost Echo (2,500 points)
Description: Leaves mana echoes along the target's path. The caster can follow these to map their route.
D-rank Curse: Basic Tracking Brand (300 points)
Description: Etches a faint mana brand on the target, roughly tracking their position for 24 hours.
As expected, higher ranks meant better performance. An A-rank curse would be inescapable. But with my points, I couldn't afford the Shackles of the Soul Tracker.
'No, I don't need high-rank curses anyway.' My style wasn't about crushing with raw power. The more crude and imperfect, the greater the realistic dread adventurers would feel. Cost-performance was key. Maximum terror with minimal spend.
'Gotta stash the leftovers for later.'
I picked the lowest rank without hesitation.
"Purchase D-rank, Basic Tracking Brand."
The system reacted instantly.
300 points deducted.
Total Available Points: 10,700 points
"Next up..."
A doll. The embodiment of this horror.
"Search: items, dolls."
Any doll would do. I planned to combine cheap materials into something entirely new.
'Perfect.' A cute one caught my eye.
Next, a sharp scythe for the weapon. Purchase complete—but that was just the start. Now for the real work.
I placed the three bought items on the Dungeon Editor in front of me. Other makers would stop here: arm the doll, scatter the tracking curse across rooms. But not me.
I started programming via the Dungeon Editor.
'Make contact first, before tracking.'
Doll set as core: 'Mary'.
'Mary' story registered to core.
On doll contact: Auto-apply Basic Tracking Brand to contactor.
Behavior: Link brand coordinates to doll. Auto-output distance-based messages.
Behavior: On final stage, Mary's grudge materializes and attacks with scythe.
……
All done. I hit save, weaving every rule into one perfect tale. This was my way. Crafting unseen dungeons from legends only I knew.
Moments later.
Bzzz—
A small doll emerged from the Dungeon Editor. The core of this dungeon, the star of the horror.
I pressed it. A voice emanated.
"Hello, I'm Mary."
Blood dripped onto the dungeon floor.
Kael stared blankly at his lifeless lover, Riana. His dagger still felt warm.
"Stupid bitch. Annoying me to the end."
He wrinkled his nose at the metallic blood stench from the corpse and swiftly stripped her pricey gear and items.
"Wearing gear way above your paygrade as a newbie. No wonder you painted a target on yourself for guys like me."
Kael snorted. How many naive adventurers had he lured and farmed like this? Now, his ex-lover's everything was his.
"No need to clean up the body..."
This was a dungeon. Human deaths here were commonplace. Monsters would handle it.
'But...'
Something felt off.
'No monsters in the dungeon?'
Right. Since entering, not even a rat. Like someone had scrubbed the whole place clean.
Kael's eyes landed on the doll in the dungeon's center floor.
'Was there a doll?'
The only pristine, pretty girl doll asserting presence. Well, not pristine anymore—Riana's blood had splattered it during the kill.
"......"
Just a doll, but it soured his mood. The sole witness to his deed. Unacceptable.
He kicked it away.
The doll tumbled, emitting a voice.
"Hello, I'm Mary."
"What a showoff."
He stood, turned without regret, and strolled out of the nameless dungeon, leaving Riana's corpse and the floor doll behind.
Core 'Mary's Phone' horror absorbs adventurer 'Riana''s grudge.
Dungeon programming auto-configured.
'Mary's Phone' horror evolves.
Under pleasant moonlight, he grinned in satisfaction and logged into the Adventurer Gallery. Itching to brag about his haul.
He chuckled contentedly and posted. Soon, the expected hate rolled in: 'Human trash,' 'Nobody asked, retard.'
Kael savored the backlash as he headed to the inn. Almost there when—
A new comment notification.
"Hm?"
This one felt different from the rest.
"What the?"
Kael stopped. Unknown username.
'Some troll?'
He frowned, dismissing it. Some psycho changed their name just to troll.
As he refreshed—another comment.
"Aigoo, really committing to the bit."
Kael scoffed at the comments and closed the app. No time for petty pranks.
He flung open the door to the village's busiest inn.
"Welcome! Your cozy haven, the Silver Bellflower Inn!"
The innkeeper's cheery voice greeted him. Laughter from rowdy adventurers filled the first floor, mingled with savory stew aromas.
'Yeah, this is real life.'
Tension eased. He called to the owner.
"One room. Dinner in-room."
Tossed a few silver coins, took the key. Up to his second-floor room, he locked and barred the door, then flopped onto the bed. Dumped the stolen gear, admiring it fondly—until those comments nagged him. He reopened the app.
His post still swarmed with hate. And below...
Kael's heart plummeted.
Cold rushed through his veins.
What?
'Is someone tailing me?'
Terror-struck, he bolted up. Creaking floorboards underfoot as he rushed the window, peering out. No suspicious figures in the bustling street.
Glanced back at the app—new notification, new comment.
That was it. The realization this wasn't a joke.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck!"
Kael yanked his sword from his belt, hands shaking as he double-checked the door. Bar solid.
'Who saw? Did they witness the kill?'
No. Dungeon was empty. Had to be.
His mind reeled in chaos. Then—another ping.
He was losing it. Those comments weren't bluffing.
Trembling fingers—he replied to the mystery user for the first time.
The reply posted—and instantly, a new comment appeared.