Chapter 219
A voice devoid of inflection echoes through my mind, just like a notification from the status window.
The source of the voice seems to be the luminous figure before me.
[…‘Irregular,’ you say? Are you talking about me?]
That's right. You're wielding something forbidden in a monster's body.
[…Something forbidden—do you mean the ‘status window’?]
The figure nods slowly in affirmation to my question.
Its formal name is System, but calling it a status window is fine enough. Names belong to those who use them, after all.
[…So you know all about the status window. The System, then.]
Indeed. Because we created it.
[‘We’… So who exactly are you?]
I am this closed world itself. What you call a ‘labyrinth.’
A quiet chill runs through me at the low, steady voice.
I'd vaguely imagined encountering something like the ‘Labyrinth Will’ at the dungeon's depths, but facing it directly like this sends shivers down my spine.
There are so many questions I want to ask, so much I want to know.
Does it sense the intent in my quietly gleaming eyes?
The being that calls itself the ‘labyrinth’ speaks softly.
This form isn't efficient for conversation. Wait a moment.
With those words, the light flickers briefly.
Then it reappears in a different form.
A short flash, and what materializes is…
[…Suli?]
[I took the form of the most familiar being from your memories. Easier for you to talk to this way, right?]
I frown slightly at the change—not just in appearance, but in speech patterns too.
Before I can say anything, it shifts again.
This time, into a pink slime.
Only then do I nod, feeling somewhat more at ease.
[Man, you're picky.
[Your speech changed a lot.]
[Just matching the tone. That's all.]
[Tone… So your current speech perfectly matches my level?]
[Don't take it the wrong way. I'm not belittling you. Just think of it as me having let go of more than what you see.]
[…I see. Got it.]
As I nod slowly, the pink slime form of the Labyrinth Will bobs up and down once.
[Anyway, proper introduction: I'm this labyrinth itself. What you'd call the ‘Seoul Great Labyrinth’s Labyrinth Will.’]
[You even know its name…]
[I know everything that happens inside me… So nice to finally meet you, Yu Jun-young.]
[…I'm Nix.]
[Right. Sorry, Nix. I've watched you for so long, just wanted to emphasize how much I've wanted this meeting.]
[You wanted to meet me?]
It bobs affirmatively.
[Wasn't from the start, though. I agonized over it plenty. Wasn't sure if an irregular like you would even help.]
[…And now that I'm here, you are sure?]
It bobs again.
[Yeah. Watching you convinced me. You've been killing your ass off, haven't you? Plenty helpful.]
[Killing… You mean hunters?]
[Doesn't matter who. Hunters, monsters—whatever.]
[…No distinction between hunters and monsters? Aren't labyrinths supposed to be hostile to hunters?]
[Nah. We don't antagonize them. If we did, we wouldn't have given them the ‘System’—you know, the status window.]
[…Before I dig deeper, confirm something. You created the status window?]
[Yeah. Me and a few others pooled our power. Still allocating some energy to keep it running.]
[Those ‘few others’—who exactly?]
[What you call the other ‘great labyrinths,’ same as me.]
[So the lesser labyrinths don't get involved?]
[They can't handle the energy drain like we can. To even have free will, they need to grow to our level at least.]
[…‘Grow.’ So labyrinths are living beings?]
[Different from your concept of life, but… yeah, we're alive.]
I fall silent, watching it bob.
My mind races with the flood of new information.
[…You say you don't antagonize hunters or other lifeforms. Then what's with that ‘Labyrinth Will’ voice echoing in my head constantly?]
[Bit of a misunderstanding there. That ‘will’ you hear? Just a macro.]
[A macro?]
[Yeah. An automated alert that plays whenever monsters encounter humans—hunters. No real intent behind it. If we truly willed it, could you even resist?]
No sense of intimidation from its words—just stating plain facts, calmly.
For a moment, I'm speechless.
It hits me: this cute pink slime before me is an entirely different kind of existence.
[…If you don't antagonize hunters, why the hostility?]
[How to explain… Right, do you antagonize your livestock?]
[…Livestock?]
[Yeah, like cows or pigs. Do you kill them out of hatred?]
[…No.]
[Exactly like that.]
I clamp my mouth shut at its explanation.
So, it's saying hunters—humanity outside—are no different from livestock?
A nameless emotion wells up from deep within.
[…So you don't antagonize them, but you still need to kill them?]
[Yeah. Every time you die inside us, we get energy. We need it to live.]
[…What about the status window? Why create it?]
[Normal humans are too weak. Needed to raise their level. The stronger they get, the more energy we harvest. So we made the status window for rapid growth. You, though? Caused a ton of headaches.]
[Why me?]
[It was made for humans, but ended up in a native lifeform—a monster. Even you know your growth is unnaturally fast compared to others, right?]
I ponder its question.
I hadn't dwelled on it much, but yeah—my pace outstrips normal monsters.
I nod quietly, and it continues.
[Monsters normally grow slowly over eons. Without our management, there's limits to speed and evolution. But not you.]
It bobs, staring at me.
[The status window let you break those limits. Know this? Without it, your max evolution was A-rank.]
[…No idea.]
I shake my head slowly; it replies flatly.
[So I agonized: scrap you or not?]
I frown at that.
Not pleasant to hear it straight to my face.
[Don't take it personally. Sorry, but it was a dilemma for me. Like leaving a potentially harmful germ unchecked? Had to observe. And like I said— I fully accept you now.]
[Because I'm beneficial to you?]
[Yeah. You've done great so far. Thanks to you, I've gathered loads of energy.]
[…Is that energy only from kills?]
[Not necessarily. Even lifeforms just living inside provides some.]
It shakes side to side, then continues.
[But kills give the most, by far. Otherwise, I'd have wiped everything inside me long ago.]
[…I see.]
I nod slowly. Plenty of questions answered, but my gut churns unpleasantly.
Maybe from all these ugly truths?
Feels like a fishbone stuck in my throat.
I sigh softly at the innocently bouncing pink slime.
[…Summing up: you labyrinths aren't hostile to humanity or other life. You just kill for necessity.]
[Right. Not out of hate. Just to survive.]
[…Okay. One more: where did you come from? What's your purpose on Earth?]
[Silly question. Do you ask mountains, fields, rivers, oceans, sun, or moon why they're here?]
[…Just where they're meant to be?]
[No idea what you hoped for, but yeah. We're inevitable. Meant to be here.]
I sigh again at its matter-of-fact tone.
Head spins from these revelations in such short time.
Of course, I don't swallow every word wholesale…
[Feel free to believe it all. We don't lie.]
[…You can read my mind too?]
[Told you—levels differ. Same principle as your status window reading your thoughts.]
I chafe at the unknown principle, but it seems trivial to this higher-level ‘labyrinth.’
[…You claim no lies. How do I trust that?]
[Don't get offended, but why would I bother lying to you?]
Its calm, factual question silences me.
Hate to admit it, but I sense it instantly.
To it, I'm utterly insignificant.
Like the ‘livestock’ it mentioned…
No—given its demeanor so far, maybe not.
More like…
[A pet? Yeah, spot on.]
My face twists at it preempting my thought.
The ugly truth pierces my core.
Anger bubbles from the depths.
[I get how you feel, but don't waste energy. You can't do a thing right now.]
[…So just sit pretty because I'm powerless?]
After this humiliation?
[Wasn't trying to humiliate. Just facts. If it bothers you, tough. As you always say: weakness is a sin.]
I bite my tongue at its calm words.
Nothing wrong with what it said.
Plus, charging it blindly is too risky.
It's the labyrinth itself.
Dunno its exact power, but inside here? Omnipotent, probably.
Forget my safety—
[No need to touch your kids. I like Suli, actually.]
[…Classic blackmail.]
[If it feels that way, sorry. But no harm intended. So no need to drag everyone out.]
[You read minds without permission. No manners?]
[Can't help it—it's all visible. Pretending not to see would be dishonest. I like you, so I treat you accordingly.]
I sigh lowly at its innocent bobbing.
My mood aside, one thing's clear: it harbors genuine goodwill toward me.
[Yeah, definite goodwill. I like you more than you think.]
[…Then stop reading my mind without asking?]
[Sorry, unavoidable. All visible. Want me to play dumb?]
[…No, that'd be worse.]
[Man, hard to please. But fine. You won't stay mad over this.]
[…Sorry for getting upset over nothing.]
[It's cool. No need to apologize.]
[…….]
I sigh for the umpteenth time.
Wish I could crush it now, but not feasible.
If I gain that power later…
[I could make that happen, y'know?]
[…No secrets with you, huh.]
I sigh again, then jolt as I replay its words.
[Give me power? To me?]
[Yeah. Not huge right away, but big later.]
[How big?]
[Depends on you, but threatening to me and the others? Yeah.]
I clamp my mouth at its casual tone.
No clue its angle.
[No grand schemes.]
[So a minor scheme, then.]
[Sharp… But it's a win-win proposal.]
[What's the deal?]
[Take this first!]
As it bobs excitedly, a large orb materializes before me.
Slightly smaller than my head.
◈ Absorbs life energy from slain foes to evolve
◈ Currently empty; fill to unlock immense power
◈ Bound to user; enables evolution beyond limits
[This is…?]
[Yeoui-ju! It'll make you way stronger!]
[Yeoui-ju? This?]
[Yeah. Provisional for now—empty inside, see?]
I glance at the orb as it speaks.
No power emanates from it, just as it says—utterly vacant.
[Why give me an empty one?]
[Your job: fill it from now on.]
[Fill it how?]
[It absorbs life energy. Keep killing strong foes like you do.]
[…Stronger foes. Easy to find? Even in this labyrinth, nothing tops me.]
[Hmm… Dragon King upstairs would've been prime, but dead—and not in battle, so low yield.]
It mutters disappointedly, then presses on.
[Don't worry about strong foes. None here, but others have 'em.]
[…So raid other labyrinths?]
[Yeah. Not a bad deal? You planned that anyway.]
I nod in agreement.
True—after conquering Seoul Great Labyrinth, others were next.
But now? Rethink needed.
Knowing the Labyrinth Will is this makes it unappealing.
[Other labyrinths won't interfere. With that provisional Yeoui-ju, they can't touch you.]
[…Handy item.]
[Yeah. Spent tons of stored energy making it. That's why things look like this here.]
I stare at the bobbing slime, then the Yeoui-ju.
Empty void now, but potential later.
Useful, depending on me.
No reason to refuse.
Except…
[If I gain power, what do you get?]
[Huh?]
[You said win-win. I grow via Yeoui-ju—what's your cut?]
It gazes at me, humming.
[Not much for me. Like a rental fee or commission.]
[Rental fee? Commission? Meaning?]
[I take a share of the life energy you absorb through it.]
I nod—of course.
No free lunch.
Even its ‘liking’ me probably ties to this.
[Can't deny that.]
I nod again as it affirms my read.
[So, accept?]
[…Yeah. No reason not to.]
[Thanks! More energy thanks to you!]
I watch it bounce gleefully for a moment.
Can't read its full mind, but no immediate rejection reason.
Defy it here? Unknown fallout. If hostile, no need for this hassle.
[Right. No point in the roundabout if I wanted harm.]
[…Stop reading my mind already.]
[Impossible. Too visible.]
[…….]
I gaze at its bobbing, then tuck the Yeoui-ju away quietly.
Just vast emptiness now—no power.
But that's fine.
This void will fill someday.
And that power will be mine.
The prospect of growing even stronger thrills me.