Chapter 42
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Ceiling Escape and the White Mask
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Hmm."
Like with Hansel and Gretel, monster corpses were piled up along the path I'd taken.
'Did I miscount? Just in case, I killed thirty more.'
I'd killed over a hundred monsters, but nothing happened. So were the monsters just there to get in the way?
"This is bad."
I'd come quite far from killing so many monsters, but there was no exit.
I climbed up the wall to see how far I'd come. But in the massive labyrinth, the path I'd taken was just a thin scratch line.
'What could it be.'
Thud. Instead of climbing down, I sat right there. There was nothing to see down below anyway. The important thing now was figuring out what to do next.
"Can't use my abilities. Killing lots of monsters does nothing. The maze has no end in sight."
No answer.
'If that's the case, why send us to different places based on contribution?'
No, it wasn't even confirmed.
'First floor: find the hidden thing. Second floor: fight monsters.'
Was it really just for enjoying a game? What did any of this have to—
'...Hold on.'
The mission on the first floor was definitely to find the hidden treasure. Right. And on the second floor, it was simply to deal with monsters, but the glass crafts appeared, so I had to figure out how to take them down. In the end, clearing both floors required finding something.
'Then.'
I let out a short groan and continued thinking. What I needed to find in this maze. What could it be.
'Let's think from the beginning.'
As soon as I entered the maze, the floating hologram window clearly told me to find the exit. At the same time, it wished me tremendous luck. Then I climbed the walls, came down, killed monsters...
'From the beginning.'
I reviewed everything that had happened so far. Over and over, until I realized something.
How many times did I go over it? Suddenly, one sentence flashed through my mind.
'Find the exit.'
There was no mention of finding the exit inside the maze. That meant the exit could be outside the maze. And it even wished me luck. Meaning, it could be found by chance.
'Then.'
I snapped my head up to look at the black ceiling.
Black ceiling.
'Definitely...'
Even coming up the stairs, we'd broken through a black ceiling.
With that thought, I kicked off the ground and stood. I gauged the height of the ceiling. It was about ten times my height. Pretty high, but it didn't matter.
'Is that why they blocked abilities?'
With abilities, I'd reach the ceiling easily, and if it collapsed, finding the exit would be too simple.
'Can't use abilities...'
Screech. I crouched low to jump high. Then, boom! My body shot up, closing the distance to the ceiling. Just before hitting it, I spun and swung my leg.
Crash!
The ceiling shattered easily. I grabbed a non-collapsed section and climbed up top.
"......"
Was it real?
I glanced back at the monster bloodstains that looked like thin lines. What the hell had I been doing all this time?
'Wasted energy for nothing.'
Ignoring the floor resealing behind me, I looked around. Lush trees, flowers, and mushrooms. One odd thing: everything had unusually low saturation. It gave off an eerie vibe.
'What now.'
I took one step forward, but nothing happened. Unlike before, no explanation appeared.
Better to move than stand still, so I pressed on. But all I saw were trees so dense the sky was invisible, and rotten grass crunching underfoot.
"Hmm."
Feeling like I was going in circles again, I stopped.
'Climb up again? Nah, it'll probably be endless like before.'
Hold on. I just found the answer a moment ago.
It's the same as before. That explained the lack of explanation. This place was just an extension of the maze.
'Then this time too.'
Whoosh. I looked up at the sky. Couldn't see it through the dense trees, but that was probably the answer.
The moment that thought hit, I crouched to jump toward the sky. But rumble! The ground shook and split.
Something moved beneath, and as I jumped awkwardly, boom! A monster resembling a giant moray eel burst out and opened its maw. I swung my scythe immediately. It split cleanly in half, black blood spraying everywhere.
'One more.'
From deeper in the forest, faint but clear killing intent. Before I could pinpoint it fully, an attack rushed in, and I reflexively defended.
Clang! The sound of metal clashing echoed. My eyes widened briefly at the dagger, then narrowed. The owner of the dagger let out a intense laugh from under the mask and spoke.
"Hel—lo!"
Thud! As I stepped back, the white mask retreated too, spinning the chain connected to the dagger.
"Been a while, right?"
"What, how long's it been."
It was the hunter from the last dungeon. Or whatever you called it—not quite a hunter.
"Finally got permission. So I rushed over. Good job?"
Tick. I flexed my hand slightly to use my ability, and unlike before, it worked fine.
Confirming I could use abilities, I attacked the white mask right away. But it noticed my ambush, dodged, and charged back.
Our weapons clashed again. I seized the gap to create a star in the sky and shoot it. The impact cracked the ground briefly before it repaired. The white mask's ear tore, blood leaking out.
'Now.'
Boom! I kicked off and charged this time. Feinting a scythe swing, I grabbed its head and slammed it down. Boom! A massive roar shook the earth.
Without letting go, I unleashed my ability. The white mask's daggers stabbed into my arm. Ignoring it, pow-pow-pow! Abilities exploded endlessly. It shredded my arm with the daggers, but I crushed it harder, pouring in immense power.
Smoke rose faintly. I cut the ability and pressed down; the white mask went limp, dropping the daggers.
I released my grip, stood, and pulled the daggers from my arm.
'No day my arm stays intact.'
I pulled out a potion and sprayed it. Felt a foreign sensation, so I drank an antidote too. Then I looked at the white mask and stomped its neck.
"Gah!"
"What's your goal?"
"......"
Grind. I heard teeth gnashing faintly. Eyes glaring through the cracking, about-to-shatter white mask. I stared a moment, then pressed harder on its neck.
"Answer."
"......"
Rustle. Mask fragments fell to the ground. Still no words, so I sighed. Why hate talking so much? Conversation's the most peaceful way.
As I made a regretful face, the white mask spoke in a cracked voice.
"Why... how did you get so strong?"
"Who knows? Maybe you're just weak."
"You—"
"Cool off first."
Crunch. I pressed harder on the surprisingly sturdy neck. It grabbed my ankle, trying to pry me off, but couldn't muster the same strength. Whatever. I asked again.
"What's the goal."
"Told... you, didn't I? Bad memory?"
Rustle. More fragments fell as it spoke.
Told me... Ah, right.
"The king's world is coming. That?"
No reply. So that was it.
"Yeah, sure. But what you're doing now seems different."
"......"
"Not dead, so answer."
The white mask clamped its mouth shut but its eyes darted wildly, glaring.
"...No help this time?"
I sneered.
"Don't know why you exist or your purpose, but you're useless. I get that much."
"You......"
Taunts worked well.
"Right? You attack us, so goal seems killing us, but you can't. Even if blocking's the aim, you're just lying there. And you leaked info before?"
The more I spoke, the more the mask's face seemed to twist, fragments falling.
"Totally useless. What do you do? Throw your weight around? Challenge and lose?"
Crunch. Its nails dug into my ankle.
"Can't even deny it? Seen your type—when no comeback, they curse or act first."
"Shut up!"
"See?"
I eased my foot slightly. Too tight, it'd take time to speak, and they might rethink bad words. Better to draw it out now.
"No matter what you do! The cup of victory is ours! From the moment your world began, you've already lost!"
"Maybe? Not many dead, and we're clearing fine."
"Ha, idiot."
I tilted my head, looking baffled at the white mask. It sneered mockingly and continued.
"You're already trapped! This is our—His Majesty's—plan too! The monarchs have you—"
Clang! Something shattered behind. I whipped around; the white mask seized the chance, slipping from under my foot and retreating.
"...You again?"
There stood a familiar man. Indigo hair, drooping rabbit ears. Unlike the white mask, no intent to talk with me. Perfect timing as the mask was about to spill good info. Life's funny.
Or maybe it knew.
The rabbit-ear man glanced at me, then spoke to the white mask.
"...□."
"What! I, I did it right!"
"Go back."
"I just got out! Finally got permission—"
"Then die useless like that?"
"......"
Rustle. Standing made fragments scatter. Looking up, I saw under the mask.
Dripping black liquid, form shrouded in deep darkness. I said,
"That's your true form?"
"......!"
The white mask quickly covered its face with its hand. But the shattered mask was beyond saving. Black liquid oozed between fingers.
"Hmm, right. Pawn... was it?"
"......."
Calling it Pawn, it looked shocked and murderous. Kept calling it Pawn when messing up, so probably the name. Pronunciation off, but close enough.
"Like it says, go before dying useless—"
"Shut up! Close your mouth!"
Drip. Black liquid ran down its arm, forming a black dagger. Ability like Ji Hwa-yeon's?
Losing control, Pawn charged screaming.
'Lost reason.'
I dodged easily; whoosh, a kick from behind sent its swung blade at my solar plexus.
Pow!