The Trial of Tarosque (1)
Even before entering the imperial palace, we were fully prepared.
After all, Pean had clearly stated that he sensed "movement" coming from that building.
"..."
Right.
Our exploration of the ruins over the past three days had been far too easy.
There were a few minor traps here and there, but they were simple enough for Natalia Koshat to handle with ease.
A decaying floor suddenly collapsing, arrows shooting out from the walls, and the like.
Frankly, those were nowhere near enough to hold our party back. It was laughable to even call them "dangers."
Everything up until now was just a warm-up.
But...
...The imperial palace is different.
If the areas we had traversed so far were the outskirts, that place was the heart of Lashutku.
A space that had remained sealed and silent for thousands of years.
The place where the dungeon raid truly began.
That was why we had to be exceptionally cautious when it came to the palace.
Step, step—
As we climbed the long, wide staircase leading to the main building of the palace, Marcos spoke up cautiously.
"Sir Gaon."
"..."
"Do you happen to know the layout of the Lashutku Imperial Palace as well...?"
I paused at his question.
I looked up at the massive palace and gave an ambiguous reply.
"Of course I know the layout."
"Then...?"
"However, unlike the other areas, the palace is a space designed to be walked only by those of noble blood."
"..."
"Of course, someone among us might possess that authority, but that does not apply to most of us. Which means the palace is highly likely to treat us as hostiles."
I deliberately avoided naming that "someone."
However, seeing how the party's eyes instinctively drifted toward me, it seemed everyone naturally assumed I was referring to myself.
"I do not know if those rules still hold true after thousands of years... but you had better prepare yourselves."
"..."
"..."
Gulp.
The Koshat siblings swallowed hard at my words.
Marcos adjusted his glasses with a serious expression, while Natalia rested her hand on the belt at her waist.
The others reacted similarly.
The peace of the last three days was long forgotten. Everyone began to steel their resolve.
I remained silent for a moment before finishing my thought.
"Of course, a massive reward worthy of that danger awaits us."
"...!"
Right.
I needed to give them at least this much motivation.
"We have arrived."
We came to a halt.
Before long, we stood in front of the palace's main gates.
A grand gate, easily standing over ten meters tall, loomed before us. Its surface was carved with an intricate relief depicting the twin emperors.
Rumble!
As everyone looked up at the palace in awe, the gates began to open on their own.
As if they had been waiting for our arrival.
"..."
"..."
"..."
The party members exchanged solemn looks before finally stepping inside the palace.
And then...
"Ah."
...Everyone gasped in admiration.
Whoosh—
The interior of the palace was breathtakingly grand.
The ceiling was so high its end was invisible, and pillars carved with exquisite sculptures supported the colossal space.
The floor was paved with smooth, luxurious marble.
Yet, its former glory had long since faded.
Layers of accumulated dust. Cobwebs draping over every corner.
The tapestries on the walls were so faded that the original designs were unrecognizable, and most of the chandeliers had fallen, scattered across the floor in shattered pieces.
In the very next instant.
Slam!
The gates slammed shut with a deafening crash, plunging the palace interior into darkness.
As if even the light filtering through the windows had been completely cut off, pitch-black darkness enveloped us.
"I will light up the area."
Natalia quickly pulled a flashlight from her belt.
Biorf gripped his staff tightly, scanning the surroundings, while Selena also looked around with a wary gaze.
Their reactions were swift and calm.
However, the tension on their faces was impossible to hide.
Though they had entered prepared for danger, they probably hadn't expected the trial to begin so suddenly and blatantly.
"..."
On the other hand, I didn't even blink.
If anything, I felt a sense of relief that what I had anticipated was finally beginning.
Bear the weight of the trial corresponding to the treasures you have taken. Prove your worth in proportion to the size of your greed.
...It's finally starting.
Yes.
The Lashutku Ruins.
The first gateway... the Trial of Tarosque, the Twin Emperor, was finally beginning.
Adelia instinctively gripped the hilt of the Meteor Sword.
Her body had reacted on its own to the sudden shift in the atmosphere.
"What foolish creatures."
"...!"
At that moment, a voice echoed throughout the entire palace.
Just as the voice of the Master of Fire and Blacksmiths had resounded at the Forge of the Single Fire, it felt as if the space itself was speaking to them.
The stone pillars, the ceiling, and even the floor vibrated, conveying someone's will.
"Over thousands of years, only five groups have ever found this sanctuary. Yet, not a single one of them knew satisfaction, daring to cross the threshold of the imperial palace. The end of those who knew not when to retreat was truly miserable."
"..."
"Yet, you are the most peculiar of them all. Never has there been a group that reached the palace while carrying so many treasures."
The Emperor's voice carried both arrogance and dignity. It was a tone that looked down on them as infinitely lesser beings.
"I, Tarosque XVI, the last Emperor of Lashutku, solemnly declare."
"..."
"Upon you, who have defiled the empire's sanctuary with your greed, Lashutku shall hand down a punishment heavier and more brutal than ever before."
Everyone's expression stiffened.
Even though they had only heard the declaration, they instinctively realized that this situation was far from ordinary.
Adelia also felt an indescribable anxiety creeping up on her.
However...
Smirk.
...For some reason, Gaon merely wore his usual relaxed smile.
"...?"
At this, Emperor Tarosque muttered in disbelief.
"You dare smile? Do you still not realize the gravity of the sins you have committed? Do you truly not know how heavy the weight of your reckless greed is—"
"Of course I know."
The voice cut off instantly.
A heavy silence fell over the hall.
Everyone's eyes snapped to Gaon.
They were utterly speechless, not only because he had interrupted the ancient Emperor, but because he was standing up to him so confidently.
"What...?"
"I said I know exactly what items we took."
But Gaon didn't waver in the slightest.
He merely replied with a calm, composed gaze, as if stating the obvious.
Suddenly, I recalled what Strawberry Latte had said the day before.
"Who on earth plans a strategy down to the exact second, and then goes on to prepare all the way up to Plan C...?"
Right.
I know I'm a bit extreme.
I admit to having control-freak tendencies. Calling it obsessive-compulsive wouldn't be far-fetched either.
But it can't be helped.
It's a sort of occupational hazard.
I spent my entire life in an environment where I had no choice but to live that way.
And before I knew it, that way of living became second nature to me.
That was why I never did a concept play even once during my twelve years of playing.
Everything had to be strictly controlled, and unexpected variables were never allowed to exist in the first place.
In contrast, a concept play made it difficult even for me, the player, to predict the outcome.
Of course, I never imagined my very first concept play, which I started to celebrate my 200th playthrough, would get twisted like this...
Well, it actually worked out for the better. Thanks to that variable, even more possibilities had opened up.
If it weren't for that, my situation after reincarnating would have been far more despairing.
Anyway.
What I'm trying to say is...
"We took the gold coins exactly 36 minutes and 21 seconds after first entering the Lashutku Empire. At 47 minutes and 19 seconds, we took the books on ancient alchemy. At 49 minutes and 26 seconds, the mana stone ornaments."
"...?"
"At 1 hour, 2 minutes, and 17 seconds, we took the staff. And just four seconds later, at 1 hour, 2 minutes, and 21 seconds, we took the ring right next to it."
I remembered everything.
To be precise...
I had planned all of this.
"Could you verify if the research we've done so far is correct? We might never get another chance to hear it directly from someone who actually lived in that era."
Ever since we entered the ruins, I had been at the front of the party.
Pretending to be an ancient being, I showed familiarity with the Lashutku Empire and naturally seized the initiative of the party.
I was the one who guided them through the familiar city, leading them along a route based on my memories of playing the game.
From the exploration path to the locations and timing of the items.
Everything was a pre-arranged plan. I had even factored in the personalities of the party members, calculating, If they see that item around this point, they'll lose their minds and grab it.
"...Seriously, hyung, are you insane?"
Strawberry Latte had called me a madman when he saw me planning so obsessively, but...
You see, Latte.
There is still one thing you don't know.
The difficulty of the Trial of Tarosque doesn't increase simply because you take a lot of items.
The content of the trial itself changes depending on the types of items you pick up and the timing of when you take them.
That random element... or rather, the patterns that the developers had designed to look random—I had figured them all out.
Of course, the trial didn't change with every single second of difference in timing. Calculating it down to the second was just a reflection of my obsessive nature.
And...
I had used those rules to deliberately trigger a specific trial.
"..."
The preamble was a bit long, but what I ultimately want to say is...
"I wanted the most difficult trial from the start, which is why I deliberately filled our pockets."
"..."
"It was not greed, but a spirited choice to face your trial head-on."
Hadn't I said it countless times already?
That Lost Elder is a world where high risk, high reward holds true.
That's why it's worth the challenge.
A trial no one else could bear.
The deepest, most dangerous zone.
Facing all of it head-on and ultimately emerging victorious.
That was the way I had survived in this world, and it was a conviction that would never change.
"Besides, what is wrong with a master taking back his own belongings—"
"Insolent fool!"
Without even listening to the rest of my words, the Emperor growled in a voice filled with rage.
"Very well."
"..."
"I shall judge your arrogance thoroughly this day."
Rumble!
The entire palace shook violently.
Everyone immediately assumed combat stances, but there was no anxiety on their faces.
The conviction that I had complete control over the situation had already taken root in their hearts.
I smirked.
That's it.
Keep testing us.
Push us endlessly to the brink of death, and throw us into even more suffocating danger.
I will survive.
By any means necessary. Somehow.
And...
I will ultimately turn all your threats into my own spoils of war.