Retribution (1)
You have entered the dungeon, ‘CODE-009’.
Raymon Sean’s hideout. The first impression wasn’t unfamiliar. Even non-players could recognize it at a glance. The concept was clear-cut.
‘It’s just a lab, isn’t it?’
Considering rifts were spaces where reality and the Arcana Continent blended halfway… A lab buried underground in the desert? Money really made the impossible possible.
‘Let’s see.’
CCTV cameras everywhere first. A rift where smartphones worked fine. The cameras were surely capturing me, and Raymon Sean was watching from somewhere hidden.
‘Truth be told, I’d love to….’
I wanted to smash those CCTVs right away. After all, hadn’t I boldly declared it? I wasn’t here to accept an invitation—I’d come to dispose of him. Not content with that, I’d half-threatened to meet the conditions and entered the rift.
‘Feels all kinds of dirty.’
But Grandfell’s pride wouldn’t tolerate my petty salaryman mindset. I ignored the CCTVs without a second glance.
“No matter how closely you observe, nothing changes.”
But couldn’t it change just a little, Grandfell? How are you still stuck in that middle-school mindset?!
My brief plea aside, a familiar sight greeted me.
‘That’s an elevator, no matter how you slice it.’
A helpful message popped up right in front of me.
[B1-Lobby]
[B2-Lab]
[B3-Research Room]
[B4-Deep Lab]
[B5-Deep Research Room]
[B6-Control Room]
….
Labs and research rooms. Fitting for Raymon Sean’s hideout. Very engineering student vibe.
But doubts crept in too.
‘What the hell was he experimenting and researching down here?’
Luckily, my curiosity didn’t last long. Actions over words. I’d find out myself.
“Consideration, is it?”
The elevator was considerate, if nothing else. I should’ve been impressed by the thoughtfulness for visitors. But the problem was the host.
Hadn’t I made it clear? I’d refuse all hospitality from Raymon Sean.
“Then I shall refuse as well.”
Kurrrunch!
Magic manifested without hesitation. The scenery shifted in an instant. Stairs leading underground rose beneath my feet.
The effect of Pure Knowledge of the Pentagram. All knowledge of minerals skipped the exploration phase. Interference was second nature now, enabling swift manifestation.
‘I’ve used stairs so damn much.’
Memories flooded back. Back when I was all show, no substance. To max out contribution EXP, I’d needed kills. Stairs had netted me plenty.
‘Harcon made it worthwhile.’
Old sayings hold true. Hardship belongs to youth. Who knew that desperation would pay off like this?
Stairs emerged as I casually reshaped the dungeon’s structure.
‘Even dizzying views are routine now.’
The drop below was vertiginous, but nothing compared to the Mage Tower. I still got chills descending from the top.
‘Didn’t expect that, though.’
As the message indicated, I’d reached [B1-Lobby].
I’d imagined a barren hideout, but it was surprisingly lively. A receptionist guarded the lobby.
“Player Lee Hoyeol, we’ve been expecting you.”
No surprise at my stair descent. Makes sense. I got straight to the point.
“I wish to meet Raymon Sean.”
The reply came promptly.
“He’s on his way to the lobby right now.”
Coming to greet me personally? Saved me the search. Time to run simulations in my head.
One thing was clear: I needed to talk to Raymon Sean.
‘All excuses, of course.’
But excuses could yield info.
‘Maybe even how to return to Arcana.’
No illusions he’d spill easily. Judge a man by his actions. The rift entrance antics said it all.
Ding—
The elevator arrived. I stared at the slowly opening doors.
Let’s stay positive. Let’s have a constructive chat, Raymon Sean. As far as Grandfell’s patience allows.
Time passed. Seong Hyunjun spoke cautiously.
“…But can I ask one more thing?”
Park Minjae and Yoon Sugyeom nodded.
“I’ve never seen him in person, but… is Raymon Sean really like his photos? I mean, surprisingly ordinary-looking?”
“Doesn’t match, right?”
“Yeah.”
“His actions don’t fit that bland face.”
Humanity’s worst war criminal. The only one who knew the cataclysm’s truth. Yet Raymon Sean’s impression was too good.
Park Minjae grinned rottenly.
“Plenty of people hide their true selves. Not saying it’s wrong. Facades and acting prevent hurt in this cutthroat world. But.”
He clicked his tongue.
“That guy’s beyond that.”
Park Minjae, who’d seen every type clawing through society, couldn’t describe Raymon Sean.
“Not that words don’t work—it’s like they don’t mix. We’re talking the same topic, but it feels off-puttingly alien.”
…Wait.
I hadn’t known then. But now, it clicked.
Park Minjae slapped his knee.
“Right! He didn’t feel human!”
Roll—
“Raymon Sean’s” head tumbled across the floor.
…No, that’s misleading. To clarify kindly: transformation magic. A mannequin head under Polymorph rolled.
I’d suspected it upon seeing the lobby. The “receptionist” who greeted me was fake.
The Tower Master’s influence helped spot it.
‘That cat has its uses.’
Once seen, magic is perfectly understood. Grandfell’s genius wouldn’t just admire the Tower Master’s polymorph. Analysis, interference, manifestation—all mastered. Spotting it was easy.
‘Even without that.’
The receptionist’s reaction tipped me off. No shock at someone smashing the ceiling, ignoring the elevator, and conjuring stairs?
Still the same now. The “Raymon Sean” head rolled, yet no reaction.
Simple: another fake under Polymorph.
I intoned,
“Yet that is no excuse for lacking pride.”
Grandfell’s pride theory is more complex than it seems. He judges even green tea bags for pride. Not just dismissing dolls or fakes.
I continued coolly,
“Merely a failure of your tutelage.”
In short, bad parenting, Raymon Sean.
Thinking this could fool me? Big mistake. Wherever you’re hiding, sending puppets… I’d find you slowly. Like conquering a real dungeon.
Kurrrunch—
Tiresome? No, exactly what I wanted. To see with my own eyes what he’d been doing here after unforgivable acts in both worlds. The cataclysm.
Clack—
Descending stairs. Shifting view. New message.
You have entered [B2-Lab].
A blaring alarm followed. Fitting for a dungeon rift—monsters.
Fitting guards for a hideout. Lv.1,000—even for regular monsters, top-tier. Hundreds of them.
‘Old me would’ve freaked.’
But experience accumulates. Levels aren’t everything. I assessed their power objectively.
‘Magic alone can handle them.’
Mistake to treat this like home turf. Underground. My mineral mastery made it my domain.
Prototypes—half-finished mechanical dolls—creaked forward.
With First World Tree’s Blessing, mana efficiency didn’t matter.
Mana rippled from my body.
“Now a group welcome?”
Crunch!
Mannequins crumbled everywhere. Whether made in reality or Arcana didn’t matter. Minerals were key.
Clack—
I descended steadily, manifesting magic.
“Yet this too.”
They charged in order, collapsing.
“I refuse.”
Thud!
They knelt like worshippers at my passage.
Of course, not the end. He knew my level. Lowly monsters couldn’t stop me.
A message answered, as if to my thoughts.
Route Selection
📍 Intruder.
To proceed, choose one of two paths.
─B401-Deep Lab (Select)
─B402-Deep Lab (Select)
“Deep” wasn’t for show. More complex below.
A quest, huh.
‘Fitting tactic.’
Arcana’s sole operator. His biggest weapon: the system.
Players might be his natural counter. Like game days, when operators owned players.
Ironic. I was a player, but I’d always said: levels, stats—all just numbers.
I might ignore them, but Grandfell was a system skeptic from the start.
Raymon Sean, system or not—my answer’s the same.
“Did you think numbers turning to words would change aught?”
My venom unchanged.
“How foolish.”
Confirmed. No friendly chat with Raymon Sean. Circumstances or not, punch first, talk later.
No choices for me.
“Paths are forged by one’s own hand.”
He showed his cards. Time for mine. My ace.
I reached into my inventory.
Out came the [Torch of Hell].
I didn’t know his cataclysm motives. Only sure crimes for judgment.
That was Grandfell’s heavy, complex pride. No excuses.
“Isn’t that right?”
The torch roared in answer.
I continued.
“From here, the battlefield is yours.”
Arcanshan’s Legacy: Summons Arcanshan demon hunters from the fires of hell.
Raymon Sean. Your star rookie career hire goes out.
“Shreygwin.”
Sword Saint, Shreygwin responds to your call.