Official Expedition: The Trial Beyond the Gate (3)
After swiftly conquering the dungeon layer by layer, Eunhyeon's party finally reached the deepest chamber of the Arkys Great Labyrinth.
They descended endless stairs after clearing each level, arriving at a vast, hollow space ringed by towering stone walls. At its center stood a massive silvery-white door that drew the eye immediately—and nothing else. No beasts, no traps, no dangers lurked in this profound depth.
"Finally…."
Standing before the entrance to the inner sanctum, Yuria murmured as she gazed up at the enormous door. For her, who had once aimed for this very place, the moment carried a special weight.
But it wasn't joy, pride, or anticipation that filled her. Regret dominated instead—because she hadn't led the party here herself. The man standing beside her, Eunhyeon, had done that.
"I'll go in alone from here."
"You sure that's okay?"
"The trial beyond this door can only be faced solo anyway. The test to select Arkys's successor must be undertaken alone. Isn't that right, Princess?"
"…Yes."
Yuria nodded, her wistful expression unchanged. Leaving her confirmation behind, Eunhyeon turned to the party.
"This area's a safe zone—no monsters spawn here. Set up the tents and rest. No one else seems to be around but us, so no need for guards. Relax."
The party members all nodded at Eunhyeon's words. With the order given, they smoothly pitched the tents and settled in for rest.
But when Eunhyeon remained standing before the door instead of joining them, Erin shot him a puzzled look.
"Heading in right away?"
"Yeah. Body's warmed up just right. Feels like now's the time."
"…Be careful."
"Of course. Who do you think I am?"
Eunhyeon chuckled lightly, trying to ease her worry with a joke, but Erin's expression didn't soften.
She knew better than anyone that he was the strongest in the party. Still, that didn't stop her from fretting over him walking into the dungeon's perils of his own accord.
"I'll be back."
"Okay…."
"No telling how long it'll take. We've got rations for three days if we share evenly, but if I'm not out in two, escape the labyrinth immediately."
"Hang on—if it's not too rude to say, we only made it here thanks to you. Without you, we'd be isolated again like before, right?"
In Yuria's memories, this place was pure trauma—a spot where her misjudgment had endangered her and her royal guard escort.
Losing a core fighter like Eunhyeon spiked her anxiety, and she couldn't hold it in any longer.
"I know that mess back then was my fault, but I don't want to relive it. And… we still have kids in the party."
Yuria glanced worriedly at Erin and Eira as she spoke. Even with Elenoa the priestess along for better balance, two of the seven members sans Eunhyeon were total rookies without real monster combat experience.
If something happened to those girls, the party's equilibrium would shatter in an instant.
"This dungeon's monsters are high-grade, but it lacks fast self-repair or respawn rates. We swept every beast on the way down at top speed and disarmed all traps. It should hold for at least three or four days. Everyone can escape safely, no problem."
"I see."
Yuria nodded, convinced. It made sense now—why they'd cleared everything so aggressively and reached the depths in hours. Preparation for this exact scenario.
"Alright, then. Heading in."
With that, Eunhyeon shoved the massive door open with all his might. Brilliant white light poured from beyond, enveloping him. Overpowered by the glare, the party members shielded their eyes one by one.
Moments later, as the light faded, they opened their eyes to stare at the door—now silently sealed shut again, as if it had never opened. No sound, no vibration during the process. Eerily seamless. The only change had been that pure white radiance from within.
"Huh…?"
"““““What?””””"
A faint girl's voice echoed from thin air, leaving the entire party exchanging baffled glances.
"Uh… that voice from above?"
At Erin's words, everyone looked up.
For the party awaiting the challenger's return.
Yuria reacted first. The guiding tone irked her, but the word "streaming" gnawed most.
"Streaming…?"
The term screamed her past-life memories. She muttered it questioningly—just as massive mana surged from the silvery-white door that had swallowed Eunhyeon.
Alex sensed it first.
"Everyone, careful! Get back from the door!"
"…No, this isn't an attack spell."
"Princess?"
Alex glanced at the dazed Yuria, but her eyes stayed fixed ahead—on the magic circle blooming across the door.
"If my guess is right… it's not offensive. Probably shows the inside."
Proving her correct, a figure materialized at the circle's center. Like a mirror, but not their reflections—Eunhyeon's silver-haired back. Real-time view of his situation, as if watching directly.
Alex's eyes widened in realization.
"This… magic?"
"Has to be. Probably…."
"Streaming" had instantly evoked Earth's video tech, but Arkena lacked machines or even the concept of science. Magic replicating it made sense.
'Well, that man's appearance already shattered my assumption of being the only reincarnator. Wouldn't be shocked if there were others long before now.'
Yuria nodded to herself, convinced.
"Oppa… don't get hurt…."
Seeing the worried girl murmur at the image, Yuria turned her gaze to the streamed view of Eunhyeon.
"Incredible. As expected of Arkys."
Eunhyeon marveled at the new space he'd dimension-shifted into, just like entering the labyrinth on Arkena. A dungeon within a dungeon, artificially crafted.
But Arkys hadn't built this magic—someone else had.
"You finally unraveled the secrets of dimensional magic in your research."
Recalling the great mage who'd achieved her life's ambition, Eunhyeon praised her unknown feat. He knew now.
What sort of child was that Arkys?
"Arkys wasn't human. She was a doll."
Not human?
"More precisely, a doll that gained a human heart."
Her body mimicked human skin and flesh, but no bones, no blood—an otherworldly being. Simply put, not alive.
A magitech marvel: Earth's science fused with Arkena's magic. Powered semi-permanently by mana from a mana stone "heart," like a perpetual magimech.
The first—and last—doll to gain a human mind, self-thought, and ego in that doll's body. The final Dollmaster: Arkys the Dollmaster.
"But Goddess, you've watched my entire journey. I figured you knew about her too."
True, I watched the children of the lower world as a third party. But that was merely from others' perspectives. Only the child herself can say how she felt about that child. I was curious—what that doll meant to her.
"Arkys to me… was a friend. The only one with good memories I can recall without pain."
Most comrades he'd fought alongside met grim ends. Suicide as hostages. Shattered bodies in suicidal strikes. Vanished without trace battling demons and beasts. He'd buried many, left alone in the end.
Arkys was among the rare few who'd chosen her end. Immortal like him, unbound by lifespan—unlike his apostle duties to the goddess—she'd built this successor site and entered eternal rest.
Eunhyeon envied her peaceful choice.
I see.
Verdandi gently embraced his neck.
Does it still weigh on you?
To Verdandi's faintly trembling question, Eunhyeon smiled and shook his head.
"No."
He didn't dwell on it anymore.
"Now I have you, Goddess."
Those words bring me such joy now.
Chatting with the goddess, he traversed the new dungeon. Roughly 70 meters long, 10 wide, 15 high—like a grand palace hall.
Glass cases lined the walls, a ornate throne at the far end. Slumped upon it, head bowed: a girl in dark gothic dress of black and navy. Short bob of pale sky-blue hair. His old comrade, seen again after 400 years.
"It's been ages. Arkys."
The inert doll girl didn't stir at his glad greeting. Instead, a flat, emotionless magic voice resounded through the labyrinth.
Labyrinth clear time: 51 minutes. PASS.
Mana capacity measurement: PASS.
Dollmaster successor verification: FAIL. Error detected.
Child…?
Sensing something amiss, Verdandi called out warily. But Eunhyeon only stared at the slumped doll.
"Sorry, Arkys. I wanted to find your proper successor and bring them here. But circumstances changed."
Until now, he'd forged and led heroes.
No longer. He'd decided to become the hero himself.
No yielding what he needed—he'd claim it all, prioritizing his people. No one could object, not even the goddess, his sole constraint. She'd approved.
"Dollmaster successor. Even without qualification, I'll seize it by force."
This was his first step toward becoming a hero.
Comparing against blacklist.
Match confirmed: Highest threat list intruder detected. Exit labyrinth within 30 seconds or face annihilation.
Child! What are you doing?! Get out now…!
Verdandi urged frantically, but Eunhyeon didn't budge. She realized his intent.
Still choosing the reckless path, as always.
Verdandi sighed, giving up—further persuasion futile.
0. Blacklist 'Eunhyeon' classified as 'Intruder'—not 'Challenger' or 'Guest.' Annihilation commencing.
No sooner had the warning-girl's guidance ended than the wall-lined cases burst open.
Target confirmed. Annihilation mode activated.
Dozens of emotionless dolls with glowing red eyes turned toward Eunhyeon in unison.