Chapter 76
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Malice
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The intruders on the monitor began climbing smoothly.
From the second floor to the third, from the third to the fourth.
"Looks like they're starting to get the hang of it."
Honestly, I think the Ghost Mansion is an easy zone to break through if you just pay attention.
Rooms like the parlor, master bedroom, dining room, and so on—seven identical rooms exist on every floor, with that structure repeating all the way to the eightieth floor.
Put simply, it's like copying one floor and pasting it eighty times. That's the Ghost Mansion.
Like other zones, the mansion has clear rules.
Each room has etiquette you must follow, and breaking it builds up your death count until you die.
But here's the thing.
Unlike other zones, breaking rules here doesn't kill you instantly.
And from the first floor to the eightieth, it's just those same seven rooms over and over.
Frankly, it reeks of a trap.
Because if you assume you break every rule on the first floor,
you'd think you could keep dodging the death count on the next floor, right?
Of course, that's only half wrong.
The rules differ between odd and even floors.
Simple example:
On odd floors like the first, third, fifth, seventh, you grab the key from the study to open the door.
On even floors like the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, you smash the door open—no key needed.
Basically, odd and even floors are polar opposites.
Like a mirror image.
There's one more caution worth noting:
The amount of death count stacked differs between odd and even floors.
First floor: 1 count.
Second: 2 counts.
Third: 1 again.
Fourth: 2 again.
Something like that.
So the proper strategy is to learn all the minimal rules needed to advance with the least death count on the first and second floors,
then find the elevator hidden somewhere without stacking any more counts on the rest.
Anyway.
In the Dreamland Dungeon Master's humble opinion,
the Ghost Mansion so far has been boringly easy.
Hmm... The mansion kids are holding up better than expected.
They had a big group, so yeah.
And the remaining knights are braver than I thought.
Look at them go!
Newbie!
I got a question.
About the mansion's death count.
1 on floor 1... 2 on floor 2... Does it go 3 on floor 3 and 4 on floor 4??
Nope ㅠㅠ
Bummer.
Would've been cool if so ㅠㅠ
Sob sob ㅠㅠ
But they're starting to figure out the mansion rules.
Is this really a 5-star maze?? Feels like total dogshit.
Does the fake dragon kid gathering strength so far look like a joke to you?
LOL ;;
Of course it's going to feel boring.
Look at Dreamland's aces.
The Goblin Cave and School were plastered with gimmicks that straight-up blocked exploration.
Most rule breaks led to instant death, so it's no surprise they feel that way.
The anomalies posing as mansion rules so far
have been gentle compared to other zones.
The levers to the next floor are in the parlor or master bedroom to begin with.
No need to check every room or learn every rule.
But I think the mansion's rules themselves are a feint.
The real deal hasn't shown up yet.
The fake dragon kid mixed in with the group is a prime example—the key is when he'll stir things up.
In my view, the mansion's true horror comes from the minion called the "Mirror That Should Not Exist".
This minion is the alpha and omega of the Ghost Mansion.
Honestly, I figured the fake dragon kid would kill intruders early on, or something like that.
"Hmm."
Looking at the description of 【Mirror That Should Not Exist (★5)】,
it's clearly hostile to intruders.
So why's it so quiet?
The fake dragon kid even has memories of being betrayed by Dragred.
"Well, let's just watch for now."
"Huh."
Even as the Dungeon Master of a anomaly-themed dungeon, I don't fully grasp their minds.
The fake dragon kid has his own thoughts, no doubt.
Dreamland Zone 3.
Mansion 4th floor, 00:00.
The party gathered in the corridor.
Crock took center stage to review what they'd learned so far.
"In this mansion, certain actions—breaking rules—build up a death count. It triggers at 7. Then the branded one dies, and it drops by 7."
"Right."
Two had sacrificed themselves so far.
But those sacrifices had meaning.
They didn't know all the rules yet,
but they'd uncovered one crucial fact.
"Floors 1 and 3 had the same rules."
"Floors 2 and 4 did too."
Rules differ per floor.
But odds match odds,
evens match evens—or so they suspected.
The reason was simple.
They'd grabbed the key from the study on the third floor,
advanced just like on the first, and Crock was convinced.
The fourth matched the second perfectly.
Plus, floors 1 and 3 shared an overall color tone,
while 2 and 4 were noticeably darker. Now they could visually distinguish floor types.
Of course, they'd check a bit more for safety.
But this meant they could advance without stacking counts.
Anyway.
The rules they'd pieced together so far were these.
Odd Floors
Don't smash doors (suspected). Don't enter the master bedroom. Don't eat the food set out in the dining room (suspected, since Olivia mentioned eating there once). Don't be on odd floors from 8 PM to 11 PM (suspected).
Even Floors
Don't touch items in the study. Don't enter the parlor (suspected). Don't use an escape scroll. Don't open doors with a key. Don't wander during forbidden hours like on odds (suspected).
They'd nailed the minimal rules for progress.
A huge win.
But one thing still nagged.
On floor 2, Olivia trying to use the escape scroll,
and the party grabbing the key from the study—each gave +2 counts.
Not two rule breaks.
That much was sure.
Even floors stack 2 counts per violation. That's the rational take.
So they'd need to watch floors 3 and 4 too.
If counts scale with floor number, breaking rules up high would be catastrophic.
「3」
Leo's forehead count had transferred to Bitters.
Probably random every 2 hours or so.
With that, they'd established basic exploration strategy.
Floors 5 through 8,
and if it held to 80, they'd be golden.
Remaining issues: thirst, hunger, and even-floor forbidden times.
Odds definitely had forbidden hours.
On floor 1, six counts piled up at once.
Meaning six broke a rule simultaneously.
They hadn't done anything then.
Just chatting in the corridor by the stairs to floor 2.
Nothing explained it but forbidden time.
Odds had it for sure.
Maybe evens didn't, but better safe.
It was the one thing that could wipe the party instantly.
They were wary of meals too.
The mansion had dining rooms with food laid out.
The fact it looked perfectly edible was suspicious.
They could use their own rations,
but that might stack counts instead.
Before dying, Hector said Olivia ate dining room food on floor 1.
And when sharing info, Leo's forehead had 「1」.
From what they'd gathered,
the 「1」 most likely came from Olivia eating there.
Even floors might differ.
Everything was opposite floor 1.
"I'll check the second floor dining room. Bitters, no—transfers are possible, so everyone wait by the stairs to the third. Hold out on thirst and hunger a bit longer. Better safe."
"I'll check. You all take shifts standing watch and rest."
Crock thanked Dragred's offer.
He really wanted rest.
Today had been brutal.
The party headed to the third floor.
Plopped down where they stood.
Not just Crock—everyone looked beat.
Unlike the resting party,
Dragred descended to the second.
Dreamland Zone 3.
Mansion 3rd floor, 02:00.
"Gaaaaaaah!"
Dragred's scream echoed from the second floor.
The party, dozing by the stairs, snapped awake.
「3」
Crock reflexively checked Bitters' forehead.
Count unchanged. Good.
"I'll go down."
"B-But..."
"Yell if I need backup."
Crock bolted.
Rushed to the scream: Dragred facing off against someone.
"D...o...n...'t...c...o...m...e."
Crock checked Dragred first.
One arm severed.
Torn off by brute force—gruesome stump.
Heavy bleeding; needed healing fast.
Dragred retreated a step, terrified.
But
his foe closed the gap exactly.
"That's..."
Crock grimaced.
An anomaly.
Female version of Dragred.
Horns, wings, tail.
Polymorphed dragon, likely.
But no ordinary dragon.
Her body was melting.
Like slow-flowing mud.
The grotesque sight turned his stomach.
"Dungeon minion...?"
"...Seems so."
"You okay?"
"...Pain's manageable, got a healing potion. But this thing's the problem."
Every step Dragred took back, the monster followed.
"D...o...n...'t...c...o...m...e."
Distance shrinking slowly.
This way, Dragred was monster food.
'Every anomaly has a solution.'
Crock thought.
Thought again.
Running from this thing? Physically impossible.
Crock drew his sword from his belt.
Aimed between its eyes, hurled true.
But it melted through. Not the answer.
"Damn, there has to be a way..."
Truth be told now,
Crock hadn't liked Dragred at first.
Because
the so-called leader always hung back in the mansion.
Never stepped up once.
Undeserved fame for his station.
A coward, unlike the rumors.
Thought it'd never change.
But
after Hector died,
he shouldered leader and Wolfhaufen vassal duties.
If knights wouldn't step up, he'd do it alone.
That moved Crock and many knights.
He was essential for conquering Dreamland.
Now and forward.
Couldn't lose him here.
"Longsword."
"Pardon?"
"The item from the study whose purpose we couldn't figure. Might work."
Ah.
Right.
That.
Can't run.
Can't hide.
Last resort: fight to win.
"Get the longsword!"
Crock bellowed.
Loud enough for the third floor.
As loud as possible.
Can't take from second-floor study.
But first- and third-floor studies? Different.
Odd and even floors had opposite rules.
So the knights held two longswords.
Comfort and Crock gripped them.
Hesitated at first.
Really the answer?
"D...o...n...'t...c...o...m...e."
No choice.
Don't, and Dragred dies.
"Yes. Vengeance for Hector and Olivia. We'll slay this and ease their spirits a bit."
"D...o...n...'t...c...o...m...e."
Comfort struck first.
Lunged, plunged blade deep into the monster's heart.
"D...o...n!!"
Monster writhed.
It worked.
"Look at this idiot. Longsword hurts like hell. Not even fighting back. Ha!"
Comfort's blade whipped furiously.
Like avenging Olivia's mangled corpse, merciless.
"Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! You monster bastard!"
Tough life.
Crock joined in.
"N...a...m...e...l...e...s...s..."
"What the hell's it babbling?"
"Ignore. Kill it."
"A...f...r...a...i...d...?"
Less fight, more slaughter.
Monster's screams wove with knights' mad rage, eerie harmony.
Dragred closed his eyes.
Face serene, like soft music played.
Monster gone.
Just gore smeared on the corridor floor.
"Ahaha, feels damn good."
"We've been dragged around forever. Feels like we finally punched back at the Dungeon Master."
Knights laughed.
Relief, joy, satisfaction, thrill.
Had to be.
"Hahaha, hahaha, hahaha!"
And
among them, Dragred looked the happiest by far.
"Hahaha, hahaha, hahaha!"
Chugged a healing potion, grinning ear to ear.
Arm didn't regrow, but bleeding stopped, wound closed.
"Hahaha, hahaha, hahaha!"
Clutched his belly with one hand.
Tears streaming as he laughed like a madman.
"Hahaha, hahaha, hahaha!"
Arm-in-arm with gleeful knights, basking in victory.
Something felt off.
"......"
Only Crock stared blankly at Bitters.
Slaying the monster was fortunate.
A threat to them gone.
Truly fortunate, but
「5」
the count had gone up. Why?