Chapter 188: 40th Floor, Child of the Demonic Tribe (2)
“What are you doing, Ambresia?”
The Spirit King frowned. Before her lay Ambresia, sprawled out on the floor like a corpse.
Ambresia spoke without moving.
“There’s nothing to do, right? I’m just killing some time.”
“Try to maintain some dignity in your strength.”
“Dignity, my ass.”
Ambresia grumbled as she stood up.
“How many times have we failed to clear the 74th floor? I’ve lost count. It’s all meaningless anyway, so what’s wrong with wasting time meaninglessly?”
Since they arrived here, they had never managed to break through the 74th floor. They had grown accustomed to failure. The Spirit King gave a bitter smile, understanding Ambresia’s frustration.
“Don’t be like that. There’s a child coming down here with great effort. Who knows what will happen when they join us.”
“That guy…”
Ambresia frowned.
“Isn’t he the one favored by the Demon God?”
“Yes.”
The Spirit King nodded.
“He went up to kill the one who opposed us. The time to meet him should be near.”
“But thinking about it now, is it really okay? He’s also favored by the Demon God, and Quanid is a demon, right? What if they team up and combine their strengths?”
Despite Ambresia’s worried tone, the Spirit King responded indifferently.
“There’s no need to worry. He’s quite stupid.”
“It would be nice if you called him pure instead. It’s too pitiful.”
Ambresia said reluctantly.
“But stupid is still stupid. And he’s attached to us, the ones who acknowledged him. That’s why he made such a contract.”
“Well, that’s…”
Ambresia couldn’t argue with that and shut her mouth.
“Why would someone with that much talent crave affection?”
“Those without talent cannot understand those with it. It’s common for someone with Quanid’s level of talent to be oppressed and unloved.”
The Spirit King spoke calmly.
“In fact, quite a few humans I’ve contracted with were like that. Most of them destroyed their own countries.”
“Is that so?”
Ambresia looked puzzled. The Spirit King realized something.
“Come to think of it, you’re from a utopian world. It makes sense that you wouldn’t understand.”
“Well… I left because I hated that place too.”
Ambresia shook her head.
“Setting aside betrayal, is it really okay? If he dies, it’s the end, isn’t it? Honestly, we don’t even know how long this path is.”
How strong has Taesan become?
The leaders didn’t know because the Demon God blocked the information. They just assumed that the Demon God allowed the battle because it seemed comparable.
Despite these words, the Spirit King’s expression did not change.
“That doesn’t matter. Even if Quanid dies, his power will return to us.”
“No way…”
Ambresia’s eyes widened. The Spirit King spoke leisurely.
“We made a contract. Even if he dies, his power will belong to us.”
“Are you the adventurer who opposes us?”
Taesan nodded. During the conversation, his muscles were tense, ready to respond to any sudden attack.
“Haa.”
However, his opponent showed no such intention.
The young demon with black hair sighed deeply.
“I am Quanid. What’s your name?”
“…Kang Taesan.”
“Taesan? That’s an unusual name.”
Quanid showed no hostility. Moreover, he didn’t even take a combat stance.
Feeling foolish to stay on guard, Taesan dropped his combat posture as he sensed no hostility from Quanid.
Quanid rubbed his forehead.
“Honestly, I don’t want to fight you.”
“Then don’t fight.”
Taesan also felt it was awkward to fight the demon in front of him.
The Demon God had done a lot for him. She had shown him special favors and given him many rewards, even at the expense of her territory.
Thus, Taesan felt grateful to her.
If he didn’t have to defeat the demon she cared about, it would also be good for him.
“But… I can’t do that. I am one of them, after all. Even though I really hate it.”
Quanid sighed heavily and drew his sword.
Taesan couldn’t help but feel puzzled by his attitude.
“Then why did you join them? You wouldn’t be harmed even if you didn’t.”
The Demon God cherishes her child. Especially towards Quanid, she showed even deeper affection. When Taesan defeated the demon called Zagan before, the Demon God didn’t care much, but this time she appeared personally with a bitter expression.
Someone like that would have refused to join the Guides of Sin, and the leaders wouldn’t have been able to do anything about it.
The Demon God says she doesn’t interfere in mortal affairs or the labyrinth’s events, but mortals can’t feel at ease. They could all die from an immortal’s simple whim. If Quanid had strongly refused, they would likely have backed off.
Quanid bit his lip. Taesan shook his head at his reluctance to answer.
“Then just step aside. They can’t do anything to you even if you refuse to fight.”
“Sorry, but that’s impossible.”
Quanid said gloomily.
“I made a contract. If I find their orders reasonable, I can’t refuse.”
“…Why would you do that?”
Taesan was dumbfounded.
Judging by his expression, it wasn’t something Quanid wanted. Quanid defended himself.
“I didn’t know either. They said it was natural to do such things to join the organization. They said refusing the group’s will was unacceptable as a member.”
“That’s true, but there’s no need to bind it with a contract.”
At Taesan’s curious look, Quanid gripped his sword tightly.
“…Shut up.”
Though it was a barely audible whisper, Taesan heard it. He clicked his tongue.
He now understood why the Demon God felt sorry for Quanid.
[Even someone like him can break through with talent alone.]
“Shut up.”
Quanid spoke harshly.
Even putting it nicely, Quanid was just a talent without any other knowledge.
The ghost chuckled.
[I can guess. You’re a demon, but not treated as one outside, right?]
Quanid’s eyes flickered for a moment.
[People must have feared you. You probably never had a proper conversation or received affection. You believed their fear meant you were wrong, didn’t you?]
The ghost spoke as if he had witnessed it firsthand. With every word, Quanid’s pupils shook. Taesan asked.
“What are you talking about?”
[It’s not complicated. People fear those different from them. If someone has the talent to descend deep into the labyrinth, that itself is alien.]
Taesan realized what it meant.
Natural, overwhelming talent tends to be rejected. Even the Guides of Sin, blocked by each hierarchy, were geniuses in their own world.
And someone far superior, with talent that even they couldn’t match.
[I was similar. Rumors spread that I was the heir to the Demon King. I was royalty, so I could suppress it with power, but if I had been common or poor, well, it’s obvious.]
The ghost clicked his tongue, seemingly thinking of the oppression Quanid must have faced.
[Those who haven’t learned can’t understand talent. After entering the labyrinth with broken self-esteem, they must have realized they had talent. And felt good when the leaders praised them.]
Someone who believed they had no talent and thought they were wrong realized they had talent.
Someone who had never received affection or love met someone who acknowledged them.
[They must have felt even better since the leaders were skilled in the labyrinth. These powerful people acknowledged them, making them feel valuable. So they listened to everything the leaders said, hoping to be appreciated by them.]
Quanid closed his mouth. His pupils shook madly.
Taesan knew from his behavior that the ghost’s words were true. The ghost clicked his tongue.
[It’s not uncommon. Talented individuals rarely have perfect minds. It’s common for them to die or suffer losses due to getting caught up in things. If they survive, their personalities often become twisted.]
“Shut up.”
Quanid said gloomily.
“What do you want from me by saying this? It’s all over anyway.”
[Nothing much. I just remembered the past. If you get another chance, don’t make the same mistake.]
The ghost’s voice was tinged with bitterness.
“Anyway… I have to fight because of the contract.”
Suddenly, the atmosphere around Quanid changed.
A presence as solid as a rock, like a massive stone that had remained in place for thousands of years, emanated from him. Taesan also straightened his posture.
The seemingly naive and innocent young demon had vanished.
[You should be careful.]
The ghost said softly.
[Though the demon before you is foolish, naive, and knows nothing… That also means something else.]
Despite his shortcomings, he surpassed the 50th floor, gained the leaders’ recognition, and was allowed to go deep.
This meant he had the talent to overcome his deficiencies.
The battle began. Quanid and Taesan moved simultaneously.
Taesan’s first impression of Quanid’s movements was that they were precise.
The adventurers he had faced before were somewhat rough. They were strong and fast, but their movements had gaps.
But the demon before him had no such gaps. He approached Taesan fluidly and swung his sword.
Clang!
Their swords clashed with a loud noise. It was the loudest clash Taesan had heard so far.
And it was strong.
Ever so slightly, Taesan was being pushed back.
Tsk.
Taesan stepped between Quanid’s legs, pushing his body to restrict Quanid’s movements.
Quanid didn’t retreat. Instead, he responded by striking his knee against Taesan’s.
They both reached a point where they couldn’t freely move their swords. Taesan tried to
strike Quanid’s chin with his elbow. Quanid quickly blocked with his sword and struck Taesan’s elbow with his palm, then drew a dagger to stab Taesan’s armpit.
Taesan twisted his body to avoid it.
He moved his other hand to strike with the hilt. Quanid blocked it with his sword.
Clang!
Without using any skills, they only relied on physical movements. It was a probing battle.
Through this, they both understood.
‘Strong.’
Deflecting the fierce attacks, Taesan thought. Quanid was truly strong.
He had no gaps like the previous Guides of Sin he had faced.
He countered every move and even retaliated. His movements were perfectly coordinated with no gaps. He was several levels above the previous Guides.
And Quanid was equally surprised.
‘He’s blocking my attacks?’
Quanid had been allowed to descend deeper into the labyrinth by the leaders. Naturally, he was a thorn in the side of the other Guides.
Of course, no conflict arose. No one was bold enough to touch someone directly permitted by the leaders.
But Quanid received looks of anger and hatred, and he was puzzled.
Why do they hate me when they are this strong?
From Quanid’s perspective, all the Guides except for the leaders were weak. If he fought seriously, they would die without much resistance.
So he didn’t pay much attention when he was ordered to fight the adventurer. He thought the adventurer would just be slightly stronger than the others.
But he was wrong.
Taesan was truly strong. Quanid was an adventurer on the 51st floor. He had gained a lot of knowledge and experience on that floor, making him far superior to ordinary adventurers.
Yet, Taesan, who had just reached the 40th floor, wasn’t being pushed back in the battle.
For Quanid, who considered all adventurers except the leaders to be beneath him, this was a shocking revelation.
Thunk!
Their shoulders collided and they quickly separated, creating distance. In the brief lull, the ghost whistled.
[He’s definitely inexperienced but has the strength to survive. He’s really strong. His talent is comparable to mine when I was alive.]
This was dangerous. An opponent he couldn’t guarantee a clear victory against.
But a smile was on Taesan’s lips.
Seeing the smile, the ghost nodded.
[Of course.]
“This is how it should be. Until now, it’s been too bland.”
This place is Solo Mode. A labyrinth that calls in the finest heroes and warriors from each world.
Yet the adventurers here had all been too ordinary.
They were strong by the standards of the outside world, but they were all weak in the labyrinth. They were those who couldn’t descend and were defeated.
He had risked his life many times while descending the labyrinth, but the Guides of Sin were never part of that. Despite the large gap, he could easily win.
As for the leaders, the difference was so vast that he didn’t even think much about it.
Now, a true adventurer stood before him.
Someone advancing to the depths, conquering the labyrinth.
An individual with the talent and strength to potentially conquer the labyrinth someday was fighting him.
“But I will win.”
Taesan strengthened his stance.