Chapter 420
“That doesn’t sound very appealing.”
The 83rd floor quest was to clear the trial of the God of the Fall.
Essence could impose the trial without making any deal with Taesan.
Yet the only reason to propose a deal was clear.
It was to impose a strengthened trial—one that was nearly impossible to clear, forcing the challenger to risk their life.
Even if a god proposed a strengthened trial, the adventurer could refuse.
Essence, like Rakiratas, couldn’t force it.
And the Demon God was still watching over Taesan.
So, it was a deal.
Essence spoke.
[The condition of the deal: You will not refuse my trial.]
“Why should I?”
A deal required the agreement of both parties.
If Taesan was to risk his life, there had to be enough reward.
[If you accept my deal, I will not interfere with other mortals.]
Essence’s quiet voice made Taesan fall silent.
Most transcendent beings didn’t care about mortals they considered beneath their notice.
But there were definitely gods who tormented and mocked mortals for sport.
And, in Taesan’s judgment, Essence was one of those gods.
Players like Amelia, Kang Junhyuk, and others from different countries descending in Solo mode.
Transcendents couldn’t directly interfere with adventurers, but if they wanted to, they could.
Maria had forcibly summoned Taesan to her domain through an unfair choice, and Rakiratas had imposed a strengthened trial. There was no reason Essence couldn’t do the same.
Lee Taeyeon was fine because she was under Maria’s protection, but other players who didn’t have a god’s blessing could easily be hindered by Essence.
‘He knows how to poke where it hurts.’
What Essence had just said was something Taesan had been worried about too.
For himself it didn’t matter, but for others, the intervention of a malicious god could be incredibly difficult to deal with.
Still—
“Do as you please.”
Taesan rejected Essence’s proposal.
[…]
Essence’s true form writhed. Taesan spoke leisurely.
“You know who my patron god is, right? The Demon God. She wants to claim me as her own. If I were to ask her, I’m sure she’d gladly protect the other adventurers from you.”
Whether she actually would, Taesan didn’t know. The Demon God tended to be hands-off.
But the important thing was that there was a real possibility.
“Rather than making a deal with you, who’s trying to kill me for the sake of the adventurers’ safety, wouldn’t it make far more sense to make a deal with the one who’s already protecting me?”
[You.]
Irritation crept into Essence’s voice.
A much deeper and clearer murderous intent was aimed at Taesan.
But that was all.
Essence couldn’t declare death or inflict physical harm.
‘As I thought.’
Previously, when Taesan had freed Amelia, Essence had tried to trample him in anger.
But the Demon God had appeared and chased Essence away.
There was a clear gap in power between them.
That was why Essence needed Taesan’s consent through a deal.
[…Speak.]
In the end, Essence swallowed the murderous intent. Taesan replied lazily to the annoyed voice.
“Speak what?”
[If you’re invoking the Demon God’s name, you must want something more. Annoying. State your terms.]
“I didn’t intend to, but if you insist…”
Taesan laughed.
He never intended to refuse in the first place.
Even strengthened, it was still a trial of the labyrinth. It might be difficult to clear, but it would never be truly impossible.
There would be a reward worthy of the risk, so he’d intended to accept anyway.
‘But I might as well get everything I can.’
“What I want is for you not to interfere with other adventurers. And your authority. All of it.”
—
After the Earth Return quest, Maria had given Taesan the skill [Choice Exclusion].
A skill that erased one chosen attack, superior even to attack nullification—a portion of Maria’s authority given to Taesan.
Its performance was top tier. It ranked among the most powerful skills Taesan had gained.
Essence was also a transcendent. The authority he possessed should be on par with [Choice Exclusion].
What Taesan wanted as a reward was precisely the authority of a transcendent.
[…You dare. My authority?]
Essence’s voice trembled with fury.
It was suffocating.
Only one emotion showed—rage.
But Taesan replied calmly.
“If you don’t like it, you can refuse.”
It didn’t matter if Essence accepted or not. That’s how Taesan framed his proposal.
Essence fell silent, swallowing the anger.
After a long pause, the voice came.
[Fine.]
Essence accepted Taesan’s offer.
Taesan was slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected Essence to accept so readily.
[I accept your terms.]
“Well… that works for me.”
Rumble!
The deal was struck.
Essence’s domain surged with power in response.
[Sub-quest started.]
[The God of the Fall, Essence, wishes to grant you a strengthened trial for coming to his altar.]
[Condition: Clear Essence’s Model Garden.]
[Reward: Noninterference with other adventurers. Essence’s authority. Rewards for clearing the trial.]
“Oh. I’d like to add one more thing.”
Taesan read the system message and spoke up.
“I want the soul of the princess Beldenkia served to be included as a reward.”
[Fine. But I will seal one of your abilities.]
Essence’s power began to envelop Taesan.
“Which ability will you seal?”
A calm voice echoed.
[I will seal your Immortal status. You will enter my Model Garden possessing only the rank of a mortal.]
Essence laughed.
As if truly amused.
As if he was certain Taesan would never return alive.
[My Model Garden is filled with talented souls I have gathered as playthings. No one has ever escaped it. You must clear it.]
Boom!
The power engulfed Taesan.
He began to fall into the deeper part of Essence’s domain.
And then Taesan arrived in a desolate world.
The ground was harsh and parched, and a dry wind brushed his cheek.
“…Ugh.”
Taesan let out a faint groan.
His rank was falling. He had held the status of one far beyond mortality, but this was a transcendent’s domain. His Immortal rank instantly plummeted to that of a mortal.
His descending rank stopped just at the threshold.
“So this is it.”
Taesan looked up.
Barren ground and sharp wind brushed his cheek.
There was nothing around—only a desolate plain.
[You’re brave, making a deal with a hostile transcendent.]
The ghost spoke in amazement.
He couldn’t say anything in the face of Essence’s rage.
But Taesan didn’t back down and instead made gains.
“I have no reason to bow to someone who hates me.”
Taesan checked his condition.
What was sealed was only his Immortal status. The rest of his power remained.
His ability to handle things like divinity was diminished compared to when he had Immortal status, but it wasn’t unusable.
[Still, sealing your Immortal status is a bit much.]
“I agreed to the deal. It’s fine.”
Taesan spoke calmly. He was too strong as he was. It was easy to predict that the labyrinth’s difficulty would rise to his level or that his power would be sealed.
“So, what is this place?”
[…Essence called it his Model Garden.]
A garden for his toys.
What kind of toys were gathered here?
Taesan soon found out. As he walked through the desolate plain, several figures approached from the distance.
Taesan stopped and waited for them.
“A new face.”
The man in front stroked his chin.
They looked familiar.
They were dressed much like the adventurers Taesan had seen in the labyrinth.
And they were strong.
All five of them stood just below the threshold of transcendence.
He was starting to guess what this place was.
The man observing Taesan spoke up.
“Are you new?”
“New?”
“Is this your first time here?”
Taesan nodded. Their faces turned grim.
“That’s unfortunate. The God of the Fall still hasn’t tired of his games…”
The man sighed, then asked quietly,
“Do you have any idea who we are?”
“…Those who became the God of the Fall’s playthings?”
“Correct. Like you, we were chosen by him and received his full support. But in the end, all of us were discarded.”
The man spoke gloomily.
Taesan realized what filled this Model Garden.
The God of the Fall chose talented mortals and gave them every advantage.
But when they reached a certain level, he gave them a trial they could never overcome and cast them into the abyss.
That had happened to Amelia in her previous life and to Princess Beldenkia.
It was a gathering place for souls the God of the Fall had treated as toys.
—
[Can’t you see me?]
The ghost waved his hand in front of them, but they didn’t react.
“Sorry about this.”
The man drew his sword. The others behind him also readied their weapons.
“Sorry to greet you like this, but at least it will serve as a good example.”
He gripped his sword.
“Most importantly… it’s not so bad for you, either. Don’t worry. In this place, there’s no such thing as death.”
With that, they surrounded Taesan to prevent escape.
“Who is it this time?”
“It’s me, captain.”
“You’ve got half already? Still a long way to go.”
Taesan, watching them, asked,
“Are you after my life?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“You don’t look like it.”
They didn’t have the faces of people who scorned Taesan or considered him prey. Nor did they look greedy or covetous.
There was no murderous intent, but they were still trying to kill him.
“That’s just the nature of this place.”
The man gave a bitter smile.
“Sorry I can’t explain more. You’ll understand soon enough.”
He looked thoroughly exhausted.
“Our only hope is this, and nothing else.”
The moment he finished, they rushed Taesan.
Spears, swords, and arrows flew from all directions.
The attacks were swift and powerful—on par with the Guide of Sin’s top leaders.
Taesan drew his sword.
Crack!
“Urgh!”
“Argh!”
Cries erupted. The man, sent flying by Taesan’s counterattack, looked at his own bleeding hand in shock.
One exchange, and his hand was ripped open and bleeding.
“I don’t get it.”
They tried to kill Taesan, but there was no murderous intent.
As if it were only natural.
“You said there’s no death here. I’d like an answer to my questions.”