Chapter 423
“Belden… kia?”
Diana repeated the name.
Her voice was awkward, as if she’d never imagined she’d utter that name again.
“He’s looking for me?”
“He made a contract with a [mage] to find you. He’s stationed on the 61st floor, testing adventurers who pass through.”
Taesan opened his inventory.
“He gave me a [quest]. To rescue his princess. He said he’d give me everything if I succeeded. I accepted it.”
He took out a music box from his inventory.
The Mage’s Music Box. Created by Beldenkia for the princess who had been captured.
The music box began to play.
A powerful melody, like the herald of dawn.
Diana’s pupils widened.
“That’s…”
“Beldenkia gave me this with the quest. He said it could heal your soul.”
“…He was right. I never imagined I’d hear a song from my homeland again, here of all places.”
Diana laughed softly.
“My world is gone. Only Beldenkia and I remember that song. Your words aren’t lies. Ha… it’s absurd. He told me to forget him. To live my life. He said that… and still made a contract with a mage…”
Though her tone was scolding, her expression overflowed with joy.
After taking a moment to process her emotions, Diana spoke again.
“If it’s alright… could you tell me more about Beldenkia?”
“If you’d like.”
Taesan told her everything he knew about Beldenkia.
The trials he oversaw. What he did. And why he’d entrusted the quest to Taesan.
Diana listened with a delighted expression.
“He hasn’t changed. That’s a relief.”
She smiled gently.
“Thank you, Mr. Kang Taesan. I never thought I’d get to hear anything about him again.”
Her tone had shifted.
Taesan shook his head.
“You can speak casually.”
“No, you came here to rescue me. You’re a hero. I must show proper respect. I truly thank you.”
She stood from the bed and bowed deeply. The posture of a perfect princess.
Their relationship had now been formally established.
Diana composed herself and asked,
“Then… you weren’t deceived by the God of Fall?”
“I came here of my own will. I made a deal.”
“…I hate to ask, but are you really alright? There are powerful individuals here. Some even stronger than me. Yet no one has ever cleared the colosseum.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Taesan answered calmly, his tone unshaken.
Diana looked slightly startled, then asked carefully,
“I can tell you’re hiding your strength. But may I ask… would you show me your power?”
He’d still had the Authority Seal active.
Taesan released the [skill].
“Oh.”
Diana’s expression immediately stiffened.
Her face went pale, and she reflexively grabbed the sword beside her bed.
She barely calmed her breathing.
“You’re strong.”
She couldn’t hide her awe.
“You’re in a realm far beyond mine. If it’s you… you might actually do it.”
The way to clear this place was to defeat the [Apostle] in the colosseum.
The power Taesan just showed was greater than the Apostle’s.
If he fought head-on, victory would be his.
“No.”
But Taesan rejected her words.
“It’ll probably be impossible. Because it was designed that way.”
“…Is this what you meant earlier?”
“You know it too. That it’s all designed to be unwinnable. Those close battles exist only to create false hope. I wouldn’t be any different.”
He didn’t know the exact mechanics.
But he knew one thing. The Apostle could not lose.
That rule was embedded in the system.
Of course, in his full state, Taesan could have crushed it by sheer [rank].
But his immortal rank had been sealed.
The God of Fall likely reduced him to a mortal level precisely for this reason.
“So it’s true…”
Diana lowered her head.
She’d suspected. All those who had reached the boundary level showed no expectation.
The reason was simple.
They had tried hundreds, thousands of times and realized it was impossible.
She, too, had tried to deny it—but deep down, she had always known.
“There’s no other way out, is there?”
“Most likely not. Everyone here has tried everything.”
In the end, clearing the colosseum was the only way.
But winning in the colosseum was impossible.
That was why the God of Fall was certain he wouldn’t return.
Because the only exit was blocked from the start.
“For now, let’s start with gathering information. Princess, can you tell me everything you know about the Apostle?”
Diana began calmly.
—
“I’ve opened the colosseum forty-seven times. At first, I lost helplessly. But over time, I became more accustomed. From the thirtieth match onward, the battles were nearly even. But starting then, the Apostle began unleashing new powers.”
Martial arts, special movements, or entirely different techniques.
Each time she thought she had him figured out, something new would emerge.
“Those who watched from the audience thought he had hidden strength and believed we could win next time… but I thought differently.”
Diana bit her lip.
“Every time the Apostle used new power, it was too perfectly suited for the moment.”
“Suited?”
“When I still had stamina but lacked techniques, he used moves I couldn’t counter. When it was the other way around, he suddenly recovered his stamina.
The numbers weren’t overwhelming, but they changed the flow of battle. Every one of the ten-plus battles followed that pattern.”
Something was wrong.
To call it hidden strength didn’t fit—everything was too precise.
“No one who wasn’t in the battle could have realized it. But gradually, I began to sense something was off. And now, after hearing your explanation, it all makes sense. It was designed that way from the beginning.”
Diana spoke bitterly.
Taesan stroked his chin.
Her story reminded him of something.
But he’d only witnessed one battle, so he couldn’t be sure.
After a moment of thought, he made a decision.
“If anyone gathers 100 points, can they open the colosseum?”
“Yes. Though very few have the strength to gather that much. That’s why many cooperate.”
“I see.”
‘I’ll have to try it myself.’
Taesan left the room.
—
After leaving the village, Taesan sprinted across the plains.
Before long, he spotted a group of five moving together.
They were likely the point-gathering collaborators Diana had mentioned.
Taesan drew his sword.
They didn’t notice him until he was already upon them.
Too late.
Crunch!
“Gaaah!”
Screams and a loud crash erupted.
A single blow. All five were down in an instant.
Taesan kicked off again.
Soon, he found another group—this time four.
He charged them head-on like before.
That simple action left them unable to respond.
All four fell without blocking a single strike.
[As expected… you’re a monster.]
The ghost clicked its tongue.
Those Taesan just defeated—
Were not weak.
Being chosen by the God of Fall meant they had the talent to reach the 83rd floor.
And yet they fell in one blow.
Taesan soared through the air and said,
“The stat difference is just too much.”
His stats were brushing against [Arrogance].
Far superior to theirs. He also had equipment, and even more—
There was the difference in [rank].
Though his immortal rank was sealed, once reached, that rank forever separated him from mortals.
None of these had even reached the boundary. They were no threat.
Taesan cleaned up swiftly.
In under a day, he had earned more than 40 points.
Soon, rumors began to spread.
The resurrected ones said they’d been defeated without being able to respond.
Word spread about who it was.
The new arrival—Taesan.
A monster had arrived.
The rumor spread quickly. Everyone knew.
And the quiet ones began to stir.
“That makes 60 points.”
Taesan tallied his [points].
By tomorrow, he’d likely be able to open the colosseum.
He was about to keep moving when he paused.
He sensed five presences heading toward him.
They were stronger than any he had faced so far.
Similar in strength to the princess.
They were those who had reached the boundary.
As they surrounded him, they spoke in low voices.
“…You’re strong.”
Taesan had released his Authority Seal.
His power radiated without restraint.
“Why are you here?”
“To confirm something.”
They revealed their powers.
A variety of energies pressed down on Taesan.
“You’re planning to clear the colosseum, aren’t you? Before that, we want to assess your power.”
“A test from the defeated?”
“I won’t deny it. We’ve already given up.”
Their voices were calm.
Taesan looked them over one by one.
One held a sword.
Another had a spear. Two others emanated magical and dark magic energy.
And the last one—he felt the power of spirits.
Each of the five had different strengths.
Taesan quickly sorted his thoughts.
“The conditions are perfect. This is good timing.”
“…Good timing?”
“Just as you’re testing me—I’ve got something I want to test too.”
He was no longer an immortal.
Right now, he stood at the boundary.
So then—could he still acquire [skills] in this downgraded state?
“Come at me.”