Chapter 509
[Wait. Then this place is…]
“This is the place I cleared before I turned back time.”
A world experienced only by Taesan and Lee Taeyeon. Bardray swallowed hard.
[Master? What is this place?]
“Right, you wouldn’t know.”
Taesan briefly explained his past to Akasha. When he finished, she was speechless.
[Is that… really true?]
“It feels like coming home after a long time. Not bad.”
Taesan approached the spring. When his fingertip touched the surface, a small ripple spread.
[Then…]
Barely recovering from his shock, Bardray slowly pieced things together.
[This isn’t the past, is it?]
“You could say that.”
This wasn’t the past. It was closer to a world abandoned on a twisted temporal axis.
If his goal had been simply to return to the past, it would have been easier. But that wasn’t what Taesan wanted. He wanted the timeline that had twisted out of existence—Easy Mode.
Taesan scooped a bit of the spring water and drank it. A refreshing sensation washed through him, easing the fatigue in his body.
As Taesan shook off the water, Bardray asked:
[Then what are you going to do here?]
Why had he crossed into a twisted timeline?
“First, I need to figure things out.”
Taesan looked at Bardray and Akasha. Both were now in spirit form, their physical forms lost.
Taesan was the same. All the equipment he had gained at the pinnacle of the labyrinth was gone. Everything he was wearing belonged to Easy Mode.
‘Possession, huh?’
It seemed he had temporarily possessed the Taesan of this timeline. If it had been a summoning, his actions would have been restricted—so this was much better.
“Status window.”
[Kang Taesan]
[Level: 57]
[Health: 1021/1021]
[Mana: 820/820]
[Strength: 105]
[Intelligence: 10]
[Agility: 98]
[Attack +49]
[Defense +58]
[The target is in optimal condition. The target is $#%!]
Pitiful stats—tragically so compared to his current self. He let out a small laugh.
This was the Easy Mode Taesan, unchanged.
Except for one thing—something was sleeping inside him.
Likely his power from the original world. If he wished, he could draw it out. But doing so would probably get him expelled from this world instantly.
After confirming the basics, Taesan looked around again.
Bardray muttered in amazement:
[But this looks exactly like the labyrinth. How can there be a place like this? What did those Old Gods even do?]
“Exactly the same?”
[Feels the same. Looks the same. Everything’s identical.]
“That’s how it looks to you.”
To Taesan, however, it was different.
Even though all his power was sealed, his experience remained.
And so he could see something he couldn’t have seen in the past.
‘It’s different.’
There was something off about Easy Mode compared to Solo Mode. Something unsettling in the air.
Alien, but at the same time vaguely familiar.
Something was twisted. He had suspected as much—but seeing it confirmed it.
“I’ve got a lot to do.”
Taesan recalled what floor he was on, and quickly realized it was the 80th floor.
A rest area with a Spring of Life. Taesan had rested here many times when he grew tired while clearing the labyrinth. Countless Easy Mode players had rested and chatted here as well.
But now, no one was here.
The vast floor held only Taesan.
No—he wasn’t alone. Someone was approaching.
Soon, an old man appeared.
“…So this is where you were.”
The old man greeted Taesan with a gentle smile.
“Come to rest for a bit, I see. Been a while, Taesan.”
“…Old man Deoksu.”
A forgotten memory resurfaced.
Most Easy Mode players admired and feared Taesan. He had become so overwhelmingly strong that few could approach him comfortably.
But a handful could. They had grown close to him.
Old man Deoksu was one of them.
“Long time no see.”
Taesan spoke. Deoksu’s face briefly stiffened.
“…Something’s changed. A change of heart, perhaps?”
“You noticed?”
“Well, we’ve lived about the same number of years now, but I am still a bit older.”
He chuckled lightly and continued:
“If you’ve had a change of heart… are you finally thinking of leaving the labyrinth? You’ve stayed long. Fewer than a thousand remain now. Everyone else left. If you leave too… I’ll be a bit lonely.”
“Not yet. Not yet.”
Taesan replied curtly and thought.
Fewer than a thousand remaining meant a long time had passed since the last return. Meaning he had arrived at the exact time he wanted.
“Still a lot left, huh. Why?”
Easy Mode wasn’t difficult. If one tried, they could clear it within a few years.
But over a thousand people staying was odd. Deoksu looked at him as if he were saying nonsense.
“It’s because of you, what else.”
“What?”
“What, you didn’t know? That’s shocking.”
Deoksu clicked his tongue.
“Most of those who stayed are trying to learn the skills you talked about.”
Taesan understood.
He had told others about the skills he had acquired: Addition, Acceleration, Leap, Absolute Judgment, and more. He had shared their conditions and effects openly.
And he had acquired all of them in Easy Mode.
Meaning any Easy Mode player could theoretically obtain them as well.
Of course people wanting strength surpassing Hard Mode would stay to try.
But he didn’t know so many were trying—over a thousand.
“I know you’re busy chasing new skills, but maybe pay a bit of attention to others. You’re everyone’s idol here, you know.”
“I’ll try.”
Taesan replied shortly and started walking.
“Off to acquire another skill?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmph… everyone’s obsessed with skills these days. Guess I’ll go hang out in the community again.”
Deoksu grumbled and sat down.
Seeing him, Taesan recalled something forgotten.
Deoksu had shown no desire to pursue skills. He simply chatted with Taesan and stayed in the labyrinth.
Taesan had once asked him why he didn’t leave.
Back then, they believed they had already won—so it was a natural question.
Deoksu had answered:
‘I’m afraid.’
‘Afraid of what?’
‘We all must move forward someday. But I’m not that kind of passionate person. If I go outside, I’ll fall behind everyone else. Instead, staying here wasting time with everyone feels more comfortable.’
Taesan couldn’t understand him.
So he tried to persuade him.
Telling him to go outside.
That he would also leave soon.
That they could live together out there. That’s what Taesan had said.
Deoksu had hesitated, then trusted Taesan and left the labyrinth first.
And when Taesan eventually emerged—
He no longer existed in the world.
Taesan looked at the old man for a while, then spoke:
“Old man.”
“Hm?”
“There’s no need to leave.”
“…What? Haven’t you always told me to go out?”
“I have. But thinking about it… living here isn’t so bad.”
“What’s that supposed to—”
Deoksu let out a faint laugh.
“Well… if you say so, that’s comforting. I’ve been wondering if it’s okay to stay longer. Seems like it is.”
“Live however you want. See you later.”
“Yeah. Next time.”
Deoksu waved him off.
—
Taesan descended the labyrinth. He needed to go deeper.
Monsters occasionally blocked his path, but his body remembered the patterns from thousands—tens of thousands—perhaps even more repetitions. He cleared the labyrinth and opened the community.
[Lee Taeyeon (Solo): Ah! Seriously! This damn labyrinth!]
“Hah.”
Taesan chuckled.
The moment he opened the community, he saw countless messages from Lee Taeyeon.
[Lee Taeyeon (Solo): When am I even getting out?! I’m only at the 77th floor! Please stop! I want to go home!]
‘77th floor now.’
She continued posting frustrated complaints. After watching for a moment, Taesan wrote:
[Kang Taesan (Easy): Hang in there.]
Her endless stream of messages abruptly stopped. Soon after, a hesitant reply appeared.
[Lee Taeyeon (Solo): …What? Why are you talking like that?]
[Kang Taesan (Easy): Like what.]
[Lee Taeyeon (Solo): Why are you speaking so nicely? You always told me to stop whining and keep climbing.]
Taesan paused.
True—he had never accepted her whining. He had often treated her coldly.
Beneath that, there had been jealousy and anger.
Smiling faintly, Taesan replied:
[Kang Taesan (Easy): My personality changed. Think of it that way.]
[Lee Taeyeon (Solo): …What? Are you leaving already? Don’t go. Don’t leave me behind. Stay with me until I get out……]
[Kang Taesan (Easy): Noisy. Work hard.]
Taesan closed the community.
‘Feels strange.’
He remembered his old self—someone he hadn’t thought about for a long time.
‘Not bad.’
—
[So.]
Bardray finally spoke.
[You didn’t come here just to chat with old acquaintances.]
“Of course not.”
[Then what exactly did you come for? If you used the fragment, it must be something big.]
His voice carried excitement.
Taesan always exceeded expectations, and each time he achieved results beyond imagination. This time would be no different.
“You’ve already guessed.”
Crunch.
Taesan drove his blade into a monster’s neck. He was now on the 94th floor—almost at his goal.
“A skill.”
[A skill? What kind? Something like Addition?]
“Multiplication.”
[…Multiplication?]
“And Designated Skill Reset. If possible, I’d like to get more, but that might be too much.”
Taesan answered calmly.