Chapter 83
In the meeting room of the Guide of Sin, a group of people gathered around a circular table, engaging in lively conversation. Amidst the chatter, a man seemed to recall something and spoke up casually.
“Hey, did you guys hear about what happened to that guy we talked about earlier?”
“Who are you referring to?”
“You know, the one with the intense gaze.”
“Ah, him.”
The Fire Spirit chimed in, prompting the others to pause their discussion and listen in.
“What’s the story?”
“Nothing much. It’s old news now.”
The nonchalant man waved off the topic, but a burly man among them frowned.
“Shouldn’t we save such discussions for after the meeting?”
“Who wants to talk about a 13th-floor adventurer during a meeting? It’s too much hassle.”
“Fair enough, but it’s still important to keep everyone informed to avoid misunderstandings.”
The man offered his advice with a hint of seriousness, though the others didn’t seem too concerned. After all, the adventurer in question wasn’t particularly high-ranked.
“So, what happened to him?”
“He was taken out by someone from a lower tier.”
“As expected.”
The distinction between the 13th and 20th floors was apparent. While most assumed the adventurer met his end at the hands of someone from the 20th floor, the nonchalant man shook his head.
“No, it wasn’t someone from the second tier.”
“Hmm?”
“He actually took down someone from the second tier.”
A moment of silence followed, replaced by growing interest among the group.
“A 13th-floor adventurer defeating someone from the second tier?”
“Is that such a big deal? I’ve seen it happen before. It’s not always about strength; sometimes, it’s just luck.”
“That might be true for you, but for him… It’s hard to say. Even the strongest among us might struggle against ten opponents.”
“Only one way to find out.”
“And that’s why I said it’s uncertain. Were you not listening?”
As they continued their discussion, the story of this adventurer named Taesan intrigued them. In their monotonous lives, his tale brought a spark of interest.
“So, did he eventually fall to someone from the second tier?”
“No, actually. He was rumored to be in cahoots with someone from the third tier.”
“The 30th floor?”
“Yes.”
The nonchalant man nodded, sparking renewed curiosity among his peers.
“…Is that even possible?”
“Hmm.”
While the news of him besting the second tier was somewhat believable, the idea of him colluding with someone from the third tier was harder to swallow.
“I think even I would struggle against that.”
“It might be possible for those on the 20th floor, but the 30th? Highly improbable. I wasn’t that formidable when I was on the 13th floor.”
“Could he be a descendant of the dragon?”
“I don’t think so. From what I’ve gathered, he’s just an ordinary human. Besides, if he were a dragon descendant, he wouldn’t have met his demise, right?”
“Hmm…”
Defeating the 20th floor was one thing, but triumphing over the 30th was an entirely different challenge. In a place where growth was accelerated, even a single floor’s difference was significant. To take on an opponent 17 floors higher and meet the same fate was unprecedented.
“What a missed opportunity.”
Regret tinged their voices. An adventurer of such caliber could have been a valuable asset. The Fire Spirit interjected calmly.
“He turned down our offer from the start. It was only a matter of time before we became rivals.”
“So, who was the one who perished?”
“A descendant of the demons. Goes by the name Jagan.”
“Demon descendants…”
A woman with blue hair murmured, her expression shifting slightly.
“Was it the useful one?”
“No, a different individual.”
“I see.”
Interest waned in her voice as quickly as it had appeared. Regardless of the circumstances, the third tier itself was of little concern to them.
The Fire Spirit spoke up,
“He’s gone now. No point dwelling on it unless the dead start rising from their graves.”
“Speaking of which, didn’t you mention he was on his way to receive a quest from the hero?”
At the nonchalant man’s words, all eyes turned to him.
A youthful girl with ash-gray hair asked bluntly,
“What’s that about?”
“Ah, it’s nothing important.”
With a silent agreement, they shifted the conversation elsewhere.
And so concluded their discussion on Taesan.
“As the Fire Spirit said, the deceased are not our concern. Let’s focus on what lies ahead.”
The burly man pounded the table.
“Let’s review the strategy for the 74th floor.”
“Haven’t we gone over this like two hundred times?”
“Exactly 234 times.”
They chuckled and delved into their discussion with renewed determination.
After clearing the 14th floor, Taesan took a moment to inspect his rewards. With the frequent interruptions from the Guide of Sin, he hadn’t had a chance to do so earlier.
The standard reward for clearing the 14th floor was an ankle guard.
[Valley’s Ankle Guard] [Magic +4] [Defense +3] [Forged deep within a valley, this ankle guard harnesses the magical power of the deep sea.]
“A decent sacrifice.”
Magic items, unless exceptional, were often sacrificed for their benefits.
The secret reward, however, was a bracelet.
[Bracelet of Six Hundred and Seventy Patterns] [Strength +10] [Defense +4] [Adorned with countless intricate patterns, this small bracelet bears the mark of human craftsmanship.]
Not a bad addition to his arsenal.
He equipped it without hesitation.
The secret room reward included two intelligence runes, which he promptly used to boost his intelligence by 10 points.
With his preparations complete, Taesan descended to the 15th floor.
[15th Floor Quest Initiated] [Defeat the boss of the 15th floor to proceed.] [Reward: Sapphire Staff] [Secret Reward: ???]
“Let’s get to it.”
With a nod to the dwarf, Taesan wasted no time and pressed on.
The 15th floor was infested with Skeleton Knights. Despite their relentless attacks, their skeletal bodies proved no match for Taesan’s skills. He dispatched them swiftly, clearing his path forward.
In no time, he located the secret room, disarming traps and defeating the boss with ease.
The secret room reward was a ring.
[Frost Ring] [Defense +4] [1% chance to inflict frostbite with each attack.]
And the clear reward, the coveted Sapphire Staff.
[Sapphire Staff] [Magic +14] [Embedded with a sapphire known for its potent magical properties, this staff is a valuable asset.]
As for the secret reward…
[Bow Made of Troll’s Sinew] [Attack Power +17] [Accuracy +50%] [Crafted from the durable sinew of trolls, this bow boasts exceptional elasticity and regenerative capabilities, making it ideal for skilled marksmen.]
Though not typically his weapon of choice, Taesan accepted the bow gratefully.
Gathering his rewards, Taesan paid a visit to Lirith, who was struggling with moving her items to the 14th floor.
“Already descended to the 15th floor?”
She looked at him with a mix of admiration and frustration, her belongings scattered about.
Ignoring her predicament, Taesan sacrificed two items to acquire the basic magic she had mastered.
[Basic Magic: Slow] [Mana Consumption: 12] [Proficiency: 1%] [Reduces the target’s speed, with effectiveness varying depending on the target. Success not guaranteed.]
“Let’s give it a try.”
Lirith cast Slow on Taesan.
[Evaluation unnecessary! Taesan resisted Slow.]
“It didn’t work?”
“I’ll give it a shot.”
Taesan cast Slow on Lirith, and this time, it took effect immediately.
“This is… slow.”
It was as if time itself had slowed down for her. Lirith struggled to move.
“It’s not that drastic.”
“Soo, I’ve just learned it.”
Observing Lirith’s slowed movements, Taesan estimated a roughly 20% reduction in speed. While it might not be effective against stronger opponents, it was still a useful spell in various situations.
As for releasing the spell…
“How do you cancel it?”
“What?”
“I’m still new to this spell. Do you know how to end it?”
“Um… I’m not sure.”
Lirith’s face paled, the slowing effect seeming to extend even to her expression.
Fortunately, the spell wore off on its own after about 10 minutes. While Lirith was relieved, Taesan found the duration quite beneficial.
Leaving Lirith behind, Taesan proceeded to the 16th floor.
[16th Floor Quest Initiated.] [Defeat the boss of the 16th floor to proceed.] [Reward: Hammer] [Secret Reward: ???]
The 16th floor was inhabited by Wraiths, beings immune to physical attacks. However, with his mastery of magic, Taesan swiftly dispatched them with a barrage of Frost Arrows.
In due time, he reached the designated room and encountered a dwarf known as the Dream-Refining Fool.
“Are you here on an adventure?” the dwarf inquired.
Taesan affirmed, and their conversation turned to the ghost accompanying him.
“You’ve brought him along?”
“Surprised?” the ghost retorted.
The dwarf chuckled, unfazed by the ghost’s presence, and turned his attention back to Taesan.
“Is he the one you’ve assigned your quest to this time?”
“Yes,” the ghost confirmed.
Unexpectedly, the dwarf expressed admiration for Taesan’s accomplishments.
“That’s quite impressive, defeating a 20th-floor adventurer…”
Their exchange continued, revealing more about Taesan’s exploits and the challenges that lay ahead.
And so, with a handshake and a word of welcome from the blacksmith Halfran, Taesan embarked on his next adventure, eager to face whatever trials awaited him on the 16th floor.
In the meeting room of the Guide of Sin, people sat around a circular table. As they chattered noisily, a nonchalant man, as if struck by a thought, spoke up.
“By the way, I heard he died?”
“Who are you talking about?”
“You know, that guy. The one with open eyes I mentioned before.”
“Ah.”
The memory clicked for the Fire Spirit, voicing out. Those who were bickering among themselves paused to listen to their conversation.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing much. It’s already a finished story.”
The flippant young man casually dismissed. A robust muscular man frowned upon hearing the explanation.
“Weren’t we supposed to discuss such matters after the meeting?”
“Who would bother discussing a 13th-floor adventurer in a meeting? Who would engage in such tiresome acts?”
“Still, share what happened. Miscommunication could lead to an incident.”
The man lightly advised without much seriousness. After all, it was just a 13th-floor adventurer. There was no need for them to take interest.
“So, what happened?”
“He was killed by those below.”
“As expected.”
The difference between the 13th and 20th floors was clear. Everyone assumed Taesan was killed by someone from the 20th floor, but the nonchalant man shook his head.
“Not by the second tier.”
“Hmm?”
“Rather, the second tier died by his hand.”
Silence fell for a moment.
Interest sparked on their faces.
“A 13th-floor defeating the second tier?”
“Is that such a big deal? I’ve done it too. Talentless and broken-hearted ones aren’t that hard.”
“That’s because you were strong from the outside. But it’s uncertain for that guy. Even you couldn’t have taken on ten.”
“We’ll only know if we try.”
“That’s why I said it’s unknown. Are you deaf?”
As they prattled on, the story of Taesan intrigued them. For those who had lived unchanged for a long time, Taesan’s story was an interesting narrative.
“So, he eventually died to the second tier?”
“No? He was said to have conspired with the third tier.”
The muscular man scrunched his face.
“The 30th floor?”
“Yeah.”
The flippant young man nodded.
Silence fell again.
“…Is that even possible?”
“Hmm.”
Hearing that he had defeated the second tier was surprising, but they somewhat accepted it. It was a feat they too could achieve.
But the third tier was a different story.
“…I think it would be difficult for me too.”
“It’s possible for the 20th floor. But the 30th… impossible. I wasn’t that strong on the 13th floor.”
“A child of the dragon, perhaps?”
“No. From what I’ve heard, he’s just a normal human. Besides, if he were a child of the dragon, he wouldn’t have died, right?”
“Hmm…”
Defeating the 20th floor is one thing, but beating the 30th is entirely different. In this place, where growth accelerates, even a single floor’s difference is significant. But to defeat an enemy 17 floors higher and die together was unheard of.
“What a waste.”
Regret tinged their voices. A adventurer of such caliber could have been a great asset to them. The Fire Spirit spoke calmly.
“He refused our offer in the first place. It was inevitable we’d become adversaries.”
“So, who died?”
“A child of the demons. A guy named Jagan.”
“Demons…”
A woman with blue hair murmured, her expression slightly contorting.
“Is it that useful guy?”
“No, another one.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Interest vanished from her voice as swiftly as it appeared. For them, the third tier itself, regardless of being defeated by a 13th-floor adventurer, was of no concern.
The Fire Spirit said,
“He’s dead. No point in discussing it further unless the dead come back to life.”
“Speaking of which, didn’t you say he was on his way to receive a quest from the hero?”
At the flippant young man’s words, their gazes converged on one point.
A youthful girl with ash-gray hair spoke bluntly,
“What’s that about?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.”
With an unspoken agreement, they changed the subject.
That concluded their discussion on Taesan.
“As the Fire Spirit said, the dead aren’t our concern. We should focus on the future.”
The muscular man slammed the table.
“Let’s revisit the strategy for the 74th floor.”
“Have we discussed this over two hundred times?”
“Exactly 234 times.”
They chuckled and began their discussion with serious expressions.
After clearing the 14th floor, Taesan checked his rewards. Due to the constant appearances of the Guide of Sin, he hadn’t had the chance to look earlier.
The general clear reward for the 14th floor was an ankle guard.
[Valley’s Ankle Guard] [Magic +4] [Defense +3] [Crafted deep within a valley, this ankle guard possesses the deep sea’s magic power.]
“A sacrifice.”
Magic items, unless exceptionally good, were all intended for sacrifice.
The secret reward was a bracelet.
[Bracelet of Six Hundred and Seventy Patterns] [Strength +10] [Defense +4] [Innumerable patterns are engraved on this small bracelet, seemingly all by human hands.]
Not a bad piece of equipment.
He equips it.
The secret room reward included two runes of intelligence. Using them, his intelligence increased by 10.
Then, he descended to the 15th floor.
[15th Floor Quest Start] [Defeat the boss of the 15th floor to pass through.] [Reward: Sapphire Staff] [Secret Reward: ???]
“I’ll be going through.”
He greeted the dwarf before swiftly moving on.
The monsters on the 15th floor were Skeleton Knights. With their bodies made of bones, they showcased rough swordsmanship and rapid speed.
Taesan pulled his arm.
Crunch.
Bones shattered as a skull flew far away.
Taesan breezed through the floor.
Two appeared at once in some levels, but it made no difference. He crushed the sword with one strike, shattered the chest with a punch, and flung the head away.
It was too easy.
An absolute domination. For Taeyeon and Junhyuk , these monsters would have been a life-threatening challenge, but for Taesan, they were far too weak.
Not to mention ordinary monsters couldn’t stand against him, after defeating adventurers and significantly increasing his stats. Taesan didn’t stop, crushing and trampling the monsters as he moved forward.
His level didn’t rise. Currently, at level 41, his level was almost identical to that of the 20th floor. The monsters of the 15th floor couldn’t provide proper experience.
Similarly, the Soul Ascension didn’t work properly either. It was expected, so he crushed and stomped without much thought.
Using the information from the Guide of Sin, he quickly found the secret room.
He disarmed and dealt with traps. Then, he killed the boss.
It took less than twenty minutes to complete.
The secret room reward was a ring.
[Frost Ring] [Defense +4] [1% chance to inflict frostbite on the target with each attack.]
And the clear reward, Sapphire Staff.
[Sapphire Staff] [Magic +14] [Sapphires have long been hailed as excellent gems for gathering magical power. The value of a staff embedded with such a sapphire is not insignificant.]
And the secret reward.
[Bow Made of Troll’s Sinew] [Attack Power +17] [Accuracy +50%] [Troll’s sinew is extremely durable, elastic, and regenerative, making it a perfect material for bowstrings since ancient times.]
He didn’t use bows due to his magical abilities, but it was still good to have.
Taesan collected the rewards and visited Lirith. She was just struggling to move her items to the 14th floor.
“…You’ve already descended to the 15th floor?”
She looked despondently at the items she had half moved.
Ignoring her struggles, he sacrificed two items to learn the basic magic she had mastered.
[Basic Magic: Slow] [Mana Consumption: 12] [Proficiency: 1%] [Slows down the target’s speed. The reduction varies depending on the target. The effect can fail.]
“Let me try it on you.”
Lirith cast Slow on Taesan.
[Evaluation unnecessary! Taesan has resisted Slow.]
“…It doesn’t work?”
“I guess I should do it.”
Taesan cast Slow on Lirith. Unlike with Taesan, it immediately succeeded without any evaluation.
“Thiss iss sloww.”
It felt like the speed of a video was forcibly reduced. Lirith struggled.
“It doesn’t slow down that much.”
“Soo, I’ve just learnned itt.”
Watching Lirith, he estimated about a 20% reduction in speed. Stronger entities likely have higher chances of resisting, and the effect might diminish further.
But even considering that, it was a good spell. Speed mattered in any level of combat.
Moreover, the target wasn’t limited to enemies but included all objects.
Perhaps it could apply to magic or objects as well.
‘I’ll have fun finding out.’
Exploring its application range and the extent to which it can judge.
It was quite enjoyable.
Lirith spoke with a frustrated face.
“Please, releasee mee.”
“How do you release it?”
“What?”
“I’ve just learned the spell, so I don’t know. Don’t you know?”
“…I don’t either.”
Lirith’s face turned pale. Even the paling process seemed 20% slower, somewhat amusing.
Fortunately for Lirith, it naturally wore off after about 10 minutes. She was greatly surprised, but Taesan found the duration beneficial.
Leaving Lirith behind, he promptly headed to the 16th floor.
[16th Floor Quest Start.] [Defeat the boss of the 16th floor to pass through.] [Reward: Hammer] [Secret Reward: ???]
The monsters on the 16th floor were Wraiths. Taesan remarked,
“They’re your friends.”
[Shut up.]
With a light joke, he proceeded through the floor. Wraiths, immune to physical attacks and quite troublesome monsters, stood no chance against Taesan, who had learned magic. He fired dozens of Frost Arrows, swiftly advancing.
Soon, he found the room mentioned by the adventurers.
A blue door, unlike the usual ones.
Taesan entered.
A wave of hot air greeted him. The crackling sound of flames echoed. While the walls of the 20th floor’s dungeon were generally red, this place was even redder.
Clang, clang.
The cheerful sound of hammering resounded.
A man was there.
Not a human but a dwarf. Unlike the store owner, this dwarf was different. While the store owner was about half Taesan’s height with a full beard, fitting the conventional image of a dwarf, the dwarf before him was the opposite.
Firstly, he was taller. Not quite human height, but definitely a head taller than the store owner.
He had a clean-shaven chin and his entire body was covered in soot, giving him a grimy appearance.
[You have encountered the Dream-Refining Fool.]
Clang.
With the system message, the sound of hammering stopped.
“Are you an adventurer?”
A relatively thin voice for a man resounded. Taesan nodded. The dwarf, after looking at Taesan, turned his gaze to the ghost.
“Did you come too?”
[Not surprised?]
“I thought you’d come down in some way or another since the half-smart didn’t tell the truth. It’s been a while.”
[Last time I saw you alive, so it’s been quite some time.]
The half-smart must refer to the Ogre Sage. It seemed NPCs, adventurers, and sentient monsters did have interactions.
After a brief look at the ghost, the dwarf showed little interest in Taesan and asked,
“Is he the one you’ve given your quest to this time?”
[Yes.]
“Unexpected. I thought you’d settle things given the recent noise.”
[I didn’t just sit still. This one killed them all.]
A flat response surprised the dwarf for the first time.
“That’s impressive. To win against a 20th-floor adventurer…”
[Well, that’s not all there is to it…]
The ghost bit back the rest of his words. The dwarf extended his hand.
“What’s your name?”
“Taesan. Kang Taesan.”
“No need for formalities. We’re in a cooperative relationship.”
The blacksmith.
Taeyeonhad received many pieces of equipment from him. Without him, she said, reaching the deep floors would have been impossible.
“I’m Halfran. I look forward to working with you.”