<Chapter 153: Winding Ordeal (2)>
“It was a blind spot….”
A special dungeon that changes its appearance depending on the person entering it, the Winding Ordeal.
What could be the method it uses to ‘judge’ the entrant?
There’s no need to say.
It is precisely the ‘status window’.
‘And I don’t have a status window.’
The Winding Ordeal didn’t recognize me and couldn’t change its form. As a result, the dungeon greeted me in its original form.
Yes. Just a normal cave without any trials.
“Getting the core… the creation stone this easily?”
I am at a loss for words.
I came prepared for all sorts of things. But all I did was walk for about an hour.
“Of course, it’s a good thing….”
It’s incredibly good indeed.
But it feels incredibly empty.
No, it really is extremely good. But what was I worried about all this time?
“Tsk.”
I walked towards the creation stone, scratching the back of my head.
Let’s just take the creation stone for now.
* * *
South Korea,Mystery Museum Seoul.
Shin Jia and Yu Hwa were out inspecting the construction site of Project Mystery.
“There are no issues on my end. How about you, Yu Hwa?”
Shin Jia asked after reconfirming the information on the tablet she held.
“Same here. Everyone is a veteran, so it’s satisfying,” Yu Hwa said with a contented smile.
“If we maintain this pace, the construction will likely finish in three weeks.”
Yu Hwa signed the final documents, bringing the official inspection task to an end.
“….”
“….”
Then, as expected, a silence fell between them. They managed to strike up conversations when Maiden or Ha Si-yeon were around, but when it was just the two of them, they didn’t know what to say.
The atmosphere between them was still awkward.
“Speaking of which, Seo-yul must have entered the Winding Ordeal around this time,” Yu Hwa initiated a new topic.
“Yes. He must be having a hard time right now,” Shin Jia replied.
“I am personally curious. I wonder whether Seo-yul will be able to clear the wicked dungeon with a success rate of less than 1%.”
“He will definitely clear it,” Shin Jia stated firmly.
Regardless of the less than 1% clearance rate or whatever, if it was Kang Seo-yul, he would overcome it. His track record to date proves his likelihood of success.
“Hmm. I suppose so?”
Yu Hwa had harbored such thoughts deep down as well. After all, she could not visualize a scenario where a man like Kang Seo-yul fails.
“Then shall we make a fun bet?” Yu Hwa suggested playfully with a smile.
“A bet?”
“Yes. A simple bet on how long it will take for Seo-yul to complete the dungeon.”
“What’s the penalty?”
A bet necessitates a penalty.
“How about granting a wish?” Yu Hwa proposed with a sly smile.
Shin Jia also smiled.
“That sounds fun.”
It seemed as if sparks were flying between the gazes of the two.
“Since we both think he will succeed in the mission, let’s bet on whether it will take more or less than a week to complete the mission.”
“That seems fair. Jia, you choose first. Usually, the person who proposes the bet chooses last.”
“Okay. Then I’ll choose in less than a week.”
“Then, by default, I am left with more than a week.”
With that said, a somewhat indescribable tension flowed between them.
“Just curious, if you win, what wish will you ask of me, Yu Hwa?”
“For me? Nothing much. Within reasonable bounds, of course…”
A shade of playfulness crossed Yu Hwa’s eyes.
“I was thinking of asking for an apology for the misdeeds that the Shinwa Group has committed against the Bihon Guild.”
The Shinwa Group and the Bihon Guild always clashed because they had the same business objectives.
In the process, the Bihon Guild suffered considerable damage many times. This was the reason Yu Hwa considered Shin Jia a thorn in her side.
“…Ah, I see.”
Shin Jia’s eyelids twitched.
Pretending to be the only victim here was not fair; it wasn’t only the Bihon Guild that had suffered. The Shinwa Group had faced significant losses too.
“Well, the Bihon Guild wasn’t exactly innocent in those incidents either… So, I should ask for an apology as well.”
The expressions on their faces distorted even more. They looked like devils who had just ascended from hell.
“So, it turns out our wishes inadvertently coincide?”
“Yes, it seems so.”
Was it just their imagination?
It felt like a hot atmosphere was exclusively surging around them.
“I am looking forward to seeing the expression you’ll have when you kneel in defeat. I can’t wait.”
“Me too. I can’t wait to see the face you make when you bow down in defeat.”
“That won’t happen. Clearing the Winding Ordeal in less than a week is a stretch, even for Seo-yul.”
The average clear time for the Winding Ordeal was 12 days.
“You are underestimating Seo-yul now… He probably won’t even need a week?”
Sparks seemed to be flying between their gazes again.
“We’ll see who is right.”
Yu Hwa smiled.
“Yes, we will.”
Shin Jia also smiled.
It was then.
Woowooong-
Yu Hwa and Shin Jia’s phones rang simultaneously. There was a new message in the group chat with the not-so-funny name “Kang Seo-yul and the four underlings”.
Both of them checked the message at the same time.
“!”
“!”
And both were shocked at the same time.
However, the similarity in their reactions ended there. After that, their reactions were polar opposites.
[Kang Seo-yul]
[I just got out, are there any recommended restaurants around here? I’m hungry.]
[Maiden]
[What? You already succeeded in the mission?]
[Are you insane?]
If one were to describe their faces at that moment, one would be heaven and the other hell.
“This can’t be…”
Yu Hwa was in hell.
“See? I told you… Seo-yul didn’t even need a week.”
Shin Jia was in heaven.
Their expressions really were polar opposites.
“So, I won, right?”
Shin Jia said, bearing a winner’s smile as she stared intently at Yu Hwa.
“….”
Yu Hwa gritted her teeth.
She never expected to lose so disappointingly, and that too in such a short span of time. She felt somewhat resentful towards Kang Seo-yul.
Looking at the trembling Yu Hwa, Shin Jia smiled slyly.
“You know what? Usually, the person who suggests the bet loses.”
At Shin Jia’s mischievous remark, Yu Hwa’s brows furrowed.
“Now, as I said earlier, kneel down first…”
It was then.
Woong-
The phone vibrated again.
[Maiden]
[(Link)]
[What the, kid, did you fail the mission?]
[Kang Seo-yul]
[Oh, has the news already been published?]
[Well, it’s not exactly a failure, but it’s not a success either.]
[It’s kind of ambiguous to say anything.]
[I’ll tell you later.]
Following the messages, the expressions of the two changed to the exact opposite.
“So it’s a draw, isn’t it?”
Yu Hwa sported a triumphant smile.
“….”
Shin Jia clicked her tongue.
* * *
In front of the entrance to the Winding Ordeal.
After briefly contacting the group chat,
I was having an interview with the ‘Oni Guild’ officials and reporters.
“So, after entering, the scenery of the cave did not change, and you just found yourself outside the cave as you walked. Is that what you’re saying?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
I am lying right now.
“Then how would you explain the disappearance of the Winding Ordeal?”
“It’s exactly what I’m wondering about. I came to Japan filled with anticipation to conquer the Winding Ordeal, but it turned into this futile situation.”
Having secured the ‘Stone of Creation’ in the Winding Ordeal, I immediately returned to the entrance of the cave.
And then, to the bewildered ‘Oni’ guild administrators looking at me, I said this,
“The Winding Ordeal is strange. I walked for 2 hours but there were no changes. Somehow, I found myself back at the entrance.”
That’s what I said.
Everyone doubted my words at first.
They seemed to think that I was thrown out because I failed to conquer it within 2 hours.
However, it soon became clear that what I said was true.
A superhuman who entered to check if there was an issue with the Winding Ordeal confirmed the disappearance of the dungeon. Then chaos ensued.
“I heard that the people from the ‘Oni’ guild are suspecting that Cadet Kang Seo-yul did something, what do you think?”
The reporters asked while stealing glances at the ‘Oni’ guild members who were quietly observing me from the side.
“It’s unjust. To begin with, it doesn’t make sense at all. Do you think it’s logically possible for me, a mere cadet, to not only analyze a rare dungeon like the Winding Ordeal, which even flying and crawling researchers couldn’t figure out, within 2 hours but also collapse it?”
“…Well.”
The reason I am telling this lie is simple.
If I don’t do this, I will have to pay the price for the disappearance of the Winding Ordeal.
Moreover, there is no other way to hide the matter regarding the Stone of Creation.
‘There’s no other way to explain it.’
This is the only way for me to get out of this situation.
Besides, the ‘Oni’ guild has sucked as much honey as they could, haven’t they?
It’s about time to let go.
“So you’re saying that you are not at fault at all in this matter, Mr. Kang Seo-yul?”
“Yes.”
The reporters nodded.
The people from the Oni guild were also murmuring with serious expressions. They were probably having a discussion.
“It’s indeed a stretch to say that Kang Seo-yul did something to the dungeon.”
“It didn’t even take long, it was only 2 hours.”
“It’s physically and temporally unreasonable.”
“Then what on earth happened?”
Just as everyone was expressing their doubts,
“What if it wasn’t an infinitely regenerating type of dungeon to begin with?”
A reporter spoke with a confident expression as if they had become Sherlock Holmes.
“A dungeon is ultimately a kind of consumable, composed of some kind of energy. Moreover, it kept spitting out new items to match the conquerors.”
“So, all the energy was consumed?”
“Yes.”
“Oh….”
Exclamations burst out from all sides.
No, you crazy people.
As if they were reporters, they were writing a novel.
“…That might be possible.”
The funny thing was that the people from the Oni guild were nodding to the reporter’s words.
Then, a reporter brought up this point.
“Then, Cadet Kang Seo-yul is essentially a victim here?”
“That’s right? He secured an invitation and came all this way, but he only wasted time without even getting a chance to challenge.”
“Then, shouldn’t the Oni guild compensate him?”
“Ah, does it work like that?”
…Huh?
Does it work like that?
* * *
“I’m sorry. Please take a good rest today. I will discuss the matter of refunding the invitation with the guild leader tomorrow and get back to you.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Then, please rest well. If there is anything, please call us immediately.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Upon returning to the hotel from the Winding Ordeal, I was sitting blankly.
“…No matter how you look at it, this pricks my conscience a bit.”
Just securing the Stone of Creation is already a big gain. On top of compensating for the damages, the Oni Guild even mentioned refunding the value of the invitation.
In a way, I had effectively cut off a significant source of their income, yet I was about to receive compensation. Even if I was thick-skinned, this was pricking my conscience.
“I can’t not accept it either.”
It feels wasteful to not accept it.
Money can somewhat be obtained through Maiden, so it’s not a big deal but….
“They said they would give one of the items present in the Oni Guild’s warehouse….”
It’s too regrettable to refuse this.
Given the scale of the Oni Guild, it’s likely they have one or two ancient relics stored in their warehouse…
‘At this point where I have to face the Unknown directly, each and every ancient relic is extremely important.’
The more the merrier.
The more ancient relics, the better.
“…Yeah. Who cares about conscience?”
Conscience doesn’t feed me. Anyway, it’s not like we’ll see each other often.
I decided to be shameless.
“Eua~”
I stretched out directly on the bed.
‘With this, the minimum preparation to defeat the Unknown is practically over.’
I took out the ‘Stone of Creation’ that I had stored in the ‘Artisan’s Portable Forge’.
A beautiful stone emitting a radiant light.
‘…This stone is insurance.’
As the name suggests, the effect of the Stone of Creation is ‘creation’.
Of course, it can only create equipment, making it a half-baked creation, but it still counts as creation in the sense of creating something from nothing.
‘It’s a bit regrettable that it can only create one item.’
The usage of this stone is very simple. Just imagine it.
The material of the equipment, its shape, appearance, and performance.
‘As long as I adhere to a reasonable rule, this stone can ignore all physical laws and create an item.’
Moreover, this Stone of Creation allows customization of the ‘wearing restriction’ of the item as well.
Not only the ability values according to the equipment worn but also attribute restrictions and even ‘race restrictions’ can all be customized.
‘The uses of the Stone of Creation are endless.’
What’s more.
When combined with my ‘system error’, the ‘Stone of Creation’ can create infinite synergies.
<Chapter 153: Winding Ordeal (2)> End
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