Taesan checked the magic staff first.
[Random Staff of the Mind] [A magic staff created by a fortuitous outcome. Even its creator did not know why such magic was imbued within it. It can be used to cast the Basic Magic [Random Mental Attack].]
[Basic Magic: Random Mental Attack] [Mana Cost: 5] [Uses a random, non-beneficial mental magic on the target. Attempts to inflict a status abnormality judgment on the target.]
It was a staff true to its name. Confusion, Curse, Madness, and so on. It cast unfavorable mental magic on a target.
The randomness was a concern, but it was random within the framework of non-beneficial effects. If so, it wasn't a major drawback. And the clear reward for the 2nd Floor.
A Beginner Mana Increase Potion.
[Beginner Mana Increase Potion] [A liquid containing the power of Mana. Drinking it will increase your Mana.]
Taesan drank it without delay.
[Your Mana has permanently increased by 10.] It was a satisfying increase.
Now Taesan's Mana was 41. By simple calculation, he could use Deflection nearly 8 times.
"Good."
And now for the remaining reward, ???.
"What could this be?"
As it was a reward for clearing a Hidden Element, it should be better than the regular clear reward. Taesan checked the reward with anticipation.
[You have used ???.]
[You have obtained the Tools of a Lowly Thief.]
A set of tools that looked like lockpicks appeared in Taesan's hand. Taesan, who had thought it would be a Stat-related reward, was momentarily bewildered.
"What is this?"
[Tools of a Lowly Thief] [The only skill a lowly person possesses. If lost, they will be abandoned by their comrades.]
[Attempts a judgment for Trap Disarm and Lockpicking.]
"Oh?"
Taesan was surprised. It was equipment for disarming traps and picking locks.
"So this is how I get this."
There were traps that you absolutely had to get hit by. They were a kind of unavoidable trap, and without a disarming tool, you had to tearfully give up on the reward. On top of that, from the 5th Floor onwards, traps and locked chests would gradually start appearing.
With this tool, he could attempt to disarm them. It was a very good item. Moreover, by using this tool, he could also acquire skills for Trap Detection and Lockpicking.
It had no practical combat performance, but it could be usefully employed in breaking through the Labyrinth. The Ghost grumbled.
[You're getting everything there is to get before you go.]
"Why are you so full of complaints?"
[Would a dead guy be happy seeing a living guy achieve things?]
"That's true too."
Taesan agreed with the plausible remark. The Ghost was someone who, like him, had failed while attempting to conquer the Labyrinth. Watching him gradually break through the Labyrinth must bring up many thoughts.
For now, the inspection was over. Taesan headed for the passage leading down. As he descended through the passage, the Quest Window appeared.
[3rd Floor Quest begins.]
[Defeat the boss of the 3rd floor and pass through.]
[Reward: Beginner Health Increase Potion.]
[Secret Reward: ???]
A Beginner Health Increase Potion. It would increase his Health by 50. Just like the Mana Increase Potion, it was a very good item. After confirming, Taesan opened the door.
The Dwarf was waiting for him.
"Oh. You're here?"
"I am."
The Dwarf's face, which had been looking at him with a pleased expression, momentarily contorted.
"...... What's this?"
[Isn't it the stubborn old geezer? Still alive and kicking?]
The Ghost chuckled. The Dwarf clicked his tongue.
"You've received the Quest, I see."
[I came because I received it. Are you blind?]
The Dwarf ignored the Ghost's words and spoke to Taesan.
"That one is just a noisy loser. Don't let yourself be influenced by him."
[An old man who can only pray is full of bluff.]
They exchanged sharp-edged reactions. While the Dwarf's reaction to the Ghost was one of indifference and contempt, the Ghost's was filled with hostility, condemnation, and ridicule.
[But the old man is giving information, telling me not to be influenced? This guy must be pretty valuable, huh?]
The Ghost spoke playfully.
[Should I try messing with him? I'd love to see the old man go crazy.]
"The likes of you? To him?"
The Dwarf scoffed. Taesan waved his hand.
"You two, stop chattering and pay attention to me, the person who's actually here."
"Ah. My apologies. The loser keeps making a racket."
The Dwarf readily apologized. As expected, the Dwarf was very kind to him.
"There's no way you'd be influenced by someone like that. Is there anything you want to buy?"
"Not yet."
He hadn't collected enough money. He planned to come back after exploring the 3rd Floor.
"Then I'll see you next time. Preferably after you've shaken that thing off."
[Hmph.]
The Ghost snorted. Leaving the Shop and entering the 3rd Floor, Taesan spoke.
"Why do you two get along so poorly?"
[How could we possibly get along? That old man is so sly and foolish.]
His voice was thick with animosity.
[You should be careful too. The old man is nice to you if he thinks you're useful, but he can turn on you at any moment. He's not someone you can trust.]
"Is that a story from when you were alive?"
[Would it be from after I died?]
When he was alive would be when he was trying to break through the Labyrinth. A situation just like Taesan's now. Cannot be trusted.
That's what the Ghost called the Shopkeeper. Taesan entered the Labyrinth.
"Kaak!"
"Kieuh!"
Just like on the 2nd Floor, four Goblins were waiting. The 2nd and 3rd floors of Alone Mode were overlapping floors, so the types of Monsters that appeared were the same. The only difference was that here, instead of a Bow-Wielding Goblin, there was a magic-using Goblin.
"Kaak!"
[The Magic Staff-Wielding Goblin has cast Confusion.]
[Judgment unnecessary! You have endured with your Indomitable Spirit.]
[All Stats have increased.]
Taesan listlessly drew his sword. Three minutes later, only Taesan and the Ghost remained in the room.
"The 3rd floor is easier than the 2nd."
[I want to argue, but it's true, so I have nothing to say.]
The Ghost grumbled.
[Normally, this place is pretty tough, you know? It's a place where I almost died several times, but you just breeze through it like this.]
The Ghost's words were not wrong. A Goblin that used bewitching magic. And three Guarding Goblins.
It was hard to get past three of them, and if you tried to take them on one by one, you'd get hit with a Confusion Judgment. It was a kind of checkmate. But Taesan was halfway immune to mental status abnormalities.
It was as if one Goblin was missing, making it even easier than the 2nd Floor. Taesan began to leisurely break through the Labyrinth. He moved to another room and dealt with the Goblins.
This time, it took 2 minutes.
[Well, I'll be.]
The Ghost, who had been watching quietly, expressed his admiration.
[Watching you closely, your movements are pretty good too. Since they're skills learned in real combat, they have clear limitations, but you're covering that with your sense and observation skills. ...... At this rate, you should be able to reach the Middle Floors without a problem.]
He had no intention of being satisfied with just the Middle Floors. He planned to clear the Labyrinth. Taesan continued to wander through the Labyrinth, catching Goblins.
The Ghost, finding this strange, asked.
[Why are you killing them all? At your Level, you won't get much Experience, will you? It might be fine to just head down quickly.]
The Ghost's words were not wrong. It wasn't that the Experience was low, but with Taesan's current Stats, the 4th and 5th floors wouldn't be a problem. Soul Rank Ascension was also sealed due to the difference in rank, so the only things to gain were money and Equipment.
Taesan answered calmly.
"Because I have a Quest."
[A Quest? What more could you possibly have to receive now?]
"Rakiratas."
[Huh?]
The Ghost paused.
[That guy gives quests like that too? First time I'm hearing of it.]
"Did you also receive the Trial?"
[I did. And cleared it without any problems.]
The Ghost said proudly. Come to think of it, there was something he was curious about. Taesan asked while killing a Goblin.
"What is a Servant of Rakiratas?"
[It's exactly that, a servant. A lowly being offers themself to Rakiratas and becomes stronger. The price, as you can see, is eternal bondage, but there are some who are happy with that.]
The Ghost spoke as if he couldn't understand.
[But they are strong. If it's a real one and not a fake, you'd need to be at least past the 5th Floor to be a match for them. Maybe they offer their wretched lives because they think it's worth it?]
Listening to the Ghost's story, it didn't seem like his trial had been suddenly enhanced like that. Still, having gone as far as the Depths, he seemed to know Rakiratas well.
Taesan asked.
"Do you know about something called the Apostle's Contract?"
[Oh?]
The Ghost asked in surprise.
[How do you know about that?]
"Because Rakiratas offered it to me."
[...... He offered it to you?]
The Ghost fell silent, seemingly quite flustered. He seemed to be pondering for a moment, but soon his mouth opened.
[At your current level, it's plausible he'd make an offer. Ugh. I never got one.]
The Ghost grumbled and said.
[So, where should I start explaining?]
"You're explaining it so readily."
The Dwarf had mentioned the contract but was reluctant to explain. He had made a bet, but he thought the Ghost might refuse slightly, which was unexpected.
[I'm already a dead man! I'm bound by the laws, but there are no restrictions on information. And the reason that old man won't tell you is also for your own good. A damn clumsy consideration, though.]
The Ghost snorted.
[Why would I care about you? We're going to part ways on the 10th Floor anyway.]
The Ghost was not looking out for him. But that was actually better. To be honest, he didn't need the Dwarf's consideration.
He needed information. About this place, what the NPCs' objectives were, who the Gods were. The Ghost began to clear up his curiosities.
[Each God is in charge of their own domain. There's one in charge of victory, one in charge of defeat, all sorts. Among them, Rakiratas is the God in charge of conflict and death. And he's also the strangest God.]
"Strange?"
[For a God, he acts very frivolously. He breaks contracts as he pleases, and for those he fancies, he tries to help them even at the cost of his own power. Should I say he's like a child? Yet, he's so damn powerful that he crushes any opposition. He's a hard God to describe.]
Listening to the explanation, a question arose.
"What are these Gods?"
They were at least not the gods that were spoken of on Earth. Listening to the Ghost, there seemed to be at least several dozen.
[Those who helped design the Labyrinth.]
"Design?"
[Do you remember the System Window you saw when you entered this place?]
Taesan searched his memory.
"...... A Labyrinth created by a magician."
[This is a Labyrinth created long ago by a great magician, and there's a rumor that it grants one wish to the one who conquers it.]
A Labyrinth created by a great magician. That was this place.
[But it's hard to create with one's own power. He went to the Merciful Beings and told them of his plan. That he wanted to create a grand Labyrinth, a Tower that descends into the ground. That he wanted to invite numerous warriors and heroes there to make them break through it. He asked if they wouldn't want to watch their challenges, their life-risking struggles, and their fleeting deaths.]
"Sounds like they'd love it."
[Love it? They went absolutely wild. They fully supported the magician. After a period of time that was significant even to the Gods, the place that was designed is this very place. The Labyrinth.]
It was a much bigger story than he had thought. The Ghost continued.
[And the Gods settled in this place they had worked so hard to create. From the deep place, the Depths, they judge those who enter the Labyrinth. They give trials, and by casting their gazes, they determine their worth. The offer made to those among them who they particularly favor. That is the Apostle's Contract.]