- Chapter 74. 13th Floor, The Guides of Sin (1) Revebas, who had been looking back and forth between the Ghost and Taesan, muttered with a frown.
“I thought the 10th Floor was the end.”
“I thought so too. But it seems more was added.”
Taesan stared intently at Revebas. At Taesan’s words, Revebas realized.
“So that’s what happened? How pathetic.”
A smirk.
He wore an expression of ridicule and scorn.
“If you’re dead, you should just move on. Aren’t you even sorry for clinging on so wretchedly?”
[Me?]
The Ghost scoffed.
[What a joke. The one who used to piss his pants talks a big game now. Was cowering like a rat in fear of me just an act?]
“You!”
Revebas’s face contorted in a flash. After showing a brief burst of emotion, he soon smiled.
“No point in wasting my emotions on a dead man.”
The Ghost ignored him as if he wasn't even worth a reply. Revebas spoke to Taesan.
“Nice to meet you. You’re new, right?”
Taesan nodded his head. Revebas let out a sound of admiration.
“It’s been a while since we’ve had a newcomer. This is why I go on reconnaissance, but I never thought I’d actually see one…”
Muttering to himself, Revebas straightened his shoulders.
“I am a member of the Guides of Sin. You know about us, right?”
“I do. You’re the largest group here.”
Both Lee Tae-yeon and the Ghost had spoken of them. At Taesan’s words, Revebas boasted.
“That’s right. That’s us. The strongest group.”
“I wonder.”
There was a problem with that statement. Taesan’s mutter didn’t seem to reach Revebas’s ears as his eyes lit up and he opened his mouth.
“Then let’s talk…”
“Guooo.”
“Gaaa…”
Zombies kicked open the door and approached. Their conversation cut short, Revebas frowned.
“Come to think of it, these things were here. How annoying.”
The zombies didn’t stay in one place but wandered around. Revebas, who was looking at the zombies with an annoyed expression, took out a horn from his Inventory as if a good idea had come to him.
Bwoooooo.
[The Wide-Area Horn has been activated. Monsters within range will approach.]
“I don’t like being interrupted, so I’ll take care of these for you. That’s alright, right?”
Revebas, speaking with a grin, showed no sign of listening for an answer. Before long, zombies appeared one by one, filling the room. All the monsters of the 13th Floor, except for the Boss, had appeared.
Among them were a few zombies stronger than the average ones. There were literally dozens of them, but Revebas equipped a Gauntlet with a confident look. He smashed the face of the zombie in the very front.
Crack.
The zombie’s face was crushed and sent flying. The zombies, struck first, flailed and targeted Revebas. At the sight of the zombies trying to tear at his flesh, Revebas sneered.
“Where do you think you’re going, you trash!”
Revebas moved his hands violently. The zombies were crushed and sent flying. Zombies were monsters that relied on numbers, but they were still monsters from the 13th Floor.
Their grip could crush boulders, and their movements were incredibly fast. Revebas dodged and blocked all of it, dealing with them one by one. Stomping on the zombies, Revebas shouted with a boastful air.
“Trash like this can’t beat me!”
Something about this. Taesan stared intently at Revebas. He was strong.
But that was all. It wasn’t awe-inspiring. In fact, it was annoying.
‘Who is this bastard, clearing away my monsters?’
All the zombies Revebas was beating down were monsters he was supposed to kill. It was a situation where he was bound to lose out on Experience, Soul Rank Ascension, and Proficiency. Normal monsters that weren't Named Monsters would respawn, but that would take some time.
It was safe to say there were now no normal monsters on the 13th Floor.
‘Is this okay?’
If it was an exchange for information, it wasn't entirely unacceptable. He might even get something better. Taesan gripped his sword.
Clang.
Taesan also joined the fight. But his movements were slower and weaker than before. Showing intentionally restrained movements, he dealt with the zombies while engaging them to some extent.
[You have activated Deflection.]
The zombie’s hand twisted away. Taesan lopped off its neck with his sword. Revebas, watching from the side, exclaimed in admiration.
“Ooh. You have Deflection, too? Not bad!”
Revebas spoke with a condescending gaze. Since this was his intention, Taesan swung his sword without a reaction. Revebas grinned and threw himself at the zombies.
[Revebas has activated Power Strike.]
Crack.
A zombie’s head was completely crushed. As hands swiped at him from all directions, Revebas activated a Skill.
[Revebas has activated Counter.]
His body moved, crushing the zombies. From amid the chunks of flesh, Revebas grinned.
“How was that?”
Even if he asked how it was. I didn’t know what he wanted me to say. At Level 42, it would be strange to struggle on the 13th Floor.
It felt like watching a middle schooler boast after solving an elementary school problem. When Taesan looked at him with such feelings, Revebas clicked his tongue.
“What a boring guy. You won’t survive long acting like that, you know?”
It was a light threat, but to Taesan, it was just amusing. He began to deal with the zombies again. They had already been reduced by nearly half.
[It’s your choice.]
The Ghost said calmly.
[Do what you wish.]
“That’s the plan.”
He muttered and swung his sword. Thirty minutes later, the battle was over.
“It’s over. Been a while since I broke a sweat.”
Revebas stretched with a refreshed look on his face. Looking at Taesan, Revebas nodded.
“You’re pretty useful.”
The result of watching Taesan’s fight out of the corner of his eye was not bad. He was skilled enough to have survived up to the 13th Floor.
“With your skills, you might even be allowed to go up to the 20th Floor.”
He spoke as if it was a given that Taesan would join them. Instead of pointing it out, Taesan asked.
“It seems you have something to say.”
“I do. It’s why I bother going around on these annoying reconnaissance missions. What’s your name?”
“It’s Taesan.”
“Taesan… a strange name. What world are you from?”
Tilting his head, Revebas asked with a serious face.
“Are you interested in joining the Guides of Sin?”
In the Labyrinth, countless humans from countless worlds are brought in according to the Mage's whim. These people, called Adventurers, descend through this place for their own desires, growing stronger and stronger. It was only natural for groups to form where people gathered.
Among them, the Guides of Sin was the largest group of Adventurers in Alone Mode. Lee Tae-yeon had said that they were distributed from the lower floors to the Depths and were encountered quite often. And she and the Ghost both had one thing in common to say about them.
‘Those who have given up on clearing the Labyrinth.’
And yet, they were madmen obsessed with self-justification. They don't try to clear the Labyrinth. They think of this place as a finished product and settle down.
Revebas spoke in a vehement tone.
“We can become endlessly strong here. Do you know what a great blessing this is?”
“I do.”
Lilith.
She had no Talent for magic. But after coming here, she was able to learn at least the basics of it. Judging by her reaction, it would have been an unimaginable feat in the outside world.
In a way, Taesan was the same. Without the Labyrinth’s system, he would still be an ordinary person. Revebas spewed out words.
“That’s it. We’ve already received more than enough grace.”
A power unattainable outside can be obtained in the Labyrinth.
“And yet, some have the arrogant thought of clearing this place? That’s truly not knowing one’s place. They’re sons of bitches who don’t even know grace.”
Revebas continuously spat out harsh words, and Taesan watched him blankly.
“So you’re giving up on clearing it?”
“Saying ‘giving up’ sounds a bit off. ‘Letting go’ is the right answer. Accepting the grace received from the Labyrinth, not wishing for more.”
To the confidently speaking Revebas, Taesan asked.
“Didn’t you come here because you wished for something?”
If you conquer the Labyrinth, you can have one wish granted. Most Adventurers must have come here for that. At those words, Revebas flinched.
“That’s true, but that’s a story from my foolish youth. The follies of a child.”
Revebas said with a distorted face.
“And this place was never meant to be cleared in the first place.”
“Why do you think so?”
“You’ve come this far, you should know, right? The damned Gods try to kill us with their pranks called Trials. The hidden places that occasionally appear are all impossible for us to clear. That bastard right behind you died just like that.”
[The ones who killed me are talking big.]
“We killed you? You’re quite delusional.”
At the sneering words, the Ghost remained silent, as if it wasn't even worth responding. Revebas turned back to Taesan with a serious face.
“That’s why the Adventurers who found this place formed a group. That is the Guides of Sin.”
“A group that finds meaning in getting stronger, instead of descending the Labyrinth.”
“Exactly.”
Revebas nodded his head vigorously.
“We are maintaining order. We create and govern the law here.”
Revebas said law. Law meant there was punishment for those who broke it. He probably intended to hide it, but the group's true colors were revealed in every word.
“Is that so.”
Taesan tapped the wall with his finger.
“I’m not going to force you right now, so take your time and think about it.”
Revebas thought he was contemplating joining the Guides of Sin, but it was something completely different.
‘I meet other Adventurers.’
Lee Tae-yeon and Kang Jun-hyeok. He couldn't meet the Alone Mode players. They cleared the Labyrinth in another Dimension.
It meant someone had forcibly separated them. If so, was it the Gods, or was it the thing that invaded Earth? It wasn't hugely significant, but he became curious.
“If you join us, you must, of course, refuse that bastard’s Quest.”
Revebas pointed at the Ghost.
“That bastard broke the law and attacked us. We can’t take him with us.”
“The law.”
Taesan muttered.
“I have a question. I heard that in the Guides of Sin, one must even receive permission to get stronger. Is that true?”
Revebas replied with a reluctant face.
“That’s correct.”
And he quickly added.
“But it’s not what you think. This place gets more dangerous the further you go down. So it’s a minimum measure for safety.”
“That sounds nice. Isn’t it just to prevent people from even trying to challenge it?”
Revebas’s face stiffened. Taesan let out a small, Deflection-like laugh.
“You spoke of the law. Do you people have the right to make that law? Even the Mage and the Transcendent beings who designed this place gave us freedom. And yet, you Adventurers are managing this place?”
“Are you refusing?”
“I can answer this with certainty.”
At the hardened voice, Taesan moved his fingers languidly.
“I don’t like you people.”
Those who have settled. Those who have given up. Those who justify themselves despite all that.
Those who try to drag others down to their level. Even Lee Tae-yeon, that coward, gritted her teeth and cleared this place. She achieved it.
But not these people. They forsake the challenge and courage that should be shown here and seek only safety. They only want to suck the sweet nectar and run away.
“I see why Maria dislikes you.”
The Gods are here to watch the fights and struggles of Heroes. The Guides of Sin, who have given up on their own, must be utterly loathsome beings to the Gods.
‘It’s similar for me, too.’
“I don’t quite understand what you’re saying… so that’s a refusal?”
Revebas’s voice was cold. Power entered his clenched fist. Taesan smiled brightly.
“I’m just…”
“….”
“…sorry for you.”
With that answer, Revebas moved. There were two reasons he went on reconnaissance to find newcomers. One was to bring them into the Guides of Sin.
The other was to kill any rebellious elements who refused, before they could get stronger. He charged forward explosively and threw a punch at Taesan’s head.
Grab.
But it was blocked by Taesan’s hand. As his own fist was caught in Taesan’s hand, Revebas’s eyes wavered.
“Huh?”
Revebas was an Adventurer who had been permitted to clear up to the 20th Floor. Naturally, he possessed a power that an Adventurer of the 13th Floor couldn’t match. He had intended to send him flying with a single blow, but Taesan had blocked his attack just by moving his hand.
Squeeze.
“Keuk!”
As Taesan applied pressure, Revebas felt a crushing sensation and pain in his hand. Revebas violently shook his hand free. He glared at Taesan as if he couldn’t believe it.
“You…”
“Those who break the law receive punishment, right? Go on. Punish me. I don’t know if you can, though.”
With a taunt, Taesan drew his sword. Leveling up with skills.