"Name, Hansu Lee. Age, 29. After a month of unexcused absence, his company reported him missing, huh? Tsk, what about his family?"
"Only his mother. When she heard the news, she said she didn't want to get involved."
The man who listened to the report took a sip of his coffee. It wasn't a particularly unusual case. It wasn't uncommon for people to have complicated family histories. "So, Detective Park, why did this case come to our team?"
"Because... CCTV footage shows that he entered the house, but there are no confirmed signs that he left. All the windows are closed as well."
"It's definitely... suspicious."
The man put down his coffee and began to read the report intently. He had seen all kinds of cases during his 15-year career as a detective, but even in his eyes, this was highly unusual. There were no signs of forced entry, no missing money or valuables. All credit card transactions had ended a month ago. And most importantly, the missing person's clothes were found in the bedroom. The way they were laid out suggested he hadn't taken them off himself, but rather that his body had simply vanished.
"I don't know what kind of bastard he is, but he's completely insane." The detective already suspected this wasn't a simple disappearance. It could even be a crime violent enough to shake the Republic of Korea. "Did you preserve the scene? Make a request to the forensics team. Let's look at the examination results first."
Detective Park hesitated for a moment at the man's instructions, then cautiously opened his mouth. "I, boss... Before that, I have something I want to show you."
Why not put it in the report? The chief doubted it, but when he nodded, Detective Park returned with a monitor.
"This is the computer monitor found in the missing person's room."
"What? Why do you have that? You didn't take it, did you?" The chief raised his voice as if it were absurd, but when he figured something out, he was stunned. "Wait, Detective Park, how do you turn on the monitor?"
"…I have no idea."
The letters floated on the monitor against a black background, even though the connection lines to the main unit, and even the power line, weren't plugged in. It was even updating with sound.
Beep, beep, beep.
[The coming-of-age ceremony has been successfully completed.]
[The new equipment has been used.]
[The overall level of the item has increased by +12.]
[Bjorn Candle]
What were those letters that kept being written?
"Boss, I've looked into it a bit and... there have been similar cases abroad."
"Abroad?"
There was still no way for them to know for sure.
***
[The labyrinth closes. You are transported to Rafdonia.]
The darkness faded and the light grew brighter. By habitually turning my head up, I could see the cloudy sky at a glance, as usual. I let out a long sigh.
...This time I have also returned alive.
Actually, saying that I'm back alive wasn't exactly true. I lived each day nervously, thinking that something had to happen soon, but as a result, nothing happened, and twice in a row, too.
Hmm, I really thought something was going to happen this time.
To be honest, I was still amazed. The previous expedition was too calm. Thanks to the good starting point, we reached the Rock Desert through the second floor portal connected to the gnome district in just nine hours. I didn't get any portal achievements because there were already visitors. However, there were a wide variety of level 9 monsters, such as mutant gnomes and kobolds, and several level 8 monsters, including stone golems.
[You have defeated a Corrupt Gnome. EXP +1]
[You have defeated a Kobold Shield Soldier. EXP +1]
[You have defeated a Stone Golem. EXP +2]
[You have defeated a Megalith Soldier. EXP +2]
[You have defeated a Sandman...]
Although we hunted all kinds of monsters at my request, we were able to go up to the third floor on the fourth day.
The same thing happened on the way to the Witch's Forest.
On the eighth day, without any problem, we arrived at the center of the Witch's Forest. The looters we meet along the way? Not a single one. After entering the fourth floor of the Tower of Heaven, there were no encounters with explorers.
[The test has been completed. You have chosen the Stairs of Courage.]
Official hunting time. We continue climbing the stairs and fighting monsters. All the creatures that appeared on the Pilgrim's Path on the third floor came out in random groups and, once every three days, we encountered a level 6 monster.
[You have defeated a Vitol. EXP +3]
[Has defeated a lizard Explorer. EXP +2]
[You have defeated a Dullahan. EXP +3]
[You have defeated Queen Banshee. EXP +3]
[You have defeated an Ilatrek. EXP +3]
[You have defeated a Dragoon. EXP +4]
[You have defeated a Living Armor...]
We spent the 23rd in the maze until the fourth floor was closed. The level 6 monsters that had worried me so much? Perhaps because it was the first battle, there were times when I made several mistakes, but thanks to the sudden increase in combat power I was able to defeat them all without major crisis. Experience points began to accumulate that way.
There's a reason it's called the Training Tower.
All the monsters that appeared on the third floor came out. There were also level 6 monsters, but only the ones that appeared here. Although they were not enough to reach level 4. Anyway, the result of focusing only on hunting like this...
«¿Dwalkie?»
«S-so... if we each take a part, it will be about 720,000 stones.»
«There are 780,000 stones.»
«Hey? Bjorn, what are you talking about?»
«Uh, uh....now that I've recalculated it, Bjorn is right.»
"¿What?"
Each person was assigned 780,000 stones. That was thanks to the Mime's passive Greed ability, which increased the mana stone drop rate by 30%. Otherwise it would have been around 600,000 stones.
«Um, it's definitely not a small number... but it still feels scarce. It's just me?»
«Somehow... I feel the same.»
«Hahaha! After all, it's natural since we've been earning so much more! Now that I see it, Bjorn, it seems that your absurd luck has come to an end».
I didn't know anything about luck, but since there had been no difficulties, the income was also low. Although the looters were fucking annoying, each one carried their own equipment. In the end, with that he made much more money than extracting mana stones.
...Somehow, I made less money than when I first entered the maze.
I seemed to understand why looting bastards didn't become extinct. It was easier to catch people than level 6 monsters, and it was also worth a lot more money. They had no choice but to follow people like moths, even more so if they were monsters of efficiency.
Let's not be too disappointed. In fact, so far everything has been a special scenario, and this is normal.
Thinking about the game, I barely managed to erase my regrets. The costs of consumables, the various costs of the city, it was natural not to see considerable income at first. That was the reason why the rookies didn't have a million stones, so they couldn't survive the first year or two and were executed for not paying taxes.
...Even getting to the fourth floor in a few months is ridiculously quick in the first place.
That's what I told myself and spent busy days back in town. I would meet with other companions from time to time and plan exploration, and visit the tower each week to keep Raven's research appointments.
This time, she said: «Hmm, there are only four left».
«So when can I meet that senior?»
«Ah, there's been a little problem. If that's okay with you, I want to postpone it until next month...»
«...Of course.»
Training, library, socialization, information gathering. It really was the first time I had such a quiet day. I was so nervous that my hands and feet were shaking from it, but until I re-entered the maze, there was no evil spirit hunter, no Hans, and no one to approach me. I thought there might be something this time.
In the end, nothing happened.
Passing the Goblin Forest and climbing to the third floor, capturing additional monsters that we couldn't before thanks to that, and finally leveling up during the days I spent on the fourth floor, that was all that was different from the last expedition.
«Bjorn! What are you thinking about? Let's go.» I woke up from my thoughts when Missha pulled my waist. «Wake up. If we are late, we will have to wait a long time.»
No, we won't. Maybe if we were still level 9 nobodies, but level 6 scouts had a totally different checkpoint, so the wait time was less than half that. And the officials there were much more polite.
«Well then, let's go! Hahaha!»
Shortly after, we passed our own checkpoints and met in one place. Then we completed the distribution quickly.
«Each person needs to take 790,000 stones.»
«Bjorn? Is that true?» At Missha's question, Dwalkie's pupils trembled. What kind of magician was so weak in numbers?
«I don't know either. If he says it's right, it sure is», I replied.
This time the calculation was correct, so he continued without question. As a result, 790,000 stones were deposited in my pocket. After all, was the world a give and take? As easy as this scan was, the pay was the same as last time.
«Then let's have something together tomorrow when we get back, and let everyone go home and rest today!». Hikurod suggested.
«Clear».
As soon as the distribution was over, we disbanded and headed home. But what was this? Today, the room seemed dirty and cramped. It seemed like just yesterday that I was glad the room was bigger and had a window.
Chester.
Even after washing and lying in bed, it didn't seem real. I always felt like I was alive at that moment with my whole body. A sudden thought arose. How long would it take me to move to a place like that inn with profits like this?
My growth has also stopped quite a bit lately.
As the times of peace continued, the impatience within me increased in size. So, I could only laugh.
...I'm forgetting how lucky I am.
The first day I woke up in this body, I had established future plans for the next few years, perhaps even for life. However, due to several coincidences, it was possible to advance that time by at least two or three years.
Don't be impatient. This is working pretty well... Damn, what am I thinking about now?
I slapped myself on the cheek, hard.
¡A slap!
Is it going well? The more true that was, the more dangerous it became. There was no way the days when things were going well would continue forever in my life.
Don't forget that the worst always comes when you let your guard down. Hunters of evil spirits? The Guild? Mozlan? Nobles? Who will it be this time? Or, maybe he'll be fine until he enters the maze next time?
I remembered the experiences etched in my mind as traumas and tightened the loosened screws.
No no way.
I couldn't stop. I had to get stronger. Only then could he survive. To anyone who saw me, I might seem paranoid, but nothing had really changed since day one.
I always thought about the worst.
If I had to be a madman anyway, I wanted to be a madman who survived.
***
«Bjorrrn? Did something bad happen?»
«No. Why did you think that?»
«Your eyes seem meaner than usual...» That was the first thing Missha told me the next day.
I decided to loosen the screws a little, since I would need so much free space in my brain to make rational decisions.
«Do you want to touch my ears?»
"...¿Which?"
For a moment, I thought I might have heard it wrong because I wasn't paying attention, but I wasn't. «Well... my brother told me that touching my ears put him in a good mood. Although that was a long time ago...».
That? Did that idiot say that? No matter how young I was, I couldn't imagine it.
«Oh, by the way, I meant my older brotherrr! My older brother still takes good care of me».
Good care or not, what kind of pervert was that? That is why the family environment is so important when you are young. Look at her, those eyes that were genuinely pure and benevolent. She probably didn't even know what was wrong with that.
«Missha, don't tell anyone. They could misinterpret your intentions and take advantage of you.»
If I didn't know that Missha's ideal type was a thin man, I might as well have misunderstood with a meaningless thought like, she may be flirting with me.
«But you're not just anyone.»
Tut, you and your talk.
«I just agreed.»
«...Okay. Anyway, if you don't want to do that, do you want me to make you some grilled meat?»
«...Then I will eat with gratitude.»
It was that easy, breakfast turned into grilled pork. Even if you cooked it yourself it was still meat and therefore expensive, but I was quite rational about it. If I ate this meat and grew even a little more, it wouldn't be a loss.
«Eat slowly! Let me eat some too!»
«...Didn't you say you didn't like meat?»
«Insensitive barbarian!»
Despite what happened at the breakfast table, I started the day with a full stomach. I had to meet the others in the afternoon. «I'm going out for a while.»
«Oh, so can I rest today too?»
«If you're bored, go brandish your sword. Seeing how you dropped it last time, it seems like you still lack skill».
«That is...! I just lacked strength!»
«Then you should exercise.»
«Muscle idiot!» Anyway, I left Missha and left. «Goodbye! Come as late as possible!»
I didn't think he really spent his time practicing like I told him, but it was his choice.
Step step.
After walking hard with two strong legs, I arrived at my destination in no time: the place I always came to when I had time, the library.
«It seems like nothing has happened». Now that I knew his name and after all those events, Ragna was now even talking to me. Of course, he wasn't that friendly.
«As you can see, nothing happened. And you?»
«Of course.»
"Then I'll need your help again today." Just as she was about to receive the Advanced Book Detection magic after exchanging greetings, Ragna hesitated for some reason. She probably didn't know it, but it was a habit of hers whenever she had something on her mind. "If you have something to say, say it."
"How can you know that?"
"For your eyes."
My frank response seemed to wound her pride. Hearing this from a barbarian apparently put her in a bad mood. However, as an intellectual who also valued rationality, she addressed the main issue without unnecessary words. "I'm telling you in advance; this isn't definitive information. But since you're an explorer, I thought I should give you a heads-up."
"A warning?" It was a word I hadn't expected at all, but it suddenly jolted me awake. Even if I checked and found it wasn't foolproof, I was sure she wouldn't talk nonsense, given her personality. "What's it about? Tell me."
At my signal, Ragna carefully opened his mouth. "In the near future, there may be a dimensional collapse within the labyrinth."
As soon as I heard it, I had reasonable doubts. A dimensional collapse was a true disaster in the labyrinth, unlike anything else in the world.
It's no wonder it's been so quiet these past few days…
Was this the reason?