Chapter 486 – The Brief Respite (2)

The assault on the tower had proceeded remarkably smoothly.

“Go slow.”

“Yes…”

Ebony had been contending with a colossal golem for over ten minutes.
This was a process for adapting to the black magic and for the efficient manifestation of magical power.

-Zrraack!!!

The magic burst forth, violently coiling around Ebony’s entire arm. The intense force echoed like thunder throughout the cavern. Overcome by pain, Ebony stumbled backwards.

“Gah! Uh-uhh!!”

-Roaaar!

Ebony harnessed the rampaging power, engaging in a swift decisive battle.

-Kraack!

With gritted teeth, she charged, cleaving a great boulder cleanly in two. The high-tier golem, devoid of magic stones, finally met its end. The golem toppled. Ebony, having reaped the magic, promptly dropped to her knees, gasping.

“Too much.”

Control of her power was utterly elusive.

“And remember to breathe. Halting your breath momentarily might aid in maintaining focus. But in the long run, it’s eating away at your life.”

Ebony’s swordsmanship was complete. In fact, it was excessive.

“I understand how you feel.”

“…”

“As exceptional as your swordsmanship is, your body and mind aren’t keeping up. You’re trying to artificially boost your focus by forcibly halting your breath.”

I took a step closer, then knelt and caressed Ebony’s hair.

“Right?”

“… Yes.”

“It’s a bad habit, change it.”

“Understood.”

I shook my stroking hand more vigorously, looking ahead. At the end of the second floor, the staircase leading to the third floor awaited us.

“Uh.”

Ebony clutched her elbow, moaning. Having absorbed the rampaging magic, it was natural that pain would follow. Of course, there were physical changes as well. Black spots had sprouted on the back of her hand and forearm.

“Does it hurt?”

“… No, no.”

As I extended my hand, Ebony pulled her speckled arm back.

‘This is a problem for those who have lived in hardship.’

She can’t admit to being in pain. Even when it’s tough, she swallows it all. It all festers inside, yet, despite knowing, she doesn’t attempt to change. The reasons are numerous: lacking someone to lean on, not wanting to worry others, or trying to avoid punishment.

“Your arm.”

“…”

At my words, Ebony reluctantly extended her hand. I channeled my magic into my hand, slowly massaging Ebony’s arm.

Gently, gently.

One by one, I traced the blood vessels, erasing the traces left by the magic.

“Feels better?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did you say it didn’t hurt earlier?”

“…”

“Answer.”

As I continued the massage, I conversed with Ebony.

“… I can still endure it.”

Endure.

“Why is it your place to decide that?”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not asking for an apology. Next time, be honest.”

“Yes, yes!”

Pressing gently on the center of my palm, I allowed a smirk to grace my features.
Kind and resilient. I indeed chose a good apprentice.

“Thank you for placing your trust in me and following my lead.”
“……”

Ebony, her eyes wide as saucers, was staring at me. Her face was a picture of perplexed awe.

“Did something end up on my face?”
“No, not at all… I’m all good now.”

Ebony, retracting her hand, attentively traced the other side of her mouth with her opposite hand.
She glanced up at me, her face reverting to its usual stoic expression before she picked up the sword resting against her thigh. Her countenance bore a hint of melancholy.

“What’s wrong?”
“Just thinking about someone I know.”

Looking at me?
Ebony shivered slightly as she rose from her spot. Her expression told me she didn’t wish to discuss the matter.
If it’s a personal issue, there’s no need to pry. I’ll wait for her to share when she’s ready.

“Let’s enter.”
“Yes.”

Together with Ebony, I set my foot towards the ruins’ staircase.
From the second floor to the third.
As I ascended, I felt a distortion in the space and simultaneously found myself transported to the next level.
Whoa!
My viewpoint adjusted. We were greeted by a sprawling expanse unfolding into a dense forest.

“??”
“Quite expansive for a tower, isn’t it?”

As I chuckled at the surprised Ebony, I cast my magic wide to survey the entire forest.
The humid scent of grass and the earthy aroma grazed my nostrils, evoking an intense sense of reality.

The harsh wilderness, though stirring a slight nostalgia for my hometown, instilled more unease than comfort.
The dungeon’s unique oppressive ambience had birthed a vile environment.

I sensed a subtle disconnection in this forest.
It was because the tower’s conditions differed from the information conveyed by Alba.
The earlier guild’s strategy revealed that the forest zone was situated on the eighth floor, but we stood on the third.
I had expected this, but it was likely due to changes when I entered the tower.
I digested this discrepancy as I surveyed our surroundings.

‘Is this a futile waste of time?’

No matter how many monsters I dispatch, it’s as if they can’t even draw blood, so let’s bring forward the trial.
There might have been such intentions. Then, a different intent needs to be considered.
Why did it transition from the second floor directly to the eighth? It probably has a significant link to the trial.
I heightened my senses. Right on cue, a life form was detected within the spread of my magic.

-Rustling.

A creature emerging through the undergrowth.
Could it be a human?
Upon hearing the noise, Ebony halted her attempt to unsheathe her sword, and I intently eyed the bush.

-Thump.

The heavy thud of a footstep.
A man donned in a light armor, his helmet off, watched us cautiously.
Are they hunters that came to conquer the tower? The moment he confirmed we weren’t monsters, he addressed me with a grin.

“You’re a hunter, right? You’re here to conquer the tower.”

I knew, but I wasn’t the only one attacking the tower.
On my nod, the faces of the man’s party members came to light.
A woman holding a staff. A man wielding a bow. And men clad in heavy armor. They were four in all.

“If you’ve ventured this far, there’s no turning back. Have you a refuge?”

The notion of no return. What does it mean? I tapped the apprehensive Ebony’s head before posing my query.

“None.”

“Hmm, with the state of the tower, we face a significant predicament.”

“A predicament?”

“Are you unaware? The tower has blocked its entrance for two months now. Follow me, I’ll explain incrementally.”

Among hunters, an unwritten rule exists – if one encounters another in the same predicament within a dungeon, assistance is obligatory. The reason being, in unexpected instances of a dungeon rampage, such a course of action favors survival.

“Let’s proceed.”

“…Yes.”

I motioned to Ebony, maintaining silence. We naturally formed a group and began our trek through the forest.

“So, what does it mean that the entrance is sealed?”

“Just as it sounds. The tower is in a state of wild flux. Whether it intends to exterminate all hunters within, I can’t say. What it denotes, though, is that no one can exit or enter.”

Inability to enter the tower? It was only two days ago that I myself entered.

“It’s been two months already.”

At the hunter’s nonchalant statement, I couldn’t help but furrow my brows.

“Is the flow of time different here?”

“Why?”

“I’ve only been here for roughly two days.”

“Ha, are you jesting? Were you ensnared in some trap?”

In this realm, my two days equated to two months. It’s a well-known fact that the passage of time isn’t uniform within a dungeon. However, such a discrepancy between the dungeon and reality was nearly unheard of.

“Is our current destination our dwelling?”

“Yes.”

One of the dungeon rampage manuals. If for a series of reasons one can’t leave the dungeon, hunters must congregate, constructing a massive fortress to protect themselves, and cooperate for mutual survival. Simultaneously, it’s of utmost priority to rescue other hunters within the dungeon and create as humanely a living environment as possible.

Quite a frequent occurrence. I closed the initiatory gate and continued my walk. Looking back, Ebony was surrounded by female hunters, garnering a fair amount of attention.

“Oh, dear, are you a hunter as well?”

“She’s adorable~”

Seeing a young, delicate maiden in such a place seemed to incite both pleasure and curiosity.

“…Mister…”

Ebony, with a tremulous gaze directed at me, seemed to be pleading for help.

“Wow, such soft cheeks!”

“Sweetie, how do you maintain your skin? Among dungeon-going hunters, it’s my first time seeing such a fair complexion.”

“Ugh.”

Hold on. It’s beneficial to cultivate social skills as a bonus.

“By the way, you’ve come all this way looking like this? Did you learn martial arts?”

“Something like that.”

At the edge of my peripheral vision, I could see a village swarming with hunters. In this region teeming with wizards, establishing a safe zone wouldn’t pose a challenge.

“Your attire greatly resembles her. That is, the Heavenly Demon.”

“…….”

“Imitation is acceptable, but other hunters might not view it favorably. Many of them bear traumas. Change your clothes as you go.”

Many people mimic the Heavenly Demon.
Perhaps they consider me one of them.
It would be better that way. If they knew I was actually donning the Heavenly Demon’s attire, I wouldn’t receive even this modicum of courtesy.

“I suppose it’s better to change before entering.”
“A wise decision, friend.”

It would serve me well to observe the situation here for a while before making any moves.
The altered flow of time is a complication, and there’s a chance that those women could come to this gathering of hunters.

“You do appear quite formidable. Your height as well… imposing.”
“Do I now?”
“Yes, there are numerous hunters who have recently lost their consciousness. It’s dubbed the ‘sweet dream,’ you know?”

The ‘sweet dream.’
I recall Alba mentioning it once.

-Yes. But… Hunters who have ascended the Tower of Dimensions say it induces a ‘sweet dream.’

“A sweet dream?”
I feigned ignorance and asked him.

“…I don’t know the particulars. If you experience that dream. Except that it can’t happen in reality.”
“Hmm,”
“The inception is a sudden burst of bright light before your eyes. Just like that, it ends. You can’t wake up. What’s fascinating is that all those who lose their consciousness in that manner are always smiling.”

I have no clue what dream they experience.
The hunter who spoke of it seemed to harbor a slight fear.

“We’re here. Assisting with work would be beneficial… The method to stop the rampage is still unknown, so if you plan to siege the tower, it would be prudent to well-equip yourself here.”

With these words, the hunter bid a casual farewell and ventured into the fortress.
I adjusted my attire accordingly, and Ebony, who had been tormented by the women, finally managed to extricate herself and stick by my side.

‘Dream.’
Perhaps it’s somehow connected to the trials.
It would be advantageous to understand this before I leave this place.

Having contemplated this, I then moved into the interior of the dwelling.

* * * * * * * * * *

“Three months.”
Inside the guild residence, on the 8th floor.

“I’ve spent three months to get here, and now I’m expected to take on the role of the Association President here as well? Does that make any sense?”
“Seems to be your destiny.”
“Se-Young, this feels incredibly unfair.”
“Give it a week. We’re desperately short-staffed these days.”

Three of us had set out for the attack, but an unforeseen obstacle had tripped us up.
With two top-tier, S-class hunters among us, we almost breezed through to this point.
However, the tower’s rampage triggered the Hunter Treaty, dragging us down with it.

“I apologize.”
In an expression of shame, the Guild Leader of ‘Meleta’ bowed to Se-Young.
Se-Young helped her rise and let out a sigh.

“Don’t be deceived. After all, our shared desire is to survive.”
“Of late, an increasing number of Hunters have been influenced by the light.”

Light. The fleeting constellation of luminescence that those Hunters who dare to dream always witness.
Hae-nul crossed her arms, her brow furrowed in what seemed like vexation.

“So, the entity dispersing that light… Could it be a beast or another individual?”
“Possibly. It might even be the handiwork of the King’s servant who safeguards the tower.”
“Resolving this won’t be easy. However, I’ll investigate as thoroughly as I can.”

Numerous Hunters are currently left powerless due to the influence of the tower’s energy.
Though this demands an accelerated offensive, the value of so many lives cannot be disregarded.
Hae-nul and Se-Young, while moderately consuming their served meals, gazed out the window.

There, a ‘Hunter’ was fixedly staring at a certain spot.

“Yellow! What has caught your eye?”

The ‘Hunter’, eyes wide and filled with melancholy, sequentially surveyed the sky and the earth.

“…A familiar aura.”

She murmured.