“Unbelievable. Just unbelievable. And again, unbelievable.”
“When I first joined the lab, they said it was for human experimentation. But this… I don’t even know how to put it into words.”
“Sounds like there were some unspeakably cruel things going on.”
Vivian nodded, letting out a deep sigh.
“Yes. But it’s not just that…”
She paused, picking up the report she had set down earlier. Watching her face contort with disgust, I couldn’t help but wonder what on earth was in those pages.
“It seems they didn’t just experiment on humans.”
“If not just humans… Hmm. We’ve encountered creatures that weren’t exactly human in form. Are you saying they experimented on animals too?”
At Shin Sang-yong’s question, Vivian tossed the report to the floor, her expression one of disbelief.
“If it were just that, I wouldn’t be reacting this way. The report I read was more like a diary from someone who used this room. It contains surprisingly detailed information for a diary…”
“So, what’s in it that’s got you so worked up? You’re killing me with suspense.”
As expected, Yoo-jung, ever impatient, snapped with frustration. Vivian took a deep breath and continued in a calm voice.
“To put it simply, the first floor we’re on now is where they keep the failed experiments.”
“Failed experiments? That doesn’t make sense. The first floor is where people come and go, so it should be secure. Why would they let uncontrollable failures roam here?”
Jung Ha-yeon’s sharp question made Vivian shrug. Realizing who had asked, she coughed awkwardly. Jung Ha-yeon had never spoken to Vivian since joining our group, not even making eye contact. It was clear she was deliberately avoiding her. This was the first time Jung Ha-yeon had addressed Vivian directly, and Vivian seemed just as surprised, stammering her response.
“I-I don’t know. Without being there, it’s impossible to understand what they were thinking. But according to the report, everything we’ve encountered on this floor is considered a failure. Whether they were originally stored elsewhere or released due to some circumstances isn’t mentioned.”
“Okay, so that’s the first floor. What about the second or third floors?”
I asked Vivian urgently. The failed experiments weren’t the main concern. I needed to know why a certain word appeared in the report. I recalled the encounter with demons during my first run in Hall Plain. If something similar happened again… A shiver ran down my spine.
“The report mentions capturing humans for experiments, but I won’t dwell on that. The second floor seems to house more successful subjects. But that’s not the main issue…”
Finally getting to the point, Vivian paused before speaking in a low voice.
“They used the most successful hundred experimental subjects as sacrifices to summon an ancient demon. That’s what the report says. It seems they turned to dark magic, specifically the most malevolent demon magic, when progress stalled.”
“Demon…?”
The others seemed unfamiliar with the term, murmuring in confusion. But I let out a small sigh, noticing Jung Ha-yeon’s face turn pale. A hundred sacrifices. That’s an excessive number for summoning a low-level demon, suggesting the summoned demon was more powerful.
Vivian observed our reactions before speaking cautiously.
“Yes, a demon. Su-hyun, do you know anything about demons?”
”…A little. I remember reading about them in the User Academy library.”
My lips felt dry. In Hall Plain, there’s a realm known as the Demon World. To be precise, you enter it through a
Of course, they could be ordinary demons or those comparable to angels. But the latter is almost impossible. Such demons, like angels, cannot directly intervene in Hall Plain. The problem is that even ordinary demons are formidable foes.
Demons created by those opposing angels are incredibly powerful. They can manifest in Hall Plain if certain conditions are met. However, they can’t retain their full power upon manifestation, and the stronger the demon, the more their power is restricted.
But there’s a way to bypass these restrictions: summoning demons using sacrifices. The residents of the lab sacrificed a hundred extraordinary subjects. I don’t know exactly what that means, but if a Balrog-level demon appears, I’ll have to brace myself for significant losses.
A headache throbbed in my skull. Just thinking about the demons lurking deep underground was enough to make my head spin, and now I had to consider facing demons and demonic entities too.
I forced myself to clear my mind. For now, the battles would be between users, not monsters. The large-scale involvement of demons or hellish creatures was still a distant future concern, and there was no point in worrying about it now. I spoke in a dry voice.
“If they sacrificed a hundred people… what kind of power are we dealing with?”
“Hmm… I can assure you it’s more than a low-level demon.”
Jung Ha-yeon interjected with a trembling voice.
“Then… are we talking about a mid-level demon?”
“It could be more. Without knowing the quality of the sacrifices, I can’t say for sure. But a hundred humans would be more than enough to summon a mid-level demon.”
Fear was evident on Jung Ha-yeon’s face. Had she encountered demons before? I moved closer to her and asked quietly.
“Have you faced demons before?”
Startled by my sudden whisper, Jung Ha-yeon looked up in surprise. But upon recognizing me, she nodded slightly.
“Yes… I once encountered a low-level demon by chance…”
“How did you handle it?”
Jung Ha-yeon closed her eyes, recalling the event. After a moment, she spoke softly with her eyes still shut.
“I don’t remember the details. The low-level demon seemed to have its power sealed for some reason. Plus, a group of users attacked it all at once, using a lot of holy support magic. Even so, the demon’s power was overwhelming. They’re not to be underestimated.”
“There’s also news of a mid-level demon appearing in the Southern Continent. Surprisingly, it was defeated by a single user. Demons are indeed terrifying, but they’re just another part of Hall Plain. We don’t know their exact level yet, so there’s no need to be scared prematurely.”
Ah, he must be referring to her from the Southern Continent. Watching Shin Sang-yong adjust his glasses and continue Jung Ha-yeon’s explanation, I thought of a certain blonde female user. Anyway… just another part of Hall Plain, huh? Perhaps that’s true for ordinary demons.
I nodded slightly and turned back to Vivian.
“Su-hyun, don’t worry. My serious expression was just disdain for the act of summoning demons, nothing more. Whether it’s a low-level or mid-level demon, I can handle it. Don’t underestimate me, Vivian, the ancient alchemist and chimera alchemist.”
“Right… that’s reassuring. Anyway, we’ve gathered important information. Good job.”
“Hehe, no problem. Whatever those people did in the past, it doesn’t concern us. Our goal is just exploration, right?”
“Exactly.”
I nodded in agreement, and Vivian’s voice brightened. Someone muttered, “You summon beasts too…” but they didn’t understand. Beasts summoned with mutual consent and control are entirely different from uncontrollable demons.
“Shall we continue exploring the second floor?”
At her suggestion, I shook my head. The group looked at me in surprise.
“We’ll stop exploring for today. We’ve achieved our initial goal of clearing the first floor. It’s a bit early, but we’ll camp here for the night.”
At my firm decision, the group finally understood and settled down. Yes, Vivian was right. What was I so afraid of? I had assumed the worst, but the chances of such an event occurring now were nonexistent.
And even if it did happen, I was confident I could overcome it. I activated the user information window in the air.
<User Information (Player Status)>
Name: Kim Su-hyun (0 years)
Class: Sword Specialist Master
Affiliated Nation: -
Affiliated Clan: -
True Name · Nationality: Master of the Sword · Republic of Korea
Gender: Male (24)
Height · Weight: 181.5cm · 75.0kg
Alignment: Lawful · Chaos
<Current Stats (12 points remaining)>
<Achievements (1)>
<Unique Abilities (1/1)>
<Special Abilities (1/1)>
<Potential Abilities (4/4)> (1 point remaining, which can be used to increase rank rather than level.)
Melee Combat (Rank: A Plus)
Unyielding (Rank: A Plus)
True Sight (Rank: A Plus)
Blessing of the Battlefield (Rank: EX)
In this second round, I’ve gained power beyond comparison to my first. It’s not just about the increase in stats. I possess a collection of unique, special, and potential abilities that others can only dream of having one of. I’ve also engraved the ancient priestess’s tattoo on my heart, cleansing my body of impurities, which has significantly enhanced my magic circuits and mana efficiency.
Then there’s the Flame of Justice. I chose it specifically for the Battle of Atlanta. The summoning ritual of the Infernal Realm is similar to that of the Demon World. Back then, a thousand seven hundred users were sacrificed to summon the Duke of Hell, the Flame of Death. I chose the Flame of Justice to target that very duke.
It’s the only fire within the Flame category that can stand against the Flame of Death. With it, I have the confidence to take on even high-ranking demons alone. I’m strong now. There’s no need to view things through the lens of my first round. I swallowed hard and let my eyes sink deep in thought.
The best course of action would be to prevent the summoning in the first place, but that’s not something I can control. I sighed briefly and closed the information window. For now, it’s best to rest and recover my stamina today, and tackle both the second and third floors tomorrow.
“Hey, want some food? Food, food.”
“Pig.”
“Idiot.”
Yujeong shot back at Ahn Hyun’s teasing with a sharp retort, then hopped over to grab my arm. I nodded and addressed everyone. Come to think of it, I had mentioned camping but hadn’t given any orders yet.
“Alright, let’s start setting up camp. I’ll place mana stones around to establish the campsite. Mages, please set up the necessary spells for camping. Everyone else, prepare the meal.”
“What about the night watch?”
“No exceptions. We’ll set up a night watch.”
Yujeong’s shoulders slumped in disappointment at my words. The group chuckled at her reaction, then got up to follow my orders. Someone handed me a backpack, and I silently reached inside.
I might need to use some of my stat and ability points this time. As I listened to Yujeong’s plea to be last on the night watch, I pulled out a mana stone from the bag.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Royujin.
Ah, I managed to keep up with the daily updates again today. Thanks to the energy from my readers, I kept typing away. Haha… I wish I could take a break, but I need to write another chapter for the midnight release. (I’m planning to lie down for a bit, so if I’m not around at midnight, just assume I fell asleep… ㅜ.ㅠ)
PS. Haha, I’m currently working on my “cliffhanger technique.” But I’m also honing my “continuous update skill,” so I ask for your understanding. (I’ve only reached level 2 in continuous updates, but how far have I come with my cliffhanger technique? Haha.)
『 Reader Comments 』
BlackCrown: Congratulations on being first! It’s nice to see a new face! I thought Bear’s streak would continue… hehe. I hope you enjoy the 94th chapter.
zjekfksqlc: I’m currently contemplating. After leaving Mule and progressing through certain events, a character popularity poll might be a turning point. Also, the protagonist inherited the body of a Sword Master from the first round, and a sword expert is the top tier in the swordsman category. So, the experience carries over, making them a Master, not a Beginner.
Hanery: Many H-scenes are nice, but having sweet moments like this is good too. Personally, I find these more enjoyable to read. Of course, H-scenes are coming soon. Haha.
CreationWar: Ah, I see. Everyone has similar goals, but the meanings are subtly different. Thank you for the explanation. (__)
MTBear: I might go all out again today. But if I do, my body might really break down. I’m planning to turn off my smartphone and go off the grid. Sob sob.
hohokoya1: Sorry, the 94th chapter will serve as a foreshadowing for important future content. Haha. Some explanation was necessary, hence the unavoidable cliffhanger… ( —).
Chiwoo: Ah, I want to eat something hot to soothe my stomach. But in reality, it’s just ramen. Sob sob.
EastRedwood: You like Vivian! Please also show some love for Hanbyeol! :)
Techno: Right? I think the characters are really cute too. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Who do you think is the cutest?
HeavenlyBloodGod: Whoa. The protagonist’s level-up is planned for later. I understand if you find the protagonist frustrating now. ㄷㄷ In terms of actions, it might seem that way, but if their skills were upgraded any further, they’d become too overpowered… ( —)
Your recommendations and comments are the driving force behind continuous updates. (This is the truth.)
I always read all the comments repeatedly.
Please don’t feel too disappointed if you’re not mentioned in the comments.
If you have any pressing questions, feel free to message me, and I’ll respond!
For now, I’ll take my leave.
I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.
Recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.