episode_0028

[Entered the Dungeon &@%#!&(Lv.???)]

“I’m going crazy.”

Staring at the glitching status window, he muttered blandly.

The broken status window and the abnormal behavior of the demons. The dense concentration of magic to the point of suspicion… This place was indeed a space that defied common sense in many ways.

Therefore, he couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease.

The greatest weapon of the possessor is knowledge. Information and knowledge accumulated by playing the original work for over a thousand episodes. Past and future. Problems and solutions.

Turning an orphan girl who should have lived in back alleys into the top student of the prestigious Arcana Academy was a privilege unique to the possessor.

“…So, I need to resolve this quickly.”

He identifies where the ‘original work’ went wrong and corrects it. Thus, he alters the future as he knows it. All to create a happy ending for everyone.

With that determination, as he reached the end of the passage, a tiny door made of intertwined tree roots came into view. And behind it, numerous presences could be felt.

Gripping his sword tightly, he cautiously pushed open the door.

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[Entered the Dun■ &@%#!&(Lv.???)■#@■%]

As he opened the door, a warm spring breeze greeted him.

Before his eyes lay a small cave, filled with a gentle floral scent. Cherry blossom trees emitting a soft light, surrounded by clusters of luminescent plants.

And various demons peacefully napping around.

Expecting fierce battles, he couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned.

Not to mention the question of why there was a tree inside a cave. The demons around the cherry blossom tree didn’t even pay attention to him.

“…?”

Demons’ animosity towards humans is instinctual.

Just as people eat when hungry and sleep when tired, demons harbor animosity towards humans upon seeing them. That’s how natural their animosity towards humans is.

“But why…”

Approaching cautiously with his hand on the sword hilt, he peered at the monsters around the cherry blossom tree through eyes now accustomed to darkness.

From Yetis appearing in the Northern Defense Line to Lizardmen only found in the Southern Jungle. The variety of monsters around the cherry blossom tree was truly diverse.

It was unimaginable how they had all gathered in one place.

“…”

Between the Yeti habitat and the academy lies the Northern Defense Line, Imperial Checkpoint, and the Academy’s confrontation zone.

Yet, the creature lazily napping in front of me was unmistakably a Yeti. There was no way I could forget the appearance of a common mob I had seen countless times in the game.

“What is this…”

Unusual events happening one after another made my head feel overloaded. Thoughts weren’t smoothly connecting.

I just wanted to put everything down and take a break for a moment.

Like those creatures resting comfortably under the cherry blossom tree. The warm spring breeze gently tickling my cheek felt pleasant.

A drowsy feeling crept in. Was it because the monsters weren’t attacking, relieving the tension? My body felt sluggish.

I, too, wanted to rest under that cherry blossom tree.

The faint cherry blossom color blurred my vision. With each step closer, my mood improved.

“Uh…?”

But why is it that my senses are sharply warning me? I feel good as if under the influence of a drug, so why does it feel wrong?

Approaching the cherry blossom tree, my vision blurred. The swirling violet pollen felt endlessly beautiful. I wanted to gaze at this scenery forever.

Leaning against the trunk of the cherry blossom tree, it warmly embraced me. Feeling the gentle spring breeze around me, I closed my eyes softly.

[Player’s Mental Strength(B) stat affected: Resisting Enchantment]

“…Huh?”

When I came to my senses, the cherry tree roots had completely enveloped my body.

Finally, things that were not clear due to my hazy mind start coming into view one by one.

The demons were not peacefully asleep. Rather, they were closer to collapsing from exhaustion, their roots embedded in the cherry blossom tree sucking up magic.

The beautifully blooming cherry blossom petals were the life force of the fallen demons. This space was a massive trap.

“Oh no…!”

The fog that had clouded my mind clears suddenly. Clarity and judgment return, and magic begins circulating within me.

The cherry blossom tree, realizing I have regained consciousness, tightens its roots firmly. The gentle spring breeze that was caressing my cheek turns sharp.

As the cherry tree sheds its bark, beautiful magic particles akin to cherry blossoms shower down. The scent of cherry blossoms, so thick it makes my head spin, fills the air.

[#%@&$(Lv.???) activates the skill ‘Garden of Ruin’]

[‘Garden of Ruin’ inflicts a debuff on the player: Mental Erosion. The player cannot resist #%@&$(Lv.???)]

[Player’s Mental Power(B) resists the debuff: Mental Erosion. Magic is continuously consumed.]

“Ugh…”

Pink magical particles mix among the falling flower petals. My B-rank Mental Power clashes with ‘Mental Erosion,’ making my insides churn.

It’s dangerous to stay here any longer.

Feels like my mind is being eroded. Down below. Into the abyss. I keep feeling like I want to stay here. I have to escape somehow. But where to?

My violet eyes quickly scan the surroundings. The entrance made of twisted tree roots had long disappeared. My black sword, which I had been holding, was taken by the tree roots without my notice.

I raise my gaze upward. A sword hanging at least ten meters above in the tree.

I, eyeing that branch, tightly grip my left hand.

Whooong-

Simultaneously, particles of dark purple envelop me. The sensation of the entwining tree roots vanishes, replaced by a floating feeling as my body transforms into particles and leaps into the air.

At the same time, a new quest appears before my eyes.

[World ■S&-Ch@pt%r.???]

– Defeat #@%&$(Lv.???)

– Reward: #%■*@

– Failure: Death

“You know, right?”

Leaping through the air, I swiftly grab the sword, muttering sharply. The cherry tree shakes violently, seeming bewildered.

“ㅡㅡ___ㅡ____ㅡ!!!”

The enraged cherry tree, having missed its prey, lets out a roar. Why on earth is a plant speaking?

Thud! Roots that upturn the ground create a massive spear. The sharp ends of the roots aim at me as they fall.

Meanwhile, the luminescent mosses that were emitting a faint light all unfold their flower buds. Between the gaping mouths, densely packed teeth are visible. If I hit the ground, it won’t be a pretty sight.

“Tsk…!”

I’m not a fan of mid-air battles. But since it’s come to this, I’ll end it swiftly.

Between torn gloves, scars gleam as the space folds once more. In an instant, the cave ceiling appears before me. A spear aimed at me pierces through the empty space between overgrown branches.

Not wanting to miss that gap, I leap into the sky.

The distorted space shimmers as the scars flash repeatedly. After using Blink three times in a row, my stomach churns. I bite my lip, trying hard to focus, gripping the sword handle tightly.

Kiiing-

With a sharp sound, the sword imbues with magic. Magic darker than the cave’s darkness clings to the blade.

“____ㅡㅡㅡ!!!”

The cherry tree, realizing too late what I am about to do, screams and intertwines its branches, but it’s already too late.

The strange floating sensation after Blink disappears, and my body succumbs to gravity. Not missing the opportunity, I thrust the sword into the cave ceiling.

A sinister flash of light descended over the eerie cherry blossom garden.

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[Defeated World Boss %@&$(Lv.???)]

[‘Ancient Lich’s Dungeon Core’ absorbs %@&$(Lv.???)’s essence]

[Mana Reserves][D+ -> C-]

[Skill Mastery][D+ -> C-]

Various messages popping up before my eyes.

When will the broken status window get fixed? With a pointless question in mind, I weakly slumped down in place.

Once to escape. Once to dodge an attack. And thrice to unleash sufficient power.

The price for consecutively using ‘Mental Erosion’ five times without properly shaking it off was larger than expected. It felt like being drunk. The world spinning around, stomach churning, body swaying.

“Ugh…”

My head throbbed as if it would split from the consecutive spell calculations. Feeling like my brain had overheated. I grabbed my head and gazed forward.

Dim glowing plants and wilted roots devoid of strength. A cherry blossom tree split in half as if struck by lightning.

Amidst the wreckage of the cherry blossom tree, a faint cherry blossom-colored light was gently flowing.

Instinctively, I knew. Breaking the ‘original’ and growing a bizarre cherry blossom tree. And, the fact that the culprit who gathered various monsters into the underground waterway and this place was over there.

I slowly rose to my feet, using the sword as a cane.