episode_0102

After Grand Duke Howlan’s failed challenge to the 13th floor, there were those who were called the strongest party.

Made up of warriors, wizards, official priests of the church, and dragon knights, they confidently challenged the 13th floor, strongly trusting and relying on each other.

The leader of the group, warrior Aren, had no doubt that they would succeed. If he was successful in this challenge, he would not only be given the title of nobility but also have great honor.

If that happens, I might be able to at least confess to my childhood friend Shane, who ignores me at every turn. It’s clear that Wizard Ravin and Dragon Knight Baal will make fun of you for catching just one gun.

As I was imagining nonsense to relieve tension, I ended up laughing. Aren smiled heartily and opened the door to the second stage. I was full of confidence because I passed stage 1 in just 10 hours.

Because Aren, the warrior who saves Shane, is invincible!

“Holy shit! Take your stance right away and attack Baal first! Protect Shane first!”

Skeleton soldiers from under the castle came rushing in.

“Aren! Can’t they see the end? Shouldn’t this be retreated?”

“There will definitely be an end! Just keep doing what we’ve been doing so far!”

“Aren! Please take care of yourself, not me! Don’t you know that what I pray for every night is that you don’t get hurt?!”

“Ahaha! I won’t use healing magic if I protect you. Stop nagging and focus!”

The priest seemed dissatisfied with the warrior’s blatant favoritism toward him and punched him in the head.

Aren, who was hit with a fist, just smiled and looked at the priest. The priest turned away, avoiding his eyes.

Colleagues around him frowned as they watched him.

“I didn’t know I would come here and see a love fight. It’s truly disgusting.”

“I agree, Baal. I’ll just say it that way. Like a man.”

“What do you want to say, Lavin.”

“Actually, I like you a lot. When I first saw it, I wondered how such a pretty person could handle a dragon. At that time, I even thought about the gender of my grandson.”

“Are you serious about that?”

“You know that I stutter when I lie.”

A look in his eyes that is too serious to be considered a lie.

“Large. They keep coming.”

The Dragon Knight Baal cleared his throat and cut down the approaching skeleton soldiers.

Realizing that this meant rejection, Lavigne immediately apologized.

“Sorry. I said something pointless. I’m so embarrassed, could you please not reveal this secret to the grave?”

“I’m a bit busy right now, so when I go out, I’ll have to start by looking for a new home in the capital. Think about your travel destination yourself.”

An unexpected consent.

Wizard Ravin raised his lowered head again.

The Dragon Knight Baal slowly opened his eyes and looked at him.

Colleagues who had frowned became couples first. Aren and Shane looked at the kites in front of them with puzzled eyes.

Even the hatchling dragon she was handling stared at the newlywed couple as if they were dumbfounded.

“What. whatever. What are you looking at?”

“That’s why they’re singles. Please use your mind kindly. I knew that you liked each other, even that lizard, but you always had a love fight right in front of my eyes, was that on purpose? But what should I do? We bought it first… Baal, they are staring at us so scary.”

“Don’t stare at my man. Lavin, come behind me.”

Wizard Ravin hid behind Baal, criticizing his childhood friends.

“Ahahahahaha!”

The exaggerated appearance was so funny that everyone burst into laughter. Even priest Shane, who usually showed little change in expression.

Aren looked at Shane with such cuteness that he was dying and opened his mouth.

“Shall we sing their wedding song?”

“…You make fun of me again even though you know I can’t sing, right?”

“A. Other people may not know, but I like the song you sing the best.”

“……The words that come out of my mouth. Let’s do it together.”

“Good-ah. First, let’s destroy all of these skeleton soldiers! But really, why isn’t the number decreasing?”

In fact, the number of skeletons did not decrease at all, as if an illusion had been used.

I tried my best to ignore it and think positive thoughts, but my stamina was gradually depleting.

After a certain point, I have no memory of it.

Aren threw down his sword just to protect Shane, to save him.

Even as the skeleton soldiers’ swords pierced his ribs, Aren reassured Shane. It seemed like Shane was crying and saying something, but I couldn’t hear anything.

Aren died like that.

Not long after Aren’s death, the remaining people were wiped out.

.

Dyers scanned the background.

The overall scene resembles a gloomy maze, but there are broken skulls everywhere. And there were several small castles rising up.

Skeletons are slowly approaching under the castle.

“The second stage is Skull Mercury. If you stay in the same place for more than 5 minutes, skeletons will multiply forever.”

“…Then what should I do?”

“Simple. All you have to do is destroy all the skeletons in this castle within 5 minutes and move to another castle.”

“What happens if it takes more than 5 minutes..?”

“Everyone dies.”

“…”

“No matter how strong you are, even if you are a god, if you do not eliminate ‘all’ those skeletons within 5 minutes, the number will continue to increase.”

“…Ugh, that’s scary.”

“So, I tell this to everyone. From now on, I will not allow even trivial puns or jokes. Because you can never waste time. Did you understand?”

“””Yes!!”””

The skeletons responded to the harsh shout and rushed forward. Dyers and Perpy wielded wide-area magic, while Kirshen and Xena slaughtered the enemies with swords.

“Each skull is not that strong.”

Kirshen, who personally smashed the skull, said.

“Because if you are strong in the first place, the balance is not right.”

“Huh? Val what?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

While fending off the crazy crowd of skeletons, someone saw a skeleton inside the castle.

“I guess he died while standing…he’s still holding the sword. Is this someone who tried and died..?”

The skull was a human skull, different from a monster skull.

“What do you think it says on the knife? For Shane..in? Was this guy’s name Shane?”

Meanwhile, the battle was not over.

.

cold.

afraid. scary.

pain. helpless Weak.

‘It’s been a while since I met you.’

The warrior gazed warily at the challengers.

‘Did they all come to die too? No, before that, why did you come to a place like this? No, before that… where was this?’

The warrior was once again immersed in agony.

Where am I and who am I?

It’s so cold here. I want to get back to where I belong quickly. But I can’t go.

Because I was strongly tied to this place. Where did you pick this up and it is called ‘lingering regret’?

‘Holy shit. You’re holding me back because I have some regrets. Let go of this! Please let me go!’

I want to feel comfortable now.

I want to stop everything now. It’s too cold here.

Everyone goes to where they need to be.

The warrior could not go anywhere.

A man walked towards the warrior who was suffering.

He was a strong man who smashed skeletons.

‘Why are you coming here?’

The man began to look at himself with an unknown expression. The man’s gaze made me somewhat irritated.

The man grabbed his arm. How did you catch it?

Anyway, if you’re not going to help me, get out of there!

The man looked up into space. Like a person reading a book.

“…Is that how it happened?”

What does it mean? The white man continued talking.

“I guess I still have regrets that prevent me from achieving Buddhahood.”

For decades the warrior did not lay down his sword.

Even if you reach the end of your days, even if your flesh rots and crumbles. He did not let go of the sword of his own will.

That was what the warrior was most curious about.

What on earth could he not give up?

“…For Shane.”

The warrior never remembered his own name.

But I remembered the name Shane.

Shane.

My childhood friend Shane.

Shane sings well, hates me a lot, but still has a kind heart.

I began to vaguely remember. My past self failed the challenge and died.

So it remains here.

However, I didn’t think that was the only reason.

The warrior looks back at the man for a reason. The man stretched out his hand towards him.

“Isn’t there someone you need to save?”

[…….]

“Wasn’t there someone who sacrificed their life to protect them and it wasn’t enough, so they wanted to save them by sacrificing their souls?”

[……]

“I will tell you why you have not achieved Buddhahood for decades.”

[…what is that?]

“To save it. The person you loved with all your soul.”

[……]

I see

The reason I couldn’t disappear.

the person I love. For Shane…

The warrior’s sword trembled. As if he were asking Dyers what he should do.

Dyers extended his hand towards the warrior again.

“Please lend me your strength, senior. So that we can break this 13th floor, so that you can see the person you want again.”

The warrior took his hand without hesitation.

The cold air. The restraints that were holding me so tightly. All those things are changing.

Warrior Aren saw the words engraved on his sword.

[It probably won’t be of much help, junior.]

“Nothing to say. If you’re humble, leave later.”

The warrior who had not attained Buddhahood for decades took up the sword once again.

In addition to being weakened, my body had become a skeleton, but that didn’t matter.

[My last time is for Shane.]

Because Aren, the warrior who saves Shane, is invincible.