Chapter 11: The Tower of Destruction

As I came to my senses, I saw a massive tower standing under a dim, darkened sky.

Looking around, everything appeared gray, as if the soil had been burned to ash, with this enormous tower standing tall amidst it all.

Who could have built such a thing?

That thought passed quickly, as something surprising hit me.

“Wow, is this really Hallasan?”

So this was Hallasan, yet it didn’t look anything like it used to.

The entire landscape had drastically changed, it seemed as if the mountain had been completely leveled.

Of course, the Gate connection likely had a lot to do with it.

“But how did anyone even build a tower like that?”

Though I pondered this, it felt oddly familiar.

Who could have made it?

The architectural style didn’t give any clues.

-It probably wasn’t physically constructed.

“It certainly seems that way.”

The tower was absurdly tall—impossibly so.

Though I couldn’t see the top clearly, it seemed to pierce the thick clouds that blanketed the sky.

-If I had to guess, it looks like some kind of prison.

“A prison?”

-Yes. Considering the scale, it would’ve taken a divine force to create it. We’d know more if we entered.

I also felt that it was beyond human ability.

So, could a god other than the goddess have made this?

The concept was hard to grasp.

There was a similar tower created by the Demon King before, but nothing on this level.

Approaching the structure, I examined the dark gray outer walls.

They matched the ominous clouds above, the tower casting an even grimmer shadow.

It reminded me of something… Yes, the Demon King’s castle bore a similar design.

The carvings on the walls depicted scenes of the ‘War of Humans and Demons’ — humans and monsters clashing with weapons.

It seemed to chronicle a war between humans and the Demon King.

“Wait, could this tower have been made by the Demon King?”

-Now that you mention it…

“This place might be more dangerous than we expected.”

-Indeed.

Several theories came to mind.

First, this could be a dungeon that the Demon King had created as a beta version, which ended up here when he was defeated.

Or, perhaps the Demon King hadn’t actually died and was hiding his power in another world, evidenced by the monsters within the tower.

The Demon King thrived on human suffering and pain, so his power might not end just by killing him physically.

“If this tower operates in a magical space, it could explain the absurd construction. Even if all my theories are wrong, it’s likely still related to the Demon King.”

-Yes, in any case, it would be wise to investigate the tower.

Apparently, an employee from the Administrative Bureau managed entry here.

Near the tower’s entrance, a small tent was set up, where I found the staff.

“Thank you for all your hard work.”

When I greeted them warmly with a smile, they stared for a moment and coughed awkwardly.

Ah, this charm of mine.

“Are you entering alone?”

“Yes.”

The staff exchanged concerned looks.

“This dungeon is highly challenging. We recommend entering with a party.”

“Oh, I’ll be fine. The goddess will protect me.”

I smiled and pulled out a small cross, and the employee, flustered, handed me a waiver form.

“Please sign here, then.”

“Alright, let’s do this.”

The form essentially stated that they weren’t liable if I died in the tower.

Standard procedure.

I signed it and was granted entry.

It was said that goblins, orcs, and kobolds were common on the first floor.

I’d seen that from streamers, not just that one annoying pig guy.

“Is the terrain a ruin?”

Entering the tower, the sight reminded me of the ruins from the hero’s world, as if a destroyed village had been transported here.

Korean Hunters don’t exactly have anger management issues, so there’s no way they trashed this map themselves.

-The architecture resembles that of the Yucra continent.

“Then it must have some connection to that world.”

I almost expected the Demon King to be here as the boss.

Although he wasn’t a particularly tough enemy, if he could be defeated by the hero alone, it would have likely ended the same way.

Is this dungeon shared among hunters?

“Wouldn’t it be challenging here?”

“Oh, come on, you have me. Don’t worry.”

Sure enough, not far off was an obnoxious couple.

I almost wished a kobold would bite them.

Besides those lovebirds, there were plenty of others here.

With so many Hunters outside, of course, some would be inside as well.

-These monsters are likely real, not just magic-based constructs.

“If they’re shared like this, I’d guess so. And the tower allows for items to be looted, after all.”

Some dungeons operate as individual instances, meaning each person or party enters their own private version.

In such cases, there’s no reward—after all, it’s just a magical space filled with creatures created by spells.

However, in this space made by the Demon King, it seems he placed his own creatures here.

-It’s possible the Demon King has regained considerable power.”

“Come to think of it, we’ve encountered dungeons of this level before.”

“Grr, grr!”

After walking for a while, I noticed a group of monsters approaching me.

They were kobolds, creatures that resemble mangy dogs.

They’re typical low-level monsters that travel in packs.

They looked similar to the kobolds from the other world.

This place is increasingly beginning to feel connected to that world.

“Arf!”

“A dog behaving rudely toward a human…”

I grabbed the head of the first kobold that lunged at me and slammed it into the ground with a crack!

Its skull shattered instantly.

How weak.

“Hiss!”

“Grrr!”

The other kobolds saw their companion fall and surrounded me from all directions.

It’s almost laughable how these mutts are standing on two legs as if they’re equals to humans.

I pulled out my mace, and with each swing, a kobold fell, its form collapsing.

“Looks like that streamer exaggerated, there’s nothing special dropping here.”

-Well, as they say, you can’t expect a feast from the first bite.

Sure, that’s a good saying, but these creatures are just too weak.

They feel like average kobolds.

“True, the difficulty level doesn’t seem too high either.”

-For someone who’s defeated the Demon King, that’s understandable. Remember, this world is less developed compared to the other one.

That’s right.

The other world has had monsters since the dawn of its history.

But here, it’s only been ten years.

Though this world is more scientifically advanced, its hunter and adventurer history is much shorter than in that other world.

Are the standards here lower than I thought?

-Yes, according to our expectations, the level is indeed lower.”

I was getting bored.

With a swing of my mace, I slammed it into the ground, sending a shockwave that instantly obliterated the kobolds, silencing them in one go. Weak, far too weak.

Fighting hunters would probably be more interesting at this rate.

“This is more tedious than I thought.”

-Come on, take a look around.

“If it’s related to the Demon King, we’ve figured out enough, haven’t we?”

-But I heard the rewards are worth it. Won’t you give it a try?

Sure, rewards are enticing, but…

“You know, I thought the people here would be a little more refined than in the other world.”

In that other world, there were monarchies, arrogant nobles, and barely any functioning legal systems.

There weren’t many proper states, probably because it was a world with monsters.

But I didn’t expect to find the same here.

“Sister? This isn’t a safe place for a woman to be alone.”

“Right, come with us.”

Classic thugs, in every sense of the word.

Typical gangsters.

Not surprising, though—I’m pretty, after all.

Back in the other world, if I traveled alone without the hero, there’d be at least one to three corpses by the end of each day.

They were bandits or thugs, so I didn’t mind, but I didn’t expect to see them here, too.

I’d rather handle this through dialogue if I can.

“The goddess is watching over me, I’ll be fine.”

I clasped my cross and bowed respectfully.

But the thugs didn’t back down.

“Isn’t that some kind of cult?”

“Ha! A cross and a goddess? That’s ridiculous.”

“Forget that cult, let us protect you.”

A cult, huh. Honestly, it’s better to have a goddess who actually responds than a vague deity.

These thugs were making a mistake.

They thought this was just any cross.

But if you look closely, it depicts a woman bound in thorns.

This isn’t anything like Earth’s Jesus.

-How vulgar. To call me a cult…

“Well, it’s not entirely untrue, is it? I doubt anyone else here has even heard of the goddess.”

“Miss, stop chatting to yourself and come along with us.”

“Looks like she got in here by luck without knowing how things work.”

“Right, stick with us, and we’ll show you how to survive.”

“You’re in a cult anyway, so you must be short on cash.”

Calling it a cult is harsh.

Well, to be fair, it wasn’t far off in the other world either.

“Who’d have guessed I’d encounter trash like this? Just another bunch of idiots.”

I grasped the necklace with the cross and looked straight at them.

“What did you say?”

“This little lady’s got some nerve…”

And this cross is fundamentally different from Jesus’s, after all.

There’s a secret that even the hero didn’t know until we defeated the Demon King.

A secret about the goddess I worship, and about the church I belonged to.

Why would the goddess accept me even after I killed angels?

The reason is simple: the goddess I serve, the one who granted me this body, is the goddess of pain and death.

So, it doesn’t matter whom I kill—the goddess doesn’t object.

But can I kill people here without issue?

It does seem like they included in the agreement that dying here is no big deal.

“So, no one would know if someone died here?”

“Not even if they were assaulted. Miss, you’re in a secluded area right now, and to reach the second floor, you’d need to go to the center.”

“In other words, there’s no one here to help you.”

Oh, really?

So that’s why they make you sign that agreement.

It makes sense now why people stick together here.

It’s not just about assault and murder, people might even fight each other for rewards.

Some might even die in the process.

Seems like the ethics here are the opposite of what I’d expect.

“Is that so?”

“If you cooperate, we’ll be kind and just use you as a slave.”

“This is what happens when you walk around looking all seductive in that body.”

The thugs slowly approached me.

I’ll admit, in a body like this, there’s a certain allure.

Still, it’s not like I had a choice in how the goddess made me.

But why do these thugs only know half the story?

“Excuse me, dimwits. You’re making a big mistake.”

“Huh?”

“That logic works both ways, you know.”

Who exactly do they think they’re talking to?

I smiled, my grin stretching wide.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Well then, it’s time for punishment. Time to offer your deaths to the goddess.”

As I said that, I rushed at them.

The thugs just laughed, seeing only my appearance.

Unforgivable.

“What’s a lone woman gonna do?”

“Coming at us with no weapon?”

Hardly.

There’s nothing like the feel of swinging a mace.

As I charged, I drew a mace from my sleeve.

“Huh? A mace?”

First, I swung it straight into the head of the thug with the weedy hair.

Crunch!