CH 13

Chapter 13

As it slowly approached, I could see the name <Marien, Lulu’s faithful nanny> emblazoned in red light above her head.

The monster came closer before I could react; the rest of its body was finally revealed…..No matter how I looked at it, she was a spider. When I saw the eight large legs blocking the way, I stopped breathing.

Does that monster even have sentience? It’s obvious that it has the body of a bug….Ugh, but it’s super horrifying.

Originally, I had no problem catching cockroaches with tissues, stomping on them. But, strangely, the spider looked too grotesque to touch in this situation…I couldn’t wrap my head around its gargantuan size and a disgusting human face tacked onto a long neck.

I stepped backwards until my back touched the wall; I closed my eyes and turned away, unable to even look at the monster anymore. As I tore my gaze away, the thundering footsteps felt like a premonition of death.

But…..

[Marien–!! IT HURTS—! ARGH!!]

A high-pitched scream, loud enough to rattle my head, delayed my impending death.

‘What’s this? Is that Lulu?’ Though there was still a shadow hanging over my head, I felt no further pain during the scream.

I cracked my eyelids open very carefully and slowly looked up. The Spider’s sharp feet were a paper’s width above my head, which was covered reflexively by my arms. It seems that Marien’s attention was diverted by her ward’s shouts of pain.

[My Lady….?] Marien retreated at a tremendous pace, scampering across the walls. Only then could I–shaking–lower my crossed arms. I couldn’t believe I was still alive.

The retreat begged many questions.

Why did Lulu scream? That scream was somehow different from her tantrum while searching for Lackey…Did my party somehow finally arrive? Maybe it’s not my teammates, and another unfamiliar team wandered into this stage. For a monster like that to be in danger, the only answer would be another User….

I drifted back to my senses and wondered if I should head over to the scream or wait in this alley. The best case scenario would be for the Users to also defeat Marien…but what if they fail, and Marien lives? She may come searching for me again. Our chase may be repeated with a different end this time…

So, I carefully walked back to the previous crossroads, and, this time, I walked towards the right. I was extremely nervous that Marien or Lulu would rush down the narrow passageway that I walked backwards from time to time. My whole body became soaked with sweat from the effort of staying alert.

But then.

A system message suddenly appeared, like a pop-up window.

Amazing! You’ve found the fastest route to the Tower of Command’s reward room. We’d like to offer you some aid for future adversities. Would you like to receive the ‘Hard Mode Event Buff, Guide?’

….What, what?

I rubbed my eyes, unable to believe what I had just read. There’s something strange contained within those words?

“What kind of nonsense is this ‘hard mode?’ I entered through the normal route?!”

Do you wish to receive the Event Buff, ‘Guide?’ No response will be logged as a denial. 30….29…..

Even if I realized something was off, there was no way I could resist the system under the current circumstances. Although I had no idea what an event buff was, nor have I heard of a ‘Guide’ buff in general, I felt as if I had to take advantage of what the system offered. I pressed the [Yes] button even though this felt like a scam.

The ‘Guide’ buff has been applied. The guide has knowledge of all the routes inside the Tower of Command. For the next hour, we are able to guide you through the fastest or safest path to the Hard Mode reward room. Which path will you select? This choice can be changed during the journey.

> Fastest path….Estimated time: 35 minutes.

>Safest path……Estimated time: 55 minutes.

I looked blankly at the explanation window–how on earth did my journey get so twisted?

I definitely entered the tower in “Normal Mode,” with the rest of the party members. While observing everyone else fight Io, I got caught up in an attack and was hurled into the middle of its lake.

Fortunately I escaped drowning with the help of the animist’s spirit, but  I continued to sink to the bottom. There was no way of returning to my party, and I was forced to advance alone. I was forced to advance alone through a twisted maze, chased by two horrid monsters, Lulu and Marien. After escaping the clutches of death at the hands of the nanny, I just continued to walk straight on the last remaining unexplored pathway.

That’s all.

But what’s with this ‘hard mode’…… Since when did I stray from the correct road? The previous dungeons I’ve visited were not divided into different, hard and normal, modes, so it was just all too confusing for someone inexperienced like me. 1

Can I choose one of these two routes and continue to travel through the dungeon? If I had an emergency escape kit, I would have used it straight away…however, the escape kit was sold at a lofty price. Furthermore, the entire party would need to agree to leave the dungeon; I hadn’t predicted a situation where I would be separated and alone.

“If I knew this was going to happen, I would have bought one….Ha….”

Please choose your desired path.

Even as I contemplated my choice, the system sent out another notification, as if to urge me into a quick decision. I tried to ignore the alarm and walk forward, but my body froze after a few steps. It seemed impossible to proceed without making a “choice.”

‘Should I just go back?’ I thought briefly, but the fear of running into that spider monster kept me from retreating.

In the end, I chose the ‘safe route.’

Guide start…..Please watch your step.

After selecting, a green arrow began to pop up in my vision, a bit like a GPS brought to life. The navigation arrow, comfortably sitting at eye level, began to blink and indicate the correct direction.

As soon as I followed that signal, the scenery began to melt and transform into a new landscape. I was sure I was just in a twisted, winding cave….before I knew it, a vast, dark chasm sprawled out before me.

“What…..”

A rocking, unsupported bridge connected the two sides of the chasm. Don’t tell me….I have to cross that shabby looking bridge?

Please follow the arrow.

The arrow pointed cold heartedly at the bridge.

“But….I thought this was the safe route!” I teared up in exasperation, but the system remained unyielding.

Please carefully confirm the direction of the arrow.

Despite all my hesitation and my pallid complexion, the green arrow pointed firmly forward. Eventually, trembling, I grabbed the rope connected to the swaying bridge….

Please carefully confirm the direction of the arrow.

The green arrow suddenly turned red, and a warning message appeared.

‘What….? Did I do something wrong?’

When I pulled back and looked closely at the surroundings, I discovered a very small staircase leading underground right next to the entrance of the bridge.

If the bridge stretched perilously across the chasm, this staircase seemed to allow anyone to slowly descend the endless cliff into uncertainty….Oh! That arrow probably pointed at these stairs instead.

As I gingerly stepped on the stairs, the arrow changed back to its original green color again. This must be the way….I walked down slowly, keeping my guard raised.

“Come out, Lackey.”

[Clack Clack!]

Just in case, I summoned my skeleton and carried it on my back. I had asked the “Guide” to lead me through a safe path, but I was wary of dangers from behind. Of course, I didn’t think that Lackey would be of much use….

[Current mood: Doki Doki….] 2

How should I say this? It’s just comfortable to have this baby by my side.

I sighed deeply.