Chapter 339: Trap (1)

When I peer into ‘it,’ ‘it’ peers back at me.

Those who hunt ‘it’ must be wary not to become ‘it’ themselves.

Beyond the borders of good and evil, far beyond the realm of human comprehension, ‘they’ stand on this side, facing us.

– ‘Anonymous Diary of an Elder Demon Hunter’ (This is the last record found within his embrace-turned corpse) –

***

“…!”

Vikir opened his eyes in the darkness.

His body was gone. Only his severed neck remained, floating in the air.

Vikir’s expression turned bitter.

“Was it all a dream?”

A brief dream, severed along with his neck.

It was all just a fleeting reverie.

In his dream, Vikir had achieved many things.

He had regained everything stolen from him since childhood.

He had uncovered the veil of death, avenged his brothers, and befriended the future heroes of the academy.

And he had found and slain countless demons and demon lords.

…But all of it was just a dream. Mere bubbles of illusion.

Now Vikir was facing reality again.

The burning land. Mountains and rivers of corpses and blood. Flocks of crows raging in the sky.

The era of destruction. The war between humans and demons ended in victory for humanity.

But it was a hollow victory.

Ninety-nine percent of humanity had been wiped out, and the lineage of countless great heroes had been severed.

The “Gate of Destruction,” remained unclosed, and within it lurked the uncertainty of when the second or third wave of demon armies might surge forth.

That’s why Vikir couldn’t close his eyes even in death.

Despite having his throat cut, he kept his bloodshot eyes wide open, thinking of his fallen comrades and those still alive.

Then.

“Vikir.”

A voice reached him.

Vikir tried to turn his head, but with only his severed neck on the scaffold, he couldn’t look back.

“Vikir.”

Yet the voice was approaching from that direction.

Eventually, a warm hand touched his cheek.

When he turned his head, a soldier was looking down at him.

A female soldier with long scars on her cheek. She had faint and blurry features.

But Vikir recognized her at a glance.

“Sergeant Jannette from 207th Battalion, 4th Platoon, 1st Squad? You’re alive!”

But she wasn’t the only one.

Countless faces appeared behind her.

Vikir knew each and every one of them.

“Lieutenant Kirke, Sub-Lieutenant Hyal, Sergeant Kuberin, Corporal Saladin, Private Miryamu… You’re all alive! I thought you all died… I thought they were all dead!”

Could there be anything happier than the return of comrades thought to be dead?

Vikir shouted with relief.

…However?

There was something strange about the appearance of his comrades right before his eyes.

Could it be that blood had dried on his corneas? The sight of his comrades, red and blurry, differed considerably from Vikir’s last memories of them.

“Sergeant Jannette. Come to think of it, the scars and burns that once covered her entire face seem to have vanished, haven’t they? Her face looks pristine, almost like a well-grown peach.”

“Lieutenant Kirke. Didn’t he lose his left leg in the last battle? I remember making a prosthetic for him…”

“Sub-Lieutenant Hyal. Your… ear has grown back, hasn’t it?”

“Sergeant Kuberin. The distant eye that was missing has returned…”

And it wasn’t just them.

Junior officers and soldiers who had lived their whole lives in poverty and hardship, only to be dragged into war.

Every one of his comrades looked healthy and happy.

Those with missing limbs, eyes, ears, and other impairments appeared whole, while those who had suffered from poverty, famine, and disease now looked well-dressed and prosperous.

In an instant, something crossed Vikir’s mind.

In his dream, he had met a character named CindiWendy.

Through her, he had generously sponsored those who would become his comrades in the future.

Was that the reason?

The comrades he met again were all alive and well.

Without a single injury, they were living fulfilling lives, doing what they wanted and enjoying themselves.

And now they were gathered here.

Each one carrying a part of Vikir’s body—arms, fingers, legs, toes, ears, nose, mouth, eyes—all converging into one place.

“Vikir!”

They shouted together, rallying around him.

Gradually, the body parts brought by his comrades pressed toward Vikir.

A whirlwind of emotions etched patterns in his mind.

Sorry.

I have no face to show.

I’ll support you.

Stay strong.

Move forward.

Numerous declarations spun through his mind.

And then, Vikir heard everyone’s words resonating deeply in his mind.

“Thank you.”

* * *

*Ding!*

[Exited the 9th floor ‘Demonic Dragon’s Laboratory’]

[Entered the 10th floor ‘Paradise Lost’]

A loud alert rang in his ears.

“…!”

Vikir opened his eyes.

He found himself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.

“…So this is reality after all.”

For the first time in a long while, he had a dream instead of a nightmare. Somehow, he felt a bit rejuvenated.

‘I think that my comrades in the dream gave me strength… am I being too sentimental?’

Recalling the dream he just had, Vikir lifted his head.

White. Only white space stretched out before him.

“This must be one floor below the Demonic Dragon’s laboratory.”

When he was pinned down by the Demonic Dragon’s fist on the 9th floor, Vikir had barely managed to escape by transforming into a dog again.

If Sinclaire hadn’t used all her might to cast a spell at the last moment, he would have died without a doubt.

As soon as Vikir opened his eyes, he checked for rewards first thing.

– [Strange Candy] / Level / Golden

A candy that increases the level by 1.

It tastes sweet.

– Level +1

50 golden candies.

It was a tremendous reward equivalent to five thousand regular candies.

It seemed to be a combination of the reward for escaping the Demonic Dragon’s laboratory and escaping from the Demonic Dragon’s pursuit.

“Strangely, there are no items.”

Was it because Vikir had expressed to the fairies multiple times that he didn’t need item rewards? It was strange that only candies were coming out as rewards.

“If I were an ordinary challenger, it would be difficult to clear the mission without items. The fairies’ tricks to make it difficult for me ended up helping instead.”

After confirming all the rewards, Vikir got up.

He realized he was lying on a large and soft bed, naked skin touching something soft.

“Come to think of it, this place is…”

Looking around, he spotted a comfortable sofa nearby.

Vikir was currently sprawled on a big, plush bed.

Beside him were a desk and a chair, on top of which were candlesticks and various foods such as appetizing fruits and bread.

10th Floor: The lost Paradise

Vikir already had information about this floor.

In truth, there wasn’t much information needed.

Most of the settings on this floor were open to challengers, except for a few hidden ones, and they were kindly and precisely written on the wall.

“This place is a sanctuary for challengers weary of the Tower’s trials!”

“Here, you’ll find the Tower’s largest candy shop.”

“Challengers can exchange their items for candies here.”

“Challengers can also exchange candies for items here.”

And next to it was a catalog listing the prices of items sold in the shop.

– “Small, sturdy wooden bed – [1 red candy]”

– “Large, plush duck feather bed – [2 red candies]”

– “Small fabric sofa – [1 blue candy]”

– “Large leather sofa – [2 blue candies]”

– “Cool beer, 10 cans – [1 blue candy]”

– “Crispy fried chicken, 10 pieces – [1 red candy]”

– “Sweet honey cakes, 5 pieces – [1 green candy]”

– “State-of-the-art gaming console – [2 green candies]”

– “Letter to someone outside the Tower – [1 golden candy]”

Under the catalog, there were ways to enjoy shopping.

– “You can exchange your items for candies!”

– “When exchanging candies for items, you’ll get 100% of the item’s value back, unlike the usual 50%!”

– “Even candies that have been consumed and have turned into stats can be regurgitated and converted into candies, specifically for the residents of this floor!”

– “If you regurgitate candies consumed before entering this floor, you’ll receive an additional candy for every 10 candies regurgitated!”

– “The color of the additional candies given is randomly chosen from red, green, or blue!”

– “Now, purchase your own items from the catalog and decorate this empty space to your liking!”

.

.

Underneath the cautionary notes, Vikir glanced at the bottom.

※ As a small bonus for all of you who have made it this far! Send a message to someone waiting eagerly outside the Tower!

※ Originally priced at one golden candy, we provide the ‘letter item’ to residents of this floor once a month for free!

※ The probability of entering this room is less than 0.0001%. You are the chosen lucky one!

※ Starting from the next floor, the difficulty will increase by at least ten times compared to the floors you’ve passed so far!

※ Please take a good rest here and rejuvenate your body and mind before challenging the Tower again!

That was the end of the guidance.

A structure where the vast empty space could be filled with items purchased from the shop.

Reasonably priced necessities or luxury items.

There were no elements threatening survival, and various amenities and entertainment were provided.

Above all, one could send messages to family or friends who were likely worrying about them outside the Tower.

All of this wasn’t a dream, fantasy, or illusion; it was undeniable reality.

…and Vikir thought to himself.

“This is the worst.”

The most dangerous floor where even the mightiest heroes who boasted and swaggered hesitated.

A trap laid by demons to hunt challengers.

The most sinister, vile, and blatant trap in the entire Tower was here.