Chapter 212. List of Calamities (2) (2/2)

Jain bent her head and asked.

“You’re quick on your feet. Please assist anyone who needs more help.”

“…Haaaammm. Okay.”

With a long yawn, we prepared for action.

First, Cheok Jungyeong stepped forward.

“So you’re saying that I have to go and get rid of the tail first?”

“Yes. But be careful, she’ll probably shoot poison with her tail. It’ll be hard to block it even with my armor.”

Item levels and monster levels worked slightly differently. Simply put, item levels were more valuable. For example, depending on its properties, a Lv.3 sword could be used to kill Lv.6~8 monsters.

But our enemy was the Lv.30 Python. Cheok Jungyeong’s Lv.6 Infighter’s Leather Armor should not be able to protect him from Python’s venom.

“No worries. My body is tougher than this armor.”

The blood vessels in Cheok Jungyeong’s eyes were already starting to erupt. As a warrior, he was clearly excited in the face of a fierce battle.

“Okay, then. Let’s go.”

With that, Cheok Jungyeong ran.

Koong, koong, koong, koong!

The sound of his footsteps shook the earth, and the ground where he stepped cracked, throwing bits of the soil into the air.

“——!”

Cheok Jungyeong roared and jumped. For a second, he flew, purely from the strength of his legs.

I shot my arrows just before Cheok Jungyeong landed on Python’s tail. The other members of the Chameleon Troup, Spartan, and Sannuri chased after him at a speed almost equivalent to my arrows.

The raid had begun.

**

[Party ‘Chameleon Troupe’ is the first to defeat a calamity. This news will be announced shortly.]

[You acquire a Calamity Core.]

[Now you may go up to the 10th floor at any time.]

[Entering 10F.]

[Warning! ‘Party play’ is recommended at 10F and above.]

Team ‘Chameleon Troupe’ reached the 10th floor without difficulty.

The 10th floor was completely dark and we couldn’t see a thing as though our sense of sight was blocked. The always kind system was also silent this time.

“…What the heck is this place?”

Cheok Jungyeong’s voice filled the air. The echo of Boss’ voice followed immediately.

“I can’t see anything.”

But I could.

When it came to vision, my Gift was unrivaled. You could say that it’s my privilege as the original author.

First, I walked up to Boss and grabbed her hand.

“…Who are you!?”

Boss shouted and snatched my arm. My arm bent the other way and touched her body.

“Everyone be careful! Somebody tried to grab my hand! I caught him, but—“

“It’s me, Boss.”

“…Eh?”

“It hurts.”

“O, Oh. Sorry.”

Boss let out a dry cough and let go of me. I grabbed everyone’s hands one by one and gather them together. Soon a line was formed with me leading the way.

“Everyone, don’t let go.”

I said as I held Boss’ hand tightly. A positive answer came from behind.

Then suddenly…

—Welcome to the 10th floor, the Maze of Insensibility.

A strange voice descended from the sky and shook the atmosphere. As it was clear that the voice was from the administrator, we immediately focused.

—I am the administrator of this floor. I assume you are here to find your way to the 11th floor.

The voice was cold. Its unpleasant tone gave me goosebumps.

—The way to the 11th floor is simple. You must find your way out of the Maze of Insensibility.

“Phew….”

I let out a sigh of relief. In the original story, less than 100 words were used to describe the 10th floor. I was worried things might have changed, but it hadn’t, thankfully.

—However, numerous traps and monsters are waiting for you in this maze, and you’ll lose your senses one by one as you get closer to the exit. Just like how sight was taken away from you.

The administrator paused briefly before continuing.

His tone was much warmer and more friendly than it had just been.

—But, I am also aware that you are the first ones to conquer a calamity. I respect people like you. Therefore, I have made a difficult decision to allow you to keep all of your senses in the Maze of Insensibility in exchange for your Calamity Core.

I sneered in silence.

He dares to scheme against us when he’s only the administrator of an insignificant floor.

“No, we’ll just do it.”

—You will regret it. I’ve come to this conclusion after much deliberation. Under normal circumstances…

“That’s okay. We’ll play fair.”

—…Fool. Good luck, then.

The voice stopped abruptly.

The darkness remained, of course, since we didn’t offer our Calamity Core.

With the administrator’s voice gone, everything became silent.

“Hey, I’ve got a question.”

All of sudden, Cheok Jungyeong broke the silence.

“Why are these administrators or whatever helping us climb the Tower?”

Immediately, my heart skipped a beat. Cheok Jungyeong’s thoughtless question was piercing the root of my settings.

“I don’t know… maybe because they’re already dead?”

The answer to his question required further explanation.

Take 8-3F, Crevon, for example.

Although the rulers of the 8th floor, the Atalos Royal Family, had ‘Lü Bu’, ‘Lancelot’, and other heroes from history under their control, they didn’t subjugate the demons. This wasn’t because they pursued virtuous and ethical values such as coexistence or peace. They simply had no other choice.

A dead man was a dead man.

Souls like Lü Bu and Lancelot who once lived on Earth but were now dead couldn’t move outside their designated areas. Even Lü Bu, who had the most broad sphere of activity, could only move around on [8F Crevon Mainland] and some parts of [3F Prestige].

However, the ‘administrators’ were free from this restraint. At the same time, they were aware that the worlds they were living in were simply part of a ‘Tower’.

Therefore, they aimed to re-establish themselves in the real world—the Earth—or wished for the complete extinction of their soul. That’s why they helped or hindered the Players. The Players played the most important role in the administrators’ revival and extinction.

“…The hell does that mean?”

“What I mean is, I’m not sure either. For now, let’s get moving.”

Anyway, we took a step into the entrance of the dark maze.

“Hold on to the person behind you and don’t let go. I’m pretty lucky, so I’ll make sure I’ll get to the exit. Just focus on not letting go. Please, Cheok Jungyeong!”

“…Ha, you out of your mind? Why are you pointing me out?”

I didn’t answer and started to walk.

Tap, tap.

My hearing was still sound, and right behind me, Boss was following me holding my hand.

I walked down the path that my luck pointed out.

However, as I walked on, my senses became more and more restricted.

Soon, my sense of hearing was disappeared…

Followed by my sense of touch.

I could no longer tell whether I was walking or sinking down in a swamp.

And now, I couldn’t help but start doubting my sight, the only sense that was still intact….