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Proofreader: Hydragea

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[Lee Hyung-jin]

[Lee Hyung-jin, 16th floor: Can I do it?]

[Lee Ho-jae, 60th floor: Of course you can. There isnt a big difference between you and me. Dont fret over it.]

I re-read the conversation that took place quite a while ago.

I kept reading.

Hyung firmly believed that I could clear the 17th floor without any problems.

The basis of our faith varied.

It depended on the presence of magic. At the time of the 17th floor, Hyung said that he couldnt use magic. This difference was huge.

Magic skills didnt determine everything, but an opponent who didnt know about magic was less responsive.

It was better to stop magic attacks smartly than to be strong or swift.

Next, there was also a difference in items. The only items held by the mirage were a long sword, two daggers, and a small, medium-sized shield.

Of course, I heard that there were a variety of potions, but the items were of no use to me, who had more of them than anyone else.

Hyung didnt like using the items, saying that it stunted your skill growth, but the items had always shown to be more effective than what I had expected.

Finally, there was also the difference between the basic stats. Hyung told me about his stats and compared them to mine. Our physical stats were almost identical, but his muscular stats were far ahead of mine. And in the case of agility, his was almost twice as much as mine.

The massive difference in agility also meant that I could not win without a wide gap in skills.

The difference in agility made a difference in ability since basic body movements and speed were different.

For those reasons, Hyung was positive about my victory, but I myself wasnt.

Id been preparing for a long time.

17th-floor stage.

Ever since Hyung cleared the 17th floor and told me about it, Id been thinking about this stage.

Not once had I expected a victory on the 17th-floor stage.

Can I start? I spoke aloud, not by message, but by voice.

The person I spoke to was, of course, Kirikiri.

Sure.

When I asked about the 17th floor, Kirikiri would always answer that she didnt know. That was when I had first heard about the 17th floor. Even now, she stayed silent.

It may be possible that she didnt reply as an act to refrain from informing me of some results.

I took out the monster ball that I always carried and held it tightly in my hand. This monster ball always reassured me. Somedays, when I felt like I couldnt make it, I was comforted that this would be my lifeline.

The monster ball had made me come all the way here.

I was quietly looking at the monster ball when a pale hand snatched it away. It was Kirikiri. Kirikiri had run away swiftly to the other side, taking the monster ball from my hand.

Shocked and bewildered, my body froze for a moment.

Anxiety, anger, and fear that Kirikiri might really take it away came crashing on me.

The next moment, I started running after Kirikiri, who was faster than I thought.

When I felt a sense of urgency beyond impatience, I managed to catch up with Kirikiri.

I lifted her by the scruff of her neck.

Keeyek. As soon as Kirikiri was caught, she stopped moving and dangled in the air, flailing like a cat.

What are you doing!? I shouted at her, taking back the monster ball from Kirikiri with my other free hand.

I was anxious because I thought I was too rough, but I calmed down when I took back the monster ball.

I told you before. Youre going to die because of that ball, said Kirikiri, still hanging in the air, looking at me in the eye.

It felt even more embarrassing when she said it so calmly as if it were natural.

Not long after returning from the Tournament, Kirikiri had mentioned it when she saw me holding the monster ball. I didnt know why Kirikiri was so negative about the monster ball.

I asked for the reason several times, but she never answered.

First of all, I dropped Kirikiri and apologized. It was not right to treat her carelessly.

Can I use this?

Ive told you before. You cant send it to another level of difficulty.

Then, you can send it to Hyung.

Kirikiri shook her head with a hard, grim look.

I suggest you dont.

Why so?

Kirikiri never answered again. In the end, I had to infer the answer for myself.

I came to two possibilities. First, I had been neglected.

Hyungs protection was essential for me to survive on the stage that came after the 60th floor. If Hyung neglected me, the odds of me surviving on my own wouldnt be high.

Second, I was going to die because of Hyung.

With that eccentric personality, he could try to stop me in anger at the fact that Id been running away. He had pulled out John Overtons arm because he was drinking and crying in a Tournament.

Of course, he wouldnt really try to kill me, but it was another matter whether I actually died or not.

Its still the same. No matter how it goes, there wont be a good ending.

* * *

[Kirikiri]

So loathsome, I murmured quietly, sitting alone in the field.

There was a reply to my murmur.

[But youre worse. Why didnt you just let me go?]

You keep saying that because you know I cant let you go. You even hide the fact that its new. Its loathsome.

The voice laughed. [Thanks, anyway. Because of you, I had a lot of fun.]

The voice hid its presence in the field at the end of those words.

I mumbled once again, So loathsome.

* * *

[Lee Hyung-jin, 17th floor: Im going in now.]

[Lee Ho-jae, 60th floor: Yeah. Be careful. Dont talk to the mirage, just in case. Ignore anything it says.]

[Lee Hyung-jin, 17th floor: Yes.]

Hyung had repeatedly stressed not to talk to the mirage.

[Lee Ho-jae, 60th floor: No matter how tough the opponent, the mirage can only find a way out through dialogue. Just dont hold a conversation.]

[Lee Hyung-jin, 17th floor: Okay. I got it]

[Entering the stage on the 17th floor]

The monster ball, which had been made into a necklace and was hung around my neck, was once again held tightly by hand.

Thanks to this monster ball, I was able to come all the way here. In my despair, this monster ball was like a ray of hope to me. It gave me a moment of optimism and a chance for me to breathe.

As soon as I entered the stage, I looked around. The peculiar thing was that the interior was hard to see.

Beyond that, I could see Hyungs mirage, and there was a transparent wall separating me from the mirage.

[After 30 seconds, the 17th-floor stage will start.]

Damn it. Give me a little more time.

As soon as I saw the message, I squatted on the floor and drew a magic circle.

I didnt know the principle, but it was a magic circle that was often used because of its excellent effects.

I worked hard to complete the magic circle in 30 seconds until someone talked to me in a calm voice.

What is that?

This is.

A familiar voice asked me in a monotonous manner, and I almost answered without realizing it.

When I looked up in amazement, it was the mirage that had come right in front of me. He had squatted down and was staring at me intensely.

What is it?

I instantly thought of a crow.

Once in a while, when I walked along the street, some cats and crows stared at people.

They never attacked people, and I knew it was not dangerous to attack them, but sometimes I got nervous and scared.

It felt like that.

I knew he couldnt attack me right now because the wall was blocking him, but I felt like he would rush at me right away.

It was as if a knife was being pointed at me, in front of my eyes. I couldnt turn away.

Like a stone statue, he was sturdy, and unmoving, but was also vigilant.

[After 15 seconds, the stage will start.]

Note from Imagine:

[1]: Its a question mark as this is Hyung Jins Floor and not Hojae experiencing it, hence why it has no numbering.