33. Dungeon Theme Park
“Isn’t Amy okay?”
“I slept a bit cold yesterday, so I think I caught a cold.. I’ll get better when I wake up.”
River is worried outside the door.
It was a lie that I had a cold, but it was true that I was not feeling well.
My face turned red.
A red coat and pistols from yesterday were strewn about on the bed.
I wonder if it was because I was attacked by Atlas, or if it was because of the chaos in my head that appeared in my body.
“… I’ll come again next time.”
The sound of River’s footsteps recedes.
Am I going to see Atlas the way I am?
I didn’t want to go out today, so I shut myself in my room.
You’ll see Atlas again when you go to class…
I don’t know how to face him again.
Now that Atlas has turned into a demon, Atlas is no longer human.
She sells her soul to the devil and the fallen demon she is no longer human, she is just a devil pretending to be human.
But when I face him again, can I kill him?
I don’t think I can treat you as usual.
But I don’t want to be hostile in front of everyone.
River and others will not even know that Atlas became a demon.
I thought it would be okay to inform the professors, but my companion said that the professors would only increase the number of victims because they did not know how to deal with the devil.
I said I had to deal with it.
“Atlas…Why…”
-I told you that if that guy became a Mine, you wouldn’t be able to handle it now… Shit, I couldn’t cope with a Mine like that during the dungeon exploration practice…
The companion’s voice makes my head ring.
I’m usually fine, but when I had a headache and a voice resonated directly in my head, I felt dizzy as if I was about to vomit.
“You should have… Should have done as you said…?”
In the end, the companion was right this time as well.
His words that Atlas would become a demon became a reality.
I don’t know what to do anymore.
He’s going to kill me because I know he’s a demon.
But I can’t leave the academy.
I have to help Yeongji after graduating… According to my companion, it seems that I have to prevent an unprecedented situation that will happen at the academy.
‘But… I’ve already lost, so how?’
I couldn’t stop the demon’s descent, and I couldn’t stop the demon’s attack.
He will descend the demons from the dungeon as his companion said.
Atlas… No, Mine played with me.
I couldn’t even compete.
I used the hourglass to escape, but it’s too strong, so I don’t know what to do.
– It’s okay. You survived. If you survived, you can win anytime. Let’s prepare another.
My companion comforts me.
Thank you for your words, but for now, I just want you to stay quiet.
If you survive, you win….
Is it right that I, the only surviving child of the manor that day, am winning?
What I remember most vividly about that day was the blinding light.
Other than that, I don’t want to remember much.
When I was taken as a sacrifice and passed out, all the other children except me were already dead.
When it was my turn, someone in a black robe dragged me to the Foundation.
I remember being pinned to the blood-soaked foundation and a sharp knife flashing.
From above the foundation, a black demon was watching it with a smile, and even though sharp knives were about to pierce my body, I remember everyone in the robes enjoying it.
And the hand holding the knife was cut off.
It was a knight in black armor who cut off his hand.
Unlike the color of his armor, he held a sword that shone as bright as daylight even in pitch-black darkness.
In the blurry memory because of the drug, only that shiny sword remained in my memory.
When I woke up once again, everything was already over and I was able to wake up in the mansion again.
I like to think it was just a bad nightmare.
However, the scars they left behind in the manor could not be dismissed as just a dream.
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All the children in the manor died, leaving only middle-aged people.
All the parents who lost their children cried and many left in shock.
Little but lively Yeongji lost its vitality in an instant.
As the only child left in the manor, I became a loner at once.
The companion appeared then.
-This is… An unexpected variable…
That’s what I said as soon as he appeared in my head.
-The damage suffered by the devil is great. But it’s good. Everyone was hurt, but they survived, so they can see tomorrow.
-It may be very confusing, but… I’m here to help you.
-What do you think about the devil?
“… Scared.”
-Um… Yes, it’s scary… But from now on, you will kill that dreaded demon.
My companion looked a bit disappointed when I told him that I was afraid of demons.
-You can stop demons from harassing people anymore. You can stop
“I… Why?”
-Because more people will die if you don’t.
“More people..?”
-Now… You’re alive, but your parents… And everyone else who survived will die. If you don’t fight the demons, everyone will die.
“…Couldn’t you… Ask other people…?”
-So when those people sacrificed your friends, did you come running?
“…One.”
-Instead, all your friends died.
“…..”
– Trust me. I am your ally I can understand you best.
I didn’t want to fight demons…
But there were no options.
From that day on, I became an existence that couldn’t make a choice.
He informed me of death.
I made the devil face the people who would change their lives.
He told me about people dying by demons nearby.
And let them see their deaths.
-You could save it.
As if I didn’t fight the demons and they died.
There were also advantages.
He told me exactly what I needed instead of fighting demons.
He told me about the dungeon where the mithril ingots that were enough to pay off the estate’s debts were sleeping… When someone who could help with the administrative work would come.
He always made the right choice.
Even if I didn’t understand it right away, it was the right choice later.
At some point, I was drawn to his decision.
-From now on, you will become a Devil Slayer who kills demons.
That’s how I started fighting the devil.
——————————————————–
I couldn’t find Amy.
She didn’t come out after a day, so she sneaked into the dormitory, but there were only traces of her.
But she wasn’t too worried.
If she really is a Devil Slayer… She will never leave the academy.
If she was born with destiny, she will eventually have no choice but to appear in the dungeon.
That’s how the dungeon exploration practice day came.
The dungeon was not in a deep forest, but in the middle of a shallow hill.
The road to it is not too steep and well-maintained, so it looks good as a hiking course.
All the students who arrived at the dungeon were amazed.
“Is this a dungeon?”
“Isn’t that amazing?”
It’s a strange place to call it a dungeon anymore.
The entrance of the dungeon, which should be in the shape of a cave, is reinforced with iron pillars, and the walls and floor are smooth with concrete.
The inside is also reinforced with pillars to support the load, and the inside, which is normal when it is dark, maintains a dim light with the light of magic lamp.
At the same time, concrete was applied only to the floor where the monsters appeared, so that you could feel the atmosphere of the dungeon.
That’s a big room escape game.
Originally, a dungeon is not something that can be fixed just because a person repairs it like that.
A dungeon, an anthill built around the boss room, is a huge monster that continues to spit out monsters and devour those who enter as long as the boss is alive.
This is possible because the headmaster sealed the boss room of such a terrifying dungeon, robbed him of control of the dungeon, and turned it into a canned food that only allowed him to draw strength to maintain the dungeon.
I know that everyone is already weakened, so everyone is looking forward to entering the dungeon like going to an amusement park.
“The day to use this ax is finally coming..!”
“Was that a weapon?”
“Let’s just say you can cut a monster in half like cutting a tree.”
Students are grinding and polishing their own equipment and cracking jokes.
Among the graduates, there are even people who saw this and tried to develop it as a local tourism product.
I heard that it went bankrupt because it went bankrupt.
“Then I’ll go in first.”
“Well.. Please..!!”
When the students were arranging, I passed by the senior and entered the dungeon.
The other students were being randomly divided in front of me, so I didn’t even know I was in.
This is a story that was agreed with senior Andy in advance.
‘There may be more fanatics inside, so I’ll go in first and see. Any complaints?’
‘No no, there’s no way. You can go around three times.’
You must eliminate the demon church fanatics and other threats that may be hiding in the dungeon in advance.
A dungeon is a dungeon no matter how much the boss room is sealed and tampered with in many ways.
Dungeons can be transformed as long as the boss is alive.
There is no control over the boss anymore, but as I remember, the demon church bastards hijacked the control and created a hidden room in the dungeon.
And there, the Demon Descent Ritual was performed… All the people in the dungeon were sacrificed and the great devil descended.
But this time it won’t go that way.
First, most of the people who will be participating in the ceremony died at my hands the day before.
Secondly, even if some of the surviving remnants are preparing a ritual right now in the hidden room, they will be killed by me right now.
————————————————————
About an hour later.
“Whoa….”
I came out of the dungeon.
Outside, professors in charge and students who finished early were gathering and talking about what was inside.
My body was covered with blood again, but fortunately no one thought it was human blood.
Because the goblins that appear in the dungeon also have red blood, other students’ weapons and equipment were stained with red blood.
“Hey hey Atlas..”
Senior Andy, who confirmed that I had come out, sneaked up to me.
Looks like he was wondering if it went well.
“Senior, did you go in and come out this much?”
“Yeah, half came… By the way, did you do well inside?”
“About four people were alive, but I killed them all.”
As described in the novel, there was a really hidden room.
There were some traps inside, but after destroying them all and killing all the guys preparing for the ritual, I even checked to see if there were any more people hiding, and even checked to see if the ritual would activate after I died like last time.
Fortunately, that wasn’t the case.
Then I checked the boss room and it was well sealed… It should be fine now.
“Are you sure you’re okay now?”
“There is only one risk factor now.”
“What is it?”
“Some idiot suddenly opened the boss room. It’s dangerous, but the principal sealed it.”
“Yeah.. Then it’ll be fine.”
The dungeon was crowded again.
I can’t see the river yet.
Looks like you’re looking around the dungeon.
Come to think of it, I didn’t even see Amy inside.
Is it because you really don’t know?
I started to get anxious when I couldn’t see the two people who were destined to be the most important.
Did I miss something..?
No, at least the dungeon was safe back then.
… After all, I became anxious.
“… I’ll go back in.”
No matter how much I think about it, there seems to be something more inside.
“Now? It must be over soon.. How fortunate it ended without any big deal thanks to you…”
“Ah! Don’t say that unluckyly!!”
I’m still anxious, but as soon as Andy said bullshit, a big earthquake started.
“aaa!! What is this!!”
“It’s an earthquake!!”
Fortunately, the dungeon was heavily reinforced, so it didn’t collapse, but demonic energy erupted from the inside with great force.
‘Magi..?! A demon is being summoned??’
The dungeon did not collapse due to the earthquake, but a lot of rocks rose up from the entrance and blocked the entrance of the dungeon.
As the entrance was blocked, the students began to fall into confusion.
“You guys, hurry up and call the other professors!! Lead the Woodville kids!!”
“Yeah..The old!! Come on everyone, just like the academy students, let’s go down quickly together with dignity.”
Andy quickly sent the students down the mountain.
The more people’s eyes disappear, the better.
I raised my sword and swung it down.
-KANG!!!
The sword comes out.
It was a sword that didn’t contain a single aura, but it used arcane swordsmanship.
If it is a normal rock, it is normal to cut it, but seeing that it is intact, it is not just a rock.
Strength goes into the hand holding the sword.
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I don’t know how it crawled out again.
They really are like cockroaches.
Even if you catch it, it makes you feel bad that it keeps crawling out of somewhere.
I confirmed once again that all the students had gone down and only me and Andy-senpai were left.
“Hey… What are you going to do?”
“You have to drill it. There are people inside.”
I poured mana into the sword held with both hands and briefly manifested the aura blade.
Mana exploded around the sturdy steel sword.
-Kwakwakkwag!!!
The rock that was blocking my way disappeared just as the sword was swung down.
It was definitely not the sound of a sword being struck.
-Passu…
The steel longsword he was holding was reduced to ashes, leaving only the handle.
Senior Andy broke into a cold sweat when he saw her longsword with only the handle remaining.
Otherwise or not, the dungeon tried to make the rocks rise again from the floor to block the pierced entrance again.
You have to go in now.
“What are you doing, senior?
“No.. Uh yes, I have to go in..!!!”
I entered the dungeon again with Andy sunbaenim.
If you want an analogy, let’s just say that Its like the case if I am one of your neighbor but you don’t trust me because of some petty horn effect and that my physical trait or my appearance looks like an escaped bullying criminal with an ugly bastard features and I live next to you as a neighbor. I was always trying to be kind to you but you always rejected me just because you, deep down, believe that I might trying to gaslight and manipulate you or that I am some two-faced Machievallian criminal that only acts good on the outside but disgusting on the inside due to I look like an ugly bastard (again, horn effect). In this case, I am the suspected A and that you are way too suspicious against me. You love your other neighbor so much since she’s so friendly and kind and looks angelic to you and always help You when you’re in need, in this case, she’s the suspected B. You hate criminal so much since that’s what you’ve been taught and exposed into your mind. And let’s just say that the crime rate in your environment is very high like if you live in an American country or in certain part of Africa. And, You love your family so much since your family is the only source of your information, happiness, and power to live. But in your neighborhood or surrounding environment, there is a gossip and a rumour that a murderer psychopathic criminal is still being wanted and chased by the police officer and the one who’s in charge to investigate. One day, after you’re back from buying some goods from the nearby grocery store, you suddenly find me — the suspected A standing there right in front of you while getting shower with blood and there are a lot of dead bodies there, you family that you love and the suspected B — the other angelic-looking female that you like but somehow she carries a kitchen knife that somehow looks like being showered in blood as well and looks kinda different from your kitchen knife and she’s somehow now bathed in blood like your family but just a little spark and red stain and that she’s laying low on the ground seemingly unconscious (even if she’s not dead) but you don’t notice it because you’re already snapped and rushed at me because you’re just so angry and hate me with all of your might; you want one-sided revenge. I tell you that its a misunderstanding situation and also I told you that I am so sorry because I was too late to save your family from this female criminal and that I wanted to save you but you don’t want to hear my excuse first because you’re just being so angry and stagnated into your own FALSE BELIEF that I murdered your family when you were still away from home EVEN THOUGH the truth is that the angelic-looking female that you like is actually a Machiavellian psychopathic murderous criminal that the investigator want but you still rush at me just because of my looks and abrupt evidence (without analyzing it clearly and thoroughly first). She’s the one who actually murdered your loved ones and I was actually the one that actually trying to save you because I accidentally caught her redhanded when she’s trying to do attempt murder, she still succeed because I was just too late to prevent that, but then I successfully knocked her unconscious to the ground and then I was trying to save your family that still lay low on the ground so I had to make myself dirty with blood of your parents after I knocked this two-faced criminal; I was trying to save them. But because I was the only one standing there, showered in blood, closed to your parents, the female neighbor you like was knocked off, and that you have some petty grudge against me in the first place just because I look like a criminal (ugly bastard), you will misunderstand me as the criminal here in the first place. Of course the misunderstanding will occur, its pretty natural. Now, let’s just say that this female neighbor is the actual devil, I am this novel protagonist, your family is the people Amy wants to protect, and you are Amy. Its pretty natural if you have an outburst and deep grudge hatred misunderstanding against me. Again, false belief and driven by sudden ego out burst. Its pretty REALISTIC scenario to misunderstand the whole context considering that youre blinded by your own self that you start seeing things only in a close-and-narrow-minded way from the actual situation and since youre just so driven by your emotional break and outburst, you can’t think clearly and reject communication on both sides. So, it 𝙞𝙨 pretty realistic and 𝙣𝙤𝙩 forced, as you’d most likely and/or eventually behave and act this certain particular way if youre in that situation.
False belief…. Like a fregoli delusion
The voice in her head is just so ignorant and dogmatic and only want to believe on what they perceive and conceive as “truth” to their idea while she (Amy) is still so naive, indecisive, innocent, and immature in a lot of ways. These two combinations are *in* a part of the characters setting to drive the conflict and intensity of the plot of the storyline in advance
So, no. Its not “forced”.
Secondly, did the so-called possessor see our MC kill the demons right before his perspective and eyes? No. What they saw was just MC, standing on top of magic pentagram pattern with demonic aura as well as a lot of people unconscious and dead near him. And since they were so egotistical, ignorant, and blinded by their own ego, they just blatantly presume and prejudice our MC as a Mine without even considering any other possibilities in the first place because that’s how their personality was set as a canon of this story in advance and it made him chose to be reckless and dogmatic only to their idealism and belief (not being thoughtful). Not only that, her memories from the previous event were also blurred due to trauma and her way to cope. It’s pretty realistic considering how their personality work in the first place. Plus, If you were in that position as a demon slayer with your own embedded belief and faith that you truly believe and crazy about like some kind of axiom where “All demons and mines should die no matter what!” as well as without knowing the full picture of the whole situation and it triggered the driving force for your ego drive because… human like being correct and righted, right? And probably, you would eventually behave this way as well. Its pretty realistic to say the least.
No. It’s not forced. Yes, it is right if what you’re trying to say is that The voice in OG protagonist novel is just too stubborn and ignorant that he’s blinded by his own ego. A lot of people even in our real life would act particularly this way just to preserve their ego and protected what they seem as “right” so that they can express, enforce, possess, embed, empower, carve, and engrave their idealism or faith or belief that they truly hold dear and bear within their sense of self, being, and ego just so that something that’s been a part within and one part of their life do not turn out to be wronged or pointless. We will most likely behave this way if we’re just too blinded by our own ego and never trying to be thoughtful, thorough, rational, and considering other variables and options just so that our idea that we bear turn to be something meaningful to us personally. So, no. It’s pretty rational, realistic, and logical. You can find this matter a lot actually in our modern civilization problem. So, it’s not something forced. It’s just how this egotistical character instincively and subconsciously and consciously choose to behave and think in a certain way. It’s part of their character integrated personality and identity. It just shows us the audience or the reader more on how self-righteous and selfish this person truly is. They’re two completely different things. Know the difference before you spit something.
Man, this misunderstanding due stubbornness and retardation is giving me brain seizures. How the hell the failed possesor not think that Atlas is not a bad guy after killing all the cultist and not killing Amy??
This “misunderstanding” really is forced af