Chapter 22: Mines (2)
TL/Editor: looloo
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Whoosh.
An unusual feeling of floating washed over me.
After this sensation, I found myself inside the tower.
The Tower of Illusion stood before me, a peculiar maze enclosed by stone walls on all sides except the front.
This tower, unique in its architecture, consists of 30 floors. It''s known as a dungeon that one can challenge alone.
At least for now.
-This feeling is strange.
Its an illusion. The Tower of Illusion casts an illusion on everyone who enters.
This ce is quite literally a world of illusion.
But its power can''t overwhelm the ck Heavenly Demon Sword filled with Demonic Qi.
I surveyed my surroundings.
A maze made of stone walls, sealed from the top and the sides.
I strode in without a second thought.
Before long, I faced two paths diverging like a ''''. I didnt choose either path but walked straight toward the wall.
I found it.
[Hm? What did you find?]
Instead of replying, I ced my hand on the wall.
ck Abyss.
Demonic Qi began pooling in my hand.
The ck energy cloaked my hand entirely. Then, I tapped the wall lightly.
Thud.
A muted sound echoed. Yet, the Demonic Qi that burst from my hand sent a shockwave. It sliced through every structure, shattering the Illusionary Wall.
Crash!
Behind the wall was a small altar-like space. Jackpot. I hurriedly entered.
The demolished wall started repairing itself.
[The master seems to have deep knowledge.]
The Heavenly Demon murmured thoughtfully.
Its foresight.
I had prepared an exnation for others.
Foresight.
It''s a power already present in this world.
[Master, those with the Body Against Heaven find it difficult to harbor mysteries. And you''re saying even the powerful mystery of foresight has found its way to you?]
"Sadly, my foresight is inherent, and the Body Against Heaven is something I gained. So now, thanks to that, I no longer possess foresight."
-......
The Heavenly Demon was silent for a moment.
[You are truly unique, Master. Or maybe, you gained the power of the ck Spirit through foresight. After experiencing the mystery of foresight, you''ve learned to manage the ck Spirit energy well.]
The Heavenly Demon ventured a guess.
All of its spections were incorrect, but I simply nodded in response.
[So, you also know about the item in here.]
"Of course."
I nodded again.
In this hidden stage of the Tower of Illusion, there lies an object with incredible power.
I walked towards the altar.
On it sat a box.
A pink-colored box.
There was an unusual ripple around the box. But it was nothingpared to the wall earlier.
I took the ck Heavenly Demon Sword and wrapped it around my hand before lifting the box.
Crack.
Something gave way, and I opened the box.
Inside was a single pink orb.
Appraisal.
Orb of Magic Power (B+)
Boosts the magic power of the user.
:If consumed, and Magic Power is less than 30, increase by 10.
:If consumed, and Magic Power is more than 30, increase by 5.
-Hmm? Isn''t this Magic Power?
"Everything has its use."
I pulled out the snake''s galldder I acquired from the shadow snake.
This too was a kind of potion that amplified magic power.
I ced the snake''s galldder atop the box and returned it to the altar.
sh!
A burst of light shed out.
[So, there''s a rule that you can get the true reward by offering a sacrifice on the altar. Interesting,]
The Heavenly Demon hummed appreciatively.
I waited for a moment before retrieving the box.
When I opened the box, there was something resembling a letter inside.
Appraisal.
Illusion''s Marking (A+)
A token earned from the Tower of Illusion.
Once engraved on your body like a tattoo, you can harness its power.
:Adds 10 Spirit.
:Innate SkillIllusion in the Truth
:???(Unlocks when the 10th floor of the Tower of Illusion is cleared.)
:Qualification of Truth.
Qualification of Truth (A)
As you''ve seen the truth within the illusion, you''re deemed worthy of reaching the tower''s end.
:Gainplete resistance to Spirit in the Tower of Illusion.
Unfortunately, I don''t currently have the time to ascend the tower.
I inscribed the Illusion''s Marking on my right forearm.
I opened the status window to verify.
I was hoping to see if my Spirit had transformed into a stat called Consciousness, and then subsequently shifted into a stat named Backflow to confirm if my Backflow had increased.
''It hasn''t increased.''
Nheless, my control over the power known as Backflow has improved.
This fulfills the minimum prerequisite for handling the higher-difficulty Mines.
With that done, I stepped out of the portal.
"Hmm? You''re leaving. Would you like to stay at the Tower of Illusion''s exclusive amodations?"
"I''m fine."
The Tower of Illusion''s exclusive lodgings are absurdly expensive.
It would cost over 10 million won just for a single day''s stay.
While I could afford it, I don''t want to spend it wastefully.
I activated my phone and began searching for a nearby hotel.
After browsing, I selected the best hotel from the options.
---
Raei Trantions
---
Hong Yuhwa walked towards her dressing room.
Thanks to her father''s wealth, rivaling that of a chaebol, her wardrobe was filled with an array of stunning clothes.
''Let''s keep it simple.''
The rtionship between Lee Seoha and me is that of rivals. Nothing more, nothing less.
With this in mind, she nced at a photo of Lee Seoha hanging on one side of the dressing room.
Come well prepared.
Hong Yuhwa suddenly recalled this message.
Come well prepared, he says. She found his audacity to send such a message intriguing.
She evaluated Lee Seoha objectively.
He had a pitiful sense of fashion, but his good looks and proportionspensated for that.
However, beyond such superficialities, Hong Yuhwa prioritized the inner self.
Apletely iprehensible ability.
A skill that seemed to lead you deeper into a maze the more you interacted with him.
''What am I thinking about?''
Hong Yuhwa sighed and decided to wear a neat white blouse and a simple high-waisted skirt.
The Korea Hero Academy is too demanding a ce for dating. One must at least graduate before they can think about dating.
She called her butler as she contemted ways to turn down Lee Seoha.
"Butler."
"Yes, Miss."
"Let''s go."
"Understood, Miss."
With an assertive tone, Hong Yuhwa called her butler and continued contemting how to reject him.
''We''re still students, we should concentrate on our studies.''
This seemed too clich.
''If you want me, hold the top position for at least 3 years then confess.''
That wouldn''t work. Lee Seoha certainly had the capability to stay in the top position.
"Miss, we''ve arrived."
"Right."
Before she knew it, they had arrived while she was focused in her thoughts. Hong Yuhwa inwardly sighed as she stepped out of the car.
Standing in front of the coffee shop.
She saw Ersil.
Tight-fitting ck long sleeves, a checkered skirt in shades of brown and white, and a brown coat over her outfit.
It was clear she had put thought into her look.
"Oh, it''s Hong Yuhwa. Hello."
"Hello."
Then, an ufortable silence followed.
The issue didn''t stop there. A tall woman was easily noticeable even from a distance.
Her dress tightly hugged her body, emphasizing what many would call an hourss figure.
However, her slender waist made her attire seem even more revealing.
If Lee Seoha had been there, he would have certainly joked that she looked like a giantess.
Hong Yuhwa stared at her, bewildered.
Instead of her usual hairstyle where her bangs covered half of her face, she had brushed them to the side, revealing a somewhat alluring look.
"Just out of curiosity, did Lee Seoha also invite you, Miss Hong Yuhwa?"
Ersil Merhens icy voice.
Hong Yuhwa jerked unconsciously but yed it cool, nodding her head.
"Yeah. I was told toe well prepared.
Hmph.
A sigh filled with disbelief.
Even though Ersil''s sigh was cold, Hong Yuhwa didn''t want to appear weak, so she put on a strong front.
Kim Ara, too, stood in front of the caf in the chilly atmosphere for a moment.
In the distance, Lee Seoha could be seen approaching leisurely while yawning.
"Wow, everyone''s here early. I..."
Lee Seoha''s words trailed off.
His gaze drifted into the distance.
After a moment of tilting his head, he adopted a flustered expression.
Perhaps he realized he had misspoken that''s what Hong Yuhwa thought.
Swish-
As soon as Lee Seoha turned his head, Ersil responded.
What''s happening?
Boom!
An explosion resounded from the opposite side.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!"
"An explosion?! Why in Seoul
The citizens trembled in fear.
However, the explosion was not an isted incident.
Boom!
Boom!
Two more explosions urred with intervals in between.
Hong Yuhwa looked towards the location of the explosion with trembling eyes.
What on earth was happening in Korea?
"Everyone, snap out of it!"
Lee Seoha yelled.
Only then did everyone seem to regain their senses and look at Lee Seoha.
"Most likely, this attack is a terrorist incident initiated by the Mines. In Korea, unless it''s extreme, monsters can''t operate properly."
"That''s right. Despite its small size, there are many powerful heroes in this country."
"Exactly. The heroes probably already know about this situation. So, we need to fight the Mines and buy some time."
"Time? Shouldn''t it be the other way around?"
"No, it''s more dangerous if they''re rampaging."
Lee Seoha''s gaze was firmly fixed in one direction.
Main Quest Chapter. 2: Stop the Rampaging ck Magic Alliance in the City.
Reward: 5,000P. Rewards may be added or removed depending on progress.
Failure: Death of Kim Seohyun.
ck Magic Alliance.
It''s not an organization that should appear at this point.
"Probably... their identity is likely the ck Magic Alliance."
"ck Magic Alliance!"
Ersil eximed as if she was screaming.
"That terrorist group? No, but why would they terrorize Korea?"
"No way. It should be impossible, but based on the magic energy I can feel, it should be the ck Magic Alliance."
I''m not sure about that.
But right now, we need a reason to ''persuade'' them.
"That''s why we need to move immediately. If anyone is scared, they can stay here."
"Don''t worry. I''m not so weak as to run away from them. The same goes for the rest of you, right?"
"Of course."
"Yeah."
Ersil responded, and Hong Yuhwa and Kim Ara also affirmed.
Thank goodness.
Lee Seoha sighed a sigh of relief internally.
Kwaang!
In the distance, a building copsed as a ck light and a red me dragon shed.
Kim Seohyun was battling with the Mines.
"We need to move quickly, then."
Lee Seoha prayed for Kim Seohyun''s safety.
enjoy! :)
seohyun noooooo
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