Episode 275 No. 50 The Labyrinth of Transfer (1)
I thought that the totem’s performance was surprisingly not that great, but it seems that Dang Gyu-yeong got it right.
If someone else had used the totem, wouldn’t you have passed it by without noticing?
“Hey, but are you getting a suit today?”
“Do you like all black?”
“Um, a little?”
But contrary to what he said, Dang Gyu-yeong seemed to really like it, smiling brightly as he admired the battle suit Kim Ho.
“……huh?”
Then he suddenly stops, grabs one of my arms, and looks down at me quietly.
To be exact, the cloud bracelet on my wrist.
The all-black fashion made it stand out even more.
“… … Kim Hoya.”
“Yes, sister.”
“… …Why is the bracelet white?”
Dang Gyu-young questions with his eyes.
The once cheerful atmosphere quickly turns cold.
I chose to come clean rather than muddle through or make excuses.
“I changed it this time. It works differently.”
“No, that was a couple item?”
“A pair.”
“Who did you swap with?”
“I’m a calligrapher.”
“… … .”
Dang Gyu-young’s lips stuck out.
Then he asks in a state of heartache.
“What don’t I have?”
“Shall we get one too?”
“I guess so.”
“Let’s think about it slowly.”
Because it’s not like those items will just pop out when you want them.
Seeing that Dang Gyu-yeong’s anger had subsided a little, I quickly moved on to the next topic.
“So tomorrow is the dungeon,”
“You’re really a pro at changing the subject subtly, you’re a pro.”
Dang Gyu-yeong lightly tapped my shoulder.
And then he looked at me with a sharp face and asked.
“… … What’s the dungeon tomorrow?”
“I need to improve the strategy book a bit.”
“Of course it would be good. But is that okay?”
“It is possible.”
I brought it up in the first place because it was possible.
The supplementation was also finished a long time ago.
I took out a bundle of paper that was a little thicker than the strategy booklet that Seo Cheong-yong had distributed.
Dang Gyu-yeong took it and flipped through it, saying:
“This is much better.”
If the existing strategy guide covers about 30-40% of the Labyrinth, this covers over 70%.
It is highly complete in many ways, as it mentions all the parts that the former failed to touch on.
The reason it’s not 100% is because some content was intentionally left out.
‘You should only tell me what’s necessary.’
The goal of the expedition force is to reach the boss room as efficiently as possible.
Mentioning other hidden pieces will only cause confusion.
Besides, I plan on entering the Labyrinth again someday, so it’s right to hide what needs to be hidden.
There was another reason why I brought this story up to Dang Gyu-yeong first.
As soon as he noticed it, Dang Gyu-yeong shook the strategy book slowly.
“You want me to share it?”
“As you know, I can’t move.”
Although it is necessary to increase the efficiency of the punitive force’s strategy through the strategy guide (revised edition), I am in a position where I should hide my skills as much as possible.
Lee Soo-dok and Seo Cheong-yong also only knew about the Mandok-bulchim granting, and they did not know that I was the creator of the strategy book.
Revealing more of your assets now is not a good choice.
“Well, then.”
Dang Gyu-yeong nodded because it was a convincing reason.
But then another question seemed to arise.
“But I don’t think you’ll believe me even if I share this with you?”
Even the existing strategy book is the result of many faculty members, including Seo Cheong-yong, putting their heads together.
Even if there is something better than that, there is the question of ‘Can we trust a strategy book whose source is unclear?’
I answered nonchalantly.
“If you don’t like it, then just say so.”
I have nothing to lose, so I have no intention of begging you to believe me.
It’s not like the existing strategy book is completely unusable.
Dang Gyu-yeong also seemed to have similar thoughts and kept the strategy book in his inventory.
“Okay, I’ll share it with you.”
* * *
“revision?”
Zhuge Liang tilted his head.
The other managers that Dang Gyu-yeong called out also had similar reactions.
The Prime Minister asked.
“Where is the source?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that. You have to see for yourself whether you believe it or not.”
Dang Gyu-yeong firmly refused and distributed the strategy book to the managers.
Among the officers participating in this expedition, there are those who have some kind of connection with her, such as Jegal Soso, Jeong Chongmyeong, and Kim Gapdu.
“… … .”
“… … .”
Everyone kept their mouths shut for a while and checked the strategy book.
All that could be heard was the occasional rustling sound of paper turning.
The first to speak was Jeong Jong-myeong.
“That’s great. I think it’s worth believing in.”
“I think I’m okay too.”
Zhuge Liang also agreed.
However, the actual reason was slightly different from the original reason.
‘This is Kim Ho’s strategy guide.’
Jegal Soso remembered the other strategy books that Kim Ho had shown him before.
Feather Serpent Altar, Black Snake, Gathering of Evildoers, etc.
And the writing style and structure of the strategy book you have in your hands now are very similar to them.
‘Then it’s trustworthy.’
Not long ago, Peng Mi-ryeong, who had returned from the conquest of the villains’ assembly, praised Kim Ho so much that her mouth was watering.
Thanks to that, I didn’t have much trouble, unlike other B-rank dungeons.
If you had that much information, it wouldn’t have been strange if you knew all the A-rank dungeons in a row.
How he figured it out is still a mystery, but that wasn’t something to think about now.
Meanwhile, Kim Gap-doo also asked Dang Gyu-yeong a question.
“Do you believe?”
“Yeah, I believe you.”
“… … Is that so? Then I believe it too.”
Kim Gap-du said only that and then kept his mouth shut.
Because what was guessed has become certainty.
Although I wasn’t close with Dang Gyu-yeong, we went to school together until we were in the third year and got to know each other.
One of them is that there are very few people that Dang Gyu-yeong truly trusts.
There were even fewer people I could confidently say I trusted.
Narrowing down the scope to this point, a junior that Dang Gyu-young has been particularly fond of recently came to mind.
‘… … I feel sick.’
He just hoped that this time the elixir would pay for itself.
As a result, most of the managers called by Dang Gyu-yeong decided to familiarize themselves with the new strategy book.
Meanwhile, Jeong Jong-myeong put into words the question that had just occurred to him.
“So, is there anything else you want from us?”
Useful information tends to be highly valuable.
And if it was information that was closely analyzed about A-rank dungeons, its value would be truly enormous.
Did they really distribute it without expecting anything in return?
‘So I asked too.’
Dang Gyu-yeong relayed the exact same answer that Kim Ho had given at that time.
“Take care of yourself and come back alive.”
“… … That’s all?”
“Yeah, that’s it.”
“… … .”
The managers exchanged glances in silence for a while.
Then, one by one, a smile appeared on their lips.
“……yes.”
“You have to come back alive.”
* * *
Tuesday evening.
The punitive force gathered in front of Dungeon-dong.
I have transformed into a totem of imitation.
So, Dang Gyu-yeong pretended not to know, but he secretly took a seat near me.
In fact, it was Dang Gyu-yeong’s role to protect and conceal me.
Of course, Lee Soo-dok and Seo Cheong-yong knew that we were somewhat close, and they were informed that I had revealed my identity, so they gave me the order.
“Dang Gyu-yeong, assist me from closer.”
“All right.”
Dang Gyu-yeong answered politely.
However, the corners of his lips were slightly raised.
Soon, Seo Cheong-yong opened his mouth and looked around carefully.
“It looks like everyone’s here. Let’s go right away.”
And he took the lead and entered the basement.
Following him, the expedition team members move up the circular staircase.
However, the time it took to go down was not long, because Seo Cheong-yong soon turned around and guided us into a large room.
Around the outskirts of the room, there were intricately placed magical tools and mechanical devices, and in the center, a large magic circle was glowing faintly.
The complex formula feels secretly familiar.
‘Mass teleportation.’
The distance from the F floor to the A floor is so great that they are trying to move all the people at once with this.
When I was with Shin Byeong-cheol, I didn’t have enough authority to use the teleportation magic circle, and I couldn’t even use the elevator properly. But this time, since I’m moving with the punitive force, I can enjoy such luxuries.
As the expedition team entered the room, the waiting faculty and staff exchanged greetings with Seo Cheong-yong.
“Mr. Seo. Are you here?”
“Thank you for your hard work. I’m going down right now.”
“Yes, I will prepare.”
Soon they were busy manipulating their magical tools, and some of them were sending out communications somewhere.
Meanwhile, the punitive force followed Seo Cheong-yong’s instructions and climbed onto the magic circle.
Soon the magic circle began to glow brighter and brighter, until it was emitting a light that was almost blinding.
– Paaaaat!!
When the light finally dimmed, we found ourselves in a room similar to the one we had just been standing in.
The waiting faculty and staff also bow their heads to Seo Cheong-yong.
“Are you here?”
After exchanging brief greetings with them, Seo Cheong-yong leads the expedition.
As I left the room, the view of the A floor came into view.
Although it is rather small compared to other floors, each of the gaping dungeons exudes an overwhelming sense of oppression.
“… … .”
Perhaps that’s why about half of the third-year students were already showing signs of nervousness.
Dang Gyu-yeong, who was nearby, also took a deep breath.
Rather, Lee Soo-dok looked at me with a strange gaze, even though I was indifferent.
After walking for a short while, the punitive force stopped in front of a teleportation portal.
[No.50] [Transfer Labyrinth]
“We will enter in order, starting with the faculty and staff, and then the close-knit group.”
Following Seo Cheong-yong’s instructions, the faculty and staff disappeared into the portal one by one.
My turn was around the middle, and I was moving with Lee Soo-dok and Seo Cheong-yong.
As I took a few steps forward, my vision immediately went dark.
We moved to a place where not a single ray of light entered.
‘There was originally a torch or something.’
I guess even that’s gone.
Soon someone cast a spell, and a mass of light rose up, illuminating the surroundings.
– Paat,
The first thing that catches your eye is the old brick wall, like a medieval castle.
It is clear that it is a sealed space, with walls surrounding it on all four sides without any gaps.
And at the front,
– Clank, clank,
Dozens of knights armed with heavy armor were approaching the punitive force.
However, even though it is an armor, its shape is not uniform and it has a dark sheen.
‘It’s all eaten.’
As everyone guessed, this dungeon has been fortified by the Witch of Corruption.
The monsters inside were all eaten by Oobleck.
As its foundation is strong, it should be considered a completely different entity from the Ooblecks we have faced before.
“Prepare for battle!”
At Seo Cheong-yong’s shout, everyone moved to their respective positions in unison.
The front line builds a wall while the rear line prepares for a ranged attack.
The people who entered afterward were momentarily surprised, but then immediately entered a battle stance.
– Clank clank clank-!
Meanwhile, the Dark Ooblecks charged forward at even faster speeds, colliding with the battle line.
– Kwaaang-!
The outcome of the conflict was one-sided.
There were no casualties on the expedition side, and most of the Ooblecks were either crushed or knocked out by one blow.
Since there are only people with the same level of skill, this is the kind of result that can only come about.
Then, long-range attacks poured in, decimating their formation.
Of course, there’s no way the Witch of Corruption wouldn’t have anticipated this.
The armored knights’ forms seemed to be collapsing,
– Phew!
– Phew!
They exploded all at once, spraying black liquid everywhere.
The supporters ate it all
