Chapter 83
“I won’t give up either. I will definitely defeat the monster on the 11th floor.”
“Baskar was destroyed on the 10th floor. If you had reached the 11th floor, you would have known what awaits on the 9th and 10th floors.”
“Are all Labyrinths the same?”
“Only those two. Calling them dungeons would be an understatement… They are more like manifestations of despair that have engulfed the world.”
Kang Sejun didn’t disagree. He had reached the 11th floor and witnessed the world’s devastation caused by the 9th and 10th floors. It was, without a doubt, a descent into despair, as Seong Jarim described it.
“I don’t know what lies at the end of the Labyrinth. But one thing is certain: the designer of all this does not favor hope.”
“The designer?”
“Did you ask Seora about system administrators? You should have asked me first.”
Seong Jarim’s tone carried a hint of scolding, as if reproaching an ignorant child for asking irrelevant questions. This made Kang Sejun mistakenly believe that Seora truly had no knowledge of the administrators.
“Do you know about them?”
“If the designer created the system that affects the universe, the administrator is the one who manages the system assigned to each planet. However, it doesn’t mean I know anything about Earth’s administrator. I only encountered the administrator of Baskar.”
“Every planet…”
“Where did you learn about the administrators? The administrator here seems reluctant to reveal its presence. Is the source of this information still alive?”
“It’s not a person. I’m not sure if I should call it a monster or a beast.”
“An Entity?”
“No, not an Entity. It was the Labyrinth’s monster on the 11th floor who told me just before killing me.”
The Labyrinth’s monster? Seong Jarim looked puzzled. After the planet was destroyed on the 10th floor and she became the sole survivor, the Labyrinth disappeared and the gates no longer opened, so she had no knowledge of what lay on the 11th floor.
“What did it say?”
“It simply said… everything is because of our administrator.”
Seong Jarim frowned. She sensed that Kang Sejun was holding back some information, but since he heard it right before his death, it was difficult to inquire further.
“I don’t know what you mean, but the administrator didn’t create this world. That’s the work of the designer, and the administrator is merely a puppet following their orders.”
She couldn’t bring herself to disclose this to Seora, their contractee.
The administrators were puppets bound by the framework set by the designer, constrained to act within those limits. The administrator of Baskar regarded it as a great honor, but what about the administrator of Earth?
She had no personal knowledge or communication with him, but one thing was certain.
“The Earth’s administrator isn’t trying to kill anyone. They don’t disturb your sleep or attract monsters to drive you out of the world. It’s different from the administrator elsewhere.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“This is all I can say,” Seong Jarim declared as she rose from her seat, feeling the brisk late autumn breeze cool the perspiration on her body. She couldn’t shake off the chill that enveloped her. “If you want to discuss dungeons and dimensions, let me know. But I must offer you a crucial piece of advice: keep the system administrator a secret if you value your life.”
It was imperative that the administrator’s existence remained unknown. Seeing that he wasn’t currently interfering in their conversation, Seora had apparently desired it to be that way.
No one else was allowed to know about the administrator. That rule had to be followed. Seong Jarim had no desire to be pursued by another administrator again.
“If you have any questions, come to me. If anything else comes to mind, I’ll inform you. Only I am permitted to speak of the administrator in this world.” At least until Seora revealed herself as a contractee.
Jarim intended to diligently extract information from Kang Sejun so that Seora could decide.
“I have already cautioned you. If you wish to avoid a horrific end to your sixth life, do not disregard my warning. Keep it in mind,” Seong Jarim warned, waving lightly at the bewildered Kang Sejun before departing. She needed to report today’s findings to Seora immediately.
“The 11th floor, the monster of the 11th floor. What kind of individual would seek such fiery revenge?” The 9th and 10th floors, akin to a descent into despair, seemed to be entwined with a formidable monster. In Baskar, she had been fortunate enough to evade encountering anything of that nature. She had endured alone, but what if the Labyrinth had reopened in its previous state? The mere thought of it was terrifying.
Seong Jarim trembled. She needed to take a hot bath and vent her fears over the phone to Seora.
***
The succession of three L-class Awakened in Korea had turned the world upside down. All eyes were on Korea, eager to witness the extent of their strength.
The United States, in particular, was growing increasingly impatient. As the country with the highest number of L-class Awakened, it had held an unchallenged position for twelve years. However, within a few months, Korea had managed to close the gap and pose a threat to their dominance.
Amidst this turmoil, checking on China or Russia was the least of their concerns.
“Guildmaster Campbell, if you had fulfilled your duties properly, we wouldn’t be facing this situation,” remarked Joe Milan, the leader of the American Hunters Association, under immense pressure from the White House. “If I were to give you another chance, do you think you could succeed?” Milan lamented, reaching out to Christopher, the master of the Guardian Guild.
Among the major guilds in the United States, Christopher was the only one who heeded the association and government’s directives. He couldn’t help but envy Korea’s Song Hanna, who had firm control over her Hunters.
“Frankly, that’s impossible,” Christopher replied, declining to support Milan this time. “The two L-class individuals who appeared before are not ordinary. They might leave me as nothing but a lifeless corpse if you persist in bothering them. Sir, do you not understand the consequences of provoking L-class Awakened?”
Milan let out a heavy sigh. He was well aware of the repercussions. “But why are there two now? Didn’t you say you had only encountered one person before?”
“I believed so at the time. It was only recently that I discovered the Hunter Seong I had met was an L-class Awakened.”
After the revelation of the third L-class Awakened, Korea unveiled the identity of the second hidden Awakened: Seong Jarim.
Christopher was on the verge of fainting when he saw her face in public. She wasn’t the S-class Headbang; she was the second L-class Awakened.
That meant the honest civil servant who had misled him was Headbang.
‘It wasn’t even a lie; she just led me to make a mistake.’
Oh dear, he had been so certain Seong Jarim was an S-class back then. How had they managed to deceive him so flawlessly? They were truly incredible people.
‘I need to maintain a good relationship.’
Thus, he chose to keep this information to himself. It went against his principles to betray someone who simply wished to handle the dungeons quietly.
“I’m curious about the two individuals you encountered. How do they compare to our side?” Milan inquired.
“That’s a very daunting question.”
“I’m asking because it’s just the two of us now.”
“Really? Should I apologize for eavesdropping?” A voice unexpectedly broke the solitude of their conversation. “It seems you’re discussing something interesting. Why not include me?”
Very few individuals could intrude so audaciously upon a conversation between the two prominent S-class representatives in the United States. In other words, the newcomer who had just arrived was someone whom even the two of them couldn’t take lightly.
“It’s been a while, President Milan of the Association. And, um… What was your name again?”
Standing before them was a colossal figure over two meters tall, with disheveled hair in all directions and fierce red eyes. It was Ethan J. Garcia, one of the arrogant representatives in the United States and an L-class Awakened ranked #2 unofficially.
“Hello, Mr. Garcia. I’m Christopher Campbell, master of the Guardian Guild.”
“Ah, the same Guardian who looks after the government? I suppose you’re still quite busy.”
Christopher maintained an unwavering composure despite the insults, causing Garcia to lose interest quickly.
“So, tell me… Clamber, was it? How do those insignificant weaklings compare to me?” The arrogant man, true to form, couldn’t even remember the name he had just been told, as if it held no value.
“How can I compare you when I dare not even fathom the strength of L-classes? No matter how hard I try, I wouldn’t even sense their presence if they were right in front of me.”
“That’s a cliché answer.”
“I was speaking the truth.”
“Tch. How useless.” Garcia, lounging on the sofa, carelessly placed his legs on the table, causing a teacup to topple and shatter.
Observing his casual demeanor, Milan grew even more envious of Song Hanna, who possessed the ability to control even the L-class Awakened. He resolved to inquire about her secret when they met later.
“I heard that the locked Dungeon in Korea was upgraded to Level 1.”
“Did you really drag your heavy backside all the way here just to ask that?”
“I’m simply curious about Athena’s executive movement.” Garcia’s eyes gleamed with anticipation. It was common knowledge that he had been thoroughly defeated by Ali Russo, the leader of Athena, during a confrontation a few years ago.
“Please refrain from doing so. Are you trying to make enemies out of not only Korea but also Athena?”
“Why? Are you scared, Milan?”
Scared? Of course, he was scared. Even Korea would tremble in the face of Athena’s leader.
Which other guild, besides Athena, operated globally without any hindrances, despite being stateless? None. Athena was the sole group officially recognized under the sun, not lurking in the shadows.
Milan was reluctant to turn Ali Russo, the person responsible for Athena’s existence, into an enemy.
“Reconsider your stance.”
“My stance? My position is where I stand. Of course, I have no intention of killing Yun Jaeheon. I simply wish to observe the three individuals who have emerged along the way.”
“Just observe? Is that all?”
“Who knows? Isn’t this beneficial for you as well, Milan?”
Milan couldn’t trust Garcia, as he always uttered such lines right before causing trouble.
“You seem to doubt me.”
“Should I trust you then?”
“Why not?”
“You can’t be serious.”
“You should learn to have a sense of humor. You only get worse with age.”
The piercing comment was aggravating. This man clearly lacked common sense.
Christopher looked on with a sympathetic expression as Milan placed a hand over his chest. Suddenly, Garcia’s gaze shifted toward empty space.
“Hmm? Oh…”
The widening of his eyes followed by a peculiar smile was not a good sign.
“What is it? What else are you planning?”
“Nothing. I’m telling you, I won’t do anything. As you can see.”
What did he mean, as he could see? What…
【An earthquake has occurred on an unknown island in the Pacific.】
And he really saw…the most ominous, undesirable message he had wished never to see again.
Milan, whose face was red, jumped up from his seat.
【On the unknown island located in the Pacific, an ancient door begins to open.】
【Announcement to all Awakened around the world: The door to the 8th floor of the Labyrinth Dungeon is preparing to open.】
【Remaining time: 30 days】
The world’s most dreadful Labyrinth was on the verge of reopening.
“Rejoice, Milan! I didn’t even have to go to Korea. Everyone will come to me,” Garcia chuckled menacingly as Milan and Christopher stood there, speechless and terrified.
The Labyrinth Dungeon was about to open.
The most nightmarish gateway was about to open once more.
Nobody could fathom the kind of monstrous creatures and strange worlds that lay hidden within its depths this time.
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