NOVPUB[“I am the caretaker of this labyrinth.”]
The sound of clashing bricks filled the air.
[“And I also guide those who seek the labyrinth. Adventurer who has reached the 71st floor, who descends now into the Deep Floors, there is something I need to explain to you. Whether you choose to listen or not is entirely up to you. What will you do?”]
“I’ll listen,” Taesan responded.
[“You have undoubtedly experienced much on your descent through the labyrinth. You likely have a basic understanding of what kind of place the labyrinth is and how to navigate it. But from the Deep Floors onward, things are different.”]
These were words similar to what Itaeyon had told him before. Balbabamba continued to explain.
[“Up to now, the labyrinth was divided into themes every ten floors. But in the Deep Floors, each floor exists independently. There may be a floor as vast as a star or one so cramped that only one person could barely fit. You may find yourself in entirely different worlds, and even the concept of time may warp.”]
The floors here had transcended the traditional sense of confined space; they were layers no longer bound by the usual definition of a labyrinth.
[“Such is the nature of the Deep Floors. The approach you’ve used to reach this point won’t work the same here.”]
Balbabamba glanced at Taesan momentarily before speaking.
[“But that may not matter to you at all.”]
“Seems you know me well.”
Taesan was no ordinary adventurer. He had ventured into other realms many times, bolstered by the challenges of the gods, and completed quests even on Earth.
Thinking of this as something similar, he found it hard to imagine any great difficulties ahead.
“Is that the end of the story?”
[“My role here is finished. From here on, you’ll need to figure things out yourself as you descend.”]
Taesan began to move past Balbabamba toward the passageway.
But Balbabamba’s next words made him halt.
[“However, before that, my master would like to meet you.”]
[“Huh?”]
The ghost hesitated. Taesan turned around to look at Balbabamba.
“Your master?”
[“Seriously?”]
[“I do not speak lies.”]
Balbabamba answered bluntly.
[“The mage who created the labyrinth, the one who brought me into existence, desires a meeting with you, adventurer.”]
---
A meeting with the mage who had created the labyrinth with the aid of the gods.
Yet the ghost spoke with a tone of suspicion.
[“The mage wants to meet an adventurer who’s only just entered the Deep Floors? That’s odd.”]
[“Don’t ask me. I grew tired of my master’s whims long ago.”]
Balbabamba responded, sounding annoyed.
[“Decide, human. What will you do?”]
“Do I have the option to refuse?”
[“If that is your choice, you may. I’ll simply tell the mage you declined, a very simple task for me. Is that what you want?”]
Taesan pondered for a moment.
Itaeyon had never mentioned anything about a mage. Whether it was because she had intentionally avoided the topic or because she simply didn’t know was unclear. Either way, Taesan knew next to nothing about the mage.
His deliberation ended as he spoke.
“I’ll go.”
To achieve his goal, he knew he would eventually need to face the mage. It wasn’t bad that the opportunity had come sooner than expected.
[“A bothersome task, but as his tool, I cannot refuse. Wait.”]
Rumble!
A powerful force radiated from Balbabamba, enough for even Taesan to feel its intense energy ripple through the air.
The energy converged, causing space itself to twist and bend.
With the powers he had accumulated, Taesan recognized it immediately.
This wasn’t just a simple warping of space; Balbabamba was directly interfering with the very laws of the labyrinth.
It was clear this ability was exclusive to Balbabamba as the labyrinth’s caretaker.
[Balbabamba has activated #000004.]
Crack.
The space completely shattered, revealing a distorted dimension.
[“The mage exists outside the labyrinth. Creating a path from within to the outside is a laborious process.”]
Balbabamba’s voice sounded weary.
Taesan looked beyond the twisted space, and Balbabamba spoke again, sounding exhausted.
[“Hero, you are not permitted. Only that human may go.”]
[“Figured as much. Good luck.”]
The ghost, as if expecting this, separated calmly from Taesan. Taesan began to step into the space.
[“It shouldn’t be an issue, but I’ll give you one piece of advice.”]
Balbabamba’s voice dropped low.
[“Remember, the mage is the creator of the labyrinth.”]
With that, Taesan fully entered the space.
What greeted him was an endless expanse of distorted, warped colors.
The place was a chaotic swirl of countless hues, an incredibly disorienting space.
He looked around but saw nothing definitive.
Taesan began walking slowly, hoping that the mage would eventually reveal himself. n𝚘𝚟pub.𝚌o𝚖
No matter how far he walked, the space seemed boundless, shifting constantly like a never-ending rainbow of colors twisting and bending.
“Different.”
Taesan had visited the realms and domains of many gods. Through his specialized ability to observe and understand the nature of things, he had identified characteristics unique to each domain.
The domain of the Dark God was dark yet tranquil. Fabsha’s realm was intense, almost flaunting itself, while the domain of the Spirit God Beatrice was a harmonious blend of all elements.
But here, the characteristics of every realm he’d seen seemed to overlap and merge into one.
*Can they really blend like this?*
This wasn’t a matter of mere strength. For someone with a domain, there would be a distinct foundation representing their unique identity.
Yet this place was different.
Though it was the mage’s domain, there was nothing that revealed anything about the mage himself.
“Hello.”
A sudden voice from behind made Taesan pivot, widening the distance between them in an instant.
After calming his nerves, he raised his head to look at the figure who had spoken.
The figure had gray hair.
With an average build and a forgettable face, this was the kind of person you’d see on the street and immediately forget.
“Nice to meet you, adventurer.”
The man was smiling warmly.
But Taesan sensed nothing from him.
No human scent, no will of a living being, nor even the aura one would expect from a person of power.
Nothing at all.
If he were to close his eyes, he wouldn’t even know this person was here.
“Do you know who I am?”
“The mage.”
Taesan answered. The man, the creator of the labyrinth, nodded.
“I am the mage of the labyrinth. I created this place, and I am the master of this vast domain.”
---
Taesan examined the mage quietly.
Yet, no matter how hard he looked, he couldn’t grasp anything.
Instinctively, he activated one of his skills.
[You have activated Essence Comprehension $#!@#]
The system interface shattered as if it were glitching. The mage chuckled and waved a finger.
“No.”
The system’s activation itself was blocked.
“I am the mage, the one who created and designed this place. Occasionally, there are those who become drunk on their own power and try to kill me to take control of this labyrinth, all without understanding where their power originates.”
The mage’s eyes narrowed, and Taesan suddenly understood why Balbabamba had warned him.
The mage was the labyrinth’s creator. None of the labyrinth-derived skills would work on him.
“I’ll overlook it this time since it wasn’t an attack. Sit.”
Two chairs appeared in the chaotic space. The mage sat down and spoke.
“Curious? About why I wanted to meet you?”
Taesan nodded. From the ghost’s reaction, it was clear this wasn’t something the mage had done with other adventurers entering the Deep Floors.
“Sir Mage—”
“No need to be formal. After dealing with self-important types for so long, I’m weary of the pleasantries.”
“...Why did you want to meet me?”
“Because I’m interested in you.”
The mage answered.
He lazily rested his arm on the chair’s armrest.
“Nullifying attacks, brief time suspension, enforced duels, addition, multiplication, absolute judgment...”
The mage listed skills Taesan had acquired.
“Rather than enhancing your own strengths, you’ve created skills that analyze and interfere directly with the labyrinth’s system.”
The ghost had marveled at these abilities, powers even the upper echelons had barely noticed.
“Many have descended through the labyrinth, gaining numerous skills. But few have analyzed the system itself and created skills as you have. You know this yourself, having met those others and seen their abilities.”
Taesan grasped the significance of the mage’s words.
The Shaman, famed for impenetrable defense, possessed defense-related skills. The Spirit King wielded abilities that influenced spirits and nature.
Itaeyon was no exception. She had navigated the labyrinth by avoiding combat, so her skills centered on evasion, concealment, and retreat.
Each strong enough to reach the labyrinth’s depths had their own unique powers.
But Taesan was different.
Attack nullification. Absolute judgment. Brief time suspension.
Skills not derived from individual abilities but crafted through analysis and manipulation of the labyrinth’s system.
“Others enhance and reinforce their strengths with skills, while you manipulate the labyrinth’s system itself, perceiving something more fundamental.”
A spark of interest appeared on the mage’s face.
“Is
this due to the inherent limitations of your world? Fascinating.”
He continued.
“Surely, you have other questions as well? Ask. I’ll answer what I can.”
Taesan organized his thoughts and spoke.
This might be the opportunity to reach the very core of his quest.
“You said the labyrinth grants wishes upon conquest. How far does this wish extend?”
“A wish, hmm.”
The mage muttered softly.
“I usually wouldn’t reveal it to anyone who hasn’t cleared the 100th floor... but for you, I’ll make an exception. You know what it takes to earn a wish, don’t you?”
“Conquering the labyrinth.”
This wasn’t just a simple clear. He had to conquer the labyrinth itself.
And now, Taesan was drawing closer to that conquest.
“I created the labyrinth, but it wasn’t with my power alone. Numerous gods, immortals, and beings of power collaborated to bring it into existence.”
The mage tapped the end of the armrest with his fingertip.
“Together, they made this place, a labyrinth so deep and vast that even those on the brink of mortality cannot guarantee a clear.”
An unfathomably deep labyrinth.
A place that even transcendent beings feared to tread, filled with entities beyond human comprehension.
“We made a promise to fulfill the wish of anyone who reaches the end. That’s the pledge we swore.”
The mage continued.
“The wish will be granted within the limits of those who helped create the labyrinth.”
Taesan’s brow twitched, and the mage chuckled softly.
“Anything permitted within the laws and order of existence. That is the reward for conquest.”
