Survive the labyrinth with EX-grade traits

I groaned and opened my eyes.

[Chaos says it’s good that you’re back outside the mirror, unharmed.]

I blinked a few times, my head feeling foggy. I realized that I shouldn’t be lying here like this.

Right, I should be checking on everyone first. I shouldn’t be lying here blinking like an idiot.

“Huh!”

I jolted awake and sat up.

I looked around frantically, and everyone seemed to be trying to regain their senses, shaking their heads or sighing in relief.

“Phew, we’re back.”

“Thanks, Shadow. I’ll give you a name when we get back.”

“Ugh… I feel dizzy.”

Now that I think about it, Schperts said that no matter how long we were in the mirror, we’d wake up fine when we got out, just like the others.

It seemed like the other three party members had also just woken up.

‘Wait, are you sure everyone’s okay?’

Even though I believed they were safe, this question suddenly popped into my head.

Let’s check the status window.

Click.

“Everyone, don’t move.”

It seemed like this question wasn’t just mine.

Veronica, who was both smart and experienced, quickly assessed the situation and took a defensive stance.

“Everyone, show your unique items. You can see that I’m the real one, right?”

She pointed to her shoes with her index finger and narrowed her eyes at Lumia, Yeriel, and me.

‘She’s so thorough. That’s why Veronica is so reliable.’

Maybe it was because we had all just fought our doppelgangers for control of our bodies, but Lumia agreed and summoned her shadow without showing any resentment or resistance.

Krrr.

An amorphous beast poked its head out of Lumia’s shadow, which was hanging down.

“Look at my feet. If I were a doppelganger, my shadow wouldn’t move separately.”

Nod.

Veronica nodded and then stared at Yeriel, who was hard to distinguish from her doppelganger due to her lack of physical changes.

“Tsk, tsk. Can’t you tell just by looking?”

Yeriel huffed and proudly puffed out her chest, then took out a pocket watch from her pocket.

“Here, is this enough?”

“Yes, it was a necessary procedure, so I understand if you felt bad about it.”

Veronica stopped interrogating her and just nodded, looking a bit embarrassed.

She waved her hands and laughed to ease the tension.

“No, no. It’s natural to be cautious after experiencing something so bizarre right before returning. I was just joking!”

“That’s good to hear.”

Now it was my turn.

I looked at Yeriel, who was sticking out her tongue awkwardly, and held out my hands.

“Well, my doppelganger was unarmed and only had one weapon. So, that’s everyone checked, right?”

Phew. It was a relief that no one was hurt, let alone had their body taken over by their doppelganger.

Even though my companions were used to the dungeon and didn’t pay much attention to it, I still felt sorry for the sudden misfortune that had struck just before we completed the climb. But now that everyone had made it through safely, I felt a little better.

I let out a sigh of relief in my heart.

Clap!

I clapped my hands to get everyone’s attention and spoke in a bright voice.

“Everyone, it must have been tough for you to do this alone. Let’s just consider the verification done and get ready to return.”

There were no injured party members who needed treatment or rest, and there was no reward for leaving the mirror, so there was no reason to stay on the 10th floor any longer.

Now, all that was left was to go through the portal and get out.

“When we get back, let’s settle the payment first, and then we can find an inn and have a drink and chat. I have a story to tell you that you’ll find quite interesting.”

“What story? …Oh, I get it! You’re going to tell us about the fight with your doppelganger in the mirror, right?”

Yeriel’s eyes sparkled as she said she had a lot to say, imagining how bizarre it must have been for me to fight my doppelganger.

“Sorry, that’s the wrong answer.”

“Huh? We all went through the same thing, so what else could be more interesting?”

“Haha, of course, I fought my doppelganger too, but that’s not all. You’ll be surprised when you hear the rest outside.”

It seemed like the other party members had only dealt with their doppelgangers and left, but I had met a transcendent being and received guidance, so my experience was on a different scale.

Moreover, since Gail was a descendant of Schperts and was related not only to me but also to Yeriel and Lumia, hearing about him would bring back memories of when we first entered the 2nd floor.

Anyway, I shrugged and checked my equipment, ready to leave.

My clothes were, of course, intact, and the contents of my backpack, which had temporarily disappeared in the mirror, were also unchanged.

I reached into my backpack, and as I rummaged through the byproducts and spoils, I thought, ‘There’s so much I need to do when I get back.’

It seemed like I’d have to postpone entering the dungeon for at least a couple of months and take care of all the things I’d been putting off.

The most urgent issue was probably the promotion.

To challenge the mid-level adventurer promotion exam, I’d have to take on various quests by checking the guild bulletin board or asking the receptionist.

After safely passing through the 9th floor’s tower, I could go to the reception desk and check how much guild contribution points I had accumulated.

Since I had only been in the dungeon city for less than a few months and the only quest I had taken on was Hainz’s personal quest, I thought it would take a long time to get promoted.

‘It would be good for Yeriel and Lumia to get promoted together too. Hmm… Should I look for group quests when we get back?’

When we set the record for the 4th floor, the mid-level adventurer rank seemed like a distant dream, but now that we had made such a huge leap, it was overwhelming.

And we had also made some achievements regarding the Apostle of the Evil God in the 5th area…

Considering how the city was in an uproar over that incident, I wondered if we would get extra contribution points for it.

It seemed possible, so I needed to check and not miss out on this opportunity.

Well, even if we didn’t take on group quests and move as a party, we could set a date to postpone the next exploration and have everyone take on quests they could easily complete to get promoted. That way, we could also grow in various ways within the city.

‘Adventurers don’t just grow in the dungeon.’

Anyway, when we returned to the city, most of us would be spending time on our own, not moving together every day just because we were in a fixed party.

Whether we took on quests separately or as a group, it wouldn’t make much difference in how often we saw each other.

Additionally, I’d have to search for Gail to deliver Schperts’s message and negotiate with the Master of the Earth School in the Magic Tower to get an entry pass for Lumia to study there.

While I was at the Magic Tower, I’d also have to check on Eira, who was still asleep in Adelais’ sanctuary and had yet to wake up since she fell asleep in Yeriel’s pocket.

‘I can’t skip training either. Ugh, when we get back, I won’t even have a day to rest! I’ll be busy all day.’

I’d have to keep up with the basics that Schperts had polished for me. I could probably get help with personal training from Evelyn or Sena.

As I thought about the upcoming schedule, I was about to pass the mirror, the source of all our suffering, when a woman’s arm holding a wooden staff suddenly appeared and blocked my way.

Thud!

[Congratulations on conquering the tower.]

‘What the fuck, who’s this now?’

The arm didn’t seem to be moving slowly or leaving a trail, so it probably wasn’t trying to harm me.

No, if a transcendent being or a god was going to interfere again, they should have appeared earlier.

Damn it, we were done and about to leave. What were they thinking, appearing now?

“Ahren!”

“…”

“Yeriel, step back.”

Slurp.

“You can only hear my voice. Please ask that woman to put away her weapon. It’s not a pretty sight.”

“Veronica, step back.”

In an instant, they exchanged a myriad of glances.

Click.

It’s okay. I’m safe. Thank you for worrying about me.

Veronica, having read my calm expression and demeanor, sheathed her sword and took a few steps back with the others.

Then, a girl’s voice, tinged with languor, echoed in my ears again.

[Since you have safely escaped from the temporary space within the mirror I created, I can briefly make contact without the interference of Karma. I don’t have much time.]

‘Temporary space? So, you’re the owner of the object placed in the tower!’

Then, it was clear that she was also related to Schperts.

[I’ve been watching you get along with that chatty battle maniac for the past few days. It’s quite unexpected.]

Chatty battle maniac.

The title was quite direct, but I thought it was quite fitting to describe Schperts, considering that we had been together for the past few days.

I wasn’t sure what was so unexpected, but perhaps it was referring to the fact that instead of a life-threatening battle, a learning opportunity had arisen between me, a mortal, and him, a transcendent being.

The voice asked me, [To be straightforward, your fearless actions from the first floor, the ambition and fighting spirit you displayed in the mirror, your exceptional talent, and finally, your charming appearance and impeccable personality.]

I didn’t know what she was trying to say by suddenly praising me like this.

I unconsciously touched my face, which had become hot, and then raised my eyebrows at the voice’s next words.

[In many ways, you are very much to my liking. You are the first mortal who matches my preferences so perfectly. Won’t you become my attachment human?]

“Attachment human?”

Is this a term commonly used among higher beings?

I’ve heard of attachment dolls, but attachment humans?

“I don’t understand what you’re saying at all. I’m not going to accept a proposal just because it’s from someone whose identity I don’t even know. Who does that?”

I’m not the protagonist of a subculture novel who’s always being noticed by higher beings.

The voice paused for a moment before speaking again.

[I am one of the Watchers who observe the tower, a forgotten god bound by the laws of the dungeon, Soleil of Truth and Falsehood.]

Truth and falsehood…

Ah, so that’s why my doppelganger appeared in the mirror, trying to prove who was real and who was fake.

[If you become my attachment human, I will watch over everything about you, along with the tower, from now on.]

“…”

[In return, I will occasionally offer you beneficial advice or help you through hardships and adversity.]

Of course, it was just a proposal, not a coercion, as the voice added, not wanting to force me.

I fell into deep thought. If I accepted the proposal, it would be like adding another person to watch over my every move.

A divine being.

Constantly observing me from an unseen place.

Occasionally offering advice and help.

‘I’m already used to it. What’s the difference if one more person joins in?’

As I thought about it, I realized that there were many advantages and almost no disadvantages to accepting the proposal.

[Chaos puffs up her cheeks, telling you not to compare her to others.]

[What do you say? Time is almost up.]

After a moment of contemplation, I opened my mouth.

“I understand. I will gladly become your attachment human.”

[Hehe. You’ve made a good choice. I’m so happy, as if I’ve found a gem in a sea of boredom.]

Tap.

Her staff gently stroked my hair.

[While observing you, I’ve already read the traces of your connection with other. Among them, this one.]

Her staff pointed to the mark of Irene engraved on my right breast, beneath the armor plate.

[I can use this to strengthen our connection.]

“Wait a moment. If I touch it and it reacts—”

[Don’t worry.]

As Soleil pressed her staff against my chest, a spark of mixed colors appeared.

Fizz.

At the same time, I instinctively felt the nature of the mark changing.

[The mark of the unfathomable changes.]

[What’s this? Who dares to tamper with the mark engraved by Irene?]

No, it’s true that words have power.

[It’s me. I slightly touched the mark engraved by some ignorant being on a mortal’s body. Is that a problem for you?]

Irene, having sensed the change in the mark, spoke through it.

Soleil directly confronted her.

[Kufufu, you little brat. Seeing how you’re acting so arrogantly, it seems like you’re wishing for your existence to be erased due to boredom. Do you wish for that?]

[Yeah, yeah. It’s not like we’re going to be erased, being bound to the dungeon.]

[Hehe. You’re quite amusing.]

[ That’s enough. Let me use the mark you engraved, whatever it is. End of conversation.]

Damn it.

The massive Karma of the Goddess of Chaos.

The frost of the Arctic Monarch.

The sword forged by Adelas, imbued with her will.

The soul power instilled by Schperts.

The mark that connected Irene and Soleil.

At this rate, my body would become a medium for a gathering of gods and transcendent beings.

…No, that’s not going to happen, right?