Chapter 73

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“……”

Immediately after Han-bit stepped forward, the completion of the maze proceeded altogether too smoothly.

The monsters faced also died at an extremely rapid pace.

Yeon-woo, who was watching this unfold with a sense of unfairness, spoke up.

“Hyung, was this also in the web novel?”

– Loafer is so petty.

– If the novel explained the whole maze, it would be a fucking flop.

– Maybe nobody can find it because it’s a flop?

– Agreed.

Talk about the novel dominated the chat window once again.

Han-bit, who had been striding forward, quickly smoothed the situation over.

“It wasn’t explained in detail in the novel either. I guess we’re just getting lucky.”

“If this is luck, you should just buy a lottery ticket, Hyung.”

Yeon-woo made an absurd expression.

“Just hurry up and come.”

Han-bit increased his pace again.

As he continued to dispatch monsters, his level naturally increased as well.

[Your level has increased by 2.]

[2 stat points have been provided.]

Navigating the maze like that, he arrived at the final wall.

There was a single blue door there.

“Let’s go.”

Rumble.

When he pushed with force, the door slowly opened with a heavy sound.

Beyond the boundary was a steep spiral staircase.

“It looks somewhat like a trap?”

“It does. You lead the way.”

“What? No, wait.”

With a smirk, Han-bit shoved Yeon-woo toward the stairs.

His startled body resisted, but he soon gave up and stepped onto the stairs.

“Why is this so high?”

Even after climbing for a long time, the top was nowhere in sight.

Han-bit merely pushed Yeon-woo’s back leisurely.

“Wow.”

Yeon-woo, who barely climbed the last stair, raised a surprised voice.

A floor made of transparent glass.

Below it, the maze the two had passed through could be seen.

“What is this?”

“Architect’s preference.”

– How did he do that.

– It’s fucking high. Lol

– Black Dragon official) The dungeon designer was a pervert.

– Map creator startled while eating snacks.

“Ah, the prize money.”

Han-bit, looking at the screen, remembered the challenge mission.

He immediately pressed the success button.

[You have succeeded in the challenge mission.]

[You have received a prize of 623,000 won.]

“Thank you, everyone.”

The accumulated prize money in a short time was over 600,000 won.

In a good mood, Han-bit pushed Yeon-woo’s back again.

“Let’s go. There are places that easily break, so be careful.”

“How can you say that while pushing me.”

The two, carefully stepping onto the glass floor, moved forward.

“Wow, this really makes no sense. You found that path in one go, Hyung?”

Yeon-woo, walking while looking down, let out a sigh at the complex maze.

Putting monsters aside, it was at an impossible level to escape without getting stuck even once.

“Wow, what’s this place?”

Arriving exactly at the center, the two stood in a space marked in a square shape.

A unique magic circle was drawn there.

“It’s the place to summon the boss.”

“The place to summon?”

“There’s no separate boss room here. It’s like summoning it like a ritual.”

This dungeon also had a boss.

However, it was a completely different structure from what they saw in the challenge dungeon.

“Where will it appear if we summon it? It seems dangerous if we fight here.”

Yeon-woo nervously spoke while lightly tapping the glass floor.

Han-bit, stepping into the square space, pointed down.

“It’ll appear in the maze. Let’s get ready right away.”

Ding.

[Cuckoo has sponsored 1,000 won.]

[The shameless bastards entered the maze.]

‘They’re here.’

Han-bit clenched his fist tight.

The crowd of players, entering the maze, could be seen from afar.

Ranger’s figure visible at the very front.

Without hesitation, he kicked off toward the inside.

“The maze video must have been uploaded to the community, right?”

“It must have spread everywhere already. They’ll probably follow after watching that.”

Just as Yeon-woo said, all the players began to slowly navigate the paths of the maze.

Seeing their gazes darting here and there, it looked as if they had the video playing directly.

“Fast, so fast.”

“It’s not fast, isn’t it too late to summon the boss? What are you going to do.”

Han-bit, cheering them on leisurely, and Yeon-woo, holding onto his shoulders and shaking him.

From afar, it was a situation that truly couldn’t be understood.

‘They’re all in.’

The players who entered the maze had almost reached the central area.

No one could be seen at the entrance.

“Let’s begin.”

“What? Even if we summon the boss, isn’t it only our loss? It’s an obvious matter that we won’t be able to catch it and it’ll get stolen… Hyung.”

Swish.

Han-bit, lowering his stance, placed his hand on the magic circle on the floor.

Then, a change followed along with a clear light.

Ding.

[Irteloger’s Aquarium Journal]

The task of sorting the food is important.

The owners of the aquarium are picky eaters, so let’s prepare excellent food using bait.

If you draw satisfaction from them, a reward will be given.

‘It’s exactly the same as before.’

The content of the message that popped up was familiar.

It was content that didn’t differ by a single syllable from the terrible memories of the past.

“What does this mean? If it’s bait, isn’t it the monsters that were below?”

– The concept is steadfast.

– Who’s the owner?

– Isn’t it the silhouette we saw in the passageway earlier?

– King God Fish ㄷㄷ

– Now they even feed the monsters.

– Do we just have to catch all the maze mobs?

Yeon-woo and the viewers reading the written sentences recalled the same thought.

Monsters such as the lugworms they faced in the maze.

Every single one had the modifier “bait” attached to them.

It was natural that it led to the thought that they should catch those first.

Vroom.

At that moment, the magic circle vibrated significantly.

And the moment the trembling that resonated through the body stopped.

Swish.

The magic circle disappeared from right before their eyes.

***

“Huh?”

“What is this?”

The central area of the aquarium maze.

The feet of the players, advancing while referring to Black Dragon’s clip, stopped.

Because a magic circle was suddenly being drawn on the floor.

Vroom.

Lines and patterns filling up while emitting a clear light.

Several players approached closely and examined it.

“Looking at the broadcast, Black Dragon was doing something?”

“Didn’t he just touch the magic circle?”

“A message to find bait also popped up, though?”

There were also many people who kept watching Black Dragon’s broadcast.

The content itself was simple, but the use of this magic circle couldn’t be predicted.

“Is this telling us to put bait here?”

“Should I drag one over?”

“It said to draw out satisfaction, right? Will a lugworm do?”

The succeeding questions and speculations poured out variously.

But that peacefulness could not last long.

“It looks almost complete?”

“What’s coming out?”

The magic circle drawn on the floor drew its final border line.

And the moment that line created a complete circle.

Whoosh.

An intense pillar of fire shot up above the magic circle.

“Uwaah.”

“What the fuck.”

Startled players hurriedly stepped back and distanced themselves.

Sizzle.

The pillar of fire where everyone’s gaze gathered gradually thinned.

When it completely disappeared, something revealed its form.

“…What is that?”

“A doll… is it?”

The shape of a grayish-brown person standing tall.

The flames wrapping the entire body and the red sphere on its chest were emitting a bright light.

[Elite: Bait Combat Puppet (Lv.???)]

A clear name tag floated above the guy’s head.

The hesitating players grasped the situation simultaneously.

The fact that it was the key to clearing the dungeon.

Swish.

The silence that settled instantly and the tension spreading along with it.

The monster’s level was not indicated.

But considering the levels of the monsters around, the thought that they could catch it too dominated their minds.

Clack.

The adventurers, checking each other’s reactions, gripped their respective weapons.

Gazes fixed on the puppet that still stood still.

In the fire-wrapped hand of the guy was a sharp sword.

And finally, the moment the puppet’s feet stepped out of the magic circle.

Tap.

Everyone began their attack simultaneously.

Swish.

Boom.

Numerous active skills flying in with tremendous momentum.

They showed strong destructive power corresponding to the spirit of wanting to kill in a single blow.

But.

Swish.

The figure of the puppet that definitely should have died disappeared from sight.

“Over there.”

A quick-eyed player pointed upwards.

Turning their gazes, the figure of the puppet clinging to the upper part of the maze wall entered their eyes.

“…What is that?”

“Tsk. Must be the Agility type.”

“Ah, if it’s fast, it’s annoying.”

The nimble movement elicited complaints.

Since the Elite grade was attached, it wasn’t strange if it showed better movements than those in the same level range.

Since those specializing in Agility were inherently difficult to catch.

“Melee drives the direction, we’ll go with long-range sniping.”

“Just pour magic on it. That’s more certain.”

“Who was the one who learned the assassination skill? Use whatever to strike first.”

The players devised strategies within their respective parties.

However, a man appeared who rendered that meaningless.

“Don’t touch it.”

Ranger slowly moved his steps and made the actions of the players stop.

His bowstring remained tautly pulled, but it had not yet been aimed at the puppet.

‘That guy has to move.’

Black Dragon, who was still stopped above the maze.

Ranger was observing his movements.

Since there was a high likelihood he would use some weird trick again.

‘That is certainly the key.’

Normally he would have intended to run through the rest of the maze, but intuitively he chose the magic circle.

Since the message that popped up to Black Dragon clearly stated to prepare food.

If it was catching monsters, it was overwhelmingly advantageous condition for himself.

Whoosh.

The puppet dangling from the maze wall flared its fire and surveyed below.

After confrontation occurred for a brief moment in an uncomfortable silence.

Step.

Footsteps could be heard from behind.

“What’s this, is no one going to catch it?”

Black Dragon, walking leisurely with his sword trailing.

He slowly looked around the players populating the surroundings.

“Do you think we’ll fall for your tricks?”

“I haven’t aimed for such a thing, though.”

When asked probing, Black Dragon shrugged and let it slide.

Then he looked at the puppet on the maze wall.

“Well, suit yourselves.”

Assuming a posture as if not interested.

Whoosh.

Whoosh.

Wind swirling centered around Black Dragon. At the same time, strong flames enveloped him.

It was beautiful flames completely different from the puppet’s.

‘That is real.’

Ranger was certain.

The attack Black Dragon was preparing now is not an imitation.

It’s a decisive blow fully utilizing the power of the spirit.

Swish.

Black Dragon prepared his attack by tilting his blade.

And the moment he swung his sword towards the puppet.

Swish.

Twang.

Simultaneously with sword aura, Ranger’s arrow was shot.

Bzzz.

Yellow lightning wrapped around the arrow.

It grew into a massive sphere and covered the maze wall.

Rumble.

The aftermath expanding on the wall spewed even stronger electric shocks.

Black Dragon’s sword aura that struck there also added to the impact.

“Ugh.”

The players watching together stepped back from the fierce light and heat.

But.

“Tsk.”

The target puppet had already escaped from the wall surface.

Tat.

The puppet sprinting rapidly across the maze wall.

While everyone was bewildered, Han-bit moved first.

Tap.

Kicking his foot off, he swiftly began to pursue the puppet.

That enthusiasm to kill it first no matter what was not a lie.

Ranger, confirming once again, firmly gripped his bow and quickly followed behind.