“I seriously almost died…”
“꜀( ꜆´⚰︎`)꜆”
“Dari, I truly owe you my life.”
Seemingly exhausted, Dari lay sprawled on the bed, their tail flopping in response. Lying beside them, I mentally replayed the brutal battle on the fifth floor and the rewards I had gained.
‘Why did a hidden boss appear, anyway?’
Upon reflection, things had been strange ever since the third floor.
There was the unusually large number of goblins, the original fifth-floor boss appearing on the fourth floor, and now a massive hidden boss on the fifth.
Could the Tower truly be determined to kill me? Otherwise, why would it target someone like me, who was simply climbing the Tower as usual?
Ah, but I did burn down the goblin settlement in the cave.
And the boss had been standing in front of that very backdrop, hadn’t it?
“Was it an act of revenge for the village?”
It seemed that was likely the hidden element.
Regardless, I had emerged alive, and with a substantial haul of additional rewards—more generous, I surmised, than the original compensation.
First, I decided to try out Camouflage, one of the newly acquired skills I could use immediately. Given it was ‘camouflage,’ I assumed it was a stealth-type ability.
As mana flowed from my brush and enveloped my body, a distinct blue light seemed to coat me.
Hmm? Had anything actually changed?
To my eyes, it simply looked like a blue film had appeared around me.
Rising from the bed, I glanced in the mirror to check my appearance, only to be astonished that my reflection was nowhere to be seen!
“(๑╹ᆺ╹)”
Dari, however, seemed to see me, as they merely turned their head to peek from their prone position. ‘Hmm, does it only make me invisible to others?’
Transparency, huh.
It would have been incredibly useful back in my school days.
I could have snuck past the dean when I was late!
I could have slipped out unnoticed when ditching night study sessions!
And to think I could now use this cheat-like skill to sneak out right before lunch and proudly claim the first spot in line!
Still, it would undoubtedly prove useful when making a getaway outside or needing to conceal myself within the Tower. Yet, this skill consumed a fair amount of mana.
After only a few minutes of invisibility, my mana reserves already appeared to be halfway depleted.
Nodding at its not-so-bad performance, I flung myself back onto the bed.
‘But when will I get to check the others?’
Flame, the A-grade skill that Fireball had evolved into.
It was an A-grade skill typically attainable only after reaching the 20th floor.
Perhaps because it was modeled after Cheon Yiryeong’s skill, Fireball had been B-grade from its inception.
Thanks to that, it devoured mana like crazy, but its firepower was immense. Now that such a skill had been upgraded, its potency would surely be too great to test just anywhere, wouldn’t it?
If I used it in the waiting room, the Tower would undoubtedly throw another fit…
Ultimately, it seemed only a real battle would suffice.
****
Then there was the entirely new skill I had acquired: Crimson Purgatory (TL Note: 선홍의 염옥, Seonhong-ui Yeomok, meaning ‘Crimson Flame Prison’ or ‘Crimson Purgatory’).
This skill, granted with the description of having completed a painting of unique coloration, likely referred to the arbitrary fusion of two skills when I dealt with the Goblin Lord alongside Dari.
Flames trapped within a water droplet.
So, if I used it, would I be able to cast flames encased in a water prison, much like in the previous battle?
While not an area-of-effect skill, it seemed incredibly useful for one-on-one situations against boss-level enemies.
A painting of unique coloration, indeed… It seemed the skills I created were recognized as a form of art.
For instance, the original Fireball was a monotonous painting of red hues, and when it was trapped within Dari’s water barrier, glowing with a brilliant crimson, it transformed into an A-grade skill.
‘At this rate, I might actually debut as a painter.’
I had so many things to try.
Creating skills, then combining those skills to complete a more advanced ‘painting.’
While creating skills wasn’t easy right now, the potential for development was boundless.
I could experiment with magic using other elements, then carefully blend them so they wouldn’t clash.
Crimson Purgatory might even become an S-grade skill if combined with something else once more.
This body, right here, was destined to be a growth-type munchkin (TL Note: A character who is overwhelmingly powerful, often achieving rapid and significant growth).
So satisfying, so substantial.
With a dedicated quest window just for me, the rewards were piling up like a mountain of rice.
Was there another hidden quest somewhere?
I wished someone would share such information.
Yet, reflecting on it, even I, having grown considerably stronger, had nearly been brutally killed by that creature on the fifth floor.
It made me wonder if any hunter who discovered a hidden quest almost certainly perished.
If not for Dari, I would have been helplessly cursed and decapitated by its glaive.
“Oh, my dear! Our Dari is truly a blessing!”
“ヾ(｡>﹏<｡)ﾉﾞ”
Flipping Dari over, I nuzzled my face into their belly, and they wriggled their short limbs in protest.
“Hehehe, come here!”
After tumbling around on the bed with Dari for a while, I belatedly picked up the large magic stone I had tossed into a corner.
“Just look at its color.”
A brilliant black luster, and a size larger than both my fists put together.
It was at least a B-grade magic stone, commanding tens of millions of won (TL Note: The currency of South Korea, approximately tens of thousands of US dollars).
Fortunately, Dari had completely exhausted their energy and hadn't touched it, allowing me to hold the intact magic stone in my hand.
“Dari, you can’t eat this, okay? I’ll give you something else later. Got it?”
After earnestly warning Dari, I carefully placed it in my desk drawer. Heh heh, if I sold that, combined with my existing funds, I could genuinely live without financial worries for quite some time.
As for selling it… I would think about that later.
I had become rich, hadn't I? Of course, I would probably earn this much with ease later on, but this very moment, which quenched my immediate thirst for wealth, was incomparably precious.
“Ehehe.”
My brain, pickled by the dopamine rush of insane rewards, was still grinning foolishly as I headed back to lie down, when—
Ding-dong—
'I didn't order any delivery.'
Ding-dong— Ding-dong—
'Stop pressing the bell; it's genuinely terrifying.'
I had an ominous feeling that some grim-faced men with a sack might be waiting outside.
Cautiously, I checked the intercom screen—
“Huh?”
Standing there, smiling at the intercom, was Jin Taesan, the Minister of the Hunter Department, whom I had once seen on TV engaging in a heated debate with an anchor.
“Hwaaah?!”
I hastily stifled the scream that had burst from my lips and held my breath.
“…”
“I know you’re in there.”
Thump, thump, thump— The heavy knocking echoed, pounding against my silently held heart.
'Why is that man here? How did he find me?'
On the intercom screen, Jin Taesan continued to wear a friendly smile, yet he knocked on the door with a chilling persistence.
Why? Seriously, why? Could Cheonhwa have sold me out?!
The sudden visit from a National Assembly member, a minister no less, made me feel as if my soul was about to escape my body.
What should I do? If I just kept pretending I wasn't home—
Thump, thump, thump.
Ugh, my heart was truly going to drop out!
Jin Taesan on the intercom, showing no sign of moving, began to resemble a character from a horror movie.
'…Damn it.'
Upon reflection, why was I hiding?
I hadn't done anything particularly wrong, and if he asked if I was the Saintess, I could simply deny it.
What evidence did he have? What proof?
No, wait, I hadn't even done anything that required evidence. In any case, I had nothing to feel inferior about.
“Dari, hide for a moment.”
Their tail merely fluttered, as if assuring me not to worry, that they would lie still like a doll on the bed.
*Click*—
Casually adjusting my clothes and expression, I calmly opened the door to face Jin Taesan.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I am Jin Taesan, the Minister of the Hunter Department.”
“…I don’t believe I know you. And why were you knocking so persistently?”
“Haha, my apologies. I feared you wouldn’t grant me an audience otherwise… Please forgive me, Healer-nim (TL Note: A respectful honorific used in Korean, similar to 'Mr.' or 'Ms.', but often implying a higher status or skill in this context).”
Jin Taesan smiled faintly, speaking directly as if he already knew everything.
“Or perhaps, would ‘Saintess-nim’ be a more appropriate address? Ah, might I possibly come inside to speak?”
“…No, let’s talk outside.”
Realizing further denial would be futile, I decided to hear Jin Taesan out.
Since Dari was still lying on the bed, it felt a bit difficult to invite him inside, so I simply slipped on my slippers and stepped outside.
****
“So, what is it you wish to discuss?”
****
“( ⑉¯ ꇴ ¯⑉ )”
Recovery complete!
Fluffy-fluffy— The pleasant nest is warm!
I'm so tired, I can't think of anything.
Going to the white, smooth room, pouring water into the white tub—
Splash-splash.
I like playing in the water too.
I like floating quietly, bobbing around.
If only there were clams!
Ah, what did the owner say earlier?
I look around the owner's nest, but they’re not there.
Ah! They must have gone to get food!
The owner sometimes goes out and brings back slippery, plump things like clams. Then they give me the tasty, crunchy bits from them.
I like yummy things.
Usually, when I help the owner hit ugly creatures, black clams appear, and I actually prefer those!
But this time, that red, ugly one gave a really big clam.
The owner said not to eat it…
But I used up so much energy, and I'm hungry…
Sniff, sniff, a sweet scent wafted from inside the square-shaped wooden thing.
Hmph, I'm hungry.
When will the owner come back?
Why aren't they here yet?
One finger, two, three—
Are they here?
The owner makes a beep-beep-beep sound when they come, but I can't hear it.
When will they come?
I went back inside and stood in front of the wooden thing.
Not eating it, just looking.
The owner said not to eat it!
*Drag*— Through the opened gap, a large, black clam was visible.
Looks delicious…
No.
But why did they say no?
I don't know.
Should I just smell it?
I'll just hold it!
I picked up the big black clam and sat on the fluffy-fluffy.
Hehe, it's big. This will fill me right up.
When I'm full, I get sleepy and feel good.
But right now, I'm hungry.
The owner isn't here, and Dari is all alone.
Oh, my name is so pretty, isn't it?
The owner made it for me.
The big light in the pitch-black sky is also called Dari! I guess our names are the same because it's white just like me!
But I'm so hungry.
Hmph.
Oh, the owner made this face for me!
This one is Dori! Dari and Dori!
I like holding it tight.
What kind of kid is it—if you poke a clam like this!
This is how the clam's flesh comes out! Isn't it amazing!
Huh? The clam broke.
A delicious smell poured out.
“(๑╹ڡ╹๑)”
Delicious!
Whoa, my belly is so full!
Hehe, I feel good—
Full, fluffy-fluffy warm, and sleepy.
Yawn—
Will the owner come when I wake up?
I like it when they tuck me in and stroke me…
Yawn—
#
Curse Contamination! The Curse of Nihility imbues you.
This is a masterpiece. It resists discoloring contamination.
This is a masterpiece. The curse within your body transforms.
Curse—Nihility transforms into Blessing—Abundance.
