Chapter 91

Chapter 90: The Path of Choice (1)

Jinhyuk, who had swiftly dealt with the players, retrieved the Twin Dragon Sword.

'The remaining fanatics will take care of themselves.'

With the Breaker gone, the fanatics can do nothing.

At best, they might put up a fight with their broken teeth.

Now, all that's left is to deal with the cult leader.

'Then, I just need one person to guide the way.'

He could find his way alone, but with over ten hiding places, there's a risk of wasting time.

'I don't like that.'

The sooner he leaves this blood-soaked place, the better.

Jinhyuk looked around.

Oh!

Just the right person caught his eye.

That guy. His face is a natural guide.

He even looked less (?) crazy than the other fanatics.

A rare find in this place.

'Good, you're the one I'll choose.'

Jinhyuk quickly moved and subdued the target in an instant.

With his mind focused on fleeing, the subjugation was easier than expected.

"Please, please forgive me! Please, don't kill me. I don't want to die."

A girl with short hair screamed.

'Well, well.'

Just a slight pressure on the shoulder,

and anyone would think I cut off an arm.

"Calm down. I won't kill you if you behave."

"R-Really?"

"If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have bothered with this annoying conversation."

His words were emotionless.

But to the girl, these words were more persuasive than any coercion or bribery.

Considering Jinhyuk's demonstrated skills, there was no need for a lengthy explanation.

"However, if you lie or cause trouble, that will be the end."

A guide only needs to guide the way.

That's all.

"Understood."

The girl nodded.

"Do you know where the cult leader is now?"

"Yes."

At least she's useful.

With so many hiding places, there was a risk of wasting time, but now that worry is gone.

"Name?"

"Andrea. Call me Andrea."

"Good. Andrea, guide me to where the cult leader is. I'll guarantee your life. Ah, answer carefully."

[Lv4 'Flame Soul Brand' activated.]

"I don't like empty promises."

Whoosh!

Red flames flickered from Jinhyuk's fingertips.

Andrea shuddered, but only for a moment.

"I promise."

A temporary contract was formed.

A highly unfair contract where betrayal means being burned alive.

***

Jinhyuk followed Andrea through a dark corridor.

'To the 12th stone chamber.'

He had worried she might try to waste time or lead him astray, but it seems his concern was unfounded.

If Andrea hadn't been there, he would have chosen one of the well-secured 7th or 12th stone chambers.

Then, a thought struck him.

Why was this timid girl with the fanatics?

"Do you believe in that god or something?"

A demon king who demands blood and sacrifices.

And the fanatics on the 5th floor who exist to revive him.

Without blind faith, they could never be together.

But her answer was unexpected.

"No. I don't believe in any god. If there were a god, they wouldn't leave this world, filled with despair, to rot."

"Then, why do you follow the cult leader?"

"It wasn't my choice. I was sold."

"Sold?"

"Yes. Abandoned. By the family I should have trusted the most."

Andrea muttered with dead eyes.

'So that's why she was here.'

The places scattered across the 5th floor, like mines, arenas, and mental wards, all had harsh conditions.

Naturally, selling family members for a few dollars was common.

Jinhyuk grimaced.

'Now I see, she has a rather tragic story.'

The system said:

Killing evil people grants 0.1 adaptive stat.

Then, would someone sold against their will also be considered evil?

There's only one way to find out.

But...

Jinhyuk decided not to seek that answer.

"Even if it doesn't comfort you much, I'm similar. I was abandoned in an orphanage at birth and grew up alone."

In loneliness and despair.

He had to learn the harsh realities of life at a very young age.

"But, blaming your parents, the world, or yourself won't change anything."

Instead, he tried to do what he could.

As a BJ, he wasn't particularly talented.

But he never forced viewers to donate out of poverty.

He was content with what he earned through his efforts and what viewers gave willingly.

"Of course, your situation is much darker than mine. I wasn't at risk of being sacrificed as a sacrifice just for a wrong word."

He knew they weren't the same.

So,

"I'll kill the cult leader and destroy the cult. No one will try to kill you again. So stop looking like you've seen it all. It makes me feel depressed."

"..."

Andrea's pupils dilated.

She hadn't expected him to say so much.

"What are you looking at?"

"No, thank you for saying that. But the cult leader... no, the cult leader is much stronger than you think. He uses strange powers."

"I know."

"Really?"

"I know about the cult leader's powers and how to defeat him. I know everything."

Jinhyuk smiled.

A light, almost frivolous smile, far from serious.

But why?

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Andrea's heart began to beat strangely.

As if a small light had appeared in the dark path she had walked all her life.

A small spark ignited in the heart of the girl who had struggled in despair.

After that, there was no more conversation.

They stuck to their roles: employer and guide.

How long did they walk?

They arrived at a place with a black iron door firmly closed.

"Here."

Andrea spoke cautiously.

"Good job."

Jinhyuk nodded and examined the door blocking the entrance.

The surface of the iron door was covered with runes drawn in blood.

'To maintain the illusionary barrier inside.'

Is this an invitation to enter?

'Interesting.'

Jinhyuk immediately reached for the door.

At that moment,

Boom!

The thick iron door opened.

***

[You have entered 'The Path of Choice.']

[There are 2 challengers.]

A room filled with a vast number of rusty keys.

This is the first gate of the Path of Choice.

"Wh-Where are we...?"

Andrea looked around.

She must be confused.

The scenery had suddenly changed.

"Don't worry, just stay still."

Jinhyuk reassured Andrea.

Then,

Static!

A white-masked doll appeared on the screen.

The red lipstick swirls on its cheeks were quite striking.

As if the next line would be 'I want to play a game.'

[Welcome. Sacrifice. I am Balseater, the one who serves the cult leader. I am commonly known as the 'Host.']

"Huh? Does it smell like feet?"

[EEK! It's not 'feet smell,' it's 'Balseater'! Balseater!]

The more he said it, the more it sounded like a misunderstanding.

"Your name is hard to remember. I'll just call you 'feet smell.'"

Jinhyuk scratched his head, annoyed.

[Grr. You will regret making me angry. Do you know why this place is called 'The Path of Choice'? Because you must make a choice between life and death to proceed! But because of your insolence, I'll only give you the bare minimum. I'll make sure you die here!]

"Yawn."

Jinhyuk yawned.

Seriously,

Why do these guys in strange places spout nonsense without being asked?

Maybe they expect newbies to squeal and listen to every bit of information.

But that's far from Jinhyuk's style.

[Enough! The game starts now. The key is hidden in this room. You have only 5 minutes. If you can't find the key to open the door, you'll be crushed by the walls closing in!]

With feet smell's threats,

Boom!

The walls on all sides began to move.

At the same time, a timer appeared on the screen.

The walls closing in relentlessly.

If they can't find the key, they'll meet a gruesome end as feet smell promised.

But finding the real key among the mountain of keys seemed as impossible as finding a needle in a haystack.

[Ha ha! Beg now. If you do, I might give you a hint to choose the real key.]

Feet smell burst into laughter.

But,

"Here it is."

Jinhyuk picked one key from the pile.

[Don't joke. You must have chosen randomly...]

Clank!

The door opened.

[Wh-What...?]

Feet smell's eyes bulged as he grabbed the screen.

Get your face out of the camera.

Up close, his appearance is quite terrifying.

"Just a lucky guess."

[What, what!? You chose randomly among so many? Do you expect me to believe that?]

"Believe it or not."

While feet smell was in disbelief, Jinhyuk and Andrea entered the second gate.

This time, a room filled with transparent syringes.

Right then,

Psssh!

White smoke spewed from the ventilation ducts.

The smoke soon filled the room.

[Hehe. The smoke you just inhaled is a deadly poison that will melt your blood vessels over time.]

Feet smell, now calm, spoke.

"Poison?"

Andrea's face turned pale.

"That's right."

In contrast, Jinhyuk remained indifferent.

[The syringes contain various drugs. One of them will give you a second chance at life, but the rest contain highly acidic poison. Life or death. The choice is yours.]

Thirty syringes on the table.

Only one contains the antidote. The rest will cause a gruesome death.

[Here's a hint...]

"I don't need it."

Jinhyuk picked a syringe without hesitation and injected it into his arm.

Squish!

The liquid entered his body.

[You idiot. Listen to the hint before choosing!]

Finally, feet smell, unable to hold back, cursed.