Demon King

Garden of Nak (3)

In front of me was Mimic, an intermediate monster. It is known to take the form of treasure chests to lure adventurers and devour them.

It was waiting at the end of a passage. It looks no different from chests that appeared after defeating 1F and 2F bosses, but unfortunately for it, I have an Advanced Detection.

I was suspicious the moment I saw it, and immediately, I used Leap and Beast Charge and struck it with a Power Attack. Mimic died in one blow.

It gave a lot of experience compared to other monsters. A notification window informed of a Level Up.

Finally, I have reached Level 70.

[100 gold is required to enter the Garden of Nak.]

Upon reaching Level 70, another notification window about admission to the Garden of Nak popped up. Its entrance fee is unreasonably higher than that of the dedicated store.

Lee Chan-yu approached me and judged the situation.

“Captain, was that a Mimic?”

“Huh.”

“It’s great!”

“It’s not a treasure box, but Mimic is a jackpot.”

Since the time I opened my eyes in a goblin’s body, there was only one thing I hated most inside the dungeon, aside from humans and natives.

A monster that cannot be eaten.

“It’s just… it looks wooden.”

“If there would be a treasure chest with the most artifacts inside the dungeon, it would be a Mimic.”

“Why?”

“Because it would have swallowed the greatest number of adventurers.”

After explaining that to Lee Chan-yu, I pulled Blood Shadow out of the Mimic’s corpse. But nothing came out. It was disappointing.

“It should give us something…”

“Yes, but Captain, you are the First Conqueror, so…”

In anger, I burned the corpse to pieces and opened the door to the dedicated store.

I would have entered the Garden of Nak immediately, but with the 100-gold entrance fee, I should be cautious. Before going in, I should at least share a word or two with Rain. Not relying on him, and not losing money like an idiot were two completely different stories, I thought.

“Lee Chan-yu, I need to go somewhere. Alone. I may come back right away, but there’s a good chance I won’t.”

“Are you leaving this dungeon?”

“It’s hard to explain.”

I left it at just that and stepped into the dedicated store.

“You are here, Fate.”

The desire not to rely on Rain kept me away from the dedicated store for quite a long time, but nevertheless, as always, Rain greeted me as if I was a regular customer.

His comfortable smile always disarms me. It must be one of his most terrifying abilities, along with his ability to guess exactly what I was thinking.

Today, he was wiping a clean glass. It looks like it has never been used. He praised me with a tone that didn’t go well with his usually calm demeanor.

“Fate always surprises me. You have become very strong again.”

“I’m still far away from being strong.”

“Woo-hoo, Fate’s spirit is really amazing.”

He smiled gently and placed the glass in front of me.

“I know you’re very anxious. It’s just a pity I can’t tell you everything I know right now.”

“No. Even if you try to give me information, it always ends up to be confusing. Rain, I need information right now. Right now.”

“You need information about the Garden of Nak.”

“Yes. Please give me the right information this time, not vague ones like in the Jinma Tower. I would pay for information.”

“But didn’t I give you accurate information about Jinma Tower?”

He smiled, forcing me to sigh.

The Jinma Tower is a safe training center. It was definitely accurate information. But it was too vague. At one point, I thought I would never get out of the tower alive.

This is all brought about by his overconfidence with me.

“I would need more than that, this time. Please, Rain. Do you know how much money I have?”

“Yeah. Maybe… you met humans.”

For a moment, his eyes sharpened, but soon they returned to normal.

“I could have told you about it, but… Sorry, Fate. I knew it would be better if you go through it and learn by yourself. I can only tell you that… I am Fate’s friend forever.”

“I never doubted that.”

He had helped me come this far. I did not doubt Rain, as there was nothing to gain from doing so.

“By the way, it is a garden of pleasure. This…”

He wondered about something; then, he laughed before continuing.

“I think the word “misnomer” is the most appropriate.”

“A misnomer?”

“Yes. It’s a greatly misleading name.”

Rain can’t help but grin continuously, covering his mouth in an attempt to hide it.

What’s so funny? I have never seen him like this. He can barely stop laughing even when I tapped on the table with my thick black finger.

“No, it’s nothing. Thinking about her, I can’t stop laughing…”

He coughed and reached out a palm.

“Information fee, please. I will only take 15 gold.”

“Here.”

Rain turned serious as I handed him the gold.

“I will tell you three things. First, you don’t need any combative skills in the Garden of Nak. You don’t even need to bring a sword. You don’t even need to synthesize armor.”

I was thinking of reinforcing my equipment to prepare for another tough battle, but it was as if he predicted my thoughts.

Blood Shadow has already been enhanced, but my armor is still Blood Iron Armor, so it would be reasonable to enhance it as well today.

There was an armor composite scroll in my inventory, and with four armors, including Blood Iron Armor, I have enough materials.

Today, I planned to synthesize a new armor, even if I had to purchase more materials at the dedicated store to do it… but I found out I don’t have to.

“Second. It is a space to test and raise Fate’s abilities. You should know it by this point: don’t be fooled by names.”

“I know that very well.”

“Third.”

He laughed a little again and spoke in a voice that seemed to hold back laughter.

“Try to keep your senses as insensitive as possible, and increase your tolerance for abnormal conditions.”

To desensitize and to raise tolerance for abnormal conditions? I didn’t know what this was talking about. It was a very clear instruction, but it confused me.

However, I think I know why the word misnomer came out.

“So, the Garden of Nak is a place to practice tolerance?”

“It is.”

“By the way, my tolerance for abnormalities is already too high.”

“She wouldn’t expect it.”

Rain laughed again, possibly imagining ‘her’ reaction, whoever it is waiting for me in the garden.

I shrugged.

“Then Rain, please give me Today’s Luck.”

[From the moment you leave the exclusive store, you will become more attractive for 5 hours.]

If I had a battle ahead, it was a useless buff. However, when Rain heard the buff I received, he began to laugh again. It made me annoyed.

Then, I opened the door to the Garden of Nak.

[The Garden of Nak is the realm of the soul. While in the Garden of Nak, the body stays in the subspace.]

The notification made me very anxious. Isn’t this what happened in the Jinma Tower, where the soul and the body lost their boundaries and became one? Didn’t I get beaten to countless deaths in that state? I was afraid of what unknown hell was about to unfold.

But if I don’t enter, I can’t evolve. I have no choice.

I sighed, and then I opened the door decorated with gold and roses and stepped into it.

The scene behind the door was unexpected.

I was so surprised that I almost screamed.

Calm down. Kang Si-ha, be calm.

The moment I opened the door and entered the room, what unfolded in front of my eyes was a large, colorful room.

Pictures of a beautiful naked woman hang on the wall, and on one side was the largest and most luxurious bed I’ve ever seen.

There was a large table in the middle of the room, and two chairs were placed so that two people could sit face to face. There was a small side door on the other side. I knew immediately that this was not the only entrance to the room.

Those things didn’t matter at all right now.

My leg. My arm.

I am a bugbear—a black and thick-skinned monster 2m 50cm tall.

But now, my legs and arms were far from being monstrous. They are moderately muscular, but far from being as thick as logs.

My complexion was exceptionally dark, but other than that, it was no different from that of other humans. The limbs look very fragile.

It’s not just the arms and legs. My whole body was like that. When I touched my hand on my face, I felt the smooth skin. It is skin that I have never had when I open my eyes with a monster’s body.

My height must have changed, too. The change of viewpoint proved it. If there is a mirror in the room, I can tell for sure, but it was frustrating that I couldn’t.

Why?

Is it because only the soul has separated from my body? Does this mean that even with a monster’s body, my soul retained its human form?

Countless questions floated in my mind. Honestly, it was questionable whether I really did not have a body right now. Everything felt so vivid that it was too much.

I even thought that someone with more power than a Trickster was tricking me, but I ruled out the possibility. The notification window has never lied to me.

Souls must have mass in a place where only souls exist, I concluded.

Then, the small side door opened.

The first thing I saw was burning red eyes and thick lips. Only

Then, her pale skin and two pointed ears. Long, black hair.

A white dress that clung to her delicate body.

She was a beautiful woman. She’s definitely not a human, with those excessively pale skin, pointed ears, and facial features, but she’s beautiful, nonetheless.

She looked at me and blinked her red eyes. My lips trembled. Even such a slight gesture looked beautiful.

“You are finally here, Fate.”

She knows me.

And maybe, I know her too.

“Let’s start the game, Fate. Be prepared.”