Chapter 283 - Conditional Locked Room

I was walking through a dark corridor in the two-dimensional labyrinth created by Dungeon Maker.

"..."

While holding Stardust's hand tightly.

'...What exactly is going on here?'

As I walked down the dark path holding her hand, I found myself lost in thought.

Holding hands, feeling her body heat while walking—it created a strange feeling.

Stardust's hands were really soft. ...No, that's not the point.

'...I don't even know what I'm thinking anymore.'

I continued walking with Stardust firmly gripping my hand, pondering these thoughts.

...Clearly, when I said we should stay close because it was dangerous, she responded with "Then this is the most reliable way" and grabbed my hand.

'She's not planning to suddenly twist my arm when we escape, knock me out, and drag me to prison, is she...?'

I even considered that possibility. Though with my teleportation ability, it wouldn't matter... but without some explanation like that, her behavior made no sense.

Anyway, regardless of the reason.

Here I was, walking hand in hand with her through this dark corridor.

Whatever was happening in the unseen areas around the corridor, we were passing through this noisy, dark space together.

...Perhaps because our vision was limited and we couldn't see clearly ahead, other senses became more pronounced.

For instance, the warm sensation from Stardust's hand tightly clasped with mine, skin touching skin, and the faint pulse I could feel.

Or the quiet sound of her breathing amid the loud noise.

...Yes.

Simply put, I was more conscious of Stardust holding my hand beside me than the danger ahead.

The fact that I'd been thinking about Stardust this whole time was proof. Da-in, get a grip. You're not some middle schooler experiencing first love. Why make such a fuss about just holding hands?

"..."

Of course, holding hands with Stardust while walking was different. It felt like a fan holding hands with their idol. It was completely different from holding hands with other women.

As I was lost in these thoughts, walking aimlessly.

"Hey, Egostic."

I heard Stardust speak as we walked quietly hand in hand.

"Yes? What is it?"

I answered nervously, having just been thinking about her.

After a moment of silence, she quietly spoke again.

"Why do you keep helping me?"

"...?"

When I heard that.

I almost stopped in my tracks without realizing it.

"...Haha. What are you talking about? When have I helped you?"

I answered with the most natural laugh I could manage.

...What's this about? Why would a villain ask such a strange question? Has she figured me out? That's impossible. Even though I've been doing some strange things lately, I've always been diligent with my terrorism... Come to think of it, have I not been doing that recently?

As I was quietly confused, she spoke again in a calm manner.

"At the Moonlight Bridge too... you called all your colleagues to help me. When I was attacked by the cult leader, you saved me."

Hearing her words.

I quickly thought to myself. Ah! I've been too careless lately. Still, this gives me a clear excuse.

"Well, as someone who needs to commit terrorism in Korea, I don't particularly enjoy seeing Korea destroyed by someone else's hands. Didn't I tell you that before?"

"Not that."

As I was about to answer, she cut me off and continued.

"Why did you save me? I'm not just talking about this time. Like when you threw yourself to shield me in the Han Eun Group basement, and everything else until now... You call yourself a villain, so why go that far?"

...Words that sounded like she was reproaching me.

But I could tell. Her words contained a genuine question. She'd had doubts all along, and now she was determined to resolve them.

How should I answer?

I obviously couldn't say, "Actually, I never intended to be a villain, but became one to save you and the world..." My usual excuse of "Because you're my arch-enemy" clearly wouldn't work this time.

So there was only one solution.

Mix truth and lies, and answer ambiguously.

Having made up my mind, I spoke while still looking ahead, holding her hand.

"It's because you're my arch-enemy."

"...That alone doesn't explain—"

"And."

I continued with a grin.

"Because you're someone precious to me."

"...Huh?"

She responded with surprise.

Good, she's flustered. Now's my chance.

Keeping the momentum going, I continued smiling while looking ahead.

"Without you, my arch-enemy, what meaning would my terrorism have? No matter how perfect a show is, it's meaningless without actors or an audience."

"...That's why you're precious to me. As I told you before, you ultimately complete me, Ms. Stardust."

"To me, you're more precious than anything. That's why I don't want to see you get hurt."

I said with a grin.

Yes. This is the direct approach. Just openly telling her I cherish her. How would a hero like her respond? Either "What nonsense?" or "A villain cherishing me? Disgusting. Totally repulsive."

...The thought of her saying such things to me felt internally damaging, but either reaction would be fine. The important thing was to dispel her doubts...? about me.

And her reaction to my words.

"Uh... um. I see...."

After responding quietly to my words, she just fidgeted slightly with her hand in mine.

...What's with this ambiguous response?

I expected a more dramatic reaction...

"..."

"..."

After that, we walked in silence.

I felt my face gradually reddening. No, how could she react like that? It makes me look like a deranged villain confessing to a hero. What's wrong with her?

I became even more conscious of her hand touching mine.

...It felt strange to be walking while holding hands tightly, feeling her warm body temperature, and occasionally feeling her hand fidget in mine.

Anyway, as we walked through the dark corridor, all sorts of monsters jumped out at us. Monsters created by Dungeon Maker's cognition within the limits of her power.

Naturally, we couldn't fight monsters while holding hands, so I tried to let go, but.

"Hmph."

KWAAAANG!

SCREEEECH!

...Every time ghost-like monsters appeared, Stardust dispatched them with a single punch from her right hand, so I couldn't let go.

In the end, I ended up holding her hand all the way through.

After walking through the dark corridor, defeating all the monsters that appeared, for who knows how long.

"...Ah, I can finally see light over there."

At last, we could see an open door at the end of the corridor with white light shining from outside.

That meant it was the final room.

"Shall we go in?"

"Yeah..."

And finally.

We entered a bright, white room.

The first thing I subtly checked upon entering was Stardust's face right next to me.

And what I saw was a rather peaceful expression.

...Was I the only one overreacting?

With that thought, I cleared my throat and said to her.

"Well, this place seems safe for now."

Saying that, I was finally able to naturally let go of her hand.

...Somehow it felt like she was reluctant to let go at the end, but that must have been my imagination.

"...What kind of room is this?"

Just as Stardust was looking around saying that.

BANG.

The door we had entered through was suddenly closed by a white door that came down.

And so we were trapped in this sealed room.

At that moment, a display panel on the front wall began to flash.

I knew from the original work what message would appear there.

The final room prepared by Dungeon Maker when two or more people enter this labyrinth.

The so-called 'Room where you can't leave unless you kill each other.'

The reason her labyrinth seemed strangely shoddy was because she had poured all her power into this final room.

It's a rather malicious room that absolutely won't open unless one of the two dies. It's also her ultimate weapon.

I waited for those words to appear on the display panel.

And at that moment, the words that appeared on the screen.

Naturally, since I already knew the content, I wasn't particularly tense while watching.

"...Huh?"

But when the letters actually appeared on the display panel.

I couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

*

[Room where you can't leave unless you kiss each other]

*

"...?"

"Wait, what is that...?"

And so.

Stardust and I could only stare at those words in shock.

What, suddenly...? Out of nowhere?

It didn't matter much to me either way, but.

"...?"

Looking at the malfunctioning Stardust beside me, I couldn't help but think in bewilderment.

Dungeon Maker. What... what kind of woman is she?

***

*

[Hey, why are you smiling!]

[Show us what you're seeing too!!!]

[Let us see let us see let us see let us see let us see let us see let us see let us see]

[Dungeon Maker << Why is she leaning against a pillar with her eyes closed, smiling contentedly?]

[I'm dying to know what those two are doing in there lol]

[The numerous viewers watching this are suffering... isn't this the villain's true terrorism?]

[Damn it, open the door!!!]

*