Chapter 14

14.

“No. Forcing it is bad, it’s bad. We agreed to minimize harm.”

“But, but what if she leaves?”

“I don’t want to just watch her get taken by that despicable woman and then discarded.”

“Only, only I can do it. Just a little touch is enough. Just remove the barrier… and change her perception, hehehehe.”

As soon as they entered the room, a seductive voice echoed in their heads.

Lee Seong-han tried to calm his throbbing forehead and assess the situation.

‘Kang Jin-young.’

She was definitely the one.

Her tone and thoughts were 100% her.

She was clearly being controlled too.

“Is she nearby?”

Lee Seong-han muttered to himself, scanning the surroundings.

Thanks to [Reconnaissance], his vision cleared.

The monsters weren’t moving yet.

The presumed boss monster, ‘King Eros,’ was nowhere to be seen. Only a faint silhouette was visible.

The monsters seemed to be guarding their territory.

‘Find Kang Jin-young.’

[Failed.]

‘Why?’

[Not detected.]

Even with SSS-rank traits that reveal stealth and camouflage.

There’s no way her location can’t be pinpointed.

I definitely saw the word [Approaching].

Kang Jin-young, who was on the rooftop, suddenly appeared here. Was it because of the [Mark of Eros]? That’s possible.

Considering the sudden [Perception Alteration], a high-tier monster must be controlling her.

“I didn’t receive any message about the connection being cut off. It seems related to ‘King Eros.’ There’s a high chance of a sudden ambush.”

While pondering, Lee Seong-han’s eyes widened.

“Where did this bastard go?!”

King Eros, who was clearly there just a moment ago, had disappeared.

As if he was never there.

[King Eros has detected intruders.]

[King Eros sends a venomous gaze toward Kang Mi-young.]

Damn.

Lee Seong-han’s mind cooled. Did he target the mentally weaker one?

If Kang Mi-young falls, it’s over. You can’t beat an S-rank alone, especially with the Nam Mountain Mage around.

‘We’ll be devoured by the sisters!’

Lee Seong-han urgently threw himself forward.

“Lieutenant, dodge!”

Hearing his voice, Kang Mi-young hesitated.

She collided with Lee Seong-han and rolled to the side.

“You!”

A crimson beam shot out from the darkness.

The spot where Kang Mi-young had been. Lee Seong-han, who was there, was hit.

[The [Mark of Eros] has deepened!]

[Mental pleasure…]

Zap zap zap───!

A blue lightning struck before his eyes.

The [Mental Barrier] blocked the attack.

“You!”

A lightning-like shock enveloped his head.

Lee Seong-han couldn’t maintain his posture and knelt on one knee.

Kang Mi-young checked Lee Seong-han’s condition.

“Y-you. Are you okay? Are you hurt?!”

“I’m fine. It’s a mental series attack. Thankfully, the [Mental Barrier] reflected it.”

“……”

Kang Mi-young’s hazy red eyes. Her pupils shook uncontrollably.

Her face was pale. Kang Mi-young tightly hugged Lee Seong-han.

“I can’t lose another comrade.”

[Kang Mi-young’s ‘Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)’ has been triggered.]

“Lieutenant. Calm down. There’s still, still no problem. Let’s secure an exit first. If we fight like this, we have no chance of winning.”

Kang Mi-young bit her lower lip and gave an order.

“…Alright. I’ll cover you. Let’s move.”

Lee Seong-han staggered to his feet. His head felt like a blooming garden.

Perhaps due to the mark, his cognitive abilities were gradually declining.

“First, first, let’s secure an exit.”

Lee Seong-han stumbled and opened the emergency exit they had just come through.

“What, what is this?”

Whoosh───

It wasn’t the emergency exit of the hospital.

Only a pitch-black void.

An endless horizon with no depth or width.

Several messages popped up simultaneously.

[As the [Favorability Quest] and [Emergency Quest] are currently applied, this area is considered ‘Floor 1.5.’]

‘Floor 1.5?’

Lee Seong-han’s face turned pale.

This is part of the Tower?

Damn, the gate can be exited anytime, right?! What nonsense is this?

As if responding to Lee Seong-han’s thoughts, the messages updated.

[You have entered the ‘Boss Room.’]

[Entry and exit through the gate are blocked.]

[An error has been detected, so the entrance is blocked.]

“Ah.”

Then, bang!

The emergency exit door locked. When he tried to reach for it, it was as if a magnetic field pushed him away, preventing him from even approaching.

[Access denied.]

“Damn it.”

Lee Seong-han cursed involuntarily. What kind of quest update is this?

[Favorability Quest](NEW)

[Kang Jin-young is currently under the control of ‘King Eros.’ Clear this floor to free Kang Jin-young. (0/1)]

[Reward: Escape, Favorability Lv. 5 increase]

[Failure: Kang Mi-young’s perception alteration, permanent attachment of the [Mark of Eros]]

[Emergency Quest](NEW)

[Kang Jin-young has found a way to break the [Mental Barrier]. Hold out. (0/1)]

[Reward: Permanent acquisition of [Mental Barrier]]

[Failure: Non-consensual intercourse, mental collapse]

Damn.

* * *

“Pull yourself together.”

Lee Seong-han clutched his head.

He seemed unable to adapt to the rapidly changing situation, only shaking his head aimlessly.

“Idiot. You’re really an idiot. You’re falling for the same trick. You’re so righteous. Hehehehe. I can see what you’re thinking.”

“Just a little touch is enough. Really, just a little.”

“I’ll make sure you can’t live without me.”

Kang Jin-young’s seductive voice teased his ears. He was afraid to step away.

His senses sharpened.

The boss monster’s appearance notification.

The consecutive quest update messages.

Kang Jin-young’s appearance.

All sorts of misfortunes followed.

‘We’re screwed.’

Lee Seong-han could conclude.

The [Mental Barrier] might block direct effects, but it couldn’t stop the slow erosion process.

It only delays.

He clearly knew his current state was abnormal.

“Lieutenant. Please help me up.”

“Of course.”

Sticky cold sweat and heavy breathing.

His head swayed dizzyingly.

“You don’t look well. Can you continue fighting?”

“…I’ll try.”

A large wave flew from afar.

A hatchling-like pressure flowed through the air.

“300 meters ahead. It’s the boss monster.”

“I see it too.”

Boss monster.

They’re troublesome enemies. They manage the gate and dominate the space.

It’s not just a simple power struggle. There’s a set strategy. You have to perform gimmick battles to clear it.

[King Eros has detected intruders.]

King Eros looked different.

First, a proper humanoid.

Like a figure from Greek mythology, wearing a golden helmet and a toga. A bow and arrow were extras. She was a tall woman, her breasts exposed, her skin glowing.

Her gaze was different.

‘I will definitely conquer you.’

That’s what Lee Seong-han read in her eyes.

The angel of lust.

That title wasn’t for nothing.

“We have to get through─”

As soon as Lee Seong-han spoke.

Zap zap zap───!

[The [Mental Barrier] detects internal erosion.]

[The first-stage firewall has been breached.]

King Eros smirked. As if to say resistance was futile.

“You. Maybe retreating would be better?”

“Still, she’s family. No matter how much I hate her, she’s my family, right?”

“Right, no matter how much that child pushes me away, I have the duty and responsibility as the head of the family. Now… she’s all I have. A proper family.”

Kang Mi-young drew a sharp dagger from her waist.

Her red eyes scanned the surroundings. Sensing something unusual, a murderous intent lingered.

[Kang Jin-young has been identified.]

“It’s Kang Jin-young.”

“Where?”

“You won’t see her. She’s slowly approaching from the front.”

From afar, Kang Jin-young appeared like a mirage.

She wasn’t visible to the naked eye, but her outline was discernible thanks to [Reconnaissance].

Lee Seong-han recalled the quest.

Her target was him.

Not Kang Mi-young.

‘If I can just buy some time. If Kang Mi-young can withstand all the mental attacks and land effective hits. We can win. 100%, this is it.’

Of course, the plan has many issues.

‘There are too many ways to inflict mental attacks. Moreover, it’s uncertain if we can hold out. Both me and the Lieutenant.’

Lee Seong-han imagined himself fighting Kang Jin-young.

Thanks to the Favorability Quest, all stats were boosted sixfold.

A monster even Kang Mi-young, known as a superhuman, could exchange a few blows with.

But it’s certain he can’t hold out for long.

Coax and persuade.

Use words and rhetoric to buy time.

“Lieutenant. I’m combat ineffective.”

“I know. I always want to protect you, but do you have any other ideas?”

Lee Seong-han wiped the drool from his mouth with his sleeve.

He couldn’t control his body. It felt like he had taken a drug.

“Yes, the newly enhanced [Reconnaissance] has a mysterious part. It seems [Weakness Detection] has been equipped. I’ll inform you of the weaknesses.”

What?

Kang Mi-young’s face subtly changed. No way. Did he really gain such an ability?

If a high-grade trait had additional effects, it would be worth paying a fortune for.

Support types are rare anyway.

It was bound to be discovered.

“Your trait is only [Reconnaissance], right? You don’t have buffs like [Weakness Detection] or [Defense Command], do you?”

“It’s all or nothing anyway. If we fail, neither of us will end up well.”

Kang Mi-young reluctantly nodded.

It was all true.

What monsters do to living men.

Even the cold Kang Mi-young was trembling.

“Let’s start with the one farthest ahead, clockwise.”

Lee Seong-han briefly explained each entity’s weaknesses, strategies, and attack patterns to Kang Mi-young.

Kang Mi-young listened intently and cut him off with a gesture of understanding.

“Good. That’s enough explanation.”

“As I mentioned earlier, I’ll handle Kang Jin-young.”

“Are you sure you can?”

“There’s no other way. Let’s move first.”

There was no other option anyway.

Lee Seong-han gripped his dagger in reverse and started running to the side.

[King Eros Lv. 69]

– A holy being that feeds on human lust and love.

– Sealed by the Gray Tower in the past but was released when the first-floor conqueror appeared.

– Acts as a gatekeeper to prevent conquerors from advancing to the second floor. Type: Angel. Feels pleasure when witnessing lovers’ affection.

– Extremely dislikes non-consensual intercourse, NTR, rape, and other unhealthy acts.

– Judges pure love by bizarre standards. Incomprehensible by human standards.

…

…

…

– Presents specific actions as emergency quests. Clearing five will conquer the floor. Presented upon recognition of the terms.

Ding!

[Emergency Quest ⓵]

[Describe 5 strengths of the target (Kang Jin-young). (0/5)]

“…First, she’s big.”

[What is big?]

“Her heart.”

[King Eros acknowledges.]

[Describe 5 strengths of the target (Kang Jin-young). (1/5)]

Hmm, easy.

Lee Seong-han thought so at first.

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