The activation of Parab’s Golden Goblin Statue meant only one thing.

‘A branching point.’

A very dangerous event was about to unfold soon, and now was the only branching point to avoid that misfortune.

And in that sense...

‘...Could it be that the lab director’s warning was true?’

About a month remained until the half-year mark the director warned about.

Considering the travel time to Chonjang Island, now was the absolute deadline.

And the crucial point here was...

“Baron... wouldn’t it be best to leave immediately? No, we must leave!”

“Calm down and return to your seat. I will make the right decision about this matter.”

“Yes? Ah... yes! But quickly! As soon as possible!”

The intensity of that instinct was so strong that even this subordinate, who usually kept a good mindset, spoke like this.

According to him, it wasn’t this severe even when they were taken to Ice Rock.

‘...Worse than the Ice Rock expedition.’

I found myself growing anxious too.

After all, how many fell and vanished in that freezing place?

I never wanted to experience that again.

“Vice Commander, I will briefly go upstairs.”

“...So suddenly?”

“I might need to leave here urgently. I’ll explain in detail when I return, but for now, command this place in my stead.”

I then ordered the vice commander to run raids without me and to prepare for departure if possible.

Quickly, I moved toward the control room at the top.

‘Is this the right choice?’

Doubts continued even as I went.

If I agreed to the director’s deal, got the qualification, and left the island to set sail, I could reach Chonjang Island within the warned time.

No one would get hurt then.

I had no objection to that being the safest path.

‘But it feels such a waste not to come back down here again.’

Not knowing why the director tried to prevent me from coming down made it hard to decide.

But...

‘The goblin spoke so strongly, I can’t just ignore it...’

A proper dilemma.

My mind was a mess.

But the more complicated it got, the simpler I tried to think.

Priorities.

Every decision starts with what to prioritize.

I reflected as I headed to the control room.

That lightened my heart, and I could decide.

‘...I’ll agree to the deal.’

There might be more hidden treasures on underground first floor, but I’d gotten enough already.

The underground first floor had felt like a bonus stage I didn’t even know existed.

More importantly...

‘There’s nothing more we can do here for now.’

If we want to find more hidden treasures, our current specs aren’t enough.

The giant on Giant Island too.

Too many unstable factors remain.

Just as many died hunting grade 1 monsters on Library Island, continuing the conquest would require sacrifice.

Yeah, so...

[You’re here.]

“Yeah, I’m here.”

I slowly entered the control room I hadn’t visited for almost a month.

[Looks like you finally made your decision.]

The director, appearing on screen as if waiting, seemed to know why I came back.

‘A strange guy in many ways.’

Surprisingly, since the first deal proposal, the director had waited all this time.

Even after months passed, he didn’t push me, as if knowing the result wouldn’t change.

[Well, tell me. What’s your decision?]

I didn’t like that it seemed like his plan had succeeded.

But once a decision is made, emotions must be put aside.

My decision wasn’t just about me.

“Give me that qualification or whatever it is. I won’t show my face here again.”

[A wise decision.]

“Enough, just give it to me. Do I have to sign a contract or something?”

[No need.]

A shimmering light on the monitor stretched out to the side.

[The contract is already complete.]

...What’s that supposed to mean?

Already done?

‘I don’t see anything changed.’

At that moment,

「Achievement unlocked」

Condition: Progress 15% in the Seventh Archive.

Reward: Permanent access granted to Underground First Floor, Record Archive.

Whoooosh—

A golden book-shaped mark appeared above the back of my right hand, shining and then fading as if absorbed into my skin.

At the same time,

「Dimensional pact established.」

「Character’s access to Underground First Floor, Record Archive is permanently restricted.」

A sensation I’d never felt before.

Nothing visible or flashy.

A sudden, slight grip around my heart.

But it was brief, gone in an instant, leaving me wondering if I had imagined it.

“...What did you just do to me?”

[Nothing. Just a pact was formed.]

“...A pact?”

[Think of it as a somewhat special pact. A new rule was created inside the labyrinth, applied only between you and me, with mutual consent.]

Anyway, the director tried to end the conversation abruptly, as if he had nothing more to say to me after the deal.

[Then our business is done. I’m busy, so get going. Good news will be waiting when you come down.]

“Good news...?”

[You’ll see when you get there.]

That guy was mysterious to the end.

Even till the last moment, he left me feeling like I’d been tricked somehow.

[Marx, take care. It was good to see you again, even briefly. I mean that sincerely.]

He then greeted Hamshik, who muttered shortly,

[...No.]

[No? What do you mean?]

Hamshik, resting on my shoulder, after a pause said clearly,

[It’s Hamshik, not Marx.]

[...I told you before, that name was given by a witch. Before you lost your memories, it meant a lot to you—]

[That was before I lost my memories.]

At that bold statement, the director fell silent, unable to respond, and after a long pause, his voice leaked out,

[Yes, even in this world, nothing lasts forever... You changed, and so did I.]

His voice was still mechanical, but I sensed fragments of emotion.

It felt like memories, or regrets.

[If that’s your choice, understood. I wish you luck.]

After this, the director said nothing more.

I left the control room carrying Hamshik.

“Hey, are you okay?”

As soon as we stepped outside, Hamshik asked worriedly.

“Is that pact really okay?”

“How should I know? For now, nothing seems wrong.”

“You know I used to go to the control room every day to talk to him when you weren’t around? Be careful. He looks suspicious no matter how I see it.”

“Thanks for worrying.”

[...That’s what friends do.]

Hearing the word ‘friend’ made me close my mouth tightly.

Because I heard that from the director when I used to sneak into the control room daily for info.

Hamshik can’t leave underground first floor.

And...

‘Now I can’t come back down either.’

We both knew but never mentioned it.

As if it never existed.

As soon as I arrived at the underground factory, I knew.

The ‘good news’ the director mentioned was this.

“Sir! Hurry up! Hurry!”

“Could that... be from him?”

“Yes! Congratulations! You wanted it!”

While I was in the control room, an essence dropped.

And the color was green — just what I wanted.

Walking dumbfounded, my eyes met Raven’s, who shrugged.

“I was going to put it in a test tube if it didn’t come soon, but luckily it came just in time.”

“How long has it been?”

“Ten minutes.”

Right, that meant I still had some time.

I took off all the numbered items I was wearing.

That essence required some preparation before consuming.

Step by step.

After preparing, I slowly approached the essence.

Because I was level 8, even after consuming Bellarios essence, I still had an empty essence slot.

If I could eat it without a test tube, eating it right there was best.

But the problem was...

‘Will it work?’

In Dungeon & Stone, essence stacking wasn’t possible.

Of course, you could consume a normal essence and then a guardian essence.

‘In that case, the normal essence simply upgraded into the guardian essence.’

What about this case?

The answer came soon enough.

Swoosh.

When my fingertips touched the essence floating in the air...

‘...So in this case, it just won’t go in.’

My outstretched hand passed right through the essence.

As if there was no room for it inside my soul.

“Tsk.”

Honestly, I had expected otherwise.

If essence stacking was possible, I could have experimented to see if the same skill could stack.

‘What a shame.’

If I could ‘super-giant form’ with Transcendence, then ‘(true) super-giant form’ by using Giant Form again...

‘Then this essence I’d just replace the old one and eat it right after leaving...’

After Raven put the essence in a test tube, I cleared my mind of all thoughts about essence.

“Vice Commander, are you ready to leave?”

“Yes, we can depart immediately.”

“Good. Let’s go home.”

It was time to leave.

Leaving the lab and coming outside the temple, we headed through the forest to one spot.

After a few days of travel, we came upon a vast lake we had discovered during previous exploration.

Or rather, a place that was opened up.

Originally it was blocked by a barrier, but we destroyed a huge drone in front of it, making entry possible.

“Everyone board the ship and take your seats!”

By the way, launching a ship on this lake was the escape route from Rainbow Island.

Well, this was the first real time executing it.

But since the director had said so clearly before, it had to ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) be right.

Tick-tock, tick-tock—

After destroying the huge drone and activating the pocket watch, waiting until the second hand made a full rotation, the lake was covered in a brilliant rainbow-colored light, just like when we first came.

Flash!

When I regained consciousness, we had returned to the windless zone where we had struggled so much, and I headed straight for Library Island to drop off Hamshik.

“Sorry I couldn’t keep my promise to help you regain your memories.”

[...You’re still worried about that? Don’t make that face. I’ve already told you everything from the director.]

“......”

[Goodbye.]

Hamshik only said goodbye and gave no hint of reunion.

So I just said,

[We’ll... meet again...?]

“Yeah, you can never tell what life will bring. I’ll try to find a way to come back somehow.”

[I wonder if that’s possible...]

“At least I think so. That’s why I accepted the director’s offer in the first place.”

[...Hmph, come back or don’t.]

“Take care till then. If strangers come, don’t open the door.”

With little time left, after parting from Hamshik, I headed straight to Chonjang Island.

Thanks to pushing the ship’s speed to the max, I arrived with three days left until the director’s deadline.

“It’s an island!”

After disembarking, I ran straight to the village and immediately touched the dimensional stele, just in case.

“Po-portal! The portal opened!”

“Then can we really go back now?!”

“Long live Baron Yandel! Long live!”

Luckily, the dimensional stele that had always been silent actually activated and produced a blue portal, just as promised.

But I didn’t enter the portal right away.

Because I was curious.

[If you don’t leave here within half a year, you’ll be in serious trouble. That’s when ‘he’ appears.]

What was that ‘he’ the director mentioned?

He never explained fully, leaving me even more curious.

‘The portal’s working fine... maybe it’s best to wait and see before leaving.’

So the main force stayed in the village while I took Sven Parab inland.

“Why... why me?”

“Focus. If you feel danger, you must take the portal immediately.”

“If that’s the case, I want to go down right now... the rainy season’s starting soon anyway!”

“Since you say that, I guess we still have some time.”

“...”

Days passed—one, two—and only a couple of hours remained until the day the director warned about.

Whooosh—

A strong wind suddenly blew from behind, as if something was about to start.

“C-can I stop going now?”

“Feeling uneasy?”

“Yes...”

“Just check one thing quickly.”

I hurried to the cliff and checked the coast.

The silver sea surged violently, as if a powerful force was pulling it back.

“Uh, maybe we should head back? I’m really getting nervous...!”

Seeing that, it really felt like time was almost up.

I checked the map one last time.

‘That’s the direction of the rocky island...’

In the direction the wind blew and the waves surged was a rocky island.

[If during sailing, waves start rushing in, stop immediately and find shelter.]

Could it be the one mentioned in the chieftain’s folklore notebook?

I didn’t know, but at that point, I went down to the village with Sven Parab.

And we sent everyone into the portal one by one.

I was the last.

Since it was my portal, there was concern it might close once I disappeared...

Whoooom-!

Just as I was about to enter, the whole village shook like an earthquake.

‘What now?’

As a gamer, curiosity flared, but I decided not to check outside.

If I could come back someday, I might figure it out then.

If not, it wouldn’t matter.

「Record Lord Rekardo begins wandering the floors.」

Forget it and get out quickly.

Whooosh-!

I quickly stepped into the portal.

The labyrinth, including the first floor crystal cave, would close with the rainy season...

‘But at least the portal opened.’

The portal opened.

Then where would this portal take me?

I expected it to return me to the first floor, but the labyrinth was already closed.

The answer came soon enough.

「Character is moved to Lapdonia.」

If the labyrinth is closed, you return to the city.

Or maybe you just always move to the city no matter what.

Anyway, that didn’t matter.

“Ah, sir...”

We arrived at the dimensional plaza of the seventh district, which we had used long ago when first entering the labyrinth.

Looking around, only members of Clan Anabada who had entered the labyrinth with me were standing silently.

That wasn’t strange.

I’d heard the expedition used dimensional plazas from other districts, including Armin’s expedition and the Hexts clan.

Yeah, so far nothing odd.

I didn’t even expect anyone to welcome us alive.

But...

“Wh-why is the plaza so...?”

The plaza we arrived at was very different from usual.

Whooosh—

The wind brought a smoky smell, and the checkpoint building, which usually had a long line, was completely destroyed and collapsed.

As if there had been a great war.

“Something must have happened in the city while we were gone.”

Amelia calmly analyzed the situation as she looked around.

At that moment,

“Captain! Over here!”

A male voice came from afar.

“We just detected a portal reaction here...”

The man climbed the checkpoint ruins and met our gaze.

“Huh? Who are you guys?”

Seeing the emblem on the man’s chest, I couldn’t help but snort.

“Where the hell did you come from?”

Where did they come from?

That’s what I wanted to ask.

‘What on earth happened...’

How could these Noark bastards be running wild in the city?

The Underground First Floor, Record Archive.

Though with some time deviation, time here flows simultaneously with the outside world.