Following Siloque’s plan.
He would draw the monster’s attention.
The opponent was a single creature—highly aggressive, with varied attack patterns, heavy damage output, and strong mobility.
Siloque would engage it in battle.
If he lost or was left severely wounded, Kasla would pull him back into the lake for Underworld Soul Pursuit.
“I heard that if this monster lands a critical hit, you wouldn’t even feel your waist being sliced off when you die.”
“Siloque, how can you say that with a smile…”
“Simple.”
Siloque turned his back to Kasla and touched the rune-covered maple tree.
“Constantly dying, understanding death, and transcending death. That’s my Path of Growth Through Death.”
Clang, clang.
The runes on the maple tree flickered with an eerie green light.
The bark peeled apart in sheets, opening like a door.
“…”
Kasla stared intently, clutching the rope tightly.
Siloque wasn’t feeling any easier either.
Though he’d said it with flair, cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
Still, he had to keep up appearances for Kasla’s sake.
A monster stepped slowly but powerfully out from inside the maple tree.
It stood a head taller than Siloque, clad in heavy armor with a helmet shaped like deer antlers.
Two red phosphorescent lights glowed from within.
In the sunlight, it was clear the armor wasn’t steel but dark brown wood, covered with patches of deep green moss.
Vines crawled all over its body. Its right hand defiantly raised a long-handled blade.
The monster’s name was Maple Court Knight.
Siloque preferred calling it Wooden Man.
The Maple Court Knight was formidable, but defeating it yielded no item drops or skill rewards.
That monster itself was like a weapon—something akin to a pistol, club, or large crossbow bolt.
What Siloque triggered was the Defensive Mechanism of Maple Court Garden.
If someone damaged the maple tree or deliberately activated the trap like Siloque did, the Maple Court Knight would spawn.
You either left Maple Court Garden or fled near the Sacred Tree.
Otherwise, it would relentlessly pursue you to death.
But you could count on gaining Experience Points.
Thump, thump, thump…
Siloque’s heartbeat raced.
As expected, unlike in games, the pressure was overwhelming.
He confirmed they were three meters apart, and about three meters from the lake surface behind him.
He raised his greatsword horizontally at the Maple Court Knight to signal his intent to fight.
The Maple Court Knight seemed to sense his will; the two red phosphorescent flames flickered as it aimed at Siloque.
Despite the heavy armor’s bulky impression, it swung the long-handled blade swiftly at its opponent.
“!!”
Siloque charged forward.
The Maple Court Knight was arguably the strongest monster after the wild zone boss and the gatekeeper boss.
Its level generally ranged between Lv10 and Lv12, with infinite stamina.
Though its armor seemed vulnerable to fire, it was surprisingly fire-resistant.
Its attacks were varied and it learned opponents’ fighting styles.
Its only weakness was the vines covering its body.
The way to defeat it was to sever every vine while enduring fierce attacks—a task as risky as pulling chestnuts from a fire.
Severed vines regenerated slowly, so all vines had to be cut in a short time.
This demanded exceptional observation, speed, and reflexes from challengers.
The greater the risk, the greater the reward.
Its diverse and swift moves meant it could learn many fighting styles; its high Lv, damage, and HP guaranteed a wealth of Experience Points.
Siloque entered close combat range with the Maple Court Knight.
Just as his greatsword was about to slice the first vine—
The Maple Court Knight leapt up like a black monstrous bird, its massive frame nearly blocking Siloque’s entire vision.
The blade swung through empty air.
“You can jump too!”
So this is what they meant by a nimble ‘fat guy’!
Though Siloque expected this move, he hadn’t thought the very first strike would be this one.
He quickly pulled back his greatsword to defend.
Still, he couldn’t avoid the disgraceful outcome: defeat in under two seconds.
The greatsword’s only effect was to shift the Maple Court Knight’s attack by a few millimeters.
The Maple Court Knight’s mighty strike smashed down like a mountain falling.
From Siloque’s left shoulder to his abdomen, it ripped open a huge gash, exposing torn innards in the sunlight.
“Ugh!”
Things looked grim. Very quickly, Kasla pulled Siloque back.
The Maple Court Knight would not relent and leapt after him.
“!!!!”
All Kasla could do was desperately pull back.
Splash! Splash!
The force was too strong; Siloque missed twice and fell into the lake.
The water blazed with intense light, knitting his rubbery, torn body back together.
“Pft! Cough, cough!”
Siloque coughed hard and looked toward the Maple Court Knight.
The monster was already midair, flipping backward in a defiance of physics, landing without a drop of water touching it.
It showed no attachment and turned back toward the rune-covered maple tree.
Siloque rolled up his shirt sleeves and wiped his face.
Just as expected, the lake water perfectly served as a campfire-like healing spot.
He had worried whether severe injuries could heal this way, but his experiment confirmed the effect was real.
Now it was Kasla’s turn to “go die.”
“Incredible. Such a severe wound, and just by touching the water, you’re fully healed…”
Kasla couldn’t hide her astonishment.
Though Siloque had demonstrated it before, this was no injection or medicine.
Just soaking in water instantly healed wounds that might take half a year in a hospital.
It was beyond miraculous.
“Siloque… what exactly is this place…”
“Didn’t I say?”
Siloque stretched.
“It’s a remnant of a divine miracle. There are many wonders in this dungeon.”
“I see, I see…”
Kasla glanced at the unharmed Maple Court Knight.
“By the way, we’re lucky. Kasla, that guy is at least Lv12. The experience it drops won’t be anything less than generous.”
“Yeah, Siloque… now I get why you level up so fast. Your reckless tactics—no normal person would do that.”
Kasla’s face grew serious, finally understanding what “transcending death” truly meant.
Life to him was like a game.
Since you couldn’t really die, you could endlessly learn from mistakes in battle.
Insane…
Yet…
Kasla felt his heart ignite and boil with excitement.
Siloque was incredible.
This person would definitely help him grow stronger.
Unaware of his own excitement, Kasla’s lips curled slightly and his breath grew hot.
Siloque tugged at the torn vest on his back.
“Constantly fighting the Maple Court Knight not only trains close-combat reflexes but also lets you learn your opponent’s style. If you lose, I’ll pull you back; if you win, you gain Experience Points and level up. No better teacher than this monster.”
“…Have you thought that if I don’t pull you back fast enough, you might actually die?”
Siloque smiled.
“I believe in you. That’s why I trust you with my back. Pull hard—I don’t like pain either.”
“You’re something else…”
Kasla gave a wry smile.
“I got it. Leave it to me.”
That frank and sincere trust quickened Kasla’s heartbeat.
“Go all out without worry! If you win once, I’ll take over.”
“Of course. But it will take a lot of time—the level difference is big.”
“Then we limit it to half an hour. Win or lose, we switch.”
“Agreed.”
Siloque splashed onto shore.
“Wooden Man, obediently turn into Experience Points!”
He swung his blade at the Maple Court Knight’s vines.
Without turning its head, the Maple Court Knight crossed its long-handled blade behind its back to block the attack, then quickly spun and used its iron-hard wooden elbow to smash Siloque’s face.
Damn, I really can’t look cool pretending to be awesome…
***
“Have you finally made up with Siloque?”
“Cough, cough! …cough, cough!”
The sudden question made Bried choke on her food.
She hurriedly drank the water her mother handed her.
Bried glared fiercely at her father, Torna, who waved innocently.
It was dinner, though quite late—closer to a midnight snack.
Bried was finishing her third bowl, mixing sauce with rice, when Torna suddenly brought up the puzzling question.
Taro, her mother with strands of white hair, chimed in:
“I’m curious too. You haven’t contacted that kid for three years, yet lately, I see her looking for you every day.”
“Uh, well…”
Bried pondered how to explain.
Come to think of it, Taro and Siloque’s mother Cohen were on the same Community Committee.
They should know Siloque’s situation from chatting.
“Oh right, she even greeted me the other day. I wondered if some salesperson was bothering me.”
Torna nodded:
“I used to think she lacked spirit. I suggested she practice kendo with me, but she ran off whenever she saw me… But now that she’s in high school, she seems more lively.”
Looks like her parents thought their long-silent neighbor had become friends again.
By the way, they still got Siloque’s gender wrong…
Bried spoke seriously:
“Siloque and I aren’t close enough to argue. She finally got into the National School and asked me for advice, so I just helped a bit. That’s all.”
She busily ate, signaling the end of the topic.
Torna obviously didn’t get it, asking while washing dishes:
“So do you like the old Siloque or the current one better?”
Out of the blue.
Hearing gossip from a father in his fifties always felt a little weird.
“There’s no like or dislike—just whether they’re agreeable or not. If I had to say, I prefer the current him.”
Speaking of which, Siloque should be resting at home now?
She wondered how his injuries were.
He had learned to put on a brave front and lie lately…
Bried thought for a moment:
Maybe I should go check on Siloque.
Just go see him… and maybe ask how he got rid of Cliff and the others.
It’s been years.
Should I bring a gift when I visit?