The royal wing was impressive, tapestries depicting great battles, furniture that belonged in a museum, and windows that offered stunning views of a kingdom clearly under siege. Smoke rose from distant fires, and even through the thick stone walls, they could hear the sound of battle horns.
"Cozy," Hayeon commented, testing the bed in her assigned room. "Nothing says 'certain death' like silk sheets and feather pillows."
Kim Donghyun didn't sit. His eyes lingered on the heavy oak doors as they creaked shut behind the servant. His hand hovered near the axe strapped to his back, instinctively.
"We're being separated," Kim Donghyun observed.
"We are separated."
"Which is why we need to be ready for anything." Ilwoo looked around the group. "I'm rooming with Jinhyuk. Donghyun, you're with Minji. Hayeon gets the single room because she snores."
"I do not snore!" Hayeon protested. "I breathe dramatically while sleeping."
"Everyone stays alert tonight. I don't think we're as safe here as they want us to believe."
After the others dispersed to their rooms, Ilwoo closed the heavy wooden door behind him, the latch clicking into place.
"Finally," Jinhyuk said, sitting on the corner of the bed. It was the first time he'd really taken a good look around the room.
"I still can't believe we're actually inside the Tower."
"Me neither." Ilwoo gazed out the window, eyes tracing the distant skyline. The city stretched all the way to the horizon.
Even though he'd played the game before, it had always been just a pixelated world where his only focus was winning. But now, it felt real—like he had stepped into an ancient civilization.
"So, hyung?" Jinhyuk looked at Ilwoo. "How many floors are there in this tower?"
Ilwoo's shoulders tensed. He didn't meet Jinhyuk's eyes; his gaze was fixed somewhere past him. The question had been hanging in the air like a blade, but he hadn't expected it to fall this soon.
"…A lot," Ilwoo said quietly, the words barely more than a breath.
"How many did you climb?" Jinhyuk pressed.
Ilwoo's fingers curled slightly, then relaxed. His mouth opened, then closed again.
"Sorry… I can't tell you."
He stayed still, eyes locked forward. Then, just a faint nod followed.
"Forget it. Everyone has their own secrets."
Before they could speak further, a soft knock sounded against the wooden door.
"Excuse me, Sir Hero!" a female voice called from the other side.
"Who are you?" Ilwoo asked, his steps quiet as he moved toward the door. His hand rested on the hilt, drawing the blade just enough to glint in the light.
"I'm the head maid. I've brought your meals."
Ilwoo and Jinhyuk exchanged a glance. A small nod passed between them. Ilwoo let the blade slide back into its sheath.
"You can come in."
The wooden door creaked open. A woman walked in, standing tall in a neat uniform. She held a tray with slices of bread and a clay jar, the smell of something warm drifting in with her.
She said nothing as she passed them, her eyes fixed ahead. The tray made a soft clink as she set it down on the small table between the beds.
She turned, gave a short, practiced bow, and quietly stepped back out. The door clicked shut behind her.
Jinhyuk kept his eyes on the door. "…Well. That's weird," he muttered.
"Why didn't she talk to us?" As he spoke, his hand drifted toward the tray. But before his fingers could reach it, Ilwoo's hand clamped around his wrist.
"Don't touch it," Ilwoo said sharply.
"It's poison."
Jinhyuk's breath caught. His fingers stiffened mid-air. He looked at Ilwoo, then at the tray, his expression unreadable. Ilwoo slowly let go of his wrist. Jinhyuk's hand recoiled on its own.
"How do you know, hyung?"
"Just trust me—you don't want to know." He flicked open his system interface. The shop function had expanded significantly since entering the Tower, offering items that definitely hadn't been available at ground level.
"What are you doing?" Jinhyuk asked, watching Ilwoo scroll through the expanded shop.
"I'm making something that can keep me alive."
Ilwoo's eyes locked on the poison category. His finger hovered, then tapped.
***
[Basilisk Poison ×1]
[Solshade Flower Extract ×1]
[Non-Corrosion Glass Container ×1]
"This should work." Ilwoo materialized a glass flask from the shop, set it on the table, and carefully poured the poisons inside, mixing them drop by drop.
"But why are you buying those? Those are poisons." Jinhyuk's voice wavered as he stared at Ilwoo pouring them into the container.
"You'll see…" Ilwoo muttered as he finished the last of the basilisk poison.
"…when I'm finished."
The mixture in the flask turned from dark green to clear as the two poisons neutralized each other.
"So what are you trying to use that for?" Jinhyuk asked, his brows furrowed as Ilwoo studied the liquid he had created.
Jinhyuk leaned forward, watching every movement as Ilwoo lifted the flask to eye level.
"Wait, hyung, don't tell me…" His voice cracked. His eyes widened, breath catching in his throat.
"You're going to drink it?"
"Yeah." Ilwoo paused, the flask hovering inches from his lips.
"But if I'm right about what's going to happen tonight, the pain now is better than death later." He reached out and ruffled Jinhyuk's hair with a forced calm.
"Jinhyuk, once the potion kicks in, watch the door and see if anyone comes in," Ilwoo said, not looking back.
He tipped the flask and swallowed. The drink burned cold as it slid down his throat.
Ilwoo's body convulsed. His jaw locked as a ragged groan escaped between clenched teeth. Sweat streamed, stinging his bitten tongue. He clung to the edge of the bed, riding the agony until warmth finally spread through his veins.
Jinhyuk dropped to one knee beside him, pale. "Should I get help?"
Ilwoo shook his head violently, sweat pouring down his face. The pain felt like being dissolved from the inside while simultaneously being struck by lightning.
Minutes passed like hours. His hands clenched into fists so tight his nails drew blood from his palms. Every muscle in his body tensed and shuddered, again and again, and he was thankful the thick stone walls muffled the sounds he couldn't hold back.
Finally, the pain began to ease, replaced by a gentle warmth spreading through his body.
"Finally… damn it," Ilwoo croaked, wiping blood from where he'd bitten his tongue.
The system screen blinked on in front of him, showing his status.
[LEVEL: 21]
[HP: 600/600]
[MP: 312/312]
[SKILLS ACQUIRED:]
[PAIN TOLERANCE Lv2]
[FIRE RESISTANCE Lv1]
[BASIC SWORDSMANSHIP Lv1]
[POISON RESISTANCE Lv1]
He took a few deep breaths as he looked at his status. After drinking the potion, his base stats had increased, and, just as he expected, he gained poison resistance.
He looked at the clay jar of poisoned wine the maid had brought, then picked it up.
"Wait, hyung…" Jinhyuk hesitated, his fingers twitching at his side. His eyes darted to the jar in Ilwoo's hand.
"Are you… trying to test yourself again? You just drank that potion and barely recovered."
Ilwoo met his gaze. The kid was genuinely worried. He might've looked strong on the outside, but inside, he was still a child.
"Don't worry," Ilwoo grinned. "Now that I've built resistance, I want to test how far it goes."
The moment he drank the poisoned wine from the jar, a notification popped up:
[POISON RESISTANCE Lv1 ACTIVATED – PARTIALLY RESISTANT TO POISON]
This time, instead of the sharp pain he'd felt before, a dull numbness spread across his throat.
He ran a hand over his neck, then met Jinhyuk's eyes with a grin. "Told you it'd work."
Jinhyuk let out a tired sigh and gave Ilwoo a small fist bump on the chest. "Seriously, don't do that again."
"Are you okay now?" Jinhyuk asked, concern etched across his face. He'd feared the poison might have harmed Ilwoo, but to his surprise, Ilwoo showed no signs of weakness.
In fact, he looked stronger, sharper, as though the poison had awakened something within him.
A strained smile tugged at Ilwoo's lips. _I'm fine. All we can do now is wait._
"For what?"
"For our hosts to show their true colors." He checked his weapons and equipment, noting that everything felt slightly different, sharper, more responsive.
Jinhyuk moved to the window, peering out at the besieged kingdom. "You really think they're going to try to kill us?"
"I think they've already killed other heroes who came before us. The question is whether it's because those heroes failed, or because they succeeded too well."
As if summoned by his words, the sound of marching feet echoed in the corridor outside their door. Heavy boots, multiple sets, moving with military precision.
"That's not servants bringing dinner," Jinhyuk observed.
"No, it's not." Ilwoo drew his newly acquired Nine-Flame Sword, the blade singing softly as it cleared the sheath.
"Remember what I taught you, don't act like a hero. And if things go bad."
"Run like hell and regroup with the others."
"Good."
The footsteps stopped directly outside their door. Ilwoo pressed himself against the wall beside the entrance, his sword ready.
Through the thick wood, he could hear whispered conversations in a language that definitely wasn't the one King Aldric had been speaking.
Three soft knocks, the kind meant to lull someone into thinking this was a friendly visit.
"Heroes?" A voice called through the door.
"The king requests your immediate presence. There has been a development in the war."
Ilwoo caught Jinhyuk's eye and mouthed:
'Lie.'
The boy nodded and moved to his own position near the window, close enough to escape, far enough to avoid the initial confrontation.
"We'll be right there," Ilwoo called back. "Just give us a moment to gather our equipment."
"I'm afraid the matter is urgent. Please open the door."
"Of course." Ilwoo reached for the handle, then paused. "Oh, and thanks for the warning about the poison in the wine earlier. We really appreciate hosts who look out for their guests' safety."
Silence from the other side.
Then, the sound of steel drawn from sheaths.
"Well," Ilwoo said to Jinhyuk, "that confirms it. Ready for round two?"
Wood shattered inward, splinters flying.
The real trial had arrived.