〇 About the Dungeon

Noctia—a city casting a massive shadow over its own underground.

Deep beneath its streets lies a colossal labyrinth.

This labyrinth is a living entity; its corridors and chambers writhe and shift. The further an explorer ventures, the more the terrain, structure, traps, and monster placements change.

Paths once taken vanish, new levels sprout where dead ends used to be, and escape routes are severed by design.

Monsters are also part of the labyrinth; even if defeated, they reappear in different forms after a time. The dungeon learns from intruders, spawning more vicious enemies for those who prove strong.

Because of this, the labyrinth is feared as a place that "grows stronger the more it is conquered," and not a single soul who has challenged its depths has ever returned to the surface.

However, what this "Living Labyrinth" truly feeds on is neither strength nor mana.

It is the negative emotions born within humans—fear, anger, regret, and hatred.

The labyrinth senses these keenly. If someone harbors strong negative emotions, the structure warps around them, sealing them inside a sequestered sector.

It is not a trap meant to kill. It is a prison designed to keep them confined until their emotions are spent.

With a mix of awe and irony, people call it the "Living Labyrinth."

Guest and the party, including the mage Noah, were no exception. The moment they stepped into the deep layers, the dungeon pulsed violently.

The floor warped, walls rose, and the passage was torn asunder without a sound.

By the time they realized what had happened, Guest and Noah were completely separated from their companions, trapped alone in a sector with no exit.

As long as Noah continues to hate Guest, they can never leave this dungeon.