Chapter 89: Paracelsus’s Research Lab (1)

Ding-dong!

<Paracelsus’s Research Lab is an infinite space that extends endlessly horizontally and has no floor vertically.>  

<The great trophies of His Majesty the Great Sage King Maslow, who once ruled the continent of Lockpia, are stored here in Paracelsus’s Research Lab.>

Almost the exact same message I saw the first time I stepped into Morgue’s Magical Warehouse.  

It’s not even plagiarism anymore; it’s straight-up copy-paste.

Then the lab entrance began to open.

CLANG~! RRRRRRR!

The thick steel bulkheads parted left and right.

Pitch-black interior, like a blackout curtain had been drawn.

Exactly like the warehouse.

A barrier spell that prevents anyone outside from seeing in.

Lee Geuk was the first to step inside.

“Quite the high-tech place for something so out of character. Heh heh heh.”

Hands behind his back, he strolled in casually.

Jeanne and I followed.

The moment we crossed the threshold.

RIPPP— RIIIIIP—

It felt like tearing through transparent plastic wrap.

The same sensation as entering the warehouse for the first time.

The darkness instantly gave way to blinding light.

A mechanical voice echoed from the lab speakers.

<You have entered the “Safety Zone” of Paracelsus’s Research Lab.>

“Safety Zone?”

A hologram guideboard appeared before us.

HUM—

<Welcome to Paracelsus’s Research Lab. The lab consists of five zones. Please keep this in mind to avoid any unfortunate incidents.>

[Paracelsus’s Research Lab Zone Map]

1F: Safety Zone 

– 2F: Observation Zone  

– 3F: Unrest Zone 

– 4F: Fear Zone  

– 5F: Incomprehensible Zone

An interface I knew all too well.

I read the words on the hologram.

“Safety… Observation… Unrest… Fear… Incomprehensible…”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

They literally just translated the warehouse’s zone names into English.

Safety → Safety  

Observation → Observation  

Unrest → Unrest  

Fear → Fear 

Incomprehensible → Incomprehensible

I looked around.

The interior was far larger than it appeared from outside.

The size of a dozen baseball stadiums combined.

Of course, still nothing compared to the warehouse.

But Paracelsus’s lab looked much more modern.

White lighting, spotless marble floors.

Thousands of research tables and display cases everywhere.

Befitting the name “research lab,” there were flasks, microscopes, reagent bottles, Bunsen burners, beakers—every kind of lab equipment imaginable.

Lee Geuk, surveying the area, spoke up.

“Cleaner than I expected. And everything on display over there looks like artifacts.”

He pointed to rows of glass-walled compartments that stretched endlessly.

Square chambers sealed with thick glass, lining the walls like bricks.

I examined them one by one.

“Hm?”

Artifacts floated inside anti-gravity fields.

At that moment.

FLIP-FLIP-FLIP-FLIP-FLIP!

My Feedback log began flipping like mad.

Dozens of pages popped up at once.

<Fate’s Thread Spindle>

– Storage No.: MRG-1290

5  

– Grade: Observation 

※ This item has been stolen.

<Polluted Phoenix Feather>

– Storage No.: MRG-77912 

– Grade: Safe  

※ This item has been stolen.

<Ancient Demon Totem> 

– Storage No.: MRG-274 

– Grade: Observation  

※ This item has been stolen.

<Heart of the One Born from Flames>

– Storage No.: MRG-5887  

– Grade: Unrest  

※ This item has been stolen.

“…”

Every single artifact had a storage number and grade.

And in red letters:

※ This item has been stolen.

So it’s not just plagiarism—you actually robbed the place?

The tens of thousands of artifacts filling the lab.

Most of them were stolen straight from Morgue’s Magical Warehouse.

Not only did they steal Sorcerer Emperor ‘T’s belongings, they put them on proud display in a knockoff warehouse.

It felt like a direct taunt.

Lee Geuk, still looking at the artifacts, commented,

“Every one of them is incredible. If the Association knew, they’d come running with eyes blazing.”

Yet he himself seemed only mildly interested, like a sage observing curiosities.

Then a familiar, weary voice came from the speakers.

[Congratulations… The fact that you made it here… means you passed the trial…]

A voice dripping with boredom and lethargy.

The plague-doctor-masked administrator appeared as a hologram.

[Three… out of five survived. That’s actually pretty good…  

As promised… I will now give you the antidote…]

She clapped.

CLANK— WHIRRRR!

The center of a research table opened, and three flasks containing pink liquid rose up.

[Once you drink it… I will open the gate to the next floor… I made it strawberry-flavored for your enjoyment… Then farewell… I must return to my research quickly…]

With that, the hologram vanished.

We approached the table.

A sweet strawberry scent wafted from the flasks.

But no one touched them right away.

Was this really an antidote?

We were still inside a dungeon.

Could we trust the words of the Pathological Safety Needs administrator—a monster?

There was no way to know if the pink liquid was medicine or poison.

Then.

[Master. I will drink first.]

Jeanne stepped forward and reached for a flask.

But.

GRAB!

I caught her wrist.

“No need. I’ll go first.”

Jeanne’s eyes widened as she looked at me.

A soft smile formed on her lips.

[I am honored that Master worries for me. But it is fine. After all…]

Because she’s a Death Knight—poison can’t kill her. That’s what she was about to say.

That was exactly why I stopped her.

Poison doesn’t work on Death Knights.

So even if she played royal taster, we wouldn’t know if it was safe.

There was only one way to find out.

I grabbed a flask and chugged it.

GLUG— GLUG— GLUG— GLUG—

Strawberry flavor flooded my mouth.

Soon a bubbling sensation slid down my throat.

Lee Geuk shouted urgently,

“How could you be so reckless! Do you feel anything wrong? Even the slightest change—tell me! I have antidotes and healing potions!”

“I’m fine. There’s a beggar in my stomach.”

“…Heh. You still have the leisure to joke, so it can’t be lethal poison.”

He took it as a joke.

But I was serious.

Because there really was a beggar inside me.

Flutter—

<Belly Beggar>  

– Storage No.: MRG-58142  

– Grade: Safe  

A tiny humanoid parasite that lives in the host’s stomach and steals food.  

To keep the host healthy, it consumes and neutralizes all harmful substances.

[Delicious… delicious… delicious… more… more… more… more…]

It was asking for seconds—definitely not poison.

If it had been harmful, it would’ve nagged like a mom: Don’t eat this! Think of your nutrition!

I turned to Lee Geuk.

“No poison. You can drink safely.”

“Heh heh… So you even have a detection skill? Truly a man of many talents.”

Lee Geuk and Jeanne drank their flasks.

Mana exploded around them like a storm.

KRRRRRRRRRRR—!

Not only the virus—the weakening curse was completely lifted too.

At the same time.

Ding-dong!

<You have cleared the 2nd Hierarchy: Safety Needs!>

A gate to the next floor appeared in the center of the lab.

“You’ve saved me twice now, Hasang. Thank you.”

Lee Geuk clasped my hand.

“I will definitely repay this debt. So stay alive.”

With those words, he stepped through the gate and vanished.

Jeanne approached the gate next.

Her appearance had returned to normal.

“Master. This time, allow me to take the lead.”

“Wait.”

I looked around, smiling.

Countless artifacts and bizarre creatures everywhere.

“…There’s no way I’m leaving all this behind, right?”