[Reflections on Interplanetary Relations, Law Z-10001-1] Not long ago, an apostle of a high-ranking god posed a question to me regarding the Dimensional Witches. Given the antiquity of this matter and its relative obscurity, many lower-ranking gods, Great Warriors, and apostles are unfamiliar with the related laws and restrictions. Dimensional Witches are exceptionally rare entities; their total sum throughout the entire universe could be counted on a single hand. These beings observe innumerable dimensions, discerning the ebb and flow of their currents. This ability to observe is closely intertwined with the powers and responsibilities of the different gods. By entering into a contract with a Dimensional Witch, a god gains the capacity to perceive the intricate shifts of countless worlds and, in times of need, even entrust governance to each planet. Despite the immense demand for a contract, the limited number of Dimensional Witches meant that only the most prominent and highest-ranking gods could ever hope to form such contracts, even in the past. While they could not openly exert dominance, one could argue that, aside from the Tower of Ordeal, they were the sole beings whom even gods had to bow to. However, as tensions escalated among the gods whenever a newly born Dimensional Witch emerged, the highest-ranking among them chose to implement legal measures to suppress further discord. Thus, they decreed that any Dimensional Witch, upon the moment of their birth, would be confined within the Tower of Ordeal. Such a decision was only possible because the highest-ranking gods had already secured their own contracts with Dimensional Witches. There was some opposition, yet the lower-ranking gods had no means to overturn the ruling. Furthermore, the official justification—that the measure would curtail reckless warfare while providing new gods with greater opportunities—helped solidify its acceptance. Yet, those acquainted with Law G-14823-1 would undoubtedly recognize the underlying truth. This decree ensured that no additional Dimensional Witches, or contractors of said Dimensional Witches, would ever come into existence. For this reason, I am certain that the number of Dimensional Witches will never increase. Imprisoned within a dimension from which escape is utterly impossible without external help, new Dimensional Witches will fade away into obscurity. With Law G-14823-1 rendering it infeasible for challengers to emerge, the likelihood of someone appearing with the sole purpose of aiding a Dimensional Witch dwindles to nothingness. Recent developments serve only to reinforce this reality. Even the Sky of the Nine Heavens, an entity expanding its dominion at a terrifying pace, has proven incapable of releasing a Dimensional Witch. Long ago, I recall hearing that, when the highest-ranking gods imposed these restrictions, they offered a supposed “lifetime contract” as a form of compensation. But to what end that will do anything, I cannot say. Moreover, if I were to speculate, I would wager the answer will remain forever unknown. More than a thousand years, then another, and yet another have passed, and no new contractors of a Dimensional Witch have ever emerged. The message slowly refreshed. [Additionally, eighty percent of the restrictions imposed on Princess Natalie Marlene will be transferred to the challenger.] [From this point forward, Princess Natalie Marlene will resist leaving the castle and perceive you as an enemy.] [Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok will be immobilized for ten minutes, effective immediately.] Ah. So this is the cruel twist lurking at the end. It didn’t take me long to grasp what was happening. Most challengers would have either assigned every restriction to Natalie or split them evenly. On the other hand, I had chosen to take them all myself instead. Realistically, enduring every restriction while escaping the castle would be nearly impossible. Even worse, just before the end, those accumulated burdens they had assumed they had avoided would be forcefully dumped back onto the challenger. Natalie lacked any means to fight, so she would likely flee with all her might. Who knew how long it would take the challenger to find her in this massive castle? Probably more than the eighteen hours allotted to the floor. This is downright vicious. Thankfully, I could still move using Master of Shadows, but that wouldn’t be available to everyone. If the challenger were unlucky enough to be entirely incapacitated, there would be nothing they could do. For most challengers, this trial was essentially a death sentence. Well, for me...not much has changed. I had already burdened myself with every restriction, so it wasn’t as if Natalie had any to share with me. Still, if there turned out not to be a hidden mission, maybe sharing the burden would have been better. No. That isn’t right. At first, my decision had been about the hidden mission, but after experiencing the pain firsthand, my reasoning had shifted. I simply couldn’t bring myself to let Natalie experience that. Besides, whether a hidden mission existed or not was still uncertain. Some only revealed themselves once the floor ended. I glanced over at Natalie. This trial isn’t just brutal for me, though. It is cruel to her as well. Who knew how long she had been trapped here, without food and conversation? Moreover, the tower was forcibly rewriting her memories, seemingly at a whim. Her golden eyes, unfocused and hazy, stared blankly into nothing, as if something was being forcefully etched into her mind. Soon, she would run. A sick feeling settled in my stomach. We hadn’t known each other for long, but the thought of our time together being rewritten against her will felt sad and disturbing. I couldn’t help but become slightly despondent in this moment. Despite my countless powerful skills, experience, and overwhelming strength, none of that could help me in this moment. Floors weren’t something I could change on a whim. It is painful, but my only option is to catch her and take her out of here as quickly as possible. Then, the blankness in her golden eyes faded. She looked the same, yet her presence felt different. As her gaze focused on me, that feeling only grew stronger. The innocent, naive princess was now gone. Instead, her expression carried a calculating sharpness. Unlike what the tower had promised, however, her gaze didn’t carry any hostility. After a long, uncertain pause, she uttered, “Thank you. Truly.” Even her voice carried a different weight. This wasn’t what I had expected. I had braced myself for resistance, maybe even outright aggression. Confused, my thoughts raced. Is this a hidden mission? Did taking all the restrictions prevent her from losing her memories? Before I could fully process the situation, another message appeared. [Future Dimensional Witch Natalie Marlene’s affinity toward Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok exceeds the measurable limit.] [Future Dimensional Witch Natalie Marlene resists the mental manipulation. The dimension restraining her has begun to collapse.] [The restrictions imposed on Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok have been lifted.] A strange energy radiated from Natalie, and simultaneously, the ice castle began to glow with a brilliant, resplendent light. The pain that had plagued my body vanished, and sensation returned to my limbs. The sudden relief and the return of control almost felt intoxicating. For a moment, I simply stood there, dazed, enthralled by the transformation taking place around me. The once dull, ashen ice now gleamed with crystalline clarity. The grayish frost that had coated the walls swirled into the air, dissolving like scattered dust. I felt a hand take mine. Even though I was wearing my gauntlet, the hand’s warmth seeped through it. Amidst the falling shards of ice, Natalie clasped my hand. “You had to endure so much, didn’t you? It’s all right now.” “Wait, weren’t your memories edited?” “They were, but thanks to you, I broke through.” So it really was a hidden mission. Natalie smiled softly and took a firm step forward. Then, lining her feet up, she lifted the back one before spinning lightly on the sole of her foot. With a bright, carefree smile, she pulled me forward. “Let’s go.” For the first time, I followed rather than led. Until now, I had guided her through the icy fortress, but now, she was the one leading me out. Somehow, that felt significant. As the girl stepped outside, she was met with a vast expanse of light—a blank slate. Her dimension had existed as nothing but an empty void for ages. Now that the force imprisoning her had been shattered, however, it was hers to shape. For the first time, she realized just how long she had been trapped here and the reason why. She turned to look back at her knight, the one who had shattered the prison that held her captive. He was also the one who had endured unbearable suffering for her sake, willingly taking on burdens that could have cost him his life. A distant memory surfaced of her mother’s words from long ago that spoke of a savior. His face, once twisted in agony, was now oddly blank as he gazed into the endless and radiant void. Natalie found that rather endearing. There were many words to describe him—liberator, savior—but none of them felt quite right to her. Even calling him her prince felt childish. That had been the title she had used when this place still shackled her. So what should she call him? She pondered for a moment, then realized even in this vast, glowing abyss, he shone brighter than anything else. Yes. That suited him. With a small nod to herself, she made up her mind. She understood her destiny as a Dimensional Witch. A lifetime contract would be best. That is the only one that fits. She had no desire to share her power with other gods, especially since they had played a role in her imprisonment. Tightening her grip around his hand, she relished the cool texture of his gauntlet. Even though she still didn’t know much about her powers, for him, she would do anything. It will probably take time. That didn’t trouble her, though. Her light would never fade. She stretched out her hand and began shaping her dimension. The blinding radiance faded, replaced by a vast, pristine snowfield. A single, delicate flower bloomed upon the untouched ground. The once-oppressive ice castle shrank into something small and quaint. Kwon Su-Hyeok’s eyes widened at the unexpected transformation. “Huh? Did you do that?” Seeing the surprise on his face filled her with a quiet sense of satisfaction. Instead of answering, she responded with a faint smile. Although I may have been trapped here all this time, I am actually really strong. Just wait a little longer. I will help you. Even if it costs me my life. She swallowed the words before they could leave her lips. For the briefest moment, she had glimpsed his past. He cared deeply for others. If she had decided to say something like that, he would have probably brushed it off awkwardly with an excuse that he had only saved her for his own benefit. Of course, she already knew that his choices had been driven by more than just her well-being and that he had been searching for hidden rewards within the trial. None of that would have been possible if he hadn’t been someone who genuinely worried about her, though. After all, out of everyone who had ever stepped into this place, no one had ever acted as he had. A sharp glint flashed across her golden eyes as she pressed a fingernail against her thumb, drawing a thin line of blood. It was almost time for him to leave. Almost time for her to seal their contract. “Take off your gauntlet.” “Hurry,” she said firmly. Though clearly confused, he hesitated for only a moment before complying, slipping the gauntlet off his hand. Wordlessly, she imbued her fingernail with mana and left a small cut on his palm. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have been able to do such a thing. They were in her dimension, though—here, the rules bent to her will. She placed her bleeding thumb against his wound. Their blood mingled, and a feeling of warmth ran up their arms. The contract was complete. Strictly speaking, she hadn’t needed to exchange blood with him, but it acted as an added safeguard. He was the first and the last person she would ever form a contract with. From now on, no matter where he went, and no matter what dimension he was lost or trapped in, she would always be able to find him. He briefly glanced at the air beside him and narrowed his eyes in suspicion. In an urgent tone, he asked, “What just happened? Something magical just passed between us.” She felt a pang of sadness as she realized that his departure was imminent. “Didn’t I tell you? My mother was a Dimensional Witch. I am, too.” “And by doing this contract, what exactly happens?” A teasing glint flickered in her golden eyes. “Hmm, well! A lot of things, actually. Just not right away. I still need to grow a bit more.” Kwon Su-Hyeok furrowed his brow as he contemplated deeply, his thoughts flickering behind his eyes. She knew that look. He was already calculating how this could be useful in the future. Even at a moment , he was thinking ahead. It made her feel a little mischievous, but she didn’t let it show. “Oppa, will you come back here?” “I know you have a portal thingy. This place isn’t far from where you are.” He reacted, startled. “How do you know that?” Unwaveringly holding his gaze, she didn’t give him time to dwell on it. “That’s a secret. So? Will you come back?” “Umm, I guess I can,” he said at last. “You have to—” Her lips parted to say more, but in an instant, he vanished. The words hung unfinished in the air. She pouted slightly as irritation bubbled in her chest. I wasn’t even done saying goodbye. “Bye,” she murmured belatedly. She stared at the empty space where he had been. Then, she quietly calculated the likelihood that he would return soon. The odds weren’t in her favor, and he probably wouldn’t. That was fine because if he didn’t come to her, she would just go to him. “Mm, if he won’t come back, I’ll just find him myself!” A bright determination filled her expression as she turned toward her castle. 「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has exceeded his limits, achieving remarkable feats despite the restrictions of pain and paralysis. His skills have leveled up. Master of Shadows is now lvl 14. Indomitability is now lvl 21. Combat Focus is now lvl 22. Wind’s Route is now lvl 9. Clarity of Mind is now lvl 3.」 「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has freed the captive future Dimensional Witch, Natalie Marlene. His skill has leveled up. Savior is now lvl 9.」 「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has entered an exclusive, lifelong contract with the future Dimensional Witch, Natalie Marlene. All stats increased by 4.」