A week had passed since Luke arrived in that place. During that time, he'd tried asking Samael a few questions, about the tutorial, the system, even bloodlines, but the window for that kind of conversation had long since closed. Those few minutes right after their first encounter had been his one and only chance. It was over now.

Still, some things had become clearer to him. For one, he gained a deeper understanding of how the tutorial itself worked. The gods had interacted with it to a certain extent, adding orbs, placing specific creatures, but not entirely. The core of the tutorial followed a design laid out by the system. Every element tied to the main mission, lords, castles, safe zones, the Wild Zone, the Midnight Wardens, all of that had been generated by the system itself.

The rest? The mantis he encountered, the quest orbs, the random treasure chests, and other curious structures, those were additions from gods who had chosen to invest their power into the experience. The tutorial's map already existed in its core form, but places like the cave with the hidden library and extra rooms had been added because Samael had chosen to enrich the tutorial by placing them there.

That's when it clicked for Luke. The gods didn't actually know what lay inside the castle or beyond it.

His ongoing contact with Samael had a limit, too. That interaction was a one-time thing, just this initial period, and afterward, there'd be no further communication. Not because Samael didn't want to, but because he wouldn't even be able to. The same rule applied to every other god who interacted with participants.

They were allowed to appear only once, unless someone held the formal position of priest within a divine order. Those individuals had access to more regular communication, but even then, they weren't allowed to share more than the bare essentials. And the role of priest wasn't something just anyone could obtain. Only people like Allison or Erza could hold such a title. It was rare.

Either way, no outside help would be coming. Luke had done everything he could to squeeze every bit of information out of Samael, to dig into every possible detail. That was all he was going to get.

Even if he left the cave and collapsed outside with a mortal wound, Samael wouldn't be able to intervene. Because, in truth, Samael wasn't really there. In the end, it became painfully clear. He and the others were truly on their own, trapped in this place.

***

A week had passed since the guest had arrived. Kalysto was in the kitchen, preparing the afternoon tea. Once it was ready, she arranged everything neatly on a silver tray and made her way to the study.

She wasn't there by accident. She served the great Samael, right hand of the Primordial of Darkness, Azazel. She didn't even dare think his name lightly. Most avoided saying it aloud at all, out of fear, reverence… or both. They simply referred to him by his title: the Primordial of Darkness. An ancient being. A destroyer of worlds. Ruler of eras. Conqueror of universes.

And always at his side was Samael.

Kalysto had come from another universe and entered the Primordial's Order as a lowly servant. She had started by sweeping halls, carrying water, extinguishing candles. Slowly, she climbed the invisible stairs of power, step by step, until she earned a position of prestige in the main palace, located on the planet Azazel himself called home.

That was where she received her assignment: to work directly under the Apostle Samael. What others might have seen as an honor, Kalysto saw as a reason for extreme caution.

She knew Samael's reputation well. She had read the reports, heard the testimonies. There were stories of servants executed for sighing at the wrong moment, for stumbling over their words in front of him. Tyrants do not tolerate mistakes. Or disrespect.

"I give up. Studying is boring," Luke said, tossing a book onto the table with a dull thump.

Samael didn't look up. "You're done studying?"

"For now." Luke crossed his arms, clearly frustrated. "I thought witchcraft would be more fun. I know your master's the greatest sorcerer to ever exist, but… why would anyone want to be good at something so boring?"

Boring?

Kalysto froze. Her legs trembled, her stomach turned. The word echoed in her mind, poisonous.

He… he just insulted the Primordial of Darkness.

She swallowed hard, her wide eyes darting between Samael and Luke.

This human… is going to die.

Samael calmly closed his book and rose from his chair.

He's going to be annihilated.

He watched Luke in silence for a moment.

"What are you going to do?" he asked. "You still have to finish my test, don't you?"

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"Do you have chess?" Luke asked.

"Chess? As in… the board game?"

"Yeah. In that dungeon, your master used a chess challenge. Do you have a board here? There's nothing interesting to do in this place," he added, glancing around.

Samael paused for a moment and snapped his fingers. "As it happens, I do have chess. After all, it is the game of kings."

He sat back down, and Luke took the seat across from him.

Kalysto frowned as she watched them setting up the board. That didn't look like a test.

"You still haven't answered whether there's television in other universes," Luke said as he arranged the pieces.

"No."

"If I beat you at chess, will you answer?"

"You'll never beat me at chess."

The game began, the quiet punctuated only by the occasional clack of captured pieces and Luke's scattered taunts. Kalysto quietly placed the tea tray on the table as they went back and forth, talking about things she didn't understand. Hours later, she returned with a plate of snacks.

"I'll admit it—you're really good at chess," Luke said, leaning back in his chair.

"I warned you," Samael replied calmly.

Luke studied him for a moment. "You gave me books… Does that mean your world doesn't have the internet?"

"Internet is primitive," Samael replied without hesitation.

Luke shook his head. "But you can find all the answers on the internet."

"To understand a world governed by a system, you need to grasp a few basic rules. First, you gain experience points by completing tasks, those points are tied to your race level, to be more precise. So yes, even something as simple as reading a book can grant experience."

He leaned back in his chair, speaking as if he were explaining something painfully obvious.

"In societies that run on experience, levels, classes, and professions, everything is built to maximize that gain. Reading strengthens the mind and contributes to progression. The entire multiverse operates on this principle, awakening skills, honing professions, rising through merit and effort."

Luke nodded, surprised by how much sense it made.

Kalysto, watching nearby, couldn't believe how primitive the human was, or the world he had come from. She couldn't understand why they were wasting time on him.

Did this human even realize he was asking some of the dumbest questions imaginable to one of the greatest minds in the multiverse?

She shook her head in silent disapproval.

"Okay, so... you guys don't have YouTube?" Luke pressed.

"There's no use trying to trick a demon with words," Samael replied. "You're just trying to indirectly confirm whether television exists in the multiverse."

"Yes, that was exactly my plan. But now I'm starting to think the multiverse might be kind of a sad place. No Mario Kart... I mean, that would drive anyone insane."

"Still trying to bait me into giving you something."

Samael snapped his fingers. A bottle appeared on the table. He opened it slowly, taking a measured sip.

"I have a question. About Azazel."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop.

He said the name of the Primordial? Just like that? No reverence? No fear?

"What do you want to know?" Samael asked.

"Was he just that black smoke with glowing eyes and a creepy smile, like some weird emoji... or does he have a physical form, like you?"

Kalysto bumped into a pile of books, knocking them to the floor. Her hand began to tremble. Sweat slid down her temple. Her legs barely held her upright.

He questioned the divine form of a Primordial.

"That's a little too personal. I can't answer that," Samael replied calmly.

He's going to be killed.

Even if Samael couldn't touch him here because of the rules, she was certain, this human was going to be erased from existence. Yet the two of them kept talking as if nothing had happened. As if Luke hadn't just committed an unthinkable offense.

Kalysto, however, felt it more deeply with each passing moment. This human wasn't just foolish. He was recklessly disrespectful. Dangerous. At some point, Luke returned to reading. Just like that.

Kalysto walked in with a tray and placed two plates on the table. One large and carefully prepared, clearly meant for Artemis. The other was small and clearly thrown together, meant for Luke.

"I prepared this especially for you, Lady Artemis," she said with a respectful smile.

"I also served the leftovers for you, guest," she added, flashing Luke a smile that was anything but warm. She offered a subtle, formal bow.

If there was one thing that had truly brought Kalysto joy in recent days, it was seeing Artemis again. Her position in the palace had often brought her into direct contact with Lady Artemis, and everyone who served there adored working under her leadership.

Lady Artemis was wise, kind, brilliant, and gracious.

So why was she wasting her time with this foolish human?

"Hey, Luke. Could you add a few more books into the necklace?" Artemis asked sweetly.

"No."

Kalysto felt a sudden sting in her chest. A flash of anger.

"But why? I'm being quiet. I'm not even bothering you," Artemis insisted.

"You've been quiet for... one minute. And now you just broke that silence," he replied, eyes still locked on the page.

"Then I'll start singing Dragon Ball songs again."

"How do you know all the songs?"

"I told you, I had access to some of your memories."

"If you start singing again, I'll empty the necklace and toss you back into the inventory."

"What? You wouldn't!"

He smiled. "Oh, I would. Actually, that's a great idea. That's exactly what I'm going to do."

"You're so mean... I promise I'll stay quiet, okay? Just throw in a few books… and let me have some of those canned meals you packed."

"No. You'll devour my supplies."

As Artemis made the sound of an imaginary pout and Luke casually returned to his reading, Kalysto watched them from a distance.

Her anger kept building.

She turned and left the room, unable to bear another moment of the human's insolence. But more than that, she still didn't understand why her Lady was being so... friendly toward him.

"He has the honor of speaking with Lady Artemis. He should be kissing the ground just to hear her voice," Kalysto muttered bitterly as she walked down the corridor of that strange place.

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