Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: The True Powerhouse (1)
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Welcoming him into the domain, Kim Gongja continued speaking.
[Anyone who enters this place must have either received Emperor Hwan's approval, possess the power to force him, or be Emperor Hwan himself who broke his promise. One of those three.]
He was calling Master Jeonghye "Emperor Hwan."
'This space must have been created before she took refuge in Buddhism. Long before I was even born...'
That made sense.
His youthful appearance supported it.
And he even showed a lack of complete trust in Master Jeonghye.
That meant trust hadn't fully built up yet.
[Well, whichever it is, I don't mind. Even I know I can't control every variable as a human. Haha!]
His words overflowed with leisure.
It didn't matter who you were.
That confidence shone through plainly.
Watching his young father's hearty laugh felt both unfamiliar and pleasant.
[Let me say it again: this is my domain.]
Domain.
A space designed for a specific Awakener's abilities to be maximized.
Wuuung—
The light surrounding Kim Gongja's body flared intensely.
From what should have been warm light flowed chilling sword intent, filling the passage.
Light Sword Energy Manifestation.
The tangible light rippled with energy surpassing sword ki.
'...!'
In an instant, the passage transformed like a powder keg on the verge of explosion.
A flashy yet practical method.
How many in the world could dodge the baptism of light pouring from all directions?
Especially in such a narrow passage.
It was a clear show of force and direct threat.
"......"
And shortly after.
The light sword energy faded and returned to Kim Gongja.
Kim Gongja, with a relaxed smile on his lips, continued.
[No matter who you are, if you want something from this place, follow my rules without question. Remember, if you break them, the consequences are entirely on you.]
It was the absolute confidence of someone who had reached the pinnacle of the world.
Kim Gunja acknowledged it but couldn't shake off a sense of incongruity.
'Rules? Obtaining something...?'
The letter hadn't mentioned that.
Master Jeonghye had only said to visit if he wanted to know about his father.
If she'd helped create this place, she couldn't have been unaware.
So why hadn't she mentioned it at all?
He couldn't help but wonder.
'...There must be a reason.'
Kim Gunja decided to think that way.
Master Jeonghye was someone who had kept her promise to his father until the very end.
It didn't make sense for her to set him up for harm.
Still curious, he ventured a question.
"There's one thing... I'd like to ask."
But.
[Then let me explain. This place was made for my descendants in case something happens to me. Each room has a trial, and passing them earns you the right to my legacy. How's that? Simple, right?]
His father rattled off his explanation without acknowledging the question.
He could feel ignored, but the timing was oddly off.
His earlier reaction seemed like he hadn't even registered the words.
'No way...'
Doubt arose, and Kim Gunja sensed a subtle misalignment.
His gaze.
He wouldn't have noticed without suspicion.
The gaze was slightly off.
'This is...?'
The projected Kim Gongja seemed to look right at him.
But it also felt like he was staring at the entire passage.
Kim Gunja sidestepped left, pressed against the wall, and looked again.
And he realized.
'An optical illusion from light refraction.'
The projection was crafted so meticulously that from any angle, it felt like he was being watched.
'So that's it...'
Only then did Kim Gunja truly understand.
This was just an intricately programmed hologram or recording.
Even that alone was impressive.
No one in the world could create such a space using their unique trait.
This was the fusion of Kim Gongja's light-manipulating unique trait and Emperor Hwan's, the pinnacle barrier sorceress's, abilities.
'Incredible...'
He admired it, but a twinge of regret was inevitable.
No real conversation possible.
It probably only reacted to set sounds, wavelengths, or movements.
[Alright, then. First trial time. Don't be nervous. It's easy. Haha!]
...What was so exciting?
His young father's excited demeanor differed greatly from the somewhat shadowed figure in his memories.
[A question! Who am I?]
"What...?"
For an "easy trial," this was too straightforward.
"...Kim Gongja?"
He answered with a hint of absurdity.
Then, a beaming smile appeared.
[Pass! Haha! I knew no one in the world would forget me, even after time passes. I am pretty amazing, huh? Hahaha!]
"......"
He had no idea.
His young father had been so full of self-love.
Watching him laugh heartily, a slight thought crossed his mind.
'Could Master Jeonghye have told me about this place to show me the father I never knew...?'
That suspicion arose.
Kim Gongja's form dissolved into a beam of light and seeped into the white door.
Srrrrung—
Thus, the first door opened.
"......"
He wondered if this was okay, but there was no reason not to enter.
Kim Gunja stepped forward.
With a bit of excitement.
#
The first room.
There sat a single magic stone about the size of a person.
"......A magic stone this big...?"
He couldn't even guess what gate needed clearing to drop something like this.
Even the largest S-rank magic stones were only head-sized.
As Kim Gunja marveled, Kim Gongja appeared beside him with light, grinning as he explained.
[In my era, we didn't have tech to utilize something this big yet. Too ahead of the times. By a few decades, you'd have it, right? Use it well. If not... well, that's a shame. Haha!]
Summary: I gave it, figure it out.
Heavy on self-praise.
"...Sounds plausible."
He knew it couldn't hear.
Just wanted to pretend they were talking.
[Take the magic stone and go, or challenge the next room's trial. But you can't come back here. Your choice.]
With that, the projection vanished.
Thinking how cheerful he was, Kim Gunja eyed the magic stone.
Too massive for modern tech to process reliably.
But he didn't care much about modern tech.
He had the Majesty Ring.
Kim Gunja placed his ringed hand on the super-sized magic stone.
Bright light flashed, and an alert appeared.
"Cough..."
Even prowling S-rank gates, he'd barely scrape 10,000 points a month.
One magic stone for 20,000?
Considering recent plummeting conversion rates, this was a windfall.
"Convert to points."
Instantly, the magic stone's energy was fully absorbed into the Majesty Ring.
Finishing absorption, Kim Gunja eyed the door to the next room.
Having tasted points(?), no reason to leave.
As he approached the next door, a question arose.
'Made for descendants, yet why bother with trials per room?'
Maybe distrust of Master Jeonghye.
Or reluctance to just hand it over.
Reaching the door, a flash brought Kim Gongja back.
"Ah..."
Kim Gunja's pupils dilated slightly.
The father's face looked a bit older than before.
Time had passed.
[Hm. You're probably wondering that right now, huh? Why trials if it's for descendants?]
Kim Gunja flinched, hit spot-on.
[Back then, I thought it'd be fun. Made it seem grand too. Immature, yeah.]
Scratching his cheek, he resembled the habit Kim Gunja showed when embarrassed in public.
[Still, not changing it. I know from experience how dangerous unqualified people with power are. Better a childish check than none.]
Grinning, experience and maturity flowed from him, absent before.
[One thing in advance.]
Unlike the first trial, Kim Gongja grew serious.
[The upcoming trials are nothing like the first. Fail, and you could lose your life. Extremely dangerous.]
Death mid-trial.
That alone sank the mood.
Kim Gongja gave a bitter smile.
[Blame my limits. Leaving power remnants to form a domain isn't easy; couldn't refine the trials perfectly.]
With that, the projection asked.
[Still... will you take the second trial?]
Genuine concern.
Though just a projection, it conveyed the original emotion fully.
Kim Gunja's lips curved slightly.
A strange feeling.
'Similar, yet... different.'
In the Customizing Room upgrades, only mechanical system voices.
Austin kept distance.
'But now...'
Even if recorded.
Human worry transmitted directly.
Not bad.
Maybe more so because it was his father.
Kim Gunja answered.
"Yes, I'll take the trial."
He already guessed the trial type.
Couldn't refine it.
Meant simple.
Simple trials were limited.
'Probably gauging physical or mana levels.'
Had to be.
Unqualified might die.
[...Good. Begin. Place hand on door, draw up mana.]
The projection turned to light and seeped into the door.
"Hoo..."
No doubt of failure.
But tension inevitable.
Gauging him was the power of the world's former No. 1.
Kim Gunja placed hand on the glowing white door.
Activated Heaven-Shattering Divine Art, dark mana, holy lightning.
Physical and mana levels rose rapidly.
Wuuung—!
'This should be enough...'
As he thought it'd pass—
Kim Gongja's voice echoed.
[Give it your all. If you don't want to die.]
Recorded voice.
Knew it was perfunctory.
Yet.
Chills ran down his spine.
'...Just in case.'
Startled, Kim Gunja opened Kaisir's Heart too.
Mana poured like a waterfall, surging through circuits.
Multicolored haze rose from his body, levels climbing higher.
At that moment.
He sensed mysterious power concentrating on his palm against the door.
Indescribable, entirely new force.
'W-Wait...'
Anxious from the overwhelming power, as he tried pulling out Yongrin—
Blinding flash from the door.
Immense energy light climbed his arm.
Collided head-on with his raised power.
Kwaang!
Felt like lightning before his eyes.
Collisions didn't stop.
Kwaaang! Kwaang! Kwaaang!
"......!!"
Explosions and light burst from his body, room blinding white.
Kwaaaaang!!
Final, strongest clash. Silence fell.
"Cough..."
Amid fading glow, Kim Gunja emerged, black smoke rising from his body.
As he wore a dumbfounded expression—
Srrrrung—
The door to the second room opened gently.
As if apologizing to the charred Kim Gunja.