Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: How Strong, I Wonder?
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"Come to think of it, how strong is he?"
It was a question tossed out not just to Lucille, but to everyone around.
Park Cheon-ho's strength.
Unlike the angels who had joined at the forge, Silikiel had already linked up with Cheon-ho before the battle with the Winter King.
Cheon-ho had been strong even before facing the Winter King, but honestly, it hadn't stood out that much back then.
Mid-to-upper mid-layer level strength.
Considering the time Cheon-ho had spent active in the Great Labyrinth, that alone was already extraordinarily impressive.
But the fight with the Winter King had changed him.
After returning from the Hero's Tomb in the capital Aiterium, his aura had shifted noticeably, and his spar with Makina had brought about truly explosive growth.
How strong was Cheon-ho now?
What level had he reached?
"Top of the mid-layer ranks, maybe?"
Liliel, the leader of the search party angels, opened the discussion, and opinions poured in from all sides.
"Top ten?"
"But Kamael would still be stronger, right?"
"Not at Master Muto's level, the mid-layer's strongest. Not yet."
"But stronger than a 3rd Rank Combat Angel, at least?"
"That's obvious."
The main voices came from the search party angels and the heroes.
That made sense, since the three angels who'd stuck with Cheon-ho from the start and Saschiell's group had never even laid eyes on the mid-layer powerhouses they were talking about.
The three angels were newbies who'd entered the Great Labyrinth around the same time as Cheon-ho, and Saschiell's crew had only operated in the lower layers.
"Senior, that Kamael..."
"Yeah, the strongest among the 3rd Rank Combat Angels."
Eizel asked quietly, and Aurael replied just as softly.
Raguel narrowed her eyes.
"Hmm, so top ranks even on the 15th floor, right?"
"Yeah."
"Top of the mid-layer. A bit vague, but that's the safest bet."
Liliel and Silikiel answered in turn.
The 15th floor.
Among the ten mid-layer floors, the 15th held special significance.
Not just because it was the last of the mid-layers.
The 15th floor was on a whole different level from the others.
For starters, the evil gods were different. Unlike the independent warlords scattered across the other mid-layers, the evil gods of the 15th floor served directly under the Demon God.
Even the Winter King was treated like a rookie among them.
Ancient, powerful beings.
They attacked the center of the 15th floor every single day.
To sever the passage connecting to the deep layers and isolate the frontline assault teams.
With that kind of onslaught to repel, the angels and heroes on the 15th naturally had to be top-tier.
True reverse heroes, in a way.
Among them, the strongest, the otherworld hero Muto, had the skills to join the deep-layer assault but chose to stay in the mid-layers to defend the 15th.
Kamael, the top 3rd Rank Combat Angel, was in a similar boat.
"It changes that much starting from the 15th?"
"It does. That's why Lucillia and I stuck to the 14th."
Silikiel gave a wry smile in response to Eizel's question.
Excluding the 15th, the rest of the mid-layers and all the lower layers served as training grounds for the good gods' forces.
Places to cultivate angels and heroes strong enough for assault teams.
That's why anyone not up to par wasn't sent to the 15th—they'd just die pointlessly.
"More than half the mid-layer forces are concentrated on that one floor. Not an exaggeration."
Most good-god aligned beings in the mid-layers resided on the 15th.
A literal battlefield.
Pulling forces from it wasn't easy. Even with the Winter King's uprising, the Goddess of Healing hadn't mobilized any 15th-floor angels or heroes for that reason.
'Of course... if even the Hero had fallen, they would've moved the 15th.'
Silikiel murmured inwardly, then continued explaining to the wide-eyed Eizel.
"Anyway, the Hero's definitely top-tier on the 15th. Top five might be a stretch, but top ten for sure."
"Wow."
Top ten on the 15th floor.
What that meant.
The angels and heroes all turned to look at the same spot.
The direction of the room where Cheon-ho slept.
* * *
At the same time, Cheon-ho stood face-to-face with Mitra.
Not in reality, but in the mental world.
[Hehehe.]
Mitra grinned foolishly, cheeks flushed red.
The reason was simple.
She was wearing the outfit Cheon-ho's mother had gifted her.
[How do I look? D-Do I suit it?]
She asked, twisting her body coyly.
A white suit.
Her usual attire had a uniform feel, but this one, while uniform-inspired, emphasized femininity far more.
Pants had been swapped for a skirt, with plenty of lace decorations. The chest was slightly scooped too.
"Hmm."
Cheon-ho eyed Mitra seriously. And thought:
'She's so cute.'
Cheon-ho had undergone explosive growth lately, but honestly, Mitra hadn't changed much.
That made sense—the awakening of the sun's power from meeting Leon and the completion of the Sword of Dawn both applied only to Cheon-ho.
No magic swords absorbed in the interim, so Mitra's appearance was largely unchanged.
A girl in her early to mid-teens, looking even younger than Eizel.
Yet the outfit was strikingly mature. After all, Cheon-ho's mother had seen the golden-eyed woman who was Mitra's true essence.
She'd picked clothes to suit that mature, golden-eyed beauty, so they naturally clashed with a young girl's frame.
'But this somehow...'
They said a good rack makes anything work, and the mismatch created an appealing gap instead.
[W-Why are you looking like that? It doesn't suit me?]
Mitra asked anxiously, and Cheon-ho shook his head.
"No, it suits you perfectly. You're adorable."
[R-Really? Hehe.]
Mitra usually denied being cute with a huff, but this time she blushed and beamed.
She must really love the gift.
[Hehehe.]
Mitra spread the hem of her skirt slightly and admired herself. She even spun slowly in place.
"Should we open the clothing box too?"
[N-No, later. Much later. I want to savor it.]
She never really showed it since she didn't eat, but Mitra was the type to save the best for last.
The kind who rations strawberries on a cake until the very end.
'I'll have to learn how to make wearable clothes in the mental world later.'
She was enjoying it so much.
A rewarding reaction for the gifter.
[Anyway, my liege, today is truly, truly wonderful.]
Mitra spread her arms wide, counting on her fingers.
[You've forged the Sword of Dawn, grown so much stronger, received a new carrier from your mother, resolved the Goddess of Healing's request, claimed the Primordial Forge. Oh, and a gift outfit too. I'm overjoyed.]
Of those, only the outfit directly involved her, but Mitra was happy just seeing Cheon-ho thrive.
[Come here, my liege. I'll give you a special reward.]
"A special reward?"
[A lap pillow. Your favorite, right?]
Mitra plopped down and patted her thigh.
Cheon-ho couldn't help but burst out laughing.
[M-My liege, why laugh?]
"Just because."
He lay his head on her lap obediently. Pleased, Mitra stroked his hair and spoke.
[You've done so well, my liege. I'm so proud to be your holy sword.]
"I'm proud you're my holy sword too, Mitra."
[Really? That's a relief.]
She ended with a proud shoulder shrug and a satisfied hum.
'She really loves it.'
Her speech and mannerisms were far more relaxed than usual. Still buzzing from the string of good fortunes.
Cheon-ho gazed up at her face, then closed his eyes. Soft earth, pleasant meadow breeze. Mitra's skin scent and gentle touch.
Sleepiness washed over him anew. After depleting his stamina and mana, it was only natural.
[Rest deeply for now, my liege. We can review your Hero skills and such later.]
Mitra spoke softly, stroking his hair and beginning a quiet lullaby.
The slow tempo marked it as such.
Frankly, she wasn't great at singing.
Not tone-deaf, but far from skilled.
But her voice was lovely. The emotion in it touched him.
[Sleep well, my liege.]
Mitra whispered, and Cheon-ho slipped into deep slumber before he knew it.
A faint smile on his lips.
* * *
"The forge has been unlocked."
Cheon-ho woke about five hours later.
Having dozed off around noon, the sun still hung in the sky.
[Sleep more.]
"I'm good."
Any longer and his days and nights would flip.
He tapped the golden gem in reply, then stretched lightly. Some fatigue lingered, but his stamina and mana had mostly recovered.
'Am I literally superhuman now?'
The result of boosted physical stats from higher levels.
Level 83.
His current level. He'd arrived at the forge at 79, so the spar with Makina and felling Kabrakasa had netted four whole levels.
'The spar with Makina did most of the work.'
Beyond his main level, various skills and traits had leveled up too.
Most notable: Sword of Dawn.
His old Hero's Sword imitation was gone, replaced by the real Sword of Dawn.
Consequently, his Hero skills had shifted levels, with some even changing names.
Cheon-ho skimmed the Light Window quickly and opened the door. A voice greeted him immediately.
"Hero."
Lucille.
The parlor held several angels besides her.
"Sleep well?"
Lucille hurried over with quick steps that almost pattered.
Her endearing sight drew a smile, and Cheon-ho nodded.
"Yeah, thanks to you."
[My doing... not?]
Mitra chimed in slyly, and Cheon-ho held back a laugh, adding:
"Thanks to Mitra too."
[Hmm.]
A fairly satisfied tone.
Meanwhile, Lucille blinked once, then smiled again. Warriors felt secure with their weapons nearby, after all. The holy sword was essential for the Hero to rest easy.
"Makina stopped by while you slept. The forge unlock's ready."
Makes sense after nearly five hours. Cheon-ho glanced at his wristwatch.
[My liege, what's up?]
"Debating dinner before or after forge business."
He planned a special meal tonight with the rice and ferments from his father.
Cheon-ho valued meals highly in general, but tonight's held extra meaning.
"Um... handle the forge first... maybe?"
Lucille offered tentatively. She looked forward to his cooking too, but work had priorities.
Uncovering the whereabouts of the Goddess of War Evnail's divine relic in the Primordial Forge.
The entire mid-layer journey boiled down to that one goal.
"Hmm."
[No hming. I agree with Lucille. Forge first.]
When angel and holy sword aligned, the Hero had no choice. Cheon-ho nodded.
"Forge it is, then. Lucille, way to contact Makina?"
"Yes, she left this buzzer—call if you wake."
Lucille pulled a simple buzzer from her waist, red button and all.
'Now that I think...'
Lucille's outfit was different from usual. No plate armor, no standard angel robes.
It resembled angel robes closely but was distinctly another— one of the outfits from his mother.
If Father were here, he'd click his tongue at how late he'd noticed, similar or not.
"Suits you well, Lucille."
"Really?"
Despite the sudden compliment, she lit up instantly. She'd clearly been on edge waiting for him to notice. Maybe why she'd rushed over too.
"Yes, Lucille. Suits you perfectly."
Her cheeks bloomed rose at the frank praise. Even Mitra chimed in.
[Lucille's an angel through and through.]
Cheon-ho deeply agreed.
"Alright, Lucille, if you would."
"Yes, Hero."
Lucille pressed the buzzer firmly and walked with Cheon-ho toward the parlor. Off in the distance, Eizel winked.