The Temple of Trials
Namgung Seojun was leading the way up a steep hillside toward the Temple of Trials.
"Everyone, watch your step! Tell the people behind you to climb carefully so no rocks fall!"
He issued orders while laboriously scaling the gaps between the stones. Once they reached the summit, a massive staircase leading to the 30th floor came into view, along with the gleaming white city beside it.
"Finally, the 30th floor—and that must be Basel at the entrance."
His eyes scanned the mid-sized city of Basel, about a 30-minute walk away.
When the party arrived at Basel, a guard shouted in a solemn voice,
"This is the city of Basel! Ruled by Basel, ranked 66th among the gods! All heretics except devotees of the Lord God—get the hell out!"
At the guard's words, Li Zhangwei, apostle of the nameless god, approached Namgung Seojun with an awkward expression.
"I'll head up to the 30th floor ahead of you."
He lacked the qualifications to enter. Namgung Seojun stopped him.
"Hold on a second."
He turned to Lee Guho beside him.
"You go up to the 30th floor with Yuki too."
As an apostle of the nameless god, Li Zhangwei often faced rejection or disadvantages in other cities. If he went alone, he might even be denied entry at the gate in the worst case. But with an inviter like Lee Guho accompanying him, most issues would resolve themselves. That was why Seojun decided to send them together.
Besides, there was no reason for the inviter Lee Guho to pass through the 29th-floor city—it posed no risk to him.
"Sure, Yuki and I will head up together."
Lee Guho and Yuki went ahead to the 30th floor with Li Zhangwei, while the rest followed Namgung Seojun into the city.
Basel, named after the god herself, was a city of pure white. Aside from a grand central temple, a small shrine at the entrance, and one modest shop, it consisted only of white houses inhabited by residents. The golden central temple stood as the city's sole reason for existence.
"This city's really unique."
"Everything's white... It feels kinda monotonous."
"Not many buildings—just houses."
"Nothing but that temple."
Seojun chimed in at his party's comments.
"Yeah. That temple is the whole point of this city."
He headed straight for it, and the group naturally followed their leader.
As they approached, the party grew awestruck. The overwhelming height—equivalent to a 30-story apartment building—struck first, but the fact that the entire structure was forged from gold made its opulence staggering. Infused with divinity, the temple exuded an aura of majesty.
His Super Sense unequivocally urged him: You must enter this temple.
Without hesitation, he strode toward the entrance.
"Halt. This is the Temple of Trials. Only those willing to stake their luck and lives may enter."
This was the Temple of Trials, a unique creation by the 66th-ranked god. Adventurers and residents alike could challenge it, but the difficulty—easy, normal, slightly hard, hard, or very hard—was randomly assigned.
Easy was straightforward enough for anyone to pass. Normal was manageable too. Slightly hard required solid skills and focus. But hard stumped even elite adventurers, and very hard had a mere 10% success rate—the worst of all.
Despite the mortal peril from random chance, passing granted the achievement "One Who Passed Basel's Trial" and rewards scaled to the challenger's level—the lower, the better. It was a golden opportunity for the underdogs.
Namgung Seojun, already familiar with the temple, explained to his party.
"The average mortality rate for entrants is 25%—one in four dies."
The party members gulped. It was a terrifying risk.
"The temple officially states, on the god's name, that every difficulty has an equal 20% chance. It's decided the moment you open the door to the trial room."
He cut the explanation short and got to the point.
"I won't force anyone. Those who want to go in, do so. Those who don't, stay out. It's a chance to boost your abilities, but the death rate is high. Choose for yourselves."
His intent was simple. The temple's rewards—new achievements and prizes upon passing—were ideal for slaves with flawed or stunted growth. His combat slaves mostly had promising traits or decent skills, so they'd benefit greatly.
But with lives on the line, he couldn't push. It was their call.
The party fell silent. Death loomed too large at 25%.
Seojun understood their hesitation completely. Pinara added,
"It's a tough decision, huh."
"You? Got experience?"
Pinara nodded.
"My old party stopped here once, so I tried it."
She'd challenged the temple before.
"I drew normal and passed easily, but deciding to step in... that's the hard part."
She spoke the truth. Committing to enter was the real barrier.
The slaves pondered deeply—some alone, others debating in pairs.
"This doesn't apply to us anyway."
"Yeah, we're just porters. No need to challenge it."
Porters and sex slaves saw no point. Their combat weakness meant they'd only pass easy or normal, dropping survival to 40%. Seojun hadn't expected them to volunteer.
Then Song Kang raised his hand.
"Master, will you challenge it?"
All eyes turned to Seojun, whose exploits had been legendary. They burned to know if he'd risk it.
Without a flicker of doubt, he replied,
"Yes, I'm going in."
The slaves gasped. An inviter dominating the tower had no need for this.
Seeing their shock, he grinned.
"Don't worry about me dying. If I do, you're all free. I'll sign waivers to that effect before we go."
Gisohee raised her hand next.
"I'm going in too."
The vice-party leader's declaration stunned them further. She'd already discussed it with Seojun—her Stealth skill made success likely, and his Super Sense agreed. He'd approved.
With Seojun and Gisohee committing, the slaves' mindsets shifted. If these flawless inviters were risking it for gains, how could slave underdogs hold back?
Isu-yeon raised her hand first.
"Master, I'll challenge it."
Of all people, the unexpected volunteer. Seojun barely kept his composure.
"You sure? You could die."
"If you're going in, Master, how can I not? I'll do it."
Her lead sparked a wave.
"Me too."
"You said we'd be freed if we grow into our roles. I'm in."
"Shortest path out of slavery. Gotta do it!"
All combat slaves signed up. Even porter Song Kang declared his intent.
With eight volunteers, Seojun warned again, concerned.
"25% death rate. Statistically, two of us die here."
Their resolve held firm. Seojun regretted coming—his Super Sense and Domain Insight gave him confidence even against very hard. He'd come because it felt promising. He'd offered the choice expecting one or two takers, not eight. Should he pull rank as master?
As his deliberation dragged, Pinara mediated.
"We all need a little time. In this mood, even I'd say yes for sure."
To him, she added,
"Seojun, let's head to an inn first. Give 'em till tomorrow to think, then decide."
Perfect timing—she'd eased him out.
"Good call. Rest at the inn tonight and mull it over."
Namgung Seojun settled the party at Basel's inn, assigning private rooms to all slaves.
"Think it through. Need more time? Just say. Tell me your decisions."
The slaves took their keys and dispersed. Finally, handing Isu-yeon's key, he said,
"Suyeon, you too... think hard. It's riskier than it seems. You don't have to go."
But her resolve was ironclad.
"It's where you're going, Master. For a slave like me to grow even a little, I must challenge it."
"..."
"To become someone worthy of you, I'll do it."
Words failed him.
That night, in his room, Seojun shared drinks with Gisohee.
"Should I... stop them? By force?"
A bit tipsy, he bared his honest worry.
She replied matter-of-factly,
"You know what second-class slaves are, right?"
He did, all too well. But she elaborated.
"They're livestock. No right to even die. In other parties, they're just tools. You gave them hope."
"..."
"They want to think, grow, meet your expectations. This challenge is their choice. Forcing them out... I don't think that's right."
He had to concede.
"Then... maybe I should make their hope real."
She hugged him.
"Support their decision."
They prepared accordingly.
The next day, Seojun gathered the second-class slaves.
"You'll challenge the Temple of Trials, right?"
The seven—Yasiro Yakamura, Lee Doyun, Idohun, Iban Sergeyei, Halep Aziz, Yui Koizumi, and Song Kang—nodded.
"Good. Sign one of these each."
He produced pre-drafted contracts promising emancipation or sale to a Lord God temple.
"Whoa..."
The slaves were moved. Service at a Lord God temple led to civilian freedom—it was effectively a manumission pledge.
"Thank you."
Seojun explained to their gratitude.
"Seeing you stake your lives on your futures... I figured I owed you this much. Sign quick."
They all signed.
With heartfelt sincerity, he urged,
"Survive. Please survive... reclaim your status, your freedom."
His master's words sank deep into their hearts.