Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Fishing
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The Epic of the Greatest Hero's 12 Labors - First Labor
Grade: Myth
Rank: SSS-
Description: The great hero Heracles, who achieved countless feats with the body of a demigod and ascended to one of the strongest divine seats, wants to tear apart the demon who killed his incarnation right now—but due to circumstances he cannot speak of, he cannot act directly. Instead, he has decided to place everything on you, whom his incarnation chose with his dying words. As a bonus, he has taken note of your potential and granted you an opportunity he can bestow only once. Overcome the first labor.
Goal: Defeat the Blood Clan's Puppet Master & Slay the Descending Demon King
Success: Second Labor Unlocked, Skill: Body of the Giant God [Legend-SS], ???
Failure: Annihilation of Body and Soul
Heracles' Twelve Labors. Who hasn't heard of them? It's a hugely famous tale that anyone with even a passing knowledge of Greek and Roman mythology knows.
The trials imposed by Hera to punish and kill Heracles, which he overcame with wisdom and strength, elevating him to a great existence.
Those trials have now been bestowed upon me. Though different from what he faced, they hold the same profound meaning in the grand scheme.
'Why give me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like this?'
Someone of Heracles' stature must have countless followers, right?
I wasn't entirely sure—it might not be the case. Not that I was dismissing it, but Bartroy was merely his incarnation, after all.
He wasn't weak by any means, but compared to players in the mid-layers—not even the deep layers—he was on the weaker side.
At best, he'd be on par with Earth's top rankers, from what was dismissively called a newborn dimension on the fringes.
'Of course, if he went to Earth, he'd be gunning for number one on the rankings.'
Looking at it from the perspective of the entire Abyss, Heracles' choice did seem odd.
I quickly set the thought aside. What was the point of dwelling on it? The quest had already been forced upon me, and it was something I had to do anyway—no issue there.
The only slightly nagging part was...
"Do I have to become your incarnation?"
I was asking if I had to take Bartroy's place as Heracles' incarnation.
He responded firmly to my question.
No, he said. It wouldn't be like that. In fact, this trial would allow me to advance even further.
"Why go this far for me? You've only seen me for a few days—or a few hours, at most."
Honestly, I couldn't understand it. I was thrilled, of course—who wouldn't be when such a golden opportunity rolled right to them?
I was just puzzled. Why? Why give this precious chance to me specifically? Just because of Bartroy's dying words?
It felt a bit iffy, but a deal was a deal. Nothing to be done about it now. Actually, it was a relief that he wanted something in return.
"Thank you. I was planning to avenge Cardinal Bartroy with my own hands anyway, so no worries there. I'll make it as cruel and brutal as possible."
Feeling his gaze withdraw, I turned back to the others in the room.
Alright... now it was time to make real plans. The six of us—including me—put our heads together to devise the best path forward in this situation, and just like that, the first day of the Holy Spirit Festival passed.
The festive clamor of the first day flew by in an instant, and the second day dawned.
"Then that's the plan. Everyone, get ready."
The meeting finally wrapped up. Excluding me, the most active participants had been Nabilung and Min Chorong.
Min Chorong for the saintess competition, Nabilung for revenge. Strictly speaking, Belial and Saihan had little direct involvement in this incident, and the Legion just followed orders, so the three of them barely participated.
The plan we three—me, Min Chorong, and Nabilung—had devised wasn't perfect. Naturally so. It was a bit late to do much else now.
We'd already thwarted the demons' primary goal, but since they didn't know that, we had no choice.
Announcing that I'd absorbed the clone would just enrage the cardinal and demon king into unpredictable madness.
So, some damage was inevitable.
The biggest issue was that we couldn't kill Aoira the cardinal, the key to this whole event. Even if we did, he was just a puppet—their plan would proceed without a hitch.
In other words, the demon king's descent was unavoidable. It would likely happen on the fourth day, during the ritual offering a powerful monster as sacrifice.
Until then, all we could do was wait. Quietly and cautiously, until the enemy took the bait.
This Holy Kingdom was essentially Aoira's front yard. His puppets were everywhere, but more than that, his power and influence were immense.
As a criminal and escapee who couldn't afford to be spotted, I couldn't wander outside.
The saintess candidate and her two guards would draw too much attention—obviously out.
Nabilung had to stay hidden as our trump card, out of Aoira's sight.
That left only Belial able to move... but even she couldn't do much alone.
She was strong, but not strong enough to go on a solo rampage. Right now, her only option was one thing.
Destroy the summoning magic circles hidden throughout the palace. But time-wise, it was impossible.
Search the entire vast kingdom? A week wouldn't cut it. A full month, easily, for a thorough sweep.
Still, figuring we had to try something, I asked her to do it—and surprisingly, she agreed without fuss, destroying two small cores and one medium core in just two days.
Time slipped by. Taking a rest that wasn't really rest, all we could do was pray the enemy fell into our trap.
The second day passed, and the third was nearly over, when someone knocked on Min Chorong's door.
Everyone's eyes snapped open as we exchanged glances. The fish we'd been waiting for had started nibbling the bait!
We held our breath and moved as planned. Min Chorong, Belial, Nabilung, and I slipped out the window, downed stealth potions, and watched the situation. Hunter Saihan melted into the shadows, observing stealthily.
Left in the room: just the Legion and Min Chorong.
"Open up, oppa."
Taking a deep breath, steeling herself with resolute eyes, Min Chorong spoke to the Legion. The hulking man nodded grimly and opened the door.
Standing there was someone they both knew: the woman called the saintess's confidante.
"Saintess Candidate Min Chorong. The Saintess requests a meeting."
At those words, Min Chorong felt like the air was choking her. That attitude, those eyes, that face—it all seemed to look down on her as lowly and filthy.
The events from the first and second trials lingered in her heart like daggers, whether she knew it or not.
Unconsciously, she clenched her trembling hands, and one face came to mind. Strangely, the shaking and anxious thoughts stopped.
Was it an illusion that this blood relative felt more reliable than her aunt?
Of course, Guild Master Ki So-young had been barred from the saintess competition by the Saintess herself, so she wasn't by her side.
But right now, he was the one she relied on and trusted most.
"Understood."
Min Chorong stood and stepped out. As the Legion moved to follow...
"The Saintess desires a private audience."
The woman blocked him, as if to say he wasn't permitted. But that was impossible.
It was a bait situation, but flip it around—it could turn deadly for real.
To the Legion, Min Chorong's life was more important than his own.
"...I can't allow that."
"Do you intend to defy the Saintess's command?"
Tension rose. Despite her haughty tone and the pressure of someone at least B- rank, the Legion didn't budge.
On the contrary, he stood taller, pressing his point without backing down.
"I can't trust this even more. I must protect the saintess candidate."
The woman glared at them briefly, clicked her tongue, and withdrew her aura.
"Tch. Has that slut already spread her legs for her guard and whined for attention? Disgusting. To think something like that is a saintess candidate."
It was blatant insult and contempt. Unbefitting for a saintess candidate, but Min Chorong could only bite her lip and swallow her rage.
Endure. For the greater gain, this much was nothing. She could bear it.
Showing that resolve by just glaring, the woman realized her provocation had failed, clicked her tongue again, and moved forward.
"...You held back well."
"Yeah. You too, oppa. Just a bit more... just hang in there a little longer. Juha will handle everything."
The absolute trust between the two—the recipient of that trust, Shin Juha, memorized the woman's face with a hardened expression.
They began moving. Everyone followed behind.
The woman didn't head to the saintess's quarters. Instead, she led them through a passage behind the grand temple to a house outside it.
The street visible in the darkness was straight out of a horror flick—no signs of life, just dilapidated ruins lining the block. An undeniably suspicious place. Upon arrival, the woman turned to face them.
"She wants privacy. Your guard waits here with me. We came here to avoid prying eyes, so don't worry."
The Legion opened his mouth again, but this time, she whipped out a dagger, pressing it under his chin as if to say not a chance.
"That's as far as my patience goes. Don't act stupid—know your place. Unless you dare defy the Saintess, candidate, get inside already."
In the tense moment, Min Chorong urgently stopped the Legion and swallowed hard, stepping into the building.
And at that moment, Shin Juha and the others, who had witnessed everything, sprang into action.