Chapter 559
Chapter 559
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 559
Chapter Title: The Savior of the Academy
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"Impossible! I can't see your fate! You've finally appeared! The Ninth Apostle!"
I grinned.
"Yes. I am the Ninth Apostle. Cassandra. I am the end of this world... and the beginning of a new one."
I knew the meaning of the Ninth Apostle from the original story.
The Ninth Apostle spoken of in the Nine Eyes Church symbolized the end and the beginning. When the existing world comes to an end, the apostle who leads to a new world.
A new world—one that even the cult leader's Foresight couldn't glimpse. That's why only someone whose fate couldn't be seen could become the Ninth Apostle.
"Apostle Cassandra."
I called her by name. She preferred being called an apostle over cult leader.
"Yes. Speak."
"This isn't my first time. The god with nine eyes has granted me a new opportunity."
"What... what do you mean? Please explain in more detail."
"I cannot say."
"Is it related to your twisted fate?"
"That, I cannot say either."
When running a con, you don't need to be too firm. Mix truth and lies just right, and let them guess what's real.
"......"
The old woman nodded solemnly. The fact she wasn't attacking meant my ploy had worked perfectly.
'Thanks to my Acting trait, cons have a higher success rate. Heh.'
Cassandra had already acknowledged me as the Ninth Apostle. She'd called me that earlier.
"Ninth Apostle. I recognize that you have endured trials, but the other followers do not."
"I understand. And I have no intention of running away. Apostle Cassandra, give me a trial. I will complete it and be officially recognized as the Ninth Apostle."
"As expected of the Ninth Apostle! Such resolve!"
I had no desire to actually do any trials. But refusing here would raise suspicions and complicate things.
'No choice but to accept. If they give me some bullshit task, I'll just bolt.'
I had zero intention of doing anything for the Nine Eyes Church.
"The Second Apostle candidate is walking the path of trials."
"......The Second Apostle... that golden-haired child."
I pretended to know. The Second Apostle had appeared in the original story too. Playing it off like I knew these details right away would dispel Cassandra's doubts.
"Yes. That child will overcome the trials and become an apostle. She bears the fate of a saintess, after all."
"Yes. She will become the Nine Eyes Church's saintess. But why bring her up so suddenly...?"
"Apostle of Fate. Your trial is to aid that child."
"I don't understand your intent, Apostle Cassandra. She'll complete her trials and become the Second Apostle even without help from me or you."
"Yes, I know. That's her fate. But I want to see how her fate changes with your intervention."
"My involvement won't fully alter her fate. It's more likely it won't change at all."
"It will change. I'm certain."
Anticipation gleamed in Cassandra's eyes. No matter what I said, it wouldn't sway her. She just wanted confirmation.
"Very well. I accept the trial given to me."
"Then, Ninth Apostle. I shall send you to her now. Please grant that child a new fate..."
Cassandra gestured with her hand.
Mana gathered around me. A complex magic circle etched itself beneath my feet. I was a complete novice with magic, but the vibe screamed teleportation spell.
'Casting teleportation this casually... As expected of SSS-rank Magic skill.'
Swoosh.
My body felt like it was being sucked somewhere.
???
"Branch Chief! We received a tip from Ma Jun-gang's nephew saying Ma Jun-gang seems involved with a suspicious cult!"
"A suspicious cult...? No way!"
The branch chief shot up from his seat at his subordinate's report.
Suspicious cults overflowed in this world. But seasoned heroes always thought of one in particular.
The Nine Eyes Church.
A pseudo-group of powered fanatics. A place teeming with zealots willing to suicide-bomb without hesitation.
And notably? Full of people with eye-related traits.
"Spirit Eye! The Nine Eyes Church has every reason to target him! Damn it! They've set up shop in Korea too?! Where's Ma Jun-gang now?"
"He's been missing for a week!"
"Find him! Track every move, no matter what it takes!"
The branch chief ordered his subordinate, then glanced at Sung Ha-ri. He swallowed dryly without realizing it. Sung Ha-ri was murmuring "Nine Eyes Church" with dangerous eyes.
"Nine Eyes Church... Nine Eyes Church..."
The moment the Nine Eyes Church's exact location was revealed, she'd become the Thunder God and unleash her fury.
"Branch Chief! We confirmed Min Hu-seok's car entered a mountain in Gangwon Province! We tried tracking, but there's a barrier! We need A-rank or higher heroes for support! Approve it!"
"In this emergency, do you need my approval for every little thing? Dispatch barrier specialists immediately and analyze it thoroughly! Don't forget this is a matter of our Hero Association's pride and reputation... Wait. Where's Hero Sung Ha-ri?"
"Gasp! The documents with her location info are gone!"
"Hero Sung Ha-ri just bolted out of here!"
"Damn it all. Call the heroes, quick!"
"Yes! Contacting barrier specialist heroes for emergency support!"
"No, not barrier specialists!"
"Huh?"
"Sung Ha-ri's on the move! She'll smash the whole barrier! Call the cleanup specialists!"
???
It was an island.
I activated Spirit Eye and scanned the surroundings. Ocean encircled the island. Waves crashed in with fierce winds. The swells were massive. The sky hung heavy, ready to pour rain any moment.
The island featured forests, rocks, rivers... a mishmash of terrains. It wasn't as large as I'd expected.
And no spirits dwelled here. It seemed connected to the outside, but this was dungeon interior.
'A special dungeon... this'll be a headache.'
I scratched my cheek. Special dungeons often differed fundamentally from normal ones.
Simply killing the boss wouldn't clear it.
'Cassandra said find the Second Apostle candidate. Must be somewhere on this island.'
I knew little about this dungeon, Island of Desire. But linking it to the Second Apostle gave me a rough idea.
Standing still got me nowhere. I started moving.
'Head for the peak first. Might spot her from up high.'
I walked the forest path.
Wind rustled the trees. Leaves rustled pleasantly against each other.
Then, at some point, a delicious aroma wafted in. Indescribable. Just... mouthwatering.
Saliva pooled in my mouth. My stomach growled incessantly. My feet had already turned toward the scent.
Gulp. Gulp.
I kept swallowing. Even after three days of fasting and smelling hanwoo beef, it hadn't been this bad.
'What the hell is that cooking smell?'
The source was absurd: tree fruit. A massive tree bore unknown blue fruits. Shaped like apples. Their taut skins promised bursting juice with one bite.
Grrrrowl. Growl.
'Ah, can't take it. Just one. With a smell this good, the taste must be insane.'
As a hunter, eating unknown fruit was taboo. Could be poisoned. But I had Complete Recovery. Even if I died, I'd get another shot.
Pluck.
I climbed the tree and picked one. The aroma intensified.
Crunch!
I took a huge bite. Juice overflowed as imagined. The flesh was crisp, the juice sweet. Satisfaction filled me as I devoured it greedily.
Growl.
'One's not enough.'
Luckily, dozens hung on the tree.
Crunch! Crunch!
I wolfed down the blue fruits like mad. Too delicious to stop.
Growl! Grrowl!
I sensed something off after more than ten. I'd eaten enough to fill half my body, yet my stomach felt empty.
'Tasty, but pointless. Just eating without satisfaction.'
I stored some in my inventory and climbed down.
Even if it didn't fill me, the taste was top-tier. I'd munch on the way for snacks.
'The flavor's unreal. Nothing else like it.'
The moment I went for a bite, the fruit in my hand vanished. I tilted my head and pulled another from inventory. It vanished too.
'......No way. Does it disappear if I'm too far from the tree?'
Go back for more?
'Nah. Pointless to carry anyway. No need to bother. Keep going.'
My face crumpled at the alert.
I instantly understood what happened.
Island of Desire.
Isle of Cravings.
This dungeon tested human desires.
I'd just faced the trial of gluttony.
'Daring to test me on your whim? Not a fan.'
???
I reached the island's highest peak and looked down. Forest, river, flowers, rocks, snow, desert... every terrain crammed into one island.
"Found her. In the desert, huh."
A child in priestly robes walked the sands.
I watched for a bit. Rushing to the desert now might miss her path, so I planned to figure her destination first.
'What the...? Why's she circling the same spot?'
Not lost. The desert was maybe 2km across. Impossible to get lost.
'Searching for something?'
She showed no sign of leaving the desert soon, so I headed there.
By the time I arrived, she was still wandering. I got a closer look.
Her priestly robes looked even more luxurious than typical Nine Eyes Church garb. Golden hair shone brilliantly, swaying to her waist as she walked. Her skin was snow-white.
A child. Seemed 2-3 years older than me right now.
Her eyes were closed, walking endlessly forward.
'Eyes closed in the original too... Even then?'
I approached her. The Second Apostle candidate Cassandra mentioned. The one I had to help was right before me.
"Esther."
Calling her name halted her small legs. She turned toward the sound—toward me.
"...Who are you?"
"The Ninth Apostle... well, candidate for now. Came to help you."
"Me?"
"Apostle Cassandra sent me. My trial is to assist yours."
"The Leader did..."
Not my place to say, but she exuded maturity beyond her years. No ordinary child.
"Ninth Apostle candidate. May I have your name?"
"Ah, didn't say. Sung Yu-jin. Call me Yujin. I'm speaking Korean, but you're not, right?"
"Esther Maier. I speak English, and your words sound like English to me."
Amazing, but not jaw-dropping.
This was a special dungeon. Hearing familiar languages despite differences was possible.
"Sorry to say this, Yujin, but I want to endure my trial alone."
"Can't do that. My trial is helping you. Can't abandon it because of you."
"......Is that truly the Leader's will?"
"What gain would I get lying to you?"
"...My apologies. It was so unexpected I doubted you briefly. If it's the Leader's will, I'll accept."