Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Guardian Holy Sword
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―Trust in me!
―Only I can save the world!
―Follow me! Those who doubt will be devoured by the Abyss!
There were countless forms of "justice" in the world.
Especially on the post-apocalyptic Earth, it overflowed with people shouting their own brands of justice.
Naturally, true justice in any meaningful sense had long since died.
Among them, Park Chan-woo never forgot the worst of the hypocrites.
The Fallen Saint Yujin-seo was one of them.
'To those who've tasted despair, no occupation is as alluring as saintess.'
People at rock bottom craved faith.
When that inescapable frustration set in, they'd clutch at any rotten rope, easily coming to believe in someone.
It was only natural for them to fall for a mystical, holy existence like a "saintess."
'I once believed Yujin-seo was a real saintess too.'
Park Chan-woo had been fooled by her, if only briefly.
At least in the beginning, she acted in a way befitting the name.
But realizing it had all stemmed from "enchantment" left him horrified.
'Yujin-seo enchanted the entire Earth, every last human.'
A gumiho enchants all it sees and touches.
There were no limits to the targets, and the duration was infinite.
Even the realization of being enchanted was impossible.
It felt far too natural.
Slowly, over time, the enchantment's influence grew stronger.
Yet mental magic that forcibly altered perception was inherently high-tier, with built-in restrictions.
That basic common sense didn't apply to Yujin-seo.
She had no such limits.
Only after reaching level 90 and overcoming the trial called "Final Limit Breakthrough" did he finally become aware.
...No need to belabor how potent a gumiho's enchantment was.
'The Fox Den is an Abyss that fell from another dimension.'
People didn't know.
That creative Abysses could detach from other worlds and appear here.
It wasn't a common occurrence.
Thus, no one suspected.
Only after countless challenges did faint doubts arise.
This one was on a different level from the myriad Abysses plaguing Earth.
After all, this "other-dimensional Abyss" wasn't tailored for Earth or humanity.
The reason such other-dimensional Abysses fell to Earth was clear.
'...It's an Abyss from a destroyed world.'
One world had perished.
As the world met its end, the Abysses within scattered everywhere.
Humanity called this phenomenon "black stars."
He'd originally planned to enter after clearing a "massive raid Abyss."
'But the Creators have lost all interest in Han Min-oh.'
That bought him some time.
Starting from scratch wouldn't be bad.
Park Chan-woo slowly turned his gaze.
A wide clearing.
A single pristine white temple stood before it.
"W-where is this place?"
"A star definitely fell right over my head..."
"I-I thought I was dead!"
"Did I get pulled into an Abyss?"
Nearly a hundred people milled about in confusion, looking around.
Unlike Park Chan-woo, who entered directly, these were people swallowed by the "black star."
They'd been in the area when the star fell.
Pfsh!
In that instant.
Smoke billowed, and a small fox was summoned.
"Hello, everyone! I'm Hoya, here to assist with your trial!"
The fox introduced herself while floating in midair.
Hoya.
The one who "assisted" with trials. Or rather, sabotaged them.
"Trial? What bullshit is this? We didn't choose to come here!"
At that moment, a man spat out his frustration.
It was infuriating enough that a star fell on his head, but to be forcibly dragged into some unknown Abyss...
Plus, the fox looked cute, making her an easy target.
"Do you refuse the challenge and wish to leave the Abyss?"
Hoya asked.
The man nodded vigorously.
"Yeah! I'm sick of Abysses. Let me out now!"
"Understood."
"...Wait, you're really gonna let me go?"
"Yes!"
"Thanks..."
At the same time.
Bang!
"Kyaaack!"
"M-my head!"
The man's head exploded like a firework.
In the surreal scene, everyone screamed without exception.
Undeterred, Hoya smiled and said,
"As you wished, we've sent you out!"
The only way to escape this Abyss was death.
...That's what she meant.
Hoya continued,
"Now, pay attention! Quiet down, please. It's time for the trial explanation. Keep making noise, and it won't be fun, okay?"
Snap!
As if on cue, everyone shut their mouths.
No one wanted their head to burst like that man's.
Terror-stricken, they had no choice but to listen to the fox Hoya.
"This world is under demon tribe rule. We must band together and slay the demon Aorum! Eek, scary!"
Hoya shuddered at the mention of the demon Aorum.
Pure acting.
Park Chan-woo raised his hand and asked,
"Isn't 'Aorum' a demon?"
"Uh... Ah, yes! The demon tribe is different from demons. But... Hmm?"
Hoya tilted her head in confusion.
'Was he there from the start?'
...She hadn't noticed him.
But she soon shrugged it off.
Maybe she overlooked him in her excitement.
'Good.'
Of course, it was all Park Chan-woo's design.
He'd deliberately released his "non-existence."
Now, he was recognized by Hoya and everyone else.
Hoya's help was essential to navigating this trial.
"Anyway, five trials await you challengers. But first, there's something we need to do. Everyone, head inside the temple!"
People glanced around nervously and began filing into the temple one by one.
Park Chan-woo followed slowly behind them.
Once everyone was inside,
"Can you see that radiant holy sword embedded in the black rock?"
At the temple's center.
A holy sword radiating light was plunged into a black rock the size of an adult's torso.
'Guardian Holy Sword.'
The holy sword that guarded the temple.
Like King Arthur's legend, only the one who pulled the sword from the stone could claim it as owner and gain the upper hand in the Fox Den's trials.
'Users of the holy swords team up to defeat the demon tribe. That's the core of this Abyss.'
Of course, there was only one holy sword here.
There were ten temples in this Abyss.
Each housed a "holy sword."
The Fallen Saint Yujin-seo had led people as one such owner.
In her impeccable saintess guise.
But one had to realize why this Abyss was called the "Fox Den."
'Most holy sword wielders are foxes.'
People thought it was named for helpers like Hoya being foxes, but no.
The real foxes were already mixed among them.
Foxes disguised as humans led the people straight to ruin.
As a result, exterminating the demon tribe was impossible.
Most challengers died before even reaching the demons.
This Fox Den trial was brutally vicious, enough to make one's teeth chatter.
Pretending to offer hope while driving everyone to despair—a hell designed solely for death!
That was the "Fox Den."
Hoya said,
"We need to find the holy sword's owner. Will you try pulling it from the rock one by one?"
No one stepped forward easily.
It was called a holy sword, but who knew what mechanisms it might have?
Hoya added an explanation.
"Don't worry! Even if you fail, nothing bad happens! And becoming the owner grants immense power to repel demon Aorum. It boosts your survival odds."
"Ah...!"
"Outta the way!"
"M-me first!"
Only then did they swarm the black rock.
The promise of power just from pulling it.
Everyone realized that to survive this unknown Abyss, they needed to become a holy sword owner.
But.
"I-it won't come out!"
"Damn it! Pull! Come on, pull!"
The holy sword didn't budge.
Of course not.
The owner of that Guardian Holy Sword was predetermined from the start.
'It's designed to only come out for foxes.'
The holy sword's owner was a fox.
The one who pulled it was the fox.
'She'll probably go last.'
Like how protagonists appear last, the fox would step up amid all the attention.
"What a shame. Is the holy sword's owner not here? Only two remain."
Hoya said in a voice dripping with false pity.
Everyone had tried, leaving just two.
Naturally, one was Park Chan-woo, the other the fox.
Park Chan-woo shifted his gaze.
'That's the one.'
The fox was a striking, burly man.
Handsome features, chiseled build. Intense charisma that drew every eye.
A fox trait.
They could transform into the most alluring form of the opposite species.
"......"
The fox looked back at Park Chan-woo.
As if urging him to try.
She must think he couldn't pull it anyway.
Her demeanor radiated leisure.
Park Chan-woo nodded and strode to the black rock.
"Now! This time, it has to work! Pull that holy sword with all your might!"
Hoya cheered, dancing about.
Her voice laced with mockery and scorn.
'Give up! Despair! Wallow, you foolish creatures!'
Hoya barely suppressed her laughter.
Truly, this scene never got old.
The desperate struggles of those challenging the impossible.
This Abyss had everything scripted from the start.
It tormented challengers with "hope torture" until inevitable ruin.
That was its sole purpose.
Their failure was a given.
"Hm."
Park Chan-woo casually gripped the holy sword's hilt.
"You got this! Go, go!"
Hoya capered in encouragement.
Her glee was infuriating.
Park Chan-woo slowly applied strength.
Then.
Shing!
"......Huh?"
"......???"