Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: The Protagonist Appears
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Park Chan-woo's story was certainly captivating.
‘It's a gamble.’
Yoo Jin-seo needed solid assurance.
No matter how alluring the enchantment, other foxes could use it too.
Especially ‘Aurum,’ who was a gumiho just like her.
‘If by some chance Park Chan-woo falls to Aurum's enchantment, I have no counter.’
As much as she hated to admit it, Aurum was several levels above her.
Her own enchantment ability held the edge, but if Aurum set her mind to it, eliminating Yoo Jin-seo would be child's play.
That was why.
Yoo Jin-seo had taken half of Park Chan-woo's ‘liver.’
In turn, she entrusted half of her own ‘liver’ to him.
This was the foxes' unbreakable pact.
An absolute rule among foxes that forced unwavering loyalty and blocked any other fox's enchantment.
As long as Park Chan-woo was her fox, and she his, no other fox could touch them.
…Now, only one issue remained.
‘Let's see if you're worthy of being the protagonist.’
Flip the board.
With it, the lead and supporting roles switch alongside the scenario.
It was practically a different story altogether.
But whether the new story succeeded depended entirely on everyone's capabilities.
Especially if the protagonist failed to fulfill their role—no matter how perfect the script, it was doomed to a miserable failure.
How well could he perform against the demon race's Fire Spirit?
‘I told him the weakness. The rest is on you.’
Honestly, she wasn't expecting much.
She'd given him the weakness in advance, but could he end it quickly?
The holy sword could only strike 100 times.
After 100 strikes, it vanished.
Normal demons died after 10 hits, but Fire Spirit and all demons commanded hordes of minions.
Impossible alone.
But with the other ‘holy sword wielders,’ it shouldn't be too hard.
“I… I just can't understand this.”
“A random fox shows up and she's the protagonist now?”
“Explain the details!”
……Of course, they weren't convinced.
No matter that it was a gumiho's command, changing the protagonist was unprecedented.
Besides, her attitude before and after the private meeting hadn't changed much.
Without revealing what they'd discussed, it was frustrating for the foxes.
Yoo Jin-seo spoke calmly.
“It's a test. To see what role suits the new fox.”
“Even so, making her the protagonist from the start…!”
“Exactly. We've never even tried it ourselves…”
Even the foxes who'd been with her for ages hadn't dared challenge the ‘protagonist’ role.
They couldn't even voice the desire.
Yet here she was, testing a complete stranger.
The backlash was inevitable.
“…Let's watch first. We can judge after.”
Honestly, Yoo Jin-seo was half-doubting too.
She was pushing hard, but if Park Chan-woo's skills were lacking, he couldn't be protagonist anyway.
In the end, he needed the power to face Aurum.
‘Aurum is a monster.’
Not just brute strength.
It possessed something beyond foxes.
Optimized for destruction, perhaps.
Her techniques were so refined they sent shivers down spines.
A self-evolving monster that created its own skills, broke limits, and advanced endlessly.
Uncharacteristic for an enchantment-specialist fox.
……That was why.
He had to prove it.
Show confidence he could face Aurum.
If he failed here, the bold plan ended.
‘Damn him. How'd he snag the protagonist role?’
‘Must've pulled some trick!’
‘Did he enchant Yoo Jin-seo?’
‘Filthy fox.’
‘He's trash anyway.’
‘No need to watch more.’
The foxes glared at Park Chan-woo with jealousy and envy.
They simply couldn't accept the situation.
Yoo Jin-seo was their paragon, an object of worship.
Always the protagonist, a sacred being with overwhelming charisma leading all foxes.
Yet one private meeting flipped everything.
If he showed incompetence, they were ready to tear him apart.
The foxes watched intently as Park Chan-woo challenged the ‘Fire Spirit,’ eyes blazing.
‘Help him? No way.’
‘Figure it out alone.’
They lagged far behind, no intention of aiding the one daring to claim protagonist first.
Soon.
Grrruk!
Grraaaah!
Zombies rose from the swamp.
Hundreds, by rough count.
Then, behind the ghouls, the demon ‘Fire Spirit’ emerged.
Whoosh!
-I'll burn you all!
It resembled a devil forged from flame.
Fire Spirit hurled fireballs madly.
To reach it, he had to break through the ghouls.
‘A fire spirit.’
Park Chan-woo smirked faintly at the sight.
What the foxes called demons were spirits.
Makes sense—since Fire Spirit died each scenario run, spirits were ideal for infinite reuse.
‘All demons are spirits summoned by Aurum.’
It showed the vastness of Aurum's mana.
Summoning spirits required immense mana.
Maintaining and resummoning them endlessly proved Aurum's mana was extraordinary.
‘The moment I slay Fire Spirit, Aurum will know.’
That the protagonist changed.
Therefore.
‘I'll make it flashy.’
Park Chan-woo intended to provoke Aurum.
He had to etch it firmly in Yoo Jin-seo and all gathered foxes.
That he was the protagonist.
That the ‘real’ protagonist had arrived—not a fake.
Fortunately, Fire Spirit wasn't that strong.
Judging by the mana…
‘Level 50 to 60 range.’
Higher than his current total combat power.
But it was fine.
The holy sword's power.
Stats rose sharply with more followers.
In low-to-mid levels, +50 all stats bridged over 10 levels easily.
‘If only the holy sword can slay them.’
Park Chan-woo nodded.
To clear all trials with minimal swings.
‘Heavenly Punishment.’
Kaboooom!
Rumble!
Craaaackle!
Myriad lightning bolts swirled madly around the holy sword.
Fierce sparks flared, as if ready to incinerate everything.
‘Durability holds, as expected.’
Imbuing magic on a sword demanded high durability.
But the holy sword only lost durability on strikes.
Even with double application, durability stayed at 100.
-Die!
Park Chan-woo eyed the incoming fireballs from the sky.
He watched the advancing ghoul horde leisurely too.
Then, precisely at their center.
Rumble!
He slammed the raging Heavenly Punishment holy sword into the ground.
In that instant.
Shraaaash!
Kaboooooom!
“……”
“……”
The foxes fell silent.
Yoo Jin-seo maintained her silence as well.
Even as Park Chan-woo advanced ahead.
‘What was that just now?’
‘Imbuing magic on the holy sword?’
‘Is that even possible?’
It was a feat they'd never seen.
Imbuing something on the holy sword itself was unimaginable.
They weren't even sure magic could be imbued on swords.
And with one swing.
That fox incinerated hundreds of ghouls and Fire Spirit in one stroke.
‘How do you burn a fire spirit to death?’
‘Does this even make sense?’
It didn't.
Utterly inexplicable.
Yet they couldn't deny what they'd witnessed.
“Oh, we survived thanks to you!”
“Holy sword wielders!”
“Park Chan-woo!”
Relief finally dawned on the followers' faces.
They'd cleared the first trial without major casualties.
The message announced Park Chan-woo slew Fire Spirit.
Now, at the group's center stood not Yoo Jin-seo, but Park Chan-woo.
The number of followers grew rapidly.
Not just because he slew Fire Spirit.
“He told us to follow only him.”
“He's the real hero!”
“See? He took down the demon alone.”
Per the temple promise, they secretly and systematically recruited.
The group's formation was shifting.
Peeling from other holy sword wielders, gathering behind Park Chan-woo.
‘He's skilled, but…’
‘The second trial will be tough.’
The foxes couldn't miss it.
But it was fine.
Ding!
“Wraiths?”
“Where?”
“There's a bow and arrows ahead, but…”
A cliff appeared before them.
But beyond it, nothing.
How to cross?
‘Only veterans know wraith positions.’
Yoo Jin-seo bit her lip.
His Fire Spirit performance impressed, but the second trial's strategy was hard to share.
Wraiths hid high in the sky, barely visible.
She and the foxes hit them through trial and error.
Yet.
“Hm.”
Park Chan-woo casually picked up the bow at the cliff's edge.
Nocked an arrow, fired without hesitation.
Shweeee!
Thuk!
A cloud-made step appeared atop the cliff.
Park Chan-woo climbed it, fired again.
Shweeee!
Thuk!
“……?”
“……What?”
The foxes tilted their heads.
How could a first-timer hit invisible high-sky wraiths perfectly every shot?
But for Park Chan-woo, it was easy.
「Father. Slightly left from there. Yes, right there.」
Signus overlooked from higher above.
Shweeee!
Thuk!
Shweeeeeeee!
Thuk!