Chapter 175
Chapter 175
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 175
Chapter Title: The Third Night (26)
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'...To think it was really the Archdemon Gremory.'
Park Chan-woo stared at her quietly.
He'd had some inkling, but he never imagined it would truly be Gremory of Lament!
Among the 72 Archdemons, she was the most uniquely infamous.
The only one called a queen among them, known as Lament.
Besides, Archdemons were 'exceptions' in the truest sense.
Beings unbound by any Abyss rules.
Tearing through the veil of night was nothing to her.
And not content with that, she'd stripped the Moon Lord Aheta of his authority in an instant.
'So even the title of Night Manager was granted by the Archdemons.'
Night Manager.
Aheta's most powerful weapon.
It seemed the management of 'Night' was originally a title bestowed by the Archdemons.
And that wasn't all.
She'd forcibly triggered a reckoning, bankrupting him.
As casually as if she were yawning.
Despite all his efforts across every night, what had seemed barely possible was handled swiftly and efficiently.
'Did she... help me?'
Honestly, he was half in doubt.
All he'd done was hand her the 'Ring of the Dead's Oath'.
Back during the First Night, when he'd killed Game Master Andariel through the Messenger of the Covenant.
Kim Byung-han had used the power of his contractor, the Creator of the Invisible Hand, to steal the 'Ring of the Dead's Oath' from Andariel's finger.
That discovery had led to Gremory sniping him.
At the time, Park Chan-woo had persuaded Kim Byung-han to return the ring to Gremory.
'Returning one ring, and this is the extravagant payback.'
...Or maybe this was just trivial to an Archdemon.
Or perhaps she truly had a deep connection to Andariel.
Park Chan-woo pushed the thoughts aside.
The first encounter had nearly overwhelmed him with her Archdemon presence, but this second meeting allowed him to face her with relative composure.
【I kept my promise.】
Gremory spoke indifferently.
The promise.
That her aid would soon reach him.
Appearing in person to save his life was fulfillment in full.
Park Chan-woo nodded.
"Thanks to you, I'm alive. Much obliged."
Even with the 'Lord Slayer' title, facing a demon lord head-on was premature.
He'd unleashed every skill at his disposal, yet hadn't so much as grazed Aheta.
He'd expected at least a scratch, but no.
Without Gremory's intervention, he wouldn't be here now.
【No need for thanks. Aheta was unqualified from the start.】
Her voice carried an inexplicable chill.
Gremory had viewed Aheta negatively all along.
Then again, for a Moon Lord hailed as Demon King-tier, he had too many flaws.
Greedy, foolish enough to make Han Shin an incarnation only to be betrayed.
Had a more meticulous Creator held the Night Manager role, Park Chan-woo's dominance across all nights would have been far harder.
Park Chan-woo slowly voiced his lingering question.
"Who will be the next Night Manager?"
The Third Night was over.
Aheta's night had ended.
But in the truest sense, 'Night' itself wasn't finished.
【I cannot say.】
He'd expected as much.
Park Chan-woo shrugged and asked again.
"What was your relationship with Game Master Andariel?"
...A somewhat rude question, but he couldn't hold it back.
Game Master Andariel was an upper demon.
The kind trampled under an Archdemon's heel.
What connection could justify giving him the 'Ring of the Dead's Oath' and sniping Kim Byung-han for his honor?
【My distant kin. I was pleased he'd secured a useful role in the First Night. Foolish fool.】
Gremory answered plainly.
He'd assumed she'd refuse.
Far from lovers, as he'd half-suspected—just distant family.
An unexpected answer, but their bond must have been strong.
That explained it.
Why she'd played along with his lie, calling him an 'honorable human'.
But she must have known.
...That his words were blatant lies.
「I too hope that Andariel, who clashed with me under the Abyss Covenant, finds eternal rest. I acted solely for the honor of that worthy rival, desiring nothing in return.」
Recalling those words, Park Chan-woo inwardly shook his head.
He'd merely flailed to survive with Gremory before him.
Andariel had been utterly dishonorable.
Abusing his authority, overstepping bounds repeatedly.
Openly taking bribes, nitpicking to obstruct at every turn.
Could Gremory truly have been unaware of Andariel's conduct?
Distant kin or not, she'd sniped Kim Byung-han and appeared herself. They were close.
Thus.
"Andariel was far from honorable."
In return for her honesty, Park Chan-woo spoke truth.
She still called him 'honorable human'.
Even saving him from death over that bold lie.
His motive wasn't conscience.
'I need to correct it now.'
If she knew the truth yet persisted in the facade, greater danger might follow. Better to preempt.
Of course, it was risky.
She might turn and kill him.
But better than humanity's erasure.
【I know.】
Gremory replied nonchalantly, as if it were nothing.
...As expected.
She acknowledged Andariel's dishonor.
And that Park Chan-woo's words had been lies.
Park Chan-woo drew a deep breath and continued.
"Nor am I any honorable human. Archdemon Gremory."
A plea not to call him that anymore.
Then.
Swooooo...
A pristine white 'gate' materialized before Gremory.
Stepping through, she spoke.
【...Human who knows honor, until we meet again.】
Bam!
The gate shut.
Gremory the Archdemon was gone.
Back to her castle.
......He'd survived.
But beyond relief, her final words puzzled him.
She'd called him 'human who knows honor' to the end.
'Until we meet again?'
Its meaning eluded him.
But he shouldn't expect her goodwill next time.
She'd only appeared to honor her own words.
No Archdemon would favor a human.
Whew.
Tension released, his body went limp.
Drained utterly.
No wonder—he could collapse anytime.
But he couldn't.
Because.
The messages floating before his eyes.
The true 'reckoning' hadn't even begun.
Time for the rewards from his sole achievement, the Legendary Quest, and Aheta's bankruptcy: countless points and prizes.
Park Chan-woo began checking the lengthy text, too vast to grasp at once.
His fist clenched tightly, trembling.
'Hidden Treasure Vault!'
The vault from the Second Night where he'd claimed 'Baal's Belt' had returned.
A chance to enter Aheta's most secret stash again—one never meant to see daylight.
This secured his second 'Zero-grade' equipment.
'More rewards await.'
Completing the Third Night brought more than just the Hidden Vault.
Park Chan-woo continued reading.
The Third Night was over.
News spread, and people erupted in ecstasy.
"W-We survived!"
"It's over! Over, I said!"
"B-But what's this about Moon Lord Aheta going bankrupt?"
"Who cares? We're alive!"
A war short yet endless.
Mounds of corpses beyond count.
Eyes turned to Lee Hyuk-soo.
'Without him, we'd all be dead.'
'Not just strong—his command is unreal.'
'He's a living god.'
Yet the man under scrutiny, Lee Hyuk-soo, couldn't relax.
Aheta's bankruptcy had appeared as a message.
Only the 'Prophet' could orchestrate such a miracle.
But.
'Something feels off.'
A nagging doubt.
Like missing a crucial fact.
A vital truth slipping by in the chaos.
'What am I overlooking?'
Lee Hyuk-soo closed his eyes, stroking his chin.
He reviewed the entire Third Night.
From start to finish, scrutinizing every memory.
Flash!
His eyes snapped open.
"Ah!"
Realization dawned.
What he'd missed—what he'd overlooked.
'Park Chan-woo!'
Right.
A warrior who'd never appeared despite ranking first.
The top player, acknowledged by Gula.
Yet absent.
Nowhere to be seen.
Not even when Anubis emerged or the Death Legion warred.
No sign of 'Park Chan-woo'.
Why?
How could someone dominating every trial be so invisible?
He should've stood out.
"No way..."
A sudden thought flashed.
Lee Hyuk-soo shook his head.
Impossible.
No.
'Park Chan-woo. Could he be...'
......The Prophet.