Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Heaven: Sacred Corridor
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While we were watching the story video, Beelzebub vanished. From the looks of it, Metatron must have chased him off personally.
Traces of battle were scattered everywhere. The ground was cracked open, with hellfire raging fiercely from the fissures.
Metatron looked down at us.
The heavenly host and players bowed their heads, listening intently to his words.
"Everyone, head to heaven. You've all done well."
At his command, everyone sprang into action. The heavenly soldiers in silver armor, who had come straight from heaven to greet us, stood guard on all sides, protecting us.
Reliable as ever.
The demons couldn't come anywhere near. With this many heavenly soldiers around, who would dare?
Their leader Lucifer was gone, and even Beelzebub, who was on par with him, had disappeared.
Thanks to them, we all received escorts and safely entered the gate.
[Would you like to enter the Golden Gate?]
[Y/N]
I have no idea why they ask this separately. In this situation, does anyone really want to stay in hell?
"……"
[YES]
The angels parted to both sides, clearing the path to the gate.
[Player entry is now permitted.]
[Please enter in order.]
With me in the lead, the players began filing in.
-10th round.... Insane!
-I've never even reached the 10th round on PC version.
-With a high-level player like him, where couldn't we go?
Ma Jeongwoo sidled up close to me and said,
"Those guys are totally smitten with you."
"Ah, buzz off. Hooking guys gets you nowhere good."
"Yeah? Heh."
I stepped into the gate.
It felt like plunging into deep water, my body floating weightlessly.
So this is what it feels like to walk through space, as depicted in the game.
I slowly entered the gate.
A brilliant light enveloped my face. Then, a golden system message welcomed us.
[System Message]
[Welcome to the 10th Round: 'Heaven: Sacred Corridor.']
* * * * *
We jumped straight from the 7th round to the 10th.
A refreshing breeze and warm sunlight washed over me. It felt invigorating, like stepping into a forest under a clear blue sky.
Passing through the pathway into heaven, we saw the celestial corridor built atop the clouds.
Towering spires rose high.
Surrounding them were statues of beings imbued with holy power.
Figures in white robes with long white beards.
Everyone entering the corridor paused to pray before the statues before moving on.
'God....'
I'd seen it before.
In the PC version, you had to tilt your VR gear all the way up to catch a glimpse.
Of course, even then, it was only as a statue like this.
Metatron stood before the statue and said to Michael,
"Humans reaching this place—it's a first."
Michael bowed his head slightly in response.
"Indeed."
"Actually, on second thought, one human did come here before."
"……Who do you mean?"
Metatron tilted his head as if his memory was fuzzy, then answered.
"It was recent—around the time you were sealed in Mechania."
"When I was in Mechania...."
"About three years ago, in human time."
"………Who was it that came then?"
Not just Michael—everyone leaned in to listen. I knew who it was. Ma Jeongwoo did too.
Only those who've experienced round jumps know this late-game terror.
"Kim Jeongjae. A human named Kim Jeongjae came and went."
-W-Who? Kim Jeongjae? That psycho NPC?
-No, that guy's just around in the early game, right? And he shows up briefly in the 8th round mouthing off to Beelzebub.
-That's the bastard who calls himself the 'Opener' in the game.
Hero Kim Jeongjae.
The early-game villain who starts rampaging again from the 10th round.
No, not quite.
Calling him a demon would be an insult to demons. He's worse than trash.
Michael, not knowing who he was, gave a lukewarm reaction.
"I see. Someone I don't know."
"Yes, but coming here alone, he didn't seem ordinary. He was looking for the path to hell."
"The path to hell...."
"Never seen him in hell?"
"No."
"Hmm.... Understood for now. Take the humans into the corridor. I'll gather the archangels and convene a meeting right away."
Michael looked startled and said to Metatron,
"Metatron, do we really need to let humans into the corridor?"
"……We need to talk with them."
"You mean have humans attend the archangel council?"
"Yes."
"……Impossible. They have imperfect souls. One misstep, and the corridor could be tainted by darkness."
Metatron hissed through his teeth.
Ssss.
"I'll take full responsibility, so let them in."
"Metatron."
"You go ahead."
Metatron entered the corridor.
Michael hesitated before him, his face uneasy. I could guess what he was thinking.
Having been betrayed by a human in Mechania in the past, those memories might haunt him like a nightmare.
Angels were once human before becoming holy beings, after all.
As we stood there blankly, Raphael, who had followed behind, nudged his shoulder.
"What're you doing? Get in."
"Metatron said to bring the humans inside the corridor."
"Then go in."
"……Isn't it dangerous?"
"Your face looks more dangerous right now. Hurry and lead them in. If we're late, everyone will be waiting."
Raphael, with her girlish face, winked at me. I scratched the side of my head in confusion.
'Was Raphael always this type of character?'
* * * * *
Inside the corridor, small towers etched with special runes dotted the area.
The power source for the angels' magic.
Mana crystals.
The blue light emanating from them connected to the angels, granting them infinite power.
-Wow! Those must be mana crystals. I can feel the power just being near them.
-Don't touch them. You'll get chewed out by the angels.
If it ended with just a scolding, we'd be lucky.
Mess them up, cause a problem with the mana crystals, and we could die.
Especially with Michael already eyeing us suspiciously.
As chatter echoed through the corridor, Michael revealed his displeasure.
"This is a place that demands silence even from us. Refrain from causing any disturbances."
I answered as representative.
"Yes."
Short and clear, so everyone gets it without dragging on.
We climbed the long spiral staircase. Midway, Michael whispered something, and transparent steps extended, forming a path to the council chamber.
"Only one of you may enter here. The rest wait outside."
Everyone looked at me.
Just like in school when the teacher asks for class rep volunteers—eyes converging.
Well, stepping up as human rep isn't bad.
"Then I'll go in."
"Don't cause any commotion inside."
"Yes."
"Leave all weapons outside."
"Got it."
I set my scythe down on the ground.
Zzzzt! Smoke rose with a sizzling sound. Must be the dark power infused in it. Michael frowned at my weapon.
"A necromancy tool."
"Yes."
"……Necromancy challenges the domain of God. Do you know that?"
"……Is that so?"
"Indeed. Manipulating the souls of the dead—you could almost call it divine."
Michael scanned me up and down, then knocked on the council chamber door.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The door, so tall you had to crane your neck to see the top, slowly creaked open.
Creeeeak.
White light poured out.
[Entry permitted for Player 'Kim Cheonjae.']
Entering with Michael, the archangels sat in rows on either side.
At the center was Metatron. He pointed to an empty seat with his finger.
"Michael and the human, sit there."
A chair ornate enough for a throne, and beside it, a shabby wooden one.
Michael and I sat side by side.
Even as guests, isn't this chair too much? It creaked just leaning back.
-That's the human who rescued Michael and Raphael from the demons?
-Took down five great demons, they say.
-Pfft! Nonsense. How could a human beat great demons? Maybe low- or mid-tier, but no way.
Everyone fell silent, staring at Metatron. He flipped through a few documents with a troubled expression, then spoke cautiously.
"Michael."
"Speak."
"Have you heard where Lucifer is now?"
"……Yes, Raphael told me. Sealed in the Dragon's Hourglass, correct?"
Metatron nodded.
"Yes, thanks to Gabriel's sacrifice, we sealed him."
"Then where is Gabriel now?"
"……In the hourglass with him."
The chamber erupted in chaos. Some archangels, hearing this for the first time, shot to their feet.
-Metahron, you knew Gabriel's whereabouts?
-You said you didn't know last time. Is God's proxy lying now?!
Metatron frowned.
"I didn't know then. By the time I learned, I couldn't tell you."
-Why?
"……If I'd told you her location, one of you would've surely gone to rescue her and sought the Dragon's Hourglass."
Silence fell over the room. Most archangels here were created by the Holy Spirit Gabriel.
As Metatron said, if they'd known her peril, some would've already gone hunting for the hourglass.
Listening, I spoke up cautiously.
"Um—"
Michael reached out and covered my mouth.
"Enough. Don't say a word."
Metatron wagged a finger at Michael.
"No, Michael. The human has speaking rights as a council attendee. Don't stop him."
"……Metatron."
"Human. Speak."
I looked at Michael.
He reluctantly pulled his arm away. I stood so everyone could see and began.
"I know a way to free Gabriel from the hourglass without breaking Lucifer's seal."