Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 027
Chapter Title: Savior of Seoul (5)
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From the lofty skies, the constellations gazed down upon the earth, their attention fixed on the first conquest of the tower.
Who among the players would be the first to conquer the tower?
That was the question—and the subject of their wagers.
The top favorites were, naturally, the Strongest 7. It was a no-brainer. They were humanity's strongest players, chosen by seventh-hierarchy constellations.
But not everyone agreed.
Thousand Knights.
The term referred to a thousand knights chosen by fifth-hierarchy constellations, just below the sixth. Excluding the Strongest 7 from Beyond the Heavens, they were humanity's mightiest force—strong enough that even the Strongest 7 couldn't take them lightly.
Opinions, once leaning toward the Strongest 7, swung the other way and balanced out.
The constellations pondered.
Even the lofty sixth-hierarchy constellations were split. But each touted their own player.
Edge of the Sword spoke in his usual calm tone.
Great Sage Equal to Heaven grinned, as if up for a bet.
Ark of Death remained silent. Yet his gaze lingered on Arhim, who was sweeping through the first floor of the White Tower.
Yamata no Orochi flashed a meaningful smile.
Akasha sneered.
Maria showed infinite faith.
And Eve...
She believed in the hero.
Humanity's strongest hero.
So, who would conquer the tower first?
No one knew.
But it was certain to be one of the Strongest 7. Because they were the chosen ones.
The chosen ones.
A staircase to the upper floor materialized. It was a grand spiral staircase, twisted like a corkscrew, vast and majestic enough for giants dozens of meters tall to ascend and descend.
'That's the way.'
Lee Sang-hyun caught his breath for a moment, eyeing the spiral stairs.
Bursting tens of billions of eggs in one go had left him with considerable physical and mental fatigue.
He hadn't rested even before that, pushing nonstop. Any ordinary player would have collapsed from exhaustion.
'...Should I take a break?'
His limbs weren't trembling, but rest was definitely in order.
Yet Lee Sang-hyun couldn't rest. Because Nameless had spoken.
The top was obvious. No need to overthink it. There was only one summit to the tower.
'No time for a comfortable break, huh.'
Swallowing a half-joking complaint, Lee Sang-hyun resumed his steps.
His footsteps led, needless to say, to the spiral staircase. The one heading upward.
'No idea what's up there... but I'll find out when I get there.'
Considering the tens of billions of eggs on the first floor, the floor above was sure to be no pushover.
But Lee Sang-hyun felt no fear. He ascended silently, like a man absorbed in his work.
It was a birdcage. Cylindrical body, flat bottom, convex top.
But enormous. Big enough to fit not just a human, but an elephant. Far from ordinary. Anyone could tell it served some special purpose.
'What is this place...'
Lee Sang-hyun calmly surveyed his surroundings.
Red carpet came into view, along with what looked like thousands of birdcages.
'They're all different.'
Upon closer inspection, each cage varied in size. Their decorations differed too.
Some hung from chains dangling from the ceiling, others sat plainly on the floor, and some rested on wooden stands.
"......"
Digging deeper, the shapes varied, as did the patterns etched on their surfaces.
'...Humans?'
The patterns on the cages were, astonishingly, depictions of 'humans'.
'...Grotesque.'
These human figures were far from beautiful. Objectively repulsive, like someone had carved their twisted bad taste into the metal.
'No idea who owns this place... but they don't deserve to live.'
Harboring intense hostility toward the unknown enemy, Lee Sang-hyun walked across the carpet.
Seated in an antique chair amid vibrant cages on either side was a stunning beauty.
"......"
She was so breathtaking, she could be called the most beautiful person not just in the world, but in all human history.
A goddess of beauty incarnate—enough to make Venus herself green with envy.
"Welcome to my domain, hero. I am Euryelle, a princess imprisoned in this castle for incurring the wrath of a holy god due to my noble beauty."
The beauty who named herself Euryelle had a voice that was the world's joy, its blessing, a melody of pure allure.
No fruit could taste sweeter than her words, no liquor intoxicate more surely.
"......"
Lee Sang-hyun blinked quietly.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't momentarily entranced. From her looks to her voice, everything hit his tastes perfectly.
"You have no idea how happy I am to meet you."
Who could harbor enmity toward the perfect 'ideal type' straight out of a dream, now standing in reality?
Euryelle rose from her chair and approached slowly.
"You can't imagine how long I've waited for you."
Especially with that pleading gaze, brimming with deep, heartfelt longing...
"You've finally come for me."
Even knowing better, one might fall for it.
But Lee Sang-hyun didn't succumb to Euryelle's enchanting temptation. His Berserker's 'Survival Instinct' blared warnings.
Twitch!!
The Source of Water blocked the 'pheromones' trying to invade his body—the terrifying kind that turned targets into blind devotees of love.
"Will you save me?"
Euryelle's desperate, loving plea instilled an unshakeable sense of duty to rescue her, come hell or high water.
But Lee Sang-hyun wasn't fooled.
He pierced through the false allure, seeing her true nature.
'...Fifth-grade.'
His Berserker's Survival Instinct pegged Euryelle as fifth-grade—stronger than him.
Drip...
This lovely woman...
Was no fragile damsel worrying about rescue. She was a monster pondering her own survival.
"Please, I beg you."
"......"
The more earnestly Euryelle pleaded, the more sweat soaked Lee Sang-hyun's back.
Though impossible, he even felt his blood drying up.
'...What now? Fight her?'
Lee Sang-hyun couldn't decide. He'd come this far, so fighting made sense—but his Survival Instinct screamed to run...
"Please... save me from this horrific nightmare."
Euryelle's plea melted the heart. But Lee Sang-hyun stepped back.
"Please, hero..."
Now, thirty meters separated them.
'...No choice.'
Lee Sang-hyun resolved to fight. If she was a tough opponent, striking first while she was off-guard was best.
'One hit...'
Right then.
Nameless spoke.
Lee Sang-hyun mulled over Nameless's words, scanning the room. Then it clicked.
'...I see.'
Euryelle gazed at him sorrowfully—the saddest in the world, tears streaming.
"I've waited only for you... why..."
Her tears were the holiest gems, the heart's agony, the world's regret.
Any chivalrous knight would stake his life to wipe them away.
But Lee Sang-hyun remained unmoved. Staring at her essence, he spoke quietly.
"Euryelle. Why are there no mirrors here?"
A tiny remark.
Trifling, like tossing ten won into a fountain.
But the ripple was huge.
"......................................................................................Pardon?"
Her voice shook, like a flawless mirror cracking.
"Why no mirrors in this place?"
"W-Well... because I incurred the god's wrath and was imprisoned here."
"And these birdcages?"
"The god, jealous of my beauty... locked me away and left these cages, saying I must live trapped like a bird forever..."
Euryelle's words rang perfectly true. Anyone hearing would swear she spoke only honesty. Not a whiff of deceit.
But Lee Sang-hyun didn't buy it.
"Nah. You just don't want to see them."
Her expression turned icy—colder than a smile flipping to a scowl, by hundreds of degrees.
"What... did you... just... say...?"
"You hate mirrors, so no mirrors."
"Th-That... can't... be. I'm... an unlucky princess, imprisoned here for my noble beauty that provoked a god's jealousy. No mirrors because... the god forbade them..."
"Euryelle."
It was a small crack.
But on flawless glass, even a tiny fracture spreads messily.
"Ugly hag."
Lee Sang-hyun provoked her.
"Tower monster."