Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Ruined World
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Ruined World
Ruined World
Before the Tower of Jealousy collapsed.
A pure white space awaited Lee Sang-hyun as he climbed the stairs reaching to the heavens.
A place as pristine and cozy as a secret garden hidden within the clouds.
"......"
There, Lee Sang-hyun discovered a special orb made of transparent glass.
'That’s...'
He knew at a glance. It was something that would grant a 'wish'.
As expected, it was a divine artifact that granted wishes.
"......"
If he wished for it, he could surely obtain legendary weapons, armor, shields, the elixir of immortality, or even the Philosopher's Stone.
Lee Sang-hyun pondered what wish to make.
'What I need right now... a weapon?'
The sword he had used from the tutorial to now reflected in his eyes.
A blade that had performed its role hundreds of times over, beyond mere words of praise.
He was pouring mana into it to barely keep it alive... but its limit was surely approaching.
'Armor can be acquired gradually... I don't really need elixir, so a sword it is.'
Everything else paled in importance. Did a berserker even need armor or a shield? Elixirs, Philosopher's Stones, and skills seemed pointless too. He could crush everything just by breaking through limits.
So, Lee Sang-hyun planned to wish for a legendary sword—a weapon suited to a berserker.
He hesitated.
"Cat robot... door...?"
But Nameless blocked him. Nameless told Lee Sang-hyun about a cat robot and a door.
"A cat robot and a door..."
One thing came to mind. No, it popped into his head the moment he heard it. A mystical door that could go anywhere.
But wishing for that seemed too outlandish, so he tilted his head.
Of course, only for a moment.
'There must be a reason.'
Lee Sang-hyun made his wish.
"I want a door that can take me anywhere."
Weeeeng.
"Yes."
Lee Sang-hyun nodded.
Light then poured from the transparent orb.
Through the wish for a door that could go anywhere, Lee Sang-hyun obtained the skill called Portal.
And...
Nameless spoke.
【Rune】
The name of the ruined world.
The world reorganized rapidly. At its center, needless to say, were the chosen ones.
They were called by many names: the chosen, players, new humanity, superhumans, supermen, prophets, guardians, hunters, and more—distinguishing them from 'ordinary humans'.
But one thing was clear: they were 'heroes'.
"Thank you, thank you so much...!"
They were unmistakably heroes.
"H-Here it is!"
"We're alive...! We're going to live!"
"Ahh! God...!"
"Sob! Hic!"
"Mooom...!"
To the people whose lives they saved, they were heroes impossible not to thank.
"You're safe now, don't worry. No more monsters will approach."
"Any injuries? If you're hurt, just tell me. I'll heal you all."
"It's safe now."
"We'll protect you."
"Trust me."
The existing power holders, who had anticipated fierce resistance, were the first to embrace the heroes.
"If you protect me, I'll give you everything you desire. Wealth, honor, position—all of it."
"It will be a new world. And you will be at its center."
"Money? I'll give you as much as you want! How much? 10 billion? 20 billion? Just name it!"
"When the old order collapses, someone has to fill the void. It will probably be us."
"Join us."
There could be no resistance. The old power had become useless.
Krrrar.
Against the unknown monsters, neither threats nor persuasion nor any attacks worked.
Far from it—they could barely buy time, and rich or poor, all were devoured equally.
"D-Do you know who I am...?!"
"Manager Kim, Maaanageeer Kiiim...!!"
"Aaaagh!!"
Kwachik! Kwadruduk!!
Thus, the old powers bet on the heroes to secure their lives and safety.
"Fine by me."
"I needed a supporter anyway."
"Guilds are bound to form... let's do it together."
"Those are appealing terms."
"Since you're offering... I won't refuse."
"I'm glad you recognize me."
For the heroes, the proposals from the power holders were attractive. Especially for young heroes dreaming of instant wealth, it was a chance to prove their worth.
"The center of the new world is the heroes, no matter what anyone says. This is the dawn of the age of heroes! Related industries will boom quickly. From supporters aiding heroes to weapons, consumables, and even dispatching heroes to nations short on them."
The old order collapsed swiftly. It was an unstoppable tidal wave.
Ordinary humans had no choice. Refuse, and death awaited.
Thus, the age of humans ended completely.
And the age of heroes began.
"......"
Lee Sang-hyun, who had crossed through the portal, gazed upon a world filled with ash-gray desolation.
It was parched and barren. Flames and thick black smoke still rose from the ground, while horrific deaths and gloomy scorch marks littered the landscape.
The clouds that should quench drought instead reeked of blood and summoned more dryness. The wind carried only dust and ashes, smothering any chance for seeds to sprout.
The buildings where people once lived were shattered beyond recognition, making one doubt if these were truly remnants of civilization.
'...A heap of ashes.'
The ruined world was literally a heap of ashes. Filled only with lingering scorch marks and abandoned deaths.
Whooo...
Lee Sang-hyun exhaled quietly. His heart was calm yet strangely excited.
'Because of the Source of Water...?'
Thanks to the Source of Water from Tethys, he felt a surge of nostalgia, like returning to a long-lost home.
Thump. Thump.
'A lonely yet wistful feeling... Not bad.'
Lee Sang-hyun took a deep breath. His heart beat with a faint warmth.
'More importantly... why bring me here?'
He wondered. Why had Nameless brought him to this place? To a world that had perished and been abandoned, where nothing remained.
'Maybe... something is left?'
It made sense to think so. There must be a reason for sending him here.
But it was so devastated that he doubted anything could remain.
"......"
Lee Sang-hyun expanded his sensory domain to its maximum. But he felt only ash, dust, and scorch marks.
Whiiiing...
The dry wind felt lonely. Not a speck of freedom could be sensed.
At that moment, Nameless's voice rang out.
'Star?'
Lee Sang-hyun immediately looked up at the sky. But no stars, not even the moon, were visible. Only dull gray clouds blanketed it.
'A star...'
Suddenly, the wind's direction shifted.
It blew against the gray clouds in the opposite direction, and soon they parted, revealing something in between.
'That’s it.'
A beautiful green star. Lee Sang-hyun knew at a glance he had to follow it.
'Let’s go.'
Lee Sang-hyun walked after the green star. Capricious winds gathered gray clouds to obstruct him, but the dazzlingly beautiful green star shone clearly unchanging.
Only barren scenery stretched endlessly.
"......"
No need to mention trees—not even a single blade of grass could be seen. The shattered buildings were no different from gravel, and the roads were indistinguishable from wind-sculpted paths.
Step, step.
He saw a child's toy rolling about, modeled after local animals but charred black and grotesque.
Lee Sang-hyun didn't pick it up and kept walking.
Scattered human bones appeared here and there.
Of course, none were intact. All were crushed, shattered, melted, or burned—painful to behold.
"......"
But Lee Sang-hyun didn't sink into contemplation. He could pity the unjustly dead, but he couldn't grieve them sincerely.
He wasn't a resident of this ruined world.
However...
'Though not for you... I'll repay what Tethys gave me.'
Lee Sang-hyun hadn't forgotten his promise to Tethys. He always remembered it.
'No matter what.'
Leaving that brief moment of silence behind, Lee Sang-hyun walked forward after the green star.
It was clearly a forest. But burned pitch-black, it was gaunt and wicked like a withered witch's hand—impossible to imagine as once teeming with life.
'...Nothing here either.'
As expected, nothing. He had hoped for even a small insect, but that was mere wishful thinking.
"......"
Lee Sang-hyun entered the forest following the green star.
Underfoot lay ash, dust, and twisted bones, crumbling with every step.
Crunch. Craduk.
Suddenly, he grew curious about the flora and fauna that once lived here.
Did they resemble Earth's? Or were they entirely different?
Then he realized it was pointless... and stopped thinking.
The wind ceased. The silence was oppressively gloomy, as if even the wind had fled.
"......"
After walking a long way, a foul stench assaulted him. So pungent he reflexively grimaced.
It hadn't rained or blown in quite a while, clearly unwashed.
Step, step.
The bleak landscape dragged on endlessly. The once-beautiful green star was obscured by gray clouds, gloomy, filling the air with solitude as if he were utterly alone.
"......"
Still, Lee Sang-hyun didn't doubt Nameless's intent. He walked on in trust, as always.
Night fell.
And morning dawned.
The charred forest remained gaunt and wicked. No life forms existed.
'What’s that...?'
But something was there.
Not bones. Not ash. Not dust.
"A seed...?"
Surprisingly, it was a seed. Half-burned, but undoubtedly from a tree that lived here.
Lee Sang-hyun rushed over and picked it up.
"......"
For a moment, he thought maybe...
'...It’s dead.'
Regrettably, the seed had no chance of sprouting. It had died long ago, destined only to crumble.
Thump.
Lee Sang-hyun exhaled quietly.
With no potential to germinate, it was mere trash... but he felt no desire to discard it. So he pocketed it.
'...Let’s go.'
Lee Sang-hyun pushed aside his regret and walked on.
The guiding green star shone faintly through the gray clouds, illuminating the path ahead for Lee Sang-hyun.