Chapter 41
Chapter 41
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: The Destroyed World (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Before meeting the Abandoned King.
When he fell into the lake.
Lee Sang-hyun heard the song of the stars.
La~ la la la la la la~ la~ la la la la.
La la~ la la la la la la~ la la la la la.
It was a beautiful yet sorrowful song. It felt like it was sung through tears, as if desperately longing for someone.
And...
Along with the rising black flames came horrific screams that echoed everywhere.
At first, it was a small sound. Gradually growing louder until it reached the clouds floating in the sky.
The screams didn't stop until the clouds were dyed gray. The flames spewed smoke and ash, swallowing everything.
Where the screams and flames subsided, only pitch-black scorch marks remained.
Nothing was left.
But it wasn't over. The wind kept blowing without cease. The gray clouds drifted endlessly, dragging their heavy bodies. Rocks crumbled into sand, and surviving flames spat out smoke and ash. Lava erupting from volcanoes flowed endlessly, creating new land.
Even if the world had perished, time hadn't stopped. Time continued to flow, and the stars sang along with it.
The time after destruction wasn't frozen.
It stretched on without end.
Along with the song of the stars.
A massive labyrinth unfolded before Lee Sang-hyun, who had followed the green star.
Whoooosh.
It was an absurdly enormous labyrinth. Even looking down from the high rocky mountain, its end wasn't visible; he had to turn his head toward the horizon.
'I'll never get out in my lifetime.'
Even using the method of sticking to the left or right wall, it was clear it would take over a hundred years.
'If only there was a ceiling.'
However, the labyrinth had no ceiling. Only walls tangled in a dizzyingly complex manner, but with no roof, escaping was entirely possible.
"......"
It was a massive yet ridiculously flawed labyrinth. One that anyone could escape.
Ah... aaaah... aaah...
But not for the traitors.
For those who had betrayed their race and begged the demons for their lives, it was an eternal prison from which they could never escape.
Lee Sang-hyun looked down at the traitors, lost in thought.
"......"
Was killing them the right thing to do? Or leaving them be? That was his dilemma.
Emotionally speaking, killing them would be too merciful for traitors.
To free those who betrayed their race and pledged themselves to demons from eternal torment?
It was something only a saintly gentleman would do.
But rationally speaking, killing them was correct. Their race had already perished, and they had been betrayed by the demons, wandering the labyrinth for eons.
Unable to die even in death.
'...This is tough.'
Lee Sang-hyun couldn't decide. Killing them felt too lenient, but leaving them gnawed at him.
'...Still, I have to make a choice.'
Lee Sang-hyun looked up at the sky.
Whoooosh.
Through the gray clouds, the green star twinkled. Nameless said nothing, silently respecting Lee Sang-hyun's will like the taciturn person he was.
'If it were me...'
In the end, Lee Sang-hyun made his decision. He would give the traitors one last chance.
The leaders of the era were the Strongest 7. They were truly the strongest players, welcomed wherever they went, their every move becoming news.
[Heavenly Horse Ryu O-shin's next move...]
[The reason the Dragon Shrine Maiden headed to Kagoshima...]
[The Holy Maiden's day off...]
Of course, in America, Brazil, Australia, and India, controversy over the Strongest 7 never ceased.
Each claimed themselves to be among the Strongest 7, stirring up debates however they could.
Yet even those at the center of the controversies were no different from superstars.
Because they embodied 'justice,' 'peace,' and were symbols in themselves.
People even said countries couldn't function normally without them. Dependence on the Strongest 7—players—skyrocketed.
Of course, some nations voiced concerns about over-reliance on 'individuals'...
But from the second Monster Wave onward, such voices vanished completely.
The second Monster Wave that struck everywhere except South Korea was a catastrophe.
Countries lacking players—called superheroes, superhumans, chosen ones, hunters, lords, psychics, guardians—perished. They couldn't handle the flood of monsters and fell.
In contrast, nations with the Strongest 7 and other stars survived.
Especially China, Japan, Russia, and Italy, where controversy was absent, suffered no casualties.
They crushed the Monster Wave with overwhelming might.
"Tch. Such a hassle."
"Everything as you wish."
"Yawn! Guess I need a nap."
"That's it for Italy! Straight to France! People are in danger!"
Faith in the Strongest 7 pierced the heavens. No one dared approach them, and even relatively ordinary stars became 'symbols of peace.'
...It was from then that invisible classes began surfacing.
Was this the cost of maintaining peace? Or the price for guaranteed peace?
As players' value rose, nations waged covert wars to claim them.
As a result, players' status soared boundlessly, reaching a point where a player's worth equaled national power.
"Noblesse oblige! We're risking our lives fighting. This treatment is only natural, right?"
"Of course! We're the chosen ones!"
Not all, but nearly every player demanded 'just treatment,' viewing discrimination against ordinary people as natural.
Because they risked their lives fighting. Facing terrifying monsters on the front lines.
Honestly, it wasn't discrimination. It was a right they deserved.
The right of 'nobles.'
There was no initial intent to betray.
No thought of betraying country, race, or beloved family.
But as the unnatural became natural, everything changed.
They wanted more, and felt entitled to it.
So they desired it. Tempted by demons whispering at their side, but they intensely craved it. Believing they were worthy.
As the chosen.
As the superior.
Thus, they couldn't lose it. They couldn't crumble alongside their sinking nation and race.
『I-I'm different...!』
『I'm not like those idiots...!』
『I'll survive...!』
『I'll win...! I'll be the victor...!』
『I'll change the future...!』
Thinking of rights made betrayal inevitable.
Thinking of the future made betrayal correct.
『...No choice. It's unavoidable.』
『...This is the best way.』
They ignored the wrongness.
Survival now was more important. Protecting hard-won rights was key.
And they thought they could make amends anytime.
As long as they lived...
They believed in chances.
But when the demons' game raced toward its end.
They realized something was wrong. No, they had known. Just ignored it.
They recognized the sin but couldn't turn back. Too late.
Only the path to becoming demons remained. No other choice.
「Look carefully.」
「There's an exit somewhere.」
「You can be like us.」
「If you find the exit.」
「Hee hee hee!」
No, they had to become demons.
Only by becoming demons...
Only then...
............
......
Lee Sang-hyun charged forward, smashing through the labyrinth walls. Literally punching through them as he ran.
Boom! KABOOM!
The walls, weathered by eons, crumbled pathetically.
Rumble rumble! Kwaaang...
Falling one after another like dominoes, making one doubt if it was even a prison.
Lee Sang-hyun kept running.
'...Like a sandcastle.'
The walls were far too flimsy to hold traitors—undying monsters even in death.
Of course, time had weakened them, but even accounting for that, they were sloppy.
Above all, wasn't the ceiling open?
Unable to escape such a labyrinth.
Wandering for eternal ages.
What did that mean?
Lee Sang-hyun pondered this as he demolished walls, slashing a line across the labyrinth to the horizon.
Kwaaang...
Compared to the massive labyrinth, it wasn't a huge exit. But sufficient for traitors to escape.
Their backs were hunched, eyes unable to look skyward, fixated only on darkness. Ears covered by gnarled hands. Mouths screaming ceaselessly.
Shamble shamble. Their feeble steps were like shackled feet.
"......"
The traitors clearly saw nothing, heard nothing.
Proof: an exit right before them, yet unfound.
Because of the demons? Or self-imprisoned by regret?
To find out, Lee Sang-hyun led them out. One day, two, three, four... nine, ten days he guided them beyond the maze.
Grr... err... er...
And through the gray clouds, the sun rose. Briefly, sunlight poured down.
Ah... ah... ah... ah... ah...
From traitors' mouths flowed not screams, but voices. Black eyes shed tears drop by drop; wind entered ears uncovered by gnarled hands.
Aah... aaah...
Hunched backs straightened toward the sky.
Aaaah...
And the traitors...
All returned to the eternal maze.
Aah... aaah... aaaah...
Whether the traitors truly repented their sins, no one could know. Without peering into hearts, it's unknowable.
Anyway, it didn't matter. Late regrets change nothing.
The world perished, demons left.
No one forgives lifetimes of maze-wandering guilt, nor curses eternal imprisonment.
So on what grounds save or damn traitors?
Ridiculous.
Absurd.
"......"
But Lee Sang-hyun gripped his sword.
Ah... ah... ah... ah...
Not to save or execute traitors. Merely to grant an end.
The end called 'death.'
Thus, no false comforts. Their traitor status eternal.
Slash.
Lee Sang-hyun beheaded them all silently. No "rest now," no "traitors"—just granting them the same fate as their perished race.
Ah... ah... ah...
That was the traitors' end. Nothing more, nothing less.
Merely, it had taken a long time.
"......"
Lee Sang-hyun sheathed his sword and looked skyward.
Whoooosh.
Through the dark gray clouds, the green star twinkled. As vivid as a traffic light.
'...That way.'
Lee Sang-hyun took up his sword and walked forward.
'...This'll take quite a while.'
Lee Sang-hyun's next destination was
where the 'high elf' awaiting the hero slumbered.