Chapter 421
Chapter 421
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 422
Chapter Title: The Chalice of Blood
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...How long had I been climbing those stairs?
I finally reached the end, the [Moon Altar].
At the same time, the spells hidden around the altar began to glow, enveloping my body.
[You have ascended the 'Moon Altar', a historical space for demons that only the qualified may climb.]
[You acquire 5,000 points as a reward.]
[You receive the Moon's Blessing.]
[Your magic resistance increases by 10%.]
Up close, the Moon Altar was a stone ruin.
It seemed poorly maintained, with moss growing in spots here and there, and the edges corroded, giving it an ancient feel.
It might look like an old, useless relic on the surface, but I could read the complex spells hidden within.
It was a spell that absorbed the full moon's magic power to form circuits, injecting natural mana into the altar.
And then I gazed at the cup of blood placed atop the altar.
A small silver cup adorned with ornate patterns.
It contained a transparent liquid—dew made from moonlight mana, if memory served.
I calmly activated Outsider's Benefit and examined the cup.
[Chalice of Blood (Sacred Relic)]
Classification: Chalice
Description: A cup containing sacred power. Legend says it once held the blood of a god.
[Continuous Effect]
> For the Qualified
Holds the blood of the qualified, drawing out the hidden potential in that blood.
If the qualified drinks the blood, they gain an Authority.
Durability: SSS
It matched exactly what Seonhwa had explained.
Just as described, it would draw out the potential in my blood and grant me an Authority.
The 'qualified one' mentioned in the description probably referred to the 'King's Authority'.
To proceed with the succession ritual, I reached out toward the chalice.
I manifested mana to create a small cut on my fingertip.
A single drop of red blood formed at the tip, then fell toward the dew in the chalice.
Drip.
The red blood hit the chalice, creating a small ripple.
The transparent liquid mixed with the blood drop, gradually turning red.
Sss—
At the same time, a mystical energy began to spread from the chalice.
Along with a brilliant light bursting from the liquid, the mystical glow rapidly expanded.
-...That light just now. What was that?
—...Yeah. It feels a bit different from the second generation's time.
I faintly heard the demons below the altar murmuring.
I wondered if something had gone wrong, but since Haryeong showed no reaction, it seemed fine.
I lifted the chalice and turned around. At the same moment, all the demons knelt toward me, bowing their heads.
I stared blankly at the sight for a moment before drinking from the chalice.
Gulp.
[You have drunk 'Purified Blood'.]
[A small change in the future is detected.]
[Causality increases by 1.]
And then.
Centered on the ground where I stood, the mystical energy began to spread once more.
At the same time, an irresistible, intense aura enveloped my body.
I'd experienced something like this countless times, so I could sense it.
Right now, I was being transported to a mystical space.
Flash!
In an instant, my surroundings changed.
A space filled with pure white light.
It was a phenomenon I'd been through countless times now, so I didn't panic.
This was a mystical space.
"They said a Mystery would grant the Authority directly...
Come to think of it, it's been quite a while since I last met one.
Perfect timing.
I had some questions for the Mystery anyway.
Right then.
[...A special guest has come to this place.]
A voice echoed in my mind.
When I looked up, a black-haired young man in pure white robes stood before me.
I squinted at him.
"...What? A human?"
He let out a small chuckle at my words.
[Huhu. Do I appear human to you?]
A voice resounding in my mind.
This was definitely the 'Will Transmission' used by Mysteries.
For a moment, I felt dumbfounded.
"What... You're really a Mystery?"
[In your human terms, yes.]
I stroked my chin, observing him as if appraising.
"...You're unusual."
[What's unusual about me?]
"All the Mysteries I've met so far had bizarre appearances."
Not only that, but their personalities were odd too.
Playful like children, sometimes.
But this one felt refined, unlike the others.
[...Heh. Bizarre, you say. How amusing.]
The Mystery chuckled lowly before speaking again.
[This isn't our true form... It's merely a temporary medium for conversing with mortals...]
That piqued my curiosity a bit.
"What criteria do you use to choose your appearances?"
[Various. Projecting one's essence onto the other... Or borrowing someone else's form... For reference, I've borrowed the form of someone who once came here.]
Someone who came here...
"...No way, the King of Prophecy?"
[I wouldn't know. But that name belonged to one who possessed the power of prophecy.]
Then it had to be the King of Prophecy.
There were only two demon kings who drank from the Chalice of Blood.
Speaking of which, the King of Prophecy was ridiculously handsome too. The second-generation king was stunning looks-wise as well.
But that's beside the point.
[Your expression suddenly looks grim. Is something wrong?]
"Not at all."
The Mystery stared at me quietly before nodding.
"More importantly, I heard that coming here grants an Authority."
[Indeed. When the qualified seeks me out, I bestow an Authority.]
The Mystery murmured that, then continued.
[But this time, unlike before, I feel something astonishing.]
His abrupt words caught me off guard, so I asked.
"What's so astonishing?"
[I expected you to come seeking the vessel's completion, but sooner than I anticipated.]
..."Vessel?"
His cryptic words made me blink.
"Vessel? What does that mean?"
[Something like that exists. No need to know.]
"Tch."
I'd seen this teasing Mystery behavior often enough that I just let it slide now.
I let out a short sigh.
More importantly, there was something I'd wanted to ask if I met a Mystery again.
"I have some information I want to know."
[...Information?]
I told him.
"I heard karma has built up on me. By any chance, do I still have any left?"
Recently, I'd undergone a massive change in becoming the 'Demon King'.
And I'd nearly lost my life in the battle with the second-generation king.
So I wondered if that had fully cleared my karma—or if some still remained.
The Mystery gazed at me silently before speaking.
[Impressive. To think you knew that much...]
He seemed genuinely surprised; his eyes were slightly wider than before.
His varied expressions were intriguing.
[As you said, karma has built up on you. From arbitrarily altering countless fates until now... And.]
.."And?"
[An enormous amount still remains within you.]
I bit my lip.
I'd hoped becoming the Demon King had cleared all the accumulated karma.
But it still lingered?
[You probably thought obtaining your qualification would erase it... But no. Quite the opposite. That event caused you to accumulate even more karma.]
"Wait. Not cleared—instead, more piled up?"
[Yes... An astonishing amount, in fact... Your actions have perfectly justified the judgment...]
Muttering to himself, the Mystery narrowed his eyes and smiled.
[This one must die, without fail.]
A chill ran through me.
The prophets I'd met said karma retribution didn't have to take the form of 'death'.
I'd clung to those words to endure this far.
But this guy was certain I'd die.
And if asked whose words I trusted more... Obviously the higher power, the Mystery.
Despair washed over me, but this wasn't the time to wallow.
I quickly sorted my thoughts and asked another question.
"Then, what do you mean by the 'justification of judgment' you mentioned?"
[I cannot say.]
A firm refusal.
I knew pressing further would be pointless; he'd never open up.
Then another thought struck me.
"Suppose. If I die as you say, what happens to the world?"
[...Hm? Your death?]
The Mystery looked at me.
Then he tilted his head, as if it were a question he'd never considered.
[Hmm. That's something I haven't pondered... The aftermath of chaos's death...]
Muttering alone, he said.
[Your existence has already plunged this world into countless chaos. Whether you die or not, it'll be a problem either way... Looking at it this way, you have committed a capital offense.]
I was at a loss for words.
Seeing that, the Mystery let out a light chuckle again.
[How intriguing. The new future born from chaos's death.]
To him, my death seemed mere entertainment.
"Anyway, my death is set in stone."
Feeling hollow, I asked him.
"Is there absolutely no way for me to survive?"
[None. This is fate.]
The Mystery answered firmly once more.
Countless thoughts raced through my mind.
If.
If I died as he said.
All my efforts so far.
What would become of everything I'd done?
As those thoughts chained together, a surge of frustration erupted from deep in my chest.
"...Don't make me laugh."
My sudden words made the Mystery look at me questioningly.
I glared straight at him.
"I'm not dying like this."
[...?]
"You said it yourselves, right? I'm free from predetermined fate."
The Mystery didn't respond.
But unlike before, the amusement had vanished from his face as he observed me.
"Then I'll decide my own death."
I have things to do.
Returning to my original world. My home...
I couldn't die here just because of some 'fate'.
Seeing me like that, the Mystery spoke.
[Let me correct that. As you say, you possess the power of freedom to defy any fate.]
[And while I said fate decrees your death, my phrasing was imprecise. You will die by fate, but not by your own fate.]
His sudden change made me squint.
"What?"
[You die by another entity's fate.]
"What does that mean? Another entity's fate?"
[The future you altered imposed a powerful fate on a certain being to kill you. And that fate's power surpasses any Authority.]
A fate imposed...
That explained the 'justification of judgment' he'd mentioned earlier.
And naturally, one entity came to mind.
The culprit behind my death. It was none other than.
"Cruas."
[.......]
The Mystery didn't deny it.
Seeing that, I let out a hollow laugh.
Cruas is targeting me...
When I'd pondered it alone, he was one of the prime suspects for my death.
Now that the veil was lifted and I knew exactly who, the fear that had gripped me began to fade.
But it wasn't entirely reassuring.
Among all the suspects I'd imagined, Cruas was the one I'd hoped most it wasn't.
I asked.
"How much time do I have left until my death?"
The Mystery slowly opened his mouth.
[Less than a month remains.]