Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: Valhalla's Stairs
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While Soo-hyuk and Viola followed Tyr,
Vigo, finally alone, headed straight for Midgard's guard post.
A tall tower stood in the heart of Midgard.
As he climbed its stairs, a familiar, welcoming face awaited him—one he hadn't seen in ages.
"Vigo!"
"Captain Balder!"
A middle-aged man with green eyes approached and pulled Vigo into a hug. It was an embarrassing greeting, but after centuries apart, such things didn't matter.
"It's been too long. Are you really back for good? Mission accomplished?"
"Yes. It's all over now."
"I opposed it so much when you insisted on that Valkyrie escort mission. You were so stubborn about it."
"No, sir. It was a rewarding assignment."
Vigo grinned and scratched his head.
"Oh, and I heard you became Midgard's commander in the meantime. Congratulations."
"What kind of congratulations is that for old news? Come inside first."
The two headed to the command room deeper in the building.
Vigo's eyes widened at the spacious room, the brand-new furniture, and the elegant teacups.
"You really pulled it off."
Clink.
Balder personally poured the tea. In response to Vigo's words, he shrugged and shot back.
"What choice did we have? We're still groveling at the gods' feet."
"That's..."
His words carried a sharp edge.
There was nothing more to say. Everyone knew no one from Midgard had ever reached Valhalla, the realm of the gods.
Seeing Vigo's awkward reaction, Balder grinned.
"Remember how we used to badmouth the gods behind their backs and have a good laugh?"
Vigo smiled back at the playful tone.
"Yeah. Those were the days."
"How've you been? Tell me everything."
"Sure."
Vigo recounted his experiences.
The tedious 400-year mission. Valkyrie Belveim's betrayal. The human who suddenly joined them...
The rather long tale finally came to an end.
"...I see. So Tyr himself took that human under his wing?"
Balder's green eyes narrowed slightly.
He muttered into his teacup.
"The gods have too much time on their hands."
"Tell me about it."
Slurp.
The tea had gone lukewarm during the long story. After wetting his throat, Balder gazed at his reflection in the cup and said,
"I hope that guy passes the trial."
"Why's that?"
"Don't the gods need to learn something too?"
Clink.
Balder smiled as he set down his cup, looking a bit different from the captain Vigo remembered.
"That Valhalla isn't just theirs."
As Soo-hyuk walked behind Tyr alongside Viola, his eyes caught sight of the god's missing arm.
One arm, severed or torn off—he couldn't tell. It was the most striking feature of Tyr's appearance.
"What are you staring at?"
"Just curious."
"This arm?"
"Yes. Even gods like you can get hurt by someone."
Tyr, leading the way, glanced back sharply at Soo-hyuk.
"Do you know who I am?"
"From Viola's reaction, I can tell you're someone important."
"I suppose. You wouldn't know otherwise."
With that, Tyr looked down at his missing arm.
Soo-hyuk, sensing an opportunity, asked,
"Is it related to why you hate humans?"
Tsk.
For a split second,
His step faltered before resuming.
"...That question just made me dislike you even more."
"If I get on your good side, will you answer?"
"Probably."
Tyr snorted and quickened his pace.
"Though that's likely harder than you entering Valhalla."
"Seems that way."
Tyr was one prickly god.
Was winning him over even possible?
If there was a story behind it, maybe. If there was a reason for hating humans, there'd be an opening to exploit.
But if not.
If it was just instinctive, like hating a repulsive bug or monster.
'Then it's impossible.'
Soo-hyuk had two reasons to try winning him over.
A top-tier god appearing out of nowhere. His presence would make this trial bigger and more rewarding.
If he could earn his favor,
It would be worth more than points could measure.
And on top of that.
It was a modest mission, but one nonetheless.
Step.
Under Tyr's guidance, the three arrived at a towering staircase shrouded in clouds.
The place inspired reverence. Soo-hyuk realized the trial grounds lay at its top.
"Your Valkyrie escort ends here."
"...Understood."
Viola hesitated but stopped without protest.
Soo-hyuk had expected her fiery personality to push back at least once.
She must have yielded to Tyr's authority.
"Sorry. Looks like this is as far as I go."
"It's a trial you have to face alone anyway. No need to apologize."
"Take this."
Viola pulled an item from her bosom and handed it to Soo-hyuk.
A white, rectangular card-like object. As Soo-hyuk eyed it questioningly, she explained.
"It's a disposable voice transmission kit. Call me the moment you finish the trial."
The item Viola handed him resembled a Player Kit in shape and function, though far more primitive.
Soo-hyuk tucked it into his inventory and nodded.
"I will."
"I still owe my benefactor so much, and as a warrior, that's a disgrace."
"No need to emphasize it. I'll call anyway."
She had been a crucial guide. He already planned to seek her out after the trial; this made it easier.
"Then I'm off."
Step.
With that, Soo-hyuk began ascending the stairs.
And gradually,
He vanished into the clouds.
Soo-hyuk disappeared into the clouds along the staircase.
Watching him go, Tyr clicked his tongue.
"He's gone."
With his business done, Tyr turned away.
He asked Viola, who had finished her farewells.
"Do you think that guy will pass?"
"I've seen my benefactor's strength."
Viola nodded confidently.
"He'll definitely pass."
"Sure. He's better than most Valkyries."
His tone suggested he knew everything.
Yet Tyr still predicted Soo-hyuk's failure.
"It's not about skill."
"Then what?"
"The problem is that he's human."
It was hard to understand.
But a certain phrase came to mind.
She hadn't dwelled on it then.
She hadn't believed it possible.
'Who said that?'
Viola searched her memory.
It wasn't hard to recall. He wasn't someone easily forgotten.
'Captain Balder.'
Vigo's old superior. It was his words.
Viola had long believed Valhalla's trial was open to all. Passing it granted entry to Valhalla, an equal chance for everyone.
But Tyr spoke as if it weren't true.
"Confirmed he's entered the trial. Good enough."
He turned away, convinced of Soo-hyuk's failure.
"I'll come back for the corpse later."
The clouds atop the stairs felt remarkably cozy.
Comfortable and fluffy. It even felt light, like walking on actual clouds.
But from experience,
Soo-hyuk grew wary of the unfamiliar sensation instead.
'A healthy tension is necessary.'
He sharpened his mind to avoid getting complacent.
But enduring the boredom was solely his burden.
The staircase stretched on quite a ways.
As he trudged through the clouds,
Step.
A new set of footsteps—not his own.
Raising his head, Soo-hyuk spotted a unfamiliar warrior shrouded in the misty clouds.
"A human?"
The man descending the stairs had a butterfly-shaped tattoo on his face.
Spotting Soo-hyuk, he asked in surprise,
"Are you really the challenger here for Valhalla's trial?"
"Seems like it."
[Valhalla's Trial]
📍 Objective: Walk the stairs of Valhalla.
⏰ Details: Warriors' memories await to test you.
🎁 Requirement: Gain approval from at least 10.
📈 Bonus: More approvals strengthen Valhalla's blessing.
Soo-hyuk nodded at the lengthy message.
'Just beat them all and climb, huh.'
The warrior before him, unaware of the system, let out a hollow laugh.
"Ha, even as a mere memory... to face a human."
"A 'mere memory'? What do you mean?"
"Exactly that. I'm just the past form of God Thom, who entered Valhalla long ago."
Soo-hyuk probed further at Warrior Thom's explanation.
"So the trial creates fakes?"
"Fakes? Even illusions have standards."
Soo-hyuk's gaze shifted past Thom to the endless stairs above.
An unknown length, veiled in clouds, impossible to see with the naked eye.
One thing was clear.
Stronger foes awaited higher up.
'Past forms of gods... wonder who else will show.'
There were no limits to this trial.
Minimum ten opponents, but he could face more.
How far could he go?
And who waited at the top?
'Curious.'
Curiosity and anticipation swelled. Interest in the warrior before him had already faded.
Sensing it,
"Where are you looking?"
Thom scowled and drew the long spear from his back.
"Acting like you've already beaten me."
"Well, you're the first."
"You know? Eight out of ten Valhalla challengers fail right here against me."
Thud.
Thom slammed his spear butt into the stair below, causing a faint tremor, then pointed at Soo-hyuk with his other hand.
"Let alone a human like you—"
In that instant.
Flash.
Boom!
"...!!!"
Thom's eyes widened in shock. Before he could comprehend, a yellow flash engulfed him, and consciousness faded.
So swiftly.
Thump.
Thom's body collapsed forward and tumbled down the stairs.
"See? Easy."
Step.
Soo-hyuk resumed climbing, passing him by.
"Number one."