Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: A Debt to Asgard
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It was the first time I'd seen Thor in his right mind right in front of me.
The Thor I'd seen before was like a raging bull charging at a red cloth.
His body was covered in far more wounds than mine, even after I'd woken up from passing out. With Heimdall locked up in prison, it looked like they'd had a tough time capturing him.
"Do you remember me?"
Thor shook his head at my question.
"No. I vaguely recall scenes, but nothing concrete. I heard about you from my father."
"Then it's a bit much to call us acquaintances."
"Still, you're the benefactor who saved my life. We're not total strangers."
With that, Thor suddenly bowed his head.
"Thank you. Both I and Asgard owe you a debt. I may not speak for all of Asgard, but on everyone's behalf, I am grateful."
I was pretty flustered since I hadn't expected him to bow so suddenly.
But on the other hand, considering everything I'd done from the 5th floor up to now, it wouldn't be strange if he got on his knees instead.
Even in this moment, seeing the chat pop up meant I'd truly become a full-fledged streamer.
After a brief pause, I spoke frankly.
"...For someone who calls me a benefactor, the treatment's been pretty off."
Thor bowed his head deeply again at my point about how no one uses their savior like that.
"I'm sorry. You're right to be disappointed."
"Was there really no other way besides this?"
"At least not until now. And probably not in the future either."
"Just say yes. No need to beat around the bush."
Honestly, I wasn't thrilled. Setting aside the human difference, I'd helped Asgard a ton.
Yet here I was, used by the gods again. Even if it was a trial with rewards, Thor and the Asgardian gods didn't look so great.
"We know how much you've done for us."
Fortunately, Asgard wasn't as shameless as I'd feared.
Thor lifted his head and met my eyes confidently.
"So the debt we owe, no matter how long it takes, we'll repay it with interest."
It didn't sound empty. Words from Asgard's prince carried weight.
This was probably cleared with Odin and Tyr too.
"Take this for now."
Thor pulled a golden plaque etched with a heavenly horse from his bosom.
"What's this?"
"The Golden Omen. Given once every millennium to those acknowledged by my father, Odin."
"This is it? We're square?"
"Once you learn what it can do, you won't say that lightly."
"What can it do?"
"Anything Asgard can manage."
It was tossed out casually, but packed a punch.
If it was anything Asgard could do, that covered nearly everything in the world.
The chat was already buzzing with heated debates about the reward.
A one-time use item with immense power. Its value wasn't just in specs.
'It depends on where and how you use it.'
Essentially a one-shot ultimate move.
And I hadn't decided where to use it yet.
"Anyway, I've passed on everything Father wanted me to relay."
At that moment, Thor's eyes changed after handing over the omen.
"Friend, wanna step out and talk privately?"
I had plenty to discuss with him anyway.
Prrrrng-.
The place Thor took me was a field with heavenly horses.
In Valhalla, they didn't tie heavenly horses in stables. Once tamed, they wouldn't stray far from their master without any restraints.
Thor approached his old steed.
"Taming this one wouldn't have been easy. You did well."
His words reminded me late.
"Oh, right."
"Yeah?"
"Nothing. Just remembered something I'd forgotten."
I quickly toggled the mic and asked.
"SafeAsset? Is the asset safe?"
Sure enough, he was still watching the stream.
There were a few more missions too. My lips curled up to my ears as I cashed in the mission rewards one after another.
As the stream grew, so did the missions. Seeing the points pile up fast lifted my mood.
"Something good happen?"
"Nah, what good?"
"Drop the formalities. You're my lifesaver. How about we be friends?"
"Friends? Let me think..."
The deliberation didn't last long.
"Sure. Why not?"
Becoming friends with Asgard's prince.
No downside there.
Based on patterns so far, future trials would likely tie to this world. Wider, deeper connections were always good.
"Love the straightforwardness. Very manly."
Thor grinned happily, stroking the heavenly horse's mane.
"Friend, you're seeking the traces of thunder, right?"
Traces of thunder.
First time hearing it, but I got the gist. I'd already heard about lightning's origins from Tyr.
"For now, yeah."
"Why?"
"Need more power."
Players chasing strength didn't need explanations.
Honor, power, wealth, and beyond. Everything in the tower tied to player power.
"Reason for needing power?"
"Too soon to spill. We just became friends."
"Fair enough."
Thor chuckled, gazing into the heavenly horse's eyes.
"I trust this one's judgment. We've been battle comrades for ages."
Soon, his gaze shifted to me.
"And you saved me."
"It wasn't that big a deal..."
"No. It was salvation to me."
Thor shook his head firmly.
"There, I killed countless lives. Humans and gods alike."
"...There?"
As far as I knew, Thor hadn't gone anywhere. He'd been swallowed by thunder and imprisoned by Odin.
So the 'there' he meant could only be one place.
"Right. It was thunder's memory."
Thunder's memory.
That was where Thor, consumed by thunder's power, had been.
"Couldn't grasp the purpose. Just rampaged with overflowing power, slaughtering any life in sight, over and over."
"...How long?"
"Over centuries."
Many players grew numb to killing.
Through trials, guild rivalries, or personal feuds. Player life was closer to death than before.
But nonstop killing for centuries with normal sanity? No way.
Just imagining it made me nauseous.
"When I wondered if it'd ever end, you saved me."
Thor closed his eyes briefly, recalling that relief.
When he opened them, his gaze was that of Asgard's prince.
"So I must help you. Who else would?"
"Help with what?"
"Thunder, lightning, and thunderbolt."
Three words from Thor's mouth.
"I know the whereabouts of lightning."
"Lightning..."
Lightning was the one I lacked.
Knowing its location was priceless info.
'This is the endpoint.'
I felt it.
Taming the heavenly horse and beating Loki hadn't ended the trial because of this conversation.
Once Thor revealed lightning's location, the 7th floor would conclude.
"Where is it?"
"...Aren't you scared?"
"Of what?"
"You could end up like me. Devoured by that power, becoming a monster unaware of yourself."
What was he on about.
"Doesn't matter."
I shook my head decisively.
I'd already wielded lightning once and died. If I feared it, I never would've started.
"You're just like me."
Thor grinned, recalling something from his past.
As if no hesitation was the right answer, he gave it straight.
"Olympus."
The moment I heard that.
+ All Stats +[x]
+ Skill Points +[x]
The faction war was now one day away.
It would unfold in the central city of the 7th floor, the Desert Kingdom.
Humid, dry weather. A kingdom of colorful, towering buildings that didn't fit.
Cheongryang sat at a cafe in its center, jiggling her leg and crunching the ice left in her cup.
"These people..."
Obviously, the 'people' she muttered about were me and Unhyang.
I'd gone up to the 8th floor after the trial. Unhyang vanished without a word.
Neither had shown up, even the day before mains started.
They'd promised to return a day early.
'Unhyang aside, why hasn't streamer Lee Soo-hyuk?'
There was that fainting mishap, but my stream was a huge success. The Asgard trial, plus teasing Olympus—a perfect wrap-up.
Not doing the 8th floor trial right away, no reason for such delay.
"At this rate, can't even register."
My mains qualification was still valid. But only if I registered on time.
Crunch-.
Impatience plus the heat fueled her irritation.
As she chewed ice in frustration.
Whoosh-.
A familiar face popped up behind her shoulder, where she'd been staring into the distance.
"Why are you alone?"