Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Episode 28.
Immediately after waking up.
Gunter fell silent for a moment after checking the clear rank.
EX.
A rank outside the norm, one he had never even seen in-game, appeared in the message.
The confusion of last night, the lingering fatigue, all vanished in an instant.
‘Wasn’t SSS the end?’
In fact, SSS was also a rank that signified perfect clear.
It required passing harsh criteria such as no damage taken, shortest time, and fulfillment of all other conditions.
As a result, the rewards were beyond imagination.
High-level items that only appeared in the later stages were sometimes suddenly given, and hidden skills were bestowed.
Hidden bosses would appear, or scenarios that were originally blocked would open.
‘And yet, a rank above SSS?’
Gunter’s eyes trembled slightly with anticipation.
He could roughly guess the reason.
It wasn't a no-death run, but the death count was only one.
He had also succeeded in rescuing all the sacrifices.
And then, the 'Luck' infused by the Witch must have overlapped.
…If so.
Would the reward also be ‘outside the norm’?
Gunter, with a trembling heart, checked the subsequent message—
[Clear Reward: Random Trait Box, Karma 500]
‘…A Trait Box?’
He froze.
He didn't even notice the Karma 500.
Normally, he would have jumped for joy at such a number, but the other reward was too unexpected.
‘Now, they’re going to grant me a trait?’
It was hard to believe.
Naturally, a 'Trait Box' was a reward that didn't exist in-game.
‘…I had completely given up on this aspect.’
Traits were elements directly linked to a character's destiny.
That was why they became the biggest barrier separating extras from main and supporting characters.
Ryan's trait, 'Giant's Blood,' was an example.
If his distant ancestor hadn't been a giant, he could never have obtained that trait.
Unless the developers had gone mad, they wouldn't have made something so important controllable by players.
Wings of the Azure Sky.
Heart of the Great Ocean.
Body of the Thousand Dances, and so on.
The traits of the main characters were all innate.
Of course, it wasn't that traits couldn't be acquired post-birth, but the process was so difficult that even he, a veteran player, couldn't attempt it immediately.
…And yet, I can obtain any of those traits, ‘randomly’?
Gunter calmed his rapidly beating heart.
“Hoo… Let’s calm down.”
It was too early to get my hopes up.
It’s random, random.
In gacha systems like this, you usually just keep pulling low-tier items.
The probability of getting a completely trash trait was higher.
There were many traits created by the developers to mess with players, like Masochism, Hero Syndrome, Lecher, and so on.
Gunter made a quick decision.
[The Ninety-Nine Overlord Knight King asks what you are trying to do]
What am I doing?
I have something I can use in this situation.
[Item: Box of Chaos]
Description: A box imbued with the energy of 'Chaos'.
Opening the box grants an item of random grade (Normal ~ Primordial).
Sometimes it brings laughter, sometimes annoyance, sometimes thrills—an unpredictable reward.
Test your luck!
The Box of Chaos, received as a clear reward for Act 1, Scene 1.
‘I’ll open this first.’
[The Three Gods tilt their heads and ask why]
‘Sacrifices, don’t you know?’
That’s right.
The so-called ‘sacrifices.’
The act of using important items after experiencing failure by reinforcing or opening low-grade items first.
For example, before attempting to reinforce a Legend-grade sword to +15, you’d first break a couple of shabby belts at +14.
It’s something any Korean RPG gamer has done.
[The Addict Saintess claps her hands, finding it amusing]
[The Ninety-Nine Overlord Knight King scoffs, asking what meaning it has as an independent event]
‘Quiet.’
Gunter’s fate depends on this.
Don’t I have to do everything I can, grasping at straws!
‘Open!’
Gunter opened the sacrifice without hesitation.
Creeeak—
A pitch-black box appeared before his eyes and opened with a grinding sound.
A deflated sound followed.
Poof—!
[Item Acquired! Spoon of the Hairn Royal Family]
—Grade: Normal
Once protected the royal family’s dining table…
‘Good!’
The more trash the sacrifice yields, the better.
Gunter immediately opened the next box.
Poof—!
[Item Acquired! Night Play Whip]
—Grade: Magic
With this alone, your authority in the bedroom…
‘Good… more trash!’
[…The Red Street Pillar mutters that it might not be entirely trash]
Gunter threw away the spoon and whip in his hands and gazed at the last box.
‘Open!’
But that was when it happened.
Keeeeeeeeeeng—!
‘……?’
Gunter’s eyes twitched.
From the gap in the box, a clearly auspicious sky-blue flash was leaking out.
‘…Ah.’
.
.
.
Murphy's Law.
It must have crossed dimensions and arrived in this world.
If not, why would a box opening success, which I never saw even after playing the game for over a thousand hours, happen now…!
‘…….’
Gunter looked down at the small, transparent glass bottle in his hand with a very peculiar feeling.
[Blood of the Divine (Diluted)]
“Isn’t this liquid too much for a mere human?”
Grade: Epic
Type: Consumable Item (Single Use)
Description: A sacred liquid that glows golden, the blood of a god who once watched over humanity. It has a sweet and enchanting aroma.
Effects: Charm +10, Luck +10.
It makes people feel a small sense of awe and trust.
[The Red Street Pillar asks what happens in cases like this]
‘What does it matter, it’s an independent event?’
[……]
Gulp—
Gunter downed the Blood of the Divine in one go.
The refreshing, sweet liquid swirled through his body.
It was even better.
It was a shame the stats it raised weren't Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution, but the Luck increase was a whopping 10.
It would surely help with the draws.
Gunter looked at the status window that followed with earnest eyes.
[Charm has reached 60]
[People will open their hearts to you more easily, and your chances of gaining an advantage in persuasion and negotiation will greatly increase. The possibility of unexpected allies appearing will rise.]
[Luck has reached 30]
[Destiny smiles clearly upon you. Unseen dangers disappear, and unexpected opportunities find you.]
Whatever it was, it didn't matter.
Please, just give me one combat-related trait.
Gunter shouted!
‘Open the Trait Box!’
[The Addict Saintess avoids your eyes frantically]
[The Red Street Pillar steps back and hides]
[The Ninety-Nine Overlord Knight King subtly turns his head away]
‘Enough now.’
[The Addict Saintess screams apologies]
[The Red Street Pillar prostrates himself]
[The Ninety-Nine Overlord Knight King turns around and coughs dryly]
It’s been like this ever since I checked the trait.
Even the dignified Knight King is in an uproar.
I gave up on calming the gods and sighed.
Actually, I could somewhat understand their noisy reactions.
‘Status window.’
[The Addict Saintess startles]
‘…Stop.’
[The Addict Saintess giggles]
The trait that appeared from the box was of a kind I never expected.
I brought the description window of the trait that shocked the gods back before my eyes.
[God Slayer]
Grade: Mythic (Growth Type)
One who wields the authority to slay divine beings.
Damage taken from all divine beings and their followers is reduced, and damage dealt is increased.
This power grows stronger with each divine being slain.
Truly a trait for one who 'kills gods'.
—Damage dealt to divine beings and their followers +50%
—Resistance to Divine Authority +25
※ For each divine being defeated, Damage +5%, Resistance +1 (No cap)
※ Active Skill Acquired: Deicide.
Once per day, forcibly nullify one 'divine power' such as Holy Power, Authority, Blessing, or Curse.
However, if the target is significantly higher in rank than the caster, a weakening effect will be applied instead of nullification.
Upon skill hit, can inflict the 'Intimidation' status effect on nearby divine beings.
※ Remaining effects are locked. They will not activate until conditions are met.
(Unlock Conditions: Rank Up & Defeat Numerous Divine Beings)
God Slayer.
In a word, this could be called a trait specifically for Rutien.
Against the Seven Evils and their lackeys, combat power would increase exponentially.
As a member of the execution squad, who must fight all sorts of Evil Gods, it was like rain in a drought.
It’s even a growth type, guaranteeing it will get stronger over time.
It’s an insult to even compare it to combat traits that just give a few mediocre stat boosts.
But the reason my heart pounded was different.
‘This… this is the protagonist’s.’
God Slayer was a trait only the protagonist could possess.
It was the protagonist’s ‘unique trait’ that could be chosen from the character creation screen.
‘…I could choose between God Slayer, Disruptor, or Beacon.’
A unique trait in this world.
A trait befitting the protagonist's setting as the sole adversary of Rutien, a trait that even other prominent supporting characters couldn't possess.
Power that would allow him to take the lead even in a world overflowing with powerful divine beings.
Out of thousands of traits, this one ended up in my hands.
‘And it even came with the active skill unlocked.’
Naturally, I was happy.
In this situation where I had to navigate the main scenario in place of the protagonist, I had obtained one of the most necessary abilities.
However—
As the excitement cooled down…
I couldn’t shake off a strange sensation creeping down my spine.
‘Is this really a coincidence?’
In fact, as soon as I confirmed the trait, I had rushed out of the inn and headed straight for the Witch’s tent.
But the Witch and the tent had both vanished without a trace.
At that moment, I was certain.
To resolve the many mysteries surrounding me, I had to uncover her true identity.
‘The only clue is the siblings who gave me that bead….’
The siblings I rescued from the black market warehouse.
They must have started new lives under the guidance of Night Crow.
“Gunter.”
But now, not yet an official member of the Order, I had no clear means to confirm their whereabouts.
“Hey, Gunter.”
As soon as the conditions are met, I will have to find them.
“Hey, you punk!”
“…What are you calling me for.”
“Why am I calling? Because you’re standing there without saying anything after calling someone.”
“Then you should just leave me be, thinking I’m lost in thought. Why are you rushing me? Are you a child?”
“No, when I think about it, you’re only rude to me!”
“We’re friends.”
“…Hmph, Hmph!”
The foolish conversation with Ryan pulled me back to reality.
We were currently outside after finishing breakfast early.
It was time to take care of the backlog of work.
‘I need to get my head straight.’
Interlude.
Mysterious events piled up.
Too intricate to be mere coincidence…
Mysteries for which there was no explanation.
Every moment, I realized that what I knew about this world was only a fraction.
It would be a lie if I said anxiety didn't well up.
But regardless, the scenario moves forward.
That meant I had to do what I had to do.
“So, where is this? What do we have to do?”
Ryan’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.
He seemed excited to be moving together today, after only training alone.
“Did a good request come in?”
I threw a mask I had bought beforehand at him.
“Put that on and follow me.”
“Hey, hey! Where are you going all of a sudden?!”
Tatak—
Ryan’s calls faded behind me.
In a single stride, I crossed the alley and arrived in front of a secluded building.
After catching my breath for a moment—
“Come hither!”
Pakak—!
I kicked the door down with all my might.
Beyond the shattered door.
The commotion of a recently concluded service spilled out.
The scent of incense and candle smoke, murmuring prayers and hymns.
I barged straight inside.
“Huh, who’s that guy?”
“Hey! You there! Stop!”
Startled believers began to shout and point fingers.
But instead of looking at them, I…
My gaze fixed on the large donation box placed next to the altar, right in the center.
A brief silence.
Sensing something, the priest on the platform shouted.
“Stop him!”
There was no reason to hesitate.
I dodged the outstretched hands as I ran.
And immediately gripped the handle of the donation box.
It was heavier than I expected.
Bang—!
After swinging it to break the priest’s nose, who was trying to stop me—
“Take it!”
I threw it straight behind me.
“You crazy bastard!”
A partner is a partner, after all.
Ryan, though yelling in despair, ran and caught it without delay.
At the same time, a message appeared in the corner of my vision.
[Influence of the Rutian Theocracy in Border City: 10139]
Everything was a mystery.
But the tasks I had to do were clear.
To cover this graph, which was soaring wildly every day, in blue.
Once that process is complete, all the current questions will eventually be answered.
I took a breath and shouted.
“Run!”
Behind us.
“You godforsaken heretics! May Rutien’s curse be upon you!”
The voice of the enraged priest echoed faintly.