The Proxy's Verdict and the Nameless Sword
"Tch, damn it. There's way too much prep work for this crap."
Radical faction ma-in Ganon.
He was preparing the groundwork to summon the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
"Dig deeper. We need to fill this pit with human blood."
"Yes, sir!"
"We'll do exactly as commanded!"
After barking orders at his subordinate ma-in, he lit a cigarette. Ganon inhaled the acrid smoke laced with magi energy.
He glanced down at the key in his other hand.
With this, he could summon true apocalypse into the present world.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
The Apocalypse was a prophecy of the end times recorded in humanity's scriptures. The Four Horsemen were the final beings who would bring calamity upon the world.
'Calamities that can't even compare to the likes of the Seven Deadly Sins.'
Ganon's lips twisted upward amid the thick cigarette smoke billowing from his mouth.
With the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, even standing against Mumyeong wouldn't be so difficult.
The Seven Deadly Sins had slipped control, but that was because the strategist who summoned them was incompetent.
'If summoned properly through legitimate procedures to descend upon the earth... controlling the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse won't be hard.'
It had all been such a needless detour.
The Seven Deadly Sins were powerful foes, no doubt, but not enough to make top ma-in bow their heads. Sure, one-on-one or full-scale war would be tough...
Until now, he'd kept quiet to follow the moderate faction's opinions.
But the moderates' results were disastrous.
The source of magi energy had been seized.
The Seven Deadly Sins had become hunting targets.
Mumyeong's growth had spiraled out of control.
'And in the process, the ma-in's identities got fully exposed. Tch.'
Things had gone horribly wrong.
'But that's over now.'
The moment Ganon seized control of the Four Horsemen, humanity would be groveling at the ma-in's feet, weeping and begging.
"Move faster. You think we've got time to spare?"
Ganon snapped irritably, puffing hard on his cigar. The ma-in handled their magi even quicker.
Summoning the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse required extensive groundwork.
They needed end-times relics existing in the present world.
And precise coordinates at ominous points worldwide. What they were doing now was marking those coordinates. The number of humans needed as sacrifices was no small amount either.
That was when it happened.
"Ganon, at this rate, the summoning will go smoothly. Our side's preparations are complete too."
Montage, a top ma-in from the moderate faction, spoke to Ganon. Ganon clicked his tongue in response.
"We have to finish before Mumyeong makes a move. By now, he's probably faced judgment from the proxy and gotten some kind of restriction."
When judged by the proxy.
Mumyeong, having overexerted his power, must have weakened.
If the Four Horsemen appeared at this timing?
Mumyeong wouldn't be able to bring his full strength to bear and would lose.
Montage nodded with an impressed expression.
"We'll wrap up the remaining coordinates right away."
"The relic?"
"Already prepared."
Even though ma-in identities were being exposed one by one, plenty still operated within human society.
Some were connected to corporations or politics. Collecting relics wasn't hard.
"See you soon, then."
Whoosh.
Montage tipped his fedora and vanished. Ganon spat phlegm where he'd stood. Kaak, ptoo.
'Incompetent bastard.'
How much extra hassle because of that guy.
The moment Ganon glared and put the cigar back in his mouth.
Crack, craaaack—!
Fissures began appearing in empty space. Shards of space fell like broken glass from the cracks. A fierce wind blew from the purple rift between them.
"A-Are you okay, sir?"
"What is that...?"
"Forget it. Keep digging."
Ganon stopped his subordinates from rushing over. What emerged from the rift was a single girl.
The proxy.
A blonde girl with a black blindfold over her eyes.
Proxy (Alpha) encounters top ma-in Ganon.
She conveyed her will through a system message.
"What the hell? Why are you here? What about Mumyeong?"
Ganon scowled and clicked his tongue.
The proxy's judgment fell into three main categories.
Tuning, exclusion, adjustment.
Mumyeong's strength had gone too far. He'd slain five Abraksas hatchlings simultaneously.
It wouldn't have been strange for an exclusion ruling.
If exclusion was deemed appropriate, the proxy would draw her sword and attack the player.
'Even Mumyeong couldn't beat a proxy.'
He couldn't know the ruling yet. But he'd hear the answer from the proxy soon enough.
States that tuning for the relevant player is complete.
Ganon's face twisted.
Tuning?
It ended with mere tuning?
Mumyeong was the mad monster who'd hunted the Seven Deadly Sins and single-handedly cleared the first phase trial humanity was meant to overcome.
Ganon asked incredulously.
"What kind of tuning? This isn't something that ends with that. It's enough to collapse the system."
Mumyeong exercised his abilities under the system's legitimate procedures.
The system has been retuned through legitimate voting by the constellations.
Constellation vote?
Even Ganon, a top ma-in, had only heard rumors. But satisfying them was like plucking stars from the sky.
Constellations were as varied as their numbers.
Yet Mumyeong had convinced the constellations?
A foreboding thought flashed through his mind.
"Tuning—what was the tuning? What were the details?"
Ganon pressed urgently. The proxy didn't budge, simply displaying another system message.
I have no obligation to answer.
Proxy Alpha had no need to answer a lowly being's questions. But Ganon kept pressing unilaterally.
"Don't tell me the tuning was something lame like tackling an SS-rank gate or a labyrinth solo?"
The proxy hesitated slightly.
It seemed he'd hit the mark.
Ganon's expression darkened. Pure rage began to boil over.
"Y-You idiots...! Giving Mumyeong an SS-rank gate clear as a reward?"
Proxy (Alpha) expresses displeasure at your words.
This was the maximum tuning possible.
The proxy's judgment applied only to the specific 'incident'.
Past events weren't subject to judgment.
The proxy had appeared because the first trial was cleared abnormally—not to tune Mumyeong himself.
Moreover, Mumyeong had cleared the first trial legitimately. So the tuning options were limited.
An SS-rank instance gate was the maximum tuning.
Instance gates had to be cleared solo. No external help allowed.
The player bore significant risk.
Anything more was impossible from the start. Especially with constellations vehemently opposing.
"Mumyeong took down the Seven Deadly Sins solo!"
Ganon vented his frustration.
That part hadn't been considered.
It wasn't even worth considering from the start.
Proxy Alpha finally spoke. She had come for another reason.
Crackle, zzzzap—!
Proxy (Alpha) proposes tuning to ma-in Ganon.
Sparks from the system flew from the tip of Alpha's outstretched sword. Sensing danger, Ganon staggered back.
"H-Hey... "
Top ma-in Ganon seeks to summon a being that would crack the system.
After manifesting in the present world, the proxy slowly reviewed the system's records.
And identified the culprit behind this incident.
Artificial interference in the first trial, collapsing present-world balance.
Ganon had ordered his subordinates to forcibly hatch all the Abraksas eggs in the first trial.
When you got down to it, Ganon was the reason Mumyeong had to slay five hatchlings. That was what awakened the proxy.
And now too...
Attempting preemptive summon of true apocalypse to present world via other-dimensional artifact.
He was trying to summon the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, defying the system's intent.
You are a being outside the system.
You are not a player.
From the system's perspective,
Mumyeong was a legitimate player,
but Ganon was an abnormal entity using underhanded methods.
The proposed tunings are three options.
◇ Permanent damage to top magitech engine
◇ System damage to both arms and legs, plus 100 years of abyssal torment
◇ Destruction of the True Key of the End
Ganon's pupils shook violently as he read the message.
"W-What the hell are you saying...? Why me...?!"
The first meant demotion from ma-in status.
The second was hellish agony.
The third meant abandoning his life as a ma-in.
No matter what he chose, it was hell.
"This... this is insane...!"
Ganon's face contorted grotesquely.
But it was self-inflicted.
He was paying dearly for awakening the proxy.
Proxy (Alpha) urges your response.
Watching him, the proxy felt a twinge of satisfaction.
It felt like washing away the humiliation from Mumyeong's apostles.
One thing was certain: no constellation would protect Ganon.
Shaaaa—! Plink, plink!
With a burst of intense light, the shell around the apocalypse+ grade item crumbled away.
And what appeared was...
A golden bracelet.
◈ Warrior's power infuses you, enhancing physical abilities by one rank.
◈ Grants Lv.15 skill matching your equipped weapon.
The item's effects seemed straightforward.
'This is an apocalypse-grade item...?'
Sa Choiheon had said it was powerful enough to breeze through phase 1.
I scrolled down the item's description.
- Description: Einherjar, the mightiest warriors handpicked by Odin himself to prepare for Ragnarok. Rejoice, for you join their glorious ranks.
So equipping this turns you into one of Odin's warriors. Odin was the top god in Norse mythology. That's about all I knew.
"Oh, Master. Jackpot."
"As expected of Master. Even luck's on your side. Plenty of meh apocalypse-grades out there."
Gabriel and Lucifer nodded.
"Congratulations. Among apocalypse-grades, this is one of the most useful."
The Blue Dragon smiled and explained.
"First, physical enhancement. Master currently has SS-rank physique. One rank up from here..."
"Makes it SSS-rank?"
"Yes, exactly."
I slipped the bracelet onto my left wrist. Right hand had the Limit Breaker.
You have equipped an apocalypse+ grade item.
Your stature rises slightly.
The golden bracelet gleamed on my left wrist. Golden light spread through my body. Vitality surged, fatigue vanishing like it'd been washed away.
Your physical abilities have been enhanced to SSS-rank.
Always a one-rank boost, so if I'm SSS now, next would grant even higher physique.
"Physical ability is the foundation of all attacks, so your output itself changes. If Sa Choiheon got this bracelet, he might've handled one hatchling somehow."
Meaning he could've beaten a buffed-up hatchling.
"With an avatar contract from a constellation on top... he'd clear trials in a flash."
The Blue Dragon said this while looking at me.
"Master's case is even more special. Physical enhancement boosts all base stats. Care to test in the training room?"
Hold up.
There was a training room in the house?
"Wait, before that. Let's eat first."
"Ah, sorry. Got excited since it was a good item."
I'd forgotten my extreme hunger amid the apocalypse+ item hype. Lucifer darted to the kitchen at my request.
"I'll whip something up quick."
Meal prep finished fast.
Finally felt alive.
One bread left, so gotta ration it.
We finished our satisfying meal and headed to the training room.
After twisting through long corridors, it appeared. Space rivaling a gym.
"Durability magic's perfect too. We can go wild here without issue. How much did Sa Choiheon sink into this place?"
Lucifer inspected closely and nodded.
"Let's start then. Go easy on me."
The Blue Dragon stood before me and began light hops. Boom—! He shot off, sticking to the opposite wall.
Kicked off again.
Zigzagging left and right.
Repeating faster and faster.
Rooooar—!
Fierce gales rose from the impacts.
Normally, movements too fast to see. But now...
'...I can see them clearly.'
With SSS-rank physique, I could track the Blue Dragon's movements with my eyes.
Thud.
Blue Dragon landed softly.
"Wasn't full power to avoid wrecking the room, but you get the idea?"
He raised one hand.
"This time, full-power swing. Count raised fingers. Showing once."
Whoosh—! Rooooar—!
A myth-grade apostle's sincere swing. Gale swept the training room.
Blue Dragon had already hidden his fist.
"How many?"
"...Four."
"Correct."
Blue Dragon smiled, satisfied.
"Seeing everything means... no one in the present world can stop Master anymore."
If I can see it, I can kill it.
Meaning as long as it shows, I won't lose.
I glanced around the training room lightly. Body felt incomparably lighter than before. Yet full of power.
Blue Dragon's tests weren't over.
"Light punch incoming. Block it."
"W-Wait."
No time to speak. Blue Dragon thrust punches, leaving afterimages.
Never done close-quarters like this.
No way I could block...
Tap, tatatap!
I could.
Papapap!
Naturally blocked and parried the incoming hands. Hands clashed repeatedly, movements etching into my brain like instinct.
Current equipped weapon: 'Bare Hands'.
Exercising Bare-Hand Fighting Lv.15. (Einherjar)
Blue Dragon clasped hands politely and spoke.
"Master has no leveled skills, but humanity's skill max level is 10 right now."
Weakling Extermination had no skill level.
But some skills did.
And the limit was 10.
"Accounting for that, the moment Master wields a weapon, he becomes the world's best weapon master."
Of course, one weapon skill didn't decide victory.
But granting Lv.15 skill to a total newbie surpassing humanity's limits?
Undeniably overpowered.
"...This is busted."
"Of course. No one can stop Master now. Unless something extreme."
We navigated the maze-like corridors back to the living room.
Morning sun rose from the balcony.
The perpetually gloomy sky finally showed blue.
I flopped onto the sofa.
Time to rest. But Lucifer approached.
"Master, I'll check on Cheon Iryeong. She's probably bored out of her mind. Took all day for one baking skill."
Really just one day.
No time to stop him. Lucifer turned crow and flew off the balcony.
Blue Dragon headed to the balcony too.
"I'll procure ingredients for the white bread. With legends popping up in the present world, it's harvest time. People don't grasp ingredients' value yet."
He turned loach and slipped out. Gabriel glanced slyly, picked up the dropped subspace pouch.
"...I'll go sell the items from Bulmyeol's SS-rank gate clear."
Gabriel left too.
Trustworthy constellations handling everything. Nice.
They could rest a bit.
Too hardworking.
Like the world was ending...
Damn.
'Wish I could summon a few more apostles.'
More is always better.
More hands mean less burden each.
I closed my eyes on the sofa. Sleep didn't come.
Apocalypse item wiped fatigue; no drowsiness. Heard S-rank hunters needed little sleep.
SSS-rank—maybe no sleep at all? I cracked eyes open, checked system window.
Oh yeah, clear reward pending.
Instance Gate Clear Reward (Myth+ Grade)
- 【Myth+】 Mumyeong Sword
- Legend's Proof x1
Mumyeong Sword, huh.
Same as my nickname.
Common name though.
Don't wanna reveal real name? Use Mumyeong.
That's why I picked it.
'Might as well use this.'
With Einherjar buffs, sword mastery at top level. Good self-defense weapon.
'...?'
Reached for the sword materializing in midair, but the hanja on the message caught my eye.
Not just the name.
The hanja matched too.
'It's really Mumyeong.'