Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: So, Yeah - 1
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Entering the shimmer, the first thing I saw was a vast dining hall.
The enormous dining hall, so large its end was out of sight, was filled with luxurious tables, and atop them sat dishes that would make anyone's mouth water.
It felt like every dish from this world was there.
From the roulade of squab, carefully prepared over a long time, to common fare like strawberry pie stuffed full of fresh strawberry jam.
Ambrosia, said to raise both holy power and mana just by eating it.
Snow ginseng stew, made by simmering the doll ginseng that appears only once every few hundred years, which allows a monk to learn the special skill 'Indestructible Diamond Body' upon consumption.
Whole roasted pig, prepared only for great warriors by the Valkyries—a warrior's dish.
And beyond that, ability-boosting dishes that were hard to obtain even in the game tempted me with their steaming freshness, as if just made.
"Welcome, guest. I am the owner of this restaurant, Marenda. I can prepare any dish you desire..."
-Crash!!!
Without a word, I grabbed the table and flipped it over. The moment the dishes scattered across the floor as trash, the red-haired woman in the white chef's hat vanished in an instant.
Next to appear was a dressing room.
The 'Dragon Wing Suit', which required all the dwarves of Dwarven City and the elves of the elf forest to toil for days and nights to craft even a single set.
The Charm Tuxedo, which could seduce the opposite sex at will, regardless of gender.
The Blazing Coat, which maxed out fire resistance.
The Water Armor, which maxed out water resistance.
Along with various other unique-grade armors and clothing.
At the entrance of this dressing room, where soft music played faintly, approached a woman with gray bobbed hair, glasses, and a flashy dress.
"Oh my~ Guest, are you looking for something~?"
It reminded me of department store trips. Like the pushy staff when shopping for clothes, she approached smiling brightly without me saying a word.
"Guest~ You're so tall and have such a great build~!"
She blatantly emphasized her chest as she came over with a measuring tape.
"In this place, you can obtain any kind of outfit you desire. What clothing would you like? Something to seduce the opposite sex? Something that makes countless people kneel with just one wear? Or perhaps Dragon Scale Armor that can block even a dragon's breath? We have everything. Everything... We have outfits that will satisfy you. So, what do you desire...? You can try them on if you wish. Or... you can use my body as a mannequin..."
"By any chance, do you have bikini armor?"
She openly frowned.
"...We don't handle such vulgar, low-class items... True clothing should bestow a noble impression on the wearer. But bikini armor is just for those with exposure fetishes..."
"What?! This capitalist pig dares insult my bikini armor?! Shut your mouth!!"
"Eek?"
"Bikini armor has roots tracing back to ancient Roman times—it's armor that's been with humanity! Unlike other armors, it can be made with rare magical metals, making it superior in performance to any other! Plus, it allows for designs that fully showcase a woman's allure! Performance, heritage, and even excellent designs depending on the maker—it catches all three rabbits, yet you call it vulgar because it doesn't suit your taste?!"
"...Th-that..."
"Next time you come to seduce me, familiarize yourself with the allure of Red Sonya from the Conan saga first!!"
At my shout, she fidgeted and bowed her head deeply, and in that moment, the room changed again.
Next was a forge, far larger than any in Dwarven City.
It held every weapon in existence.
From ordinary ones like swords, spears, bows, and knives to special ones like axes or chakrams.
All sorts of weapons were there, but the standout was the sword at the forge's center.
I knew that sword well.
The Hero's Sword.
The sword usable only by the Hero was calling out for its master to wield it.
"Huh? It's the guest?"
At that moment, a brown-skinned blonde with massive breasts, wearing only suspenders, walked over smoking a cigarette.
Exuding decadent charm, her rough hands showing the marks of a craftsman, she grinned and twirled her hammer.
"From your build, you look like you know how to handle weapons. Want something specific? Or... hmm. How about that one?"
She led me to the Hero's Sword at the center.
She casually picked up the Hero's Sword—the one with the highest stats among the eight guardians' stars—and held it out to me.
"They say the Hero's Sword can only be used by the Hero, but with a little adjustment, I can make it recognize you as its master. What do you think? Want it? Oh, if that's not your thing, how about a demon sword? We have holy swords too..."
Smiling brightly, she summoned other weapons. The demon sword used by the Demon King.
The holy sword stored deep in the church's basement.
And other legendary weapons whose names alone were famous—she summoned and offered them casually.
"Just say the word. I can give you whatever you want. Or..."
I did want a weapon, but...
As I stayed silent, she slowly slipped off her suspenders.
Gathering her ample breasts lightly, she grinned, licked her lips, and seduced me.
"Do you desire me, Lorencia, the Sword of the World?"
"Ah, not that. Do you have any guns by chance? An RPG-7 would be fine too."
"What's that? We don't have anything like that."
"Then scram."
Disappointed, she vanished, and the room changed again.
After that came the magic materials room, scroll room, and all sorts of other things tempting me in various ways.
But I wasn't one to waver at such trifles, so I just snorted.
Finally, what appeared was a room more opulent than any before.
The walls were gold-plated, scattered with treasures and top-grade elven silk worth thousands of gold per sheet.
At its center.
Sat a throne.
A golden throne covered in tiger skin.
The throne was calling to me.
"This is the Chamber of Power. All of this is yours."
Then, a silver-haired beauty appeared beside me. Dressed in a black suit and red shirt, she whispered softly in my ear.
"Sit upon it, and you shall become the master of the world. I will serve such a great one. Wise One."
With utterly polite demeanor, she knelt on one knee before me and bowed her head.
From beside her long silver hair peeked two horns.
"I pay homage to the King of All Things. Please take the seat prepared for the true ruler."
Her voice was slightly husky but tickled the ears pleasantly. Looking up at me with moving red lips, the silver-haired beauty smiled with utter loyalty.
"I am the faithful servant who has awaited the king. Call me Gremory."
"Hmm."
"Here it is."
Guided by Gremory, I approached the throne. Emanating from it was immense mana.
Anyone would know: sitting on that throne would grant power beyond what an archmage could claim.
Gremory came slowly to my side and urged me with the utmost courtesy.
"You possess the qualifications, my king. The right to rule even me, Gremory. The right to command demons and become king of the world. So, take the throne..."
-Boom!!
I switched Moonlight to hammer form and smashed the throne.
The moment I did, Gremory beside me vanished, and the surroundings began to change.
No temptation so far had stirred me.
But this time, even I, protected by the Wall of the Heart, couldn't help but waver.
"...Fuck."
I uttered a curse, one I'd been holding back as much as possible since coming to this world.
How long had it been since I last swore?
Before my eyes appeared my room.
Not from this world, but my original one.
The space I'd lived in before being dragged here.
It stretched out before me.
This time, there were no tempters.
The space itself tempted me.
So I.
Turned around, opened the door, and left.
"...Why...?"
Opening the door led to a pitch-black space, with Gremory from the last room standing at its center.
Not the kind, loyal figure from before.
But a twisted expression filled with contempt, shock, and rage, glaring at me.
She huffed in confusion before screaming.
"What do you want! What!! You could have ideal women! Everything you desire in your hands!! Why!! Why reject it! Why!!!"
Approaching me with a venomous look, she suddenly switched to a beaming smile.
And her form changed.
"Ahaha. Do you want something more real? Hyeonwoo...?"
It was Claire.
The Hero with the Eye of the Sun, savior of the world.
As Gremory, in her form, she stroked my cheek.
"Or do you prefer something like this? If you want... I can submit to you in that bikini armor."
Claire's form shifted to a blue-white-haired knight with a stern, dignified, serious demeanor.
It was Leventia.
As her hand, wrapped in gauntlets, stroked the front of my pants, she spun around.
Becoming an elf with pointed ears exuding the scent of the forest.
"Ahaha! Or do you like domineering attitudes? Hmm? Want me to tease yours with my foot? Or do you like being stepped on?"
"Hmm..."
"How about... this...? Master..."
Red-haired with a slightly timid smile—a beautiful girl. Turning into Lucille, she grabbed the hem of my robe in a way that stirred protective instincts, just like her.
"Shall I approach you casually, like a friend?"
Her form changed in an instant. Becoming Veronica in black nun robes, she hugged me from behind, breathing sweet breaths, then shifted again.
Into a queen.
Into an elf tribe chief.
Or into a furry fox beastkin beloved by suspiciously rich furries.
Even into a lizardman.
Transforming into everything to seduce me, Gremory finally gnashed her teeth.
"...You. Impotent?"
"What nonsense is that."
It stands tall every morning.
"But why are you doing this!!"
Visibly wounded in pride, she screamed, and I sneered.
"Because. It's an illusion."
"...What?"
"Piles of treasures reaching the sky, overflowing food. Top-tier gear, rare materials, and beauties to boil any man's blood. King of the world? And... ha. Whatever."
I checked my achievement window, visible only to me, and shook my head.
Honestly, that earlier one got to me a bit.
"...Kuh."
Gremory reverted to her throne room form and began showing hostility.
Humiliated at being dismissed as illusion?
Not that I cared.
I snorted at her.
"In the end, it's just an illusion, isn't it?"
Trembling with rage, she finally charged. I thrust my fist at her.
Monk's basic skill: Straight Punch.
Even as a sage, this level of attack could only fell low-grade demons.
And Gremory vanished upon that weak hit.
Because she wasn't even a low-grade demon—just an illusion.
Watching her fade slowly, I recalled this trial from the game.
I vividly remembered what happened to players who foolishly fell for the temptations out of curiosity.
If you succumb for rare items, grab them, and leave the trial?
Nothing remains in your hands.
The price of grasping illusions is the advanced mental illness 'Nihilism'.
Knowing the ending, only an idiot would fall for it.
And they got the seduction wrong too.
If they'd offered achievements, I might've paid attention.
I walked toward the stone gate that appeared before me, the exit of this trial.
The door opened, revealing the shimmer. As I moved to enter, I paused.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention it.
It's not too late, so I'll say it now.
I turned my head, meeting the bright yellow eyes that had appeared in the once-empty darkness, staring at me.
For a moment, interest flickered in those pupils. But soon, they curved into crescent moons.
Huh? Smiling?
Anyone would know what that eye smile meant.
A sneer laced with contempt.
Mockery, as if a mere human could do anything.
Meeting the demon's eyes, I threw back a sneer of my own.
"A demon who made a young dragon its plaything only to become a tool of the dragon race is awfully cheeky..."
"....."
"Euriere."
As I spoke, the crescent eyes lost their mirth, rounding wide at the name.
What filled those yellow eyes was confusion.
And fear.
That made sense, as all demons in this world shared a common weakness.
Knowing their true name.
Of course, I knew this demon's true name, so one word was enough to tense it up.
Smile fading now?
I snorted at the violently shaking yellow eyes and turned away.
"I'll smash you soon enough. Wait."
Author's Note (Afterword)
Hello, it's Malmulmalmul.
Uwaa... It's really cold...
I should do a streak at some point, but it's hard to stockpile with real life kicking me and lacking stamina...
I'll try my best to make it happen somehowㅠ
Sigh... Everyone, stay warm and don't catch a cold!
See you tomorrow! Bye~!