147. Choice (3)
dragon god.
If you look at the story of the 16th floor, it seems to be a deity that protects this world…
To be honest, it wasn’t a good impression for me, who had a history of being threatened by multiple deities.
It was also the same as not giving strength to the hero properly on the subject of having a hero to save the world.
So, in order not to be noticed, I did not even use the exclusive effect of the prayer attached to the holy sword, and refrained from actions that could be involved as much as possible.
however.
“The dragon god proposes an apostleship to challenger Han Seong-yoon.”
「The dragon god proposes the apostleship to challenger Han Seong-yoon…」
「The dragon god offered the apostleship to challenger Han Seong-yoon…」
All those efforts went in vain.
‘Looks like the troublesome deity is twisted.’
It was really painful to watch them act so loud without getting tired.
Even offering an apostolate…
To be honest, Godhead was like a comprehensive set of all sorts of problems to me.
I’ve never had a good time with the gods.
I almost died because of the god of proof, the god of battle even descended, and the god of darkness felt uncomfortable for some reason.
At least not the beings that have a good influence.
「I ask why the dragon god refuses the apostleship because of an insignificant insignificant thing.」
It was easy to see that he would be annoyed just by asking me a question like this.
“I have no intention of becoming an apostle of God.”
At least it didn’t harm me, so I didn’t show any hostility towards the dragon god.
In this state, the number of enemies will increase, so nothing good will happen.
“I affirm that the dragon god is a foolish choice.”
This time, he put his holy sword into the scabbard without replying.
As if he didn’t like it, Yongshin left a message.
“The dragon god says that one day he will realize his greatness and become an apostle.”
That was pretty absurd, but there was no need to worry too much about it.
That would be too…
“The God of Proof ridicules the Dragon God’s persistent trickery, saying it’s ugly.”
「If the dark god is rejected, he will tell you not to snoop around and go away.」
“The dragon god hides its existence from the challenger Han Seong-yoon, asking him to think about it later.”
This is because the two deities who did not know how long they had been observing it drove out the dragon god.
After standing there for a while, I realized that all the deities had disappeared.
It wasn’t that the top sent a message, but I instinctively sensed that several gazes had disappeared.
“…”
It was a sensation I hadn’t felt before, but I immediately knew why this was possible.
‘This must have been a change due to divine power.’
As the level of divine power increased, the divine tendency was established, and many things changed in many ways.
To such an extent that you can’t even notice all the growth changes yourself.
I’m not sure, but I thought maybe my divinity sensed that the deity was watching.
Even if you don’t, it’s strange that the divine power is dyed black by the quality of a god of death.
I realized that I had grown up again.
「The administrator, ‘Iron-Blooded Lord’, is relieved while praising the unwavering faith of the contractor.」
「The manager ‘Baekhakgeomseon(白鶴劍仙)’ admires and is proud of the contractor’s willpower.」
「The manager ‘The Hero of the Ruined World’ considers your choice interesting.」
Administrators also sent several messages as if they had noticed that the gods had disappeared.
However, there was no content that I thought was very meaningful, so I quickly gained interest.
Instead, I refocused my mind and manifested the Holy Light.
The black divinity wrapped around the holy light, and the holy light inflated the airflow like crazy inside the divine shell.
As before, he began to control the Holy Light.
Of course, once you’ve succeeded, you may not need more training, but…
To be honest, it’s training at best, and since I’ve come this far, I wanted to create various types of holy light.
There is still plenty of time left for the night.
‘Let’s slowly recreate it from the beginning.’
From now on, it was time to build up some more proficiency in the technology itself.
***
Watching the sun rise from the top of the mountain, I immediately returned to camp.
It would be a headache if any of my colleagues found out that I had left the camp.
So I quickly returned to the camp and pretended to have woken up, and it worked quite well.
It seemed that everyone didn’t even know if I had disappeared thanks to my careful move to the mountain area.
Only one problem arose.
Not different…
“It seems that high-ranking demons are training around here.”
Because the beam of light was more powerful than expected, there were witnesses.
Of course, they didn’t see me, and it was a misunderstanding that a high-ranking demon was training, but…
Allen’s misunderstandings, which stood guard all night, could have been complicated in many ways.
“A ray of light flashed in the distant mountains last night…”
“It’s because of my mood.”
“No, it’s not because of my mood, it really sparked something…”
“It’s because of my mood.”
“…”
Originally, I thought it would be efficient to say that he saw something in vain.
Without hesitation, I immediately denied Allen’s words at breakfast.
In fact, his co-workers also seemed to take it insignificantly.
“I’ve seen a thesis in the Magic Tower that a lot of strange phenomena occur near the Devil’s Nest originally because of the Magic. It would be right to think of it as some kind of phenomenon created by demons, without going to high-ranking demons.”
I didn’t even know it, but after listening to the mage Zerpa, there was a plausible logic.
“…And with common sense, there’s no way a high-ranking demon would leave the Demon Realm and train in such a lax place.”
Daisy continued as if to supplement her opinion, and Allen nodded as if persuaded.
“What is that, isn’t it…”
As the day began to fall, the group left the camp.
“Explorer’s Handcrafted Gloves (B+) exclusive effect ‘ecological adaptation’ is activated.”
Entering the demonic landscape, he walked silently on the land contaminated with demonic energy.
「Your mental power is not consumed by demonic energy.」
「Magic power increases by +2 in a place with a high concentration of demonic energy.」
Because it is a place contaminated by demons, originally, staying in itself would have consumed one’s strength…
In fact, the Devil’s View itself was more suitable for me to stay with the explorer’s handcrafted gloves.
Of course, the party distorted their faces as if they were not even breathing.
‘Well, I can’t help it because no one else can solve the difficult things.’
However, he never thought of helping those who harbored unknown hostility.
The condition of his comrades was precarious, but he was not a burden in battle.
No, to be honest, I didn’t even give them a chance to play.
Because when monsters appeared, I wiped them out without leaving them behind.
「Myth < The Last Savior > is activated.」
And in the process, I tried various abilities.
“The effect of < Rescue > is activated.”
“All stats are permanently increased by 0.07.”
「Currently, all stats are in a state of decline due to the penalty of the special trial.」
「The permanent stat increase does not currently apply.」
「At the end of the ordeal, the growth of stats will be applied normally.」
What is the range of application of the salvation effect referred to in the myth < The Last Savior >?
「The effect of < Seeking Path > is activated.」
“Since no followers can be found, the divine power will not be enhanced.”
And even to whom the follower referred to in the search ability is applied.
In many ways, he learned a lot from the newly acquired mythology itself.
‘Salvation seems to activate most of the time when I save the weak, and rescue doesn’t seem to activate unless I serve me at all.’
Of course, this is not the only finding.
There is something I found out about the phenomenon that occurs when you apply divine power to your eyes.
With an ability I’ve used once before in the waiting room, I can see black air currents and dots…
It was only now that I knew a little bit about what this divinity operation method was, an ability that allowed me to see.
‘Looks like it’s like finding a weakness.’
When I used this eye method for monsters, I got a sense to some extent.
I’m not sure if it’s creating a weakness or finding a weakness…
Whether animate or inanimate, the opponent’s weakness was visible.
I still didn’t know what the black airflow meant, but the black dots were definitely a weakness.
Most of them were destroyed just by poking or touching that part.
Just like this.
「The skill ‘Gale Blade’ is activated.」
「By the skill ‘Steel Blade (C+)’, the wind attribute is given to the blade.」
Shih!
As soon as the tip of the holy sword touched the black dot on the side of the monster, the ability was activated.
―Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
A crack broke out in the body of the one-horned demon dog guarding the black spire and howled.
Blasphemy!
Black dead blood poured from the outer shell of the demon dog that was being crushed as if its lifespan was over.
At that, the demon dog ran amok and tried to pin me down with a large body, but…
Before he knew it, blood leaked out from the cracks that spread throughout the demon dog’s body, and he collapsed to the ground.
Wow!
It seemed to be the strongest of the monsters I’ve ever met, but it died right away when I used my divine ability.
I didn’t put much effort into it, I just used up a little bit of my divine power to pierce the black dot.
With just that, the demon dog that guarded the place where the demon king lived died right away.
I felt a sense of deja vu.
‘It feels like the power of death I used when I became an apostle.’
I thought it was like the power of death used in the apostleization state in the 15th floor trial.
Of course, it was an authority realized by dominating natural magical power, and this was not an authority, it was just the use of divine power in the eyes.
…Is it because the divine power is affected by the god of death?
I can’t give you a definitive answer yet, but I have a feeling it might be.
I habitually shook my sword as if shaking it off, then looked back at my comrades behind me.
“Now that the gatekeeper of the castle is gone, I think it’s okay to go inside.”
Still, my colleagues were hostile to me even after a few days.
However, the only thing that has changed is that the more I showed strength, the more my face hardened.
“…”
like now.
All of my colleagues kept their mouths shut and rolled their eyeballs restlessly.
Like I didn’t know it would turn out like this.
Unlike before, I was ridiculed by their uneasiness, which was blatantly revealed, but…
As always, pretending not to know anything, he placed his hand on the gate of the spire with the Holy Sword in its scabbard.
“Then let’s go in now.”
and.
Kugu Palace—!
I pushed the stone door of the steeple with my palm and opened it.
***
While going through the trials on the 16th floor, I pondered.
Why is it that the condition for breaking through this ordeal is to make a choice not to regret?
If defeating the demon lord is close to the goal, why should I make a choice that I do not regret?
As a result, I soon realized the background of the stage of the 16th floor ordeal.
The inside story of the 16th floor stage was quite absurd.
“I can’t believe that all of the hero’s colleagues are traitors.”
I looked around at the party and spoke in a cool tone.
“At least this world seems to have run out of salvation.”
In the first place, I knew vaguely from the time I confirmed their hostility through the eyesight of the searcher.
That the warrior’s party were all worm-like people who used him as a scapegoat.
However, it was a bit unexpected that everyone pointed their weapons at me as soon as they entered the castle.
‘I thought I’d hit the back in an unexpected situation…’
Unexpectedly, he was quick-tempered.
I quietly looked at them with my body relaxed and asked a question.
“Since when and why did you think of betraying the hero?”
Betrayal was expected long ago.
However, no matter how much he thought about it, he could not understand why he betrayed the hero when he could only save the world by killing the demon king.
After waiting for an answer, Archer Daisy opened her mouth.
“…Do you know that I wanted to betray you just because it was us? I couldn’t help it! I had to do this to save the world!”
She cried out with the emotion in her voice.
“I couldn’t help it…”
It was absurd.
As if he really thought that way, he looked at his colleagues, no, now enemies.
But it wasn’t the enemies who answered my questions.
“Stupid. Asking them won’t change anything. warrior.”
Said a pale-faced handsome man in a black horn, sitting on a throne in the spire.
“They are just faithfully fulfilling their contract with me.”
“Are you the Demon King?”
“yes. Oh, we’ve seen it once before when we defeated the Prime Devil.”
“…Did you approach the warrior party while the hero fainted?”
“I don’t know why you’re asking as if you’re talking about someone else, but for now, let’s say it’s the right answer.”
Finally, I fully grasped the hidden background of the 16th floor stage.
“…That’s right, except for the hero who exhausted all his strength in the decisive battle with the Great Demon, he made all the rest of the party into traitors.”
It wasn’t surprising.
Whether it’s authority or magic…
I wondered if he had forcibly put restrictions on his colleagues who were on the verge of death.
Even if it’s not that, there must be many ways to make it betray.
It was just a question why he didn’t kill the fallen warrior right away.
When I asked about it, the demon king sitting on the throne answered in a whisper.
“Isn’t that a hobby, of course?”
“…”
“Is it like a lie?”
“no.”
「The skill ‘Fire Dragon’s Eye’ sees through that there is no lie in the opponent’s words.」
Because I had the ability to see through lies, I knew that everything he said was true.
However, Hwaryong’an can’t detect the fact that it is hiding.
After thinking quietly, I came to a conclusion.
“But that may not be all.”
He wouldn’t have neglected a hero who could recover his memories purely as a hobby.
A warrior with a holy sword must have been quite powerful, so he couldn’t have kept him alive even as a hobby.
“…That’s not a wrong answer. It certainly has meanings other than hobbies. Well, to put it simply, this situation itself is an offering to the Demon God.”
The demon king talked excitedly about what made him feel so good.
“Just as you went through various penances to be recognized as a hero by the dragon god, I also go through penances to become a formal apostle.”
He pretended to have absolute control over the situation.
“It is the penance given to me to bring you here and kill you.”
As if something like me could be put away at any time.
“Oh, but it’s better not to think of resisting.”
I didn’t like that.
“As long as you die, the demon will not destroy this world.”
However, the demon king moved his tongue more fervently after seeing my cold face.
“I made a contract with them. If you kill the hero, the apostle of the dragon god, the world will not be destroyed.”
It was a smirking tone, as if he wanted to see more reactions from me.
“If you can save the world by consuming saviors, you don’t need a savior.”
I thought quietly as I listened to the words of the unknown demon king.
“I wonder how you feel right now. Was it despair or anger? So, shouldn’t you have done a good job with your fellow guards?”
That’s right.
If the hero had properly guarded his comrades, this messenger would not have come out.
This skit would have been a little different if he hadn’t sacrificed his memory in the battle against the Great Demon and hadn’t offered the power he received from the Dragon God.
But the warrior didn’t.
Serving the Dragon God with all his heart, he dedicated the power and memories he received to the Dragon God to subdue the Great Devil.
If you can laugh at the life of a warrior who lived only for others, then you are not a wise being, but a stupid one.
“…”
Right is just right.
Even if the hero faced a foolish end, what matters is the process, not the end.
He really did try to save the world, and he did everything to save his comrades.
So, I had no intention of ridiculing the hero’s choice.
but.
“…Most of the things that have been said so far are things I don’t like.”
「The manager, ‘The Hero of the Ruined World’, watches over your choices.」
it’s not my choice
“I’ll tell you three simple things wrong.”
I slowly focused my attention on the sacred power stored in my heart.
Induce divine power with the palm of your hand as if inducing the flow of water by slowly connecting the passage.
Divinity with the nature of death wrapped around his hand, and then it radiated a brilliant light.
Ku-gu-gu-gu-!
The starlight, imbued with the power of the dragon, responded to the divinity that sentenced death and emitted a sound.
「The skill ‘Star Light’ is activated.」
Originally, the holy light could not be controlled, so it had to be emitted from the palm of the hand as it is.
“Seo Seong-gwang? Why can’t I use an ability that can only be used with a holy sword…?”
But it doesn’t.
Through several days of practice, I was able to build the skills I wanted.
Condensing the starlight that is about to explode like a wild horse to the limit and increase its killing power.
Of course, in the process, it felt like my heart, which used too much divine power to maintain the divine shell surrounding the holy light, would burst…
The sphere of divinity condensed in the palm of his hand emitted starlight more and more fervently as time passed.
It was well worth the hard work.
「The skill ‘Punishment’ is activated.」
「All stats increase by +7 during the active time of the skill.」
「Magic power is never consumed during the active time of the skill.」
「The power of the dragon dwells in you, and your magic ability increases by 100%.」
Then, while feeling the power rising through my whole body, I drew a small line in my mouth.
His body, which was as heavy as wet cotton, became lighter, and his magical abilities exceeded those before the downgrade.
Even mana did not decrease no matter how much he used it.
‘It’s really limited to demons and monsters, but it’s a scam-like ability.’
Savoring the pleasant sensation, I soon opened my mouth.
Now that the preparations were complete, it was time to point out the error in what the demon king said.
“The first thing wrong is that I am not a real hero.”
“…What are you talking about? wait a minute! stop it! A big conversation—!”
“The second thing wrong is that I’m not even Neil.”
“…stop! If you don’t do that, you will die too! And the world will also perish—!”
“The third thing wrong is that it has nothing to do with me whether the world perishes or not.”
The orb of holy light embodied in his hand boiled with maddening light.
“And this is a bonus…”
The Holy Light, which raised its explosiveness to the limit, could no longer handle it.
But I wasn’t worried.
So far, I came to the castle of the devil and took care of the commander with necromancy.
If anything, they will protect me.
“If you were going to kill the hero, you should have done it a long time ago.”
Soon, I could not stand it and released the sphere of white heat.
“It ends up like this.”
Kiyiying—!
Divine starlight ran out of control and splendidly swept the surroundings.
