Chapter 7: Priceless Treasure
– Less impressive than expected.
The day Park Chan-woo first encountered Sword King Lee Hyuk-soo in the Abyss.
Park Chan-woo and Lee Hyuk-soo had a duel.
After Park Chan-woo’s defeat in the subsequent battle, Lee Hyuk-soo’s parting words were:
“Less impressive than I expected.”
His gaze brushed past with disappointment.
After that duel, Park Chan-woo broke his own sword.
Initially, he denied it, but ultimately had to admit the truth.
Lee Hyuk-soo was far beyond him in both talent and understanding of the sword.
“Shining sword talent. I was never granted that.”
He thought he had talent.
Even though he started later than others, he had quickly become strong.
But, it wasn’t the case.
It wasn’t so much about sword talent; he was just lucky.
He had walked the path paved by others’ deaths and mistaken it for his own skill.
He had never seen someone with true sword talent, so he had thought this way.
But Lee Hyuk-soo was different.
His sword had a level of dignity.
Even though it seemed like he was swinging recklessly, every sword path was precise and waste-free.
An essential insight and foresight that saw several moves or even dozens ahead.
The sense of combat that could read the opponent and disrupt the flow, bringing the battle to him with chilling precision.
All of these elements combined to create the ‘Invincible Sword King.’
Park Chan-woo could not surpass him in any aspect.
Only after experiencing the difference in skill and talent did Park Chan-woo realize that his path was not meant to be a sword.
“At that time, my level was 90.”
A level too late to start from scratch.
After much wandering, he realized he had talent in magic, but it was too late.
There were far too few level points to invest in the wizard class.
Yet, he walked on.
Without direction, he walked aimlessly.
Thus, Park Chan-woo only began to pursue the truth after surpassing level 90.
“…….”
However, now Lee Hyuk-soo stood right in front of Park Chan-woo.
Not as the Sword King, but as an ordinary human.
Perhaps in his early to mid-twenties now.
Holding a wooden sword, dressed in a blue jacket and jeans.
Eyes with deep double eyelids. A gaze filled with melancholy.
He couldn’t have been mistaken.
Although he looked much younger than Park Chan-woo remembered, it was Lee Hyuk-soo.
He hadn’t even properly begun to farm.
Yet he had a certain presence.
Even though he was holding only a wooden sword, it felt as if he was wielding a real sword.
Lee Hyuk-soo was quietly watching the entrance to the ‘Good Water’ Nightclub!,’ keeping an eye out in all directions.
“Hello, everyone! I am the Demon General ‘Andariel,’ greetings!”
At that moment, a demon emerged from the nightclub entrance.
Andariel, with the body of a giant spider, four black wings, and a face painted like a clown, finally revealed herself.
Andariel spoke to the crowd immediately upon her appearance.
“Before entering, please form a party. As you know, booking is much more successful when done in pairs, triples, or quadruples rather than alone.”
Ding!
《Form a ‘Booking Party’.》
《A ‘Booking Party’ can consist of up to four members.》
《The level difference between party members cannot exceed 10.》
Park Chan-woo frowned inwardly.
Parties are usually formed with members of similar levels.
Naturally, there was no one here who could form a party with him.
His level was –98, while most people gathered here were between levels 1 and 10.
“Is this hell? Have you invaded Earth?”
Taking advantage of the confusion, a man wielding an axe spoke.
Andariel, the Demon General, chuckled.
“Is that a question?”
“Yes.”
“Being humans who voluntarily entered the Abyss, you have some courage. The answer is ‘This is neither hell nor are we invaders.’ Now, since I’ve answered, a price must be paid, right?”
“…Price?”
“One life per question.”
Thunk!
“Crack…!”
A thick spike was already embedded in the chest of the man with the axe.
The man quickly had all his blood evaporated, withered away.
As the man turned into a mummy and fell to the ground,
Hiss!
His body evaporated immediately.
“Is there anyone else with questions?”
“…….”
…There was no one.
A single question had cost a life.
And it was done so easily.
That wasn’t all.
Thunk!
A spike was once again lodged in the back of a man who had tried to sneak away from the scene.
Instant death.
With that, two people had already died.
“Everyone here has no choice but to enter. So, form your booking parties quickly. Hold hands, and it will automatically proceed. You have exactly 3 minutes.”
[180]
At the same time, numbers appeared in front of the people.
The exact division of 3 minutes into seconds.
“Once the time is up, everyone will be automatically booked into the ‘Good Water’ Nightclub.’ Oh, don’t worry. We have secured very beautiful individuals for you!”
Everyone realized.
It was already too late to escape.
‘An upper-grade demon.’
Park Chan-woo immediately recognized the identity of Demon General Andariel.
She was one of the game masters overseeing this ‘Night Abyss.’
Upper-grade demons were the most entertainment-loving type among demons in the Abyss.
They often saw the Abyss as a place for amusement with the creators, sometimes dressing up like this to guide people.
‘Guidance? It’s more like they have a morbid interest in seeing people’s despair.’
Of course, Park Chan-woo thought otherwise.
An upper-grade demon wasn’t a guide but a perverted sadist with a terrible hobby.
[168]
“Party up? Strong people should gather!”
“Hey! Let’s team up with strong people!”
“There’s no time!”
As time ticked down, people began forming parties.
Strong people grouped with other strong people, and weak people with weak people.
Just like that.
The team leader Kim Byung-han, who had finished some farming, could quickly join a group.
But there were some who remained untouched.
Specifically, Park Chan-woo and Lee Hyuk-soo.
‘Seems like they have no presence at all.’
Park Chan-woo had been feeling this from earlier.
Despite his attire that could make a demon priest cry, no one paid him any attention.
Even Demon General Andariel didn’t notice him.
Nonexistent.
Unless he revealed himself, no one could sense his presence.
‘At least I won’t be ambushed from behind.’
In fact, the opposite was true.
He held absolute initiative.
If he could sneak up and kill with a single attack, there would be no more overpowered ability.
Even though he returned to level -99, it wasn’t all bad.
But thinking it was 100% safe would be a mistake.
Park Chan-woo had once had his presence revealed.
‘But how did Kim Byung-han recognize me at Lake Park?’
Was it someone who already knew him?
Or was there another condition for recognition?
Because, here, even Kim Byung-han didn’t seem to notice him.
“How about that person?”
“Pass. Too gloomy, doesn’t seem fit for party play.”
Meanwhile, Lee Hyuk-soo was too ‘ambiguous.’
Just a single wooden sword.
Wearing no proper equipment, not in particularly good shape, just someone who maintained an aura.
Didn’t seem like a good choice for forming a party.
Could ruin the party’s atmosphere or cause discord.
[3]
[2]
[1]
“Time’s up! Exactly 58 parties have been formed. Oh, solo entrants are also fine. I will form a party for you separately. Seven people left… Hmm?”
Noticing something strange as she spoke, Andariel looked around.
‘What is this?’
The total number of people in this area was 199.
58 parties formed, leaving seven remaining.
If those seven were paired into two parties, exactly 60 parties would be completed.
But no matter how she looked,
‘One person is missing.’
…Only six people were visible.
Andariel’s authority read 199 people in this area.
But only 198 were visible.
‘Invisibility?’
If they are not visible, it means they are hiding.
But no human could escape the gaze of an upper-grade demon like Andariel.
Let alone among those facing their second Abyss.
So where was this one person?
Since the system doesn’t make errors, it meant she couldn’t find them.
A variable had arisen from the start.
Andariel focused her attention and kept her guard up.
Tap tap!
“Hey.”
“……Khehehe!”
Andariel, startled, quickly moved back.
Someone was tapping her torso with a staff.
The chill of fear crept in.
Despite being on guard, she hadn’t sensed a thing.
Colorless, odorless.
The sudden appearance of the presence made Demon General Andariel terrified.
“You, who are you? When did you get next to me?”
“It seems there’s no one here who can form a party with me. Is it alright if I enter alone?”
…Could it be a human?
That made it even more incomprehensible.
‘Wearing just a Demonic Set?’
It was something even upper-grade demons often wore. Impossible to miss.
A treasure for humans at this level, but a common piece of equipment in the Abyss.
How could someone wearing just a Demonic Set avoid the perception of an upper-grade demon?
Noticing the anxiety in her face, the person spoke with a soft tone.
“I’ll need a clear and complete answer.”
Seeing this, Andariel sighed and responded.
“Your desire to join this party alone shall be fulfilled. Please, walk in.”
In the end, Park Chan-woo was completely out of the spotlight.
No one had approached him.
Only one seat left, as Andariel knew this.
Finally, she dismissed everyone.
“Enjoy yourselves to the fullest! This world shall be your playground!”
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