Chapter 455 – 455. The Disciple’s Trial (1)
Siete, whose soul was restrained by Mediah and abused as a specter as a Death Knight, was able to properly arrive in the netherworld after being freed from the restraint of his soul after the engagement with Eunhyeon.
It was salvation for Siete.
The experience of having her soul subjugated by the necromancer and having to be toyed with for an eternity even after death was a terrible experience that Siete will never forget.
But in that terrible experience, the only thing I could think of was fortunate.
‘It was really fortunate to see you again.’
It is that he was able to confirm the appearance of the disciple he had not paid attention to until the end.
The dull disciple, who could only take one step while others took ten steps forward, did not stop growing even after his death.
He didn’t know how much time had passed, but Siete was relieved to see that the disciple had grown properly in that time.
Although he didn’t really have any talent, it was really dazzling to see the disciple growing little by little with obsession and effort close to madness.
So, with the body of a specter that had turned into a death knight, Siete competed with Eun-hyeon and the sword.
Even a little bit, to help the disciples grow, to convey even one more thing.
Siete was able to be annihilated by Eun Hyeon’s sword so satisfactorily.
After being saved by Eunhyun, the place where Siete’s soul reached was none other than the ‘underworld’.
It is a place where the souls of the dead wander and stay, and a place where judgments such as punishment and blessings in the next life are given after being evaluated for the tasks of the previous life.
Siete said he never thought he would face a hellish punishment from the start.
Although she did not receive such a terrible punishment as expected of her, the benefits she received from her siete were very special.
[Generally, a good person who has accumulated pure virtue without committing any sin is recognized for that merit and is reincarnated through the transmigration of her soul.]
It was Proserpina who directly decided Siete’s punishment on behalf of Pluto, the male god in charge of managing the underworld.
Her sentence that Proserpina bestowed upon Siete was not reincarnation through the transmigration of souls like other humans.
[Let me give you a choice.]
It is not the attitude of a manager who decides whether to go to hell forcibly or to go to heaven that grants reincarnation.
This situation, which expresses respect for the individual waiting for the verdict, was incomprehensible to Siete, but it is a very unusual case from the point of view of the gods and the underworld.
[If you are reincarnated with the judgment of reincarnation, you will lose your memories of your previous life, and you will face life once again as a human being. There is only one option I can give you. Whether or not to accept this judgment of reincarnation.]
In general, human souls who have reached the underworld do not have the right to challenge or reject their judgment.
It is the exclusive authority of Pluto and Proserpina, the custodians of the underworld, and the king and queen, to decide whether to go to hell or go to heaven, and this judgment boasts absolute force.
It is a very special case that Siete is given the option of accepting or not accepting a pre-determined judgment.
“Can I ask you something?”
Hearing the proposal, Siete couldn’t understand why he was being given such a privilege, but he asked about the question that arose in his head.
[What is it?]
“Why are you giving me this privilege?”
Naturally, Proserpina, who knew the question would come, answered with a smile.
[Because I am acknowledging your contribution.]
“… Is it my credit?”
Siete tilted her head at the goddess’s incomprehensible answer and asked again.
Seeing her expression, Pro Serpina spoke to her for a detailed explanation.
[First of all, first of all, you saved many humans in the lower world and accumulated virtue by dealing with higher level demons 400 years ago.]
“…”
Siete did not bother to refute the goddess’ words.
It is true that she killed the demons who approached her and tried to fight her, and it is also true that many people were able to survive in the process.
She didn’t even save people with an active sense of mission, but as a result, if she left it as it was, she could be credited with just killing the demons, who were threatening enough to slaughter many humans.
[The second is because of the comfort and compensation for the painful experience that your soul had to go through because of the intervention of the evil transcendent, who could not come to the underworld even after death.]
After her death, her own soul was passed over to the devil, and her life was miserable when she was finally possessed by Mediah and made into a Death Knight.
Rather than just facing her death, it was a small consideration given by Pro Serpina to her who suffered her soul in her miserable experiences and pain even after her death.
“… Okay.”
Siete nodded her head as if she could understand.
The time after her birth was longer than before her life, and the things she experienced during that time were a series of pains that really felt like coming to hell.
She couldn’t help but feel really grateful for the little consideration of the goddess who comforted her suffering.
[And the third…]
“… Are there any more?”
As if it were natural, Proserpina smiled and nodded her head.
[She is because the disciple of hers, whom you raised, is accumulating great merit. She has been since you died, until now.]
“…”
Siete hardened her face.
She has only one disciple of her own that she knows of.
Immediately, she remembered Eunhyun’s face and asked Proserpina.
“That guy… You mean?”
[Yes.]
Looking at Siete’s face, which reacted in disbelief, Pro Serpina tilted her head.
[Did you not know the ‘secret’ about your disciple?]
“… I didn’t know exactly. Because she never asked.”
However, Siete also knew that she had a special ability in Eun-hyeon.
Concepts such as being an apostle of God and the authority of the goddess were explained to her, but it was not easy for her to believe.
However, even though she did not explain it in her words, she accumulated her experience while applying ‘time acceleration’ or ‘thinking acceleration’ to training, or Eun-hyun, who showed a maniacal obsession and sense of mission for her growth. I just guessed.
“But what did he… ?”
[I’m still doing a lot of work in the lower world. And he is also a human being that we are paying attention to in the future as well.]
“…”
The news that the student he had taught is now growing into a very important person was very good news for his teacher, Insiete, but it was a bit awkward to benefit from it.
“But that’s the ball he built. I don’t think it’s something I deserve credit for.”
[Your disciple was separately acknowledged and rewarded for his merits.]
Already after consulting with her husband, Pluto, Proserpina bestowed a divine weapon called Cornucopia to Eunhyeon.
[This is a reward for you, who made great achievements and created the starting point for the disciples you raised.]
That is why Proserpina gave Siete the unusual option of rejecting the judgment.
“…”
Siete put on an expression at a loss for words.
Complex emotions begin to bloom in her mind.
Rather than praising herself, she poured out generous compliments on the disciples she had raised. The words of her goddess tickled Siete’s heart.
The feeling of something overflowing in her heart is a diligent feeling she has never experienced before.
It’s like how a parent feels when a son they’ve never raised gets tons of compliments from others.
Siete slightly frowned at the complex emotion and avoided her gaze.
[Whoops.]
Proserpina smiled at the act of avoiding her gaze, unable to hide her own shyness.
Before long, Siete asked Proserpina to somehow divert her topic.
“If you reject the judgment of going to heaven… What will become of me?”
[Your soul will remain in the underworld.]
“…”
Siete, not knowing what it meant, quietly waited for Proserpina to say more.
[I heard that your wish is to train your swordsmanship and see the end.]
“… That’s right.”
[That’s why I’m suggesting it.]
“Ah.”
Siete gave a small sigh.
To her own wish, losing her memories and reincarnating as a human is not suitable.
That’s why Proserpina offered herself the option of rejecting her reincarnation.
When she recalled that she would be able to give up her reincarnation as a human and remain in the underworld, Proserpina realized the meaning of her proposal.
“In the underworld… Are you saying you can train your sword?”
[You’re right.]
“…”
Siete was at a loss for words about her proposal, which she never thought of.
Her own soul, already dead, can spend her entire life sharpening her sword here without losing her memory.
For Siete, whose dream is to pursue the tip of her sword and see the perfection of her swordsmanship, Proserpina’s proposal is truly an offer with the best conditions.
[What would you like to do?]
“… I’ll do it.”
Siete accepted Proserpina’s proposal.
While remaining in the nether world, where an unfathomable, independent flow of time exists, continuing training while looking toward a higher level.
Proserpina summoned Siete once more.
[Sooner or later, your disciple will be tried. I want to ask you for help, is that possible?]
Siete naturally agreed to Proserpina’s request.
She felt indebted to Proserpina for giving her the opportunity to continue honing her sword without losing her memories and reincarnating as a human, freeing herself from the vassalage of necromancy such as the curse of being a Death Knight. I felt the same grace for Hae-jun and Eun-hyeon.
[In the ordeal, you will be treated as an illusion made of the remnants of the past.]
Her entire body was covered with shadows, and a blade made of shadows was held in Siete’s hand.
‘… You’re insane.’
Siete frowned upon hearing the details of her ordeal.
The condition for clearing the ordeal given to Eun-hyeon is to surpass Shiete herself.
However, the special thing about this ordeal is that no matter how many times death is repeated, it will not end unless Eun-hyeon gives up the ordeal.
Even if she dies ten times or a hundred times, if Eun-hyeon wants to continue this ordeal, the ordeal will not end.
In this ordeal, the one who suffered the most was Eun-hyeon, who had to repeat his death, but Siete, who had to kill his only disciple dozens of times, couldn’t feel better.
“New year… Mind…”
On the other side of Shiete, he didn’t look at Eun-hyeon’s face, who was stiffening up with a reaction of disbelief.
He looked at his face, how could he slit his throat.
Eun-hyeon, unable to grasp the situation properly, checked the figure of Siete, who was covered in shadows and pretended to be an illusion, and distorted his face while making a dazed expression.
“I don’t think the third trial is… Shit…”
Siete immediately rushed at Eunhyun.
“… Keugh!?”
Embarrassed, Eunhyeon pulled back his body and hurriedly swung his spear against Siete, but Siete had no intention of responding to the panicked attack.
[Siete Swordsmanship]
[Plum Blossom Zen]
Eun-hyeon, who belatedly realized that her arm, which had been holding the spear point in vain, had fallen to the floor, and spat out disgust.
“Jen… Page!”
He persistently followed Eun-hyeon, who kept trying to increase the distance, and stabbed the blade into Eun-hyeon’s left chest.
“Nice… Ugh!”
As Siete drew his sword and stepped back, Eun-hyeon’s body gave out strength and knelt on the floor.
Eventually, his life slowly ended, and when about 5 seconds had passed since he died.
“Huh!?”
Eun-hyeon, who was facing death after collapsing on the floor, drew in a breath, raised his body, and looked around him panting.
Eunhyun, who grasped the situation, hardened her face as if she realized the conditions for clearing this ordeal.
His stiff face twisted and Eun-hyeon, who slowly got up from her seat, murmured.
“… Great. I will go beyond that provocation.”
Siete was well aware that she wasn’t talking to herself.
It was probably a word to some god who imposed this ordeal on Eunhyeon.
After grasping the situation, seeing Eun-hyeon burning with the will to fight, Siete thought.
‘I’d rather give up quickly.’
I knew Eunhyun’s skills well when I became a Death Knight and faced him.
Although he has grown up, the conditions are different from when he was subordinated to the ghost knight.
Eunhyun hadn’t grown to the point where she could defeat herself yet.
Siete would rather give up this ordeal on her own.
This experience of killing one’s only pupil is the worst feeling one can ever get used to.
Rather, I hoped that Eun-hyeon would realize the gap between Siete and herself and give up this ordeal by acknowledging that she could never overcome it.
However, Eunhyeon did not choose that option of giving up.
Seeing Eun-hyeon’s face facing this ordeal for a moment, Shiete trembled slightly.
‘… Smile?’
Eunhyun was smiling.
As if he thought of this ordeal as an opportunity.
