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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“A deal… It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that word.”
Baek Yu-hwa said this while closing her eyes.
Judging by the faint smile on her lips, she seemed to be recalling a memory.
“There was a fellow called the Wulin Alliance Leader who did that before, saying he wanted to make a deal with me.”
…Wulin Alliance Leader?
Was there a Wulin in this world setting?
At the sudden wuxia-style term “Wulin Alliance Leader” from Baek Yu-hwa’s mouth, I recalled the world setting of “Arena Academy”.
But while there were titles like Sword Star, Twin Sword Dragon, and Martial God, there was no content related to Wulin at all.
That means it must be someone’s title, but…
‘A person Baek Yu-hwa knows but I don’t…’
Perhaps when the Continent of Death was called China in the past?
If so, it was no wonder I wouldn’t know.
The world setting of “Arena Academy” didn’t have much content about the past.
While I was thinking that, Baek Yu-hwa opened her eyes and said,
“So child, what do you think I did?”
It was a sudden question, but I wasn’t flustered and thought carefully.
Considering the faint smile from earlier, it seemed like she might have accepted the deal, but…
Given the aloof appearance Baek Yu-hwa was showing now…
“…I think you didn’t accept it.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because you are the Martial God, Madam.”
“You think I didn’t accept it because I’m the Martial God? My title wasn’t Martial God at that time.”
“I still think you would have done so regardless.”
“Is that so?”
Baek Yu-hwa stared at me while moving her hand resting on her thigh as if playing the piano.
Then soon, she grinned and said,
“Lee Yu-jin, you are an interesting child.”
Saying that, Baek Yu-hwa removed the hand supporting her chin.
“Yes, that’s right. As you thought, I did not make a deal with that Wulin Alliance Leader fellow.”
She stood up from her chair.
At that moment, the space around her rippled.
As if something huge was moving.
“Why do you think I did that?”
“…I think it’s because it didn’t match the beliefs you hold, Madam Chairman.”
“You are a child with excellent insight.”
As if it was a satisfactory answer, Baek Yu-hwa nodded and continued speaking.
“Yes, as you said, the deal that Wulin Alliance Leader fellow proposed to me went against my beliefs.”
She began to move her steps.
“That fellow’s deal was this: He would give me half of the Wulin, so let’s rule over the people together.”
Step─, crack!
Step─, crack!
Every time she took a step, the surrounding space tore like shattering glass.
And through those tears, a black space like the universe was revealed.
I broke out in a cold sweat seeing that sight.
Even in the game she was described as an absolute being, but how strong must a person be for space to tear apart just by moving?
At that level, wouldn’t it be appropriate to call her a demigod rather than a transcendent?
“So what do you think I did?”
A person who goes against her beliefs.
The Martial God who despises evil.
There was only one answer.
“I think you killed him.”
Hearing my answer, Baek Yu-hwa nodded with a satisfied smile.
“Yes, that’s right. I beheaded that Wulin Alliance Leader fellow right there. And I wiped out the group he belonged to called the Wulin Alliance.”
Baek Yu-hwa stopped walking.
Stopping at a distance of about three steps, she looked into my eyes and said,
“Why do you think I did that?”
“……”
I couldn’t answer her question.
No, to be precise, I couldn’t open my mouth.
That’s because.
Kuuuuuuu……
An immense force was suspended right above my head.
I couldn’t speak for fear that the moment I made even a small mistake in my words, that huge force would crush me.
So as I kept my mouth shut and just kept breaking out in a cold sweat, the Martial God put her hand on my shoulder and said,
“The leader of a group should not dominate ordinary people, but govern them with compassion.”
The Martial God took one step closer.
“That is the duty and principle of one who is above.”
The Martial God took another step closer.
“Therefore, I personally purged evil.”
The Martial God brought her face right up to mine.
“So I ask you, one who harbors evil.”
The Martial God’s black pupils gradually turned red.
And before long, the Martial God’s pupils had completely turned red.
“Are you evil?”
At that question, my mouth began to open on its own.
And regardless of my will, I spoke.
“…No, I am not.”
I denied being evil.
“……”
The Martial God stared at me silently for a while.
And before long.
“I see.”
Accepting my words, she withdrew the face she had brought close.
At the same time, the huge force that had been waiting to fall on my head instantly disappeared.
At this, I instinctively recognized that I had survived.
“You harbor evil but are not evil……”
As she muttered those words, the Martial God’s red pupils returned to their obsidian-like black color.
“You are a strange child.”
Baek Yu-hwa smiled and patted my shoulder.
Then as she walked back towards the huge chair.
Crack……
As if time was being reversed, the torn space began to return to its original state.
And that phenomenon only ended after Baek Yu-hwa sat down in the chair.
The space was completely sealed.
“Alright, let’s make a deal as you wish, child. What do you want?”
Baek Yu-hwa, who had returned to the aloof posture I first saw when I entered this place, brought up the deal.
She accepted the deal only after it was proven that I was not evil, unlike the person called the Wulin Alliance Leader.
At this, I wiped my sweat-soaked face with a handkerchief and then named the elixir I wanted to obtain.
“I want the Spirit Energy Pill.”
“The Spirit Energy Pill?”
Baek Yu-hwa looked me over with puzzled eyes.
“Child, do you know what the Spirit Energy Pill is when you say that?”
“Yes, I do.”
The Spirit Energy Pill.
It was an elixir that expanded the vessel of the soul.
But it was also taken when the vessel was damaged due to being unable to handle talent, like Lee Seo-yeon and Asuka.
Of course, since Asuka had an innate problem, even if she took the Spirit Energy Pill, she wouldn’t be able to fully control her talent, but it would still help her with control.
In contrast, for Lee Seo-yeon, one Spirit Energy Pill would solve everything.
By making complete control of her talent possible, it eliminated the path of her being eroded by her talent and becoming a Fallen.
“You don’t seem to have any problems with your spirit to ask for the Spirit Energy Pill?”
Baek Yu-hwa looked at me with eyes that didn’t seem to understand.
“It’s not for me.”
“…You won’t take it yourself? Then is it for someone else?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Hmm……”
As if it was an answer that perfectly matched her beliefs, Baek Yu-hwa let out a sound of admiration.
Then with a satisfied face, she put her hand inside her coat and.
“Here, take it.”
She took out two small boxes and tossed them towards me.
Catching the two boxes in bewilderment, I looked at her with a puzzled face and asked.
“Madam Chairman, what about the deal…?”
“The deal? Is there really a need for that?”
“…Pardon?”
“Is your insight lacking at times like this?”
Baek Yu-hwa smiled amusedly and said.
“It’s a gift because I like you. So just take it.”
“……”
Wow, I didn’t expect this at all?
In the game, items could only be obtained through deals, that is, by accepting quests.
But now I was receiving items as gifts just for speaking well?
“What, don’t you like gifts? Then as you wish, we can make a deal……”
“Ah, no! I love gifts very much!”
“Is that so? Then that’s good.”
Baek Yu-hwa grinned and nodded her head.
I bowed to her to show my gratitude.
“Madam Chairman, thank you so much!”
“Haha, alright, alright.”
Baek Yu-hwa looked at me with eyes as if looking at a grandchild playing cutely.
Certainly, considering her age, that would be correct.
After all, as a first-generation transcendent, she must be at least 200 years old.
“Child, that’s enough bowing. Now go to the child who needs that elixir.”
“…But Madam Chairman, what is this other one?”
I tried to check the item with the system appraisal, but strangely, it couldn’t be appraised.
Was it because I hadn’t opened the box?
“The other one is a gift for you, who are praiseworthy.”
She’s giving me something for myself in addition to the Spirit Energy Pill?
“Thank you so mu……”
“I’ve received enough thanks just now, so stop bowing.”
“But still……”
“Now now, I said that’s enough.”
Saying that, Baek Yu-hwa waved her hand towards my body.
Then as if someone was pushing me, my body was suddenly pushed backwards.
Ding.
I ended up neatly entering the elevator that opened with perfect timing.
To me like that, Baek Yu-hwa smiled gently and said,
“Lee Yu-jin, let’s meet again next time.”
With those words, the elevator doors closed and.
[Going down.]
As Baek Yu-hwa’s figure disappeared, the audience safely came to an end.
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As the elevator carrying Lee Yu-jin went down.
“……”
At the same time, the smile on Baek Yu-hwa’s lips disappeared.
Baek Yu-hwa opened her mouth with an expressionless face, looking at the place where Lee Yu-jin had been.
“Is it that child this time?”
……
“How long do you intend to repeat this causality?”
……
“…You don’t even intend to reveal yourself now, is that it?”
Ha.
Baek Yu-hwa let out a hollow laugh and stood up from her chair.
At the same time.
Crack……!!
Like before, space tore and a black space like the universe began to appear.
“Then I shall personally make you reveal yourself.”
Baek Yu-hwa’s pupils turned red.
And as she clenched her hand towards the empty air, a black sword that had appeared at some unknown point was gripped in her hand.
Wooong!
The black sword resonated.
Crash───!!
Now the space not only tore but shattered like glass.
Everywhere was covered in darkness.
In that darkness, Baek Yu-hwa emitted a tremendous force and raised her sword.
Then.
Ding.
[Please stop.]
Like Lee Yu-jin’s system, a message window appeared in front of Baek Yu-hwa.
Lowering the sword she had raised at that message window, Baek Yu-hwa said,
“So you’ve finally revealed yourself. Slave of causality.”
[…Isn’t that the same for you now?]
“I am only half bound, but you are completely, are you not? So you are indeed a slave.”
[……]
“What, are you displeased? Then reveal yourself directly instead of this message. I’ll personally split you in half.”
[…Your temper is still as foul as ever. Heavenly Demon Baek Yu-hwa.]
“…Do not call me by that name. I left that title behind in that place.”
[…Are you still hung up on that? That incident?]
“How could I forget that incident.”
Baek Yu-hwa looked at the message window with empty eyes.
“The day I lost everything.”
[That incident was not because of you. What happened was……]
“Yes, it was because of those outer god bastards. But the fact that I was eroded by demonic energy after being deceived by their whispers is true, is it not?”
[But that was….]
“That’s enough of this story.”
Saying that, Baek Yu-hwa released the sword she had been gripping.
Then the black sword seeped into the darkness.
Watching that sight, Baek Yu-hwa said,
“Slave of causality.”
[…Yes.]
“You left me and did not reveal yourself for a while.”
[……]
“During that long time when you did not reveal yourself, I thought you had given up, acquiescing to causality.”
[……]
“But that was not the case.”
Baek Yu-hwa looked at the message window.
“Lee Yu-jin, that child’s body contains not only your origin but also the power of those outer god bastards embedded in it. Just what have you been doing?”
To that question, the message window answered.
[I cannot tell you everything right now.]
“…Is it a restriction?”
[Yes, that’s right.]
“Then can you tell me this?”
[What is it?]
“Is causality…, is this the last time?”
[……]
The message window was silent.
But only for a moment.
[I cannot reveal myself for a while, but I will tell you for your sake.]
[Yes, that’s right.]
[This is the last ti……]
Crash!
The message window shattered.
The restriction of causality had fallen.
At that sight, Baek Yu-hwa’s eyes trembled and she slumped down.
Crack……
As Baek Yu-hwa sat in the chair, all of space returned to its original state.
“Ha…, this is the last time?”
Baek Yu-hwa muttered in a trembling voice.
But there was clearly joy contained in that voice.
“…I’ll have to give that child more gifts later.”
Thanks to that child, she had learned what she had been waiting for so long.
She would grant whatever that child wanted.
Baek Yu-hwa smiled, recalling Lee Yu-jin who had been very happy to receive the gift.
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Meanwhile, Lee Yu-jin.
Ding.
“…Huh?”
“No, what is this!”
He encountered an unexpected system maintenance.
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Thx for chapter
The first time in a very long time that I see the system as a living being.
She gave him a gift and then crashed his system😂
I guess the gm and the outer gods are in cahoots with each other
It seems like my theory is somewhat true but it’s still not fully clear
Bro isn’t gonna pull an azathoth on us is he?