Chapter 135
Despite the soldier’s resolute words, Lee Suhyuk stood with his hands behind his back.
“Really?”
Viola was startled by it, it would take her ten years, and then she would be absolutely bound.
“You’re speaking quite brazenly. It’s not like you’re sentencing me to jail.”
-Imprisonment, LOL.
-Then is ‘Fake Suhyuk’ getting a life sentence?
-Seriously, what did he do to get sentenced? LOL
Although he said it playfully, conscious of the stream, the situation was far from pleasant.
‘It’s one thing for me, but even sending Valkyries on a mission for ten years…’
His expression under the mask became noticeably grim.
Suhyuk stepped forward in front of Viola.
“When you mention ‘qualifications’ are you referring to inherent race?”
“No. Race doesn’t matter.”
“Is that so? Then what is it?”
“…?”
A puzzled look appeared on the soldier’s face. It was due to Suhyuk’s naturally altered tone.
“What are you doing right now?”
“I’ll show respect if you show it. Equally.”
“Did you come here not knowing where this is?”
“Valhalla, right?”
“… You do know.”
-LOL
-He knows, LOL.
-If you have a problem, just kill me. It’s fine; I can do it again.
The opponent was neither a high god of Asgard nor even a Valkyrie. There was no reason to treat the rude opponent politely.
Of course, as the viewers suggested, Suhyuk indeed considered that if things didn’t go well, he could just try again.
‘For now, Viola outranks him.’
Even though she left Asgard for a long time, she still resided in Valhalla.
A Great Warrior who served Odin. As long as he was her benefactor, it was unlikely that Asgard’s spear and sword would be aimed at him.
As expected.
“He is my benefactor.”
Unable to restrain herself, Viola intervened in their conversation.
“Show respect. Treat him as you would treat me.”
“Lady Valkyrie?”
“Should I draw my sword?”
A spark of emotion flickered in Viola’s eyes. Upon seeing her hand move toward her scabbard, the soldier straightened his posture.
“I-I’m sorry.”
“Not to me, to my benefactor.”
“I apologize. I sincerely apologize.”
The soldier’s attitude changed. Although he blocked the path in front of Viola as per protocol, he was still beneath the Valkyrie.
Moreover,
‘She has changed.’
Was it because she returned to Asgard? Or because the sixth-floor trial had started?
Although it was just a glimpse, the sharpness emanating from Viola this time felt entirely different from before.
‘This soldier isn’t entirely useless’, Viola thought.
Even though they were mere gatekeepers, the soldiers guarding the gate to Valhalla exuded an intimidating presence. Moreover, there were dozens of them. This was the standard of Asgardian soldiers.
However, regardless of that…
It was undeniable that, in terms of status and skill, Viola held a higher position.
“I’ll say it again, he is my benefactor. Furthermore, he aided Asgard in its mission.”
“I did not recognize you.”
“For these reasons, I wish to guide him to Valhalla…”
Trailing off, Viola shot a glance at Suhyuk.
“If certain qualifications are required, could he take a test to obtain them?”
“Excuse me?”
『Scenario 1 – ‘First Qualification’ begins.』
The first scenario on the 6th floor.
That was the stepping stone to reaching Valhalla.
“Are you serious?”
The soldier looked exceptionally surprised, far more than when Viola had initially returned.
“Yes, sincerely. If my benefactor is willing to take the test.”
“It’s a test that even Valkyries barely manage to pass after hundreds of years of training. How can a human…”
“He’s not an ordinary human.”
“No human has ever taken Valhalla’s test.”
It was understandable why the soldier was astonished.
Firsts always evoked surprise.
Human,
Judging by their reactions, it wasn’t hard to see how little the so-called gods thought of humans.
“Is there a specific rule that humans cannot set foot in Valhalla?”
“That’s…”
The soldier, unable to find an answer, finally responded with neither an affirmation nor a denial.
“…Give me a moment.”
“How long?”
“Until I can get permission from my superiors. It’s not something I can decide alone.”
When Viola nodded, the soldier turned and left.
* * *
With some time to spare, Viola led Suhyuk to a famous turkey restaurant in Asgard.
“Asgard’s roasted turkey is grilled while being basted with a special sauce to lock in the juices. If you pair it with this beer….”
Viola explained the dish, lifting a beer mug as large as her head.
In Asgard, the food was generally large. The meat, the beer, even the snacks were several times the size of ordinary food.
– Is this a date?
– Suhyuk really is living his best life @@
– Why are the contestants in my trials always a bunch of losers??
– If you’re jealous, become Lee Suhyuk yourself lol
Hearing the viewers’ desperate comments, Suhyuk let out a small laugh.
Indeed, it was a day to be envious of: enjoying a free meal and having a date with a beauty.
Of course, Suhyuk’s focus was on the test from Valhalla that had yet to begin.
“How does one take this test?”
Suhyuk inquired.
Viola, who was drinking beer, carefully set her mug down and opened her mouth, her face full of regret.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t disclose the details of the test beforehand. It’s against the rules…”
“Is that so?”
It was regrettable. If only he had known the contents of the test in advance, he could have formulated a strategy accordingly.
“What’s important isn’t that.”
“Then what is?”
“It’s crucial whether you intend to take the test.”
Everything, from leading Suhyuk to Valhalla to requesting the opportunity for him to take the test, had been Viola’s unilateral decision.
She had warned Suhyuk about the dangers of the test.
“The tests of Valhalla are not easy. Many warriors die, unable to pass it.”
“It will probably be more difficult than the test Viola herself experienced.”
Vigo, who had not seemed pleased from earlier, broke the long silence and spoke.
“Although I am well aware of your skills, the gods of Asgard likely do not want humans entering Valhalla.”
“Vigo, that…”
“Miss Viola, don’t you know? None of those who weren’t born as gods have ever set foot on Valhalla.”
Suhyuk’s ears perked up.
“Not even one?”
It was strange that not even one resident from Midgard had been there, considering the humans. As his curiosity grew and he was about to ask for more details.
Ssshh—
Suddenly, the surrounding scenery blurred, and a new scene appeared before him.
—Cutscene?
—So sudden?
It was the start of a cutscene for the first scenario.
“That soldier from earlier.”
The first perspective was from behind the soldier who had returned to Valhalla’s castle.
The soldier, clad in armor with wing patterns, knelt before several gods inside the castle.
“… For that reason, Valkyrie Viola wishes to test the human’s qualifications.”
At the soldier’s words, the gods inside the castle began to murmur in surprise.
“A human in Valhalla?”
“An unprecedented event.”
“But it’s not against Asgard’s laws either.”
“Quite a tough choice.”
Their appearances were varied.
A female warrior in armor who appeared to be a Valkyrie, an old man with white hair and a long beard, even a blind man with his eyes closed.
Among them, it was the blind man, who had been sparing with his words, who quieted the disorderly hall.
“Let him take the test.”
His words silenced the surroundings.
“If he was chosen by a Valkyrie, he surely is no ordinary human. Furthermore, Valkyrie Viola was sent down under Thor’s orders.”
“I don’t know since when did the influence of one Valkyrie become so strong.”
To the old man’s words, the blind man nodded.
“You are correct. Hence, we are not suggesting letting him in without conditions. He must take the test.”
Still uneasy, the old man snorted.
“Then it must be an extremely rigorous test.”
The old man’s words were a half-acceptance. The blind man, not interested in further debating, nodded slightly and changed the topic.
“Let’s move on to the next issue.”
Ssshh—
Slowly, the scenery began to disperse again.
The golden grand hall and their voices all blurred and vanished.
“Midgard, again…”
Pa—
The surroundings returned to how they originally were.
As if nothing had happened, Viola continued sipping her tea.
—Back to the date, it seems.
—Such an abrupt shift.
“Damn those gods for looking down on mortals; it’s so infuriating.”
According to the cutscene, Suhyuk’s trial seemed to have been confirmed. Just how amazing was Valhalla that it caused such an uproar?
Ding-.
The sound of a bell was heard as the shop door opened. When he turned his head, a familiar face came into view.
‘Isn’t that the one-armed man?’
An old man with one missing arm.
“Isn’t that the old grump?”
This was the very old man they had seen in the cutscene just moments ago.
“T-Tyr…?”
Viola and Vigo stood up abruptly from their seats. Their reactions piqued Suhyuk’s curiosity, so he asked,
“Do you know this person?”
“Not just know him. That person is-.”
“It’s you.”
Tremble-.
Suhyuk’s body trembled slightly. Was the distance always this close? Tyr’s voice sounded as if it was right next to his ear. When he looked again, the distance had not dramatically changed. The old man had taken a good ten steps to approach Suhyuk.
Step-.
Despite his old age and hunched back, the old man was still similar in height to Suhyuk.
‘… He’s dangerous.’
Just meeting his eyes made Suhyuk feel small. The old man exuded an aura of thousands or tens of thousands of years. Even without using any particular power, his presence was overwhelming.
Would he be able to confront him, even if he regained his old powers?
‘No.’
He was not confident. The fight against Hydra, which had been so difficult, now seemed easier compared to facing the old man in front of him.
And because of that, Suhyuk felt relieved instead.
‘I won’t have to fight this old man.’
If this was a task the tower had set for him, it would be an utterly impossible trial. But there was another thing.
‘He definitely isn’t on my side.’
It was clear from the cutscene. This old man definitely wasn’t friendly toward him. In fact, if Asgard rejected humans, this old man would likely be leading the charge.
“Is it true? You’re the human who wants to take Valhalla’s trial.”
“Yes.”
Suhyuk nodded his head.
“That’s correct.”
“I will be blunt.”
Tyr spoke as if he had no intention of engaging in a lengthy conversation or even introducing himself.
“I don’t like humans.”
His gaze briefly flickered to Suhyuk’s hand.
“And I think I’ll particularly dislike you.”
“What is it that you want?”
“It’s not that I want anything. I’m just not hiding my true feelings.”
That appeared to be his only intention. He turned his hunched body away, his voice carrying a tone of displeasure.
“Pay up and follow me quickly. You will have your trial as desired.”