Chapter 136
While Suhyuk and Viola followed Tyr, Vigo headed to the Midgard garrison, finally alone.
At the center of Midgard stood a tall tower.
Ascending its steps, Vigo was greeted by a familiar, welcoming face he hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Vigo-!”
“Captain Baldur!”
A middle-aged man with green eyes approached Vigo and embraced him. Though an awkward greeting, it didn’t matter considering it was their reunion after centuries.
“It’s been a while. Are you truly back now? Was the mission successful?”
“Yes, it’s all over now.”
“When I mentioned the Valkyrie’s escort mission, you were so opposed. Yet, you were insistent.”
“No, it was a worthwhile mission.”
Vigo smiled sheepishly and scratched his head.
“Oh, I heard you’ve become Midgard’s commander in the meantime. Congratulations.”
“You’re congratulating me on something quite old. Come in first.”
The two headed to the command room within the building.
Vigo’s eyes widened at the spacious room, new furniture, and luxurious teacups.
“You’ve truly succeeded.”
Click-.
Baldur personally served tea. In response to Vigo’s admiration, he shrugged and asked back.
“So what? We’re still beneath the gods’ feet.”
“That’s…”
His words had a hidden sting.
There was nothing more to say. It was a known fact that no one had ever traveled from Midgard to Valhalla, the gods’ realm.
In response to Vigo’s awkward reaction, Baldur subtly smiled.
“Remember the old days when we used to have fun by talking behind the gods’ backs?”
With a playful tone, Vigo matched his smile.
“Yes, we did.”
“How have you been? Tell me about it.”
“Yes.”
Vigo recounted the events of the past.
Four hundred years of tedious missions. Valkyrie Belveim’s betrayal. The sudden inclusion of a human…
The lengthy story came to an end.
“…Really? Lord Tyr personally involved himself with that human?”
Baldur’s green eyes narrowed slightly.
Holding his teacup, he mumbled.
“He must be really bored.”
“Indeed.”
Slurp-.
Following the lengthy story, the tea had gone lukewarm. After a brief sip of his drink, Baldur looked down at his reflection in the teacup and spoke.
“I hope that person passes the trial.”
“Why?”
“The gods need to know, don’t they?”
Click-.
With that, he set the teacup down with a smile. To Vigo, Baldur seemed slightly different from the commander he remembered.
“That Valhalla isn’t just for the gods alone.”
***
As Suhyuk and Viola followed behind Tyr, Suhyuk noticed one of his arms.
Whether it was severed or uprooted, an arm was missing. It was the most noticeable aspect of Tyr’s appearance.
“What are you staring at?”
“I’m curious.”
“This arm?”
“Yes. I was wondering if gods like you can also get injured by others.”
Tyr, who took the lead in walking, glanced back at Suhyuk, who was following behind.
“Do you know who I am?”
“Seeing Viola’s reaction, I understand that you must be someone of high standing.”
“Is that so? Well, you wouldn’t know, would you?”
As he spoke, Tyr looked down at his missing arm.
Seeing this, Suhyuk asked, driven by a sudden thought.
“Is your missing arm related to your dislike for humans?”
Snip—.
For a brief moment, it seemed as if Tyr was about to stop but then he continued moving.
“… With that question, you’ve just made me dislike you more.”
“So, if I make myself likable, will you answer my question?”
“Possibly.”
Tyr let out a derisive laugh and quickened his pace.
“But that will probably be harder than you entering Valhalla.”
“It appears to be so.”
Tyr was a rather strict god.
Was it even possible to win his favor?
If there was a reason behind it, then it could be possible. If there was a cause for his hatred of humans, there might be a way to squeeze through.
But if there was no reason.
If it was an instinctive dislike, like hating disgusting bugs or monsters.
‘In that case, it would be impossible.’
Suhyuk had two reasons for wanting to win his favor.
The newly appeared high-ranking god made the trial larger and richer.
If he could win his favor.
It would be invaluable, something that couldn’t be measured in points.
On top of that:
『The ‘God of Sickness’ has registered a mission.』
『Ask him why his arm is like that: 1,000 points.』
『The ‘God of Sickness’ has registered a mission.』
『Get an answer: 10,000 points hahaha.』
There was also a small mission involved.
Step, step—.
Following Tyr’s guidance, the three reached a high staircase shrouded in clouds.
It was a place that invoked a reverent feeling. Suhyuk realized that the top of these stairs was the trial ground.
“The accompaniment of the Valkyrie ends here.”
“… Understood.”
Viola, who hesitated for a moment, stopped without saying anything.
Still, he thought she might argue at least once, considering her personality.
It seemed she surrendered to Tyr’s authority.
“I’m sorry. It looks like this is as far as I can go.”
“It was a trial I had to face alone anyway. Nothing to apologize for.”
“Please take this.”
Viola handed a small item to Suhyuk from her bosom.
A white, rectangular card-like object. When Suhyuk gave a questioning glance, Viola explained.
“It’s a single-use voice transmission and reception kit. Please contact me once you finish the trial and return.”
-What is this? What could it be?
-Is she asking for an after-meeting?
-Doo doo doo~
-Beep. It’s a green light.
-Bro… I’m jealous, should I just go die?
The item Viola handed over was similar in shape and function to a player’s kit. The only difference was that it was inferior to a player’s kit.
Suhyuk nodded after putting the kit inside his coat.
“I will.”
“I haven’t repaid my debt to you yet. And that’s a disgrace as a warrior.”
“You don’t need to emphasize it so much, I’ll get in touch.”
She had been an important guide. He had planned to seek her out after the trial anyway, but now, things had become much easier.
“Well then, I’m off.”
With those words, Suhyuk began to climb the stairs.
And slowly, he stepped into the clouds.
* * *
Suhyuk ascended the stairs into the clouds.
Tyr, who had been watching him, clicked his tongue.
“He’s gone.”
Having finished his business, Tyr turned around.
He asked Viola, who had finished her farewell.
“Do you think he’ll pass?”
“I’ve seen the benefactor’s skills.”
Viola nodded with a voice full of confidence.
“He will definitely pass.”
“Indeed. That guy is better than most Valkyries.”
His tone suggested he already knew the answer.
Nonetheless, Tyr predicted Suhyuk’s failure.
“It’s not about skill.”
“Then what?”
“The problem is that he’s human.”
It was a difficult statement to understand.
But a certain phrase suddenly came to mind.
“The gods of Asgard will never accept us.”
At the time, she hadn’t pondered its meaning deeply.
She had thought it couldn’t be true.
‘Who was it again?’
She traced back her memory.
It wasn’t hard to recall. He wasn’t a person easy to forget.
‘Commander Baldur.’
It had been the words of Vigo’s former superior. He had said it.
For a long time, Viola had believed that Valhalla’s trials were open to everyone. That those who passed the trials would earn the right to go to Valhalla, and that opportunity was equally given to all.
However, Tyr spoke as if that wasn’t the case.
“Confirming his entry into the trial is sufficient.”
He turned around, already certain Suhyuk would fail.
“I’ll come to collect the body later.”
* * *
The inside of the clouds higher up the stairs felt quite cozy.
Comfortable and fluffy. It felt almost as if he was actually walking on clouds.
But perhaps due to his past experiences?
Instead, Suhyuk found himself wary of this unfamiliar feeling.
‘A moderate level of tension is necessary.’
Suhyuk steeled himself internally to avoid being lured into complacency by the clouds.
However, overcoming the boredom was entirely up to him.
-How far do I have to go?
-I must have been walking for over ten minutes.
-A cardio workout from hell.
The extended staircase continued for some distance.
Lee Suhyuk was walking through the clouds when he heard footsteps that were not his own.
Thud-.
Suhyuk lifted his head and saw the blurred figure of a stranger hiding in the mist.
“Human?”
Descending the stairs was a man with a butterfly-shaped tattoo on his face.
Upon discovering Suhyuk, the man asked with a startled expression, “Are you really the challenger here to take the Valhalla’s Trial?”
“It seems that way.”
『You are starting ‘Valhalla’s Trial.’』
『Walk along the Valhalla’s Staircase.』
『The memories of warriors await to test you on the stairs.』
『Receive recognition from at least 10 warriors.』
『The more recognition you receive, the stronger Valhalla’s blessing will be.』
Reading the lengthy message, Suhyuk nodded.
‘It sounds like I just have to defeat everyone and keep going up.’
The warrior, who had no idea about the system, chuckled dryly.
“Well, even if I am just a memory from the past… to face a human.”
“What do you mean by ‘a memory from the past’?”
Suhyuk asked.
“Just as I said. I am nothing but an old memory of the God To-Um who entered Valhalla.”
Suhyuk questioned further upon the warrior To-Um’s explanation.
“So, the test creates replicas?”
“Well, calling us replicas is still… quite something.”
At his words, Suhyuk’s gaze shifted to the lengthy staircase behind To-Um.
The stairs extended indefinitely, shrouded in clouds making it hard to see with the naked eye.
But one thing was clear.
As he ascended, stronger opponents would appear.
‘If they reflect old appearances of gods, who else will show up?’
There were no restrictions on this test.
He was instructed to face a minimum of 10, but he could face even more.
How far could he go?
And who would be waiting at the end of the stairs?
‘I’m curious.’
Interest and anticipation grew in him. His focus on the warrior before him was already fading.
Did To-Um notice this?
“Where are you looking?”
With an unpleasant expression, toeum drew the long spear from his back.
“You’re acting as if you’ve already surpassed me.”
“Well, you are the first one.”
“Do you know? Among the warriors challenging Valhalla’s test, eight out of ten fail to surpass me.”
Thud-.
To-Um forcefully struck the bottom of the stairs with his spear. The staircase quivered slightly as he pointed at Suhyuk with his other hand.
“And you, a mere human—.”
At that moment.
Flash-.
A yellow aura burst forth before To-Um’s eyes.
Boom-!
“……!!!”
To-Um’s eyes widened in shock. Overwhelmed, he lost consciousness before he could comprehend what had happened.
Just like that, swiftly.
Thud-.
To-Um’s body fell forward and rolled down the stairs.
“See? It was easy.”
Thud-.
Suhyuk began ascending the stairs again, passing by To-Um.
“The first one.”