Chapter 181
Murim’s stronghold which was located on the 7th floor.
Un Cheon-guk, with bandages wrapped around him, gazed far into the outside scenery from the three-story pavilion that made up the stronghold.
“Your wounds are quite deep.”
The elderly man, who had applied medicine and changed the bandages, presented a beneficial decoction.
Accepting the dish, Un Cheon-guk gulped down the decoction, then wiped the residue from his mouth and asked, “How long will it take?”
“To fully recover, a convalescence of at least fifteen days will be necessary.”
Fifteen days.
Considering the depth of the wounds, it was a surprisingly short period. If not for the tower’s mysteries, Un Cheon-guk’s injuries were severe enough to require not fifteen days, but half a year of recuperation.
Recalling the battle from that time, Un Cheon-guk frowned.
Hwang Gyuseong.
Each of his punches was so fierce it reminded one of death.
If he had landed a blow on a vital point even once, it wouldn’t have ended with just convalescence.
“Is there no way to shorten it?”
“Impossible.”
“… Well, given what the Divine Doctor said, it must be so.”
Divine Doctor.
He was one of the doctors representing Murim, alongside the Demon Doctor.
If he said fifteen days, then it was fifteen days. There was no way to shave more time off.
“Besides the external injuries, the demonic energy that infiltrated your body has wreaked havoc on your blood and internal organs. Treating the external wounds hastily would only be toxic.”
“I get it. No more nagging.”
“You should treat your body with more care, Lord.”
“This time, there was no other choice. You know that better than anyone, old man.”
He didn’t think it would be easy to capture Hwang Gyuseong.
Setting aside the variable of demonic energy, Hwang Gyuseong was a player who had written countless legends.
“My point is, focus on your recovery.”
“I suppose I should, right?”
“Do you have an urgent matter?”
“Not really, just…”
Far away.
Un Cheon-guk smiled faintly, looking toward the lodge where Un Hyang was staying.
“I just miss my daughter. I couldn’t greet her properly.”
“That child will want to escape.”
“I know. Probably I know it better than anyone else. But what can we do? It’s her fate.”
Rustle-.
Un Cheon-guk said, as he put on the clothes laid beside him.
“If the treatment is done, please leave. Time’s up.”
“You still have medicine to take…”
“Leave it.”
Whoosh-.
At that moment, a faint presence entered the space where the two men stood.
“If you’re too late, you’ll die.”
Chill-.
The Divine Doctor’s eyes widened as he tried to turn around. Just as he was about to identify the presence.
“Don’t even turn around. You’ll die if you do.”
“… Who are you?”
“A person you shouldn’t be curious about.”
The Divine Doctor was wise enough not to risk his life out of curiosity.
Though dedicated to his medical vocation, he too was a player who had climbed to the 7th floor of the tower.
Shuffling-.
With his back bent and eyes closed, the Divine Doctor retreated backward to avoid turning around.
Once the Divine Doctor had withdrawn.
Swish-.
Rising despite his injuries, Un Cheon-guk knelt.
“It’s been a while.”
He then called out a name that was difficult to utter.
“… Heavenly Demon.”
* * *
In the sky, a winged horse strolled, and the sun and moon hung together.
The clouds, from red to purple, were striped with a myriad of colors, as if they had split a rainbow.
A world similar yet different from the world of humans, truly a realm of the gods.
Asgard. Within it was a world called Valhalla, exclusively for the gods.
Suhyuk followed Brynhild, exploring this world.
“Wow…”
“Look at the scenery.”
“If it were me, I would live here.”
“Look at the clouds!”
It was beautiful and mysterious. Asgard was a realm that players had only heard about but had never seen before. It remained a mystical, unknown world until now.
Given this, Un Hyang had changed the stream title to match the viewers’ interests.
『Title: Anyone want to see Asgard (Valhalla)? Showing now. Multiple Valkyries.』
The title was simple and straightforward.
While a provocative title might usually be necessary to attract viewers, there was no need for one right now. The situation itself was exceptionally stimulating for the audience.
『Viewers: 123,170』
The number of viewers had surpassed 120,000.
The chat was filled with conversations about Valhalla. People were visibly excited at the news that Thor would appear.
『’232Suhyuk’ has donated 100 points.』
『What’s the story? Dying to know.』
Everyone was naturally curious about what had happened to suddenly encounter Thor.
After a moment of contemplation, Suhyuk adjusted his microphone so Brynhild wouldn’t hear and answered.
“You’ll see when you watch.”
-Really?
-You’re hiding this?
-Suhyuk, is this how I raised you?
Complaints were inevitable. For those eager to have their questions answered immediately, it could be frustrating.
However, despite the complaints, Suhyuk’s decision was the right one.
As proof, a whisper from Un Hyang popped up in the fast-moving chat.
『-Whisper』『Manager』 : Well done ^^
Creating curiosity and anticipation was a streamer’s duty.
Suhyuk continued to fulfill that role.
“It looks very different, doesn’t it?”
Brynhild, who had been walking ahead with Tyr, spoke to Suhyuk. Tyr continued to remain silent, either because he had nothing to say or because he was naturally reticent.
Suhyuk turned his microphone back and replied.
“Yes, it does look different.”
“In Asgard, there is no day or night. Here in Valhalla, the same sun and moon are always in the sky.”
She continued, while looking up at the sky as Suhyuk did.
“It’s a magical sky. Literally.”
“Literally?”
“Yes. That sky was created by magic.”
Hearing that, Suhyuk’s perspective shifted.
All of this was magically created?
He couldn’t imagine it. What kind of magic was capable of such a thing?
‘I’ve just crossed one wall…’
Midgard and Valhalla. The two worlds were separated by a massive wall called Rasderikh.
He could see it even now if he looked far enough. The boundary built by the gods.
Suhyuk knew from the trials on the sixth floor how many people shed blood and felt despair trying to cross that boundary.
Many inhabitants of Midgard dreamt of Valhalla, believing it to be a land of beauty, happiness, honor, and pride.
But,
‘I’m not so sure.’
He recalled the image of Thor, who had become a madman after being consumed by Mjolnir.
‘… I’m not sure if that’s true.’
Just then, Tyr suddenly stopped walking.
“This is the second time a human has entered Valhalla.”
Tyr brought up humans once again.
He didn’t like humans. Suhyuk was an exception but that didn’t mean he liked him.
“They won’t look at you kindly. It’s your responsibility to overcome that.”
“I have no prejudices.”
“You should stay quiet.”
Contrary to expectations, Brynhild wore a bright and smiling face. Tyr clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Don’t listen to this guy. He’s always been unreliable.”
“Alright.”
“Right now, the gods are gathering over there.”
In the direction Lee Suhyuk was walking with Tyr, there stood a massive temple.
“A lot of them have gathered just to see you.”
“What do you want to hear from me?”
“What is it you want to gain here? Surely, you’re not thinking of living among the gods.”
What Lee Suhyuk wanted in Valhalla.
Initially, what he sought here was the other half of thunder. However, he had unexpectedly obtained that half too quickly.
But that did not mean he had no tasks left to complete here.
“The human who came here before me.”
Tyr’s eyes wavered.
“I plan to follow his trail.”
Skaaak-.
In the blink of an eye, Tyr’s sword was drawn and pointed at Suhyuk’s neck.
Lee Suhyuk could have reacted if he wanted to, but he didn’t. He knew Tyr would be furious about losing one arm to a human. It was a moment to fully accept that fury.
“You… are you associated with him?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“I want to know.”
Suhyuk’s gaze shifted to Tyr’s empty arm.
“I wondered just how formidable one must be to make your arm like that.”
“Is that all?”
“I need power…”
Chiik-.
His neck got a small cut, and his skin split apart.
“…If possible, I plan to follow his trail.”
“You finally said it.”
Fla-thud-.
Looking at the blood dripping onto the ground, Suhyuk thought, luckily, he was not killed.
“You’ve seen how terrible a choice it was, yet you’re going to make the same one. Fine. Do as you wish.”
Swoosh-.
With that, Tyr turned away abruptly. Watching him pass by with rough steps, Suhyuk sighed.
“Should I consider this permission…?”
“What does this even mean?”
Brynhild looked puzzled, clearly unable to comprehend. She likely did not know that Suhyuk possessed thunder.
“You will find out soon.”
Fortunately, she did not press Suhyuk for an answer.
Perhaps it was not that she trusted Suhyuk, but rather, she had faith in the great god, Tyr.
They hurried and reached the front of the temple. The door, several times larger than them, opened on its own as they approached.
Creak-.
Rumble-.
The vast interior of the temple came into view at a glance.
The high throne at the front was empty, and among the sparsely-placed chairs with holes, dozens of gods sat with their arms crossed.
The gods of Valhalla.
Not all of them were gathered, but as Tyr said, quite a number of them were waiting here to see Suhyuk.
Tingle, tingle-.
The hostility they emitted made his body tingle. With dozens of gods all simultaneously showing hostile intent, it brought to mind a specific scene.
‘It’s similar to that time.’
Thump, thump-.
In the midst of the silent gathering.
‘The eyes watching…’
『’■■■’ is looking at you.』
『’■■■’ is looking at you.』
『’■■■■’ is looking at you.』
『…….』
Second floor, the Trial of Lightning.
The cutscene that had appeared after defeating the king of the giants. The eyes that had looked down on him from within the clouds.
The eyes that had watched him then overlapped with the eyes of the gods gathered here.
‘You were there too.’
The main scenario of the second floor, ‘Lightning.’
In the end, every trial from then to now had been connected as one.