The Forest of Trials

“Valta. You know we did not convene this meeting with such intentions.”

“No matter how much she is imprinted by Valta, she must abide by the rules. Even if many things have been simplified due to the Ruin…”

They had been silent for a moment out of fear, but they started chattering away again.

Judging by the man’s expression as he closed his eyes, as if recalling his patience, they were definitely the ‘Maha.’

The group that annoyed him so much that he was willing to join hands with the Destroyer he so hated.

“Brothers, what do you think. Please speak.”

“It is true that it is not a pleasant sight.”

“I do not think we can condone a person of unknown origin running rampant.”

“…Watch your words, brothers. In front of the Valtael.”

It was the first time I had seen the always-gentle Mashak growl.
The Varg I had seen in the Nemea prison also agreed with him, and the other side, not to be outdone, also bared their teeth.

The argument grew heated.

“She is not even the official Valtael before the full moon ceremony, and it is true that we do not know her origin, is it not?”

“What if we do not know her origin? The fact that she is the one Valta has imprinted on does not change, does it?”

“That is why she must prove it more clearly! There are one or two suspicious points. She does transform into a beast-kin, but she also smells strongly of human, which is very suspicious!”

“The Cherry Blossom Clan. I have never heard of such a clan!”

The increasingly heated atmosphere was unusual.
I, in the middle of Karvan and the round table, just rolled my eyes in a chair that was left alone, just like my situation.

“We cannot condone an outsider who has not passed the trial wandering around the sacred Bahalgras!”

“That’s right!”

In a word, that was the conclusion.

Until I perform the full moon ceremony or whatever, I am not a member of the Varg.

I am just an outsider and a foreigner, so I must either be exiled or verified.

“We do not know anything about her bloodline or foundation, do we? Since Valta does not give a proper explanation, she has no choice but to prove it with her abilities.”

“No matter how much she is the Valtael, an incompetent being cannot live in Bahalgras.”

“She escaped from that heinous Nemea’s den all by herself! What more proof do you need?”

Tegen tried to take my side, but it was not easy.
For every word he said, ten words flew at him like a pack of dogs.

“If she is that strong, the trial should be easy.”

A Varg with sleek black fur, who at a glance seemed to be a high-ranking official, looked at me condescendingly.
The three scars across his face were chilling.

“Isn’t that right? The great Valta must have had a reason to imprint on her at first sight. Let’s see it.”

The great Valta had said nothing so far.
He just looked down at me with his chin propped on his hand.
But even then, I was not anxious at all.
I naturally thought he would mediate.

“Open the Forest of Trials.”

However, my head went numb at the words he spat out indifferently.

“Prove it. You who will be my mate.”

He threw the utterly detestable words and stood up from his seat.
It was an attitude that said no more words were needed.

‘What are you talking about. You promised, to protect me!’

I just opened and closed my lips in disbelief, but Karvan didn’t even look at me and left the conference hall.

“Then, will you accept the trial?”

The hyena-like gazes shifted to me.

‘…I am an Awakener.’

My lips, full of betrayal, trembled.

‘Actually, I’m an Awakener. The Destroyer you all hate so much.’

I wanted to spit it out, that he was the one who had imprinted on a Destroyer.

But would they believe my words?

It would be a relief if I wasn’t killed by a spear for seducing Valta as a dirty Destroyer.

And even if they did believe me, my existence would only be used as material to threaten Karvan.
Once its use was over, it would be a discarded card.

The man must know that.
That’s why he left so leisurely.

‘What’s the reason for not being a part?’

As always, I had no choice.

The man had decided to test whether the part was useful, so I had no choice but to prove my usefulness or be pulled out helplessly.

I bit my lip hard.

“…What is the trial?”

The Forest of Trials.
A deep dungeon that can only be reached by passing through a cave portal on the outskirts of Bahalgras.

[Current Location: Bahalgras – Entrance to the Forest of Trials]

The habitat of monsters that have been burned by fire, leaving only soot.

To enter this place alone and survive until sunrise.
That is the trial of the Varg.

…Simply put, it means clearing the dungeon solo.

“Shinbi-nim, the Fire Deer’s weakness is its horns. If you just extinguish the flames, it will weaken, so you can definitely defeat it.”

The Sura were anxious to help me.

Tegen diligently recited the strategy to me, and Mashak silently handed me a bundle of potions.

“This is holy water that will help with healing.”

[Varg’s Special Potion: Continuously restores health and reduces frostbite damage. (Creator: Mashak)]

“You can drink it, or if you don’t have the strength, breaking it at your feet will also have an effect.”

“Thank you.”

I thanked them and was about to enter the forest, but an unpleasant face was standing there.

‘Did you come to see the show before the coffin lid closes?’
I was about to pass by in a huff, but the man held something out.

“Take it.”

It was a sword with a blueish tint.
Mist was flowing out of it like dry ice, and at a glance, it was extraordinary.

‘Strange.’
‘If it has that kind of color and a dedicated effect, it should be an SL (Special Legendary) weapon. No way, this man can’t possibly have a fully upgraded SL weapon.’

[God-Slaying Sword (SL)]

“It will be helpful.”

‘…He has one?’
For a moment, my eyes lit up, and I was about to receive the sword, but then I remembered and hid my hands behind my back.

“I don’t need it! I have a weapon too.”

‘Do you think I have no pride?’
With a sullen face, I turned around, but Tegen and Mashak blocked my path.

“Please take it. A weapon imbued with Valta’s primordial energy can slay a grim reaper.”

“Please. You must return safely, right?”

Did they receive some kind of silent pressure?
They clung to me, restless as if it were their own business.
My feet wouldn’t move at the sight of them whining like puppies who had to go potty.

‘…Well, what fault do the Sura have.’

I sighed and snatched the sword from the man’s hand.

“If I don’t come back by morning, just assume I’m dead.”

‘Isn’t that what you wanted.’
Even at my defiant tone, he just looked at me silently.
The same expressionless face as always.

“You don’t have to come to retrieve the body. You won’t find it anyway.”

“Sh-Shinbi-nim, don’t say such scary things…”

‘You must come back!’
Hearing Tegen’s tearful voice, I turned around and headed for the forest.

[…Entering the <Forest of Trials (High Risk)>…]

Crunch, crunch.
I walked along the forest path and examined the weapon I had received from Karvan.

[God-Slaying Sword: A sword made of the pure primordial energy of a ‘God-Slayer.’ Only the authorized can wield it. (Passive: Inflicts <Freeze> status abnormality on hit. Can be stacked.)]

The God-Slaying Sword.
Also known as Shin-jook-geom.

It’s a top-tier SL weapon among ice-attribute weapons, but I’ve never used it because I don’t particularly like the ice attribute.

I had crafted it once for a quest.
Did I throw it away because it took up space in my equipment window, or did I give it to someone?

But I didn’t think, ‘Could this be the Shin-jook-geom I made?’
The options attached to it didn’t make sense.

[- Inflicts more critical damage to untargetable targets.

• Ignores attack reflection skills with a 100% probability.
  (Owner: Karvan Baharga)]

Untargetable targets refer to those in a state of invisibility or invincibility.
And to be able to ignore attack reflection skills.

Considering that most ‘Legacyth’ bosses have significant deal loss due to invincibility or attack reflection skills, this meant that I could beat most things with this.
It was certainly a drool-worthy weapon.

‘…Whatever.’
‘What’s the use of that now.’
‘I can’t even use a single skill properly because of the Observer.’

I had been excitedly analyzing the weapon from a gamer’s perspective, then my excitement cooled.

I looked at the sword, which was shining coldly in the moonlight, then quickly unsummoned it and put it away.
I had accepted it because the Sura had begged me, but the ‘giving-the-disease-and-then-the-cure’ trick wouldn’t work on me anymore.

‘That bastard.’
‘He must have lent me the weapon as a gesture of goodwill, thinking I would die for sure, but I’ll survive and backstab him just the same.’

“Leviathan.”

[Awakener ‘Shinbi’ has summoned the exclusive weapon <Leviathan>.]

Clang!
The handle flew into my hand.
A spear as tall as me, forked into two prongs.

An SL weapon that I had painstakingly fully upgraded back when I was a player.

With just this, I’m not afraid even if a horde of monsters comes at me.

[Leviathan (SL): The two spearheads symbolize the world of the living and the world of the dead. The phrase ‘If you would plunder me, then plunder my sins as well’ is inscribed on it.]