Chapter 157 : Chapter 157
Chapter 157
No time to waste. William nodded at my resolute answer.
“The awakening trial happens at the altar. But the tasks to prove your worth to reach it aren’t trivial. Many patriarchs failed even to get there.”
“I’ll do it.”
“Good spirit. But don’t exhaust yourself. The real trial is the altar. Once you reach it…”
William, who never faltered in speech, trailed off for the first time.
“…I don’t know.”
“What?”
“Seven challenged the altar’s trial. Each faced different tests. The 7th patriarch faced the family’s greatest enemy. The 8th, a demon from hell. The 12th, the era’s Platinum Numbering No.1.”
So, a formidable opponent?
“But the 3rd patriarch faced a street beggar who stole an heirloom. The 17th, an incompetent emperor. The 20th, a corrupt priest.”
Not quite.
“Examining past patriarchs’ opponents, I understood the altar’s trial. In my case, it was a barbarian chieftain.”
“No way.”
“Yes. A hunt.”
William’s eyes gleamed like a hunter’s.
“They hunt you, you hunt them. A formidable foe sees you as prey. What emerges in the altar’s trial, only you will know.”
“….”
Honestly, I had no idea. Surely not Gilbert…?
“I’ll guide you to the entrance.”
William led the way, stopping before the lake. He glanced back.
“Good luck.”
He walked into the lake. Before he fully submerged, I followed.
‘Oh.’
At the lake’s bottom center was a hole. Pitch-black darkness yawned, but Wild Instinct sharpened my vision. I swam after William.
‘Ugh, this pressure…!’
The water swirled like a drain, pushing against me. William stopped, grabbed a smooth wall, and slowly climbed down.
‘Not even started, and it’s brutal.’
No choice, though. I followed, gripping the slippery wall, descending through darkness and current, like climbing a cliff upside down.
‘Tch, and I’m not alone!’
Sebastian clung to my robe with paws and mouth, looking apologetic. And then…
‘What the—’
William tapped my shoulder and floated up alone.
‘…This is where it begins.’
Left alone, I silently crawled into the abyss.
Movement (Lv 10) pushes through resistance, maintaining balance!
The endless dark maw led to… a dead end.
‘A dead end?’
Pondering, I closed my eyes, then opened them. My pupils, like a predator’s, scanned ahead.
‘There it is.’
It looked like a solid wall, but the uneven surface formed a pattern when connected… a picture.
‘The dog’s head.’
Ulvhadin’s symbol. I placed my hand on it, infusing mana, and the stone wall parted. But more pressing, a sudden surge of water pressure shot me through the opened passage.
‘Ugh!’
My body rocketed upward like a cannon. I barely balanced with Movement and Wild Instinct when—
‘Gah!’
I broke the surface, shooting into the air. A menacing ceiling, studded with vicious spikes, loomed closer.
Wild Instinct (Lv 4) triggers superhuman reflexes!
Know-It-All (Lv 4) focuses, entering a heightened state!
My nerves burned like steam. Like a raptor’s talons, I spread my fingers, grabbing thin spikes just before hitting the ceiling.
“…!”
Drip. Water fell from Martin’s toes.
‘I survived.’
I’d wedged my fingers between shark-tooth-like spikes, braking my body. Without boosted strength, I’d have been done for. Poison aside, crashing into the ceiling would’ve been fatal—internal organs pierced.
‘I need to move.’
Looking down, the floor was equally spiked.
‘Sadistic.’
Wild Instinct scanned, but no safe spots—no dulled or poison-free spikes. But…
‘A mechanism.’
Something felt special. Wild Instinct urged me to step there.
‘Let’s go.’
I pushed off the ceiling toward the spot. Stepping hard, the spikes retracted, leaving flat ground!
‘I see.’
They’d set traps to keep non-Wild Instinct users out.
Then, a buzzing sound, like insect wings, and a hissing noise.
“…!”
I spun around. Winged insects and snakes approached, appearing from nowhere.
Know-It-All (Lv 4) accesses the great library! Updates creature data! Nightmare Bugs and Assassin Snakes of the Great Forest, specializing in stealth and venom! Be cautious!
Of all things! If I were a swordsman like Gilbert, maybe, but a gunner, a rifleman no less…
Then—
[Grrrr…!]
Sebastian growled. The Ulvhadin hound’s killing intent scattered the venomous creatures.
[Woof!]
Look at me! Sebastian’s proud expression made me smile.
“Nice job.”
I petted his head. But my expression stayed grim.
‘This isn’t the end.’
There’d be more. Stronger. Tougher.
‘Lilac.’
When I learned this world was reality, not a novel, how overjoyed I was.
‘Lilac.’
But how terrified I am that you’ll find out I’m not Martin, but Kim An-hyun.
‘Lilac.’
Give me courage now, as always.
***
As the lone hound faced trials with unwavering resolve, a maid swept the floor with a broom. Rustling, colorful leaves rolled out of the shop.
“Hmm-hmm~”
Lilac hummed. A pleasant autumn afternoon, emotions deepening.
For once, alone. Nerjin and Savo were busy training, Bianca at the academy. Her master, Martin, was tackling a grand task.
‘What can I do for him?’
Nothing. At first, she felt helpless and anxious. When she vented, he tried to hide it, making her sad. But after an honest talk… she accepted it.
‘My role is to guard the place he returns to.’
So Lilac never rested. She wanted to offer him a richer life. A better home. A thriving business. No money worries to trouble him.
“Oh, excuse me. Is this Martin’s café?”
A voice came from behind. Sometimes, people connected to her master visited. She had to treat them impeccably—her duty as a maid.
“Welcome. The café’s not open, but… oh!”
“We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
She’d seen him. A man in all white. The only person her master openly respected. The only one Martin welcomed into their home multiple times.
“Welcome, Star Child.”
“Right, that’s me.”
He pointed at himself with a thumb, grinning.
“Master Martin is…”
“Back at Ulvhadin, right? To settle things.”
“Oh… yes.”
Of course he knew. He knew her master better than a maid like her. Naturally.
“It’ll take a while. A month? Maybe more. With the ancient hunting god involved… and Martin’s special. Who knows what twists await? A month might be optimistic.”
“….”
“Whoops, kept you standing. Shall we go in?”
Speaking like it was his own home, Lilac thought him a cheerful guest and invited him inside. In the second-floor living room, she served white rose tea, his favorite.
“Wow, nice skills.”
“Thank you.”
“…Actually.”
Star Child sipped tea, set the cup down, closed his eyes, then looked up at Lilac.
“I came to see you today.”
“…What?”
“I know it’s surprising. But hear me out. I’ll tell you about the fall of the greatest empire serving Cosmos, the ends it brought, and… about the Peacemaker and your master.”
Lilac looked puzzled. Star Child continued.
“Sit across from me. Today’s protagonist isn’t Martin or anyone else. It’s you, loyal maid.”
She didn’t understand, but…
“Okay.”
She sat. This esteemed guest came for her, it seemed.
“How far back should we go… it’s a long story.”
“….”
“Let’s start with you, Maid Lilac. Your recent actions impressed me deeply. That cadet duel assessment.”
Her heart stung. The cadet duel assessment. She didn’t know what she was thinking then. Seeing her master fight and get hurt was too painful. She was angry, heartbroken… and rushed in. Who cared about first place?
‘I shouldn’t have.’
Her master fought with everything—resources, heart, even Sebastian helped. But she ruined it.
‘…My fault.’
That guilt had been haunting Lilac lately. Honestly… she didn’t know why she did it. It felt like the world told her to. But how could she know about Gilbert’s protagonist aura, chosen by the world as its savior?
“Maid. You feel powerless, don’t you?”
“….”
“Crazy with frustration?”
“….”
“Self-loathing too.”
“….”
Star Child’s words stabbed her wounds like a dagger, sometimes a bullet. Shadows fell over Lilac’s face, like a hibiscus wilting at night.
“God, I’d be at a loss.”
“….”
“No answers, right? Compared to the stage your master plays on, you’re powerless.”
“….”
“It eats at you, doesn’t it?”
“….”
His subtle voice spat blades, as if only to blame. But—
“That was true before, but not anymore.”
“…!”
Star Child looked surprised at Lilac’s declaration. Her expression was gentle yet firm.
“I used to feel pathetic, unable to do anything despite Master Martin’s kindness. But when he came to me, I was saved. As a weak maid, I struggled when he returned injured, unable to help. But he said it was okay. That my presence was enough. To stay by his side. So I decided to always be where he returns, guarding his home.”
“…Ho.”
Star Child’s eyes curved. Like he’d spotted a huge lead.
“Nice resolve, Maid. But wouldn’t you like to get stronger if you could?”