I Became a Mythical Hunter After Killing the Golden Goblin - Chapter 190

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 190. Conclusion
After clearing the 15th Floor of the Tower of Ascension and raising the Golden Tower to Level 3, even after learning more of the world’s truths, I didn’t leave the tower.
I still had time, and I wanted to clear everything up to the 17th Floor, which was related to skills. After that, I ran without pause.
It might have been to calm my complicated mind, or it might have been to crown the finale of the long narrative that was about to unfold.
“Akasha. Is there truly no more story I can hear?”
〚This is the maximum permitted for Shin Ju-ha at this time.〛
It was regrettable, but I thought this was already enough to teach me a great deal. After all, I had heard stories that even those Concept Divine Seats didn’t know.
It was simply that the truth was too vast, making it unbearably heavy. A world that had already repeated over four hundred thousand times. I didn’t know what they wanted by repeating the world like this, but one thing was clear—I had become the most crucial key.
Whether to move to the next cycle or end it here depended entirely on me.
“I don’t know.”
I set the thought aside for now. There was no more information anyway. No matter how much I racked my brain or worried, nothing would change.
For now, I could only move forward by organizing what lay before me, step by step.
…And so a month passed. Time both brief and endless.
***
Whoooosh!
Brilliant light enveloped my eyes, and with an unprecedented sensation of weightlessness, I finally returned to Earth. As I breathed in the air of Earth, which I hadn’t smelled in so long, reveling in the sense of liberation—
【Ho. At last we meet.】
A voice etched itself into my mind, and the world was swallowed by darkness. I had no time to react, no strength to resist.
“What?”
My eyes narrowed. In this world of darkness, a familiar—no, intimate—aura began to rise.
〚Item: Divine Object—Treasure Trove of Greed. The item itself has been manifested. The foundational item is the Legendary-grade Colosseum of Endless Suffering.〛
Akasha immediately transmitted the information to me. Information blooming before my eyes. This was the true privilege of the Golden Tower Level 3. Being able to access nearly all information stored in Akasha. More precisely, Akasha itself was assisting me.
【An amusing game. Candidate for the new Pride.】
From far away, the master of this treasure trove revealed himself. He was wearing the shell of the most greedy and vile man I knew.
“…Han Min-guk.”
【Ah…you were enemies with this insect. Do not worry. Regardless of your victory or defeat, all these insects will die. If they dared to oppose a great being destined to become the master of the Seven Sins, they should despair at their ignorance and incompetence and take their own lives. Yet they dared to fight the master of the Seven Sins, even using a demon’s heart. Thanks to that, I have come here—is that not fortunate? Kuhahahaha.】
I furrowed my brow. The revenge was mine to take. I needed to deliver a merciless and cruel retribution.
‘Tsk, it’s meaningless now.’
To be honest, seven insignificant humans like that no longer caught my eye or held any meaning. I had only given them a chance once for brief entertainment.
Now that things had come to this, I was instead…trembling with excitement.
【Kekekek. You’re no different from a demon. Are you excited now?】
Mammon immediately sensed my state. My body trembled slightly, my breathing grew ragged, my eyes burned with fighting spirit, and above all, the will to fight right this instant.
【It is a game. Not a fight. Yet it is the perfect game to test the master of Pride.】
I surveyed my surroundings once. Truly, this was power worthy of being called divine. The world had transformed.
This was Earth, yet not Earth. Should I call it an alternate dimension of sorts?
〚The authority that Shin Ju-ha possesses: An item of resolve similar to the Pit.〛
Yes, similar to that authority I had seized from a demon and used only once or twice since. The power to create a new world and overlay it upon reality.
“Then nothing I do here matters.”
【Kuhkuhkuh. Truly befitting the new heir of Pride—so arrogant. Calm yourself. No matter what you do, you cannot yet surpass my power.】
At those words, I smirked and drew forth the greatest power I possessed from my inventory.
When the most brilliantly radiant spear emerged from the darkness, Mammon’s expression—which had been smiling and playfully teasing until now—shattered for the first time.
【Remarkable. I never expected you to possess Longinus. I heard that spear was sealed away and banished from the world long ago. That a spear devoured by the void would reveal itself here…】
I flinched.
Without thinking, I gripped the spear tightly and stumbled backward. It was instinct. Pure intuition. Or perhaps the authority granted by Infinity had evolved so dramatically that it had become a form of foresight.
Crash!!
But my choice was precise. A man crashed down exactly where I had been standing just one second before.
Mammon’s eyes, wearing Han Min-guk’s flesh, were absolutely consumed by greed. The moment he descended before me, a chill ran even deeper through my spine.
The aura radiating from one of the seven lords of the Demon Realm was suffocating.
【Hand it over to me.】
“You’re insane. Get lost.”
But I wasn’t the same person who would tremble under such pressure. I immediately retreated while spitting out curses.
Yet watching Mammon burst into laughter again without even a hint of displeasure, I could only furrow my brow for a moment.
【Let’s make a wager. You stake Longinus, and I’ll stake my treasure.】
“Why would I? It’s obviously disadvantageous.”
【Use any method you wish. Employ every strategy except Longinus and win my game here.】
Mammon continued, his expression growing even more earnest.
【Your opponents are these seven. I will grant them power. That should balance the scales against a god.】
“How am I supposed to trust you?”
【I swear by the great Sin itself. That I will be a complete spectator in this game. That I will grant them no advantage whatsoever. That I will accept the results cleanly.】
〚A vow sworn by the Seven Sins—Greed—is now binding!〛
【If I break this oath, my Sin will abandon me. Now, do you understand my sincerity?】
I furrowed my brow slightly. A creature bearing the Sin of Greed—that insane covetousness couldn’t be taken lightly.
‘What should I do?’
Any method is fine. But why does this feel so unsettling?
‘Am I overthinking this?’
I immediately asked Akasha.
‘What scheme is Mammon plotting? Is there a trap I haven’t noticed?’
To my question, Akasha provided the most fatal answer.
〚Currently, the Demon God Mammon has achieved complete descent into the human Han Min-guk. Since Mammon consumed the human’s soul entirely as the price of descent, Mammon’s fragment becoming Han Min-guk and participating in the game does not violate the oath. After all, it would still be Han Min-guk possessing Han Min-guk’s body and a portion of his soul.〛
Of course these damned demons—deception flows from their mouths as naturally as breathing.
I was about to immediately hurl curses and protests at Mammon.
〚However!〛
Akasha stopped me.
〚If Shin Ju-ha uses your full strength, your win rate is 99%.〛
I tilted my head in confusion. Does that even make sense? This is his home ground. Anything he does would be unremarkable, any loophole acceptable.
〚You are mistaken. While Mammon can participate in the game by becoming Han Min-guk, directly interfering with the game board using Mammon’s power would constitute a clear oath violation. That falls beyond what can be accomplished with mere soul fragments. At best, he could manage trivial interference or slight favorable adjustments. Though admittedly, there would be an overwhelming difference in knowledge and proficiency regarding the items…〛
‘That’s why you’re here.’
〚Yes. With me present, there is no problem. And I know what Mammon’s game is, and I know the answers.〛
The answer key was right beside me. Seriously.
I couldn’t help but laugh hollowly. Did this even make sense?
‘So what exactly is this game?’
〚It is quite simple. Treasure hunting.〛
I was left speechless. That bastard Mammon. He knows the locations of all the treasures.
If he knows where every treasure is hidden, he could claim victory without much interference. Especially when the numbers favor him seven to one.
Even if I split up and hunt for treasures, killing his minions as I go, I’d still be overwhelmingly disadvantaged.
But that wasn’t a problem either.
〚Mammon does not know. That Shin Ju-ha is also the successor of a great Demon God.〛
I have more allies than he does. No matter how I think about it, I don’t see myself losing.
【Kekeke. Have you finished thinking?】
If so, there’s only one thing left.
“Wait, before we play this game, let me make sure of something. What will you stake? I won’t accept anything less than something equal in value to Longinus.”
Mammon flinched slightly at my words. As expected from that cunning bastard—he was planning to brush off a loss with some mediocre item. He probably intended to justify it by claiming it was also a treasure, spouting such nonsense.
“If I’m not satisfied, I won’t play this game. So pick one and bring it out right now.”
〚I was about to mention it. So you already knew. Among Mammon’s current treasures, there are exactly three items worthy of trading for Longinus. They are: Item: Coat of Infinity [★], Item: Golden Scale [★], and Item: Faded Ring [★].〛
Mammon clicked his tongue, scowled, then nodded as if giving up, spreading his hands dramatically and shouting.
【Clever indeed. What do you desire? My treasure vault contains treasures that no one could deny.】
〚Please select Item: Faded Ring. It is the greatest legacy among Solomon’s inheritances. Obtaining it would be of tremendous help in your succession! Moreover, in terms of potential alone, it cannot even be compared to the others.〛
Solomon’s legacy! My eyes widened greatly. My second advancement was actually done through a shortcut. Through a chance connection—that Celestial Demons were born from Solomon’s power.
Normally, I should have cleared the long and arduous Quest that the System would have given me. But if I obtain that, wouldn’t I be able to achieve a third advancement just as easily?
“The Faded Ring. Stake that.”
At my words, confusion and anger mixed across Mammon’s face.
【How do you know that…? Or do you even understand what that ring is?】
“I don’t. But it’s what I like best.”
【Insolence!!! That ring’s value exceeds Longinus! If its dormant power could be awakened, even those arrogant Concept Divine Seats would covet it—a treasure among treasures!】
Bluffing. Without me, he’d never awaken its dormant power anyway.
“If you won’t hand it over, then we’re done here. Get out. And don’t interfere between those insignificant beings and me anymore.”
I deliberately pressured him strongly, making a show of putting Longinus back into my inventory. As expected, Mammon cried out.
【…Fine! I will stake this. You’re quite the irritating one in many ways.】
I grinned wickedly. He took the bait. From the way he’s thrashing about, he’s quite the catch.
“Good then. Now we can finally play a proper game.”
【Kekekeke. Yes, let’s play a proper game. Though the victor is already decided.】
Mammon moved his hand. Light emerged in the darkened world. They were treasures.
The treasures mixed rapidly, then vanished and fell dormant throughout the world.
【Find the treasures. Whoever finds more wins—a simple rule. Of course, if all your teammates die during the game, you lose. And though it should be obvious, be warned that formidable beings slumber in this world.】
Greed’s Treasure Hunt. Now begins.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————