You Have Been Invited to the Auction House of the Gods - Chapter 126

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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126

 

It wasn’t the sound of falling that confirmed the Tang Family Head’s death.

 

The last breath that leaked from deep within his lungs.

 

After exhaling that, the Tang Family Head died instantly without even closing his eyes.

 

I pulled out the sword that had pierced deep into his lungs.

 

No, I tried to pull it out.

 

My hand slipped on the liquid that could have been blood or poison.

 

I looked at the sword for a moment, then turned my gaze away.

 

I staggered toward Number 128 and collapsed heavily beside him.

 

Why were these few steps so heavy…

 

Only after leaning my back against the wall like hitting it could I barely support my body.

 

The entire area where I had fought the Tang Family Head was devastated.

 

The vegetation had withered black, leaving no trace,

 

and the ground was stained dark purple, dead.

 

It would probably be land where no life could grow for decades.

 

My breathing gradually turned into a metallic sound.

 

It was because the remaining poison had spread to my lungs.

 

That wasn’t all.

 

The price for using Shift with an unprepared body was being paid.

 

All over my body, the traces of circuits used to their extreme limit to win were burned black,

 

and my muscles were snapping one by one with tearing sounds.

 

‘I overdid it.’

 

No, it went beyond the level of overdoing it.

 

It was a severe injury that made recovery impossible.

 

“Haah…”

 

I looked up at the sky with a sigh.

 

At times like this, you’d usually see a clear blue sky…

 

Seeing yellow, it seems my time has come.

 

It was regrettable that I couldn’t save Number 128.

 

Still… the rest of the team members should be safe.

 

Though what meaning would that have…

 

‘I can’t even imagine what price I’ll have to pay for failure.’

 

Since I’ll die soon, I’ll have to pay the price for the challenge Chiron mentioned.

 

Still, my heart felt at ease.

 

With that, I slowly closed my eyes.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

I heard footsteps from inside the cave.

 

‘Was there someone who survived?’

 

Surviving the Tang Family Head’s Poison Storm was commendable.

 

However, at this point, such things held no meaning for me.

 

Just my final peace before paying the price…

 

Smack!

 

Someone who walked out of the cave slapped my cheek.

 

‘Let me endure it… it’s my final moment…’

 

If they survived the Tang Family Head’s Poison Arts, they must be from the Sichuan Tang Family.

 

Since his family head had met death, couldn’t he at least take a slap or two?

 

He didn’t have the strength left to scold anyway…

 

Smack!

 

“…”

 

I felt another hand rising up.

 

Fine, if I’m going to die anyway, let me at least say something before I go.

 

When I opened my eyes with that thought, a familiar person was standing before me.

 

The child who should have already become a cold corpse…

 

***

 

“Number 128…?”

 

The being standing before me was definitely Number 128.

 

With pale skin and an appearance no different from a corpse.

 

I forgot about my approaching death and stared at him with an incredulous expression.

 

“Did you hit me?”

 

Rather than joy at Number 128 being alive, I was more incredulous that this bastard had slapped my cheek.

 

Perhaps it was an unexpected reaction, as Number 128 burst into laughter.

 

“Do I still look like Number 128 to you?”

 

A woman’s voice leaked from his mouth.

 

At the same time, I felt a powerful energy from him.

 

Similar to Ghostly Energy, but with a feeling of being darker, this energy began to envelop her surroundings.

 

“You’re… the Commissioned Educator.”

 

As if in response, Number 128’s body rapidly grew and transformed into the form of a woman.

 

A swordswoman with long straight hair tied back, wearing black training clothes.

 

A bamboo hat-like hat hung from her back.

 

‘Who is she?’

 

I quickly reasoned through her identity in my mind.

 

From her attire, she appeared to be a martial artist connected to this world.

 

And that dark energy resembled the demonic energy used by Demon Warriors, similar to ghostly energy.

 

The difference was that despite being demonic energy, it seemed pure?

 

At the end of such reasoning, I was able to reach one conclusion.

 

‘So that’s why I started my life in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.’

 

The answer was obvious, wasn’t it.

 

A person from the Central Plains who uses demonic energy and could ascend to divine status – who else could it be?

 

“You are… the Heavenly Demon.”

 

“At least you’re not blind.”

 

She smiled slightly at my answer.

 

“Nice to meet you. I am Hyeonmu-wol, the 32nd Generation Heavenly Demon.”

 

***

 

She extended her hand as if offering a handshake.

 

“…I’d like to accept it, but I don’t have the strength left to do so.”

 

“How inconsiderate of me.”

 

When she snapped her fingers, strength began flowing into my body.

 

No, to be precise, it was more accurate to say it was returning.

 

I could feel my Divine Authority, which had been sealed all this time, filling my body completely.

 

At the same time, my field of vision began to gradually rise.

 

Just as Number 128 had transformed into the Heavenly Demon, my body was also returning to its original self.

 

Except that the speed was sufficiently slow.

 

“Didn’t you hear from Chiron? That if you fail while challenging the position of a demigod, you’ll pay an unimaginable price.”

 

“I heard.”

 

“Then why did you make such a choice?”

 

Hyeonmu-wol took a step closer.

 

“Why did you sacrifice yourself for those who have nothing to do with you, in this place that might be an illusion, even risking death?”

 

“That’s quite a grand question.”

 

I wondered if simply doing what I wanted to do was really worthy of the word sacrifice.

 

“Then let me ask more simply. No, let’s go back to the beginning.”

 

Hyeonmu-wol’s voice became strangely low.

 

“Why did you save Number 128 at the cliff? In your condition then, it wouldn’t have been strange if the Instructor had killed you.”

 

She was right.

 

In my state at that time, attacking the Instructor would have been impossible.

 

It was only after recovering my Ghostly Energy to some extent over several weeks that I barely managed to defeat the Instructor.

 

“Well…”

 

I don’t know either.

 

At that time, I just instinctively stepped forward to block.

 

And even after that.

 

Going to get medicinal herbs despite the Tang Family’s pursuit team,

 

Using Shift while overworking my entire body,

 

Fighting an all-out battle with the Tang Family Head and perishing together.

 

I hadn’t thought about the reasons for those actions.

 

If I had to pick one…

 

“Just. I didn’t like it.”

 

“So you’re a madman who risks death just because you don’t like something?”

 

“The Demonic Cult members who treat children like disposable goods. The Tang Family Head who kills just because someone learned Demonic Arts. I didn’t like any of it.”

 

I didn’t like how they treated people who were doing their best to survive somehow.

 

It wasn’t just this world.

 

Father went missing in a dungeon, and Mother suddenly contracted magic stone disease.

 

Becoming the head of the household in an instant, I didn’t give up.

 

No, I had no choice but to give up on myself.

 

I gave up my studies and gave up my dreams.

 

Even while working as a Porter to make ends meet, Mother’s hospital room had to be premium,

 

and I did my best so Younger Sister could focus on her studies.

 

I just lived earnestly in my own way.

 

That’s why I know.

 

“If the world were even slightly normal…”

 

I exhaled lightly.

 

As my strength returned, I felt the poison leaving my body and my mind clearing.

 

“Those kinds of bastards should be made examples of.”

 

People who try to live earnestly in the world, each in their own way.

 

That was why I gathered Porters at Ashin Guild,

 

and why I saved Number 128.

 

“So that’s why you saved Number 128?”

 

“Yeah. At least they should be given a chance to have hope.”

 

“I see.”

 

Hyeonmu-wol looked straight at me, then raised the corners of her mouth.

 

“Idealistic bullshit.”

 

I shrugged my shoulders.

 

It wasn’t something grand like ideals or justice.

 

I just didn’t like seeing that kind of sight.

 

“Now that I think about it, it was quite a foolish thing to do.”

 

If I hadn’t saved Number 128, I wouldn’t have fallen out of favor with the Instructor, and I would have graduated as valedictorian with a smooth Demon Warrior life ahead.

 

If I hadn’t filled Ashin Guild with Porters, it would have become a large guild commanding numerous A-rank Hunters.

 

Becoming Golden Township’s highest-grade member to treat Mother’s illness would have been faster too,

 

and I would have earned enough money for several generations to live comfortably.

 

Perhaps using that money to create the utopia I envision would have been faster.

 

“So do you regret it?”

 

“Regret… not particularly.”

 

I did what I wanted to do, so what would there be to regret?

 

“I see. Then that must be your path.”

 

‘Path?’

 

“But I don’t understand.”

 

Black Demonic Energy slowly began rising from her feet.

 

“Whether it will remain a dreamer’s delusion or become an architect’s planned city is something no one knows.”

 

Hyeonmu-wol slowly drew her Sword.

 

“If you’ve survived several months in the Demonic Cult, you should know how to prove your ideals, right?”

 

In an instant, her body disappeared.

 

Then she appeared before me in a flash and thrust her Sword forward.

 

I instinctively raised my Sword.

 

With a thunderous sound, a shockwave swept through the area.

 

‘Galmu?’

 

Before I knew it, Galmu was in my hand.

 

“So then— prove it to me so that I can understand your ideals.”

 

***

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