You Have Been Invited to the Auction House of the Gods - Chapter 167

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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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167

 

The Vatican stadium, with a capacity of 200,000 and the world’s largest scale, was packed with spectators.

 

It had been less than a day since the Vatican announced the event date.

 

Originally, the Saint Selection Tournament was an event held only when the Pope’s retirement drew near.

 

It was a once-in-a-lifetime event, so there was no way people wouldn’t be enthusiastic.

 

Especially since it had been postponed indefinitely.

 

The Saint Selection Tournament consists of three competitions in total.

 

Only candidates who pass through all three competitions are given the qualification to receive the final selection.

 

The selection by the Holy Grail, Vatican’s Divine Artifact.

 

Ironically, these competitions had no direct relationship with the Saint selection.

 

Ultimately, whether you place first or second in the competitions, the final choice is made by the Divine Artifact.

 

Of course, Vatican’s core power elements are granted according to performance in the competitions,

 

but there’s a possibility of placing first yet not becoming the Saint.

 

However, the Saint Selection Tournament wasn’t simply a test.

 

It was a festival for the entire world.

 

The three trials don’t exceed a week at most.

 

But after the Saint is decided, a festival to celebrate continues for nearly a month.

 

As a result, Believers from around the world visit the Vatican,

 

generating astronomical tourism revenue in euros.

 

It’s a festival held once every half-century, so this is when money should be spent.

 

Moreover, Vatican’s design didn’t end there.

 

It was also an occasion to imprint the next generation leaders of the Vatican onto the world.

 

The Candidate for Sainthood had already become the center of Vatican’s Core Forces.

 

The wit and force they display through friendly competition becomes Vatican’s national power regardless of who becomes the Saint.

 

Of course, this Saint Selection Tournament took a strange turn with the Saint’s appearance, but what do ordinary Citizens know?

 

The appearance of new faces or underdogs is always welcome.

 

Rather, due to such variables, the current Saint Selection Tournament was receiving more attention than ever before.

 

I sat in the officials’ section, looking down at the first competition venue.

 

Massive screens were installed in all directions on the central Stage.

 

Below them, Portals and various mechanical devices were visible.

 

Vatican’s Guild Members were diligently continuing the setup.

 

The first competition and opening ceremony of the Saint Selection Tournament.

 

It was Virtual Dungeon conquest.

 

Once preparations were complete, the Candidate for Sainthood began ascending the Stage one by one.

 

Among them, the only female candidate caught my eye.

 

‘Is that the Saint?’

 

Red hair.

 

She had a considerably beautiful face.

 

Unlike the title of Saint, she had a strong atmosphere closer to a female knight.

 

‘I don’t see anything unusual.’

 

Perhaps due to the considerable distance, nothing could be discerned besides her appearance.

 

Well, even when Yamyeong personally investigated, nothing came up.

 

Soon the competition began, and the candidates on Stage were enveloped in light and transported into the Dungeon.

 

Shortly after, the large Screen revealed the candidates divided into two groups.

 

The candidates were divided into two groups and summoned to their respective dungeons.

 

The problem was that among the six candidates, the only person who could be considered definitively on Park Si-on’s side was Valenti.

 

‘This will be quite troublesome.’

 

That was my first thought upon seeing Park Si-on’s team composition.

 

It was fortunate that he was grouped with Valenti, but the remaining member was problematic.

 

‘Was it Nicholas?’

 

I looked at the Saint Faction data that Yamyeong had compiled.

 

Originally, Nicholas was also planned to be brought over to Park Si-on’s side.

 

Nicholas was also someone who had no choice but to side with the Saint.

 

However, the matter with Saintly Knight Captain Rafael had set back the persuasion of Nicholas somewhat.

 

‘I should consider it fortunate that he’s not in the same group as the Saint.’

 

It was better for just Park Si-on and Valenti to be on the same team.

 

While Valenti had virtually no combat abilities, Park Si-on’s skills would be sufficient to protect him.

 

After all, the Saint Faction’s goal wasn’t victory, but to eliminate Park Si-on.

 

Moreover, Nicholas, being under threat, might do something even worse.

 

Even though it was being broadcast live worldwide.

 

‘Should I intervene?’

 

I rested my chin on my hand and looked at the monitors.

 

I watched the match for a while, then let out a chuckle seeing Park Si-on’s movements.

 

‘I thought a Candidate for Sainthood would just pray in his room.’

 

He had the talent worthy of being taken as a disciple by a Saintly Knight Captain.

 

His martial prowess was solid too.

 

“There shouldn’t be any problems.”

 

I rose from my seat.

 

Whether it was sleeping with the enemy or the Saint faction’s sabotage.

 

In the first place, no scheme had any meaning before overwhelming force.

 

In that case—

 

I just needed to do what I had to do.

 

I stepped out of the officials’ seating area.

 

***

 

Crack—!

 

Park Si-on’s spear pierced through the monster’s shell.

 

The hard bark of an old tree shattered and

 

the monster’s movements stopped.

 

It was a tree-shaped monster, an Ent.

 

Park Si-on exhaled and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

 

‘It really feels like entering a real dungeon.’

 

Though it was a Virtual Dungeon, the sensations felt on his skin were like the real thing.

 

“Si-on, let’s move right away.”

 

Valenti approached, lowering his crossbow.

 

Park Si-on nodded.

 

He was grateful to be teamed up with Valenti.

 

If his teammate had been the Saint instead of Valenti…

 

That was a horrifying scenario he didn’t even want to imagine.

 

But that didn’t mean he could be completely at ease.

 

Park Si-on’s gaze turned to Nicholas, who was moving in the front line.

 

‘He doesn’t seem to have any intention of causing trouble yet.’

 

Though they had progressed quite far in the dungeon, Nicholas was obediently following Park Si-on’s instructions.

 

Whether it was because of the live broadcast,

 

or because of the formation Park Si-on had arranged, he couldn’t tell.

 

As soon as Park Si-on confirmed his team members, he immediately set up a formation.

 

Nicholas, who used sword and shield, took the front line,

 

Park Si-on, who used a spear, took the middle line,

 

and Valenti, who used a crossbow, was positioned in the rear.

 

This was a structure that could protect Valenti while simultaneously monitoring Nicholas for any sudden actions.

 

‘I wonder what will happen when we enter the Boss Room.’

 

They were teammates for now, but in the Boss Room they would become competitors again.

 

Park Si-on didn’t let his guard down and moved forward again.

 

There were no unnecessary words.

 

Only necessary instructions were briefly exchanged.

 

Before long—

 

Park Si-on’s team was able to reach the point where the forest ended.

 

It was the Boss Room.

 

Beyond the point where the bushes ended, the boss of this dungeon was waiting.

 

A massive tree trunk was rooted deep in the ground.

 

From the branches exposed above ground, blackly contaminated sap was dripping down.

 

A gigantic ent that looked easily as tall as a 5-story building.

 

It was the final gateway of the first trial.

 

Park Si-on readjusted his grip on his spear.

 

“The pattern is simple. Its body is fixed in one place, and attacks using roots are its main strength.”

 

The explanation ended there.

 

The three people took their first step into the boss room while maintaining formation.

 

That was the moment.

 

The ent’s roots, detecting the intruders, burst forth splitting the floor.

 

Nicholas hastily raised his shield.

 

But it was insufficient to block the ent’s attack.

 

The ent’s root sent Nicholas flying as is.

 

“Nicholas!”

 

Park Si-on unconsciously called out his name.

 

But there was no time to confirm his safety.

 

The ent’s root that had broken their formation stretched toward Park Si-on.

 

Park Si-on lowered his body and deflected the root’s trajectory with his spear.

 

Using that recoil, he immediately charged toward the ent at the center.

 

He swung his spear at the root that was attacking him.

 

The black sap that poured out like blood was purified by Park Si-on’s sacred power.

 

At the same time, support from Valenti, who had hidden in the bushes, followed.

 

Arrows from unknown directions continuously hit the ent’s roots.

 

Though their formation had collapsed, the battle continued smoothly through Park Si-on and Valenti’s coordination.

 

Park Si-on’s spear poured down as he easily reached the main body with Valenti’s help.

 

Like meteors falling from the sky, Park Si-on’s spear became stars and descended.

 

What was troublesome about the corrupted ent’s attacks wasn’t the widely spread roots.

 

It was the contaminated sap that poured out every time those roots were attacked.

 

That sap, like extreme poison, was the greatest barrier in conquering the ent.

 

But for a Hunter who wielded sacred power, it was nothing.

 

Park Si-on’s sacred power carried in his spear instantly purified the contaminated sap,

 

and the sap falling from blind spots was blocked by Valenti’s arrows.

 

Overwhelming the ent like this was a matter of moments.

 

Finally, the ent driven into a corner prepared its final attack.

 

A desperation pattern.

 

It was the final strike, burning all remaining life force.

 

The ent’s massive mouth opened.

 

Light began condensing inside.

 

In normal cases, dodging would be the standard approach.

 

But at the same time, it was also an opportunity.

 

The ent in that state becomes most vulnerable.

 

To shorten the clear time even a little, Park Si-on also prepared his finishing move.

 

Park Si-on pulled his spear back.

 

It was the throwing spear martial form of the Hundred Flowers Meteor Spear that the Vice Guild Master had shown.

 

But at that moment, a circular binding formation was carved beneath Park Si-on’s feet.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

His body was paralyzed and he couldn’t turn around, but he could be certain it was Nicholas’s doing.

 

“Nicholas. I think you’ve got the wrong target for exorcism?”

 

No answer came back.

 

‘This will be hard to break.’

 

The Vatican’s binding technique made to target demons was not easy to break once caught.

 

And approaching footsteps.

 

From the corner of his eye, Nicholas held chains made of sacred power in both hands.

 

Nicholas intended to sacrifice his body to bind Park Si-on.

 

Since this was a virtual dungeon, he would be eliminated instead of dying.

 

‘What should I do…’

 

While Park Si-on was devising a plan, the prepared Ent’s death throes laser was fired.

 

‘At this rate, should I let Valenti advance to the finals?’

 

Park Si-on wasn’t particularly interested in becoming a saint to begin with.

 

He was simply doing his best because that’s what his hero wanted.

 

‘Still, it’s fortunate. Plan B remains.’

 

The moment he thought that—

 

A strong impact struck his back.

 

Park Si-on’s body was sent flying through the air.

 

As he escaped the binding formation, his body regained its freedom.

 

“Park Si-on!”

 

When he turned his head, Valenti was there.

 

“I made quite a big investment, you know.”

 

At Valenti’s shout, a chuckle escaped from Park Si-on.

 

‘It’s Park, not Pak…’

 

In his right arm was Nicholas, who had been running toward them with chains.

 

“Valenti, let go of this!”

 

But Nicholas wasn’t the only one who could use binding techniques.

 

Valenti said with a smile.

 

“Make sure to repay me.”

 

And as soon as those words ended, the Ent’s laser engulfed both men.

 

***

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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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