You Have Been Invited to the Auction House of the Gods - Chapter 23

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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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23

 

 

I left Golden Township immediately after purchasing the book.

 

In my palm were a diary and a crude silver bracelet.

 

‘So this is supposed to be the control device?’

 

I put on the bracelet right away.

 

Quiet.

 

The prayer sounds that had been ringing in my ears disappeared like a lie.

 

As if the background noise had vanished, only calm silence remained in the Office.

 

It definitely had an effect.

 

“And this diary contains the solution.”

 

The diary’s cover was made of luxurious leather.

It was quite an old design, but there were no traces of fading from time.

As if it had just been bound, it gave off the smell of crisp new paper.

 

It wasn’t an ordinary book to begin with.

 

Mana was flowing throughout the entire book, including the cover.

 

It seemed to be traces of the Permanent Preservation Magic mentioned in the product description.

 

‘Permanent Preservation Magic…’

 

I let out a hollow laugh.

 

Permanent Preservation Magic is magic that doesn’t exist in this world.

If there were someone who could use it, they would go down in history.

Being able to create permanent records that can’t be damaged.

 

Well, it’s an item purchased from Golden Township, so how could it be ordinary?

 

I quietly opened the diary.

 

『The fact that you’ve opened this diary means you too have reached the demigod realm and are experiencing Abnormal Phenomena.

First, I offer my sincere condolences for your misfortune.』

 

It was an ominous introduction.

 

『Becoming a demigod doesn’t necessarily mean experiencing Abnormal Phenomena. No, most beings who have reached the demigod level don’t experience Abnormal Phenomena.

 

Though I’ve called it an Abnormal Phenomenon, it’s ultimately part of your power as one who has reached the demigod realm.

 

It’s absurd for a being who has reached the demigod level to be unable to control their own power.

 

In fact, in the half-ten-thousand years the Author [demigod] has observed, there have been fewer than five such cases.』

 

‘…So it’s a rare case.’

 

『The Author [demigod] initially thought this was a blessing.

Having gained power so strong it couldn’t be controlled.

 

But I soon realized.

 

That uncontrollable power is not a blessing but a curse.』

 

『The Abnormal Phenomenon the Author [demigod] experienced may be different from what you’re reading this diary are experiencing.

The cause of Abnormal Phenomena is common.

It’s because you and I became demigods without being established.』

 

Not being established…

 

But to me it sounded like this.

 

That someone unqualified had gained the power of a demigod.

 

I was just lucky enough to be invited to Golden Township, and through that power I was able to reach the demigod level.

 

But the next sentence in the diary seemed to anticipate this thought of mine, directly refuting it.

 

『It’s not that you lack qualification.

The realm of demigod that transcends species is not a place you can reach just by being lucky.

Even if you hadn’t become a demigod, you would have eventually reached that place someday.

So I hope you won’t doubt yourself.』

 

I let out a short breath.

 

『The method to suppress Abnormal Phenomena is simple.

Establish yourself.

By accumulating karma for what kind of god you will become, you will step into the complete realm of demigod.』

 

『The method of accumulating karma is simple.』

 

『Either pioneer your own path,

Or decide what path you will pioneer.』

 

『The method the Author [demigod] recommends is the former.

Pioneering your own path.』

 

『The latter case allows you to establish yourself immediately, but I don’t recommend it.』

 

If you pioneer your own path, you’ll inevitably have to suffer from Abnormal Phenomena until you finally succeed.

But if it was the latter method the author mentioned, I could resolve all symptoms right now.

 

I couldn’t understand why he didn’t recommend that method.

 

But after reading the sentence that immediately followed, I was convinced.

 

『As far as I know, no one has succeeded except for that crazy bastard called Heavenly Demon.』

 

This is why you need to listen to Korean all the way to the end.

 

If the Heavenly Demon mentioned there was the same one from martial arts novels, it made perfect sense.

 

『As your senior, I’ve prepared a gift for my junior.

You should have received the bracelet enclosed with this diary.

It’s a bracelet imbued with a small amount of divine power that will suppress the Abnormal Phenomena to some degree until you can control your strength.

I sincerely hope you too will walk the righteous path of divinity.』

 

The content that followed was a real diary about the Abnormal Phenomena the author experienced and how he resolved them.

 

I closed the book and leaned back against the sofa with my eyes shut.

 

“Accumulating karma…”

 

Pioneer your own path.

Accumulate karma.

The path I’ve walked defines who I am.

 

In the end, there’s only one answer.

 

I just need to walk my path as I always have.

 

What’s there to think about?

 

If I walk righteously, that will define me.

 

‘It’s not like that’s such a difficult thing.’

 

The moment I let out a short breath,

 

my phone vibrated along with a siren sound.

 

“Emergency support request?”

 

An emergency support request text from the Association had arrived on my phone.

 

※Emergency Support Text

[Hunter Association] 06-28 14:29 Dungeon Break occurred in Nokbeon underground dungeon.

Hunters in the vicinity please provide support immediately.

 

I got up from my seat and gathered my equipment.

 

Though my equipment was just Galmu and a few bottles of Bacchus…

 

Just as I finished preparing and was about to leave the office,

 

“Hyung-nim!”

 

Kim Jin-woo, fully equipped with a massive shield strapped to his back, came running over in a hurry.

 

“Hyung-nim, a Dungeon Break has occurred in Nokbeon.”

 

In his hands was the Porter Bag I used to carry, filled to the brim with emergency treatment potions and Emergency Medical Kits.

 

“I saw it too. Let’s move immediately.”

 

I took the Porter Bag from Jin-woo’s hands and slung it over my shoulder.

 

***

 

The scene was literally pandemonium.

 

Monsters pouring out from the dungeon had occupied the alleys and roads.

 

Overturned vehicles in the middle of the road, shattered windows, and Citizens screaming as they fled.

 

I could see some Association Staff and Hunters, but they didn’t seem fully prepared to respond yet.

 

I immediately drew Galmu.

 

“Jin-woo.”

 

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

 

“Join up with the Association and establish a Defense Line first.”

 

I grabbed a few potions and tossed the Porter Bag to Jin-woo.

 

“I’ll join you as soon as the Defense Line is established.”

 

Jin-woo nodded and ran toward the Association Staff who were unloading supplies.

I pulled out a bottle of Bacchus and downed it.

As the warm energy soaked through my body, my heart began beating a little more coldly.

 

Galmu’s handle stuck to my palm.

 

I immediately rushed into the Front Line.

 

I slashed the neck of an orc that was charging toward a fleeing citizen.

 

The orc made a pig-slaughtering sound and died on the spot.

 

After killing several more monsters like this, the airflow emanating from the dungeon changed.

 

And the ground began to rumble.

 

“Tsk, thirty minutes wasn’t nearly enough.”

 

It seemed like I’d bought quite a bit of time, but there were still citizens who hadn’t evacuated.

 

Now the reconnaissance was over, and the full-scale dungeon break was beginning.

 

The first monster wave.

 

Tens of thousands of monsters that would come rushing out when a dungeon break started.

 

People called it a monster wave because it came like a surging tide.

 

When I turned my gaze toward the source of the rumbling,

A massive orc army was marching out of the dungeon.

If before it felt like small fry sent for reconnaissance, now the real invasion begins.

‘Should I sweep it away with hellfire…’

I shook my head.

The heat of Karmic Fire could sweep up the citizens too.

 

But if I evacuated the citizens first, the defense line the front had worked so hard to establish could be overrun.

 

“Is Jin-woo still far away?”

 

For someone calling himself a guild master to be this slow.

 

But didn’t they say speak of the tiger and it will come?

 

“Hyung-nim! I’m here.”

 

Kim Jin-woo was running toward me from behind, leading the Hunters.

 

“You see that empty lot over there? The citizens there are the last ones.”

 

“Understood!”

 

Though I hadn’t given specific instructions, he quickly headed toward where the citizens were.

 

Once Jin-woo and the Hunters joined in, the citizens’ evacuation proceeded rapidly.

 

“Hyung-nim! We’ve evacuated all the citizens.”

 

Since there weren’t many left, it seemed the Hunters had carried them one by one to evacuate them to the defense line.

 

Hearing Jin-woo’s words, I no longer hesitated.

 

“Galmu.”

 

As if understanding my words, Karmic Fire blazed up on Galmu’s blade.

 

Galmu wasn’t the only one who reacted to my voice.

 

“H-Hyung-nim! I haven’t evacuated yet!”

 

At those words, I chuckled.

 

What an impudent fellow. Where does a Hunter get the idea to evacuate when a dungeon break is occurring?

 

Seeing that smile, Jin-woo hastily pulled out his shield.

 

The monster wave hadn’t arrived yet, but his sudden defensive stance confused the surrounding Hunters, though Kim Jin-woo actually got angry.

 

If they didn’t want to be roasted alive, they’d better stick close behind him right now…

 

When I raised Galmu high, the form of a massive sword rose towering into the sky.

 

I swept Galmu horizontally.

 

Kwaaaaang—!

 

Karmic Fire devoured the orc army in an instant.

The karmic flames devoured the orc legion in an instant.

The advancing monster legion was engulfed in blue flames and turned to ash without even letting out a single battle cry.

The aftershock of Karmic Fire blew fiercely as massive heat.

 

When I glanced back, Jin-woo was pressing his shield close to his body with a resentful expression, using all his strength to avoid being pushed back.

Glancing back, I saw Jinwoo with a resentful expression, pressing his shield tightly against his body and using all his strength to avoid being pushed back.

There were no more moving monsters on the road.

 

“Hyung-nim!”

 

Jin-woo folded his shield and ran over.

“Big brother!”

Jinwoo came running while folding his shield.

Though his face was blackened with smoke, his eyes remained clear and bright.

“Jinwoo. Don’t hold back on the potions when treating the injured—use them generously.”

“I was planning to pour it all in anyway.”

 

At that sight, I smiled slightly and stood up from my spot.

 

“Boss, where are you going? We need to prepare for the second wave! There’s still—”

 

“Forget it.”

 

I crossed the crumbling road and took a step toward the Dungeon entrance.

 

“What second wave… I need to finish this quickly and go home. I told you today’s my day off.”

 

With those words, I threw myself into the entrance that had grown massive due to the dungeon break.

 

***

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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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