Chapter 438 – Part 2 – The Latch

A space filled with gray mist.

The place Choi Seong-min saw as soon as he opened his eyes was the underworld.

‘So I really… died?’

It was natural logic that stabbing the heart would result in death.

But since he had taken the Potion of Fortitude, he thought he might be able to endure it somehow.

‘It was needless worry. Even the Potion of Fortitude couldn’t block my damage.’

Even though it blocked 95% of the damage, the remaining 5% had torn through his heart.

‘Since I can’t feel pain, I don’t really feel like I’m dead.’

The only things that told him he was dead were this place that felt like being inside clouds and his body’s lack of sensation.

‘Ah, there’s one more thing. Status window.’

The status window that wouldn’t open even when called was also proof that Choi Seong-min had died.

‘The status window won’t open, but at least Elsis is operational.’

Confirming that the golden system window opened, Choi Seong-min felt relieved inside.

He had worried about what would happen if he became completely empty-handed.

[Dayna?]

[Yes, Min Do-jun. Have you ascended to the underworld?]

[Yes. Can’t you sense it?]

[As I said before, I can’t use Divine Force while imprisoned. Right now I can only communicate in an emergency.]

[Then you can’t see where I am or what I’m doing either?]

[Of course. Unless Min Do-jun tells me, I have no way of knowing what situation you’re in. So from now on, conversation is important. You need to tell me in detail what you see and hear so I can help you.]

In other words, Dayna was blind.

She could only hear about the situation through communication.

[I understand what you mean. I’ll relay the situation well.]

[Thank you.]

Since both needed help, Choi Seong-min had no choice but to cooperate.

[First, it’s been a few minutes since you ascended to the underworld?]

[It feels like less than 3 minutes.]

[Then Derkius will send a guide soon. To come get Min Do-jun.]

[What should I do?]

[For now, act like usual, talk and cooperate. Min Do-jun has returned after accomplishing the purpose of eliminating the Great Heroes. You absolutely must not show that you know about Elsis or me.]

Choi Seong-min chuckled at the last words.

It was something he would never do if he knew himself.

[Don’t worry about that. I’ve done enough acting to be sick of it.]

[Really? Can I trust you?]

[Yes. But what about the plan after that? Should I subdue the guide as you said?]

[That’s right. Now that Min Do-jun has become a transcendent, you should be able to easily subdue a guide.]

[I see.]

Though it was information he already knew through Insight, he deliberately pretended not to know.

Though they were in a cooperative relationship, he couldn’t completely trust Dayna.

‘She seems unaware that traits are applied, but there’s no need to tell her.’

The more trump cards, the better.

It was best to hide information that could benefit the opponent as much as possible.

Then a thought suddenly occurred to him.

‘Wait, but I’m in a state without a physical body right now, aren’t I? Yet traits are still being applied?’

He had definitely confirmed that the status window wouldn’t open.

That meant items and traits had all disappeared.

‘But still being applied means…’

Insight reached a definitive conclusion.

‘The traits must be considered imprinted on the soul.’

Hope flashed in Choi Seong-min’s eyes.

It was no different from having means to resist.

‘I was worried because I had little Divine Force, but this worked out well.’

Choi Seong-min smiled, but the blind Dayna had no way of knowing this fact.

[Is nothing happening? Why is it so quiet?]

[Nothing is happen…]

Choi Seong-min corrected himself as he was about to say nothing.

[Something is happening.]

[What is it?]

[A guide has appeared.]

In front of Choi Seong-min was a Westerner in a black suit.

‘Was his name Ira?’

It was a guide he knew.

[Mr. Choi Seong-min? Or should I call you Min Do-jun?]

At Ira’s question, Choi Seong-min shrugged and said:

“Either is fine, so call me whatever you’re comfortable with.”

Perhaps annoyed by this attitude, Ira remained silent for a moment.

*Arrogant bastard. Just because he works under Lord Derkius, he acts like he’s something special?*

Suddenly hearing his inner thoughts confirmed it.

‘The traits really are imprinted on the soul.’

When Choi Seong-min smiled at this welcome fact, Ira’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

*Laughing? Did he just mock me? Is he looking down on me because I’m just a guide, or what?*

Though Ira poured out all kinds of curses inwardly thinking he was being mocked, that was all.

He soon calmed himself and suppressed his anger.

He judged it was more important to carry out Derkius’s orders for now.

[…The God calls for you. Let’s go.]

Ira tried to grab and drag Choi Seong-min’s hand like before.

However.

[Huh?]

Ira couldn’t touch Choi Seong-min.

His hand passed right through.

[Wh-what’s going on?]

Ira tried to grab Choi Seong-min several times.

But he only passed through like a ghost.

He repeated meaningless struggles as worthless as digging in empty air.

“Stop it. You can’t touch me.”

[What? Do you know why this is happening?]

“Because I belong to a much higher grade than you.”

[What?]

“I’m a transcendent. I’m on the same level as Derkius.”

[Crazy! How does that make sense… Guk!]

Ira couldn’t continue speaking.

As if proving his earlier statement, Choi Seong-min had grabbed Ira’s neck.

“I have no personal feelings. You just need to be unconscious for a while.”

[You, you bastard, do you think you’ll be safe after this… Guk! Keuk!]

When he applied force to the hand gripping the neck, Ira rolled his eyes in pain.

Though he struggled to shake off Choi Seong-min’s hand, a lower-grade soul couldn’t touch a higher existence.

He could only be one-sidedly beaten.

Slide- Thud-

Ira fainted, and Choi Seong-min spoke to Elsis.

[Dayna. I just knocked out the guide.]

[Well done. Derkius is probably watching the current situation and puzzled. There’s no time, so let’s move quickly.]

[Where should I go?]

[Do you see the biggest gray cloud? Run straight that way.]

Before even asking for directions, Choi Seong-min was already running.

Insight was an excellent trait for finding paths too.

* * *

Whoosh whoosh-

Running at full speed, the background passed by rapidly.

‘In soul state, movement speed is dozens of times faster.’

He also realized through Insight that he was much faster than other souls thanks to his traits.

[Are you going the right way, Min Do-jun?]

[Yes. I’m going in the direction you indicated. I can see it now.]

[Then turn right there. There should be a path. Once you pass through there, you’ll almost reach where I am.]

[Understood. I’ll see you soon.]

Letting Dayna’s directions go in one ear and out the other, Choi Seong-min accelerated.

The place he soon arrived at was a building with a magnificent golden door.

It was the prison where Dayna was imprisoned.

‘Here it is.’

Seeing it up close, it was a much larger and more magnificent building.

Unbelievable for a prison.

‘When I first saw it, I thought it was a treasure vault, but to think a fellow transcendent was imprisoned in such a place.’

Recalling Derkius’s character once again, he approached the door.

The golden door had a black latch in contrast.

‘This is…’

As he observed the door, a voice interrupted his thoughts.

[Have you arrived?]

[Yes. I’m in front of the prison now.]

[There’s a latch in front, right? Just open it and come inside. Simple, right?]

Truly a simple task.

[Yes, it is.]

But Choi Seong-min’s voice was somehow blunt.

[There’s no time. Hurry up and open the latch to save me.]

[……]

[Hello? Why no answer? Derkius is watching right now. Before he comes, quickly…]

[Dayna.]

[Yes?]

[Do I look like a fool to you?]

Dayna was flustered by the suddenly changed voice.

[What are you suddenly…]

[There’s some writing on the latch?]

[Wr-writing?]

[Shall I read it?]

[That’s rune script created by Lord El. There’s no way you could read it…]

[Warning: whoever opens this latch will immediately be annihilated.]

[……!]

The sound of Dayna swallowing in surprise could be heard.

Choi Seong-min continued reading the latch’s inscription without concern.

[If you are a worthless soul, go back. Only transcendents can open this door.]

[……]

[However, you must have over 10 million Divine Force. If a transcendent without that opens the door…]

Choi Seong-min observed Dayna’s reaction briefly before saying:

[Even transcendents will be annihilated.]

[……]

[Dayna? Can you explain what this means? Is it really okay for me to open the latch?]

Dayna was silent.

She had to be speechless.

She had been caught trying to backstab him.

* * *

[Dayna?]

‘……’

Even when called, Dayna couldn’t answer.

She was extremely flustered by the unexpected situation.

‘H-how can that human decipher rune script? He’s never seen or learned it before?’

Though they were both transcendents, Dayna didn’t acknowledge Choi Seong-min.

The very fact of a human becoming a transcendent was an affront to her pride.

It was like being unable to acknowledge a monkey as human.

‘A mere human deciphering rune script…’

Rune script was essential for Elsis development.

That’s why she had known about the restrictions on the latch from the beginning.

Making Choi Seong-min a transcendent was also for this reason.

‘If he becomes a transcendent, he can at least unlock the latch. If his Divine Force is under 10 million, he’ll be annihilated, but the door will open.’

Her words about needing help were true.

Only a transcendent could get her out of prison.

She just hadn’t mentioned that 10 million Divine Force was needed.

‘I planned to escape prison by using that human as sacrifice…’

Somehow she had been caught beforehand.

All because of knowing rune script.

Dayna, who had been silent, opened her mouth.

She couldn’t help but be curious.

[How do you know rune script?]

[Answer my question first.]

At Choi Seong-min’s cold voice, Dayna sighed.

[Sigh… Yes. I admit it. I deceived you.]

[You planned to make me open the latch to escape? Whether I got annihilated or not?]

Though the other’s tone had changed, Dayna wasn’t in a position to complain.

[Sorry, but yes… Because I need to survive too.]

[Was your talk about revenge against Derkius also a lie? The reason you’re imprisoned, saying Derkius is bad? Did you just play on emotions to get my cooperation, you liar?]

[Th-that’s not it! Everything I said before was all true. Please don’t lump me together with a liar like Derkius!]

[But you are a liar.]

[The only thing I lied about was cooperating after being freed. Really!]

[And you also hid the very important information that opening the latch means annihilation.]

[……]

Dayna, caught in her wrongdoing, had nothing to say.

[Since I know about the annihilation, I can’t help you. I’ll have to confess to Derkius and negotiate.]

[A-are you leaving? W-wait a moment!]

Dayna urgently held him back.

She couldn’t let Choi Seong-min go yet.

[Just listen for a moment. I have a way.]