Chapter 53
A man who suddenly became Adora’s closest aide.
He dressed like an untouchable mage, but in reality, he was no different from a beggar.
All he did was lie around and sleep.
In short, he was freeloading off Adora, living off her without doing anything.
Adora did all the work, and that mage took all the relics.
For those who struggled to obtain relics, it was a situation that was hard not to resent.
However, with a change in perspective, this could also be the perfect opportunity.
‘If you just have a darkness-type class, you can become Adora’s closest aide?’
‘A hidden piece. The secret condition to become Adora’s closest aide!’
‘It’s certain! Adora is forming a legion of death to climb the tower together!’
That’s what they thought.
Ability didn’t matter.
Joining Adora was the only condition for monopolizing the rewards.
Just look.
That mage is enjoying every benefit just for joining up first.
Adora was clearly building a legion.
As proof—
Krk.
Kieeeek!
…Even now, she was surrounded by hundreds of revived monsters.
An untouchable undead legion.
Gulp!
The three men who approached swallowed dryly.
The monsters that had slaughtered challengers up until now were protecting Adora’s side.
Drooling, emitting grotesque shrieks, they looked ready to tear off limbs and devour heads at any moment.
Their legs trembled.
You’d be lying if you said you weren’t afraid.
But they couldn’t let it show.
‘If I show my back, I’ll really get eaten.’
‘I have to join Adora’s legion.’
‘If I can just endure, my life will turn around.’
This was a trial.
It was surely the condition for becoming Adora’s closest aide.
Adora wanted a legion unafraid of death.
If you just joined, the Witch of Death would personally raise you as a soldier.
You just had to catch the honey that dropped in the process.
A sweet future was guaranteed.
With a pile of coins and all sorts of rewards, they could rise to the very top and control Korea.
Ever since the Abyss emerged, every human had naturally come to understand.
A world of survival of the fittest had arrived.
Those with power to resist the Abyss would stand at the top of the pyramid!
Some feared the Abyss.
For some, the Abyss was an opportunity.
“……”
Adora gazed at them indifferently.
The three men entered the realm of death in search of opportunity.
Fearlessly, their eyes shone.
Under Adora’s gaze, they pleaded enthusiastically.
“We’ll do anything you ask!”
“We want to stay by your side, Adora!”
“We won’t just stand around. We’ll always be running on our own two feet!”
As time passed, the three men grew more certain.
The fact that they hadn’t been killed yet meant, in other words, that she would accept them.
Adora was simply testing their resolve.
Besides, for someone like her, wouldn’t she prefer enthusiastic, hardworking men over a loafer like that guy?
They constantly took shots at Park Chan-woo, showing off their determination.
Then—
Adora reached out her hand.
“……!!”
All three men shuddered briefly.
Adora’s outstretched hand.
Wasn’t this a sign to work together?
It meant she was inviting them into her legion of death.
Ah.
Just as they thought.
A rosy future filled their heads.
Now, they just had to accept the gifts Adora handed out.
All they had to do was open their mouths and she’d feed them.
Rapid growth was guaranteed.
They imagined themselves living large outside the tower, grins blooming on their lips.
With this one act of courage, they had secured a platform for a reversal of fortune.
The three men glanced at each other.
Who would grab her hand first?
‘First come, first served.’
‘The amount of honey is fixed. Whoever eats first gets it.’
‘These bastards have no intention of giving way!’
It didn’t look like any of them planned to compete fairly.
It would be ridiculous to decide it with rock-paper-scissors.
…Whoever grabbed her hand first would win.
“I’ll go first……!”
“Hng!!”
They all reached at once.
The one who grabbed Adora’s hand first was the bald Demon.
The bald man curled one lip at the others in a mocking smile.
‘Too slow.’
Action over words.
When you’re thinking, you should already be moving.
That was his way of surviving in the Abyss.
This time was no different.
While the other two hesitated, the bald man was already reaching.
Thanks to that, he was honored to be the first to grab Adora’s hand.
The man bowed his head to Adora.
“Thank you. I will loyally foll—mmph?!”
In an instant.
Vrrrrrrrr!
The bald man’s body convulsed madly.
Foam poured from his mouth, and his eyes rolled back until only the whites showed.
He thrashed like a freshly caught fish for about three seconds, then went limp.
“Huh……?”
“Did… did he just die?”
The two remaining men were left speechless.
A handshake was usually a gesture of affirmation.
But the moment they grabbed her hand, the bald man crossed the River Styx.
What’s more—
Crack!
Crack-crack-crack!
His limbs twisted and the bald man resurrected as an undead.
He’d joined the legion, all right, but what good was it if he was just an undead soldier?
Swoosh.
Adora held her hand out again.
If you took that hand, you’d die.
You’d become an undead.
The remaining two men’s minds froze.
By now, undead surrounded them.
There was no escape, no way not to take her hand.
“……”
Adora stared at the two men indifferently, hand still extended.
Would they take it, or become food for the undead?
Those were their only two options.
* * *
Park Chan-woo quietly watched the challenge of the three brave men.
‘Their courage is admirable.’
Adora was pouring her heart into mastering her own death.
The reason the domain of death had weakened was because of that.
It was why people with darkness and shadow-type classes were able to approach Adora.
And Park Chan-woo didn’t bother stopping their approach.
‘All three are Incarnations.’
Park Chan-woo was certain they were Incarnations.
At this point, only Incarnations could have classes with a darkness attribute.
They had contracted with a Creator and acquired a related class.
If the class was connected to a Creator who was a Demon Lord, it was obvious.
Incarnations—future cancerous growths.
He felt no sympathy whatsoever.
Sure, some might claim they became Incarnations without much thought because of a Creator’s invitation, but that process was never something you could do “without thinking.”
During the “Incarnation Contract” with a Creator, you were forced to see for yourself the contract conditions, all of which brought harm to humanity.
Even so, they signed.
Only those always prepared to stab someone in the back could become Incarnations.
All three men were reborn as undead.
‘It’s a pity Han Shin didn’t get caught up in it.’
Han Shin had stirred things up and caused the three men to attempt the challenge.
But he didn’t actually approach Adora himself.
Honestly, Park Chan-woo had hoped Han Shin would get caught, but as expected, he was a cautious one.
He briefly considered asking Adora to kill Han Shin, but gave up on the idea immediately.
‘If I told Adora to kill Han Shin, Master of the Moon Ahheta would definitely catch on.’
The Creator believed to be contracted with Han Shin.
Master of the Moon Ahheta was a monster who stood above most named Creators.
His status was easily on par with the highest-ranking Demon Gods.
If Adora suddenly killed Han Shin, Master of the Moon Ahheta would become suspicious and soon notice Park Chan-woo’s existence.
What happened after that was obvious.
He’d either be killed through Infinite Sniper Abyss, killed during the Second Night, or Master of the Moon would have the other Lords of the Abyss come after him.
Getting rid of Han Shin would have to wait until after bankrupting Ahheta.
‘Anyway.’
Park Chan-woo looked at Adora.
She didn’t just kill them—she shook hands and turned them into undead.
Maybe she wanted to check if the death she wielded was working properly, since he kept losing consciousness.
Or—
‘Does she want to reconcile with Kankun?’
Maybe, she wanted to shake hands with Kankun as well.
Park Chan-woo stroked his chin.
At first, he thought it was love.
He thought Adora was yearning for Kankun.
But now, it didn’t seem like such a simple emotion.
It was more complex, more intricate.
He had never seen a witch with this level of emotion.
“……”
Adora looked at her own hand for a moment.
Still expressionless, her eyes unreadable.
“…What is your name?”
She turned her head and asked Park Chan-woo.
Curiosity.
Until now, Adora had never felt this kind of curiosity about Park Chan-woo.
But after holding the hands of others just now, she was sure of it.
Park Chan-woo was special.
To be special was to be set apart.
But Adora knew nothing about him.
Soon, Park Chan-woo spoke.
“Park Chan-woo.”
“Park Chan-woo… So that’s your name.”
Adora repeated the name.
It was the first time she had ever asked someone’s name.
The first time she had ever bothered to remember it.
Because—
After death, nothing remained.
Given her nature, handling death, there had never been a reason to ask for the name of the living.
But—
This man, Park Chan-woo, was different.
“Park Chan-woo. Will you hold my hand again?”
As if realizing something.
Adora spoke.
Park Chan-woo willingly took Adora’s hand.
“Mm……!”
He felt every hair on his body stand on end.
His inner mana ignited once again.
But—
Park Chan-woo’s mind stayed clear.
Unlike before, he didn’t lose consciousness.
A ripple passed through Adora’s eyes.
She could finally control death to some extent.
He also seemed to understand the decisive reason why this was possible.
Adora didn’t let go of his hand.
As a result—
‘Guh!’
Park Chan-woo eventually fainted.
Because Adora had held his hand for more than thirty seconds.
It seemed long durations were still impossible.
Then, Adora gently laid the unconscious Park Chan-woo atop the muscle spider, gazing at him with a peculiar expression.
“You are… special.”
* * *
[On the 4th floor of the Tower of Arrogance, the floor guardian ‘Skeleton Lord’ has appeared!]
[Adora has succeeded in hunting the ‘Skeleton Lord.’]
[The path to the 5th floor of the Tower of Arrogance opens.]
[All of Adora’s supporters are rewarded.]
[You are Adora’s only closest aide and powerful supporter.]
[8 holy relics have been displayed in the showcase.]
[As a reward, you receive ‘8 Coins’ and ‘21 Arrogance Boxes.’]
[The Tower of Arrogance recognizes you.]
[The Tower of Arrogance makes you an offer.]
[If you leave the tower now, you will receive 50 coins, 100 Arrogance Boxes, and your choice of ‘Arrogance Equipment.’]
[Do you accept?]
