I Entered a Gacha Game That Had Been Abandoned for 10 Years

47 – Labyrinth City (1)

“Ha-“

Seol In-gwi trembled with anger.

Crack-craaack-!

The two legs he was standing on were breaking the ground, and at the corner of his mouth, some blood had accumulated from how tightly he had clenched his teeth.

“What did you say?”

Clearly containing the emotion of anger, he threw the question again, but the absolute ruler of darkness remained calm.

“I am simply stating that I have no choice but to kill you.”

And with that, she continued to speak.

Thunk-!

Seol In-gwi felt the anger in his head rise even more at her continued words.

In the five years he had become a great hero, he had never heard such insulting words.

There had never been a deranged person threatening a great hero who was capable of even moving mountains, at least not among those he had encountered until now.

However, the girl standing in front of him casually provoked not only Seol In-gwi but all the great heroes present.

In other words, it was not strange for a storm of blood to blow in this place.

Even if the impatient Seol In-gwi charged forward and ripped the girl’s throat out, it wouldn’t be strange.

Even if the God of Death silently swung his sword and cut the girl’s body in two, it wouldn’t be strange.

Likewise, even if the Archmage used magic and the ferocious Goblin King, who had a temperament as wild as Seol In-gwi, rushed at the girl with a savage smile, it wouldn’t be a strange situation.

However, despite all that, none of the great heroes dared to step forward and everyone wore unpleasant expressions.

The God of Death, Arwen, only wore an uncomfortable expression as he fidgeted his fingers as if about to grip the handle of his sword.

The Archmage, Laran, simply held his staff in silence.

The Goblin King, with a ferocious smile, stood in place as if he had no intention to rashly charge forward.

And Seol In-gwi, who was known for his impatience more than anyone else.

“…”

He simply stared at the girl with bloodshot eyes.

Observing this sight, the nobles present felt puzzled.

At least, in their eyes, the girl standing in front of them seemed nothing more than a crazy woman.

She didn’t seem to provoke the great heroes who, if they set their minds to it, could trample even territories alone.

But unlike those nobles, the four great heroes still didn’t move.

No, to be precise, they couldn’t move.

The great heroes, who had emptiness in their pupils as they received those empty eyes, had finally realized.

That the person standing in front of them, whose name and face hadn’t been properly known, was not someone who was lower than them.

No,

Perhaps, rather, she was someone who was on a level even higher than them.

…They instinctively realized that a monster that couldn’t be defeated by rushing alone.

That’s why the great heroes had no choice but to stay still.

The God of Death, who wore an unpleasant expression.

The silent Archmage and Goblin King.

And even Seol In-gwi, who was gritting his teeth, all realized that the being in front of them was a greater monster than themselves.

But at the same time as realizing that, the four great heroes calmly assessed the situation and simultaneously devised a way to defeat the monster in front of them.

“Coordinated Attack.”

If the four great heroes gathered here now rushed forward with a single-minded purpose to slay the monster before them, they could win.

Even if what stood before them was a monster right now, they too were great heroes.

Each one of them held a living history, and if they collaborated, victory against the monster before them was not an impossible feat.

No, they could be certain of it.

It was not arrogance but a plain truth.

“Do you think we won’t defeat you? Two of us might certainly die, but if we all charge in, you will perish.”

The words that escaped Seryngwi’s mouth after completing all calculations.

At that moment, the nobles were greatly stirred.

Surprisingly, Seryngwi’s words were a story that humbled herself.

And in response to Seryngwi’s question.

“I am well aware.”

She cleanly acknowledged.

“Then why say such things-“

“However-“

Seryngwi, who had intended to speak with a frown in response to the words of the absolute ruler of darkness.

“If I cannot obtain that sword right now, there is no difference; I am as good as dead. What does it matter anyway?”

At the following words, Seryngwi closed her mouth.

“!”

Soon, the great heroes present could see the gaze of the absolute ruler of darkness.

In those pitch-black pupils that seemed endlessly hollow, hidden behind the appearance of emptiness, the madness flickered in her gaze.

And then.

‘This woman is truly insane…!’

The great heroes looked at her with a spine-chilling feeling.

Soon, the first among the heroes who had been in a standoff for a while made a move.

“…Tsk.”

It was none other than Seryngwi, who had just had bloodshot eyes until a moment ago.

In truth, she knew.

That a coordinated attack was impossible.

The four great heroes gathered here were not so close as to risk their lives for each other.

In addition, considering the honor possessed by the great heroes and the cities each of them manages, the conclusion was that any fight here would only result in losses, no matter how you look at it.

At least the great heroes gathered here had things they needed to take responsibility for.

Therefore,

Swoosh!

Once again, the beastly creature, Seolin-gwi, snarled, breaking its teeth.

“I, Seolin-gwi, will not forget your misdeeds… Someday, with my brothers, I will make you kneel.”

Thud!

After firmly planting its foot on the ground, it turned and left.

“…If only it weren’t for the city.”

From Noble mtl dot com

“Arrogance comes at a cost.”

Following them, the Chieftain King and the Grand Magician.

“…Indeed, thanks to you, that insignificant kingdom…”

Finally, a swordsman affiliated with the Norba Kingdom, as if realizing something, muttered softly before turning away, marking the departure of all the great heroes.

Watching the departure of these great heroes, the absolute ruler of darkness looked at them with an indifferent expression and thought,

‘I’ve driven them all away with this.’

In fact, when she first arrived at the auction, she hadn’t planned to drive them away like this.

However, the reason she decided to chase away the great heroes before the auction even began was the news brought by Kalan’s swords. No, it was the money the great heroes brought to buy the execution sword.

Simply put, they brought more money than what the absolute ruler of darkness had brought, so she drove them away first.

Of course, in such cases, it might have been more convenient to participate in the auction legitimately and take away the great heroes if they happened to win. However,

Lapenghan’s auction was handed over to the dwarves immediately after the deposit was made, making it more complicated than now if she were to chase them away later. So, the absolute ruler of darkness resolved the situation in this way.

And so, about two hours later,

In the auction that started after driving away the great heroes, the execution sword was put up for bidding.

“1.1 million gold coins.”

“…One…one hundred and ten thousand gold coins…!”

“W-Who on earth is that person? Who the hell-“

“It can’t be…!”

The absolute ruler of darkness emptied all the gold coins she had brought and bid on the execution sword.

Of course, since she had already warned others not to bid on the execution sword during the process of driving away the great heroes, she could win the execution sword for the starting price of 50,000 gold coins.

However, the reason the absolute ruler of darkness did not insist on that was because she was truly grateful to someone who had submitted this execution sword.

If that someone had not submitted the execution sword, the absolute ruler of darkness would never have found or obtained the execution sword.

Therefore, she had paid all the money she had collected with a heart full of gratitude.

[Awarded, the Executioner’s Blade has been awarded to bidder 109.]

The absolute ruler of darkness had won the bid.

####

At the moment when the absolute ruler of darkness won the bid for the Executioner’s Blade.

“Is everything ready with this?”

[Yes, as Lord Yeongju instructed, it seems that all preparations are complete.]

For the past few days, Kim Hyunwoo had been preparing to open the Labyrinth City.

In fact, he could have opened the Labyrinth City right after developing the third floor, but now, even Kim Hyunwoo himself was uncertain about what might happen, so he was preparing as thoroughly as possible.

[As Lord Yeongju instructed, we have selected eight individuals who were previously responsible for guild affairs in the former territory or those capable of handling administrative tasks. It seems that everything will be perfectly completed by tomorrow.]

“What about the rumors?”

[Although it hasn’t been long since the rumors started spreading, mercenaries and adventurers haven’t gathered much yet, but gradually, adventurers and mercenaries are gathering within the territory.]

Satisfied with Loria’s report, Kim Hyunwoo nodded contentedly.

Things were progressing step by step, just as he had prepared.

Therefore.

[Also, the tasks you assigned to Elena will probably be completed by the end of today.]

Listening to Loria’s final report, Kim Hyunwoo smiled satisfactorily.

“Well, shall we start informing the adventurers in earnest then?”

In two days, we’ll be opening the Labyrinth, he thought, smiling as he muttered.

####

Right after winning the bid for the Executioner’s Blade.

The absolute ruler of darkness, after transferring the money, decided not to entrust the delivery of the Executioner’s Blade to the dwarves but to carry it personally.

Although there had never been any issues with dwarves transporting goods, an inexplicable sense of unease lingered.

Therefore, as the absolute ruler of darkness received the Executioner’s Blade that had been recently put up for auction in the Lafengan Territory, she looked at the blade with a deeply moved expression and soon, a face full of doubt.

And that was natural.

“…Huh?”

The absolute ruler of darkness knew this Executioner’s Blade very well.

Her gaze was tinged with initial confusion.

As if unable to comprehend the situation at all, she stared blankly at the Executioner’s Blade and soon carefully rotated it to inspect it closely.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

…And ten times.

Standing there in the darkness, the absolute ruler of shadows who had been wielding the executioner’s sword, experimenting with it repeatedly, soon realized an unbelievable fact.

“…What…?”

That this executioner’s sword was, in fact, his own.