Chapter: 449
I snapped back to reality, startled by the sound of a bird’s song brushing against my ears, and realized I was lying in the woods.
Clearly, I had—
Ah, I was sucked into Ganshu’s scroll.
Recalling what had happened, I got up and did a nice stretch.
First, let’s check my physical condition.
Even though I had just regained consciousness after collapsing, unlike last time when I faced the Evil God of Fire, I felt considerably more recovered.
There’s a fundamental difference between who I was then and who I am now.
I guess that makes sense.
At this level, moving around is definitely fine, and fighting shouldn’t be a huge problem either.
It would be troublesome if I had to exert myself fully, though.
Well, I shouldn’t worry about that here.
Next, let’s check my equipment. Armor, check. Shield, check. Mace… Nope.
With Grandpa over there, I can’t do much about it.
Thinking it was a shame, I pulled out a new mace from my inventory and took in the scenery of the forest.
I think I know where I am. If I’m here, I can follow my normal route without any issues.
But thinking about that kid’s face makes me want to surprise him a bit.
“Don’t mess up my trial!” I want to shout that out loud.
While gauging if it would be possible with my current specs, I smiled, concluding it’s totally feasible.
Even in game terms, given my current level, I’m overpowered.
There’s absolutely no reason it shouldn’t work.
Finishing my thoughts, I immediately moved my feet.
Ganshu’s trials are designed to see if the one undergoing them has the right to confirm history.
The evaluation consists of three major things. First, one must possess abilities worthy of being etched into history.
If one lacks such abilities, it’s impossible to properly confirm any history.
Next is goodness. Only those who can look upon the various things etched in history and not misuse them have the right to confirm history.
Finally, curiosity. Only those who can leap in to see what’s happening in the world can gain Ganshu’s recognition.
Originally, Ganshu’s trials create a small world within the scroll to check these elements. The various actions taken there serve as the basis for evaluation.
To put this differently, if you know what actions yield which evaluations, you can smash what Ganshu initially set up.
In the game, passing like this elicited no comments, but how would it play out in reality?
Given how that brat seemed to have a nasty personality, I doubt he’d just sit back.
As I dashed through the forest, I committed to memory the plants, animals, and monuments around. Just enough actions to fill the minimum curiosity score.
Then, I heard a thud from afar and dashed toward the sound without a hint of hesitation.
A nauseating stench of decay wafted through the air.
An atmosphere that instinctively provoked a sense of rejection.
The sound of insects crawling, and above all,
A sinister energy emanating from the place that served as the epicenter of it all.
Ignoring the goosebumps, I arrived at a spot where something once called a fairy existed.
Born from nature, a being that conveyed the stories nature wanted to tell.
They were overflowing with mischief, always seeking attention.
However, their nature was purely kind, bringing joy to those nearby.
And now, they had transformed into a monster that sought to convey screams instead of laughter.
“Ugh. Hah. Hehe. Ha.”
In front of the sound tickling my ears stood a man lying on his back.
The axe he had been holding was thrown to the ground, and he trembled as if the very word ‘flee’ didn’t cross his mind.
If left like that, that man would lose everything in his head thanks to the fairy he once knew.
Not as a metaphor, but in a literal sense.
Seeing that scene, I truly felt like I could throw up, so I took a deep breath and unleashed my divine powers around me.
“Wow♡ Your looks are no joke♡ Really gross♡”
Drawing the attention of what was once a fairy, I raised my shield as it charged at me, letting out a scream that was nearly inhuman.
Facing an enemy devoid of reason is incredibly easy.
Not thinking means they’ll move in ways I know how to anticipate.
I deflected its slashing claws, pushed forward, and brought down my mace imbued with divinity.
I was prepared for the possibility it wouldn’t fall in one hit, but that proved unnecessary.
Its skull shattered into dust, scattered upon the ground thanks to my mace.
The man who was assaulted by what was once a fairy stared dumbly at my face.
After seeing his silly expression, I couldn’t help but raise the corners of my mouth.
“What’s wrong?♡ Did you wet your pants?♡ Pffhaha You’re such a pathetic coward just like you look♡”
“…Huh?”
“If you have the energy to spout nonsense, why not run home?♡ You smell so bad it’s totally embarrassing♡ Are you one of those pathetic losers who needs a hand to bring him home?♡”
“Of course not! It’s just that I…”
“Then get lost already♡ Your scent is absolutely disgusting♡”
I watched as the man, turning beet red, struggled to form words before taking off in the distance. After that, I cast a buff on him and then moved on to my next goal.
There were still many things left to do.
*
Ganshu’s self-created trials throw people into the historical records he created and evaluate the various aspects they possess.
In extreme situations, the trials are formulated after much deliberation by Ganshu to see if a person is worthy of confirming history, assigning meaning to each action they take and grading them according to their behaviors.
So far, Ganshu had never doubted his trials.
The outcomes derived from these trials were remarkably similar to the conclusions he had reached after observing those individuals for a long time.
But today, at the moment the variable known as Lucy Allen stood before him, Ganshu began to doubt his trials for the first time.
That arrogant little brat.
One who is so insufferably arrogant that it’s impossible to overlook when they’re around.
Nonetheless, it’s undeniable that the path they’ve walked so far is endlessly noble and honorable.
He naturally understood why the Lord Jushin chose that person.
Ganshu didn’t think for a moment that Lucy Allen wouldn’t surpass his trials.
Lucy already possessed qualifications.
Her proclaiming first to want to write her heroic tale alone proved she was qualified.
If Lucy didn’t have such abilities, would Ganshu have approached her with flushed eyes?
Had Lucy demonstrated clear competence to Ganshu, he would have tossed the trials aside and offered her what he desired.
Therefore, it wasn’t surprising that Lucy showed notable responses within the trials.
“…How?”
What she revealed now couldn’t merely be described as being conspicuous.
Lucy Allen moved as if she knew all the points Ganshu had assigned in the trials.
Consciously amassing scores to pass the trials with her every slight gesture and gaze.
And that wasn’t where the surprises ended.
She seemed to see through everything happening within Ganshu’s trials.
What events were unfolding in the forest.
How to resolve those issues effectively.
What actions to take post-perfect resolution.
Lucy Allen seemed to know the trials better than Ganshu himself and provided answers pointing unambiguously toward the right solutions.
“Haha. It’s my first time seeing Ganshu-sama flustered like this.”
Following the crisp sound of laughter, Ganshu lifted his head to see Lucy Allen smiling, which made him frown.
“You certainly speak as if you knew it would happen.”
“Then didn’t Ganshu-sama see it? Considering you’ve been observing Lucy, I thought you’d have some inkling.”
“That’s a matter of the world below.”
It was quite understandable that Lucy Allen was behaving strangely in the myriad occurrences taking place on the surface.
For she had the great Lord Jushin backing her.
However, not here.
Even the presence of the Lord Jushin couldn’t intervene in the trials occurring in Ganshu’s domain.
He painstakingly created everything within this space to convey information.
“That wasn’t Lord Jushin’s help, but Lucy Allen’s ability.”
With a sour expression, Ganshu turned his gaze toward the scroll, quietly observing Lucy Allen’s movements.
At this rate, if she continued progressing, she would soon overcome his trials.
In a manner entirely different from what he had envisioned.
“Hmmm.”
Admittedly, he wasn’t pleased with this situation.
After she passed the trials, he imagined she would spout off something along the lines of,
“Is this really a trial? Is it because a child made the trial that it’s set to kiddie difficulty?”
“Truly, I nearly dozed off. I almost got myself in trouble for falling asleep in there!”
Thinking of such remarks made his blood boil.
But that was merely his own sentiment.
Ultimately, if she passed the trials somehow, it would be the right answer.
However—
He was curious just how far she could go.
“Ruel. Did you say Lucy Allen could surpass any trials?”
“Yes, indeed.”
“Then do not question what I am doing if you have no doubt in that confidence.”
Saying this, Ganshu unfurled his authority within the scroll.
The world that originally existed within the trials gradually began to alter.
“At the end of this new trial lies a fitting reward.”
*
I halted my steps, feeling goosebumps rising on my skin.
Dark clouds draped across the sky, overturning the world.
The faint sounds of the forest disappeared in an instant.
The vitality felt in the woods turned ominous.
Events never seen in the game were unfolding in this realm.
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