Chapter 33

**Episode 33: The Traitor’s Apocalypse**

‘Inheritance of abilities, activation.’

– Dding!

[Inheriting abilities from the monster’s corpse.]

[Inheritable abilities]

1. Royal Swordsmanship

2. Abandoned One’s Swordsmanship

3. Attribute Granting

4. Generate

5. Acceleration

6. Exceptional Sensing

7. Dash

8. Dual Blade – Fool’s Swordsmanship

There are a whopping 8 options.

Indeed, the stronger they were, the more inheritable abilities they possessed.

The numbers are incomparable to those I faced before.

But since these are ‘inheritable’ abilities, does that mean there are also abilities that cannot be inherited?

I brushed aside that trivial speculation.

After removing it, another thought filled the empty space.

But this is not a trivial thought.

It was related to my life, to my very existence.

The image of me standing at the crossroads of life and death, and that guy who was under the control of the parasite flashed in my mind.

It seems like everything is over now, so I should forget it, yet for some reason, his last words linger in my mind.

I have thought this countless times, yet it resurfaces again.

What if he had fought me of his own free will, not under the parasite’s control?

He would probably have had his head rolling on the ground.

‘Let’s choose an ability first.’

I passed on options 1, 2, and 8.

1 and 2 seem completely useless, and I felt a twinge of regret for passing on 8 because I didn’t choose the dual blade privilege.

Option 3 returned to me.

It feels as if the system is implying that there will definitely come a time when it will be necessary.

But if I think about it the other way, this ‘attribute granting’ option might mean it appears frequently.

So, let’s exclude option 3.

Option 7 is too mundane to consider.

‘Wouldn’t something special be better?’

I slowly looked at option 6.

If I have exceptional sensing, it would surely help in combat.

It could assist in various other aspects as well, but…

‘The incurable disease afflicting my body… Debuff? Whatever that is.’

That was the final move he placed on me.

I thought about it.

What did I think of? If you were to ask, it is surely the advantage that comes when I use ‘acceleration.’

If I utilize it in conjunction with my ‘nerf’ ability, I could bring down even high-ranked ability users in an instant.

If someone else had seen this option, they might have chosen ‘generate,’ seemingly the ‘technique’ of that armored guy who used that forbidden skill.

However, considering the synergy with my unique ability, I become someone remarkably lethal and destructive, beyond merely accelerating a debuff.

A debuff that weakens over a few years is unbearably frustrating.

Regardless of what I choose, this moment of inheritance is always a series of choices.

The choices I make will always come with regret.

However, the opposing choices will also lead to regret.

Then at least the choice I made will likely have less regret.

‘Option 5: Acceleration, selected.’

– Dding!

[You have acquired Acceleration (B).]

I picked an option rated B.

‘Generate’ is clearly an S-class skill… or maybe, just maybe…

‘It could have been an EX-class forbidden skill… Missing out on that feels quite regrettable…’

Before entering the last room, I double-checked to ensure I hadn’t forgotten anything.

‘System.’

– Dding!

‘My information.’

[Checking your information.]

[Information]

Name: Han Shiwoo (21)

Level: 30

Position: Dealer

Stats held: 10 → 0

– Current Stats –

Strength: 6 → 11

Agility: 3 → 8

Intelligence: 5

Luck: 7

– Skills Held –

Diminishment – Nerf (EX) LV.1 (Max)

[Using commands after physical contact with someone of the same race decreases their ability by two levels.]

P. Blessing of the System (EX) LV.1 (Max)

[Helps the holder, Han Shiwoo, to grow. Various rewards can be obtained upon growth.]

Ability Inheritance (S) LV.1 (Max)

[Can inherit abilities from the corpses of life forms you have defeated. (1 option available.)]

King’s Insight (S) LV.3

[Gain more information. (The amount of information you can obtain increases as levels rise.)]

Soul Protection (S) LV.1

[Negates the effects of abilities that cause mental damage. (Cooldown 24 hours. / Only blocks harmful effects.)]

Soul Summon (A) LV.1 (Max)

[Can summon the soul contained in a sword. (Liberation is possible if both sides desire it.)]

Transparency (A) LV.1

[Makes your body transparent in non-combat situations. However, the duration is proportional to the intelligence stat. (Intelligence stat x 5 minutes)]

Acceleration (B) LV.1

[‘Increases the erosion speed of debuffs placed on ‘enemies.’]

P. Sharp Swordsmanship (D) LV.5

[You can handle a sword more sharply.]

4-Strike Attack (D) LV.5

[Attacks four times quickly.]

P. Drug Addict’s Grace (D) LV.3 (Max)

[Increases the duration of beneficial drug effects by 20 times. (The effects of the drug stack.)]

==========

At this point, I believe I’ve covered everything.

I invested the stats I gained from leveling up by 10, splitting them evenly between strength and agility.

However, it seems like the effect of Drug Addict’s Grace has changed slightly.

The effects of drugs stacking.

This means I don’t need to bother to change my face with potions every 10 days.

‘I must make sure to drink all the potions I can find once I get home.’

The increase went from 10 times to, unexpectedly, 20 times instead of 15 times.

‘Indeed, human affairs are unpredictable.’

Now that the boss fight is over, I felt it was time to call Chaewon back.

In truth, there could be more Latin inside… well, that’s almost a given.

‘Soul Summon, activation.’

【Ugh. My head hurts like crazy…】

The girl who leapt out of the sword complained of a headache upon seeing me.

“What, why are you like that?”

【What do you mean? If you put me in that sword and fight so aggressively, what do you expect?】

“What do you mean? How else was I supposed to fight? I could have lost my life with just a moment of carelessness.”

【Hah… It seems you don’t quite understand… Fine.】

“What is it?”

【Let me give you an example.】

Chaewon placed her hands on her hips and scoffed at me.

【You were napping in the warm sunlight when suddenly a giant grabs your house and uses it as a weapon.】

“Oh…”

【And they slam it around heavily! Now do you understand?】

“I don’t get it.”

【Ugh!… Are you serious…】

While I was bickering with Chaewon, suddenly the key to the Defector in my pocket vibrated.

It seemed to urge me to act quickly, as if we were almost there.

I tried hard to ignore Chaewon who was yelling, holding the key and approaching the door with a keyhole.

This seems to be the place guarded by that black-armored guy.

‘… It didn’t seem like they were guarding it specifically, though.’

I couldn’t know the precise reason, but we must move forward nonetheless.

【Ah… and take this book. I had a hard time holding it.】

“Thanks, you did well.”

I took back the book Chaewon had been holding and shoved it into my inventory.

【Hey, but does anything change when I’m inside the sword?】

“… Not really. There’s basically no difference between being out and being in. The only difference is whether there’s someone yammering beside me or not.”

【I’m not going in the sword again next time… Sniff.】

“Okay, do that.”

I responded absentmindedly and inserted the Defector’s key into the keyhole.

The key fit perfectly into the lock.

I inserted the key vertically and turned it clockwise.

– Click!

– Drdddddddd!

Slowly, the door-like object began to slide open.

It seems I’ve seen a lot of these mechanisms since coming here.

– Fssss.

The key to Defector crumbled into pieces and disappeared.

As if it had completed its task.

The door, pushed all the way, finally opened wide, half sinking into the floor and the other half seemingly being swallowed by the ceiling, as if a gigantic beast were yawning.

Inside the door, surprisingly, there was only a single book resting on a wooden round table.

We entered that space.

We approached the wooden round table.

‘The letters look familiar… well, of course, it’s Latin.’

This should be the ‘Traitor’s Apocalypse.’

I took the book in my hand.

【Hmm, hmm, is it my turn now?】

“Wait a moment.”

I had clearly raised the level of my insight after defeating that guy in armor.

At level 3, surely… it would allow me to read even unknown letters, right?

I opened the book somewhat carelessly.

However, most of the content was illegible, with only 4 pages appearing to have substance.

At this point, it’s worth a shot.

‘King’s Insight, activation.’

– Dding!

[There are unknown characters.]

[Starting translation.]

[…1…2…3…4]

– Dding!

[Translation completed.]

[Among pages 1 through 4, which page would you like to read?]

‘Starting with page 1, one by one.’

[Contents of page 1]

There was no paradise where one could flee.

This cycle cannot be escaped.

No one predicted the impending disaster.

– Dding!

[Contents of page 2]

A liar is always more likely to discern the lies of others.

I will rewrite my history through myself, by myself.

– Dding!

[Contents of page 3]

At last, I have found it.

The one and only method to unite these wretched beings.

It is to exchange eyes.

Eyeballs.

This is not medicine.

It is merely a type of contract.

An oath that is nothing but words.

Our trust, bound by blood and magic, has always crumbled with a single ‘dispel.’

However, exchanging parts of the body is irrevocable.

Unbreakable.

Cannot be reversed.

Once lost, cannot be regathered.

We become one.

All of us.

We shall devour the seven nations.

Another world shall not be far behind.

Every contradiction shall aid us.

You, who are reading this text as well.

Join us in our grand vision.

– Dding!

[You have acquired Pain-free Transplant (F) due to the effects of page 3.]

– Dding!

[Contents of page 4]

The seven nations targeted.

Information on their races.

1. Goblin

2. Snake

3. Human

4. Elf

5. Vampire

6. Remaining content has been erased.

7. Remaining content has been erased.

The tricky ones are the elves and humans.

Dark elves and pure-blooded white elves.

And half-elves born from a romance between humans.

Also, do you know why humans are tricky?

To devour humans, one requires ‘betrayal.’

But finally… at last… a unified band of traitors has formed.

Now, once the research on ‘that’ is finished… the world will be ours.

Though it may depend on that little bugger to do the job well.

We will not fail.

Right? You little blackie? As you said…. If I couldn’t become the peak, I wouldn’t have started at all.

Only what is worth attempting holds value.

I shall consume the Ring Guard you cherished so much.

As much as I loved you.

Revenge is the sweeter the more it ripens.

– Dding!

[The content has ended.]

– Dding!

『Quest』

『The Night of the Traitor』

『Use the key to learn the secrets of the parasite and the seven nations.』

『Realization. 1/1』

『Reward: G Coin』

[You have obtained 5 G Coins.]