WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
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◈ The World After the Fall ◈
Chapter 44: Episode 7. Master of Gorgon (6)
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Jang Ilhan knew all too well what became of those who experienced Eight Gates of Hell.
They would weep and scream for someone to save them inside the illusions, only for their minds to shatter in the end, leaving them as slaves to the formation caster. It was a terrifying formation.
The most frightening thing about Eight Gates of Hell was how well it concealed itself.
In other words, no one outside the caster and the target could detect the formation.
Of course, Chaos was home to countless powerful figures, and some present were familiar with Scholar Forest Hall's Eight Gates of Hell.
People who had suffered the formation in a manner similar to Jaehwan began speaking up from all around the hall.
[Didn't that bastard just use Eight Gates of Hell?]
[To commit such a brutal, merciless act...]
[That's too much for a sixty-year-old child.]
A few even sent Push messages directly to Jang Ilhan.
[Stop it, Jang Ilhan! No matter how much authority you have as Scholar Forest Hall's Deputy Hall Master, your opponent is the Citadel Lord!]
Jang Ilhan frowned.
These old fogies are a nuisance.
Naturally, he had no intention of stopping.
If he succeeded with Eight Gates of Hell and broke the Citadel Lord, gaining the right to establish a branch in Gorgon would be easy.
Ignoring the incoming Push messages, Jang Ilhan concentrated his spiritual power. Sweat gradually formed on the hand clasped with Jaehwan's.
It should be taking effect soon.
Something was wrong.
This was Eight Gates of Hell, cast by none other than him, a sixth-stage Adapter. Even the powerhouses of the Ten Halls should have reacted by now. Yet Jaehwan's expression had not changed in the slightest.
Jang Ilhan's grip tightened around Jaehwan's right hand.
Could he have another trick up his sleeve? Or can he endure up to the third gate? ...Fine. Then how about this?
In an instant, Jang Ilhan opened Eight Gates of Hell through the sixth gate. It was also the limit of what he could permit himself to use.
Even a high-ranking Adapter on his level could not endure the sixth gate without suffering any harm.
The sixth gate was Frozen Hell, home to Ice Dragon King Velkisus, a beast from the Forgotten Land. Even Jang Ilhan, who had experienced Eight Gates of Hell many times under his master, shuddered at the thought of the monster. Anyone who fell into the sixth gate would slowly lose their mind under the freezing cold that seized their body and the Fear of Velkisus.
Though excessive spiritual power consumption left him drenched in sweat, Jang Ilhan never lost his smile.
...How do you like that, young Citadel Lord?
About five minutes passed. Just as Jang Ilhan decided it was time to subtly pull his hand away, Jaehwan suddenly spoke.
“People in Chaos have an unusual way of shaking hands.”
“Huh? No... Pardon?”
“You can let go now.”
“Ah, r-right. My apologies.”
Jang Ilhan could not hide his bewilderment at that calm tone.
What in the world was going on? Had Eight Gates of Hell somehow failed to activate properly? He had seen the Ice Dragon King and was still fine? That was impossible. The formation had been cast correctly.
Then...
...Had he endured Eight Gates of Hell?
That could not be possible. Eight Gates of Hell was a formation without a correct gate. Unless the formation caster dispelled it, there was only one way to escape. The target had to confront the formation head-on and overcome the Fear of all eight gates.
That was impossible.
The moment he let go, a sudden wave of dizziness made Jang Ilhan stagger. Then, for a brief moment, he saw something that was not there.
“W-what was that?”
It had only lasted an instant, but Jang Ilhan had clearly seen the scenery of the world change. His heart pounded madly. What had that been? He had not felt anything like this even when he experienced the Eight Gates of Hell of Scholar Forest Hall's Hall Master.
How could a sight like that...?
Was that not what a hell realm truly looked like?
By the time he came to his senses, Jang Ilhan was sitting on the banquet hall floor, trembling and drooling. Murmurs rose around him.
[...What's wrong with him all of a sudden?]
[Did Eight Gates of Hell break apart?]
Jaehwan silently looked down at him before speaking.
“You insulted the Citadel Lord, so you should be punished with flogging. I'm letting you off this time. Watch yourself from now on.”
“J-just what are you...?”
Chunghuh's lips twitched as he watched.
“What, that's it? How dull.”
Chunghuh had thought he was finally about to see something entertaining, but his voice came out flat.
Knowing Jaehwan's personality, he had expected him to stab the other man full of holes and send him flying. Yet the result was far more modest than expected.
It seemed Jaehwan had only briefly shown him his Unique World, but the Jaehwan Chunghuh knew would never stop at that.
It was strange. That uncouth brat, who did not possess a shred of manners or consideration, had held back for once.
...Brat, what are you plotting?
Since what should have happened did not, Chunghuh felt even more uneasy.
Then Yulhen's voice rang out from afar.
“Next, the Citadel Lord will deliver his inaugural address!”
An inaugural address? Chunghuh's expression turned odd.
This Soul Farewell Rite was both a ceremony for the departed and an inauguration ceremony. Even so...
That brat is giving an inaugural address?
Something amusing seemed likely to happen, but he also had a deeply ominous feeling.
Without hesitation, Jaehwan climbed onto the platform where Yulhen stood. Everyone in the banquet hall focused on the young Citadel Lord standing above them.
“My name is Jaehwan. I have become the Citadel Lord of Gorgon.”
Someone snorted. Others looked dumbfounded. No one had ever heard an inaugural address begin like that.
A few representatives of the Halls, however, watched him with great interest.
Even if he had become the new Citadel Lord, everyone gathered in the banquet hall was a powerhouse who would be second to none in Chaos. The fact that he began this way in a room crawling with such strong people already showed that he was out of his mind.
“I don't know who Aimel Grosheck was. I don't know what he did, what kind of life he lived, or what sort of Citadel Lord he was. Frankly, it has nothing to do with me.”
It was a truly shocking inaugural address.
Yulhen's cheek twitched as they watched from beside him.
“I already know that you don't approve of me. A young punk suddenly becomes Citadel Lord and starts saying this and that, so of course you don't like the sight of it. You're probably thinking this.”
Even those who had been scoffing began to take interest in Jaehwan's speech. Unbothered, Jaehwan continued in a clear voice.
“His Spiritual Pressure is pathetic, and he looks young. How did someone like that become Citadel Lord? It is obvious. That bastard has nothing going for him, but he got lucky and became Citadel Lord. Yes, I understand. And surprisingly, you're right. I wasn't thinking about anything, then I suddenly became Citadel Lord.”
Some faces reddened. Some coughed awkwardly. Others burst into snickers.
The Deputy Hall Master of Goddess Hall, who had been laughing for a while, grabbed Chunghuh by the shoulder and asked,
“Old man, what the hell is that guy doing?”
When they looked over, Chunghuh was standing with his mouth hanging open like an idiot.
Jaehwan continued.
“You don't approve of me becoming Citadel Lord, and I don't want to be a Citadel Lord. So I thought about it. How could I combine your dissatisfaction with my troubles and make everyone happy? After thinking for about thirty seconds, I found a solution.”
A solution?
The unexpected words sent murmurs through the crowd.
Jaehwan waited until they had talked enough and settled down before continuing.
“As of today, I resign as Citadel Lord.”
Someone swallowed dryly. Someone else let out a small cry. A few people slammed their hands on tables and rose to their feet.
Yet everyone felt the same.
Had they heard that correctly?
Chunghuh, who had been staring blankly from one side, muttered,
“Damn it, that wasn't an inaugural address. It was a resignation speech.”
Questions flooded from the anxious, restless crowd.
“Calm down. One at a time. You first, old man with the lightning hair.”
At those words, the Senior Elder of Thunder God Hall, one of the Ten Halls of Chaos, asked with a red face,
“Citadel Lord, do you truly mean that?”
“Yes.”
“Do you understand what that means?”
“Of course.”
“...Are you saying you will give up your position as Citadel Lord and die?”
For a Citadel Lord to relinquish the right to the position was the same as choosing death. A Citadel Lord could only surrender that right when approaching death.
Jaehwan nodded.
“You could see it that way.”
“Hah. Why would you do something so foolish...?”
Interested in Jaehwan's words, people began firing questions from all directions. Jaehwan decided to answer the most important one first.
“Then how will you decide the method for choosing the next Citadel Lord?”
“I'll give the position to whoever defeats me in a one-on-one match. Whoever defeats me first will become Citadel Lord.”
A one-on-one match.
As the vague matter gained specifics, the crowd grew more agitated. Some were beginning to believe that Jaehwan might be serious.
Someone let out a booming laugh.
“Ha ha ha! What a bold Citadel Lord we have here. Aimel chose a truly remarkable man!”
The fierce spiritual power carried within that laugh cowed the crowd.
He was Cayman, the South Sea Hall Master.
The representatives of the Ten Halls whispered among themselves.
“What? The South Sea Hall Master was here?”
“Then again, he was rather close with Gorgon's former Citadel Lord...”
After glancing at Cayman, Jaehwan spoke again.
“The deadline is one month. I don't care whether you're from the Ten Halls, another citadel, or anywhere else. Whoever defeats me in a one-on-one match within one month will receive the position of Citadel Lord.”
“Is that all? Are there no other conditions?”
Cayman asked on behalf of everyone.
“Of course there is. If I leave it at that, I would be at too much of a disadvantage, so I'll add one condition.”
“A condition? What is it?”
“If they lose, every challenger must carry out whatever order I give them.”
Some of the crowd protested at those words.
They were the leaders of the Ten Halls of Chaos.
What were the Ten Halls of Chaos? They were, in both name and reality, Chaos's strongest group.
Even the Citadel Lord of Gorgon Citadel could not order them around. Still, they were curious. What kind of order did he intend to give if he was willing to stake both the position of Citadel Lord and his own life on it?
Cayman, the South Sea Hall Master, asked,
“May I ask what this order will be?”
Jaehwan answered,
“Everyone who loses to me will become a member of the Abyss Expedition, which will depart in two months.”
Footnotes:
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