Chapter 303

The Heavenly Giant Lord and the Wailing Lord looked like complete wrecks after being forcibly dragged out.

The Dwarves’ Chains that strangled their bodies made them look like a pair of starving snakes, but besides that, being dangled on the walls of Valhǫll and turned into a laughingstock for the Nobles that passed by did nothing to ease their embarrassment.

Clang. Clang.

The annoying sound of clanging iron stopped, and the two Lords looked up at Kim Jin-Woo as they were thrown in front of him.

Although they were confused, there still seemed to be some hope in their eyes. It was expected of beings who had overcome all kinds of hardship in the Deep Floors to become the apex of the Underworld.

But that was about to end. One of the two would soon be sacrificed to the Throne of Truth. In return, Kim Jin-Woo could uncover a piece of Truth that had been shrouded in a veil, but for the other two Highlords, they would gain nothing.

No, the Throne could devour not just part of them, but rather their complete existence, as the price for unveiling the Truth.

It was a tragic end for those who had once stood as the apex of the Underworld and dreamed of becoming its kings, but Kim Jin-Woo had no sympathy for them. He wasn’t so soft-hearted as to sympathize with those who had deceived him for their own sake.

It was, therefore, only natural that the gaze that looked down on the two Highlords was like that of an executioner looking at a death row prisoner on the gallows.

“I’ll give you a chance,” Kim Jin-Woo began.

Instead of reacting rashly, the two Lords quietly opened their eyes and waited to listen to what Kim Jin-Woo might next.

“Be my sacrifice.”

The two Lords’ expressions stiffened upon hearing the word ‘sacrifice’. However, it was only for a brief moment, as their darkened eyes quickly lit up when they heard what Kim Jin-Woo said next.

“Then you’ll earn your freedom.”

“What do you mean by ‘sacrifice’?” The first to speak was Catherine, the Wailing Lord.

“There’s a price to pay for using the Throne of Truth. I don’t want to sacrifice any part of myself the way the One-Eyed Lord did,” Kim Jin-Woo said. It was a brief explanation, but that alone was more than enough for the two Highlords to understand the situation.

“How can I believe you?” Catherine asked.

Kim Jin-Woo responded coldly, “If you don’t like that, you have no choice but to become food for the Reapers.”

Remembering how much the Reapers coveted the Highlords’ bodies, the two Highlords fell into deep contemplation.

“I… I’ll do it.” This time, it was the Heavenly Giant Lord who spoke first. Soon after, Catherine also said she would be willing to be sacrificed.

Kim Jin-Woo finally dropped his cynical act and a satisfied look spread across his face. He added, “Ah, there’s something I forgot to say.”

The two Highlords, who had been acting as if sacrificing a limb or two would be nothing so long as they could regain their freedom, quickly fell silent.

“All I need is one sacrifice,” Kim Jin-Woo added.

There was no need to sacrifice both of them. Knowing too much of the Truth would most likely complicate his thoughts and bring about unnecessary burden. Sometimes, it was necessary to simplify things.

It was precisely that time. All he needed was just enough of the Truth to get out of the messy fog he was in.

“W-well then, what will happen to the other one who is not chosen?” the Heavenly Giant Lord asked.

“They’ll have no choice but to be used as an offering for dealing with the Reapers. You’re too dangerous to be released, after all,’ Kim Jin-Woo replied.

Both Catherine and the Heavenly Giant Lord turned to look at each other. Immediately, they started shouting as if they were competing against one another; in truth, that wasn’t entirely wrong.

“I will be the sacrifice!”

“I’ll be the sacrifice for you!”

Kim Jin-Woo pretended to look worried when he heard their desperate cries. However, in reality, he was laughing internally at the two Lords who were fighting to be chosen as a sacrifice.

Nobody knew how much the Throne of Truth would demand in return for showing the Truth. If they were lucky, they might lose an eye or a small part of their body, like Wotan; however, the Throne could demand more. In the worst case scenario, the possibility of the Throne demanding an entire existence remained.

Kim Jin-Woo secretly sneered at the quarrel between the two Lords, who would have already fought a bloody battle if it weren’t for their bound bodies. How pathetic they looked in his eyes.

Seeing the ugliness of the high-ranking Lords churned his insides. The more evil they were, the deeper they would fall, and the deeper they fell, the deeper their hatred would be. If he hadn’t been able to stop their attack against him, he would have been the one in their position instead.

“Dominique, which of the two do you think would be a better sacrifice?” Kim Jin-Woo asked. The expressions of the two Lords who were fighting stiffened, but he continued nonchalantly, “It’s such a headache having to decide between the two, so how about you decide for me?”

The two Lords’ faces flushed red with contempt at the fact that their fate depended on a single word from a mere lowly summon. They seemed to have belatedly realized how unhinged they had become at the prospect of their freedom.

But soon, their expressions changed, and they began to look at the Naga woman with desperate gazes.

“It was the Wailing Lord who planned all this from the beginning. I never meant to be so hostile to you!” the Heavenly Giant Lord exclaimed. He didn’t hesitate to slander the Wailing Lord. He was desperate to do anything to survive, including facing any sort of humiliation. It was truly an Underworldly act.

Kim Jin-Woo didn’t look down on how the giant was acting. After all, in this barren world where survival was the only virtue, the Heavenly Giant Lord was simply doing what he could. He had no intention of criticizing the giant’s behavior.

If there was just one thing to criticize, it would be that what had happened to the two Lords was only because they had been defeated by him, as a result of being less cunning and weaker than him.

“I’m just wondering, but… Perhaps the condition of the sacrifice is that the object of sacrifice should belong to you. Am I right?” Catherine asked. She, on the other hand, was calm. She also quickly brought up the problem on Kim Jin-Woo’s mind.

“That’s right. If a sacrifice were made but the reward was handed to someone else, that’d make things rather awkward,” Kim Jin-Woo replied.

“What? What does that mean?” The Heavenly Giant Lord’s eyes spun and he looked bewildered, perhaps unable to comprehend their conversation.

“Dominique, if you’re unable to come to a decision, then I’ll make it right now,” Kim Jin-Woo said. In response, Catherine nodded.

“The one to be sacrificed…”

Kim Jin-Woo’s gaze turned to the Heavenly Giant Lord for a moment. But the name that came out of his mouth was that of the Wailing Lord.

“…is Catherine.”

Looking as if he had been dragged from heaven to hell, the Heavenly Giant Lord roared, “Why?!”

“It’s cumbersome to explain everything to someone as stupid as you,” Kim Jin-Woo replied.

It was very basic, but for him, that was more than enough reason. In the first place, the giant had failed to reach the level of worthiness Kim Jin-Woo had held the Highlords to.

“Wait! Then what will happen to me!?” the giant explained.

Staring at the fool who continued to ask stupid questions till the very end, Kim Jin-Woo raised his hand instead of verbally responding. As he beckoned, the summons lying in wait immediately grabbed hold of the Heavenly Giant Lord and started to drag him away.

“T-this cannot be! If you let that cunning bitch live, you will definitely regret it!” the giant screamed in disbelief.

Kim Jin-Woo looked at Catherine, who had been eyeing the Heavenly Giant Lord as he protested until the very end. As soon as he disappeared from sight, she opened her mouth and swore her allegiance.

“I swear upon my True Name that the Mysteries of the Underworld have bestowed on me, and my powers that Death has granted me. I will be your greatest loyalist from now on.”

It was perhaps a meaningless oath. After all, they were both beings of the Underworld and of the surface, and the Mysteries of the Underworld would be unable to bind them to any oaths.

“Good. I’ll accept your allegiance,” Kim Jin-Woo replied.

He was well aware of that fact, but he accepted her oath without revealing any expression. All he needed was a guarantee of recognition by the Throne of Truth, which was governed by the Mysteries of the Underworld, that she belonged to him.

Even if the Throne didn’t recognize her, there was nothing for him to lose. All he would have to do then was find another method. Otherwise, all that was left was for him to sit on the Throne of Truth.

“Let me ask you one last thing.” Perhaps trying to keep her formality, Catherine cautiously began speaking. “How much do I have to sacrifice?”

“That, I don’t know. All I know is that the Throne of Truth requires a sacrifice equivalent to the value of the Truth it provides.” This time, Kim Jin-Woo responded with an honest answer. “It could just be an eye, or if you’re lucky, it could be something trivial. Of course, that’s not very likely.”

“Sounds like what you’re saying is that, in the worst case scenario, I might have to pay a higher price,” Catherine replied. She was sparing with her words, but she seemed to clearly understand what kind of situation she was getting into.

“So, do you regret it? If you want, I’ll bring back the Heavenly Giant Lord right now,” Kim Jin-Woo said.

“Whatever price I might have to pay is better than being fodder for the Reapers,” Catherine replied.

Kim Jin-Woo nodded upon hearing the answer that sounded as if it could be either a sign of resignation or expectation. He said, “If you’re ready, let’s begin right away.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Catherine immediately kneeled before the Throne of her own accord. Kim Jin-Woo looked at her, puzzled; she responded with what sounded like an excuse. “I’ve already made up my mind; I don’t want to be rejected now.”

Catherine seemed to hope that the Throne of Truth would recognize her as his, as she showed no sign of hesitation, despite how humiliating the act might be. As that was something Kim Jin-Woo hadn’t expected, he didn’t fault her for her behavior as he began the ritual to seek the hidden Truth.

“Throne of Truth, be my eyes and show me the truth from beyond.”

[The power of the Throne of Truth will be activated. Once activated, the ritual cannot be interrupted.]

[Do you still wish to proceed with the ritual?]

Kim Jin-Woo nodded without hesitation and said, “Proceed.”

[Peeking into the Truth is not easy. What you want is something heavy that encompasses the past, the present, and the future. The price to pay will not be small.]

[If the price is insufficient, the Throne of Truth may reveal something entirely different.]

[Do you still wish to proceed with the ritual?]

Once again, Kim Jin-Woo nodded, and the branches of the ash tree carved on the Throne of Truth stretched out and wrapped around him. He said, “What I offer in return is Catherine, the Highlord who has the power of Wailing granted by Death.”

[Nothing other than one’s own body has ever been dedicated to the Throne of Truth. However, the price you offered was well worthy of a glimpse into the Truth.]

In the brief moment that she watched the ritual progress with a tense look on her face, the kneeling Catherine began to speak.

“I, the Wailing Lord, Catherine, at the will of my Master, will gladly put myself on the other side of the scale. I pray that my worth is not lighter than the Truth that my Master seeks.”

Perhaps afraid that she might be rejected, she claimed several times that she was a willing sacrifice as she appealed to the Throne of Truth. Whether her efforts were successful, or whether the Throne of Truth had already decided to accept Catherine as a sacrifice from the beginning, nobody knew. However, the briefly paused ritual resumed.

[The Throne of Truth has recognized your worth.]

[Until the ritual is over, you will not know how much the Throne of Truth will take from you.]

[However, the price to pay will never be greater or lesser than the Truth you are seeking.]

The last thing Kim Jin-Woo saw was the ash tree that wrapped around him slowly stretching out and wrapping around Catherine as well, before he felt light filling his view and his whole world turning white.