Chapter 28.1
“Dadada (Damn, these perverted jerks)!”
Isaac muttered curses in baby talk.
He had thought the Saints looked perverted, but he had no idea that these so-called priests would be such creeps!
‘Are they really thinking of having kids’ Doljabi in a place like this?’
Being the Demon King, he could clearly sense any traps in the treasure vault.
With a little concentration, he had a rough idea of what kind of mechanisms had been set up.
By now, it seemed more like a prison or a torture chamber rather than a treasure vault!
Sure, if one were to talk about cruelty, the holy faction was indeed a step ahead of the demon faction, but this was a bit much.
It seemed necessary to thoroughly investigate these guys’ tastes.
Indeed, screams could be heard from all around.
“Ah! Please save me!”
“Moooom!”
“I did wrong!”
Tsk, tormenting kids who are still of the age to look for their parents.
This is why the holy faction is no good.
In truth, all this happened because Isaac himself entered a restricted area, but the Demon King didn’t know that.
So, Isaac diligently crawled towards the 2nd vault.
Although it was tough with his short baby limbs, he definitely felt it.
The aura of the body, albeit faint, was there in the distance!
His fine body was beckoning him!
“Dadadadada.”
Of course, because of Isaac, the children following him were utterly confused and shocked.
“What the?”
“How does he know the correct path!”
The Saint candidates were going crazy.
They were surprised once by the appearance of the 1st vault, close to nature, and twice by the relentless traps.
Especially, they couldn’t hide their shock at the traps that seemed to treat them like thieves.
‘Yes! It’s because of this kind of training that the Saints are so strong…!!’
‘Even the Doljabi is a real battle! More impressive than any other faith!’
‘Typical of Eshua. Exceptional.’
In reality, it was just the youngest of Eshua turning on the theft-prevention traps.
And the elders who entered to deactivate the trap devices had gone missing.
Anyway, the difficulty had ramped up significantly. But they were all kids who spoke of Saints. It was tough as hell, but they weren’t talents that would be lost.
They could somehow manage the traps like living vines, exploding pollen, carnivorous animals, etc.
The problem was the trial.
Who would say that the 1st vault isn’t called ‘Vault of Choice’ but ‘the trial of crap’?
Even stepping on one stepping stone was difficult in the 1st vault, where choice was mandatory, despite being a mere formality.
Right from the stepping stones, it was a series of choices.
They had to distinguish between proper stepping stones and the wrong ones. They had to carefully choose the vines for crossing a stream as well.
Of course, it wouldn’t be just a test of luck.
‘It’s to see the discernment of a Saint.’
A Saint or Saintess was an agent of God.
In a word, they were beings leading people at the forefront when dangerous incidents like demons or natural disasters occurred.
If one can’t even select a safe route, they’re not qualified as a leader.
Meaning, the trial itself is a test from God.
But the kids find it too difficult, unable to find the answer.
And that was the same here, where Isaac just passed.
At a glance, it’s a garden, but there were 8 horizontal and 8 vertical transparent glass stepping stones.
It was a space like a chessboard.
Underneath the colorful glass stones, which looked like they could break with a gold bar, a deep river flowed.
And crossing these stones would lead them to the door of the 2nd vault.
All the treasures of the 1st vault were kept right before the 2nd vault’s door. All treasures were placed like that.
So, those not going to the 3rd vault could easily select their treasures there and leave.
Yes, an easy task indeed.
The problem is, he didn’t know which stone was the correct one, damn it.
“Since it’s chess, isn’t it the movement of a specific piece?”
“Maybe it’s an even number, maybe it’s an odd number.”
“Ac, you said it’s a test of discernment! Then we just need to choose what looks safe, right?”
One kid bravely stepped onto the glass stone.
“The one without a crack is… Aaah!!”
And he bravely fell.
Several more attempted after him, but all failed.
Eventually, they had to swallow their pride to this extent.
“Hey! Enough, try using the tracking spell! Find out where that kid passed!”
“What? You’re not choosing yourself? This is also clearly a test of discernment…!”
“Right. If we can’t do this, as Saints, our pride…”
“Who cares! If the results are bad, who will acknowledge that we followed the rules? Will they praise us? Look there! Shuri, he’s following Isaac or whatever his name is, and he’s already in second place!”
“!!”
The young Saint candidates saw Isaac and Shuri climbing a distant hill.
The 2nd vault’s door was right in front of them.
“Shuri knows too. It doesn’t matter how, but we only need to go up to the 3rd vault and bring back something good! If anything, Shuri is the smart one.”
“Oh, I see!”
“Look at that dedication. He’s chasing after that baby at an unbelievable speed. You have to be prepared to do at least that much if you want to become a Saint.”
“Oh!”
The children nodded in agreement, acknowledging Shuri.
However, the truth was different.
‘Damn it… let me go…’
Shuri was only looking at the sky.
The sky was blurry.
Well, it’s unclear whether the sky is blurry or it’s just her vision, but it’s blurry either way.
This isn’t like being dragged to a slaughterhouse or anything.
In truth, Shuri was simply being dragged along by Isaac. As proof, Shuri was being pulled along helplessly by an invisible force.
[Hahaha, I feel the power surging!]
It was Whisper.
Having absorbed all magic cores in the annex and ascended to the second level, Whisper seemed brimming with energy.
Even his appearance had changed slightly.
Originally a black ghost with just a face, he now had a tail.
It was this smoke-like tail that had tied up Shuri and was dragging him along.
‘Damn. It’s not like I’ve agreed to this.’
Shuri, unable to see Whisper, could only swallow his tears.
At this point, how this brat could drag him didn’t matter anymore. Even if he figured it out, it’s not like he could escape anyway.
But one thing did pique his curiosity.
No, it was downright strange, no matter how you looked at it.
‘How does this crazy guy avoid all the traps?’
Does he know the answer?
But well, it doesn’t matter.
By now, the other kids must have realized that Isaac knows the correct path.
They must know this isn’t the time to be proud.
As evidence, the rivals were only following the path Isaac had taken, so they’d catch up soon…
Bang!!!
“Argh!”
“Help!”
“…?!”
What the…!
The children following Isaac’s path were swept up in an explosion.
Seeing the smoke rising to the sky and hearing the children’s screams, Shuri’s face went pale.
No, damn it! What’s that?
It wasn’t a trap?!
It’s clearly an explosion created by some kind of magic, right?!
Shuri looked at Isaac with shaking pupils.
Sure enough, there was Isaac, sucking on his pacifier and laughing like a maniac.
“Dadadaduya (Stinky little chick Saints. Do you really think you can covet something that belongs to me)?”
Isaac chuckled.
Indeed, the King of the Jobless even goes all out when catching chicks.
Even if they’re just little brats, those guys were Saints sent from various families.
He must have anticipated they would follow him and set up explosive magic on his own tracks. Hidden by the holy power, of course.
Well, even if it’s called explosive magic, it’s only level one.
It won’t harm their lives.