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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 342
<Episode?>
"The Episode is a system created by Escanon."
<Really? So the next plan is about completing that Episode?>
"Correct."
Originally, the Episode could only be completed after preventing the Third Annihilation.
However, by tampering with the Episode code, the timeline was moved up.
<Hmm, but why bother moving the timeline up? Wouldn't it be better to just stop the Third Annihilation first and then complete the Episode slowly?>
During that period, they could have grown stronger and crushed Escanon more thoroughly.
"I already tampered with the code. Which means he's probably noticed by now."
<So the idea is to move up the schedule and eliminate him quickly?>
"That's right."
<But didn't we already tamper with all the codes related to the Episode? There's no need to act so hastily.>
Tenebris believed there was no need to rush.
"No, it's not simply because of that."
<Then?>
"Do you remember the Episode we tampered with that was related to the Architect?"
<Ah, there was one.>
The Architect.
It covered the story right after he shed his human form, describing how he ascended from Lord to the seat of Supreme Heaven.
It was an Episode unlocked after the Third Annihilation, and it was set so that one could only enter when the Episode's completion rate reached 99%.
With Tenebris' help, Jeong-Hoon had forcibly opened that Episode.
Also, the coordinates had been set very close by, so it would only take a few steps to reach it.
"I need to see how strong he really is."
<Hmm? Didn't you already get all the information about him?>
Baal tilted his head with a confused expression.
"He might use abilities that weren't in the information."
Jeong-Hoon had already received information about Escanon from Baal.
So he had a rough idea of the abilities Escanon might use, but he had to consider the possibility of abilities Baal had not yet seen.
<Hmm, that's possible. I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen him use his powers.>
<Wait, how is it possible that someone under you doesn't even know their master's abilities properly?>
Tenebris narrowed his eyes and turned his gaze to Baal.
Baal began to hiccup and offered an excuse.
<I-I've completed the analysis. But isn't there always the possibility of a rare occurrence...?>
<There can't be any rare occurrences. From now on, a single mistake will lead to annihilation.>
<I-I'll keep that in mind.>
<Tsk, so you're planning to gauge his strength first, then face the Third Annihilation?>
At Tenebris' question, Jeong-Hoon nodded.
"That too, and I also want to get the reward."
<Reward?>
"Seven Deadly Sins."
<Ah, right. There was that too.>
While modifying the code, he checked what rewards could be obtained from him.
As a result, it was concluded that he could acquire a Sin Box.
What Jeong-hoon wanted was precisely that Sin Box.
In order to completely release the seal on the Seven Deadly Sins, he still needed to collect three more.
And all of those Sin Boxes were in Escanon’s possession.
The rewards had to be set according to the difficulty of the episode, and Escanon, in creating this episode, had wagered two out of the three Sin Boxes he held.
'Since he’s the main culprit who sealed the Seven Deadly Sins.'
Because of that, to completely break the seal on the Seven Deadly Sins, Escanon had to be eliminated.
Jeong-hoon summoned the Seven Deadly Sins after a long time.
In the case of Fenrir or Michael, there was rarely any need to call on them, so they had been practically neglected, but since they weren’t much help yet, they had to be set aside for later.
"……."
The Seven Deadly Sins, having come outside after a long time, wore a sulky expression and wouldn’t even make eye contact with Jeong-hoon.
"Seven Deadly Sins, in the next episode, I’ll almost completely release your seal."
"……Is that true?"
At the mention of breaking the seal, he seemed to cheer up and finally made eye contact with Jeong-hoon.
Jeong-hoon smiled faintly and nodded.
"Yeah."
"……Then why are you only calling me after so long?"
"There wasn’t any reason to call you."
"Wow... So you’re saying you’ve drained me dry, huh?"
"Why are you taking it so negatively?"
"I mean, it’s true! Back when you were weak, how much did I help you? But now that you don’t need me, you don’t even call me anymore!"
Jeong-hoon couldn’t argue with that.
'It's true that right now, I don’t really need the Seven Deadly Sins.'
He could handle Lord-class opponents by himself, and for Sovereign-class opponents, the incomplete power of the Seven Deadly Sins couldn’t even leave a scratch.
Because of that, unlike before, there was no need to summon the Seven Deadly Sins.
It was the same for Michael and Fenrir.
'Come to think of it, those two must have leveled up a lot too.'
Since Jeong-hoon had grown stronger by accumulating experience points, Michael and Fenrir, who resonated with him, must also have become incomparably stronger.
Once this episode was over, he would have to check on them.
"What that means is, once you get stronger, I’ll have plenty of reasons to call you again."
"Huh?"
"If you break your seal and regain your strength, you’ll be able to land a blow on Escanon, who sealed you."
"Hmm, that’s true too."
"When that time comes, I’ll let you go wild all you want, so cheer up."
"……Alright."
Finally, the Seven Deadly Sins brightened up.
< Tsk, how can someone be so petty. >
Tenebris, who had been silently listening to their conversation, clicked his tongue.
At those words, the Seven Deadly Sins turned his glare toward Tenebris.
< Oh? You got a problem with the way I’m looking? >
"And who the hell are you to boss me around?"
<Wow, Baal. Look at that bastard’s attitude.>
"Yeah, right. All skin and bones, like there's nothing to eat."
<Skinny... huh? You're just running your mouth because you've got a hole in your face.>
Tenebris's gaze turned cold and murderous.
Baal, caught between the two, hurriedly stepped in to mediate.
<Alright, alright! That's enough! And do you even know who you're mouthing off to?>
"Huh? How would I know that?"
<This is Lord Tenebris! Someone who can't even be compared to the likes of us!>
"Tenebris? Hmm, what a crappy name."
<C-crappy…?>
While Baal stood there dumbfounded, Tenebris smiled darkly and shoved Baal aside.
<Step aside. Today, I'll erase that thing.>
"Master! What's that? What the hell is that thing?"
The Seven Deadly Sins pointed at Tenebris, as if asking for an explanation.
"If you're going to pick a fight, I'll send you back."
"No, I mean, explain! I want to get along!"
Apparently not wanting to leave, the Seven Deadly Sins gave an awkward smile and made excuses.
"And like Baal said, that guy's way more powerful than you."
"......"
"It's also thanks to him that we can almost completely unseal your powers."
Because of Tenebris, Jeong-hoon was able to use the Genesis Machine and modify the Code.
"......Sorry."
The Seven Deadly Sins, not completely oblivious, apologized to Tenebris.
The problem was, Tenebris didn't seem at all willing to accept the apology.
<What a joke. You expect me to accept an apology that doesn’t even feel sincere?>
"Fucking hell, you bitch even when someone apologizes."
<See that! He's just saying whatever to get out of this situation!>
"Ptui."
<Unbelievable! Look at that bastard spit! Why do I have to be treated like this by some piece of trash?!>
Tenebris sent an SOS signal to Jeong-hoon with a face full of grievance.
It was a clear plea, asking him to step in because words clearly weren’t working.
"We don't have time. Save the fighting for later — right now, we deal with the episode first."
There was no time to waste.
When Jeong-hoon turned around, the Seven Deadly Sins stuck out his tongue to provoke him.
<……I'll deal with you later.>
* * *
Corruption
That was the name of the dungeon Jeong-hoon entered this time.
<Is this the place?>
"Yeah."
Now, he would finish this episode, properly grasp Escanon’s strength, and acquire six of the Seven Deadly Sins’ Sin Boxes.
But something was strange.
To start an episode, there should be NPCs around — yet nowhere could he see one.
He had clearly modified the Code so the episode could start immediately.
"Why is it that things never go as expected."
At that moment, something shot toward Jeong-hoon.
‘……!’
Jeong-hoon reflexively turned his head to dodge it.
Bang!
‘An iron ball?’
What had just been fired was a ball made of iron.
Jeong-hoon turned his head to stare at the direction it came from.
There, a Transcendent was looking down at Jeong-hoon with an amused expression.
‘Abaddon!’
Recognizing him, Mukho shouted furiously.
Back when Mukho was the master of the Tianxia Sect, it was Abaddon, standing right there, who had destroyed it.
"You're Abaddon?"
At Jeong-hoon's question, Abaddon gave a mocking smile.
"What, did that rag you're wearing tell you?"
"……."
Mukho glared at him like he was ready to kill.
‘Master… be careful. I want to tear him apart right now, but that guy is extremely dangerous.’
He desperately wanted to ask his master to twist that bastard's neck.
However, Abaddon was on the same level as, or perhaps even stronger than, the designer Escanon.
Having clashed with him briefly, Mukho knew just how dangerous Abaddon was.
That’s why, despite his anger, worry for his master came first.
"And how do you know about this rag… no, about Mukho?"
‘Master… rag, really?’
The words slipped out by accident.
"How could I not? I created that thing and handed it over to Escanon."
Jeong-hoon nodded.
He had wondered if Abaddon had the ability to see through items, but thankfully that wasn’t the case.
"So, the reason you're here — is it to stop me?"
"That's right. I made a deal with him."
"Escanon?"
"Sharp one, aren't you."
Abaddon laughed, as if finding it amusing.
A mere human had made it this far.
Seeing him up close, it was even clearer.
He wasn't a simple human.
From Jeong-hoon, a powerful force was radiating — stronger than any race Abaddon had encountered so far.
And it was so calmly restrained that unless one focused, it was hard to even sense.
‘No wonder the Named is protecting him.’
Up until now, many races had piqued Abaddon's interest.
Among them was one who had reached the rank of Apostle-class Transcendent, and some had even received ragged items like the one the human was wearing, crafted by him and handed to other Gods.
But this human was different.
It was similar to, or even greater than, when Escanon was still human.
"So you're saying you want to fight me now?"
Jeong-hoon drew Overlord Titan.
"Hey. Calm down. I didn’t come here because I want to fight you."
"Then what?"
"Honestly, I don't want to deal with Escanon. I want to make a deal with you."
Abaddon took out some items.
It was one Sin Box and two Sin Items.
"Did Escanon give you that...?"
"Correct. Don’t you want it?"
Even if this episode was completed successfully, Jeong-hoon would still only have six sins, one short of fully breaking the seal.
But if he had that, not only could he completely break the seal of the Seven Deadly Sins, but he could also unlock skills related to sin.
"I do want it."
Jeong-hoon pointed the tip of Overlord Titan’s blade at Abaddon.
Abaddon's face immediately stiffened.
"If you want it, what the hell are you doing pointing that at me?"
"It’s fake anyway. Escanon wouldn’t have handed those over to you so easily when you haven’t even eliminated me."
There was no way Escanon wouldn’t know that most of the sins had already fallen into Jeong-hoon's hands.
And in that situation, he would willingly hand over what remained to Abaddon?
It was nonsense.
It was nothing more than bait to lure him in.
"Smarter than I thought."
Abaddon gave a sly grin.
The items in his hand began to burn and, in an instant, vanished.
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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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