What the hell is that kid? (1)
"Ddu-dda-dda (Sh*t, these perverted bastards)!"
Isaac was muttering curses in baby talk.
He had always thought the holy figures seemed a bit perverted, but he never imagined the clergy would be this depraved!
They're seriously thinking of holding a first birthday grabbing ceremony in a place like this?
Being a Demon King, he could clearly sense what traps were laid inside the treasure vault.
With just a little focus, he could roughly grasp what kinds of spells had been set up.
At this point, it wasn't even a treasure vault — it was basically a prison or a torture chamber!
Of course, if you measured brutality, frankly, the holy side was even worse than the demon side. But even by those standards, this was too much.
At this rate, he figured he needed to flip these bastards' minds inside out and study their twisted tastes.
Screams could be heard echoing here and there.
"Aaah! Save me!"
"Mooommy!"
"I'm sorry!"
Tsk, tormenting kids who are still young enough to cry for their parents.
This is why you can't trust priests.
The truth was, all of this chaos had broken out because Isaac himself had entered a restricted area — but as a Demon King, there was no way he would realize that.
Thus, Isaac crawled diligently toward the second chamber.
It was tough, given he was an infant with tiny limbs, but he could feel it — faintly, from far away, the presence of his physical body!
His precious, carefully raised body was beckoning him!
"Da-da-da-da-da-da-da."
Of course, thanks to Isaac, the kids following him were falling into utter confusion.
"What the heck?"
"How is that kid finding the correct path?!"
The candidate saints were on the verge of madness.
First, they were shocked by the natural, almost wild setup of the first chamber, and then stunned again by the relentless traps.
Especially the traps that seemed designed to treat them like thieves — those were beyond shocking.
Right! It's because they go through this kind of training that the Saints are so strong…!
Even a simple first birthday event is treated like real combat! Their faith is unparalleled!
As expected of Eshua. Truly extraordinary.
In reality, Eshua's youngest had just triggered the anti-theft traps.
Not to mention, the elder and senior who had entered to disarm the traps had also gone missing…
Anyway, the difficulty level had skyrocketed. But all the kids were aspiring saints — it was brutal, but none of them were weak enough to give up.
They somehow managed to navigate the living vines, the exploding pollen, the carnivorous beasts, and other traps.
The real problem was the trial.
There's a reason why the first chamber isn't called the "Hall of Choices" but the "Hall of Dead Ends."
Even though it looked like a straightforward path, it required constant decision-making. Crossing a stepping stone was a battle in itself.
Each step required distinguishing between a safe platform and a dangerous one. Even picking the vines to cross the stream needed careful judgment.
Of course, it wasn't just about testing luck.
They're testing the discernment of a saint.
Saints were the agents of God.
They were the ones who led the people at the forefront in times of danger, whether it was a demon invasion or a natural disaster.
If they couldn't even pick out a safe route, they weren't qualified to be leaders.
In other words, the trial itself was a divine test.
But for the kids, it was still too hard — they had no idea what the correct choices were.
And the place Isaac had just passed through was no exception.
At first glance, it looked like a garden, but in reality, it had an 8×8 grid of transparent glass tiles.
It was like a giant chessboard.
Beneath the fragile-looking colored glass tiles, a deep river flowed.
If they could just cross the tiles, they would reach the gate to the second chamber.
All the treasures from the first chamber were kept in front of that gate. That's how all the treasures were set up.
In short, anyone who didn't want to proceed to the third chamber could simply pick a treasure there and leave.
Yes, a very simple task indeed.
Except — the problem was, they had no idea which tiles were safe, damn it.
"Maybe it's based on chess pieces' moves?"
"Could be something about even and odd numbers."
"Damn it, they said it's about discernment! Shouldn't we just pick the ones that look safest?"
One kid boldly stepped onto a glass tile.
"The ones without any cracks—AAARGH!!"
And promptly fell.
Several others tried, but they all failed.
Eventually, their pride in tatters, they even started grumbling.
"Hey! Enough talk, just use the tracking spell! Find out where that little brat passed through earlier!"
"What? You're not picking yourself? Isn't this supposed to be part of the discernment test…?!"
"Exactly! If you can't even do this, your pride as a Saint candidate is…!"
"Who cares! If the results are bad, do you think anyone will pat us on the back just because we followed the rules? Will they praise us?! Look over there! Even Shuri is just following that Isaac kid, and she's already in second place!"
"!!"
The young Saint candidates looked at Isaac and Shuri climbing up a distant hill.
The gate to the second trial was right ahead.
"Shuri knows it too. No matter the process, all that matters is reaching the third trial and bringing back something good! Honestly, she's being smart about it."
"Oh… I see!"
"Look at that determination. She's chasing after that brat at an insane speed. If you want to become a Saint, you have to be prepared for at least that much."
"Ooh!"
The young ones nodded, acknowledging Shuri.
But the truth was different.
'Damn it… let me go…'
Shuri was staring up at the sky.
The sky was blurry.
Or maybe it wasn't the sky but her vision — either way, everything was blurry.
It felt like she was being dragged to a slaughterhouse.
In reality, Shuri was simply being dragged along by Isaac.
Proof? Shuri was being pulled by an invisible force.
[Hahaha, I can feel the power surging!]
It was Whisper.
After absorbing the magic core in the annex and ascending to the 2nd level, Whisper seemed full of energy.
Even his appearance had changed a little.
Originally just a black ghostly face, now he had a tail.
He was using that smoky tail to bind and drag Shuri along.
'Damn it. It's not like we're tied together by fate or anything.'
Since Whisper was invisible to others, Shuri could only swallow her tears.
She no longer cared how this brat was managing to drag her along.
Even if she figured it out, there was no way to escape.
However, there was one thing she couldn't help but wonder about.
No matter how hard she tried not to find it strange, it was strange.
'How the hell is this lunatic avoiding all the traps?'
Does he know the correct path?
But whatever. It didn't matter now.
By now, the other kids must have realized that Isaac knew the right way.
They'd understand this wasn't the time to cling to their pride.
Proof? The other rivals seemed to be following the exact path Isaac had taken — they should be catching up soon…
BOOM!!!
"AAAAHH!!"
"Save me!!"
"…?!"
…Or not!
The kids who had been following Isaac's path were caught in an explosion.
Smoke rose into the sky, and the children's screams echoed. Shuri's face went pale.
No way. What the hell?!
That wasn't a trap!
It was clearly an explosion caused by some magic spell!
With trembling eyes, Shuri looked at Isaac.
As expected, Isaac was sucking on his pacifier, grinning like a pervert.
"Bwah bwah bwuya (You stinky chick priests. Did you really think you could snatch the same treasure as me?)"
Isaac giggled gleefully.
After all, even the king of beasts uses all his strength to catch a baby chick.
No matter how young they were, these kids were monstrous — no, priest candidates sent by prestigious families.
Of course, Isaac had expected them to pursue him and had set explosive magic traps on his own footsteps, concealing them with divine power.
Though, the "bomb magic" he used was just 1st-rank spells.
It wouldn't kill them.
'Still, I didn't think none of them would figure it out.'
The correct route wasn't just the one Isaac took. There were others. But the fact that they stepped on landmines said a lot.
Well, it was understandable.
This place was confusing enough to trip up even veteran knights who didn't know the principles behind it.
Then did Isaac use magic to figure out the right path?
No, not at all.
Even without such methods, the way to pass was simple.
Before entering the treasure vault, the elder had given the candidates a hint.
"You are divine agents like the Saintess. Do not forget that you are Saints. If you remember that, you will surely obtain what Lady Gamo desires."
The meaning of that message was simple:
'Act like a Saint or Saintess.'
And the strategy for the first trial?
Most would think something like this:
"This is a trial to find the safest path, as a guide for humanity!"
But that's wrong.
The right path? The safe path?
Don't be ridiculous!
You can naturally identify safe paths once you're older and reach the 6th rank or higher.
Why would they bother training kids who were destined to become 10th-rank priests in something they'd pick up later anyway?
Veterans in that field could just be hired for that.
The Church knew this very well.
So what was being tested?
'Humans instinctively choose the safest and most appealing option.'
But a Saint must not do that.
Survival instinct is natural for humans, but it's also a deeply selfish desire.
Yet a Saint — an agent of God — is not even allowed that natural instinct.
Can you still boldly walk down a path you know will lead to death?
In short, the first trial was a test of fear.
You simply had to pick the path that looked the worst — the most ominous, rotten, and deathly one.
That was the true correct answer.
Of course, even knowing it, it might still be too hard for kids.
'Even if you know it logically, it's not easy to deliberately grab a rotten rope.'
It was shockingly simple, but that's why Isaac wasn't exactly happy.
This vault must have been created by the gods of Sacrifice and Calamity.
It felt like they were trying to brainwash the kids into their ideal models from a young age.
No wonder the Saintesses could later throw themselves at the Skeleton King without fear of death.
It left a bad taste in the mouth.
Of course, Isaac still intended to take full advantage of it.
As for dragging Shuri along… well, even he could fail sometimes…
BOOM!!
"Ahhh!"
He only meant to use her as a shield.
Isaac stepped hard on Shuri at the last moment and landed safely.
Caught in the explosion, Shuri groaned on the floor.
"You little…! Seriously…!"
Isaac patted Shuri on the shoulder as if to commend her for her hard work.
As expected of the pureblood of the Saintess' family. No wonder her body is blessed — built like a dragon's bones.
"Tayattatta! (Good, Boongboong! Since you're coming along, I'll let you have something nice too!)"
Isaac didn't even glance at the treasures of the first hall and headed straight for the door to the second hall.
Dragged along, Shuri's vision blurred with tears.
Well, it's true that the treasures of the second and third halls are better than those of the first.
Meanwhile, that bastard… he seemed to have swiped something that looked like an elixir.
Didn't he also sneak the leftovers into a diaper or something?
Was it my imagination?
No way… Are we going to have to keep doing this all the way to the third hall?
I don't know why I feel like my body gets tougher every time I get caught in a trap, but… is this really how it's supposed to be?
"Tayayaya! (Let's go!)"
"You go by yourself, you bastard…!"
Meanwhile, around the same time…
There was a group sighing as they looked at the wrecked first hall.
It was Kina Berit and her group.
They were still at the starting line.
With first and second place already reaching the door to the second hall, unease began to spread among them.
"Is it okay? At this rate, Eshua—or some other bastard—will snatch both the Skeleton King's body and the treasures!"
However, Kina Berit clicked her tongue.
"Pathetic. Can't you think that maybe we sent the others ahead on purpose?"
"Huh?"
"The first hall is the Hall of Choices. Until information builds up, you're bound to suffer physically. It's a waste of stamina."
"!"
But if you let the competitors go first, the traps will all be triggered, and it'll soon become clear which path is correct.
"Only meat shields map out unexplored territory. It's a fool's game."
"B-but… we're at the very back…"
"Did you forget who the gatekeeper of the second hall is?"
"!"
Their expressions changed immediately.
The Saintess' treasure vault was originally managed by the Papal family. Kina naturally knew its structure well.
And sure enough—
"The entrance to the second hall is guarded by an 8th-level demon."
"Ah!"
"So the ones who went ahead will all get stuck there?"
"Exactly. Half of them dropping out in the first hall isn't just because of the tricky paths. Even then, that's assuming they're lucky. Depending on the situation, even the Saintesses could…"
At that moment, Kina Berit smiled at something she saw.
A pillar of light was rising at the entrance to the second hall.
And shortly after, a massive monster revealed itself at the door.
It was so huge that it was clearly visible even from a distance.
The minions shrank back in fear.
"I-it's here! A demon…!"
"Ah, poor Shuri. If she had stayed by my side, she would've at least made it to the second hall. With that thing out, she'll be lucky to survive, let alone pass through."
"Looks like the kids from the other houses are screwed too. Honestly, besides Lady Kina, they're all trash anyway!"
"Exactly. How dare they think of themselves as saints when they're not even close to Lady Kina's level? I hope they all end up crippled so they never get arrogant again."
"Enough. That's vulgar. Don't insult the other families carelessly."
She said that, but Kina knew better than anyone.
That she alone was capable of handling what lay ahead.
Her grandfather, the Pope himself, had drilled holy techniques into her until her body oozed blood.
Everyone else could only wait for Kina to arrive.
Actually, it might be more heroic to take her time deliberately.
Roughly around the time when the others would realize their incompetence and know their place.
"So it's fine to go slow—"
But just then—
Boom!
The summoned demon collapsed.
"...."
…Huh?
Collapsed? An 8th-level demon?
Clunk! Creeeak!
"Lady Kina. The door to the second hall just opened."
Right. The second hall door opened…
"...."
…Wait. The door opened?!
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