Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant

Chapter 106

With the system's appearance, countless gates began to appear, and people started analyzing them, offering numerous opinions, and contemplating their definitions.

By the later stages of the cataclysm, humanity had finally managed to define what gates were.

“A gate is a kind of ‘themed dungeon’ created by the system.”

The gates that had appeared in the world so far numbered in the hundreds. If you counted the recurring gates like the Iron Valley, the number rose into the thousands. But one thing was certain: everything inside these gates was an instance dungeon provided by the system to aid in the player’s growth.

Thus, they were defined as themed dungeons.

“Because each gate had a different concept.”

For example, one gate was set in a typical otherworldly dungeon, another took place in the martial arts world, and some even depicted completely unknown alien civilizations.

Of course, there were also gates based on unique Earth cultures.

A prime example of this was the Iron Valley, which was based on the myth of Heracles.

In this sense, the Library of Mu-hak was a gate with a typical martial arts theme.

In China, some had claimed that the martial arts-themed gates were a representation of their culture, but…

“So what?”

It wasn’t an important issue, and no one really paid attention to it.

Su-ho continued to climb the stone pagoda.

In fact, calling it a pagoda was a bit of a misnomer; it was more like a towering stone mountain.

Yet, it was still called a pagoda because it resembled a celestial tower that seemed to reach the heavens.

“They said climbing this was the first trial.”

In his previous life, he wasn’t on bad terms with Gu Taek-su, the so-called King of Martial Arts.

In fact, they were quite close.

Gu Taek-su was someone who purely pursued martial arts, and true to his title, he had a deep interest in swordsmanship. This was why he had always shown a keen interest in Su-ho’s sword techniques, as he was known as the Sword Saint.

“Of all the people I’ve met, his swordsmanship was among the top five.”

However, despite his incredible skill, Gu Taek-su was never able to defeat Su-ho.

At least when it came to swordsmanship, Su-ho was a few steps ahead—no, many steps ahead—since he was known as the Sword Saint globally.

Ironically, this was the very reason why they could get along so well.

Whenever they met, they would have at least one sword duel, and then spend the rest of the day talking about swordsmanship.

“I learned about the Library of Mu-hak back then.”

How long had he been climbing the pagoda?

After a long ascent, Su-ho finally saw the pagoda’s peak, which spread out like an island.

Upon reaching the top, he used the edge to support himself like a ladder and climbed onto the roof. Only then could he finally set foot at the top of the pagoda.

“It took forever.”

As he said, it really had taken a long time.

If it hadn’t been for his Red-tier physical stats and S-tier Jumping Skill, he would have collapsed long ago.

But knowing that he had everything prepared, he had boldly challenged himself to climb it.

The Library of Mu-hak wasn’t long after its creation before it was put up for auction.

Why was it auctioned off?

There was nothing special about it.

The Library of Mu-hak wasn’t considered a particularly dangerous gate compared to its fame. The first reason was that access was freely allowed, and the second was that most people gave up climbing the pagoda.

“Then Gu Taek-su conquered it.”

For a long time, no one had cleared the Library of Mu-hak.

The reason was simple: the level restriction on the gate was too high, and the height of the pagoda was so daunting that most people gave up midway.

But Gu Taek-su was different.

Even though his level was relatively low, he had been pursuing martial arts since before the cataclysm, and he was the first to conquer the pagoda.

That’s why Su-ho had to clear it before it was put up for auction.

Otherwise, Gu Taek-su would conquer it again.

“In that sense, being part of the Grand Union is pretty sweet for monopolistic growth.”

There was no reason for Su-ho to return to being a public servant hunter in an environment as harsh as this.

There were opportunities here to seize power sources that would never be available for money, and Su-ho was the first to get a chance at it.

Su-ho looked up and surveyed his surroundings.

This place, which resembled a large training hall, seemed a bit like Kunlun, the training ground for the banshees, but what set it apart was the massive library at the top of the stone pagoda.

“That must be the famous Library of Mu-hak.”

The Library of Mu-hak, shaped like a U, resembled a bookshelf, and various books were stored inside.

According to Gu Taek-su, now that he thought about it, the books stored there were highly likely to be martial arts manuals.

That was why Su-ho confidently approached the library.

At that moment.

Drrrr-

The sound of something turning.

Hearing that unfamiliar noise, Su-ho stopped moving.

“That must be it, the sound of the mechanical device activating.”

There was enough data about the Library of Mu-hak.

Gu Taek-su, who liked to talk more than expected, had said that once a person reached the top of the pagoda and approached the library, the real trial would begin.

And that trial started with the activation of the mechanical device lying dormant inside the library.

At that moment.

Hooong!

The sound of wind cutting through the air.

As soon as Su-ho instinctively lowered his head, a massive spear passed overhead, flying swiftly.

“That’s quite the welcoming gesture.”

The spear, which had flown by, split the pagoda and disappeared into the distance.

And then, it began.

Drrrr-

Hooong! Hooong!

This time, two sounds rang out in quick succession, and Su-ho instinctively dodged just a beat faster.

Bang! Bang!

This time, two massive hammers came flying.

It seemed like they were firmly fixed somewhere, but using the rebound force, they swung violently, hitting the ground with powerful force, leaving destructive marks.

“Alright, let’s warm up.”

Drrrr-

Once again, the mechanical device below the library hummed into action.

And then.

Hooong! Hooong! Hooong!

This time, the mechanical devices launched attacks from three directions.

But once again, Su-ho smoothly dodged.

And thus, the true trial of the Library of Mu-hak began.

The all-out barrage of mechanical strikes.

***

How much time had passed?

“Phew...”

Sweat dripped down his face.

His physical stats were at Red tier, yet…

It wasn’t a matter of lacking stamina.

Even though his sensory stats had long since reached Red tier, just those physical and sensory stats alone were pushing him to his limits in the Library of Mu-hak’s trial.

“Gu Taek-su came here when his stats weren’t even Red…”

That insane monster.

For someone like him to have come here when his stats weren’t even Red, and still managed to clear this? How did he manage that with only colorless stats back then?

“Well, he was always a crazy kind of guy.”

That’s why Su-ho had no intention of giving up or failing.

Even when his stats were colorless, there was someone who cleared this place with confidence. There was no way someone with far better conditions like Su-ho would fail.

But even though the trial in the Library of Mu-hak felt like an endless evasion fight, there were still some results.

Drrrr-

The sound of mechanical gears turning.

At the same time, Su-ho activated his Mana Sense.

[Mana Detection activated.]

Why did he use this skill?

It was simple.

No matter how much this place flaunted its martial arts theme, at its core, it was still controlled by the system.

Which meant, the force that operated the gate was mana, not internal energy.

So, Su-ho used Mana Detection.

“It’s all just a concept. Whether it’s internal energy or something else, it all ultimately flows from mana.”

At least, the system that had consumed Earth seemed to focus on this concept.

Of course, depending on the person or gate, mana might be called internal energy, force, or even ether. But in the end, they all shared one thing in common: they were all forms of mana.

That’s why by using Mana Detection, Su-ho could predict the movement of the mechanical devices, and thanks to his repeated use, he had even leveled his Mana Detection skill from B-tier to A-tier.

“There’s no skill that doesn’t level up more easily than Mana Detection. This is definitely a good harvest!”

At that moment.

Drrrr-! Hooong! Hooong!

Weapons began flying at him.

But Su-ho’s movements were quicker.

Using Mana Detection, he was able to dodge two beats faster, and once again successfully avoided the traps in the Library of Mu-hak.

Then, it happened.

Drrrr-! Crack!

A strange sound.

It was the sound of something breaking, but it was slightly different from what he had heard before.

Yet, hearing that strange noise, Su-ho finally smiled.

“Finally!”

He knew what that sound meant.

It was the sound signaling the end of the first trial in the Library of Mu-hak.

As evidence, a new system notification appeared before Su-ho.

[A boss monster has appeared.]

The boss monster, the end of the trial, had appeared.

Su-ho wiped the sweat from his chin with the back of his hand and took a deep breath.

Then, the floor at the center of the library cracked open, and a steel pillar rose from within.

No.

It wasn’t just a regular steel pillar.

What Su-ho had thought was a pillar suddenly sprouted arms and legs, resembling a wooden puppet, and soon took the form of a human.

“So it’s you, the Mokuzan, the guardian of the library.”

Mokuzan.

That was the nickname for the guardian of the Library of Mu-hak, a name given by Gu Taek-su himself.

“He said it resembled the wooden martial artist puppets from old games, and that’s why he named it Mokuzan.”

The character’s name was also Mokuzan.

Though it had a real name, it didn’t feel like a name, so Gu Taek-su had given it the nickname.

That’s why Su-ho decided to call it Mokuzan too.

Su-ho had become more familiar with that name.

The figure stepped forward, creaking joints that weren’t even there.

“Gu Taek-su said this guy was like the Sword Emperor.”

The Sword Emperor was the nickname of a nameless swordsman boss from the Mugyeong Gate.

Just like that.

According to Gu Taek-su, Mokuzan, like the Sword Emperor, would have the same status window as the person it was facing.

Maybe that was why?

As soon as Mokuzan appeared, it immediately used its unique skill.

[The Guardian of the Library activates the Battlefield of Belief.]

[While the Battlefield of Belief is active, the status window of the Guardian of the Library will match the challenger’s.]

[While the Battlefield of Belief is active, all combatants within the area may only use the weapons designated by the Guardian of the Library.]

The status window would be copied.

And the weapon usage would be restricted.

This meant the fight would be under the same conditions, which meant Su-ho would have to fight using only his pure swordsmanship, without any of his usual tricks.

That was why only Gu Taek-su had managed to clear this gate.

Among all the people who had pursued martial arts before the cataclysm, Gu Taek-su was the only one who had the skills to conquer this trial.

But Su-ho was confident in this domain as well.

“Even Gu Taek-su couldn’t defeat the Sword Emperor, right?”

As Su-ho took a step forward.

[The Guardian of the Library designates a weapon.]

[The designated weapon is the ‘sword’.]

[The battle begins.]

A sword appeared in Mokuzan’s grasp.