A Transmigrator’s Privilege-Chapter 240
The land of Panell had transformed into a sea of black whirlpools.
A handsome man with dark hair, watching from the top of a tall bell tower, muttered softly.
"This has all been just the prelude."
Under the eerie moonlight of the Tri-Moon, his face, smiling with anticipation, was hauntingly beautiful.
"It’s time to send the failure standing next to you to the 118th round, Ayleth Rodeline."✠[ Warning. In a few moments, the 'Immediate Judgment of the Demon Lord Infernos' will begin. Remaining time: 4 minutes 59 seconds.]
Caught in the Dungeon Sync, I had been separated from Tesilid.
However, I was sure that he and my other comrades in the Knights were somewhere nearby.
The open space I had fallen into was a kind of 'waiting room' where sinners were gathered before their trial.
"Wh-where am I... ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) hic."
"Ugh, hic... aah..."
"Mom... mom..."
The signs of life, which had been stifled under a suffocating pressure, began to slowly rise.
There was no way an ordinary human could remain calm in front of a Demon Lord.
The sounds of struggling breaths filled the air, and a foul smell mixed with the atmosphere as if someone had cracked.
What was strange was that there was no sound of coughing, which should have been heard.
‘The Dungeon Drain disease must be spreading, causing the respiratory organs to necrose. What’s going on?’
This question was quickly answered.
Thanks to the demon beside Infernos who had approached to report.
"Your Majesty, the Demon Lord Infernos."
The owner of the voice, wearing a white mask as pale as plaster, had his face obscured.
But his sky-blue hair and sharp voice seemed oddly familiar.
"The selection process has been completed. All those pathetic humans who are too sickly to even endure forced labor have been thrown into the 'Pit of Solitude'."
The Pit of Solitude? [‘The Seer of Celestial Secrets’ says this information doesn’t exist in the original work.]
[‘The Eyes Watching the Chaos of All Things’ explains that 'Solitude' is a form of evil magic.] The meaning behind the phrase “thrown into the pit” immediately clicked.
<They’re dead.>
The reason why there were fewer than a thousand of my fellow countrymen caught in the Dungeon Sync was probably because of that.
‘Originally, there should have been tens of thousands of them.’
Just as I clenched my fist until my knuckles turned white, I heard a voice.
"Good work, Marquis Levant."
Infernos spoke with a cold, indifferent tone, complimenting the demon with the white mask.
It was just a small remark, but the voice was filled with power and authority.
The air of the underworld, carrying that voice, seemed to tremble with reverence for the Demon Lord.
"Well then, it’s time for greetings."
Marquis Levant turned his gaze toward the sinner’s waiting area where I was.
From the two eye holes of his mask, red irises glowed.
"Welcome to the judicial system of the Demon Realm, you pitiful humans."
The sounds of hiccupping, swallowing dry saliva, and gasping for air erupted simultaneously.
He continued explaining.
"From now on, all of you humans will stand on trial as criminals. And according to your crimes, you will be sentenced to one of two punishments. Forced labor, or execution."
Marquis Levant demonstrated by extending his left arm for forced labor, and his right arm for execution.
What she pointed to was the chasm between the trial platform and the sinner's waiting area.
Like a canyon, the sinner’s waiting area and the trial platform were far apart.
The narrow bridge connecting them acted not only as a pathway but also perfectly divided the canyon into two.
It was as if two enormous pits had been dug in the middle of the path.
From the left pit, the sounds of pickaxes and whips were continuous, while from the right pit, the scent of blood lingered thick in the air instead of any sounds.
Both were clearly not places fit for the living.
The citizens from my country trembled, consumed by fear and despair.
"Why... why is this happening... What did I do wrong..."
"God... the strict order and goodness... please save us..."
"Th-this is wrong. We’ve been abandoned! By God, by the Church...!"
Whispers of resentment began to spread.
In reality, all the people who had been brought here were those who had been outside the Holy Office.
While those who had barely made it into the holy grounds rejoiced at being chosen by God, the ones here had to bear the full brunt of the disaster caused by Dungeon Drain and Dungeon Burst.
They had received no protection from the Holy Office. [‘The Words That Construct the World’ states that the Holy Office abandoned 30% of the city’s population.]
If things had gone according to plan, they might have been wiped out.
But thanks to my grandfather and Marquis Lechandro, who had barely saved them, they were now here.
However, before they could even feel gratitude for the hero’s salvation and the joy of survival, they had, ironically, been caught in the Dungeon Sync and dragged to the Demon Lord’s domain.
Two consecutive disasters faced head-on.
All of this could have been avoided if they had entered the holy grounds with the others.
They would never forget the moment when the gates of the Holy Office closed, abandoning them.
"Even King Hispenril and Marquis Lechandro entered the Holy Office earlier..."
"They abandoned us too... No one will save us this time..."
"We’re going to die. We’re all going to die. Sob..."
The wailing of the remaining thousand survivors was deafening.
The sounds alone were enough to plunge the mood into a deep abyss. [‘The Words That Construct the World’ urges you to prioritize your safety.]
[‘The Bitter-Tongued Observer’ says that now is not the time to act recklessly.]
I understood why the gods were worried. Thankfully, I wasn’t so hot-headed.
I quietly reached into my inventory, took out a robe, and pulled the hood down deeply.
The existence of divine scriptures might bring hope to the people, but unfortunately, I couldn’t guarantee my survival here.
‘If I make it out of here alive, I’ll buy a luxury watch from the VIP point shop.’
The reincarnation artifact that allows for a second round of transmigration.
I wanted to buy it immediately, but it was impossible to move to the VIP point shop inside the dungeon. [‘The Words That Construct the World’ argues that reincarnation is Tesilid Arzent’s genre.]
[‘The Words That Construct the World’ says that your genre doesn’t need such painful keywords.] ‘I’ll try my best.’
I responded as if it didn’t matter, but in reality, I wasn’t entirely calm.
Honestly, my neck was soaked in cold sweat right now.
I thought I’d only face the Demon Lord in a few years. But the destruction was accelerating this much.
‘Lead, you really mean to go all the way.’
I felt the chill spread through my fingertips.
<Ayleth.>
Agnes’ voice broke my train of thought. It was a warning that something was about to begin.
As always, Agnes’ instincts were right.
Marquis Levant raised one hand high and shouted loudly.
"Open the court!" [ Warning. The Demon Realm’s court has opened. 'Immediate Judgment of the Demon Lord Infernos' has begun!]
"Criminals, walk forward, one by one, to stand before Infernos!"
Demons holding whips appeared from somewhere, urging the people forward.
The frightened citizens lined up as the demons wanted.
I, too, found myself caught among them.
No one wanted to be at the front, but that was decided regardless of their will. [ Warning. You are being shackled.]
[ Warning. A number tag has been assigned.] Clink!
My wrists were bound by handcuffs and connected by a long chain to the people in front and behind me. Then, a number appeared branded on the back of my left hand.
The number for the trial was 362.
"Hurry up, don’t dawdle!"
Clunk, clunk...
"Hic... Sob..."
The citizens began walking in a line along the narrow bridge leading from the waiting area to the trial platform.
The suppressed sobs echoed through the hellish world.
But even that sound froze into silence with shock.
"Ha...!"
"Hic, hic..."
The faces of those looking down into the chasm below turned pale.
It was because they now witnessed firsthand the hellish scenes they had only vaguely heard and smelled.
I, too, glanced below.
‘Just like in the original.’
In the left pit, called the 'Labor Pit,' humans were mixed together, mining.
What they were extracting was the wicked, red glowing magic stone.
The workers’ bodies were not normal. It wasn’t just from the hardship of labor.
The magical energy in the pit slowly demonized their bodies.
The laborers were half-skeletonized, their arm and leg bones exposed.
At this point, their bodies couldn’t be considered human anymore.
They would work without eating, sleeping, or resting.
Meanwhile, the sight in the right pit, called the ‘Execution Grounds,’ was equally grotesque.
<...What a terrible place.>
On a white bone mound, there were axes, hammers, crosses, stakes, wagons, cannons, and other instruments whose purposes I didn’t want to know.
Bright red demonic signs bloomed over them, covering everything. Puddles of sticky blood flowed slowly nearby.
Despite the many flowers, the scent of decay and blood stung the nose.
By the time I had crossed half of the narrow bridge, the procession of cattle being dragged to the slaughterhouse stopped.
It meant the first person had reached the trial platform.
The unlucky first contestant was an elderly man with a bent back and flowing white hair.
Even from a distance, I could feel his overwhelming fear.
The old man’s fate would soon be that of everyone else.
All eyes were on the outcome of the trial he would face.
I, too, amplified my hearing with my aura and focused on what was happening at the trial platform.
Marquis Levant opened his mouth.
"Criminal, Las Melburn."
"......"
"No answer?"
The Demon Lord, sitting high on the platform, spoke as if waiting for this moment.
"Guilty. Forced labor for 100 years."
"Hic...! W-wait..."
There was no time for a defense. The old man was immediately dragged away by the demons.
"Is... is it over?"
"Is that how fast the trial ends...?"
The citizens, who had been watching, were shocked at how quickly one person’s fate had been decided.
And the worst was still to come.
