Solo Max-Level Newbie – Pure Blood

Chapter 20: The Witch of the Maple Tree, ‘Vivian Astraia’ (1)

A fool. Or perhaps, a troll.

Yohan had always called Seo Changhee that, but in truth, Changhee’s dreams and goals had little to do with personal greed.

If anything, they were closer to a grand cause — one that sought to save everyone, even at the cost of himself.

That was why Yohan could never truly hate or despise him.

A protagonist who struggled alone was, by that fact alone, a being who shone.

[Apocalypse begins.]

[System activation.]

[You have realized the ‘Fate of the World’.]

[You are the sole protagonist of this episode.]

A message that appeared only to Seo Changhee.

After seeing that, his life had completely changed.

— Lieutenant Seo. Are you disobeying orders now? When you’re told to move, you move. Why all the talking, huh? We’re at war. This is real combat! You think we can stop those monsters without command? The ones on top must live for those below to survive. The ones on top must live!

Long ago, he had served as a soldier to protect his nation and its people.

But reality had not been so kind.

What he had to protect was not the powerless majority, but the few who held power.

As a result, all the subordinates who had crossed the line of death with him had been slaughtered — while the command, who had never once faced real battle, had survived unscathed.

— Hunter Seo… how should I put it. He’s capable, but his inflexibility is a flaw. Giving up all these magic stones for people who are going to die anyway? The Guild will never approve of that.

When human lives and the vast resources inside a dungeon were placed on the scales — which side was one supposed to choose?

The answer had always been predetermined.

Disgust. Disillusionment.

And distrust toward those who held power.

All of that had shaped the Seo Changhee of today.

‘I have to do it.’

Those hypocrites who only pursued their own greed and safety —

They would never be able to lead anyone down the right path in this hellish episode.

Even the system must have known that, which was why it had chosen him.

Casting off his thoughts of the past, Seo Changhee asked Yohan,

“After the vampire’s magic vanished, you appeared directly in a straight line from there. Don’t you think that’s too much of a coincidence to be called chance?”

Quick on the uptake at times like this, huh.

“Yeah. I killed the boss.”

Yohan didn’t deny it.

Because Seo Changhee had asked with certainty.

“Even so, you chose to stay in the dungeon. You must have your reasons. A guy capable of defeating the boss wouldn’t stick around just to scavenge scraps, would he…?”

“It’s hard to explain. Just leave this to me this time and step back.”

“You’re saying you’ll bear the risk alone?”

“There’s no reason for multiple people to bleed.”

“As expected! You’re similar to me in that sense — the conviction to endure everything for the sake of a greater cause. But don’t worry. I’ve steeled myself as well.”

“……”

Yohan bit his lip at Changhee’s words.

No.

They were different.

‘If I only worried about my own gain and the safety of those I cherish…’

That guy was acting for the sake of everyone’s future.

There was a vast difference between them.

“So you’re staying behind not for some ‘Ode to Humanity’, but simply to save others? You know they won’t even remember you, right? Look at them now — scrambling desperately to save themselves.”

The word hero sounded noble —

But in reality, it meant walking a thorny path, being pelted with stones for the slightest mistake or failure.

Maybe one would be glorified or romanticized in the distant future, but at this moment, such people were never recognized for their worth.

Then, at Yohan’s cynical words—

“It’s a world filled with malice.”

Seo Changhee smiled faintly, as if remembering something.

“That’s why someone has to walk that path.”

There was no pretense in that smile.

A sudden thought crossed Yohan’s mind.

‘So this is why he’s the protagonist.’

When everyone else painted the world black to protect themselves,

There was one who silently tried to leave behind white footprints.

Perhaps that was why even this damned world still had a flicker of hope left.

If only he’d stop acting like a troll — Yohan might have actually liked him.

Well, that could be fixed. Slowly. With proper training.

“In that case, you must leave all the more. In the episodes to come, countless lives will depend on you.”

The worst banquet was soon to arrive.

Before that tragedy unfolded, those unrelated had to be removed.

If they stayed here, they’d be slaughtered without exception.

“No, wait. I have to be here. With my abilities, no matter what enemies come—”

“Pass. The world turns just fine without you.”

“Seriously, you’re making me use force. Let go. I said, let go.”

Yohan had already seen those trembling legs earlier. Why pretend to be tough?

Just follow quietly.

Before he decided to knock him out.

“I’ll even count to three for you. One! Two! Two and a half. Two and a half of a half. Half of that half, and half again of the half of that half…”

Seo Changhee, seized by the back of the neck, was dragged away by Yohan.

When they reached the Gate, a crowd had gathered there.

Murmur murmur.

Why were they standing there instead of leaving?

Yohan pushed through the people toward the front.

Then he saw someone familiar.

Tsk. Another one with similar vibes to Youngsung.

A slightly more unhinged version, maybe — but Lee Junho had always tried to look out for everyone from the start.

“We have to save them! We can’t just leave the people behind!”

Lee Junho was shouting.

Not only that, he was blocking the raid team’s way.

Sword drawn, refusing to let anyone pass.

That was… excessive.

He looked ready to cut someone down if they tried to move.

“Wait, are you saying we should go back in to save those trapped inside?”

“Captain, I understand you value life, but it’s impossible right now. We should at least evacuate the injured while we still can—”

Of course the raid members looked troubled.

“No. No… If everyone escapes like this…”

Lee Junho trembled, unable to contain himself.

But that trembling—

Was strange.

It wasn’t the sorrow of watching lives fade away, nor the guilt of being powerless to stop it.

If one had to describe it—

Fear.

Yes.

The emotion on Lee Junho’s face was far more primal and raw.

And the next words confirmed it.

“The number of sacrifices for Her will decrease, won’t it?”

The air froze solid.

And at that moment—

[‘The Witch of the Maple Tree’ gazes upon her sacrifices.]

With the message that appeared before them all,

Everything changed.

＊＊＊

Rumble rumble rumble!

The ground shook violently.

Black smoke crept upward, reshaping the space.

The dazzlingly bright magic stones vanished without a trace—

And in their place grew an enormous tree.

“Run!”

“What?”

Yohan reflexively pushed Seo Changhee out through the Gate.

Beyond the flickering surface, Seo Changhee’s startled expression vanished.

He had made it out safely.

Several others, driven by sheer terror, also threw themselves toward the exit.

“Uwaaaah!”

“P-Please, save me!”

“Stop! Stop, you worthless sacrifices!”

Lee Junho swung his sword wildly, but only managed to wound a few — he couldn’t stop everyone.

A large number of people escaped outside.

However, at that very moment—

[‘Leaf of Sin’ grows!]

Tree branches and vividly colored maple leaves spread across the Gate’s surface.

Chwa chwa chwa chwa—!

Rumble rumble rumble!

The path to the outside was completely severed.

‘She’s moving faster than expected.’

Yohan swallowed dryly, his eyes fixed on the rapidly changing scene.

It was a sensation he hadn’t felt even once since his 1,000th regression began.

A creeping terror that constricted his chest was slowly taking form.

Even the faint scent of leaves that brushed his nose grew thicker by the second.

Step.

With a soft footstep, something emerged from the darkness.

“Hm~ hm-hm-hm.”

A cheerful hum followed.

Her atmosphere was somewhat drowsy, yet she was, without question, a girl of stunning beauty.

A seductive, languid smile bloomed on her small lips.

Scrrrape.

Her staff dragged along the ground.

Wielding a wooden staff as tall as herself, the girl began walking toward the assault team.

“Stop! These are the ones who harmed my master! The right to exact vengeance belongs to me alone!”

Frankenstein, burning with rage, growled a warning.

But naturally, the girl did not stop.

“How dare you ignore my words. Kill her!”

“Kiieeeeh!”

“Grrroooar!”

The undead army charged at the girl.

And then—

Pupupupuk!

They were crushed instantly.

Pshk! Pshshhk!

Shattered bone fragments and torn flesh from corpse wolves tangled in midair, leaving nothing recognizable.

The girl was still smiling.

Humming happily — singing of death.

“Th-this can’t be…”

A heavy sigh escaped Frankenstein’s lips.

Of course it did.

The girl had not made a single move to defend herself.

No spell chants.

No weapon swings.

Not even a word.

And yet, dozens of her enemies had been obliterated beyond recognition.

In that instant, Frankenstein’s body twisted grotesquely.

“Guhk?”

Crackle crackle crack!

His flesh slowly tore apart.

Before he could react, the very body that sustained him was splitting in two.

Splaaash!

Through the downpour of blood—

“From the eastern sky as well…”

The girl, not a single drop of blood upon her, continued walking lightly forward.

Only then did everyone finally understand.

That an unimaginable shadow of death had descended upon this place.

Tremble tremble.

Bodies shook uncontrollably.

Overwhelming fear consumed everything.

The girl’s power, gradually released, was immeasurable.

“How troublesome.”

Now only a few meters away, the girl spoke in a sweet, melodic voice.

“I like to save the delicious ones for last… but this time, there are a few particularly sweet souls among you. It’s going to be so hard to resist. Especially one of you… haa…”

She looked as if she were deciding whether to eat a strawberry-flavored candy or a grape one first.

And she had both the strength and right to think that way.

Those with the divine rank of the Sixth Moon (6월) or higher were true monsters.

It was impossible for those who hadn’t even cleared the first episode to stand against her.

Therefore—

‘Finally, we meet.’

Yohan had to make a choice.

To produce the best possible outcome against this mad predator.

＊＊＊

Vivian Astraia.

A girl with a natural gift for black magic and sorcery — she had appeared simultaneously in several major incidents throughout the 999th regression.

Normally, she moved quietly between dungeons, feeding upon her prey in silence.

But her overwhelming presence never went unnoticed; those around her refused to leave her be.

Thus, as each episode progressed, she became entangled in countless webs of interest and conflict.

‘She also had a strong tendency to hate losing anything that belonged to her.’

Just thinking of it now, Yohan could recall at least three separate episodes where that stood out.

Of course, she had killed everything that stood against her.

Within her divine rank, there had been no equal to her power.

Yohan wet his lips with his tongue.

Obsession and greed—

And a talent that surpassed even those.

…A dangerous woman.

That was why he had to decide.

To cut the flower before it fully bloomed—

Or…

Before he could finish the thought, Pack Bedro had already approached him.

“So the darkness mentioned in the Revelation… is that girl.”

Even Pack Bedro, usually the embodiment of devotion, had turned pale.

The kind of man who would keep flexing his muscles and gathering grain even if Earth were to end in a second— no longer existed.

There were only humans barely clinging to sanity under the weight of fear.

“What I asked you to do?”

“I’ve done everything I could, but…”

Pack Bedro trailed off.

And Yohan knew why.

No amount of preparation would make any difference now.

Even the boss monsters described in so-called S-rank dungeons — the very definition of calamity — had never felt this ominous.

“Do you think there’s a chance?”

Who knew.

“We’ll find out soon enough.”

Honestly, whichever option he chose — the odds weren’t good.