Overcoming Technique — Part 2
Three people arrived promptly.
An elderly man in a suit with a lightning-shaped tie.
A woman in a stately priestly robe, adorned with a golden mitre.
And a grizzled warrior with a beard bristling like a porcupine.
They introduced themselves as the Archbishop of the Thor Cult, the Archbishop of the Gaia Cult, and a Director of the Protector Alliance, respectively.
The Archbishop of the Gaia Cult scrutinized me, as if trying to assess me.
“You claim to know the cure for stigma—no, the Overcoming Technique?”
The Archbishop of the Thor Cult nodded.
“That’s correct. Our cult has already verified it. We confirmed that Hjordis, a devout follower of our faith, was healed.”
“Hjordis… you mean the superhuman married to Sigmund?”
“That’s right.”
It seemed Sigmund’s reputation extended even to these figures.
Well, that wasn’t surprising—Sigurd, after all, was a legendary hero.
“Sir Superhuman, does this Overcoming Technique have any restrictions or side effects? I don’t mean to doubt you. It’s just that stigmas have tormented and burdened us for so long, and the fact that it could be resolved so easily is difficult to comprehend.”
“There are no side effects.”
I answered with confidence.
“There’s just one restriction: the correct Overcoming Technique must be used for the specific stigma. If you try to use the Overcoming Technique for Kymaris’s stigma on another demon’s stigma, side effects will occur immediately.”
“What sort of side effects?”
“Corruption. The victim will transform into a demon on the spot.”
“My goodness…”
The Archbishop of the Gaia Cult clicked her tongue.
“We must manage this strictly to prevent any careless misuse of the Overcoming Technique.”
“Indeed, caution is essential. Even a small mistake in the ingredients could lead to irreparable consequences.”
“Ahem, ahem.”
The Director of the Protector Alliance cleared his throat.
“I’ve heard you know more than just the Overcoming Technique for Kymaris’s stigma. May I ask which other demons’ Overcoming Techniques you’re familiar with?”
“Of course.”
I paused briefly.
The two archbishops stared at me intently, and the Director’s gaze was practically burning a hole in me.
“I know the Overcoming Techniques for six types of stigma: Kymaris, Gremory, Andras, Belial, Dantalion, and Andromalius.”
In truth, I knew all of them.
All 108 Demon Lords.
I hadn’t memorized them intentionally, but creating guides, crafting catalysts, and experimenting with applications had naturally etched them into my memory.
The real problem lay in the fact that most of the core ingredients came from Hell—specifically, regions unlocked only after Episode 5: The Gates of Hell.
For now, only six Overcoming Techniques could be created with ingredients obtainable on Earth or in the Grand Labyrinth.
The Director of the Protector Alliance repeated my words.
“Kymaris, Gremory, Andras, Belial, Dantalion, Andromalius…”
Though he might have had reason to feel disappointed, his eyes gleamed with excitement.
“That alone is incredible! Aren’t those among the most frequently encountered demons on the lower levels? More than half of all stigma victims were afflicted by those six! Just providing these six Overcoming Techniques would be a monumental contribution to the Protector Alliance!”
“Now that you mention it, that’s true.”
“Many of our followers have also been afflicted by stigma. They’ll be overjoyed.”
“And who’s to say we must stop at just those six? If we join forces, we can surely unravel the secrets behind other Overcoming Techniques.”
“Exactly. There are no mysteries that sufficient time and funding can’t uncover! This is the time to unite humanity’s strength!”
“Precisely!”
The Archbishop of the Thor Cult and the Director of the Protector Alliance were perfectly in sync.
They were already buzzing with excitement, clearly planning to allocate research funds and delve into the Overcoming Techniques as soon as they returned.
The Archbishop of the Gaia Cult bowed deeply to me.
“Just hearing about this knowledge is overwhelming. Its value is beyond measure—neither gold nor nectar could compare. And yet you’ve offered it in the spirit of humanity’s well-being. I can’t find the words to adequately express my gratitude.”
“We all help each other. Without the Protector Alliance and the two cults holding back the Grand Labyrinth, humanity would have long since been wiped out.”
“The saints of past generations would have been delighted to hear such words.”
“Who doesn’t know of the sacrifices made by the Protector Alliance and the two cults? It’s not just me—humanity as a whole is grateful to you all.”
Who doesn’t enjoy a little flattery?
The two archbishops and the director beamed with satisfaction.
Then, the Archbishop of the Gaia Cult’s expression turned apologetic.
“There’s one thing I’d like to ask your understanding about, Sir Superhuman.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“While I’d love to immediately implement your Overcoming Techniques, this is an official matter, and we must proceed transparently. I hope you won’t mind, but we’ve decided to conduct a public experiment of your Overcoming Techniques.”
A public experiment?
Ah, clinical trials.
I readily nodded.
“That’s only natural. While the Kymaris Overcoming Technique has been proven, the other five haven’t yet. Feel free to conduct as many experiments as needed. I prefer it that way.”
“We should be able to recruit volunteers quickly. Can we begin right away?”
“Of course. I’ll observe as well—just in case any emergencies arise.”
“Thank you for your kindness.”
The recruitment of volunteers was carried out with lightning speed.
I found myself at the Protector Alliance headquarters.
The Protector Alliance had always maintained a thorough registry of stigma victims.
They reached out to those with the most severe conditions, and their families—already on high alert—rushed over with the afflicted, carrying them in their arms or on their backs.
The grand auditorium of the Protector Alliance headquarters was now filled to capacity.
The President of the Alliance, its directors, renowned superhumans, and even German politicians and celebrities had gathered.
The grand auditorium was packed to the brim, so much so that it seemed ready to burst.
The center was cleared to lay down the victims.
“The foundation of any Overcoming Technique is demon blood. All Overcoming Techniques begin with a reversed pentagram drawn in demon blood.”
That was how I began.
The priests widened their eyes and hurriedly took notes on their tablets, while the superhumans—many of whom were higher level than me—reacted to my every instruction as they prepared the ritual.
“From there, the process differs slightly. For Kymaris and Andras, you’ll need candles made from the hair of Abyssal creatures. Gremory requires candles made from concentrated succubus marrow, Belial requires candles of fallen angel feathers, while Dantalion and Andromalius need candles made from ground Infernal Grimoires.”
“Infernal Grimoires?”
“Not the cheap ones you see circulating in the market. I’m talking about the ones that come out of the Grand Labyrinth.”
The superhumans nodded, understanding.
“Damn, we’ve been burning every single one we’ve found until now. Who would’ve thought they could be used for Overcoming Techniques…”
“Let’s start collecting them from now on.”
“We need to be careful. Those books are monsters that can seduce people.”
“It might be better to carry special sealing bags for them.”
On the spot, countermeasures were formed, and methods were proposed.
Rather than blindly following my instructions, they were already paving their own paths.
“And as for the flames used to burn the candles…”
The properties varied.
Some rituals didn’t require ordinary fire but rather darkness or flames soaked in blood.
The catalysts and the potions fed to the victims were all different as well.
The only consistent elements were that the magic circle had to be drawn with demon blood, and the main ingredient for the potion was the blood of the corresponding demon.
“We’ll have to hunt the demons.”
“As long as we can succeed, it’s worth it.”
“They resurrect a month after dying anyway, so…”
“Do we have enough demon blood in stock?”
“We’re fine for most of the demons, but Gremory’s blood is running low. That woman is damn hard to track down.”
“Then let’s organize an expedition for Gremory immediately!”
“Our Brotherhood will be the first to join!”
“What are you talking about? Our Brotherhood will lead the charge!”
“Our Brotherhood has victims among its members! We’ll be the ones to start!”
Let’s ignore the Nordic superhumans who were now arguing over the honor of going first.
The ritual preparations were completed.
Potions were fed to five victims, and stakes—some intangible, some silver, some golden, and some forged from hellsteel—were prepared.
The families of the victims trembled with anxiety nearby.
“Th-this will work, right?”
“Don’t interrupt the Superhuman. Just watch quietly. I told you, Hjordis from our Brotherhood was treated by him.”
“Still, what if something goes wrong…”
“Hey, shut it. What if you make him mess up by talking?”
Though their words sounded harsh, their eyes burned not with doubt or pressure but with desperation.
Their emotions and mana, laced with their hopes and wishes, were tightly restrained within them.
And these weren’t ordinary people—they were high-level superhumans, Level 6s and Level 7s.
‘This is a little overwhelming.’
Truthfully, even I was slightly nervous about driving these stakes—whether they were silver or golden—into the victims.
In the game, as long as you had the necessary materials, the process would end automatically after clicking through the dialogue.
There weren’t even Quick Time Events… just some flashing effects and screen shakes before it was done.
‘It’ll work out.’
But if I hesitated now, it would all come crashing down.
Trusting in the game knowledge that had carried me this far, I drove the first silver stake into the victim with all my strength.
“Gaaaargh!”
The middle-aged man convulsed violently.
His body was already halfway transformed into a demon.
The silver pierced his mutating heart, and the forces of the demon and dark magic clashed violently, causing the stake to disintegrate in an instant.
A silver storm erupted from the point of impact, engulfing the middle-aged man.
In a flash, his transformation halted.
It was as if time rewound itself, returning him to his original state.
And then, one significant thing vanished.
The stigma that had been consuming his body.
The demon’s power.
The trace of the demon and its invasive presence.
All of it disappeared completely, leaving behind nothing but a powerful superhuman in its place.
“Ugh…”
“Dad!”
“Honey!”
“Brother! Are you awake?”
“Ugh… W-where am I…?”
One side of the auditorium turned into a sea of tears, while the rest became tense with anticipation—or was it expectation?
Intense gazes poured over me like a waterfall.
I drove the stakes one after another.
It didn’t matter if the stakes were intangible or physical. Each one dissolved upon impact, transforming into storms of light.
Even for someone like me, who had resolved countless stigma debuffs in the game, the scene before me was completely unfamiliar.
When the entire process was finished, I stood in awe, marveling at what I had accomplished.
“Maria! Maria!”
“Sister!”
“Brother! Brother!”
“Dear God!”
“Thank you, Gaia! Thank you so much!”
All five victims had recovered.
It was hard to believe these were the same people whose bodies and souls had been on the verge of disintegration.
The superhumans opened their eyes, blinking in confusion, unaware of what had just happened due to their lack of memory.
Their families, on the other hand, were crying, laughing, and radiating a whirlwind of emotions.
Most of them were superhumans themselves, their mana waves overlapping and pulsating so intensely that the very air around them seemed to shimmer unnaturally.
Before long, they came running to me, bowing and thanking me profusely.
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
“We’re deeply grateful!”
“I’ll never forget this debt!”
“You’re my savior! I’ll repay this debt with my life!”
People of different races, religions, and cultures, all expressing their gratitude.
Some people held my hands, others bowed deeply, and some even cut their palms and swore oaths in blood. It was enough to make my head spin.
The Director of the Protector Alliance finally intervened, smiling warmly as he pulled me away from the crowd.
“Alright, alright. Our Superhuman must be exhausted. Everyone, please spend this time with your loved ones and let the Superhuman rest.”
“Superhuman! Please allow me the chance to host you someday! I’ll throw a Highland-style feast in your honor!”
“I will grant you a village under your name!”
“Have you married yet? I happen to have a lovely granddaughter—”
“Hey! Enough with the nonsense!”
After being surrounded by the families—no, the families that nearly became mourners—for quite some time, I finally managed to slip away.
I retreated to a conference room within the Protector Alliance headquarters.
As the door closed behind me, I let out a bitter laugh.
“This is overwhelming.”
“It will only get worse from here,”
The Director said.
“Starting tomorrow, we’re planning to mobilize all the temples in the Labyrinth City.”
“All of them?”
“The Seven Major Cults will all be involved. While our Thor Cult and the Gaia Cult hold the strongest presence in Aachen, the other five still represent significant powers.”
At that scale, wouldn’t I be unable to step outside at all?
They’re already treating me like a pop idol, and by tomorrow, my face will probably be plastered all over newspapers, TV, and the internet.
I’d better finish my business here and return to Korea quickly.
There are hardly any stigma victims in Korea, so the impact should be much smaller there.
When I mentioned this, the three of them looked utterly shocked.
“What do you mean, you’re leaving already?”
“You should stay for at least a little while! You must meet our Cardinal, the Pope, and perhaps even Thor Himself might grant you an audience!”
“And Gaia as well!”
“…You’re joking, right?”
They wanted me to meet a god?
Have they lost their minds?
Even Greek mythology warned against such things. Wasn’t there a story about Semele? She begged Zeus to reveal His true form and ended up burned to ashes because she couldn’t withstand His heat and radiance.
For a human to face a god directly, you’d need to be at least Level 7.
Even in the game, attempting such a raid required meeting the minimum level.
Level 6 players would die the moment they entered. Level 7 players wouldn’t last a minute. Only Level 9, or the Celestial Rank, could even begin to survive the encounter.
The two Archbishops looked visibly disappointed.
“To think you’d leave so soon, even when the gods themselves would honor you…”
“This is truly a shame.”
I chuckled awkwardly.
“I didn’t do this for recognition. If more Protectors can survive and dedicate themselves to humanity, I’ll be satisfied with just that.”
“Ah, to think there exists someone so selfless…”
“No wonder he’s called the Saint of this era.”
“We should propose canonization to the Pope.”
“Indeed! Is this not a miracle worthy of sainthood?”
“Please, don’t go that far…”
Seeing my troubled expression, the Archbishop of the Thor Cult burst into laughter.
“Haha! Don’t worry, it’s just a joke. You’re not even a member of our cult—canonizing you would indeed be excessive.”
“There’s an appropriate way to express gratitude in the divine realm, and there’s an appropriate way to do so in the secular realm.”
The Archbishop of the Gaia Cult gave me a meaningful look.
It wasn’t just directed at me; she also glanced at the Thor Cult Archbishop and the Protector Alliance Director.
Wait, could it be?
The most fitting form of gratitude for a Superhuman—!
As if they’d coordinated beforehand, all three nodded simultaneously.
Was that the signal?
Suddenly, several magical chests materialized on the conference table.
“A small token of our appreciation.”
The three smiled warmly.
I didn’t bother pretending to be modest and refusing. With trembling hands, I opened the boxes.
Flaaaash!
Brilliant platinum-colored light burst forth.
It was the radiance I’d often seen in the game.
Well, not that often—I’d seen it once when I pulled a Celestial Mount, but mostly I’d seen it repeatedly in streamers’ broadcasts.
In short…
It was SSR-tier loot!
–TL Notes–
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