[Location: Veythorne's Inner palace]
[Scene: Judgement upon the accused!]
[Task: Get the dragon king to feel pity towards you.]
Wait, what?! Get the dragon king to feel pity towards her?
Is that a new name for God or Is she not dead yet!
The last thing Su-ah remembered before losing consciousness was being stabbed in the gut by her uncle.
Her ex uncle now and if hell existed, she hoped he'd rot in there.
That lunatic abandoned her in his old rickety apartment during a winter storm and she was certain she had died.
But now, she could see a green window panel floating in front of her.
Su-ah swallowed, slapping a hand over her face. "This has to be a joke."
Su-ah's gaze was fixed on the green slightly transparent panel hovering before her, its edge glowing slightly and the letters pulsing as if it couldn't wait.
This was a task. But, wasn't she dead? Is this some kind of afterlife or this was hell fire for her?
She was so focused on the ridiculousness of her situation that she didn't notice the probing eyes and silence that filled the room she was currently standing in.
"Have you gone mad too?"
A voice cut through her thoughts, the cold and distant voice echoing across the room.
Su-ah flinched, blinking once as she snapped her head up. The sight before her made the blood in her face drain.
She was standing in the center of a vast hall, she hadn't seen anything like this before— grand beyond reason, the walls were painted in gold and then encrusted with black stones in some corners that shimmered. The ceiling was impossibly high, supported by towering pillars shaped like dragons, their eyes made of red rubies that glowed faintly in the dim light.
Between all this extravagance hung massive chandeliers made from crystal and gold, the candles that had been lit within them burnt with a steady, unnatural blue flame.
The scent of incense and something sour filled the air.
At the far end of the hall, placed up on a high platform was a throne.
Sure, it was just a normal chair. But to su-ah, it looked similar to some sort of artifact.
It was molded entirely of cold and metal, black jagged wings attached behind the seat, and a foreign language had been carved into the sides of the throne.
And seated up on it, was a man. He was tall even while seated, his long black hair spilled over his shoulder like ink, framing his sharp, beautiful face that currently mirrored his disdain.
'I mean, how could a man look this beautiful and with long hair?' Su-ah wondered.
His cold grey eyes were fixed on her...he didn't blink once as his gaze left her face and slowly dropped to her legs. He had one elbow placed casually on the arm of the throne, his jaw propped against his palm and he had a detached look on his face that made it seem as though the entire scene bored him.
Su-ah's mouth went dry at his appearance.
Is he...God?
No, he couldn't be God. She had always imagined God to have long white hair and even have a huge smile on his lips.
Then...maybe he was the archangel Michael?
She swallowed hard, her eyes moving away from the man and around the vast hall.
It was then she finally realized they weren't alone.
A long line of people arranged in rows around the hall, men dressed in deep red robes, the fabric looked heavy and had multiple layers, their heads covered with stiff caps shaped like inverted cups.
Each row of men had different symbols sewed into the front of their caps.
Their faces held neutral expression and she could feel their eyes on her, judging and probably filled with nothing but hate.
At the foot of the platform where the throne had been placed, stood several women.
They had enormous gowns on, the kind su-ah had only ever seen in isekai webtoon illustrations, large skirts layered with silk and lace so wide that one couldn't help but wonder how they managed to move in them. The corseted upper part embroidered with gold thread, sleeves puffed and little gems glued to the arms.
Even the heavy jewels they had on their necks and wrists glittered gently under the blue flames above them. But none of them looked at poor su-ah with kindness, they were curious about her or just satisfied with her current condition.
Su-ah's lips parted before she could even stop herself. "Are you God? Am in heaven?"
The man seated on the throne frowned, that detached look on his face vanished instantly. He straightened, removing his hand from his jaw before riding to his full height in one smooth motion.
That one action alone, had the women at the foot of the platform take a step backwards.
Without a word, he slowly walked down the platform with his hands clasped behind his back. As he walked past one of the men who looked like guards, his hand shot out.
The sound of metal screeching echoed through the room as he drew out a sword from its sheath.
He placed the sword over his shoulder, his boots clinking softly against the polished tiles as he approached her.
Su-ah's heart slammed violently against her ribcage as the tall man finally came to stand in front of her.
He was too close.
Before she even got the chance to complain, he removed the sword from his shoulder and aimed it directly at the center of her neck.
She gulped hard, the sword's tip against her skin felt cold.
At the same time, she felt a sharp pain in her chest, one that came too sudden and it made it hard for her to breathe.
It had nothing to do with the blade. She felt as if something inside her was squeezing too tightly.
She chose to ignore whatever that was, for now.
"Are you trying to play dumb, Seraphina?" the man said calmly, squinting his grey eyes at her. "Or have you decided this is how you want your life to end?"
Su-ah let out a small chuckle. A small, disbelieving sound.
'Wait, did he just call her Seraphina?' Su-ah asked herself, the smile on her lips dropping.
"...But, I'm already dead, genius." She shot back, her lips curling into a smile.
After she finished speaking, something warm filled her mouth. She spat out the unknown substance onto the floor and her eyes widened at the sight.
Blood.
She had just spat out thick, red blood onto the polished marble floor, staining it violently.
Her breath caught in her throat at this point. She hurriedly tried to raise her hands to wipe her mouth when her gaze finally fell on them.
Large chains had been used to bound her hands and legs together. How exactly didn't she notice this at first?
The man in front of her, stared at the blood. His lips curling into a faint, pleased smirk.
The panic su-ah didn't feel earlier came in full force, sharp and blinding.
"It seems, I'm not the only one that wants you." He said softly.
She could see black blotches appearing in her now blurred vision.
As she fell, the large chandeliers above her stretched into streaks of blue light.
'So much for finally meeting God.' Su-ah thought as she finally collapsed.
And a distant, mechanical voice echoed through the air...
GAME OVER!