<Chapter 115: The Gate (4)>
Blessings of the Efreet
One of the two ancient relics I obtained from the Collector. It’s a necklace imbued with the power of a fire spirit.
Though it’s an accessory, its performance isn’t particularly exceptional. However, the unique ability it possesses is overwhelmingly advantageous.
[Spirit Possession]
An item that allows a superior spirit to possess my body, thereby increasing my affinity with higher spirits. It’s said to be made by Efreet for middle and low-tier spirits.
Due to this effect, I’ve gained an extremely close affinity with ‘superior spirits’.
The spirit possession also significantly boosts my magical power, which is now at A-rank.
On top of this, I’ve pre-installed an ancient magical amplification circle that I learned from the princess.
This is a single-use magical formula. By using predetermined magic on this circle, I can dramatically amplify the magical damage.
…Installing this was more difficult than I thought and took quite a while. I’m just glad I finished before the corpse collector arrived. Phew.
Whoosh-!
I looked at the endlessly expanding magical circle. It’s nearly complete now.
“Seo-yul…?”
When I glanced to the side, Yu Hwa looked utterly bewildered. My current state must be pretty shocking.
I had told her in advance that I could use ancient relics. Well, hearing about it and seeing it firsthand are two different things.
“We’ll talk about the details later. We’re short on time.”
Already 20 seconds have passed since I acquired the Blessing of Efreet.
Only 40 seconds remain. There’s no time to explain.
Clang-!
Finally, the magic circle stopped expanding.
Ready.
“Then, let’s go. Get ready.”
At that moment, my magical power surged.
A fusion of red and white magical energy. Its beautiful form almost took my breath away.
“Hold on! What are you trying to do?”
“I’m going to wipe out all the hordes of undead that have spilled out.”
Yu Hwa took a startled breath.
“That’s impossible! There’s no way a magic spell can cover this entire area!”
Her voice wavered strangely.
“Even if you can cast such a spell, this is a city! What if there are citizens who haven’t evacuated yet…”
“I know.”
I cut off Yu Hwa’s words.
“I know, so don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”
She clenched her mouth shut. I immediately closed my eyes.
I had previously ascertained the range.
With the affinity close to a superior spirit, my fire magic is now about twice as powerful, and it also consumes about 60% less energy.
I poured all my A-rank magical power into the ground.
Woosh-!
The power increases, the consumption decreases, and efficiency rises, furthermore…
Crack!
Thanks to the magical amplification formula, its power is further amplified.
“My…my God.”
As if feeling the overwhelming surge of magical power, Yu Hwa stuttered.
Soon, even the wings on my back began to retract and start absorbing into the ground.
The ground I was standing on began to tremble like magma.
“Phew…”
With this, only 10 seconds are left. I took one last deep breath and opened my eyes.
Hwaruruk-!
“Kyaah!”
At that moment, flames erupted around me. A sea of red and white flames. They spread endlessly as if to burn the entire world, growing in intensity.
Within one second of touching the flames, the undead army’s skin started to scorch, in two seconds, their rotten organs were exposed, and in three seconds, their entire bodies turned to ashes and were carried away by the wind.
“Success.”
The earth was ablaze.
An advanced fire magic, passed down to me by the princess.
It achieved explosive synergy when combined with the Spirit race’s ‘Affinity’ and ‘Magical Amplification Circles’.
The focus was on range rather than firepower.
However, the weakness of the undead army is fire. This is more than enough.
“Ah, it’s not hot…?”
Yu Hwa mumbled with a trembling voice, clearly puzzled as she observed the red and white flames flickering around her.
“The Spirit flame burns only what I wish to burn.”
Whether it’s living or non-living, material or magic.
“…So you’re saying these flames only burn the undead?”
“Yes.”
This is my master plan.
In the original story, this undead gate caused significant damage.
The combination of the undead army and the corpse collectors was difficult to handle without the use of holy or fire magic.
Because of this, hundreds of thousands of citizens died, and over 60% of the superheroes stationed in Gangnam were killed.
With so many superheroes dead, it was difficult to prevent the subsequent explosion of the gate.
My goal was to prevent unnecessary deaths among the superheroes.
They must not die here to prevent the gate explosion that will happen in four days.
At that moment, the erupting earth finally stopped expanding. It seems to have covered all of Gangnam.
…Fortunately, the operation seems to be successful.
Ping-
“Seo, Seo-yul!?”
At the moment of relief, I felt dizzy. Is it due to the excessive use of magic?
Yu Hwa caught my falling body with her own.
Pajijijik-!
As if to add salt to injury, the time limit for using the ancient artifact had also expired. A strong spark followed.
[Error! Error! Unknown Error!]
An error message filled my vision. I desperately endured the pain, took off ‘Blessings of Efreet’ from my neck, and placed it in the ‘Artisan’s Portable Forge’.
“Seo-yul! Come to your senses! Seo-yul…!”
That was my last memory.
* * *
As I opened my eyes, the first things I saw were the familiar scenery of the Bihon Guild’s office, Maiden grinning at me,
“Awake, are you?”
And Yu Hwa, who was looking at me with a very serious expression.
“Um… Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”
“Ah, no, I’m fine.”
I had only collapsed due to magical exhaustion, so there were no other issues. I lifted myself up from the sofa.
“If it weren’t for you, kiddo, we would’ve become undead food.”
“…Is that what you say to your sibling who’s worked hard and just come back?”
Yu Hwa pouted her lips.
Maiden chuckled and gently patted Yu Hwa’s shoulder.
“It’s just a joke, dear. I’m relieved you’re safe.”
Then she hugged Yu Hwa with a gravely serious face.
“Unnie…”
I blankly stared at the scene.
“Hey kiddo, don’t you want to hug me too? Don’t I get some praise?”
Maiden noticed my gaze and quickly switched to a playful expression.
“…Well, that’s a bit.”
“Huh? Look at this kid? Doesn’t want to accept a hug from an old lady?”
Maiden detached herself from Yu Hwa and flashed an evil grin.
“No, it’s not that…”
It’s simply unnecessary, that’s all.
“Fine. Alright. Ah, the loneliness of age.”
Maiden’s smile grew even wider. It was clearly a playful smile to anyone who looked. Knowing that reacting would only make her more ecstatic, I chose to remain expressionless.
Then, breaking the silence, Yu Hwa softly spoke up.
“Unnie… Don’t tease too much. You’re making Seo-yul uncomfortable.”
I wasn’t particularly uncomfortable, though?
“Uncomfortable my ass. Can’t you see he’s looking at me like I’m an annoying relative who’s cracking jokes?”
Maiden snorted.
“Fine. Forget it. He’s no fun to tease. No fun at all.”
She clicked her tongue for the last time and returned to her seat, stretching out on the sofa and crossing her legs.
“Alright, so what happened?”
“What do you mean, what happened?”
“What’s this gray out, and what’s with the gate that opened today?”
Maiden looked at me with a dead serious expression.
“Why are you asking me that?”
“Ha. Look at this guy. Who do you think you’re taking for a fool?”
Maiden raised one corner of her lips, smirking.
“Come on, you think I don’t know you? Showing up at that timing and even using an ancient relic, you’ve basically said it all. And…”
Maiden lifted her head slightly and snorted.
“Your expression says it all. ‘I know everything~.'”
“…Haha.”
Looks like I couldn’t hide it after all.
“So, let’s not waste time beating around the bush and get to the point. What exactly is happening right now?”
Well, it’s not like I had any intention of hiding it in the first place, so it’s just that I didn’t manage my expression.
“Before I start talking, there are a couple of things I need to ask of you. First, please don’t ask me how I know this.”
“Alright, won’t ask.”
“And second, only the two of you should know about this.”
“Of course.”
“Yes, of course.”
Both nodded their heads in agreement.
“Also, there’s one more thing…”
“Another one? How many are there?”
Maiden frowned.
“This is the last one.”
I grinned.
“No matter how frivolous or unimportant my words may seem, you have to believe me.”
* * *
After Kang Seo-yul left,
Only Maiden and Yoo Hwa remained, lost in serious thought.
Tap, tap,
The rhythmic sound of Maiden tapping the table with her nails echoed. Both were preoccupied, contemplating over Kang Seo-yul’s words.
“…Hwa.”
Maiden was the first to speak.
“Yes.”
“What do you think?”
“…Honestly, it’s hard to believe. If it were anyone other than Mr. Seo-yul, I would have kicked them out right away.”
Yoo Hwa sighed.
“And you?”
“Same. Even if it’s coming from that kid, it’s hard to easily believe.”
Maiden also sighed.
“The claim that dozens of gates will open simultaneously all over Korea in four days, without any warning signs, is hard to believe, isn’t it?”
“Exactly….”
Kang Seo-yul’s words were shocking. Or should it be said they came out of nowhere?
No, just predicting the opening of the gates is astonishing enough, let alone saying that dozens will open at the same time. It’s hard to believe, thinking logically.
“It doesn’t seem to be related to the Saviors of Truth either.”
Kang Seo-yul, who had almost 100% reliable information concerning the Saviors of Truth, seemed to have no connection to them in this matter.
“Right. Even if it were the Saviors of Truth, they wouldn’t have the technology to control the gates.”
There is still no complete understanding of the gates. They can only be somewhat replicated, and that’s it. To control and manipulate such an unknown concept at will? Impossible.
“If they had such technology, humanity would have been destroyed long ago.”
A brief silence flowed.
“Still, it’s hard not to believe him either.”
“Yes, considering the way Mr. Seo-yul has been up until now.”
It was also difficult to dismiss Kang Seo-yul’s words as mere delusion.
He was a person who deserved trust.
“The phenomenon known as ‘Gray Out’ distorting the magic in conjunction with the gate opening also makes sense.”
“Yes, the distortion affecting the body and reducing abilities by about 30% makes sense. We actually experienced a 30% reduction in abilities.”
“Sigh. This is tough. Really tough.”
However, Kang Seo-yul’s request was not something easy to comply with just based on his word, without any evidence.
“Ah, this is driving me crazy. If it were an easier request, I would have obliged….”
Maiden frustratingly ran her fingers through her hair.
“Call ‘Master’ to Korea in four days?”
The superhero, Master.
Real name Caribma Nerista.
Guild leader of the world’s top guild ‘The One’.
Kang Seo-yul had requested Maiden to call him to Korea.
“Easier said than done.”
As if it’s easy to call the world’s strongest man, ranked 1st in the global superhero rankings, to another country.
“You can call him, right?”
“I can call him. I can, but….”
Maiden exhaled as if the ground had collapsed beneath her.
“Ah.”
* * *
As soon as I arrived home, Goldie and the princess greeted me.
“Welcome back So, were there any major problems with the plan?”
“Nope. Everything went smoothly, just as planned.”
I gently stroked the princess’s head.
“Like I’ve said multiple times, touching the princess’s head is disrespectful.”
“I’m sorry. It was unconscious.”
“…Be careful next time. Or at least follow the direction of my hair when you touch it.”
“I will.”
At first, the princess fiercely resisted, but these days, she allows me to touch her head obediently.
I don’t know if she’s given up or gotten used to it.
Either way, it’s a win for me.
The texture of the princess’s hair has a different charm compared to Goldie and White tiger’s fur.
“Meow.”
Goldie clung to my feet, acting affectionate.
“Good, our Goldie.”
I picked up Goldie into my arms.
“Did you get back safely after setting up the magic circle earlier?”
“Meow!”
Goldie perked up his ears and nodded his head.
I had just finished setting up the magic circle with Goldie’s help a little while ago.
Then I sent Goldie back, thinking the chances of being discovered would be higher if he stayed around me.
I was a bit worried, but it was an unnecessary concern.
“Goldie ringed the doorbell with his face in the camera and it startled me”
“I told him to do that.”
I petted Goldie again.
“Where’s White Tiger?”
“Asleep.”
“Isn’t she sleeping too much these days? How many hours a day?”
“Hmm, seems like she sleeps around 20 hours a day.”
“Really?”
Is White Tiger trying to outgrow Goldie? She sleeps a lot.
“My dear, how long will you stand in the entrance?”
“Ah, sorry. Let’s go in.”
I took off my gear appropriately. I took off my shoes first, then my armor, and finally threw off the gloves I was wearing.
“Hmm?”
At that moment, the princess’s eyes widened.
“My dear, that tattoo on the back of your hand…”
A tattoo symbolizing the ‘Fire Spirit’ was once again engraved on the back of my hand.
That’s right, I had used Blessings of Efreet, and with the acquisition of the trait, the tattoo reappeared. My mistake.
“Hmm, this is…”
What should I say?
Should I just say it’s a fashionable tattoo?
It seems like the innocent princess would overlook it.
Alright, let’s take it easy.
“This is just a fashion tat…”
Just as I was about to make an excuse.
“That shape, is it Adam’s Mark?”
“…What?”
Adam’s what?
<Chapter 115: The Gate (4)> End
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