Chapter 160 : Chapter 160

Chapter 160 - The Conference (1)

Clear time under 5 minutes, 0 hits taken, and above all, facing all three at the same time.

It was a terrifying achievement even by the standards of my heyday when I was praised as something untouchable on the Conqueror wiki board, where only top-tier veterans gathered.

It was even more so if it was against the guardians of the World Tree.

So, if the opponent was someone who would understand this fact better than anyone else, it meant it was okay to smile brightly and demand this.

“Enhance up to 10 pieces of equipment.”

-…

I could feel the personality dwelling inside the World Tree clamming up in bewilderment.

If it had a human form, it would probably be sweating profusely.

-Th-the blessing of the World Tree is not something that can be produced so carelessly. If done wrong, it could even break the balance of the world…

The blessing of the World Tree meant equipment enhancement. It granted not only basic specs but also special effects.

He says he can’t give me that good thing. Hmm.

At those words, I played the recorder.

[…If the seeker demonstrates such qualifications, a fitting reward will be given.]

-…

The World Tree lost its words again at the dignified voice resounding from the small machine in my hand.

It was a look that said, ‘When did you prepare that?’

No, you promised this.

At least you have to keep your word.

-N-no matter what, up to 10 is… too much. I will enhance them more carefully, so if you could just reduce the number a little…

“No, you’re talking too much. Weren’t you the one who said you’d do it in the first place?”

-Th-that’s true, but…

I deliberately exuded an attitude of being annoyed and irritated and relentlessly berated the World Tree.

Seeing the World Tree, whose mumbling became more and more hesitant as the conversation continued, the expressions of the surrounding spirits became very strange.

Anyone would have such a reaction if a being who was like a god to them was flustered.

“Ah, this is really annoying! Fine, fine! Then up to 3! But make sure the quality is top-notch! Make them so dazzling that anyone who sees them will be blown away! Got it?”

-Ah, I understand…

“I’ll check everything! Just try to make one crooked!”

-…I will do my best…

And as I was exuding the atmosphere of a client representative storming a subcontractor’s employee.

Seo Ah-in, who had been watching silently from behind with her arms crossed, muttered a word.

“Isn’t that abuse of power?”

“…”

Hey.

The opponent is a god of the Spirit Realm.

If you call that abuse of power against such a being, what does that make me?

“It’s Kim Gyu-sik-ssi, isn’t it?”

“…Why is my name being called so terribly?”

“You know why.”

“…”

You know.

Haven’t your tongue skills improved recently?

***

So.

The three pieces of equipment I entrusted to the World Tree were.

The Gnosis’s Heart, the Cheonryongpo, and finally, the Mysterious Vessel.

Once the blessing was properly imbued, they would all become the core pillars of the King of Flies strategy.

And there was one final step to make them ‘function’ properly.

“I have to stay here?”

I nodded at the bewildered Lee Si-yeong and handed her the vessel.

If nothing else, it was better for this one to have the blessing imbued by herself.

In fact, I could say I had seen everything I needed to see in the Spirit Realm with that, but I understood her bewilderment at being told to stay here.

“Well, not for too long. A week should be enough.”

“…”

“It won’t be a big problem. Just look around, right?”

“...That’s probably true.”

In the most luxurious room in the palace. Among the numerous ‘attendants’ scattered around, Lee Si-yeong’s words trailed off.

Well, at this point, it was no exaggeration to say that she was being treated on the same level as the queen.

The Ordeal I had cleared had that much of a ripple effect.

In fact, the polite treatment I had received as a guest before had now become so reverent that their heads would bow at a right angle whenever they saw me.

“…Well, that’s that, but.”

Lee Si-yeong tapped her chin and looked back and forth between the vessel and her shoulder.

Then she let out a deep sigh and took it.

“Fine. I’ll stay here.”

“…You’re being too obedient.”

“It would be strange not to follow along after you’ve made it so obvious that you’ve been plotting something. Anyway, I get it. How many days?”

“Right. It might be a little lonely on your own, but hang in there. The ring will be ready soon too…”

Lee Si-yeong kicked my shin with a mana-infused foot.

…What is it?

“I’m asking just in case. You’re just saying that in its literal meaning, right? There’s no other meaning, right?”

“…No other meaning?”

“Right. It’s over from the moment you don’t understand that. Ah, geez, really…”

To Lee Si-yeong, who sighed deeply and scratched her head, I also spoke with a strange expression.

“Right. I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about exactly. But I think I need to tell you one thing for sure.”

“Huh?”

“There’s no special meaning, but it’s true that I’m worried about you. You’re someone close to me, after all.”

“…”

No, really.

There probably won’t be any physical threats, but I know best what this one will have turned into in about a week.

And that would be very effective in catching the King of Flies. It wasn't for nothing that I said this one’s engraving was a scenario-branching event.

However.

Hmm.

“…”

I was just a little worried if this one’s mentality could handle it.

“You’re a precious person to me too, so please be careful. Got it?”

As soon as I said that, a few more blows landed on my shin.

…No, what is it, really?

As I was rubbing my leg, Lee Si-yeong pointed at me with trembling fingers.

Her face was flushed and her breathing was rough.

“…So don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“If I say, don’t do it, don’t do it, really, you piece of trash-!”

“…”

I feel wronged.

I don’t know what it is, but I feel very wronged.

***

“…Ah, I’m in big trouble.”

Those words came out of Seo Ah-in’s mouth blankly.

I had sent them out of the portal first and had just come out after finishing Lee Si-yeong’s clean-up inside.

Something, the atmosphere was strange.

“…”

Come to think of it, wasn’t it like this before I went in?

“What’s the big trouble?”

“Mom told me to at least create a situation where I’d wear a veil inside. I have a feeling I’ll be in big trouble if I go back like this…”

What veil?

Is someone getting married nearby?

“Yes. So you’re in big trouble. It’s all your fault if someone secretly crawls into your bed in the middle of the night, so just accept it.”

“…”

“Anyway, everyone’s in a bad mood because they couldn’t get a clear resolution inside. And one competitor has dropped out. Let’s go to round 2 like this. You don’t have any complaints, do you, Gyu-sik-ssi?”

What on earth are you talking about?

It seemed the women nearby were looking at this one in shock at the words that were pouring out without hesitation, but I couldn't even grasp what she was saying.

Someone could come into my bed. I had become a big shot to the point where an extreme choice like assassination was being considered.

“…Well, anyway.”

I let out a deep sigh at Seo Ah-in, who kept on with her incomprehensible words, and first picked up the phone.

Let’s first check on Yoo Ho-jun and Lee Seong-jin-ssi, who must have been busy running around while I was taking care of things inside the Spirit Realm.

“Oh. Ho-jun.”

[Yeah. You’re not dead yet?]

“…Why would I be dead?”

[There’s one thing that even heroes who have been through all sorts of life-and-death situations can’t handle, and that’s marriage.]

“What?”

[It means women are that scary. But how many people like that do you have around you right now?]

“No, you bastard. Stop with the nonsense and just report.”

Yoo Ho-jun chuckled and sent me some data.

[It’s the schedule and location of the conference held at the Association. Check it out.]

Ah, right.

The event where I had openly provoked Lancester to come out a while ago.

In fact, the content of the event itself was not much.

It was just a feeling close to a year-end report where our guild would report on what we had done this year.

The key was whether the ‘head of the Lancester family,’ whom I had openly grated on, would come out or not.

He was also the main culprit of the Black Night Incident that had caused a catastrophe in the Seo family, and he was probably also responsible for the incident related to the Magic Tower, in which Darien and Lee Si-yeong were involved.

In other words, he was the mastermind in most of the backstories related to the main characters.

“…”

I clenched and unclenched my fists while reading the data.

The problem was that.

Originally, the system code was set up that way.

If it was a character with a ‘background,’ this guy was involved, big or small. In some way.

It was the same for characters who were born as extras.

Then, that means.

If my jumbled-up background in ‘this world’ was entangled with this guy, there was a high possibility that it would be cleared up all at once.

It also meant that my ‘death event,’ which I had been warned about repeatedly until now, was just around the corner.

“…Heh.”

But, well.

That’s no reason to back down.

As soon as I found the name ‘Altair Lancester’ on the participant list, I turned off the screen.

Found him.

The branching point to the final boss.

“Right. You did well. See you later.”

[So… what are you going to do? That side will be very well prepared. It’s a different dimension compared to the enemies you’ve met so far.]

“I know. So I’ll have to prepare thoroughly.”

Even if this guy didn’t tell me, this conference was a very important position in the main scenario that led to the climax.

All the incidents that had to be solved by throwing in demons, spirits, and all the forces I had accumulated so far would pour out.

I would have to take all the guys around me with me.

The first thing to do for such a terrifying event was.

[A dungeon? A tower? Or are you going to go hunt the strongest Demonic Beast?]

“A hardware store.”

[…What?]

“Where’s the nearest hardware store?”

[…]

To go to a hardware store.

Hmm. Did they give a discount if you bought nails or tools in a set?

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