I blankly opened my eyes.
What I saw was an unfamiliar ceiling. It was the stark white ceiling of a hospital. The distinct smell of disinfectant grazed my nostrils.
Then, the events that had occurred flashed through my mind.
‘Looks like I won.’
The demon was strong.
I realized that it was impossible to win without pushing myself to the limits.
No, maybe I did win. But that outcome would have resulted in one of the three of us dying. My pushing it was the right thing to do.
I closed my eyes and contemplated my body. The backlash from forcibly advancing my mind-image had shattered my body. Though my body, tuned by Black God Martial Arts, could withstand considerable strain, this time the backlash was severe.
‘…no issues though.’
However, my expression was grave.The reason was because of Sung Han-byul. Muscles torn, bones crushed, yet my body was intact. It was clear that Sung Han-byul had sacrificed her own life energy to save me.
Life Transference.
Literally the ability to transfer life energy.
She could transfer someone else’s life energy, but the straightforward Sung Han-byul might have used her own.
‘How much longer does she have to live?’
If we were going by the original story, she would have about 10 years left.
But now, it’s different. Compared to the original, catastrophes were significantly more frequent, and the density of incidents was higher. I was not sure how much of Sung Han-byul’s lifespan was left.
‘Worrying about it is pointless, isn’t it?’
I shook my head and lay back on the bed.
Worrying now was meaningless. I tuned my body with Black God Martial Arts. Blood flow and direction, skeletal density. The source black flames generated from the Black Celestial Divine Body began circulating throughout my body.
The process burned away the unnecessary elements. Commonly known in martial arts as purging bodily waste through black flames, increasing the body’s density. Muscles compressed, blood circulation quickened.
The energy originating from the heart permeated throughout my body, commonly referred to in martial arts novels as the Great Celestial Circulation. However, mine started from the heart, unlike others which began from the lower dantian.
‘Filled about 10% of it.’
The vessel for the Black Celestial Divine Body was too vast.
It was created so large from the beginning that filling it has been tremendously difficult. Despite much time passing since its creation, I had only managed to fill about 10% of it.
But compared to just before the Black Celestial Divine Body was created, that amount was more than fivefold.
‘I have no choice but to take my time.’
Inhale and exhale.
I stopped breathing and looked towards the door.
I sensed someone approaching.
“What, there was no need to worry.”
The door opened with a clunk.
A blunt voice.
A golden-haired woman entered. She looked at me with a worried expression.
“It’s been a while.”
“It hasn’t even been three days.”
“If it’s been three days, that’s a long time.”
She greeted me with a jest, and Ershil sighed.
“You look a lot better than I expected.”
“Yes, I was surprised too. Seems like someone healed me.”
“Someone healed you?”
Ershil looked surprised. As someone who had a transcendent being within her, she knew much about the Energy of Defying Heaven. The downside of the Heaven Defying Body, being unable to rely on potions or natural healing due to divine energy blocking recovery.
‘Even potions aren’t properly effective.’
The medication effects were not as strong as expected.
Nevertheless, I looked at Ershil.
“Are you here to visit the sick?”
“Yes, I was worried. It’s my time now.”
Ershil’s time?
I almost instinctively asked back but restrained myself because my past life’s senses warned me.
Instead, I smiled.
“Things have changed again, haven’t they?”
“What has?”
“Normally, you’d pretend not to know and ask. But I prefer this.”
Ershil sat on my bed.
I chuckled and hugged Ershil.
“Hey, what are you doing!”
“Just a moment.”
I felt Ershil’s warmth.
The fragrant smell of shampoo. The thumping of a beating heart. Perhaps due to her pale skin, it was noticeably flushed.
-Master?
-Don’t tell me you’ve finally escaped from being a eunuch!
Black Heaven and Eternal Heaven were also taken aback.
I hugged Ershil and thought.
Love was a luxury.
I vowed not to engage in romance until I saved the world because the difficulty level of this game was far beyond my expectations.
But.
I was getting tired. It would be more accurate to say my spirit was wearing thin. I was moving because of the influence of my mental fortitude, but I realized I was getting exhausted.
And their hearts were stronger than I thought.
‘I don’t know, it’ll work out somehow.’
Recently, a major incident occurred in the United States. To recover from the tremendous loss of life, they implemented various policies, one of which was to legalize polygamy.
‘If it comes to it, I can always flee to the US.’
But for now, I just wanted to be here with Ershil like this.
I was able to be discharged from the hospital soon. The reason I had lost consciousness initially was because I couldn’t withstand the backlash, and my body was in shambles.
They said there could be mental repercussions, but with the influence of my skills, which was superior to just normal mental fortitude, ordinary things wouldn’t affect me mentally.
I casually blamed it on my talents and escaped the hospital.
I walked near the hospital.
I was not particularly fond of walking.
It’s not because I was lazy. Maybe it’s something like an aura that couldn’t be hidden even with oversized clothes or a mask.
In other words, it drew people’s attention.
“Wow, did you just see that guy? Is he a celebrity?”
“No, it’s like some other being is walking, not just a person.”
Occasionally.
In life, you might encounter beings of a different essence. Renowned celebrities or models. If you saw them in person for the first time, not just on TV, people’s reactions were typically split into two.
Staring blankly or being surprised.
It felt like they were not from the same world.
It’s odd for me to say, but I had created the optimal physique through customization. So, when I walked on the street, women might want my autograph or phone number, or when I went to a coffee shop, I might get a cake as a service.
Such things happened.
And as my status rose, such occurrences became rarer. Instead, eyes filled with admiration gathered around me—not directly, but around my vicinity.
It’s like they feel an aura or something.
-The intangible power gained by those who rule,
Black Heaven remarked.
-People view the world through their lens. It’s outrageously selfish behavior, but it’s permissible for a master. Because the master has acquired such power, whether it be through force, authority, or connections. It’s because they are heavily influenced by those who control the world.
‘An overlord, perhaps.’
Or maybe even an emperor.
Anyway, it’s like I had the ability to dominate those around me. It must be the talent, the demon of seduction.
‘I think about it, and this power also came from teaching at the Veritas Academy.’
…It was a subtle power when I considered it.
After walking a while, I headed towards the building in China that caused it all.
A 10-story large building appeared. I originally intended to buy it for just under ten billion, but due to China blocking the sale, the Overlord gifted it to me.
‘That was really nice of him.’
The Overlord didn’t stop there; he gave various gifts.
Rare spirit elixirs, weapons, armor, a few artifacts, and several A-grade artifacts, which only emerge a few times a year from the Mage Tower, were among the gifts. Additionally, the building’s interior work and the upcoming state-of-the-art training facilities, blending magic and science, which have yet to arrive, were included.
The Overlord’s gifts easily surpassed hundreds of millions in value.
Although I wouldn’t use them.
‘The Overlord really went all out.’
For me, the Black Heaven and the Four Seasons Swords were sufficient.
There were good armors, and I currently had too many weapons to use properly. Coveting more here would be excessive.
Today, the interior work was completed, and starting from today, our guild and the affiliated guild, Amcheon, will reside here.
We moved because Mines had been spotted at our previous location for some reason.
Upon entering the building, I sensed the presence of people.
Quite a few. Some were wielding murky powers.
‘Could it be the Jecheon Group?’
I also detected the presence of the previous elder and the Witch Maiden.
They must have sensed me as well, as I noticed hurried movements.
“Have you arrived?”
The elder, dressed in black martial attire, bowed respectfully. Beside him, the Witch Maiden, also in black martial attire, stood.
While I was in the hospital, the Witch Maiden had shown me several samples through the Electronic Witch, which would be the attire for Amcheon.
I observed the elder and the Witch Maiden.
Seonghwi was there too, but I disregarded her.
‘Who should I subject to Apostolization.’
I was still undecided.
Neither the elder nor the Witch Maiden could be fully trusted yet, but both have pledged their loyalty to me. Apostolization would serve as their shackles.
That was the dilemma. Both were quite proud, and I couldn’t subject both to Apostolization simultaneously. It could be perceived as establishing a hierarchy. After pondering for a moment, I then called out to the Witch Maiden.
“Witch Maiden.”
“Yes.”
The Witch Maiden bowed respectfully and approached me. This meeting was markedly different from our last. Her respect suggested she now recognized me as a Heavenly Demon.
‘The Witch Maiden is the right choice.’
She has proven to be invaluable to me.
Previously, she demanded nothing in return and saved the members of the Cheoncheon Guild, Park Woon-hyuk, and myself. When we were confronted by the Brigade of Eternal Heaven, she was willing to sacrifice her life for my safety.
Thus, choosing the Witch Maiden first was the correct decision.
“I grant you the power of Defying Heaven.”
“…!”
The surprise was palpable among those around us. I placed my hand over the Witch Maiden’s head.
“Apostolization.”
Black flames enveloped her.
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