Gift
“Making a sun with a fire-attribute spell like Fireball would be dangerous, right?”
Kim Sung-tae gazed up at the ceiling, thinking of the simplest spell, but he quickly shook his head as memories of the past flooded back. He'd already tested Fireball's power back in Yuglatsil. If he tried creating some nonsense spell called 'Sun' or 'Fire,' the dwarves of the underground world would turn to a handful of ash the moment it formed.
And that would be fortunate. The ground around them might melt into lava entirely.
“Then maybe mix Light magic with something else?”
Imagination alone couldn't solve real problems. Sung-tae stretched his hand toward the spot where the original sun had been and chanted the incantation.
“Light!”
Even though he could barely handle his life force magic to begin with, he squeezed out just a bit more and cast the spell. A brilliant orb of light burst from his palm, like a miniature sun. The moment it appeared, it illuminated the dark underground world in an instant.
“Now, to make sure it never gets destroyed again... Hmm. Should've asked for the name of that spell.”
Sung-tae recalled Aurelie's dimensional barrier. He didn't know the spell's name, unfortunately, but remembering the theory she'd explained, he reached out again to cast the dimensional barrier.
“Incantations are just keys to embody images, right? To infuse your will into mana more easily. So if I just infuse my will without chanting...”
Visualizing the dimensional barrier and channeling his life force magic, a barrier formed over the Light spell exactly as he desired. He couldn't test how sturdy it was, but no one but Sung-tae himself could probably break it.
“Oh right! The old sun sucked in smoke too, didn't it?”
He approached the freshly created barrier and punched a hole through it with his fist. Impenetrable to anyone else, it was as easy for Sung-tae as poking a hole in tofu.
“Hmm. Does a Clean spell exist?”
If not, he'd just make one. Magic manifested according to his thoughts anyway, right?
“Clean.”
His life force flowed through the hole in the barrier, enveloping the light orb. If it worked as intended, it would suck in any rising smoke and purify it all.
“Whew. Simple enough, but controlling mana is still tough.”
Mental fatigue set in from his unskilled mana control. He wasn't truly tired—it was just the strain of doing something he wasn't used to—but realizing his magic's power once more, Sung-tae decided he shouldn't use it often.
What the hell is this? Everything works just by thinking it.
Was magic supposed to be this easy? Everything he imagined came true, like he was a god. If he trained a bit more and fully mastered his life force magic, he could probably do even greater things effortlessly.
Lower dimension, huh. Am I some higher-dimensional being? This feels exactly like being a god.
This wasn't magic—it was the power to manifest desires. No different from a god's ability!
If I'm this strong, what about that Lucifer girl? If she's just got Earth's memories, no problem, but she's lived forever, so maybe she is from Earth. Complicates things again.
This gave him yet another reason he couldn't stop adventuring. Meeting Lucifer again someday in this world. That goal etched itself deep into Sung-tae's heart.
“Whew. Time to head down.”
Having created his artificial sun, he descended back in front of Smith Black's house. Despite the massive commotion, Smith was still focused on smelting the Black Oriharcon. Incredible concentration. He didn't care about the outside world at all.
What kind of item would a man like this create?
“Smith, what are you making?”
“Huff. Huff.”
Smith answered Sung-tae's question with rough breaths. The world had shrunk for him—only he and the two chunks of Black Oriharcon remained.
“Hmm...”
Sung-tae let out a small groan and stared piercingly at Smith. He was the dwarves' king, but not doing anything kingly. Did they even need him here?
Could I take him with me?
For the first time, greed stirred—not for money or fame, but for talent. A desire for skilled people.
Once the job was done, he'd ask. Smith would need a break to catch his breath anyway. He'd invite him then.
“Looking forward to working with you.”
“...?”
Sung-tae stepped outside and patted Iron's shoulder. Iron's eyes widened at the inexplicable encouragement, staring at him. Sung-tae smiled back.
Other demon kings might be useless, but Iron had his uses.
“We'll be seeing a lot of each other. Gonna need you to procure more Black Oriharcon and Sunstone.”
“...”
Iron ground his teeth at the insult to his pride as a demon king and warrior. His molars might shatter any second, but unlike the self-proclaimed valiant warrior demon kings, he didn't rebel. His spirit was already broken.
The moment he'd yielded to Sung-tae, and witnessing his battle with Gurst, had shattered him completely.
I...
Gurst's power had been immense. Just sensing his red mana from afar instilled terror in the heart.
When he'd first fought Sung-tae, he hadn't felt fear. Why? Sung-tae was stronger than Gurst, yet no fear.
“I!”
Iron pondered endlessly. Finally, he found the reason.
Strength beyond comprehension. Unrecognizable, so no fear. He was too strong, and Iron had simply known nothing.
Like a clueless child awed by a new world, Iron was profoundly impressed by Sung-tae's existence.
Realizing that, thoughts of revenge vanished from the demon king's mind.
“I look forward to serving you.”
And then came true submission. Not from the contract, but from the depths of his heart.
Gurst barely opened his eyes amid his shattered sanity. His thoughts weren't functioning properly, meaning he hadn't recovered at all, but his broken mind couldn't even grasp that.
“How pitiful. Can't even speak properly. No hope left for you.”
But even in his ruined mind, he knew that voice too well, so Gurst desperately tried to move. It wasn't someone who would help him. No, if he didn't kill him, that would be lucky.
“Shh. Quiet. Don't open your mouth again. We're from the same root, so I don't want to despise you more. You're already so pathetic, I'm hesitating to absorb you.”
He had to escape. Absorption among fragments meant losing his identity and becoming the other's nourishment. Like death for any lifeform, but worse—becoming the power of someone he despised.
“Gurst, you were too stupid. Knowing the opponent's strength yet charging in recklessly. And if you were going to fight, go all out from the start. Can't blame you—it's your nature.”
“Don't worry. I'll use your power well.”
The remaining red aura was absorbed into the voice. With it, Gurst's consciousness vanished from the world.
“How did he kill it, anyway? A fitting vessel for my lord, but quite the headache.”
The red-haired man stood up. Traces of the absorbed red energy lingered in his hand, but soon vanished into his body. His resemblance to Gurst came from being the same fragment, brothers.
“But it's not beautiful. Just brute strength. No burning passion or light like my lord.”
Sung-tae's image filled the man's eyes. Not looking at the underground, yet his eyes captured every landscape and lifeform like X-ray vision.
“Pathetic, but I must make do. For my lord.”
My name is Contemt. Among my brothers, I'm called 'Contemt of Contempt.'
Obeying my lord's command, I've been wandering in search of a vessel fitting for him. And of course, true to form, I've already found one. Diligently observing too.
“Hmm. When does he plan to move?”
The problem: the human I've marked as my lord's vessel has no intention of moving.
I know why he isn't. One of my abilities lets me hear all his actions and words. Impossible not to know.
“Taking the dwarf king, huh. Still waiting.”
The sacrifice for my lord's vessel is named Kim Sung-tae. He plans to bring the dwarf king to his base.
Waiting days for that short old man hammering away. More patient than I thought.
“Should I start now... Heh!”
Impatience surged, but laughter followed. Acting hasty? Not like me. That's for Hate or Disgust.
I am Contempt. Noble, looking down on all from above, rightfully so. Never fail—that's the way.
Absorbing that Hate guy recently must've rubbed off. Gotta eat clean food. Clean food keeps a clean mind.
“Can't move carelessly.”
He's strong. But that's it. No philosophy in his actions. Action without philosophy is meaningless revelry. Meaningless action isn't beautiful.
Ugly lives have flaws. Observe until I find his.
“What could his flaw be?”
Flaws hide in unexpected places. Especially in those who think themselves strong—they overflow with unknown weaknesses.
And he's human. Body strong, maybe, but mind? Paths aren't singular. Dozens, hundreds of side roads to the goal.
If body strong, target elsewhere. So keep listening for his weakness.
“Whew. Finally... smelting success... Ahh... I did it! The dwarf's dream!”
“Oh. Done?”
He's moving at last!
After endless waiting, the dwarf named Smith finally emerged. The conversation after was predictable, not worth hearing.
'Hey, wanna be my subordinate?'
'Pardon? What suddenly...'
'You're the dwarf king, but no real duties. Come to my place. You can make tons of stuff. I'll supply materials.'
'M-Materials?'
'Yeah, Black Oriharcon aside, Sunstone's hard for you. Join me, I'll get as much as you want.'
'I-I'm in! Please accept me!'
Kim Sung-tae finished talking to the dwarf. He pulled a scroll from his pocket.
The moment he tore it, mana enveloped him. Teleport scroll? Too bad, can't escape me that way.
“Let's sense the mana movement. Hmm... I see. So that's it.”
Might fool other brothers. Not me.
I'm different. Contempt shines only with a target.
While others wasted time by our lord, I alone observed humans. Ugly, no beauty, but they had a gem: magic.
“Time to follow.”
Magic: supernatural phenomenon manifested by noble consciousness. My magic through will differs utterly from scrolls.
Seeing any magic, I pierce all within. Can't hide from my eyes.
“Oh. This place?”
I swiftly followed to his destination. A castle appeared, to my liking. An island floating over a lava pit like my lord's hue. The massive castle atop it had its own beauty, unlike the sacrifice.
“Not bad. After offering the sacrifice to my lord, I'll take that castle.”
Now, to his base. Time for closer inspection?
Fascinating. Humans I observed feared monsters, but this home was different.
“The demon king lord returns after so long, bringing a dwarf this time.”
“A dwarf! Those guys are stubborn as hell. How'd you do it?”
“Persuaded him? Your last confession was so moving.”
The monsters called the sacrifice 'demon king lord.' Stronger than demon kings, yet human. And monsters call him that.
Biggest reason I despise humans. Brute force like my ignorant brothers. Subdued monsters that way. That body doesn't suit you. Doesn't suit our beautiful lord.
“Huh? What's that? A mosquito?”
“Kill it! Mosquitoes buzzing at night are annoying.”
Monsters drew weapons to strike me. Not one to take hits. I elegantly flapped away, dodging through the hall.
Oh, forgot to mention. I'm disguised as a mosquito now.
For one who overlooks all, body is mere shell. True value in soul. While others, even lord, seek vessels for full power, I roam free.
Unbound by body, I craft efficient forms with minimal power—humans' longed-for transformation magic.
Want to scout outside, but impossible. My x-ray, clairvoyance, eavesdropping magic failed here.
Why? I learned in an old man's room.
“Heh. Defense magic done, added anti-magic too. Defense worries over.”
Anti-magic. That's why.
Daring to block my magic. Mere monster. Skilled one? How such perfect anti-magic?
“Got a bit of lord's help, but he hasn't noticed yet. Life force magic is amazing.”
Hmm. Sacrifice helped.
That explained it.
“Hmm? Mosquito? Never had those in Demon King Castle...”
Mosquito not good disguise.
I vanished from the old man's view, transforming again. Human or monster ideal, but infiltration needs small insect.
So, that. The only lifeform I acknowledge. Most beautiful, pinnacle of efficiency.
A cockroach. Right into one.