Chapter 95: Demon (2)
Andromalius, who had been staring intently, nodded his head.
—Very well. Please accept it.
[Reward granted!]
[Acquired Masquerade Invitation!]
‘An invitation?’
I gazed at the paper that appeared on my hand.
[Masquerade Invitation]
[Grade: Special]
[An invitation allowing participation in the feast of the Demon Lords. Special events may occur upon entry.]
[Feast Date: August 1st]
The item description was far from ordinary.
‘The feast of the Demon Lords.’
In other words, it was an invitation to a place swarming with guys like this Andromalius.
“Do all the Lords participate?”
—Usually, yes. The Masquerade isn’t held often.
I looked at the nodding fellow.
‘He said he was ranked 72nd.’
As a Demon Lord in name, he looked no pushover on the surface.
If I had to rank him, I would put him a little below Vulcan.
In other words, the higher Lords could be even stronger than Vulcan.
An invitation to a place swarming with such guys.
‘Intriguing.’
Risk comes with reward.
I stored the invitation in my inventory.
It was late February now, so about five months remained.
I could grow a bit more by then.
I glanced at the still-lingering Mr. An.
“What are you doing? Get going.”
—Oh dear. A refusal? So decisive. Well, I understand. Trust is still lacking between us.
“If you get it, then leave already?”
—Haha.. I’ll go soon.
The guy snapped his fingers.
It was at that moment.
[The authority of Andromalius, one of the 72 Lords, is partially granted!]
[Temporary authority!]
—This is my humble gift. Exactly once, one of my authorities will activate automatically at the perfect moment.
An authority, huh.
Finding lost people, locating stolen goods, treasure hunting. One of them would trigger when needed?
No reason to refuse a freebie anyway.
“I’ll use it well.”
—I look forward to seeing you again at the Masquerade.
Mr. An’s form grew faint.
Soon after.
[The gate returns to normal!]
Along with the message, I returned to the demon castle.
‘Offering a contract right before handing over the invitation.’
The Masquerade was a major stage to raise one’s value.
I’d almost gotten my nose slit while wide awake.
‘This is why you can’t fully trust demon words.’
I could roughly guess why he gave me the authority.
A taste to tempt me, no doubt.
If it worked properly, I might consider using it once or twice.
Either way.
One fact was clear.
Mr. An coveted me.
Enough to endure this level of bleeding generosity.
If the 72nd was like this, the 71st or 70th wouldn’t differ much. Even higher Lords might eye me.
They’d want a fine agent too.
I checked my level.
‘Level 215.’
Isabella, known as the fastest leveler worldwide, hit 100 in about four months.
Meanwhile me?
I’d blown past 200 in under three months.
An absurd pace.
‘Staked my life that much.’
Nearly died more than once or twice. The result of throwing myself recklessly.
‘One lap around here and I’ll hit 220.’
B-rank Awakener starting level is 251.
Considering that.
‘B-rank’s just around the corner.’
B-rank skill was Dullahan Summon, right?
Dullahan.
A headless undead knight, one of the jewels among Necromancer summons.
‘Pretty intelligent.’
From Dullahan onward, they could think properly. No mere undead summon—they rivaled humans in scheming.
And that’s not all?
Swordsmanship worthy of a knight.
‘Buffs the lower undead too.’
A knight commands soldiers.
Fittingly, Dullahans had buff skills. An undead horde with a Dullahan versus without? Worlds apart in power.
Best part: this summon skill was a basic one.
A drought-ending rain for Necromancers.
‘Power gaps start from this line.’
Skull meat shields rolling and tumbling.
Once you grind to summon Dullahans, Necromancers start flexing. Even without heavy investment, they pull their weight.
‘Of course…’
Dullahans have intelligence, so subjugating them isn’t easy.
Ordinary Necromancers pamper them, offer tribute, flatter endlessly to raise loyalty.
‘Not me, though.’
Love taps are prime for boosting loyalty.
No point taking the long way with a shortcut available.
Either way.
‘Gotta learn this soon…’
One thing was certain.
Korean auction house alone can’t +9 it. Short on B-rank skillbooks. Need foreign auction houses too.
‘Off-meta 5 billion per reinforcement. Mainstream 10 billion.’
Few top Awakener.
Drop rates dwindle for higher skillbooks. Why prices skyrocket per tier. Worsens upward.
B-rank marks true top-tier status. Prices surge viciously.
‘Minimum 10 trillion broken.’
Assuming straight +9 without fails.
If it bursts at +7 or +8?
‘20 trillion.’
That much would go in.
‘Time to prep for top-grade elixirs too…’
Witch Christine.
Her elixirs usable from level 300. Problem: prices unknown from here.
Lowest to top-grade.
Those, national alchemists can produce. Not ultra-rare.
‘Top-grade different.’
Only Christine—no, America—supplies.
Price: classified.
‘Roughly know, though.’
Bought in America on alt chars besides Kim Minwoo. Even after favors to them.
‘300 billion each.’
Elixirs triple per tier roughly.
Top-grade around 30 billion each.
Top-top should be 100 billion fair.
They charged tenfold.
Insane margins.
Possible because America’s top Awakener nation, sole supplier.
Hate it? Too pricey?
Don’t buy then.
We didn’t wanna sell anyway.
Their stance.
Plus, Korea’s super rookie Kim Minwoo buying?
‘Charge even more?’
Shown too much already.
Ilsung’s fat cat behind Kim Minwoo.
Warning shot plus profit. 300 billion+ each? No surprise.
America wouldn’t miss a sale anyway.
Same for Witch Christine.
State handles premium pricing? Win-win for her.
‘Gonna be brutal.’
Might feign madness, 500 billion each.
Even then, must buy.
How else endure 600 stats? France’s America pact for that reason.
‘600 stats…’
Normal Awakener gets full at ~600 elixirs.
300 billion each: 18 trillion.
But Kim Minwoo’s body unique. Consumes 3-4x more.
Accounting…
‘54 to 72 trillion.’
Not 300, but 500 billion?
Don’t wanna think.
And that’s not all?
‘Sky Auction House too.’
Opens around May.
Good stuff there.
Plan max sweep. Tens of trillions more.
Choking consumption.
‘Money really…’
Burns fast.
Of course, solutions prepped.
First: Ilsung Group investment.
60 trillion incoming.
But opposition now. Ilsung Guild raging most.
‘Makes sense.’
All group funds to Lavish Guild means less for Ilsung Guild.
Snubbed, they rage. Hence C-rank skillbook via gear sale cash.
‘Time to discipline them.’
60 trillion secured that way.
Other money sources brainstormed.
Plans pan out: over 100 trillion feasible.
‘Gotta hustle.’
Undead legions scouted the castle nooks.
* * *
[B-rank Gate boss, Demon Belitas, defeated!]
[Gate clear reward granted!]
[Level up by 2…]
The massive turtle-like demon crashed to the floor.
Merhen and Cedric alone sufficed for the boss. With all summons joined, no wonder it fell fast.
Picked up byproducts.
‘Crafting mats later.’
Items? Meh.
What good from B-rank Gate?
Auction bound.
‘Sell overseas what I got today.’
Han Baekgil’s assassin gear might prove useful later.
Solid performance—hand to assassin summon if gotten.
Keep this, shred-rest overseas.
‘No complaints then.’
Numbers 1 to 7.
Korea’s famous Awakeners. Vanish overnight, gear floods market?
Perfect scandal fodder.
So, disperse gear overseas piecemeal. Quietly fade.
Exited the gate.
Even with Shadow visit, cleared in under half-day.
Out the gate, morning soldiers and Awakeners gawked.
‘That Awakener from morning?’
‘What clearing speed…’
Solo B-rank before shift change.
Even A-rank, unreal pace.
World’s wide, hidden masters abound—felt real.
Bowed to the slack-jawed crowd.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Ah, yes.”
A-rank Han Jinwook, was it?
Name to see often, they thought.
Whatever.
Leisurely exiting Kim Minwoo boarded car home. Straight to Chairman Kim’s study, knocked.
“Father, you there?”
—Come in.
Entered: bespectacled Chairman Kim reading with Naye.
He soon tilted head.
“Gate today, right? Already back?”
“Cleared and back.”
“Huh? That one?”
Chairman Kim asked astonished.
B-rank Gate, Demon Castle.
He knew it well.
Didn’t worry solo—cleared A+ before.
B-rank? Cakewalk.
But…
‘Under half-day?’
Sane speed?
Ex-C-rank Gate-diver himself.
Harder to believe.
As he tilted.
“Naye.”
“Yeah.”
“Go to Mom a bit.”
“Got it.”
Sent Naye out, faced Chairman Kim.
“Today, assassin group came.”
Chairman Kim bolted up.
“…What? Assassins? You okay?”
“Disguised to catch them from start.”
“Heh… Why not say sooner?”
“Lee Hyun-seong, Choi Cheolmin, Seong Hye-rim, Kim Jin-woo, Seo Hyeong-sin, Ji Hyun-wook, Park Ji-hyun. Catch in reality?”
“…!”
Chairman Kim’s eyes bulged.
Names: all celebs.
Mid-guild masters to large-guild elites.
“They all targeted you?”
“Yes. Belonged to odd group, Shadow.”
“Shadow? New name…”
“Wilder: they copied EXP.”
“…?”
Kim Minwoo explained.
Han Baekgil, the Priest.
Shadow’s global branches too.
“…If true, serious. Fast levels. They targeted you?”
“Yes. Wary of my growth. Thought you should know.”
Reason simple.
Shadow conflict.
Worsens? Family at risk.
Guards solid now, but…
‘Tighter prep never hurts.’
Higher-level ambush possible.
Escalation essential.
“…Got it. I’ll be careful.”
“Yes. And dispose these gears overseas, please.”
“Will do.”
Nodding sternly, Chairman Kim.
‘Prelude done…’
Time for main topic.
“These days, Ilsung Guild’s rowdy, right?”