Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Settlement (2)
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I woke from over 40 hours of deep sleep, as if to wash away all the accumulated fatigue and mental stress, and gazed through the window at the Holy Kingdom bustling with renewed vitality.
"Amazing."
I had thought everything was shattered or collapsed due to the Territory Descent skill, permitted only to the Demon King and Demon God Solomon. But I was wrong.
Territory Descent was exactly that—a descent ability that overlaid a backing realm onto reality. When the summoned territory vanished, everything returned to normal.
Thanks to that, the only areas in the Holy Kingdom that suffered actual damage were the underground prison vicinity and the Colosseum—those two spots.
The underground prison area—where the final battle with Gamigin took place—was still undergoing subjugation work, so it remained sealed off with barriers, untouched by any repairs.
In contrast, the Colosseum's summoning altar had been dismantled far faster than I imagined.
I later learned why: The Middle Realm—what's commonly called Stage-100 and beyond—took the incident gravely. Players from far ahead in the sequence, far beyond us, had torn through space to retrieve it.
"Who knew the Holy Kingdom was connected to the Middle Realm too."
Of course it was. Otherwise, they wouldn't have imprisoned lunatics alongside disaster-class beings and a Demon God's avatar in that underground prison with those insane seals.
"Probably linked to the Upper Realm as well?"
STAGE-0~99: Lower Realm.
STAGE-100~199: Middle Realm.
STAGE-200~599: Upper Realm.
STAGE-600~Unknown: Deep Realm.
At minimum, all four known realms must be involved. Still, achieving maximum results with minimal damage—very satisfying.
"Using the regression card stings a bit, though."
A full month of life-saving insurance, my ultimate trump card, gone. But the rewards make it hard to call it a waste...
I stepped away from the window, returned to the bed, and scanned the long list of system messages hovering before me, starting from the top.
"Right, this is why I came to the Holy Kingdom in the first place."
The hidden class quest—for the class I'd planned since regression. Of course, I'd cleared it by handling the Demon God's avatar.
"But it's not over yet."
True to its mythic class status, a very, very long quest chain was queued up. A second awakening quest right after acquiring the class? Probably issued to fit the situation.
I dug through the system messages again, pulled up the quest.
Doom-Shrouded Holy Kingdom
Rank: Mythic
Grade: SSS-
Stage-1-183 Holy Kingdom. Doom has descended upon it. The darkest, most horrific, and vile demons seek to reveal themselves on what should be the holiest and most radiant land. Save the Holy Kingdom. The holy ones will gaze upon you, who has gained the darkest power.
Objective: Defeat Cardinal Aoira (1/1), Defeat Descended Gamigin (1/1)
Success: Hidden Class Quest (4) Generated, Minor Clue for Class 2nd Awakening, ???
Failure: Soul Seizure, Body Death, Holy Kingdom Destruction, 3 Disaster Beasts Released
The ??? parts had revealed as Gamigin, and defeating Cardinal Aoira—more precisely, Bertas, the puppet master—had successfully cleared the quest.
Now for the rewards. A pleasant chime accompanied the reward messages.
First Key of Lemegeton
Rank: Mythic
Grade: EX
The great and noble Demon God Solomon divided his power into three parts and scattered them into the Abyss. No one knows what future he foresaw to do so, but one thing is certain: gathering all three powers will grant true qualification as the Demon God's successor. Having claimed the first power—to stand above all demons—now claim the second: the power to devour and wield all demons.
Objective: Acquire Mythic Sacred Relic: First Key of Lemegeton - Ars Goetia (0/1)
Success: Hidden Class Quest (5) Generated, Class 2nd Awakening Condition (1/5) Achieved, ???
Failure: Class Revoked. Unconditional Hostility from All Demons.
A sigh escaped at the first message. Was this a reward? It felt like scaling one massive mountain only to have an even bigger one dropped on me.
"Lemegeton, huh..."
In the world where the Great Cataclysm made human myths real educational material, I had plenty of interest in mythology.
Gods who cleaved heaven and earth, receiving the faith of all!
Since they achieved the polar opposite of my feats, I studied them eagerly. Mythology was always near-perfect scores for me.
'Though I flunked everything else.'
Anyway—not to brag, but I knew Lemegeton because it appeared in the myth of the god Solomon.
"The grimoire called Solomon's Key."
Composed of five parts, like mythic items born from one origin-grade item in the tales.
"The sacred relic Baal mentioned."
The cheat relic enabling use of all demons' powers. Now it wants the first one.
"How the hell?"
No, this was basically 'scour the entire Abyss.' Was that even feasible? Fighting another Demon King would be preferable!
'No, that's impossible too.'
The silver lining: Rewards to solve this were still pending!
Come on, clue!!
"Damn it all. What kind of nonsense is this?"
I could only clutch my head and click my tongue. Solving a riddle with another riddle—useless drivel. How was I supposed to work with this?
"This damned system."
I slammed the window shut, shoving second awakening from my mind for now. It hadn't even been weeks since first awakening.
Deal with this slowly—check the pleasing rewards first.
The unique ability gained from subjugating Belial—one I'd barely grasped—had become an authority.
"What's this?"
This reward made the prior two pranks fade; my mouth hung open to my ears. An authority!
👤 Theory of Wicked Human Nature - Theory of Good Human NatureRank:Origin | Grade:Origin The power representing the most fundamental origin of living beings. Evil and good are eternal opposites, yet one concept.
🔥 Abilities
Whoa...
This didn't seem like the original ability. I forcibly closed my gaping mouth, reread, and marveled again.
Worth the title of authority. A power on a whole different plane from prior abilities.
"In short, two modes."
Theory of Wicked Human Nature: Human origin is evil. Theory of Good Human Nature: Human origin is good.
I nodded in satisfaction and activated the authority immediately.
"Wicked Bloom."
In an instant, something black surged from my depths, corrupting my body. My skin blackened, a single horn sprouted from my head.
"What the...?"
Become a demon? No, I could tell. Even now, I was human. Like wearing a costume.
I drew out Mareung's demonic energy. Already the pinnacle for demonic matters as a Demon God's power, but post-Wicked Bloom, dominance, utility—everything skyrocketed.
"Judgment of Evil unavailable without karma."
I switched modes, blooming Good Human Nature. Black skin vanished instantly, horn gone.
My skin glowed with holiness, a bright halo floating above.
Undeniably angelic. I spread the Wings of Pride—astonishingly, even the demonic wings were dyed good.
Lucifer, not Luci fer. I could guess: probably his angelic name.
I deactivated everything, forcibly calming my heated body. More buff skills were hugely encouraging.
The first two rewards were gems, but this finale made joy overflowing.
That covered the class quest gains. Plenty satisfied, I turned to the next rewards.
The following message was more welcome than any reward.
Log messages first. Then, the Misfortune in my mind roared, sealed anew in a giant egg.
Already the second shell broken!
'Regression was worth it.'
Shatter all shells, and Curse of Misfortune becomes Misfortune itself—no more hostility. I'd confirmed it turns self-empowering.
Ra had said as much: Claiming this power brings immense gain.
So I no longer feared or avoided Misfortune. Instead of enduring, I'd charge and smash obstacles.
"Yeah, wake up again—let's fight."
It went down easy this time, but not next. No worries. By then, I'd be stronger.
With that thought, I eyed the final reward.