Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Return
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Having stuffed all 1,024 subjugated Gamigins into the Demon Spirit Vessel, I approached the two cardinals who were hurrying to recover from the shock of the Demon King's descent and spoke up.
"Then, I'll head back to Earth for now."
At my words, the two cardinals and the faithful lined up behind them immediately bowed in respect.
"May the pure god's blessings be upon your path. Once this chaos is fully resolved, the Holy Kingdom will surely remember your great deeds and reward you."
"Leave the cleanup to us and go rest easy."
""May pure blessings be with you.""
I nodded. They had plenty on their plates. They needed to repair the damaged Holy Kingdom, report to the inspectors dispatched from the Middle Realm, and most importantly, discuss how to handle the saintess.
'Come to think of it, we didn't catch Isabelle the saintess.'
What a pesky, annoying woman. She'd sided with Balthas, colluded with the Demon King to topple the Holy Kingdom, all to become an unbound saintess. The moment Gamigin was locked in the underground prison and Balthas defeated and subjugated by me, she read the room—or maybe just fled to save her skin—and escaped with her disciple.
'Quick on the uptake.'
Honestly, I'd thought she'd reappear right when Gamigin resurfaced, but whether it was because I caught Gamigin too fast or she just tucked tail and ran, she never showed her face to the end.
'That damn teleportation magic.'
It wasn't even proper holy magic, but I had to give her credit for her talent. Jumping through space like that was high-tier magic even among general spells—extremely difficult.
But now, that fancy teleportation wouldn't be as easy to spam. She could no longer draw on the overwhelming holy power granted by her saintess title and position.
"What will happen to the saintess?"
"Isabelle the saintess was excommunicated immediately with the consent of the gods, the pope, the cardinals, the faithful, and the people. She's no longer a saintess or even a believer. The moment things turned sour, the divine seat she served cut her loose like a lizard's tail. Even so, that divine seat won't escape punishment. Collusion with the Demon King, after all."
In the end, it all boiled down to one thing.
"Then I'll return before Min Chorong's saintess inauguration."
"It'll be at least a month. Come back around then."
I nodded and turned away. Time to go home. I approached the return altar at the center of the Holy Kingdom, clicked the precious button that popped up in my system window.
And in an instant, my body teleported in front of the Abyss portal in Seoul.
"Ahhh~~~!"
The air on Earth after so long felt as murky and stuffy as ever. Nothing like the crisp, fresh air of the Holy Kingdom. But it was still welcome.
I took a deep breath, then hailed a taxi straight to Miracle Hospital.
After a short ride, I got out and headed to the Miracle Guild's VIP ward, where I found my sister asleep in a new device—different from before.
"Good job."
Chaos Eye activated, feeding info straight into my brain through my vision. She'd clearly studied and applied the data I'd given her before entering the Abyss.
It meant the life-support device using the imperfect immortality elixir was working perfectly.
Seeing my sister floating in the elixir, it really hit me: she wasn't the tiny, cute kid from my memories anymore.
"Grew tall like Mom."
Pretty face, too. She'd turned out great. I sat contentedly watching her when a knock came at the door, followed by Ki So-young, the guild master, rushing in looking frantic.
"Ah! You're back."
"Long time no see. Hope you've been well."
She shook her head at my words, so I stiffened and asked,
"What happened?"
"Nothing. Everything on Earth is going great. I leaked a hint about the lifespan extension secret to the big shots, and they're already clamoring to know when they can get it. I had no idea there were so many rich folks out there."
My tense face relaxed at that. I'd solved a major issue and come back to Earth hoping for some rest, worried I might get dragged into another mess—but things here were smooth sailing. Thriving, even.
"We've finished testing the lifespan extension procedure with the imperfect immortality elixir. Divided into five stages: 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, 10 years, 20 years. Planning to announce limited quantities per year."
"Sounds good. Cleaner that way. But limit 10- and 20-year to a select few."
"Of course. One slot for 10 years, three for 20. Auctions to let them set their own price, naturally."
Auctions again. Making money barely excited me anymore.
'Perfect timing.'
I'd been wanting a new place anyway. No telling when enemies might target my house—I was done living in the Black Market's mansion.
'Use everything I have to build the world's greatest fortress.'
Infuse the ultimate shield into the house with pure gold and the magic sealed in the Pinnacle of Pride, erect unbreakable pillars with pure mithril, and lavish the exterior with vast wealth and top materials from my inventory.
'Not right away, though.'
Other priorities first. Top of the list: raise Tower of Gold to level 3.
'Time to research skills.'
Ascension Tower might make anything possible.
Next, time to start revenge. Toppling the giant Changseong was a start, but Lee Seo-yong only indirectly caused my parents' deaths compared to tormenting me. Now, to crush the seven enemies who directly banished my parents to the Abyss and killed them.
That's partly why I'd returned to Earth. Ki So-young's words snapped me from my thoughts.
"What I'm most curious about is one thing. Any news on the Holy Kingdom and the saintess contest? Our Chorong entered—gotta know how it went. That bitch Isabelle shut me out. Tsk."
Ah, so that's what she was worried about.
"I was in the Holy Kingdom too."
"Really?! Perfect. How'd the contest go?"
Long story short...
"Isabelle couldn't let go of her greed for the saintess seat, colluded with the Demon King to sabotage the Holy Kingdom, and crashed hard. Right now, Isabelle—no, just Isabelle—is the Holy Kingdom's top-priority fugitive. And in about a month, Chorong will officially take the saintess position."
Ki So-young's eyes widened in shock, then she grinned in satisfaction and nodded.
"That crazy selfish psycho bitch. I figured she'd eat it big someday, hoped she would... but Demon King? That's beyond demon scum levels of backlash."
"Players in the Holy Kingdom will spread the info to reporters any minute. It'll be all over the news in days. Naturally, all the weird, malicious framing against Chorong will vanish. Britain's for helping Isabelle won't escape the hate either. Probably get labeled a demon nation."
It involved the Demon King, no less. Far from minor—huge on Earth and in the Abyss alike.
'And stories about me are probably everywhere already.'
No plans to hide. I was confident now.
'Even if S-ranks attack, I can at least escape with my life.'
Couldn't win, but could run. That was enough. Attacking with organizational power and money?
I wouldn't yield an inch. My financial power outstripped theirs. Once lifespan extensions kicked off and Tower of Gold hit LV 3 with new pure-series items, my national-level wealth would balloon dozens-fold.
Plus Ascension Tower fees.
'World's richest? Piece of cake.'
Hunters, Abyss, dungeons, and new phenomena had widened the wealth gap. The rich got richer—hunters turned rags-to-riches overnight.
Meanwhile, monster victims at the bottom struggled, unable to even complain.
'Not planning to help, though.'
They were society's victims, but also its scum. Even before regression, they'd shaken me down for daily bribes more than once.
Those antisocial beggar gangs routinely murdered and landed in prison.
Anyway, back to business—we wrapped up the near-final details.
"...Did Dangun Ji-hyeok clear Ascension Tower?"
"Yes. Returned yesterday. Word is he cleared up to floor 49 but not 50. And this is hush-hush..."
Ki So-young leaned in and whispered,
"Ji-hyeok hit just shy of SSS-rank, past SS+. Top hunters worldwide are eyeing the tower now."
"Makes sense. Reward for slaying a semi-catastrophe with disaster potential."
"And you, Shin Juha, own it 100% intact."
I chuckled and nodded. Officially, Dangun Guild owned it—but no.
'Oh yeah, North Korea territory too.'
Disaster beast domain resolving meant purification would spawn Abyss gates there too.
On my land, even.
'Might as well build there.'
My turf—no issues. Ki So-young thanked me one last time, left the room. I stood.
"Whew... Scary as hell, but..."
Ever since gaining this authority, one thing I'd wanted to try. Flames of the sun and death's return blazed. Chaos Eye glowed, unleashing the authority's true power to its limit.
What I'd tested after getting Sun Eye before.
"Let's see it again."
Time to check on my sister.