Greed's Interlude
Greed — Interlude: Greed. As Greed was routed, the invasion of the Corrupted finally came to an end. More precisely, only the 1st Punitive Force I belonged to and the 5th and 13th Punitive Forces Kali had joined. The rest of the punitive forces were still locked in battle against the endless waves of Corrupted spilling out from the Death Continent. I knew because—
—This is the second sheath! Requesting support!
—Requesting support for the third sheath!
—Requesting support for the fourth sheath…
—Sixth sheath…
—Seventh…
Support requests kept pouring in from the communicator in Kali’s hand.
“This is the ninth blade. We’ll be there soon, so hold on a little longer.”
Looked like there was no time to rest yet. I tossed the golden apple core into my inventory and stood up. At the same moment, Gray’s somewhat weary voice came through the communicator.
—This is the ninth sheath. Support is on the way.
Since they were heading out to reinforce others, it seemed they had successfully repelled the invasion. Of course they had—Arthur, Noah, and Cardinal Remilia were there, each practically the natural enemy of the Corrupted. It would have been stranger if they’d failed.
Just as I was about to tell Kali I would go support as well—
“Lee Yoo-jin, you stay here on standby.”
Kali issued the order before I could speak.
“…May I ask why?”
With so many units requesting support, why order me to wait? Wouldn’t it make more sense to send every available fighter—especially someone like me?
Reading the question in my tone, Kali slipped the communicator into her coat and explained.
“Thanks to you, we’ve stopped the invasion here, but we don’t know when they might strike again.”
“Ah… another invasion.”
I nodded in understanding. She was right—there was always the possibility of a second wave. After all, this attack by the Corrupted wasn’t part of the original story; it was a random encounter. They could return. Of course, after an army of tens of thousands had been wiped out by a single person, the odds were extremely low… but you could never be too sure.
Oh, and Greed—that bastard wasn’t worth worrying about. By now he’d be busy struggling to adapt to a new body.
“So stay here until I say otherwise. Understood?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I accepted the order without complaint. The reasoning was sound, so there was no room to argue. Kali gave a short nod and ruffled my hair before lifting herself into the air with telekinesis and flying toward the nearest base—the second punitive force’s outpost that had requested aid.
“…She’s gone.”
Once Kali disappeared from view, I let out a short sigh and looked around. Craters dotted the landscape like meteor impacts. The outpost was nothing but desolate ruins.
“Yeah… we really did go overboard.”
Scratching my head, I opened my inventory.
“Terra, I could use your help. Got any processing power left to spare?”
> Do you require golems?
“Yeah. I want to set up some barriers.”
I hadn’t meant to turn the place into a wasteland, but since I was responsible, I figured I should at least leave something behind.
“If I had restoration skills or building materials, I could fill in the ground or rebuild the outpost… but I don’t. So the least I can do is throw up some barriers with the kits I’ve got.”
> Calculating available processing power. Assuming no combat, I can operate four golems.
“Four golems, huh…”
That was more than enough. I nodded and deployed four Iron Golem Mk. 83 units—two on the left flank, two on the right. As they transformed from vehicle to humanoid form, I scattered barrier kits across the flat ground.
With telekinesis I stacked the kits neatly. The golems reported in unison.
> Iron Mk. 83 deployment ready.
> Iron Mk. 83 deployment ready…
“I can see you’re ready. Take the kits and start installing them from here to there.”
> Understood.
Following Terra’s precise instructions, the golems began placing the kits at regular intervals. I headed in the opposite direction and started installing barriers myself.
“I’m starting to get hungry. Let’s finish this quickly and eat.”
> I am unable to eat.
“Ah, right. Then… I guess you’ll just have to watch me eat.”
Terra’s messages stopped for a moment. Then—
> Is this the feeling of being annoyed?
When I cheerfully confirmed that it was, she sent back—
[ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌ )]
“…Pfft!”
Even through text, the cute emoticon made me laugh out loud.
“…This should be good enough.”
I looked around. Double-layered barriers now stretched from the former outpost all the way to the banks of the Amnok River. Because we’d stacked barriers on top of barriers—
> Master, at this point it’s no longer a barrier. It’s a fortress wall.
The result was far larger than the original wall I’d seen when we first arrived. Not a barrier anymore—a proper fortress wall.
“Well, better is better.”
I hadn’t lost anything. Thanks to Infinite Items, the kits hadn’t been consumed. I’d used mana recovery potions while maintaining telekinesis, so I wasn’t exhausted. And the people who would defend this place now had a much sturdier shield. All in all, it was a net gain.
Nodding to myself, I kicked off the ground and used telekinesis to walk on air, climbing to the top of the wall.
“Whoa… nice view.”
The sunset spreading across the horizon was breathtaking. I plopped down against the parapet, pulled a steaming bowl of beef rice bowl from my inventory, and started eating.
After finishing the delicious meal, I stored the empty bowl and took out a golden apple. Biting into it with a crisp crunch, I pulled the minimized quest window to the center of my vision.
Great Feat
【Survive】
Survive against the named Corrupted, Greed. (Complete)
※ Support will arrive in 5 minutes.
📍 Reward: 100,000 Points (additional rewards based on contribution), ???
💀 Failure: Death.
“Hmm. It’s listed as an Event Quest with a Great Feat tag, so the base points are a bit stingy.”
The last Great Feat quest had given 200,000 points as the base reward. This one, being an Event Quest with the Great Feat tag—and with support arriving in five minutes—felt noticeably lower. Still, the disappointment didn’t last.
“Well, the important part isn’t the base points. It’s the ‘additional rewards based on contribution.’”
There was also a ??? reward, but what really mattered was what the contribution-based bonus would be.
“…Even if it’s just an Event Quest with a Great Feat tag, I did put in quite a bit of work, so the reward should be decent, right?”
Even as I said it, “quite a bit” was an understatement. I’d single-handedly wiped out tens of thousands of Corrupted and destroyed five of Greed’s death-avoidance items. That was far beyond “quite a bit.”
And even if I hadn’t performed that well, it wouldn’t have mattered.
“Terra, can you adjust the rewards for me?”
> Yes. Leave it to me.
> [ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌ )]
With Terra on my side, I let out a breath mixed with tension and anticipation, then pressed the flashing quest window.
Event Quest (Great Feat): Quest Clear
“100,000 Points” have been awarded as reward.
A message glowing ruby-red appeared, followed by the base reward notification. Then—
Bam-bam-ba-ba-bam!
An old-fashioned fanfare played, and a list of achievements scrolled out.
“Single-handedly eliminated tens of thousands of enemy forces.”
“Reward increased.”
“Surpassed the Great Feat requirement of ‘Survive.’”
“Reward increased.”
Achievement calculation complete.
Beginning reward distribution…
??? Reward: “A-rank Talent and Skill Selection Ticket ×1” awarded.
??? Reward: “Rank Up Ticket (B-rank or lower) ×2” awarded.
??? Reward: “Random Cheat Use Ticket ×1” awarded.
“Rescued 10 members of the 1st Punitive Force.”
Additional reward: “100,000 Points” awarded.
“Single-handedly eliminated tens of thousands of enemy forces (Reward Increase+)”
Additional reward: “S- rank Item Random Ticket ×1, Random Cheat Use Ticket ×5” awarded.
“Destroyed five death-avoidance items of the named Corrupted ‘Greed’ (Reward Increase+)”
Additional reward: “S- rank Item Selection Ticket ×1, Selection Cheat Use Ticket ×2” awarded.
“Hmm…”
I let out a low hum as I stared at the reward list. Even though it was an Event Quest rather than a pure Great Feat quest, the rewards still felt… lacking. Sure, I got two S- rank items, but one was random, so it might not suit me. More than anything, the number of Cheat Use Tickets was far too low.
“Six random tickets and two selection tickets…”
The difference from last time was huge. I shook my head at the meager rewards and called out to Terra.
“Terra, you ready?”
> Yes. Reward adjustment preparation complete.
“Alright, let’s see what you’ve got.”
I rubbed my hands together in anticipation.
> Beginning reward adjustment.
> First, adjusting the ??? rewards.
> Changing “A-rank Talent and Skill Selection Ticket ×1” to “×2”.
> Changing “Rank Up Ticket (B-rank or lower) ×2” to “×3”.
“Not bad. Similar to the ??? rewards from the last Great Feat quest.”
> [ദ്ദి⑉¯ ꇴ ¯⑉ )]
> Moving on to achievement rewards.
This was the part I was most excited about. I held my breath, tension and anticipation mixing, as I watched Terra’s messages.
> Reward for “Rescued 10 members of the 1st Punitive Force.”
> Changing “100,000 Points” to “150,000 Points.”
> Acceptable.
> Reward for “Single-handedly eliminated tens of thousands of enemy forces (Reward Increase+).”
> Changing “S- rank Item Random Ticket ×1” to “S- rank Item Selection Ticket ×1.”
> Nice!
> Reward for “Destroyed five death-avoidance items of the named Corrupted ‘Greed’ (Reward Increase+).”
> Changing “S- rank Item Selection Ticket ×1” to “S rank Item Selection Ticket ×1.”
“Oh, that’s good—wait, what?!”
I shot to my feet like a spring. What had I just read?
“It… it definitely said S rank just now.”
My eyes trembled as I stared at Terra’s message. There it was, clear as day—S rank, not S-.
“Terra… you…”
Overwhelmed with emotion, I called her name.
> [ദ്ദി( ֊ ̫ ֊ )]
Terra sent back a triumphant thumbs-up emoticon. In return, I gave her a double thumbs-up.
&
&
&
Meanwhile, in the Death Continent, in the region where Greed resided, thunderous roars echoed nonstop.
Boom! Boom! Crash!
“Damn it! Of all times, that bitch Kali had to show up—!”
Having revived in his aide’s body, Greed raged violently. Every outburst shattered objects, tore up the ground, and destroyed nearby buildings.
“Shit! Shit—!”
After venting curses and thrashing about for a while—
“Oh my… Grid. You’ve become quite pretty.”
A seductive voice drifted from somewhere. Greed, who had been destroying his surroundings, froze.
“…Lust.”
Greed called out the name of the seventh named demon and turned around. There stood a woman with deep crimson hair and eyes, radiating an aura thick with sensuality. She smiled at him with crescent eyes.
Lust approached Greed with elegant, alluring steps.
“I heard the news. You lost five lives to that little brat named Lee Yoo-jin?”
Greed ground his teeth audibly. But because he had revived in a female body that had belonged to his aide, his soul synchronization was still incomplete, so he couldn’t unleash his fury on Lust. In his weakened state, he simply couldn’t afford to lash out.
“…Yeah. I lost five lives to that Lee Yoo-jin. So what, did you come to mock me?”
At Greed’s venomous reply, Lust snapped open the fan in her hand with a flourish and covered her mouth. She chuckled softly, then reached out and gently stroked Greed’s body with her fingertips.
“Why would I mock you, my foolish and ugly little brother? It’s not even like you’re under some charm.”
“…Get your hand off me.”
Greed swatted Lust’s hand away from his chest.
“Oh my, look at that feisty attitude. You’ve gotten cuter.”
Lust laughed in amusement and stood in front of Greed.
“Mmm… I’d love to play with you more, but I’m short on time.”
“……”
Greed trembled with rage, glaring at Lust. He wanted nothing more than to lunge forward and snap her slender neck. But according to the law of the jungle, he was currently weaker than Lust, so he forced himself to stay still.
Seeing his restraint, Lust closed her fan with a snap, looking regretful. She then took something out of her bosom and held it out to Greed.
“…That’s!”
At the sight of the object, Greed gasped and immediately dropped to one knee. Lust held the Symbol of Corruption engraved with the Apostle’s mark, from which an indescribable aura and voice emanated.
— Grid.
“…I greet the Fourth Apostle.”
— I’ve heard the news. The Korean Peninsula invasion has failed.
“I-I’m truly sorry.”
Greed’s body shook as he bowed even deeper.
— It’s fine. I already know why the invasion failed.
“A-Apostle.”
At the Apostle’s words, Greed dropped his other knee to the ground and prostrated himself completely. One wrong move here could cost him his life. So for the sake of survival, he had to show not just submission, but sincerity.
“I’m sorry, Apostle! Please, give me one more chance!”
— …A chance, is it?
The Apostle repeated the word thoughtfully. After a brief pause—
— Very well.
“Apostle!”
Greed lifted his head with hope in his eyes and looked at the Symbol.
— Grid. I will give you one final chance.
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
Greed slammed his forehead against the ground repeatedly.
— During the upcoming Duel Season at Arena Academy, lead all your forces and launch an assault.
“…An assault, you say?”
Against a place filled with Transcendents? By himself? Greed’s doubt must have shown, because the Apostle continued.
— Of course, I won’t send you alone. Fortunately, you won’t be going by yourself.
And then—
— I and three other named demons will accompany you.
The Apostle himself would join the attack.