Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: Don't Speak So Loudly
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"Don't speak so loudly."
"Repeat after me. What is Lee Seong-hoon?"
"He is God!!!"
That's exactly it—!! My head throbs hearing those voices echoing around. What the hell is this situation?
In a daze, I completed the contract using the magic circle the spirit drew, returned to the lodging, and this is what I find right in front of me.
A maid-dressed demon is injecting something into a moving scythe.
"Is this that cult thing? The Seong-hoon Truth Church or whatever?"
"Ugh. Gross. Who would worship someone like me?"
At my words, the cat—no, the woman with cat ears—pointed at the maid.
What I saw there—
Two idiots beating drums, gongs, and even playing the gayageum. All I can do is sigh.
Is my inventory some kind of brainwashing device? Why do they all come out nicer after going in?
And they come out dumber, like they've been hit on the head. Comb your hair to the side, at least.
"As if idiots could do that."
As I sighed and shook my head, a blonde approached from the side, snickering. It's been a while since I've seen that infuriating look. I missed it, kinda.
This is Raphael for you.
"Seong-hoon. You like it, don't you? People praising you? Carrying you on their shoulders?"
"No, I don't."
"Liar."
[You don't like it, nyang? Humans get full of themselves if you praise them even a little, nyang.]
"That's Raphael. I know my place. Just a slightly talented ordinary guy."
[See? Nyang.]
What do you mean 'see'? Where could there be a more perfectly self-aware person than me? No way. I won't yield on this.
"Did I just hear something weird? I'm not full of myself—I am awesome!!"
Oh, really? I ignored Raphael shoving her face in mine. Ignored the idiots praising me from afar. Ignored the idiot on my shoulder calling me an idiot.
After ignoring them all, I opened the [Menu]. Naturally, the spirit had been added to [Familiars].
[Wind Spirit: Sylph]
[An upper wind spirit. Possesses firepower that could blow away a mountain if it wanted, and spirit power incomparable to humans.]
"Oh."
Nice. No wonder it felt so strong. Even after nearly depleting its mana, it withstood Isia's 7th-circle spell without falling.
I figured it was at least high-ranking. As expected.
It's always nice, but lately, every bit of increased combat power feels even better.
Demons that shouldn't even be summonable in the first place—two of them summoned already.
These are the culprits behind the power balance collapse that only appear late in the story.
With a high demon already showing up once, there's no guarantee archdemons won't appear—and that's the demon cultists' goal anyway.
Meaningful power boosts against strong foes—even if not demons—are always welcome when demon cultists start rampaging.
"What're you thinking about? Again?"
"How to crush those demon cult bastards."
"Angel Punch."
"Can you even spread your wings?"
At my words, Raphael crossed her arms in an X and made a 'beep beep~' sound. Just say no.
"Nothing beats an Angel Punch."
"Wasn't that why you pulled out your wings last time against the demon?"
[She pulled them out and still barely won, nyang. I saw it, nyang. Six wings and she barely won, nyang.]
"Th-that was because of you, Seong-hoon...!!"
"Me?"
Suddenly me? Blaming others really knows no bounds. Next she'll say her laziness is my fault too.
"Forget it!!"
She puffed her cheeks alone, then whipped around. Sorry, but I don't care if she sulks.
Especially a damn blonde. Oh, Leviathan excepted.
I patted the sulking Raphael's head a couple times and approached Lily. It was about time for Leviathan to wake up complaining about the noise, so I needed to quiet things down.
"Lily. Stop it. She can't transform into human form, so she can't do housework no matter how you teach her."
It was a joke. Just a joke to tell her to stop—but
"Pardon?"
Lily froze like stone. With an expression saying that couldn't be, she stiffly looked up at me.
And opened her mouth.
"Is that true?"
"Yeah."
Crack—!!
With a bizarre sound, the focus vanished from Lily's eyes.
"Were you seriously planning to put her to work?"
No answer came back, but instead, I heard Lily collapsing to the floor.
Do I usually exploit her that much?
I don't think so.
[You do, nyang.]
No, I don't.
＊＊＊
The next day. Day 8 in the Maldives.
I stepped outside, bathed in the now-familiar morning sunlight. No jet lag difference.
[Maldives and Justitia aren't much different in time, nyang.]
"Are you saying I've been staying up all night like some unemployed bum every day?!"
[I didn't say a word like that, nyang.]
"You're not unemployed. We have proper jobs. We're proud students!!"
"True. Raphael. We have the student shield for three years."
"Right!! Seong-hoon gets it!! Students can pull all-nighters sometimes. And stay cooped up at home!!"
"Ooh!! Finally saying something right!!"
With the cat giving us pitiful looks and Leviathan rubbing her sleepy eyes in my arms, we headed to one place.
Tourism. Actual sightseeing after lounging on the beach for seven days.
Of course, tourism is the best part of travel. Maldives is for the sea—what sightseeing? If you say that, you're a newbie.
This is a world overrun by mana and monsters? Of course there are weird things!
Like that massive crater over there. Traces of a dungeon emergence.
Endless ocean whirlpools, rocks shaped like dragons, nature islands tended by spirits, sites of outbreak dungeons.
Dungeons popping up most frequently. What is this place? Why so brutal?
"Everyone in the Maldives must be heroes."
"Yeah. Any other country would've been wiped out dozens of times with this many dungeons."
[So cool!!]
"Cool, but..."
Still feels off. Why label this as tourism? Not exactly fond memories.
As I thought people must live in fear with dungeons appearing so often—the guide stopped at the next spot.
Then, with a proud expression, he raised his voice to explain.
What was in front of us was that dragon-shaped rock I'd seen from afar earlier.
"Our island is protected by the Dragon."
[Dragon?]
"Benia's a dragon."
[Benia!!]
At Benia's name, Leviathan giggled excitedly. I guess I do have a talent for explanations if she got it instantly?
"But first impressions matter, huh."
"Why? What're you gonna say now."
"Think about it. I haven't met other dragons, but hearing Benia... Makes the whole dragon race seem like idiots."
Hearing it, she has a point.
"True. But Raphael. You're wrong about one thing."
"What?"
"Doesn't matter the first impression. I know two angels. Both idiots, each missing a screw—Ow!!"
An Angel Punch flew straight at me, as expected. Hadn't seen one lately, so I let my guard down.
"Do you know about the spirit rampage a week ago? It was quelled immediately—thanks to the Dragon's grace—!!"
No matter what fuss we made, the guide didn't stop explaining. Hey, mister. Someone's getting hit right in front of you.
More surprising than that—a dragon. They're not altruistic types.
Not even benevolent-to-humans Benia is truly selfless. Exclusive by nature, they wouldn't help humans for no reason?
"More importantly, Seong-hoon. Didn't we stop that?"
"Yeah. Heroes showed up too. Is this it? Belittling others' efforts like some college entrance art project? Were our efforts just entrance exam art? Anyway, let go."
"No."
Tsk. Too bad. Had to listen to the explanation while Raphael had me by the collar.
Something about sea dragons, guarding this place since ancient times, nests and whatnot.
All boring, worthless drivel. Dragons came during the Dimensional War anyway—only about 200 years ago—and they're talking like legends.
"This sales tactic?"
"I said let's just play in the sea."
"Still gotta do tourism. It's here!!"
Bickering with Raphael, I thought: No way it's real.
That subtle peace I'd felt recently—was it because of this? I shook my head.
"No chance."
"You think my fist won't reach your face?!"
"Give me a break on that!!"
[Daddy!! That guy!!]
Shouldn't you stop this?!
Of course, no one did.
"And so, our island has a long tradition and history—"
You stop it.
＊＊＊
"A dragon, huh."
We ended up back at our usual beach. Raphael whined about wasted time, but it wasn't bad.
She was grinning the whole tour. Making me the bad guy.
Taking photos with Leviathan, pointing at sights from the boat and making a fuss for me to look, grabbing her wind-tossed hair.
Then pretends otherwise at the end. Acts like she hated it.
I glared, infusing hurt feelings, but she just tilted her head innocently while holding Leviathan.
See? Perpetrators don't remember. Filthy world.
"Why keep bringing up the dragon? Stop weird thoughts and play. Buy food too."
Why? It is a dragon. Transcendent species.
Scarier than most demons. And their habits—hoarding gold and jewels?
Treasures incomparable to Violet's or Ishiu's vaults from before?
"Ah. Wanna raid a dragon lair."
"A few touches and you could go."
Not that kind—real lair. Treasures piled like mountains.
[Master's lair has lots of treasure too, nyang.]
True, but—
"Huh?"
Thinking about it, yeah. Human greed is endless, though. Wanna go. Steal items.
"You said there's none anyway."
"That's the issue. Seems they misunderstood us passing by and cleaning up some annoying guys. Probably."
"What if you don't know, Seong-hoon."
I didn't set that. Never wrote it. Don't know. Don't know.
"Ah!! Wanna raid a dragon lair!!!!"
"Don't speak so loudly!!"
As I thought to give up since it doesn't exist and stop whining—
Raphael's hair stood straight up!
"Demonic energy."
She said in a serious tone, then—
"Nah?"
Tilted her head.
"What're you doing?"
"Dunno, nyong."
Our angel radar must be busted.