Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 452: The Hero Climaxes in Defeat Again Today[R-18] (41)

I quietly followed the Pope down the inner corridors of Erebica.

The corridors were a pure, sterile white, so bright it felt like they could drive a man insane. My attention, however, was focused elsewhere.

‘So, the Pope really can't sense you, can he?’

‘Yeah, it seems so. That Duke Baran guy might have been unusually perceptive, but the Pope definitely can't feel my presence.’

‘Good. Find the place where the previous Demon King's equipment is hidden.’

‘Okay.’

Bi-yeon's presence vanished. She melted away, disappearing as if into thin air.

As if nothing had happened, I continued to follow the Pope.

"We are here."

He stopped before a massive door carved with the images of the three goddesses. It was an ornate and majestic gate, worthy of being called the heart of the sanctuary.

"From this point on, you must enter alone."

"Alone?"

I glanced up at the door, then quietly asked my question.

"Then there's nothing to stop someone from taking more than one item, or trying to evade surveillance."

The Pope slowly shook his head.

"No one has ever done so. However, the door will not open if you attempt to leave with more than one item."

"I see."

The Pope took a step back and said, "Please, enter."

Without a word, I approached the door. As I placed my hand on the gate carved with the three goddesses, it opened with a heavy, solemn presence.

Creeeak…

The moment I stepped inside, the door closed on its own.

The sound from behind me signaled that my connection to the outside world had been completely severed.

I turned my gaze forward.

The interior was far more spacious than I had expected. No, to be precise, it was structured to create the illusion of being endless.

"Quite a variety."

Weapons. Armor. Sparkling jewels and neatly arranged artifacts. I could tell at a glance that not a single item had been carelessly made.

‘A trove of treasures anyone would covet.’

I walked slowly, scanning each item one by one.

It was a feast for the eyes. The only problem was that I could only take one thing.

‘I have no idea what to choose.’

I stroked my chin lightly, lost in thought.

‘A weapon? Armor?’

I already had a sword in Bi-yeon. But she spent most of her time in human form, and it was a bit of a hassle to summon her every time I needed to fight.

‘Then armor? …No, my body is tougher than most armor, so that'd be inefficient. Besides, I can block most attacks with my protective aura.’

Besides, no matter how good the performance, armor seemed like it would be uncomfortable.

‘I can’t tell what these liquids are… It’s frustrating without any descriptions.’

Just then, my gaze settled on one spot.

A single object, covered by a black cloth, as if deliberately trying to hide its existence.

I slowly approached it.

Among these countless treasures, this was the only one whose form was concealed. Suspicion and curiosity arose in me at the same time.

‘The only object with its identity hidden…’

I lifted the cloth. What was revealed from beneath the black fabric was—

"…A crown?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

I felt a wave of disappointment as I looked at the crown. It was rusted, its gold plating and jewels having fallen off.

"Tsk, they probably covered it up because it's broken."

I clicked my tongue and was about to cover it again, but for some reason, I couldn't look away.

‘…What is this?’

The moment I went to touch it.

—Crackle.

The instant my fingertip touched the crown, a sharp sensation, like a bolt of lightning, shot through my entire body.

"…!"

Before I could even close my eyes, my vision twisted. My consciousness was dragged down, as if sinking into a deep mire.

*

"Hah…!"

I gasped for breath, my eyes flying open to a white ceiling.

"You're awake."

When I turned my head, the Pope was sitting in a chair beside me. The strange thing was, his body was covered in injuries.

"…Your Holiness. What in the world happened?"

I slowly sat up and asked. My own body seemed to be fine.

"Hoo… It's a rather long story. And… Marquis, you have a way of putting me in a difficult position."

"What do you mean by that?"

The Pope rose from his seat and walked with heavy steps toward the window. He pulled back the curtain and reached out to open it.

Then he turned to look at me and gestured outside.

"See for yourself."

I looked where he was pointing and saw that Erebica was half-destroyed.

"Why is it like that…?"

"You did that, Marquis."

"…I did?"

"Yes. When you went berserk, it took both myself and the Leader of the Ash Covenant to barely subdue you."

I was speechless.

‘…Me?’

I couldn't remember a thing. Then, one person suddenly came to mind.

‘…Bi-yeon.’

I called out to her silently in my mind.

‘You're awake? I'm back at the manor, so don't worry.’

A familiar voice replied. It was a relief just to know she was safe.

‘Phew… thank goodness.’

Meanwhile, the Pope had quietly sat back down.

"That crown belonged to an emperor who ruled the continent long ago."

"…So it wasn't just a simple ornament."

"No. It is a crown imbued with the power of a demigod. Of course, its power has faded over hundreds of years, and until now, no one has ever reacted to it."

‘A demigod…’

Just as I was about to check if my body had changed, the Pope sighed again and spoke.

"Hoo… For now, congratulations, Marquis. You have earned the qualification."

"…Qualification?"

The Pope nodded and began to speak.

"The power within the crown is no mere decoration. It is an artifact imbued with the power of a demigod who existed in ancient times—one who was closest to the gods. And now, a part of that power resides within your body."

I narrowed my eyes and asked quietly, "Are you saying I've become a god?"

"No. You have not become a god. You have become a human with the qualification to become one."

I furrowed my brow in silence.

‘A god…’

The word felt unreal. The Pope carefully added, "But please be aware. You have only gained the qualification to obtain a god's power; you are a demigod, not an actual god. And there is no guarantee that you will ever be able to wield that power."

"…What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. Having the qualification doesn't mean the power will automatically manifest. That power only reveals itself to those who achieve enlightenment on their own."

"…So, you're saying I might not be able to obtain it?"

"Yes. You could die without ever being able to draw out that power."

The Pope added seriously, "The qualification is merely a seed. Whether that seed blossoms is entirely up to you, Marquis."

I scowled.

‘What kind of bullshit is this?’

I just touched the thing, and half of Erebica gets blown away. I wake up, and now I have the qualification to become a demigod inside me? And on top of that, with the condition that I might never even be able to use it?

‘This is such a common cliché... but experiencing it firsthand is fucking exhausting.’

I looked at the Pope.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"In that case, what do I have to do to make this seed blossom? Should I start praying?"

The Pope shook his head lightly.

"The exact method has not been passed down. However, according to ancient texts... one awakens through a kind of extreme enlightenment. In other words, only when both body and mind surpass a certain realm... can one finally become a demigod."

"…Enlightenment."

I sighed, then flinched.

‘…Wait a minute. I destroyed half of Erebica with my own hands…?’

I had no memory of it, but the Pope wouldn't be lying. I looked at him and spoke cautiously.

"So... about compensation for the damage to Erebica...?"

The Pope's eyebrow twitched slightly.

"Hoo… To be honest, I would very much like to hang your head in the public square."

His voice was calm but sharp.

"However… this was an unforeseen accident, and it was not your intention… so I will overlook it this one time."

"Thank you, sincerely."

As I bowed my head, the Pope let out a slow sigh and nodded.

"Hah… In return, may I ask a favor of you?"

"Yes. Please, speak."

"This incident has been quite troublesome for our church. Erebica is a holy site, a symbol of the Holy Kingdom."

He tapped his fingers slowly on the armrest as he continued.

"For the reconstruction of Erebica, I would like you, Marquis, to find two people for us."

"Who do I need to find?"

"One is a dwarf. He is one of the most renowned master craftsmen among his people... and is currently missing. You are to bring him here. He is a descendant of the legendary blacksmith who designed Erebica."

"And who is the other one?"

The corners of the Pope's mouth slowly, wickedly, curled upward.

"You will need to go to the Dragon's Mountains."

"......"

I stared at him in silence for a moment.

The Dragon's Mountains.

A forbidden territory that no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one dared approach. A place where dragons made their nests. Among them, the most ferocious, the most arrogant, and the most powerful of all: a Red Dragon.

"Surely you don't mean…?"

"Hahaha. Do not worry. If you show them this, you will probably be able to return alive."

The Pope carefully took something out from his robes. It was an old ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠scroll, stamped with a red seal.

"Show them this, and you should be safe. And you are to receive one item from that individual. Of course, it won't be simple."

The Pope's smile deepened.

"You aren't thinking of refusing, are you? You, Marquis, are the only one who can accomplish this task. ...You wouldn't say no, would you?"

Considering all the trouble I'd caused, I didn't think I could refuse.

‘Is this karma?’

With a short sigh, I accepted the scroll.

"When should I depart?"

"Hmm… It will take some time to move the items in Erebica. I would appreciate it if you could make your move within a year at the latest."

"…At least I have some time. Understood."

"Well then, Marquis. I shall take my leave. Hahaha! I feel as if ten years of indigestion have been cleared away all at once."

The Pope let out a hearty laugh, his shiny bald head gleaming, then opened the door and sauntered out.

*

After returning to the manor, I heard the full story of what I had done from Bi-yeon.

"So, you're saying I suddenly went berserk and destroyed everything?"

"Yeah. You had some weird crown on your head. You wouldn't listen to anyone and just went wild... In the end, you were fighting the Pope and some woman when you suddenly stopped and collapsed."

"It wouldn't have been strange if the Pope had killed me. I'm lucky."

"He couldn't have."

"Huh?"

Bi-yeon rested her chin on her hand, looking at me with a bored expression.

"I was holding off on telling you, hoping you'd realize it yourself... Tsk. I guess I have to say it now. You're not using your power properly."

"Me?"

"Yeah. You're around the middle stage of the Transformation Realm, right? But compared to the masters of that realm I've seen, you're a total amateur. It's like your body is just overflowing with internal energy, and that's it."

I narrowed my eyes and asked, "…What do you mean? I've trained consistently, and I've rarely been outmatched in a fight."

"That's just you brute-forcing your way through things. Your current state is... well, like a little kid who's all strength and nothing else."

"…What?"

"That Daoist Yin-Yang Manual, was it? Your master, Seo Ryeo-hwa, would probably say the same thing. I was hoping you'd figure it out on your own... Besides, let's be honest, you've been slacking on your training because you're having sex every day, aren't you?"

I opened my mouth, then closed it. I had no rebuttal.

"And ironically… your rampage was the most perfect display of your power I've seen. The Pope and that woman beside him were completely overwhelmed; they couldn't do a thing."

"…It was that bad?"

"Yeah. You even used the power you possess properly without a sword. Normally, you can't even use half of that."

"…Are there any other problems besides that?"

"Well, the rest you'll have to figure out for yourself. But I'll give you one more piece of advice."

She looked me straight in the eye and continued slowly.

"Your dantian is overflowing with internal energy, but you lack the refined foundation to control it."

"…So I have an excess of power that I can't even use?"

"More accurately, your body is being crushed by your own immense internal energy. It's so massive that you can't handle it."

Bi-yeon lightly pointed a finger at my abdomen.

"Of Mind, Energy, and Body, the one you're lacking most is Body. Your dantian is overflowing with energy, but your physical vessel can't withstand or wield it. And frankly, your Mind is lacking too. Right now, you're nothing but an excess of energy."

"…Are you saying my current state is deformed?"

"Right. To put it simply, you've just been cramming internal energy into yourself without a proper foundation. Your body can't handle that immense power, so it's actually being held back by its own strength. What you need right now isn't stronger techniques or more energy."

She looked me straight in the eye and said firmly, "You used a cheat to get strong—those sexual arts from the Yin-Yang Manual. But you lack the foundation that normal masters of the Transformation Realm spend years, even decades, building. That's your problem. You need to rebuild that foundation from the ground up."

"…Hah. So in the end, you're telling me to start over from the beginning."

Bi-yeon smirked.

"If you build that foundation, your current power will be several times more efficient."

I was silent for a while, lost in thought. Every one of Bi-yeon's words hit home, and at the same time, made me realize many things.

At times like this, having an advisor like Bi-yeon around was quite useful.

"More importantly, did you succeed?"

At my question, Bi-yeon's lips curled into a grin. She playfully held up her hand.

"Hehe, ta-da! Thanks to you smashing Erebica to bits, it was actually super easy to grab!"

What she took from her robes was a small, palm-sized black box. It was a box carved with strange patterns, exuding an aura that seemed to want to hide its very existence.

It was the box that sealed the equipment of the previous Demon King.

"You did well."

I said curtly as I took the box from her.

"But are you going to use that right away?"

"No. I'm thinking of using it after we return to my territory, once the demons start causing more trouble."

"So when are we leaving?"

"After I see Laet."

"Ugh… It's so boring here…" Bi-yeon grumbled, twisting her body and flailing her arms around.

I smiled slightly and said, "Then, shall we have sex?"

"…Didn't you say you were cutting back for a while? Lately, you've been taking that priestess and the mage and fucking them like a dog all day long."

"That's training."

"Training, my ass."

Bi-yeon gave me a look of disbelief, and I decided to just pounce on her.