You Want to Know My Divine Name?
The veil covering the Curtain God's face trembled lightly. Unlike moments ago, the divine power in his voice made it feel like my breath was suddenly cut off.
"Human. I know what you're thinking, but to place an upper god beneath you... Heh, that might be amusing in its own way."
The Curtain God stroked his chin as he spoke to me.
"Your greed is excessive. Humans always fall to ruin because of that greed."
"Whether it's excessive or not isn't for you to judge."
"You want to know my divine name... Well, it's not impossible."
"What's the method?"
"Become my incarnation."
The question I'd half-expected ended with the predictable answer.
"Nonsense."
I could only scoff in disappointment at the obvious response.
"Otherwise, were you truly planning to challenge me to a god-slay? Come on, then—try hunting me."
Kurrrgh!!!
In that instant, thick storm clouds gathered around him, and sharp lightning bolts and thunder began crashing down from the sky.
Entered Curtain Forest.
First Discovery of Curtain Forest!
First Discoverer Privilege Applied.
Would you like to check the privileges?
'...Dungeonization?'
In that moment, the space shifted, and alert windows popped up one after another.
"......"
A tingling sensation coursed through my entire body. With a hardened expression, I stared at the Curtain God.
"Heh heh heh..."
But the intimidating scene was fleeting. The Curtain God, as if mocking me, instantly dispelled the crushing pressure that had dominated the surroundings.
Curtain Forest disappears.
'Something's off...'
A slight doubt crept in. When the Curtain God had unleashed his divine power, unlike with Yeomhwa-ryeong, it had triggered dungeonization.
'He didn't just use his power in the field like a field boss such as the Spirit Devourer. Inducing dungeonization means he's a dungeon-type boss...'
There were a few possibilities. For one, an upper god's power might be so overwhelming that it surpassed field monsters, forcing the system to bind it within a dungeon framework. After all, Dimension World had multiple gods—if they all manifested their full power on the continent simultaneously, it would turn into utter chaos.
Moreover, while field boss monsters were strong, the game's most powerful bosses were ultimately the raid bosses that required massive strike teams.
'Even gods are bound by the system, huh.'
I furrowed my brow slightly.
"Has your mind changed a bit now?"
Unaware of my thoughts, the Curtain God spoke to me, reveling in his own grandeur.
"Showing off your power to a mere created being doesn't seem all that impressive."
"Heh, such pride... I like it. I can't reveal my divine name, but you're right that preserving my dignity deserves fair recompense. In exchange, I'll grant you access to my treasury."
"Treasury...?"
I eyed him, intrigued by the offer.
"Unlike other gods, I have little material desire, so there aren't many items, but each one is exceedingly noble. If something catches your eye, take it. And if you like what you see in my treasury... I'll offer you another chance to become my incarnation."
'A god's treasury...'
I hadn't truly believed simply passing the trial would subjugate an upper god. I'd only provoked him to gauge his intentions, as he was the first upper god I'd encountered who hadn't revealed himself before.
'I don't have the power to threaten a god yet.'
Fortunately, my provocation had elicited favor rather than enmity from the Curtain God.
Someday, I'll make you submit.
"You're not even at the level of incarnation authority yet. It's a tempting offer. Become my incarnation, and I might even watch your back from now on."
"Hmm. Wasn't the Curtain God I knew disinterested in the human world?"
"I'm disinterested in the world, but you've piqued my interest as a human."
I sneered at his words.
"Asera Tanubiel, the head of the Veil, would weep if she heard that. After all her devoted service, a human who suddenly appears becomes the incarnation."
"Faith and grace are separate matters."
"I'll think about it after seeing the treasury."
"By all means."
Kurrrgh!!!
With a light shake of the staff he held, the world darkened as if a hidden curtain were being drawn back, then brightened again.
"...!!"
Entered the Curtain God's Treasury, [Hidden Garden].
This is a special place accessible only to the selected. All external communication is blocked. Whisper, messages, and all other functions are impossible. Re-entry is also impossible, so decide carefully.
As the surroundings changed, the first thing that caught my eye was the feat notification.
'A whopping 3,000 feat points... Definitely god-related.'
From the alert's content, I realized no one had reached a god yet. That meant even the Hidden Eater hadn't encountered one.
"Hmm."
As the Curtain God had said, his "treasury" was surprisingly shabby for a god's warehouse. Compared to the Eltia Iron Kingdom's treasury's splendor, I'd even give the nod to the kingdom's.
But the contents were entirely different. Each item gleamed with artifacts.
Among them, I picked up a single worn sword from a basket woven of twigs.
Appraisal failed.
Appraisal failed.
It looked like junk no one would use, yet astonishingly, my Appraisal Eye couldn't easily discern it.
Appraisal failed.
......
Appraisal succeeded.
After several failures, I finally uncovered the worn sword's true nature.
Precise Appraisal unlocked at Lv10.
You can now appraise items more accurately.
"Hah..."
I let out an involuntary chuckle. Just appraising one item had jumped its level by five stages.
'Ainheri's relic was an artifact too, but prefixed with "ancient." This has "god," so even among artifacts, the grade differs.'
Appraising just the items here might be enough to master Appraisal Eye.
Wooong...
As the appraisal of the worn sword finished, it trembled lightly and began emitting a pure white glow.
Grade: Relic
Weapon | Durability 100/100 | Usable at Lv100+
- A wooden sword crafted by the Curtain God at the command of ancient Elvenheim's leader, Taran Tanubiel. The blade is made of millennium pine, granting sharp cutting power despite being wood. However, elven craftsmanship is lacking, classifying it as a failure among the god's armaments.
Agility +50 | Strength +30 | Attack +650 | Nature Damage +15%
Exclusive Effect: Wood Chain — On hit, 40% chance to bind target with branches for 3s immobilization. Stacks up to 3 times on same target.
Tesaro's sword, a Heroic-grade blade, had 170 attack power. This plain wooden sword with simple ornaments boasted 650.
'...This is the failure?'
But more astonishing than the immense attack power was that this sword was deemed a failure among the god's armaments.
"All the chaos on the continent over items feels utterly pointless now."
I shook my head, at a loss for words.
Wooong...!
Wung...!
Clang...!
Clang...!
Perhaps because I'd appraised Twisted Honor, the armaments in the treasury—which had been silent when I arrived—began trembling noisily, as if begging to be chosen.
The Curtain God had said there weren't many, but the rampaging weapons dazzled the eyes with their brilliance.
That was when it happened.
A voice echoed in my mind.
"Hm?"
Hearing an elderly voice rich with years from among the armaments, I turned toward the sound.
It was a small seed. Brown like roasted coffee beans, it didn't look like it would sprout.
"Hmph."
The black seed stood out amid the flashy gleaming armaments, drawing my eye briefly, but it held no appeal for me, who sought usable weapons.
The seed spoke to me.
"Sorry, but I don't have the leisure to grow plants. Besides, my head's already overflowing with voices ringing in it—I can't take on more."
"Appraisal Eye consumes mental energy, you know."
I glanced over the seed in my hand. Intelligent armaments existed in Dimension World, but intelligence in a material item rather than a weapon was a first.
"Hmm..."
Though I'd learned Precise Appraisal, instant success on Heroic-grade or higher was rare. It was natural to be intrigued by one demanding appraisal itself.
Appraisal succeeded.
Precise Appraisal reveals more detailed item information.
Curiously, as the seed claimed, appraisal succeeded on the first try.
'Low-grade items can have intelligence too...?'
Instant success with Appraisal Eye only happened with low-grade items.
Grade: Relic (Locked) | Durability 1/1 | Usable at Lv1+
- Seed of the World Tree Yggdrasil, called the bridge to the heavens. Legend says planting it in a special place causes it to grow massively, reaching the sky.
"World Tree? Like the one in the White Swamp?"
The continent's only World Tree was Balder, the giant tree in the White Swamp.
The seed spoke urgently to my mutter.
"What's the difference?"
"You released your own seal?"
"I see."
Only then did I understand why one appraisal sufficed.
"Hmm..."
It spoke dramatically, but I simply set the seed down.
"What's to guarantee I'd get any? The heavens you speak of are the gods' lair. Who promises they'd welcome me and hand over their treasures?"
I pointed at the ceiling.
"The Curtain God loves to peep. He's probably watching from his treasury to see what I choose... Say the wrong thing, and you might burn pitch-black, never to grow again."
As I turned to leave, the seed cried out desperately.
"Gods aren't perfect? For a dented thing in a warehouse, that's awfully rude to your owner."
The seed snorted.
The seed spun an intriguing tale I hadn't considered.
"Not something for a prisoner of a 'worthless' one to say."
The seed coughed awkwardly.
"What is it?"
"...Demon realm?"
I turned my head slightly at the seed's words.
"Even less interest in demons. Tangling with them brings nothing good. Just look at the Knights of Prophecy—they're nothing but calamities."
The seed quivered.
"So?"
The seed said to me.
'...Connection?'
A thought flashed through my mind.
Connector's Authority. Dimension World's most enigmatic power, with its third stage still locked for me.
The seed whispered, as if reading my expression.
"What can you connect for me?"
"No games."
The seed whispered.