Chapter 38
Chapter 38.
"This staircase is......"
[This is the staircase leading to the First Tower!]
Shuuuuu.
The Divine Maiden ghost went to the staircase ahead of Lee Ganghan and circled around its vicinity.
[I was curious why the Heavenly Demon hasn't visited the Mana Training Hall all this time...... It seems like the entrance opens when you visit up to this point!]
'The reason I kept dying only in Strength, Agility, and Stamina was because of this.'
[Yes. But this means that the person who bestowed the blessing upon the Heavenly Demon...... also knew this information.]
'That's right. They definitely said I could meet them if I came down below......'
The manipulator who had revealed Mother's voice and face.
When he asked if that person was really his mother.
They didn't answer that question.
-If you're curious, you'll become weak, so I'll go to bestow the blessing again.
-Or...... Yes. Come down, to the bottom of the First Tower.
They said he could find out if he came down below.
"I should go take a look."
[W-wait a moment! You should still say farewell......]
"Ah. A farewell?"
[That's right...... I was originally just a guide in the Heavenly Demon Valley.]
Is that so?
Although the Divine Maiden talked quite a bit, she had taught him a lot about the questions related to the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
"That's unfortunate."
[It really is. I only got to see the Heavenly Demon's absent-minded state for a long time, and now that we can finally communicate, I was so happy......]
"Well, if there are system restrictions, there's nothing we can do about it."
[That's right......]
The Divine Maiden ghost hung her head deeply.
Just as her hair covered her entire body even more.
'Ah. But if the Divine Maiden disappears, does that mean the precision testing is over too?'
Lee Ganghan suddenly thought about stat measurement.
He had to look through the Divine Maiden.
Lee Ganghan could know the exact value of 10+.
Since his mana had increased tremendously this time too.
He needed to get this read once.
"Divine Maiden, could you measure my mana?"
[You mean precision measurement, right? Yes. I understand.]
Measurement result.
Mana: 15
His mana was stuck at exactly 15.
"15...... It went up by 8 in just one day."
[Yes. But it seems like you can't absorb any more than this. I was shocked when I saw your body explode in an instant earlier.]
"I also experienced death consciously for the first time. It was indeed painful."
[......You're too calm for someone who experienced that.]
"Really? Maybe it's because it was too instantaneous?"
Tap, Tap.
Lee Ganghan touched his own body and tilted his head.
Since his entire body had exploded from the inside.
The pain was tremendous.
But somehow, after dying and being revived.
It didn't feel real.
'And when I die here, the Heavenly Demon Constitution grade doesn't drop.'
When he heard the true manual of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art and the Heavenly Demon Constitution's potential rose to EX.
[Even if you die in places other than the 'First Tower', the Heavenly Demon Constitution won't disappear.]
[Instead, when you die, your current grade will drop by one level.]
[When you die, if the Heavenly Demon Constitution grade is F-rank, the Heavenly Demon Constitution will disappear.]
This message had definitely appeared.
Even if his grade dropped when he died in other towers.
It seemed like he could die as much as he wanted in the First Tower.
'Well, if that wasn't the case, the Heavenly Demon Constitution would have already disappeared when I died more than 999 times.'
Lee Ganghan realized that it was okay to die here and looked at the staircase.
This way, there would be no mental burden in challenging it.
[Are you planning to go?]
"I have to."
[Yes......]
It was a bit regrettable to part with the Divine Maiden ghost who knew a lot about the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
But now was the time to move forward.
He had to reveal the identity of the one who had been manipulating him all this time.
When Lee Ganghan firmed his resolve.
[I understand. I will cheer for the Heavenly Demon's progress from the afterlife as well......]
When the Divine Maiden ghost left such last words.
Her already semi-transparent body began to become even more transparent.
'Is this how we part?'
From now on, it'll be a strategy without a guide?
That's unfortunate.
When Lee Ganghan was thinking that.
Ttiring.
[You can continue to maintain the guide by using mana.]
[To continue maintaining the guide 'Last Divine Maiden Cheon Seran', 3 mana is required.]
[When you release the guide, the mana will return.]
A message appeared asking whether he would continue to maintain the guide.
'So her name was Cheon Seran. But it takes 3 mana to maintain her?'
Since his current mana was 15.
That would be 1/5 flying away.
Of course, since the mana would return when he released the guide, it felt like temporarily entrusting his mana.
Anyway, it took quite a bit of mana to maintain 'Last Divine Maiden Cheon Seran'.
But still.
'I still have a lot to learn, so I should maintain her.'
Click.
When Lee Ganghan chose to maintain the Divine Maiden.
Flash......!
The Divine Maiden ghost's body, which had been becoming transparent, immediately returned to its original state.
[Huh?]
Then.
The Divine Maiden looked at Lee Ganghan with surprise.
[Th-this mana is...... Heavenly Demon, by any chance?]
"Oh, I still have a lot to learn. Please guide me a bit more."
[Ah...... With this much mana, wouldn't the loss be tremendous......?]
"It's fine, this much is nothing."
The Divine Maiden, who couldn't continue speaking for a moment at Lee Ganghan's words.
Slowly opened her mouth.
[......The Heavenly Demon is not like a typical Heavenly Demon.]
"Why?"
[Even though there were many Heavenly Demons who stole True Energy from their subordinates, there was no Heavenly Demon who shared their own.]
"Really? Then let me try being that kind of Heavenly Demon."
The Heavenly Demon Constitution was something he received as a trait anyway.
There was no need to live like the 'Heavenly Demon' that the Divine Maiden remembered.
Lee Ganghan spoke nonchalantly, but.
[......I understand. Then I will do my best to assist the new Heavenly Demon!]
The Divine Maiden answered loudly in a brisk voice.
And when her answer ended.
[You have gained the Divine Maiden's recognition.]
[You can build the 'Heavenly Mandate Tower' in the Ten Thousand Demon Battle.]
Suddenly, it said he had gained the Divine Maiden's recognition.
The facilities that could be built in Ten Thousand Demon Battle increased.
***
'......What recognition all of a sudden?'
Was there anything particularly worthy of recognition in the current conversation?
Lee Ganghan didn't understand, but.
'Well, it's good that the facilities I can build have increased.'
Thinking that good things are good.
"Heavenly Mandate Tower? Do you know what this is?"
He asked the Divine Maiden about the Heavenly Mandate Tower.
[Heavenly Mandate Tower? The Heavenly Mandate Tower is a building where Divine Maidens and female disciples reside. But how does the Heavenly Demon know that name......?]
"Ah. It suddenly said I gained recognition from you, and this appeared saying I could build this in the Ten Thousand Demon Battle."
[I-is that so? Recognition...... ? From me?]
She was flustered by the talk of recognition.
Swish.
The Divine Maiden ghost suddenly covered her face with her hands.
What's this?
Is she embarrassed?
"What did you recognize that makes you so embarrassed?"
[I-I wasn't embarrassed! I didn't recognize anything either!]
"......Right. But you can't be seen anyway because of your hair? No need to cover it."
[It's a matter of feeling!]
Even so, the Divine Maiden ghost put her hands down again.
How troublesome.
Lee Ganghan chuckled and changed the topic.
"So, what happens if I build the Heavenly Mandate Tower?"
[Well......? I don't really know what Ten Thousand Demon Battle is for either.]
"Really?"
Then he'd have to check directly in Ten Thousand Demon Battle.
Lee Ganghan tried to open Ten Thousand Demon Battle, but.
[Ten Thousand Demon Battle function cannot be used in the Heavenly Demon Valley.]
A message appeared saying it couldn't be used here.
'Hmm. Since it's called the Heavenly Demon Valley...... Can I use it after going down?'
The Heavenly Demon Valley was the topmost floor of the First Tower.
The situation might be different if he went down.
He should go and test it once.
"Then let's go down."
[Yes!]
Swoosh.
When the Divine Maiden ghost climbed onto Lee Ganghan's shoulder.
He walked down the staircase.
Step, Step.
The deeper he went, the more the light disappeared.
Soon, a world filled only with darkness.
'This has no end.'
Isn't this going to end if I keep walking?
When Lee Ganghan was thinking that and walking steadily.
Whooosh......!
Suddenly, bright red flames erupted from the darkness.
[Kyaah!]
The Divine Maiden ghost let out a high-pitched scream.
Lee Ganghan, who wasn't particularly surprised by the flames.
Even flinched at her scream.
That's because.
She screamed right next to his ear.
"......Why is a ghost so easily startled? I was more surprised because of you."
[Uh, it suddenly popped out...... I'm weak against these things.]
When the Divine Maiden ghost hung her head deeply.
Whoooosh......
The flames that had been growing gradually shrank again.
A circular plate glowing red slid out from within.
A circular plate evenly divided into 7 sections.
A long needle was positioned at the 12 o'clock direction.
Each section had words carved in it.
'Pride, Greed, Envy, Wrath, Lust, Gluttony, Sloth......'
All words used in negative meanings.
When Lee Ganghan was quietly looking at this.
Whirrrrr......
The circular plate suddenly began to rotate clockwise.
[One of the sins of the Seven Deadly Sins will test you......]
Seven Deadly Sins.
What was written in the 7 sections were the 7 deadly sins.
The plate that had been spinning for a while.
Gradually slowed down.
Clack.
One section got caught on the needle at the 12 o'clock position.
['Greed' will test you.]
[Current grade is Iron. 'Minion' and 'Guardian' will be matched as opponents.]
[Your opponent will be the 'Guardian of Greed'.]
Guardian of Greed.
Seeing that the opponent would be either a minion or guardian since it was Iron grade.
It didn't seem like a very strong enemy?
'I guess it was good that I came before becoming Bronze.'
If he had come with a 2-week gap, he would have come in Bronze state.
A stronger opponent might have been matched.
Lee Ganghan thought that the accident that happened while rummaging through the drawer today was actually beneficial.
He continued to look at the message.
[Current grade is Iron.]
[The opponent's name will be revealed.]
Here it said Iron again.
The system kindly even revealed the enemy's name.
It really seems like I came at the right time today?
When Lee Ganghan was thinking that.
Ttiring.
[The name of the Guardian of Greed is 'Christopher Columbus'.]
The name of the Guardian of Greed appeared.
"Columbus?"
Wait, if it's Columbus, he's the explorer who explored the New World.
Why is this person here?
[The Guardian of Greed calls forth a battlefield suited to himself......]
[The battlefield on B1 floor is the Sea of Darkness (Mare Tenebrosum).]
"What?"
No.
What kind of sea is a battlefield?
Lee Ganghan was dumbfounded, but.
Paaaaah......!
The scene revealed as the darkness lifted.
"Wow, it's really a sea......"
It was unmistakably a vast ocean.
There was only a large rock where Lee Ganghan was standing.
The surroundings were nothing but seawater.
'I'm not good at swimming...... How am I supposed to find Columbus here?'
When Lee Ganghan was dumbfounded while looking around.
Ziiiiiing......
A large screen appeared before his eyes.
What appeared there was.
A gaunt-faced man holding a wine bottle.
[Are you the challenger?]
Glug, Glug.
He drank the wine straight from the bottle.
Ptui!
He spat on the ground and grinned wickedly.
[To be caught by me, how unlucky.]
"Columbus?"
[You know my name? That's right. I am Christopher Columbus. The pioneer of new sea routes and the Governor and Viceroy of the New World.]
"Are you the Guardian of Greed?"
At Lee Ganghan's question, Columbus's expression became completely distorted.
[Shut up! I don't acknowledge it!]
Crash!
He threw the wine bottle to the ground.
[Why am I greed! The greedy ones are the pigs in the royal court! I crossed the seas risking my life!]
As if he was very displeased about being the Guardian of Greed.
Crash! Crash!
He kept bringing wine bottles from somewhere and breaking them.
[Merda!]
He uttered what seemed like curse words.
Glug, Glug......!
He brought another wine bottle and chugged it.
[Kuk...... Well, fine. They said they'd forgive my sins if I catch a challenger...... Die for me, challenger!]
Then.
Zizizizik......
The screen switched.
A ship revealed itself.
A warship that might have been used in medieval times.
The screen zoomed in on the cannons attached to that warship.
Boom!
Cannonballs began to fly out from there.