Chapter 61
Chapter 61.
[Clear rewards are being distributed.]
[Level increases by 7.]
[You gain 1,500,000 TP.]
'1.5 million?'
Was it because his grade had risen to Bronze?
Despite receiving the same EX-grade clear evaluation.
The TP reward had increased by 500,000 compared to the Tower of Infinity.
'Heavenly Demon Divine Sect... I might be able to establish it sooner than I thought.'
If he kept earning TP like this, even 50 million TP would come quickly.
Of course, he had just been lucky enough to get EX evaluations twice in a row.
From next time, he might only receive S grades again.
But given his current mood, the reconstruction of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect felt like it was coming within reach.
And then.
[Having exceeded the SSS grade evaluation, an additional special reward is granted.]
'Oh. A special reward.'
A special reward that hadn't been given even when he received an EX during the Tower of Infinity promotion battle.
Back then, he had received so many other types of rewards that he hadn't felt particularly regretful.
But this time, there were no such rewards, so he should accept the special reward.
Wondering what it might be, he waited.
['Arena Promising Player Bracelet' acquired.]
'Promising Player Bracelet?'
An item with an unusual name had come as a reward.
Lee Ganghan opened his inventory to check it.
[Arena Promising Player Bracelet]
Grade: SS
A bracelet awarded to players who have reached arena grade 10-star and attracted an audience of 1,000 or more.
When worn, the bracelet maintains the wearer's body in optimal condition at all times.
Additionally, when the wearer's life is threatened, the bracelet detects this and activates powerful protective magic.
The bracelet upgrades when a winning streak of 20 or more victories is accumulated.
The bracelet can only be worn by the owner, and the item's effects apply in reality as well.
So it activated protective magic in moments of crisis.
And normally maintained his body condition in optimal state.
'I don't know how powerful the protective magic is, but... the performance seems a bit bland for SS grade.'
Moreover, since it was an item only he could wear.
He couldn't sell it anywhere either.
Still.
'It's interesting that it applies in reality too.'
Generally, most items could be traded in reality but their effects wouldn't activate.
But the Arena Promising Player Bracelet was said to show effects in reality too.
This function alone probably warranted the high grade evaluation.
'But having protective functions as the main feature... is this for protecting promising players?'
Among players who reached 10-star, those who attracted 1,000 audience members were 'promising players' worth protecting in the arena?
'Should I try wearing it?'
Lee Ganghan, who had been going around without any equipped items until now.
Since this bracelet was said to apply effects in reality too.
He wanted to experience it once.
When he clicked equip item in his inventory.
Flash...!
Light flickered around his left wrist.
A silver chain-type bracelet that fit his wrist perfectly appeared.
"So this is the Promising Player Bracelet?"
It looked ordinary on the outside.
Would its appearance change when his winning streak increased?
Lee Ganghan tried to assess the bracelet's performance by checking his body condition, but.
'My condition... I can't really tell?'
Lee Ganghan was already in full condition normally thanks to his high stamina.
Since there was no condition that could improve beyond this.
He couldn't really feel the bracelet's effect.
'Then practically, the protective magic would be most useful?'
Right now, there were hardly any situations where his life would be threatened.
But gradually, such situations might arise.
He decided to experience the bracelet's effect then.
Lee Ganghan kept the bracelet on.
'With this, today's tower climbing ended successfully...'
Lee Ganghan thought about another item in his inventory.
The 'First Tower's Seal'.
Wondering where to go first, Lee Ganghan had visited a regular tower first.
Since the arena didn't take as long as expected, he did have time to enter the First Tower now.
However,
'Rather than being too hasty, let me get a sword first before entering.'
The opponent in the First Tower was Columbus.
He would have to wander around that vast sea again looking for Columbus's ship.
Fighting there with just his fists wasn't a very wise choice.
Moreover,
'Tomorrow I need to receive the item FIPA is giving me.'
He didn't know what item they would give.
But whatever it was, it would be somewhat useful, right?
As Lee Ganghan was thinking about entering the First Tower after the award ceremony.
Ding.
['Mixed-blood Elf Karana' wants to inquire with you.]
[Would you like to connect the communication?]
Karana's communication request appeared before his eyes.
'What's wrong?'
Was it because of what happened at the arena earlier?
When Lee Ganghan connected the communication.
[Chieek. Heavenly Demon.]
On the screen.
Karana was looking at Lee Ganghan with a dark expression.
***
"What's wrong?"
[I'm asking just in case...]
"Yeah."
[You're not thinking of handing me over to the Elves, are you?]
Karana mentioned Elves while even showing fear.
Lee Ganghan answered her.
"Of course I'm not thinking of handing you over. But weren't you shaken?"
[Shaken?]
"Yeah. From what Hild was saying, it seemed like you're not an ordinary Elf. It felt like you could receive better treatment."
When he tried to probe once.
The other side noticed, so he couldn't extract precise information.
But still, seeing how she dismantled the stick-figure spirit and conversely made it self-destruct.
Her skill in handling spirits, especially fire spirits, seemed superior to Hild's.
'Come to think of it, when she worked as a Divine Maiden, it said she had high affinity with light and fire attributes.'
Back then, he thought she just had high affinity because she was an Elf.
But seeing her steal spirits from another Elf, it seemed like a different level.
That's probably why Hild suddenly called Karana 'that person'.
However,
[Chieek. Elves... seeing those hideous appearances, my face alone is enough.]
"Hideous?"
[Yes. Orc aesthetic standards are completely opposite to Elves... Small teeth and jaw, skinny body, skin color completely different from green, unnecessarily large nose bridge... all appearances that Orcs hate. Chieek.]
The Elf appearance that humans were crazy about.
But from an Orc's perspective, it was a face that didn't meet aesthetic standards.
[Anyway, please don't send me to the Elves. That's, chieek... also my father's dying wish.]
"Your father's?"
[Yes. I'd rather die than go to the Elves.]
He had wondered if she might be swayed after seeing the Elves.
But Karana actually took a hardline stance.
What kind of mental education had she received?
She was full of wariness toward Elves.
'Well, I also have no intention of sending her to the Elves.'
Right now, Ten Thousand Demon Battle didn't have many races.
If Karana left here and his Heavenly Demon Constitution grade dropped, it would be hopeless.
Unless she desperately wanted it herself.
He had no intention of sending her either.
"Got it. I won't send you, so don't worry."
[Chieek. I'll trust you.]
Karana, who was relieved by Lee Ganghan's definitive answer.
[Ah. And... some of the fire spirits I detonated at the arena followed me, should I put them in as kindling?]
Then asked Lee Ganghan whether to throw the fire spirits back into the Sacred Fire.
'The fire spirits really like Karana.'
What's so lovable about the Elf who made them self-destruct?
They even followed her to Ten Thousand Demon Battle?
No, was it even possible to follow like that in the first place?
'Maybe it's possible because they're spirits.'
Anyway, the fire spirits' obsession was remarkable.
Lee Ganghan thought so while considering Karana's proposal.
'If I inject the spirits, the Sacred Fire's firepower would become strong again, but...'
The fire spirits were so crazy about Karana like that.
Rather than immediately putting them into the Sacred Fire.
"Why don't you try raising them a bit before putting them in?"
[Raise them?]
"If you put them in right away, there's not much to use as kindling."
[Gurgle... That's true.]
Karana's talent.
He thought it might be worth trying to nurture it once.
"Before bringing more Orcs, try raising fire spirits to take a breather. Those guys were dying for you when they saw you, so you might have good compatibility."
[The spirits and I have good compatibility? Chieek. That's not it...]
"According to the system message, you have a high affinity with light and fire attributes, right? But your magic is also lightning attribute. Wouldn't it be somewhat related to light + fire attributes?"
To Karana, who was showing reluctance about raising fire spirits.
Lee Ganghan even brought up the 'Lightning magic' she used while persuading her to try handling spirits once.
Then.
[...Understood. Since you said you wouldn't send me to the Elves, I should at least do that much.]
"Right. Thanks for your hard work. Let me know if anything happens."
[Chieek. Understood.]
Karana seemed unwilling but said she would try it once and ended the communication.
'The Karana issue is settled for now...'
Now he should sleep for tomorrow's award ceremony.
Lee Ganghan thought so and lay down on the bed, but.
'...'
His body was in full condition as if he had just woken up from a deep sleep.
His eyes were wide awake, and he felt like he wouldn't fall asleep at all.
'Is it because of the bracelet?'
It was supposed to maintain his body in optimal condition.
But it made him unable to sleep at all.
Just as he was thinking he should remove the bracelet.
Whirrr...
[Would you like to switch to relax mode?]
Light rose from the bracelet.
And it displayed a message screen in the air.
'There's something like this too.'
Since he couldn't sleep in full condition.
Was this function also installed?
When Lee Ganghan switched to relax mode.
His whole body became languid.
Pleasant drowsiness washed over him.
'This is nice.'
Lee Ganghan, who hadn't been able to sleep well since his sleeping sickness was cured because of his overflowing stamina.
For him, relax mode was like a system-approved sleeping pill.
'Should I use the bracelet for sleeping purposes for the time being...?'
After sleeping soundly like that, the next day.
Ding.
Lee Ganghan, who woke up in the morning, confirmed that there was a message on his phone.
Shin Yuri: Heavenly Demon! Did you sleep well?
Shin Yuri: For breakfast, you can go to the restaurant for the morning meal or order room service. However, if you go to the restaurant, people might recognize you and cause a disturbance... Which would be more comfortable?
Even so, this was America, so would his recognition be enough to cause disturbance?
That worry seemed like an overreaction no matter how he looked at it.
'Isn't she being too flattering as an agent?'
Lee Ganghan chuckled while.
-Ah. Then I'll request room service, please.
Just thinking of eating simply inside and going.
He requested room service from Shin Yuri.
While checking his phone.
Kim Juyeong: Ah shit
Kim Juyeong: That crazy manager bastard kept bitching about bringing you, so I got pissed and had a fight
Kim Juyeong: Even though I said I don't know, he kept asking why didn't you talk last time and why is he being so persistent, really ㅡㅡ
Kim Juyeong: I should just quit this fucking company, really
There was a message from his friend venting about his work troubles that came while he was sleeping.
'He got caught by a strange person. He's having a hard time.'
That company manager.
He must have overheard uncertain information during a phone call.
And with that, he was throwing a tantrum to bring the Heavenly Demon.
Such unreasonableness.
As Lee Ganghan was thinking so and about to send a reply to his friend.
Ding.
'Huh...?'
To him.
Father: Ganghan.
Father: Today's the award ceremony, right?
From his father, who hadn't replied no matter how many times he sent messages.
Father: See you then.
A message arrived from his father.