Chapter 7
Chapter 7.
Wounds on my body.
Why all of a sudden?
'Especially the wounds on the chest area are severe.'
The wounds were too deeply carved to be considered scratches from fingernails.
This was definitely a laceration from being cut by something.
Did someone break into the house and slash me?
Swish.
Lee Ganghan lifted his body from the floor.
Looking at the wounds on his body, there should have been blood on the blanket.
'Only on the t-shirt, and it seems like the blood just got on it now.'
Lee Ganghan looked around the house briefly.
The room was clean, and there were no signs of anyone breaking in.
But why did I get these wounds?
'Should I go to the hospital or something.'
In front of the bathroom mirror.
When Lee Ganghan took off his t-shirt and frowned at the wounds on his body.
Ssss ssss...
The wounds on his body began to heal in real-time.
"...?"
What is this?
Lee Ganghan blinked his eyes.
These wounds were deep enough that they would definitely leave scars?
As his body quickly returned to its normal, healthy state.
Tap, Tap.
Lee Ganghan touched his body here and there.
'It doesn't hurt at all.'
Is this also an effect of the Heavenly Demon Constitution?
Lee Ganghan opened his status window to check his traits.
Then.
Trait: Heavenly Demon Constitution (Grade: E~SSS)
'E?'
The trait grade of Heavenly Demon Constitution.
It was definitely F~SSS.
When did it change to E?
'It was definitely F yesterday.'
When I came home yesterday and opened the status window to search for information here and there.
I definitely saw it displayed as F.
But after sleeping and waking up, it went up one grade?
'...It seems like it's somehow related to those wounds from earlier.'
What on earth happened while I was sleeping?
Lee Ganghan pondered several times.
But no clear answer came.
That was natural, since there was too little information right now.
'Should I try recording myself sleeping or something.'
Lee Ganghan thought so and then.
Checked the time.
I fell asleep at 11 PM last night.
I thought it would be around 11 AM now.
'It's 8 o'clock?'
The wake-up time was 8 o'clock, same as usual.
This means I only slept for 9 hours.
9 hours of sleep was impossible for Lee Ganghan.
But his mind was crystal clear.
'The time I spent in the Tower was also about 3 hours...'
The Tower and sleep.
And the wounds that appeared while sleeping and the grade change of Heavenly Demon Constitution.
They all seem to be related to each other.
"Hmm."
Lee Ganghan tried touching the 'Heavenly Demon Constitution' trait in the status window just in case.
But unlike items or skills that show descriptions.
Heavenly Demon Constitution only displayed the grade again and showed no information.
'How troublesome.'
There's still no way to know about the Heavenly Demon Constitution.
Lee Ganghan closed the status window.
'Since there's some time left before Juyeong comes, I should take a look at Ten Thousand Demon Battle.'
Originally, I told him to come at lunch time thinking I'd wake up late.
Since I had time to spare, Lee Ganghan opened Ten Thousand Demon Battle.
[Ten Thousand Demon Battle萬魔殿]
The dwelling of ten thousand demons who submitted to the Heavenly Demon.
Due to the player's low status, Ten Thousand Demon Battle cannot perform its original function.
Current contained entities - 51/10,000
'Now it's 51.'
Did the goblins that the Castrated Goblin Chief was dragging around also join?
Ten Thousand Demon Battle with a dramatically increased number of contained entities.
In the pitch-black background, the drooping Goblin Chief could be seen.
And goblin hordes collapsed here and there.
'Why are these guys like this?'
The Chief is a boss monster so he's holding up steadily.
But the goblin horde can't withstand the environment of Ten Thousand Demon Battle since they're just mobs?
When Lee Ganghan pressed on the goblin horde.
[Goblin Horde]
[Status: Confusion, Fear, Starvation, 10 hours until death]
A more serious message than the Chief's previous status appeared.
Starvation and death.
Are they going to starve to death?
'Hmm...'
Still, they were the soldiers who opened the path through the Beginner's Tower.
It's a bit sad to see them starve to death like this.
When Lee Ganghan was wondering if there was a way to feed them.
Whirrrr...
[Would you like to construct a Goblin Settlement?]
[20,000 TP will be used.]
A new message appeared above the Ten Thousand Demon Battle window.
'20,000?'
20,000 TP is 26 million won.
Hmm.
Should I just part ways here?
Goblins are the lowest-grade mobs anyway, so what use are they...
'...No, no. I have plenty of TP, so let's test it.'
Lee Ganghan was about to instinctively cut ties with the goblin horde.
But changed his mind.
TP can be earned again like last time.
When he pressed 'Yes' in the message window.
Ssss ssss ssss...
Part of the darkness in Ten Thousand Demon Battle lifted.
And in the area where the goblin horde was lying, a brown earth-colored wasteland spread out.
Then, seeing this, the goblin horde got up one by one.
And soon, 'Fear' disappeared from their status.
'This should do it.'
I've built a Settlement for them, so live well.
Lee Ganghan thought he had done right by the goblins.
But tap, tap.
The goblin horde that had gotten up was exploring the wasteland.
But began to collapse one by one again.
Well, of course.
The wasteland spread in the Settlement was literally a wasteland.
There was nothing to eat in sight.
'...I invested 20,000 and they're dying?'
If this was going to happen, I wouldn't have invested!
When Lee Ganghan narrowed his brow.
Whirrrr...
[Would you like to add food and basic resources to the Settlement?]
[20,000 TP will be used.]
Another message appeared above the Settlement.
Another 20,000?
"Wow... Is this a pyramid scheme?"
Lee Ganghan let out an annoyed sigh out loud.
No, if you needed 40,000 from the beginning, you should have said so!
But.
'...If I don't add resources, the 20,000 I invested will also be wasted, after all.'
I laid out a wasteland to save the goblins.
What's the point if everyone except the Chief starves to death?
Lee Ganghan bit his lips while.
"Munch munch... Grow well...!"
Tap!
He invested another 20,000 TP.
Then.
Ssss ssss...!
A lush forest bloomed above the wasteland.
The Goblin Chief, who had been sitting powerlessly in place, jumped up.
And quickly moved between the trees, gathering fruits to feed to the fallen ones.
Then the goblin horde regained their strength one by one.
[Status: Confusion]
Starvation and death had also disappeared from the status items.
'Ha. Raising goblins is hard.'
40,000 TP could buy a decent used foreign car, couldn't it?
When Lee Ganghan was watching the scene of goblins frolicking in their Settlement with deflated eyes.
Swish.
The Castrated Goblin Chief suddenly gathered all the goblin horde.
Then.
Thud, Thud.
The goblins began to bow in unison.
[The Castrated Goblin Chief offers worship from the bottom of his heart.]
[The Goblin Horde offers worship from the bottom of their hearts.]
Such a message appeared above the Ten Thousand Demon Battle.
'Sincere worship?'
So far it wasn't sincere.
Lee Ganghan initially looked at this message with indifferent eyes.
[The Heavenly Demon Constitution trait is enhanced.]
[Heavenly Demon Divine Art duration is extended.]
[The skill 'Heavenly Demon Eternal, Ten Thousand Demons Prostrate' is enhanced.]
But seeing the messages that followed, his eyes widened.
'Ooh... Sincere!!!'
The 40,000 TP suddenly didn't feel wasteful.
Right.
As a person, if I brought them to Ten Thousand Demon Battle, I should feed them.
No matter how much they're goblins, I can't let them starve to death.
When Lee Ganghan was wearing a satisfied smile.
[Effects are enhanced when receiving worship from the same race.]
From the enhanced skill.
An unexpected message appeared.
'...Same race?'
Get humans to bow to me?
This works on humans, not just monsters?
But.
'How do I get humans to bow to me?'
When Lee Ganghan was blinking at the unexpected message.
Ding dong, Ding dong.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Did the time for my friend to come already pass while I was messing with Ten Thousand Demon Battle?
Lee Ganghan was about to go greet him.
'Ah. Just in time, someone to bow came.'
He smiled thinking of Kim Juyeong who came at perfect timing.
***
"...So."
Lee Ganghan's best friend Kim Juyeong.
"You want me to bow, you crazy bastard?"
He immediately cursed after hearing the story.
"Ah, what's good about being friends?"
"No, damn it, why make me bow? You want me to do that? Heavenly Demon Eternal?"
"You have to do Ten Thousand Demons Prostrate after that too."
"I won't do it, bastard."
"I'll buy you alcohol if you do it once."
Scratch, Scratch.
At those words, Kim Juyeong scratched his head.
"Ha. No matter how much I like alcohol..."
"Foreign liquor, whatever you choose, I'll pay for it right away."
At the mention of buying foreign liquor, he looked around.
"Should I do it here?"
"Yeah. Ah, right. It's better if you offer sincere worship from the bottom of your heart."
"What sincerity when you're bribing me."
He grumbled like that but.
"Heavenly Demon Eternal, Ten Thousand Demons Prostrate!"
He shouted quite loudly and bowed deeply.
[You have received worship from the same race 'Humanity' Kim Juyeong.]
[This worship contains no fear. The effect of Heavenly Demon Eternal Ten Thousand Demons Prostrate is halved.]
[Heavenly Demon Divine Art cooldown is reduced by 1 minute.]
'1 minute?'
Wow.
This is too stingy.
Maybe it stacks?
"Hey, do it once more."
"Two bottles, bastard. Heavenly Demon Eternal, Ten Thousand Demons Prostrate!"
Kim Juyeong bowed once more like that.
[This being has already offered worship.]
[Cooldown: 23:59:50]
Like the Goblin Chief, the worship cooldown was 1 day.
'Wow. Even goblins reduced it by 5 minutes when they worshiped.'
Probably seeing the message that it contains no fear.
Worship bought with money like this isn't valued highly?
'Either instill fear or buy sincerity, in the end.'
Is this how a Heavenly Demon lives?
When Lee Ganghan was getting a feel for Heavenly Demon Eternal, Ten Thousand Demons Prostrate while looking at the message.
"So, is there any effect?"
"No. There's no sincerity in it, so it's not much."
"Really? But you're still buying the alcohol, right?"
"I have to keep my promise. Let's go."
Saying there's no effect so he won't buy expensive stuff.
Kim Juyeong chose two bottles of whiskey from a nearby convenience store.
"Kya. Saturday is the best after all, even day drinking."
"Today was Saturday?"
"You still have no sense of time."
The two set up a drinking table in Lee Ganghan's living room.
"So, Lord Heavenly Demon, what happened?"
"What happened, I just suddenly received the Heavenly Demon Constitution trait."
"Tsk... It looks like a totally overpowered trait. Hit the jackpot?"
Along with Lee Ganghan's trait.
They began talking about topics related to the Tower of Infinity.
Mostly Lee Ganghan was the one asking questions.
"Channel creation rights? That costs 50,000 TP, already like winning 2nd place in the lottery."
"Opening a TowerTube channel is that expensive?"
"Yeah. They don't let just anyone in. TowerTube is such a super-scientific streaming channel."
While saying that, Kim Juyeong glanced at Lee Ganghan.
"Well, if you're really desperate for money, you could sell it... but if I were you, I'd open a channel. You have to row when the tide comes in."
"Hmm."
"Ask me anything you want to know. I'll tell you about good guilds except for our company."
Kim Juyeong once again absolutely not recommending his own company.
"Ah. What level are you?"
"I'm 13."
"If you're over level 10, the guild system should be open? If you press that, guilds making contract offers to you will appear. Since you mentioned your name on the broadcast yesterday, there might already be guilds that have made contract offers?"
He recommended opening the guild system window.
Since Lee Ganghan had shared his information as 24 years old and unemployed.
Based on that, contract offers would come.
"Contract offers are possible with just that information? Interesting."
Lee Ganghan nodded and opened the system window.
As Kim Juyeong said, there was a guild system mark that had appeared at some point.
But.
Unlike other system windows, the text was quite faded.
When Lee Ganghan pressed it.
[The Heavenly Demon does not submit to others.]
[Only 'Heavenly Demon Divine Sect' creation is possible.]
In the guild window.
A message appeared telling him not to go under others.
"...It says I can't join guilds?"
"Yeah. The Heavenly Demon doesn't submit to others."
"Huh. What kind of trait is that? You're really a Heavenly Demon."
Kim Juyeong shook his head and drank his alcohol.
"But that's a shame. Guild buff effects are considerable."
"Buff effects? What kind are there?"
"Well, experience points, TP acquisition rate increase, and stat enhancement effects? But money and additional experience acquisition are bigger than stat enhancement effects."
"That's a bit regrettable."
"Plus, guilds also handle things like bringing in corporate advertisements. Players can just focus on climbing the Tower, but you can't do that."
Well, what can you do?
I'll just have to live without it.
When Lee Ganghan was thinking that.
"Rather, try creating the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect. It might have different functions from regular guilds."
Kim Juyeong brought up that topic.
Should I try pressing it?
Click, Click.
When Lee Ganghan pressed guild creation in the guild menu.
[Would you like to establish the 'Heavenly Demon Divine Sect'?]
[100 million TP is required.]
As a guild establishment condition.
A message appeared asking him to pay 100 million TP.
'100 million?'
I was trembling while spending 40,000 TP earlier.
100 million?
Converted to won, that's 130 billion, isn't it?
When Lee Ganghan let out a hollow laugh, Kim Juyeong looked at him.
"Why are you laughing?"
"It says it costs 100 million."
"Won?"
"No, TP."
"Crazy... With that money, you could buy a building in Gangnam. Hey, let's just go solo."
When Lee Ganghan was nodding at those words.
Whirrrr...
[When Ten Thousand Demon Battle recovers its full function, the required TP will be lowered.]
[Each time Ten Thousand Demon Battle is upgraded, the required TP will be lowered.]
A message appeared saying that upgrading Ten Thousand Demon Battle would lower the required TP amount.
'Recovering Ten Thousand Demon Battle is a top priority.'
Right.
I'm just a newbie who only cleared the Beginner's Tower anyway.
Let's take it slow.
Lee Ganghan nodded and.
Continued the conversation related to the Tower of Infinity.
"How is this industry doing these days?"
"Industry?"
At that question, Kim Juyeong frowned.
"Did you hear about the Phoenix Guild collapsing this time?"
"Ah. I heard it at the logistics center."
I definitely heard back then.
They disbanded the guild domestically and went to Saudi Arabia to create a new one.
Kim Juyeong sighed deeply and poured alcohol.
"Closing the barn after losing the cow..."
"...?"
"That's exactly what our country is like right now."