Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: The Bridge God's Divine Request (1)
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Ding-a-ling.
A loud bell rang out through the store.
It was coming from the Divine Request phone placed on Jang Chaewon's desk.
"Bokbok Interiors speaking. Ah, Elder! I hope all's been well?"
She blinked as she silently listened to the voice on the other end.
"Ah, you want lighting installed at your home, Elder?"
Jang Chaewon, wearing a troubled expression, flipped through the notebook on her desk before speaking cautiously.
"In that case, there's a place nearby classified as a 6th-grade territory called 'Dawn Star Lighting.' How about visiting them?"
She nodded after listening to the receiver for a long while.
"Yes. Of course. Thank you."
Click.
As she set down the trumpet-shaped receiver, the Heavenly Demon, who had been mopping the floor with a large mop, asked.
"A Divine Request?"
"Yeah, but it's not something we can handle."
"Not something we can handle?"
"They want natural lighting installed."
"Natural lighting?"
The Heavenly Demon blinked, recalling the book from a few days ago titled *Everything About Interior Lighting*.
"Does that exist?"
"It's lighting for the divine realm. The most expensive special type, you could say."
"Like the lights we installed during that Small Ancestor God's request before?"
"Totally different. Completely."
"The pinnacle of special lighting."
Unable to hide his regretful expression, the Heavenly Demon looked up at the sparkling lights on the store ceiling.
"They must boast unprecedented luminosity and domineering energy efficiency."
"The phrasing is a bit off... but if anything, it's the opposite."
"I don't follow."
"It's hard to explain. It just captures natural light."
"A vague description. Elaborate."
As the Heavenly Demon pressed persistently, Jang Chaewon waved her hand dismissively.
"Whatever. There's a separate store for divine realm lighting anyway. Heavenly Demon, you'll never lay eyes on those things in your lifetime."
But the world doesn't always unfold as expected.
The next day.
The store was utterly quiet.
Jang Chaewon, phone in hand, was paying overdue utility bills, while the Heavenly Demon sat at the reception table, sipping green tea and reading a book.
The cover read *My Own Lighting Decorated with Various Accessories* in elegant script.
Ding-a-ling.
Then, with the chime of the wind bell, the store door opened, and a very small shadow slipped inside.
Thud.
Spotting the shadow, the Heavenly Demon set his book down on the table with a stiff expression.
'A mole?'
The shadow that entered through the door was none other than a mole. Or at least, it was questionable.
It stood on two legs, dressed in a stylish suit, shiny shoes, and sunglasses.
"Hey there, Manager Jang."
The mole waved cheerfully at Jang Chaewon.
"Long time no see. Heh heh heh."
"Ah, Lord Bridge God."
Bridge God.
The god who staunchly maintains the bridge piers installed in various places around the world.
An Earth God rarely seen in urban areas, dwelling in remote mountain valleys untouched by human feet.
"Long time no see."
Jang Chaewon flashed her sales smile, though she seemed somewhat troubled.
The Heavenly Demon watched the scene with interest.
"What're you doing."
She walked out smiling and tapped the Heavenly Demon's shoulder, ventriloquizing.
"Not gonna say hello? Just staring?"
"Greetings, Elder."
Only then did the Heavenly Demon come to his senses, clasping his hands in a formal salute, prompting the Bridge God to burst into laughter.
"Ah-ha! So you're the famous Bokbok Interiors contractor. Pleased to meet you."
As the Bridge God acted familiar, Jang Chaewon looked slightly surprised.
Even an Earth God living in seclusion had heard rumors of the Heavenly Demon.
The Heavenly Demon who shook the martial world now echoed with resounding fame in this world too.
"Hoo, you're really sturdy-built."
The Bridge God looked up at the Heavenly Demon's broadly spread shoulders and nodded.
"This one seems capable enough for the job."
"Pardon? The job?"
At Jang Chaewon's question, the Bridge God sighed and shook his head.
"I went to that lighting store you recommended yesterday, but they said installation was impossible."
"Dawn Star Lighting? Their installers are all veterans though..."
"Ahem, the new lights they imported are a bit heavy, and..."
The Bridge God smiled sheepishly and glanced at the Heavenly Demon's muscles before speaking.
"Since I designed my new home to fit my body perfectly during the rebuild... they said they couldn't install it."
"I-is that so?"
"Yeah, especially since the entrance is too narrow. They couldn't get in, so no way to install."
"Then couldn't you just rebuild the entrance?"
At Jang Chaewon's question, the Bridge God scratched the tuft of fur sprouting from his head.
"Honestly, I overextended moving my dwelling, so my divine power's depleted. The new place hasn't settled long enough to become a divine territory yet."
Then, glancing slyly at the Heavenly Demon, he added in a subtle tone.
"But this one might manage to install it somehow."
Jang Chaewon held up both hands in refusal.
"Heavenly Demon hasn't done natural lighting installs before."
"No need to worry. The God Pearl Box is pre-installed."
"Ah, really? Then it's just a matter of slotting it in."
"Exactly. Any territory employee could do it."
"I see. How about I introduce you to a 3rd-grade territory architecture firm that can modify your entrance?"
The Bridge God flinched briefly before smiling warmly.
"I'd like to, but after forcing this new dwelling... I lack the means to commission a 3rd-grade territory."
"If it's tight right now, we could do installments..."
"It's no good straining for a lighting request anyone could do by just prying off the door."
Cutting her off swiftly, the Bridge God glanced at the Heavenly Demon.
"But I heard this one moved the Earth Dragon God's luggage barehanded?"
Previously, the Heavenly Demon had relocated the Earth Dragon God's furnishings from bare ground that wasn't even a divine territory.
Thus, rumors spread among Earth Gods that he possessed strength rivaling a Remote God.
"Th-that just sort of happened..."
"Does 'sort of happened' get the job done? Heh heh heh."
Jang Chaewon averted her gaze from the chuckling Bridge God, sensing the ominous Divine Request ahead.
"With this one's strength, he could pry the door and squeeze in."
In the end, her premonition hit the mark.
The Bridge God had come to entrust the lighting request to the Heavenly Demon.
"How could Heavenly Demon widen a door made by the Bridge God himself? At best, he'd just break it."
As Jang Chaewon politely declined, the Bridge God waved a hand.
"Ah, no worries. Even if it breaks, it's fine. Fixing a door is no big deal."
*This cheapskate.*
Jang Chaewon bit her lip.
The Bridge God was an Earth God seasoned in manual labor. Calculating costs was second nature.
It was cheaper for a 9th-grade territory employee to break the door and repair it later than to hire a 3rd-grade territory for entrance renovation.
Clearly, this stingy Earth God had sought out the store to cut costs upon hearing the Heavenly Demon's rumors.
"But..."
Jang Chaewon shook her head.
The Bridge God's dwelling was built with immense divine power.
Even with the Heavenly Demon's strength, could he demolish it by force? And even if he could, how would he handle the heavy labor?
"It seems too difficult."
"Hmm? Why?"
"Heavenly Demon's strong, but he's never touched a god's dwelling. No guarantee he can do it reliably."
"How's it impossible?"
"Sorry. It seems our store can't take this job."
Jang Chaewon refused firmly.
Failing an accepted Divine Request would tank the store's reputation, harming future requests.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
But Jang Chaewon overlooked one thing.
The Heavenly Demon's sky-high pride.
"What's so hard about widening a door and installing some lights?"
*Oh no!*
Sure enough.
Flexing his log-thick forearms, the Heavenly Demon stepped forward confidently.
"No one's more suited for heavy lifting than I."
The Bridge God beamed.
"Really? You can do it?"
"Of course. I've been troubled lately with Divine Requests drying up."
The reason the Heavenly Demon worked diligently at Bokbok Interiors was solely for Divine Requests.
But lately, with none coming in, he was growing anxious. How could he pass up this chance?
"Well... it might be pretty tough and heavy."
With such a refreshing reply, the Bridge God now seemed hesitant.
But the Heavenly Demon, arms crossed, nodded seriously.
"Tough and heavy. That's right up my alley."
"W-wait a second!"
Jang Chaewon rushed to the Heavenly Demon, tugging his ear and whispering.
"Do you know how sturdy the Bridge God's house is?"
"No idea."
"It's beyond even your strength."
"Beyond?"
"Impossible. Utterly..."
Whispering urgently, Jang Chaewon realized her mistake.
Failure, impossible, retreat, setback...
Such negative words were magic spells igniting the Heavenly Demon's competitive spirit wildly.
"Impossible."
Sure enough, his crimson eyes blazed fiercely.
"No such word in my dictionary."
"Time to add it."
"Refused."
"Hey, I'm thinking of you...!"
About to snap, Jang Chaewon had a sudden thought.
The Heavenly Demon, who had never once faced failure or setback.
If he failed here, might his arrogant, unrivaled personality soften a bit?
*Yeah. Experiencing defeat once might do him good.*
Decision made, Jang Chaewon turned away sharply.
"Fine. Do as you like."
"Understood."
"Ha ha ha! Just as rumored, straightforward temperament!"
The chuckling Bridge God pulled a red-stained envelope from his suit pocket.
"Here, payment upfront. All my remaining divine power."
Rustle.
As the envelope vanished in a flash of light from the Bridge God's hand, Jang Chaewon's drawer glowed.
Opening it, the red envelope held just five silver flowers.
*This miserly old geezer!*
It should have had at least ten blessings.
"..."
Ignoring Jang Chaewon's disappointed glare, the Bridge God cleared his throat.
"I've left the lights inside the house, so just install them. I'll tour the mountains and rivers for a fortnight to recover my power."
"No worries, take your time, Elder."
At the Heavenly Demon's words, the Bridge God let out a hearty laugh.
"Ha ha ha. I'll trust you and go!"
A brief gust blew, and the Bridge God was gone.
"You sure you can handle it?"
At Jang Chaewon's question, the Heavenly Demon thumped his chest.
"Don't worry. I'll handle it perfectly."
"Good. Take responsibility for those words."
*You'll definitely fail.*
Swallowing those words, Jang Chaewon smiled quietly.
* * *
The Bridge God's home was in a remote mountain valley beyond the city.
The Heavenly Demon had assumed, like the Earth Dragon God's place, it would be a small burrow.
But contrary to expectation, it was a standalone house with elegant stone walls and a beautiful yard.
Creak.
The Ramas stopped, and the Heavenly Demon soon turned off the engine.
"No help needed."
He said to Jang Chaewon in the passenger seat.
"Don't worry. I'll just watch."
Jang Chaewon grinned.
She had truly come to spectate.
To witness the rare, thrilling sight of the Heavenly Demon writhing in defeat and failure.
"Hmm."
Avoiding Jang Chaewon's sparkling expectant gaze, the Heavenly Demon turned to the Bridge God's house.
"I see."
The intact standalone house had its door at about knee height for the Heavenly Demon.
Small enough for only a three- or four-year-old child to crawl through.
The house properly built, but the entrance sized to the Bridge God's body.
"Hmm."
Observing the entrance, the Heavenly Demon channeled his internal energy and Heavenly Demon Great Ability simultaneously.
Boom!
As he thrust his finger in a body blazing red-hot, a deep blue beam poured out like a laser.
Peak Demonic Fire Extreme Finger.
Sizzle!
The immense ultra-high-temperature ray bored into the front door but left not even a scratch.
"Demon Fist Seven Forms, Thousand Hands Wave!"
Whoosh.
Firing a powerful punch, the front door seemed to absorb the Heavenly Demon's power.
"This."
Examining the unscathed door closely, the Heavenly Demon wore a dismayed look.
His internal energy and Heavenly Demon Great Ability resembled the power of great nature—divine power.
Thus, far from damaging the Bridge God's divinely built home, he had only reinforced it further.
"Heh heh heh."
Jang Chaewon guffawed at the Heavenly Demon's rigid expression.
"Failed already?"
"..."
Her beaming face resembled a Hahoe mask.
"Time to add 'failure' to your vocabulary. Kah ha hat."
Her tongue seemed to stretch long as she laughed.
Suddenly, black aura flowed from the Heavenly Demon's body.
Hum.
Black mist rose, and dark orbs formed in his hands.
The sole unique martial art he could now unleash with a decade's worth of internal energy: the Divine Demon Annihilation Heaven Palm.
"Divine Demon..."
His eyes darkened deeper than night as he slowly spread his hands.
The ground trembled, and dark clouds gathered in the sky.
Crack. Craaack craaack.
But as he prepared the Divine Demon Annihilation Heaven Palm, cracks appeared in the Bridge God's otherwise pristine stone wall.
"What's this? Why's it doing that?"
At Jang Chaewon's words, the Heavenly Demon halted his extending arms and looked around.
The aura from the Divine Demon Annihilation Heaven Palm was starting to dismantle the Bridge God's house?
*I see.*
The Divine Demon Annihilation Heaven Palm destroyed all.
Its heaven-defying power clashed utterly with the Bridge God's naturally built home.
Rumble. Groooan.
As the ground shook too, Jang Chaewon shouted loudly.
"Hey, the Bridge God's house is gonna collapse!"