An Item That Shouldn't Have Appeared Yet
The Wildfire Hearth was an item that should not have been released at this stage.
Just as I suspected.
Has the future truly begun to change?
“Madam, would you be able to tell me who submitted the Wildfire Hearth?”
“Hmm, even for the Korean branch head, that’s rather difficult.”
“You’re already treating me like the branch head.”
“Transactions must be conducted with absolute clarity. That is the foundation of the Black Market.”
“So does that make me your subordinate?”
“Hohoho, you’ve hit the mark. In name only, of course.”
“Then I suppose I’ll need to pay a price for any additional information.”
The Scales of Themis have detected an imbalance in equivalent exchange.
The scales maintained perfect equilibrium. She had deliberately pointed out that the request exceeded my authority and woven it into the terms of trade. Even now, she sought both profit and propriety in equal measure. Madam truly was a formidable woman.
“The source is a Russian organization known as Tesak.”
“Tesak?”
“It would be simplest to define them as a neo-Nazi splinter group.”
They really do have their fingers in everything.
Tsk—.
I clicked my tongue.
“Black Network Korean Branch Head. Since we have become partners working together, allow me to offer one piece of advice.”
“Please speak.”
“I hope you have not forgotten that our hands are not clean.”
Madam’s warning was soft, yet carried an edge. Though I had been half-forced into the Black Network, she was asking me to respect their internal rules.
“It isn’t because of the neo-Nazis.”
“May I hear the reason?”
“I’m not sure you could bear the weight of it.”
The scales had only just found balance. If I added anything more about the Wildfire Hearth, the scales would tilt heavily in my favor once again. Owing too great a debt to the Black Market would be unwise. If they skinned me too thoroughly in one go, future dealings would become difficult.
“Thank you for your mercy, Jinho.”
Madam seemed to grasp my meaning instantly and disturbed the Scales of Themis. Speaking while they were active would require payment.
“In that case, I shall provide one more service.”
“A service?”
“The item you seek, Jinho, is not appearing for the first time.”
I listened carefully to Madam’s words.
The next day, I headed to the auction house just as I had the previous two days.
“Hmph. I believed you had concluded all your business in that place.”
“Well, things unfolded differently than expected.”
Creating ties with the Black Network.
Originally, I had planned to take my time and approach one of their central figures. The Black Network moved purely for profit. Even though my fame was rising rapidly, it had not yet reached a level that would draw their serious attention.
“I was lucky.”
I muttered quietly to myself.
I hadn’t planned this far when I created the Blood Demon Sword Yamaoka, but I had seized the sudden opportunity and gained far more than anticipated.
“You always seem to have a plan, partner.”
“Not at all. This was pure luck.”
“Was the purpose of visiting this place not to form a connection with the contractor of Themis?”
“My goal was to confirm whether the Wildfire Hearth was present and to discover its origin.”
“Hoo. There must be a reason if you are seeking it.”
The Wildfire Hearth.
It was a relic that granted the power and abilities of constellations in exchange for sacrifices.
“At first listen, it sounds like an ordinary item.”
“It’s one of Loki’s schemes.”
“Loki?”
“He’s a constellation even more vicious than Hermes.”
“More mischievous than that child? How dreadful.”
Nyx shook her head from side to side.
“Yet is that Loki connected to the hearth?”
The very symbol of tricksters. One usually associated Loki with “pranks,” but his name carried another meaning.
“Fire.”
Though Loki had been incorporated into the Aesir gods, he was in truth mixed with the blood of the frost giants of Jotunheim. There were even myths that treated him as the same entity as Utgarda-Loki, the giant who governed fire.
“The more one uses the hearth, the greater the influence of evil-aligned constellations.”
“Is that not the same even when one has a constellation as their patron?”
“It’s slightly different. This concerns one’s very essence.”
A relic that infinitely amplified the user’s malice. It was an item employed by Sinister—the small collective of evil-aligned constellations—when they intervened in the mortal realm. The more one pursued power through the Wildfire Hearth, the more their wicked nature would erode their soul. Unlike ordinary holy relics, it imposed no restrictions or cumbersome conditions on its use.
“Still, it is strange.”
“What is?”
“Even if it disturbs the lower world, I see no benefit for the constellation gathering known as Sinister.”
“They are beings who simply enjoy chaos itself.”
The cart had been placed before the horse. Originally, chaos would have been a means to obtain other gains. But the constellations who had joined Sinister were different. They were voyeurs who delighted in inciting turmoil even at the cost of their own divinity. They were vile, if not quite as vile as the Old Gods.
I sat with my arms crossed.
“Still, it’s fortunate we can save time.”
“Time?”
“I asked them to change the order.”
I couldn’t make the auction itself disappear. Since a Russian neo-Nazi organization had submitted goods to the Black Market, the items had to appear. Instead, what was originally scheduled for the sixth day had been moved to the third.
In this American trip, I had already gained enough.
“Staying any longer would be a waste of time.”
“Hmph. Had I known, I would have visited the casino at night.”
“Let’s go after the auction ends.”
“Hehe, as expected, you understand this one’s heart well.”
Auction, third day.
I poured every penny earned from selling the Blood Demon Sword Yamaoka into purchasing the Wildfire Hearth. Perhaps because rumors had already spread like wildfire inside the Black Network, the final price far exceeded my expectations.
“Damn Sinister.”
Spitting out a curse, I returned to my lodging with the hearth in hand.
◈ A relic connected to fire-related constellations.
◈ Multiple constellations’ energies are mixed within, preventing it from becoming a true holy relic, yet it can still borrow a constellation’s power.
◈ Offer a sacrifice into the hearth and burn it. Blessings will descend according to the quality of the offering.
“What a scam.”
The first line was already a lie. While it did have some connection to fire, among the constellations belonging to Sinister, only Loki had any direct link to it—and even that was merely derived from the origin of his name. It was a loophole that exploited the Tower System’s weaknesses.
“Just as you said. Rather than the energy of fire, it feels more like…”
Nyx trailed off, seemingly searching for the right expression.
“Is there not a dish like that in your contractor’s country?”
“Ah, army stew?”
“Indeed. The taste was rather decent, yet the appearance was truly appalling.”
She must have wanted to say that many things had been mixed together. I wondered when she had eaten army stew. Clearing my throat, I stroked the Wildfire Hearth.
“It’s the same with this. It isn’t tied to any specific constellation, but its performance is genuine.”
“Then what do you intend to do? It seems you could withstand the mental interference of constellations.”
“You want me to use the hearth?”
“It would not be a bad suggestion. Do you not already have a goddess with whom you have formed a proper contract?”
“I’m perfectly satisfied with my goddess.”
“Hehe, those words please me, yet you should also consider the practical side.”
I shook my head.
“There’s no need to use the hearth.”
Actions would speak faster than words.
Devour — Wildfire Hearth
Vwoooong—!
The Wildfire Hearth began emitting a powerful vibration. Massive flames surged up along the point of contact. I activated the power of Polar Night and forcefully suppressed the fire.
“This way, there’s no need to worry about aftereffects.”
“Indeed. A clever solution.”
An artifact worth over a hundred billion won in Korean currency. It would be a waste to simply store it in my subspace after spending that much, wouldn’t it?
The flames rising from the Wildfire Hearth gradually died down, crushed beneath the power of Polar Night.
Essence Absorbed:38.7%
“As expected, one isn’t enough.”
Tch.
I licked my lips.
“It appears you have not filled the essence completely.”
“You understand without me saying anything now.”
“Hehe, it has not been a short time that this one has spent with you.”
Nyx lifted her nose proudly.
“Then I’ll have to collect the remaining essence as well.”
“Was there not only one Wildfire Hearth put up for auction?”
“Apparently this wasn’t its first appearance.”
The information Madam had provided as a bonus. The Wildfire Hearth had already been auctioned twice before, and several underground organizations had shown interest. Since there were no particular restrictions on using the hearth, they seemed to be using it to strengthen players belonging to their organizations.
“Since I heard who bought them, I just need to retrieve them.”
The locations of the two hearths were Mexico and Italy. Thanks to having built a connection with Madam, things proceeded smoothly.
“Yet it does not appear you have the funds to purchase the hearths in exchange.”
“Why would I give money to criminal organizations?”
Conveniently, both groups that had won the hearths were drug cartels. There would be no pangs of conscience in devouring them. Moreover, having taken one step closer to completion with the Rainbow Flashing Stone, my combat strength was more than sufficient.
“Hmmm. It will take quite a while to return home.”
Nyx muttered with clear displeasure.
“Why?”
“This one wishes to eat the cotton candy you made.”
“I’ll buy you even tastier things while we travel.”
“Hehe, you still have a long way to go. You understand nothing of this one’s heart.”
“……?”
What was she talking about now?
I glanced at Nyx, but she offered no further answer.
“Instead of that, shall we go out and play?”
“Are you referring to the casino you promised?”
“I’ll be busy for a while. If I don’t relieve stress now, when will I?”
“Hehe, now you are finally making a suggestion that pleases this one.”
“Then shall we go, Goddess?”
I extended my hand with an exaggerated gesture. Nyx took it with a show of reluctance and laughed lightly.
Three weeks after spending the final day in Las Vegas, the two cartels that had reigned with infamy in Mexico and Italy collapsed one after another. The fact that the relics they possessed went missing in the process did not become a particularly large issue.