For My Master (2)
"How can I help you?"
"I'd like to sell some low-grade magic stones."
"Just set them down here."
Yu Jaewoo pulled four hundred low-grade magic stones out of his inventory.
Urururur—
"Oh my. Just like last time. You really are something else."
"…Excuse me? You remember me?"
"Of course. Very few people bring in this much at once."
"Ah. Well, I suppose that's true."
Climbers only earned proper rewards by clearing floors that matched their level. If you were level 30 and went back to clear floors 1 through 10, the magic stones you'd earn wouldn't even amount to a tenth of what you'd get at your proper floor.
"I'll settle the payment directly into your account. Is there anything else you need?"
"I'd like to purchase one item."
"Which item?"
"Random box fusion gel."
He had already opened the random box he received for clearing Floor 6, but the ones from floors 7, 8, 9, and 10 were still sitting unopened. On top of that, he'd earned one bonus box for each Legendary-grade clear, bringing his total to eight random boxes.
Yu Jaewoo planned to fuse all eight into one and open the result.
"Yes. The Association currently has about twelve in storage. Shall I process the purchase now?"
"Please."
"That will be ten million won."
"Take it out of the sale proceeds."
"Of course. Then I'll deposit the remaining thirty million won."
"Thank you."
The clerk handed over a gel-type fusion agent packaged in a squeezable tube. It was an item that merged lower-grade random boxes into a single box of a higher grade.
— HOW TO USE —
Gather the random boxes in one place.
Spread the gel evenly and inject mana.
Once the boxes merge, open the box.
Mana.
The Tower system referred to every form of energy as mana. Even the "internal energy" of Awakeners who climbed with the Murim warrior class was recognized as mana.
Which meant that Yu Jaewoo's mana was, in fact, demonic qi.
Yu Jaewoo accepted the fusion gel with a satisfied smile.
Life really is all about the gacha.
Section Chief Jeon Sua watched intently as Yu Jaewoo left the Association, his transaction complete.
"An F-Class Awakener with four hundred low-grade magic stones? And didn't he haul in a pile of lowest-grade stones before that, too?"
"Section Chief. He brought those lowest-grade stones in yesterday."
"Insane. That's the exact first-clear yield for floors 1 through 10."
It was late afternoon, the sun drooping low in the sky.
On his way home, he stopped by the butcher's shop.
"Two geun of premium Korean beef, please."
"Oh, back again, I see!"
"You'll probably be seeing a lot of me."
"Haha! I'll get it ready for you right away~"
Beef in hand, he next stopped at a nearby mart.
One portable burner. Ten bottles of aged kaoliang liquor.
This should be enough, right?
He couldn't be sure, but if he packed all of this into his inventory and went to sleep—
Maybe I'll get to share a meal with Master.
With that hope in his heart, he returned to his one-room apartment.
In the corner of the room, he laid out every random box he owned, spread the fusion gel evenly across them, and placed his hand on top.
Wuuwoong—!
A violet radiance bloomed to life. He began injecting his ferocious demonic qi at maximum output.
Kkumul— kkumul—
The gel stained violet, seizing hold of every box. Like a living creature, it devoured the boxes and the qi alike.
And then—
Swaaaaa—!
A brilliant light flashed, and when it faded, an antiquated chest stood before him.
"What in the world is this?"
A question mark grade? On a random box?
"Did the gacha fail?"
He opened the box at once.
Ki-ik—
Inside sat a single long-stemmed pipe.
"…?"
Something genuinely peculiar had come out of it.
"This is not ordinary."
Apparently the gacha had been a resounding success.
Then again—
A pipe you smoked by feeding it mana, huh.
"Could there be anything that suits Master better?"
He tucked the pipe into his inventory and turned in early for the night.
"Master!"
"What brings you here so early?"
Seeing Yu Jaewoo come bounding over in delight, the Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue in exasperation. And yet, even he couldn't stop the corners of his own mouth from curling upward.
"Master! Master! My beloved Master! Thanks to you, everything is going wonderfully. So this unworthy disciple of yours has prepared a gift!"
"I have no need of it."
"Aw, don't be like that. At least accept it."
Yu Jaewoo opened his inventory, drew out the Pipe of Dreams, and presented it to the Heavenly Demon.
"What is this thing?"
"An item I prepared because your mouth looked bored, Master."
"You're not just giving it away because you have no use for it?"
"No! How could you say such a thing! Do you have any idea how hard I searched to—"
While Yu Jaewoo rattled on about a sob story that didn't exist, the Heavenly Demon had already brought the pipe to his lips. It was truly a speed of divine presence no eye could follow.
And then—
Ding—
The World of Dream Souls and the Pipe of Dreams have met, triggering an interaction.
The Pipe of Dreams is now bound to the Heavenly Demon.
The hidden ability has been unlocked.
Constructs material from the user's mental will and energy.
There is no limit to the materials that can be constructed.
"Huh?"
Not only Yu Jaewoo but the Heavenly Demon himself was startled.
"Whoa, Master! This is incredible!"
As Yu Jaewoo made a spectacle of himself, the Heavenly Demon waved him off with a flick of his hand, as if to say, don't interrupt.
And then he poured an ocean of demonic qi into the pipe.
Mungge— mungge—
Violet smoke billowed up in tremendous plumes. The massive cloud piled itself upward, building a tower of vapor.
Moments later, the smoke cleared.
Where it had stood, an antique palace hall had appeared.
"Whoa."
Yu Jaewoo wasn't the only one astonished. The Heavenly Demon seemed fairly taken aback as well.
"Master. What is this?"
"…One of the halls of the Heavenly Demon Palace."
A hall now stood within the World of Dream Souls—raised in the blink of an eye, no less.
Yu Jaewoo shouted inwardly.
Holy crap!
The towering structure. A roof crowned with black-lacquered tiles. Grand pillars that seemed to prop up the heavens themselves. A palace gate like that of a royal court. And the ferocious guardian demon faces flanking the entrance.
Yu Jaewoo clicked his tongue in awe.
That's our Master for you. Look at those demon guardians. Brutal. Absolutely brutal. I'd believe it if you told me this was a Floor 50 tower boss's lair.
"Shall we go in and take a look?"
"Yes, sir!"
The Heavenly Demon set off, and Yu Jaewoo followed at his heels. The hall, which occupied nearly half the kilometer-radius space, felt so vivid it was as though they had stepped straight into the pages of a martial arts novel.
"It's nothing compared to the Heavenly Demon Palace itself, but it's not bad."
"Wow. Not bad? Just how magnificent was your original residence, Master? You truly are the Master! An omnipotent man of power. The finest under heaven. The heaven above the heavens!"
"Getting full of yourself, are we?"
The Heavenly Demon scoffed, and Yu Jaewoo shrugged in reply.
"You know it's out of respect, right? Heh heh."
The Heavenly Demon let out a dry chuckle.
"I hadn't imagined things quite so carefully when I poured my qi into the pipe. And yet most of it matches my own memories. A truly remarkable object."
"Every gift I give you is the product of careful deliberation."
"This is the first gift you've ever given me."
"Heh heh. Which just means there are more to come."
"…"
The Heavenly Demon turned to look at Yu Jaewoo, and Yu Jaewoo smiled brightly and brought up his status window.
"Skill upgrade."
Current Skill Points: 1,000p
Which skill would you like to upgrade?
The World of Dream Souls will be made permanent.
800p has been consumed.
The World of Dream Souls will now persist even during hours when the Awakener is not dreaming.
"Even when I leave this dream, this place will remain."
At those words, the Heavenly Demon's expression flickered with a hint of surprise. But only for a moment. He soon answered in his usual impassive tone.
"…Is that so."
A voice that betrayed little emotional stir. And yet Yu Jaewoo could feel it—the Heavenly Demon's face had grown visibly brighter.
At the sight, flowers of a smile bloomed across Yu Jaewoo's face as well.
Master. You and I are in this together, all the way to the end.
"One more step remains. Environment configuration."
Constructing a new environment.
Over the two years he had trained alongside the Heavenly Demon, Yu Jaewoo had listened to his master's stories. Because of that, he knew exactly which scenery the Heavenly Demon missed most.
Saaaa—
The clouds blanketing the ground receded, revealing lush greenery beneath. A grand estate took shape amid the vegetation, and at one corner of the estate, a pond formed.
Upon the broad surface of the pond, lotus leaves drifted into place, and beautiful lotus flowers blossomed atop them. The clouds pushed from the ground became mountains, and a cool, clear valley cut through their heart. The valley waters flowed and flowed until they became a river, and flowers bloomed beneath the azure sky. A stately pine grew up beside a pavilion.
With the beautiful estate harmonizing with the palace hall, it was like a painting come to life.
200p has been consumed.
Current Skill Points: 0p
His skill points were fully spent. But Yu Jaewoo didn't regret a single point. If anything, he simply beamed as he watched the Heavenly Demon's expression shift from moment to moment.
The Heavenly Demon spoke, his voice heavy with feeling.
"Truly, it is the finishing stroke upon a painted dragon."
"Heh heh. It's not over yet, you know?"
"What? What else could there possibly be?"
At the question, Yu Jaewoo opened his inventory. He reached in and drew out the Korean beef—not forgetting the assorted vegetables, meat sauce, wasabi, the burner, and the frying pan either.
"Master. Please, dine with me."
In that instant, the Heavenly Demon wore the most astonished expression he'd shown all day.
And Yu Jaewoo smiled his happiest smile.
Chi-iik— chi-iik—
The beef hit the griddle, and a fragrant, savory aroma spread through the air. Yu Jaewoo grilled the meat with even more wholehearted devotion than he had back in his BBQ joint days, then ladled it into a bowl and offered it to the Heavenly Demon.
"Try it with a bit of wasabi."
"Very well."
The Heavenly Demon tasted wasabi for the first time in his existence.
"Gahk! What in the world is this flavor?!"
"That's only the first bite. It'll cut right through the richness before you know it. Ah, have some kimchi too!"
Wearing an expression of distaste, the Heavenly Demon nonetheless ate every dish, sampling kimchi and wasabi for the first time in his long life.
"Hmm. Well, well. The more I eat, the more tolerable it becomes."
"Soon enough you won't be able to eat meat without them."
"Nonsense!"
Compared to the rare delicacies the Heavenly Demon had once feasted upon in life, this meal was surely unremarkable. And yet, here and now, he cherished this moment more than any other he could remember.
Yu Jaewoo, for his part, enjoyed it as if dining with his own parents, and the two of them laughed and chattered their way through a meal that stretched late into the night.
"Waaah— the beef I'm eating with my Master is so delicious, I can't tell if this is a dream or waking life."
"It does have taste, I'll grant you."
When the meal was over, Yu Jaewoo arranged the leftover supplies in one corner of the estate. The Heavenly Demon was not so obtuse as to miss what that meant—Yu Jaewoo intended to come again.
"Sit with me a while."
The Heavenly Demon brought the pipe to his lips, and billowing clouds of smoke rose into the air. The smoke shaped itself into an antique chair—and it suited the estate perfectly.
The two of them leaned back in their seats and gazed up at the sky for a while. Clouds drifting across the endlessly varied heavens lent a feeling of perfect freedom.
Then the Heavenly Demon spoke to Yu Jaewoo.
"You have given me such a gift. I must repay you in kind."
"I'm sorry, Master? That hardly seems right. I was merely repaying the grace you have shown me. For you to reward me in turn—"
"Shut up and look."
"Ah. Yes, sir."
The Heavenly Demon raised the pipe to his mouth once more.
Wuuwoong—
Yu Jaewoo felt an overwhelming torrent of qi pouring out of the Heavenly Demon's body.
A volume that would fall short even if I released every ounce of power I possess.
Violet smoke billowed upward in thick plumes, and above the Heavenly Demon's palm, a box took shape—engraved with a pattern of twin golden dragons.
"Take it."
Without a word, Yu Jaewoo accepted the box the Heavenly Demon offered.
"May I open it?"
The Heavenly Demon nodded, and with a trembling heart, Yu Jaewoo lifted the lid.
The moment he did, a sharp, tingling fragrance brushed the tip of his nose and stirred the depths of his inner energy.
"…Master. Don't tell me."
Inside the box lay a violet elixir pill, and Yu Jaewoo recognized at a glance that it was no ordinary medicine.
"The Heavenly Demon Divine Pill. The finest elixir of the Divine Cult."
"…!"
At this utterly unexpected gift, Yu Jaewoo's eyes went wide as saucers.
No— if you do this, Master, what am I even supposed to be?