Chapter 131: Until It's Done (1)
"Am I funny to you?"
A heavy, low voice descended upon the reception room of the Banquet Hall. Ornate chandeliers and antique furniture, with neatly prepared refreshnts and liquor on the table. A space where a party could be held at any mont. However, it was filled with tension.
"Jabor Raffin, or rather Kim Jung-hyuk. Why do you have no answer?"
Erik had rented out the entire hall. The Emperor gave it to him readily without any compensation. It was said that the Banquet Hall was the most useless building during warti, so Erik had entered without hesitation. However, the problem was the people gathered in this place.
"I-I'm sorry."
Erik frowned as he looked at the young viscount who had lowered his head before him. He was greatly displeased by the resemblance to the squinting eyes of Duke Jenedik Raffin.
'The child that the Duke protected by abandoning everything.'
In that process, Duke Jenedik had deceived Erik. The connection with possessors, for instance. The fact that Necromancers were involved.
'Sa with the Marquis Aaron situation.'
Erik didn't originally have any prejudice against squinting eyes, but having been deceived once, he couldn't easily let it slide. That's why he had left the Duke's son alone up until now...
'But now it's different.'
Erik had obtained [Discernnt Eyes]. It ant there was nothing to hesitate about even in front of soone whose inner thoughts were unknowable.
"No matter how many tis I called, you showed no sign of coming, yet at the Emperor's command, you jump right over."
Erik hadn't just rented the hall. He had also borrowed the Emperor's command to summon the Duke's son.
"So it seems your intention to live as Jabor Raffin is not just empty words?"
It was rather amusing that the man who had remained silent to Erik's calls ca rushing over on a teleportation magic circle at just one imperial command.
"I could also send you back in the form of a human from Earth."
Erik pulled out a [Possessor Appearance Change Ticket]. Only then did Jabor Raffin lift his head.
"N-no! I will bury my bones in this land and live here!"
Unlike his usual hunched posture, his voice carried strength.
'Truth.'
Erik's eyes shone with five colors, and he perceived the truth of his words.
'This was ambiguous, but it seems he was sincere.'
Erik had doubted the words of the possessed Kim Jung-hyuk. It wasn't simply because his body, Jabor, had squinting eyes.
'Regarding the father of the possessed body as his true father.'
An indifferent father and a mother who had wallowed in luxury and indulgence. During his ti as Park Ji-hun, he too had felt the absence of his parents. So he understood his feelings.
"Do you truly regard Jenedik Raffin as your father?"
However, understanding and blindly trusting were two different things. That's why he had only entrusted him with managing the factory without major interference.
"Yes."
Erik gained certainty from this answer.
'The ability to judge truth and falsehood is truly an impossible power.'
It was an extrely useful force when dealing with soone who could betray you at any mont. Seeing the white light surrounding Jabor, Erik nodded. He decided it was okay to trust him. The source of anxiety had been resolved.
"Erica."
Erik spoke beyond the wall of the reception room. Then red hair appeared. Erica brought a woman as if escorting her.
"W-what? The Empress?"
Jabor Raffin was startled and stood up. Erik waved his hand.
"Sit down. She is no longer the Empress of the Empire."
"Yes? What do you an... what?"
As Erik finished speaking, Jabor's pupils trembled. Black uniforms appeared behind the Empress.
"The-the Executive Branch—."
"Don't worry. The Executive Branch is here to monitor Ruen."
As Erik was calming the startled Jabor, the Empress twisted her body.
"L-let go! I have no intention of running away, I swear!!!"
It was a fierce cry, but when Erik signaled with his eyes, Erica twisted Ruen's arm.
"Aaaahhh!"
Erik looked at the black light surrounding Ruen and shook his head.
'She's still thinking about escaping.'
She seed unaware of how much of a blessing it was to be alive after deceiving the Emperor. Therefore, Erik had prepared a secret plan to reform Ruen. He intended to provide her with a life in a detention facility, as he did with possessors.
'Her life is pitiful, but she's done many things that are hard to forgive.'
Like sending black mages to the Great Granary region.
'After all, she's soone who deceived the Emperor.'
After finishing his thoughts, Erik recited his instructions.
"Erica, provide Ruen with a room equivalent to Level 2 of the detention facility."
"Furthermore, outside of the ti spent engraving sacred seals, have her spend all her ti in her room."
As Erik finished speaking:
"Yes! I shall obey your command!"
Erica straightened her body and replied. It was sowhat excessive.
'Has fanaticism now turned into loyalty?'
She had been expelled from the Royal Guard, and it showed. Usually, when loyalty becos clouded, the Empire would administer punishnt. But...
'She died and ca back to life, so they couldn't say anything about it.'
There was sufficient reason. So Erik intended to provide Erica, who had beco unemployed, with a job.
"Erica, after you finish inspecting the Magic Tower, return imdiately to the church."
"Ah—. I too have been chosen by God—."
Leaving her words of praise behind, Erik turned his gaze elsewhere. His five-colored radiant eyes looked upon Jabor Raffin. And he spoke:
"Let's make a deal."
"A-a deal?"
Jabor Raffin's eyes rolled around.
'A deal?'
Jabor recalled the gray plates and fragnts of capsules that Erik had left behind before. Gray material was a substance that could contain power within it. Just as black magical power was contained, divine power was possible too. And who was the person Erica brought?
'The Second Empress was of the Almanism Church...'
His thoughts reached this point. Jabor Raffin decided to accept first.
"I will accomplish anything you entrust to ."
A deal ant he should also gain sothing, yet he accepted before even hearing the price. However, there was also an expected guess for this part.
"Possessor Kim Jung-hyuk. Use the forr Second Empress, Ruen, to create divine magical tools."
Then:
"I will save your soul and repair your damaged body."
Erik created a trendous golden radiance. Then, with a sizzling sound, smoke rose from Jabor Raffin's body.
"Kuhhhhhhhh!!!"
Amid his screams, Erik's words continued:
"Possessor Kim Jung-hyuk, I grant you the true life of Jabor Raffin."
Jabor Raffin endured the pain and opened his eyes wide.
"Ugh. H-how long do I have—"
To that question, Erik withdrew his divine power. And he spoke:
"Until it's done."
***
Late at night. Erik returned to the church. In front of the church was a large carriage, and the logo drawn on it was very familiar.
'Ceri.'
It was a luxury brand company that Erik had created through Ceri.
'The fact that the person pulling the carriage is well-trained is still sothing I can't get used to.'
A ceremonial horse was a luxury item that only high nobles or the imperial family would raise. However, the appearance of the coachman pulling Ceri's carriage was extrely burdenso.
'A muscular man with his top off is pulling the carriage...'
Knock, knock!
At Erik's appearance, the man pulling the carriage knocked on it. Click, the carriage door opened quietly, and a familiar face appeared.
"Director Erik, it's been a long ti."
It was Ceri's secretary, Voen. A male secretary with his hair neatly slicked back with pomade. He was a person Erik disliked. His atmosphere, his way of speaking—he was a slippery and sticky fellow.
"Hehe, you're still as beautiful as ever."
"Where's Ceri?"
"Riferoze destroyed the main building, and she's been fixing it, so it took ti—."
"Enough. Just give the item and leave."
Erik frowned deeply. Then Voen brought out a very antique-looking box. The box itself had artistic aesthetics added to it, looking like a temple wrapped in gift paper.
"Hehe, even that frown is quite charming."
"Voen, get out."
At Erik's order to leave, Voen climbed onto the carriage.
'I knew there were many gay n in the fashion industry, but...'
He hadn't expected it would be the sa in this world's fashion brands. The luxury company, Ceri, was full of such smooth-talking fellows.
"Phew—."
Erik let out a sigh and carefully opened the box.
'Ceri makes good clothes.'
It was the design he had requested. A feeling that matched the concept of the church Ruelle had remodeled. Erik looked at the church with a satisfied expression. His eyes shone with five colors.
"You've already finished the construction."
Erik recited in a low voice from the empty chapel. Then ca a response.
"How did you know this ti?"
It was Ruelle. In Erik's eyes, the pink light filling the church was crystal clear. Erik had identified Ruelle from that light.
'Perhaps this light can also hide its presence...'
Such an assumption flickered through his mind for a mont. Therefore, he had no intention of ntioning this. Erik slightly turned his body and looked at Ruelle.
"Your pajamas—"
"Ah, this was recomnded by soone passing by."
She was wearing a slip dress with a cardigan over it. The softly visible skin tone stood out. Erik laughed deeply.
"It suits you very well."
Saying so, he handed the box to Ruelle.
"What is this?"
"Clothes that match the changed church."
"Surely it's not a chador? A burka? It's not sothing like that, right?"
Ruelle recalled the strange clothes Erik had ntioned.
'It better not be so weird black outfit that covers the whole body.'
With that thought, she opened the box.
"Huh?"
What appeared inside was a dress. An ivory-colored, thin fabric. The chest was deeply cut, and it was held in place with a string at the waist, emphasizing the body's curves. It revealed what needed to be revealed while maintaining an elegant feel.
"W-why this?"
The design was good. She liked it even more than the Dongtan Misirok style. Yet Ruelle felt uneasy.
'She didn't say anything even when she saw the slip dress.'
Wasn't it completely opposite to her usual behavior of nagging about the transparent priest's robes?
'Could it be that his heart has changed?'
Ruelle suddenly felt flustered. At that mont, Erik stepped closer.
"If I want soone to be my woman, I don't want her to go unnoticed by others' eyes."
At those serious words, Ruelle lifted her head. Between his clear golden eyes, five-colored radiant light sparkled.
"But wouldn't I want my woman to be the hottest in the world?"
It was a kind of declaration.
"W-what are you saying!"
Ruelle's face turned bright red at the suddenly close distance. Then she ran away in small, quick steps. Erik quietly watched her retreating figure.
'The sky is pink.'
***
Erik lay in bed, lost in thought.
'I hope it was a proper repaynt...'
When he first obtained [Discernnt Eyes]. The room centered on Ruelle was filled with pink light. Erik wanted to repay that heart. Back then, the forr Empress Ruen had awakened, and he had missed the timing, but now he had made that repaynt instead.
'I'm glad it seems to be enough.'
Just one word, one gift. The entire world turned pink. The excitent he felt for the first ti in a while was welco. Just as he was about to close his eyes contentedly:
Paat!
[Progress: 76.08%]
A status window appeared before his eyes. The numbers were rising every second, which ant his teacher was still doing sothing.
'Tomorrow will probably fill it to 100%.'
When that becos 100%, he can transfer the faith system for 100 million GP. He was very curious about what would change and how.
'Perhaps it's a system that strengthens possessed believers?'
Like a Marine with a stim pack added, a possessed person with divine enhancent might appear. Such speculation crossed his mind, but he didn't jump to conclusions. It was a temple related to the crazy tree, so there was definitely an unpredictable aspect.
[Progress: 77.26%]
Even in the anti, the percentage continued to rise. He couldn't help but marvel.
'My teacher is a natural teacher.'
He didn't know what Riferoze was doing or how she was doing it... But teaching an entire faith system in less than two days was truly an amazing feat.
'Is it almost two days?'
The implication of "less than two days" contained one more aning.
[Facility Completion: 12:19:20]
The temple will reopen. That is, the construction of the [Training Room] and [Resurrection Point] is complete.
'It must cost a trendous amount of GP.'
Erik checked his remaining resources.
[Boss - Lv.2]
[Appointable Believers - 301/301]
[Possessed GP: 70,500,580]
His GP, which had originally exceeded 100 million, had decreased by tens of millions. A lot of GP had been consud building the facilities. Wasn't it now a more important resource than gold itself?
However, this wasn't a major problem either. Once Ruelle's prayer eting starts tomorrow, he should be able to earn GP in the hundreds of millions.
'Everything is flowing well.'
From the temple facilities to the progress happening in quick succession. He had easily solved the necessary resources, GP, thanks to Ruelle. Going like this, eventually the 5th Tier would also be opened.
'I hope it doesn't cost 1 trillion gold like that.'
Then he would need an overwhelmingly large amount of gold again. However, the matter of gold had to be pushed to lower priority. Because:
'In Korean won, that's 100 trillion.'
The 100 billion gold he had been receiving and using, converted to Korean won, is on a different scale of zeros than 1 trillion units. It's 30% of the Empire's annual budget—1 trillion gold is approximately 100 trillion Korean won in terms of value.
'Let's think about it when the ti cos.'
Erik cleared away all the status windows cluttering his view. And closing his eyes, he gazed at the pink-lit world.
***
Erik, asleep, stood inside the temple.
"Ah, girl, I have been longing for this hour."
Before his eyes, a seductive entity fluttered its wings. The way it swayed its tail was alluring. With a leather bikini put on it, it looked just like a yokai drawn provocatively in so work of fiction. Erik's eyes shone with five colors.
"Girl, I cannot enter your dreams."
The yokai twisted its body and continued speaking.
"To think you have set up such a terrible divine barrier in your mind—."
The effort it took to break through that subli divine wall. But beyond it, there was an even thicker barrier, and they seed to stretch endlessly.
"Ah, so that's why I used this lustful tree."
Erik looked ahead of the temple. The World Tree was trembling.
Paat!
[N-no, I'm not lustful! Who goes through my head like that—.]
Even in this urgent situation, such a ssage appeared. Erik glared at the World Tree. Then...
Saaaaa!
Enormous pink light filled all around. It was different from Ruelle's, with a stronger red tint to it.
'And it's sincere.'
The white light surrounding the World Tree ant that reaction was sincere. Which ant the World Tree had truly gone crazy. Erik's head throbbed.
"Girl, you are here?"
At that mont, the yokai asked in bewildernt. An alien presence entering the temple. It felt questioned by the fact that he wasn't interested in itself. Only then did Erik look at the yokai. His gaze was indifferent.
"Ah, even seeing this girl's body, you show no reaction."
As the yokai twisted its body again, Erik wielded divine power toward her. The clouds of the temple, as well as the divine power filling the sky, began to surround the yokai.
"W-what is this."
The yokai was surrounded. And startled. She had thought she entered through the World Tree's dream, but it seed that wasn't the case.
"This is not a dream. This girl's authority feels violated, which is not pleasant."
"So, what's your purpose?"
Only then did Erik ask a question.
"Give Thomas! Makia's representative is going insane. He might cause problems!"
At that, Erik smiled darkly. And without hesitation, he brought down his hand.
Whoong!
A massive sword tore through the air and appeared, slashing through the yokai's body. The torn body was burned by divine power, and the yokai's eyes widened in terror.
"That's your problem."
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