Chapter 202: The Great Evil

Just before heading to the Tower of Demons, we began preparing for the climb.

‘The difficulty there is just insane.’

Starting from Solomon, the 72nd Demon King, even transcendent beings cannot underestimate the single-digit demons. No, the entire demon race itself was dangerous.

Their power could not be stopped even by my Energy of Defying Heaven. This was because it was a mystery that interfered with the system.

‘So it’s troublesome.’

Simply put, let’s say there was a swordsman who could cut through anything. If a knight who could block anything fought against this swordsman, the direction of the fight would turn into a battle of Nyeom.

However, the power the demons interfered with was different. Their power manifested in some form. Even I fell under the power of Dantalion’s nightmare, so even transcendent beings could not ignore them.

That was exactly what the mystery was.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

As much as the rewards for clearing the tower were tremendous, it meant that it was just as difficult.

“It’s really serious…”

“Well, it’s good to be thorough in our preparations.”

The demons were a problem, but the being that escaped the gaze of the transcendent, the Thousand Sorcerer, was a bigger issue. The reason Hwarang Guild members went missing was more likely due to that being’s plan than the demons inside the tower.

‘The baggage problem can be solved by storing it in subspace.’

Therefore, we prepared thoroughly. We bought what we could and made what we could through alchemy.

‘I need to stop by the workshop.’

Inside the workshop at the Korea Hero School, there were many potions I made after creating the Conceptual Stat Alchemy. And there were vessels made with the power of Hong Yu-hwa and Seolhwa Ryeon.

‘I also need to awaken the power of Sung Han-byul with this opportunity.’

“The Infinite Goblet (S)” and “The Book of Law (S)” might seem like fraudulent talents, but Sung Han-byul’s real power lay hidden between these two. This power, close to a curse, was sealed because it drained Sung Han-byul’s life just by existing.

‘It’s time to awaken it.’

The only Ex-grade talent that naturally existed in this world.

I stopped by the workshop and gathered the vessels and various potions. Each one easily worth hundreds of millions. They didn’t have an effect on me, but there were Spirit Elixirs that had a slight effect on Sung Han-byul or Seo Ga-yeon.

“…Are you really giving me this?”

“Yes, take what you want to drink… Ah, don’t drink that one. I’ll mix the right ratio for you.”

I stopped Sung Han-byul from trying to drink a cheap one. The mix of Spirit Elixirs was important. Just like you needed to drink a yang attribute elixir if you drank a yin attribute elixir, you couldn’t just drink them carelessly.

I personally lined up the mass-produced Spirit Elixirs in order and told Sung Han-byul to drink them.

“Ga-yeon…”

I stopped picking the elixir for Seo Ga-yeon. Does Seo Ga-yeon, who possessed the power of starlight, really needed to drink elixirs? She and I elevated each other’s realms through pure training. So, the elixirs could be extremely toxic for her.

‘But the balance is broken now.’

When I reached the Intermediate level, Seo Ga-yeon also soon reached it. However, in the process, Seo Ga-yeon felt like she had lost some of her potential.

In that case, it would be better to feed her the elixirs to balance it out.

I selected a few mass-produced elixirs for Seo Ga-yeon.

-Good.

Unknowingly, I felt a deep emotion.

Seo Ga-yeon, who possessed the positive power of starlight, had a completely opposite power to mine, the Energy of Defying Heaven, which denied everything. However, because of this, we shared each other’s mental states.

Was it because our power was derived from the Creator God?

I judged that this was a sign that our power was going to be intertwined.

“But why the elixirs?”

“I’m planning to go to the Tower of Demons soon.”

“Really?”

Seo Ga-yeon began to pack the elixirs one by one without asking anything.

“…Aren’t you curious why? That place is almost certain death.”

“There must be a reason why Seo-ha agreed to go, right?”

Seo Ga-yeon said this in response to Sung Han-byul’s words and looked at me.

Her black hair swayed. She packed the elixirs and sat next to me.

She looked so much like a pet that I couldn’t help but laugh. She reminded me of a cat I used to have. She acted like a dog, though…

I unconsciously reached out and gently patted Seo Ga-yeon’s head. Seo Ga-yeon flinched but then showed a satisfied expression.

“……Hamster.”

“……?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

It seemed I wasn’t the only one who felt that way, as Sung Han-byul muttered that and looked at me.

“I’ll somehow repay you for these elixirs.”

“It’s fine. I’ll get a good price from Hwarang.”

“……It’ll be expensive, right?”

“This is a new series I’m introducing to the world.”

In fact, I had leaked some information about it to a few companies, and even the CEO of a giant corporation who had previously suffered losses due to alchemists subtly proposed a deal, forgetting the past. Of course, I didn’t accept the deal.

“Since Veritas is participating, Hwarang will comply easily. I’ll tell Veritas not to overcharge too much, since I’m acquainted with him.”

“……Then I’ll owe too much debt.”

“If you think so, there’s no helping it.”

However, if the debt felt too heavy, joining our guild was also an option.

I swallowed those words. It was too blatant. With Sung Han-byul’s upright personality, a few gentle nudges would suffice. But then she would harbor a sense of debt in her heart.

That’s not what I wanted.

“Even though these are mass-produced elixirs, they can only be effective once, so take them in the order I taught you. Oh, if you find them effective, I’d appreciate some promotion later.”

“……The stat increases from these mass-produced elixirs are too good.”

“That’s because I put a lot of effort into them. I also placed a restriction to make them effective only once.”

It was a slight trick.

Once you consumed an elixir, taking the same kind significantly reduced its effectiveness. The decrease was almost down to 10%.

Instead, imposing a restriction with runes increases the stat improvement rate by about 30%.

Moreover, the elixirs going to Sung Han-byul and Seo Ga-yeon had exceptional effects. I personally selected and made them from top-quality ingredients. They couldn’t compare to the elixirs available in the market.

“Seo-ha’s handmade elixirs….”

Seo Ga-yeon said that and looked at me.

“They’re too precious to drink.”

“Still, drink them. I made them with you in mind.”

“……!”

“Wow…….”

Seo Ga-yeon was delighted, while Sung Han-byul looked at me with a complicated expression.

As if I were trash who seduced women left and right but couldn’t be blamed because I owed too much….

‘That’s a bit hurtful.’

Anyway, I smiled my business smile.

“It’s called the Rainbow Series, so please love it a lot.”

“It’s going to receive an enormous amount of inquiries. Anyway, thank you.”

Sung Han-byul said that and packed the elixirs.

“And leave the matter of going to the Tower of Demons to me. I do have some influence in the Hwarang Guild.”

“Okay. I’ll trust you and prepare, so please come quickly.”

Sung Han-byul left for the guild and headed to the association to get permission.

I started working on guild matters, while Seo Ga-yeon sat beside me and watched.

“When can I take the elixirs?”

“A little later. This is more important right now.”

Indeed, rest was also part of the work. I dealt with guild affairs.

Seo Ga-yeon clung to me.

It was just a peaceful time.

……And a moment later, Sung Han-byul returned.

“I’ve got the permission! Now we can enter the Tower of Demons!”

“Really? That was fast?”

“A significant figure from Hwarang was kidnapped too….”

Sung Han-byul said gloomily in response to my words.

I glanced at Sung Han-byul. If it was someone close to her, it would be the person who prompted her to join Hwarang. And if the perpetrator of the kidnapping in the Tower of Demons was that being.

‘They’d be dead…….’

They would likely be dead.

The perpetrator of the kidnapping is such an entity. One who could evade the eyes of the Thousand Sorcerer and moved freely within the tower. People in the world unanimously called that being with fear in their voices.

They called them the Great Evil.