After escaping from Cheonil Church's building, I entered a nearby mountain.
"Ugh."
I had wiped down the sofa and bed diligently when Min So-yul wasn't looking.
But that stuff was so tenacious that a sticky feeling still lingered.
*Rustle.*
Elia, manifested in her physical form, flared her nostrils.
"How was it? My new disciple jelly pellets?"
"Totally effective. That guy who was acting all high and mighty screamed 'You son of a bitch!' in one shot."
I rubbed my ears, which had been through a lot.
It had been so long since I'd heard such raw cursing that it caught me off guard.
"I told you it would be rough, right? The more shock you apply, the bigger it gets."
I swallowed dryly.
That's not something the one who fed it should say, but from the victim's perspective, it must be terrifying.
They wouldn't know it causes no harm to the human body, let alone an explosion.
Then what about the exploding bottle?
*Perk!*
Kancho, manifested on my shoulder, poked his head out.
"Chief! How was the explosion timing?!"
The bottle was the work of our Yordle Rangers, who were in stealth mode.
"Perfect. His face went completely white."
I gave him a thumbs-up.
Min So-yul, who had been acting refined, pretending to be in control, and acting like some holy being.
Not only did I get to see that expression on her face, but I also made her spew profanity.
It felt satisfying just thinking about it again.
"Chief."
"Yeah?"
"There's a strange smell coming from you, Chief."
"Sorry. I came here riding a frog."
"I see."
Kancho answered quietly, then slid down from my shoulder and put some distance between us.
He's usually a loyal subject who endures a lot, but his developed sense of smell must have made it hard.
"Elia. Is there any way to deal with the frog saliva?"
"Hmm."
Elia rubbed her chin.
"That liquid is a kind of fuel, you know? It doesn't just protect the body. To replace it, you'd need something like a Drakan's eyeball on top of that."
"Hey, you old hag who's on her last legs! When the Chief speaks, you should find a way to solve it! If you can't do anything about the saliva, at least prepare some waterproof vinyl that's easy to put on and take off whenever we ride!"
"Oh? That's not a bad idea?"
"Right? I was a bit surprised myself when I said it."
"Kancho gets smarter every day."
I vigorously ruffled his perked-up ears.
He might be a bit dense, but his rate of improvement is remarkable.
"Still, a tin can is a tin can, right? If you actually whack him, he makes a clanking sound."
*Clang.*
Elia struck Kancho's head as naturally as flowing water.
Kancho, instantly transformed into Satan mode, stomped the ground.
I was wondering why he was so quiet today.
Elia and Kancho started rolling down the hill, ignoring the slope and everything else.
*Clang! Clang!*
Pretending not to hear the cheerful clanking sounds, I walked toward the valley I had marked on the map.
A place with rough terrain, cut off from human footsteps.
Maybe that's why the water was incredibly clear.
Without any hesitation, I stripped off my top and jumped in.
Since they said it only felt sticky and smelled bad but didn't cause any contamination, I washed up with peace of mind.
'Now I can finally feel a bit alive.'
Maybe it was because I washed off the unpleasant saliva and basked in the warm sunlight.
My mood was very fresh and pleasant.
I floated there for a while.
*Splash splash splash!! Gasp gasp gasp!*
I felt a dynamic movement beside me.
It was Momo, who had manifested at some point, equipped with goggles and a tube, swimming freestyle.
She was short and plump, but how did she stretch out so well?
*Ding!*
[A proposal has arrived from the representative of &$#($*!]
[If accepted, an entity more powerful than your previous collaborator will appear to aid the player in battle!]
[This proposal comes with no conditions! There are no penalties for the player whether you accept or decline!]
A smirk crept onto my face.
Min So-yul isn't stupid.
She must have realized that I killed Marvin.
Yet, seeing her obediently listen to me, it seems the irremovable sticky stuff growing inside her body is truly frightening.
Or maybe she's holding onto a firm belief.
That this time, unlike Marvin Rodogus, the outcome will be favorable for Cheonil Church.
"Accept."
[The proposal has been accepted! Upon entering the next Tower of Despair, the apostle of &$#($* will appear!]
*Ding.*
I checked the message that arrived with perfect timing.
[# Section compression ticket secured. Arriving on tonight's flight.]
It seems she didn't become the chairman of Cheonil Church without any ability.
Her speed in handling things is quite impressive.
I looked around at my friends, who were manifesting one by one.
There was still time until evening, so let's go to the Tower of Myth first.
*Ding!*
[Entering the 27th floor of the Tower of Myth!]
---
The prayer room in Cheonil Church's hideout.
Min So-yul rubbed her neck with a face full of discontent.
Cheonil Church possesses immense financial power and connections.
They also have a large number of top-tier doctors and priest-class personnel, so as soon as Yoo Jin-hyuk left, Min So-yul summoned them.
And she delivered her orders as if they were divine revelations.
To remove whatever was inside her body, by any means necessary.
"Don't worry. I was called the best in this field even before the Tower appeared."
"With my class ability, it won't even take a minute."
"This is an honor. To be able to help the chairman of Cheonil Church."
At first, everyone boasted that they could do it.
But soon, their expressions began to change one by one.
"W-What in the world is this...?"
"Huh...? Why does it keep...?"
In the end, they all raised the white flag and bowed their heads.
'These useless bastards. After all the money I've poured into them.'
She quickly shook her head to suppress the rising anger.
She had been like this ever since she met Yoo Jin-hyuk.
But she had to endure it now.
It was almost time for prayer.
After taking several deep breaths, she knelt down.
[The residents of the Tower invite the player! Do you accept?]
[This is a space created by the residents of the Tower! Upon entry, an environment unfavorable to the player may be created!]
"I get it, so just let me in!"
She saw this message every time she prayed, but why was it so irritating today?
The surrounding space scattered, and a temple filled with light appeared.
Beings sat on tall, massive chairs, looking down at Min So-yul.
"Welcome, my child."
"I can only imagine how hard it must be for you to carry out our will alone."
"Just endure a little longer. Once we descend, the world will be yours."
Min So-yul bowed her head at the shower of encouragement.
"Your words are my mission. How could I dare to act while expecting a reward?"
Warm words of praise were exchanged.
"Silence."
A voice that made her body freeze rang out.
Silence fell over the temple as if it had never been broken.
A being rose from its seat and approached Min So-yul.
"Our prayers cannot be infinite in a single day, so speak quickly, my child. Can we get out?"
"Yes. The ritual is being prepared smoothly. Everything is flowing according to your will, so you will descend at the appointed time."
"Everything is according to my will."
The being tilted its head and smirked.
"How strange. I never once wished for my executor to disappear. Did perhaps someone else wish for it?"
He looked around, but no one reacted.
Everyone remained silent.
"Now, my child. Answer me. What have you found out? Where has my executor, who has carried out my orders for so long, disappeared to? And this human you said is receiving the adoration of the entire world. Can you make him my vessel? Or was it just your empty wish?"
Min So-yul swallowed dryly under the crushing pressure.
In truth, there was no grand plan to speak of.
She simply thought that once they witnessed the overwhelming power and authority of the gods, they would naturally follow Cheonil Church.
Like all the other believers.
But it was a foolish judgment.
To be more precise, she had completely misjudged the human named Yoo Jin-hyuk.
Yoo Jin-hyuk is not the kind of person who would truly believe in and follow something just by witnessing it.
It means his brain structure is fundamentally different from the Cheonil Church believers who scramble to become vessels for the great gods.
"I apologize. Him willingly offering himself as a vessel... seems difficult."
"Why? Can there be someone who doesn't bow their head even after seeing our power?"
"He is someone who doesn't know what to bow to and what to resist. He will only realize it when his knees are forced to the ground by overwhelming power."
"Hmm, is that so? Well, it's not surprising. There are always such people in every era. Colts that run wild without knowing their place. Then let me change the question. Can you bring the vessel to my place of descent? I will personally break his knees and neck and make him bow."
"It's possible."
She didn't believe Yoo Jin-hyuk's verbal promise to come to the desired place at the desired time.
Instead, Min So-yul believed in Yoo Jin-hyuk's arrogance and insolence.
Since he thinks he's the strongest, he will definitely come.
Not knowing what awaits him there.
"And the answers to my previous questions? Where did my executor go? They are also a part of me. If there is a risk of damage, it would be right to keep them here."
Min So-yul's eyes wavered.
It was Yoo Jin-hyuk who killed Marvin Rodogus.
But if she said that, the apostle and army she had sent to Yoo Jin-hyuk might be withdrawn.
That couldn't happen.
If that happened, she would die.
"With just a little more clues, I can find out. I will take action as soon as that human finishes his battle in the Tower of Despair and comes down."
By then, the ritual preparations would be complete.
Then this incident could be passed off as a very minor hiccup.
"You seem to have a lot on your mind."
"!!!"
Min So-yul gasped as a face pushed close to hers.
"Don't forget. That we are the reason for your existence."
"Yes. I will keep that in mind."
The god rose from its seat.
And just as when the temple was formed, it began to scatter slowly.
---
Back in the prayer room.
"Haah...!!"
Min So-yul, releasing the breath she had been holding, placed her hand over her wildly pounding heart.
It was the first time.
She had lied to them.
*Creak.*
She grimaced and reached for her phone.
Investigation teams from various countries had entered Korea.
So she had planned to lie low and watch the situation for a while, but now she couldn't.
She couldn't delay any longer.
She had to start immediately.
---
[Entered the 27th floor of the Tower of Myth: 'Giant Crater'!]
'Oh, shit.'
I frowned at the terrain in front of me.
I wondered how big it was since they said it was giant.
It's fucking huge.
"It looks like a pudding that someone took a spoonful out of!"
"A giant pudding!!"
Kancho and Momo, who couldn't resist and manifested first.
But 'pudding'?
What the hell is that, this absurd analogy?
*Sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff!*
Kancho, who had jumped off my shoulder, put his nose to the ground and circled around.
"What a good boy, Kancho!!"
Whether I called him a good boy or not, Kancho, after thoroughly sniffing the area, perked up his ears.
"Chief! I can smell that bastard, faintly!"
"That bastard?"
"The rotten smile within that disgusting stream of saliva!"
Ah, the serene smile within the pouring beam of light.
But why is Marvin Rodogus's smell here?
"Hmm."
I rubbed my chin and then shrugged my shoulders.
I moved my steps toward the crater.
I don't know, so let's go find out.
What kind of place this is.
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T/N:
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