CH 204

Ding!

[A Sudden Quest (Celestials’ Curiosity) has been created.]

[Celestials’ Curiosity]

Type: Sudden.

Description: Numerous star signs in the high sky are busying themselves talking about the rumors revolving around you. You were at the center of the ongoing dispute between the ‘Twilight-Piercing Owl’ and ‘Gemini,’ and you have inherited , which was considered an old myth even among Celestials.

The news that you have not chosen a Guardian has also spread, making many Celestials covet you. However, some Celestials still belittle you, saying that the rumors and assessments of you are exaggerated. Those who want you as an apostle or a subordinate wish to know the full extent of your ability.

The ‘Malignity-Drinking Saturn,’ the Guardian of the Player Jacque Valentine, volunteered to be a mediator and is now making a proposal to you through Jacque Valentine. If you take this test, many Celestials will shower you with their blessings just like before, and rejecting it will shower you with curses.

Objectives:

1. Spar against several Celestials’ apostles in the special place made by Jacque Valentine.

2. Win by surviving until the end or getting high marks.

Prerequisite: ―

Duration: Until one survivor remains.

Reward: ?

“Spar, huh?” Chang-Sun chuckled dryly, looking at the quest description.

The man behind the Revenant Clan’s Guardian, ‘Thousand-Legged Monster,’ gave the quest himself, but he should have offered a carrot and tried to coax Chang-Sun if he wanted to make this work. Unfortunately, the quest description was basically blackmail. Considering Celestials still treated Chang-Sun like this even though he had ascended the throne of , he could clearly tell what Celestials thought about mortals.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ pulls out her hair, saying that too many Celestials are fighting over you.]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ shakes his head in disbelief, saying that it is about time for the Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ to get used to this.]

Thinking the quest was just a waste of his time, Chang-Sun was going to reject the quest, but…

‘Wait, I might get more out of this if I play it right.’ Several plans quickly flashed across his mind. ‘It’s trivial, but it’ll still be enough to cause more trouble and conflict within .’

Although Chang-Sun didn’t mean for it to happen, he was already involved in the conflict between Minerva and ‘Gemini,’ and he could probably use it to create a bigger conflict. Besides, Celestials could be described as generous figures who granted mortals’ every wish. They were just so prideful that they always tried to retaliate if they didn’t get what they wanted.

“Okay, fine, I get the sparring part, but how will they send their apostles? They’ll have to endure quite the causality,” Chang-Sun asked.

Jacque stared at Chang-Sun without answering him.

“What’s wrong?”

“I see you don’t know anything about us,” Jacque concluded.

“…?”

“Do you know that we Revenant Clan Players control a variety of monsters?” Jacque asked.

Chang-Sun remembered Henri Bosque controlling a Bone Dragon and Mireille Aliano having a contract with Armand, the ‘Wind-Hating Daughter.’ Just like the two, the other Revenant Clan Players had their own summons or controlled a monster. Jacque’s was the Manticore.

Their one difference from ordinary summoners was that they could merge with their summons as if they had always been one. In other words, Jacque was the Manticore, and the Manticore was Jacque.

“So?” Chang-Sun said.

“All of those are possible thanks to my Guardian’s various abilities, so it doesn’t matter.”

Chang-Sun quietly clicked his tongue. ‘Satan would surely know many tricks.’

Jacque’s Guardian ’Malignity-Drinking Saturn’ was Satan, the strongest demon king. Satan ruled over Ira[1] of the Seven Deadly Sins and owned of and had an army of countless fallen angels. Hence, just like Jacque had said, Satan could use various skills and methods to bypass the law of causality.

‘Peter the Apostle’s descendant is protected by Satan… Well, I guess it isn’t that strange. He was also Simon Magus’ student, after all,’ Chang-Sun thought.

Perhaps Jacque was the best apostle for Satan, considering he had learned various kinds of magic.

‘Satan was also with before joining the opposition.’ 

In fact, it was an underestimation to say that Satan switched sides. Back then, Satan had been popular and had high enough divine essence and rank to become the next leader of the Absolute Good faction. However, he lost in the power struggle. Hence, he switched sides with the angels who followed him and created . However, Satan was still looking for an opportunity to become the leader of , claiming that the position had always been his.

“He must have received a lot of commissions, huh?” Chang-Sun assumed.

“Magic, especially unorthodox ones, requires a lot of resources,” Jacque answered, thinking there was nothing to hide.

“What do I get if I accept this quest?”

[The Celestial ‘Tsunami Bringer’ finds it unpleasant that you dared ask for a reward.]

[The Celestial ‘Antlered Animal King’ narrows his eyes.]

A quick look at "pawread dot com" will leave you more fulfilled.

…

[The Celestials who decided to send their subordinates or apostles for this quest glare at you for daring to ask for a reward.]

“They aren’t taking your question very well,” Jacque summarized.

The Celestials’ reaction was always predictable. Thinking there were no simpler beings, Chang-Sun crossed his arms as if he could just reject this quest. “They can just not send their people if they don’t like it.”

“Hmm.” Jacque pondered for a moment.

Jacque wasn’t the type to express himself very well, making it difficult to read what was going on in his mind. However, Chang-Sun could at least sense Jacque was trying to help him for some reason, which was why he was intentionally delaying his response.

‘The bigger this sparring gets, the more commission he will gain. He doesn’t look like it, but he’s quite the merchant,’ Chang-Sun observed.

Most Celestials were still angry, though, saying that Chang-Sun was arrogant and didn’t know his place. However…

[The Celestial ‘Taurus’ bursts into laughter and says that you definitely have a Giant’s gut. He adds that he will give you one of his horns as a reward if you defeat his apostle.]

… it all changed when one of them declared to give Chang-Sun a reward, just like he had asked.

[The Celestial ‘Aquarius’ nods as he listens to the Celestial ‘Taurus.’ He says that he will give you a small shot glass as a reward.]

[The Celestial ‘Plague Monarch’ says she will give you the brand new hair loss cure he recently developed if you come in fifth place.]

[The Celestial ‘Singing Storm’...]

[The Celestial…]

…

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ asks you if you would like her molar since you already have her snaggletooth.]

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ shouts in surprise, asking her mother why she is suddenly joining in this.]

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ declares that she is following her heart.]

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ hops around in anger, telling her mother not to do that.]

…

‘Bel-Marduk’s horn, and Tiamat’s molar… These two will be quite useful. Choi Bu-Yong would like it,’ Chang-Sun thought.

[Reward list]

1. A giant bull’s horn. (‘Taurus’)

2. A shot glass with moonlight. (‘Aquarius’)

3. A hair loss cure. (‘Plague Monarch’)

…

[Total rewards offered: 287.]

Stroking his chin, Chang-Sun looked through the list of the Celestials’ rewards. Some items caught his eye and made the quest seem worth his time.

Kiyoooo!

Cadmus, who remained vigilant around Jacque, became delighted. Perhaps it was thinking it would get more food.

“Are those enough rewards?” Jacque asked.

“Okay, fine.”

[You have accepted the quest.]

[Defeat the apostles sent by the Celestials participating in this quest and emerge victorious.]

“I’ll make a barrier now—”

“ I’m busy right now. Let me finish my business in Germany first,” Chang-Sun interrupted.

“… What?” Jacque blankly stared at Chang-Sun as he stopped crafting the hand seal of a barrier.

This was the first time the emotionless Jacque looked noticeably baffled.

“The description said nothing about when I should start or a time limit,” Chang-Sun reminded him.

“Well, that’s—!”

“I’ll do the quest once I’m done with my business in Germany,” Chang-Sun added.

“But the Celestials will—”

“They can just quit if they can’t wait,” Chang-Sun interrupted again.

“…!” Jacque’s eyes lost focus. No one had ever reacted the way Chang-Sun did after making a promise with Celestials.

[The Celestial ‘Taurus’ widens his eyes, unable to believe what he just heard.]

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ frustratedly asks how long she should wait.]

…

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ bursts into laughter and says he knew it. He adds that it seems you sly snake got the better of all these Celestials.]

The unexpected turn of events angered the Celestials, but as always, Chang-Sun didn’t even blink.

[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ chuckles dumbfoundedly, saying that your temper reminds him of someone.]

“… Will you do the quest right after you’re done with your business in Germany?” Jacque asked quietly.

“I can’t guarantee anything. If I stay in Germany for too long, then I will have to return to America immediately. However, I have to go through a tight schedule there too,” Chang-Sun said with a shrug as if he had no other choice.

At that moment, Jacque realized that although he had been planning to use Chang-Sun as a way to replenish his own fund, which had recently been depleted due to magic experiments, he ended up under Chang-Sun’s hands instead.

“However, I can probably get things done quicker with your help.” Chang-Sun smiled faintly.

Jacque realized this was what Chang-Sun wanted from the start. Thinking he would get enslaved by Chang-Sun until the end of this quest, he bitterly smiled. “… How can I help?”

“Can the Revenant Clan declare war on the Illuminati?” Chang-Sun requested.

“…!”

“You don’t have to, but that means my business will be taken care of much, much later,” Chang-Sun added.

Jacque’s bitter smile deepened, unable to believe that this was what Chang-Sun needed his help on. Besides, Chang-Sun was almost blackmailing him, not forcing him.

* * *

“… What? Repeat that report." Constantine Brunnit, the ‘Red Eagle Duke’ and the popular Illuminati Senator, shut his eyes.

“Just a moment ago… we received a declaration of war from the Revenant Clan,” his secretary timidly repeated.

“Those crazy fucks!” Constantine’s face reddened as he slammed his desk.

Thud!

A declaration of war! The medieval age and the age of imperialism, which was when people fired guns as soon as they had the chance, were long gone. Hence, the Revenant Clan wouldn’t really start a war right now. However, there was no telling what would happen within Dungeons, where laws weren’t as effective as they were in the outside world. Many Clans had actually perished because they lost their Players in wars like this.

‘If only that bastard Louis didn’t mess with them!’ Constantine thought angrily.

Constantine’s biggest mistake was that he trusted Louis Braille, the inquisitor, too much. No matter how fanatic one was, there was still a line one shouldn’t cross. Moreover, Louis committed a terrorist attack without hiding his identity at all. Hence, it didn’t come as a surprise that everyone was trying to brand the Illuminati as a terrorist organization.

‘If that’s how he was going to do the mission, he shouldn’t have let himself get caught!’

Of course, Louis likely did try to cover up the attack by making everything seem as if the French volunteer Players were killed during a monster wave and also attempted to eliminate Chang-Sun… Nevertheless, all the truth had already been revealed. The French foreign office had officially filed a complaint to the German government, making the latter furious. They even mobilized the police and conducted a large-scale search and seizure on the Illuminati this morning.

Many of the people who were suspected to be behind Louis had already been arrested, making it only a matter of time before one of them mentioned Constantine. Of course, the Illuminati announced their statement of regret and drew a line between the Illuminati and Louis by saying that this incident was carried out by Louis alone. Constantine also tied up all loose ends that could be linked back to him.

Nevertheless, Constantine’s influence within the Clan would still decrease drastically for a while. To make things worse, the Revenant Clan declared war on the Illuminati. The Orlando and Youth Fountain Clans also joined in on the declaration, which meant the Illuminati would have to fight the entirety of France.

If they tried to fight the Illuminati as if their lives depended on it… Constantine couldn’t even imagine how great the damage they’d sustain would be. The German government would never try to interfere in this war, so Constantine knew he shouldn’t expect them to help. It was the same for the southern European countries where the Illuminati usually operated.

“And…” the secretary trailed off.

“What now?!” Constantine’s eyes were blazing up with anger.

“The B-Blue Wolf Duke has called a senator m-meeting… and the agenda is about removing you from your seat…”

“Arggghhhh!” Enraged, Constantine overturned his desk sideway.

Crash.

The invaluable artifacts on it were shattered into pieces.

“I, Constantine Brunnit, devoted fifty years of my life to this Clan and went through hell countless times to spread the goddess’ doctrines! And this is how they repay me?! Those bastards!”

Rumble…!

Constantine’s office shook hard as he raged. His eyes had become bloodshot.

“Summon the Black Eagles! Now!” Constantine shouted.

The Black Eagles referred to the hardliner Illuminati senators and believers that personally followed Constantine.

“Are you… planning…” Unable to bring himself to ask Constantine if he planned to start a coup, the secretary just held his tongue.

However, the secretary’s behavior only made Constantine more furious.

“I’ll decide whether or not I’ll start a coup only after everyone has gathered, so get moving!”

“Huh? Y-yes, sir!” the secretary answered and fled out of Constantine’s office.

Constantine gritted his teeth as he watched his secretary. “Never! You’ll never bring me down, Joachim!”

* * *

Chang-Sun, Joachim, Jacque, and the Team L members exited the arrival hall of Frankfurt Airport.

Having been practically dragged to Germany because of the quest, Jacque was still sullen. In contrast, Joachim was uncharacteristically tense, though he did manage to conceal his nervousness by wearing sunglasses.

He was here to take over the Illuminati just like what Chang-Sun had decided, so his heart was bound to be heavy. If this attempt went south, the Illuminati would be torn apart or, even worse, a civil war could break out.

Joachim had a lot on his mind.

“Then… Mr. Lee, will you head straight to the headquarters?” Joachim asked, still unaware of what Chang-Sun was planning. He couldn’t help but wonder if they were going to march straight to the headquarters.

Chang-Sun shook his head. “I have to drop by somewhere.”

“Hmm…? Where?” Joachim asked again, wondering if Chang-Sun knew anyone in Germany.

Chang-Sun smirked. “The Crna Ruka’s office.”

The Crna Ruka was the Killer Overlord Czestochowa’s criminal organization, which was more commonly known as Black Hand in Korea.

“…!” Joachim and the Team L members’ eyes widened. They didn’t expect to hear the name of that Clan now. Even Jacque seemed surprised.

“I’ll deal with their remnants first,” Chang-Sun said.

1. It means wrath in Latin. ☜

2. It’s an epic written by John Milton about Satan tempting Adam and Eve and getting them banished from the Garden of Eden. ☜