novel-bin Chapter 413
Chapter 413
Chapter 413
“What are the benefits of changing my Job?” Cha Jin-Hyeok asked.
“You will have more freedom for prayer time,” Garcia replied. “As a Priest, you can serve people to your heart’s content. You can even maintain focus during a forty-day fasting prayer without breaks.”
Jin-Hyeok was surprised by Garcia’s unusual sense of social awareness. He wondered if Garcia actually thought these were selling points.
“Can I just do a Dual Class?” Jin-Hyeok inquired.
“Why would you want a Dual Class?” Garcia looked at Jin-Hyeok with genuine confusion. His expression conveyed that he thought being only a Priest was far superior to combining the Job with being an Eltuber.
Marveling at Garcia’s remarkable social skills, Jin-Hyeok responded, “I decline.”
Garcia was caught off guard by the refusal, and his eyes widened in shock. “But... why?”
“As my faith is inadequate, taking on such a noble Job would be too shameful for me,” Jin-Hyeok explained.
“I see.” Garcia nodded.
Jin-Hyeok continued with a serious expression, “It breaks my heart that I can’t receive such radiant grace...”
Gerdok, Garcia’s aide, sensed that something was off. He worried that Garcia might feel guilty, which could turn out to be dangerous for the Feyler Family. Garcia was the type to perform all sorts of good deeds to atone for his sins.
“W-Wait!” Gerdok shouted.
However, before Gerdok could interject, Garcia said, “I apologize. I did not consider that. You must be disappointed.”
“It’s heartbreaking,” Jin-Hyeok said.
“To make amends, I would like to offer you a suitable gift, such as...”
Fearing Garcia could offer something like an all-day prayer pass, Jin-Hyeok quickly interrupted him. “What you are about to offer is surely too grand for me. I might find myself in the sad position of having to refuse such beautiful grace again. Perhaps, you could let me state what I want instead?”
“Fair enough,” Garcia replied.
Gerdok wanted to shout ‘What’s fair about this? Don’t fall for it!’ However, it was too late for him to intervene.
“What do you want?” Garcia asked with a gentle smile, while Gerdok’s face darkened.
***
Jin-Hyeok expressed his disappointment. “I thought there might be some kind of holy relic, but...”
He had requested a family relic from Garcia, but unfortunately, the Feyler Family no longer possessed any such relics.
Jin-Hyeok began to worry. ‘Isn’t the universe-level Scenario progressing too slowly?’
Right now, the universe-level Scenario was stuck at stage (10).
[(10) Dear wanderer, much time has passed. How do you feel, having faced the truth that slumbers within the Sword Fragment? Ah, corrupted believer. The sacrilegious armor you boasted of has pierced your heart instead. The era of false peace draws to a close, and now we shall march toward the truth.]
While Jin-Hyeok had created videos on minor events and relatively calm content over the past few days, he felt it was time to advance the main content.
Mole Woman, who had recently become Jin-Hyeok’s closest confidant due to viewers’ explosive interest in her, tilted her head. ‘Isn’t it progressing fast enough?’
She had heard that Scenarios of the universe-level scale typically spanned years, if not centuries, sometimes continuing through generations.
“Well...” Mole Woman said cautiously, being familiar with Jin-Hyeok’s standards. “Maybe your soul’s dimensional value does match that of the Demons.”
“That can’t be.” Jin-Hyeok dismissed her. “Aren’t all Demons supposed to be crazy?”
“I’m Count Piklu, lord of Picture Castle on the Cliff. I can analyze your photos and drawings, reading the thoughts and emotions of the subjects.”
Count Piklu did not want to lose this contractor. Her pure obsession would enrich him, as such madness tended to corrupt the soul—the very sustenance Demons craved most.
‘I should offer more incentives.’ Piklu thought. He had been caught off-guard by the sudden summoning, so he felt that he needed to present a more enticing bait for this contractor.
“There is only one thing that I want from y—”
“I’ll sign the contract.”
Piklu felt oddly cheated. He had proposed the contract, but she accepted too easily without even hearing the conditions.
A month later, Piklu wanted to cry.
“Please... stop... I beg you!”
Ysael’s obsession disgusted even Count Piklu. Even the tastiest dessert would become nauseating when eaten non-stop for a month.
“Analyze this photo,” Ysael demanded.
Bound by the contract, Count Piklu had no choice but to comply.
“That photo... it’s from a Dungeon called Pangea Temple.”
He did not know where Pangea Temple was; he could only read the information in the photo. It showed Jin-Hyeok crawling through a narrow tunnel made by Mole Woman, with her backside nearly touching his face.
“He feels intense rivalry toward this Mole Woman... Ugh, please... no more! Stop!”
***
“Long time no see,” Jin-Hyeok said.
Ysael, who had been invited by Jin-Hyeok, nervously entered his house.
‘I’ve... I’ve hit the jackpot!’ She had never imagined she would be invited to Chul-Soo’s home. “Mr. Ch-Chul-Soo!”
Unable to control herself, she rushed toward Jin-Hyeok. For a moment, Jin-Hyeok feared it was an assassination attempt, but (un)fortunately, it was just an enthusiastic hug born of excitement.
‘She’s crying again.’ Jin-Hyeok was touched. ‘Is this what it feels like to be loved by a fan?’
Feeling slightly pleased, he asked, “Can you summon a Demon for me? I would like to see a dimensional gate.”
“Of course!” Ysael showed the inside of her wrist, revealing what looked like a magical symbol made of black lines. “This is the mark proving my contract with a Demon.”
She explained everything in great detail, hoping to spend even a second longer with Jin-Hyeok.
“Now, I’m going to summon the Demon. By the sacred contract, Kim Ysael calls upon Piklu. Piklu, heed Kim Ysael’s summons.”
At that moment, a tiny dimensional gate opened in mid-air. The camera-shaped Demon Piklu emerged through the gate, let out a startled Eek, and hiccupped.
“D-Demon...!”
The monster he had seen in only photos was right in front of him. To Piklu, Chul-Soo was a pure mass of corruption. Just as drinking excessively pure water could upset one’s stomach, Chul-Soo’s soul had the same effect on Piklu.
“G-Great Demon Lord! Ruler of Demons!”
Jin-Hyeok wore a bewildered expression.
“Have you finally awakened from your long slumber to conquer humanity and reveal yourself?! I’m Count Piklu of Picture Castle on the Cliff. Great Demon Lord! Now that you have awakened, I shall blow my painted horn to spread the joyous news!”
Jin-Hyeok considered swinging Miri but held back, remembering this was Ysael’s contracted Demon. At that moment, the long-stalled universe-level Scenario progressed once more.