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Chapter 320: Star, Gaia’s Curse (2)

After their kiss, Chang-Sun accepted the rewards he had been postponing.

[You have cleared ‘Doomsday City’ and ‘Mirror Maze’.]

[As a reward, you have received the ‘Brilliant Azure Light’!]

[Brilliant Azure Light]

One of three primary color seeds. It harbors a tremendous amount of energy.

· Type: Ingredients.

· Effect: Unknown.

Lie Si had been annihilated in the collapsed ‘Mirror Maze’, making Chang-Sun worry about the possibility of the [Brilliant Azure Light] disappearing along with him. Fortunately, Chang-Sun received it as a reward.

Chang-Sun put the blue bead shining with sapphire-colored light into his mouth.

[Absorbing the ‘Brilliant Azure Light’!]

Badump, badump―!

His [Cataclysm Heart] began to respond, and he also drove his [Magic Integrated Circuit] as hard as possible to replenish his almost-depleted mana and divine power.

[Synchronizing with the existing ‘Brilliant Amber Light’.]

[The ‘Brilliant White Light’ is about to be created!]

…

[Filtration Rate: 99.2%]

…

[The 0.8 % of unabsorbed residue has been filtered once again.]

…

Paaaah―!

A storm of Chang-Sun’s Divine Class started to rage.

“Seriously, he causes a commotion every time,” Ye-Eun muttered, shaking her head.

Chang-Sun tried to keep it under control as much as possible, but a Divine Class storm started by a high-ranking Celestial was bound to be intense. The problem was that, although she had to make sure the storm would not affect the hospital or the other people in it, Ye-Eun could not utilize her mana or her divine power.

“What should I do?” Ye-Eun wondered as she scratched her temple with her index finger, feeling stumped.

Whoosh!

“Y-You can’t come in…!”

“No! You shouldn’t go any further!”

The door to the patient room Ye-Eun and Chang-Sun were in suddenly opened, and quite a large crowd came swarming in, making the area around the door noisy. As Ye-Eun was aware that the members of Team L had been guarding the door, she turned to look in the direction with confusion. Her eyes automatically widened.

“Hahaha! Just like I heard, there’s never a quiet day with him,” an old man with a robust physique guffawed, seemingly liking how chaotic the patient room was. More than ten bodyguards were standing behind him.

“M-Mr. Council President…?” Ye-Eun stuttered.

Carl Malone, the president of the World Player Council for Freedom, grinned. He said, “Long time no see, Ms. Cha. Has it been five years since we last met?”

The Team L members were hesitant, so Ye-Eun gestured at them to reassure them. She pouted, grumbling, “…We met half a year ago at Mrs. Malone’s seventieth birthday party,”

“Ah, is that so? Hahaha! I must be getting forgetful in my old age! Haha! Hahaha! Hahahaha!” Carl replied, completely unfazed.

It was as if he had a megaphone in his throat. Every time he burst into laughter, it echoed thunderously throughout the room. Being forgetful due to his old age, in spite of his energy? That was preposterous. Ye-Eun was certain that Carl would be fine at least for the next thirty years.

Carl Malone, the Thousand-Eyed Overlord, was one of the Ten Overlords, so that was more than possible. In public, he seemed to be a man who had retired to leave the world in the hands of the younger generation, but he moved more actively than any young, ambitious person.

Even now, Ye-Eun had received the news that he was in Switzerland four days prior, but he suddenly showed up in the middle of Chicago, the United States. He was the epitome of the phrase ‘darting in and out of places’.

“What brings you here?” Ye-Eun asked.

“I was on the opposite side of the globe, but I could still hear the news. As this old man proudly claims the title of busybody, how could I pass on such interesting news?” Carl replied.

.

“What about Council affairs?” Ye-Eun asked.

“Ah, don’t worry about it. The IRS’ Criminal Investigation Bureau is turning the Jaynix Company upside down, so it won’t take long for the company to end up in pieces. The Department of Homeland Security and FBI are dealing with the United States branch of the White Tiger Clan,” Carl explained.

“Then aren’t you busy?” Ye-Eun continued.

“Come on. The working-class employees are busy, not me,” Carl replied nonchalantly.

“…I’m the only one who has been busting my ass because of that principle,” Ye-Eun said, narrowing her eyes.

“Hahahaha. Since you’re doing it anyway, a bit longer won’t hurt,” Carl answered shamelessly.

Remembering all the trouble she had gone through until now, Ye-Eun reflexively gritted her teeth. Of course, since Carl was the most shameless person Ye-Eun knew, he pretended not to have heard her. Instead, he looked at Chang-Sun as his smile deepened. He remarked, “But he’s a more interesting fella than I thought.”

Carl sounded as if he were having a great deal of fun, but as Ye-Eun had known him for a long time, she knew that Carl was more vigilant than ever as he watched Chang-Sun.

“A Divine Class… A high-ranking <Star> by the looks of it… I never thought I would see a Celestial in person, as I live and breathe,” Carl murmured.

[The ‘Thousand Eyes’ have taken full effect!]

Numerous eyes opened up behind Carl and observed Chang-Sun. [Thousand Eyes] was one of Carl’s trademark Authorities, alongside [Thousand Hands]. With Avalokitasvara[1] as his Guardian, these Authorities were the reason why he had been able to bring order to the world as the Council president. Each of his eyes contained different perspectives, allowing him to quickly analyze Chang-Sun from various angles. Due to those eyes, Carl already knew that Chang-Sun not only had a Divine Class, but was also quickly growing stronger even at that moment.

[You have successfully absorbed the ‘Brilliant Amber Light’ and ‘Brilliant Azure Light’!]

[Congratulations! You have completed the ‘Brilliant White Light’!]

[White has symbolized innocence and wonder for generations. You will be granted a new power with the acquisition of the innocent light.]

[Your Divine Class has increased!]

…

[You have discovered a Hidden Piece!]

…

[All your mana is synchronizing with the ‘Brilliant White Light’.]

[All your existing mana attributes have changed.]

[Your Stat ‘Mana’ has been merged into your Stat ‘Divine Power’.]

[The amount of your Divine Power has significantly increased.]

…

[The properties of your Divine Power have significantly changed.]

[The attributes of your Divine Power have significantly changed.]

…

[The Skill ‘Magic Integrated Circuit’ has been upgraded to the Skill ‘Divine Power Integrated Circuit’!]

…

[You have acquired the light attribute!]

“He even acquired the light attribute? Whoa! Is he Vairocana[2] or something? That’s an attribute no one could obtain aside from <Supreme Light>,” Carl exclaimed in surprise. Turning to look at Ye-Eun, he asked, “I have quite a lot of questions for that fella, but now isn’t a good time, is it?”

“You’ll have to wait for a long time,” Ye-Eun replied.

“Then waiting it is. This is for the best. I didn’t have anything else to do, anyway. Hahahaha! Haha!” Carl said, laughing uproariously.

Ye-Eun heaved a sigh for a very long time, thinking about the fact that she would not be able to catch a break for a while.

* * *

[You have entered the ‘Pale Divine Ground’!]

As Chang-Sun entered a trance, he was summoned to Mephistopheles’ divine ground upon his teacher’s invitation. Chang-Sun soon stood in pitch-black darkness where nothing existed; still, he was quite familiar with this place now. Before long, a gigantic set of blue Inferno Sights blazed to life.

Whooosh!

“Long time no see, Teacher,” Chang-Sun said as he bowed to pay his respects.

However, Mephistopheles did not answer. Only his Inferno Sights quietly swayed from side to side. There was little to indicate his current state, but Chang-Sun knew that Mephistopheles was watching him in irritation.

Thus, Chang-Sun smiled wider on purpose and said, “I’m grateful for how you’ve been watching your student getting better with loving eyes.”

…

Silence fell between the two for a moment. And then…

Seriously. Too. Shameless.

Mephistopheles expressed his will in a dumbstruck tone.

“Thank you for the compliment,” Chang-Sun responded.

Phew!

Although Chang-Sun felt as if he had heard a sigh from somewhere, he still pretended not to have heard anything.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…!

At that moment, the set of navy blue eyes swayed heavily, then whirled and merged together. A pale man with black hair and eyes wearing an ebony robe appeared; it was Mephistopheles’ avatar, whom Chang-Sun had met before.

‘But he really… looks like Ye-Eun.’

Chang-Sun could not help but have the same thought as before. That was not quite right, however.

‘Come to think of it, he looks almost the same as <Deus Ex Machina>. Does that mean Mephistopheles’ avatar was made to resemble his master…’

Mephistopheles had said that he was searching for his master, who was also the twin brother of <Deus Ex Machina>. Through the gnosis Odin had left, Chang-Sun now knew that Mephstopheles’ master was <Dull Darkness>, which led to a new question.

‘...How are <Dull Darkness> and <Deus Ex Machina> related to Ye-Eun?’

『I’ll kill you if there’s so much as a scratch on my younger brother!』

Why did the previous remark made by <Deus Ex Machina> flash through Chang-Sun’s mind? Although he had a new series of questions, he could ask Ye-Eun all the questions he had later, which meant he had to focus on Mephistopheles now.

“You’re indeed handsome,” Chang-Sun said jokingly.

“…Cut your nonsense. Have you become relaxed all of a sudden just because you restored your Divine Class?” Mephistopheles retorted. He shook his head as he continued, “I’ll be honest with you. I’m still torn as to whether or not I should accept you as my student.”

“Haven’t I already proven myself?” Chang-Sun replied.

[The ninth chapter of ‘Prelati’s Spellbook’ has opened!]

Pzzzz―!

As Chang-Sun channeled Atrox Immortálitas of the Secret Darkness Techniques at the maximum output, white lightning sparks as gray as his hair flew fiercely, illuminating the ‘Pale Divine Ground’... After Atrox Immortálitas and the [Brilliant White Light] merged, Chang-Sun had reached a higher level than he had reached before plummeting, which was the foundation of his confidence.

‘Once I clear the ‘Den of the Evil Dragon’ on Earth and acquire Blood Lightning, I’ll immediately become a <Supreme Light’s Face>,’ Chang-Sun thought.

When that happened, he would not even fear all the Zodiacs at once, as he would be close to completing his goal.

“Since I promised, I’ll keep my word, but I’ll excommunicate you the second you fail to catch up,” Mephistopheles warned Chang-Sun.

“That’s good enough for me,” Chang-Sun said.

“Hmph! You’re one smooth talker,” Mephistopheles replied. He clicked his tongue, holding out his arm in the air.

Kiyoooo―!

With a long howl, Cadmus soon appeared through a spatial gap and quietly landed on Mephistopheles’ right arm. It seemed that as soon as Chang-Sun’s [Cataclysm Heart] had been created, Cadmus had grown a lot. It had become as big as a human’s torso, and it had far sturdier scales and sharp eyes.

Kiyooo! Kiyoooo!

Unlike how it usually grumbled at Chang-Sun, Cadmus affectionately rubbed its cheek against Mephistopheles, perhaps because he was like its father.

“You named this child Cadmus, yes?” Mephistopheles asked.

“That’s right,” Chang-Sun replied.

Kiyoo!

“Cadmus is the hero who saved Jupiter, who was incarcerated in the cave of Cilicia Mountain after getting defeated by Typhon. In addition, he also killed Drakon the Demonic Dragon and ruled over the numerous Spartoi who were born from the Dragon’s teeth. Considering whose name this child inherited, its future destiny will surely be outstanding,” Mephistopheles said, stroking Cadmus’ chin with his bony fingers. “Cadmus, open up the door.”

Kiyooo!

Spreading its wings wide, Cadmus exhaled sharply. Then, a giant portal opened up where its breath ended. Mephistopheles and Cadmus entered the portal first, immediately followed by Chang-Sun.

[You have entered the ‘Changgong Library’!]

[You are currently a visitor of the ‘Changgong Library’.]

[You have been given Grade 1 clearance for the ‘Changgong Library’.]

[Follow the librarian’s instructions on how to use the ‘Changgong Library’.]

‘Grade 1…!’ Chang-Sun thought, clenching his fists.

<Deus Ex Machina> had said that he would increase the clearance level once Chang-Sun proved himself, and indeed, he truly kept his word. Just then…

『You returned in the end?』

…a sullen voice echoed, and Chang-Sun and Mephistopheles looked up. Machine eyes shining in golden light looked down on them from the ceiling of the ‘Changgong Library’.

[The ‘Coordination Machine Eyes’ are watching you!]

It was <Deus Ex Machina>.

1. One of the bodhisattvas in Buddhism. Goddess of mercy and compassion. This bodhisattva’s gender depends on the region, but is often depicted as a female goddess of mercy and compassion in Asia.

2. The Buddha that symbolizes the truth of Buddhism as light or the sun.