Inside a Gate.
Monsters lay scattered about in pieces, forming a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
At the center, the President of the Awakeners Association was staring at a rift with cold eyes.
The fissure the Association President gazed upon continued to grow larger, fed by his dark mana.
“Come out.”
Association President Seo Suhyeok was staring at someone beyond the rift.
“I’ve set the stage as you wished.”
The demon—the being on the other side of the rift—answered languidly.
‘Not satisfactory.’
“Haah, do you know how many hero brats there are in this cramped little country that you bastards detest!? Damn it! If you’re so frustrated, crawl out here yourselves and take care of them!”
At the Association President’s snapping shout, the demon beyond the dimension let out a smirk.
Beyond the rift, a being with pale silver-white skin and a golden crown was reading a book.
‘Many. Are there three? No, were there six of those so-called Heroes—beings considered numerous even if but one exists per world?’
“If you know, then move up the schedule. Just how long are you planning to drag your feet?”
At the Association President’s grumbling complaint, the demon set down his book.
‘It is time to move. We have drawn near enough for our reach to extend.’
The demon beyond the rift stood up, smiled, and stretched out his hand.
His hand touched the fissure and tried to break through.
“In my name, Paimon…… I proclaim to the new world.”
An eerie, terrifying voice flowed forth.
The Association President trembled, feeling a maddening pleasure and ecstasy.
Savoring the overflowing dark mana, he shuddered all over.
“This place is ours!”
Black dark mana erupted from the demon’s touch.
As that dark mana touched the back of the Association President’s hand, a brand embroidered with a dark-red inverted triangle formed there.
Paimon drew his hand back beyond the rift and formed a grim smile.
‘Go and spread the demon realm’s footholds. So that we may step forth.’
He turned and moved away from the rift.
As he was moving away, Paimon suddenly halted.
‘What has become of that child?’
The Association President flinched at the question regarding ‘Bu Sinhyeok.’
Paimon, seeing that hesitation, let out a disappointed voice.
‘He is alive. If you cannot recruit him, then kill him, as I said.’
The Association President sighed in annoyance.
“I know. But beside that brat is a bitch blessed by a Martial God, and another brat who devoured a dragon, protecting him.”
‘Pathetic fool. You are creating an unnecessary variable.’
Association President Seo Suhyeok could not fathom why a demon possessing such terrifying power would be wary of him.
“No, what is that brat? Why are you so obsessed, delaying everything?!”
Paimon turned back, spewing blue flames from his eyes, and pressed down upon him.
“Keuk.”
Under the terrifying pressure that reached even beyond the rift, the Association President fell to his knees.
‘He is the same as me. One who possesses the authority to manipulate all things at his fingertips. Because anything becomes possible for him, that is why I am wary.’
“Damn it.”
‘Therefore, I recommend killing him now. Before he can become more of a nuisance. You will come to understand soon enough anyway.’
And with that, Paimon disappeared.
With the demon gone, the fissure left hanging in the air grew even larger.
“All things my ass. He’s just a kid.”
The Association President grumbled, cursing Paimon for spouting incomprehensible nonsense.
“That’s that, but how do I use this?”
The Association President sought to test the power of the brand Paimon had gifted him.
He turned his gaze and searched for a core.
After looking around briefly, he found it.
The core was cracked with a fissure, on the verge of breaking apart—just like this Gate.
As the Association President grasped it, the brand began to emanate a dark-red energy.
The core shattered and fell to the ground.
The fragments gathered on their own and were reborn as three dark-red crystal orbs.
“To sacrifice one and obtain three Gates. This is truly a creative economy.”
He clutched the crystal orb in his hand and headed outside.
When he emerged from the portal, the Gate disappeared.
Outside, his secretary was waiting.
“You’ve worked hard, Mr. President.”
The Association President handed the dark-red crystal orb to the secretary.
“How many guilds obtained closure rights this time?”
“Twenty-four.”
“They’re all contracted, yes?”
The secretary nodded.
“They are ones who have contracted with Paimon and the demons under his command.”
“Good. The power should have been transferred to them as well. Go and tell them. Tell them to finally begin the operation.”
“Yes.”
The Association President declared toward the Republic of Korea in anticipation of what would soon unfold.
“Now, the era of peace has passed. It is the era of war for the new world.”
* * *
“Good work.”
Sinhyeok, who had closed the Gate, returned with the 3rd Squad.
Arin and Ichan were riding in Sinhyeok’s car.
“I want to wash up and sleep already.”
Arin rested her head against the window, revealing her fatigue.
“Right. You smell.”
Ichan, sitting in the back fiddling with Blue, picked a fight with her nonchalantly.
“Haah.”
With a blank expression, Ichan looked out the window and chattered on habitually.
“Watch your mouth. You’re in pretty rough shape right now.”
Baek Arin immediately reclined her seat back.
“Uhep?”
Arin glanced at Ichan with eyes clouded in fatigue and extended two fingers.
“Ack!”
She jabbed his eyes just like that.
Then she closed her eyes to sleep.
“Damn it! You!”
Ichan flailed his arms with his eyes closed.
“Stay still. I’ll heal you when we arrive.”
“You just wait!”
Bu Sinhyeok smiled at the sight and returned to base.
Upon returning to base, he stored his equipment in the cabinet first.
“I’ll return the subspace pouch and ask about Enchant.”
‘And ask about Transmutation while I’m at it.’
He headed to the workshop.
He visited the workshop of Lucien Bloom, the Enchanter.
“No! Even so! Why are you attaching a cannon to the golem’s arm!”
“It’s the client’s request, so butt out, dwarf.”
“So what! It’s my golem!”
“It’s a golem in name only. A useless hunk of metal that can’t even move without an ego or an enchant.”
Aureumstone trembled.
He pointed at the Enchanter atop the ladder.
“Bring it on!”
“Dwarf, don’t act so ignorantly.”
“I said bring it on! Let’s see who is greater!”
He grabbed and shook the ladder, causing the Enchanter to startle.
The Enchanter held the ladder and glared at the dwarf.
“Why, you little dwarf.”
“Hmph! Come at me!”
Sinhyeok gently knocked on the door and spoke.
“Hello?”
Both their heads whipped around.
Sinhyeok shook the subspace pouch and spoke.
“I’ve come to return this.”
“Put it over there.”
The two momentarily declared a truce and waited only for the moment Sinhyeok would leave.
Sinhyeok smiled awkwardly and raised his hand.
“What is it?”
“What do you want?”
“I have a question.”
Both glared at Sinhyeok.
“Is it urgent?”
“If it’s not, I’d recommend coming back later.”
Thinking of his quest, Sinhyeok spoke cautiously.
“Um, I want to learn Enchant.”
At these words, Aureumstone despaired, while Lucien Bloom formed a faint smile.
“I suppose we don’t have to fight. Isn’t this my victory? It means he judged my learning and vision to be greater than your skills.”
“No! This damned bastard! You! How dare you abandon iron!?”
Sinhyeok let out a hollow laugh.
“It’s not like that. It’s a quest given by the System. That thing called ‘Transmutation’? I heard I should learn Enchant to get it.”
The two fell silent for a moment.
“Transmutation.”
Aureumstone formed a meaningful expression, while Bloom showed an indifferent attitude.
“Just call it Enchant. Why call it Transmutation again?”
Seeing Bloom’s attitude, Sinhyeok asked slyly.
“Are they the same?”
“They are. You could consider them the same concept, but did the System refer to it as Transmutation?”
“Yes. It said to learn Enchant and then learn Transmutation.”
Bloom spoke with a smile.
“If I am to explain it, I’d have to mention the dull history of ancient alchemy as well. Would that be alright?”
Aureumstone looked at the two with a face full of dissatisfaction.
“Hmph. I’m leaving.”
Sinhyeok was dumbfounded watching the sulking dwarf.
“Why are you sulking over something like this?”
Bloom didn’t even acknowledge him.
“Don’t mind him. He’s always been that kind of dwarf. Now, so you’re curious about Encha~nt?”
He had a strangely delighted expression.
“Enchant—this field is a study open to anyone. Talent for magic? Unnecessary. You only need these two hands!”
“Oh.”
“Feel mana! A head on your shoulders capable of understanding magic! And ample wealth!”
“Hm?”
Bloom said, placing his hand on Sinhyeok’s shoulder with a serious expression.
“Do you have plenty of money? The material costs are quite high, you see.”
“Ah, perhaps?”
“Then you pass.”
He guided Sinhyeok and had him sit.
“First, listen to the explanation.”
“Yes.”
Sinhyeok focused carefully, like a student sitting before a professor.
“Enchant is a concept that collectively refers to carving magic circles—inscriptions, that is. Simply put, it is the act of carving magic into matter to grant it magical functions.”
“Hmm…….”
“Then what do you think you must know?”
Under the passionate gaze of Bloom, who was like a professor, Sinhyeok leaned back slightly and answered.
“Magic?”
“Ding-dong-dang. But there is no need to know all magic. Roughly 1st to 2nd Circle should suffice.”
Sinhyeok wore a puzzled expression at the words that such low-Circle magic was enough.
“Then doesn’t that mean I can’t use the magic of the remaining Circles?”
“There’s no need. You only need to know the runic language, the core of magic. With just that, everything can be contained.”
The barrier was surprisingly low.
“Is it normally like this?”
“Ah, of course not. The school I belong to is quite classical among Enchant schools. I only deal with ancient Enchant.”
“Oh.”
‘For some reason, I feel like this will be an even bigger headache.’
He answered excitedly, fired up by the endless questions and scholarly curiosity.
“Ancient Enchant is originally about combining various things using only runic language according to one’s own enlightenment. Now then, the combinations and types of each runic language—”
Sinhyeok panicked as he saw Bloom’s eyes gradually losing focus and his expression becoming tinged with even more madness.
‘This is dangerous. I need to get out of here.’
Creak.
Just then, the door opened.
The chief of the Quartermaster Corps found Sinhyeok with a slightly urgent expression.
“Sinhyeok. The Battalion Commander is calling. Come out.”
“Yes!”
Bloom looked on with a disappointed expression.
“A shame.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll come again later!”
“Not at all. Just study with this. I’ll check later whether you’ve mastered it well.”
He suddenly thrust a thick book upon him.
“Oof.”
He immediately took it and put it in his inventory.
“You needn’t find it too difficult. It should be easy for you. Just remember one thing. Permanent engraving requires materials, while temporary engraving is sufficient with mana alone.”
He took the advice to heart. Sinhyeok hurriedly went out.
Bloom watched Sinhyeok leave with a disappointed face.
“A shame. I wished to see for myself just how different he is.”
“What is there to see? It’s obvious without looking.”
Aureumstone had stealthily come back in.
Bloom glanced at him and spoke.
“Dwarf, do some work.”
“I am.”
Bloom thought of the ‘Transmutation’ Sinhyeok had mentioned and let out a smirk.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard it. Transmutation.”
“That guy will definitely master it.”
“Aah, that much seems possible. Is he not already someone considerably awakened to mana and alchemy?”
Aureumstone smirked and corrected his own words.
“No, I said he’ll master Transmutation. Since Yggdrasil mentioned it.”
“Ohoho, that’s a stretch. Transmutation, you say? That’s merely a concept to show an alchemist’s individuality and definition.”
“No, this time you’re wrong.”
Bloom looked at Aureumstone, who was being stubborn, with a subtle gaze.
“To think you’d have such confidence. But you’re wrong this time.”
“Keke.”
Aureumstone simply chuckled.
“Then a bet?”
“Very well. The loser gets saddled with all the golem finishing work for the time being.”
“Call—and it’s not a golem, it’s a damned doll! You bastard!”
“It’s basically the same thing. If it rolls around like a robot, it’s a golem, more or less.”
“It’s not!”