“So what are you saying right now?”
In Times Square, New York City, the heart of the global media, stood one of the world’s five great observatories—the Calamity Observatory, established after the emergence of unknown civilizations.
This place was especially famous for housing over 300 news bureaus and more than 10,000 top media outlets from around the world. Most global news begins with a calamity, after all.
Thousands of observations passed through this place every day, flooding it with all manner of tabloid gossip and breaking news. So, normally, nothing fazed anyone here. Yet an incident had occurred that even the veterans couldn’t keep their poker faces for.
“What? Leo fell from Drachma?! That strongest one?”
“No, they said a monster immune to attacks invaded!”
“Before that, didn’t you say the Saintess was attacked!”
“In the first place, they said Igeon’s legendary weapon appeared!”
“Damn it, what is all this!”
The journalists were on the verge of mental collapse. One after another, news items that would ordinarily dominate the front page on their own were flooding in, and all within the span of half a day.
‘Just the Demon Tower incident alone had the world buzzing not long ago.’
And now, as if that wasn’t enough, nuclear-bomb-level news kept exploding one after another, making them feel as if their souls were being sucked out. What’s more, all of this had happened in less than a week.
“Um… which one should we run for the top news?”
“Why are you asking? Run them all!”
“…We’ve already put out special editions three times. CNN is going crazy asking if we’re making up tabloid stories…”
Instead of answering, the director’s pen came flying. It meant: if you have time for useless chatter, get moving.
“Anyway, we don’t even know who’s behind this…!”
But just then, the youngest reporter burst into the meeting room.
“It’s Igeon!”
“What?”
“They say Igeon is the one who knocked Leo off Drachma!”
“……?!”
The director’s expression was priceless. But soon they all let out derisive laughs.
“Hey. If this is about that Igeon message that came into the station, that’s a forgery skill…”
“No! The Leo sanctuary cities witnessed it!”
“……?!”
“And they say Igeon’s writing was found on the Saintess’s back when she was discovered in the purification tank!”
“……!”
The director instinctively realized that this was no ordinary matter.
* * *
[At around 3 PM today, an incident occurred where the Saintess was kidnapped from the Unified Exchange.]
[The Saintess, transported to the hospital, regained consciousness immediately, but upon seeing an Igeon doll brought as a get-well gift, she screamed and fainted, leaving everyone puzzled…]
[Next news. Igeon’s writing has once again been discovered at the place where Leo fell…]
The world was in an uproar. Watching the continuous TV news, Hugo let out a sigh. He wore a deeply troubled expression.
Of course, it wasn't because the Saint had been harmed as the TV claimed, nor because Igeon had left bizarre messages.
“Good heavens, Domain Lord! How could you deceive us like this?”
It was because of his subordinates, furious the moment he returned to his sanctuary.
“You said it wasn’t Igeon-nim!”
Their gazes were fixed on Igeon, who was polishing a beast's bone. By this point, Hugo’s head was throbbing. Originally, he hadn’t intended to tell even his own subordinates about Igeon.
“ ‘It’s not Igeon-nim’ my ass, seeing how Seongjae reacted, it’s a hundred percent him!”
“That’s what I’m saying!”
Under the resentment of his sanctuary citizens, Hugo shot a glare toward the sofa. There, his son was hidden, sending sparkling glances at Igeon.
‘You used to refuse to come no matter how many times I called.’
Indeed. In truth, that son was the root of all evil. A kid who normally never set foot in the Sagittarius Domain, treating it like a garbage dump. What on earth had made him settle down here now? And what’s more, the object of his son's adoration—who openly ignored even his divine father—was none other than Igeon. As proof, Cheon Seongjae was prostrate, shouting at Igeon:
“I apologize for not recognizing you! I committed gross discourtesies toward Igeon-nim through my rash words and actions, not knowing who you were!”
As Cheon Seongjae wore a mortified expression, Igeon laughed heartily.
“What’s with ‘nim’? Just call me uncle.”
Cheon Seongjae sobbed. It was the weeping of someone profoundly glad to be alive. At that sight, Hugo beat his chest in frustration, like swallowing dry rice cake without water. Seeing that spectacle, he could already foresee what was to come without even trying.
‘I deliberately hid it from my daughter too, but now she’ll find out everything.’
His disobedient son, caught red-handed, was already glaring with burning eyes. And above all, the most troublesome part in this situation…
“Hey, Oh Taeksu.”
“!”
At Igeon’s voice, Hugo flinched. Sure enough.
“What? Your son hates me?”
“…….”
“He turns all sorts of colors at just the mention of me?”
“Ah, no, that’s…”
“Just shut it. You’re asking for a beating.”
Having already been hit once, Hugo despaired. But regardless, Igeon was triumphant.
“Of course. As if Oh Taeksu’s child could ever hate me. Naturally.”
His smug smirk was infuriating. He was definitely mocking him. And sure enough.
“No matter how jealous you are, you shouldn’t pull scams like that. If you’re envious, just say so.”
“It wasn’t a scam! The kids were just curious…”
“What nonsense. I saw it all, you know? Your place is overflowing with my figurines. And not a single one of their dad. Over 50 of mine alone, right?”
This bastard! I told him to throw them all away! Hugo shot a glare at his son, but Cheon Seongjae feigned ignorance. Besides, some of those were his sister’s anyway.
Then Igeon’s eyes gleamed as if he had caught a real prize.
“You were planning to clear out my figurines too, weren’t you? Even smashed and burned some? And said you’d tear up the family registry if my name was ever brought up.”
“……!”
There was a strangely murderous glint in his eyes.
“You should be enshrining me reverently, but instead you treat me like I don’t exist? Be honest. All those rumors spreading around the world are your doing too, right?”
Though his smile suggested he was about to throw another punch, Hugo felt truly wronged. Of course, destroying the figurines was his fault—but if he hadn’t, they would have multiplied like cockroaches.
‘Back then, just looking at the figurines was painful.’
Every time he saw them, he was tormented by memories of his dead friend. And in that state, when his son spouted nonsense about wanting to visit the Demon Tower—what parent wouldn’t threaten to tear up the family registry?
Igeon surely knew that, yet he taunted him gleefully.
“If you’re sorry, sign here.”
As Igeon waved a slave contract, Hugo’s face twisted.
‘I definitely tore that up!’
Anyway, it was no use.
“Seongjae.”
“!”
“Hand me that pendant in front of you.”
Cheon Seongjae sobbed again. Being called by his name by Igeon apparently moved him deeply. In the end, at that sight, Hugo could only clutch the back of his own neck.
“What in the world happened to that kid…!”
The mystery of his son’s adoration for Igeon remained, even after 15 years.
At that, his subordinates gave him incredulous looks.
“Domain Lord, you really don’t know?”
“What?”
“Every time you get drunk, who was the one playing Igeon-nim’s videos and telling heroic tales about him to your children…”
“And you always did the same to us too. Saying he was the strongest among the thirteen, that he took down a mountain-sized monster with one punch, and so on. Over and over, crying about how our Geon-i was the coolest.”
“Exactly. If I grew up hearing that every day, I’d have turned out the same.”
“……?!”
Hugo looked stunned, as if unable to believe he had ever done such a thing.
“And you seem to think your daughter is fine, but honestly, she’s probably not much different from Seongjae.”
“Right? Anyway, if Igeon-nim ever forms a sacred order, we might transfer immediately ourselves.”
“When that happens, please take good care of us.”
“Hey!”
Igeon burst out laughing. So in the end, it seemed to be a case of reaping what he sowed.
‘Anyway, since I’ve saved up points, I can unlock some skills now.’
He had accumulated a fair amount while leveling. Taking advantage of the level-up, Igeon swiftly raised his stats.
《New Divine Seat Skill Unlockable》
- Points available: 9
[Act Forbidden by God] (Cost: 5 points)
[Take the Hit for Me] (Cost: 1 point)
[Sanctuary Creation] (Cost: 3 points) (Conditions required)
[Subordination] (Cost: 5 points) (Sanctuary unlock required)
Igeon unlocked all skills except Subordination, which required a prerequisite skill.
[ , skill created]
[Prerequisite for the skill already met; unlocked immediately.]
[Condition: Divinization (1 or more individuals)]
[Skill created]
[With the new skill unlocked, the Divine Seat’s authority has solidified.]
[Sanctuary of Ophiuchus created. Divine Seat level increased.]
[Fledgling Divine Seat lv.6]
[A sanctuary is the minimum territory where a Divine Seat resides, a domain that protects its power and allows its exercise.]
[You may now manage the sanctuary.]
At the same time, a blue-green magic circle spread beneath Igeon’s feet.
[Sanctuary of Ophiuchus / Serpent Palace (lv.1)]
[Area: 1.6㎡ (0.5 pyeong)]
[Base location can be designated]
[Do you wish to move the lesser demigod to the sanctuary?]
[Can recover strength via Ophiuchus’s power and guard the sanctuary.]
[No sanctuary skills]
[Can be expanded and grown through contributions from human subordinates.]
Igeon found it immensely interesting.
‘Human subordinates, huh.’
He figured he could look into the details later. But just then—
“Um, but Igeon-nim. Is it truly alright for you to have touched the Leo Saint?”
Hugo’s subordinates were staring at Igeon with grave expressions. The Saintess incident was one thing, but the Leo Saint was the real problem.
“Since he fell into the unknown civilization, his survival is uncertain. But what if the sanctuary citizens find him?”
“Leo is an exceptionally powerful combat divine seat to begin with. And more than anything…”
They glanced cautiously at Igeon.
“You clearly lost to the Leo Saint once…”
They were implying that Igeon might be weaker than Leo. At that, Cheon Seongjae’s face fell. He wanted to protest but couldn’t, because it was true. Igeon really had lost to Leo. That battle footage was still officially posted on Leo’s channel.
“Looking at that footage, no matter how great Igeon-nim is…”
However, for some reason, Igeon clutched his stomach and laughed, and Hugo sighed.
“I figured you’d misunderstand like that.”
“Huh? What do you…”
Hugo spoke.
“You don’t need to worry. That was a fixed match.”
“What?!”
As everyone looked bewildered, Igeon chuckled and said.
“I was broke back then. And that rabbit bastard offered me a deal: if I threw the live broadcast duel, he’d give me a billion. I thought it was jackpot money, so I made a load of living expenses.”
“……!”
The subordinates were horrified. What would happen if this truth ever came out? And sure enough, upon hearing it, Cheon Seongjae grinned slyly. But regardless, Hugo only sighed.
“Anyway, since the Leo sanctuary citizens have seen your face, things are bound to get noisy.”
“Forget that. I need to pull your body data, so hand over your bow.”
“What? Why?”
“Why do you think? Because I need to make you a bow.”
“!”
Hugo was startled. When he stared in bewilderment, Igeon frowned.
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice? I don’t know the reason, but you don’t have a proper bow right now, do you?”
“……!”
“That’s why you’re sitting around using weird junk.”
Igeon laughed as if it were downright pitiful. He hadn’t asked yet, but there was surely a reason why Hugo couldn’t use his imperial divine relic, the Divine Bow.
“Anyway, I wouldn’t take a piece-of-crap bow like that even if you paid me.”
“Ha, for your information, it’s quite an expensive reward item…”
But just then—
“Huh? Uncle, you know how to use a bow too?”
As Cheon Seongjae asked this, seemingly finding it unexpected, the subordinates laughed.
“Nah, no way. He was just saying that offhand. We’ve never seen it once.”
“Right. Even for Igeon-nim, a bow…”
Hugo sighed.
“No, for all his looks, he’s damn good with a bow.”
“Excuse me?”
He acknowledged what needed to be acknowledged. In truth, there was practically no weapon Igeon couldn’t handle. As a craftsman who made and tested all weapons, his archery skill was unfailing—something even Hugo, the saint of the strongest long-range divine seat, acknowledged privately.
But then—
“So who’s better at shooting, Dad or Uncle?”
“What?”
(To be continued)