“Mr. Kim, if this water is enough, feel free to take as much as you like.”
This is water infused with things created by the Abyssal entity. To the masters of Paju Samneung, it’s nothing but a nuisance.
The moment permission was granted, an achievement message popped up.
[Achievement Unlocked! You have earned the favor of “Faction – Spirits of the Past Era.”
You have obtained “General Achievement: The Ancestors Rejoice.”
As a reward, you receive Debug.Log("Called the wrong object!") and bonus experience.]
‘They didn’t expect me to actually take this water?’
In fact, this kind of glitch happened often even when playing the game itself, so it’s no big deal. The game was so buggy, after all.
“Alright, then—”
The moment I tried to move, another message window suddenly appeared, blocking my view.
[You have not only completed the Cheongeumdang request, but you have also fully secured Captain Cheongeum to your side. Thanks to your heroic actions at Paju Samneung, the Spirits of the Past Era also view you favorably.]
“Mr. Kim? What is it?”
“Ah, nothing. Wait a moment. I need to think about how to carry this water.”
“Bahahaha—so you declared you’d take it without even knowing how?”
“Ugh, that’s not it. Just hang on a second.”
At this point the quest should be complete. Soon I’ll get the completion message and experience.
And if my guess is right, the fifth-tier spells will unlock this time.
[Quest Complete!
Reward: 5,000,000 XP + performance bonus]
[You have gained enough experience to advance. You level up by 1.]
[You have defeated “Blood Leech.” Your understanding of the Abyssal entity has increased.]
[You have defeated multiple “Duerksini.” Your understanding of goblins has increased.]
[You have defeated “The Mighty Predator – Seonbu.” Your understanding of the Abyssal entity has increased.]
[You have defeated multiple Cultists (Gourmet Expeditionary Corps). Your understanding of the “Predator Cult of the Mountains” has increased.]
[You have exerted great influence over “Yeomgeumja and Bong Ilcheonpa.” Your understanding of the underworld has increased.]
[You have gained enough experience to advance. You level up by 1.]
[Experience Bonus: You have unlocked a total of 4 achievements.]
[You have gained enough experience to advance. You level up by 1.]
[You have reached Level 51!
As a level-up reward, you receive 1 bonus attribute point to distribute freely.]
Where should I put the bonus point?
‘Ah, my Charisma is currently 19.’
I allocated 1 attribute point to Charisma, bringing it to 20. Charisma isn’t just a measure of beauty; it represents supernatural influence, affinity with other races, and negotiation with higher beings.
[You have gained sufficient experience; fifth-tier magic is now unlocked. To fully utilize fifth-tier magic, note that you must acquire or study a grimoire containing fifth-tier spells.]
[System: “Spell Mastery” trait activates. You automatically learn basic spells existing in the fifth tier.]
“Kookkio—!”
As if urging me, I hear a rooster crow in the distance once more.
‘Good thing I didn’t disable the sound distortion.’
They wouldn’t fall over in shock like Duerksini, but they must have felt discomfort.
The sky is turning bluish, and if the rooster crows once more, the sun will truly rise.
I looked at the vast amount of water rippling around the boat and said,
“All right. I’ve decided how to carry it.”
“How will you do it?”
“Rather than explain at length—I'll show you. Red!”
“Kiiiii!”
Red flaps in, clucking.
“All right, Red. Stay right there!”
Through Red’s body I unfurled my magic power and influence in all directions.
Now that I’m above level 50 and fifth-tier spells are unlocked, I can do so much more even without a fully formed spell.
Kiiiiiing—
Like fireworks rising into the bluish dawn sky, multicolored light traced intricate lines of magic and glyphs.
“Huh—”
Not only Seo Cheonseul but also the masters of Paju Samneung show signs of bewilderment.
Are they startled by the scale and form of the mana I’ve summoned?
I’ll live up to everyone’s expectations and put on a show.
“Geupgeupyeoyullyeoryeong! Your roles are over. Condense, coagulate, and converge into my hand.”
Kwarrururururur—
The expansive lake spanning roughly a one-kilometer radius—large enough to float a boat—is compressed and gathered onto my palm in an instant.
Splash.
“Hoo—”
Wiping sweat from the back of my neck, I examined the creation.
“Just as I envisioned, it’s well made.”
The object in my hand is a cube barely 20 cm on each side.
Perhaps calling it a perfectly sealed transparent aquarium is more accurate. Inside, the deep blue liquid churns wildly.
“Bahahaha—amazing! You never tire of unveiling new tricks. You’re far more goblin-like than any goblin, Mr. Kim.”
“It’s not that extraordinary. I can do it only because of this place and this time.”
That’s because the Duerksini’s sorcery still lingers. Without it, my magic alone couldn’t achieve this.
“No, even if you brought any goblin from Cheongeumdang right now, they couldn’t replicate what you just did. The masters of Samneung are marveling at your feat.”
Looking around, I sensed the masters of Paju Samneung directing some emotion at me. I can’t hear their words, but I can feel their enjoyment.
Hmm, a bit embarrassing.
After briefly reveling, they seep back underground and vanish. They must be returning to slumber.
Is it all over once I clean up?
“First, let’s put away the boat. Roll in!”
Grrrrruk—
Once the boat is cleared, the normal appearance of Paju Samneung returns.
Of course, not completely as before.
Duerksini lie scattered around Paju Samneung.
Most have been mangled or crushed by Seo Cheonseul’s Geumgang Bong.
And—
“Ughhh......”
People lie collapsed, entangled with Duerksini.
“Huh? Who are those Mr. Kims?”
“They’re cultists from the Gourmet Expeditionary Corps.”
“Huh, I’d expect them to sink in the water, yet they survived that chaos?”
I’m curious too. Inspecting their condition gave me a rough answer.
“Some were lucky, and I think the masters of Samneung rescued them.”
“Hmm, how generous of them.”
“Well, they might have hated clinging to the ruins as vengeful spirits.”
Could be both, but it doesn’t matter.
“My... power...”
“I’ve... lost it all......”
They have lost all the power they’d accumulated as cultists.
“So the Mr. Kim with the elephant head also survived?”
“Yes. That one right there.”
The Gourmet Expeditionary Corps’ Arbiter, Seonbu, underwent an even more dramatic change than the other cultists.
“Hehehehe... hahahaha......”
Originally a giant three meters tall, Seonbu is now a tiny, wizened old man, laughing like he’s gone mad.
“Wasn’t he around 96 years old originally?”
He’s reverted to his age-appropriate form.
Including Seonbu, most Gourmet Expeditionary Corps cultists survived, yet in a sense they’re worse off than dead.
What remains for them is a life as broken wrecks or lunatics, unfit even for past crimes.
“Is all the power those Mr. Kims had now contained in that cube?”
“Hmm? Ah. Well, you could say that.”
I looked down at where Seo Cheonseul had said “there.”
The cube containing all the rainwater pooled at Paju Samneung.
“All the Blood Demon King’s power that pervaded everywhere, the Duerksini’s sorcery, the blood they gathered, and even that massive Blood Leech flesh are all dissolved inside.”
“Right. Condensed like this, it must be potent.”
I joked, but Seo Cheonseul’s expression turned serious.
“Mr. Kim. You don’t intend to drink that, do you?”
“Drink it? Ugh, I’m not that crazy.”
“Not just you, but the offerings for the banquet generally did such things, so I worry.”
Wait, come to think of it, the Duerksini called me a banquet offering. Yet something’s bothering me.
“Banquet offerings?”
“What’s wrong, Mr. Kim?”
Banquet offerings? And what Seo Cheonseul said just now means.......
“Multiple banquet offerings?”
“Multiple? Ah, yes, indeed.”
“No, more importantly, Captain Cheongeum! Do you know what banquet offerings are?”
“Well—”
Finally, not another fake-out. Real information appears.
“I... don’t really know.”
“.......”
“Hmm? Mr. Kim?”
“You don’t know?”
“I don’t know well.”
Wait. This is how goblins talk. Don’t panic—draw out information slowly.
“Captain Cheongeum. Come on, speak slowly. How did you know I’m a banquet offering?”
“Oh, that’s because King Mangom told me.”
“I see. Is that common knowledge among other goblins? The Duerksini called me a banquet offering, after all.”
“Ah—no, not really. Perhaps they heard it from the Blood Demon King?”
“Ah, I see.”
Good. Seo Cheonseul is the most polite and amiable informant I’ve met so far.
“A moment ago, Captain Cheongeum said banquet offerings do such things? Then King Mangom must have mentioned other humans too?”
“That’s right. I saw a few besides you. They were chased by Abyssal entities or doing absurd things. But among the banquet offerings I’ve seen, you’re the most absurd.”
The term [Banquet Offering] itself is a penalty trait that attracts Abyssal entities. Surely there could be others besides me.
But what I’m curious about is something else.
Could ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) other [Banquet Offerings] besides me also be those dragged from outside this world?
“Is there anyone else besides me who is a banquet offering—and still alive?”
“Hmm—most banquet offerings I met before died quickly. King Mangom mentioned that once or twice, so I roughly know.”
Most died, huh?
No wonder. This is an absurd game after all.
‘Talking at length with Seo Cheonseul is pointless. Maybe I should negotiate with King Mangom?’
No, that’s a bad idea.
King Mangom would treat my question as a contract.
“Oh, by the way.”
Seo Cheonseul hums thoughtfully and continues.
“The most recent banquet offering I saw might still be alive. King Mangom never said they were dead.”
“There’s someone alive? How recent?”
“A—maybe the day before yesterday? Or was it longer ago? Anyway, it was after Baekje lost this area to Goguryeo.”
The Paju region became Goguryeo territory in 475 CE.
That was 1,500 years ago.
I sighed and scratched my head.
Ah, this is maddening. Of all beings, a goblin as an informant.
“Anyway, you saw them doing something? Do you remember what they were doing last?”
“Trying to escape the dog, I came to Cheongeumdang.”
“Dog?”
“Yes. A dog. King Mangom told me there’s a round room in Paju where I could hide.”
Chased by a dog into a round room?
One place in Paju fits that description.
“Hmm, Mr. Kim. Conversation is delightful, but I must prepare to leave.”
“Ah, right. Of course.”
At a good timing, a new objective has arisen.
Another banquet offering besides me. After this is settled, I’ll gather information on them.
‘Ah, but...’
If only I could rest for a few days......
I’m exhausted from moving all night.
