"Not just my men—you even restored the building....... Thank you so much."
Chae Taewon thanked me, eyes slightly bloodshot as he looked at me.
Why are his eyes like that? Did he cry?
"It was nothing. I only did what I needed for myself."
The quest had nastier conditions than I expected.
Its completion condition was not [Evict [Scaled Stratagem]] or [Defeat Jung Hyuna].
[You have returned «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» the Blue Lake Crew to its former state.]
Right. To satisfy that, I had to pour in an enormous amount of mana and resources over two days.
[You restored terrain that had become a desert to its original form and healed the Blue Lake Crew members who were on the verge of death. And— you even brought back a building that had completely collapsed and vanished.]
Honestly, it was brutal.
In some ways, even worse than fighting that horrific crocodile bastard [Scaled Stratagem].
[Quest complete!
<Hidden Quest: Secret of the Tiger’s Den>
Reward: 9,000,000 XP + additional rewards based on mission performance + Park Gwangrim’s safety]
Ah, but that doesn’t mean everything went back as if “nothing happened.”
The Blue Lake hoodlums will still be stuck in hospitals for a while.
Every spell I can use either smashes or alters the human body.
"Everyone~ you only lost a bit of vitality~ If we harness the power of cosmic spiral energy, you’ll be reborn with bodies stronger and sturdier than before~"
"Yees~? Those who’ve fallen into delirium~? Mmm~ how about we try my newly developed [Electric Shock Awakening Device]~"
"Using precisely tuned electrical stimuli, we can safely and effectively free you from confusion."
"And your blood-test resultss~ will be out tomorrow~ You must come tomorrow— oh? Did you just shy away from my touch~?"
So I was a madman on par with Dr. Lee Haseo.......
And the local ley lines are a complete mess—
I did restore the building, but only the framework by magic. Thanks to the reclaimed skeletal golems hustling around, they at least have a roof to keep off the rain and walls to block the wind—
But to refill all the lost appliances and the rest, Taewon’s going to suffer for a while.
"Rebuilding the organization will be tough."
"It can’t be helped. It’s our internal problem."
Taewon gazed off at a distant mountain with a wistful look.
While she was controlled by [Scaled Stratagem], Jung Hyuna ran the crew viciously and ruthlessly.
They must’ve piled up a terrible reputation and lost all their stable cash sources and multipurpose connections.
"Use this money for now."
I handed Taewon a bankbook.
"This is... what?"
"Money."
"N-no, I mean..."
Taewon couldn’t hide his shock and, for the first time in a while, looked flustered.
"I was just holding onto it for a while. Check the transactions."
He opened it and, after a glance, gave a crooked smile with a complicated expression.
"It’s Director Gu Jinchul’s money."
It’s the cash I ripped from Gu Jinchul—the one who once paid tribute to Jeokdu with the Blue Lake Crew and threatened Hyuna’s life.
I had so much money coming in from elsewhere I never had a chance to use it.
"Right. Since Director Gu Jinchul donated it, use it freely."
"Mr. Kim Sinhwa."
"Yes?"
Ugh.
Taewon suddenly hugged me.
"Thank you so much. Truly—thank you. I will never forget this grace for as long as I live."
"Ah, yes. Yes. I get it—o-okay—"
I grunted and tried to push him off— but he’s not the kind of uncle I can move with my strength— and only when he let go could I escape.
"Well then, I’ll head back."
"Already? We haven’t even treated you properly—"
Taewon clung to me like a granny from my hometown telling me to rest more— come eat at our place— no, stay a few days— and so on, but I had an issue I couldn’t delay.
[You have gained enough experience to reach the next stage. Your level increases by 1.]
While we were talking, the briefing finished on the enemies I’d taken down, and the level-up message popped.
Now comes the achievement talk and then a new madness will spawn.
If nothing else, I need to accept madness somewhere safe.
[Gate Creation]
"All right, I’m going. I’ve still got something to do."
"Something to do? If it’s something we can help with..."
"No— no. Not that kind of thing. A guest will be dropping by soon, so I’m going to prepare to receive them."
"Ah... I see."
Once I made it clear it was personal, Taewon cautiously stepped back.
Good thing he’s a man of sense and manners.
"Look after the young lady more than me. She’ll be confused for a while."
I know that feeling of being freed after being ruled by artificial madness.
"Wizard, don’t go! Wait!"
Hyuna’s voice came darting from far away, sharp as a needle.
Ah, I was just going to leave...
[dash—]
Jung Hyuna came flying at absurd speed.
Definitely a human body, but the leap was the kind of tremendous spring Curtain Call or the Conqueror had shown.
Landing without a sound like a cat, Jung Hyuna looked at me with vertically narrowed pupils.
"How’s your condition?"
"Mmm— mm—"
She scrunched one side of her face, then the other, like the facial muscles moved wrong, cocked her head, and then smiled with a "hii—."
"Mmm, very good."
"Glad to hear it. It’ll take time to get used to it, so be careful for now."
Hyuna leaned her head toward me and made a strange face.
"For now? When are you coming again?"
"I’ll be back soon, if only to check your condition."
A short sigh.
Hyuna’s wish had come true in a completely sideways way.
[Reptile Killer – Converts the Abyss’s influence lodged in the target’s body into the influence of an Elder God (one time only). However, for this to trigger, the bond between the target and the Abyssal being must be severed.]
Hyuna could escape the Abyss’s influence— but in exchange, the blessing of the [King of the Cat Kingdom] settled on her.
Thanks to that, she gained a few cat-related abilities.
That’s a problem in its own right, but at least Hyuna’s satisfied.
"You must come back. Okay?"
"I promise."
"If you don’t, I’ll come find you."
Hyuna widened both eyes and let killing intent seep out.
"Ugh, okay."
I passed through the dimensional gate and returned to the mansion.
"I’m back."
The familiar sight of the [Hungry Mansion], which now feels far more like home than my original house.
It’s not like it’s been that long, since I went back and forth a bunch restoring the Blue Lake mansion.
But finishing a quest and walking in with a light heart— that feeling is something special.
"Yahoo, Wizard!"
Jang Hyundeok’s voice from the living-room sofa.
"Screeeech!"
[krrriiiik—]
And Red and Achilles came running from somewhere.
"There, there— easy."
I patted the two as they barreled into me, then took Doldol out of my arms and lifted the shrinking spell.
"Doldol, spit out all the skeletal golems."
[grrrrr—]
Doldol rumbled, disgruntled, and vomited the skeletal golems.
[rumble—] [crash!]
He spat them any which way, so some were chipped and busted, but as long as I feed mana most will go back to normal, so it’s fine.
"You’ve worked hard."
Heo Sanghyun came down from the second floor, probably having heard the commotion.
"Not that hard. Anything happen?"
As usual, Sanghyun widened his eyes, glanced toward the living room, and answered.
"No. Nothing you’d need to worry about."
I doubt nothing happened.
[Achievement Unlocked! You stupidly used a thing that could have become a god’s body as a single-use bullet.
You have obtained the Rare Achievement: Are You an Idiot?
As a reward, Jang Hyundeok will soon call you an idiot.]
"Wizard! You idiot! Huh? What?"
"......."
"W-wizard! That wasn’t me just now! I swear!"
"I know."
"What was that? Enemy psychic attack?! Something’s here! Something— waaagh!"
Jang Hyundeok stood on the sofa, lost his balance, and toppled backward.
[thud!]
Heo Sanghyun, who had been staring wide-eyed in disbelief, rushed toward him.
"A-are you all right?"
"Wizard! It’s dangerous!"
Jang Hyundeok flailed on the floor, trying to crawl under the sofa.
"Mr. Sanghyun, please look after Jang Hyundeok. I’ll be in the basement for a moment."
"Understood. Leave him to me."
Sanghyun fixed a resolute look on his face and stared at Jang Hyundeok.
"No! He’s really fine— I meant just leave him alone! You understood me, right?"
"Uh... that’s how I understood it."
He said that, but for some reason he avoided my eyes.
He is fine... right?
[You have gained enough experience to reach the next stage. Your level increases by 1.]
Ugh, it’s almost here.
Madness-draw time is approaching.
"I’m going down!"
"Wizard! I’m telling you, there’s really something!"
"There isn’t!"
Kim Sinhwa
Class: Mage Who Gazes into the Abyss
Level: 83
Magic Rank: 8th Circle
Madness: [Mask Fixation (latent)]
Strength 6 + 4 (Embers of the Buknak Temple)
Health 8 + 3 (True-Severance Sword, Verdant Tier)
Agility 8 + 2 (Wings of the Night Veil)
Intelligence 30
Will 22 + 2 (Necklace of the Body Snatcher)
Charisma 20 + 2 (Blade of Flesh)
So I ended up at level 83.
Not much changed numerically, but I did recover and acquire various items— no complaints.
The Shoggoth, overexposed to excessive mana, couldn’t digest the power it absorbed, shrank back into a small sphere, and went into hibernation.
If I wanted, I could embed it in my hand again like last time— but I shouldn’t do that this time.
[You finished a hard fight. You kept trying to solve everything alone and then sniveled while “using the [King of the Cat Kingdom]” or other cultists. Even so, you excluded the people who think they’re close to you. Many will praise your hypocritical behavior.]
"This bastard is still griping. Wrap it up."
[With the quest complete, you can retrieve Park Gwangrim. As you wished, Park Gwangrim is now “safe.”]
[System: To obtain unclaimed rewards, meet Jeokdu.]
In [Cthulhu World], when words like “safe,” “complete,” “growth,” or “evolution” show up, I get a bad feeling.
Once I settle the madness issue, I’ll go pick up Park Gwangrim.
I don’t know if Dr. Lee Haseo’s [Electric Shock Awakening Device] will help, but it’s better than nothing.
[As scheduled, the Wanderer of Time and Space will arrive soon. You’ve been tidying things up like you’re on borrowed time, haven’t you? I wonder if he can really provide the information you wanted. A chaotic future is approaching you.]
"You malicious jerk. You really talk like trash. Are you done?"
[System: The penalty trait Broken Mind activates. Since you currently hold 1 madness, a random madness will manifest.]
It’s begun.
After [Dog Phobia] came [Snake Phobia].
The escapist symptoms that [Snake Phobia] induced were horrific—and honestly forced actions that should be called truly insane.
But in a sense, the pattern is now completely fixed.
It’s a system where you beat down whatever you run into and it gets resolved, right?
Maybe it sounds crude, but unlike real-life phobias, whatever madness comes up here, you can solve it by smashing the object of that madness.
[System: Madness – Heliophobia is bestowed upon your mind.]
"Helio—?"
What’s “helio”?
[Madness: Fear of Sunlight]
Ah, so kind.
Sunlight, huh?
Hm? Sunlight?
"The sun?"
Break the sun?
