“No! Something is wrong here! O God, withdraw the scales!”

Sung Uigyeol cried out desperately, but the judgment was resolute.

Like a man shackled at both arms and legs, Sung Uigyeol’s movements noticeably slowed under the penalty.

-Geu-oh-oh!

In contrast, the Vajra Warrior rampaged all the more as if venting its frustration, pressing Sung Uigyeol relentlessly.

Sung Uigyeol, having taken the Vajra Warrior’s fist with his entire body, vomited blood.

“Keu-heok!”

Watching it unfold gave me a sense of satisfaction.

Amidst it all, Sung Uigyeol glared at me, blood trailing from his wounds.

“You coward…! You won’t even help me!”

I had known he was foolish, but this exceeded even my expectations.

He had attacked me, yet he expected me to save him?

As I leisurely observed the scene, a voice came through the Ear Cuff.

“[Mr. Kangrim, Gyeoul and I have arrived nearby.]”

“Understood. Jang Taeheon, Yoon Bom. Reactivate the device.”

“[Yes!]”

When the device reactivated, the bluish aura surrounding the Vajra Warrior vanished.

The Vajra Warrior was still in the process of beating Sung Uigyeol into a bloody pulp.

Then, perhaps sensing something, it stopped its assault and turned around.

[A more threatening enemy has appeared. Attack priority is being changed!]

“Mr. Kangrim, were we too late?”

The more threatening enemies—Shin Sooa and Yoon Gyeoul—were walking toward us.

I chewed and swallowed a Recovery Potion as I stood up.

“No. You arrived at just the right time. All that’s left is to finish this.”

“Rest for a moment. We’ll handle this.”

The Vajra Warrior, dripping blood, walked toward Shin Sooa and Yoon Gyeoul.

Even seeing that, Shin Sooa’s expression remained cool and composed.

At that moment, her eyes flashed sharply as her Special Ability activated.

[Special Ability ‘Tree Leaf Seed Technique’ is activating!]

The moment those words ended, vines shot out from all directions, binding the Vajra Warrior’s four limbs.

It thrashed about, but the vines would not break.

Partly because Shin Sooa was strong, and partly because I had already battered it once, it seemed to have no magic power left.

“Let’s finish it once Bom and Mr. Taeheon arrive.”

We waited for the rest of the party to join us, then snuffed out the Vajra Warrior’s life.

At that, a notification window appeared before my eyes.

[You have conquered the first Great Demon Realm!]

[The names of Seo Kangrim, Shin Sooa, Yoon Gyeoul, Yoon Bom, and Jang Taeheon are spreading far and wide!]

[The Recognition Level of the Guardian God of the corresponding Manshin increases!]

[Additional rewards are granted to Seo Kangrim, the greatest contributor!]

“Huu…”

After confirming the reward notification, I let out a long breath.

We had managed to clear it one way or another, but it had been an ordeal in more ways than one.

People approached me with worried expressions.

“Master, are you alright? You’ve been hurt so badly…!”

“Hyung. Did the boss get you? Anyway, who’s that guy? He’s collapsed over there, dying…”

Jang Taeheon was pointing at Sung Uigyeol.

He was coughing weakly, struggling to breathe.

I gave them a brief explanation.

“He’s something like an assassin sent by the Asura Sect to kill me.”

“An assassin…?”

“I am no assassin! I came only to reform a sinner!”

Sung Uigyeol, apparently still having energy left, shouted with a booming voice.

Shin Sooa was looking down at Sung Uigyeol with icy eyes.

“So it’s true that the Asura Sect sent you. Did they tell you to kill Mr. Kangrim?”

“I was only asked to reform him. They said if Seo Kangrim acknowledges his sins and joins the Asura Sect, they would forgive him… Aagh!”

The moment he finished speaking, a vine seized Sung Uigyeol and dragged him away.

Even as the tightly bound Sung Uigyeol thrashed about, Shin Sooa didn’t spare him a single glance.

She looked at me apologetically and said.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Kangrim. You went through unnecessary trouble because of me.”

“No. It’s fine.”

I had somewhat expected that Shin Ara would make a move.

She had interfered in various ways in my past life as well.

I turned to the group and said.

“Has everyone received their rewards?”

“Yes, Master! Wow, I got a really good item…!”

“Me too, Master! The Great Demon Realm really is on another level!”

Seeing everyone’s bright faces, it seemed they had all obtained satisfactory results.

I was no exception.

I checked the rewards I had received.

[As a reward for conquering the Great Demon Realm, you have obtained 50,000 Spirit Jade, the Boundary of Life and Death, and the Curse Tracker!]

What I had obtained were a black coat and a ring set with a red gemstone.

I had considered obtaining even one of them a success, but to get both…

I first examined the coat.

═══════════════

[Item] Boundary of Life and Death

[Rank] Third Divine Grade

[Description] Equipment imbued with divine power. Boasts outstanding effects even under normal circumstances, but shines brightest in crisis situations.

When the wearer is in a near-death state, it reflects incoming attacks with a 99% probability.

═══════════════

The Boundary of Life and Death—the first Divine Grade item to appear in the Great Demon Realm.

It was lightweight, boasted high defense, and provided immunity to most fire and electric-type attacks.

But the ability that appealed to me above all else was attack reflection.

My Special Ability, ‘Roar of the Cornered Rat,’ could unleash powerful force momentarily, but had the drawback of only being activatable when near death.

A high-risk, high-return ability that required charging in with one’s life on the line.

But wearing the Boundary of Life and Death changed the equation entirely.

Reflecting all attacks with a 99% probability made one nearly invincible.

There was a 1% chance of failure, but even so, there was no better piece of defensive equipment.

And the other item was a ring named the Curse Tracker.

As the name suggested, if one were cursed, it could identify who had cast the curse.

In my past life, I had often fallen ill or suffered misfortune for no apparent reason.

What if that had been due to someone’s curse?

And what if the one who cast the curse was Baekyoung?

This item could provide the clue.

“It seems everything is settled for now. Shall we head out?”

I nodded at Shin Sooa’s words.

Just then, Jang Taeheon looked at the sprawled-out Sung Uigyeol and spoke.

“What do we do with this guy?”

Sung Uigyeol was watching us quietly.

Wearing an expression that seemed, at first glance, to convey indignation.

He was a man who showed no sign of remorse.

As I approached him, Sung Uigyeol flinched and shrank back in surprise.

“Are, are you going to kill me! You absolute villain!”

“Not really.”

Killing Sung Uigyeol here would yield me little benefit.

Stealing his Special Ability might help somewhat, but with so many eyes watching and karma accumulating, I had no intention of getting blood on my hands.

“There are plenty of witnesses anyway. The Fate Protection Bureau will arrest you for attempted murder.”

“Wh-what?! Arrest me, an executor of justice?! That’s impossible!”

Sung Uigyeol, screaming at the top of his lungs, looked terrified.

For someone called a hero of justice like Sung Uigyeol, being recorded as a criminal must have been more frightening than anything else.

I stared at him for a moment, then said.

“Prison might actually be the better option for you.”

“What? What do you mean…”

I felt an intense gaze piercing into me from behind.

Dokgo Jun was watching us.

To be precise, he was watching Sung Uigyeol.

He was smiling, but his eyes looked as though he could kill at any moment.

“There’s someone who can’t stand this kind of thing.”

If Sung Uigyeol walked away from this unscathed, the person who would find it most unacceptable was Dokgo Jun.

By his standards, it was unacceptable for a villain who had attacked the protagonist to go unpunished.

Left to his own devices, he would find some way to deal with Sung Uigyeol.

Going to prison would at least let him avoid Dokgo Jun.

“If you value your life, turn yourself in to prison.”

Whether he went to prison or Dokgo Jun got his hands on him, Sung Uigyeol would be dealt with.

I left Sung Uigyeol behind with his bewildered expression and exited the Great Demon Realm.

Dokgo Jun was still watching Sung Uigyeol, smiling.

12. When the Nameless God Is Born

“I heard the first Great Demon Realm was cleared in a single attempt yesterday?”

The moment I stepped into the hotel lobby, I could hear people whispering.

Truth be told, the hotel had been abuzz since last night.

I pulled my hood low and listened in on their conversations.

“Yeah. They succeeded on the first try.”

“I thought the Great Demon Realm would be high difficulty, but I guess not.”

“Not exactly—I heard it’s at least Dragon Grade Demon Realm level!”

Despite not having conquered the Great Demon Realm themselves, they were thoroughly excited.

One person grumbled as he spoke.

“Right. I passed out halfway through and thought I was dead. If it hadn’t been cleared, I really might have died.”

“The one who cleared the Great Demon Realm—that’s him, right? Seo Kangrim.”

Hearing my name, I instinctively hunched my shoulders.

They eagerly continued.

“Yeah, Seo Kangrim. The one who started as a training cadet.”

“Now that you mention it, I heard he’s staying at this hotel…”

I had been heading toward the dining room but turned back and stepped into the elevator instead.

I had a feeling that going to the dining room in this state would draw too much attention.

I’d just order room service.

As I rode the elevator upward, I could feel the people inside stealing glances at me.

“Isn’t that guy Seo Kangrim?”

“Looks like it…”

At that moment, the elevator doors opened.

I’d be eating my meals in my room for the time being.

Just as I was about to return to my room, a booming voice rang out.

“Ah, Hyung!”

I turned around and saw Jang Taeheon standing there.

He approached with a beaming face and said.

“Good timing. I was just coming to get you, and we ran right into each other.”

“Coming to get me?”

“Yeah. We were all gathering for breakfast. But when we tried going to the dining room, people kept coming up to talk to us.”

I wasn’t the only one who had gained fame.

The others, who had been relatively less known, had also risen to stardom by conquering the Great Demon Realm.

They must have been receiving offers from all over.

I had things to discuss regarding yesterday’s events, so I followed Jang Taeheon.

“Master, you’re here!”

As I stepped inside, everyone except me was already gathered.

Ah, Father Yohan was also absent.

He had been summoned by his cathedral and had stepped out; it seemed his business wasn’t finished yet.

Despite having gone through a major battle yesterday, everyone else wore bright expressions.

Jang Taeheon said excitedly.

“Hyung, did you see the community boards? There’s tons of posts about us!”

“I saw.”

“Within just a day, we’re getting contacted from all over! Interview requests and everything!”

Jang Taeheon seemed to be genuinely enjoying his newfound popularity.

Well, it was understandable that he’d be excited.

Shin Sooa also spoke with a hint of embarrassment.

“I’ve been getting contacted too. Lots of sect recruitment offers.”

“So are you planning to join a sect?”

“No. I’m actually thinking of creating my own, but…”

She paused in thought, then stared at me intently.

“Mr. Kangrim, do you have any plans to create a sect?”