Chapter 38 – Heavenly Demon Medallion

He called Yu Sehee over and had her use Healing Light to treat him for a moment.

“Umm…”

Jin Yuseong showed signs of waking up.

Even after opening his eyes, his expression remained dazed, so when I patted his shoulder, Jin Yuseong’s eyes finally regained life.

While transformed into a shadow, Jin Yuseong had become the shadow itself, so it seemed his soul had temporarily become closer to a shadow.

Fortunately, whether it was treated as an illness or not, the excessive alteration had been restored by the Healing Light.

“Are you okay?”

“…The bet?”

“You won. Mr. Kang Taepung was caught from 50 centimeters away, they say.”

Since I had already heard the explanation about the bet while Jin Yuseong was unconscious, I informed him of his victory.

Kang Taepung also seemed to have accepted his defeat, as he showed no particular signs of objection.

“I don’t know the origin of the transformation ability you used, but it would be better to stop transforming into phenomena from now on. If you keep transforming like that at just a 2-Star level, you’ll lose yourself.”

Instead, he offered advice regarding Jin Yuseong’s condition.

Seeing him prioritize caring for his hubae over the feeling of defeat, he might have a quick temper, but he wasn’t a bad person.

“Thank you for the advice.”

“I’ll tell you right away how to contract with Loki.”

Whether he thought that even if they heard it, they wouldn’t be able to follow along, Kang Taepung openly spoke the clue to contracting with Loki, even though everyone was gathered around.

“To contract with Loki, first you must resemble Loki yourself. The most important thing is the transformation ability… the transformation ability you possess should be sufficient.”

“And then?”

“Next are giant, teleportation-type shoes, lies and deception, immortality penetration, indifference to treasures, gluttony, initiator of the end, etc. You need to obtain skills or equipment corresponding to the aspects Loki possesses.”

Among these, the giant could be considered already fulfilled by the Golden Ring’s <Golden Giant>, and teleportation-type shoes could be considered fulfilled by the Wind Shoes.

As for lies and deception, most could be covered by Jeon Woochi’s Daoist Arts.

The rest were the problem.

‘If it’s indifference to treasures, the shoes might be fine, but the Golden Ring will likely be a problem.’

If so, it meant he needed to obtain a giant transformation ability through a method other than the Golden Ring.

Or obtain an Immovable Heart-type ability that remains unshaken even when possessing treasures.

“Still, with this much, it’s not completely impossible.”

“If it really seems impossible, come to the Gale Guild anytime. I’ll help you fulfill the conditions.”

Having said that, Kang Taepung left the Guild House without hesitation, as if he had said all he needed to say.

Having lost the bet, he seemed to have no intention of persuading further.

Or perhaps he thought Jin Yuseong would eventually come to the Gale Guild to contract with Loki.

“I’ll be going now too. We’ll meet again at the Heavenly Palace Tournament, Young Seongcheol.”

After Kang Taepung left, James Lee also left after saying goodbye.

However, Jang Wei did not leave even after the other two had gone.

“Aren’t you leaving?”

“I haven’t finished explaining about the Heavenly Demon Medallion yet, so I’ll leave after finishing that.”

An explanation about the Heavenly Demon Medallion flowed from Jang Wei’s mouth.

“To become the owner of the Heavenly Demon Medallion, you must first undergo a month-long trial. The location of the Heavenly Demon Medallion is periodically disclosed for a month, and it is a trial to protect it from those who attempt to seize it.”

Though called a trial, it was a situation where if someone unqualified held it, they would likely die.

Those attempting to seize the Heavenly Demon Medallion weren’t just random weaklings.

“However, initially upon possession, there are restrictions on who can attempt to seize it, and those restrictions ease as the possession period lengthens.”

In the first week, only lower-rank Awakeners at 6-Star or below who have contracted with Spirits of 6-Star or below can attempt seizure.

In the second week, mid-rank Awakeners at 6-Star or below who have contracted with Spirits of 7-Star or above also become able to attempt seizure.

In the third week, high-rank Awakeners at 7-Star or above who have contracted with Spirits of 7-Star or above.

In the fourth week, highest-rank Awakeners who have reached 9-Star.

In the final three days of the fifth week, even transcendent Awakeners of 10-Star or above are granted seizure eligibility.

Of course, the stronger the Awakener, the less desperate they are for the Heavenly Demon Medallion’s wish, so realistically, the strong ones worth targeting the medallion would be, at best, high-rank Awakeners.

But since the ranks were broadly grouped, even a one-rank difference meant an overwhelming gap.

“If the Heavenly Demon Medallion is seized before a full month passes, the medallion’s trial restarts from the hands of the seizer.”

Here, transfer of ownership is recognized only through the death of the previous owner.

It was impossible to avoid the situation by giving up in advance and handing the medallion to someone else.

“If you endure a month while possessing the Heavenly Demon Medallion like that, the owner’s name is inscribed on the medallion, and the right to wish to the Demon Lord belongs solely to the owner of that name.”

So whenever an ownerless Heavenly Demon Medallion appeared outside, a bloodbath often ensued until an owner was determined.

In other words, the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord, without moving directly, had driven Lee Hanseong into the center of a bloodbath with just the trick of handing over a single medallion.

“Well then, endure the Demon Lord’s favor well.”

Jang Wei, who bid farewell to Lee Hanseong with eyes as if looking at a dead person, also left his seat.

But Lee Hanseong had no intention of dying easily either.

“Favor? That’s funny.”

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Right after Jang Wei left, consecutive notification sounds rang from Jin Yuseong’s pocket.

Jin Yuseong’s face turns pale as he checks the notification content.

“What is it?”

“The Heavenly Demon Medallion’s location is spreading on the Dark Web. Along with the fact that you’re the current owner, Hanseong. There are quite a few who have already placed bounties on you.”

The Dark Web was also a Shade site, one of the domains controlled by the Jin family.

Thanks to that, we could quickly learn that there were quite a few targeting him through Jin Yuseong, but the situation wasn’t good.

“Fast.”

“Are you going to request protection from the Association Head?”

If he asked his father, the Association Head, he could guarantee safety, but the day to catch Choi Sangguk would be pushed far back.

Even though he said he wouldn’t protect Choi Sangguk, this trick by the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord itself was no different from protecting Choi Sangguk.

Lee Hanseong, who had discerned the opponent’s intention, bit his lip tightly and shook his head.

“No, I won’t ask my father for help.”

“Then? Should I ask my father for help?”

“It’s fine.”

Asking Jin Taeseong for help isn’t as easy as it sounds.

Considering his thoroughly calculating personality, the price for receiving help wouldn’t be light either.

Even if he helps promote a 10-Star Spirit, considering what we’ve already received, our debt would be greater.

“First, we change the battlefield.”

If we fought in reality, we would surely lose since our Star Rank is still low.

Moreover, the danger wasn’t just from high-rank Awakeners.

Even lower-rank Awakeners could kill a strong opponent if they exploited a gap.

He planned to go to the Black Market, where identities could be concealed so that even if the location was specified, no one would know who was who.

“If it’s the Black Market where the phases of this world and the Underworld overlap, they won’t be able to perfectly specify the Heavenly Demon Medallion’s location either.”

“What about us?”

At the question of whether they needed help, he fell into thought for a moment.

Receiving help from guild members would certainly make dealing with the plunderers targeting the Heavenly Demon Medallion easier, but the one-month time was a problem.

Since the Heavenly Palace Tournament promising candidate division preliminaries were within a month, except for Park Seongcheol who received a seed right, it was better for Jin Yuseong to stay in reality to participate in the Heavenly Palace Tournament.

“Yuseong, you stay in reality and distract the plunderers by taking my form. And when the Heavenly Palace Tournament preliminaries start, participate in them.”

“Heavenly Palace Tournament? Isn’t your matter more urgent than that? For guild promotion purposes, Seongcheol already got a seed right and is confirmed to advance to the main tournament.”

“It’s hard to explain right now, but I need it for something later. Please.”

After resolving the Heavenly Demon Medallion issue, we also need to prevent the Heavenly Palace Tournament terror, so we need to obtain participation rights.

Main tournament advancing players can bring one other person along, so for all four guild members to go together, two need to advance to the main tournament.

“Well, okay. If they find out I don’t have the Heavenly Demon Medallion, using Myriad Fire Transformations to deceive them won’t last long either.”

As Jin Yuseong nodded, he next looked at Park Seongcheol and Yu Sehee.

“You two… it would be better to come with me to the Black Market.”

Park Seongcheol’s buffs or Yu Sehee’s healing abilities would be a big help in combat sustainability.

“Understood.”

“Since we’re in the same boat, we have to share the danger too, what can we do.”

Park Seongcheol accepted calmly, Yu Sehee with a sigh.

It was a bit uncomfortable that Yu Sehee seemed to view him as a troublemaker with her eyes, but as she said, they and he were already in the same boat.

It’s the Constellation and guild you chose, endure stubbornly through thick and thin.

“Then, let’s hurry.”

Once information spreads on the Dark Web, it’s only a matter of time before plunderers swarm the Guild House.

Before that, we need to divert their gaze to the Black Market so our newly acquired Guild House doesn’t suffer unnecessary damage.

Tap tap tap— pause.

While quickly heading to the underground Ghost Gate, he momentarily stopped his steps.

Suddenly, his thoughts turned to the inner imbalance.

The inner balance that can maintain Constellation Descent has a limit of at most 6 days.

Before that, it would be better to quickly finish the Spirit promotions.

Since time in reality also stops while Historical Alteration is activated anyway, doing it now shouldn’t be a problem.

Whoosh!

Activating Transcendence and promoting the Spirits by one stage each, he activated Historical Alteration.

Zzzzzz.

Time stopped briefly.

However, unlike before, he didn’t immediately become Spirit Possessed into the records of history.

Unlike before, there wasn’t just one choice.

[Spirit Possess into the history recorded by the Lunar Constellation to complete the promotion of Spirit Hyoo Guild (★☆☆).]

[Spirit Possess into the history recorded by the Sun Constellation to complete the promotion of Spirit Pheidippides (★★★★☆).]

[Spirit Possess into the history recorded by the Brilliance Constellation to complete the promotion of Spirit Hanna (★☆).]

[Spirit Possess into the history recorded by the Wind Constellation to complete the promotion of Spirit Rough (★☆).]

[Spirit Possess into the history recorded by the Golden Constellation to complete the promotion of Spirit Duren Spirit (★☆).]

[Spirit Possess into the history recorded by the Heavenly Slaughter Constellation to complete the promotion of Spirit Hans (★☆).]

[Spirit Possess into the history recorded by the Clay Constellation to complete the promotion of Spirit Henrietta (★★☆).]

[Activating Historical Alteration consumes remaining achievements. Currently possessed remaining achievements: 6.]

Seven choices.

No, actually, due to Transcendence, if we consider that all Spirits temporarily gained one additional half-star (☆), then the other five Spirits were also in a state where promotion completion through Historical Alteration was possible.

But considering that one achievement is consumed to fill one half-star, choices were needed.

‘I decided to postpone Pheidippides’s promotion completion, but to balance things, I need to raise either Hyu or Henrietta to 4-Star.’

Completing all remaining half-stars was impossible.

Then suddenly, he saw Connection Points for synergy among the choices.

‘Huh? These connect?’

Actually, just as Joint historical alteration was possible, records between Spirits could be connected.

Connecting records meant it was possible to change the history of multiple Spirits with one Spirit Possession.

But what surprised Lee Hanseong wasn’t that part.

Joint historical alteration was already expected, but there was another Connection Point besides that.

The Connection Point between Hans, a Spirit belonging to the Heavenly Slaughter Constellation, and the Heaven-Slaying Demon Sword.

[Legendary Equipment activates Historical Alteration without consuming achievements, replacing the Constellation’s Blessing.]

Smoothly.

The Heaven-Slaying Demon Sword in spiritual form, which had been overlaid on the Predatory Demon Sword, Spirit Possessed into Hans’s record, and one choice disappeared.

The Heaven-Slaying Demon Sword hadn’t disappeared.

Just as Lee Hanseong had Spirit Possessed into other Spirits to change history, the Heaven-Slaying Demon Sword also temporarily intervened in Hans’s history and began to change it.

And the Legendary Equipment connected to the Spirit’s record wasn’t the end of it.

The Dark Heart that had dwelled in his heart had also Spirit Possessed into the record of the Herbalist Spirit Blundell Violet, who belonged to the Darkness Constellation.

‘If it’s like this, I can complete promotions without even Spirit Possessing myself.’

At the newly discovered utility of Legendary Equipment, Lee Hanseong opened a Subspace.

Zzzzzz.

The Subspace entrance opened within the stopped time.

The Legendary Equipment stored there emerged in spiritual form and began automatically Spirit Possessing into the records of history.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh.

The Extreme Seal of Yato Spirit Possessed into Henrietta’s record.

The Throne of the Dharma Wheel Spirit Possessed into the doctor Alter Goulds’s record.

The North Star Crown Spirit Possessed into the tomb raider Rian Shin’s record.

The Steel Gauntlet Spirit Possessed into the blacksmith Non Smith’s record.

The Epicenter’s Jewel Spirit Possessed into the primitive man Utangka’s record.

‘Then the remaining six achievements also have their place decided.’

Looking at the reduced choices, he connected the records to be altered this time through synergy.

Centering on Hyoo Guild’s record to raise to 4-Star, he planned to newly write history that could complete Hanna, Rough, and Duren to 2-Star.

Whoosh—

Once the purpose was set, only then did his eyes close.

Flash!

The next moment, Lee Hanseong opened his eyes in the body of Hyoo Guild, the petty thief from another world.

The moment the third History Alteration had begun.