Chapter 204

Chapter 204

[The Seeker, the Blessing of the Disrobing is bestowed.]

[You acquire a new title.]

[‘True Divinity’ is added.]

[Level Up.]

[Level Up.]

[Level Up.]

…….

“Huff…”

With his eyes closed, Dojae took a deep breath in and out.

With each light breath he took, the surrounding mana rippled.

– Heh heh… Rival, our stature….

– Dojae! We might vanish if this keeps up!

The panicked voices of Altein and Luiden reached his ears.

– Is that so! Fine, to destroy Gelahan, I shall sacrifice this body! Ha ha!

– Not a bad ending after all….

Partizan and Zilgrentas watched helplessly as their own essence was rapidly absorbed into Dojae.

“Han, Eurabia. I’ll borrow your power too.”

Dojae looked at Eunhee and Jiyoon.

He took a deep breath, and Eunhee and Jiyoon’s eyes widened.

A moment later, they returned to normal, wearing puzzled expressions.

“Han?”

“Sis, it seems to have shifted to Dojae oppa. I can’t hear Lady Eurabia’s voice either.”

Dojae absorbed even Han and Eurabia’s energy.

As Han’s power transferred over, the various types of energy flowing within his body blended and mixed together.

As Eurabia’s power flowed in, its overwhelming force allowed the mixed energies to coalesce into one unified entity.

And finally, Dojae made all the energies his own—even the remnants of Bae Doja’s energies that had been left behind.

Swoosh-.

Doja slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were clearer than anyone else’s and more profound than any being.

“Gelahan…”

Dojae’s soft, single word.

For the first time, Gelahan’s relaxed expression vanished, replaced by tension.

“…Impossible… How could a creature…”

Gelahan spoke in a trembling voice.

He couldn’t contain his astonishment that the human before him now possessed the same rank as himself.

“Nam Kang-ryul… He says it’s still not enough.”

Wooong-.

Dojae drew his black-scaled blade.

As he infused a bit of his power, black smoke swirled, revealing the Great Demon King, Kerperraos.

“You… you bastard! What… what do you think you’re doing to me!”

Dojae grabbed Kerperaos as he tried to flee.

Despite being nearly as large as Pyo-hoon, he couldn’t move an inch, held by Dojae, who was barely half his size.

“They say even an existence like yours is necessary.”

Whoosh-!

As Dojae swung the black-scaled blade, the sword shattered into pieces.

With the black scales sealing Kerperaos destroyed, the Demon King’s full power returned, plunging the sky into an even darker night.

Huff.

But Dojae seemed unfazed, drawing in a breath.

Kerperaos’s demonic energy sucked into Dojae’s nostrils.

“Kheh!”

Having drained every last bit of the Great Demon King’s mana and essence, Kerperaos was reduced to a mere shell, barely maintaining its form.

Thud-.

“You… I won’t forget this…! Kwaaah!”

Falling from Dojae’s grasp, Kerperaos screams as it is forcibly recalled to the demon realm.

– Every existence has its necessary value. To keep a spinning top spinning, you have to keep hitting it.

A voice echoed in Dojae’s ear.

The last seeker, ‘Tal’.

He was ‘Nam Kang-ryul’, hiding his true identity.

Nod.

By accepting the seeker ‘Tal’, Nam Kang-ryul, Dojae inherited his stature and knowledge.

What Nam Kang-ryul had seen and learned while traveling to the outer continent where Gelahan lived.

The insights gained through that journey.

Everything was etched into Dojae’s mind.

– Are you sure you’re okay with this? I might lose you.

He nodded.

Dojae answered Nam Kang-ryul’s question by shaking his head.

He understood the meaning behind his words, knowing that if he opened his mouth, a completely different answer might slip out.

– I’ll try too. It might be hard to put everything back the way it was.

Dojae walked toward Gelahan.

With each step he took, the surrounding mana was sucked in.

Hunters from overseas, and some from South Korea, felt fear at the absorption of their mana and retreated.

But Youngjin, Ji-yoon, and Eun-hee stood still where they were.

Their expressions were resolute, as if they didn’t care if everything within them was sucked away.

“Eunhee.”

Do-jae said as he passed by Eun-hee.

His eyes, however, remained fixed on Gelahan.

“Yes…”

“Please take good care of Do-young.”

“……!”

Eun-hee couldn’t bring herself to answer Do-jae’s request.

But Dojae wore a faint smile on his lips.

Then he stood before Gelahan, who stood with her lips tightly pursed.

“Let’s go together, Gelahan.”

“You plan to seal me away again? Like those seekers, sacrificing you?”

“No, that won’t happen. I’m not worthy of that.”

“Then….”

“I’ll neutralize all the power you possess and return with you as a human. Nam Kang-ryul wants that.”

“What… did you say?”

Thud!

Dojae shoved Gellahan’s shoulder.

And together, they fell into the ‘Golem’s Domain’ Dojae had created.

“Do-jae!”

Eunhee ran toward Dojae’s ‘Golem’s Domain’ and shouted.

“No…! I can’t do this without you…!”

Dojae turned his head slightly to look at Eunhee.

But soon, the ‘Golem’s Domain’ vanished, leaving no trace.

***

“Sis, look at this!”

Woong-.

Clank-!

When the magic stone in his hand was embedded into the Metallic Hero figure, it began to glow brightly and slowly move.

The Metallic Hero figure struck its signature Superhero Landing pose.

“Doyoung, you…!”

“Yeah, I felt weird last night, and now I have mana too.”

Eunhee stared at Doyoung with a startled expression.

Then she hugged Do-young tightly, who now towered over her own height.

“Congratulations! Mom didn’t want you to become an Awakened… but I’m happy you did. Shall we go tell Dad?”

“Yeah!”

Eun-hee and Do-young left the room and headed for the kitchen.

Eun-hee’s mother had prepared a meal, and today’s menu was Do-young’s favorite: boiled pork.

“Eun-hee, Do-young. Go get your dad…”

Clatter-!

“Oh my? Do-young, are you still playing with toys at your age?”

“No, Mom. This is a golem… that Do-young made!”

“A golem? You mean… Do-young has awakened?”

“What? Do-young awakened!”

Jeong In-gon, who had been watching the news, jumped up in shock and rushed into the kitchen.

He then examined Do-young, poking and prodding him here and there.

“Doyoung! Let’s go get your mana tested right now. From what I see, you’re at least A-grade…”

“Honey! It’s dinner time! The test can wait until tomorrow!”

Eunhee’s mother scolded him, hands on her hips.

Jung In-gon scratched his head and sat down at the table looking dejected. Eun-hee and Do-young also sat down, smiling.

“But where did you get this magic stone?”

Eun-hee asked, placing a piece of boiled pork on Do-young’s rice bowl.

The aura emanating from the magic stone inside the Metallic Hero figure was extraordinary—it wasn’t something Do-young could have obtained.

“This? My brother gave it to me a long time ago.”

Doyoung set down his chopsticks and gazed at the Metallic Hero figure.

Five years ago, the last Metallic Hero figure his brother had bought for him.

It had been the latest model back then, but now three newer versions had come out, making it an outdated model. Even so, Do-young still loved this model the most.

Because this version of the metal suit looked the most like his brother.

“Yeah… it must be precious to you.”

“Doyoung. Let me see that magic stone, will you?”

“Eunhee, honey! Just eat during meals!”

Eunhee and Jeong In-gon were scolded again.

Doyoung smiled brightly and ate the boiled pork Eunhee served him with relish.

***

“Youngjin, how do I look in this outfit?”

“Not really.”

“Then how about this one? It looks cool.”

“The shoulders are way too low! Something else!”

Youngjin and Ji-yoon were shopping at a luxury brand store.

Ji-yoon had been trying on dozens of outfits in the same store for an hour now, asking Young-jin if they looked okay.

But no one seemed annoyed.

“Alright, I’ll try this one on and be right back!”

“Okay. Excuse me, could you wrap up the one I just tried on too?”

Young-jin said to the store clerk.

The clerk, with a cheerful expression, neatly folded the clothes Ji-yoon had taken off and left behind and began wrapping them.

Already, over ten paper bags were lined up on the wall beside the counter.

Squeak.

Ji-yoon emerges from the fitting room.

It’s an H-line dress with no holes in the shoulders and a long skirt hem reaching below the knees, but it beautifully accentuates Ji-yoon’s figure.

“Hmm… Okay! Is this the one you like best out of everything you’ve seen so far?”

“Oh… really? Got it.”

“Wait, just wear it. We’re leaving right away anyway.”

Youngjin stops Ji-yoon as she tries to go back into the dressing room to change again.

Ji-yoon felt slightly uncomfortable, but seeing Young-jin’s pleased expression, she walked over hesitantly with a shy look on her face.

“And this.”

Young-jin pulled a small box from his suit’s inside pocket.

It was an octagonal case made of luxurious leather.

Click.

“I figured I should put it on before Mom sees me…”

Opening the box, Young-jin handed it over casually.

A ring shimmering with a brilliant blue light.

“Ugh. Talk about killing the mood!”

“You’re just as bad!”

Ji-yoon looked at Young-jin, who was awkwardly turning his head away, and slipped the ring onto her own ring finger herself.

To an outsider, it might look like a proposal ruined by the lack of sweet words, like something done in a clothing store. But for them, there was no confession more satisfying than this.

“So, who’s coming?”

“Hmm, Eunhee and Doyoung are coming, and Taeseong, Soeun, Kyungmin, Brian, and Prasia, and Heltayin said they’d come too…”

“I invited Mr. Choi Woo-seok, Sarrieta, and Ohson. Why do I feel like I’m forgetting someone?”

“Hmm… Ah! What about the Master? Master Jung Hoon-hyun?”

“Oh! I’ll call him right now!”

***

As dusk began to settle in.

A splendidly decorated ceremony venue in the courtyard of Young-jin’s house.

Many people have gathered to celebrate the protagonists of this occasion.

Clap clap clap-!

“Thank you.”

“Thank you!”

After the grand wedding ceremony for Young-jin and Ji-yoon concluded, the couple greeted the guests while showered in flower petals.

“Wow, I never dreamed those two would get married!”

“I knew it. Ha Tae-seong, huh?”

“Whoa… When did you cry?”

Amidst the enthusiastic cheers, the Park Ha-gong Trio clapped their hands until they were sore.

“Is this a mini wedding? Prasia, how about we do something like this too?”

“Brian, does that look mini to you? You still don’t get the vibe here at all.”

“You’re the one who doesn’t get it. You have no idea how much money that bastard left behind, do you?”

Briasius and Herteias also bickered playfully while congratulating Youngjin and Ji-yoon on their marriage.

After the ceremony, the reception party began.

People mingled freely, chatting and enjoying themselves.

“How nice…”

Eunhee sat at her seat, sipping champagne as she watched Youngjin and Jiyoon.

Eun-hee, who believed and waited, certain he would return someday.

As she was drawing the face of some man like that.

Thud.

A man emerged from the darkness.

A man wearing a bright smile.

“Do-jae!”

Eun-hee ran toward Do-jae with tear-filled eyes and threw her arms around him.

-fin-