[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 415

[You have acquired 1% Dark Energy.]

“So much of it, huh.”

Jeong-hoon clicked his tongue as he absorbed the obsidian.

He hadn’t imagined there would be this many followers of Beelzebub.

“There are a total of twenty-six cultists in this First Village.”

Deras, trailing behind Jeong-hoon, confessed obediently.

The reason Jeong-hoon had cut down Duke and Jaiki without hesitation—

It was because Deras had already been brainwashed.

Through him, Jeong-hoon intended to root out every cultist lurking in the First Village.

And in doing so, complete the first Secret Quest.

“Take me to their hideout.”

“Yes, understood.”

The brainwashed Deras quietly led the way.

* * *

At that same moment.

Beelzebub, having returned to the Demon Realm, was observing everything.

“Hm, just as expected.”

Losing such a large amount of obsidian was regrettable, but thanks to the sacrifices performed, he was now able to intervene like this.

Of course, once the obsidian aura lingering in the atmosphere faded, his interference would end—but for now, this much was enough.

The human who had opened the gates of the Divine Realm.

The human who had seized his 96th Demon Realm and dared to press him.

Had he not been forewarned by Psyche, it would have been quite troublesome.

“In any case, truly an intriguing existence.”

How could such a monster have emerged from a mere dimension like that?

At this level, he could likely sweep aside several Jecheon-class beings.

“He’s ascended to a demigod. You could say he’s cloaking his fate with spiritual energy.”

“Since when?”

“Roughly around this point.”

Even looking at the timeframe Psyche had pinpointed, it still made no sense.

In circumstances where he had no justification to ascend to demigodhood, suddenly the New World had been taken from them.

“Hm… don’t tell me he regressed to the past?”

There was no other explanation.

“Beelzebub.”

At the sound of the voice calling him, Beelzebub turned his head.

“Harmageddon, what are you doing here again?”

Beelzebub asked, annoyance laced in his voice.

“I think that man will be coming here soon.”

“Of course.”

Both of their eyes shifted to the orb floating between them.

Within the massive orb, the image of the demigod-level human was displayed—swiftly purging Beelzebub’s implanted cultists.

Starting from the First Village and moving on to Leas.

His slaughter was relentless.

And he absorbed every last drop of obsidian’s energy without leaving a trace.

“It’s not just that he’s ascended to a demigod. That man is trying to seize even the power of darkness that belongs to us.”

“Is that even possible?”

The power of light and the power of darkness.

The two could never coexist.

Even they themselves had abandoned all of the light in order to claim the power of darkness.

And now this human was trying to wield both?

“Impossible.”

Harmageddon’s lips curved into a meaningful smile as he watched the human.

* * *

[You have completed the quest.]

[You have obtained an Unidentified Bracelet.]

Every last cultist lurking all the way up to Arandis had been purged.

As a result, the reward obtained was a mysterious bracelet.

It was corroded with rust, impossible to wear, and had lost all of its attributes—a seemingly useless trinket.

“Why would they give something like this as a reward?”

The one who had crafted the quest was the Divine Realm.

That meant this bracelet must have some hidden purpose, which was why it was given as a Secret Quest reward.

For now, Jeong-hoon tossed it into his inventory and checked the amassed Dark Energy.

[Dark Energy: 5,143%]

Having swept through everything up to Arandis, he had accumulated a staggering 5,143% worth of energy.

If he could now wield the power of darkness with it, even Named-class foes would be within reach.

‘Hoo…’

Tenebris exhaled deeply, repeating his breathing to steady himself.

This power was practically a gamble.

Though Jeong-hoon had pressed Uriel with unyielding resolve, even he wasn’t certain he could control it.

It was merely the only path left to take.

“Let’s begin.”

Jeong-hoon unleashed the flood of Dark Energy he had gathered.

[Warning! Warning!]

[Dark Energy is colliding with Spiritual Energy!]

[If the energy is not expelled, Life Force will drop to 0%!]

Like a lightning strike, the clash sent unbearable agony surging through his body like a current.

“Khk…!”

Unable to withstand the pain, Jeong-hoon groaned and fell to one knee.

[Skills cannot be used.]

[Life Force is rapidly decreasing.]

‘Master! Get a hold of yourself!’

‘You can’t collapse here!’

‘Expel the Dark Energy from your body! If you don’t, you’ll really die!’

Mukho, Anima, and Harniôn circled frantically around Jeong-hoon, shouting in desperation.

‘Damn it… so it really won’t work…’

Tenebris scowled, spitting a curse.

“Wh-who said this is the end…!”

Jeong-hoon forced out a strained shout.

But his Life Force was dropping fast, plummeting below 20% in an instant.

His vision darkened, and strength drained from his body.

With skills locked, even healing was impossible.

[Would you like to expel the Dark Energy from your body?]

If he released the Dark Energy rampaging through his body, his life could be spared.

But if he let it go here, he would never be able to regain it.

No— even if he did, he could never amass this much again.

‘Damn it…’

As the pain tore through him, Jeong-hoon desperately tried to control both his Spiritual Energy and the Dark Energy at the same time.

But the two refused to mix, and every time they clashed, sparks burst, ripping away at Jeong-hoon’s body, killing him bit by bit.

This was why the demons of the Abyss had cast off the light and chosen darkness.

Because the two forces were fundamentally opposed.

‘So… it really can’t be done?’

His Life Force dropped under 5%.

Mukho and Anima seemed to be shouting something, but his head rang so violently that he couldn’t hear a thing.

At that moment, the rust-covered bracelet began to glow.

[Janus is calling you.]

“Janus…?”

Jeong-hoon muttered the name under his breath.

[Janus tells you to come here.]

Here? Where…?

And then, with his Life Force at 2%, it dropped to 0%.

Jeong-hoon’s body collapsed.

‘Master!’

‘Damn it!’

Mukho and Anima’s desperate cries echoed out.

* * *

“Hey.”

…Who?

A strange voice rang inside his head.

As he slowly opened his heavy eyes, he saw a little demon leaning in close, staring at his face with curiosity.

“Who are you…?”

He murmured hoarsely, but the demon just tilted his head as if baffled—then suddenly slapped Jeong-hoon hard across the cheek.

Smack!

Agonizing pain shot through him like an electric current, and Jeong-hoon’s eyes snapped wide open.

At the same time, his body sprang upright like a coiled spring.

“You’re the one who called me, and you don’t even know?”

“Called…? Janus?”

Only then did Jeong-hoon remember: just before he lost consciousness, he had spoken Janus’s name.

“Right. Now you recognize me?”

“…I didn’t call you. Weren’t you the one who called me first?”

“Let’s get the story straight.”

The demon, Janus, made a dumbfounded face.

“Human, you seem to have this habit of trying to gain the upper hand whenever things turn against you, don’t you?”

“……”

Jeong-hoon didn’t deny it.

“You’re alive right now only because I’m holding on to you. Otherwise, you’d be dead. Understand?”

“Holding on to me?”

“That’s right. Your body couldn’t withstand the clash of Light and Darkness, and it died.”

“…So, I really should’ve released the Dark Energy outward after all.”

Hearing him mutter, Janus clicked his tongue and added an explanation.

“What nonsense. You were already dead the moment you tried to release the Dark Energy. In that chaotic state, with your Spiritual Energy in turmoil from the clash, there was no way you could’ve controlled it.”

“So even if I had released it outward, my Life Force would’ve kept dropping anyway?”

“That’s about right.”

Jeong-hoon let out a bitter sigh. He had confidently told Uriel this was the only way forward… now he only felt ashamed of himself.

“Good thing this is still a game…”

New World remained in the form of a game.

So losing his life here didn’t mean Jeong-hoon’s real body would die in the real world.

That had been the biggest reason he dared to gamble like this.

“Hmm, so basically you tried it because you had insurance, right?”

“You even know the word ‘insurance’?”

“I peeked into your memories while you were unconscious.”

“That so? Then I don’t need to bother explaining.”

Still, for a being to hold onto his soul like this, it was clear Janus wasn’t just any ordinary demon.

“Wow, look at you crunching the numbers in your head.”

Janus narrowed his eyes, folding his arms.

“Hrmm.”

Caught red-handed, Jeong-hoon turned his gaze away.

“Well, you’re not wrong. Why do you think I’m holding on to you?”

“Then…?”

“First, bow your head to me!”

“Bow?”

It was an insult to his pride, but this wasn’t the time to be picky.

If bowing his head meant he could gain power, he would gladly do it.

Just as Jeong-hoon bent his knees and was about to lower his head—

“Stop!”

“…Huh?”

“A man with no pride? You’re going to bow that easily?”

“You’re the one who told me to.”

“I was just saying it!”

“Then you’ll lend me your power?”

Jeong-hoon’s eyes gleamed.

Perhaps feeling pressured by that look, Janus averted his eyes and muttered:

“Yeah. But only if you prove your worth.”

“Worth?”

“Despite how I look, I’m someone who can wield both powers.”

“Both powers?”

“That’s right. Because of that, both the Celestial Realm and the Demon Realm had cartloads of bastards trying to hunt me down.”

Janus.

In ancient Rome, Janus was known as the god who guarded doors.

He was often depicted with two faces, one looking forward and one looking back, so that he had no blind spots.

“Then why were you inside a bracelet?”

“Bracelet?”

Janus tilted his head.

“Yeah. I received this rusted bracelet from the Celestial Realm. Right before I died, it glowed… and I realized you were calling me.”

“Ah… so those bastards in the Celestial Realm not only stole my possession, but they couldn’t even manage it properly?”

“…What?”

Janus explained that the bracelet given to Jeong-hoon had originally belonged to him.

The Celestial Realm, knowing Jeong-hoon’s body wouldn’t withstand the clash once he unlocked the Dark Power, handed him the bracelet so Janus’s voice could reach him.

“Tch. There really isn’t a single one of them I can stand.”

“Sorry about that.”

“…Huh? Why are you apologizing?”

“I’m currently aligned with the Celestial Realm. So I’ll apologize on their behalf.”

Maybe it worked, because Janus’s expression softened slightly.

“Forget it. We’re only working together for now because our goals happen to align. You’re not of the Celestial Realm.”

“Thanks for recognizing that.”

“Anyway, what you want is to wield both the Dark Power and the Power of Light, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. If I can’t wield Dark Power, I won’t be able to annihilate the demons.”

The Dark Power.

If anyone knew how to handle it, Janus did.

If Jeong-hoon could succeed in mastering it, he’d be able to march straight into the Demon Realm.

But Janus shook his head.

“Listen. Whether it’s the Demon Realm or the Celestial Realm—don’t trust anyone so easily.”

“Don’t trust them?”

“I don’t know who gave you that information, but it’s not 100% true.”

“Not true?”

Jeong-hoon frowned in confusion, and Janus pointed at himself as he continued.

“If it were the full truth, don’t you think both the Celestial Realm and the Demon Realm would’ve gone all out to capture me by now?”

“Then… Psyche lied to me?”

“Half right, half wrong.”

And then, from Janus’s mouth, came words that shook Jeong-hoon to the core.

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]