Collecting The Reparations

After isolating the space itself, I used wide-area death magic.

I designed it so that only that specific space would collapse and be thoroughly destroyed, and to escape this space, one had to emit at least as much mana as I did to induce a spatial fissure.

However, the mages here were at most 7th Circle users, and it was a general assessment that even within the same 7th Circle, there was a level of difference between ordinary mages and black mages in terms of mana and magical power.

In fact, when magic of the same circle collided, ordinary magic was pulverized or canceled out to a futile degree, and conversely, ordinary mages often suffered extreme damage because they could not fully dissipate the impact.

Ultimately, after confirming the sight of all 50 people pouring down as chunks of meat, I immediately used Call of Spirit to begin sorting the souls of the 12 individuals.

‘It’s difficult to interrogate everyone right now. Then, I have no choice but to seal them in Magic Stones.’

The uses for Magic Stones were very diverse.

Among them was the Soul Prison magic that trapped souls; it was a spell called the best yet worst punishment in black magic for inflicting eternal retribution, but many people felt a great repulsion toward using it, and it was actually a spell where an agreement had been reached to classify it as an excessively harsh punishment magic under international law and to avoid using it whenever possible.

However, I had no hesitation in using this against wicked people.

‘In truth, I’m not that clean of a person either. If you feel it’s unfair, come find me when I die. I’ll play with you then.’

I began to seal all 12 souls into Magic Stones.

A massive amount of mana was required, but I increased the absolute value of my mana by wearing the mana amplification artifact looted from here. Thanks to that, I could definitely reduce the burden of using the Soul Prison magic.

Afterward, after roughly tossing the Magic Stones that imprisoned them all into sub-space, I thought of what needed to be dealt with inside and ended up wandering around with a broad smile as the corners of my mouth curled up naturally.

But here, there was also something I didn’t quite like, and that was the trash who had been violating the women.

‘What should I do with these guys?’

Since they were clearly influential figures, I judged that a simple punishment would not be appropriate; therefore, I first made the women’s bodies clean using spells like Clean, took care of those who were relatively okay by pressing bundles of cash into their hands, and sent them outside, then crushed the rest of the trash into meat masses and threw their souls into sub-space after containing them in Magic Stones.

Then, I ablated the very existence of those guys from my memory and moved on to collect the rest of the items.

‘Pay for your sins by suffering for eternity.’

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Except for being a bit dizzy because I used a lot of mana, I’m fine.”

“Whew…”

Go Yu-jin let out a sigh of relief.

Furthermore, An So-mi also looked quite exhausted, as the police investigation seemed to have been rather difficult.

“Did everything end well?”

“Initially, yes. It was resolved well because it included several individuals wanted as Cultists of Ruin. But… did the task you went for resolve well?”

Was she worried about that because the world was too quiet?

Or was she suspicious of my appearance, which showed no change at all?

Regardless, the two women were puzzled upon hearing my words that things were settled well and that there were appropriate gifts.

So, first, I told Go Yu-jin to reach out her hand and took an item out of sub-space.

Go Yu-jin was puzzled after receiving it.

“What is this?”

“It’s an artifact. If you feel uncomfortable because a criminal used it, you don’t have to use it, but it’s a very good item.”

As she tilted her head, An So-mi shouted as if she recognized it.

“Kyaaa!! No way, wow! Holy shit, seriously amazing! Don’t you need this too, Seong-chan?”

“W-what is it that you’re making such a fuss about?”

“You dummy, it’s a Mana Amplification Ring! 50% mana amplification! It’s a national treasure-level artifact!”

She made such a huge fuss that the surroundings were quite noisy; had this not been Go Yu-jin’s house, she would have captured everyone’s attention.

“What about mine?!”

An So-mi’s eyes sparkled as if it were only natural, and since I had already spoken as if I would give them something, and felt the need to raise their skills even with artifacts since their current abilities would surely be despairing if they continued to get involved with the Cultists of Ruin.

So, I spoke quietly.

“I’ll provide it if you promise to always move together with Yu-jin.”

“…Wow, that’s too much.”

“I’m proposing this because I think it’s time for you to fix getting excited at the sight of blood.”

“Do you know how difficult that is?”

“I know. But if you can’t fix it, you will eventually be eaten away and swallowed by that power.”

In my serious gaze, An So-mi’s conflict was felt in its entirety.

She knew it herself. That if she could overcome the restriction placed on her, she could grow further, but this was a sort of ‘awakening’ condition that could not be easily overcome.

A weakness existed for every Awakener, and if they overcame that weakness, they could move forward one step.

By repeating such things and continuing to grow, one eventually reaches the state called the best.

‘For me…’

After briefly bringing up a thought, I quickly folded it and said while looking at An So-mi.

“The artifact I will provide is ‘Benoit’s Tears.’”

“Crazy…”

Benoit’s Tears was a very famous necklace-type artifact.

This was because it was a national treasure artifact with the ridiculous effects of 30% mana amplification and 30% magic power amplification.

In a way, it felt inferior to the item provided to Go Yu-jin, but this was providing what was necessary according to each person’s characteristics.

Go Yu-jin was a half-baked black mage who could only use magic for handling golems. However, handling golems meant that a massive amount of mana was required.

Therefore, mana amplification alone was sufficient.

But An So-mi was different. Like me, she was an all-rounder and could be said to specialize in destruction magic, so amplifying magic power was also very important.

It was a proper bait.

“I can’t not do it…”

Watching the dejected An So-mi, I took out the artifact to show her, and spoke while lightly evading her attempt to quickly snatch it.

“I’ll provide it once you overcome it. Because it would be troublesome if you wore this and went on a rampage before then.”

“Hmph… You’re too much.”

“It’s actually too much that you’re trying to avoid putting in even that much effort.”

“You, are you some kind of fucking T?”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“Ugh…”

An So-mi, who seemed to have much to say, would have no choice but to move according to my will. I also spoke to Go Yu-jin, who was still dazed.

“I think you too, Yu-jin, should try to use other magic instead of insisting only on golems so that you can move on to the next level.”

“It’s not easy. Even after years of effort, I can’t use magic above the 3rd Circle.”

“I wonder if your limit has been restricted.”

“A limit…”

Go Yu-jin looked complex in many ways. At any rate, after I briefly explained the circumstances of obtaining these artifacts, the two women shuddered.

“You mean they sacrifice people to pull these artifacts out of the Gates?”

“It seems there is some kind of method. Perhaps they satisfy specific conditions to create artifacts just as a Gate Core is formed?”

“Then this item is…”

“The item has no sin. And even if it was made through sacrifice, the resentment will be lessened if we do not abuse it.”

I quickly cut off Go Yu-jin’s next words, and as I met her gaze, she showed a complex expression.

It felt like her tender heart didn’t suit being a black mage.

On the other hand, An So-mi was confident.

“Right. Every item is the fault of the human using it, not the fault of the item! So, I will definitely overcome it soon…”

An So-mi had stopped at 5th Circle Master.

If she overcame the bloodlust, she would at least be able to rise to a 6th Circle user or up to a 6th Circle Master.

This was because I too reached my current state through two awakenings from the 5th Circle.

At any rate, I was merely sharing what I knew through experience; their growth would have no further path forward unless it was backed by effort.

‘I should induce them so that doesn’t happen.’

At least until every last Cultist of Ruin vanished from this land, growth must not stop.

Thereafter, fairly ordinary days followed.

It was bound to be quiet since the individuals who could be called the leadership of the Cultists of Ruin had been massacred in large numbers.

Furthermore, the social void left South Korea subtly confused; the government also stepped forward to actively resolve the situation due to the too-sudden large-scale disappearances, and as a result, nonsensical things began to be discovered at one location.

“The media is in an uproar. Apparently, trouble finally broke out in that religion.”

“They say dozens died due to a building collapse, but isn’t it hard to understand that Awakeners were crushed to death by a building?”

Go Yu-jin and An So-mi’s questions were directed at me.

It meant I should speak if I knew anything.

“It was those guys. The Cultist of Ruin leadership.”

“…As expected.”

“See, I told you it was Seong-chan’s doing!”

“Even so…”

It seemed the two had discussed something beforehand. So, I nonchalantly opened the sub-space and took out a Magic Stone, and the two women looked at me in surprise, realizing a soul was contained there.

“It’s the soul of the leadership who died there.”

“…Are you going to interrogate them with Call of Spirit again?”

“I must. I have no intention of stopping this conflict until I have completely uprooted them.”

“To them, it’s not at the level of a conflict, but a total war.”

“I don’t even consider a total war with such insignificant things. However… the real backing, the mastermind, is still fine, so I must find their location.”

“Now you’re even putting work aside?”

I spoke seriously at An So-mi’s words.

“I am definitely handling my duties. I cleaned two Gates today as well. Conversely, are you even trying to overcome your problem, Ms. An So-mi?”

“I am! I’m doing it!”

An So-mi was muttering, but since I knew she was trying, I ended it with a single remark and continued talking to Go Yu-jin.

“We just need to do the best each of us can.”

“Why… are you trying to go this far?”

“It is so that everyone can be safe.”

It could be said that we were sufficiently safe even now.

Since the majority of the Cultists of Ruin related to us had been removed.

“But it’s too dangerous. Someone will eventually get hurt or see blood.”

“I am stepping forward so that it doesn’t become our blood. You know that, right?”

One must process them thoroughly before getting hit to avoid future trouble.

I experienced that thoroughly through the last war, and also verified, proved, and felt it…

It was a mystery whether many experiences in various ways had created this current personality.

“…Some bastard is directly defying us. We must find out who it is, is there no way?”

Magic Tower Master Pi Jin-hyeok, who had accumulated a great deal of rage from losing his cherished subordinates, shuddered at the voice coming calmly from across the communication device.

-Do I look like I have a way? Even now, it’s such a mess because they’re poking around trying to find out why they were gathered there. -

Pi Jin-hyeok was not very satisfied with the answer from his communication partner, Chu Myeong-hun. However, Pi Jin-hyeok, who had no intention of staying still like this, spoke.

“Ultimately, if we don’t find the ones who caused that trouble, neither I nor you will be free. If you think you’re still absolute just because you’re a hero, I hope you realize that’s the thinking of an old man in the back room.”

-…I remember. But it’s better not to step forward right now. That friend Kim Dae-san has also started showing interest. -

Pi Jin-hyeok couldn’t help but flinch.

If the President had shown interest, it was no small headache.

Until now, Kim Dae-san was strong in maintaining an appropriate ‘line.’ However, he became serious at the news that he was trying to move as if he instinctively realized the balance was about to be disrupted, and he had to find a solution.

“I heard you have a connection to the Black Tower.”

-Cheon Jong-un is not a man who moves easily. A price is required. -

Pi Jin-hyeok answered while clenching his teeth.

“Tell that old man Cheon Jong-un that… since I found a new Necronomicon… tell him I’ll provide it as payment for taking care of the work.”

-So you were planning to use that as bait after all? Fine, but can you handle it? -

Pi Jin-hyeok was always wary of the power of black mages, which would surely become stronger.

Because it was an act that reduced the standing of mages. However, Pi Jin-hyeok spoke firmly because it was clear that they would eventually rush toward ruin if they couldn’t find the human who did this.

“I’m not the only one who’s anxious. If you’re confident there won’t be any trouble, keep maintaining that position.”

-Hehehe, don’t be so cold. I’m just as desperate. So, I’m saying I’ll cooperate? -

Pi Jin-hyeok cut off the communication immediately at Chu Myeong-hun’s annoying answer.

“Chu Myeong-hun, you son of a bitch!! You think only you can survive! You think so!! We all go down together. It’s the end!! God damn it!!”

The top of the Magic Tower shook from the surging mana, but many mages simply ducked their heads as it was a familiar feeling.