Chapter 599: Lucifer (2)

[[Exercising influence on the continent takes considerable power. Not only from those who immerse themselves in the light but also from us. I don’t mean to burden you, but I believe that one day there will be a reward for this.]

‘You’re the best, Lucifer.’

[There are a few things, so take a look.]

As soon as I nodded, I saw the mustached butlers bringing in some stuff. They were probably what the demons called cursed swords.

I didn’t know if they were already there or if she prepared them especially for the occasion, but I already knew the items were Myth-grade without having to look at them with my Mind’s Eyes.

There were some issues, however.

‘It looks too much like a magic sword.’

The disgusting design was the problem.

There was one with hundreds of eyeballs rolling on the handles, looking around as if they were alive. Another was designed like the mouth of a beast. I didn’t know if it saw me, but I turned my head away from the weapon drooling with its tongue protruding ravenously.

I didn’t know why its huge and long tongue now kept pointing at me.

[It seems that one is taking a liking to Legion General Lee Kiyoung.]

I didn’t want to be liked by it at all.

[Among the armaments before you, some are for those with a little special taste. In that one’s case, it has six tongues. I think it will be a fun partner if it just suits your taste. What do you think? Personally, I want to see Lee Kiyoung playing with that one.]

‘Haha… It’s okay… Since my physical power is low, it is difficult for me to deal with a cursed sword myself.’

[Although it is in the form of a sword, there are also cursed weapons that have a function to amplify magical power. However, there’s a minor problem. It consumes the user’s blood as a medium…]

No, thanks. That shouldn’t happen, either.

[There’s a downside that it slowly devours your soul, but there is also a cursed sword that turns the wielder into the strongest swordsman.]

That one with an old man’s ghost in the gem screaming? I would never pick it up. I thought I’d be cursed the moment I did. All of the items presented looked like I would fall into hell just by looking at them.

Wasn’t it irrational to hold that kind of sword and incite it as a holy sword? It was at least proper to make it look sacred, at least on the outside.

Only the warrior chosen by the holy sword could replace the previous owner of it.

Was it possible to claim that the ones before me were holy swords despite them looking vile and disgusting?

In that sense, all the cursed swords that Lucifer brought were out of the question. I really wanted to blame her for having only those, but that could mean my death.

Of course, since they all were worthless, I should’ve just picked any of them, but no matter how I looked at them, they didn’t go with the Army of Light’s identity. I wasn’t sure how to even explain the matter, however.

[It looks like you don’t have anything to your liking. I thought I selected quite pretty good ones. Why don’t you take the one that desperately wants you?]

That’s a bit…

‘Lucifer, oh Supreme Devil, and ruler of all the beauty of this world. I apologize for saying this, but is there a slightly simpler sword… as you might expect, because of my position in the continent…’

[I thought you would say that. However, most of the weapons I own have the same aspect…]

‘…’

Damn.

Did I have no choice but to pick randomly?

I thought the old man’s sword trapped in a gem and screaming out loud was the best option out of all of them. I would just have to go with the story that the warrior who saved the world centuries ago had sealed himself for future generations.

-I… I’ll curse you… you damn… huuuuumaaaaan… bastards… I’ll kill… and kiiiill… and kiiiiiill… hoooow… daaaaree…

Fine. I didn’t even want to take the old man, anyway.

Looking at it again, I thought that the weapon filled with eyeballs would be okay, although it was a bit disgusting…

-Creak! Creak! Creak! Creeeeeeaak!

I’d have to pass on that one, too.

-Cry, Hell Zhanmadao.

I didn’t know what it meant, but that one was also a miss.

I wondered if there was any normal sword among them. That didn’t mean I could just take the tongue one. I thought the function was definitely good, but I felt like it would consume my magic power every day… Above all, the appearance itself was grotesque. It had six tongues fluttering.

I couldn’t even tell them those were Benignore’s tongues.

Just thinking about it made me struggle.

[If so, how about this one?]

Lucifer, who was slightly smiling, showed me a sword that seemed to look normal.

Perhaps all the swords before were just a smokescreen for her to see and enjoy my reactions.

I thought it was in bad taste, but I shook my head when I took a closer look at it.

[The 666th Holy Sword of the Fallen Angel (Mythic-Grade)]

It had a brilliance that made me unknowingly drop my jaw.

The gray sword was impressive. It had an image of a god carved in a very classic form, making me feel divinity from it for some reason.

Of course, the energy that was coming out made me frown, but it was suppressed to the point that it couldn’t be noticed unless they had the Mind’s Eyes.

It was a sword that fitted all the conditions I required.

I had a hard time holding back a smile.

Of course, since it was cursed, there must’ve been side effects or penalties, but it didn’t matter since I wouldn’t be the one using it anyway. Lucifer grinned as if she had seen the reaction wherein I couldn’t hide my joy.

‘Is it… really okay for me to receive this priceless treasure…’

[Yes, I believe there will be a reward in the future.]

‘Of course. I will do whatever it takes… to give you something in return equivalent to this armament.’

[I look forward to it, Legion General Lee Kiyoung. If I could, I would spend more time with you, but it’s time to go. Did I take too much of your time?]

‘No, not at all. I wouldn’t dare have such reasonable thoughts. It was a valuable and precious time for me as well. It’s such a shame that we have to go now. If you have more time, how about having a glass of wine together…’

[I, too, want to be with you, but it seems I’m running out of time. The eyes observing me are starting to bother me, and it’s not like I don’t have anything to do. Anyway, this is farewell, for now. Thank you for entertaining me amid my boring and lethargic routine.]

‘This humble human is honored.’

[Finally, I’m embarrassed to say this, but if I’m not bothering you, can I ask for an autograph?]

‘Of course. It would be my pleasure.’

I knew that Doom Kiyoung was popular in hell, but I couldn’t even imagine that Lucifer would also ask such a request.

She handed over books written in demon language that I’d never seen before. Seeing that something about a plague was written on them, wouldn’t their contents be a lecture?

I didn’t know where all the dozens of books came from, but the mustached butlers were busy moving the unidentified books to me.

My arm even started to hurt.

However, I had to do that much, at least, to repay her.

It was a good deal anyway, considering I could gain her favor with a little bit of extra effort.

Certainly, the lecture at that time was properly embedded in the hearts of the moderates.

‘There are quite a lot of books. Do you enjoy reading?’

[They are from an event held in hell… no, these are books from an exhibition. For more information…]

‘Oh, I was being too cocky.’

She laughed silently.

I didn’t know if Lucifer forgot she said she was in a hurry, but she was pretty calm while waiting for me to finish signing all of the scriptures.

I knew that the time axis of the unconscious world and the world we were in was different, but it felt like a long time had passed. As I moved my arm mechanically without thinking, I became curious about how Cho Hyejin would react in that world.

Unlike before, I began to feel a little nervous.

I thought it would end soon, but I couldn’t even see the end of the queue.

Eventually, after a few more hours, she nodded satisfactorily.

[It was nice to meet you.]

‘No. It was my pleasure.’

[I’m worried that I’ve been delaying too much of your time.]

‘Hahaha, that’s okay.’

Actually, it wasn’t okay. Seeing that my current state was still being maintained, it didn’t seem like I had left the 5th District, but it still wouldn’t be good if I remained passed out for a long time.

I already got what I was aiming for, and I must have done everything I had to do.

I wanted her to send me back, but I didn’t know how to end the prolonged goodbye.

Fortunately, Lucifer also seemed to think that it was time to finish the conversation.

[It was fun, Legion Commander Lee Kiyoung.]

The moment she waved her lightly, my view began to shift as I felt my body falling into the abyss.

“Please… please…”

‘What the hell.’

The first scene I saw was Cho Hyejin’s face.

‘Why are you so close?’

I didn’t know if she was aware that she was crying on me, but her tears continued to fall on my face.

I didn’t know how long the condition lasted, but fortunately, it didn’t seem that much time had passed; perhaps it was even less than 30 minutes.

I was tired, and I felt like I wanted to take a nap, but…

“Sniff…”

I moved a bit, hearing her voice.

“Ah…”

Of course, she expressed her concern immediately.

“A-Are… Are you okay? Are you really okay?”

“Where am I…?”

“Can’t you remember? I’m Cho… Cho Hyejin… and this is the 5th District. Y-You are Lee Kiyoung of the Blue Guild… and we’re f-friends.”

“I didn’t ask that, Hyejin. Didn’t I say it was nothing?”

“…”

“I remember everything. So you don’t have to explain it to me.”

“…”

“You don’t have to treat me like I’m an old man with dementia. The curse hasn’t reached that stage yet. I remember everything vividly. You were crying loudly before, and you’re still crying.”

“Who… sniff… who said I’m crying?”

“Thank you… for listening to my request.”

“If you woke up 10 minutes later, I would have already taken you to the guild. No… if I could, I would’ve taken you there right now.”

“I already told you. I’m fine. Well… anyway, thank you.”

“…”

“How much time has passed exactly?”

“About 15 minutes…”

“I have been lying down for quite a while.”

“Are you really okay? Are you sure?”

“Yes, it happens sometimes… so you can rest assured. I already told you this a few times, but you don’t have to take it too seriously.”

“If you’re having a hard time… you can tell me.”

‘A hard time… Hyejin, not at all. We got the jackpot. A really huge one.’

I felt like I wanted to scream in joy, but…

‘She’s too solemn.’

Cho Hyejin’s face, who witnessed the seriousness of the situation with her own eyes, bothered me.