168 - 174

[Yu IlHan, now....?] (Erta)

[Now!] (Liera)

"Yes, now!"

While Erta was unsure, Liera was, and Yu IlHan agreed while crouching in a fetal position. At that moment, a grand explosion occurred!

[Kuwaaaaaaaaah!]

"Uaaaaaaah!"

The golem roared, but the one who actually wanted to scream was Yu IlHan. The effect of the explosion was so large that, Yu IlHan's body sprung upwards due to the impact! He only endured while putting his faith into Aegis and his armor. Also…..

"Damn, this thing still isn't dead! Then..."

[You really are going to do that? Do you have to do it?] (Liera)

"I don't know anymore!"

Yu IlHan took out his Eight-tailed dragon spear, and activated purple flames, enhanced it with the Eternal Flame, and activated the Dragonic blood-enhanced Blaze.

[Are you really going to do it?] (Liera)

[You'll really die!] (Erta)

"If I die.... please blast my the (D:) drive on my laptop to smithereens without asking!"

An absurdly high temperature heat appeared on the spear, and Yu IlHan struck beneath his foot with it.

"Uooooh!" (This is MC)

BOOOOOOM! An explosion incomparable to the one just now, occurred! The once-exploded magic gunpowder on various parts of its body (scattered due to the first explosion) was affected by Blaze and caused a secondary explosion!

[Kuooooooh!]

The true might of the bomb only started now. The magic gunpowder scattered deep inside its body, amplified the already volatile energy of Blaze to the extreme, and instantly melted its body into a pool of magma. That which melted the golem's body, also tried to melt Yu IlHan as well.

No matter how high Yu IlHan's fire attribute resistance was, it was impossible to endure without a single scratch amidst all that. In the pain that made him feel like his guts were melting, he glugged on Breath like mad and endured. He actually found it quite endurable after a while.

"Hey, it's actually pretty warm once you get used to it….."

[Even a higher existence like me is feeling hot! What was that!?] (Spiera)

[IlHan, come to yourself! You must not sleep!] (Liera)

[I can understand your worry for him, but that's a death flag for the snowy mountains!] (Erta)

How long had he endured in that state? The moment Yu IlHan decided to take out a new cheer pack, the surroundings turned silent as if everything was a lie. Until just now, his ears were almost numb from the golem's roars, the churning of the insides, and the trembling from everywhere, but now they had all disappeared.

Immediately after that, the text that signified his victory, etched onto his retina.

[You have earned, 488,910,776,003 experience.]

[You have become level 162. 2 Strength, 2 Agility, 2 Health, 2 Magic increases.]

[You have earned the record of Lv 270 Keshna Golem.]

"Urgh."

And at that moment, an enormous quantity of information flowed into Yu IlHan's head. To exaggerate a little, it was similar to the time he received the blessing from the god of smithing.

Yu IlHan didn't imagine that such a thing would happen, but the golem named 'Keshna Golem' had absorbed the records of the ruins in the process of fusing everything into its body, and with Yu IlHan defeating the Keshna Golem, all the records had flowed into Yu IlHan's brain now!

No….. well, to be exact, this was precisely what those ancestors intended!

"This fucker! This is no trap, but something that would activate either way!"

[Sheesh, there really are some lunatics out there. Do you think humanity dies out in places because of psychos like this one…..?] (Liera)

Of course, it wasn't like the magic engineering researchers had intentions to destroy the empire with a golem levelling 270. The problem was the golem they had created!

Keshna. This magic metal possessed incredible mana absorbability, tensile strength and was counted as one of the highest-tier metals, but other than that, if it was processed through a special means, it becomes possible for it to absorb the records from another object and preserve it in its entirety.

That was why, the ancestors created a golem from it, intending for it to absorb the records, and enable the successors to defeat it and absorb all of those records!

..... That, was, the original intention, but the record absorbability of the Keshna Golem was beyond their imaginations. It would have been good if it just ended with absorbing the magic engineering-related records, but while it was waiting in darkness, it had rapidly grown stronger by absorbing all sorts of other records!

Contrary to the ancestors' intentions for a successor to find the place soon, it was left alone for countless years, and the golem which became stronger through absorbing records alone for a long period of time, had actually broke through to the 4th class, and reached level 270!

And, as intended, it lifted its body in order to defeat the invaders. Result being the scene that had just taken place.

In other words, the ancestral researchers wanted make a 'golem that can act as a device to transfer all of the records in its entirety', but ended up creating a 'golem that infinitely becomes stronger'. This was a result more absurd than inventing post-its while trying to develop adhesives!

"And this must be their karma."

The angels who heard Yu IlHan's short explanation could only smile bitterly. They, decided to stop at the conclusion that mana crafters, whether new or old, were all psychos.

[So, how are you going to get out, IlHan?] (Liera)

"Oh, this is all mine now."

Replied Yu IlHan while avoiding the still uncooled magma. He swung his Eight-tailed dragon spear to procure a place to stand, and without much difficulty, he put away the golem, to be exact, the parts that were only composed of the magic metal.

One moment, and the space was empty. Yu IlHan, took out spears from his inventory and destroyed his way out.

Beyond the traces of the stone mountain, which looked like a disaster had struck, his group was waiting for him.

"Dad!"

"Mr. IlHan!"

"So cool... It will be perfect is there was the white letters 'END' at the bottom left of the background~!"

First, I'll smack Na YuNa on the forehead – he decided, as he walked towards them.

Well, there was something else he had decided on.

He wouldn't even look in the direction of Lanpas from today onwards!

***

"I'm extremely sorry! I was planning to repay you for the necklace, but to think I'd ended up causing an inconvenience…..!"

"It's alright. I've got the experience and the magic metal as well."

The imperial princess couldn't lift her head in front of him. Yu IlHan didn't bother mentioning the fact that the golem would have activated either way. The opponent was being humble, so he didn't find a need to relieve her burden at all.

Well, he did express his thanks saying that he had acquired plenty of materials related to magic engineering.

"Oh, and I won't be going to that banquet either. I want to go back quickly."

"But you've suffered so much. Why don't you rest for a day here-"

"If you really want, then please give me the food that will appear in the banquet."

Said Yu IlHan while taking out a L*ck&L*ck box.

"I hate people, not the food."

"Put it... here? The food?"

"If you can, pack an assortment into it."

The imperial princess couldn't possibly say no, and accepted the box with a strange expression. Then, she looked towards Kang MiRae for help. Kang MiRae noticed that, and said as well.

"We'll wait for you to come back, so please be on your way."

"Traitor!"

The imperial princess walked on the hallway while stomping on the ground. Yu IlHan smile at that and asked Kang MiRae.

"I'll borrow the bath though. My body's a mess right now."

"Yes, this way."

"I wanna bathe with daddy too!"

"Then me too, with Mr. IlHan~... ouchouchouchouchouch!"

Na YuNa's attempt to go with them was for naught. Thanks to Kang MiRae's consideration, Yu IlHan and Yumir could enjoy a luxurious and leisurely bath.

Of course, he had also set up a luxurious bath in the Bittersweet Persona, but it did lose out when compared to the one in the imperial castle. Yu IlHan entered the bath with Yumir and stretched his body, while trying to find any points to learn from the bath facilities of the imperial castle.

"Dad, wasn't it scary?"

These were Yumir's words while he scraped Yu IlHan's back with a soft towel. Yu IlHan thought about what he was referring to, and realized that it was the battle a while ago.

Scary, huh. It looks like Yumir had felt a sense of fear facing the overwhelming size of the golem. Well, it was no wonder, since the golem did indeed have an overwhelming size, and an overwhelming strength to go with it.

If he did not have the magic gunpowder or the Death Driver, Yu IlHan would have had to put much more effort into defeating it. Although, he didn't think he would lose.

So, it was natural for Yumir, who was both young and still weak, to get scared. Perhaps Yu IlHan was a bad parent for forgetting that he was only three years old now…

"You don't have to worry about the big-sized guys. Dad won easily, didn't I?"

"Was it easy?"

Yumir's voice turned serious, so Yu IlHan pondered seriously as well. Of course, the conclusion was the same.

"Yup, it was easy."

Yu IlHan had already prepared a lot to fight against large enemies, and had coincidentally met one that just fit that criteria. Naturally, there was no other outcome than victory, and so, he won.

Well, yes, he did panic when the enemy used an attack he didn't predict, but in any case, they were all attacked that he had put up countermeasures against. It wouldn't have been so easy if his Excavation skill didn't rise at the decisive moment, but in any case, it was quite an easy battle.

"Then what is hard to you, dad?"

"Higher existence."

Yu IlHan immediately replied.

"If it's the others, I feel like I can face them with my techniques artifacts or wits, but I still can't find a solution against higher existences. I feel like I can do it once I am 4th class, but for now, it's still impossible. No matter how stealthily I move, it will be meaningless if I cannot penetrate their skins."

"So that's it. Dad is strong after all. Your standards are completely different from others."

Yumir nodded, but his voice was trembling as if slightly frustrated. Yu IlHan could feel more pressure on his back.

"I wanted to help dad, but I was sad because I couldn't do anything."

"You helped out plenty."

"No, it's not that."

His abilities rose just by fighting together, and he also inflicted a fatal strike with Dragonic blood, so he couldn't say that Yumir wasn't of help. However, Yumir didn't seem to be satisfied with just that. As expected of a dragon.

"I want to become stronger. I want to fight a lot, and eat a lot."

"Yes."

"And I'll become a dragon that suits you, dad."

"Yes, you will be able to."

In fact, Yumir was plenty strong right now, but Yu IlHan thought that it was not a bad thing to give a positive stimulus to the child. And also...

"Now I got my hands on magic engineering knowledge, I'll make a present for you Mir. However, I'll only give it to you once I see that you're growing fast."

"Really!?"

A suitable reward would help his desire! Yu IlHan could feel that the mana in Yumir's body was thumping, in a positive way. Yu IlHan felt better since he thought that he took a step forwards as a father.

[I wanna bathe too! With Mir~~~!] (Na YuNa)

[...come, here, and, sit, down.] (Kang MiRae)

[Hiik!] (Na YuNa)

At that moment, faint voices could be heard. It looks like the people out there didn't think that it would be audible inside the bath, but Yu IlHan's senses were already beyond that of a 3rd class. Mir was the same. The father and son looked at each other and laughed.

When the father and son exited the bath, the imperial princess was waiting outside. Her expression of achievement was quite impressive.

"Here, I've put in every single one of them! By me! For Mr. Yu IlHan only!"

"Splendid!"

Yu IlHan took back the L*ck&L*ck box from her. However, the imperial princess also handed him a jewel that was emitting violet light.

"This is?"

"It's an item that was found when we first went to the magic engineering ruins. Mana can be felt from it, but we can't do anything about it, so I'll give it to you."

Yu IlHan accepted the jewel. He also checked its information, but for now, he had the same conclusion as the imperial princess. This was an item that was already processed once, and its uses were incomprehensible right now. Perhaps he would understand after he made all the magic engineering knowledge his.

"Our empire wants to be on friendly terms with you in the future. I implore you to please remember this."

"...Got it."

He did expect this, but it looks like she still had a sense of guilt.

Well, it was no wonder, since, although such things were everyday life for Yu IlHan, for her, it was a disaster that would only have a chance of happening once every few hundred years. It was natural that she thought that Yu IlHan had a bad first impression of the empire.

"It really is alright. If anything, I profited since I levelled up."

"Even so….."

"Then let's do it this way. This jewel is my compensation. Oh, and when you enter a newly found ruin, please be careful. It looks like the magic kingdom had quite a lot of psychopaths."

"Yes, sir."

[As if he's not a psychopath…..]

[Shh.]

Although they had to do something completely different from what he had expected here, Yu IlHan, Yumir, Na YuNa, and Kang MiRae could safely return to Earth. They had harvested more than they had expected too!

And the next day, he set off for Breya after repairing his equipment.

Time to acquire a new source of metal and holy stones.

Author's notes

What 2nd Great Cataclysm is to the people of Earth : Struggle for survival

What 2nd Great Cataclysm is to the people of other worlds : Opportunity.

What 2nd Great Cataclysm is to Yu IlHan : Labour

Translator's notes

Special thanks to Daniel P!

Breya was a world with a particularly large number of people worshipping recorded gods, influencing their civilization such that there were lots of technology and culture related to those gods. At the same time, a world where holy power belonging to priests and priestesses rivalled political power and influence.

With the same members that had journeyed to Lanpas, Yu IlHan arrived at the holy empire of Elforce, where the faction worshipping the goddess of beauty, Leytna, had the most say. Perhaps, as a sign of devotion to the goddess of beauty, there were a lot of pink-colored buildings.

"Lady maiden, hello!"

"Hi!"

"Holy empire, huh….."

"Well, how is it!"

Yu IlHan was looking around when Na YuNa asked as she moved her face close to him. Yu IlHan pushed her forehead away and replied nonchalantly.

"It's similar to Earth."

"Ah, it's the holy maiden!"

"Hello! ... well~ look at this~."

Yu IlHan listened to Na YuNa's words and looked at the surroundings with widened eyes. However, he couldn't comprehend what she meant.

"Lady maiden!"

"Hi!"

The people walking around didn't have any special type of clothing either…. no, wait.

"Lady maiden!"

"It really is the holy maiden!"

"...You're quite popular here."

"Heheh, that's it!"

With a proud face, Na YuNa pushed out her chest in a proud manner. It looks like she had wanted him to notice that from the beginning. Really, she was no different from an elementary schooler.

"I am treated like this here~! So please give me some love too in the future, Mr. IlHan~!"

"You don't have to worry about me, so play tic tac toe with the guys here all you want."

"Hiin~ that's not it..."

Leaving aside the dejected Na YuNa, Yu IlHan walked the streets with Yumir. Even the food from the banquet in Lanpas had splendid food. Eating the local specialties was one of the true joys of travelling! He was planning to enjoy everything that he wouldn't be able to back home.

[Looks like Na YuNa is quite dejected but….. well, you must be thinking about food.] (Erta)

[Even if IlHan falls into hell, he'll look for tasty food and special metals first.] (Liera)

[I'd find it fortunate if he did not plan to enhance the flames in hell with the Eternal Flame.] (Spiera)

"You guys are too much!"

Leaving aside Liera, who had lived with him for the longest time, even Erta and Spiera knew him too well! While being shocked, Yu IlHan silently added hell tourism onto his bucket list.

"Give me two of these Kavur ice cream."

"Two Kavurs, right up."

Then, he ordered two ice cream from the store in front of him, in a pronunciation more fluent than the locals and shared the ice cream with Yumir.

"Dad, this is delicious!"

"That's true."

It looked like some kind of fruit or spices unique to this world was added into it. Yu IlHan thought that he had achieved his objective just by experiencing a new taste. Then, he bought two more ice creams before returning to Kang MiRae and Na YuNa.

"Cheer up with this. There are plenty of people in the world, other than me, who would be delighted to play with you."

"I want to play with you though….. Ah, so nice."

Even while grumbling, Na YuNa deliciously ate the icecream Yu IlHan gave her. Kang MiRae looked at the scene with dumbfounded eyes, but she too, fell silent as the ice cream was very good. Yu IlHan decided to take the ingredients of this Kavur ice cream or whatever it was called, back to Earth.

"So, what do I need to do here? What, do I need to fight a golem made of holy stones now or something?"

"And if I say yes?"

"Of course, I'd welcome it. Afterwards, the holy stones will all be mine."

Now, Yu IlHan had the confidence to defeat golems with his eyes closed. The drill... the Death Driver and the Pile Bunker were plenty strong – he had confirmed that! Moreover, he had some grenades that made use of the magic gunpowder and the Giant's Rubber Band, so he had nothing to be afraid of.

"I don't want to. It was the worst battle, with me unable to do anything."

"Me too."

Unintentionally, it looked like the battle with the Keshna Golem ended up as a sort of trauma for Kang MiRae and Yumir. Yu IlHan sought to change topics and urged Na YuNa.

"So, what is it?"

"You'll know if you come with me!"

Na YuNa pulled on Yu IlHan's sleeve. Yu IlHan couldn't hide his worry, for now, he decided to follow her obediently. It should at least be better than his time in Lanpas, right?

There was a time, when he thought that was true.

"Tada!"

The place Na YuNa lead him to was a ruin.

"It's here!"

"What's here?"

Yu IlHan asked back as he looked around.

He estimated that there was something important, as they had entered deep into the forest guarded by numerous priests and priestesses along with paladins. And when they arrived, it was a ruin; one that looked like it used to have a slightly very tall building!

The building itself looked like it was built a considerable amount of time ago, but from the context of the request, he guessed that it wasn't too long ago that it collapsed. While his questions grew bigger and bigger, Na YuNa opened her mouth.

"This place is a super high-tier sacred place that is said to be where the goddess of beauty, Leyta, had once descended upon. It is also the location where the original Leyta Temple was built as well as where the baptism ceremonies were carried out.... in any case, you can consider it the most important place in our church."

"I have two questions."

"If you kiss me, then I'll ans... ouchouchouchouchouch."

Yu IlHan pinched on Na YuNa's soft cheeks so it would leave a faint mark, and asked with a nonchalant face. It wasn't like he didn't want to ask how a recorded god descended on the land, but for now, he focused on the necessary information first.

"Why is such a place in a mess?"

"Not long ago, there was a grand battle with a super-sized 4th class monster over level 250. There were so many casualties that we decided to lure it to this place to fight it. This is because the the goddess's holy power is amplified in this place~."

A shocking reason was returned to him. He regretted pinching Na YuNa's cheeks, and spoke in a slightly difficult voice.

"....It's fortunate that you're safe, miss Na YuNa."

"I'm alright. I'm a VVVIP, so I won't die unless everyone else does. However..."

Unlike the usual her, she was making some frightening remarks with a dark expression. Yu IlHan could guess what came after that. He quickly spoke and prevented her from speaking.

"So, what do you want me to do here?"

"Building the Great Temple again."

He didn't know she would actually request that, even though he had guessed that it may be that from mid way the story!

"There are a lot of elements needed to build the Great Temple, and the only craftsman that satisfy all the conditions while enhancing the temple even further, is you, Mr. IlHan."

"Well, that's definitely an important request in the viewpoint of the Leytna Church….."

Then they should call a professional construction worker, why did they call for him!

"If you made such a large mansion, then you can do it! I believe in you~!"

"Such a baseless belief always ruins everything!"

Yu IlHan sighed and looked around the place. Just from the size of the ruins, he could estimate the size of the structure. It looked like this wouldn't end in just one or two days. Well, it would be within his personality to refuse, but...

'I want the holy stones.'

Of course, this would be after he had deepened his knowledge on magic engineering, but he had the thought that he might be able to make an amazing item if he used the holy stones. Perhaps at the level of Bittersweet persona.... or perhaps, even better ones.

There was one other thing that was tugging on his mind, but Yu IlHan didn't acknowledge that so that was nulled. He opened his mouth and spoke.

"Okay. I'll do it. I have a few conditions though."

"Yeah~!"

Yu IlHan first wanted to meet the overseer of the project. Only after he talked with that person and received some payment up front, was he willing to talk about working environments.

Or so he thought, but.

"I'm the overseer!"

"How!"

"Because I'm the holy maiden!"

Yu IlHan felt unpleasant with Na YuNa's uselessly blinding smile. Although he did think that this world had quite a lot of loose screws, where Na YuNa was acknowledged and relied on, he....

"Okay, then. Let's negotiate now."

He thought that if it was her, he would be able to rip her off more, so it wasn't a bad thing!

"Hiik! Mr. IlHan, you have a scary expression! MiRae, help me!"

"Mr. IlHan, if it's negotiation, then leave it to me. Ripping more off others is my specialty."

"Traitor~~!"

The negotiation went smoothly. Yu IlHan faced the ruins again after negotiating with tens of sheets of blueprints of the temple, the human resources support, work times, as well as the quality of the holy stones for rewards.

Not to mention the debris around the place, there was also the flipped lands. He felt stifled just by watching.

"You're not going to use these debris somewhere, right?"

"We aren't, but what…."

Yu IlHan took a deep breath and lifted his hand. And with that, a portion of the debris on the site straight up disappeared. He had collected them into his inventory.

"Wow!"

"Dad is amazing!"

In fact, there was no need for Yu IlHan to raise his hand either. All the ruined parts within Yu IlHan's range of remote collection all entered Yu IlHan's inventory without a single speck of sand remaining. The history, the weight, the sadness, the resentment – disappeared as well.

The group dumbfoundedly watched as Yu IlHan proceeded forward while collecting everything into his inventory like a vacuum cleaner. They knew of Yu IlHan's ability, but they were still surprised.

It didn't end there, and at the same time Yu IlHan flattened the cracked lands and stitched them. Some things popped out from time to time while other things stomped on the ground and flattened them. Even though they were watching, they couldn't believe it!

"I thought it would take several days to clean up the debris…"

"I'll take the usable ones back out later."

On one side, he picked out the relatively usable ones, and those that may become usable after some work. Although they looked like a mess when they entered, when they came back out, they were all cleaned of dust and piled up neatly, every piece looked so nice that they could be mistaken for new materials.

[Although I don't want to admit it, remote collection may just be the most optimized ability for construction and manual labour.] (Liera)

[You didn't have to say that out loud!] (Erta)

Yu IlHan worked on the materials there. The work ended not very long after.

"We still manage to make out 20% of them."

"I thought we wouldn't be able to use them again….. Thank you."

Perhaps Na YuNa had a lot of emotional attachment to the compound. She made a bright smile while stroking on an intact pillar. A smile that left a deep impression on Yu IlHan's mind.

Thinking that this location was indeed very strange, making Na YuNa look like a normal person, Yu IlHan spoke to her.

"And so? The rest of the materials?"

"Ah."

She looked like she had thought up of something at Yu IlHan's question, and made a proposal.

"We're making them... but if you help out they might finish faster!"

Like that, Yu IlHan and co swapped locations again. Yu IlHan found Na YuNa's smile a little unpleasant, but decided to follow her for now. It would be better if work finished up quickly!

All of the materials used to build the Great Temple of the Leyta Church were the stones from the stone mountain that the church had managed for a long time.

They were extremely sturdy, with the goddess's holy power contained in them; and when they were completed in the form of a temple, even 4th classes wouldn't be able to break it easily.

"Errrrrrgh!"

"Carve a little more! If we carve a little more, the temple's pillars…"

"Lady Leytna, please give me a little more power! Power to excavate this stone...!'

And so, they were trying ridiculously hard to excavate and process. Ordinary people weren't even allowed to enter here, so it was the paladins and priests that were doing the work, and the scene of them calling out to the god they worship, while struggling, was quite a sight to see.

"I'll do this. In the name of Lady Leytna...!"

"Eergh, is it half way out now!"

"..."

Yu IlHan became speechless with the scene of lunacy in front of him. He tried to retreat backwards, but Na YuNa grabbed onto him, her eyes full of stars.

"Mr. IlHan's drill should work~!"

"…..Dammit."

With that, Yu IlHan's excavation resumed.

Author's notes

N/A

Translator's notes

"This part simply won't budge... huh!?"

"Just where is that amazing sound coming from, what!?!!"

The gazes of the priests and paladins labouring away in the quarry had all headed towards one place from some time ago. There was someone who, despite being in the same place, looked very different to others present.

"Just, what… is that....?"

"The stones are being carved out like mad! These stones are hard to break even with skills...!"

"Shut up!"

This was an era where hundred people working together to dig out the stones, and ten people working together to carve out the stones had become common sense. A single person was doing everything by himself as if to laugh at them!

"Uooooh!"

Yu IlHan's Death Driver and the attached bone screw spun violently. This was a drill that dug through a level 270 golem's body On the other hand, the stones in this quarry were, in the end, just stones. Even if they contained holy power, there was no way he'd lose!

"Whoa, such a large stone was so easily…!"

"Wait, isn't that the arch in the Great Temple!? How can this be, he's processing it at the same time he's digging it out?"

In front of Yu IlHan's bold but precise control, the giant stone slabs were excavated, and subsequently processed with pinpoint accuracy. They may as well be just used directly without any additional processing. Naturally, this was only possible for Yu IlHan since he had memorized the entire blueprint Na YuNa had given him!

[The skill, Excavation, has become level 51.]

Leaving aside the fact that the skill he acquired yesterday was going past level 50, it was amazing that that skill was rising so quickly again. Of course, the reason was none other than the stones containing the power of a goddess. So, Yu IlHan was unintentionally becoming an expert in the Excavation skill.

"Amazing!"

"In just ten minutes, he did more work than what all of us could do in one week!"

"Don't just exclaim and work! Roarrrrr!"

As expected of Yu IlHan, who got used to labor the more he did it, the speed at which he excavated and processed the stones became faster as well. Seeing him switch out his bone screw and breaking the weak parts of the stones with calculated strikes, some people even felt lightheaded.

"MiRae, here!"

"Why me too.... Thunder Strike!"

"Wind Cutter!"

Kang MiRae and Yumir were also working hard. Her lightning would break the giant stones apart, and Yumir would polish them with delicately controlled wind magic. As the two had extraordinary ability, they could be considered the two MVPs if not for Yu IlHan.

"MiRae, next is this!"

"You're shamelessly ordering me now…..!"

"But didn't you say that you wanted to be of help to him?"

"I wasn't talking about stuff like this! When I said I wanted to help him, what I wanted was a more….. Eeeeeei!"

"Uoooooooh!"

"It broke through! The mountain has a hole now!"

"Whoa, the statue! Why is the statue that depicts the scene of Lady Leytna's descent, here?"

Of course, they couldn't surpass Yu IlHan, who made a statue with a single drill.

3 days after Yu IlHan was put to work in the quarry, the procuring of the construction materials had ended. Although there was some in-between process to delicately polish and sand them, those could be during the course of the construction process.

"An amazing man."

"Even if he monopolized the maiden's buffs…. And there was that strange equipment too..."

"I heard that that man was the greatest architect from Earth."

"Are all architects on Earth such monsters!?"

Ignoring the priests and paladins that tried to spread rumors about him, he put all the construction materials into his inventory. Then, he shouted towards the priests and paladins that were whispering until now.

"Now, we're going over to the ruins to build the temple! You guys are coming with me!"

"Yes!"

"We shall follow you!"

From some time, Yu IlHan had become the ruler of the quarry, and everyone followed him without talking back. A mere digger, not a priest or anything belonging to the Leytna Church, had acquired the faith of everyone.

Yu IlHan's grandeur stood out even more once the construction started – A wave of his hand flattened the ground, another flick of his wrist laid out the stones containing holy power from the goddess. The priests were even slightly excited.

"Is he also one that is blessed by the goddess? We can't explain all of this otherwise!"

"He's the person who will marry me~!"

"I'm not."

The construction of the Temple was actually easier than when he had made the Bittersweet Persona, reason being, that there was no need for him to mana craft the place.

The stones containing the goddess's holy power would influence each other and become stronger in the process of becoming a part of the temple, and will generate special properties. This wasn't something that happened with Yu IlHan's influence, but something that was just planned out to be like that. It was truly mysterious and strange.

"Recorded gods, eh….."

[I said they don't exist. I'm speaking as a person who received a blessing, so it's definitely true.] (Liera)

"I also have one, duh. The blessing from the god of smithing."

[Religion is free. Since those foolish humans would have gained strength while believing in a false god.] (Spiera)

Throughout the entire construction process, the priests stayed nearby and imbued holy power into the location and the temple itself. The temple absorbed it and emitted an even thicker pink glow, causing Yu IlHan to feel somewhat strange while touching and constructing the temple that grew stronger and stronger as if growing, just like a real life form.

This strange power, known as the holy power of a false god – a strange feeling that something faint, that he could not grasp, but was already in his hands, tugged away at his mind.

"Mr. IlHan. If you're tired, then do you want to rest with me for a bit~?"

"I'm not tired. And even if I do rest, I'll rest alone."

"Hm, it looks like you're still alright!"

"You diagnosed my exhaustion levels with just those words!?"

The re-construction of the Great Temple, that was predicted to take at least one year, had progressed at least 30 times as fast as that.

Even the people at the Church of Leytna couldn't help but acknowledge Yu IlHan's abilities, when they were initially half doubtful of Na YuNa's selection of personnel. Of course, Yu IlHan couldn't care less about what others thought of him!

"Good, now it's almost finished."

[Perhaps because you received the blessing from the god of smithing, the temple you made feels slightly special. Look at that. It's been a long time since I saw such cleanly refined holy power.] (Liera)

[Do you not get it, Liera? It's not because of the god of smithing. Yu IlHan had become used to the holy power of the goddess of beauty. Like how a physical body wields mana, he's wielding the holy power of the goddess with the stones containing the holy power.] (Spiera)

"I'm not sure about that... but if possible, I feel like I don't even want to finish and just keep continuing until I get used to this power. I feel like I can extract the power from the holy stones to the very limit if I do that."

At first, Yu IlHan had only accepted Na YuNa's request in order to get some holy stones, but working while receiving a near infinite amount of holy power within the construction site deepened his comprehension on god's power itself, and he felt like he had received plenty of rewards already.

Although he did feel this slightly while processing the boulders in the quarry into parts that would be used to construct the temple, he felt it more clearly now, during construction. These gods weren't simply just egos created from countless human wills, by the Akashic Record. He felt like there was an independent existence that was graspable, beyond that.

[Don't think about it too hard, Yu IlHan. You only need to accept what is before your eyes.] (Erta)

"It's a problem since I can't see them, duh."

If he grasped it… he felt like he could advance a little more... but for now, this was something unreachable since he didn't know how and what to 'grasp'.

While Yu IlHan's thoughts became deeper in an unexpected place in an unexpected method, the construction of the Great Temple, proceeded like a ship with smooth sail, and met its end on the 9th day of the construction.

"Mr. IlHan, you need to bring it here~!"

"Fuuup."

The statue of the goddess that Yu IlHan had carved out with all of his soul and body, with the Death Driver – The moment he placed the statue, that looked similar to Na YuNa for some reason, in the center of the temple, the entire venue was covered in a mellow pink fog.

It was a signal that everything had finally reached completion, becoming a temple containing the goddess's power! The priests and paladins that eagerly waited for this moment all started chanting prayers and heightened their holy powers, with the highest being present, Na Yuna of course .

"Lady goddess. Please put your power to work to never let it fall any more in the future~!"

At that moment, there was a grand explosion of light! While everyone looked towards the holy maiden, Na YuNa was making a nonchalant smile. Immediately after that, pink text etched onto the retinas of everyone present.

[The Great Temple of the goddess of beauty, Leytna, was constructed. You will receive the records of the goddess of beauty according to contribution.]

"Wow, looks like I'll get even prettier now."

That was as expected from Na YuNa, who was engrossed in decorating herself and acknowledging her beauty. Yu IlHan snorted with a hmph, but still stealthily asked Liera.

"Did my face become a little better?"

[Your face was already perfect though!] (Liera)

[You asked the wrong person, Yu IlHan. And there wouldn't be such immediate changes!] (Erta)

While Yu IlHan was feeling a little down, the others also started to react to the text on their retinas. As they were all those that dedicated their lives and lived for the name Leytna, their happiness and joy were incomparable to that of Yu IlHan's.

"Oh my god. We actually succeeded in rebuilding the temple!"

"The goddess has answered our prayers. This is all thanks to..."

"The architect Yu IlHan!"

"Yu IlHan!"

But somehow, their cheers started to derail into a different direction. They should just call out to the goddess, but it looked like the charisma Yu IlHan had shown them had influenced them so much that he was praised as well! The goddess would probably feel really disappointed.

"Let's make a bronze statue of him!"

"We need to appoint him an honorary priest. Let's record today as the celebratory day for rebuilding the temple...!"

"Since the temple was rebuilt so fast, let's pray to the goddess for….. huh?"

And they realized.

That the figure of the man that was with them until just now, had disappeared.

***

After returning to Earth, Yu IlHan first acquired the holy stones, the rewards, from the construction request. Like how Na YuNa boasted of it as the highest-tier holy stones, it was very large and glowy, but when Na YuNa blessed it with a prayer, it started to emit a faint pink light constantly.

"The pope wanted to see you though~."

"No, I honestly don't want to get involved with that church. They all have too much emotion."

Of course, with the worst being Na YuNa in front of him. She had somehow come to him without MiRae, and was smiling brightly while making Yumir sit on her lap.

"Although I'm a little bold, I'm truly being honest. I think living while letting your hearts out without hiding it is a truly great thing!"

Then, she would say a line that struck the heart as if it was nothing. Yu IlHan sighed and shrugged.

"You can live that way if you want."

"Heheh, I'm already living like that! Although, I pick the people I want to be honest in front of!"

She declared.

"I'm showing everything to you right now too, Mr. IlHan, without hiding anything!"

"Ah, is that so."

Yu IlHan laughed. He thought that he maybe able to believe in her words now, although he was unsure about if he would be able to do so when they first met, and laughed at himself for thinking like that.

It was just that her words nagged him somewhat, but he couldn't pinpoint what it was. Since he couldn't point it out, he decided to not think about it so deeply. Instead,

"The ones confronting you will get tired so please refrain yourself."

"Wao, so direct!"

"And have some lunch before you go. I'm bored since all my subordinates went to Dareu."

"Yay!"

"Yay!"

Na YuNa rejoiced while hugging Yumir. Yu IlHan was shocked at himself for offering her lunch, but also thought that it would be alright if he kept his distance. This was all thanks to the matters in Breya.

Like that, after a few days passed with Yu IlHan and Na YuNa's relationship improving ever so slightly, a single notice was put up in Gangnam on Earth.

[Recruiting mercenaries to solve the crisis in the world Phituroa. Please help us.]

The winds of the Earth Mercenary era had started to blow for real.

Author's notes

Although he could have played mercenary.... excavators seems to do better!

His comrades are seeing through him more and more.

Translator's notes

When I finished this chapter, I was like 'Phew I finally have 1 stockpile chapter'

The next moment 'viiiin' 'You got a paypal payment!'

Oh? another one? let's see….. 250 bucks!?!?!?!?!?! WHAT!?!?!?

So what, let's see… I have to translate 4 to make up that much…. Looks like I ain't getting any sleep tonight.

Phituroa was a world that 794 people of Earth were indebted to. Like other worlds after the 3rd Great Cataclysm, they had a lot of 3rd class and 2nd class personnel, and they somehow held their own against 4th class monsters.

[However, it usually only takes an instant for a world to collapse.] (Liera)

Liera let out a sigh.

[There was a Dungeon Break. And within a blink of an eye, you'd get a Dungeon Wave. If there were 4th classes among them, then the people would lose their fighting power while fighting them.... and coincidentally, the empty dungeons would all activate and there would be an Overflow. Like that, the number of 4th class monsters would increase….. and it will be the end if people failed to block that.] (Liera)

"It's a true cycle of hell."

[But it's not like we can stop installing dungeons because of that, so it's even more of a pain.] (Erta)

[That's an ordinary process from a world to its destruction. Like that, the mutated monsters would become the largest race and the doors to the world will close.] (Spiera)

[And the Destruction Demon Army would approach such worlds.] (Liera)

The angels were in perfect sync today. Perhaps, they were feeling pained from seeing numerous worlds that met such an end. Yu IlHan replied with a bitter smile.

"If you know that, then do something about it."

[Anyone would want to do that, but the forces of the Heaven's Army is not infinite. We can't interfere more than needed, and so, in the end, the residents of the world have to win against the crisis they face, by themselves. That's the absolute law.] (Liera)

"No."

Yu IlHan interjected while closing the 'Phituroa Support' notification on his smartphone app.

"It was once an absolute law. But now, things might be different."

What if, strong people from other worlds could come to support when a world was in dire straits?

That world would gain an opportunity to overcome that crisis and stand up once again, and the ones that came to support would be able to create debts. Then, they would receive support when they were in a crisis.

All of this now became possible with Earth. The experts scattered over many worlds could now focus on a single world, through Earth.

If a strong alliance formed between worlds with this opportunity, then it would become possible to help each other and develop infinitely!

[If such a good cycle can happen, then that will be for the best.] (Liera)

[It will probably be impossible. We're talking about people who are neither family, relatives, people of the same country, or even, of the same world. How would anyone be able to trust in others and lend their power? That is just all a delusion.] (Spiera)

"Don't think about it so negatively. Perhaps this is an opportunity for the intelligent species to to overcome the wall between worlds and become one large community for real.

[And, as one of those 'intellectual species', what are you doing right now?] (Erta)

Yu IlHan became silent. That was because he was currently pouring fragments of Keshna into the furnace with Eternal Flame in it.

It was good that he had dismantled the golem, but as the performance of the Death Driver and the bone screw was too good, the metal had turned into fine powder, so he couldn't use it like that. Resulting in the scene now, where he was going through a refinement process.

"I'm doing my own work."

[Yes. While everyone 'does their own work', Phituroa will be destroyed. Of course, I do not mean that your actions are bad in any way.] (Erta)

It wasn't at all that bad to think about yourself as insufficient, nor was it better to invite danger upon oneself by going to another world rather than focus on protecting one's own. In fact, that was more realistic.

Just that, if one had the ability, and believed that the world they helped would reciprocate later, it wouldn't be such a bad thing to help out. In the core, was trust. If people knew that they could trust each other, then they would create miracles.

"However, you know what. Miracles are called that because they don't happen."

[So you haven't the slightest intention to make the intelligent species one community, disregarding the wall between worlds?] (Liera)

"You should have noticed when I said that in the first place. My AT field is invincible. It will simply refuse to hang out with another person."

[Really...?] (LIera)

Yu IlHan did not bother replying to Liera's words. He was also thinking that his circle had grown bigger with his subordinates, Yumir, Kang MiRae, and Na YuNa.

If Kang MiRae and Na YuNa fell into danger for example, wouldn't he move in order to save them? Not because he was told by someone, but because his heart would not be at rest if he didn't.

Yes. Becoming attached to another person would increase a person's responsibility. That's why he hated it. He really didn't want any more of it.

But if it was only a little, then there would be no more such connections.

"If it seems like there will be insufficient people, then tell me at that time. I'll just think of it as a hunt."

[What happened to the AT field?] (Liera)

"I said it's a hunt."

Yu IlHan pouted as he kept pouring Keshna into the furnace. In the battle with the Keshna Golem, the Eternal Flame had acquired a considerable quantity of records, and grew once again. Now, with the full output from it, he could watch in satisfaction, the scene where specks of Keshna melted down and became a puddle.

[In the end, how much Keshna were you able to get out of it?] (Erta)

"More than 50% was lost permanently during battle. Moreover, the golem's body had other metals that were used to enhance the physical strength... counting pure Keshna, it's not that much. Around 3 tons?"

[So 3 tons is not much eh...] (Erta)

Well, yeah. To Yu IlHan, who was thinking of refining the Keshna to make another golem, it was too low. Although, it was still impossible for him to create golems, since he hadn't truly made all the magic engineering knowledge his yet!

But when he spent some time while working, Liera called for Yu IlHan.

[...IlHan.] (Liera)

"Now I really only need a magic stone from a higher ex….. yes?"

[I don't think you're needed.] (Liera)

When Yu IlHan tilted his head at Liera's words, she showed him a single photo. – one that had numerous people in front of a gate. Yu IlHan noticed without difficulty, that the gate was connected to Phituroa.

"No way."

[I was also doubtful, but it looks like it's true.] (Liera)

Gates between Earth and other worlds were increasing in real-time, albeit slowly. Currently, there were a total of 26 gates.

But since the photo in front of Yu IlHan's eyes included at least 5 thousand people, there was an average of 200 people per world that had come for support.

[Looks like the rewards are tempting. Well, even I would be desperate when the world looks like it's about to end.] (Erta)

[Things are turning interesting. What would happen from now on? I'm so excited.] (Liera)

"Well, I don't know about the exact reason, but…"

Yu IlHan was satisfied that there was no need for him to go there, and poured more lumps of Keshna into the furnace. Then he said,

"It's good as long as it doesn't bother me."

***

Mankind was really worried about the Earth after the 2nd Great Cataclysm, but the many variables actually ended up stabilizing Earth.

Increase in the overall power of Earth thanks to Vanguard, attention of the people of other worlds due to various trades and auctions that occurred on Earth, other than that, there were even more complex elements that actually ended up making Earth one of the most stabilized worlds.

"Now, we'd be in trouble if Earth disappeared."

"Although we like the trade with other worlds, if Vanguard disappeared….."

"But when's the 2nd auction for the advanced equipment?"

And the change didn't end at just Earth. The other worlds connected to Earth, had also become able to recruit ability users of other worlds as mercenaries, achieving a more stable state as well.

The world that started the mercenary practice, Phituroa, had could overcome its crisis thanks to the mercenaries. As it was a tremendous force, the number of casualties were minimal as well. This made Yu IlHan and his three angels look stupid for doubting the union of the people.

Of course, it wasn't like an alliance that disregarded the walls around everyone's hearts and brought them together, had formed like Yu IlHan's wishes. Humans were too rotten to rely on the pure beliefs of children, and the price for salvation was only second to that of destruction.

Yes. What Phituroa had put out were magic stones – the majority of the 3rd class and 4th class magic stones scraped from all over the world! The people were attracted by them when they went to help!

There was a limit to playing around with Yu IlHan's heart for being impressed at mankind's purity!

[The reason they want magic stones should obviously be for Vanguard and Angel Tear, right?] (Liera)

[To think you'd make people go save other worlds in order to buy Vanguard products… Yu IlHan, you really solve a lot of things with the things you do.] (Erta)

"Although this applies to 3rd classes as well, it is quite difficult for an ordinary person to be in possession of a 4th class magic stone. So that's it. magic stones would be released into the market like this."

And the more people got their hands on magic stones, the more active the trade with Vanguard would become. In Yu IlHan's shoes, this was a very good thing.

[Uuu. Somehow, the situation is becoming out of our hands now.] (Liera)

"It's alright. It's not like anything was in your hands in the first place."

[I wish things would go well...] (Erta)

"Now you girls aren't even denying it...."

Perhaps due to the smooth start, other than the initial salvation of Phituroa, there were notices of 'urgent help needed' put up quite frequently. As they had to put out 3rd class magic stones as the minimum reward, the request should be very rare, but precisely because of that, many people flocked to those requests once they appeared.

Around two months after the first Phituroaa request, there were two more large scale mercenary requests, and Kang MiRae noticed that there was a need for an organization to manage all of this.

So the card she played was none other than Metal Knights and Magia.

These two clans possessed power rivaling the Lightning God clan, excluding her, and they had enough qualifications to represent the Earth, and above all, they cooperated in the creation of the Gangnam Trade Center. Now, it was her turn to keep her promise.

"Mercenary guild? So who is it, Lightning God again? Or did Yu IlHan come out himself?"

"No, but they're basically the same people. It's Metal Knights and Magia. The two that hung out with Lightning God. However, what's frustrating is that we can't take part in it."

"Dammit! They're planning to take everything for themselves!"

Of course, there were a lot of complaints. The word 'Front Line Alliance' had long since become famous on Earth, and there were a set of guilds inside it that stood out even more.

Some complained, saying it was a connections-based administration, but Kang MIRae ignored them as always.

The reason she had chosen Metal Knights and Magia was only to reduce as much noise as possible, if there was anyone else capable of it, then she would be completely fine with them too. In fact, it was more likely that the people with complaints had malicious intentions.

Metal Knights and Magia moved as she had intended. The two clan masters, Michael Smithson and Carina Malatesta, came to Gangnam themselves and created the mercenary guild while preparing an infrastructure to manage the mercenaries more efficiently and improving the rewards system.

The mercenary guild enabled the mercenaries participating in a request to receive rewards according to contribution, and even succeeded in preparing a safe route for their return.

Although slight fees were imposed on both the clients and the mercenaries for the guild to operate properly, this was overwhelmingly convenient and undoubtedly safer than the time they had to put up notices and pray for a good outcome.

So, who could hate the mercenary guild? With that, Earth had shot a signal to activate the mercenary requests of other worlds. At this point in time, the 2nd advanced equipments auction was held, and led many experts of worlds to the mercenary guild.

Although Yu IlHan was guarding the venue in the 1st auction, he didn't show up at all in the 2nd. He judged that he had given enough of a warning through the 1st auction, so he only prepared the items to be traded, and left the security to Flemir and the wolves from Kiroa.

The auction ended safely. Amidst the auction venue full of joy of those that managed to bid successfully, and the sighs of those who couldn't, Kang MIRae muttered with an absent-minded gaze.

"Just where did he go."

"Didn't he say he went to the world he was connected to?"

"But it's already been two months."

Two months, that was the time that had flown past after Yu IlHan had left the items for the auction and Yumir in their care. Well, it wasn't like Kang MiRae couldn't understand the activities in worlds connected to oneself, but since the duration was too long, she couldn't help but worry.

No, she didn't want to admit it, but rather than worry for him, it was a problem of her heart.

Her first love was like drugs, and she became impatient after not seeing him for about 3 days, and when one week passed, her heart started tightening, and by one month, she couldn't eat properly, and now that 2 months had passed, even the clouds in the skies looked like Yu IlHan to her.

"It's not like he'll die somewhere, so what are you so worried about?"

"But he never ever took so long to do something."

"He left us a communicator so we can contact him."

"If he's doing something important, it'll be bad for me to interrupt him by calling him..."

She felt stranger the more she made excuses, so she just shut up. Na YuNa didn't even know what she was feeling, and blabbed on by her side.

"Perhaps he's doing a giant quest. He's a person that could grow so strong after the records were deleted, so the world he's connected to must be amazing right? I wish he'd take us there too~."

"...That's true. Perhaps he'll tell us one day."

"Let's go see Mir instead. Let's go around the dungeons!"

"Okay. But before that, you have some work to do."

"Uwaaaaaaaah!"

She couldn't be bothered by the thoughts of Yu IlHan forever. Kang MiRae made a small sigh and walked while pulling on Na YuNa's sleeves – to complete the work Yu IlHan had left her to do.

Meanwhile, the person they were looking for, Yu IlHan, was currently…

[Kuwooooooooooooooooh!]

"Uoooooh! Giga drill breakkkkkkkkkk!"

[Sued! You'll get sued!] (Liera)

…was having a blast (alone) rampaging in a world full of monsters that no one else could possibly handle.

Author's notes

The angels have it tough too

I've talked about the AT field once. It's a term that appears in Neon Genesis Evangelion. To put it simply, it could be said to be a wall of the heart.

Now, he's making others move with his existence alone!

Translator's notes

We're finally seeing character development!

Yu IlHan came to the conclusion that there was no need for him to look after Earth, having seen that many worlds, including Phituroa, were faring well.

Although the contributions from him and his brand was very big, now that it had entered a stable orbit, if the supply was handled well, he didn't even need to be here.

Now, the monsters appearing on Earth were all hunted by the people of earth. Well, the only difference was that that there was no massive news about Yu IlHan's deeds as Susanoo or the Deathgod or whatnot. Of course, things would be a different story if 4th class monsters started popping out everywhere, but if such monsters appeared so easily, Earth wouldn't be here right now.

If so, what was left for Yu IlHan.

He wished to master the magic engineering knowledge and utilize the magic metal Keshna, containing the essence of magic engineering to enhance his Bittersweet Persona into a flying fortress, but like how he needed time to understand all the records of the god of smithing, it took a lot of time to synchronize all the magic engineering knowledge with his existing records.

And it wasn't like he could do anything to speed up that process. He could only wait while going over the contents bit by bit.

So, he decided to go over to 'that' world. 'That' world, being the one he had coincidentally opened in the past while trying to earn some vortex experience, as well as the one that's unknown to even angels. Since he had had a battle experience from Lanpas, with the Keshna Golem, there was nothing for him to be afraid of now.

After letting Kang MiRae take charge over Angel Tear and Vanguard, he waited patiently while massacring the monsters that flocked to his mansion, and successfully created a vortex not long after.

He barely held himself back from tapping on it like mad, and attacked to the point that it won't burst, and successfully generated a gate.

[Wow, that's bad. The already horrible thick fog of mana inside the Bittersweet Persona is now being mixed with the unpleasant bloody mana.] (Liera)

"Well, it's all good since the monster spawns will be of higher level now. Flemir, you also keep watch. It's not a normal gate so guard it well."

"Understood, my lord."

Flemir was his agent he had prepared for the worst case scenario during the 24 hours of the gate. After he became Yu IlHan's subordinate, he had received the effects of the Rule skill and became a level stronger, he was the single strongest one amongst his subordinates.

The reason he became Yu IlHan's subordinate was purely for Ericia.

In fact, he wanted to serve by her side from the beginning, but was tied to the Kiroa continent as he could not leave behind the weakened wolfkin.

But with Ericia's growth under Yu IlHan, the fighting power of the wolfkin naturally rose as well, and when he was sure that the wolfkin could survive without him in Kiroa, he came over to Earth permanently.

"Guard it for 24 hours, and once the gate closes, you can go to Ericia. Nothing much will happen with me entering, but if the gate explodes and a monster appears, call for me immediately."

"Understood."

Although he wasn't at a level where he could create golems, he could create a lot of things with just the knowledge he had absorbed until now. One of them, was the communicator. Yu IlHan had already made several communicators and distributed them to his father, mother, Kang MiRae, Na YuNa, and his subordinates.

Through the communicator he had made, it was possible to send signals or to call them. Of course, it was impossible to have a real-time phone call like a smartphone, the communicator did not need a charge like a smartphone, nor was there a reliance on communication towers, and above all, it was possible to communicate between worlds as well.

"Then I'll be back soon."

"I also want to go though…"

"Play with the noonas here and I'll be back in a flash, got it?"

"Okay..."

Yumir felt disappointed but he couldn't take his son to such an obviously dangerous world. Since he had talked to Kang MIRae and Na YuNa about it, he believed that they wouldn't let him go lonely.

"Good, let's go."

[To think you'd think of entering that place after facing the perverted vibration demon, you really are a splendid psycho.] (Spiera)

[What if the inside is full of perverted vibration demons?] (Liera)

[What do you mean what, we'd just get a shit ton of that horrifying magic gunpowder.] (Erta)

"Hey, please."

After a hug with his son, he gave him various artifacts and consumables and entered the gate without hesitation. Only the dejected Yumir and the silent Flemir saw him off.

And two months flowed past.

Yu IlHan deleted hell tourism from his bucket list.

That was because, this place was hell.

[Guwoahoaaaaaaaaaaah!]

"Go die, ice demon!

In the world where both the skies and the lands were colored in blood-red, a giant monster covered in ice charged towards Yu IlHan.

That which emitted frosty aura from all over its body, froze anything and everything completely once it came into contact with, and its body movements were amazingly nimble so it would be game over if he let his guard down even by the slightest amount.

Well, Yu IlHan could endure the frost ever so slightly by wearing the Blizzard Tyrant's Mixed Bone Fullplate that increased his water attribute resistance by 90%, but that only increased 0.01 second to 0.1 second.

"Uoooooh!"

In contrast, in order to kill it, he could only smash its head after breaking through the enormous wall of frost, but as ordinary weapons froze and broke the moment it came into contact with it, only weapons with heat were the answer. So right now, Yu IlHan was wielding Black dragon whip on one hand, and the Eight-tailed dragon spear on his other to fight.

[Kuwaaaaah!]

"Eeeek!"

A fog of transparent crystals that formed from the ice demon flailing its arms everywhere! No matter how pretty they looked, he would end up freezing once he touched them.

Yu IlHan, who knew that well, swung the crimson flame-covered Black dragon whip to vaporize that fog, but using that opening, the demon kicked off the ground and approached Yu IlHan. A monster over 10 meters in height, freezing everything in its path leapt towards him, containing a force that he thought would only appear in his dreams.

"Hhp!"

However, that was also an opportunity that Yu Ilhan was aiming for as well. Yu IlHan swung his Black dragon whip as soon as he erased all the fog crystals and wrapped it around the demon's frozen wrist, and jumped by using the elasticity of the whip!

[Guwooooooooh!]

The ice demon could only flinch momentarily as the arm it was about to attack with was restrained by the whip.

However, when it extended its other hand instinctively, the Eight-tailed dragon spear in Yu IlHan's hands right in front of it, emitted a blinding light!

"Blaze!"

That was the most brilliant and hottest flame that Yu IlHan could use! Orochi's purple flames, Eternal Flame, Blaze, Dragonic Blood – all the power, mixed into one, and and the spear emitting a bright white flame was shot forward.

Yu IlHan's made only one action, but the trajectory of attacks approaching its neck numbered 'three'.

[Kahak!]

While the heat from the spear and the icy aura from the monster was thickening, Yu IlHan waited without letting his guard down while gripping onto his spear firmly.

[Kuh, Kuhaaaa!]

"...Fuuu."

There was no twist. It had collapsed after the short and thick, final scream. It was truly scary how the surrounding land froze in an instant.

Of course, Yu IlHan could hold out in the air with Ruin Calling, which he had taken out since he had foresaw that would happen.

At that moment, an even nicer text appeared on his retina.

[You ???? ?????? ??????????????]

[You have become level 171. 2 Strength, 2 Agility, 1 Health, 1 Magic increases,[

"Ah, a level up."

[9 level ups within 2 months….. Ahh, what can we do about this.] (Erta)

[That's good. I wish he'd become a higher existence already.] (Liera)

[Yes yes. You've long since given up on rational judgement...]

[There is no problem with Yu IlHan. It will be more productive of us to think about the identity of these strong monsters that are apocalypse-class.]

Although everything was full of question marks, whether it was the experience gained or the records, he didn't know what level they had. But from the fact that he had levelled up so much even though he had only killed a few hundred, he could predict that it was a monster around level 250.

"I don't think it's physical defense was so weak."

[But instead, I think its attacks are incomparably stronger. It catches wind, fire, and now, the power of vibrations ] (Spiera)

[It's fortunate that not all of them are perverted vibration demons, right?"]

"They're the most annoying and the strongest. Although this should be my misunderstanding, but I feel like those one gives me the most experience."

Yu IlHan checked his status now that he had levelled up.

[Yu IlHan]

[Human Blazing Reaper Lv171]

[Subclass- Angels' Partner, Dragon Rider]

[Title – Pancosmic Loner, One hit for you; one hit for me. Creator of Myths. Not two hits; nor three hits; A thousand in one go, Dragon slayer, The Quickest. Hero of Fire, Frog that leaped out of the well. blessing of the god of smithing]

[Strength – 384 Agility – 355 Health 313 Magic 414]

[Active skills – Deathgod(Concealment) Mana crafting Lv 76, Soul enchant Lv 51, Blaze Lv 56, Superhuman strength Lv 83, Leap Lv 87, Angel's Support Lv 41, Rule Lv 77, Dragonic Blood Lv 18]

[Passive skills – Angel's protection, Physical combat master lv Max, Blunt weapon master Lv Max, Sword mastery Lv Max, Whip mastery Lv Max, Dismantling Lv Max, Blacksmithing Lv Max, Language Lv Max. Dragon-man resonance Lv 41, Death collector Lv 79, Magic engineering Lv 44, Excavation Lv 65, Spear of Untraceable Trajectory(Spear Mastery) Lv 54, Absolute Accuracy(Throwing, Shooting) Lv 55, Transcendent regeneration (Resting) Lv 78, Cooking Lv 92, Critical hit Lv 76, Extreme poison resistance Lv 83, Higher curse resistance Lv 74]

His level was also monstrously high, but what was more amazing was his skill levels. Considering how most of these skills were learnt after the first Great Cataclysm, it was even more amazing.

Although the Spear of Untraceable Trajectory had grown quite a lot when fighting with the demons, skills that enhanced his basic abilities, such as Superhuman strength, Leap, and Transcendent regeneration, grew by a particularly large amount. Now, even if Yu IlHan's arm was blown away, it would immediately attach itself back on once he held it against his shoulders and poured some potion onto it.

"The things I'm fighting are not weak, so the skill experience rose by a lot too. If possible, I want to master Superhuman strength and Leap at least before reaching 4th class.

[Perhaps it will be possible if you suffer more in this place. It's the first time I'm visiting a world with such a poor environment.] (Erta)

Erta looked at this place, suitable to be called 'hell', and spoke in a shocked voice. It was only because it was Yu IlHan that he was fine standing here, if anyone else was, then they would have died without surviving a single week.

Grabbing any passersby and calling it the god of destruction, and anyone would believe that! These monsters could all obliterate the Orochi at its peak.

[Just where is this place? From the fact that our power is enhancing IlHan's abilities, it is definitely an Abandoned World.] (Liera)

[I'm not so sure about that. Angel's Support is an ability that focuses the power of angels on Yu IlHan in places where Heaven's Army cannot reach.] (Spiera)

[Yes, and there are place other than Abandoned Worlds that fit the criteria?] (Liera)

[There are.] (Erta)

Muttered Erta while watching Yu IlHan collecting the body of the ice demon.

[Worlds that were never under Heaven's jurisdiction in the first place.] (Erta)

[Can there be such a world...?] (Liera)

[At least, it's the first time for me that I'm experiencing such a world. There are no life that looks intelligent, and there are only extreme monsters like those. I'm having doubts as to whether we can call this a 'world' in the first place. Is this really the change that occurs after a world is abandoned? Or...] (Spiera)

Spiera and Erta's gazes met. The two were probably coming up with the same conclusion.

[Or... was it like this, from the very beginning...] (Spiera)

[No way. In any world, no mana exists upon its creation!] (Liera)

Liera denied that. Then she looked towards Yu IlHan for agreement, but Yu IlHan was completely ignoring what was happening between the angels, and was grilling some meat to eat.

Grabbing onto the leg meat of some…. (censored) monster, by the bone, and grilling it at the perfect temperature with the Eternal Flame! Liera became speechless after seeing that.

[....Doesn't this world unnerve you a little? You might be more related to this world than we are.] (Liera)

"It does nerve me a little, but would anything come out of it even if I wonder about something without a clear answer?"

[That's true, but.] (Liera)

"Perhaps I'll find out something if I kill all the demons here. Wait until then.

[Yes, we're used to waiting... but as for you.] (Erta)

"Do you really have to ask that?"

Yu IlHan laughed and nibbled on the grilled meat. Not to mention extreme poison, it was even cursed, but the taste after overcoming all of that was a true delicacy! Licking on the overflowing meat juice, he shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm, also, very used to waiting."

Their tour in hell had only just started.

Author's notes

Bittersweet Persona is evolving. The dream of a flying fortress will come true!

Golems, I also have dreams about golems….! Bishoujo meido golems are good, but it's unfortunate that IlHan won't make stuff like that…. T^T

That's one bucket list achieved.

A status upload for once in a while. I think that I've put everything, but if anyone finds anything missing, then please tell me! (T/N: Binding was missing)

Translator's notes

Ugh, gotta sleep now….

Blood-red skies without a speck of clouds, and the lands that bathed in an unpleasant light. Although Yu IlHan had experienced a lot of worlds, this was the first one he felt unpleasant from just watching. Had it not been for the angels bantering away by his side, he wouldn't be able to keep his smile.

[Kuooooooh!]

[??? ???? ?????? ?????????? experience.]

"Oh, and this experience."

Muttered Yu IlHan while watching the perverted vibration demon, which he had defeated many of falling on the ground. In his hands, the Death Driver that finished the thing off was still emitting heat.

"Whew, that was hard."

It was good until the point he where had struck a bone screw deep into its body with the pile bunker.

However, no matter how much he had hit it with the thunderhammer afterwards, the monster endured the vibration and the battle simply wouldn't end – making him undertake dangers and charge forwards with a Death Driver in his hands, and drill on it like mad. That kind of suffering was indescribable.

[Those demons, are definitely getting stronger. I'm sure of it.] (Liera)

Muttered Liera while watching Yu IlHan approach the demon to pull out the screw. Erta agreed with her.

[The battles should be getting easier since Yu IlHan is getting stronger, but somehow, I feel like he's been put into extreme situations in every battle.] (Erta)

[That's because the league difference between those demons and Yu IlHan is originally so big, so Yu IlHan's rate of improvement seems insignificant in comparison. I must remind you that he is still a 3rd class.] (Spiera)

[That's true, but...]

While the angels chatted, Yu IlHan dismantled the vibration demon. He put away the magic organ that generated the vibration on its skin, and drained it of moisture to dry it. All of the processes looked very natural in his hands.

However, he had to stop his work there since he had no room to make the magic gunpowder. The piled up corpses would be taken care of when he opened a barrier using the Hourglass of Eternity. Despite the fact that he had compressed the overall size through several times, his inventory was starting to fill up.

"Looks like I should go back to Earth in a while."

[So you're planning to come back?] (Liera)

"Of course. If you tell me there's another hunting zone like this on Earth, I might consider otherwise."

No matter how fast Earth developed, it was still a world where not long passed after the 2nd Great Cataclysm. There were still numerous dungeons spouting 1st class monsters only, there weren't many 3rd classes, and 4th classes couldn't be seen anywhere.

In contrast, what about this place? Although each and every one of them possessed frightening power, the amount of experience was definitely large as well. Yu IlHan was planning to see the end of this place even if he had to resupply on Earth.

"But I still wanted there to be an intelligent species. Looks like there aren't any."

[What will you do if those demons are the 'intelligent species'?] (Liera)

"Then I'll stop being human, Liera!"

[Ok, let's be angels then!] (Liera)

Or so he had replied to her, but in fact, Yu IlHan thought that it was highly improbable that those demons were the intelligent species here. The reason was simple. They, neither spoke, nor communicated. There was no possibility of them communicating in a way Yu IlHan could not comprehend, as he had mastered the Language skill long ago.

It looked like there was no end to scouting this world. Even when he flew at fast speeds using Ruin Calling, all he saw were demons of various colors, and Baobab trees that looked like they were connecting the land with the skies. Well, no, he didn't know exactly what it was called. He only called them Baobab trees just because they looked like one.

"How much time has passed?"

Yu IlHan confirmed with Liera while drinking the water(a.k.a. extreme poison) from the Baobab tree. She replied with a smile.

[Four and a half months. You want to go see Mir, right?] (Liera)

"Yup, I wanna see him so bad."

Yu IlHan obediently acknowledged that, and picked the fruit(of course, it was also extremely poisonous) from the baobab tree. It tasted quite good, while being a little sour after he grilled it with the Eternal Flame after peeling its skin. He took a bite and continued speaking with his mouth full.

"But the fact that no one communicated me, is that there is nothing wrong. He's not looking for me, so what good would anything be if I go see him first? If one did everything as one wanted, then that person wouldn't be able to do the things that actually needs to be worked on. It will just be an endless loop."

[If everyone thought like you, there would be no extinct intelligent species out there.] (Liera)

[Instead, everyone would become a loner. Doing things when one wants, is the ordinary go to solution. Ouuuuuuch.] (Erta)

Yu IlHan pulled on Erta's cheeks. He was plenty lonely already and she just had to pinch right where it hurt!

[Eeek, just because we can't use our powers as angels here, you're too...] (Erta)

[Hmm, from how you're flapping your wings, you look like you're enjoying it. Or is that my imagination?] (Spiera)

[Erta is a pervert who can only feel that she's in a relationship through such actions, so you can't help it.] (Liera)

Yu IlHan punished Erta thoroughly and ate two more grilled fruits. The sour and bitter taste was truly first class.

[Not to mention bitter, it's just poison!] (Erta)

"Actually, I want to evolve Extreme poison resistance as well..."

[So your entire life is training.] (Liera)

It wasn't just Extreme poison resistance. Yu IlHan cleared away over ten fruits on the spot, and trained other skills while he stooed there.

These included his class skill, Deathgod, Blaze, the skills he constantly deployed now, such as Superhuman strength and Transcendent regeneration as well as the skills he trained in that state, such as the Spear of Untraceable Trajectory, and the Great Cosmos-severing Spear!

"It hasn't been one month yet since I last used the hourglass, right?"

[Not yet.] (Erta)

"Dang, I need to learn Great Cosmos-severing spear somehow before the 4th class...."

[That's a lot of things you want to do before 4th class.[ (Liera)

"But the possibility of acquiring a better class increases the more I raise the skills before 4th class."

[Of course, that's true. But to compensate, the class advancement quest difficulty will also be all the way up there in the Andromeda galaxy.] (Liera)

Yu IlHan couldn't care less about the future. He only needed to worry about class changes at that time. The problem now was the Great Cosmos-severing spear he had to learn now.

By now, the Spear of Untraceable Trajectory had grown to be less burdensome to the point that he had almost no pressure using three strikes at once, but with the Great Cosmos-severing spear, he couldn't grasp a crucial point.

He could now bring out the power of a sword and a whip at once, and the power of a sword and a blunt weapon at once, but once he actually did that, the advantages of the spears somehow disappeared, or his physical balance was disrupted. He could understand why Spiera could barely learn the skill after reaching 6th class.

[What you lack is only time. Your progress right now is still plenty fast. With a little more time, you will definitely be able to succeed.] (Spiera)

"No, there must be a way to shorten it more. I sure think so...!"

However, he couldn't find that way in a measly 3 hours. Since he couldn't stay here swing his spear forever, his training had to end there today.

"God dammit, dammmmmmmmmiiiiiiiiiit!"

Yu IlHan decided to postpone finding a path later, and struck down with the spear with all his power, containing his frustration, hatred, and the weight of his inventory to boot. The land shook with an enormous boom, and Yu IlHan nodded while thinking that he had perfect control in putting the weight of a blunt weapon into the spear.

But that spear strike, which could be considered to be a mid-way check, and venting frustration, called for much more serious consequences than he had thought it would.

The shock to the ground was enormous, and since the balance of power was also strangely artistic in a way, the ground cracked along with the strike he did, and the scene tens of meters underground had appeared.

"Huh, hey. I think I can use that. What should I call this technique?"

[Do you think that you'll get a skill just because you name one?Active skills aren't as easy as you think they are.] (Liera)

[I don't care about technique names so let's start moving.... huh?] (Erta)

Erta's eyes glistened. Her eyes were looking at the deep hole underground in the crack that Yu IlHan had split open. Yu IlHan also followed her gaze and looked towards that place, but he couldn't find anything. However, Erta said with a voice full of expectation.

[I think, that the mana density is higher down there.] (Erta)

[Now that I see it, it does actually feel like that…..] (Liera)

[No, I'm sure of it. It's definitely higher down there.] (Spiera)

"Well? This world must have higher mana density below the ground than on the surface. That has nothing to do with me....?"

Yu IlHan made the sentence into a question. Now that he saw it, the angels' gazes were fixed on him. Those eyes were akin to the eyes of a thirsty wanderer who had found an oasis in the desert.

"...What? You mean I have to dig it? That… endless…. thing?"

[The light of salvation must be down there.] (Liera)

[You should be able to do it with your excavation skills.] (Erta)

[Why don't you just make this place your base camp? You can dig through the ground whenever you aren't hunting.] (Spiera)

Now that there was the slightest hint, Yu IlHan was out of choices. Moreover, his objective was to scout this world in the end!

With a deep sigh, he took out the pile bunker loaded with a bone screw. There was a method to fulfill the other half the objective, hunting, at the same time.

"Yeah, well. I'll just call them here instead."

Yu IlHan dispelled the passive concealment, and shot up in the air with Ruin Calling first, and rapidly shot down by directing a shockwave upwards and struck with his pile bunker tens of meters underground.

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The sound that sounded like the skies were collapsing, resounded across very, very far away. However, that wasn't the end. Yu IlHan's Death Driver was still waiting for its turn to cry its heart out.

"I'll blow this place to bits if nothing appears."

[I'll give you a kiss at that time!] (Liera)

"That's what you always do though."

Even while grumbling, Yu IlHan connected the Death Driver to the screw. Please let there be something beyond this thing, and please call for those perverted demons a lot at least – prayed Yu IlHan as he inserted mana into the Death Driver.

***

While Yu IlHan, was busy with his work as a digger, not knowing or caring about how the people of Earth combined their forces to develop Earth or to harmonize with other worlds –

In a world outside of Yu IlHan's knowledge, the conspiracy, that anyone would have thought up of and would be worried about, was occurring.

"The Destruction Demon Army and the Army of Brilliant Light? How can those two cooperate?"

"It's up to you to believe it or not. However, at this rate. It is sure that the situation will be boring for you guys, no?"

In a world Yu IlHan had never been to, or rather didn't know that there was a 'gate leading to it', many people were having a conversation. However, the biggest problem was that the people in that place were each from different worlds.

As mercenary work became active and more and trades opened up between many different worlds, they, who escaped the nets casted with the most amount of carefulness, slowly started to rise, like fungus on bread.

"Earth is too dangerous. And the current situation, where many worlds are connected through Earth, is even more dangerous. Doesn't everyone agree with that?"

"It's unpleasant and inconvenient. Yes, that's right."

"It was really unpleasant when foreign people invaded the world, and we found out that we could neither chase them out nor kill them."

"So you must be talking about the method to solve all of that. Just what is it?"

Everyone's gaze focused on one person – the person that had called all of them here. With a smirk, he spoke.

"It's nothing difficult. You only need to make a 'simple magic formation' behind the angels' backs, in each of your worlds. By activating all of them at the same time, the magic would become complete, and you will no longer have to worry about Earth."

The host of the venue, had shown the plan without even considering the possibility of hiding anything. The pitch black wings behind his back, made it clear that his affinity was the Army of Brilliant Light, the organization of fallen angels.

"Just that, since it's a world-scale magic, the more worlds we can do this on, the better. A lot of worlds, to completely suppress the power of Earth, as well as the power of God that influences it. So from now, you guys need to act – as mercenaries, and as merchants – come into contact with Earth, and many people of other worlds and increase our sphere of influence."

"I can't understand what higher existences are saying whether it's the past or the present. So, okay. What is this magic?"

"Good question. We call it this."

The fallen angel smirked. The smile on his face was as evil as it was handsome.

"'Freedom'."

Author's notes

These guys are like cockroaches, they don't even die and crawl up.

The arc just ended and he ends up doing digging work again!

IlHan is being trained by Liera!?

Translator's notes

Notes. I used the word 'intelligent species' but author actually writes what would translate into 'humanity'. So basically, when I say 'intelligent species' it refers to the ones in charge, or the mainstream species. Argh, god dammit. I don't know either, okay?

Question, though, should I use the word 'mankind' instead? Mind you, this 'mankind' may refer to elves, dwarves, beastmen, or others of the sort.

Despite the fact that Yu IlHan's digging had been going on for more than one month, there was not a lot of progress.

First off, the ground was really too damned hard. The first tens of meters was easily breakable with the Death Driver, but from some portion onwards, they became so hard that the Keshna golem's skin looked weak in comparison, and his bone screw was shaved away instead of the ground.

[Don't you think the soil here has some uses?] (Liera)

"I'm more interested in the Baobab trees that grow rooted here."

Perhaps processing the root of the Baobab trees would give birth to a master sword. Yu IlHan seriously pondered about that as he switched out the blunt screw and inserted another one with the help of the pile bunker.

From his smooth actions of switching the screws instantly and putting the Death Driver in, it could be seen that this wasn't the first time he did it.

"So Liera, do you think you can find that light of salvation anywhere?"

[Hm.... Perhaps it's impossible after all. Want a kiss?] (Liera)

"Thanks, but no thanks."

While Yu IlHan and Liera were having a casual banter, Erta, who was on watch outside, shouted.

[There's one coming! It's one covered in fire!] (Erta)

"I thought I just killed one recently. Don't you think that the frequency of their appearance is rising?"

[Yu IlHan, looks like you need to take care of it quickly. I can feel another one on the opposite side.] (Spiera)

"Tch, I can't help it."

Yu IlHan let go of the Death Driver, and shot up with Ruin Calling, reaching high into the air through repeated leaps. Until the moment he could conceal himself by completely exiting the monsters' field of vision

'Good, it's done.'

[Do you know their positions?] (Liera)

'Yes.'

Yu IlHan had spent almost half a year here, so he knew really well their patterns, weaknesses, and characteristics.

Whether it was fire, ice, lightning, or vibration, all of them had the characteristics that those properties protected their bodies perfectly, but once it was penetrated, the insides were relatively weak.

'Although, it does bother me that I still can't synchronize with the records I've absorbed from them even now.'

Yu IlHan checked the closest monster to him in mid air, and equipped his pile bunker. As the demons that appeared here were at least 10 times bigger than him, the 2nd option attached to the pile bunker would normally activate and would provide an additional 70% damage.

On top of that, many other conditions were fulfilled as well, such as Angels' Support, surprise attack, and enemy being a life form. So compared to the first strike he dealt to the Keshna Golem, this attack may as well pierce through the skies. Without going to the 7th level, 6th level was enough to drill a hole through them.

"Hhp!"

With a short shout, he unfolded Ruin Calling. Compressed shockwaves shot out; with leaps and re-leaps activating simultaneously! Although there was no one to see him right now, since he was in concealment, he could be likened to a comet falling from the heavens.

[Critical Hit!]

[Kihiiiii!]

The pile bunker, which contained slightly more power than usual with the addition from Yu IlHan's body weight and the weight of the inventory, directly struck the head of the demon burning in fire.

The moment they came into contact, the shot projectile disregarded its flames and bones and just broke through everything, but as expected of a 4th class, the demon instantly focused all the flames on its body onto its head and tried to melt the projectile as soon as it noticed.

"Dammit, was it too light?"

[Your line sounds like a defeat flag!]

Would the screw made of dragon bones really melt? Well, the reality in this hell was that it indeed did melt! Yu IlHan had to retreat after he had to be satisfied with just drilling a hole through it.

Even the demon could not completely vaporize the dragon bones. Yu IlHan just needed to melt it down and remold it.

[Kihiiiaaaa!]

"And the other one!?"

Yu IlHan checked with Spiera while jumping in the air, when he confirmed that the fire demon had noticed him and had enveloped its two arms in flames. She immediately answered.

[It will be in viewing distance within 2 minutes. Hurry up.] (Spiera)

"2 minutes..."

[Guguggaaaaaaaahk!]

No demons were easy, but Yu IlHan's affinity with this fire demon that burnt everything it came in contact with, was especially bad.

Perhaps it would have been better if he just left this one for later – he thought leisurely, even while dodging the flaming punch by flying into the air. The heat radiating from the magic fire that crackled in the air made him sweat nervously.

He had already recovered the pile bunker as soon as he retreated from the first attack, and from some time onwards, his hand was grabbing on the Eight-tailed dragon spear. The spear was the best one to go with at difficult times! Of course, the exact reason was because the only weapon that could endure the heat.

"I really need to make a water attribute weapon some time."

[You're doing perfectly fine though.]

As if to prove Liera's words, Yu IlHan agilely turned around in the air and slashed with his spear while charging.

The demon swung its arms rapidly, and as a bonus, the flames that enveloped the arms stretched out like a whip and tried to burn Yu IlHan, but he was already stabbing his spear into the hole he had made on the head last time.

[Critical Hit!]

[1 minute 37 seconds.]

[Wow, look at you, Spiera. You look totally addicted to counting down.] (Liera)

[Kggggggggooooooooh!]

"Hhp!"

No matter how much of a disparity in levels there were between them, Yu IlHan and the demon were fundamentally different in size. Moreover, Yu IlHan's reaction speeds with Ruin Calling on, was akin to that of lightning, and when the demon just thought that it had blocked, he was already behind it, attacking.

[Critical Hit!]

[Kuaaaaak!]

The demon was blocking all attacks by constantly putting up high-energy flames on its body, but Yu IlHan's Eight-tailed dragon spear was also enhanced through Eternal Flame, Blaze, and purple flames.

Although he couldn't deal additional damage with his flames, this meant that they could cancel each other's flames out, and attack the demon with the full strike of the spear.

Disregarding special abilities and whatnot while only considering pure defense, he already knew that these demons were weaker in that regard compared to other ordinary 4th class monsters. The Eight-tailed dragon spear was enough.

The problem was that they also knew of his weakness, and would resist without caring for the means if it came down to it.

[Yu IlHan, the surrounding land is beginning to color itself in red. There will be another one of those annoying attacks soon!] (Erta)

"Got it."

Erta finished speaking and came into Yu IlHan's armor. As angels couldn't use their powers here, that kind of attack would deal a fatal injury on the girls as well.

[1 minute 14 seconds.] (Spiera)

[Kuhaaah!]

"Hhp!"

After Erta and Liera found safety, the demon roared and stomped on the ground, the nearby ground, bloodied by the sheer amount of mana from the demon, seem to crack into several parts, before shooting towards Yu IlHan, as if they were hot charcoal.

The most annoying thing was that this attack remembered the properties of the opponent's mana, so unless he destroyed every one of them, he had to get hit.

[1 minute 03 seconds.] (Spiera)

However, Yu IlHan had the sturdy shield. Not just any shield, but the special smartshield that grew along with him in all of his battles, and could carry out his orders more faithfully than ever!

"Aegis."

The moment Yu IlHan muttered that word with a firm will, the five shields that protected his sides at all times during this hellish picnic, due to his worries, started rotating rapidly centered around Yu IlHan.

Each of the shields rotated in their own orbits, and they would protect Yu IlHan perfectly from every angle.

It took a long period of time for Yu IlHan to learn and use this, but as always, life-and-death situations made everything possible. Once, his ribs were pulled out, and burnt a leg. And so, after that, he had developed himself to keep fighting in that state, even if he were forced to techno-dance in the middle of it.

"I'm going."

[Do you really have to?] (Liera)

[48 seconds.] (Spiera)

"I said I'll go!"

The moment the demon uses that attack, it would lose the control over its mana due to having to concentrate on the attack.

It didn't become weak due to the loss of control or anything, and in fact, it would give up on controlling mana required to sustain its life, and its body would burn up hotter than the sun, so it would make him like he was burning just by nearing, but to Yu IlHan, who was the hero of fire, it was no different from after-work sauna!

The current him had 160% additional fire attribute resistance thanks to his armor. Considering that he was way beyond the realm of humans, there weren't a lot of things in the world for him to be afraid about.

[41 seconds.]

"Haaaaaaaaah!"

With a shout, Yu IlHan leapt. tens, hundreds of hot bombs assaulted Yu IlHan, but they were all deflected by Aegis, orbiting around his body, and Yu IlHan would overcome the shock that assaults his body every time that happened, and re-leap to charge towards it!

[Khaaaaaap!]

"Huooooh!"

[28 seconds.] (Spiera)

The moment Yu IlHan approached the demon with Aegis protecting all of his body, Yu IlHan's spear burned in bright white, and increased its size. He multiplied the blades into 8 by activating the option on the Eight-tailed dragon spear!

He imbued hundreds of tons of weight into each of those 8 blades. The fact that he was still able to hold the weapon, represented his overwhelming growth in strength.

"Get lost, to the hell you, Hhp, came from!"

[Kuguoooooooh!]

He couldn't use the Great Cosmos-severing spear yet. However, it was possible for him to add a characteristic from another weapon, at anytime he wanted to. Yu IlHan thought back to the time he split apart the land on this world, as he swung with all his power, while imbuing the power of a blunt weapon into the spear.

[Ku, uaaaaaaaakakak!]

[Critical Hit!]

[The skill, Critical Hit, has become level 84.]

After the demon let out its final scream after using up all of its earth bombs and, failed to calm down the berserking on its body and had to meet Yu IlHan in a defenseless manner,

[??? ???? ?????? ???????????? experience]

The fire burning on its body died down, and fell down with a 'thud!'. Spiera immediately spoke.

[19 seconds. Not bad.] (Spiera)

"There's no time to rest. Dammit."

Yu IlHan, who swore at Spiera's counting, fed all the flames burning on his body, despite losing its owner, to the Eternal Flame, and collected the body into his inventory.

Damnably, the demon approaching him from far away was the worst of them all, the lightning-attributed demon. He had no equipment to resist its attacks, nor did he have any significant methods of attacking. This was one that he had to use tons of Breath and go at it with brute force alone!

"I really need to absorb the magic engineering knowledge faster to make something out of these corpses. Dammit."

[IlHan.] (Liera)

"I'm busy. Please leave a message after the beep."

Yu IlHan shot up into the air with a vague reply, and tried to conceal himself somehow before it reached him.

[It's a comm from Mir. Although, it doesn't look that urgent from the color of the signal.] (Liera)

"Beep...…"

He checked, and there was indeed a call from the communicator. Yu IlHan pondered for a moment while looking at the lump of lightning that rushed towards him and the hole he had dug, but he still deployed the ability from the 'Frog that leaped out of the well' title, the 'ability to return to the world he was born to regardless of which world he was in'.

It did not activate.

"...huh?"

Muttered Yu IlHan in confusion.

"Why doesn't it work?"

[... You do realize it really gets awkward when you make a joke at times like these, right? Why are you scaring me?] (Liera)

"No, I'm not joking. That's strange. It worked well in other worlds."

There was no way Yu IlHan would not have tested the ability, when he was meticulous to the point that he would actually tap on the ground on most bridges for stability checks. He had already tested coming back to Earth from a few different worlds, and had come here after checking that they did indeed work.

[Perhaps this world is an exception!] (Liera)

"You know well that that cannot be true. If I had to come up with exceptions, then I wouldn't be able to do anything... but really, why doesn't it work?"

[Kihaaaaaaa!]

Coincidentally, the lightning demon that arrived at where he was, cried. However, Yu IlHan had already succeeded in concealing himself, and did not feel any danger, but right now that demon wasn't the problem.

[Even we can't exit this world as we please. Yu IlHan, why don't you think calmly about this again?] (Spiera)

"Yes, I'll activate it ag...ain?"

[The ability is only usable once per week.]

Yu IlHan's body shivered. The ability already activated once? Not that it didn't?

But that would mean, but....

[So that is it. Although I didn't want to believe due to the stark contrast in mana distribution....] (Erta)

While Yu IlHan was confused at this unacceptable situation, Erta, who realized the truth first, muttered in a defeated voice.

[This place is Earth, isn't it....?] (Erta)

Yu IlHan had found out the truth about this world.

Author's notes

DUN DUN DUN

The true story starts now.

Translator's notes

DUN DUN DUN, PLOT TWIST.

(I owe 5 chapters still…) This chapter is a Thursday regular!