NoveLight ™
Kamangi's Mental World.
“Grrr. I'm sorry. As an apology, take this. Everyone, hand yours over too.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Kamangi Family was in their mental realm, apologizing to the souls within the World Energy.
The number of souls was approximately one million.
Whether it was due to their resentment or something else, the souls' eyes were red as blood.
Meanwhile…
Nom, nom.
The one million souls were happily consuming the yellow food that the Kamangi Family had offered.
The Kamangi Family’s soul food was dried roasted sweet potatoes.
The souls found greater comfort in the dried sweet potatoes than in the Kamangi Family's apologies.
One of Sejun’s dried sweet potatoes contained enough energy to be shared among thousands of souls, and thanks to the Kamangi Family’s diligent eating, they could distribute one dried sweet potato to each of the one million souls.
Giving out Sejun’s dried sweet potatoes symbolized the sincerity of their apology, but the Kamangi Family didn’t stop there.
“We’re truly sorry for harming you.”
“We apologize.”
They bowed their heads, offering genuine apologies to each soul, one by one.
Of course, at times, thoughts like Do we really need to go this far? surfaced, but…
I want to be with Master for a long time!
As soon as they thought of Sejun, those doubts vanished.
The Kamangi Family continued their heartfelt apologies to the souls, and…
“We… forgive… you.”
“We’ll… forgive… you.”
One by one, the souls began forgiving the Kamangi Family.
Ssshh.
As the souls forgave them, the red energy drained from their eyes, and their gaze returned to its original color.
The souls that had forgiven the Kamangi Family returned to the World Energy.
Before long, the number of souls who had forgiven them surpassed ten thousand.
Sejun had set a daily target of one hundred souls.
However, after the first apology, the Kamangi Family had long since abandoned any thoughts of limiting their forgiveness count to one hundred souls per day.
By the time the number of souls forgiving the Kamangi Family reached one hundred thousand…
Rumble.
The red energy drawn from the souls gathered in the air, forming a strange shape.
Simultaneously, a viscous, dark-red blob appeared, its eyes, nose, and mouth not where they should be, shifting around as it alternated its gaze among the Kamangi Family.
“Ck, ck, ck. If you were so sorry, you shouldn’t have done anything to be sorry for in the first place.”
The creature sneered, its tongue flicking out like a snake as it spoke. It was indeed a snake.
Drip.
The snake was struggling to maintain its form, unable to hold its shape due to a lack of power.
The snake’s taunting should have made it easy for the Kamangi Family to dispel it immediately, but…
…
The Kamangi Family stood frozen, staring at the snake in fear, their bodies stiff as ice.
They weren’t intimidated by the feeble snake in front of them but by the overwhelming power of the entity it represented beyond it.
They had never encountered a being with such a vast power.
“Who… are you?”
Kamangi barely managed to voice his thought.
“Ck, ck, ck. I am one born with the beginning, one who envies and hates, whispers to create doubt, plants mistrust, awakens hidden nature, and causes downfall—Corruption.”
The sticky, slimy voice identified itself as Corruption.
“Ck, ck, ck. Do you think this act will absolve you of all your sins?”
“Do you really believe your Master sees you as family? Isn’t he just using you and planning to throw you away?”
“He’s obviously trying to bind you under the guise of family.”
Corruption tried to plant seeds of doubt in the Kamangi Family with its ominous, sinister voice.
“Master would never do that!”
“Yeah! Sejun-nim would never do such a thing!”
“Stop slandering Sejun-nim!”
The Kamangi Family denied the voice and rejected it, but Corruption continued to whisper in their ears.
Feeling fear, the Kamangi Family found themselves instinctively backing away from Corruption.
Then…
…
Kamangi suddenly realized he had been driven to the edge of his mental realm.
There was no place left to run.
At that moment…
Flash.
A golden light as radiant as an open sky began to shine on the Kamangi Family, expanding across the realm.
Corruption retreated, trying to avoid the golden light.
Before long, the entire mental realm was bathed in golden light, and…
Touched by the golden light, Corruption turned into black ashes and disappeared.
The Black Tower, 99th Floor at Dawn
Everyone but Batbat was asleep.
Chirp… chirp…
“Hm… Kamangi?”
Sejun woke up to Kamangi’s faint whimpering sounds.
Is he having a nightmare?
He gently petted Kamangi’s belly to soothe him.
Then—
Flap, flap.
(Batbat. Sejun-nim, why are you awake?)
Batbat, who had been playing outside alone, flew over when he heard Sejun’s voice.
“Kamangi seems to be having a nightmare. He keeps whimpering.”
Sejun continued to pet Kamangi’s belly as he spoke.
(Batbat. Sejun-nim, I’ll help too. Lullaby~ Lullaby~ My little brother~)
Batbat softly began singing, helping Kamangi’s family sleep peacefully.
A few moments later…
Chirp…
Kamangi’s whimpers gradually quieted.
Chirrup.
The Kamangi Family fell into a deep sleep, snoring softly.
And…
Snore.
Sejun, who had been petting Kamangi, also fell asleep, snoring as he sat.
(Batbat. Sleeping like that will give you a sore neck in the morning…)
Feeling sorry for Sejun, Batbat carefully moved him onto the bed.
(Batbat Healing Technique.)
Pat, pat.
He imitated Theo’s healing technique, massaging Sejun’s face.
Why he was massaging Sejun’s face instead of his neck, only Theo would know.
The Next Morning
“Well then, Bossaboo, I’ll leave it to you.”
Chirp!
[Sejun-nim, leave it to me!]
After greeting Bossaboo, Sejun prepared to descend the tower with his companions.
Initially, he’d planned to send only Theo down, but—
“Puhuhut. Chairman Park, should I bring Gorina in about three hours, nya?!”
For Theo, who hated being apart from Sejun, “taking his time” meant about one hour.
“No, take a week.”
“Nya?! That’s too long, nya! Then you should come with me, Chairman Park!”
“Alright, let’s go together.”
So, to buy time, Sejun decided to go down with him.
While going down, he also planned to find a proper bride with “fluffy black fur” for Bossaboo.
Even someone as shameless as Sejun couldn’t bring himself to introduce Gorina as Bossaboo’s bride.
If I bring Gorina, Bossaboo might disown me.
As Sejun set off to search for Bossaboo’s potential bride…
Chirp!
[Sejun 3-nim, you should swing it like this!]
Bossaboo continued to diligently teach Sejun 3 swordsmanship.
Puhuhut. Am I finally breaking out of singlehood?
Imagining the bride Sejun would bring for him, Bossaboo felt a flicker of hope.
On Earth
“Alright. Christmas should be completely over by now.”
Leaving the Black Tower, Gyeongcheol chuckled.
As a single man, he had deliberately stayed in the tower for an extra three days to avoid the Christmas atmosphere.
While the holiday cheer had spread to the Black Tower, causing a bit of trouble, he had been too busy to notice the passage of time.
As he left the tower and walked through Gangnam’s streets…
“Huh?!”
The streets were not as he had expected. In fact, they didn’t look like the world he knew.
[25% Off Celebratory Santa Birth Sale!]
[For those who didn’t receive a gift from Santa Sejun, today only: Buy 1, Get 1 Free!]
Celebrating Santa’s birth, Earth was in the midst of a festival.
Then—
Vrr.
Gyeongcheol’s smartphone vibrated in his pocket.
It wasn’t his phone; it was a gift he’d received from Santa Sejun.
“Hello?”
As he answered the call…
“Hello, this is the phone’s owner. Can I pick it up now? I’m near Gangnam Station.”
A woman’s voice came from the other side.
“Oh, I’m near Gangnam Station too. Let’s meet at Exit 10.”
Sejun, thank you so much!
Filled with gratitude, Gyeongcheol hurried toward Gangnam Station.
[Arrived at the Black Tower’s 75th Floor.]
…
..
.
“Let’s check out the shopping district first.”
“Puhuhut. Sounds good, nya!”
Kueng!
Chirp!
Sejun and his companions decided to look for Bossaboo’s bride in the bustling shopping district.
“Oh, this is delicious.”
Kueng!
[Daddy, this one is tasty too!]
At a popular restaurant…
“Chairman, is my grilled fish almost ready, nya?!”
“It’s almost done.”
Sejun, with permission from the shop, had set up a small grill on the side to cook Theo’s grilled fish.
Chirp, chirp!
[Master! I want dried sweet potatoes!]
“Sure.”
Kamangi had made an unusual claim that they needed plenty of dried sweet potatoes to apologize to the souls, but…
Knowing that Kamangi’s body needed nourishment, Sejun handed him two handfuls of sweet potatoes.
Nom, nom, nom.
The Kamangi Family devoured the dried sweet potatoes eagerly.
Chirp! Chirp? Chirp!
[Master! Now I’m ready to apologize, so keep petting me and keep an eye on me, okay?]
“Alright.”
After receiving multiple reassurances, Kamangi finally took out a piece of World Energy, placed it in his mouth, and…
Chirrup.
He fell asleep.
While petting Kamangi and watching the scenery outside…
“Huh?!”
Sejun spotted a Black Marmot with sleek black fur passing by.
Fluffy black fur!
Holding Kamangi, Sejun quickly rushed outside.
“Excuse me, do you have a boyfriend?”
He asked the Black Marmot.
“Hmph! So conceited. I don’t, but you’re not my type.”
The Black Marmot, Mamori, scoffed at Sejun, as if offended that he had the audacity to speak to her.
She was the daughter of the Black Marmot Chief on the 96th floor, known for her high standards.
You’re not my type either!
Though irritated, Sejun held back his feelings for Bossaboo’s sake.
“No, it’s not for me. I wanted to introduce you to someone else.”
“Hmph! I don’t want a boyfriend weaker than me.”
“Don’t worry. The person I want to introduce is incredibly strong.”
Hehe. Our Bossaboo is a Grand Swordmaster.
“Alright then, lead the way.”
“Got it.”
Sejun led Mamori back up to the 99th floor of the tower.
“Bossaboo, this is Mamori.”
As Sejun introduced her, Bossaboo’s heart pounded.
“Mamori only acknowledges men stronger than her! Let’s see if you qualify as my boyfriend. Come at me!”
Chirp!
Wanting to be the best boyfriend he could be…
Pow!
Bossaboo gave it his all and thoroughly beat her.
Bossaboo, what are you doing?!
Sejun was appalled as he watched.
A short while later…
“I lost.”
Mamori got up, dusting herself off. She didn’t seem too fazed by it.
Does that mean they’re a couple?!
Sejun looked at them with hopeful eyes.
“Mamori realized something. Mamori’s boyfriend needs to be strong and handsome.”
Mamori had discovered a new ideal type.
Then…
“However, he’s… not…”
She shook her head as she looked at Bossaboo.
“Huh?! Mamori, if you take a closer look at Bossaboo…”
Sejun started to speak up for Bossaboo.
“No, no. He’s just not it.”
Mamori firmly shook her head and left the 99th floor.
Being single for 300 years was not a feat just anyone could achieve.