Should I have done it?

 

Black Tower, 99th Floor.

Sitting dejectedly on the floor, Bossaboo picked himself up, dusting off his backside.

Then—

Chirp.

[Sejun-nim, honestly, Mamori wasn’t exactly my type either.]

Trying to appear unaffected, he spoke to Sejun. This happened three hours after Mamori had left.

Bossaboo, you’re a bit late.

Sejun, seeing Bossaboo’s crestfallen expression, placed him in the palm of his hand and gently patted his head to console him.

After receiving Sejun’s comfort, Bossaboo perked up.

Chirp! Chirp!

[When things are like this, training is the answer! Sejun 3! Let’s train together!]

He picked up his sword and began practicing with Sejun 3, who had been swinging his sword without rest since earlier.

After a while…

Chirp!

[Sejun-nim, I’ve had a breakthrough!]

Bossaboo managed to move his sword without physically touching it—a skill called Sword Control.

[Bossaboo, Hero of <Hampke>, Master of the One Sword]

He had reached a new level.

“Congratulations, Bossaboo!”

Even his heartbreak had fueled his growth in swordsmanship.

Does heartbreak make you stronger?

Sejun couldn’t help but think that Bossaboo’s recent achievements might be thanks to his unrequited love.

Just then—

[A dragon fruit with the aura of the ambiguous Sejun Park experienced a profound realization while using Basic Mana Swordsmanship.]

[The realization of the dragon fruit with Sejun Park’s aura is transferred to Black Tower Sejun Park.]

[Basic Mana Swordsmanship skill level increased by 5.]

[Basic Mana Swordsmanship Lv. 9 achieved.]

A message appeared before Sejun.

It seemed that Sejun 3 had also gained from Bossaboo’s influence, raising his skill level in Basic Mana Swordsmanship by five levels.

Hehehe, a few more heartbreaks for Bossaboo and I’ll master swordsmanship in no time!

Sejun mischievously considered setting Bossaboo up for more heartbreak.

“Nya?! Chairman Park’s face is rotting again after spending all that money!”

Naturally, Theo jumped in and began giving him a dedicated “knead-knead” treatment.

“Let’s have dinner now.”

“Puhuhut. Sounds good, nya!”

Kueng!

Chirp!

The group cheered at the mention of food.

Sejun led his companions into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

“Bossaboo, what would you like to eat?”

Wanting to celebrate Bossaboo’s new achievement, Sejun asked him for a menu preference.

Chirp! Chirp!

[Roasted peanuts! And maybe two roasted walnuts too.]

“Sure.”

In addition to the peanuts and walnuts Bossaboo requested, Sejun added pine nuts, strawberries, and green grapes, presenting the feast in front of him.

And—

“Is it good, Kuengi?”

Kuhehehe. Kueng!

[Hehehe. It’s delicious!]

Sejun enjoyed a honey rice cake with Kuengi, something they hadn’t shared in a while.

As for Theo and the Kamangi Family, their meals were fixed at grilled fish and dried sweet potatoes, so Kuengi was the only one who shared Sejun’s food.

After a satisfying dinner…

“Ugh. I’m stuffed. I ate too much.”

Sejun lay down on the bench, patting his full stomach.

“Puhuhut.”

Kuhehehe.

Chirp, chirp.

Theo, Kuengi, and Kamangi each took a place on Sejun’s body, settling into their own spots.

Chirp!

[I’ll go back to training!]

Bossaboo, feeling the need to consolidate his insight, returned to training with Sejun 3.

“Wow. The sky looks amazing.”

Sejun admired the darkening sky.

Though he saw it daily, the sky always looked different, sometimes creating scenes worthy of awe.

As the night deepened and the sky was fully shrouded in darkness…

“One, two…”

Sejun counted the stars he’d raised in the sky.

“Nineteen stars.”

In total, there were nineteen stars shining in the sky, including the twelve Zodiac stars and the seven Sejun had later added.

Stars with unique powers like [Ice Cube], [Piercing], [Blindness], and [Darkness].

“Maybe I can use Starlink now?”

Looking at the stars, Sejun thought of his Starlink authority.

In the past, he’d fainted from mental exhaustion, but his mental strength had increased about tenfold since then.

Worst case, I’ll pass out again.

He hadn’t been in life-threatening danger before, so he wasn’t worried this time.

Resolving to try using the ability, Sejun focused.

“Starlink.”

He attempted to link with a star that particularly drew him in.

[Using <Authority: Starlink> to connect with [Delicious].]

Then—

-Sejun-nim, hello!

As [Delicious] greeted him, a vast influx of visual information poured into Sejun’s mind.

“….”

Sejun quietly processed the information flooding his mind.

Then—

Tap.

He touched the tip of a piece of dried sweet potato Kamangi had left behind. For some reason, he felt certain it would taste better if he touched it there.

The moment he touched it…

Chirp! Chirp!

[Master! That belongs to the great Kamangi! I saved it to eat later!]

Kamangi, who had been lying on Sejun’s chest, suddenly sprang up and snatched the sweet potato.

And—

Chirp?!

Why is it so delicious?!

Kamangi was surprised. The dried sweet potato, already tasty, now tasted far better.

Chirp?!

[Master! How did you do that?!]

As Kamangi barked excitedly at him…

Snore.

Sejun had fainted. Connecting with a star and using its power were two very different things.

“Nya?! Chairman Park, when did you fall asleep? Kuengi, let’s move him, nya!”

Kueng!

Theo lifted Sejun’s back, while Kuengi held his legs, and together, they moved him.

Meanwhile—

Chirp, chirp, chirp.

Kamangi, on Sejun’s chest as they moved him, happily munched on the sweet potato that Sejun had magically made tastier.

A little later…

Snore.

Purr.

Chirp.

…

..

.

The quiet bedroom was filled with the sound of Sejun, Theo, and the Kamangi Family snoring peacefully.

Chirp! Chirp!

[No! Sejun 3, you need to twist it a bit more here!]

Bossaboo and Sejun 3 spent the night honing their swordsmanship.

 

Kamangi's Mental World.

“Sorry.”

“We’re sorry.”

The Kamangi Family was once again apologizing to the souls with dedication.

They had reached about a hundred thousand souls who had forgiven them when—

Rumble.

The red energy from the souls converged, forming Corruption once more.

But this time, the Kamangi Family was prepared to face Corruption.

“Go, Mukbupal!”

“Yes, sir!”

Following Kamangi’s command, Mukbupal hurried out of the mental world.

“Mukbupal Phantom Clones!”

Poof.

Mukbupal created clones through his authority.

Snore.

He then lifted Sejun’s sleeping body and opened his eyes to make him look at Kamangi.

Then—

Flash.

A golden light began to shine down upon Kamangi’s mental world.

Indeed, for Corruption to be dispelled, Sejun’s gaze had to fall upon it.

This was because Sejun’s <Title: One Who Has Long Gazed Upon the Primordial> held the power to annihilate Corruption’s consciousness.

With Corruption’s thoughts erased by the primordial power within Sejun’s title, Mukbupal gently laid Sejun back down and returned to Kamangi’s mental world.

“Mmm.”

Sejun shifted in his sleep, settling into a more comfortable position.

 

The Next Day

“Wait here for a moment.”

After collecting some Devourer of Destruction seeds from the Tenth Tower, Sejun stood in front of the dimensional gate.

He didn’t want a repeat of the “Destruction Theo” incident, which had caused a drop in workers.

“Understood, nya! I’ll follow after ten seconds, nya!”

“Alright.”

Once Sejun entered <Earthworm>…

Gurgle. Gurgle.

Six drops of Destruction Tear began transforming into Sejun’s form.

“Welcome, everyone.”

As Sejun distributed the Devourer of Destruction seeds to his new workers—

“Puhuhut. Chairman Park, I missed you, nya!”

Kueng!

Chirp!

Theo, Kuengi, and the Kamangi Family leaped through the dimensional gate, running toward Sejun.

“Huh?! Two are missing?”

Sejun looked around, noticing the workers were ten instead of twelve.

Caw-caw!

The Devourer of Destruction explained why two were missing.

“So, Sejun 2 and Sejun 4 suddenly turned into blue drops?”

What’s going on?

As Sejun wondered, one of the Devourer of Destruction workers extended a leaf, revealing two transparent drops of liquid.

[Immature Creator’s Tear]

“…?!”

Why did purifying Destruction Tears produce this?

“Kamangi, what’s the relationship between Destruction and the Creator?”

Chirp! Chirp!

[The Great Kamangi Chief is very busy these days! No time to play with you!]

Sejun asked Kamangi, who was brushing off the playful Devourer of Destruction trying to get his attention.

Then—

Chirp! Chirp!

[Obviously! The Destruction was always meant to be the next Creator!]

Kamangi answered with a tone suggesting this was common knowledge.

How would I know that?! Even the dragons don’t know that!

Feeling slightly offended, Sejun immediately retaliated by playfully blowing on Kamangi’s belly.

“Bubububu.”

Chirp-chirp-chirp!

Although it wasn’t much of a punishment, it did lighten Sejun’s mood.

Satisfied, he went on to do the same for Theo and Kamangi Family members who presented their bellies.

Before long, five Destruction Sejuns, now somewhat purified, approached Sejun, showing less hostility.

“No way! Absolutely not!”

Sejun yelled, horrified, and the five Destruction Sejuns returned to planting seeds, looking downcast.

After sending them off…

“So, Destruction is the next Creator?”

Sejun asked Kamangi more about Destruction.

Chirp!

[Yes!]

“What happened?”

Chirp! Chirp!

[I don’t know the details! Destruction gradually became twisted and distant… then, suddenly, it turned into Corruption!]

Chirp-chirp… chirp-chirp.

[I was right beside Destruction when it fell… I think the ‘Corruption’ we’ve been seeing might have caused it.]

Kamangi Family’s youngest, Kabulto, cautiously suggested.

“Corruption?”

Chirp! Chirp…

[Yes, we were apologizing to the souls when it happened…]

Kamangi explained what he had observed about Corruption to Sejun.

“Hmm. So I need to keep watch during your apologies?”

My title has effects like that?

Chirp!

[Yes!]

“Alright. I’ll watch over you while you apologize to the souls.”

As their conversation concluded—

Chirp?! Chirp!

[Hey! The Great Kamangi Chief was going to explain ‘Corruption’ to Master! Why did you speak up first?! I told you not to be cheeky!]

Kabulto, who had interrupted, received a stern talking-to from Kamangi.

Meanwhile, Sejun examined the Immature Creator’s Tear.

[Immature Creator’s Tear]

A drop of tear shed by an immature Creator in sorrow.

It contains powerful creative energy.

Upon consumption, grants 20 million experience points and increases all stats by 50.

“Oh.”

This is pretty good. The Destruction Tear keeps on giving!

Sejun chuckled, realizing it offered more than he initially thought.

He considered consuming it immediately, but—

[<Title: One Who Has Long Gazed Upon the Primordial> gains insight into the essence of the Immature Creator’s Tear.]

A faint golden light glimmered in Sejun’s eyes, adding a new line to the tear’s description.

-It contains enough energy to make five Elixirs of Great Growth.

Ah, so it’s an ingredient for the Elixir of Great Growth.

Sejun decided to keep it for when he met Emilia, the first Apostle of the Creator, who could make the elixir.

After securing the tear and returning to his tasks, the five Destruction Sejuns who had previously exposed their bellies also transformed into drops of liquid.

Should I have done it?

For a moment, Sejun felt a hint of sympathy, but picturing himself blowing on his own belly made him shake his head.

“No way!”

Get a grip, Park Sejun!

Sejun snapped back to his senses, firmly shaking his head.

That evening—

Chirp!

[Sejun-nim, I can now handle two swords!]

Bossaboo had once again risen to a new level.

It seemed heartbreak was indeed responsible for about 80% of Bossaboo’s swordsmanship skill.