Chapter 33 (2/2)
”If you want to check something, then do it quickly. Don't just stand there.” At my words, all the golems simultaneously raised their right hand.
Kung!
It would be a lie if I said I wasn't afraid for a moment. I reflexively raised both fists to my chin, but their hands didn't move towards me. Their palms were touching their chests. It was like a salute. The following actions were in the same vein.
Kung!
They went down on one knee and bowed their heads towards me. It was a grand sight.
[The Small Sun Knights are paying their respects to the new monarch.]
It wasn't something I hadn't thought of. I could roughly guess this 'story.' This city was now mine because I had cleaned it up. It was like this. But was the dungeon system so flexible? After all, it was Yoon Ji-hee that had saved the city instead of me. It wasn't a complaint but…
”It was my judgment.” Someone spoke. I turned around. A stone statue was standing before me. ”It is a bit off from the principle, but it seemed right.”
I had seen it before. The statue that sold the item to me on the fifth floor.
”Thank you…”
”Isn't this a beautiful city?” The statue spoke bluntly, but its voice was full of emotions. ”Isaiah loved the followers here.” I listened carefully to the words of the stone statue. ”They were expelled from the empire, and every place above ground turned against them, forcing them down here. They didn't care about the danger of going down, since they had a G.o.d.”
”… Is that the sun?”
”That’s right.” The artificial sun warmed up the large underground s.p.a.ce and powered the golems and entire city. I didn't know the details, but it was something that modern science couldn't do.
”They were a proud people to Isaiah. Although they were dependent on the sun, they didn't settle for reality. Dozens of seeds were grown in suitable soil and they created sophisticated devices powered by the sun.”
I once again looked at the golems.
”The G.o.ds are those who live off of the dreams of their believers. The citizens here were always dreaming as they continued to make progress. Thanks to them, Isaiah was able to become a G.o.d strong enough that he wasn't ashamed in front of other G.o.ds.”
”Until they left here.” I said. The stone statue gazed at me. If it had a facial expression, then I think it would look surprised. How did I know? ”The city was simply ruined. If it was destroyed by an invasion, then the golems would be smashed and the damage would be worse.”
”I see.”
”So why did they leave here?” I asked the question that I had previously asked the golem.
”They didn’t need it anymore. The city they built, the sun, their temples, their desires… Since the day that the G.o.ds were abandoned by their followers, they weren't called G.o.ds anymore.”
Desires… Something was a little strange. It was like all desire had been wiped from the group. Still, I knew one thing. There was a G.o.d called Isaiah.
”I spoke for too long. Anyway, the important thing is that you are the new owner of this place.”
[The territories and facilities of Talia belong to you.]
[You can amend the laws in Talia and have obtained citizens.h.i.+p rights.]
[The Small Sun Knights will place your commands as the top priority. You can modify the behavioural rules of the Small Sun Knights.]
[The spatial coordinates of City – Talia has been marked.]
”… I wanted to ask, this is the seventh floor right? If I go down the stairs, then I won't be able to come back here.”
”That's right. It is usually the case.” If so, what was the use? Of course, I didn't intend to say that to the statue. Still, it could read my mind.
”Just think of it as an example of my sincerity. It has been a really long time since I've seen the city look like this. I'd like to do much more, but this much is the extent of it…”
”I don't want to lose it… Actually, I was a bit thrilled when I became a monarch.” The statue laughed.
[Isaiah the Sun G.o.d acknowledges you as the monarch of Talia.]
[Isiah the Sun G.o.d thanks you.]
”Is this really helpful?”
”Unfortunately, yes.” Isaiah laughed at me.
The stone statue felt like a threat, but in that moment, I felt no nervousness at all.
&
I wanted to stay on the seventh floor for a longer time. I wanted to stay as long as possible to read books and raise my talents. But the unexpected obstacle was money.
I had consumed all my money when I visited the fifth floor. It was the same with Yoon Sang-min. He bought only enough food for a few days. Then he spent the rest of his silver on return tickets.
Yoon Ji-hee and Yang Su-jin spent the week living on what little money was remaining and bought supplies to help me.
“Originally, I wasn't planning to convey it directly, but it will be a few days before you enter the eight floor.” Isaiah said before I went down the stairs. ”It is a type of motivation. It is to take away the burden of going to this place everyday at midnight, and to give you time to realize the abilities you have obtained.”
”Can't you tell me more?” I selfishly asked. In fact, he told a story but left the questions I wanted to ask without any explanations. Isaiah laughed once again.
”That’s right.” Then he disappeared from sight.
”What is that?” I grumbled while Yang Su-jin headed towards the stairs first. In fact, she and Yoon Ji-hee had ran out of food two days ago. The little bit of food was left for me, and I had eaten the last piece of bread.
”By the way Oppa, be sure to look in the mirror when you get back. Understand?”
”What?” Yang Su-jin had already disappeared down the stairs by the time I asked. Yoon Ji-hee nodded shyly towards me before also disappearing.
I didn't go down right away. Until I became hungry and thirsty, I checked how much my body had changed and practiced controlling my strength.
[7th floor cleared.]
&
I drank a gla.s.s of water as soon as I got up. I wanted a shower with hot water. I quickly took off my clothes and entered the bathroom. I was just about to walk through the door of the shower.
Chak.
Something gently hit one side of my thigh. I looked down.
“…?”
It was the culprit. What? You know… The male companion… I guess. Everyone had that one friend below. It was swaying and hitting my thigh. There was nothing wrong with this itself. The problem was that it was in a non-combat state. No, in the first place… This was my friend, right?
”…? …? …?”
I checked my friend with trembling hands. No. However I looked, this wasn't my friend. It was a friend I was intimate with, so naturally I knew the dimensions better than anyone else. In a battle state… Even though it was this much larger… No, just the colour alone…
I couldn't keep my gaze from wandering below as I entered the shower. I was so busy worrying that I forgot about the boiler and cold water gushed out. I jumped forward with surprise.
Until then, I had no idea. Why had Yang Su-jin asked me to look in the mirror?
”…” I was so surprised that I forgot about the coolness of the cold water. I thought I had finished the investigation of my changed body on the seventh floor. That wasn't all of it.
I stared at the person in the mirror and muttered grimly. ”Who are you?!”
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