Chapter 37 Part2 (1/2)
<chapter 37.=”” heaven=”” door's=”” key=”” -=”” 2=””>
It was so surprising that Lee s.h.i.+n Woo fell from Jin's back.
”Pleine, what happened?”
”That's my line, Mr. s.h.i.+n Woo... Ah, uaaaah. All the permits are being sucked in!”
Pleine had already completed her spell, and the fusion between the Bone Gate and the magic circle dragged G.o.d's power, or the permits towards it.
The permits flowed from his body, to Pleine, to the magic circle, and then to then to the Bone Gate. That huge flow could no longer be interrupted.
The Bone Gate, which had fully fused with the magic circle, radiated white light, as though this was the original plan, and evolved in some unknown way.
”What do we do if we can't go to the surface?”
”...W-We don't cover already sold goods that are either damaged or fused.”
”Don't lie! You just made that up!”
”You got me! But you won't get the permits back even if you kill me, so you have to take responsibility! I didn't do anything wrong, ok? I really didn't!”
It was really frustrating, but she was right. There was no point in blaming her, as this was the result of Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's item, the Bone Gate.
But the Bone Gate should've been dormant within his inventory. The Bone Gate was an item that would remain on standby until he activated it, so why did this happen all of a sudden?
If he were to guess, then the Bone Gate and Pleine's magic circle must've had similar properties. It was concerning that the Bone Gate reacted to the secret shop permits, or rather, G.o.d's power.
”I got this item from Steve... from a Treasure Eater. So if I find some more Treasure Eaters, would I be able to solve the puzzle?”
”Treasure Eaters are hard to see even once in your lifetime. How many did you kill!?”
There was nothing more Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's party could do. He just stood beside Pleine, who was munching on popcorn, and watched the Bone Gate as it changed, no, evolved.
The Bone Gate calmed down only after it had absorbed all of his permits. It had fully absorbed the magic circle and began to float in the air.
[You have acquired the Lv9 ????. By absorbing weak divinity, the artifact has reached its completed form. This artifact will lead you where you want to go. The item will activate upon giving the karma you have created a name.]
”Then, how about the Anyway Door...” [1]
”Give it a rest!”
Jin retorted desperately, stopping him. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo felt disappointed, but then he gave the artifact a proper name.
”Heaven Door's Key.”
”...I feel like I've heard that from somewhere.”
Heaven Door's Key. It was a term in the dead Elementalist's diary, but he didn't know what it meant. But for some reason, he recollected that word just now.
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo instinctively spoke that word, and Pleine briefly looked at him in shock. She soon sported a bitter smile. He hesitated briefly, but then asked.
”Does it not fit?”
”No, it's perfect. ...Yes, nothing else would work.”
Hearing that, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo felt relaxed, but at that moment, the level 9 artifact had become complete.
[The Lv9 Heaven Door's Key has been born. This artifact, which is connected to your very soul, originally possessed the ability to ignore any obstacle and guide you to where you want to go. However, you are a much lower level than the item, so a part of that function is restricted. If you reach a suitable level, then the artifact's true power will be revealed. This artifact activates through the consumption of bones and mana.]
[New coordinates have been recorded. Enough energy has been acquired, so a door can be opened that takes you to the coordinates.]
At best, he thought the artifact would evolve and create a door to the surface. Fortunately, that didn't seem to be the case.
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo turned to Pleine for confirmation, but she just gazed vacantly at the Heaven Door's Key. She acted like she'd baked cookies, but a cake came out of her oven.
”Then... perhaps...”
”Pleine?”
”An Irregular... A true Irregular... Small singularities overlap, creating a miracle that goes beyond the curse and divinity.”
”Pleine...?”
He didn't understand at all. Pleine quietly and naturally embraced Lee s.h.i.+n Woo. As a skeleton, he wasn't supposed to feel any emotions, but Pleine broke through his defenses and embarra.s.sed him with the abundant feeling. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo felt his emotions and urges return, things he thought were long forgotten.
It was truly shocking. He, who never felt any different from physical contact, felt 'excited'. Who exactly was Pleine? Actually, was she even human? But unfortunately, Pleine hadn't noticed his dilemma.
”You may be able to do it. What even G.o.d couldn't do.”
”Uh... Pleine? I got it, so please calm down and explain.”
”I'm sorry. I can't explain it to you.”
”Seriously, you really just make up your own rules!”
Of course, based on the artifact's detailed abilities or Pleine's reaction, he had a rough idea what was going on. But it was so ridiculous that he couldn't be sure, so he was reluctant to even say it. If what he thought was true, then the situation was ridiculous. He wouldn't be able to ridicule Lee Man Bok anymore.
He suffered in various ways in Pleine's arms, but Jin, who was left out like a third wheel, was p.i.s.sed and tore them away from each other, letting them calm down just barely. Both Lee s.h.i.+n Woo and Pleine.
”So are you going to go or not?”
”...Ah, that's right. I'm sorry. I got too excited. That was unlike me. Ah, maybe that hug wasn't so bad.”
”I really don't like this woman.”
[She has a unique disposition. Master, be cautious from now on.]
Even after removing herself from Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, she briefly thought to herself again, and soon said, 'ok' and nodded her head. She then spoke to Lee s.h.i.+n Woo quietly.
”You shouldn't tell anyone about this artifact for the time being. Of course, that includes the people on the surface as well.”
”Of course.”
”And the Heaven Door's Key's current coordinates are set to the safest place in the Magic Empire. Unlike the Underground Empire, which is br.i.m.m.i.n.g with the undead, the surface still has dungeons that haven't been conquered yet. Plus, the coordinates of those dungeons are much more defined than the ones in the Empire, so as long as you don't reveal your ident.i.ty, you should be able to level up much more easily on the surface.”
”That's exactly what I was hoping for.”
”But please don't approach the Emperor. The Emperor, who reigns over the Magic Empire, is more powerful than the Emperor underground.”