Steam Bun was the one that made the fenrir cub nervous. It had disappeared one day only to suddenly reappear like this. Philip stared at Steam Bun as it lay limply in Chi-Woo’s arms.

—Didn’t you tell me that it had something going on with Kabbalah?

“…I did, but why did you have to word it like that?” Chi-Woo asked, but Philip quickly went on to the next question.

—What has this guy been doing with Kabbalah?

“I don’t…know that either,” Chi-Woo answered.

—What? Why?

“Well, what happened was…”

***

During the time when the Demon Empire was preparing to invade Shalyh, Chi-Woo had gone to Kabbalah’s temple in secret knowing that their enemy was going to utilize the fact that their holy territory was still ‘incomplete’. Though Kabbalah appeared understanding after Chi-Woo explained the situation to her, Chi-Woo hadn’t felt good telling her this unfortunate news. After all, no matter how he worded it, he was essentially telling her the city no longer needed her protection when the White Horse General came.

Kabbalah had been a forgotten god and barely managed to hold her position again after thousands of years. And soon, she was going to be forgotten again.

“It can’t be helped,” Kabbalah said. “If people don’t need me.” She sounded surprisingly calm.

“Goddess Kabbalah, it’s not that we don’t need—”

“I don’t really resent you for it.” Kabbalah shook her head. She accepted her fate like someone who had experienced countless heartaches and separations already. “It’s just that whenever things like this happen, it makes me wonder…why was I formed from such an inconvenient wish and desire?”

She sounded a little sorrowful as she lamented, “You know there are many other good desires like love and bravery. Even things like sloth and lust are better. I could’ve been born from a human’s instinctual emotion, but why…!” Kabbalah stopped speaking and chewed on her bottom lip, her head lowered.

“…I really disliked the way I was.”

“…”

“That’s why I wanted to become a new god.”

“…”

“And blinded by that desire, I did something I shouldn’t have… Is this what it means by receiving divine punishment?” She let out a self-mocking laugh. Chi-Woo didn’t say anything. He was the one who made her suffer, and he didn’t dare to suggest he could fathom what Kabbalah was feeling. Yet Steam Bun, who was sitting on his shoulder, quietly listened. It was calm unlike its usual self and seemed to empathize with Kabbalah’s story. It crossed its newly formed arms and nodded.

After some time, Kabbalah said in a slightly hoarse voice: “Did you already realize that this kid isn’t human?”

Chi-Woo nodded silently. He already knew this after checking her information through his Spirit Eye. Balal wasn’t born. She was artificially made, and her outer appearance was nothing more than a shell, replicating Kabal’s appearance.

“Yes, this child is not human, or anything for that matter.” Kabal placed her hand on her chest. “She doesn’t have her own will and can’t do anything by herself. She simply has the instructions programmed into her—” She clutched her fist tightly and said, “She’s nothing—simply an existence that came to being from a no-good, selfish goddess’s pure greed.”

Kabal clutched onto something and raised it. It was a circular ball that shone inside her hand. It looked like the moon in the night sky, or a nucleus. Chi-Woo instinctively knew that this was Balal’s true self.

“Oppa,” Kabal said while stroking Balal pitifully. “I will do as you say. But in return—I’m not even sure if I can say that—can I ask you to do me a favor?”

“A favor?”

“Yes. I thought deeply about what you told me, and I am thinking of disappearing momentarily as soon as my preparations are done.” Chi-Woo was surprised by this sudden news. Though he had thought she might do that, he didn’t wish for Kabbalah’s disappearance.

“I’m not saying that I’m going to completely extinguish myself. You can think of it as me falling into a very deep sleep. I wouldn’t wake up for a very long time, but…” Kabbalah made a bitter smile. “But if I hide myself, this child will be left alone.”

Kabala sighed and lifted Balal. “I don’t want this child to remain like some abandoned doll, not really living a life while awake. Isn’t it terrifying to live like that?”

The current Balal was incomplete. Since she was not fully formed, it was inevitable that they would clash as they had polar opposite characteristics. At the current time, they were negating each other. There was only one solution to this problem.

“Thus, I hope that while I’m asleep, you will complete the experiment that I had put on hold through whatever means possible.”

It was then Chi-Woo realized that Kabbalah—no, Kabal hadn’t given up on Balal yet.

“She’s an existence created because of me. I need to give her an end on my own terms somehow…” Whether it was her becoming a new god or not, Kabal wanted closure.

“I know it’s a lot to ask for, but you are the only one I can trust around me to not use this girl for their own evil purposes. Because you are—”

Before Kabal could finish her sentences, Steam Bun jumped up and swallowed the core inside Kabal’s hand in one bite. Because it had happened in an instant, Chi-woo stood looking stunned. Kabal’s eyes also widened.

“Hey, you bastard!” Chi-Woo yelled after realizing what had happened. No wonder it had been keeping quiet—!

“How could you suddenly—!” Chi-Woo ran to him and shook Steam Bun side to side to make it throw up the core again. Yet Steam Bun kept its mouth firmly sealed with the resolution to not spit it back out.

“Are you kidding me—!” Chi-Woo had no idea why Steam Bun was acting this way and yelled angrily.

“I see!” but a hopeful voice—unlike Chi-Woo’s frantic one—exclaimed. “You already thought of everything.”

As he saw Kabal clap in amazement, Chi-Woo thought to himself that he had no idea what she was talking about.

“I see. Now that I think about it, there was this guy. I completely forgot about it. It’s like I received a surprise present.”

Chi-Woo blankly looked back to Steam Bun. Steam Bun had its legs crossed and stretched out its arms in an exaggerated manner.

“But I’m surprised. To think you would consider my position and prepare an answer beforehand…” Kabal nodded and tilted her head slightly while folding her hands behind her back. “As expected. Is this what it feels like to have an older brother? Ha!”

Chi-Woo stared at Kabal as she made the brightest smile she had ever made.

***

—What? So what in the world did this guy do?

After hearing Chi-Woo’s explanation, Philip looked down at Steam Bun curiously and asked.

“…I don’t know.” Chi-Woo frowned. Even when he checked Steam Bun with his Spirit Eye, he didn’t see the same information as he usually did. All he saw was:

Assimilation…51.2%

“According to Hawa, Steam Bun was created for a particular purpose during ancient times through Goddess La Bella and several other gods who warred with her…” Chi-Woo scratched his head and continued, “I think I heard that he was the first…ah, what was it again? Anyways, I think we can expect some great things.”

—So did Kabal fall asleep inside Balal, and this bun accepted Balal inside him?

“I think so,” Chi-Woo answered while touching Steam Bun’s jelly-like body that shone like a fluorescent light. Steam Bun didn’t use to be this color; it was probably the effect of accepting Balal inside it.

—Hm. The combination of a mysterious creature that gods made and an artificial saintess that another god made…

Philip looked intently at Steam Bun and spoke again.

—I don’t think they would be completely incompatible. How about it? Isn’t this guy also worth cultivating?

Chi-Woo didn’t respond right away. As Philip said, Steam Bun wasn’t an existence he could exactly describe yet. But because they didn’t know what it would become, it also meant that it could become anything. And as Chi-Woo looked at Steam Bun yawning widely in his arms, he thought the one who could lead it in the right direction was him.

?—Page (1

/1)

1. ‘7 Ways to Become a Great and Respected Parent’: Reach at least 90% trust (Incomplete)

2. Reach 100% assimilation with Balal (Incomplete)

3. Become recognized by its clan (Incomplete)

4. Become a saintess of ‘Asha Dubulola’.

5. Use at least 5 and at most 7 points of ‘Blessed Luck’ (Incomplete)

After checking Steam Bun’s information, Chi-Woo realized that it was even more difficult to use his power on Steam Bun than on the baby fenrir’s. He wondered what kind of existence Steam Bun was that there would be so many conditions. In the end, Chi-Woo got rid of his thoughts by shaking his head. This was just the beginning. What growth potential Steam Bun had was secondary, and the important point is that Steam Bun had chosen to return to him of his own accord.

“Thank you.” Chi-Woo stroke Steam Bun as it lay sleeping peacefully in his arms and smiled. “For returning back to me.”

***

Lunchtime arrived. While constantly putting her spoon in and out of her mouth, Byeok commented, “You seem quite busy these days.”

“Yes, but I’m not skipping my training.”

“Is that so? But besides training…” Byeok trailed off.

Chi-Woo gulped down what he was chewing and asked, “Did you know that there’s a new tower at the square?”

“I know. You must have seen it too.”

“Yes. My brother suggested that I visit it recently. And seeing that made me think I should also make my own preparations.”

Byeok nodded.

“It’s as you say…” Byeok stroked her chin and spoke like she thought something was a bit off. “Could you tell me what kind of preparations you are making?”

Chi-Woo suddenly became at a loss for words. He was meant to keep the item that he got recently a secret, so he had trouble telling the truth. And there wasn’t much preparation he was making excluding the item. In the end, it was difficult for him to tell Byeok anything.

“What’s the problem? If you are making thorough preparations, can’t you just tell me?” Byeok asked, and Chi-Woo licked his lips. After returning from Hala Forest, Chi-Woo had felt the importance of strong companions. And just at the perfect timing, he got his hands on a holy item such as ‘The Power to Rule the World’. Though he knew he shouldn’t abuse it, there was no reason for him to not use it. Above all, the item’s effects were awesome. Of course, he would need to prepare for new encounters in the future, but he also needed to check his surroundings. There were formidable figures available right under his nose just like Eshnunna.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Byeok asked again.

“Ah, yes…I guess I should say that I’m strengthening my companions…” Chi-Woo said with a bitter smile and spoke in a roundabout way.

“Hm…” Byeok said. She frowned like she wasn’t pleased by something. “How come all the guys around me are like this…?” She asked, looking at the several people around her. “Oh, but that’s right. I have one that might be different.”

Then Byeok turned to one direction and said, “Where is our Icy? Cold as always, but I know she’s going to come to me in the end.” When she saw Eshnunna smirk while poking into the air, her face stiffened.

Sometime later, Byeok let out a long sigh and asked Chi-Woo. “Do you remember what I told you a few days ago?”

Chi-Woo blinked hard. Because he heard so many different things from Byeok, he didn’t know which one she was talking about.

Search tinyurl.com

/2p9emv8w for the original.

“Well…”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Thud. Byeok placed her spoon down on the table and got up even though she hadn’t finished everything yet. Chi-Woo looked stunned since she had never done this before.

“Master.” Thus, he was about to stand up when Byeok turned around.

“I suppose I can’t tell you what to do even in these matters.” Byeok shook her head while walking away.

Everyone’s eyes snapped to Chi-Woo. Chi-Woo clicked his tongue and simply clenched and unclenched his hands repeatedly. He thought he had been doing well recently, but it felt as if he was missing something very important.

***

Chi-Woo knew that he needed to solve things that bothered him as soon as possible. Yet Byeok didn’t seem willing to speak anymore about the topic, and Chi-Woo didn’t know what to do.

“That’s what master said?” In the end, Chi-Woo went to consult the one person he could rely on. “Tell me exactly what you did and say.”

After listening to Chi-Woo’s explanation, Chi-Hyun’s expression turned very stern.

“…I thought I told you to not abuse the item’s powers.” Chi-Hyun glared at Chi-Woo.

“I didn’t abuse it,” Chi-Woo retorted, but Chi-Hyun snorted.

“You have lost sight of what’s important because you were distracted by your new toy.”

“…”

Chi-Woo couldn’t deny it. Though he hadn’t used the Power to Rule the World that much, he checked its conditions whenever he had the chance.

“Why do you think I took you to the tower?”

“…Is it so bad that I’m looking out for my companions?”

“Do you think I’m telling you not to do that?” Tap, tap. Chi-Hyun knocked his fist against the table two times and said with his fingers crossed, “You should still be able to weigh the importance of different matters.”

“Aren’t you still staying in Ru Amuh’s zone?” Chi-Hyun then asked. “Who’s the boss there?”

“What?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself. Who’s the boss of the place you’re currently residing in?”

Chi-Woo laughed for a moment because it sounded ridiculous talking about who the boss was suddenly.

“Did you find my question funny?”

Chi-Woo instantly stopped smirking. He looked back at Chi-Hyun in a daze. Chi-Hyun was very intimidating as he stared intently at Chi-Woo with his fingers crossed. His eyes were incredibly solemn. Sometime later, Chi-Hyun said in a low voice, “All societies work under a set order of things in a particular system. It’s where various components correlate with one another and unite under a common purpose.” Call it an organization or institution, they all meant the same thing. “Depending on how well and orderly this system is structured, a society succeeds or fails.”

“…”

“A leader’s position is to retain the central balance of this system,” Chi-Hyun said. This was what Chi-Hyun did here, and what the Last Dragon did with the Cassiubia League. That was how important a leader was for an organization.

“No wonder master acted like that.” Chi-Hyun sighed. “You’ve collected all sorts of gems and have the best equipment that anyone can ask for, but all you stick to is some child’s play…” Chi-Hyun turned his chair around and shook his head just like Byeok had done. Chi-Woo wanted to ask what he should do then, but stopped himself. It was obvious that even if he asked, Chi-Hyun would just tell him to figure things out on his own. In the end, Chi-Woo quietly got up from his seat and turned around. Once Chi-Woo departed, Noel came in after receiving Chi-Hyun’s call.

“What did young master come here again for, sir?” she asked, and Chi-Hyun flipped through his records without saying anything. He wasn’t just pretending to skim through them, but was actually reading each individual’s dossiers. Then Chi-Hyun’s hands suddenly stopped. There was a different look in his eyes.

“This hero also came?”

“Who are you talking about?”

Then, seeing the name Chi-Hyun pointed at, Noel looked confused. “I don’t know who this hero is…”

“Well, I guess it’s understandable.”

Noel’s eyes shone. The fact that Chi-Hyun knew this hero probably meant something. She just didn’t know whether it was for a good or bad reason.

“This guy plays quite interestingly for a modern hero,” Chi-Hyun said.

Meanwhile, Chi-Woo was walking back to his place, deeply in thought.

“!” It was then someone tapped his back, and he looked toward his left.