Chapter 145: Deal With a Demon

"How dare a mere human! Do you, a worthless creature, dare mock me?"

"Oh my, you found out quickly. I thought you were completely fooled since you were listening so intently."

It's not entirely the wrong calculation, but in the end, it's a meaningless game of numbers.

The biggest variable in this calculation was the magical power of the [Living Flame] as the energy source. Of course, I didn't expect a being of the abyss to side with me until the end.

"Anyway, it seems the [Living Flame] enjoys tormenting you, right?"

So it will last for as long as my calculation.

After conveying that part clearly, I spoke again.

"I propose again. Since you are a book, why not fulfill your duty as a book?"

Those in need of knowledge and wisdom obtain it through books.

"Kim Shin-hwa..."

An unpleasant anticipation lingered on Cheong-ho's blurred face that was projected by the grimoire [The Book of Greed and Destruction]. A sinister smile and the look of a predator eyeing its prey.

"Do you even understand what you're saying right now?"

Where did he think he could take control of the conversation? In this negotiation, I held the upper hand.

"No, you seem to be mistaken. This is neither a wish nor a request."

A bluish light appeared on Cheong-ho's face.

It wasn't his face that was glowing. It was the four eyes on my mask that were emitting a blue light.

"I'm just taking what I want. You are my spoils of war, aren't you? I'll just take what I need without paying any price."

It was like skinning prey and carving out its meat.

"You damn...!"

Surprisingly, Cheong-ho didn't seem to have many good curses in his head.

"If the knowledge you provide is sufficiently helpful, I might feel good. Perhaps because of that, the amount or quality of the pain you must endure might decrease a bit, don't you think?"

"Are you telling me to become a slave fawning over its master?"

"If you don't like it, just live and die as you please. Anyway, remember that in this situation, the only one who can save you is Kim Shin-hwa who is still alive."

I reached out again to close the door of the barrier.

"...No, I will help."

"Good choice."

"But it seems you're under a misconception, so let me make it clear."

Cheong-ho's face that was projected inside the barrier twisted grotesquely. It looked more like the face of a horrible demon than Cheong-ho.

"Did you think you could get it without cost? What you ask for is the nectar of the wisdom of the abyss. Once you taste it, there's no going back. You'll end up clinging to me, howling and groveling like a dog or a pig."

"Fine. If it comes to that, I'll roll around oinking and barking."

"Shut up! Are you trying to mock my curse with such vulgar language?"

"Hahaha, so what if I am?"

I laughed out loud, but my face hidden beneath the mask was not so bright.

I haven't even completed the deal with King Man-geum, and now I'm getting the wisdom of the Laughing One...

Though it wasn't called a deal, this is essentially a deal with a demon.

This book is, in fact, no different from a kind of forbidden fruit.

[Das Buch der Gier und des Verderbens (The Book of Greed and Destruction)

Category: Prophecy

Author: Unknown

Year of Creation: Unknown

Language: Unknown, but the title is written in German on the inside.

This prophecy book is also known by the nickname 'The Laughing Book'.

There are rumors that it is a book written by a demon from another world or that a demon is trapped within it. If you read this book, your soul might be taken.

Further research is required to ascertain the true value of the book.

※ Research progress: 60%]

This is the basic information about the Book of Greed and Destruction.

Although I have never conducted any research activities, it seems that the incidents that occurred during my last battle with this guy have been considered research activities.

The additional information revealed with 60% research progress is as follows:

[The Laughing One: This book is an incarnation of a high mental body.

Wisdom of the Abyss: It provides the owner with 'perfect' answers to their questions.

Curse of Knowledge: Those who read the contents of this book fall into madness along with immense pleasure. (Estimated resistance rate: 35%)

Slave of Knowledge: Those who fall into madness are granted 'soul binding'.

※ Enhanced (Kim Shin-hwa)

Pain: "I will pull out a molar every three seconds."]

In short, this is what it boils down to.

One. It provides perfect solutions to specific problems.

Two. If you fail the check, you get soul bound.

Three. The effect of soul binding? You just become like Cheong-ho. That's it.

However, I had a perfect solution for this kind of problem.

"Alright. Then my question is..."

I conveyed exactly what I needed.

It wasn't with my voice but with my will. This was something only the book and I knew.

One question and one secret request.

Upon receiving my question and request, Cheong-ho looked utterly shocked.

"Unbelievable. You'd go through all this just for a mere mask?"

"Whether I eat food or stones, what does it matter to you?"

"Fine. As I said before, you are like noise in this world. It's impossible for me or even the true beings of the abyss to perfectly predict or foresee your actions."

This was good news.

It meant that even the entity beyond the message window couldn't perfectly foresee my actions.

"Enough of that. Now give me the knowledge I need."

"Alright. Listen well, Kim Shin-hwa. My answer is..."

A secretive whisper that no one else could overhear reached my ears.

The book told me exactly what I needed to know.

Really? That's the answer?

[You ended up acquiring knowledge you were never meant to obtain. You gained an entirely new perspective that allows you to see certain objects in a completely different way.]

[But the price of truth is harsh. It is impossible for you to explain this knowledge to others. You can only burst into laughter. You resist the immense truth with your mental strength stat.

Mental strength check...]

The results of the check followed.

But whether the check succeeded or failed, and what effects it produced, I couldn't see that. Did I pass the check? Or did I fail?

I didn't know. Only laughter came out.

"Khehe, hehehe..."

Now I understood why Cheong-ho laughed like that.

A very short but clear answer. Yet there was overwhelming truth contained in that answer.

An indescribable terror and pleasure, and an immense, ineffable sense of depletion washed over me.

[Achievement unlocked! You have understood part of the truth of this world.

You have obtained the 'Hidden Achievement: Desire and Destruction'.

As a reward for this achievement, you receive 'Unique Spell: Perception.']

Forget it!

Tears fell. Laughter erupted. I wanted to wail. What is this? How could this be?

Ah, it doesn't matter anymore.

"Just give it all up. Just laugh! Laughing is the end. Let's just laugh at your foolishness while struggling in this empty world. Let's laugh."

"Ha, hahaha, hahahaha!"

[System: The unique trait 'Madness of the Abyss' has been activated. The result of the check has been changed to success.]

Damn it. Just let me keep laughing like this!

Crackle!

A blackout?

No, I had closed my eyes.

I barely opened them again. Anyway, I was alive, and I wasn't crazy.

"Hah... huff..."

Shit. Looks like the check failed. It was just for a moment, but I really saw hell. I thought I could chew through anything with [Madness of the Abyss], but the effect was too intense.

"Are you enjoying yourself?"

Cheong-ho's voice was mixed with mockery.

"Hah, huff. Shut up..."

"Unbelievable. It's an ability too great for someone who is merely an offering. It seems you've come this far thanks to that ability."

"Oh, shut up. Old man, please. Just leave me alone and get lost, will you?"

"It's a shame. This feast was not prepared for me. In the end, I couldn't become a being of the abyss."

Cheong-ho smacked his lips and uttered a sinister prophecy. His essence was that of a foreboding prophet who predicts a future that will ultimately lead to destruction.

"But I say this. Kim Shin-hwa, you pitiful offering. You could have driven away the madness by artificial means, but you have already tasted it once. A part of this world's truth. Having felt that emptiness and pleasure, you can no longer return to the past. You will eventually beg me, kneeling like a dog or a pig before this book, which holds only knowledge and not the true essence of the abyss, you will writhe and howl."

"Enough already. Go and have your molars pulled out in there!"

I hurled my magic towards the barrier.

Bang!

The sound of the silver door closing echoed out.

Now everything was quiet around me.

"Ha, damn it. I kind of knew what it was, but it sucks to experience it.

I took a deep breath.

"Phew..."

What was flowing from the corner of my mouth was saliva, and what was flowing from the corner of my eyes were tears.

So, what exactly did I come to understand?

...

"Honestly, I don't really know."

Honestly, I thought I would gain something intuitive and verbal, but what I obtained was something entirely different.

What the book had revealed to me was a sensation that couldn't even be put into words.

If I were to forcibly translate that feeling into language I could use, it would create the following sentence.

"True madness and fear begin with perception."

Good grief, such unnecessary gravitas. And I nearly went completely mad because of that sensation. Without the [Madness of the Abyss] trait, I really would have lost my mind.

But thanks to it, I gained a spell.

[Perception]...

This was probably the practical answer given to my question by [The Laughing One].

"Haah. I can't blame anyone for mocking me."

It's a spell obtained from a grimoire. From a deal with a demon.

To get it, I took on a tremendous risk. If that's the case, shouldn't it be something grander?

Like [Hellfire], [Meteor], or something cool and better like [Absolute Command: Death].

This spell is nothing like that.

[Perception] is merely an enhancement spell that strengthens my sight and awareness. If you trace its lineage, it's similar to the detection spells I've worn out through use, like Thousand Eyes or Insight.

But in this world, the more you know and perceive, the more power you can possess.

And the more madness and danger you can incur.

Excessive wisdom and knowledge are poison.

This spell was indeed one that must be used as restrictively as possible. It was a dangerous magic.

"In any case, it's best to use it in the safest state."

Buzzzzzzzzzz!!

Even though the mansion already had numerous barriers set up, there were still more magical safety measures placed in the basement, which was the most fortified area of the house.

Nevertheless, I added a few more spells to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

"Phew... dragging it out any longer wouldn't be good."

I took a deep breath and looked at the masks hanging on the wall. Their various shapes helped calm my mind.

Then I turned my head toward the table.

On the table lay a comically shaped treasure chest.

I cast a spell targeting the chest.

[Perception]

Shooosh!!

An indescribably bizarre light emanated from the four eyes of my mask.

"I see..."

The appearance of the chest looked completely different.

It was an indescribably strange sensation.

"A completely different perspective."

Buzzzzzzz...

It was clearly a box made of metal and an object set to ignore any physical attack or magical one.

But now I could handle it as I pleased. Some parts were soft, and some were hard.

"Ah, so that's what 'soft' meant?"

King Man-geum once said that. This world is soft.

And [the Laughing One] who possessed Cheong-ho also said the same. That he would make this world softer.

"So that's what it meant."

This was the perspective of beings from the abyss, or those powerful enough to approach the abyss.

This was the prerequisite for achieving true miracles and shaking the cause and effect.

The power to change the width of space, change the structure of a room, and redesign an entire large public sports facility overnight.

My power hadn't reached that extent yet, but at least I could change one small thing.

Now I could open it.

I could see where to dig and where to twist to open it.