Chapter 268: Dritarashutra (1)
Richard in Leo was a silent man who valued actions rather than words. And he kept his reticence even at the moment when Mammon's 12 Spirits gathered together for the first time after a thousand years.
"Anyway, that guy's mouth is as close as an oyster."
Gusion grumbled about him, but he was smiling though. Hugging Gusion's arm, Scathach gazed at Richard warmly, who was always the same.
The large banquet hall on the 11th floor of the Labyrinth of Greed.
Richard in Leo lowered himself on one knee in front of Yong-ho. Since he was so big, Richard could see him at eye level even though he lowered his posture deeply.
Yong-ho also did not go to the trouble of explaining to him about the necessity to make him his subordinate spirit. So, he accepted Richard in Leo as his eleventh subordinate.
A blue light was added to Mammon's Godly Energy. The blue light symbolized Richard's power, 'Trust'.
The Life of Scathach, the Immortal Witch.
The Death of Baphomet, the demon of slaughter.
The Justice of Elune who cuts the moon.
The Creation of the eight-handed Baruna.
The Honor of Asclepius, the knight of the sun.
The Harmony of YuhoYuan in yin and yang.
The Courage of Gusion with the Herculean power.
The Trust of Richard, the Silent Warrior.
The Passion of Magnadon who scolds the earth.
The Patience of Yustia who leads the way.
The Love of Yuno who counts the stars.
Eleven soft lights radiated from the circular plate attached to the surface of the Godly Energy of Mammon.
Aamon whispered in the flames of the red lotus.
[I also acknowledge you as my master.]
[The new King of Greed!]
Finally, the twelfth light was added. It was bright red, symbolizing Aamon, the magic spear of the red lotus.
Those subordinate spirits who stayed connected with Yong-ho could feel it. Yuno and Yustia, who signed a contract as Yong-ho's general spirits, knew it through the twelve lights.
At this moment, Mammon's Godly Energy had been completed.
Now that Eligos inherited Yustia's patience, all he needed was his 12th subordinate spirit who could inherit Yuno's love.
Yong-ho reaped power from Mammon's Godly Energy. Yong-ho had Richard stand up by putting his hand on Richard's shoulder lightly. He then looked at the stairs leading to the 12th floor.
[I'm now opening the 12th floor of the Labyrinth of Greed.]
Lucia spoke, and Yong-ho stepped forward. Mammon's 12 Spirits and Yong-ho's new 12 Spirits followed.
Unlike previous floors, the 12th floor of the Labyrinth of Greed was a space only for Mamon's 12 Spirits.
Whenever Yong-ho moved one step forward, darkness retreated automatically. There was no single dungeon monster on the 12th floor which was filled with Mammon and his 12 Spirits' power.
Salami, who was following Bucephalas walking after Skull, looked around, blinking his eyes endlessly. Although Salami evolved into a spectacular spirit after being upgraded from 'Fire Elemental Dragon' to 'Great Fire Elemental Dragon Emperor,' he was still Salami. The omnipotent mana excited him.
The structure of the 12th floor was simple. There was a large rotunda in the middle, and twelve rooms were placed around it.
Kaiwan nudged Catalina in the ribs with her fingers and asked, "Don't you recall anything now? Something like the memories of your previous life."
If each floor of the Labyrinth of Greed was an exclusive space of Mammon's 12 Spirits, the 12th floor was a private space. Accordingly, there must be more private memories embedded in this space than any other floor.
Recognized by Yuno as Elune's reincarnation, Catalina struggled to recall anything, but eventually, she failed with her ears and tail drooping.
"Uh, I don't have any memory of this place. I can't think of anything."
Was it really true that she was Elune's reincarnation?
While Catalina was feeling gloomy, Mamon's 12 Spirits, watching her feeling dejected, nodded almost at the same time. Obviously, she was like Elune's reincarnation.
Since Lucia needed some time to take over the 12th floor, Mammon's 12 Spirits stepped toward their own room. The new 12 subordinate spirits belonging to Yong-ho also did not just stay in the hall. As if guided by their inherited power, all of them headed to the rooms of Mammon's 12 Spirits.
Watching Kaiwan heading to Elune's room while holding Catalina's hand, Yong-ho grabbed the air with a smile. Then he entered Aamon's room in front of him, holding Aamon in his hand.
It was a spacious but desolate space. There were no proper decorations between the stone walls, the floor, and the ceiling. What was in the room was a low-sized altar, located alone in the innermost part.
But Yong-ho couldn't take his eyes off the altar. Standing before it as if he was bewitched, he looked at the hole where he could put the spear and the decorations around it. He uttered exclamations before he knew it, "Oh my God!"
[Yes, my master.]
[This is the place I met my master for the first time.]
[Probably, you could have reached this place thanks to a special connection like the arena.]
Aamon spoke in a low voice. His voice rang nostalgic as if he missed that day.
It was only several days after Yong-ho became the master of the Mammon family that he met Aamon. It was not that long ago, but it looked like a distant past to Yong-ho.
"I hugged you here for the first time," said Catalina rather proudly as if she was boasting to Kaiwan.
Kaiwan frowned while Yong-ho chuckled.
It seemed like Catalina talked about her going down the floor with him after falling down.
"Yes, I know. I hugged you for the first time here."
It was true that he hugged Catalina and rolled over the floor, but it was also true that this was the place where he evolved her for the first time. To be precise, her evolution took place at a place that connected Aamon's room with an unknown space, but he didn't have to mention it.
Yong-ho, who recalled he touched Catalina's thigh for the excuses of strengthening her agility, acknowledged his lustful inclinations at that time.
[I think I know what you're thinking.]
[Your anguish is rising.]
Ignoring what Aamon just said, Yong-ho left Aamon's room with Catalina and Kaiwan. As if he was waiting, Skull approached him.
"Skull Skull."
Skull was holding very large scythes in both hands. One was a long, sharp sword and a black blade all in one.
Yong-ho had never seen it before, but he could see what it was as soon as he saw it.
A purple color that symbolizes death rose softly from Mammon's Godly Energy.
"Is it Baphomet's sickle?"
Skull nodded. The pitch-black scythe wasn't just a weapon, but it was Baphomet's alter ego.
Baphomet needed that scythe to exist as the incarnation of death. Because of this, Magnadon, who was wary of Baphomet's dangers, weakened his power by separating Baphomet from the sickle.
"Skull Skull."
Skull's request was simple. He wanted Yong-ho to unite him with Baphomet's sickle through synthetic reinforcement.
But this kind of synthetic reinforcement, which combined Yong-ho's subordinate spirit with an artifact could only be done once, unlike Yong-ho's other evolutions. That was why it was best to do it with a good artifact, given the choice.
But the problem was that Yong-ho could miss the right time for synthetic reinforcement while looking for the best possible artifacts. At a moment when his war with the King of Pride was around the corner, it was foolish for him to postpone the synthetic reinforcement, waiting for better artifacts.
During the past few days, Yong-ho did a number of things at the same time, apart from taking a surprise attack on the territory of the King of Gluttony. One of his tasks at the moment was the selection of the artifacts for reinforcing the synthetic reinforcement of his 12 subordinate spirits. The treasure storage of the Labyrinth of Greed, the warehouse that only collected exclusive magic devices of Sitri's Dungeon Market, and the auction items that could be called the legend of Samael's special auction house.
Kaiwan chose the dragon heart, which she had been coveting all the time. It was the dragon heart of Ernasaga, the silver dragon lord that became the material for the silver dragon armor, Yong-ho's favorite. At that moment, Yong-ho did not forget to pay a silent prayer for Ernasaga who left it behind.
Eligos and Ophelia each selected "Green God's Fury" and "Green God's Wrath" from Samael's special auction items. It was armor worn on each arm and leg. Both carried the power of a powerful god of the alien world called the "Green God".
Tigrius chose the magic cane that Magnadon used during his lifetime, and Catalina chose the moonlight sword, Elune's beloved sword after thinking it over. What Samael chose was the heart of the ancient king, which was kept in Sitri's warehouse. It was a magical device made of Brigada, but it seemed designed to increase the efficiency of the mana she received from dragons.
Mammon's 12 Spirits, including Gusion and Richard, were done with synthetic reinforcement or didn't want it, so they were just satisfied with acquiring new weapons.
[Master, I've taken control of the 12th floor.]
[Let me open the 13th floor, the last floor of the Labyrinth of Greed.]
All the subordinate and general spirits who were looking around the rooms gathered in the hall again. They looked down the stairs leading to the 13th floor.
On the 13th floor was Mammon's room, which was the true heart of the Labyrinth of Greed. Even Sitri, who was following quietly, found her eyes welled with tears.
The door that was blocking the stairs opened. Upon arriving on the 13th floor, they stood before a steel door embossed with a giant dragon emblem representing Mammon.
Only
Yong-ho opened the door again. The heart chamber of the Labyrinth of Greed sensed the King of Greed immediately and welcomed the king gently.
The heart room was monotonous. There was only a small passage leading to Mammon's room and an old stone throne. But it was by no means an ordinary throne.
After all, Scathach couldn't control her emotions. She burst into tears like a child, and Gusion also tried hard to suppress his emotions, but he eventually showed tears.
Yuno bit her lips. Yustia made a densely emotional smile.
Yong-ho slowly approached the throne. There was nothing on the throne, but Yong-ho could also feel it. Amon whispered to him.
[It is now a throne for you, master.]
[Mammon must be very satisfied with you coming here.]