Episode 17: Magi (Part 2)
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said."
As if to prove his status as a Constellation,
the Heavenly Demon fixed Simoon with an extraordinary gaze.
Simoon kept his face impassive, though his mind churned.
Is he probing about my regression?
A high-ranking Constellation might detect such a truth.
But then again...
Zeus and the Black Goat showed no awareness of it.
"Daring to avert your eyes in this lord's presence? Hmph! So you're not entirely ignorant."
Though cryptic, the Heavenly Demon spoke as if Simoon's answer had already satisfied him.
"How much do you know of this lord?"
A flood of memories surged through Simoon's mind—mostly Go Malsook's past-life tirades:
Perverted old coot. Damn geezer. Crazy bastard. Power-obsessed freak...
"You're a Constellation who pursues hegemony," Simoon replied evenly, "and enforces a might-makes-right order akin to the demon realm."
"Sharp for a whelp. My judgment wasn't mistaken."
The Heavenly Demon nodded, though the glint in his creased eyes betrayed darker thoughts.
"Long before becoming a Constellation, I walked the path of domination—crushing all who stood in my way."
His piercing stare seemed to freeze Simoon's blood.
That gaze...
It mirrored the colossal eyeball he'd witnessed in his past life—an entity surely of the Heavenly Demon's caliber.
When the Demon's attention shifted to the scenic garden,
Hah!
Simoon choked back a gasp.
The vibrant landscape had vanished.
Whooosh—
In its place stretched an endless void, darker than starless space.
Like... sinking into an abyss.
Yet paradoxically, Simoon felt no fear—only an odd familiarity.
"As expected of one marked by him." The Heavenly Demon's voice slithered into Simoon's ear, his eyes now deceptively benign. "To face the Void without trembling..."
"Would you feign ignorance even now?"
Simoon inclined his head. "It must relate to my title: [He Who Receives the Gaze From Beyond]."
"KHAHAHAHA!"
The Demon's laughter quaked reality itself. "Beyond! Yes, that pretentious fool would style himself as another dimension!"
After draining his cup, the Demon admitted bitterly: "You're correct. This lord was defeated by him—utterly humiliated."
[Constellation 'Heavenly Demon' has requested a quest!]
[Quest window activated.]
A quest?! Simoon's eyes widened. Galaxy Arena's direct commissions offered unparalleled rewards.
[Find an Apprentice]
Locate a candidate worthy of the Heavenly Demon's sponsorship.
Reward: 5,000 Achievement Points, Heavenly Demon Arts ★2
The Demon leaned forward. "You carry his interest—your discernment should suffice. But heed these requirements..."
"Preferably female. Younger than you. Fair-skinned with striking features." The Demon's finger traced imaginary curves in the air. "Bold temperament, long limbs—ah, and certain... proportions..."
Written as 'successor criteria,' read as 'personal preferences.'
Simoon nearly groaned. At least Go Malsook's future remained secure.
——————————————
"Ugh, I'm drained."
Simoon collapsed onto his bed after enduring the Demon's "requirements."
But Malsook's path won't diverge now.
Thrummm!
A sharp chime vibrated through his chest—the Philosopher's Stone's voice followed:
"You okay?! What happened? You just collapsed earlier!"
"Met a Constellation. The Heavenly Demon."
"That battle-crazed pervert?! Everyone knows his motto: 'Gender matters not if they're attractive!'"*
"Wait—what?"
"You're lucky he didn't kill you on sight! Normal people get bisected for breathing wrong near him!"
Later, while refining a Hobgoblin serum into a [Blood Transformation Pill], the Stone nagged:
"Hey! The demonic energy's fading too fast! You'll lose the—
"Got it!"
[Blood Transformation Pill (Grade C)]
Permanently increases STR/AGI/CON by 2
High chance of acquiring Demonic Energy stat
"Not bad for C-grade materials," Simoon murmured, swallowing the pulsating orb.
As surges of power lit his status screen, he crossed his legs—"Wait!" the Stone interjected.
"Why put the dantian below the navel? What if we—"
"No experiments. Not now."
Through Heavenly Demon Arts' circulation method, Simoon grasped the fading demonic energy—
"Caught you!" The Stone's power enveloped the escaping force.
Nearly lost it.
Guiding the energy downward, Simoon paused at the Stone's whisper:
"Big brother... what if we placed the dantian... higher?”
