42. Invasion of the Other World (2)

The basement had regained its peace. Now I could use this place as an underground freezer. It’s got that icy cave vibe going on.

“Hmph.”

Thud!

I placed the frozen sealing stone in the center of the basement. Soon this place would be filled with freezing cold, turning everything to ice.

“It’s already getting cold.”

It was already damp and chilly underground, but with the sealing stone emitting cold energy, it became even colder.

“Whew.”

I quickly closed the door and got out. Since it’s sealed tight, icicles will probably form soon. All the cockroaches and silverfish that were in the basement will likely freeze to death.

“Now then…”

I’d obtained a Gate leading to the Underworld. I could enter right away, but first I needed to buy some supplies from the general store and get things ready.

“Number 1. How’s it going?”

“Huff… huff… Yes?”

“Ah, looks like you’re doing well.”

Number 1 had filled a large rubber tub with soil and was planting the Divine Tree Cult Leader together with Number 2.

I’d explained how to use the Divine Tree Cult Leader to Number 1. Its sap was highly addictive and could be used as a drug, but boiling it would remove the addictive properties, making it usable as a painkiller.

I also told them that by offering corpses that could serve as fertilizer, they could produce dryads, so they should periodically chop up the prey I hunted and bury it in the tub like fertilizer.

“You’ve brought back something really unusual again.”

“Well, yeah.”

It really was unusual. Even Number 1, the Skin Robber, was a rare creature, but I’d managed to obtain something even rarer-the Divine Tree of Absorption.

“By the way, is Number 2 still in that dumb state?”

“Ah, about that. He can now say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ at least.”

“Ooh.”

Number 2, who possessed regenerative abilities, was still half-broken, but thanks to his inherent skills, his mind was gradually recovering.

I had high expectations for that guy.

‘If we maximize his regeneration ability…’

If we could enhance his regeneration to the point where he wouldn’t die even if his heart was ripped out, I planned to use him as a meat shield or a heart-extraction slave.

To properly wield divine powers, I needed to extract a minion’s heart and turn it into a ritual implement or relic.

Moreover, since he had good regenerative abilities, I intended to feed him all the things I found too disgusting to eat myself. He’d be like a guinea pig of sorts.

“Ah, and this.”

“Huh? What’s this?”

“It’s called a Purification Stone. If you put it in water, it purifies it.”

“Wow!”

“But you’ll need to check it daily. If it turns black, dry it in the sun. Then you can reuse it. Got it?”

“Of course. After eating so many brains, I’m pretty good at Korean now.”

“That’s a relief.”

Just a few days ago, his speech was still a bit awkward, but now he seemed more fluent in Korean than me. Since he partially absorbed the knowledge of those he consumed, his language skills naturally improved.

‘If I feed him foreigners, he’ll learn their languages too.’

This must be the advantage of keeping a Skin Robber as a slave.

“Ah, and this.”

“Seeds?”

“Yeah. Remember how I said boiling the Cult Leader’s sap makes a painkiller?”

“Yes. You mentioned that…?”

“Turns out it can also be used as plant fertilizer. Use it to grow these Mandrian seeds. They’re apparently used in alchemy, so make a garden on the rooftop. Start with five for now and expand later. Got it?”

“Uh… Yes. I’ll try.”

“Good. Ah, about the soil-“

I’d already been planning to make a rooftop garden, so I’d gathered some soil, but I’d used it all up planting the Divine Tree Cult Leader.

“Wait a bit. I’ll send up some soil.”

“Yes, Master!”

I went back downstairs.

‘Never thought I’d use it like this.’

I went to a spot with decent soil, stretched my hand toward the ground, and used Clay Golem Creation.

“Grrrooo…”

“Go up to the rooftop of that building.”

“Grrk.”

About ten of them should do.

I’d originally thought Clay Golem summoning was just for blocking monsters, but it turned out to have unexpected uses.

Instead of laboriously shoveling and carrying soil, I just had to touch the ground, and the dirt would clump together and move in the direction I commanded. So convenient.

Otherwise, I’d have had to drag Number 1 over to shovel again, bag the soil, store it in my inventory, and carry it up to the rooftop.

“Did the soil make it up?”

“Yes! Thank you, Master.”

“Then start farming with that. I’m going to rest a bit.”

“Yes!”

After entrusting the Mandrian seeds to Numbers 1 and 2, I went back downstairs.

“Now then…”

It was time to reset the store. I wondered what items would appear this time.

[Quest Completed]

[Rewards have been granted.]

The moment I reset the store, the “Reset Store 3 Times” quest was completed, and two rewards came in.

They were 300 Points and a Product Exchange Coupon.

“Ooh.”

Pretty nice. I’d been down to just 100 Points after buying items and resetting, but now I had 400 Points and could get one item for free.

‘I should save the Product Exchange Coupon for when something really expensive shows up.’

I decided to hold onto the coupon. If something worth like 100,000 Points suddenly appeared in the store, I’d need it then.

Anyway, one quest was done. Should I check the general store first or accept another quest?

Probably better to accept a quest first, right?

“Let’s see.”

[Quest: Spend over 10,000 Points in the general store within one week (0/10000)]

[Reward: 1000P, Credit Score Increase, Discount Coupon]

“Oh, not bad.”

I had to spend over 10,000 Points in the general store before next Monday. Well, now that I had the Other World as a farming spot, that should be doable.

I accepted the quest immediately. With that done, it was time to check the newly stocked items in the general store. What valuable and useful items had arrived this time?

[Available Items]

[1. Secret Manual – Darkness Stealth]

[Details: Upon reading, learn ‘Darkness Stealth,’ which reduces your presence and enables stealth.]

[Price: 500P]

[2. Spell Book – Shadow Application]

[Details: Contains methods to turn shadow shikigami into small animals and share their vision. Requires the ability to create shadow shikigami.]

[Price: 400P]

[3. Blood Magic Book – Basic Blood Manipulation]

[Details: Upon reading, improves understanding of blood magic and teaches Blood Arrow and Blood Explosion.]

[Price: 800P]

The fourth slot was still locked, probably because my credit rating wasn’t high enough. A shame, but having only three items makes resetting easier, so no big deal.

‘Finally, a stealth skill appeared.’

Darkness Stealth-a secret manual that clearly advertised itself as a stealth skill. With this, I wouldn’t have to rely on incomplete stealth techniques like the Demon Digestion Method anymore.

“I’d buy it right now!!! But…”

I didn’t have enough Points. My current balance was only 400 Points. That’s only enough for the spell book.

This isn’t the right situation to use the Product Exchange Coupon either. No way I’m wasting it on a mere 500 Points. Besides, I could easily earn 500 Points by hunting for about an hour.

‘Then for now…’

Since I’d gathered exactly 400 Points, I might as well buy the spell book right away.

Tuesday was coming up soon anyway, and once the “Survive One Week” quest was completed, I’d get 700 Points, which I could use to buy Darkness Stealth.

“What I need to read now is… Let’s see…”

I had to read the Fire Meditation Book and the newly purchased Shadow Application.

Unlike combustion-based magic, Fire Meditation wasn’t a skill for shooting or emitting flames but rather for lightly igniting flames in one’s hands, making it compatible with Stun Fist.

I could imbue my fists with fire attributes and strike with them. It’d also be good for boiling water. No more washing with cold water.

I spent about two hours thoroughly reading the secret manual and spell book. Since I’d been reading an average of two books a day lately, my reading speed had improved.

[Learned Fire Meditation.]

[Learned Shadow Application.]

“Yaaawn.”

After reading, I felt a bit tired. Time to wash up with the water I’d stored and do some meditation.

I’d used up every last drop of my magic power summoning those clay golems, so meditation was essential to replenish it.

******

[Quest Completed]

[Rewards have been granted.]

“Huh? Ah, time flies.”

Meditating must have taken me past midnight. That meant all the quests I’d accepted last week were now complete.

“700 Points, sweet.”

My credit score also increased. Very satisfying.

Before buying Darkness Stealth from the general store, I checked the newly available quests first.

[Quest: Enter the Other World within one week and survive for 24 hours (0/24)]

[Reward: 2400P, Fragment of the Other Realm, Blurred Garment]

“Whoa.”

2400 Points and another Fragment of the Other Realm? This was an exceptionally generous quest. Moreover, it confirmed my suspicion that whoever was assigning these quests was monitoring me.

They must have realized I could now enter the Other World and immediately gave me this quest. Instead of testing the waters, they wanted me to survive there for a full 24 hours.

‘This is tough.’

Sure, my original sin was posting shitty comments, but this was pushing it. They weren’t giving me any breathing room.

‘One week means until next Tuesday. I’ll need to prepare thoroughly before going in.’

First, I opened the general store and bought Darkness Stealth. The Other World was dangerous. Even staying in one spot for 24 hours would be risky there.

So I needed to be fully prepared. I’d also need to restore my magic power sufficiently. There might not be time to meditate inside, so I wanted to gather up to 6,000 magic power through concentration before entering.

If I meditated all day, it should be possible.

For now, I should read Darkness Stealth. Stealth was essential for survival, after all.