Ch.113Chapter 113 – Eden (4)

The negotiations didn’t take long since agreements had been reached beforehand among the high-ranking officials. The conversation between Chancellor Behemdorf and Adriano briefly concluded with a reconfirmation of each side’s demands.

Unlike Earth’s side, which proposed various business ventures and diplomatic relations, the Empire had only one request: to help the Knights deal with the demons attacking the capital for a while. With a handshake, Adriano accepted the request and led the delegation back.

Shin Jaehyuk, who had something he wanted to discuss privately with the Chancellor, waited until everyone else had left.

“Do you have personal business?”

“Yes. My name is Shin Jaehyuk.”

“Is there something you wish to ask?”

“Yes, a few things.”

“Feel free to ask. The Lord said to bestow teachings upon those who seek.”

Chancellor Behemdorf quoted scripture with a benevolent smile.

“That’s a good saying. Then, could I use the Imperial Palace library to seek knowledge for myself?”

Shin Jaehyuk had many things he wanted to learn about. What had happened during his absence, why the Empire was on the brink of collapse despite Kim Jaemin killing the Demon King, and what kind of being was Lucifer, one of the Four Heavenly Kings they would soon face…

The Chancellor’s expression turned troubled at this request.

“I’m sorry, but for security reasons, we cannot grant library access to just anyone. We store sensitive books and strategically important confidential materials like the palace’s structural plans…”

The meaning was clear: why would I trust the library to someone I just met? Since it was a reasonable and expected refusal, Shin Jaehyuk accepted it.

‘It’s impossible to access the Imperial Palace library right away. I need to build sufficient trust first. Besides, libraries aren’t only found in the palace…’

Adjusting his plan to look for public libraries or bookstores in the city later, he asked another question.

“Then about the mana-focusing cannon golems on the walls. Could I know who created them? I heard they were made by a legendary figure called the Sage. Is there any way to meet this person?”

“…Why are you looking for them?”

The response was sharp. Understandably so. The mana cannon golems were the Empire’s ultimate weapons—the reason the Empire had survived against demons for hundreds of years. They were extremely, truly important items.

The Chancellor’s gaze naturally sharpened toward Shin Jaehyuk, who seemed to be probing military secrets.

Shin Jaehyuk hastily explained to clear up the misunderstanding.

“If we could find the Sage and create more golems, wouldn’t the Empire be much safer? The golems must need maintenance too. Regular inspections and such.”

“…Maintenance is not necessary.”

“…I’m not a suspicious person. I’m not a demon or a spy trying to extract the Empire’s secrets.”

When the Chancellor maintained his suspicious gaze, Shin Jaehyuk summoned light in his palm. Holy power—definitive proof that he wasn’t allied with demons. Only after witnessing this did the Chancellor relax his expression and offer an apology.

“Ah, you’re one who bears the light. I apologize for my rudeness. Given my position, one can’t help but be suspicious.”

“It’s fine. Your suspicion is natural.”

Chancellor Behemdorf sighed.

“To answer your question, we don’t know the Sage’s whereabouts either. If we did, we would have brought them to the palace long ago. They’re a legendary figure from hundreds of years ago. Records about them are as vague as children’s fairy tales.”

“Ah… that’s unfortunate. By the way, what is the mana collector?”

“It’s a device that extracts mana from the atmosphere to charge the golems. The mana-focusing cannons consume tremendous amounts of mana by compressing it into light beams. That’s why the Sage installed two mana collectors throughout the palace to provide the energy needed for the golems’ operation.”

Of course, the Chancellor added that the locations of the mana collectors were military secrets and couldn’t be disclosed.

‘I see. So that’s how they made the golems operate semi-permanently. There was a similar device at that gate too.’

Shin Jaehyuk recalled the sarcophagus he had found at the gate, which presumably sealed Re-Tem. A device that sealed a high-ranking demon and stole its mana to power the golems. It seemed this mana collector served a similar purpose.

“Have all your curiosities been satisfied? If you have more questions, the attendant assigned to you should be able to answer them well.”

“Ah, wait. One last personal question…”

“Yes?”

“Aren’t you amazed that we came from another world?”

It would be natural to be shocked or fascinated upon meeting people from another world, but Chancellor Behemdorf seemed remarkably calm. Shin Jaehyuk found this curious. Even he had spent two years after reincarnating on Earth wondering if the whole thing was some demonic trick.

“For all we know, this could all be a demonic scheme. Changing the gate’s color with magic, hiring skilled actors to put on an elaborate performance…”

Chancellor Behemdorf burst into laughter, finding Shin Jaehyuk’s doubt amusing.

“Haha, an interesting hypothesis. But I believe in the existence of other worlds. I believed it before the gate opened, before I saw any of you.”

“How?”

“We already summoned someone from your world once, a hundred years ago.”

Shin Jaehyuk instinctively realized this was about Kim Jaemin.

“The Warrior of Light ‘Min,’ chosen by Eloah to save Eden by crossing dimensions. He was summoned right here, in this audience chamber.”

It seemed Kim Jaemin was known as “Warrior Min” in Eden. Naturally, Korean names would sound strange to Eden’s people.

Chancellor Behemdorf spoke with conviction:

“A hundred years ago, and now again. Whenever the Empire faces crisis, the Lord sends people from another world. Isn’t this divine providence? Perhaps your world was created by the Lord specifically to save ours…”

***

Several days had passed since the delegation met with the Chancellor. During this time, the hunters were divided into groups and assigned to different posts. For example, Shin Jaehyuk and Kwak Taewoo were stationed at the East Gate, while Adriano was assigned to the North Gate security.

The hunters spent their time meeting the knights they would fight alongside and familiarizing themselves with the castle’s structure. Shin Jaehyuk was also enjoying brief periods of freedom while waiting for demon attacks. He walked through the Empire’s streets with Kwak Taewoo, conversing.

“I failed to get access to the Imperial Palace library. They refused, citing security reasons. We’ll have to gather information elsewhere.”

“Can’t we just sneak in? It should be easy to deceive the guards.”

“The Imperial Palace isn’t called that for nothing. It’s probably filled with security artifacts. Rather than attempting that and risking our position, it’s better to look for other libraries first.”

After saying this, Shin Jaehyuk stopped a passerby to ask for directions.

“Excuse me, could you tell me where to find a library or bookstore?”

“A library? Are you foreigners?”

“Yes, we are. Why?”

“I thought so,” the passerby nodded knowingly. “There is one library, but don’t get your hopes up. There are hardly any books. Who has time for books when we’re busy fighting demons and farming? But if you insist on going, head that way.”

Following the direction indicated, they found a small, shabby library. Upon examining the interior, Shin Jaehyuk couldn’t hide his disappointment.

“What… This is the Empire’s only library?”

The small library, converted from an old building, was run by a single elderly librarian who seemed to have given up on library management long ago, snoring loudly regardless of visitors.

“And there are so few books. Information gathering will be impossible like this…”

The books on the sparse shelves were all in poor condition—covers hanging loose, pages torn. It was embarrassingly inadequate for the only library in the Empire’s capital. The pitiful state of the library revealed how much the Empire had declined from its former glory.

The sight of such a basic welfare facility failing to operate properly, even more than the beggars and homeless people filling the streets, made Shin Jaehyuk viscerally feel the Empire’s decline.

Picking up a dust-covered book, Kwak Taewoo asked:

“So what information are we looking for here?”

“Various things. First, I need to know what happened after Kim Jaemin defeated the Demon King. Also, information about Baal, Lucifer, and the Demon King who will be summoned in the future.”

And if possible, he wanted to learn what “holiness” was—the mysterious power he had awakened.

Kwak Taewoo pretended to know something:

“The Demon King… you mean the Demon King of Sorrow?”

“What? You knew who the Demon King was?”

“Just the name. Didn’t I tell you before?”

“When did you? This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

Seeing Shin Jaehyuk’s confused expression, Kwak Taewoo refreshed his memory.

“A few years ago, right before the gate opened. When you visited me in prison. During our conversation, you definitely asked about the Demon King’s name. I answered ‘Mara Papiyas.’ I remember that day clearly, it’s etched in my mind.”

“…You’re stupid but you remember that, huh.”

Though he got an answer, Kwak Taewoo’s response only confused Shin Jaehyuk more. Mara Papiyas was a demon king from Buddhist mythology, wasn’t it? Why would the ruler of hell call himself by a name from Buddhist mythology?

But Kwak Taewoo knew nothing more.

“I don’t know anything else either. I’ve never seen the Demon King. I only heard the name through Leonardo and Baphomet. From what I heard, Leonardo seemed to have some bad blood with the Demon King, but I don’t know the details.”

The more he heard, the more puzzling questions arose—questions that couldn’t be resolved immediately. Shin Jaehyuk decided to gather information about the Demon King gradually. There was plenty of time before the Demon King would be summoned. There was someone more urgent to learn about.

“Then how much do you know about the Four Heavenly Kings? I’ve fought Baal, but I only know Lucifer from old texts. Being ancient texts, it’s hard to distinguish what’s exaggeration and what’s truth.”

“Lucifer? Well… I haven’t fought him directly, but his power was legendary. All hunters who directly fought Lucifer died, even the top S-ranks.”

“…So he’s stronger than Belial, Belphegor, or Beelzebub?”

“That’s difficult to answer. His raw attack power might be weaker than Belphegor’s. But he was… very unique and alien. He fought like an ignorant child, but… it’s like his ‘level’ was so high that power naturally followed. It was bizarre. I’m not sure how to explain it.”

Struggling to explain his experience, Kwak Taewoo finally managed this description. Though the explanation was rough, Shin Jaehyuk understood the gist.

To use a martial arts analogy, it wasn’t that Lucifer had trained techniques to become a supreme master, but rather that he had become a supreme master and consequently gained the ability to use sword energy. It was truly a bizarre characteristic.

Kwak Taewoo continued his explanation:

“Moreover, Lucifer is an archangel and the leader of the Grigori, a group of fallen angels. When he was summoned, the Grigori’s fallen angels were summoned with him. Even ordinary fallen angels were as strong as A-rank hunters, and high-ranking fallen angels were each S-rank boss level, making them extremely difficult to subdue. If they were grouped together, the only option was to flee rather than fight.”

“So I need to be careful of group attacks… Ah, here it is!”

Their conversation was interrupted when Shin Jaehyuk finally discovered an old history book among the pile. He opened it to find the information he was seeking.

“Kim Jaemin, Kim Jaemin… ah, he was just called Min here. …Found it.”

-Imperial Year 881, Warrior Min summoned. Too young for the battlefield, trained at the Imperial Palace.

-Imperial Year 885, the 18-year-old warrior’s first deployment. Due to information leaked by demons, Mammon, the Four Heavenly King of Greed, appeared at the warrior’s first battle site. During the battle, Saint Aisha of that era used her final miracle and died. Warrior Min’s holy sword awakened. Mammon successfully subjugated.

…

…

Below this, Kim Jaemin’s achievements were listed one after another. Reading the endless accomplishments, Kwak Taewoo muttered in a disgusted voice:

“Becoming a Sword Master at 19, a Grand Magician at 21… single-handedly reclaiming 80% of Eden’s territory? What a monster…”

Shin Jaehyuk continued reading the briefly described history.

-Imperial Year 911, Warrior Min crosses the Hell Gate despite opposition from cabinet members. No news thereafter.

-Imperial Year 982, massive power collision observed from the Demon King’s castle. Presumed to be the final battle between Warrior Min and Demon King Satan. Later investigation revealed the warrior perished along with the Demon King.

“This is where Kim Jaemin’s story ends.”

This was the important part. What happened after Kim Jaemin’s return? Shin Jaehyuk moved his gaze to the next line.

Immediately, Shin Jaehyuk’s expression couldn’t help but harden.

-Imperial Year 982, the Demon King of Sorrow ascends to the position of the 2nd Demon King. Orders total attack.

-Imperial Year 983, Kingdom of Stradi falls.

-Imperial Year 984, Free City of Boos falls.

-Imperial Year 985, Kingdom of Vin falls, Kingdom of Northwood falls.

-Imperial Year 986, Karin Republic falls.

…

…

A trail of destruction comparable to Kim Jaemin’s achievements was listed. The lands that Kim Jaemin had recovered over decades were all trampled in just a few years by the newly enthroned Demon King.

In the midst of his shock, Shin Jaehyuk noticed something peculiar.

‘As soon as Satan died, the Demon King of Sorrow ascended to the throne. How did this unknown figure, not even one of the Four Heavenly Kings, become the Demon King so smoothly?’

Hell was a world of survival of the fittest. The fact that the Demon King of Sorrow could order a total attack on the day of his enthronement meant he was powerful enough to overwhelm any dissatisfied demons.

“The Demon King of Sorrow, Mara Papiyas… What kind of being could he be…”

He was an enigmatic figure. His origins were unclear, he called himself Mara Papiyas, and as a Demon King, he symbolized “sorrow.” Unlike other Four Heavenly Kings or high-ranking demons who symbolized sins like greed, envy, or pride, he represented sorrow—a profoundly human emotion. Shin Jaehyuk couldn’t guess what this might mean.

As his contemplation deepened—

Dong dong dong-

Suddenly, bell sounds pierced their ears, awakening the entire capital. This sound? They had been educated by the knights a few days ago. It was the signal that a demon attack had begun.

Exchanging glances with Kwak Taewoo, Shin Jaehyuk immediately rushed out of the library.