episode_0461

Increasing one’s abilities doesn’t just affect the physical body.

Humans are broadly divided into two parts: the physical and the mental.

These two aspects influence each other, alternating between improvement and deterioration.

In other words, the mind can also achieve great growth by being influenced by the body.

Of course, like Kim Taeyang, there are times when superior physical growth can negatively impact the mind.

What matters now is not whether this influence is positive or negative, but simply acknowledging its existence.

“…It feels quite natural to enter now.”

Our goddess greeted me with a bewildered smile as soon as I entered the shrine.

The divine resides within me.

The subconscious that ordinary humans cannot perceive.

Sitting cross-legged there, occasionally calling upon my own deity and revealing the face of glory.

But now, I no longer need to await her summons.

By intensely focusing and consciously entering her presence, I can be where she is.

Seated on her throne, she inquires,

“So… what brings you here today?”

I sought her out regarding authority.

The apostle of patience, the apostle of sloth.

Two apostles like myself showcased abilities I did not possess.

Manifesting the unique domain where my authority is most potent.

“I truly feel so frustrated.”

“…Frustrated? What on earth do you mean?”

“Other apostles can use areas of patience or negativity, why can’t I?”

As she expressed her frustration, she made a pouting expression.

“…Isn’t it because you haven’t fulfilled your duties properly?”

With an attitude suggesting ‘Why ask about the obvious?’, my head naturally tilted.

“Duties? What duties?”

Did I have such duties?

“What is your role?”

“Apostle.”

“Do you understand what that entails?”

An apostle.

In the past, Jesus reportedly called twelve disciples to widely spread the gospel.

Given that context, what should one with the title of apostle do?

“Is it about spreading your will or doctrine widely?”

The goddess, who had been sitting in a languid posture, suddenly rose and pointed at me with her index finger.

“That’s it!”

No.

She could have just answered while sitting; why the overly excited expression?

With a newly inspired face, she crossed her legs and asked,

“If the power of an apostle stems from the goddess, where do you think the power that empowers the goddess originates?”

Where does the power of the goddess come from…?

Though somewhat puzzling, she wouldn’t ask an unrelated question in the flow of conversation.

That means the answer lies within the discussions we’ve had so far.

An apostle spreads the teachings or will given by the deity.

So, a question arises here.

Why must that happen?

Why must her presence become widespread, with more followers?

The answer lies there.

“As the number of devotees following you increases, so does your power.”

She smiles.

The one I loved the most.

Now wearing a face that stirs up emotions difficult to fathom.

“That is the correct answer.”

“…I see.”

Now I understand.

The reason why others possess powers that I don’t.

It’s because I haven’t done anything.

Simultaneously, curiosity arose.

“…How can I increase my followers? We can’t just ask people to believe in the goddess of greed, can we?”

“That’s true. However, you already know the answer.”

Another question fills my mind.

Do I really know the answer?

“Do you not possess a very splendid means?”

“…Do I have something like that?”

With a tone of disbelief, as I questioned, she lightly smiled and said,

“It’s the mark of the stamp of greed.”

“Ah.”

It dawns on me.

A skill that leaves an indelible mark on a compliant subject, proving it as mine.

Truly perplexing.

“…Was there any use for it in that direction?”

“Then where were you planning to use it?”

“Well…”

I was just thinking of flaunting it around as proof that she’s mine.

“Surely you weren’t trying to carve something obscene like what that girl does, right? Hahaha…!”

“……”

“Haha…, ha.”

“Cough.”

“Haah.”

A deep sigh from the goddess weighed heavily on my heart.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

The stamp of greed.

I learned how to use the skill that I had only considered as proof of being mine.

It was a means to an end.

Another means to grow myself apart from dungeon conquests and training.

So, I must use it as it comes.

Although I would like to stamp everyone passing by, the conditions are quite demanding.

“…The conditions are quite strict.”

To stamp, one must meet a certain condition.

That condition is none other than being a subject who submits to me.

Just one condition, but an endlessly demanding one.

So, for now, I imprinted the stamp only on those who met the condition.

Excluding those already stamped: Yoon Jee-an, Shin Yoo-jung, and Im Na-eun.

Among them, the first was Jung Hee.

At her words expressing a desire to have the proof of being mine, this was her response.

“Proof… Are you talking about tattoos?”

“Yes.”

“Where… would you put it?”

“Right here.”

“Oh my…!”

Reaching out straight away, she continued, caressing the ample bosom rising above the thin dress, its curves accentuated.

“If you were to tattoo it, it would be beneath these large breasts.”

“Hmm…, both the proof and the location… You’re really a pervert….”

“So, do you dislike it?”

“Oh, no…. That’s why I like it even more ♥”

Quickly adapting to the sudden touch, Jung Hee became aroused.

In truth, stamps like this might not even be necessary.

Accepting my touch wholeheartedly, reveling in pleasure, was proof enough that this body belonged to me.

Unknowingly, I found myself addicted to the soft sensation of her chest, continuing to touch it.

“Oh.”

As if something dawned on her, she asked me with a gleam in her eyes.

“Could it be a tattoo-like mark under Yoo-jung’s chest, visible or suggestive…?”

“Oh, yes. I’m the one who did it.”

“No wonder… Every time someone asks suddenly about a tattoo, you say ‘there’s something like that’ with a smirk!”

Knowing the meaning of the stamp, Shin Yoo-jung seemed to tease her mother with it.

“Isn’t it unfair to only tattoo Yoo-jung?”

“…Should I tattoo you?”

“Tattoo me, right now.”

Jung Hee declared with jealousy flickering in her eyes.

And thus, another believer was added.

* * *

Starting with Jung Hee, Kim Do-jin added two more stamps.

The recipients were Elena and Kim Eun-bi.

Kim Eun-bi, who was already deeply enamored with Kim Do-jin, readily accepted it, while Elena faced difficulties.

Since purity vows made kissing the entirety of the act, it was somewhat expected.

But Kim Do-jin succeeded.

-“Elena, that’s why I’m more anxious. I hope you’ll be mine forever, but I’m afraid you won’t be.”

-“Oh, Puppy….

-“Will you allow it? I want to leave my mark on your body.”

-“Yes, please…♥”

Thus, the number of stamped believers reached six.

Compared to the numbers of those following the indolent god or those sincerely following Angela, it was a pitifully small number.

However, in this process, Kim Do-jin felt a change in his abilities.

It was a subtle change that should have been imperceptible due to the extremely low number of followers.

Yet, Kim Do-jin, with his exceptional talent, keenly perceived even this.

And through this, he realized what needed to happen for his power of devouring to become stronger.

“The mouth that swallows, the teeth that chew, and the tongue.”

Giving concrete form to the vague energy, strengthening the concept.

“Gulp…!”

Thus, it was completed.

The nauseating maw of the glutton that devours everything about the opponent.

And it is currently devouring the power of the opponent.

“What, what is this… Aaah!”

Yoon Myeong-ho writhed in restraints, his body bound with all sorts of tools.

The power stored in his heart is being drained away.

And at a very rapid pace.

“S-stop, I said stop!”

The reason he could live up to now without envy was all thanks to this power.

Authority bestowed upon him by the voice that introduced itself as laziness, an endlessly lethargic voice.

It was both the past that made him who he is now and the future that inspired him to leap forward again.

Even in the worst prison imaginable, he never gave up.

It was also a place managed by humans.

Even if the tiniest opportunity arose, he planned to break through and rise to power once more.

But then, his plan went awry.

No, it happened right before my entire life was about to end.

“If this power disappears, I…!”

The future of losing the power that meant everything to me was obvious.

No, it was doubtful if there was even something to call a future.

While contemplating, the forces around his heart that had been tightly coiled were rapidly disappearing.

I can’t understand the principle behind it.

But one thing is certain: if the opponent in front of me wishes it, my abilities will be completely drained.

It’s pitch black in front of me.

No matter where I step, an unfavorable situation is sure to arise, a grimly established fact.

But the worst among them is predetermined.

With that realization, he urgently shouted.

“I-I’ll release it! I’ll release everything, so please stop!”

It was a declaration of surrender.