Chapter 418
The remnants of Belial that had filled the entire domain vanished.
The urchins that guarded the realm and the tiny minions that scattered everywhere to block intruders all disappeared.
One by one, the traces that proved this was Belial’s domain vanished. The throne slowly corroded.
And then, this place began to transform into Taesan’s domain.
“Whew.”
Taesan caught his breath. Baal looked both surprised and understanding as he murmured,
[So this is what you are.]
With those words, Baal stamped his foot.
The world changed. In an instant, Taesan was transported to a space filled with deep darkness.
“This is…”
[My domain. I hadn’t planned to bring you here, but it shouldn’t matter with someone like you.]
Baal’s domain was nothing but darkness. But he could still make out his surroundings, as if the darkness itself played the role of light.
Baal clapped.
[Congratulations. Hybrid. You are now the first human to claim the domain of a primordial demon.]
The domain of a demon.
Taesan raised his hand. He could feel a sensation throughout his entire body that he had never felt before.
He now held the domain of a demon.
“But I don’t feel like I’ve become a demon.”
He felt the power and senses of a demon, but he was still human.
[That’s what’s surprising.]
Baal spoke with a smile.
[If you had taken both Belial’s power and qualification, your very nature would have changed—you would have become one of us. But you only stole Belial’s domain. As a result, your fundamental nature remains unchanged.]
Taesan was still human.
[You gained only the demon’s domain while remaining human. That’s why you obtained the skill [Throne of Lemegeton] rather than becoming a demon.]
He had not become a demon—he had simply stolen the demon’s domain. The skill [Throne of Lemegeton] reflected that.
[Truly astonishing. And amusing. I never thought something could happen in this world that would defy my predictions.]
Baal opened his mouth, still smiling.
[Now you have obtained a demon’s domain. It means your name is now written among the seventy-two seats of demons. You understand what that means, right?]
Only seventy-two demons could possess a domain.
Taesan had claimed one of those seats.
It meant the name Belial had been overwritten with Kang Taesan.
Baal chuckled as if truly finding it all ridiculous.
[A primordial demon has perished, and the master of its domain has changed here and now. Truly, it’s astonishing.]
“It doesn’t look like you’re flustered.”
[I am, but more than that, I’m enjoying the current situation.]
Baal looked at Taesan with delight.
[I never thought you would give up both power and intent and only claim the seat.]
“Power isn’t important.”
Even the Apostle of Old Gods, who killed Lee Taeyeon and defeated him, and the top leaders of the Guide of Sin who blocked him, were all beneath him now.
Both power and intent could eventually be reached by conquering the labyrinth. But qualification was different.
A demon’s domain—an opportunity to obtain it like this would never come again. From the moment he saw the throne, Taesan’s goal was not power but the seat itself. Because the [Seed of Life] allowed him to control [Soul Rank Ascension] to some extent, he could seize the demon’s domain.
[So, has anything changed? I’m curious since this is the first time anyone has obtained a demon’s domain.]
“I can sense magi much more clearly.”
He could now control magi perfectly as if it were his own limb. Baal nodded as if it was obvious.
[Demons are masters of magi. Perfectly controlling magi is natural for them.]
“And… I can feel something inside me.”
It was still empty, but it was vast.
“This must be the demon’s domain.”
[You’re exactly right.]
Baal stroked his chin, eyeing Taesan with interest.
[The reward for this trial was Belial’s domain and seat. There are usually no further rewards… but you’ve caught my interest. I’m curious about your conclusion. I’ll give you a bonus.]
The darkness filling Baal’s domain settled into Taesan’s body.
[Rejoice. You are the first to receive my Black Magic.]
[You have acquired the intermediate Black Magic [Baal’s Surge of the Sevenfold Black Space].]
[You have acquired the intermediate Black Magic [Baal’s Layered Darkness].]
[Your magi has permanently increased by 3,000.]
[Your Black Magic proficiency has increased by 5%.]
“…Are you sure it’s okay to give me this much?”
His magi had increased by 3,000.
That was more than he currently possessed. Baal replied unconcernedly.
[It’s only fitting, since I’m a Great Demon. Besides, you’ll need a huge amount of magi from now on. It won’t mean much in the long run.]
Baal waved his hand as if business was done. The darkness split and a path appeared.
[Go that way. Lucifer, that child, is waiting for you.]
Taesan looked at the path.
But he didn’t move toward it.
He opened his mouth to ask Baal,
“I have a few questions. Would you answer them?”
[Hmm… Well, I’ve been entertained, and we’re not unrelated anymore. Go ahead. I’ll answer as I see fit.]
“What exactly are you?”
Demons were similar to Old Gods.
And Old Gods were a being banished from this world.
Now that Taesan held a demon’s domain, he could sense that power in detail. And that power was utterly alien.
It truly did not belong to this world.
[…I suppose it doesn’t matter.]
Baal hesitated for a moment before murmuring.
[You seem to have guessed already. I suppose it’s fine to answer you. We are beings from before the beginning.]
They had existed since before this world was born.
Demons and Old Gods.
[It’s natural that we distort the laws of this world. We existed before there were any laws. Laws created after the fact mean nothing to us.]
Taesan wasn’t shocked. He’d already pieced it together from the Library of All Things.
So his curiosity wasn’t resolved—if anything, it deepened.
“Then what meaning do you have?”
Beings from before creation still surviving and polluting the world.
What did that mean?
“Do you exist to destroy the world? Or do you have no purpose at all?”
Baal seemed uncertain.
[Meaning… If I had to say, it’s our original sin.]
“Original sin?”
[Think of us as those who deny the flow of time. I am lord of the demons, but I didn’t stop Belial’s destruction.]
He had even used Taesan to stop the other demons’ plan to revive Belial. It meant he didn’t want Belial to be revived.
[There used to be far more of us—enough to cover the whole world. But after many events, only this many remain.]
Baal shook his head.
[That’s enough. The rest you’ll have to find yourself.]
“…Understood.”
Original sin. Denying the flow of the ages.
It was new information, but it wasn’t enough on its own. Taesan organized his thoughts.
[Is that all your questions?]
“I have one more. You called me a hybrid.”
[It’s literal. Did you really think a being of this world could handle Old Gods’s power and also seize a demon’s domain?]
Baal spoke as if it were perfectly natural.
[Belial’s seat had never once disappeared since we were born. We’re from before creation—there’s no way a being from after creation could interfere with the qualifications. But you forced your name onto it with ease.]
“When did it start?”
He already knew he wasn’t an ordinary existence.
But if he was a hybrid, when did it happen?
Baal smiled quietly.
[The Labyrinth’s magician is searching hard, but won’t find the answer easily. So… here’s a hint. Search your memories. Recall your journey.]
With those words, Taesan was forcibly sent down the path.
The world shifted, and Taesan found himself on a desolate plain.
“My journey?”
Taesan shook his head. As Baal said, this was not a question he could answer right away.
Taesan looked up.
There was nothing in the vast empty world.
This place, which had once been Belial’s world, now belonged to Taesan and no one else.
Taesan walked through his domain. He had claimed domains before—when he changed the world through Partial World Alteration, or became a lord by gaining faith.
But this sensation was unlike any other.
It was truly complete—an eternal, undying possession, untouched by anything else.
Taesan gathered his will.
Rumble!
The empty world responded, shifting for him.
The barren plain trembled as cliffs and mountains rose.
It was a miracle that shook nature itself, but it consumed no power.
[This is your domain. This world is literally yours. Do as you wish.]
A quiet voice echoed. The Demon God, Lucifer, had entered his domain.
“Hello.”
[A demon’s domain, huh… I thought it was possible.]
The Demon God crossed her arms, looking pensive.
[Well, this isn’t a bad outcome.]
Having made her decision, she extended her hand to Taesan.
[Make a contract with me, Taesan. Not as a human, but as master of a demon’s domain.]
Darkness flowed out, wrapping around Taesan.
“What are the terms?”
[Demons exist beyond the rules. But they wield Black Magic—because they have a contract with me.]
She continued,
[Through a contract with me, you can create your own Black Magic. You can reach the essence of magi and strengthen this world. In return, the Black Magic you create will be given to Black Magicians and demons.]
“That’s fine with me.”
Taesan agreed. The darkness gently seeped into him.
[You have acquired the contract skill [Demon God and Demon].]
[You have acquired [Black Magic Creation].]
[You have acquired the special passive skill [Lord of Darkness].]
[You have acquired the special passive skill [Master of Black Magic].]
[An excellent choice.]
The Demon God smiled. Taesan could feel a bond forming with her.
Satisfied, she spoke.
[For now, you’ve only gained the seat. You don’t yet have the power or intent to match. Demons don’t grow in power, but since you’ve only gained the domain, things might be different for you.]
Taesan’s essence was still human. It was more like he now possessed the ability called a demon’s domain.
[From here, I can’t help you anymore.]
This was Taesan’s world.
He would have to shape it with only his own power.
[I’ll be cheering for you. Do as you wish.]
With those words, the Demon God disappeared.
“My domain, huh.”
[What will you do?]
“I’ve gained so much already.”
That had to come first. Taesan opened his skill window.
[Throne of Lemegeton]
[You have obtained a demon’s domain and acquired [Throne of Lemegeton]. You can now grant [Lemegeton] to your minions.]
Having claimed Belial’s domain, he’d acquired the skill [Throne of Lemegeton]. As an upper-tier skill to [Lemegeton], it seemed he could now grant Lemegeton to minions.
[Contract Skill: Demon God and Demon]
[A contract between the Demon God and demon. The Demon God grants the demon’s power to her children, and the demon borrows the Demon God’s power to exert direct influence over this world.]
The Demon God had once told Taesan that Black Magic was the power of demons. This skill made that possible.
[Black Magic Creation]
[Proficiency: 1%]
[Using some of the power in your world, you can create Black Magic through a contract with the Demon God.]
The creation of Black Magic.
Until now, Taesan had used all kinds of demons’ Black Magic.
Their power had been a great help in conquering the labyrinth.
Now, Taesan could create such Black Magic himself.