Chapter 503
Demons.
Taesan had only ever sensed their presence—he had never met one directly. But he knew what they were, and what kind of beings they were.
Existences akin to the Old Gods, each possessing a domain of their own.
“A gathering, you say.”
[It’s nothing grand. Think of it as a simple tea party. Since I host it myself, every demon with a domain shows up. And now you are a demon as well. I thought it would be good for you to attend at least once.]
“That’s all?”
Joining a demon gathering.
To the question of whether that alone was the quest of the 93rd floor, Baal answered with a smile.
It wouldn’t end with just a casual gathering. Baal clearly wanted something afterward.
Taesan nodded.
“Understood.”
He didn’t know what Baal wanted, but he had no reason to refuse. Even the Demon God was directly involved, so it was unlikely to turn into something unreasonable.
Baal stood with a satisfied expression.
[Then let’s begin immediately. I need to create a space for the gathering.]
Baal swung his arm lightly.
Dense black magi materialized into the world. Darkness pushed aside space, filling it with something new.
Crackle—
Like paper unfolding, the darkness expanded instantly.
It spread like a sponge soaking up water, swelling in a heartbeat. The darkness parted, and a massive world manifested in the space.
It was a barren plain.
No mountains, no stones—just a completely flat plain reaching beyond the horizon.
[A little big, but this should do.]
Baal muttered casually. But Taesan knew.
What Baal had just done was no trivial feat.
Baal had created a new domain.
A vast world, so large the end was nowhere in sight, created effortlessly and instantly. When Taesan thought about how briefly he could maintain the Chaos Domain, the difference in their levels was painfully clear.
A mere faith god wouldn’t even realize what Baal had just done. But Taesan had become far stronger—strong enough to understand the magnitude of Baal’s act.
Baal was clearly on par with the Old Gods or the Concept Gods.
[No need to be surprised. You’ll reach this level one day. Maybe sooner than you think.]
Baal snapped his fingers.
The domain shifted according to its master’s will. The ground rose, and in an instant, a magnificent building formed.
[That will be the building for the gathering.]
Baal dusted his hands.
[Go inside and rest for now. The other demons will arrive soon. My tools inside will guide you to your room. It will take… about a day.]
Taesan walked toward the building.
It was enormous—comparable to a mountain.
The door opened automatically as he approached. A floating mask awaited him inside.
[This way, please.]
With a flat, emotionless voice, the mask guided him to a room.
[When the preparations are complete, I will return for you.]
The room was large and luxurious. Taesan tapped the bed big enough for ten people to lie on. Soft and springy, the feeling pressed against his hand.
[Demons, huh.]
Bardray murmured quietly.
[A gathering of demons. Never thought we’d be invited to something like this.]
“Is there any reason to be surprised at this point?”
[Fair enough. Still feels strange.]
Demons were indeed extraordinary beings. They were the ones who bestowed black magic upon the demonic races.
But Taesan had encountered Concept Gods, Old Gods, and other powerful beings. Bardray had witnessed all of it at his side, so the greatness of demons felt somewhat underwhelming by comparison.
As time passed idly, Taesan felt several entities approaching the building.
“Demons.”
Twisted power—beings not of this world.
One by one, demons entered the building. After some time, more than a dozen had arrived.
They each entered what appeared to be their own rooms.
Taesan could sense every movement and every ounce of power they possessed.
And the demons could sense him as well.
Several gazes fell on Taesan. They watched him with complex emotions.
Taesan spoke.
“Clear out.”
Crunch—
All the gazes shattered and vanished.
With a word, every probing stare aimed at him disappeared.
“They’re very interested.”
[Doesn’t seem like it’s friendly.]
Every demon in the building had been watching Taesan. And none of their gazes contained goodwill.
[You devoured Belial’s domain. Maybe they’re hostile because you took their comrade’s power?]
“Doesn’t feel that simple.”
Taesan recalled the way they looked at him.
There wasn’t much hostility or anger.
It was arrogance.
The way nobles looked down on commoners.
And that puzzled him.
“They shouldn’t be able to look at me like that.”
He was curious, but he’d meet them soon enough. Taesan lay down on the bed.
Baal said it wouldn’t hurt to rest once.
Then he might as well catch up on lost sleep.
He relaxed his entire body and released all tension. Sleepiness washed over him.
—
Taesan hadn’t slept in months.
Ever since he gained divinity, both his body and mind had transcended human limits. Even while traveling across more than ten planets on the previous floor, he never slept once.
So Taesan dreamed for the first time in a very long time.
In the dream, he stood in a certain space.
A broken domain—its form unrecognizable, its essence impossible to discern. Countless powers and concepts floated there.
Among them were concepts so vast they pierced the universe—far beyond Taesan’s current reach.
It was like a treasure vault filled with the noblest of things in existence.
Yet everything was scattered like trash across the domain.
And something was there.
Its form wasn’t human. But neither was it a monster. It wasn’t from this world, nor from beyond.
Something caught in between.
Taesan stared silently.
And it stared back.
Then suddenly, it twisted.
Taesan felt its face change—joy, greed, longing. All those emotions surged.
The shapeless thing collapsed.
It turned into fog and rushed at Taesan. It engulfed him, staining him, swallowing him whole.
In that instant, Taesan opened his eyes.
[Awake?]
[Have you awakened, master?]
Voices echoed. Taesan slowly rose. His fingers brushed against smooth silk.
“…How long?”
[Quite a while. About eighteen hours?]
“Really.”
Taesan rubbed his forehead. The ghost noticed something was off and asked:
[Something happen?]
“Hard to say.”
He had dreamed.
No—he couldn’t call it a dream. Dreams no longer existed for someone who possessed divinity. It was something else entirely.
But he couldn’t remember. Everything felt blurred, like something had blocked it.
‘What was that.’
Taesan shook his head. His mind sharpened and his senses returned.
He expanded his awareness and felt the demons gathering in the center of the building. And one presence approached him.
Knock, knock.
A knock sounded. He opened the door to find the guiding mask.
[The time has come. Please follow me.]
—
Taesan followed the mask.
After walking a bit through the massive building, he saw a huge central door.
Dozens of demon presences lay beyond it.
[Everyone is waiting. Please enter.]
The mask stepped aside. Taesan quietly opened the door.
Creak—
The door opened.
And immediately, dozens of gazes pierced into him.
Demons filled the room.
Their appearances were all different. Some looked like muscular men, others like enchanting women.
Some didn’t resemble humans at all—warped amorphous forms, gigantic black birds, and more.
Though Baal had called it a simple gathering, it looked more like a grand party. Countless tables were laid out, and strange foods rested upon them.
[The guest of honor has arrived.]
At the highest seat sat Baal.
He raised a glass filled with red liquid and smiled.
[Let us begin. Laugh, drink, talk, and enjoy yourselves. That is the only positive thing you lot can do.]
His voice was laced with mockery and contempt toward the demons.
The gathering began. The demons laughed, chatted, and indulged.
Taesan silently observed them.
Demons possessing domains. The masters of the black magic Taesan used.
It was his first time seeing them directly. Some of their auras felt familiar.
And just as Taesan observed them, they subtly observed him.
Their eyes held curiosity and mockery.
And contempt.
But they did not move. Pretending not to care about Taesan, acting as if he were beneath them, as if he were nothing.
It was so obvious it was almost laughable.
If simply attending the gathering was the quest, then all he had to do was wait.
But as Taesan remained still, perhaps feeling emboldened, one demon opened its mouth.
[How rude.]
A greasy, clogged voice echoed.
Taesan turned his gaze. It was ten times the size of a normal human. Rolls of fat covered its entire body, making it repulsive just to look at.
Taesan murmured softly.
“Amon.”
The demon Amon.
Taesan even wielded some of his black magic. Amon twisted his mouth in displeasure.
[You should’ve approached us first to express gratitude. Yet you sit there silently. Far too rude.]
“You expect me to thank you?”
Taesan couldn’t understand the sudden accusation. Amon clicked his tongue as if Taesan was being ridiculous.
[You wield our power as your own. That is entirely our grace. Thanks to us, you’ve been able to reach this point. Naturally, you should be grateful.]
“I wield black magic because of my contract with the Demon God, not because of anything you gave me.”
It was merely a contract. The demons hadn’t granted him anything directly. But Amon looked offended by Taesan’s words, as if he were being arrogant.
[Even so, you grew strong thanks to us. Gratitude is only proper.]
Taesan stared silently at Amon. Under that quiet gaze, Amon flinched.
[…Fine. Forget that. But I cannot allow your lack of courtesy. We are demons.]
His voice brimmed with pride he could not hide.
[We are eternal and immortal beings. No one can infringe upon us. Mortal beings of this world cannot reach us.]
Amon pointed a finger as thick as Taesan’s forearm at him.
[And you are the same. A being of this world. Strong, yes, but ultimately you too will disappear someday. But we are different. We are eternal, regardless of the universe.]
“And?”
Taesan’s voice cooled.
“So what exactly do you expect from me?”
[Show respect.]
Amon answered as if it were obvious.
[We are eternal beings. We existed long before you were born. Show respect to us. That is what you must do.]
Snickers echoed. Other demons watched with amusement.
Every demon showed the same attitude, without exception.
Taesan’s eyes grew cold.
‘Not what I expected.’
He had been curious about demons.
How they viewed him. What their relationship with the Old Gods was. What perspectives they held. He had looked forward to this gathering for that reason.
But they fell short of his expectations.
There was no wisdom or calm that long-lived beings should possess. Only emotion, arrogance, and inflated pride.
There was no point in holding a gathering with such beings. Anyone could see that—even without Taesan.
Taesan shifted his gaze.
Baal watched quietly, wearing an unreadable smile.