"It's been a while, Count Osten."
Count Osten activated his Mana as he observed the visitor who had come to his mansion. Without this precaution, he might be caught off guard and suffer an inexplicable defeat.
"...What brings you here, Your Excellency Duke Baldert?"
Elena approached with a leisurely, elegant stride and crossed her legs as she settled onto the sofa.
"There's no need to be so wary of me. I haven't come to fight you, Viscount, nor do I have any reason to."
In stark contrast to Osten's stiff, guarded expression, a haughty smile played across Elena's lips.
Count Osten felt uneasy around Elena. It wasn't just because she was one of the Empire's five pillars, the Imperial Five Dukes, known as the Phantom Duke. Nor was it simply because she belonged to the neutral faction, neither the Noble Faction nor the Imperial Faction.
He simply loathed Elena's very existence.
"Haven't you suffered a great misfortune recently? A riot erupted in your vaunted prison, resulting in over seventy percent casualties among prisoners and wardens, I hear?"
"...Did you come here to insult me?"
"Of course not. I merely stopped by to offer words of comfort."
Count Osten didn't believe a word of it. "Just passing by"? Absurd. Someone of Elena's stature rarely needed to walk anywhere.
"I see. Thank you for coming, but I'm quite alright. The prison's restoration is progressing smoothly. We're taking this opportunity to fortify it, upgrading the wardens' skills and deploying soldiers and knights. Riots will never happen again."
"Hmm. Isn't that a bit excessive? Or are you hiding some important treasure in the prison?"
"To me, the prison itself is a treasure. You know that well enough, don't you?"
Count Osten's power grows stronger with the number of prisoners he holds. He's at his peak when the prison is full, but now that most of his prisoners have died or escaped, he's weaker than ever.
"Viscount, you must be aware of the rumors circulating about you in high society, right?"
"You're referring to that absurd rumor about me raising a man-eating monster in my prison? Did you really come all this way just because of that? Phantom Duke, you seem to have far more free time than I thought."
"I'm far busier than you imagine, Viscount. And far more capable."
"...What are you trying to say?"
"I have information that Lord Suui has become deeply involved with a heretical cult."
"I don't know where you got that information, but Lord Suui would never do such a thing."
"That's not for you to decide."
"...Is that so? What does Lord Suui's involvement with a cult have to do with me?"
"Isn't Lord Suui the leader of the Noble Faction? Could there be something related to the cult hidden in your prison? That's what I suspect."
"You came all this way for just that? My prison houses no monsters, and I have no interest in heretical cults or any other religion. I'm sure Lord Suui feels the same. Please leave now. I trust you understand how busy I am with prison matters. I'll formally invite you later."
"Count Osten, I'm giving you a chance."
"What kind of chance?"
"A chance to confess everything."
"...Hah. I have nothing to hide. How many times must I repeat myself? This is frustrating."
"Is that so? Then let's get up."
"Yes. Take care on your way out. I'm too busy to see you off. I hope you understand."
"Count Osten, I'm giving you a chance."
"What kind of chance?"
"A chance to confess everything."
"...Hah. I have nothing to hide. How many times must I repeat myself...?"
Osten realized the conversation was repeating itself. He immediately lunged at Elena, who was sitting on the sofa. His fist, crackling with blue Fist Qi, was about to strike her head.
Boom!
Osten's body exploded.
Arms, legs, and entrails flew in all directions, while his head spun toward the ceiling.
"Count Osten, I'll give you one more chance."
"What chance...?"
Osten clamped his mouth shut, cold sweat beading on his face. The agonizing pain of his body exploding moments ago still lingered in his mind, refusing to fade.
"Count, what's wrong? You look pale."
"..."
Osten refused to speak, ignoring Elena completely. This was likely an illusion.
When did I fall under this illusion?
He couldn't pinpoint the moment. To break free from the illusion, he needed to...
Boom!
Osten's body exploded.
"Count Osten, I'll give you a chance."
"...Phantom Duke, since when have you been casting illusions on me?"
"Since when? Why, from the very beginning, of course."
Boom!
"Count Osten, I'll give you a chance."
"..."
Osten detonated his mana, hoping to shatter the illusion binding him. Against ordinary illusions, this might have worked. But against Elena's illusions, it was a futile gesture.
Boom!
"Count Osten, I'll give you a chance."
Osten struggled desperately to break free. He tried taking his own life, attempted to kill Elena before him, fled the mansion, and even tried to catch the blue butterfly fluttering on the ceiling.
All in vain.
Boom.
"Count Osten, I'll give you a chance."
The hundred and first time he heard those words, Osten, sick of his body exploding, wept bitterly as he pleaded with Elena.
"I'll tell you everything. Just get me out of this hell."
"Let's hear it first. Speak."
"The rumors about Lord Suui are true. The monster I've been raising in the prison is a priest of that heretical cult. Every week, he sacrifices a prisoner to their god."
Count Osten revealed everything he had been hiding. Betraying the Noble Faction was unavoidable. He couldn't bear to die in this inescapable hell, not for eternity.
"I see. So you've been engaging in some rather gruesome activities, Lord Suui."
"Then now...!"
Boom!
"Count Osten, I'll give you a chance."
"Ah..."
Boom!
"Count Osten, I'll give you a chance."
"..."
Boom!
"A heretical cult, is it?"
Elena crossed her arms and murmured quietly, her gaze fixed on Count Osten, who sat in a daze.
"He finally crossed the line."
Elena rose to her feet.
Count Osten snapped out of his stupor.
"...Are you leaving? Why did you even come here?"
He seemed oblivious to what had just transpired.
"I simply wanted to see the look on your face after the prison riot. Well, it was more entertaining than I expected."
"...Phantom Duke, your tastes remain as questionable as ever."
"I hear that often enough. Good work."
"I'm too busy to see you off."
"Very well."
Elena departed.
Osten watched her go, then began to tremble. He couldn't understand why he was shaking.
Game Over.
Calculating experience points...
Yu Seohee's Affinity Level is now 6.
Ju Seohyun's Affinity Level is 6.
Kang Myungjin's Affinity Level is 4.
Kasha's Affinity Level is 5.
Elena's Affinity Level is 3.
...
Level Up!
Level Up!
Gained 86 Points.
Returning to reality, I ended Automatic Progression and habitually checked my Status Window.
Sung Yujin
Level: 58
Strength: 45 Stamina: 45 Agility: 45 Intelligence: 31 Vitality: 48 Mana: 45
Available Points: 670
I had accumulated a substantial number of Points.
I was in God's Atlantis for quite a while.
Though I had briefly returned to reality several times, I hadn't spent any Points. I couldn't resist the thrill of spending them after accumulating a significant amount.
I'll use the Points on Mental Resistance.
I was worried about the King of the Demonic Heavens, the Demonic Heavenly Art, Illusionist Elena, and others. Elena's illusions were particularly dangerous.
Elena's illusions have their limits, but if I fall under her spell even once, she might discover the Pleasure World App.
I couldn't predict how Elena would react. In the worst-case scenario, she might even turn me into her puppet.
Use 130 Points to increase Mental Resistance Level 5?
Use it.
I didn't stop there.
Use 200 Points to increase Mental Resistance Level 6?
Upgrade!
Use 300 Points to increase Mental Resistance Level 7?
In total, I spent 630 Points to raise my Mental Resistance to Level 8.
"...Only 40 Points left. At this rate, I can only raise my stats twice."
My hand naturally drifted toward the Random Draw.
Forty Random Draws in total.
The perfect opportunity to unleash the pent-up urge to draw.
"Let's gooooooo!"
Red Straw
It's a red straw.
Price: 1 Point
A terrible start.
But I wasn't discouraged.
They say the first draw is always the worst.
Fishing Hook of Temptation
Allows you to use Seduction once every 10 minutes.
When activated, nearby fish will be drawn to the hook.
Price: 3 Points
This could be useful for fishing... Damn it.
I don't fish. I'd rather enjoy women than leisurely cast a line.
Great Medicine
Taking this will make you feel like you've become great.
Price: 1 Point
?Warning
Excessive use can lead to addiction.
In short, it was a drug.
I tossed the Great Medicine into my mouth.
I became great.
Bullshit. I don't feel anything. What kind of scam is this?
I genuinely felt nothing. In fact, I felt even worse than before.
To soothe my discomfort, I continued with the Random Draws.
Damn it... why is my luck so bad today? Nothing good is coming out.
Original
When used on an item from the Game World, its effects will remain undiminished even when taken to another world.
Price: 1,000 Points
?Caution
You'll regret using this on an ordinary item.
This wasn't an item, but a one-time-use right granted by the Pleasure World App.
...Ooh! So something like this actually exists!
This was a no-brainer. I used the original Bright Ascension Chart. Now, even without entering the Bright Ascension Chart world, I could fully utilize it in other worlds.
Hahaha! Jackpot! I'm satisfied with just this. Even if the remaining five draws are all duds, it doesn't matter. Jackpot! Ooooh?!
Another jackpot!
Resurrection of the Dead
Resurrects the dead. The resurrected will appear before the user.
Price: 300,000 Points
?Caution
You must know the name and face of the deceased.
It was a palm-sized silver cross.
Seriously?! You can actually bring the dead back to life?!
What truly shocked me was the activation condition. If all you needed was the deceased's name and face, that meant you could resurrect someone who died a century ago, as long as you met the requirements.
So I could bring back a long-dead beauty and meet her in person?!
Even death couldn't keep a beauty beyond my reach.
What an utterly phenomenal ability.
Grinning, I spent the rest of my Points on the Random Draw. I wasn't expecting much after already hitting the jackpot, but another jackpot struck.
A pristine white ticket with the number 30 printed on it.
30-Day Regression Ticket
Regresses you 30 days into the past.
Cost: 1,000,000 Points
?Caution
The Pleasure World App is unaffected by regression.
Only the world where the ticket is used will regress.
Holy shit! This is an actual regression ticket?!
I felt my heart pounding in my chest.
Only the world where the ticket is used will regress. Could this mean it regresses not just the Game World, but the real world too? I wanted to use it immediately, but the ticket felt too precious to waste.
When would be the best time to use it?
The fact that the Pleasure World App remains unaffected is crucial. The app has an Inventory.
If I stored the Ultimate Weapon in my Inventory and then used the Regression Ticket, wouldn't I end up with two Ultimate Weapons?
Damn! This thing is so incredible, I don't even know how to use it properly!
After agonizing over it, I finally stood up.
I needed to share this joy and excitement with someone.
Bursting out the front door, I sprinted down the stairs and pounded on Han Harin's door on the fourth floor of the apartment building.