Oh.
He had anticipated he would receive an invitation. But he had expected to be invited after clearing at least a minimal trial, so Taesan was momentarily bewildered.
[Does this mean there's no need for a trial because they already know, or...]
"It could also mean they don't want to give me a trial."
After looking at the System Window for a moment, Taesan moved his hand.
[You have accepted Lucifer's invitation.]
[The domain of Lucifer welcomes you.]
The world distorted. The Labyrinth was painted over with darkness, and an entirely different world materialized. The world that appeared was different from Maria's domain.
If her domain was a lone Divine Temple in a space like the void of the cosmos, Lucifer's domain was the inside of a massive castle. Taesan was summoned inside a building with corridors so long and wide it was hard to see their ends. Taesan quietly observed the castle's interior.
Black jewel decorations. Pillars that stretched as if to touch the sky's end. A ceiling so high it was faint to the eye.
It was, in a word, a colossal castle.
[Hmm.]
A displeased voice echoed. Taesan realized it late. A girl in black was looking down at Taesan, leaning her arm on a high, high throne.
Her black hair flowed down below the throne. Sharp eyes like a cat's. A long, black dress. Taesan was slightly flustered.
When he met Maria, he had felt an unfathomable power. So he had been able to notice her presence immediately. But the girl was different.
She looked like an ordinary, cute child, and he couldn't feel any power from her. The girl opened her mouth.
[Are you just going to stand there and stare?]
Taesan belatedly came to his senses. The girl greeted him from atop the massive throne, from a position like that of a king. It wasn't hard to guess what she wanted.
Taesan bent his knee.
"Greetings, Demon God."
Demon God Lucifer. Her identity was the young girl before him. The girl, who was gazing down at Taesan, spoke.
[You bend your knee so readily.]
"I'm not foolish enough to misread the atmosphere."
He couldn't know what feelings the god before him held. If anything, it was highly likely she held hostility. After all, he had killed Zagan, who could be called her kin.
He judged it was right to act as she wished. And that was the correct answer.
[Not bad. If you had defied me, I would have crushed your head.]
At her light voice, a chilling sensation caressed the nape of Taesan's neck. The muscles of his entire body naturally began to contract. The girl waved her hand.
[No, it's a joke. I can't very well crush your head. There are many who would get angry if I did. More than that...]
Her half-lidded gaze turned to Taesan.
[Hmm. I've seen you through the eyes of that pitiful creature, but you are certainly unique. Can something like you truly exist in this age?]
At the incomprehensible words, Taesan's brow twitched.
[If you don't know, then never mind. It's no concern of mine.]
With a languid attitude, the girl grabbed her hair with her toes and fiddled with it.
[I have no intention of interfering with the matter of you killing that pitiful creature. That was a fair fight between you two.]
"That's a relief."
At least, she didn't seem to hold any ill will about him killing Zagan.
[The reason you sought me out is for demonic energy. That's it, isn't it?]
Taesan nodded.
The resource needed to use Demonic magic.
Demonic energy.
He had accepted Lucifer's invitation because he wanted it. Lucifer shook her head. Her silk-like hair scattered softly.
[You are a human.]
A small finger pointed at Taesan.
[And I am a Demon God. Demonic energy is the power of my kind. Humans are not my kind.]
"...So you're saying you cannot give it to me."
As she said, demonic energy belongs to the Demon race. Indeed, Ghost had obtained nothing from Lucifer's Altar. But Lucifer had gone out of her way to summon Taesan to her domain.
It meant there was some other way.
[If you're asking if I can bestow upon you the power that only my kind can possess, then yes. I can.]
"Didn't you say you couldn't give it to me?"
[Normally, that would be the case. But you, through trickery, have possessed the power of my kind. The one next to you was not qualified, but you are.]
Taesan could understand what Lucifer meant. Taesan had stolen Dark Magic, which humans cannot learn, from Zagan through Soul Rank Ascension. In other words, by learning Dark Magic, a Skill that requires demonic energy, he had met the minimum standard.
Lucifer muttered with a face tinged with faint interest.
[You certainly are unique. Is that your power...]
Taesan sent a questioning look to Lucifer. Lucifer changed the subject.
[I can give you a trial, and if you pass, I can grant you demonic energy. But are you satisfied with that? You accepted my invitation because you wanted more, didn't you?]
Taesan did not deny it. Lucifer languidly continued.
[You wouldn't want just demonic energy, but more. Just as you received magic from the God of Magic, you want to receive magic from me too, and desire a new path, don't you?]
If he only received demonic energy, it would not be very meaningful. Unless he meets and defeats a new Demon in the future to steal their Demonic magic, he would only have one Dark Magic to use. Taesan wished for more than that.
To be able to learn new Dark Magic from Lucifer, to have more cards in his hand. Lucifer answered Taesan's wish.
[It's possible. You possess a sliver of my kind's power. Adding one or two more won't change anything.]
Taesan imperceptibly clenched his fist. If he considered Dark Magic on a similar level to Magic, Taesan would be able to wield a total of four powers: Swordsmanship, Skills, Magic, and Dark Magic. The difference was certainly immense.
[But everything has a price, Kang Taesan.]
Her sharp eyes curved gently.
[What I will give you is a reward too great for a simple trial.]
"Are you asking me to become an Apostle?"
All the gods Taesan had met had wished for that. Lucifer let out a bewitching laugh.
[Of course not. Maria and the other gods seem to want that, but I am a Demon God. A mere human cannot become my Apostle. Only a pure-blooded Demon can be my Apostle.]
Lucifer said confidently.
[They are quite foolish. No matter how outstanding you are, you're still just a human, yet they beg you like that. It lowers their dignity as gods.]
"Have you been watching me?"
[Why would I watch the fight of a child who isn't even my own? I have no interest.]
Her attitude showed strong pride, and Taesan was rather grateful for it. For him, who had no intention of becoming an Apostle, such offers were subtly exhausting.
[What I want from you is a simple relationship of following orders and receiving rewards.]
It wasn't a bad proposition for Taesan either.
"Please, speak."
[It's simple. Protect my little lamb.]
A Quest Window appeared.
[Sub Quest Start] [Demon God. Lucifer wishes to help her child, who is being persecuted. However, that world is one that Demons cannot invade. She hopes that you, who can visit that place, will help her child.]
[Reward: To be determined by Lucifer based on your performance.]
Taesan skimmed it and opened his mouth.
"Am I going to another world?"
[You have experience going to the Foolish Dreamer's world, don't you? It's not a ruined world, so you don't have to worry.]
Lucifer furrowed her brows. A wrinkle formed on the girl's fine brow.
[My little lamb is suffering persecution and pain in a world that has lost me. Take her to a safe place.]
"I heard you settled here and abandoned the outside."
[That pitiful child seems to have misunderstood something. I moved my dwelling, I didn't abandon it. Wherever my children are, my gaze is also present. It's just that this place is more amusing, so I don't pay much attention.]
Wherever Demons, beings of 'Ma', exist, Lucifer is watching. The power she possessed was subtly revealed. Taesan closed his mouth and thought.
'This is not a quest that will end in a short time.' He didn't know who this 'little lamb' she spoke of was, but she must be in considerable danger. Enough for Lucifer herself to request she be taken to a safe place.
'It won't be easy, either.' This is a quest a god gave, saying her own trial was insufficient. It would be more difficult than any ordinary Enhanced Trial.
After contemplating, Taesan made a decision.
"I will accept."
Lucifer smiled.
[Good.]
"In return, I have another request."
Ghost, who had been waiting quietly, swallowed his breath. For a mortal to make a request to a god first. If she were a hasty god, it was a remark that would have immediately incurred her wrath.
Lucifer narrowed her eyes.
[Are you asking a god for something without offering anything in return? Normally I would have crushed your head, but... I can't do that this time.]
The aura that Lucifer had been momentarily exuding subsided. This made it certain. When Lucifer first saw Taesan, she had said she had no intention of crushing his head because 'they' were interested, and that it was a joke.
It meant she was a god who was either weaker than Rakiratas or Maria, or respected them. She would not carelessly lay a hand on such a Taesan.
[Speak. If it's something trivial, I'll ignore it.]
Taesan spoke to the grumbling Lucifer.
"Do you know about the ones who invaded my world?"
[...Aha.]
A deep smile spread across Lucifer's face.
[I'll forgive you for asking without a price. You want to know who they are, right? I'm feeling generous. If you carry out my orders to my satisfaction, I'll tell you about them too.]
Having obtained everything he wanted, Taesan nodded.
"Then it is settled."
[Good. It's a bother, but I suppose I should give you a basic explanation. I'm only going to explain it once, so listen carefully.]
Lucifer began her explanation.
[The world you will go to is a world called Bekweseta by us. It's a world where magic exists and is protected by a dragon. The world's strength itself is average, but... something annoying is guarding it.]
A faint annoyance appeared on Lucifer's face.
[It's a world where a weak and frail being harasses my kind.]
Lucifer rested her chin on her hand. Her hair flowed down.
[The god of light born from the earth. The world governed by Harmon. That is where you will go.]
Taesan squinted.
The sunlight coming down from the sky was dazzling. It was the first sun he had seen in a very long time. The inside of the Labyrinth was indoors, so there was no sunlight, and on Earth, after the invasion by the monsters, the sun was hidden by the rift and could not be seen.
It was the sun he was seeing after an immeasurable amount of time.
"So this is Bekweseta."
Taesan muttered as he looked around.
"It doesn't look much different."
He could see a forest. There were dark-colored rocks, and next to them flowed a blue stream. On the surface, it looked just like Earth.
[You can tell just by looking at the Guides of Sin, can't you? The most common form is that of a human.]
"I guess I won't be chased around for being a monster. I never thought I'd live to see the day I'd come to another world."
This world didn't seem to be ruined or invaded by monsters. The people here must live ordinary lives and die ordinary deaths. Just like the Earth of the past.
That felt somehow strange. To Taesan, that sense of normalcy felt so very distant.
[It doesn't seem like you have time to be sentimental.]
"I suppose not."
Through Taesan's Sense Detection, he could feel several presences from the other side of the forest.
Several pursuers.
And one being pursued. Leveling up through battle