Chapter 544: Hehe. This Popularity.
“What is he doing?”
Jǫrmungandr, on his way to <Hamk>, stopped and looked curiously at Kraken, who was just standing still.
He didn’t realize that the Kraken was stuck between spaces, unable to move either forward or backward.
At that moment…
Suddenly, the Kraken’s body went limp, and…
Srrrk.
It was sucked into the space between dimensions, and the space closed.And then,
“What?!”
This energy… Fenrir?!
Just before the space closed, Jǫrmungandr sensed a familiar energy.
Specifically, it was the spiritual pressure emitted by a soul.
From beyond the space, the spiritual pressure of Fenrir, the god hunting noble wolf and 1st Seat of the Apostle of Destruction, could be felt.
He abandoned <Hamk>.
Jǫrmungandr decisively gave up on <Hamk>.
The fear of Fenrir, imprinted on Jǫrmungandr’s soul, made him do so.
To Jǫrmungandr, Fenrir was a reassuring ally when on the same side but a terrifying foe when faced as an enemy.
***
<Hamk>
[You have defeated the Destruction invading <Hamk>.]
[You have completed the quest.]
[As a reward for completing the quest, peace has returned to <Hamk>.]
“Well, of course, peace returns when there are no enemies.”
No other rewards?
As Sejun muttered while checking the quest completion message,
Kihihit. Kking!
[Hehe! Butler! Name this one!]
Blackie, who had successfully performed the exorcism, came running while holding a tiny octopus in his mouth, one with a head no bigger than a thumbnail.
Pprruluk.
Including its legs, the octopus was only about the length of a thumb and was making strange noises.
It was, of course, Kraken, the sea-devouring monster and 6th seat of the Apostle of Destruction.
“A name? Let’s see…”
Sejun carefully examined the Kraken. After all, he needed to understand its characteristics before naming it.
The infamous Sejun Naming Shop is now open!
Thump. Thump.
The hearts of the Blackie family began pounding with anticipation.
Of course, the heart pounding the hardest,
Mookeun! Mookeun!
Belonged to Mubalchil, who had long awaited this moment with great anticipation.
Octopus, eight legs, cephalopod, mollusk, suction cups…
As Sejun assessed Kraken’s characteristics under everyone’s expectant gazes,
Ppuuuu!
Kraken suddenly squirted ink right onto Sejun’s face while he was observing it closely.
Splaash.
Covered in ink out of nowhere, Sejun exclaimed.
“Argh! I can’t see!”
He furiously wiped his face to remove the ink, but it wouldn’t come off easily.
“Meow?! Chairman Park, what did you do to your face, meow?! Covering it like that won’t hide your ugly face, meow!”
Theo, who had been handing over heart-shaped fur balls he made to Iona, belatedly noticed Sejun and offered some sincere advice.
“My face isn’t ugly! And I’m not covering it! Just pour some water on me first!”
“Got it, meow!”
Splaash!
While Theo poured water on Sejun’s face to help him clean up,
Kking?! Kking?!
[Hey! What did you just do to the butler?! Do you want more punishment?!]
Blackie growled ferociously and threw Kraken, which he had been holding in his mouth.
Ppuuu! Ppuu…
(Great Blackie-nim, I’m sorry! I was so nervous I didn’t realize that I accidentally…)
Kraken had a condition where it would spray ink uncontrollably when anxious, much like irritable bowel syndrome.
As Sejun wiped his face.
“Mukbupal.”
He spoke a name that suddenly came to mind.
Ink (Muk), squirting sound (Bu), eight legs (Pal). Mukbupal.
Mumu!
Mubalchil cheered loudly for the name Sejun had come up with.
It wasn’t worse than his own name, but it wasn’t one he could mock either.
Welcome, Mukbupal!
Mubalchil now had a companion to share his plight.
Once the Kraken was given the new name Mukbupal,
[The effect of Talent: Namer has been activated.]
[A special effect has been imbued in the name Mukbupal.]
[All stats increase by 888.]
[<Power: Ink Eight Shadow Clones> has been bestowed.]
With the activation of the Namer effect, the name “Mukbupal” granted Kraken additional stats and a new power.
Lucky you.
Sejun looked at the messages enviously. A mere name gave it a stat boost and even a new power.
And then,
“Mukbupal, you should know how lucky you are.”
If not for me, where would you find such a great name (?) that comes with stats and a power?
Sejun puffed up his chest as he addressed Mukbupal.
Ppuuu…
For Mukbupal, it didn’t feel like luck at all.
If the name had come out even a little later, Sejun, holding a grudge against the Kraken for spraying him with ink, might have tried hard to give it a terrible name.
Just as Sejun finished naming it,
Chuee! Chuee!
[Excuse me! Coming through!]
From a distance, Kalchi pushed through the hamsters and approached Sejun’s group.
However,
Kyuui! Kyuui! Kyuui!
[How dare you try to approach the Great Ham-God?! Insolent fool! Capture him!]
104.28.193.250
Kyuui!
[Yes, sir!]
A plump hamster with golden fur, dressed in flamboyant clothing, commanded the temple knights leading the front row of hamsters to subdue Kalchi.
It was Burelle, the High Priest of the Ham-God Cult, who had once sentenced Kalchi to death by fire before the emergence of the Black Tower.
For context, the Ham-God Cult is a religion that worships the Hamster God, and all the hamsters living in believe in it.
Chuee! Chuee!
[Let me go! I’m going to Sejun-nim!]
Kyuui! Kyuui! Kyuui!
[Silence! Heretic! After paying respects to the Ham-God, I’ll deal with you!]
Burelle threatened Kalchi and then approached Iona.
And then,
Kyuui! Kyuui!
[It is an honor to meet the Great Ham-God! I, Burelle, High Priest of the Ham-God Cult, offer my greetings to the Ham-God!]
Burelle prostrated himself before Iona, who was dangling from Theo’s tail while hugging one of his heart-shaped fur balls tightly.
“Kyoot?! Ham-God?!”
As Iona tilted her head in confusion,
Kyuui··· Kyuui?
[Ah… Since we do not know the Great Ham-God’s name… May I humbly ask for your honorable name, Great Ham-God?]
Burelle cautiously inquired.
“Kyoot Kyoot Kyoot. I’m Iona.”
Knowing that she would later become the guardian deity of <Hamk>, Iona answered her name without hesitation.
Kyuui! Kyuui! Kyuui!
[Oh! I offer my greetings again! Great Ham-God Iona-nim! I am Burelle, High Priest of the Ham-God Cult!]
Upon hearing Iona’s name, Burelle prostrated himself again.
Despite doing nothing more than bowing and standing back up twice, sweat dripped from his body and soaked the ground, dampening his thick fur.
“Kyoot Kyoot Kyoot. Nice to meet you, Burelle-nim.”
Kyuui! Kyuui···
[The honor of meeting the Great Ham-God Iona-nim fills me with such overwhelming emotion that I cannot contain myself! This glorious moment is the reward for the decades of devout prayers I have offered to the Ham-God…]
After Iona called him by his name, Burelle eagerly recounted all the things he had done in service to the Ham-God, wringing out every last detail.
However,
This is too long.
His response was excessively lengthy and tiresome.
Although Iona, as the Tower Master of the Black Park-Ai Wizard Tower and the head of the Wizards’ Association, was not unaccustomed to dealing with such individuals,
“Haaahm.”
“Me
Kueng···
Sejun, Theo, and Cuengi, who had been listening out of curiosity and amazement, stretched out and yawned loudly, physically expressing their boredom.
And then,
Kyoot?! Theo-nim is bored! I must end this now!
Realizing Theo’s disinterest, Iona tried to dismiss Burelle.
Kyuui?! Kyuui! Kyuui···
[How dare you yawn while the Great Ham-God Iona-nim and I, the High Priest, are speaking?! Even as her servants, your behavior is utterly disrespectful! Great Iona-nim, please burn them to uphold the dignity of the Great Ham-God…]
Completely oblivious to the atmosphere, Burelle scolded Sejun, Theo, and Cuengi, pointing his finger at them and clucking his tongue in disapproval.
And then,
“Kyoo-Kyoo-Kyoo-O, power of fire. Burn the enemy. Ignite.”
How dare you point fingers at our Sejun-nim, Theo-nim, and Cuengi?!
Enraged, Iona burned Burelle with fire.
Kyuui!!!
Burelle rolled on the ground to extinguish the flames on his body. Thanks to his quick actions and the fact that his fur was damp, the fire didn’t spread significantly.
However, Burelle’s once-proud golden fur was scorched black, leaving him looking like a black hamster.
“Kyoo-Kyoo-Kyoo-stand over there with your hands up.”
Kyuui···
[Yes···]
Unable to respond to Iona’s words, which were brimming with killing intent, Burelle obediently accepted his punishment.
At that moment,
“Huh?!”
Isn’t that Kalchi?
Sejun noticed Kalchi, who was being restrained by the temple knights.
“Kalchi!”
When Sejun called out to Kalchi,
Kyuui?!
The temple knights were flustered.
Just moments ago, their High Priest had pointed at that human and was punished by divine retribution.
Chuee!
[Sejun-nim!]
Seizing the opportunity, Kalchi dashed toward Sejun.
Lick. Lick.
This time, I’ll make sure to lick it!
Kalchi charged at Sejun’s shoe but,
Grab.
Chuee?
Kalchi was caught in Sejun’s hand, failing once again.
“Hmm… Kalchi, congratulations, you’re the new High Priest now.”
Sejun spoke while looking at such a Kalchi. He had a feeling that if Kalchi managed the temple, it would become very clean.
Chuee?!
[Me? A High Priest?!]
Kalchi was flustered by Sejun’s declaration.
“Yup. From now on, you’ll assist the guardian deity that who comes in place of Iona. As for you, Bochi, you’re promoted to commander of the temple knights.”
Sejun also assigned a position to Bochi.
And,
“You’re just a believer now.”
Kyuui?
Burelle, who had dared to point fingers at Sejun, was demoted from High Priest to a mere believer.
Thus, word spread among the residents of <Hamk> that the Kraken invasion was repelled by the Ham-God Iona, and peace was restored.
3 days later.
Sejun was still staying in <Hamk>, feeding the hamsters every morning, noon, and evening, which increased his stats and mental strength. In his spare time, he learned swordsmanship from Bochi.
“Hup!”
As Sejun shouted and swung his sword,
Kkyak!
[Your sword path deviated by 0.1 degrees!]
Bochi lightly tapped Sejun’s sword.
“Huh? Oh?!”
Thud!
Sejun lost his balance and fell to the ground, following the sword path he had created.
Kkyak. Kkyak.
[Oh dear. You should’ve been more careful, especially since you have someone special.]
Bochi said, looking at Sejun with mock sympathy, all while wearing a mischievous smile.
“You! Master Bo! You did that on purpose, didn’t you?!”
Sejun quickly got up and confronted Bochi.
Ever since Bochi found out that Sejun wasn’t single, he had been messing with him during every sparring session.
Though it annoyed Sejun,
[Your proficiency of Advanced Swordsmanship Lv. 9 has reached its limit and is leveling up.]
[Strength increased by 13.]
[Stamina increased by 8.]
[Agility increased by 5.]
He couldn’t stay mad because it was helping him improve his training.
“Haah.”
Should I start matchmaking among the hamsters?
While Sejun pondered as he looked at Bochi, who wore a smug expression,
Chuee! Chuee!
Kalchi, who had been assisting Sejun nearby, began mimicking his swordsmanship, swinging a small stick and attempting to replicate Sejun’s earlier movements.
Chuee··· Chuee!
[If Sejun-nim moves like this here, then I should move like Bochi-nim does… Oh! This way, I’ll be able to lick Sejun-nim’s shoes!]
Even while practicing swordsmanship, Kalchi, now a High Priest, could only think about licking Sejun’s shoes.
However,
Kkyak?!
[He’s already replicating that?!]
Bochi was shocked as he watched Kalchi swing the stick.
Kalchi wasn’t just following Bochi’s sword path, he was also grasping the sword’s intent and wielding it accordingly.
It turned out that Kalchi was a genius in swordsmanship.
Kkyak?
[High Priest Kalchi, do you have a significant other?]
Chuee? Chuee.
[A significant other? No, I don’t.]
Kkyak!
[From today onward, you will learn swordsmanship from me!]
Chuee!
[Yes!]
Welcome to the Singles Corps, soldier!
Unknowingly, Kalchi had enlisted in the Singles Corps.
And then,
Chuee!
[Oh! So this is magic swordsmanship!]
Within an hour of training with Bochi, Kalchi, who started at Beginner Swordsmanship Lv. 1, had awakened magical swordsmanship.
Five days later.
[You can now imbue magic into your sword.]
[As your realm advances, Advanced Swordsmanship (Master) has transformed into Magic Swordsmanship Lv. 1.]
[The potential of all stats has increased by 3000.]
[All stats have increased by 100.]
Sejun also managed to awaken magical swordsmanship, but,
[You have run out of stay fee funds.]
[Returning to the 99th floor of the Black Tower.]
“Huh?!”
I haven’t finished learning yet!
With funds depleted, Sejun and his companions were forced to return to the Black Tower.
And then,
-Sejun! Why are you only back now?!
-Son-in-law!
“Son-in-law Park”
“Brother-in-law!”
Kaiser, Anton, Elizabeth, and Ace gave him an intense welcome.
“Hehehe.”
Hehe. This popularity.
Sejun, thinking they were welcoming him because of his popularity, smiled with satisfaction.
But then,
[The Tower’s Administrator tells you that she have been practicing cooking diligently while you were away.]
[The Tower’s Administrator urges you to hurry to the kitchen and taste her cooking.]
Hearing Aileen’s words, Sejun’s expression stiffened as he realized the true reason behind their welcome.
*****
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