Became the Weapon Monopolist of the Gods

For a week, I freely wandered outside as much as I wanted.

I showed Jean around Seoul, which we hadn’t been able to fully see before, and we went out to eat delicious foods, doing pretty much everything I wanted.

Previously, I had been cautious about revealing my identity, but now that concern had faded away.

Because the Dawn Star Constellation had guaranteed my anonymity, I had much more freedom in my movements.

Of course, even while enjoying ourselves, I continued our steady efforts towards Gate strategies.

After all, I not only needed to make money as a byproduct but also had to increase my mana to reduce Jean’s summoning standby time.

Having Jean around made Gate strategies much smoother.

Against Jean’s holiness, most spirits could barely put up a fight before being vanquished.

Still, since her holy power wasn’t abundant, she was only using it as a supplementary asset at the moment.

“Roooaaarrrgh!”

A massive orc swung a baseball bat toward my head.

However, the bat stopped in mid-air near my head as if halted by something invisible and could not advance any further.

“Thrwoooong!”

The Napoleon Medal I had received from Rachel was glowing red.

==

– Protection Barrier activated.

Remaining uses: 2 times

Cooldown: 8 hours

==

It was the Protective Barrier ability of the Napoleon Medal that had just blocked the attack.

“Raaaarghhh!”

Thrwoooong! Thrwoooong! Thrwoooong!

The furious orc wildly swung his bat, but all he could do was keep hitting the invisible barrier.

“Hmm, this isn’t practical.”

While the Protection Barrier itself was useful, it consumed an unnecessarily large amount of mana.

Even from just one use, twenty percent of the Blizzard Stone’s mana had been drained.

At this rate, I might as well just dodge using Shadowstep.

Taaang!

The orc, now with a gaping hole in its head, collapsed.

Lowering Napoleon’s Rifle, I approached the fallen creature with the Blizzard Stone.

Sssssss…

The mana flowing out from the orc was absorbed into the Blizzard Stone.

==

「Blizzard Stone」

Mana Capacity:　6000 / 6000

==

Through the continuous hunting of anomalies, the Blizzard Stone had doubled its mana capacity from the beginning.

This was the result of hunting upper-level anomalies during the Mingliang Gate and Toulon Gate missions.

==

C-4 Gate Defeated

Clear Rank: SSS

==

On my way home after clearing the Bukaksan Gate,

“Jean, shall we have some of that?”

“That food shaped like a fish is quite curious.”

“It’s called a bungeoppang.”

I pointed to a bungeoppang shop located at the corner of a market.

Once very common, its skyrocketing price had made it a distant memory in the past, but encountering it randomly while walking down the street often caused someone to stop and take notice.

“Ajusssi, one packet of bungeoppang please.”

“You’re gonna share with two? Where’s the gal next to you from?”

“France.”

“…This foreign lady speaks Korean well. Here’s an extra one on me.”

I handed a freshly baked bungeoppang to Jean, receiving four of them.

“It’s hot inside, so be careful while eating.”

“Yes.”

Jean, taking my advice, gently bit into the tip of the bungeoppang, her eyes lighting up.

“How is it?”

“It’s delicious. What is the black thing inside?”

“It’s called red bean paste, the bean cooked in sugar.”

“Ah, so that’s why it’s sweet.”

Jean, who had a small mouth, skillfully ate the bungeoppang.

Crispy on the outside and filled with warm sweet red bean paste, bungeoppang was a winter-time favorite for everyone.

Blowing on the food to cool it down, the sight of Jean nibbling it made me chuckle to myself, leading me to glance at the Blizzard Stone in my pocket.

‘Nope, still not working.’

The Blizzard Stone, which had attempted to assimilate the mana absorbed from the Gates, was instead spitting it back out.

This had been going on for the past week.

“Still not working?”

“Yes, seems to have reached its limit.”

This was a very big problem.

The Blizzard Stone was a “mana battery” that compensated for my lack of mana.

If the battery’s capacity doesn’t increase, it will not only make upper-level Gate strategies difficult but also won’t allow me to reduce the summoning standby time.

‘This is an issue as well.’

==

[Summon 3/3]

*To increase the maximum limit, additional slots must be added.

*To add slots, power enhancement must occur.

==

My current ability allows the manifestation of a total of three summon slots.

Napoleon’s Rifle, Twin Dragon Sword, and Jean—these three slots are already fully occupied.

An additional slot will be necessary to welcome a new “Transcender.”

‘I guess the reason no new transcenders have shown up lately might be because my slots are filled.’

Napoleon, Yi Sun-sin, and Jean all appeared within a real-world span of one and a half months.

Yet, during the month I’ve spent with Jean in reality, not a single transcender has visited my shop.

It’s like a fully booked hotel where no new guests arrive.

While it might not be an immediate problem, it will be a hindrance during future Gate strategies.

There will definitely be moments when the current relics aren’t enough to deal with the threats.

Then that’s the end.

I will die, and Jean will be trapped somewhere in the interstices of the world without being summoned.

In short, adding a slot is essential.

And slots can be added by increasing my mana capacity.

But it seems the Blizzard Stone has reached its limit.

“Can we get another mana stone?”

“It won’t work. It’s not recognized.”

Just like how having multiple batteries doesn’t mean you can plug them all into your phone at the same time, it’s the same with mana stones.

Only one recognized mana stone can be used.

This is why the Blizzard Stone is so valuable.

It’s the only mana stone that absorbs mana on its own and ‘grows.’

“Hmm, in that case, the only option seems to be Essence.”

“Essence?”

“It’s a medicinal herb that enhances mana.”

Essence.

A very rare item occasionally obtained from Gates, this essence of mana is used for ability enhancements.

It undoubtedly aids in the growth of the Blizzard Stone.

“The problem is, it’s very difficult to acquire proper Essence.”

“It must be a precious resource, I see.”

“Yes, if a good one appears, it can turn a city upside down.”

Due to the scarcity of Essence, it is prioritized for S-Rank Hunters.

Even then, it’s in such short supply that it’s hard to come by.

But for adding slots, a small amount—just a few drops—will be necessary.

“If I clear Gates like Mingliang a few times, it might drop…”

While I was thinking about having to wait for a quest,

[Cardinal Francis, willing to offer any support if there’s a holy candidate emerging.]

[Solomon Gates spreading is something that must be stopped at all costs…]

A news announcement played on a large screen in Gangnam.

“Sejun-sunim, does the church have Essence?”

“Uh, it should…but…”

The Vatican, known to have the world’s largest collection of “holy relics,” boasts a history of centuries.

Of course, they would have Essence.

“If you allow me, I can go to the church and fetch the Essence.”

“I can’t allow that.”

Because I knew Jean secretly harbored doubts about the church, even if she didn’t openly display them.

Had she ever visited the church since coming to modern times? Unlikely.

Even in the changing times, the organization that once attempted to burn her at the stake remains unchanged.

I couldn’t force Jean to go to the church for my sake.

“I really don’t mind. Let me help.”

“…”

Faced with Jean’s resolute expression, I contemplated for a moment.

Jean hadn’t received a proper apology from the church.

But would an apology given 600 years later hold any meaning?

I believe it wouldn’t. Jean seemed uninterested too.

However, if this situation allows a way to extort as much as possible from the Vatican, I would find it satisfying.

Even if Jean doesn’t feel that way, I would still want to.

Should a long-awaited saint choose not to side with the church, the Vatican would be shocked.

Having made my decision, I spoke.

“Alright, I’ll go with you.”

“Thank you.”

“No, thank you, for what?”

This is also a good chance to get some holy relics.

That way, I could replenish Jean’s insufficient holy energy.

*

Late evening, Seoul Yeoksam Cathedral.

Cardinal Francis was praying in the chapel after conducting a mass.

The prayerful expression of Cardinal Francis rarely brightened.

Solomon’s 72 Demons.

A gate with the name of the 72 demons supposedly sealed by King Solomon, with properties of darkness.

The “Despair” Ashtoreth Gate, which had been calm, showed signs of disturbance.

In the past, this wasn’t an issue.

Because the Vatican had Mother Teresa, a saint of miracles.

But after Teresa’s passing, the Vatican had no countermeasures against dark-attribute gates.

Not even a way to block the Despair Gate, forcing Cardinal Francis himself to travel the world.

Such a long stay in one country for over a week was highly unusual for Cardinal Francis.

But Cardinal Francis had no plans to leave “Korea”.

“The signs of holy power were real.”

Having personally confirmed the site, Cardinal Francis was certain that those were miracles caused by holy power.

He was among those who knew better than anyone about holy power.

Cardinal Francis relied on the potential saint candidate in Korea as the last hope to tackle the Despair Gate.

But as time passed, there was no sign of the saint candidate appearing.

At this point, it could be assumed that the invitation was declined.

Or there might have been no saint candidate to begin with, and the holy power phenomena occurred naturally.

Either way, there was no more time to wait.

The Despair Gate would soon spiral out of control.

“I must return.”

Cardinal Francis, a bitter smirk on his face, stood up as he prepared to return Vatican way.

At that moment,

“Your Eminence!”

Archbishop Ambrosio rushed in urgently.

“What is it?”

“They’ve arrived!”

“!”

Though no name was mentioned, Cardinal Francis instinctively understood this was the saint candidate.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Cardinal Francis followed Archbishop Ambrosio into the cathedral.

Inside the cathedral stood a young man with a mask covering his face and a blonde girl.

After scanning both of them, Cardinal Francis asked,

“Could you tell me who among the two is the saint candidate?”

“It’s me.”

Cardinal Francis was speechless.

If this girl was truly the saint candidate, it would be a great blessing for the Church.

“Does your arrival here signify your willingness to assist the Church?”

“I’ve come to negotiate.”

“…A negotiation?”

“Yes.”

Caught off guard by the unexpected answer, Cardinal Francis hesitated. The young man standing beside the girl spoke.

“We will assist in the strategy for the Despair Gate. In return, we want compensation.”

“What, may I ask, is the compensation?”

“Narrative-grade relics or higher and highest-grade Essence.”

“!”

Cardinal Francis’s eyes widened.

Though the young man said it lightly, the two items demanded were far from trivial.

Narrative-grade relics were proven by the Church itself to be able to cause ‘miracles,’ and highest-grade Essence was a rare item even the Vatican had very few of.

And now, not one but two of such precious items were being requested.

This was a demand that couldn’t possibly be met.

“Even for a saint candidate, that’s an unreasonable…”

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a radiant glow emanated from the girl.

The warm light enveloping her made Cardinal Francis stagger. He had experienced such a sensation before.

‘No, even warmer than before…’

Though he knew it was mistaken to feel such a sensation, Cardinal Francis approached the girl, drawn by the light.

Finally, upon reaching the source of the light, Cardinal Francis’s eyes bulged wide.

“T, this…”

The light was streaming out from the girl’s back.

A light that even robes and bandages couldn’t conceal.

That light was forming a certain miraculous figure.

An incredulous voice escaped Cardinal Francis’ lips.

“S, stigmata…?!”

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