Chapter 337

Chapter 337. The Imperial Delegation’s Visit (1)

At ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍dawn the next day.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Mage Tower’s new laborers were summoned to the open ground in front of the dormitories without even being allowed breakfast.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍faces of the half-awake workers were filled with irritation.

“Hey, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍what is it this time?”

“Shouldn’t ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍they at least let us eat first?”

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍newcomers from the monster dismantling yard grumbled as they rubbed their backs.

“We have to do physical labor, and they do not even let us sleep properly.”

“Exactly. Hey, where did that guy go? Do not tell me he slipped off to eat by himself again.”

As they whispered among themselves, their gazes naturally shifted to one corner of the formation.

There stood Radel, as relaxed as ever.

But something about him was different today.

For some reason, his face looked lively, and his skin almost seemed to glow faintly.

One of the new laborers muttered while looking at Radel.

“Did he eat something good by himself or what? Why does he look so energetic?”

Hearing that, Radel smiled lightly and replied,

“I slept well, so I am feeling great.”

Of course, it was a lie.

Radel had not slept a wink the night before.

He had stayed up all night testing his new power, the “Great Demon Subjugation Sigil.”

After forming a forced contract with Leviathan and invading the domains of other demons to thoroughly strip their consciousnesses, his mana had become even more refined and powerful.

Perhaps because of that, there was now a subtle pressure about him.

Feeling that inexplicable intimidation, the newcomers from the monster dismantling yard lowered their voices.

“Hey, do not say that out loud!”

“I did not think he would hear it!”

As the laborers fussed and blamed one another, a familiar figure approached from afar.

It was Gaspen Augustus, the manager in charge of the Mage Tower’s laborers.

At his appearance, tension spread across the newcomers’ faces.

“I apologize for gathering you all so early in the morning.”

Clearing his throat, Gaspen got straight to the point.

“It may be sudden, but the imperial delegation will be visiting the Mage Tower this evening for the exchange gathering. Some of you will be assisting with preparations to receive them.”

The imperial delegation.

At those words, the newcomers’ eyes sparkled.

An opportunity to directly serve the most exalted guests in the Empire!

‘If I stand out here…’

‘I might even catch the eye of the Imperial Mage Corps!’

Hope swelled in the laborers’ chests.

Gaspen continued in a stern voice.

“This exchange gathering is a critical event that affects the Mage Tower’s future. It is the one occasion each year when our normally closed-off tower interacts with the outside world. If we fail here, our research funding could be cut, and the Mage Tower’s standing will suffer. That is how important this is.”

The weight in his voice made the laborers’ expressions stiffen once more.

“Especially this time, the gathering will be held on a larger scale than usual. Acting Mage Tower Master Aaron himself specifically requested extra care. That is why we are calling in you newcomers to supplement manpower, so stay sharp.”

The moment Gaspen finished speaking, an alarm rang in Radel’s head.

‘The imperial delegation? I need to avoid them.’

He had fulfilled the advancement condition of entering the Mage Tower Master’s Chamber for Hayden’s Standard Mana Training Method, but he still had not escaped the Mage Tower with Armandy.

Moreover, until he uncovered the secret of the “blue key” in Aaron’s possession, he had to remain here.

If even one person in the delegation recognized his identity, all his plans could collapse.

Radel hunched his shoulders slightly and lowered his head, doing his best to erase his presence.

While Radel tried not to stand out, Gaspen began examining the newcomers one by one.

His gaze swept across the line, then stopped.

‘…What is this mana?’

Gaspen’s eyes narrowed.

It was a powerful mana signature he did not sense from the other laborers.

Strong enough that it would not be an exaggeration to accept the owner as a formal disciple of the Mage Tower immediately.

He carefully traced the source of the mana.

His gaze fixed on one laborer at the edge of the line, who was desperately staring at the ground.

‘That one…’

Radel, the ace of the monster dismantling yard.

Just a few days ago, during the interview, his mana had been so faint that Gaspen had hesitated over whether to hire him at all.

How, in only a matter of days, had he gained such powerful mana?

A story passed down among Mage Tower laborers like a legend flashed through Gaspen’s mind.

‘The Mage Tower’s choice.’

On rare occasions, a laborer who entered the Mage Tower would suddenly awaken mana or experience explosive growth.

Veteran workers called it “being chosen by the Mage Tower.”

Gaspen himself was one of those who had risen from laborer to mage through such a stroke of fortune.

‘Could it be that this one too…?’

With complicated feelings, Gaspen looked at Radel.

With that level of talent, it was only a matter of time before other mages noticed and took him as a disciple.

As someone who had once been a laborer himself, Gaspen felt proud and fond—yet at the same time, a bitter sense of loss welled up at the thought of losing such a capable worker.

‘So this will be his last stint as a laborer.’

As if making up his mind, Gaspen pointed directly at Radel.

“You.”

At that single word, all eyes around them turned toward Radel.

Exclamations filled with envy and jealousy erupted.

“And you three over there. Follow me.”

In the end, Radel was selected to join the team receiving the imperial delegation, along with several newcomers from the monster dismantling yard.

There was nothing to be done.

Since it had come to this, he would have to move quietly, avoid drawing attention, and assess the situation as best he could.

‘This might actually be a good opportunity.’

A chance to see who exactly was coming with the imperial delegation, and to observe Aaron’s movements up close.

Radel’s gaze deepened.

***

Meanwhile, at the very moment the imperial delegation was approaching—

A lavish chamber on the topmost floor of the Mage Tower.

Mammon, the Great Demon of Greed.

Trapped within a blue-glowing sealing key, he was experiencing a sensation of interest for the first time in centuries.

He had once lived in the most opulent and magnificent golden palace in the Demon Realm.

Diamonds littered the ground beneath his feet, and even the air he breathed smelled of pure gold.

And yet, after being captured by that mad human known as the Great Sage, he had been imprisoned in this dark, dreary key for hundreds of years.

Wealth!

Treasure!

Endless gold and jewels, money that would never run dry!

That was Mammon’s reason for existence—his most primal desire.

But in this accursed Mage Tower, there was not a single thing worth coveting.

The mages here showed no interest in splendor at all.

Their minds were filled only with magical formulas, ancient knowledge, and an incomprehensible obsession with truth.

‘Mad Mage Tower fools…’

Mammon sneered with contempt.

Creatures who devoted their entire lives to magical research, only to die and turn to ashes.

Boring fools with not a shred of desire for gold!

He had no interest in such paltry, sanctimonious curiosity.

No matter how miserable his situation, he was still a Great Demon.

He would not degrade himself by consuming just anything.

Even if he were to starve, he would die clutching gold.

That was the pride of Mammon, the Great Demon of Greed.

And so he had slept for an immeasurably long time.

But not long ago, his slumber had been shaken by a powerful wave of desire.

If one is born human, should one not reach the pinnacle of wealth at least once?

And to do that, what must one become?

Obviously, the most noble and wealthy bloodline in the Empire was the imperial family.

Yet to think that—

Someone with no royal blood at all—

Someone who sought to become royalty through nothing but his own power and greed—had appeared.

Mammon chuckled.

His consciousness, trapped within the key, trembled with delight.

‘The audacity.’

What sweet and pure desire this was.

To be dissatisfied with what one already possessed!

Licking his lips in satisfaction, Mammon watched Aaron Daryu sink deeper into corruption.

That old master, Helio, was making a final, futile struggle—but that too would only become fuel to further inflame Aaron’s greed.

“He will not last much longer.”

Standing in his chamber, gazing down at the hellscape of lava outside the window, Aaron smiled darkly.

“Shatter the glass cylinder? Destroy the creation he poured his entire being into?”

Utter nonsense.

A mage—especially one who had devoted his entire life to his research—could never do such a thing.

It would be a denial of his own existence.

Besides, his master was now an empty shell without mana.

If he mishandled the glass cylinder, the unstable mana sealed within the 6th Prince could backflow and blow the entire Mage Tower apart.

Perhaps his master in the past could have stopped it, but now it was impossible.

No matter what alternative his master sought, it would be futile.

Aaron was different.

Until now, he had simply lacked preparation.

But now that the blue key had begun responding to him, everything had changed.

The imperial delegation arriving soon would be the perfect stage to complete his plan.

Their visit was almost welcome.

-Yes. Before that, you just need to take it.

Mammon whispered sweetly into Aaron’s ear.

Break the final shackle called “master,” and make everything his.

Even if that meant eliminating him.

Mammon stoked Aaron’s dark desires.

With the Great Sage gone, there was no one left in the Middle Realm who could stop him.

‘If you can stop me, then try.’

Mammon’s mouth split into a crescent grin.

In his eyes burned greed enough to swallow the entire Mage Tower.

***

While Mammon laughed, a miserable scream echoed through the pitch-black abyss.

-Stop it! Please, stop!

It was Leviathan, the Great Demon of Envy, once called the king of all arrogant beings.

Now, caught in Radel’s grasp, he was being flung about and subjected to a humiliation no Great Demon should ever endure.

‘That insane human!’

As if forcing a contract on him were not enough, that madman had dared to turn the great Leviathan into nothing more than a… a frying pan!

“Ugh, I am busy, but I keep hearing strange noises.”

Radel muttered casually as he gave the wrist holding the frying pan a light shake.

The pan seemed to twitch at his words, but he paid it no mind and poured in more oil.

Sssss—

The rich aroma of butter spread through the kitchen.

Radel had been assigned to the kitchen of the grand banquet hall, where the imperial delegation would be received.

The fact that it was out of sight suited him perfectly.

It was also the ideal place to test his newly acquired tool.

Beside him, the other newly selected laborers stared at Radel in stunned disbelief.

‘Is there anything that guy cannot do?’

‘He is amazing at monster dismantling, and now he is this good at cooking too?’

The moment he entered the kitchen, he rose to become the “ace of the kitchen” as well.

He had already baked more than thirty pancakes by himself.

Watching him, the senior kitchen laborers sent approving looks, remarking that an ace truly was different.

Such was his skill that not a single pancake stuck to the pan he used.

Just then, another scream burst from the frying pan in Radel’s hand.

-At least make me into a sword or a shield! I will become your strongest weapon!

“No, you are the strongest frying pan.”

Whoosh!

With a graceful snap of Radel’s wrist, a perfectly golden pancake traced a beautiful arc through the air and landed squarely on a plate.

“Wow, that newcomer is incredible!”

“If you can, could you make twenty more?”

Amid the seniors’ cheers, more orders poured in.

“Leave it to me. Even a hundred is no problem.”

-Y-you lunatic! You insane bastard!

It was a moment where Radel’s satisfied smile, having obtained a truly useful frying pan, crossed with the screams of Leviathan, who had been forcibly turned into one.