<h4>Chapter 332 - Kimchi</h4>


    Oh Kang-Woo opened his eyes. He felt this way all the time whenever he slept with Han Seol-Ah, but his body felt light. His mind was extremely clear, and the demonic energy within him was as quiet as a docilemb.


    <i>‘This is why I can never quit sleeping with darling.’</i>


    Kang-Woo smiled from the feeling of refreshment clearing his mind. Although he did not need sleep, he always made sure to sleep at least three to four hours anyway because of this very feeling of refreshment.


    <i>‘And...’</i>


    Kang-Woo drew out his demonic energy by habit.


    <i>‘Oh, my demonic energy control didn’t improve today.’</i>


    Kang-Woo expressed disappointment. His demonic energy control did not unconditionally improve just from sleeping with Seol-Ah; it was a random urrence, about a twenty to thirty percent chance.


    “That’s still phenomenal.”


    Considering that Kang-Woo possessed enough demonic energy to face beings of godhood despite himself not being able to use Divinity, just being able to improve his control over it was already amazing enough. However...


    “... There have been more and moretely.”


    Kang-Woo frowned from seeing the red spots all over his upper body. Ever since Lilith joined their chambers with the excuse of needing to make a magic tool that would conceal Seol-Ah’s powers, he saw more and more red spots on him every time he woke up, to the point that it was abnormal.


    <i>‘It’s sometimes on a very specific area too.’</i>


    Kang-Woo lifted his pants and checked between his legs.


    “Kurgh.”


    After red spots began to form on that specific area, the physiological phenomenon that hade to him every morning without fail, stopped. Kang-Woo looked down at his lifeless Fran?ois miserably.


    “You’re... not dead, are you?”


    <i>‘You’re still alive, right, Fran?ois?’</i>


    Kang-Woo worriedly rubbed the red spots lightly that had formed around his thighs.


    “Kang-Woo~” He heard Seol-Ah’s voice from across the door. “It’s time to get up~ The meeting time ising up~”


    “Got it,” Kang-Woo answered as he got up. He looked around the room while stretching. “... I’ve grown quite attached to this ce.”


    The 350 square-feet room felt more familiar to him now than his grand demon king castle. He sentimentally slid his hand over his table, and turned his gaze toward his very expensiveptop.


    “I shouldn’t forget this.”


    Kang-Woo opened his bag and packed hisptop. He did not need a charger; since there was no way that 220V outlets would exist in Aernor, he had hisptop modified so that it would be powered by mana instead. There was only one reason why he would go so far as to take theptop with him.


    Kang-Woo grabbed the rectangr item the size of his palm and put it in his pocket. It was an indispensable weapon that he had spent months perfecting between his training times, which would be of great help in his mission in Aernor; an external hard drive with a whopping 120 terabytes of storage.


    <i>‘Also known as...’</i>


    Noah’s Ark; the item that would save humanity on the brink of extinction. It contained all the mysterious knowledge regarding the birth of life.


    “... Alright.”


    Kang-Woo ced the external hard drive in his breast pocket, where he would be able to feel its warmth through his heart.


    “Kang-Woo?” Seol-Ah called from outside his room.


    “I’ll be right out.”


    Kang-Woo left his room to see Seol-Ah, Lilith, Echidna, Cha Yeon-Joo, Halcyon, Balrog, and Vaal Zahak already gathered.


    <i>‘Oh, I guess he’s Vernaak now.’</i>


    Kang-Woo stared at the young man wearing a monocle, exuding a gloomy air. Vaal Zahak, who was wearing human skin made using magic, was using the alias <i>Vernaak</i> due to several circumstances.


    “What did you pack?” Lilith asked.


    “Nothing in particr. I was just in my thoughts since we won’t being back here for a while,” Kang-Woo lied.


    “Hohoho. You’re being unusually sentimental.”


    The quick-witted Lilith scanned Kang-Woo up and down. Kang-Woo took a step back and ced his hand on his left bosom.


    “Hm! Hm! I’ll show you myir when we get to Aernor, Kang-Woo!”


    Echidna was hyper, considering this to be a trip that she was going with Kang-Woo.


    Kang-Woo smirked and nodded. “Yeah. We should definitely go there.”


    Although the mission was not so leisurely that they could call it a trip, if they sessfully eliminated the Demon God’s corpse, it was not a bad idea to tour another world beforeing back to Earth.


    “Wh-What should I do, Master Kang-Woo? Sh-Should I wear a mask? If I e-expose such a hideous face, I might be a nuisance to you...” Halcyon bit his nails anxiously.


    Kang-Woo flicked Halcyon’s forehead and said, “Nonsense. You already experienced it here, didn’t you? No one will be disgusted by how you look.”


    “B-But...!”


    “No one will, so there’s no need to worry.”


    Although Kang-Woo was unsure of Aernor’s beauty standards, they would not be disgusted by Halcyon’s looks. They would more likely be horrified by Lilith’s true form.


    “Wow, look at all these beauties around you. You’re gonna get a harem at this rate.” Yeon-Joo nced at him sourly.


    Kang-Woo shrugged. “I can’t help being a chick ma.”


    “Big words for a virgin.”


    Kang-Woo took severe emotional damage. He took out a mana stone that led to the Hall of Protection while frowning.


    “Let’s go.”


    A white Gate that had be all too familiar formed. Kang-Woo’s party took their own bags and entered the Gate.


    “Ah, hyung-nim!”


    “Is that everyone?”


    Kim Si-Hun and La were waiting for them in the Hall of Protection after finishing their own preparations. Kang-Woo walked up to them while waving.


    “Is everyone ready?” he asked.


    “Yes!”


    “Another world... It’s a bit nerve-wracking.” Seol-Ah took deep breaths with her hand on her chest. Just that slight movement caused something to shake.


    Seeing that, Yeon-Joo’s expression stiffened, her gaze shifting to her own chest. “... Fucking mid dif[1].”


    Someone had fed the mid.


    “How are you feeling, La? I heard that you weren’t in the best condition because you epted so much of Lady Gaia’s power...” Kang-Woo asked.


    “Oh, I’m fine. Though it’s true that I pushed myself a bit to ept enough of Lady Gaia’s power to be able tomunicate with her even in Aernor, but it’s nothing I can’t handle,” La answered while energetically clenching her fists.


    Kang-Woo nodded in relief.


    <i>‘La is the key to this whole operation.’</i>


    Even if they managed to sessfully eliminate the Demon God’s corpse without the help of Gaia’s incarnation, they had absolutely no way of manipting the protection of Aernor.


    “Ah...” La suddenly stared off into space. She then said, “Lady Gaia has told us to make sure toe back safely.”


    Kang-Woo got down on one knee in front of La and lowered his head. “Lady Gaia. Just like how you saved me, I will do my best to save you this time.”


    <i>Riiing</i>.


    [No, my child. I should be apologizing to you for entrusting such a dangerous mission to you.]


    [You have been blessed by the Goddess of Earth!]


    [You have recovered from all fatigue, and perfect physical condition will be maintained!]


    Powder made of white light sprinkled down on Kang-Woo’s party. Kang-Woo smirked with his head still lowered.


    <i>‘Nice.’</i>


    Gaia did not seem to have discovered Kang-Woo’s true identity. Rather, it seemed like her trust and affection toward him had be far deeper than before. Kang-Woo felt like he could lower his worries regarding her sudden trolling, like she had done in the past.


    [Find the high elves once you arrive in Aernor. They will guide you.]


    <i>‘High elves, huh?’</i>


    Kang-Woo peeked a nce at Si-Hun and recalled the Holy Sword Ludwig that was currently in his possession.


    <i>‘Come to think of it, Ludwig used to have a high elves’ blessing.’</i>


    There was a chance that high elves possessed a special ability of detecting all that was demonic.


    <i>‘... I’m a bit worried.’</i>


    If they were able to detect the Demonic Sea within him, it would result in all sorts of troubles.


    <i>‘But it’s not like I can afford to avoid them.’</i>


    Since Lucis had no idea where the Demon God’s heart was located, there was no other way to locate it than to rely on the high elves since they couldn’t just randomly roam all over Aernor in search of it.


    “I understand.” Kang-Woo nodded.


    [May the light guide you.]


    The powder made of light that had been sprinkling on their heads vanished. Kang-Woo got up and checked the time on his smartphone.


    <i>‘It should be...’</i>


    It was about time that what he had prepared would arrive.


    <i>Tap! Tap! Tap!</i>


    However, what had arrived was not what Kang-Woo had been waiting for.


    “Hey, hey! You gotta take me with you too!” Uriel shouted while hurriedly running. He sighed in relief after seeing that the party had not left yet, and then red at Kang-Woo. “You didn’t forget about me, did you?”


    “Of course not. We were waiting for you,” Kang-Woo answered.


    “... Didn’t you guys gather way too early for that?”


    “Pardon?”


    Even Kang-Woo had been a littleter than the scheduled meeting time.


    “Tch,” Seol-Ah clicked her tongue from behind.


    Kang-Woo more or less had an idea of why Uriel had beente.


    La walked forward and said, “Since we’ve all gathered, let’s g—”


    “Wait,” Kang-Woo interjected. “My order still hasn’t arrived yet, so let’s wait a little longer.”


    “... Your order?”


    “Yes. It’s a necessity for our mission to Aernor.”


    Kang-Woo’s party members tilted their heads in confusion while staring at the serious Kang-Woo.


    “What is it?” Yeon-Joo asked.


    <i>Vrrrr</i>. Just then, Kang-Woo’s smartphone vibrated.


    <i>‘It’s here.’</i>


    Speak of the Devil, and he woulde; it was truly perfect timing.


    “You’ll see,” replied Kang-Woo while turning around, and walked to one of the Gates of the Hall of Protection.


    It was the one that led to the Grand Canyon, the ce that Balrog, Kang-Woo and others often used as a training area since they could let loose as much as they wanted there.


    “What did you—” As Yeon-Joo was talking, her mouth fell open after going through the Gate. “... What the hell is all this?”


    An enormous number of boxes were piled up to the point that one would think they were at a warehouse or a harbor. Yeon-Joo approached one of the boxes and checked the english text written on it.


    “Kimchi...” Yeon-Joo froze. “Don’t tell me, you...”


    “I told you. It’s a necessity,” Kang-Woo replied while smirking, and triumphantly revealed what was in the boxes. “A hundred thousand tonnes of pork and kimchi, various vegetables and spices. I also prepared ten thousand tonnes of tuna, beef, eel and mackerel since it might be tiring to have just pork all the time.”


    Kang-Woo trembled from delight. “Aaaahh...”


    It was perfect. This was the definition of heaven. Although he had prepared it himself, it could not have been any more perfect.


    Yeon-Joo stared at the gigantic pile of boxes with her mouth agape. “How are you nning on taking all this with you?”


    “I prepared this,” answered Kang-Woo as he took out a bag.


    It was a magic item that he had asked from Khadgar in exchange for his freedom. It was the ultimate item that could not only store an enormous number of ingredients, but could even maintain their freshness as well!


    “That’s not the end of it.” Kang-Woo had even prepared for the worst-case scenario and prepared live pigs as well as seeds for various vegetables and spices. “Hahahahahaha!!”


    He could not help butugh. He clenched his fists and shouted toward the sky, “Never again... Never again will I make the same mistake!”


    This time, it would be different; Kang-Woo recalled the vow that he had madest night.


    “Fuck.” Yeon-Joo grabbed her head.


    <i>‘Why... Why the fuck did I quit my guild master position to follow this goddamn lunatic who sold his soul to kimchi stew?’</i>


    She felt like she was going to cry. It felt like her heartfelt decision had been stained after kimchi stew had been poured on it.


    “You fucking kimchi stew maniac...”


    Yeon-Joo’s voice spread throughout the empty space in vain.


    1. Mid dif refers to a term in MOBA such as League of Legends where one midner is weaker/stronger than the midner of the opposing team. ?