Chapter 131
“Give him No. 10.”
[Wouldn't that make him the last one? He'll probably throw a fit.]
“This is way better than some awkward in-between number. And I’ll make a few tweaks to the shield.”
I grinned and said it. If it was that attention-seeker, he’d definitely like this.
“All you have to do is pass along one message, sir.”
[What…?]
“This shield has a hidden function.”
***
A few days later, in a penthouse somewhere in the United States.
After wrapping up another busy day of filming, DemiGod checked the internet as soon as he got home.
Today was the day the list for Aeternus’s First Edition would go up.
“What the fuck?”
DemiGod frowned. Of course his name was on the list. The problem was the number attached to it.
[No. 10 - DemiGod]
“Holy shit, No. 10? I’m No. 10?”
DemiGod shot to his feet. It was an insult to his pride. How could the world’s No. 1 Hunter be in last place?
Of course, the people and organizations from No. 1 to No. 9 were impressive too.
Even the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia was on the list.
But DemiGod didn't care about any of that. So what if they were stronger than me? Which of them could beat me at arm wrestling?
“And after I called to complain, the number got even lower?”
He looked ready to grab his phone and leave a 5,700-character hate comment on social media.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
“What is it?”
It was an employee sent by Aeternus. DemiGod snorted and opened the door. Looks like they do know how to feel sorry, after all?
“Hey, you fucking idiot? Tell your boss this! I don’t need No. 10! Take it back—I’m returning it!”
“P-please calm down, Mr. DemiGod.”
The employee flinched under DemiGod's pressure, but still did his job. He bowed politely and handed over the shield.
“Actually... our CEO asked me to pass along a special message.”
“What is it? Are you trying to make excuses?”
“No. It’s not an excuse. This is classified, but...”
The employee glanced around before whispering.
“You’re actually not No. 10.”
“What?”
Startled, DemiGod roughly tore open the luxurious wrapping. But the writing engraved on the outside of the shield was clearly [No. 10].
Just as the enraged DemiGod was about to unleash his trademark lion's roar, the employee quickly stepped in.
“This is No. 0. Not No. 10.”
“What? No. 0?”
“Yes, it’s the only Secret Edition. To keep it hidden from others, it’s usually disguised as No. 10.”
DemiGod's expression changed in an instant. From anger to curiosity and anticipation.
Secret Edition, Zero Number.
There could not have been cooler words than that.
“Ahem... really?”
“See for yourself. Here, just press the small groove on the back of the shield.”
Click.
With trembling hands, DemiGod pressed the small button.
Clack!
With a faint sound, the surface changed. Red, white, and blue stripes of the American flag rose across the shield that had been white, and the number at the bottom changed.
The number 1 slowly vanished. In its place appeared a secret number.
[No. 0]
“Holy moly...”
DemiGod couldn't close his mouth. This was something that couldn't even be compared to No. 1. A custom piece made only for him?
The transformation feature, the sound of 'Secret Number,' and the symbolism of No. 0.
Everything was right up his alley.
He'd only felt this kind of excitement when his first movie came out.
“I-is this only mine?”
“Of course. There’s only one in the entire world. It was specially made just for Mr. DemiGod. Nothing exactly like it will ever be made again.”
“Kwahaha! That’s more like it. No way they’d give me No. 10!”
DemiGod laughed heartily and kept patting the employee on the back. The force behind it made the employee have to desperately hold back a scream.
DemiGod turned the shield over and over for quite a while, letting out exclamations of admiration.
“I like this transformation feature best of all. Isn’t it like a superhero? Acting like an ordinary person most of the time, then transforming in a crisis... It’s the perfect item for me.”
“I’m glad you like it. Ah, there is one favor I’d like to ask.”
“What is it? Just say the word!”
DemiGod was in a very pleased mood. At that moment, he felt like he could grant any request.
“Please keep this a secret. If the other buyers find out, they’ll all start demanding the same feature. Then wouldn't that make you less special, Mr. DemiGod?”
“Hmm, so officially I should pretend it’s No. 10?”
“Yes, that's right.”
A secret known only to me. That too was something that satisfied his twisted ego.
“It's fine if I use it inside the tower sometimes, right? As long as it doesn't get into the press?”
“Yes, actually, if Mr. DemiGod wants to, you can make it public. We were only offering advice.”
“Don't worry! I won't go blabbing about it. You know my lips are sealed.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
As soon as the employee left, DemiGod started taking photos. Of course, he had the number set to No. 10.
He made a meticulous setup so his handsome face and body would reflect off the shield, then started shooting.
“Good, perfect.”
After taking photos for over an hour, he picked the best one, edited it, and uploaded it to SNS.
[DemiGoD]
[Finally arrived. AETERNUS’s First Edition.]
[No. 10. The perfect number. Now it’s mine.]
DemiGod had 600 million SNS followers. The moment the post went up, likes and comments exploded.
ㄴ Still cool as ever. How much is it?
ㄴ Bro. Why is it No. 10? That's not cool.
ㄴ He couldn't get No. 1, so he chose No. 10. 😂😂😂
ㄴ Please don't go shirtless when you take pictures. Seriously.
ㄴ Why? I like it.
ㄴ Got a problem? DemiGod will deal with you.
ㄴ He had No. 1 stolen from him. No. 1 must be returned to him.
“Ha, these ridiculous people.”
[DemiGoD]
[Oh, I don't think No. 1 was stolen from me.]
[Everyone from No. 1 to No. 9 is outstanding, and I don't think any number is better than another.]
[More than anything, I personally chose No. 10.]
ㄴ Anyone know what DemiGod did when he lost first place: ㄱ-
ㄴ ☠️☠️☠️
ㄴ His pride took a hit.
[DemiGoD]
[Fuck, I'm really satisfied with this.]
[This isn't just No. 10.]
ㄴ Yeah, this is a **declaration**.
“So they really don't know the secret of No. 10...”
Normally, he'd have been triggered more than ten times, blown up on SNS, and even asked for an in-person fight.
Today's DemiGod was merciful. He could endure pranks like this all he wanted. In fact, he even felt good. It was the kind of situation that made his mouth itch to talk.
“I should hold back.”
Instead, DemiGod went looking up the other buyers' accounts.
[World Hunter Association_Official]
[We have secured No. 1.]
[Our World Hunter Association swears it will continue to serve as humanity's shield.]
[Thank you, AETERNUS]
ㄴDemiGoD: Nice shield. But No. 1 is just a number. What does that matter? The finish is what matters. Like No.10.
Even to the World Hunter Association.
[Prince_Abdul]
[(Photo of the No. 2 shield displayed in a golden cabinet)]
[I gave No. 1 to the association for its symbolic value.]
[But No. 2 is mine.]
ㄴDemiGoD: Oh, No. 2? If it were me, I'd be too embarrassed to even post proof. That's such an awkward loser number.
Even to the Saudi prince.
DemiGod started finding the accounts from No. 1 to No. 9 and leaving comments.
***
Of course, this bizarre behavior spread to the Korean gallery as well.
I was able to watch all of this while lying in bed.
ㄴ Why the hell is this guy like that?
ㄴ Did getting No. 10 shock him so badly that he lost his mind?
ㄴ Then who's going to tackle the American tower now?
ㄴ But for someone who's sulking, he sure looks excited.
ㄴ Don't read too much into it. ㄴㄴ.
ㄴ He's trolling on a global scale lol.
ㄴ Atenu's the only one excited. The free publicity effect must be insane.
ㄴ What the hell is Atenu? Seriously, you're abbreviating everything.
ㄴ Call it Arari.
ㄴ Shock TV) The origin of Aeternus was Arirang?
ㄴ Is it time to get high on national pride again?
ㄴ Ugh~~
ㄴ Arirang is the one that's impressive, not you guys, so why are you so excited?
ㄴ The nickname Arirang is seriously brutal.
“Isn't he actually insane?”
DemiGod was even live-streaming himself polishing the shield. It was enough to make me worry he'd suddenly press the button and reveal the secret.
“Would he really do that...?”
I shook my head. He was loving it far more intensely than I'd expected.
Of course, it wasn't a bad thing. Sure, his personality and intelligence were flawed, but he was still the world's No. 1 ranker. A walking billboard.
A guy like that was promoting us for free—no, he was practically paying us to advertise.
But even his attention-seeking was a bit much for me.
“I really lost this one.”
The most I'd ever done to get attention was spill food and upload a picture of it.
As a normal, well-adjusted person, I couldn't understand such dopamine-driven single-celled life-forms.
And to be that happy over just deleting one little number? I was starting to seriously doubt his intelligence.
“Well, still, that's good.”
No. 1 and No. 10 alike. A happy ending where everyone was satisfied. Of course, DemiGod would keep harassing them with endless comments, but so what?
I turned off my phone and stood up. Now that the shield business was settled, it was time to focus on what I had to do again.
The 44th floor was waiting for me.
***
[Entering Floor 44 of the Tower (EXTREME).]
I grabbed the black mage's robe and wand and headed for the tower.
I planned to test its synergy with the ghost ship this time.
“Ah, I also have the Conduction Skill.”
I had to see whether this skill would help me cast magic underwater. Something told me this floor was going to be busy in more ways than one.
But contrary to my worries, the scenery on the 44th floor was utterly peaceful.
A beautiful scene that couldn't compare to the stormy 42nd floor or the fog of the 43rd. It felt like I was on a cruise ship.
“Waiter, room service.”
“Welcome, Captain.”
I rang the bell nearby and called for Teach.
“It's pretty peaceful today, huh?”
“Yes... it was.”
“Anything happen?”
“I think something's about to happen.”
“?”
“Whenever the captain showed up, an accident would happen soon after. Mermaids, storms, even the ghost fleet...”
“...”
But I couldn't argue with that. It would have been stranger if nothing happened at all on a new floor of the tower.
I let out a sigh and gave the order.
“Sigh, if you know that, get the crew ready. You never know what might show up.”
And thirty minutes passed.
The sea was astonishingly peaceful.
“Should we go fishing?”
“Sounds good. Want to make it a bet?”
I started fishing.