The Novel’s Villain

9. The Emperor of Gold (1)

“I am in charge of the legacy’s management. My name is Arina.”

Arina looked at Jin-woo and greeted him lightly. She looked no different from a human except for her horns and pale skin color. She was quite beautiful, wearing a revealing outfit that accentuated her curves. Usually, exposure and defense were proportional, so maybe her defense was great.

As Jin-woo stared, Arina coughed and spoke up once more.

“It is awkward to be polite to someone weaker than me. So I hope you understand. If you become stronger than me, I’ll be polite then. Master, you don’t have to be polite to me either.”

Jin-woo nodded. Arina certainly looked strong. She was Rank A, and her level was also high. She seemed to be on the same level as Lee Min-woo.

Jin-woo was a little puzzled by the sudden situation, so he needed an explanation.

“Could you tell me about this?”

“The legacy of the Dark Dragon Calverto lies in this tower. Even if it is a legacy you are to receive, well…there’s not even a single gold coin because it ate it all before it was sealed.”

“That dragon was poor even being the Emperor of Greed?”

“Its stomach was the real greed. It was Calverto who ate most of the gold mines that existed in the Demon Realm. It said it was all to revive the Devil, but…because of that, the Demon Realm was devastated and fell to a great famine. The aftermath is still hurting them today. Although we are barely growing crops by developing mana fertilizers…”

According to Arina’s explanation, Calverto was a nuisance in many ways. It was said that the remaining assets were taken as compensation after Calverto was sealed. She said her soul was tied with Calverto, and she had been serving it for hundreds of years without receiving a salary, which was very pitiful. She used to be a beautiful and strong woman, but now she looked rather pitiful.

‘Even in the original story, it was mentioned that the Demon Realm was desolated.’

He remembered that the demon heroine said so. Jin-woo couldn’t have imagined that Calverto was the cause of the devastation of the Demon Realm. In the original book, several other fantasy worlds appeared alongside the Demon Realm. The original novel was a mix of so it was natural.

“What about the Tower of Trials?”

Arina’s explanation continued when Jin-woo asked. She said that all of Calverto’s legacy, his power, lay dormant in the Tower of Trials. The trial consisted of three stages in total, in which he could acquire powers every time he broke through a stage. Calverto’s power could be fully acquired by breaking through all the stages.

After seeing Jin-woo’s weak body, it was a consideration to avoid any ill side effects. It seemed to have been designed so that he could grow well and absorb the power easily.

‘It’s like a quest in a game, so it’s easy to understand.’

Jin-woo nodded. The legacy wasn’t all about power. If he passed all the stages, he could get a Devil’s Fragment that contained some of the sleeping Devil’s energy. It was a precious thing that Calverto was trying to protect even though it was sealed. In the original story, it fell in the hands of the main character who defeated Calverto. However, he trusted a woman with a sad story, and she passed it over to the protagonist’s rival when she betrayed him.

Then the main character’s rival was awakened! It was that kind of development.

‘The more I think about it, the more frustrating it gets.’

No, why was he holding it? Jin-woo could somehow understand if he kept it without destroying it. But why did he give that to a woman who had only been around for a few days?

‘I can destroy it as soon as I receive it.’

Calverto would jump back from the grave and wake up if it found out. But, what could it do? The dragon had disappeared just like that.

The trials weren’t simply about catching monsters or anything like that but existed in the form of goal achievement. It was easy to understand if you thought of it as a challenge in a video game.

He was guided by Arina and moved to the center of the tower. When he placed his hand on the crystalline lens in the center, a powerful force was pulled into Jin-woo. Jin-woo absorbed some of the experience points, which felt vastly different from the monsters he had hunted so far. When he checked his level, he had reached 70.

‘It had stagnated before. That’s good.’

An explosive level-up was something that required unexpected, high-level training. Jin-woo checked the information.

[S] Calverto’s Trial

A trial was created by Calverto to pass on its powers.

It has been transformed accordingly by the influence of Lee Jin-woo’s technique. Passing through trials gives you tremendous experience and Calverto’s power.

[Stage 1] Trial of Honor

The Emperor of Greed is the most famous and worst. It is described as the worst being in mythology, symbolizing all kinds of disasters and calamities. That recognition strengthened its powers. It doesn’t matter, even if it’s fake. Become an attractive and respectable famous figure.

*Goal Task: [A] Honor

[Stage 2] The Trial of Domination

The Emperor of Greed is the worst Emperor who rules everything in front of it and tricks those hiding behind it. The aftermath of its atrocities remains. Its influence made it great. It doesn’t matter in what field; become a ruler with irreplaceable influence.

*Goal task: [A] Influence

[Stage 3] ??? (Unqualified)

‘It’s a challenge.’

It was a long-term quest that couldn’t be completed quickly. It seemed a lot easier to just catch monsters. Jin-woo didn’t even know how to start. However, he was looking forward to the reward. He reached Level 70 just by taking the challenge, so what if he broke through the trials?

Jin-woo nodded. He decided to think slowly and seriously. Jin-woo turned his gaze back to Arina. Her expression remained cold.

“Anything else?”

“You can use the Dimensional Store with the powers left behind by Calverto. A lot of items from multiple dimensions are registered there.”

“A store, huh…?”

“I do not recommend it as it is very expensive. The price is high even after deducting the transfer fee and commission.”

Learning it was expensive only perked his interest. After all, the concept of being expensive didn’t exist for Jin-woo. It had been a long time since he forgot that word.

“You must be interested. I can show you if you want.”

“What can I buy it with?”

“Any money will be exchanged at the Dimensional Store after deducting the fee. All money has a special power. Depending on the rarity, it will be exchanged for dimensional gold coins of the corresponding value.”

“Is that so?”

“However, given master’s look, I wonder if it’s necessary. There’s nothing here that can make money.”

As Arina said, there was nothing left other than power. There were no treasures, only dust. He was dressed in fine clothes, but it didn’t look right to Arina’s eyes. It looked plausible from the outside, but it was something that only a lower-class demon would wear.

The Dark Dragon Calverto was poor for a creature out of legend. It was a divine being who ate enormous amounts of treasures and resources to build up great power. Arina was stricken in poverty while protecting its empty lair in the Demon Realm for countless years. Moreover, she was then eventually called to this unknown dimension.

‘Looking closely, this place is also desolate.’

That’s where the greedy Calverto was. Fortunately, she returned to the Demon Realm as long as she kept the business hours. A small, thatched house where she could lie down her body was the only space that comforted her heart. It was cold, and she was hungry, but having a house to block the wind was her only comfort.

Arina shook her head as she was observing Jin-woo. Still, Calverto was comparable to God. It was questionable whether such Calverto had chosen this weak human being. Judging his appearance, a fair salary seemed unlikely. Sure, he looked noble in appearance, like a high-ranking aristocrat, but Arina knew better than anyone that he couldn’t make a living.

“Do I have to bring the money myself?”

“No. It will be sent automatically through the Sanctuary of Gold.”

“Well, it’s good to have an account transfer.”

“Hmm, it’s that way.”

Arina pointed to her side. There was a place on the wall that was marked as a Dimensional Currency Exchange. There was a hole to receive money, but it looked like a slot machine. It gave off a shabby feeling. When he ran the Dimensional Currency Exchange, a blue window appeared.

“Oh…”

The money that Jin-woo could manage right now was displayed. Even the money in Jin-woo’s safe was displayed, which was quite amazing. The exchange fee was 10%.

“Let’s just pick up about fifty billion won.”‘

Considering the value of the artifacts, he thought it wouldn’t be a lot of money, so he managed to input fifty billion won and pull the lever. It was a pity that it seemed difficult to build the waste stacks because the fees didn’t feel so expensive. The Dimensional Currency Exchange began to tremble. Arina looked at Jin-woo with a snort, but her eyes soon turned wide as the atmosphere grew weird.

“Hmm? Is it not enough? None came out.”

“Wa-wait…!”

Jin-woo pulled the lever wildly. He kept pulling until something came out. It was very refreshing to feel poor here. How long had it been since he felt this thrill? This excitement he had forgotten, the taste of spending money!

He recalled a time when it wasn’t even worth buying a packed lunch at the convenience store. It was nothing but a distant memory.

Prrrrrrrr! Ding!

A gold coin rolled out with a refreshing sound. He put in a fairly large amount, but only one gold coin came out. Jin-woo picked up the gold coin and looked at Arina. She had an urgent expression on her face as she ran out from behind the counter.

“Hmm, it’s too little.”

“L-Look behind you.”

The other wall began to form hundreds of holes like the Dimensional Currency Exchange.

Ting, ting!

Gold coins clinked out one by one, covering the floor. Arina’s expression turned pale.

Prrrrrrrrrrrr!

A huge amount of gold coins fell like a waterfall.

“Ah…”

“T-that’s impossible. Ugh!”

“Keugh!”

Jin-woo and Arina were swept away by gold coins and flowed out of the Tower of Trials. It was a much larger amount than Jin-woo thought. Having been buried in gold coins, Jin-woo could barely stand up. His body was covered in cold metal. Arina also stood up and looked over a large number of gold coins with a blank expression.

“Gold coins…a lot of gold coins…ha, hahaha…haha.”

“That’s more than I thought.”

Jin-woo was very proud to look at the shining golden hill. There was also a desire to overdo it and fill it up completely. After all, it was a sight that he only saw in movies and cartoons. At this rate, it seemed that he could swim in them.

“Arina, is this enough?”

“…Master.”

Arina, her expression remaining blank, knelt and bowed to Jin-woo. The sequence of actions was extremely quick enough to draw an afterimage behind her. Her cheeks and pointed ears were burning red. Her bloodshot eyes made her look quite dangerous.

“I will manage your legacy with all my heart. Leave it to me.”

“Didn’t you say that you wouldn’t speak politely to the weak?”

Arina’s expression turned earnest when she heard Jin-woo’s words.

“Wealth is power. Financial power is the best power! Money begets money, so it’s infinite power! Truly infinite power!”

“Ah…”

“So what if you’re powerless? You can’t even compare it to that! You can buy force with money! Money is God! It’s the truth of all dimensions! Nothing is greater than money.”

“I-I see.”

Arina’s eyes sparkled. At first, there was a shadow covering her face, so she looked exhausted, but now she was full of life. Her eyes felt especially dangerous.

Favorability: 110% [Limit Break (Fascinated)]

Loyalty: 150% [Limit Break (Excess Loyalty)]

‘It looks very dangerous…’

When he checked her condition with the Magic Eye, it wasn’t normal at all. Aside from the favorability, loyalty, which was only 0.3%, soared to 150%. She was indeed the one chosen by the Emperor of Greed.

“So…is this a bit too much?”

“No, it’s not a bit much! You’ll be able to live easily in a city in the Demon Realm!”

“Only with this?”

Looking at her reaction, earth’s money seemed to have a higher exchange rate than expected.

“O-only with this? I-isn’t this your entire fortune?”

“Not really…”

“T-then, how much?”

He couldn’t turn a blind eye to Arina’s eyes, begging him to tell her. Jin-woo thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“If I may say so, would it be like my pocket money?

“Gasp!”

It wasn’t even pocket money. Arina stumbled back in shock. Her eyes were completely colored with hearts. She seemed to like gold quite a bit like a demon.

“Ah! I want to see the store.”

“Yes! I’ll show you around! Follow me! Watch your step! Master, shall I carry you on my back?”

“That’s fine. Why don’t you just talk comfortably to me like before?”

“How dare I do that to my Master? Please forget about my disgraceful behavior. If you punish me, I will accept it sweetly! Please don’t leave me! I’ll be your servant forever!”

Her change of attitude was on another level. It seemed that demons changed in front of money as well. She guided Jin-woo along the path of gold coins with eyes full of ecstasy. It was impressive that she walked gently, afraid the gold coins would be damaged.

Her first impression was shattered, the cold and cynical beauty completely gone.

“This is the Dimensional Store!”

Arina spread her arms out with all her might. She smiled brightly, her lips twitching. She was very desperate.

Wasn’t she the ideal representation of the negative impacts of money?