Chapter 42: Scammer (3)

The Demon Brain, Wi Seolak, had overcome countless crises throughout his life.

Among them, the greatest was the oppression of the powerful.

Wi Seolak, who possessed an extraordinary mind, was a threat to those of high rank.

That a mere commoner like Wi Seolak was far more outstanding than the sons of proud families?

That was something they could never tolerate.

That is why, whenever they had the chance, they would take away his ladder.

However, Wi Seolak rose through sheer malice and determination.

He did not need any ladder.

At that level, they should have already acknowledged him, but unfortunately Wi Seolak had no luck with people.

Therefore, all he received was terrifying oppression.

In that process, he accumulated poison within himself.

With that poison, he entered the demonic sect, and using his exceptional intelligence, rose to the position of Demon Brain.

“What is this? Do you also use the gallery?”

“That is…”

And today, Wi Seolak once again faced the greatest crisis of his life.

It was an order from the supreme being among all, the one who stands in the sky, the Heavenly Demon.

After hearing Heavenly Demon’s order, Wi Seolak pushed his mind to its limits.

And the conclusion he reached after squeezing his brain was only one.

‘I’m screwed.’

I’m truly completely screwed.

For an absurd reason, he found himself face to face with the greatest crisis of his life.

As a user who also enjoyed the gallery, Wi Seolak could understand the current situation.

The news that the internal core put up for auction was fake.

An incident related to Grills, who had recently caused a stir.

‘WildGrills. Surely she called me to help him.’

Yoo Sowol, without a doubt, called him to help that person.

Up to that point, he could foresee it.

But that she ordered him to connect to the gallery was completely outside his expectations.

Here, Wi Seolak quickly turned his mind and opened his mouth.

If even a second of silence occurred, Yoo Sowol would become suspicious.

“Heaven. When you say gallery, do you refer to the Continental Unification Gallery?”

“That is correct.”

“It is an order from heaven, I will obey it. However, with my clumsy mind, it is difficult for me to understand the situation. I beg you to explain the reason.”

While buying time, Wi Seolak’s mind kept spinning.

Follow the order, enter the gallery, and post a verification post.

If he did that, all the posts where he normally insulted Yoo Sowol would be exposed.

On top of that, he did not use a semi-anonymous account, but a fixed account, which made him feel even more in danger.

‘I created a fixed account out of necessity and it ends like this…’

The reason why Wi Seolak used a fixed account?

For trading and the auction house.

The location of the demonic sect is in a rather remote area.

Therefore, supply is crucial.

In the past, it was practically abandoned, and many went hungry.

Now, thanks to Wi Seolak reorganizing it and Yoo Sowol stepping into the martial world, the situation had improved greatly.

‘I must resolve this without being discovered.’

At that time he did it out of necessity, so he didn’t give it importance.

But who would have imagined that Yoo Sowol would directly tell him “reveal your nickname”?

It was Wi Seolak’s mistake not to foresee that her way of thinking was so different from others.

‘Will heaven respect privacy?’

The “Heavenly Demon,” Yoo Sowol, has a dominant and authoritarian personality.

She does not care what others think and does whatever she wants.

Moreover, she possesses the strength that supports that personality, so she is feared and revered by the demons.

‘She has to. If not, I will die.’

On the other hand, the Heavenly Demon of the gallery is slightly different.

Her dominant and egocentric attitude is still the same, but she has humanity.

This can be deduced from how she provides endless conveniences to Grills.

He desperately wished that same consideration would also extend to him.

Otherwise, he would die both socially and physically.

“The reason…? Must I explain it to that extent?”

“……”

“Or is it that, if you must not be discovered in the gallery, is there some truth you are hiding?”

“I do not use the gallery, Heaven.”

“You speak lies without even moistening your lips.”

“……”

Damn it. Wi Seolak cursed inwardly.

He tried to speak without his voice trembling, but he was discovered.

Even so, he had no choice but to lie.

Only that way could he hope for Yoo Sowol’s “understanding.”

If Yoo Sowol were an uncontrollable tyrant, his head would have already flown off long ago.

Fortunately, she is not a tyrant.

At least, she is someone who knows how to respect her subordinates.

If that were not the case, she would have already ordered to cross the Forest of Four Seasons by force.

From the moment he lied, expecting understanding was difficult, but to pass through that minimal probability, he had no other choice.

The moment he entered the gallery, his physical death would be certain.

It was a gamble with his life at stake.

“I will trust your lie. But next time you had better tell the truth.”

“I will keep it in mind.”

“Good. Did you ask before for the reason? I will tell you everything.”

What a relief. Truly, what a relief.

Wi Seolak sighed internally.

The gamble in which he had put his life as the prize had ended successfully.

But that did not mean the crisis had ended.

“My benefactor is being unjustly accused. Lend me your wisdom to resolve this situation.”

“The wisdom of this humble one belongs entirely to heaven. Just give the order.”

“The situation is as follows…”

Yoo Sowol’s explanation was simple but condensed.

Of course, Wi Seolak had already understood the whole situation, so more than listening, he only pretended to do so.

In his mind, he had already formulated countless hypotheses.

And it was not difficult to confirm them one by one.

“Have you understood?”

“I have understood. That there is someone who not only doubts the judgment of heaven, but even lies, deserves divine punishment.”

“……”

Yoo Sowol narrowed her eyes and looked at Wi Seolak.

It was a gaze that seemed to say, “you, who just lied, do you have the right to say that?”.

Wi Seolak could not see her expression because he was bowed, but he could feel it from the atmosphere.

It was not just a prick in his conscience, it was as if he were being stabbed again and again.

Even so, he decided to ignore it.

If a lie could save his life, it was a cheap price.

“May I give my opinion?”

“Speak.”

“First, the possibility cannot be ruled out that the internal core auctioned is truly an object without any effect, a simple ordinary sphere. Even if the one you gave me is authentic, there is no guarantee that the other one is as well.”

“Hmm.”

Yoo Sowol nodded.

In fact, that point also worried her.

The reason she overlooked Wi Seolak’s lie was precisely because it was not something that could be resolved simply.

She planned to first check whether he knew the gallery or not, and then ask for his wisdom.

Due to her authoritarian way of speaking, she ended up ordering him to reveal his nickname directly, but Yoo Sowol did not realize it.

‘It seems he has something to hide.’

Even so, Yoo Sowol understood.

The gallery is an ideal place to release desires and stress.

Surely he had done things he would be ashamed of if others saw them.

After all, all gallery users were like that.

It was something completely understandable.

“Then, is there no method?”

“Since they have questioned the uncertainty, we must also use that cleverly. It is a matter of credibility.”

“If it is credibility, I think my benefactor has a higher one.”

“It is not a matter to be taken lightly. Those who use the gallery are like hyenas. When they find prey, they tear it apart without caring about anything.”

“Hyenas…”

Yoo Sowol nodded at the comparison of gallery users to hyenas.

Users who pounce like mad when something interesting happens.

Truth does not matter at all.

Simply because it is fun, they bite and tear apart.

On the contrary, if credibility is secured, that pack of hyenas can be turned into allies.

“The objective of the one who defamed will be one. To reach an amicable agreement with the benefactor of heaven.”

“An amicable agreement?”

“If he ends up being suspended, his life could be in danger. He is aiming for that.”

“He is playing with a person’s life.”

Yoo Sowol deliberately showed an expression of displeasure.

If it were up to her, she would like to track his location and destroy him.

But location tracking is a privilege that only the administrator can use.

She did not believe the administrator would give her that permission.

Even less in a situation like this.

“Is there a way to resolve it?”

“There is a simple and easy method.”

“What is it?”

“That heaven manifests itself in the gallery.”

Although saying that she should manifest in the gallery sounds strange, the point is this.

That she should do an identity verification in the gallery, that is, prove that she is the real “Heavenly Demon.”

That the fixed account that always posted nonsense, and that is now a moderator, Yoo Sowol, proves that she is truly the Heavenly Demon.

“You rejected my order and still dare to suggest something. There is no greater contradiction than this.”

“I’m sorry, Heaven.”

“Without a single lie, speak sincerely. Do you not intend to verify yourself?”

“I would rather hang myself and die.”

“Hmm.”

Does he hate verifying himself that much?

Yoo Sowol nodded.

She did not want to lose a talent as outstanding as Wi Seolak for an absurd reason.

“Even if I verified myself, it would not have much meaning. They could say that we made an agreement.”

“I see.”

“Then, Heaven, what…”

“I will not allow it.”

A firm response came from Yoo Sowol’s mouth.

A clear refusal.

At that, Wi Seolak felt doubt, but did not dare to ask.

‘Could it be that she is embarrassed?’

It is not a small possibility.

Moreover, he knows Yoo Sowol’s activity in the gallery.

That is also why he overlooked her lie with indulgence.

Empathy is the beginning of understanding.

‘If she reveals her identity, it would no longer make sense to use the gallery.’

But Wi Seolak’s thinking was completely wrong.

That Yoo Sowol does not reveal her identity in the gallery out of embarrassment?

Not at all.

‘Acting without any formality or dignity, letting oneself be carried by instincts. How could I give that up?’

On the contrary, Yoo Sowol was open and confident.

Whether in reality or in the gallery, her way of acting did not change at all.

The enjoyment of living as a “human” outside the mold of the “Heavenly Demon.”

Yoo Sowol liked that life very much.

That is why she avoided revealing her identity.

If even in the gallery she lived as the “Heavenly Demon,” it would become monotonous and boring.

‘There would also be those who approach only because of my authority.’

It would not be goodwill toward the “human,” but toward the “Heavenly Demon.”

It would not be different from reality.

If that happened, she would leave the gallery immediately.

That is why Yoo Sowol could not give up her anonymity under any circumstances.

Normally, anonymity is used as a shield,

but for her it was a means to show herself as she is.

‘Although it seems that my benefactor does not care who I am.’

That is also the reason why she likes Grills.

The consideration full of pure goodwill, the respect, and the manners.

For Yoo Sowol, it was a warmth she had never felt in her life, and that is why she wanted to help him.

“If there is no other option, I can use my name. But I wonder if it is worth it.”

“It is a completely valid argument.”

In the end, even the Heavenly Demon is a person.

She can feel embarrassment.

While that misunderstanding of Wi Seolak continued, Yoo Sowol opened her thin lips.

“Is there no other method?”

“There is. We only need to divert the attention of the pack of hyenas toward the one who lied. Moreover, that person has already accumulated credibility, so it will be easy.”

“Say it at once wait a moment.”

Saying that, Yoo Sowol looked into the void.

Wi Seolak observed that gesture from the corner of his eye and immediately entered the gallery.

Without a doubt, something had happened in the gallery.

Otherwise, she would not have acted like that.

‘Did nothing happen?’

The gallery had not changed.

They were still posts insulting Grills.

From time to time there were some defending him, but they were few.

The level of spam was such that even the moderator had to warn.

“Demon Brain.”

“Yes, Heaven.”

“My benefactor has obtained another internal core.”

“Huh?”

Upon hearing that, Wi Seolak raised his head abruptly.

His wide eyes reflected his state.

But who is Wi Seolak?

He regained his composure and put his mind to work at full capacity.

Shortly after, he quickly reached a conclusion and spoke.

“Heaven. I have come up with a good plan.”

“Speak.”

“Is there someone in the gallery who has credibility, ability, and also does not have character issues?”

“Hmm…”

At that question, Yoo Sowol stopped tapping her cheek with her finger and frowned.

An expression of displeasure just from imagining it.

Even so, due to her appearance, even that looked beautiful.

“There is. Why do you ask?”

“Because we need that person’s help. Although I do not know if she will accept.”

“She will help. I guarantee it.”

“Understood. Then…”

Wi Seolak lowered his head even more and proposed.

“Please persuade her to hand over the internal core she found to that collaborator.”