I needed to think a little more. Why did I accept such a cruel mission anyway? 500 Mana Beasts? In the Tower, the majority of Mana Beasts are Tier 1. At my current level, I couldn't even beat one! There's no point thinking about what would have happened if I had declined it, it's already done. I've got the quest now.
Wait. It's a quest, so I could...
I opened the quest details.
[Quest Name: Mana Beast Genocide
Clear Conditions: Defeat 500 Mana Beasts and bring all the item drops back to the Owner of the Tower.
Penalty For Failure: Death
Time Limit: 2 weeks
DECLINE]
I smiled. The Owner is pretty stupid if he didn't think of this.
[You have declined quest: Mana Beast Genocide]
[You have broken a contract.]
Huh?
[The Council of Rulers will decide your punishment.]
No. No. No.
If the penalty for the quest was death, what would be the penalty for declining it?
Something worse than death?
[The Rulers Council has come to a decision.]
[Since you are precious to them, you will only be given a minor punishment.]
[You will be given a new quest.]
[Processing quest details.]
[Quest Name: Assist In Opening The Record Of God
Clear Conditions: Travel to the Heavenly Domain and help to open the Record Of God.
Penalty For Failure: Travel back to World 144 and face the consequences of your actions.
Time Limit: Unlimited
DECLINE[Not Allowed]]
As a cluster of messages came flooding in, my emotions changed from dread to delight. This wasn't even a punishment. It was a reward. Just being in the Heavenly Domain would make my levels go up by 50. I would reach level 120 with little to no effort. I would unlock Innate Attributes and Innate Skills! I could finally use my Innate Attribute which I had been longing to use for so long. I was so happy.
[The Rulers want you to bring Kim Jong-woo with you.]
Kim too? Why do they need so many people to open a diary? Dread returned to me. If it was so hard, was it really a reward?
[You and Kim Jong-woo will be teleported to the Heavenly Domain.]
[Beginning teleportation process,]
[Teleportation successful]
The scene changed. The Heavenly Domain. The floor was clouds. The air an unbearable yellow. It was beautiful. It was Heaven.
Kim was next to me.
'Kento! Where the hell are we?'
'The Heavenly Domain.'
'Oh. Will we meet Nakatami here?'
I smiled.
'Most likely.'
With everything that had happened, I had forgotten all about Nakatami.
'Why are we here?'
'To open the Record Of God.'
'Oh no,' Kim said, his eyes wide, 'If we open that...'
'What will happen?' I said, concerned.
'The Heavenly Domain's wall will break down, causing the creatures of the Hellish Realm to enter it.'