To my pleasant surprise, everyone had already gathered. The Yi siblings, Shin Sang-Ah, Yun Seora, Hyun Sangmin, Odelette Delphine, Salvatore Leorda, Tong Chai, and Hao Win were all present.
"Hello, everyone. I'm glad to see you've assembled a little early. Since that's the case, we can get started right away," I said as I quickly greeted everyone.
After exchanging pleasantries, I led them to a more upscale restaurant on the upper floors. The reason is simple; I need a private room for us to talk without interruption.
We arrived at the restaurant, and I requested a large private room since there were ten of us. Given that we are here to discuss important matters, I told them they could order drinks of their liking, and I would cover the cost. After all, I'm the one who invited them here.
As it's a luxurious restaurant, even the more affordable drinks are priced as high as the fancier ones, ranging from 10 PS to nearly 100 PS. Everyone ordered conservatively, mindful not to abuse the hospitality.
"Well, you're probably wondering why I gathered you all here, right? The reason is actually simpler than it seems; I have a proposal for you-" I began, but before I could continue, Odelette interrupted.
"Wait a moment, sir. You said you'd share your theory about what happened with the very difficult missions, but you had not mentioned any proposal," she said, clearly annoyed at not receiving what was promised.
"Well, if you want to know what happened with those missions, I'll tell you. It's not a theory; it's the truth. Those missions disappeared because they were completed, plain and simple. What I said this morning—that they were removed by the staff—was a complete lie," I explained, and everyone stared at me in disbelief. No one could fathom that anyone had completed those missions.
"No, that can't be possible. The normal difficulty alone is already incredibly tough. I can't imagine what the other difficulty levels would be like. There's no way anyone could have done them," Hao Win protested.
"Well, it's the truth, whether you believe it or not. But let's get back to the topic. Do all of you truly understand what the Neutral Zone is?" I asked, noticing only a few nods. However, the Yi siblings, Shin Sang-Ah, and Hyun Sangmin seemed uncertain, their expressions hesitant.
"Very well, not everyone seems to know, so let me explain first to ensure we're all on the same page.
The Neutral Zone serves as an intermediary point between the Tutorial and the Lost Paradise. It has two main purposes. First, it familiarizes Earthlings with the new world they are about to enter. This way, they won't experience a brutal shift from Earth to another realm with different rules, customs, and ways of life.
The second and most crucial purpose is to provide an opportunity for physical and mental training, preparing for future adversities. Understand that we are not heading to a true 'Paradise'; we're entering a war zone where being slightly stronger, faster, or more skilled can mean the difference between life and death. So, here in the Neutral Zone, it is one of the best places for anyone to train and prepare for improvement." I concluded, seeing everyone nod in understanding. Now we're all on the same page, so to speak.
"That brings me to the last part: the Neutral Zone lasts for 3 months. During this time, Earthlings must acquire a minimum of 1000 PS (Paradise Score) to pay for entry into Paradise. If they fail to achieve this, it simply indicates that they are not suitable for that place. Personally, I find these rules rather foolish, but there isn't much we can do about it," I explained. I noticed that everyone was still paying attention, although some had doubtful expressions. I gestured for them to ask questions, and Shin Sang-Ah was the first to speak up.
"Mr. Seol Jihu, yesterday Manager Cinzia said we only had 1 month to get the 1000 PS, not 3 months as you just said."
"That's a blatant lie. While it is true that as a manager, she can adjust the time frame slightly, it would not be that drastic. There are rules to follow, and shortening the time does not benefit anyone. She probably said it as a psychological strategy to motivate everyone to work harder," I replied. Seeing that this answer eased their doubts, no one else asked further questions, so I continued.
"Now, the crucial part: Earthlings remain ordinary until they awaken, and facing even normal missions seems like a significant challenge to them, and the reason is simple, it's they have not awakened yet.
Awakening is something the Seven Deities of Paradise do for Earthlings. It grants them a class, allowing them to use mana and learn mana-based skills. This changes the entire game... it's like switching from a bicycle to a motorcycle. Mana is like adding an engine to humans. A human who is without mana can't compare to one who possesses it. Do you all understand?" I checked if they were still following, but it seemed that some were confused, so I encouraged them to ask questions.
"Hyung, what are these classes, mana, and abilities? It sounds like a game," Yi Sungjin, the younger brother, asked.
"Yes, it's akin to a game in terms of class mechanics. Let's start with the Mage, the rarest and most destructive class. Mages can cause physical phenomena; creating fire, water, air, electricity, and use them for damage and devastation.
Next is the Cleric, the second rarest class. They can heal wounds with curative magic, provide support to allies by enhancing their physical abilities, or create magical barriers for defense.
Then we have the Archer, who sharpens their senses to explore terrain. Their abilities rely on agility and dexterity, allowing them to fight at long range with a bow or up close with lightweight but lethal weapons.
Lastly, the Warrior is the most common class. It has minimal mana and skill requirements. While someone can succeed as a warrior, they need to put in more effort because being a warrior is often associated with lacking mana talent," I explained the classes.
"Mana is a form of energy and is the key to everything. Someone who can use mana will surpass someone who cannot. That is why awakening and classes matter. Right now, normal missions seem difficult, but if you had mana, those missions would indeed be normal. And if you were highly skilled in mana usage with many mana-based abilities, those normal missions would become easy. The more mana you have and the more mana-based skills you master, the stronger you'll become," I elaborated on mana.
"I appreciate the detailed explanation; it clarified more than what I had been told. However, you mentioned that classes are assigned based on our mana Stats, and even if we wanted to be a mage, which seems like the best class, we can't choose. So what's the point of explaining all this?" Odelette Delphine asked.
"The point is to return to my initial offer. I will provide you with the means to improve your mana Stats, to become stronger, and to use your mana before awakening. In exchange, you will join my group and help me with my cause. Of course, this won't be for free; I will offer you benefits that will surely be better than those offered by the groups currently supporting you," I said.
"It's a generous offer, and although I'm tempted by the idea of strengthening myself and enhancing my potential, if the requirement is to leave my current group and join yours, I must decline your offer, Mr. Seol Jihu. I cannot abandon my group," Hao Win stated, and I saw Tong Chai and Salvatore Leorda reject the offer for similar reasons.
"As much as I'd like to separate from my father's company, I can't leave Unnie, so I must also decline," said Yun Seora.
"We can't be ungrateful to the person who gave us the chance to come here. As much as we owe you Oppa, and rest assured we will repay you, we also have to settle our debt with that person first, so we can't accept either," sadly expressed Yi Seol-Ah, the elder of the siblings, speaking for both.
"For my part, I would like to join, Op- Mr. Seol Jihu, but I signed a contract before coming here and don't have the freedom to decide," said a sorrowful Shin Sang-Ah, who wanted to call me Oppa and stopped herself mid-sentence as in the Tutorial.
"That's also the case for me boss. As much as I'd like to follow you, I signed a contract before coming," said Hyun Sangmin.
"Well, while I already belong to a group, I am free to come and go as I please. However, I can't blindly accept your offer at this moment, Mr. Seol Jihu. First, I need to see a sample of what you offer and ensure it's not just words. If it impresses me, rest assured that I will gladly join your ship," stated Odelette Delphine, quite curious and excited.
"In that case, regarding Hao Win, Tong Chai, and Salvatore Leorda, if you are willing in the future to provide me with help and support when needed and it doesn't conflict with your interests, I can maintain my offer.
As for Shin Sang-Ah and Hyun Sangmin, as long as you are willing to join me, don't worry about your contracts; let me handle that.
Yun Seora, you don't have to worry. My offer still stands for you, and I require nothing in return. Staying to help your Unnie is more than enough for me to provide my support; after all, your Unnie is my friend.
Yi Seol-Ah and Yi Sungjin, I understand that you are very responsible and committed young people and will not abandon the person who helped you without repaying your debt first. However, if it's alright with you, I can pay that person on your behalf, and in exchange, you join my group. With me, you will have better opportunities to grow and achieve your goals. I assure you that I will help you find the cure for your mother, and in return, give your best to help me achieve my goals as well.
And finally, Miss Odelette Delphine, that sounds good. I will show you what I offer, and you will have a few days to decide whether or not you wish to join," I said, responding and counter-offering to everyone's respective situations.
Slowly, I saw them nod in acceptance one by one, so I proceeded to explain the [normal competition] that aids in training and told them that I would provide it. Then I took them to my room, where I told them that one recovers twice as fast, and from now on, they must stay here. Since it's truly enormous, we won't have space issues, but since there's only one bathroom, they'll have to get used to returning to their own rooms to use the bathroom and avoid having to take turns for the only one here.
Then, one by one, I proceeded to unlock their mana circuits, creating the ability called [Mana Circuit Application], which I use and helped unlock for everyone in The Shadow and Eun Yuri.
But the truth is that this ability allows for crude mana use before awakening. In other words, even I, who have used it as a means to control my mana all my life, will clearly benefit greatly from the awakening by the deities.
The difference between this ability and the real thing is like the difference between having to multiply or divide using formulas on paper versus using a calculator.
While with practice, training, talent, and a lot of intelligence, these operations can be easily performed without the aid of pencil and paper, it doesn't change the fact that using a calculator is easier and won't exhaust mental energy.
But the greatest advantage is the fact that just being able to use mana opens up many possibilities, one of which is spending it to replenish it, resulting in an increase in mana capacity. To be eligible for the mage class, one needs to have at least Mana: Intermediate (Low), but since there is hardly any mana on Earth, most people have Mana: Low (Very Low) or Low (Low). There are few people who have more than that, and usually, those who do are either lucky enough to have grown up in the few environments with more mana on Earth or have some physical predisposition for mana.
But now, during this month before awakening, I will ensure that they spend and train their mana. Thirty days may seem short, but if you multiply it by 4, which is the effect of the [Normal Competition], and by 5, which is how much more mana there is here in the Neutral Zone compared to Earth, and by 2, which is the effect of the increased recovery from this room that allows for double the training by resting quickly, then you get what would be the equivalent of 1,200 days of mana training on Earth. In that time, they will surely reach at least Intermediate (Low), which is the requirement to be mages. And Odelette, who already meets this requirement, might even reach Intermediate (High) or Intermediate (Very High).
Unlocking their mana and teaching them a basic skill to consume mana didn't take much time; after all, I became an expert at doing this after having to do it often with the new recruits of The Shadow. This is the easy part; the difficult part is up to them, to train and train and train all month long.
I provide them with accommodation, food, [Normal Competition], so all they have to worry about is training.
I left them alone while they trained and left shortly before noon to have lunch with Maria, as we had agreed. I headed to the plaza on the first floor, and there she was, already waiting for me.
"So it was you after all, you damn bastard! And I trusted you, thought you were a good person, but no, you're just another damn unhappy person, because of you I had a shitty morning," she accused me, clearly annoyed and indignant. It seems the word has spread that I was the one who cleared the missions, most likely by the maid of the VIP store.
"I'm sorry, Maria, it wasn't my intention to rob you of your sleep. How about I invite you to the most expensive restaurant in this place? I'll let you choose it, you surely know which one it is, you can order whatever you want, my treat, it will be my compensation for robbing you of your sleep," I said, and I saw how her expression automatically changed from anger to pure glee.
"That's what I was saying, Oppa is not a fake who just likes to cause problems for beautiful women like me. Oppa is a true gentleman who knows how to treat ladies, say no more Oppa, I'll take you to the finest restaurant in this place and you can taste the food of the gods," she said in an instant 180-degree change of attitude, which was super fun to watch.
Then she dragged me to the same restaurant where Taciana had invited me for breakfast this morning. The employees, upon seeing me, quickly treated me in the best possible way and invited me to a private room.
Maria was delighted and began to order without restraint, I even heard her say things like "This time I will make him bleed" or "This is his compensation, he said it himself, so he better not complain," and it made me laugh. Her intentions are evil but so transparent that now I understand why she is one of the Six Crazies.
When I saw her satisfied with ordering more than she obviously could eat, a fun idea occurred to me.
"Are you sure you'll only order that, Maria? It's quite little. I thought you'd want to try all the available dishes. Let me order more variety so you can taste everything," I said, and I began to order almost everything on the menu. In this restaurant, the discount from the first place doesn't apply; only the Gold Mark discount does, so I still have to pay 70% of the prices.
Maria was a bit startled by the sudden quantity of items I ordered, but she did not object. Within minutes, several maids entered, carrying plate after plate of food.
While the maids put on a show and Maria was distracted, I took the opportunity to quickly write something in a small notebook I always carry in my pocket. It's a habit I developed as an entrepreneur, always having a notebook and pencil on hand because they're often needed.
I tore out the page and handed it to one of the maids. She discreetly took it and left.
The note contained some simple instructions.
Maria and I began to eat, and she happily sampled everything. Then another maid brought various alcoholic beverages, which made Maria even happier. From the original story, I know that Maria is one of those women who enjoy drinking regardless of the place, time, or occasion... if she can drink, she will.
And drink she did. After consuming an incredible amount of alcohol and food, she fell asleep in her seat with a blissful expression.
My plan was straightforward: take advantage of her being asleep to leave, settle the bill, and instruct the maids to make Maria believe she came alone, ordered all this, and had to pay for it. I was sure it would be a good prank for a moment, and Maria would learn a lesson. But the whole idea of playing the prank vanished when I saw her sleeping so peacefully. Truly, as long as she does not speak and remains calm, she looks as cute as an angel.
She's asleep in an uncomfortable position on the hard bench; she'll likely wake up with body aches and a stiff neck. I took off my jacket and used it as an improvised pillow, lifting her head and resting it on my legs.
Now that it ended this way, my prank idea faded, and I don't have much else to do. I rummaged through my bag and began inspecting the items I purchased from the VIP store. I tried using observation on the [Ambrosia] and the [Divine Elixirs], but as I suspected, they aren't natural elements. These are divine replicas, and observation doesn't work well on them. The [Nine Eyes] also don't function properly on anything imbued with divine energy, and I can't inspect the environment for the same reason.
Even my utility weapon is a replica; I'm sure the original is still in the room back home. Apart from the name and the word "replica" written alongside it, there's no information.
I shifted my attention to the next item: the pair of 'Sky Boots of Pneuma'. I used Observation, and it seems they aren't replicas.
[Sky Boots of Pneuma
- Crafted by the master furrier Pneuma, using the hide of the Sky Beast—the only beast in the Lost Paradise capable of flying despite having no wings.
- Type: Foot armor.
- Condition: Good.
- Ability: [Aerial Walk]—Allows imbuing them with mana to create temporary solid surfaces beneath the boots, enabling walking in the air for 30 minutes. Cool down time: 24 hours.]
Interesting, boots that practically allow one to walk in the air. They'll definitely be useful. Now, let's examine the next item.
[Iron Mark of Miyal
-An emblem from the magical academy Miyal, engraved on a special iron piece. Anyone who embeds this iron emblem into their skin will receive the effects of the magical pattern inscribed.
-Type of object: Magical graft.
-Condition: Good.
-Ability: [Magic Amplification] —The emblem is grafted onto the body and stores ambient mana. Every 48 hours, you can access the stored mana in the emblem and use it to duplicate the effect of any desired spell once.]
I see, it's a metallic piece shaped like a magical symbol. If I embed it into my skin, it will start storing mana, and once every 48 hours, I can use that mana as an amplification effect for a magical spell. While it might not make much difference if used on a small fireball, it could be incredibly helpful for an all-or-nothing final attack spell. For now, I'll keep it; it might prove useful for completing Phase 1 of my plan. Let's examine the next item.
My [Nine Eyes] don't work on this object; it's definitely imbued with divine power. However, it comes with a descriptive note.
[Sidus's Sacred Measures
-A piece of the sixth divine power belonging to Sidus, the god of stars. Although usable only once, it allows the analysis of the stars spinning in space and indicates which direction a constellation should take. However, the user won't know which path to follow or whether the timing or process is right or wrong.]
This thing is excellent, but it only works if there's a path or a way to reach what you desire, and if you understand that path. For example, if I use it right now to find out how to get to Earth, it will likely guide me along an existing route—perhaps leading me to someone who has received the 1000 PS to enter Paradise and then showing me the path connecting Paradise to Earth.
But let's say I don't have enough PS; then it will guide me to a mission to obtain them. The problem is that it acts based on the assumption that I know what I need to do and only shows the direction. If I have no idea what I need to do, it's useless. Even if it shows the direction, without knowing which path to take in that direction, I'll be lost. I don't think it will be useful for me, as it won't serve the same purpose it did for Seol Jihu in the novel.
Let's move on to the next item.
[Psychi's Tears—Divine Elixir (Original)
-Psychi, the renowned alchemist of Scheherazade, took pity on a woman whose body had been ruined by disastrous mana training when she was still a little girl. As her body continued to wither each day, Psychi relentlessly sought knowledge and investigated ways to restore the life she longed for...
-He embarked on a long journey to obtain all the ingredients for his elixir. After conquering many arduous trials and tribulations, he finally tasted the fruits of success. However, when he returned to the city of Scheherazade, the woman he had dedicated his entire life to had already passed away.
-Many influential men desired to possess the results of his incredible journey and offered honor and wealth in exchange. But Psychi simply chose to head to the sacred temple where the woman's remains rested.
-There, he shed tears of sorrow and offered the elixir as a tribute. He prayed that even though he would never see her again, she would at least receive this final gift from him.
-The god was moved by this pure love and decided to name this offering 'Psychi's Tears'. And thus, the Tears of Psychi were born, an extraordinary element that perhaps exemplified the purest essence of alchemy. An element containing all the knowledge a man acquired throughout his life, from youth to old age.
-Type of object: magical consumable.
-Effect: Repairs and reinforces magical circuits to the maximum possible extent.]
This elixir is different from the others that are replicas; my [Nine Eyes] do work on it. As much as I am tempted to consume it, I will not do so for two reasons. The first is that it would be a waste before completing phase 1 of my plan, and the second is that it is original and not a copy made by divine powers. In other words, I can use basic chemistry and with a centrifuge, separate the elements that make it up and discover what they are and what proportions to use and finally replicate it.
I never studied chemistry much, but if I take the time, I'm sure I could easily learn the appropriate procedures or find an expert in the field to help me.
It's worth doing, plus it's not like this product is indispensable to me. I have used my mana circuits to the extreme on many occasions throughout my life, and thanks to repeatedly damaging them and repairing them with [Self-Healing], I know that mine are much more resistant than anyone else's. So consuming this item may not help me in the end and be wasted, but anyway, I will leave the decision for later.
Let's look at the next item. It's another element with divine power; I can't analyze it, but it has a label.
[Divine Stigmas
-A special stigma among the many created for the human body. It contains a trace of divinity.
-You will be sent immediately to a trial location the moment you present it as an offering to any temple of the Seven Deities.
-If you can withstand the trials given by the god you serve, you will be given power on par with an Executor.
-Although it will be an extremely painful and difficult trial, the stigma created in the process will surely become the source of your new power.]
In the novel, this was delivered to the temple of the deity corresponding to your class, and if you meet the physical requirements, a special training ground will open, like the Neutral Zone. However, the difference is that the Neutral Zone is a training ground for beginners, while the one opened by the 'Divine Stigma' is the advanced training ground with highly mortal and difficult trials that are made to break physical and mental limits. They are really tough trials, but the rewards are very, very good.
Let's look at the last item. I also can't see its description; it is another object related to divine power. But it also came with a note.
[Memory of Moirai
-The reliquary that accompanied the life of the saint Moirai, the most devout of the Clerics, who prayed every morning upon waking and every night before sleeping. It is said that this reliquary is imbued with all the divine powers that Moirai accumulated in his peaceful and devout life. It can be delivered to any temple as an offering in exchange for many contribution points or used as a sacrificial offering to cast a divine spell as a Cleric.]
This object is of great importance. if I remember correctly, a very powerful Cleric of level 6 or 7 can use it to raise a complete level of their class. I will surely keep it to help Seo Yuhui advance in level, that way we will have another trump card in the war, or ultimately it will serve as a backup if I cannot meet one of my goals in phase 1 of my plan.
After reviewing all the items from the VIP store that I bought, I had nothing more to do, so I started watching María sleep. It is not the most productive activity, but it's relaxing. With nothing else to do, another lighter prank idea occurred to me, and I took out my pencil again and began to draw cat features on María's face.
I finished drawing and was satisfied with my work. I did not forget to take some photos with my phone. I know these phones disappear when the Neutral Zone ends, but before the Neutral zone Ends, I will make sure to transfer the information to one of the special phones that I gave to the Yi siblings during the Tutorial. Those phones can be transported to Earth according to the description they had in the raffle machine, so when they return to Earth, I will ask them to send me the photos.
I wasn't very aware of the passage of time, but after a while, María's eyes opened and met mine. She was clearly puzzled by the situation, but seeing where we were and that she was lying down using my coat over my legs as a pillow caused her to blush quite a bit. Seeing her blush deeply along with the feline features drawn on her face was priceless. The funniest part is that she doesn't know about the features I drew on her, and she got up in a hurry and said, "Shit, I fell asleep, I'll be late for work, damn it, see you tonight Oppa," then she ran out of the room. I thought it was funny and cute that she left with a feline face and red as a tomato. Seeing her like that made me realize that giving up the first prank and staying was a good decision.