After the meal was mostly cleaned up.
Before I opened the main quest reward, I decided to check out the box first. My heart pounded with a mix of anxiety and excitement as I inserted the key into the box.
Paaat―!!
With a huge puff of smoke, a red effect burst forth. It really felt just like opening an item box in a game.
Once the dazzling effects faded, the box lay open.
And the item that came out was, once again, a pendant.
“…It seems you have gained another summoned creature.”
Recognizing the familiar pendant right away, Eric spoke up. After all, it looked a lot like the pendant I used to summon him.
Eric’s pendant was a bit bigger and covered in more elaborate designs, while this new one was a plain, red pendant—smaller and without any markings, almost to the point of seeming bland.
(Anonymous 1): Try summoning it.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): I suspect this summoned creature will be weaker than Eric.
(Anonymous 1): Eric’s probably stronger than you.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): That’s exactly why I said so.
(Father of Crops): Unlike some people, you accept the truth quickly.
(Water Deity of Cheongha): Still, you’ve acquired a good item, descendant.
(Returnee from the Demon Realm): A pendant that lets you command a summoned creature always proves its worth.
I nodded. Just look at Eric. Having someone so powerful—on the level of a Constellation—absolutely loyal to me, is a great comfort.
Even if this new summon is weaker than Eric, whoever comes from this pendant will surely be a reliable ally.
[Unmeasurable Item, Summoning Pendant]
—Description: A pendant that can summon a summoned creature. The one summoned within the pendant is unconditionally loyal to its owner. The cooldown is 10 hours, and you can spend over 9 hours together with each summon. As your bond with the summon deepens, the summon duration increases and the cooldown decreases.
‘This is Eric’s pendant.’
Originally, the summon duration was only about three hours, but it increased as Eric and I grew closer. Since the cooldown ticks down during the summoning itself, the effective cooldown between Eric’s summons is really just about an hour.
So, what about this new pendant from the box?
[S-rank Item, Summoning Pendant]
Its grade was not “unmeasurable” but clearly S-rank.
Although even the golden camper van was S-rank, and it had effects beyond its rank—meaning this new summon could easily turn out to be stronger than expected.
—Description: A pendant that can summon a summoned creature. The one summoned within the pendant is unconditionally loyal to its owner. The cooldown is 12 hours, and you can spend over 2 hours together with each summon. As your bond with the summon deepens, the summon duration increases and the cooldown decreases.
‘So the base summon duration is two hours.’
—Special Note: Living beings from other dimensions may also be summoned as summoned creatures. In such a case, while the summoned creature is on Earth, time will not pass in its original dimension.
‘…A summoned creature from another dimension? Now I’m really intrigued.’
I opened the pendant to summon the creature.
(Anonymous 1): What kind of summoned creature will it be, I’m curious.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): My thoughts exactly.
(Water Deity of Cheongha): I hope it’s a powerful one.
(Father of Crops): I hope it likes farming.
(The Last Blacksmith): …It’s fine if it likes smithing, too. Hehe.
(Endless Waiting): Father of Crops, you’re getting on my nerves.
(Liberated Swordsman): I agree.
(Anonymous 1): So you’ve realized it too.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): Took you long enough.
(Returnee from the Demon Realm): I don’t really care what kind it is. But I hope it’s cute.
(Anonymous 1): Agreed.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): Same here.
Eric asked,
“Master, do you have a preference for the type?”
“I’d just like it to be kind.”
“All summoned creatures will be kind before you, Master. Is there anything else you wish for?”
“Hmm… I suppose it would be nice if it gets along well with Byul. Like, say, a spirit.”
“I agree, that would be preferable.”
Eric and I waited expectantly.
At last, the summoned creature appeared.
“Demon King!”
…My second summoned creature turned out to be Altun, who had become the Demon King of the Demon Realm.
Time flows very differently in the Demon Realm and Earth.
A few days in the Demon Realm amount to barely an hour on Earth.
So, during the handful of hours Jinwoo spent leaving the dungeon, having a meal with Suyeon, and opening the box, nearly a fortnight had passed in the Demon Realm.
With Altun in power, many things had changed in the Demon Realm over those two weeks. The multiple orbs and farming methods Jinwoo left behind rapidly developed the realm. Lakes appeared in countless villages, farmlands and forests emerged.
Every demon learned the farming techniques, and businesses sprang up to cook and sell those crops. All this in barely two weeks.
Altun’s position was Demon King, but his real job was now CEO of a franchise restaurant company.
Kang Minseok’s introduction of currency and an economy, forbidding pillaging.
And Jinwoo’s farming.
Having learned Jinwoo’s cooking for a week up close, Altun had the ability to combine everything the two former Demon Kings had accomplished.
He merged agriculture and economics, and founded a company. In a place called the Demon Realm, scenes unfolded that defied belief.
Their appearance was demonic, but their lives were now no different from those of people on Earth.
Altun was called “CEO” more often than Demon King, and in a short time made the Demon Realm a much more peaceful place.
The Demon Realm had become something else, and, inheriting the Demon King’s position, Altun gained great power.
Historically, every Demon King was given a title and accomplishments that strengthened them.
In particular, the strongest and most rebellious demons had all been killed by Jinwoo, so Altun’s strength also grew to match the Demon King’s status.
Dozens of times a day, he reminded himself not to be blinded by power. One day, a powerful light suddenly engulfed him.
The light allowed no time for thought—it swallowed Altun whole.
Paaat―!
He was summoned to Earth.
“Demon King! Demon King!! It’s me, Altun!!”
He’d grown much brighter in just two weeks.
(Anonymous 1): …That’s disappointing.
(Liberated Swordsman): …Agreed.
Even the usually reserved Liberated Swordsman, Evan, started speaking like Anonymous in the chat.
…This isn’t good.
(Returnee from the Demon Realm): Don’t call Altun a worthless nobody.
Returnee from the Demon Realm, Kang Minseok, stepped in to defend Altun.
I wanted to defend him too. The demons who bullied Evan and those living in Altun’s Demon Realm are very different.
(Liberated Swordsman): …It’s complicated.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): Agreed.
(Anonymous 1): Never thought it’d be Altun.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): My thoughts exactly.
(Liberated Swordsman): Not particularly glad to see him.
(Endless Waiting): Why? I’m happy to see him.
(Anonymous 1): Is it because he’s a Demon King? Evan, you hate demons, right?
(Liberated Swordsman): I do hate demons and Demon Kings. But I’ve become friends with Kang Minseok, the Returnee from the Demon Realm, and I saw everything Jinwoo did in his Demon Realm.
(Returnee from the Demon Realm): That’s right.
(Liberated Swordsman): The demons I hated all died by Kang Minseok’s or Jinwoo’s hand, so I have no grudge against Altun. In fact, I rather like him.
(Anonymous 1): You’re more open-minded than usual.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): The real kids here are you and me, Anonymous.
(Anonymous 1): Not me.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): …No point arguing.
(Returnee from the Demon Realm): Then why aren’t you glad about Altun? I’m happy about it.
I looked at Altun. He watched my expression, reading the mood.
“Altun, welcome.”
“…! Thank you, Demon King! But, how did I end up here?”
(Liberated Swordsman): For the record, Altun’s a good guy. His temperament doesn’t fit a demon at all. But he’s not all that strong, is he?
(Endless Waiting): I agree. He’s supposed to protect Jinwoo, but if he’s weaker than Jinwoo, that’s a bit off.
(Water Deity of Cheongha): Mm, I agree with that. The one protecting my descendant should be stronger than him.
(Father of Crops): Don’t know, don’t care—I like Altun! Why would you use such a precious worker in battle? Are you all crazy? He should farm with Maru! Maru’s got a partner now!
(Anonymous 1): Someone shut up the crop guy already.
(Father of Crops): Ah, whatever! The real problem is that you can’t recognize talent! Go, leave the stream, all of you!
(Liberated Swordsman): …I just realized, I dislike him even more than Altun.
(Endless Waiting): …Same here.
(The Last Blacksmith): That’s a bit much. Has he lost it?
I could understand all the Constellations’ opinions.
They’re all my viewers; I can’t just ignore what they think. Anyway, Altun can only be summoned for about two hours… It seems his role will be more about eating meals and farming together, not fighting by my side.
It’s not like we could travel around together with him in his demon form, either.
“Demon King!”
“Don’t call me Demon King. Just use something casual.”
“…Master!”
“…That overlaps with me.”
Eric, who called me Master, shot Altun a glare.
Perhaps sensing Eric’s strength, Altun glanced away and spoke.
“Hyung…?”
(Returnee from the Demon Realm): In Earth years, Altun is about twenty, so calling you Hyung makes sense.
“Haha, sure. You can call me Hyung.”
Thus, Altun and I sorted out our titles. The chat window was still filled with Constellations arguing about Altun. I had no idea why they were fighting over this. It’s not like I treat my summoned creatures as combat dolls.
Just consider it as gaining another member of the family.
First, I should calm the Constellations, then explain the situation to Altun. I started filling him in—from this dimension called Earth, to the Constellations.
He greeted Eric, Byul, the spirits, and everyone else. With his uniquely sly nature, he fit right in.
I turned on the joint broadcast to talk to the Constellations, and the moment Altun greeted them, those who’d been arguing in chat paused.
“Constellations, greetings! I’ve always respected you! To be gods who’ve transcended their limits—you’re amazing!”
As a Demon King, he seemed to understand what a Constellation was.
(Returnee from the Demon Realm): Altun, it’s been a while.
Realizing Kang Minseok’s identity, Altun immediately knelt.
“I greet the Demon King!”
He said nothing else. He didn’t ask how Kang Minseok became a Constellation or what he’d been up to. He simply offered a heartfelt thank you for transforming the Demon Realm, and left it at that.
When he heard that Anonymous was a sword-wielding Constellation, he simply said, “That’s amazing, I respect you,” and nothing more.
To Father of Crops, he offered thanks for changing the Demon Realm.
By offering each Constellation a short but genuine remark, he seemed to melt their hearts a little.
“Liberated Swordsman Constellation, I am not like ordinary demons. Please believe me!”
(Liberated Swordsman): I believe you.
Having gained their trust, Altun turned to me.
“Hyung, I’ve gained several skills since becoming Demon King.”
He sent me the list of skills.
(Anonymous 1): …He’s gotten stronger.
(Returnee from the Demon Realm): The Demon King’s throne is more powerful than you’d think—it lets you inherit the power of the previous Demon Kings.
(Anonymous 1): Passed! He’s in!
At that moment, Maru came running up to me.
—Uncle! Uncle, I see something behind you!
Just as the Constellations were praising Altun, Maru shouted with a look of urgency.