Chapter 312: A Peculiar Power (7)

The teddy bear opened its eyes, terrified.

Despite being tied up from head to toe, it was trembling, avoiding looking at Cale.

“Human! We look like evil villains!”

Yes, this feels pretty uncomfortable.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Cale gave it a gentle pat.

“Ah!”

With a high-pitched sound, the teddy bear, or rather, the fierce Dark Bear, started crying.

“Nyaa!”

Hong was shocked.

“Teddy bear! It’s okay! Don’t cry!”

Raon was confused.

“Calm down, take a deep breath and slowly exhale to calm yourself.”

On patted the teddy bear.

“Huff, huff.”

The bear tried to calm itself by breathing deeply and exhaling, but it seemed to have difficulty doing so.

“Are you scared of demons?”

At the moment Cale asked the question.

“Huff, huff!”

The bear started hyperventilating again. Just hearing the word "demon" made the bear pale.

“Hey, hey.”

Cale thought this might end badly.

“It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.”

“Sniff, sniff.”

The teddy bear was clearly distressed.

“I, I’m...”

The bear stammered while looking at Cale.

“I’m just a useless teddy bear! There’s no point in killing me! Please, spare me! I’m the lowest rank here! Less than a mere enemy!”

“Aren’t you the boss?”

“No, that’s just a ceremonial title. Since I work close to the Lord, they gave me the title, but I’m insignificant, just a servant, sniff, sniff.”

“Hey, hey.”

Cale reached out toward the teddy bear.

“Ah!”

But he stopped when he saw the bear flinch. Instead, On continued to comfort it.

“Don’t cry, calm down. Speak slowly and calmly.”

The bear looked at On, who was gently stroking its soft leg with her paw.

“Teddy bear, eat this!”

“It’s delicious! Made by the best royal pastry chef!”

Raon and Hong offered some cookies to the bear, who accepted them with teary eyes.

“Sniff...”

And then,

“Whoo...”

It took a deep breath and exhaled to calm down. Finally, it began to speak.

“The truth is...”

The teddy bear started telling its story. And by the end of its tale,

“So...”

Cale, sitting in a chair shaped like cotton candy, looked at the teddy bear.

“You’re a boss, but in reality, you just do minor tasks, right?”

“...Yes.”

The Eight Evils.

The game Raising My Precious Absolute God is set in New World. Here, the Eight Evils aren’t just dungeons but specific fields, each with its own theme. The number in front of "Evil" only indicates the order of creation, not their power.

“The third evil, Dark Hell, has a hundred-floor tower and a volcanic zone.”

“The seventh evil is a collection of grim fairy tales, correct?”

“Yes, yes...”

“So, the field is huge, and you need messengers. That’s you?”

“Yes, yes...”

“But since you can move freely through the Lord’s castle, they gave you the title of boss instead of just being a simple monster, right?”

“Yes, yes.”

The teddy bear nodded vigorously.

“The Lord chose me and appointed me as boss!”

“Why did Neo choose you?”

The teddy bear, now more relaxed, responded.

“He calls me a mutant.”

“Mutant?”

“Yes, I don’t fully understand, but he said I’m a special monster, one of the few who can speak well. Perfect for being a messenger!”

A mutant monster.

Cale had an idea of what that meant.

“Like Count Lupe?”

“Ah!”

The teddy bear started trembling again.

“What’s wrong?”

“The dark ghost...!”

Oh, right. Count Lupe had the nickname Dark/Demon Ghost.

“Are you afraid of demons?”

“Yes, yes.”

The teddy bear nodded vigorously.

“Dark Hell is known as the most cruel place among the Eight Evils, full of death. I’ve never been there, but it’s the scariest...”

The teddy bear stopped when it remembered that Cale was the hidden boss of the third evil.

“No, no, I didn’t mean to insult the third evil. It’s the best among the Eight Evils!”

“Yes, I am the best evil.”

Cale nodded calmly while Choi Han and the others looked at him strangely. Hong shook his head.

The teddy bear seemed to have changed its perception.

“So, Cale Henituse, you’re the real boss of the third evil, with the dark ghost as your subordinate?”

The bear was no longer stuttering.

“What’s wrong with him?”

Cale wondered but nodded.

“Yes, that’s true.”

“Impressive!”

The bear, with sparkling eyes, began speaking enthusiastically.

“The third evil, which seems weak at the start of the tutorial but is actually the most ruthless, ruled by the most hidden boss, observing everything from the shadows! No one in New World, not even the other bosses of the Eight Evils, knows your true identity!”

The teddy bear was on the verge of tears.

“You’re the worst of the evils! I wish I could rip out my eyes for not recognizing you!”

‘What’s wrong with this crazy bear?’

“Human, Clopeh is better. At least he speaks coherently.”

Ignoring Raon’s comment, Cale spoke indifferently to the teddy bear.

“Anyway, I’m a half-demon, not a true demon. Don’t worry.”

“Hmm.”

But the bear had a strange expression.

“Aren’t you a half-demon with cursed blood?”

“That’s right.”

Now Cale knew his description thanks to Choi Han. The bear, Dark Bear, observed Cale and then spoke.

“For demons, cursed blood is the blood of an opposing entity.”

‘Opposing?’

This sounded complicated.

“For us, cursed blood comes from the heavens or the Realm of Gods. It’s the blood of an enemy for monsters or demons.”

The bear looked at Cale as if he knew all this.

“It could also be the blood of a noble entity, containing a fatal curse for demons...”

The bear finished silently. There was a moment of silence. Cale looked around. Choi Han and the others were staring at him curiously.

‘I didn’t do anything this time.’

The One System had recorded this without his intervention.

“I’ll think about this later.”

He needed to understand the title of “half-demon with cursed blood.”

“Ahem, ahem.”

The bear, still with a hoarse voice, continued.

“What scared me was how you can have that blood without showing signs of pain, acting like a normal human.”

The bear’s eyes sparkled as if they were about to shed stars.

‘This is uncomfortable.’

‘It’s overwhelming.’

While Cale thought this, the teddy bear kept talking.

“The most dangerous knife is the one you don’t see. The knife behind my back.”

Its tone was solemn.

“I feel that Cale Henituse could be the most feared knife by both demons and users. How could I not be scared?”

Although its voice trembled slightly at the end, the teddy bear seemed more determined than before. It was now convinced that Cale wouldn’t kill it.

“I suppose you want the information I have.”

The bear sighed with a bitter laugh.

“Now I understand why you came directly here. Why I could meet the boss of the third evil before the other bosses in this Hell of Time.”

It shook its head in admiration of its own intelligence, even though it was still tied up from head to toe.

“Cale Henituse.”

The teddy bear looked at Cale with a resolute expression.

“Knowing all the fields of the seventh evil through me, the fierce Dark Bear...”

It spoke with determination.

“You plan to conquer the seventh evil, don’t you?”

Huh?

Cale thought.

‘What’s wrong with this bear?’

But Dark Bear wasn’t done.

“Just like you did in the third evil, you plan to manipulate from the shadows while placing a boss as a front, don’t you?”

It shook its head.

“Ha!”

The teddy bear let out a choked laugh.

“With the third evil not being enough, now you aim for the seventh evil, which will have the largest field once it’s updated. I can’t help but admire your ambitions; Dark Bear is deeply impressed.”

‘What’s wrong with this bear?’

But.

‘I like it.’

Cale signaled to Choi Han. Smartly, Choi Han untied the ropes binding the bear.

“I knew it.”

Dark Bear spoke seriously.

“My assumptions were correct.”

“Yes. Dark Bear.”

Cale decided to call it by its name.

“Your mind is truly sharp.”

With his praise, Dark Bear’s lips curved into a smile.

“But there’s something you don’t know.”

“!”

The bear showed an expression of disbelief as Cale approached and placed a hand on its shoulder.

“Why do you think I didn’t kill you?”

Even though he had hit his head several times.

“Just because you know all the fields of the seventh evil? Because you know all of Neo’s commands? Just for that?”

Cale let out a laugh. Dark Bear couldn’t help but shiver at that laugh.

Then it realized.

‘Ah, this pressure...’

Yes. That pressure enveloping it. An aura that only someone who dominates everything could emit!

Dark Bear finally realized that the pressure it felt wasn’t an illusion. Cale was truly the hidden boss of the third evil.

“Then why are you letting me live?”

Dark Bear felt its heart pounding as it asked the question, and the worst of the evils responded.

“What did I tell you before? You’re fierce but smart...”

Dark Bear recalled.

‘Fierce but smart...’

Both the teddy bear and Cale spoke in unison.

“You’re the great Dark Bear.”

“The great Dark Bear.”

Cale continued.

“Yes. You’re the great Dark Bear. You’re not just a mutant. The Dark Ghost, Lupe. He’s like you.”

Ah.

Dark Bear let out a sigh.

“Judging by your appearance, the other bosses have probably looked down on you, calling you just a messenger. Isn’t that, right?”

At Cale’s words, Dark Bear’s eyes filled with tears.

“Yes, that’s right!”

“Yes. They don’t understand your value.”

Cale pointed to himself.

“But I do.”

He whispered to the teddy bear.

“That’s why I want you, Dark Bear, just like I wanted the Dark Ghost Lupe.”

“Ah, ah...”

Although it was no longer tied up, the Dark Bear collapsed, its legs giving out. It fell to its knees and looked up.

The worst of the evils looked down at it.

‘Ah, ah...’

It felt like only it and the worst of the evils existed in the world. All the scorn and marginalization it had suffered while doing minor tasks and wandering through the vast world of fairy tales now seemed to make sense.

“Sniff, sniff...”

“It’s okay.”

Ah, the worst of the evils was gently consoling it.

“Dark Bear. Join me.”

“...Cale Henituse...”

“I know your loyalty to Neo. But even though he appointed you as boss, he made you feel like the lowest rank, less than a simple monster.”

Cale extended his hand to the teddy bear.

“Come to me.”

And said firmly.

“I can be the true master who understands your value. I’ll give you a position worthy of your abilities.”

Ah...

Dark Bear let out a sigh. With great effort, it stood up.

Then the worst of the evils spoke.

“The seventh evil. I’ll give it to you, the great Dark Bear, fierce but smart.”

Cale squeezed the teddy bear’s fluffy paw with his hand and smiled warmly.

The teddy bear’s cheeks blushed.

- Choi Han, isn’t this a scam?

Cale and Dark Bear were in their own world, not caring about Choi Han or the others.

Cale spoke seriously to the teddy bear.

“Take me to the reference point. You know why I need to go there, right?”

“Yes, master.”

Dark Bear now called Cale master.

“That damned Neo said it!”

Somehow, Neo, the former master, had become “that damned Neo.”

“That place is the reference point connecting Aipotu and New World!”

What?

Cale stopped.

“There’s also a detonation device that can destroy eighty percent of Aipotu.”

What?

Cale’s eyes widened. He only wanted to destroy the reference point and cause confusion to gain an advantage.

But Dark Bear’s information far exceeded his expectations.

“Yes, quickly follow me! The reference point has already started activating!”

What?

It’s already started activating?

So, is eighty percent of Aipotu about to be destroyed?

“Choi Han.”

Cale pointed at the slowly moving teddy bear.

“Yes.”

Choi Han picked it up and slung it over his shoulder.

Dark Bear, startled, heard Cale say.

“Great Dark Bear, only you have the answer!”

“Ah...”

“Take me to the reference point!”

“Yes, yes!”

With a solemn tone, Dark Bear pointed in a direction.

“Over there, in Neo’s house!”

The fierce Dark Bear and Cale’s group moved quickly. They passed through a cotton-candy-like passage and reached the end of the path. There was a wide field made of decorative paper, and in the center of the field stood Neo’s house.

“It’s here!”

In front of the house that looked like it was made of candy, Cale spoke.

“There’s a guardian at the door.”

Dark Bear responded.

“It’s a corrupted ex-hero!”

A knight with a weary face drew his sword from its sheath.

“Enemy?”

The knight had shackles on his feet.

[Corrupted Ex-Hero Gisk]

Cale read the name that appeared above the knight and spoke.

“Ex-hero?”

I need to find a hero.

But before he could say anything, the corrupted hero Gisk attacked.

Sring.

He unsheathed his sword.

Clang.

And the one who blocked his attack was neither a hero nor anything of the sort.

Just...

“Choi Han.”

A simple name with no title or nickname, just Choi Han.

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Rai_Mayank]