[The Libra Saint and the others aren’t picking up my call. Please! Without you, my holy ground will…]

Lee Gun replied with a single sentence. “You should jump in the ocean and just die.”

[…!]

The reply shocked the person on the other side of the phone. He was so taken aback that he was unable to speak. However, the surprise lasted a moment. It seemed the meaning behind his words hadn’t broken through. The other person changed his approach.

[A hundred million civilians are currently within my holy ground. They’ll all die without you…]

“That’s none of my business. You guys can become fish food for all I care.”

Lee Gun’s opponent seemed to be at a loss for words. He didn’t speak. He had never seen Lee Gun display this attitude before.

If one asked whether Lee Gun was an easy pushover, the answer was: he wasn’t. However, Lee Gun unexpectedly didn’t like civilians getting hurt. He wouldn’t even wait for the Zodiac Saints; he killed the enemies as soon as possible. 

Lee Gun didn’t even use to care about his body taking damage. It was secondary to him saving the hostages. 

Therefore, the Pisces Saint had assumed Lee Gun had a personality that couldn’t pass by when people were in danger. 

It seemed Lee Gun read his thoughts. He said with a laugh, “At the time, I hated to see you guys treat human lives as business. That was why I did that.”

[…!]

“You should protect your holy ground. Why are you asking someone else to do it? I didn’t think you were like that, but you’re totally a bully.”

[That’s not it—]

“You called me out of nowhere, and you want me to save your family first? What’s up with that?”

This made the other person flinch. A groveling tone appeared in his voice.

[Gun, I’m really sorry! I was desperate, so I didn’t realize I—]

A menacing look appeared in Lee Gun’s eyes. “Gun? Fuck off! How dare you use my name like that? Are you my friend?”

It seemed Lee Gun’s cold voice surprised the other person. Now that he thought about it, Lee Gun hated when other people referred to him as Gun.

This meant he didn’t want the Pisces Saint to pretend they were close. It was also why the Pisces Saint prostrated himself in front of Lee Gun.

[Lee Gun… No, Lee Gun-nim. I’m sorry for contacting you like this! I should have visited you beforehand.]

Lee Gun laughed in contempt. He had no plans of dragging this call out for long. “What will you give me in return?”

[I’ll give you everything you want. Just say it…]

“I want your life.”

The sound of the phone falling could be heard. 

Lee Gun didn’t care as his eyes flashed. “I’ve always been curious about it. I wonder if I can use a Zodiac Saint as an ingredient for a weapon.”

[?!]

“Your request has been received.”

[W-Wait a moment—]

Click!

Lee Gun mercilessly ended the call. He had said he would grind up a Zodiac Saint to create a weapon. 

When the brutal call ended, the one to speak up in the frozen room was Hugo. “I’m not going to use that weapon.”

“I won’t give it to you in the first place.”

“…!”

At the same time, Hugo asked Lee Gun while entering his son’s new room, “What’s going on? Wasn’t that the voice of the Pisces Saint?”

The Pisces Saint was a magician Saint second only to the Gemini Saint. The Gemini Saint was like a magician that dealt with magical engineering. She gave off the feeling of an academic. The Pisces was like a druid. He gave off a feeling of nature.

That was why it was called the natural sciences and liberal arts of the magic community.

Since these two magician Saints possessed opposite dispositions, the two of them didn't get along at all. The Gemini Saint represented the Two-faces. At a basic level, she wanted to control the elements. She had a propensity for destruction. 

On the other hand, the Pisces Saint was like a fish that couldn’t live without water. He wanted harmony. Seeing them close to each other would be the unusual thing.

Moreover, the Pisces Saint suffered from laziness, and he was a hikikomori. He never appeared in front of the masses. In fact, he had gone off the grid in the past five years. That was why the member of the Ten Stars under him was having all sorts of trouble.

“Why would he call you directly? It makes no sense!”

“It seems he’s that desperate.”

Of course, it was out of the ordinary. The Pisces Saint was famous as the Shape-Shifting Saint. He was also famous for his Taming skills and powerful seals. His powerful taming magic and transformation magic meant he could temporarily turn the monsters into allies.

That was why he was a Saint who rarely took damage. A mere monster invasion shouldn’t have made him call Lee Gun so desperately.

In the end, it didn’t matter.

“It’s fine. I’ll take his head and acquire his holy ground.”

Hugo clicked his tongue. “Are you sure it’ll be fine? The Taurus Saint’s territory is next to it. You don’t get along with him.”

Lee Gun smirked as if Hugo were talking nonsense. “It doesn’t matter at all.”

“What? What do you mean?”

Instead of answering, Lee Gun used his skill.

[You are using the Missionary skill.]

[You can choose 2 options.]

[<<Missionary(Regular)> or <Missionary(Special)>]

[You have chosen Missionary(Regular)!]

Accompanying the voice, a green light erupted in the room.

At the same time, a scream rang out. It came from the kitchen of this new holy ground.

[Chun Jiwoo has become a disciple of the Serpent Bearer.]

[Chun Jiwoo: A+]

[Your EXP has increased as much as Chun Jiwoo’s worth.]

Hearing the scream, Hugo ran outside in surprise.

The light had spread through the new home of the Serpent Bearer. It spread through Lee Gun’s private palace.

From the kitchen past the space used for conferences, Chun Jiwoo has come out of the hospital to take a brief peek at Lee Gun’s forge. She was there, emanating light.

The Archer disciples were surprised by the sight. This lasted for a moment, then a strong burst of light exploded forth.

[You have completed the baptism.]

[She has received her baptized name.]

[Chun Jiwoo has gained the Serpent Bearer’s skill and personal skills.]

Realizing this was an awakening, Hugo got angry.

“Hey! This is all so sudden!”

Lee Gun just laughed.

[Your level has increased.]

[Lv. 13]

[You have acquired 3 points.]

Killing monsters was great, but his EXP rose the most when he brought in a disciple.

‘It varies depending on the disciple, but at the higher end, it can rise to 70%.’

When he brought in the Secretary, it hadn’t been through normal missionary work, so his EXP hadn’t risen. However, Chun Sungjae and Chun Jiwoo were A rank, and Lee Gun’s EXP had increased so much.

If he accepted an S-rank as a disciple, it might be possible for him to receive 100% of the EXP.

‘As my level rises, the number of points I receive is gradually rising. I need them to increase my skills.’

Moreover, after he had gone through the trial considered to be his first awakening, his EXP was rising slower.

Raising his level as it got higher would be tougher. This was to be expected.

At that moment.

[The <Rental skill> system has been released.]

[From now on, the Serpent Bearer’s power can be rented to authorized people for a certain price.]

[You can ask for various things. The payment can be items, skill points, Divine status, food, EXP, etc.]

At the same time, something fell in front of Lee Gun, a traditional Korean overcoat.

[Skill Rental Status: 0]

Lee Gun looked amused as he laughed. He took out his inventory book. When he opened the middle page, a present appeared in front of him.

Lee Gun gave it to Chun Jiwoo. “This is a present for you since you’ve become my disciple.”

Chun Jiwoo didn’t know what to do with herself. “My god! It isn’t just anyone. I received a present from Lee Gun-nim!”

Hugo pouted as he looked at his wife. His reaction lasted just a moment. When he saw the present, his eyes turned round.

“Fountain pen?”

Since she was a Secretary, Lee Gun was giving her a holy item that could be used as a weapon too. 

Lee Gun laughed. “From now on, you can use it to write inside the Sagittarius’s bible.”

“Oh my! Are you sure I can do that?”

Lee Gun nodded.

A temple’s disciples held various roles like missionary work, fighting, support, education, and cleaning. The Secretary was one of the disciples who had the <Buff> attribute.

“We have to slowly grow him now.”

Chun Jiwoo was moved by his words. She said Lee Gun-nim possessed a large heart. 

On the other hand, Hugo reacted in anger. “I bet you’re inwardly laughing at me. You are saying I’m in last place, so I need a buff to keep up with you! Right?!”

Lee Gun ignored Hugo as if to say that was a given. “Please use this to grow Taeksoo’s bible. You can write about things that never happened. For example, you can say all the members of the Sagittarius’s temple submitted to the Serpent Bearer.”

“Hey!!!!!”

Hearing those words, the other Secretary mockingly laughed. “If she uses her ability like that, her body won’t last. Secretaries receive internal injuries if they write too big of a lie.”

Lee Gun smirked when he heard the risk that came with a Secretary's abilities. Of course, he had already expected it after seeing the status of the Secretary’s body.

[You have activated Gaze of a God(D)]

[At D rank, you can see the damage information of your opponent.]

He could see basic information at the F rank. The E rank allowed him to see information regarding faith. As for the D rank, it allowed him to see damage to a living being or tools.

The condition of the Secretary’s body was worse than he had expected. It surely had to do with the risk, but Lee Gun didn’t care about the risk.

After the Secretary became the disciple of the Serpent Bearer, his body was quickly regenerating. 

Therefore, Lee Gun meaningfully laughed as he looked at the fountain pen he had given to Chun Jiwoo. “You should use only that fountain pen. Any internal and external damage will be passed onto this guy.”

“?!!”

When he was put on the spot, the Secretary’s expression was a sight to behold. “What… What kind of fountain pen is it?”

“I expressly put your data into it. You should thank me.”

“Data? What data?!”

“You should tank the damage for Miss Jiwoo. This is the price for trying to kidnap her.”

Taken aback, the Secretary glanced at Lee Gun. “Hey! I’m your disciple too!!”

His gaze asked how Lee Gun could treat his disciple so harshly.

Lee Gun smirked as if he didn’t find a problem with it. “All disciples of the Serpent Bearer will regenerate no matter how much they get hurt.”

That bastard!

* * *

At that moment in the main palace of the Leo temple, Stevens couldn’t believe his ears. “What did you just say?”

He even dropped the pen in his hands. His gaze was planted on Chun Yooha, who stood in front of him. “What did you just say right now?”

Chun Yooha replied to the flustered Stevens, “My contract has come to an end. I’m going to leave the temple.”

“What? Leave?”

“Yes. Leave!”

Stevens massaged his forehead as he groaned. Yes, Chun Yooha had come here to say that she was leaving the Leo temple. This gave Stevens a headache.

‘I wondered why she completed all the missions that were on the backlog.’

A core fighter of the Leo temple was saying she wanted to leave. His reaction was understandable. Chun Yooha was one of the Ten Stars, and her contribution to the temple was invaluable.

‘The temple will immediately falter.’

Stevens had no words to say as Chun Yooha flashed the contract. He indeed had no way of stopping her from leaving. 

At that moment…

“You want to leave the Leo temple?”

“!”

The one mockingly laughing at her was none other than Oliver. Oliver was the SS-rank of the Leo temple, whom the Leo had skipped when choosing the member of the Ten Stars. He had lost the spot to Chun Yooha.

Oliver had been entering Stevens’s room when he had heard Chun Yooha. He looked at her in a spiteful manner. “What? Do you plan on going to Lee Gun’s temple after leaving the Leo temple?”

“!”

This time, Chun Yooha’s eyes turned round. 

The words surprised Stevens too. “Lee Gun?”

Oliver didn’t care about their reaction as he laughed. “If you want to leave, leave. The Leo temple doesn't need a girl.”

Stevens glared at Oliver. “Hey!”

“I don’t know how great of a Zodiac Saint Lee Gun is, but his temple has no members. Even if he is the thirteenth Zodiac Saint, he’s a shabby Zodiac Saint that the Leo temple would never call for aid—”

Suddenly…

Koo-goo-goohng!

The main palace’s floor cracked, and the ceiling collapsed.

“Ahhk!”

It was an incredible earthquake. Despite the Leo Saint’s presence, the main palace was shaking this much. It made no sense. 

However, when the Leo disciples looked outside, the sight shocked them.

“Monsters…!”

It wasn’t just one or two monsters; it was an army. Several hundred high-rank monsters were entering the Leo Saint’s holy ground.

At the same time, the light in Stevens’s eyes changed. ‘That damned woman.’

He was sure of it. This was an invasion. It had been predicted that an invasion by the unknown civilization would happen in the near future.

As Stevens wondered why they were invading right now, he received a report.

[Saint-nim! This is bad! The Leo’s barrier is gone!]

Stevens’s face twitched when he heard the voice coming from a frame on the wall.

‘That crazy bitch.’ He was sure this was the machination of the Libra Saint. However, it didn’t matter.

Stevens surged to his feet.

Kwahng!

A golden light pierced through the ceiling. “Those guys are nothing—”

Stevens finally landed on the roof. However, at that moment, his face hardened when he saw the monsters surging toward him.

“…!”

The reason was a familiar face amongst the monsters.

[Go-ohhhhhhh!]

Stevens froze when he heard the roar. The Leo disciples, who were looking at the same place, became agitated as well.

“No… No way!”

Standing there was the nightmare from twenty years ago, the Red Eye.