A Wimp's Strategy Guide to Conquer the Tower

Before Juhyeok and the summoned entities arrived at the Demon Domain—

that is, long before the Great Demon Mammon’s head vanished entirely—

WHOOOOOSH!

A green aircraft flew swiftly through the skies of the Demon Realm.

True to the name “Ancient Dragon Air,” it was comfortable and cozy.

Plush seats conjured by magic, enough legroom to stretch out fully, and despite being completely exposed, not a single headwind could be felt.

“Flying on a dragon... live long enough and you see everything.”

“Are there no flight attendants?”

“Why would there be?”

“Then how do we get in-flight meals?”

“These days, budget airlines don’t even give you a cup of water.”

“Crackers, this is disappointing. You called it Ancient Dragon Air, but it’s a budget airline.”

The destination was the Demon Domain.

First, they had to locate where the Great Demons were.

In the Demon Realm, that would be the place with the densest energy...

Rajix sniffed the air and began tracking.

The Mad Demon released his aura toward the ground.

Mackenzie cast a detection spell.

And almost simultaneously—

“There.”

“That way.”

“WAAH!”

“Green aircraft, changing course.”

WHIRR!

Crackers adjusted his wings and changed direction.

“It’s not just one aura.”

“At least three? No... four?”

“Are they all Great Demons?”

“Most likely.”

All gathered in one place?

Four would be a bit much.

And the mission would probably only require killing one anyway.

What to do?

A tactical retreat?

“No need to worry. Before the immortal-energy shower, maybe—but now, it’s possible. To the point where this old man might not even be necessary.”

Right.

Let’s trust them.

What was there to fear?

Of course, alone, he would not even dare approach—but how many summoned entities had received the immortal-energy shower?

At that moment—

FLAP, FLAP.

The green aircraft hovered to a stop.

Crackers’ voice echoed like it was coming from speakers.

“A protective barrier has been detected ahead along the flight path. We will break through it by force. Impact may occur, so passengers, please remain seated and fasten your safety belts.”

Hmm.

A barrier.

Juhyeok could see it too.

A massive hemispherical shield covering a certain area.

So that’s the Demon Domain.

Of course.

Did they really think a place where Great Demons lived would let just anyone walk in?

Gyeon Dallae stepped forward.

She unfastened her belt and stood.

“This maiden shall break the barrier.”

“Can you do it?”

“It is a crude barrier. I shall sever it in a single stroke.”

When had the fairy princess ever spoken empty words?

If she said she could, she could.

SSSK.

Gyeon Dallae floated into the air.

She drew her sword and bell.

JINGLE, JINGLE!

It had been a while since he had seen her sword and bell.

Lately, she had mostly been throwing talismans.

Her dance unfolded in midair.

WOOOOONG—

an auspicious aura wrapped around her body.

“Begone, vile energy!”

Her bronze sword swept downward.

TSHHT!

A sacred sword aura flew toward the barrier.

SLASH!

CRASH! CLANG! SHATTER—CRRRASH!

The barrier shattered like breaking glass.

CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP!

A shower of applause.

At the same time—

WHOOOOOSH!

The green aircraft successfully entered the Demon Domain.

*****

After flying farther in, a temple-like structure came into view on the left.

And four demons were gathered in front of it.

It seemed to be the heart of the Demon Domain.

The quest hasn’t even appeared yet—can we just kill them?

At that moment—

Ding!

[Receive 10 billion kg of top-grade Magic Stones and undergo dimensional naturalization. – Right]

[VS]

[Subdue the Great Demon Belphegor and continue living as-is. – Left]

This damned “take 10 billion” option again.

Hey, bastards!

I lean left.

At least when it comes to the Great Journey.

“Left.”

[Main Quest: Subdue the Great Demon Belphegor and continue living as-is.]

[Time Limit: None.]

[Completion Condition: Subdue the Great Demon Belphegor 0/1]

The quest appeared.

But which one was Belphegor?

Well, they would find out as they fought.

“Veronica Caliber, Commander!”

“Yes, Veronica Caliber?”

“Request permission for a preemptive sub-light-speed round.”

“Uh...”

That was a one-hit-kill ultimate.

Once fired, the magic gun could not be used again, right?

“This magic gun has also been infused with immortal energy. Even after firing a sub-light-speed round, it can still fire small and large rounds.”

Really?

Then—

“Permission granted.”

“Certain victory!”

Let’s take one out first.

Didn’t matter which one.

Standing on Crackers’ back, she fired.

“LOLOLOLOLOL!”

The magic gun heated up.

“Firing.”

Veronica Caliber pulled the trigger.

THUNK!

FLASH!

BOOM!

The head of an unnamed Great Demon exploded.

“...The power seems... even stronger?”

“Veronica Caliber, look at that recoil. My heart is recoiling too.”

Mine too.

All of ours.

Precision aerial strike, successful.

For the Great Demons, it must have been shock and terror.

Now, ground forces deployment.

“Commencing drop.”

Cossack jumped first.

Meatshield, Bardin, and Blood Wolf followed.

Baek Danya and Man-nyeon went as well.

The Mad Demon walked down through the air itself.

The rest remained on standby.

If something happened?

The green aircraft would become a green bomber.

*****

Great Demon Asmodeus was half-dazed.

What in the world was happening?

Mammon was a Great Demon.

A projectile fired by a human could never injure a Great Demon.

Whether it was a bow, a crossbow, or a magic gun.

Yet Mammon’s head had exploded?

Headless Mammon was still writhing, his immortality keeping him alive—but he was clearly combat-incapable.

This was dangerous.

At this rate, they would all be wiped out.

Even with four Great Demons gathered together.

Then—

“Mephisto. Belphegor.”

“Speak.”

“We must summon the Demon Realm’s army.”

“...Is it that bad?”

“If we’re careless, we’ll end up like Mammon. Worse, we could lose our souls like Baal.”

They had to mobilize the army.

The enemies were that strong.

“Hurry! If we’re late, it’s dangerous.”

“Understood.”

They needed numerical superiority.

Asmodeus also sent out a mental wave, summoning the demon legions under his control.

Then—

WHOOOOSH!

A human fell from the sky.

TAP.

The instant he landed—

BZZZING!

A thick aura blade manifested.

SPAPAPAPAPAP!

He closed the distance at terrifying speed.

“You bastard! How dare you!”

Asmodeus burned with rage.

The Demon Domain was like a Great Demon’s home.

And a mere human was running rampant here?

Alone?

CRACK—CRACK—CRACK!

Asmodeus’s horns glowed red-hot.

A Great Demon’s authority.

Death Sentence.

A curse cast upon mortals using the Demon Domain’s power.

He raised one hand and pointed at the human.

“Mortals must die.”

But—

“...Hm?”

Asmodeus’s mind went blank.

Just for a moment.

Less than a second.

“What—?”

But the price of that brief lapse was brutal.

SLASH!

THUD!

Asmodeus’s vision flipped.

He was no longer looking at the approaching human—

he was looking at the sky.

And at the same time, at his own body flailing.

“M-my head... was cut off?”

His head rolled along the ground.

“Why did my mind blank out for an instant?”

He soon realized the cause.

As his head rolled—

Asmodeus saw it.

FLAP, FLAP—

a demon with a decadent smile, flying on bat-like wings.

Slender arms and legs, a tail swaying softly.

“...A succubus?”

A mere succubus casting mental interference on a Great Demon?

And he had not even been able to resist?

How?

Cossack kicked Asmodeus’s severed head aside and pointed at Diamat.

“Hey! Didn’t I say don’t use skills? Huh? Always using skills the moment you get a chance?”

“If I helped you, shouldn’t you thank me first?”

“When did I ask for help? You ruined Grand Master Cossack’s debut battle. Take responsibility.”

“How?”

Diamat smiled sweetly.

Cossack’s eyes glazed over.

“...Damn, that’s a crazy skill. What, should I fall for it?”

“Am I crazy? This isn’t even a skill. Do you think I just throw skills around at anyone? Have you no self-awareness?”

“...Mm.”

“Enough nonsense. Finish off that Great Demon. His head is already reattaching.”

She was right.

Though he had clearly cut ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ it off and kicked it away, the head and body were already rejoining.

“Immortality, as expected. Guess we can play with him all we want.”

“Watch the heart. If you get injured, Mari might kill you.”

“Don’t worry. I’m Grand Butcher of Majang-dong—Cossack himself.”

BZZZING.

Cossack raised his sword.

The thick, milky aura grew even denser.

*****

Great Demon Belphegor’s authority was gigantification.

He enlarged his body to the size of a house, crushing everything before him with overwhelming physical force.

Growing larger did not make him slower or clumsier.

He became faster and stronger.

Countless humans had been trampled, their blood, flesh, and souls devoured.

But now—

the gigantification authority did not activate.

Because of this man.

“Light!!!”

FWAAAAASH!

Radiance—the holy brilliance used by human holy knights.

BAM!

Belphegor’s torso was struck by the charging holy knight’s shield.

And with each shield strike, his body shrank.

The holy knight’s light was suppressing a Great Demon’s authority.

Belphegor realized it.

That nauseating presence mixed into the radiance.

The Great Demon God and the God of the Sword.

Those forces were embedded in the light.

Because of that, Belphegor could not use his authority of gigantification.

So what now?

THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!

His head was being stomped on.

By a barbarian warrior who, like him, possessed the power of gigantification.

His crushed head was driven into the ground of the Demon Domain.

CRUNCH!

It went deeper.

CRACK!

Even as his skull shattered, it did not stop.

Was that thing human?

No.

That barbarian warrior was the demon.

A barbarian who mechanically stomped on Belphegor’s head.

A gigantic demon without blood or tears.

He did not speak.

His expression never changed.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

He just kept stomping.

Belphegor’s head was forced deeper into the ground, his legs sticking up into the air.

A handstand position.

Even so—

THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!

The gigantic barbarian stomped mercilessly.

Eventually, Belphegor died.

And shortly after, as an immortal being, he revived.

THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!

But he was still being stomped.

THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!

Dead, he was stomped.

Alive, he was stomped.

THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!

It never ended.

“Light!!!”

What kind of bullshit light was that?

Were these humans?

Fuck, you demon bastards.

*****

Mephisto’s situation was not much different.

Another name he was known by—

the Great Demon of Freezing Cold.

With his powerful authority of frost, the Aura of Freezing Cold, all life within a certain range would freeze solid.

On Earth No. 675, he had once frozen a hundred thousand people at once.

And then freely taken human lives.

But what were those things?

Despite his overwhelming aura of extreme cold, they did not freeze at all—

instead, they laughed and ran around playfully.

“Kyarrrok, kyarrk!”

“Man-nyeon, not that way—this way.”

“Kka?”

“Yes, run this way! Go play with the horned one over there.”

“Kyaaaah!”

He could not believe it.

The twin girls were approaching him.

When they got close, his body began to freeze instead.

Freezing the Great Demon of Frost?

Was that even possible?

“Kyarrrok.”

“This is bad!”

He had to escape.

Fly, run, teleport—anything.

But even that was impossible.

Above him—

STEP. STEP. STEP.

An old man walking on the sky.

The scariest one of all.

A demon among demons.

He ruled the battlefield while calmly observing from the air.

The moment Mephisto tried to use any escape skill—

TSHHT!

SLASH!

A chilling crescent-shaped blade severed his ankle.

Evenly cut.

Wrists, ears, nose, sides—everything was sliced.

Once his movement was restricted—

“Man-nyeon!!!”

“Kyaaaah!”

The two insane girls grabbed him and froze him solid.

CRACK—CRACK—CRACK!

His body stiffened, frozen hard.

The Great Demon of Frost.

Dead from frostbite.

Shortly after—

he revived like a dog.

Still, it was better than Mammon.

That fellow Great Demon who had his head blown off by a projectile at the very start and was writhing helplessly.

Now he was being dragged around by a dog biting his ankle.

CRUNCH!

“Grrr! Bark bark!”

Whenever Mammon showed even the slightest sign of resistance, an intangible crescent blade would fly in and slice off part of his body.

A Great Demon being bitten by a dog.

Better to be frozen.

Frostbite was far preferable.

*****

With wings spread wide,

the green aircraft circled leisurely over the Demon Domain.

Juhyeok sat comfortably in his seat, sipping a warm cup of tea Gyeon Dallae had made for him.

They could just subdue them roughly and complete the mission.

But neither Juhyeok nor the summoned entities intended to end it easily.

Subjugation was secondary.

First, they had to resolve the grudges of the people of Earth No. 675 who had died because of these bastards.

Demon Realm scum who colluded with the Black Tower.

You enjoyed killing people, didn’t you?

“What did Satan do? Why isn’t he taking these guys away?”

“...Young Master, as far as I know, Satan is also a demon.”

Is he?

Anyway, just sitting up here and watching made Juhyeok restless.

He wanted to go down.

He wanted to smack a Great Demon’s head just once with the Judge’s Hammer Yama had given him.

Or what—

did only they get stronger?

They all took the immortal-energy shower.

I did too.

Even the dog was tearing Great Demons apart down there.

Even Mari, the shut-in, had gone down.

She said she needed to extract hearts.

That alchemist was terrifying.

Honestly, he did not want to take demon-heart elixirs.

They sounded fishy.

I’ll give them to Meatshield or Cossack instead.

Or maybe the Mad Demon or Mackenzie.

Veronica Caliber had a good appetite too—she could take some.

There was another reason.

What good was taking pills all the time?

Right now, he was not doing anything—just riding the plane.

Juhyeok quietly pulled out the Judge’s Hammer Yama had given him.

Should he jump down once the timing felt right?

And then dramatically shout, You yourself have confessed your sins!

“Please restrain yourself, Young Master.”

Sharp-eyed Gyeon Dallae.

She had already read his intentions and stood guard beside his seat.

That was not all.

Dr. El, Veronica Caliber, even Rajix—

they subtly surrounded his chair, watching in case he tried to jump.

“...I’m bored.”

“WAAH.”

In fact, there was someone else who was bored too.

“Mackenzie?”

“Yes, Summoner.”

“You’re bored too, right?”

“What’s the point of saying it? I’d love nothing more than to drop a meteor down there right now.”

Mackenzie was also on standby.

Waiting to be deployed if something dangerous happened—

though there was no chance of that happening.

“If only a force of several hundred thousand troops would rush over here...”

And then—

as if his words had summoned it.

KUGUGUGUGUGUGU.

A thunderous sound echoed from afar.

They turned to look.

A massive army appeared, accompanied by towering clouds of dust.

“...Huh?”

An army.

The Demon Realm’s soldiers were all converging on the Demon Domain.

From all directions—east, west, south, and north.

Monsters, demonkin, Demon Realm nobles, lords, even Demon Kings.

Reinforcements from the Demon Realm?

Mackenzie jumped to his feet, throwing both hands into the air.

“What a treat! Long live!!!”

He shouted in delight.

WHOOSH, WHOOSH!

Five recording smartphones appeared behind him.

“At last, my turn!”

He raised his staff and chanted a spell.

Blazing fire rained from the sky.

FWOOOOOOSH!

Superheated flames infused with immortal energy and Underworld energy crashed into the heart of the Demon Realm army.

To the east—

FWOOSH!

To the west—

FWOOSH!

To the south and north—

FWOOSH!

The Demon Realm army melted away.

A wide-area flame spell from Mackenzie, a 9-circle archmage whose mana was infused with immortal and Underworld energy.

It was nothing less than a strategic weapon.

Did Crackers just sit still?

Normally, an aircraft.

In wartime, a bomber.

WHIIIIIRL!

The green aircraft Crackers banked in a wide arc.

HUUUH—

He inhaled deeply.

KWAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Crackers’s terrifying poison breath shot out in a straight line.

And the magitech engineer, Dr. El, was not idle either.

She signaled the dimensional farmhand Rajix.

“WAAH!”

SSSSSSSSS—

Gigant Unit No. 3 emerged from empty space.

BOOM!

It landed on the ground.

Combat directive received.

Combat type input complete.

Objective: annihilate all Demon Realm forces!

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!

The Gigant charged toward the Demon Realm army.

BANG BANG BANG BANG!

Demonkin and demonic beasts were crushed beneath its massive feet.

What good was having numbers?

The Demon Realm was collapsing.

At the hands of Juhyeok and the summoned entities.

And shortly after—

Ding!

[Great Demon Belphegor subdued 1/1.]

[Great Demon Belphegor has submitted.]

[The second stage of the Great Journey has been completed.]

Mission complete?

[Great Demon Mammon subdued 1/1.]

[Great Demon Mammon has submitted.]

[The third stage of the Great Journey has been completed.]

Huh?

Two at once?

No—

Mephisto subdued.

[The fourth stage of the Great Journey has been completed.]

Asmodeus subdued.

[The fifth stage of the Great Journey has been completed.]

It was a journey of greatness in name only—

a pitiful little click-fest of a journey.