Chapter 208

”…”

The tax laws of Earth-34 were very simple. There were times when taxes were levied, and times when taxes were paid. The highest taxes were imposed on income from lotteries or gambling winnings, while the most heavily taxed form of spending was giving property away as gifts.

Knowing just this much would give you a general understanding of taxes.

There was no reason for tax laws like those of other civilizations. On Earth-34, with the Gods of Justice and Truth watching over everything, it was impossible to evade taxes illegally.

Two billion won.

Because of this, the people of Earth-34 always paid their taxes, no matter how high they were.

20,000,000,000,000 won…

The ground seemed to quake. My mind reeled, and my body went limp.

What? Where did 20,000,000,000,000 won come from?

Though initially bewildered, upon careful consideration, it wasn’t difficult to grasp the reason. On Earth-34, income tax rates escalated with higher earnings, ultimately reaching 55%.

The state is taking half my money—what have they even done for me?!

…was the natural complaint that sprang to mind, yet the truth was, the government did provide much. In fact, there was likely no other world in the cosmos where taxes were utilized as effectively as here.

“Ah… yes. I understand. When is the payment due?”

2.5% equated to 50,000,000,000 won.

”…”

After hanging up in an empty room, I stood there blankly for a moment. It was truly a despicable thought.

Ah … Should I ask Oryongi to give me money?

It seemed possible. These women lose all reason in front of my explosive sexual charisma, like high school girls. If I sweet-talked them, they might give me not two trillion won but twenty trillion.

However…

“Well, even so, asking the emperor for something like that…”

It wasn’t about sponsorships or anything like that; I just didn’t want it. At least deals should be made—accepting anything for free would hurt my pride.

‘Moreover, though they seem willing to give me everything, it doesn’t mean they aren’t smart.’

If I were to take 200,000,000,000 won instead of paying it myself, there would inevitably be problems in our relationship. After all, relationships are relative.

Of course, if I had no money, I’d have no choice but to pick that option.

But just because I’m trembling doesn’t mean I have 20 trillion won.

“That’s… more than 20 trillion won, honestly.”

It’s painful to admit, but there’s truly no other way. In Age-34, where the concept of illegal tax evasion has practically vanished, avoiding taxes is impossible. Only legal tax deductions are permissible.

I could claim reimbursement for expenses incurred while working as a mercenary…

However, I’ve never spent even 10,000 won on mercenary work. I never purchased or maintained gigas, nor did I buy any magic items. There were no food or transportation expenses either. Even if there were, they’d be a mere fraction compared to this astronomical tax bill.

Or maybe I should donate it…

But there’s no way donating would be more effective than paying taxes, especially if I didn’t want to pay taxes in the first place. If I created a charity and poured money into it, operating it at will, that might have been different, but then the Justicar and the God of Truth would have been all over me like hawks.

“In the end… there’s only one answer.”

Really, there was no need to agonize over it. There was a ‘tax-saving’ method so outstanding that I’d actually forgotten about taxes altogether.

Dark clouds gathered as the sound of bells halted players rushing to the hunting grounds.

The beautiful form is that of the gods, and the rapturous voice is the sound of divinity. With the voice of anger, sing the wrath of the gods! (Grand Angel - Myth)

He’s going all out. There’s no need to use Zero-Sum here. [Paying Power] accumulates when making payments and is consumed when items are brought to Ardenia or taken out into reality. There’s no need to risk our lives based on probability alone.

But could it be because of that carefree mindset?

The draw probability is just too good.

As the chat window exploded with comments and reactions, another blocked cell phone rang again.

“Hello?”

“No, I’m spending it because I need it.”

“Thank you.”

After hanging up, I opened the box:

As I watched the chat spew out at a dizzying pace, I checked my balance.

“Is this for real?”

I gave Cheddar a call.

The line connected quickly.

”…Yes. This is Cheong Ah, senior priest of the National Tax Service.”

“Hello. I’m sorry to bother, but could you tell me how much tax I have remaining?”

”…”

The person on the other end of the line was momentarily speechless.

It seemed they were also trying to grasp the current situation.

Ultimately, a frustrated groan burst out.

“This is insane…”

“Excuse me? What did you say?”

“Oh… your remaining tax is… 17,000,000 won…”

“I see. Just a moment.”

I still had taxes left to pay even after using all my money, but it wasn’t a problem at all.

Hwoom.

When I opened the door and stepped out, Ruby, who had been strolling nearby, approached with a beaming smile.

“Jaeyeon! Want to work out together?”

“Not now. Oh, right. Could you lend me 20,000,000 won?”

“Why would you lend it when you could just give it? What’s up?”

“It’s… for taxes.”

Borrowing large sums of money from friends could strain relationships, but ‘small change’ was different. Lending a close friend 10,000,000 won was risky, as you might lose both the money and the friendship. But if you lent someone only 1,000 won, insisting they pay it back would make you seem petty.

Or perhaps I wasn’t a very good friend after all.

“I’ve sent it!”

“Thank you. Let me just… verify. Yes, received. Thank you for your payment.”

As I twisted my head to speak, I could sense Cheddar’s anxiety behind me.

After ending this bizarre call, I headed to the training facility with Ruby.

“Let’s focus on the lower body today. Here we go!”

“Sounds good,” Ruby agreed.

This stock thing is not worth it, I thought as I walked.

It felt good to pay for something for the first time in ages, but my plans were thwarted either way. Now that I was broke again, I wouldn’t be able to even look at Nemesis stocks for a while.

And now that I had been reduced to this state…

I need to dig my way out.

“Jaeyeon?”

“Oh, I was just lost in thought for a moment.”

After our enjoyable training session with Ruby, Hwakyu and I engaged in our usual discussions about black magic and martial arts.

Since our serious conversation, the members of the Oryong Gang no longer harassed me with physical provocations as they had before. They would merely shoot meaningful glances my way from time to time.

That evening…

“Login.”

Upon entering Ardenia, I opened my inventory in the Guild Office and took out an item:

“These stats are all useless to me.”

In reality, the [Defense] buff meant little to me. Unlike in games, it wasn’t applied as a percentage. The slight adjustment could be likened to a thin protective barrier, but as a Transcendent, it was utterly useless. Critical hit and automatic defense were not even implemented, and the skill damage amplification was irrelevant since I used real-world techniques instead of skills.

Why would I use the skill-learned Gang when I could create my own internal force now?

However, the attributes were different.

“Ah, it’s too beautiful…”

Even if it’s basic for myth-grade weapons to share attributes of transcendental artifacts:

Freedom Interval and Transcendent [Preemptive Strike] attributes on gloves rather than weapons are incredibly luxurious features. On top of that, the 9th Strengthening Effect [Range Increase], typically found on mage wands, is also present here.

“Yes. This is truly Myth-level equipment.”

In Ardenia, over 90% of Myth-tier items exist as primary weapons. A full set of myths cannot exist, with updates adding them gradually over time.

Given the ongoing updates, it should be possible someday.

Somewhere down the line, when divine ability stats opened up, revealing tier 1,000 stats, the next rank beyond Transcendent—Emperor—would also be unveiled.

Even for me, now a Transcendent being, there lies an astonishing future with limitless potential.

The problem is, such an “[update]” can’t be applied unless it has sufficient box office appeal.

“That’s why I wanted to buy enough stocks…”

But now that Patuu is no more, I need to find another way.

Click!

I put the Space Gauntlets back in my inventory and take out the class cards. Then I take out the pet cards and the guardian cards.

Five Mythical Rank class cards. Nine Mythical Rank pet cards. Five Mythical Rank guardian cards.

I nod my head.

“Since things have come to this… it’s time for the Heavenly Yuan.”

It’s time to capture the Soul Dragon and conquer the last point of interest.