Combat Growth and the Demon King's Chains

A familiar window popped up again with the second reward.

'Damn, they really have abilities for everything,' I thought, eyeing the last one on the list.

'I get the concept now.'

If Siegfried's abilities were straight-up classic fantasy,

'Kang Hyeok's were simple. And growth-oriented.'

That solved the mystery of how he'd gotten so strong in such a short time.

'Must've scrapped like hell as a villain under the Demon King.'

Still, picking a skill was tough.

'At times like this, choosing just one feels like such a rip-off...'

This time, there were so many synergistic options it made it even harder.

The A-rank skills Lethal Split and High-Speed Recovery.

Delay the damage with Lethal Split,

then heal it up with High-Speed Recovery in the gap.

The SS-rank Combat Growth and S-rank Growth Acceleration.

Growth Acceleration amps up the body growth from Combat Growth even further.

The synergy was too damn good.

I agonized over it for a long time.

'Hmm... First off, pass on Lethal Split.'

It didn't ignore lethal hits—it just split them. You still took all the damage eventually.

High-Speed Recovery was solid too.

'Great ability, but...'

Too bad to pick over S or SS ranks.

Down to the remaining A-ranks.

Adaptive Skin—probably from the guy who tanked my attacks barehanded.

But compared to Combat Growth and Growth Acceleration, it lacked appeal.

Pass on that too.

The last two boiled down to future vs. present.

Combat Growth meant infinite scaling as long as I fought stronger foes and didn't die.

Not instant power, but a bet on the long game.

Growth Acceleration would shine immediately with training.

Problem was, it became useless once I hit my limit.

Get strong now, or play the long game?

The answer was obvious, really.

'I can borrow time from other dimensions.'

I had multiples of the time others did. Perspective wasn't an issue for me.

My index finger hovered toward one ability.

And at its tip,

With the ability chosen, I sank into thought.

Back in Kang Hyeok's world, the Demon King's words echoed:

"To be thwarted by some weirdo who's neither protagonist nor Demon King."

'Protagonist' and 'Demon King.'

How the hell did he know that?

I ran through hypotheses, but info was too scarce.

'Wish I could just ask Shimbu Rumkun directly.'

But I had no way to summon him, or guarantee he'd show.

'Come to think of it, Brynhildr said her dimension's Demon King was similar. Mentioned something about constraints too.'

I nearly summoned her right away but stopped.

Brynhildr's summon window was one minute. Better organize questions first to use it efficiently.

'Alright, first...'

I summoned Cream.

"Sig!"

Cream always greeted me cheerfully on summon.

"Cream, sorry, but I have questions."

One hour might fly by, so straight to business.

She looked a bit disappointed, but

"I'll make it up with a date later!" smoothed it over.

"How's a Demon King made? As a saintess, you've gotta have heard something, right?"

"Demon King? Hmm... From what I heard, he just appeared out of nowhere."

A Demon King who popped up suddenly.

He'd rallied the demonkin, then declared war on other races.

They'd captured and tortured high demons, but got zilch on him, Cream said.

Like he fell straight from the sky.

A Demon King who knew about 'protagonists' and 'Demon Kings.'

A Demon King with the 'constraint' Brynhildr mentioned.

Putting it together:

'Anyone with the Demon King title...'

Is like me—an outsider from another dimension.

My guess might be off, but it felt right.

We chatted the rest of the hour, but no new intel.

"Oh, did I tell you about our old party?"

Cream filled me in on everyone except Siegfried.

"Hagen's built a massive mercenary band."

Already famed as the Mercenary King, now with hero-party cred, his group had nearly doubled.

Hunting demons and rising in notoriety.

"Problem is, he's making waves with women..."

Cream trailed off.

"Rumors he's capturing elves and enslaving them."

Rumors? Nah, that was Hagen to a T.

That feral grin when I last saw him—he'd never forget Altera.

"Nibel's wandering the world looking for a new hero."

With the hero gone and demon assaults ramping up, the old mage couldn't wait.

"Altera..."

Her news was grim, like Hagen's.

"She hates humans now."

Memories wiped, but body remembers? She attacked any humans entering the elf village.

Altera, now mortal enemies with elf-napping Hagen.

"Why'd it turn out like this?" Cream sighed.

My mess—I couldn't comfort her.

"Ugh! What a pathetic mess..."

She shook her head, shaking off the gloom.

The hour was up.

Cream sensed it too.

"I won't tell you not to do dangerous stuff."

She stroked the spot hurt from fighting Kang Hyeok.

"But call me the second it gets risky."

Her eyes burned with resolve.

"I'll train and get stronger! You have to call me!"

With that, she returned to her dimension.

I summoned Brynhildr next.

"Oh? Another spot, darling♡?"

Brynhildr looked around curiously.

"Your home? Too small for a guy like you~♡ Big tools need big houses~♡"

Sexual harassment right off the bat.

"Shut it and answer my questions."

"Darling~♡ So cold♡ Too attractive~♡"

I stayed out of her pace and asked.

"What was that 'constraint' you threw at your Demon King?"

"Ah... That? Just a hunch?"

Strike one.

"What? You bluffed a threat with a hunch ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in that situation?"

"What else? Time was short, and I couldn't drop him in that window. Had to gamble."

Fair point. Best play in a pinch.

"Spill the hunch anyway."

"Pieced it from various intel."

The Demon King couldn't use 100% of his power.

One minute was too short.

Brynhildr vanished after dropping the constraint bomb.

Now I knew, but my head spun.

'Can't use full power...'

Penalty for crossing dimensions?

Then what about me? I could use 100%.

Two possibilities:

1. Total power differs.

2. Crossing method differs.

'Fuck if I know.'

The more I thought, the deeper the maze.

'Why raise Kang Hyeok, though? If I were the Demon King, I'd kill the protagonist outright.'

Unawakened everyman? Easy prey.

Why turn him villain and nurture him?

If new protagonists worried him, just imprison the guy.

Why? Why...?

"Ah... Aha...!"

Lightning struck my brain.

'The constraint?'

If it lifted based on the protagonist's strength, it fit.

'Same in Siegfried's world.'

Enemies scaled with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Siegfried's power. First encounters would've wiped us.

If planned?

Hypotheses:

1. Demon Kings are interdimensional.

2. They have power constraints.

3. Constraints ease with protagonist growth.

All guesses, but the puzzle clicked.

If right, my enemies weren't just protagonists—Demon Kings too.

Lost in Demon King thoughts, the day slipped away.

'Time ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for the exam soon.'

Hunter exam—only last Monday of each month.

This month's was approaching.

'Wanna check something before...'

Hunter contacts? Just Park Ayun... Wait, no—Park Hana, via her.

Ring— Ring— Ring—

Called her immediately.

"Hello?"

-Kiyong! Signal barely rang before Park Hana picked up.

-Why call so late?

Hurt seeped through the line.

"We split just days ago?"

-Call once a day at least~

Clingy tone.

'Pent-up lust.'

Voice alone screamed it. She wanted to fuck right now.

-Ahh, miss our Kiyong.

Not my face—my dick.

"Wanna meet? Got a favor to ask."

-Sure~

Date set in seconds.

At her summoned house.

"Holy shit, it's huge."

Just her and her daughter? Way too big for two.

How many pyeong? Dumb thought as I hit the bell.

Ding-dong—!

-Come in.

Her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠voice via intercom.

Passed the yard, opened the entrance as told.

'Vestibule too? Fancy.'

Slide—!

Middle door opened.

Beyond it,

"Welcome home, Master?"

Stood Park Hana in a maid outfit exposing all the key bits.