A Date with the Heavenly Demon
'Whoa... it's insane.'
The fight between Baekhyang and Baekgang was on another level. It made all my battles so far feel like kids playing around.
Could I even jump into that?
If I threw everything I had at it without holding back, I could probably match that. The problem was I'd collapse after burning through all my power.
Yet those two were sustaining that kind of output. Someday, I would too...
No, after this mission ended, I'd reach that level. I could already picture myself rampaging like Baekhyang and Baekgang. It was exciting.
Setting aside my admiration, I kept watching their movements closely.
So that's how you move there.
I was starting to understand footwork a bit better.
Oh, extending the arm like that blocks the retreat? Can you do that with a sword too?
I was picking up ways to cut off escape routes. While learning about combat, I was also scouting for an opening to join in.
Boom―!
Black energy clashed against black energy. The two wielded the Heavenly Demon Wave Heaven Fist that Baekhyang had used on me like it was a casual swing.
They both looked exhausted, but...
Baekhyang's stamina is draining faster.
Her movements were noticeably slowing.
"Why not give up now?"
Baekgang's voice echoed across the mountaintop, now a barren wasteland.
What the hell did the Demon King do to Baekgang?
He'd been only a bit stronger than me before, but now he'd reached this level. Baekgang had mentioned teaming up with the Demon King, so it was clear the bastard had done something...
I'd figure that out later. For now, I lowered my stance, ready to charge.
"I refuse."
Baekgang's eyebrow twitched at Baekhyang's reply. He'd talked about political marriages and all that, but it seemed he still had feelings for her deep down.
"Can't be helped, then."
Baekgang, who'd been fighting with fists alone, drew his sword. Black winds swirled around the blade.
Mixing Heavenly Demon Art with Wind God Style?
Fusing two martial arts into one. A method with incredibly low success odds and massive risks.
I prayed it'd fail, but Baekgang pulled it off. Immense energy gathered in his sword.
"Die. I'll make good use of the Demonic Cult."
Without hesitation, Baekgang swung down.
Whoosh―! Crackle―!
I channeled mana into my legs for Thunder God's lightning and wrapped my sword in Sun God's flames.
Then I charged at Baekgang. His focus was entirely on Baekhyang, so his reaction was a beat slow.
Before swinging, I squeezed out every last drop of mana to summon the Holy Sword Gram. My full power.
Gram slashed with killing intent toward Baekgang. In that split second, he twisted to dodge.
Slash―!
Gram arced toward his neck. But what it severed was his arm instead.
"Gah!"
Blood poured from the stump as Baekgang clamped down with his remaining hand to staunch it.
With his sword arm gone and stamina depleted, Baekgang dropped to one knee, unable to move.
I need to take his head now...
But I'd burned all my mana and couldn't budge. Baekhyang was in no better shape, her stamina drained.
Rumble―!
As I racked my brain, a weird noise rang out. From Baekgang's severed arm.
More precisely, from the sword gripped in its hand. The black typhoon wrapped around the blade began to go berserk.
Me, Baekhyang, and even Baekgang's faces darkened. We were all thinking the same thing.
We're fucked.
The world's strongest facing such a ridiculous death?
"Sig!"
Cream's voice rang out as green mana restored my body. I scooped up Baekhyang beside me.
"What?!"
And bolted. Baekhyang, cradled princess-style, started to protest but shut her mouth given the situation.
Cream sensed the danger too and fled with us. Once we were a safe distance, the black typhoon ballooned.
It grew while shredding everything in its path. We watched in a daze from safety as it finally dissipated.
"He didn't die, right?"
Before it expanded, I'd sensed a Grating. Unmistakably the Demon King's.
"Probably not. I felt the Yokai King's presence at the end."
I wasn't the only one—Baekhyang had sensed it too.
"Even if he survived, he's not much of a threat now."
Baekhyang figured the lost arm lowered his danger, but I disagreed.
The Demon King will pull some shit again. I'd think about him and Baekgang later.
Anyway...
Exhausted beyond limits, I blacked out.
**
"Oh, you're awake?"
I opened my eyes to see Baekhyang. Her wounds from our last sight were gone, so quite some time must have passed.
No Cream around means her summon time ended.
Baekhyang grinned at my face. Time for a sitrep.
I needed to check the situation and plan ahead.
"What happened?"
She answered my abrupt question.
"The Orthodox sects cut ties with Baekgang."
Surprisingly, the Orthodox side had abandoned him. They'd tacitly allied with yokai, but when it leaked to the public, they ditched Baekgang. He was now missing.
They'd even put a bounty on him.
"Rest up, then."
After briefing me, Baekhyang told me to recover and left the infirmary. What did the Demon King want?
He'd taken Baekgang away alive, despite being able to kill a wounded guy like that even without full restraints.
I couldn't fathom his goal. I'd thought it was killing the protagonist, but...
His actions say otherwise.
Knowing the Demon King's objective would make planning easier...
"No clue."
My head hurt from overthinking right after waking. Also, the genre shifted again?
Originally, it was NTR. Stealing other guys' women. But Baekgang self-destructed.
Genre change to dating sim.
Well, this one's easier anyway.
Stealing another man's woman is tough. Sneak in when his guard's down.
Gather every scrap of intel to sway her heart.
This time, let's take it easy.
My break was a long one. The Orthodox sects ditching Baekgang stalled the war.
Rumors even swirled of an armistice between Orthodox and Demonic Cult. Plenty of downtime.
"Coming in."
Time passed, and Baekhyang summoned me.
"How's the body?"
Different vibe from our first meeting. Same place, but her expression and the atmosphere had shifted.
"Much better, thanks to your care, Heavenly Demon."
"Good~?"
She smiled at my reply.
Chills...
She'd demand a spar for sure. Reading my mind, perhaps...
"I want to spar right now, but rewarding you comes first."
She'd reward me for saving her and fighting on the battlefield. Name my desire.
Straight ball's best.
I know her type. Bold women like that love straightforwardness.
"A date with you, Heavenly Demon..."
Ah, she might not know the word.
"I want to spend a day with you, Heavenly Demon."
"What? We really are soulmates!"
She stood, delighted. I stopped her and continued.
"Not a spar."
"Not a spar? Then what?"
She seemed genuinely puzzled.
"Time together as man and woman."
"What?!"
Her eyes widened in exaggerated shock.
"Love at first sight."
Calmly. Boldly. Staring into her eyes.
Her cheeks slowly flushed.
"Ahem... I'll think on it."
She waved me out. Her command given, I grabbed the doorknob.
"I'll... consider it positively..."
The loud Baekhyang whispered for the first time.
Good sign.
My lips curved up.
**
"I'll grant your request!"
Predawn, sun not yet up. Baekhyang burst into my room.
Not some old geezer... what the hell?
Why do elders never sleep? Vibrant at dawn, she told me to hurry and get ready, then left.
"Yawn..."
Sleepy, but I forced myself awake and prepped. Early bird gets the worm.
Looks like rising early was key to claiming the Heavenly Demon.
"So, what're we doing?"
Good question. I'd planned to browse shops, chat idly, build rapport.
But nothing's open.
Plan derailed from the start.
"Hmm..."
As I pondered, she spoke.
"If you've got nothing, how about a hike?"
No, seriously, old lady vibes...? No choice but to agree.
"Sure."
And so, we ended up hiking.
"Heavenly Demon?"
"Yeah?"
"Can't we do a normal hike?"
We were climbing, so technically hiking. But...
"Hmph! Normal won't train you!"
Bunny hops up the mountain. Not just that—rocks on our backs.
Not my idea of a date. No sweet couple moments.
No shy blushes—just sweat and strain reddening cheeks. Baekhyang's unique date began, reeking only of sweat.