To the Human Realm
Two days had passed since Sung-tae was shocked by Garba's appearance. With his halo gone, he had returned to his usual self, but the mountain of lust still hadn't fully recovered, so even looking at Garba stirred no particular carnal urges in him.
"My lord? Is something wrong with me?"
"Nah, nothing."
She's definitely beautiful.
The emotion he felt gazing at Garba was nothing but pure admiration and delight, like beholding a work of art. It was terrifying how the absence of one human instinct could feel so profound. Of course, the mountain of lust was recovering at a rapid pace, and its core was gradually mending too, but full restoration would take more time.
With his lust vanished, all that remained for Sung-tae was a pure curiosity about this other world. He was itching to meet new people and witness the sights of this fantasy realm as soon as possible.
"Demon King, preparations are complete. Step onto this magic circle, and it will teleport you near the human realm."
"Thanks."
"Oh, right. Did you pack all the items I gave you?"
"Of course."
A small pouch hung from the waist of his black armor. Inside it lay return scrolls prepared for any contingency. These weren't ordinary recall spells but special Return to Teleport magic scrolls—an emergency escape route in case he unleashed excessive power in the human realm and destroyed all the magic circles etched into his armor.
"Tear one, and you'll return here. Tear another, and it'll send you back to wherever you first used it. I packed plenty, so if anything goes wrong, come back anytime."
"I'll be careful not to let that happen."
He meant it sincerely. He had no desire to waste another ten weeks re-etching magic circles. Besides, if they vanished again this time, Gepelt would probably demand, "Twenty million this time!"
"Garba, you got yours too?"
"Yes, my lord."
She also had a pouch at her waist. But hers didn't contain return scrolls...
"Make sure to brush after meals."
"I will, without fail!"
It was toothpaste and a toothbrush. Crudely made compared to Earth's versions, but dental tools existed here nonetheless. The toothpaste was even superior to Earth's—shaped like salt crystals and enchanted with a cleaning spell that thoroughly banished bad breath. Garba simply hadn't needed it before due to avoiding humans, but Sung-tae was glad she was using it now.
"Alright, we're off!"
"Travel safely, Demon King."
Sung-tae and Garba vanished along with the glow of the magic circle. Gepelt, who had watched silently, tapped his staff and summoned the monsters. He knew exactly what he had to do.
He's concealed his power and his identity. Fighting the strong isn't his only goal.
A warrior and Demon King of such immense might heading to the human realm surely had other objectives. Interpreting Sung-tae's actions in his own way, Gepelt recalled his immediate tasks.
"I command you all: From today, I will strengthen your bodies. Come to my lab one by one."
The skeletons obeyed wordlessly. But the more intelligent monsters looked baffled, unsure of the reason. Gepelt propagated his own interpretation of Sung-tae's will to them.
"The Demon King has gone to scout the human realm. That means we'll invade their territory soon. Don't we need to grow stronger? The fastest way is through magic. From today, I'll engrave enhancement magic circles onto your bodies."
It would take a long time, of course. Etching into flesh rather than Black Oriharcon required careful consideration and endless hours. These weren't mere buffs but permanent magic circles—far more potent than temporary enhancements.
"For that day. The war that's bound to come someday..."
He didn't love fighting, but he was curious. Just how far could his overwhelmingly powerful Demon King go?
"For the war."
Ignis's domain was infamous for its dangerous volcanic zone, where lava and geysers could erupt unpredictably. Between it and the human realm stretched a vast forest. Right next to a lava field, yet untouched by Ignis's magic, the trees grew thick and lush. Despite bordering the Demon King's territory—which might suggest constant peril—this forest was remarkably peaceful, thanks to frequent monster hunts that had cleared out the dangerous beasts.
Merchants exploited this, using it as a shortcut. Straddling the border of two nations, it shaved significant time off the official route. Those in a hurry often took this path. Or rather, they only did when pressed for time.
For all its peace, the forest wasn't kind to humans. Something far scarier than monsters lurked within.
"No sign today either. Did all those merchant bastards starve to death or what?"
People. Bandits who preyed on merchants desperate enough to use the shortcut. They stole goods—and lives. Bored from another dull day of waiting, the bandits yawned and prepared to head back.
"I was itching to swing my blade. What a waste."
"You swung it plenty last time, boss. You're less a bandit and more a murderer."
"Heh. Once you taste slicing flesh, you can't quit. You wouldn't get it—you stick to your bow."
The bandit leader, running a thumb along his razor-sharp sword, gazed wistfully at the mountain path. He needed to drench it in blood to sleep well at night, but his growing notoriety had scared off the merchants. Lately, only adventurers showed up—ones hunting them down. Frowning at the thought, the leader spat.
He craved one-sided slaughter. Fighting adventurers tired him out and yielded poor loot.
"Let's call it. Head back."
"Boss."
The early bird gets the worm. Merchants sometimes passed at dawn, so he'd planned to return to camp early and rest. But his men's shouts halted him.
A blue, translucent glow shimmered on the nearby path.
"Phew. So this is the human world?"
And from that light emerged Sung-tae and Garba.
"Yes. I'd guess this is the closest human area to Ignis's territory."
"Air's definitely fresher here. That place was kinda humid."
Boss, isn't that a teleport spell?
I see it, idiot.
Merchants didn't use teleport magic. Only skilled mages could, and scrolls cost a fortune. Their goal was profit, not expense.
That armor looks pricey.
The woman beside him? Black market gold. And a beastkin to boot—double the price easy.
Double? Try ten times.
No formal slave trade existed, but the underworld thrived with it. The leader licked his lips eyeing Garba.
Wolf or dog beastkin by the ears. Train her right, and she'll be a loyal slave. Jackpot.
"Plenty of scrolls, so heading back should be easy too."
Sung-tae peeked into his pouch. The bandits' eyes bulged at the stack of teleport scrolls inside. Each cost tens of gold—enough to rival looting a massive caravan.
A pile of priceless scrolls, expensive-looking armor, and a stunning beastkin beauty. Greed lit the bandits' eyes.
Last night must've been a good omen. Luck rolled right in.
Rich like that? Definitely nobility. Cash and jewels too, no doubt. The leader whistled sharply, signaling his hidden men.
"What the—?"
"Humans were hiding since earlier. They've finally shown themselves."
"Heh, knew it, missy?"
The bandits drew swords, menacing the pair. Including archers still concealed in the woods, they numbered around a hundred—a notorious gang with bounties on their heads.
Demon Kings at least spared lives sometimes. These took everything. To common folk, post-hero era sans Demon King threats, they were more terrifying. Nestled near Ignis's land, people called them the Children of Ignis in dread.
"Hand over everything nice and easy. We'll kill you painless. Oh, missy, no worries. I'll kill you... on my bed."
"Kekeke. Once boss gets you, girl, you'll die dying."
Garba's pupils gleamed like a predator's. Human form had its perks, but men always provoked her like this upon seeing it. A mere hundred humans against us? Pathetic. Ten seconds in this form would suffice.
As Garba moved to act, Sung-tae blocked her.
"Bandits?"
"What, think we're saints? Dumbass noble."
"Just asking. You give off bandit vibes, but where I'm from, no bandits."
Sung-tae's eyes sparkled at them. Bandits right off the bat in the human realm? A thrill Earth could never offer.
"My lord?"
"Leave it to me. Wanna test my power first."
Past tests were on objects, monsters, or Garba—all too durable for fine-tuning future adventures. Magic circles helped control power, but practice was key. He'd gauge human-appropriate force against these bandits.
"Wonder how much to hold back to subdue without killing."
"Showing off for the girl, eh?"
The leader glared, irked by Sung-tae's disdain. No one beat their numbers. He'd slain famous adventurers before, knew crowd tactics, trusted his skill. Even a Special-rank legend? He'd escape.
Armor looks tough, but gaps aplenty.
And poison on the needles. His hand blurred like a magician's. A tiny needle struck true through the armor's eye slit—aimed for the pupil, instant death by toxin.
"Hm? What? You attack?"
What the—?
No one survived his ambush. Skill meant nothing against poison. But Sung-tae stood unharmed, stirring the leader's first unease.
"My turn then? Precious practice dummies for my adventure..."
Sung-tae blinked, clenched a fist.
"Don't die too quick, yeah?"
"Huh? What was that?"
Mukkebi looked skyward at the sudden thunder. The blood-red sky—had lust leaked out? But today's fresh lust was already in her belly.
"Sky's red."
Not lust's sticky crimson, but a hot, ominous red. Thunder frightened her a bit; she worried for Sung-tae.
"Something happen to Sung-tae? Sung-tae!"
Calling tentatively yielded no reply. Heart pounding, Mukkebi crouched, plugging her ears against the thunder.
"Please be okay..."
"Watch out! He's hiding something!"
Ambush failed, the leader bellowed. Ogre-slaying poison shrugged off? Hidden ace for sure.
Magic armor? Damn pricey.
Magic items skyrocketed in value with potency. Immunity to deadly poison? Greed gleamed in his eyes for Sung-tae's armor.
"Don't scratch the armor! It's valuable!"
"Then what do we hit?"
"Helmet! Smash the helmet—that's expendable!"
To them, Sung-tae—sans sword, bow, or staff—seemed defenseless. Even minimalist mages carried staves. Just a noble touring in fancy magic armor.
"Heh! Me first!"
"No, mine!"
Bandits charged, stabbing daggers at his helmet. Sung-tae stood still, observing.
Clang!
"What!?"
Like striking steel, not flesh. The first bandit's hand numbed; he recoiled. Armor and circles sealed his power, but durability remained—mere daggers couldn't scratch.
"Hm. This much force should suffice."
Sung-tae swung lightly. The still-reeling bandit's head vanished. A crisp, gruesome crack echoed through the woods.
Splat.
"Oops. Too strong."
Something grazed the leader's face. In that split instant, eyes met: his minion's head, blank with confusion. Bandits whipped toward the sound, like melons bursting in unison. Only the leader stared fixed at Sung-tae, tense.
"Eek!"
His comrade's face, crushed like under a horse's hoof. Hair and an eyeball rolling amid minced meat proved it once human. Decapitated, the body sprayed blood, convulsed, collapsed.
"Just two down! All at once!"
The leader's roar snapped them back. They charged Sung-tae and Garba en masse. Overwhelming strength witnessed, but numbers and orders quelled fear momentarily.
"Weaker still..."
Sung-tae punched a frontal bandit's gut. It burst like a water balloon, spilling innards. He kicked a flanker lighter—spine snapped, body twisted impossibly. Practicing amid the slaughter, he halted at the 53rd survivor.
"Getting the hang now."
"Gyaaah!!!"
Survivors fled, no longer attacking. Only instinct: escape the monster. Scattering every which way. Solely the leader held gaze on Sung-tae.
"Wanted more practice, but they all bolted."
"...Heh."
"You not running? I'd chase you anyway—saves effort."
"Your cockiness ends here!"
A scroll in the leader's hand. He grinned victoriously, thrusting it at Sung-tae.
"Didn't wanna waste it—your armor'll fetch a mint..."
"What's that?"
"Magic nullification scroll. No armor magic, no rampage!"
"Yeah, yeah. Sure."
Sung-tae nodded casually. But awareness hit—"magic nullification." He froze.
"Wha...t?"
"Heh. Getting it now?"
Magic Nullification Scroll. Nullification. Activation meant ten weeks' agony anew. Must stop it.
Realization: 0.3 seconds.
"Sto..."
Scroll tore, blue mana pulsed, nullification activated: 0.3 seconds.
"p..."
Final syllable: 0.4 seconds.
All in one second.
"Kahahaha! How's that!"
Ten weeks' effort.
One second.
"..."
Just one second!