[EP6. Amusement Park]
Crunch crunch!
"Gaaahhh!"
In just a few movements, one of An Jeong-mu's arms vanished.
Jae-jun swung Michael's sword and swiftly pulled An Jeong-mu away.
An Jeong-mu thrashed like he was having a seizure a few times before passing out.
Too bad!
I wanted to eat more.
But my belly's full now.
My energy's topped off too.
Flap!
Zagan spread his wings, revealing his massive bulk as he landed in front of Jae-jun.
"Human."
"No, demon."
"No, something that's neither."
With all three heads speaking at once, it was hard to make sense of it.
"Aren't you curious what you'll become?"
"I'm the one who uncovers secrets."
"Hand over your soul, and I'll reveal it to you."
Zagan's six eyes glowed with the same eerie heat they'd fixed on An Jeong-mu, now turned on Jae-jun.
Demon Zagan casts Fascination.
Resisted due to user's mana level.
It felt like blood rushed to his face, then drained away.
And right away, another system window popped up.
A quest has been generated.
Slay Demon Zagan!
Demon Zagan is a demon summoned to the human world by the Demon King of Sloth, Belphegor.
With three heads, it pierces through others' secrets and is consumed by curiosity.
Whenever hunger strikes, it unleashes slaughter.
Slay it before the slaughter begins!
📍 Reward: Erased Memory
🎁 Failure: Death
He'd expected a quest to trigger before battling a demon.
But.
'Reward: Erased Memory?'
Jae-jun's mind reeled.
Erased memories... of his?
Color drained from his face in an instant.
When the hell?
He shook his head.
Whatever. Killing this thing would reveal it, right?
Smack!
He slapped his own cheek hard.
'Focus!'
Jae-jun raised Michael's sword.
Zagan eyed the blade with fear.
Acceleration!
Jae-jun's body shot forward, closing the distance to Zagan in a blink.
Zagan's right foot lashed out, claws gleaming as it swiped at him.
Shockingly, the claws deflected Michael's blade.
Cheon-gang!
Cheon-gang activated!
Flash!
The deflected sword whipped around in an instant, aiming straight for Zagan's heart.
"Kraaaah!"
Zagan bellowed and thrust out his left foot.
This time, it couldn't deflect—the blade sliced clean through.
Slash!
The left foot was half-severed, mangled and dangling.
Demon Realm's Prison Fire!
Demon Realm's Prison Fire activated!
Whoosh!
Flames swirled around Zagan in a vortex, but it showed no damage.
'Magic won't work.'
Jae-jun switched tactics, closing in for close combat.
Gurgle gurgle!
Bubbling sounds came from all three mouths, then they spewed forth like breath attacks.
Blink!
Jae-jun dodged desperately, but foam grazed his left arm, burning it black.
'Damn it!'
Archangel's Salvation!
Archangel's Salvation activated!
Heals wounds!
Worsens enemy's wounds!
The charred flesh on Jae-jun's arm regenerated as if nothing had happened.
"Kraaaah!"
Conversely, Zagan's half-severed left foot, which had been healing, burst open with a splatter.
Jae-jun seized the opening and charged again.
Shadow Slash!
Shadow Slash activated!
Zagan leaped back, spreading his wings.
Whoosh—
Fine powder scattered from the wings.
Demon Zagan casts Fascination.
Resisted due to user's mana level.
Jae-jun held the blade to his chest and charged forward, slicing through the wind.
Alarm showed on all three of Zagan's faces.
"He resists Fascination."
"How is that possible?"
"This guy's weird!"
Flash flash!
Jae-jun leaped at Zagan and swung Michael's sword.
The demon didn't block—it dodged.
It had learned that blocking meant a second strike from Cheon-gang.
In that case.
Shadow Slash!
Shadow Slash activated!
Flash!
Zagan twisted away, dodging.
The blade tip grazed it.
When Jae-jun landed and checked, blood was flowing from its right side.
Blink!
Jae-jun wouldn't let the chance slip.
Blade Storm!
Blade Storm activated!
Dozens of flaming swords filled the air around them.
"Wait!"
"Spare me, and I'll tell you every secret!"
"Even the Demon King's location and weaknesses!"
"I know every secret you desire!"
Zagan shouted desperately.
'Every secret?'
Jae-jun nearly fell for it, but a system chime snapped him back.
Demon Zagan casts Fascination.
Resisted due to user's mana level.
"Tch!"
Zagan saw the failed Fascination in Jae-jun's eyes and turned to flee.
Its wings—griffon wings—propelled it skyward with each beat at tremendous speed.
"Hestia!"
Jae-jun mounted Hestia and gave chase.
The demon's Fascination skill was a real pain.
Letting it live and escape would just make it a future headache.
Besides.
He had to know what that erased memory quest reward was.
Crunch!
Zagan's back came into view.
Blade Storm!
Blade Storm activated!
Flaming swords pursued, targeting its back.
Zagan twisted midair to dodge, but couldn't evade them all.
Boom!
Slash!
Swords focused on the wings downed it, sending its body reeling.
"It's over!"
Jae-jun swung Michael's sword without missing a beat.
But Zagan had been watching for an opening too.
Its snake-like tail struck from a blind spot, aiming for Jae-jun's throat.
Whish!
The ace up Zagan's sleeve to the end.
Its venomous tail.
You'll die without ever knowing you got hit by the tail!
Drop dead in one shot!
But Zagan's trump card was blocked cold.
Counter Passive triggered!
Clang!
Stab!
Michael's sword pierced Zagan's heart dead-on.
And that wasn't all.
Jae-jun yanked the blade free and triggered Shadow Slash.
Slash!
Slash!
Slash!
The three heads floated in the air, spurting blood.
The six eyes glared at Jae-jun.
"I see your future!"
"We'll meet again—you and I!"
"We will meet again!"
"Shut up!"
Jae-jun swung once more, shattering the heads to pieces.
Splat splat splat!
Zagan's corpse hit the ground and melted into a bloody puddle before vanishing.
Quest complete: Slay Demon Zagan!
◈ Orb moved to inventory.
◈ Use the orb to recover erased memories.
'Whew!'
It was over.
Jae-jun rode Hestia back to the ground and let out a sigh.
He'd thrown himself in without thinking, terrified Hye-seon might get hurt.
Hwang Dong-su and Hunter Association staff approached from behind.
Hwang Dong-su came up to Jae-jun.
"Your sister and her friend have been evacuated to safety."
"Good."
Hwang Dong-su eyed the bloodstains on the ground.
"Looks like things are wrapped up here too. I'll head out then."
"Hunter, let me escort you."
"No need. You've got work."
Hwang Dong-su stood before Jae-jun looking like he desperately needed to use the bathroom.
"Something you wanna say?"
"...The president wants to see you urgently."
"Eh. Not today. Tomorrow."
Hwang Dong-su's face relaxed only after getting a firm answer.
"Understood. See you then."
Jae-jun mounted Hestia and headed to the front of the amusement park.
'Huh?'
Somehow, there were even more people now.
What the—
He figured it out when he landed.
"That's him! The hunter who saved me!"
"D-dragon? A real dragon!"
Cameras swarmed toward Jae-jun.
The growing crowd was reporters and broadcasters who'd heard about the incident at the park.
Soldiers and association staff blocked the front, but couldn't stop the shutters clicking.
"Shoot!"
"Hey! Can we get an interview?"
"Hunter, just once!"
Jae-jun dodged the cameras and stares, approaching an association staffer.
"Where's my sister?"
"Ah... yes! One moment!"
Hye-seon and her friends soon appeared.
Jae-jun unsummoned Hestia.
Then he spoke to the staffer again.
"...Could you call a taxi?"
He couldn't ride Hestia with all these eyes, and a bus was out of the question.
"...We'll give you a ride."
"...Thanks."
Jae-jun didn't refuse.
Thank you.