Demon
Demon
Several people were seated around a long rectangular table.
Regardless of their varied races, genders, or ages, the gathered individuals shared one common trait: they all had some part of them that had strayed beyond being human.
Some had arms thick with fur resembling an animal's, some had eyes that were slit vertically, and some had lower bodies reminiscent of a beast's.
The identities of those gathered here now were none other than Demons.
Furthermore, they were the executives who had received the greatest power among the Demons spread across the world.
Tap- Tap- Tap-
The sound of knocking on the table echoed through the room.
Gulp...
The Demons, who possessed power that an ordinary Awakened couldn't even hope to match, listened to the sound from the table as if they had committed some crime, tense and quiet, waiting for someone to speak.
Tap!
The man sitting at the head of the table, who had been tapping it while wiggling his fingers. The man who was the only one here with a perfect human appearance and whom the Demons called The Prophet, stopped his finger.
"I have decided. Let's withdraw our hands from the Korean Peninsula and its surrounding areas."
"B-but, doing so would cause losses to our grand undertaking..."
A reply directly contradicting the man's decision. The eyes of The Prophet, seated at the head, rolled towards the Demon with horse-like legs sitting near the middle of the table who had spoken.
And the moment their eyes met.
Keuhk!! Kghulk!
The Demon vomited blood without any warning. The Prophet looked down at him, who had naturally bowed his head, and spoke calmly.
"We have already failed three times. And the last one was a loss so severe we can't just brush it off. What do you think is the reason we wasted these three opportunities?"
Kghulk kghulk! Keu... It's, it's...
"It was entirely due to insufficient information. Did you not see this time? That young dragon you all kept boasting you would present to me. That dragon's true identity was an ancient dragon possessing power enough to sway the world. Moreover, it seems the Association and South Korea were well aware of that fact... Why were we the only ones who didn't know until now?"
As The Prophet's words continued, the Demon's body gradually cracked, melted, and crumbled. In response, the Demon pushed himself up from the chair, slammed his head against the floor, and begged for forgiveness.
"I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry! Prophet-isiyeo, please have mercy!"
"I do not discourage loyal advice regarding my opinions, but foolishness that cannot read the situation is unforgivable."
"J-just one more chance...!"
"I have already given you three chances. If you cannot be governed by words, then the rod must be used. I will reclaim the power I bestowed upon you."
As The Prophet stretched out his hand, black Magic Power was forcibly extracted from the Demon's body and returned to The Prophet's.
The Demon's body, having lost its magic power, shriveled up, became mummified, and collapsed to the floor.
The Prophet averted his gaze from the dead Demon and spoke as if explaining to the other tightly wound individuals.
"I am not saying to let go completely. I am suggesting we reduce activity around Asia and focus on the European side. Who are the compatriots currently in charge of Japan and China?"
At his words, a woman of small stature with ram-like horns raised her hand.
"You are..."
"Th-the one in charge of Japan is K-Kohaku Mei."
"I see. Then China is..."
When no one raised their hand, the man seated next to The Prophet answered.
"That is the man from whom you just reclaimed your power."
"I see. Hmm... How to handle this."
"If it's alright, may I recommend new talent?"
"Of course."
With The Prophet's permission, the man sitting beside him, Jefferson, clapped his hands, and a dark gate opened behind him, from which a man walked out.
A man wearing the same black attire as ordinary Demons knelt before The Prophet the moment he emerged.
"Robert Stone. He is a child I have raised. He will be able to withstand it even if you bestow power upon him, Prophet-isiyeo."
"Jefferson. If it's your decision, I can trust it. Come here now."
At The Prophet's call, Robert carefully stood up and approached closely.
And as Robert drew near, The Prophet's hand reached over and touched the top of his head.
Through the hand, viscous black Magic Power flowed in.
Then Robert's body writhed and twisted, and before long, his clothes tore as his frame grew larger and his lower body transformed into a horse-like form.
"As you said, he truly withstood it."
"Thank you."
"Then, Robert. From now on, you will be in charge of managing China."
"I receive the Prophet-nim's command."
Robert took out new clothing to replace his torn clothes and put them on, then took the seat of the Demon who had just died as if it were his own.
A natural seating as if it had always been his place.
Now that the seats were full again, The Prophet nodded satisfactorily and spoke.
"Let us reduce activities in Japan and China. Instead, the Demons of those two nations must devote their full efforts to gathering information on South Korea. Especially focus on collecting information about that dragon. I permit all methods except for violence that might expose us to them."
""Yes!!""
"For the time being, our activities will center on Europe and Africa. However, exercise caution in activities within the United Kingdom. Soon, a gate possessing formidable magic power will pass over to that side."
As The Prophet finished speaking, a man raised his hand.
He was a man with wolf-like arms, similar to the now-deceased Sahwi.
He was a Demon named Edmund, who commanded the Demons active in the United Kingdom.
"You may speak."
"If it warrants a warning from you, Prophet-nim, it surely is no ordinary gate. Could you possibly provide more detailed information?"
"Hmm... I only know it is heading in that direction. I don't know the specifics. However, to add a note, just know that it had a mysterious form."
"Thank you!"
"Now, I have said all I need to say. Everyone, return and begin your activities."
The Prophet, who was the first to rise from his seat, opened a gate and entered it.
After he left, the Demons remaining at the table glanced at each other and left their seats one by one.
The last three to remain were Jefferson, Robert, and Kohaku Mei.
Jefferson, who had recommended Robert to The Prophet, was the first to speak.
"Aren't you leaving, Miss Kohaku?"
"Th-that's... I was going to coordinate with Mister Robert..."
"Ah, I see. Then, please wait a moment."
"Y-yes."
Jefferson, who could rightfully be called The Prophet's right-hand man among the Demons, asked Kohaku to wait and spoke to Robert.
"I recommended you because I believed in your potential and my own judgment, so you must not disappoint him. Understand?"
"Don't worry. I will bring back results that will satisfy him."
"Enthusiasm is good, but be careful. Our operations in South Korea have already failed three times, and that dragon's power is not lacking even compared to the Prophet-nim's."
"Yes, I will always exercise caution in operations."
"Good. Then I will trust and wait."
Jefferson, rising from his seat, opened a gate like the others and disappeared into it.
Now only two Demons remained: Robert and Kohaku.
"U-um. How will you proceed?"
"You mean regarding information gathering?"
"Yes, yess. I-I've already planted someone within the Korean Association side. I-I was wondering how you would handle things over there."
"Good initiative. I have just taken charge of the Chinese branch. I suppose I need to learn about the branch first before starting information collection."
As he said, Robert was a Demon who, until just moments ago, had been carrying out missions under Jefferson.
And Jefferson's location was the United States.
A country completely different from China in politics, culture, society, and environment.
Before he could begin activities following The Prophet's command, there was a mountain of things he needed to learn.
"Th-then! It's okay if I start first, right?"
"Confident tone. How do you plan to extract information?"
"Th-that's... S-since he said violence is not allowed... I-I was thinking of using hypnosis."
"Hypnosis? Is that your ability?"
"Y-yes! Then, when you finish organizing the branch, p-please call me. I'll also share all the information I've gathered by then."
"I express my gratitude. And I truly hope your plan succeeds."
"Th-thank you!"
Kohaku bowed her head and, as if all discussions were finished, opened a gate and left the place.
Now alone at the table, Robert.
He recalled Kohaku, who had been with him just moments ago, and muttered to himself.
"She's not a normal bitch either."
The expression of Kohaku he recalled was clearly smiling, but it was only with her mouth.
Her horizontally elongated pupils rolled around, scrutinizing Robert thoroughly, and the voice coming from her mouth, separate from being timid and trembling, eerily stimulated Robert's emotions.
As if she were hypnotizing him.
Breaking free from the forced emotional disturbance, Robert confirmed no one was around and carefully reached into his inner pocket.
There, stuck just above his chest, was a semi-transparent, very small listening device.
Robert, who had worried whether it might be discovered or damaged when his body changed and his clothes tore while receiving power from The Prophet, let out a sigh of relief.
And after confirming the listening device was functioning normally, he spoke quietly.
"This is Cuckoo. I have successfully entered the nest. Please relay further instructions through the Chinese Association."
Having finished speaking, Robert opened a gate as if nothing had happened and slipped out of the place.
Robert Stone, newly made a Demon executive.
His true identity was none other than a black operative belonging to the Awakened Association's Information Department.