The Devourer's Shadow
SUBJECT:Lucien Moreau
ALIAS:L'Mangeur (The Devourer)
CLASSIFICATION:Unregistered Hunter / Serial Killer
• Awakened through illegal climbing after the Babel Tower appeared in Paris.
• Suspected of kidnapping and murdering multiple hunters in France.
• Exposed 8 years ago when he kidnapped Singaporean hunter Tan Weiming. Rescuers found Tan bound, moments away from heart extraction.
• When questioned about his motives, Moreau replied: "I was going to eat it."
• The exact trait that allowed him to overpower a high-level hunter remains unknown.
• Denied all murder charges, claiming he "never killed anyone." Prosecuted only for kidnapping due to lack of direct evidence for other cases.
• France rejected Singapore's extradition request, causing a diplomatic rupture. His current status and punishment remain classified.
• France claims he is under strict surveillance and issued a statement allowing foreign hunters to kill him on sight inside the Tower, but international skepticism remains high.
• After 8 years of absence, rumors suggest he was executed in secret or died in the Tower. His existence has faded into an urban legend.
"I don't believe France killed Lucien Moreau," Choi Muryeong said.
His stance was the exact opposite of the public consensus.
He seemed convinced that Lucien Moreau was still under the protection of the French Hunter Bureau.
And that was precisely why he was trying to stop me from going to Paris.
"Considering how tightly they control all information regarding him..."
"..."
"The French government definitely hasn't abandoned Lucien Moreau."
His voice was filled with absolute conviction.
"If you're that worried," I said, pulling out my tablet and handing it to him, "take a look at this."
On the screen were the profiles of the three hunters France had assigned to accompany me.
Arnaud, Mia, and Chloe.
They were the core members who had previously raided the 50th floor alongside France's former number one hunter.
"Is he on here?" I asked.
"...No, he isn't."
"Then what's the problem?"
When I asked nonchalantly, Choi Muryeong's eyebrows twitched ever so slightly.
"That may be true, but..."
"But?"
"It's dangerous. We cannot afford to ignore even the slightest possibility—"
"Tsk, tsk."
I clicked my tongue.
"Do you still not know me?"
"...Excuse me?"
"You should be worrying about him, not me."
"..."
"Didn't you say they even issued a statement saying it's fine to kill him if we run into him in the Tower?"
"Yes, but..."
"Then, logically speaking, do you think I'm the one in danger?"
"..."
"That bastard is the one who should be terrified."
Perhaps because he couldn't deny it, Choi Muryeong hung his head in silence.
He stared at the floor for a long moment before finally speaking.
"In that case..."
He murmured quietly.
"...I will accompany you."
Huh?
Where did that suddenly come from?
"What did you say?"
"Please allow me to go with you."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
It wasn't like we were going to a neighbor's house.
Did he think I'd just let him tag along because he asked nicely?
Unbelievable.
First Do Sangjin, and now Choi Muryeong?
And this guy probably doesn't even know how to cook.
"Hey, do you know how to make kimchi stew?"
"...Excuse me?"
"I asked if you know how to make soybean paste stew."
"Why... why are you asking that?"
"What about rolled omelets?"
"..."
Choi Muryeong stared at me with a completely bewildered expression.
Why would I bring along someone who can't even cook?
And besides...
"Don't you know that if you get involved, the baggage will outweigh the benefits?"
"..."
It was true.
As for me, I wasn't even ranked globally yet.
Compared to Choi Muryeong, my price tag and the political burden were far lighter.
That was exactly why France had reached out to me in the first place.
I was well aware of that fact.
But if Choi Muryeong suddenly joined the mix?
"Would the Association even give you permission?"
"..."
Choi Muryeong remained silent.
Then, after a brief pause, he spoke.
"So all I need to do is get permission?"
Wow.
This guy is a real piece of work.
I decided to spend the remaining week before departure clearing the 50th floor.
The 50s were floors where flying monsters appeared in droves.
Among them, the 50th floor was just a mild appetizer.
Instead of all kinds of wyverns, only harpies spawned there.
Of course, the harpies' mental attacks were a bit tricky.
But since any hunter challenging the 50th floor usually possessed at least one mental defense item or skill, it wasn't a major issue.
I could have cleared it alone, but since I had to run a party raid in France, I decided to run it with my team members two or three times first.
However...
"...Where is Jumin, and why is Hunter Choi here?"
"I am your supporter today," Choi Muryeong replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
No, that wasn't what I was asking.
"Taepyeong, didn't you invite Hunter Choi?" Baek Harim asked.
"Why would I do that?"
I looked at Baek Harim with a dumbfounded expression.
"He said you did, so I sent Jumin to an internet cafe with his friends."
"No, Hyung. Does Hunter Choi look like a supporter to you?"
Baek Harim laughed awkwardly at my question.
"Well, he is a bit overkill for a supporter..."
"That's not what I meant!"
Ugh, this is so frustrating.
I thumped my chest in exasperation.
"Just leave it to me. I will do my best at whatever is required," Choi Muryeong responded calmly.
Wow, look at him.
I had no idea he could be this shameless.
"Look, I hate sharing kills, so while I'm still being nice—"
"I will only support you, Hunter Lee."
"..."
This guy is a total nutcase.
You can't reason with him.
"Hunter Lee," Cha Yerin whispered in my ear.
"He looks kind of pitiful. Let's just let him tag along."
Choi Muryeong was already marching toward the entry portal on his own, preparing to enter.
"...Hunter Cha, do not let Choi Muryeong draw any aggro under any circumstances."
"Of course. He did say he's a supporter, after all."
"Don't worry, Taepyeong."
Cha Yerin and Baek Harim giggled as they took their positions.
Whoosh!
When I opened my eyes again...
Whoosh...!
It was the 50th floor.
The Harpy's Nest.
Dozens of nests lined the cliffs, and countless harpies clung to the rock faces.
Snap!
Snap!
Snap!
They all snapped their heads toward us simultaneously.
"They're coming!" Cha Yerin shouted.
At the same time, the harpies spread their wings and soared into the sky with a flurry of feathers.
They flew in a swirling vortex, designed to amplify their high-frequency shrieks and project them as far as possible.
Screeech!
It was an unpleasant screech, like sharp fingernails scraping down a blackboard.
It didn't just grate on the nerves; it felt like it was tearing them apart.
An ordinary hunter would have fallen to their knees right here.
However...
Tap.
I lightly tapped my earring.
Whoosh...
The sound of wind, echoing like a soft whistle, blocked out the harpies' shrieks.
Cackle!
Cackle, cackle!
Of course, because of their sheer numbers, the cries of a few still managed to pierce my ears.
It was fine at first.
But if you ignored it, the mental damage would accumulate until you lost your mind without even realizing it.
That was the danger of the Harpy's Nest.
France's number one hunter must have fallen victim to this as well.
He probably fought desperately until his mental power was completely depleted.
Then, to avoid becoming a slave to the harpies and attacking his own allies, he must have leaped into the boss's nest and blown himself up.
It was the result of climbing to the 50th floor too early for his actual capabilities.
Likely due to the strong urging of his government.
I heard he was a decent hunter in his own right...
The French government, blinded by greed for Contribution Points, had essentially slaughtered the goose that laid the golden eggs.
Screeech!!!
The harpies began to swarm toward Cha Yerin.
"Ugh, so noisy."
Even with the item's effect, my ears stung.
Shhhk.
I drew the Calamity Sword.
I wonder if gathering enough of these harpies' shrieks would have any effect.
On the day I first swept through the 50th floor harpies and returned, Imir had wept and begged.
He said he could tolerate the cries of other monsters, but he absolutely couldn't stand the harpies.
"Please spare me, Master!"
I didn't care back then, so I ignored him.
But hearing it again now, it really was annoying.
Dash!
I kicked off the ground and leaped into the air.
Snap!
Snap!
Snap!
The heads of the harpies rushing toward Cha Yerin spun 180 degrees to look at me.
At the same time, the direction of their vortex shifted.
Stupid birdbrains.
They were disgustingly grotesque.
I needed to sweep them away quickly.
"Imir."
When I called his name, frost began to billow from the void stone.
"Maximum output."
The Calamity Sword was clad in the freezing chill of the snowy mountains.
Slash!
I swung my sword in rapid succession.
Cackle, cackle!
However, I wasn't actually cutting the harpies.
They were flying at a height my blade couldn't reach in the first place.
Whoosh!
Swoosh!
The sword kept slicing through empty air.
Cackle, cackle!
Screeech!
The harpies shrieked and cackled mockingly, as if laughing at my futile swings.
Swirl!
It didn't matter.
What I was aiming for was something else entirely.
ROAR!
I wasn't slashing at the harpies; I was slashing at the "vortex" they had created.
Every time I swung my sword, the frost Imir unleashed rode the updraft of the vortex.
An icy gale, as freezing as the northern winds blowing across a snow-covered mountain peak...
WHOOSH!
...began to swallow the swarm of harpies.
Screeech!
Shrieeek!
By the time they realized that the very vortex they had created had turned into a blizzard that was consuming them, it was already too late.
Their wings began to freeze solid.
Screeech!
Thud!
Shrieeek!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Harpies began to rain down from the sky, crashing heavily onto the ground.
Now then,
shall we start the slaughter?