Demon and Toy on the Way Home from School
On the way home from school. A little ways from the academy's main gate stood an old vending machine by the roadside.
Dahong paused mid-stride.
"Dahong-ssi?"
"I wanna drink something."
"You just had one a bit ago."
"This time I want something different."
Seha let out a sigh. She'd already swiped his student ID to buy bread and drinks without asking, and now she wanted soda too? With no choice, he fumbled for his card.
Beep.
"What do you want?"
"That one."
"You know it's carbonated?"
"Yeah."
Thud. A can dropped inside the machine.
Dahong bent down to retrieve it, then stared at it for a long moment. The design was a bit different from what she remembered.
She cracked it open. Hiss— The fizz bubbled up.
Dahong tilted the can and took a sip.
"Kyaah."
"Like it?"
"Yeah."
Dahong drank more, her face lighting up with pleasure. Seha chuckled at the sight.
Whatever. As long as she enjoyed it that much.
That was when it happened.
"Seha, right?"
A stranger's voice called out. Seha turned.
A man in a suit was approaching. His clothes were ordinary, but he exuded an intimidating pressure. Seha instinctively tensed up.
"Who are you?"
"Iron Claw Guild."
The man—Minseong—said. His eyes burned with hostility.
Iron Claw Guild. Seha had heard of them. An A-rank guild led by S-rank hunter Jeonghyeon, boasting solid strength and numbers. They danced on the line between legal and illegal.
"What does Iron Claw want with me?"
Minseong snorted in disbelief.
"The balls on you. After turning our guildmates into that."
"Huh? What are you talking about…."
Seha stepped back involuntarily under the man's glaring eyes.
But then.
Step. Step.
"……."
From the direction they'd come, more men in identical suits appeared. They'd deliberately blocked the escape route.
"Come quietly. We don't want a scene here."
The man said. More figures emerged behind him, weapons in hand.
"……."
Seha glanced at Dahong beside him. She was still casually sipping her drink, unfazed.
He muttered softly.
"Dahong-ssi, run and get help. I'll buy time."
Gulp. Pwah!
"…Dahong-ssi?"
"Yeah?"
"Did you hear me?"
"What'd you say?"
"Run and get help… Ugh, never mind."
Seha deflated at Dahong's laid-back attitude. He felt like an idiot for tensing up alone.
Seha raised both hands and shouted at the man.
"Look, there must be some misunderstanding! I've never even met any Iron Claw guild members!"
But the man didn't stop glaring.
"No use playing dumb. We know everything. Don't try anything stupid—just come along."
Seha was frustrated. What the hell had gone wrong…?
"No, really…. Huh? Dahong-ssi! Where are you going?!"
That's when Dahong strode forward boldly.
"Huh? They said follow."
"Not like that! You can't just go along with it!"
"Why not? Let's see. Looks fun."
"Jeez…."
Seha sighed at Dahong's carefree demeanor. But in this situation, there didn't seem to be many options. Calling the police looked dicey….
He sighed inwardly at the vigilant Iron Claw members.
"Fine. Keep your distance and follow. Make a wrong move, and you're done."
Minseong led Seha and Dahong to a secluded spot.
How long had they walked? They arrived at a massive warehouse on the city outskirts.
Dahong twitched her nose slightly. She sensed a considerable presence. Thick killing intent seeped through the door. Hatred, rage, a hint of anticipation. And tension from the group.
"Inside."
Minseong shoved Dahong and Seha in.
The interior was empty—or so it seemed. Not of objects, but of people armed to the teeth. Easily over thirty at a glance.
And in the center sat a man.
Crisp suit. Scar over one eye. Hands riddled with scars.
"You're here."
Seha swallowed hard. The man's presence was overwhelming. His eyes gleamed like a tiger's—chilling.
"You're the one who killed our guildmates."
Dahong didn't answer. She just took another sip of her drink.
Seha blurted desperately.
"Wait! There must be a misunderstanding! We really have no idea!"
Jeonghyeon scoffed.
"Not acting. You really don't know?"
As he slowly rose, the armed guild members stepped toward Dahong.
"……What?"
While Seha panicked, Dahong looked at him.
"Seha."
"Yes?"
"Sleep for a bit."
"Huh? Dahong…ssi…."
The moment Dahong's finger lightly touched Seha's forehead, his eyes glazed over and he crumpled.
Thud.
"……."
The atmosphere shifted slightly at the sight. Bewilderment, questions.
"A summoned beast ignoring its summoner's will."
Jeonghyeon muttered, intrigued.
"Not a proper one, huh?"
"……."
Red eyes turned to Jeonghyeon.
Hee-hee. They curved like crescent moons. Her lips stretched into a grin.
Some guild members gulped at the sinister sight.
That instant.
Riiip.Splatter!
The soda can in Dahong's hand tore in half, spilling its contents.
"……."
Dahong stared blankly at her ruined can. Drip… drip…. Her suit and shoes were a mess.
Jeonghyeon's lips curled up. A preemptive strike—his style. Provoke first, gauge the reaction. It revealed the opponent's level.
But there was no reaction.
And now, this summoned beast.
Shrrk. A line appeared from Dahong's shoulder to her chest. Blood beaded along it.
'Couldn't dodge.'
Jeonghyeon assessed inwardly. Tougher than expected. But she hadn't even noticed his attack. Either green in battle or just average.
"Still smiling?"
Dahong's gaze shifted to Jeonghyeon.
"…Heh."
As she grinned, Jeonghyeon's fingertips glowed again.
Kiiing—! Steel claws. The guild's name wasn't for show.
Dahong twisted slightly.
Kwaa! Massive claw marks scarred the spot she'd stood.
"Good choice."
Jeonghyeon grinned viciously. She'd dodged—with minimal movement. Sharp instincts.
But.
'That's it.'
Dodging on instinct and reading combat were different. Jeonghyeon had over thirty years in the field. No one had ever evaded him purely on gut forever.
"Hm."
Dahong's red eyes swept the floor, then locked forward.
"Fun."
She said. Jeonghyeon bared his teeth in a laugh.
Kwaa! He kicked off, shattering his chair in the wind pressure. An unprepared guild member flew back. Cracks fanned out on the ground.
Shraang! Shraaak! Lines slashed across walls and floor.
Dahong grabbed Seha by the scruff and leaped back. Jeonghyeon didn't let her.
He charged with fiercer momentum, refusing to lose her.
One step. Two.
Dahong was cornered.
'Got you!'
Jeonghyeon exulted inwardly. Even the fastest became predictable against a wall.
The moment Dahong's back hit it.
Splat—!Splurt!
Her pants tore, exposing pale thigh as blood sprayed.
Low cheers rose from the guild members.
"It works, hyungnim!"
"Rip her apart!"
Jeonghyeon accelerated.
Shraaak! Boom! Shraaaa—!
Meanwhile.
A gaze watched from outside.
'Th-that's an S-rank fight…!'
It was Sangjun. Simple reason: he wanted to see it. Seha in trouble. Seha in peril.
Unlike him, who'd lost his Salamander and flipped out, Seha strutted the academy carefree. Infuriating.
So he'd come.
But.
'What the hell is happening…!'
Sangjun pressed against the dusty window.
Flash. Jeonghyeon's fingers moved at blinding speed. Hard to track. Just flashes, then results: lines on the floor, cracked walls, Dahong's clothes shredding.
'Why are an S-rank hunter and Seha's summoned beast fighting?'
Sangjun swallowed unconsciously. The reason didn't matter.
'…She's helpless.'
What mattered: that beast would soon be butchered by an S-rank.
That moment.
Jeonghyeon maxed his mana. His steel claws blazed brighter. His reserved finisher.
"Die!"
Kwaaaang!!
Five slashes engulfed Dahong. She flew back, punching a hole in the wall amid rising dust.
Rumble.
'Over.'
Minseong thought. Rare for hyungnim to go all out. She must've been S-rank caliber.
But that hit landed clean. Even if alive, not unscathed.
All eyes fixed on the dust cloud. A figure staggered out.
Jeonghyeon laughed heartily.
"Kuhaha! Moving after that?!"
The shadow approached unsteadily.
But….
"…What?"
"Th-that's…!"
The guild members panicked, staring at the shadow.
From the dust emerged a bloodied man—their own comrade.
"H-hyun…nim…."
He mumbled and collapsed forward.
"…!?"
Jeonghyeon whipped around frantically. When!?
"All done?"
The voice came from behind.
Whoosh!!
Jeonghyeon slashed back wildly.
"Gaaah!!"
The wall exploded, concrete raining down. A guild member who couldn't dodge spewed blood and fell.
But Dahong's white suit was merely nicked at the hem—otherwise fine.
Jeonghyeon faltered briefly, then bellowed.
"You bitch, what trick did you pull?!"
"Dunno. Didn't do much. Your attacks weren't worth it."
"You dare…!"
Jeonghyeon surged more mana. His steel claws grew longer, sharper.
Shraaaak!!
Five slashes bore down. Dust billowed.
But.
'……?'
No feedback. Something felt off—different from before.
Jeonghyeon panted, staring at his hand. Fingers bent wildly.
Pain hit late.
"…Kuhk!"
He gritted his teeth, clutching his wrist.
"Hyungnim!"
Minseong's cry made him look up.
Dahong stood unmoved. Red eyes fixed on him.
"Damn!"
Jeonghyeon swung his good hand. No slash came. His fingers were severed.
"Gaaaaah!!"
He collapsed.
"Okay."
Dahong pondered, then snapped her fingers as if inspired.
"Maybe ask Seha about getting a cat?"
"…You bitch!"
Dahong sighed.
"Honestly, disappointed."
"What…?"
"You've only fought weaker foes, huh? You don't know how to fight at all. Just swinging your power around. Total baby level."
Jeonghyeon gaped up at her. Him, with over thirty years of combat, ignorant of fighting?
"Seeing you, maybe Teacher Seoyeun's weaker than I thought. Or stronger?"
"You damned bitch…! What the hell?!"
"Oh, sorry. Not your business. Ready to end this? Wanna go home."
"Raaaaah!!! Die!"
Jeonghyeon charged with his broken fingers.
But….
Shwaak—
"Wha—wha…."
Splat.Thud.
A vertically bisected hunk of meat toppled slowly—six pieces.
Dahong's torn, soiled suit was pristine again.
She eyed the spreading blood pool indifferently, then turned.
"Next?"
"Gaaah!!"
"M-monster bitch…!!"
"Hiiiik!"
Screams erupted everywhere. Their pillar had fallen gruesomely.
"Haa…."
Dahong sighed, bored. This was why underlings were trouble….
But she had no intention of letting them go.
Half-assed mercy bred comebacks. Hell's lesson.
"I'm busy too. Let's wrap this quick."
"Sp-spare—!"
Shraaak! One man bisected at her gesture.
"Hiiiiaaak!!"
A nearby man soaked in blood collapsed, pants wetting.
"Ew, gross."
His head soon flew.
The warehouse became a slaughterhouse.
"Please spare me!!!!""D-don't wanna die!!"
"There, no pain~ No pain~. Or maybe a little. Kyahahahaha!!"
A fleeing man's legs severed. Crash. A headless corpse flopped atop a trembling one.
A beggar's hands vanished.
Some charged in terror, but became meat before reaching her.
"……."
Sangjun couldn't close his eyes. He shouldn't look, but couldn't stop.
Gaaah. Kraaah. Endless screams inside.
And Dahong's laughter. High, gleeful.
Sangjun's hairs stood with each peal. Her lips to her ears. Arms spread like dancing, eyes closed.
Forgetting to breathe, that instant.
Dahong's crescent eyes turned to him.
"…!!"
Sangjun dropped reflexively.
'D-did she spot me?'
Blood drained from him.
He dragged his numb legs and bolted, back turned.
A business card fell from his pocket unnoticed.
"H-heuk…!"
Red eyes chased him, he felt. Sangjun ran on pure survival instinct.