Training with the Demon (2)
“Uha, ahaha? Kihehehe!! Aigoo! Kyahaha…!”
Dahong clutched her stomach, laughing. Tears welled up in her eyes. It was just too perfect. The sight of that empty-headed kid charging out to his death. So innocent. If the summoner dies, the contract breaks, huh.
“Haa….”
What an absurdly naive idea. If she said she’d chop off Seha’s limbs, gouge out his eyes, and keep him imprisoned forever, what kind of face would he make? Besides, Dahong could exist here without any such constraints. Because from the start, she was an intruder who’d hijacked the summoning ritual. So whether Seha lived or died had nothing to do with her.
…But it wasn’t all bad.
“Seha!”
Isol and Harin came running. They sprinted with all their might, but it wasn’t enough to catch up to the skeleton knight’s horse legs.
Thud thud thud—!!
The horse hooves echoed loudly. The long sword rose high. Seha squeezed his eyes shut.
Thwack.
“Ugh—!”
But no impact came. He opened his eyes. Dahong stood in front of him. She was gripping the long sword barehanded.
“Earthquake in your legs? Hilarious.”
As Dahong let go of the sword, the skeleton knight staggered.
“U, ugh!”
Seha kept moving on his trembling legs. The skeleton knight’s glowing eyes followed him. The sword swung toward Seha again.
Clang!
Dahong raised her arm and deflected the blade.
“……!”
Having its attack interrupted twice, the skeleton knight finally turned its gaze to Dahong.
“Now that I’ve seen something fun, I’ll play along with your intentions, just this once.”
“!”
Seha’s eyes widened.
“Kuooh!!”
Like it was furious, the skeleton knight arched its upper body back and brought its sword crashing down on Dahong. She twisted her body effortlessly, dodging the blade, then reached out toward the knight’s form.
“Watch closely, Seha. You can do this too.”
“……?”
Mana gathered around Dahong’s body. The collected mana shot out from her palm with full force.
Boom!
The shockwave shoved the skeleton knight back.
“……Mana directly!?”
Seha’s eyes went wide.
“You don’t even need to learn magic. You can just use raw mana to create an impact like this. It’s super inefficient, though.”
“…….”
As if realizing something, Seha stood there blankly, staring at his own hands.
“What are you doing?!”
Just then, Harin rushed in and shoved Seha aside with her shoulder.
Clang!!
She blocked the long sword with her axe. Thud! Seha fell on his butt.
“Th-thanks…!”
“Get up, you idiot!”
Harin pushed back against the sword with all her strength.
“Haaah!”
Isol appeared from the blind spot and thrust her sword. Thud! The skeleton knight raised its shield to block the strike from behind. But…
Bam!
Jinho charged in like a tank, tower shield up, slamming into the knight. Rattle. The skeleton knight staggered badly.
“Now, give it a try.”
Dahong nodded at Seha, as if this was the perfect moment. Still on the ground, Seha cupped his hands and drew up his mana.
Whoosh!
He felt a massive amount of mana gathering in his arms. Aiming for the head.
Boom!
The recoil was enormous as a mana bolt fired from his palm.
Crack!
“……!”
A crack formed in the skeleton knight’s jaw. The impact was huge—its blue glow flickered wildly.
“It landed! First damage!”
Jinho shouted.
“Iyaaap!”
Harin didn’t miss the opening and swung her axe. Crunch! The blade tore through the breastplate, shattering the ribs. Bone fragments flew.
“Got it!”
Isol yelled.
“……Kraaah!!!”
But the skeleton knight didn’t collapse. Instead, it roared in rage and went berserk.
Boom—!
Its hooves stomped the ground. Jinho raised his shield, but the impact sent him sliding back. Isol landed and pulled Seha to his feet.
“You okay?”
“Y-yeah!”
Boom!
Seha looked up to see Jinho and Harin trading blows with the rampaging knight. He reached out again.
Whoosh—! Boom!
Even in its frenzy, the skeleton knight precisely blocked Seha’s attack. Its burning gaze turned to him. It had marked Seha as the biggest threat.
Clop!
“Whoa!”
The knight stomped forward powerfully. Jinho tried to block, but without solid footing, it wasn’t enough. As the knight’s shadow fell over Seha—
Ting!
Dahong intervened, deflecting the sword once more.
“Dahong!”
“Sis!”
“You’re really getting your money’s worth out of me, huh?”
“That’s not what I meant right now…!”
“Good job, summon!”
Crunch!
Harin’s axe, a beat late, sliced into the knight’s shoulder bone—the one holding the shield.
“Kraaaah!!”
The furious skeleton knight swung at Harin’s red hair. But even that was blocked by a quick shield.
“Keep it up like this! Just hold on, and we win!”
Harin shouted, starting to support Jinho’s tanking. Sensing its end, the knight ignored defense and rampaged wildly.
“Seha, let’s go!”
“…!”
Not alone, but us. Seha’s eyes sparkled with joy. Isol charged with her sword raised, and Seha cupped his hands again.
The mood shifted. What had been a close 3-on-1 now tilted decisively once Seha joined. He gathered mana to max and fired bolts. Each hit made the knight reel, followed by Harin’s axe flashing and bones scattering.
They traded blows for a while like that.
“Kraaah….”
The skeleton knight groaned slowly, its half-shattered jaw hanging open. Then its body slowly crumbled.
Crack, crash!
Bones poured down in a heap. The glow in the skull faded.
“……Did we get it?”
Jinho panted.
Isol poked the bone pile with her sword tip. No movement.
“Phew—!”
Harin lowered her axe and exhaled deeply. Her hair was a sweaty mess.
“We really took it down!?”
Seha, who’d watched tensely, shouted.
“Hey! Don’t jinx it!”
Harin bumped his shoulder playfully. Seha wobbled. Despite her words, she didn’t look upset—quite the opposite, she seemed thrilled.
“Anyway, you did pretty good yourself.”
“Uh, uh-huh?”
Harin slapped his shoulder enthusiastically. Seha was flustered by her sudden friendliness. The girl who’d always been itching to chew him out was acting like this why…?
Isol sheathed her sword and turned to Dahong.
“Thanks, sis.”
“No biggie.”
Dahong shrugged. Seha stared blankly at the scattered bones. His first fight. His first damage dealt. His first team battle as Group 1.
“Hoo….”
A laugh escaped him. Harin tapped his shoulder again.
“Why’re you laughing?”
“Huh? Oh, just….”
Harin’s lips curved up.
“Grab the mana stone quick and let’s go. Ha! What a hassle!”
“Still, a B- monster in a C-rank gate means we’ll get full points.”
“Now the report’s the problem.”
The mood lightened up. Seha smiled watching them.
Then.
Fwoosh.
The lantern went out.
“……?”
Seha shook it. No light.
“What? Battery was full.”
“Broken?”
But.
Fwoosh.
The others’ lanterns started snuffing out one by one. Isol’s. Jinho’s. Harin’s.
Complete darkness fell.
“Why is this….”
The temperature plummeted. In an instant. Bodies still slick with sweat moments ago now chilled and stiffened. White breath puffed from Seha’s mouth. He felt mana draining.
Harin gripped her axe again.
“Han Isol….”
“Shh.”
Everyone clutched their weapons tight. Something was coming. Something on a whole other level from the skeleton knight.
And.
Laughter echoed.
“Kuhahaha—.”
“……!”
Blood ran cold through their veins.
“It’s been ages since I felt any warmth.”
Two voices overlapped. One vibrant with life, the other hollow and empty.
All eyes turned one way. A black flame floated in the air. No—a robed figure. Half its face was just bone. Flames rose from the empty eye sockets.
A body of the living and the dead coexisting. A being turning into a lich. An S- rank monster. A demi-lich.
“Gasp….”
Jinho sucked in a sharp breath. Overwhelming pressure. Their bodies shrank before the sheer dominance. Harin and Isol too.
“Wh-why….”
Axe and sword began to tremble.
“Young, sturdy flesh. Not a single flaw.”
The demi-lich stroked its half-fleshed jaw with bony fingers, delighted.
“Hm?”
It narrowed its eyes at Dahong.
“Something immune to my pressure? Ah, a demon.”
Step.
The demi-lich approached Dahong. Its decayed robes dragged on the floor. Red eyes met black glow.
“Tch, just a low-rank one… Well, looks aren’t bad. But useless even for experiments.”
Losing interest, the demi-lich turned away.
Clank!!
Harin froze mid-swing.
“Guh…!”
“Ho, you can still move under my pressure. Impressive.”
The demi-lich stroked the massive axe blade inches from its face.
“You’ve slain the most beasts here.”
“…….”
“It’s decided.”
The demi-lich grinned creepily.
“I just needed a new body. Young and fresh.”
“……!”
“Gender’s a minor issue. Not bad at all. Suits my tastes.”
“…Shut up! You creepy bastard…!”
“Kuhuhu.”
The demi-lich chuckled amusedly. Its bony hand slowly caressed Harin’s jaw.
“I wonder what screams your soul will make.”
“Stop!”
Seha yelled. The demi-lich ignored him.
“—Ngh!”
Harin bit her lip, eyes shut tight. Tears of terror beaded at her clenched lids.
Then.
Clack.
Dahong walked past them.
“……?”
“……?”
The demi-lich and Harin stared blankly.
“…What?”
Dahong didn’t answer. Instead, she went to a corner of the boss room, crouched before something.
“……That’s.”
“Peep—.”
A kitten. Not a normal one. A red gem embedded in its forehead, a pair of horns on its head, tiny wings on its back.
“Behemoth kitten?”
Seha muttered.
“Cute.”
The behemoth kitten bristled in fear, trembling before Dahong.
“Good kitty.”
Dahong stroked it gently.
“……Don’t touch my experiment, demon.”
The demi-lich growled lowly, displeased.
“This yours?”
Dahong asked without looking away.
“……If it is.”
“I’ll take it?”
Boom!
A black fireball exploded on Dahong.
“Dahong!”
Seha cried.
“Insolent wretch. If you’d stayed quiet, you might’ve lived.”
The demi-lich muttered.
But.
The smoke cleared.
“……What?”
“♪~”
Dahong hummed, tickling the behemoth with a finger.
“Hiss—! Hiss—!”
The behemoth rolled over, batting at her finger with all its might.
“Seha, let’s raise her.”
“Dahong…? That’s not a cat, you know?”
“It’s fine. I want this one.”
Seha looked baffled, but Dahong was firm. The demi-lich watched dumbfounded, then twisted its face in rage.
“……How dare you! Ignore me?”
Whoosh!
Dozens of magic circles floated in the air. Dahong finally glanced at it.
“Die!”
Whoosh—!!
Dozens fired at once. Explosions rocked the chamber. Smoke filled the air.
“Aaaah—!!”
The team couldn’t stand.
“Kuhaha! How’s that!?”
The demi-lich bellowed.
But.
Splat!
Its face exploded. From a single pebble.
Splatter.
Like time rewound, the shattered head reformed.
“Wha…?”
Dahong emerged from the smoke, holding the behemoth. Not a hair out of place.
“……Impossible! A mere low-rank demon…!”
“Noisy.”
Dahong stroked the behemoth boredly. It trembled in fear but didn’t resist this time.
“What trick is this!? Answer me—!”
Slash!
Its head rolled.
“Don’t yell. You stink of rot.”
“……?”
Incredulity on its face. The lich snatched the falling head and plopped it back on.
What was that? I didn’t see it at all.
The demi-lich’s heart pounded.
“……?”
A heart that had stopped long ago. Now beating? It wanted to swallow hard.
“……Yes.”
Curiosity. Unknown magic, the thrill of the unexplored. Excitement for experimenting on this demon!
“You’re no ordinary low-rank demon, are you?”
Dahong approached without answering, clack clack.
“Kuhuhu, this feeling’s been ages.”
Even more magic circles deployed. Dahong picked up the behemoth and placed it on seated Seha’s head. It stayed meek. Seha blinked up at her.
“Take this—!”
Boom!
The demi-lich’s head smashed into the wall.
“……?”
It rolled its eyes to assess. Dozens of meters to the cliff before. Now embedded in the wall?
“Kra?”
As it voiced doubt through broken jaws—
Crack—!
A massive fissure split the wall. Under a pale fist, pulverized skull fragments rained down.
Whoosh!
Black mana exploded. The body vanished in smoke, reappearing far away.
“Gasp……! Useless! My body—!”
Splat!
A huge hole tore through its torso.
“Kuhak…!”
Black blood bubbled from its throat. The demi-lich flailed desperately. Magic circles reformed. Black lightning rained on Dahong.
She dodged it all, closing in fast.
Pshk.
Something stabbed. Darkness engulfed the lich’s vision. Dahong’s hand blade in its face.
It staggered back. Rattle. Bones reassembled, regenerating.
“Kuhuhu, kuhahaha—!”
It forced laughter.
“Useless! No matter how much you destroy—!”
Slash!
Body shredded into hundreds. Regenerated.
“As long as my phylactery exists, I won’t die! Unless you find it—!”
Boom—!!
Chest exploded. Regenerated.
Crack—!!
Skull burst. Regenerated.
Whoosh—!!
Whole body incinerated. Regenerated.
“Stop!!! Enough! This is pointless! No matter what…!”
But Dahong didn’t stop.
Boom—!! Boom—!!
Laughter vanished from the demi-lich’s voice.
What if.
Just maybe.
If this keeps going.
And the life force in my phylactery runs dry.
What happens to me?
“……Wait, demon!”
Splat—!!
“Talk…!”
Boom—!!
Died. Regenerated. Died. Regenerated. Died. Regenerated. Died. Regenerated.
“Gasp…!”
It collapsed. Regenerated.
But.
Slower. Definitely slower.
The demi-lich panicked.
“Stop! Take the behemoth! Please…!”
Dahong looked down.
“Wanna stop?”
“Yes, I beg you. So please…!”
“Nah.”
Dahong grinned.
“Kraaaak!”
Crack.
A faint split somewhere.
“Stop—!!!!!”
Boom—!!
Regenerated. Boom—!! Regenerated. Regenerated. Regenerated. Regenerated.
And.
Slower. Even slower.
“Impossible……. The phylactery’s life force……!?”
Shatter—
The demi-lich froze.
“……Ah.”
Flames on the bony side extinguished. Light faded from its eyes.
“This can’t… I’ve lived for centuries….”
The demi-lich crumbled slowly. Only black ash and filthy robes remained.