With the Demon: Personal Guidance (2)
Dahong and Ruby stepped out of the house.
"Where to first?"
"Meow."
Ruby looked up at Dahong. There wasn't any particular destination in mind. Dahong strolled along, basking in the sunlight for now. Ruby's eyes tracked a passing pigeon, her pupils dilating. Her butt wiggled excitedly. But she didn't pounce. Dahong had stroked her with a hand.
"Nyaa."
Her tail flicked in disappointment. Dahong walked for a good while before suddenly stopping. She felt mana swirling. From several directions. It was a gate.
Dahong pondered briefly, then turned toward one of them. No special reason. If she had to pick, it was the closest.
The gate entrance was crowded. A long line stretched out, waiting to enter. All hunters. Protective gear, weapons, hiking outfits like combat uniforms. Their gear varied, but the vibe was similar. Tension. The aura of those unaccustomed to battle.
If ranking them simply by grade, most hovered around F to E-rank.
Dahong took her place at the end of the line. Nearby gazes flicked her way. White tee, jeans, leather jacket. No weapons or gear. A black cat in her arms. The massive curved horns on her head marked her as no ordinary person, but she sure didn't look ready for a gate.
"……."
No one approached her, though. They were too busy checking their own gear ahead of entry. Dahong paid it no mind, just stroked Ruby's back.
That was when it happened.
"Sis."
Someone called out to Dahong. She turned to see three tall men standing there. Dahong was quite tall herself, but even the shortest matched her height. They were smiling, but it didn't seem friendly. Especially with how their eyes leered at parts of her body.
"First time at a gate?"
"No."
"Oh yeah? How many times you been?"
"Once."
"Ahaha."
The questioner laughed like he'd heard a great joke.
"So this is your second. Still pretty new, huh."
"Yeah."
Dahong nodded readily. It was true.
"No buddies?"
"Nope."
The men exchanged glances. Their grins deepened.
"Folks like you with no experience, coming solo—they're the riskiest. Wanna team up if you're cool? We'll split the loot fair."
"Pass."
Dahong turned away, disinterested. One man hurriedly blocked her path.
"Whoa, c'mon. We're all D-rank here. Were gonna go solo, but seeing you... you'd be in real trouble."
"Yeah. Even an F-rank gate's got unknown dangers. Especially for newbies flying solo."
"So come with. We'll show you the ropes. Heh heh."
One reached for Dahong's arm. In that instant—
Grab!
Someone hugged Dahong's arm.
"Sis, there you are!"
It was a woman about Seha's height. Light chest protector, comfy clothes for mobility, a single sword dangling from her thigh.
"……."
Dahong wasn't fazed. She'd sensed the woman approaching. The men were the surprised ones. The guy reaching for her arm narrowed his eyes.
"Sis?"
"Yeah, got business with my sis?"
The woman stuck close to Dahong without missing a beat.
"Nah, nothing big. Just saw her solo and figured we'd help."
"Aha?"
The woman nodded.
"Thanks, but we're good now. She's teaming with us. Right?"
She winked at Dahong, out of the men's sight. But they didn't back off easy. One clicked his tongue and stepped toward her.
"Hey miss, she said flat-out no team. Don't butt in—better for everyone."
"Hmm... We didn't exactly promise beforehand, but wouldn't you rather go with people you know than strangers?"
"Jisu, what's up?"
"Oh, uncle."
Three more approached—likely the woman's party. A potbellied, balding middle-aged man. He carried the heaviest gear, probably the tank. A tall guy in his early twenties, light gear suggesting ranger. And a petite woman with a wide-brim hat, small wand in hand.
The middle-aged man wiped sweat and waved at Dahong like they knew each other.
"Hey, isn't this Jiyeon? Small world."
Dahong didn't reply. The tall young man grinned next.
"Long time no see. How you been? No word since that last raid."
"……."
The men traded looks. Acquaintances showing up made it a hassle, apparently.
"Tch."
They finally turned away. The middle-aged man watched their backs, then said to Dahong,
"Name's Park Mansu. Those punks hassle newbies inside gates. Figured I'd play along."
"Hm."
Dahong hummed. The woman who'd grabbed her arm—Jisu—asked,
"I'm Han Jisu. You here solo, no party?"
"Nyaa."
Ruby stretched a paw from Dahong's arms, like claiming her spot.
"Oh, a cat?"
"Wait, horns? Tamer? That's why solo?"
Dahong didn't answer. The young man spoke up.
"If it's not a bother, join us. Those guys'll bug you inside too."
Jisu narrowed her eyes.
"Im Dohyeon, you're just cuz she's hot, right?"
"Busted...? Ahaha!"
"You punk!"
As she poked his side, the hat girl approached.
"...Can I pet?"
"Go ahead."
The girl tentatively reached for Ruby. Ruby tracked the hand with golden eyes, then tapped it with a paw.
"Waa..."
She smiled.
"I'm Lee Haneul. Sorry for late intro."
"Dahong. This is Ruby."
"Dahong sis! Pretty name. Ruby's adorable."
Jisu stopped poking Dohyeon and came over.
"Introductions done? We're going in together, right?"
Dahong nodded easily.
"Sure."
"Great! Let's head in—our turn."
Dahong and Ruby followed the four to the entrance. Jisu greeted the staff warmly.
"Hi!"
"Back again. Han Jisu. No days off even on weekends."
"Ahaha, gotta hustle so my lil sis isn't ashamed..."
"She's at the academy, right? Impressive."
"Ugh, genius sis is killing me."
Jisu grinned sheepishly. The staff smiled warmly.
"Keep it up. IDs please."
The party pulled out card-like hunter licenses. The staff checked each, letting them through one by one.
Dahong's turn. She moved toward the gate indifferently, only to be stopped.
"Ma'am? Need your license."
"License."
Dahong stared blankly at the staff.
"No digital?"
"Nope."
"ID or temp license works too."
Dahong thought. Did she have anything proving identity, let alone a license?
"Ah."
She did. Dahong pulled the summoned beast registration from her pocket.
"Hm? This is..."
Card format, stamped with the academy head's seal. It proved identity, sure.
"Summoned beast...? Yeah?"
"Yep."
The staff scanned it dubiously. It read fine.
'Probably summoned by the one ahead.'
"You're good. Go on in."
Dahong and Ruby passed the booth, entering the gate.
Whoosh.
Different air brushed her skin, and an alien landscape appeared.
At the same time.
Thud!
"Gah!"
Seha, in gym clothes, tumbled hard.
"Hm, faster than I thought. But flexibility's lacking. That fall? Your joints didn't range right."
O Daeyeon stroked his chin, appraising. Seha rose, trembling. Still, praise for speed. Thanks to Harin chasing him relentlessly?
"Break! No need to get up."
"Phaa...!"
Seha flopped flat. His chest heaved.
"But honestly, does this kid even need martial arts? He's a summoner."
Daeyeon asked Seoyeun. She shot back instantly.
"No rule says summoners can't fight."
"Well, true, but..."
Seoyeun herself packed serious combat power. Excellent mana-enhanced body, top-tier martial arts, mid-level spells. All-rounder.
Noeul tapped the ground with her staff, approaching.
"Planning to make him your disciple or what?"
"No."
"Then why the harsh standards?"
"Told you. For emergencies."
"So what's the emergency?"
Seoyeun sighed.
"Classified."
Noeul tapped her staff; an invisible barrier unfolded. She jerked her chin—spill. Seoyeun glanced at Seha. He breathed with eyes closed, oblivious to the barrier. She hesitated, then spoke.
"He got a summoned beast."
"Yeah, demon summoner, right? That kid."
"Yep. Got a demon. But it's no ordinary one."
"Not ordinary?"
Noeul tilted her head. Demon summons were notoriously violent, with harsh contracts. Often ranked a grade higher than equivalent spirit, angel, or beast summoners. Hard to handle.
How weird was this demon?
"Low-rank looks, but danger level's off the charts. Already killed double digits without the summoner knowing. Not even sure if a proper contract formed."
Daeyeon frowned.
"Without the summoner knowing?"
"Yeah."
"Possible?"
"Dunno."
"……."
Silence fell. If S-rank Seoyeun didn't know, few did.
Daeyeon spoke first.
"Report to the association, force severance? Gather S-ranks—"
"No."
"Why?"
"Might not be solvable even with multiples. Faced it myself. Doesn't flee when threatened."
"Then?"
"Thrives on combat."
"Battle maniac?"
"Not quite. More like... spotting a fun toy."
"……."
Noeul said,
"You're rating its danger above archdemon."
"Yes. If the whole bureau fails, massive casualties."
"Better not provoke rashly?"
"Yeah. At least till we can subdue it."
Noeul and Daeyeon exchanged looks, then asked Seoyeun,
"So why grow the kid?"
Bad summon—no point powering up Seha. No contract meant commands useless.
"Asked the demon why it's sticking with him."
"What'd it say?"
"Fun."
"……."
"Leaves and kills when bored."
"Whoa..."
"Demons eating summoners isn't new."
Two upper demons, one archdemon. All killed S-rank summoners before returning. Dahong. Probably aiming for that.
'Fattening him up.'
Daeyeon grimaced, asking,
"Rush his growth to bore the demon off?"
"No. No proper contract. Might not leave even if he dies."
"Then?"
"Keep growing till he's interesting enough."
Bored = kill and leave. Interesting = spare. Combat-loving demon. Genius-mana boy. Obvious what it wanted.
"We raise the brat till he can hold the demon."
"Enslavement, huh."
"Exactly."
Seoyeun nodded at Noeul. The forced soul-binding contract. Enslavement. That was her goal.