A Bet with the Demon
Dahong was standing on the railing, gazing up at the sky. That's when it came.
"There you are."
A familiar voice rang out. Dahong tilted her head back. In the upside-down world, she saw Seoyeun standing there.
"T-Teacher."
It was Seoyeun. She knocked on the broken door with a thunk-thunk.
"Did you have to smash a locked door just to get up to the rooftop that badly?"
"It opened when I turned the handle. Guess the lock's old."
"It's got a mana seal on it, you know? You even disabled the alarm—what are you talking about?"
Seoyeun sighed at the shameless reply.
"Dahong."
"Yeah?"
"The inspector showed up today."
Dahong hopped lightly off the railing, landing on the rooftop floor. She turned to face Seoyeun.
"I know."
"...What?"
Seoyeun's eyes widened.
"You met him?"
"Yeah."
"...And he didn't say anything?"
"He asked what I was."
"And?"
"Told him I'm a demon."
"......"
Seoyeun pressed her temple like her head hurt. It wasn't the worst outcome. But it wasn't good either.
"Listen up. You need to be careful while the inspector's here. If you get found out, it'll be big trouble."
"Why?"
"If the higher-ups decide you're a threat, things get dangerous. Worst case, they might eliminate the summoner, Seha, to force you back."
"You don't want that, right?"
"......Hmm."
Dahong rolled her eyes aside, looking bored. Seoyeun sighed helplessly.
"I don't want the inspector figuring out who you are."
"Why?"
"Too much fallout."
"......"
Dahong neither agreed nor denied it.
"You're behaving yourself right now, for whatever reason. You don't start massacres unless someone pokes you first."
"True."
Dahong didn't deny it. Seoyeun drew a deep breath, then fixed her gaze intently.
"I'm planning to train Seha up."
"Why?"
"To subjugate you."
"......"
"To make him strong enough to beat you and force a servitude contract."
Dahong stayed silent for a long moment before asking,
"Why tell me this?"
"Wait till he grows strong enough."
"What's in it for me to play along nicely?"
Seoyeun took a deep breath and smirked, lifting the corner of her mouth.
"...Scared?"
"...?"
It was perfect provocation.
"Afraid Seha might get stronger than you and slap a servitude contract on you?"
"......"
Dahong's eyes went wide, and she froze for a long beat. Then—
Kee-hee-heek.
She let out a bone-chilling laugh. Ruby flinched in surprise, folding her ears.
"Kuku-kuk, kee-hee-hee-hee. Ahahahaha!"
Seoyeun swallowed hard. Challenging Dahong head-on was basically gambling. If Dahong changed her mind and killed Seha before he grew... it was all over. She'd lose the one thing keeping Dahong in check. Then it'd be all-out war.
A full-on fight with an unmeasurable demon... Horrifying just to think about.
But she'd said it because she'd figured out Dahong had some lines she wouldn't cross.
Dahong threw her head back, laughing long and hard, then stopped abruptly.
"Sounds fun, Teacher."
Dahong grinned.
"Fine. I'll bite on that taunt."
"......"
"But I can't wait forever."
"...Then?"
Dahong held up one finger.
"One year."
"......"
"I'll give you one year. Won't touch Seha till then. Won't vanish without a word. Won't kill anyone randomly. I'll even cooperate to keep my identity hidden."
Seoyeun's mind raced. One year. Short if short, long if long. Room to negotiate?
"Can't it be till academy graduation?"
"Nope. Too long. I might change my mind."
"......Got it."
Seoyeun thought,
She's so human-like. Like a human imitating a demon.
"Teacher, one question."
"What?"
"Why not jump me? Bring a bunch of allies, you might win."
"...You think I'd do what you want?"
"Kee-hee-hee."
Dahong snickered.
"You're fun. After Seha, maybe you next?"
"...Could you not take an interest in me? I want a peaceful life."
Seoyeun shuddered.
"Too bad."
Dahong meant it.
After school. Seha packed his bag in the classroom. Dahong still hadn't returned. Neither had Ruby.
Still out playing, huh.
She hadn't come during breaks, lunch, or afternoon classes. Honestly, classes had been easier without her disruptions. But why the emptiness?
Should I wait?
He considered waiting for Dahong, but sitting idle felt wasteful—the thought from class kept nagging him.
I need to get stronger, fast.
Seoyeun's training wasn't enough. He was learning from Daeyeon and Noeul, but that was still just polishing basics. Honestly, no different from academy classes yet. Not bad, but Seha wanted to stand tall as a summoner—his specialty.
Maybe the library.
He'd look for summoning books. Demon summoners were rare, hard to get advice. Seha grabbed a few needed texts and stood.
The hallway was quiet. Most students gone except those with after-school classes.
Crack.
His body creaked with every step. Thighs worst. Even stairs were torture today.
As Seha stepped out the classroom door—
Thud.
His foot caught the doorframe. Muscle pain kept his leg from lifting.
"Ugh!"
Splat.
Seha face-planted spectacularly. Textbooks scattered everywhere.
"......Ow."
His face burned. Lucky few passersby.
"Ugh......"
Swoosh.
Someone picked up the scattered books.
"You okay, student?"
Seha looked up. Suit-clad man. Neat impression. Gentle smile. Unfamiliar face. He'd memorized most professors and instructors—not this one.
"Th-thank you, sir."
Seha scrambled up, taking the books. The man smiled.
"Looks rough."
"Y-yeah... Bad muscle soreness."
"Training hard, huh."
"Ahaha... My stamina's just too low."
Seha gave a wry smile.
"Are you from outside? Don't think I've seen you before."
"Yeah, starting some work here today."
"Oh, temporary instructor?"
"Something like that."
The man chuckled lightly.
"I'm Hyunho."
"Seha Yoo. First-year Class A."
"Seha Yoo."
Hyunho repeated the name. His eyes went to the textbooks in Seha's arms.
"Summoner student?"
"Ah, yes. Right."
"What branch?"
"...Demon summoning."
Seha said it uncertainly. Demon summoners were trickier than others, with few perks. Rare numbers. Easier to get looked down on than angel or spirit summoners.
But Hyunho didn't look disappointed—just smiled.
"Nice to meet you."
"...Pardon?"
"I'm a demon summoner too."
Seha's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Yep."
Hyunho snapped his fingers lightly. A small summoning circle bloomed; purple smoke, and something appeared in midair.
Fist-sized eyeball. Bat wings on the sides. Grotesque creature.
"Demonfly. Surveillance familiar."
"Whoa...!"
Seha's jaw dropped. First demon summon up close, outside books and net.
"C-can I touch it?"
"Of course."
Seha extended a finger cautiously. The demonfly folded its wings and perched. Six insect-like legs felt under the eye.
"Mid-tier familiar. Most common for non-combat summons."
Seha's eyes sparkled.
"Haven't learned that in class yet."
"Support type—trickier conditions than it looks. Command spells need a broad spectrum."
Hyunho recalled the demonfly.
Poof.
It vanished like smoke.
"No demon summoning specialist track here, huh."
"Yeah. Summoning classes, but no prof focused on demons."
"Demon summoner profs must be rare. Even Korea's top academy..."
"Yeah......"
Demon summoners often worked fields—summons too violent for non-combat. Hard to rank up, low pay. Few chose teaching.
Hyunho nodded sympathetically.
"I struggled as a student—no peers in my branch."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Demon summoning's different vibe from other summons. Formulas, mana flow... Demons, you know."
Seha got it. Others shared info, asked seniors. He had no one. Seoyeun was angel branch. Noeul mage, Daeyeon melee. No one who'd walked his path.
Before Dahong, as a failing student, he'd begged advice from others—no help.
"......Honestly."
Maybe feeling a comrade, words spilled out.
"I-I've got a history of summon failures."
"......"
"Circles and theory seem perfect, but results keep failing. Over and over..."
Hyunho listened calmly.
"Profs, friends—no clue why. Just me failing... getting weeded out."
Seha clutched his books tight.
"Finally succeeded recently. Just one, doesn't listen well, but..."
"I see."
Hyunho nodded.
"When summoning, do you focus mana in the circle's center?"
"Pardon? Ah, yes. Taught that way. Everyone does."
"That's for general summons. Divine beasts, spirits, undead."
Hyunho traced a circle in air with his finger.
"Demons are different."
"...Different how?"
"Flow mana along the outer edge first."
"The edge?"
"Demons are tough—sometimes bust out before circle completes. Reinforces the frame to prevent collapse. Like gripping the doorframe so it doesn't break."
Seha's eyes went wide.
"That's the approach...!"
"Fine now, but stronger summons will shake the circle more."
Something clicked in his head. Dozens of failures. Circles perfect, lines flawless. No results.
Mana direction wrong?
"Won't solve all your issues, but..."
Hyunho smiled.
"Try it. Might make a difference."
"......Thank you."
Seha bowed deeply, sincere. Since enrolling, failures, F-grades—no one said this. In minutes, he had.
Chest swelled. Didn't want to lose this connection.
"If you're free, library quick? Recommend good demon books. Or if busy..."
Seha blinked. Hyunho held out a hand.
Seha grabbed it, standing. Their footsteps echoed in the hall.
"Hyunho sir, how many summons can you do now?"
"Not sir."
Hyunho chuckled.
"Combat: seven types. Support: four. More including non-demons."
"Amazing."
Seha's eyes shone. Steps lighter. Soreness faded.
Same-branch senior. Understood his struggles.
Good guy.
Seha thought so. Hyunho's face reflected in the window glass—prim man smiling expectantly.