Demon Rescue Operation - The Abandoned School
Abandoned school. A classroom without a door. A single boy sat perched on a desk inside, one knee drawn up, chin resting on it.
At that moment, the boy's red eyes shifted.
"You're late."
"……."
From behind the shattered doorframe emerged a student in academy uniform. It was Seha.
"So you knew I was coming after all."
Flap flap flap.
A demon fly fluttered in from somewhere, landing on Seha's shoulder.
"What, did you think I'd run away if you came looking for me?"
Belzar chuckled derisively.
Seha stepped into the classroom. Shards of broken glass crunched underfoot.
Whoosh!
An overwhelming pressure surged toward him. It felt like the air was being crushed from his lungs.
But he didn't stop.
Seha stood before the boy.
Seha looked up at the great demon on the desk.
Seha opened his mouth.
"I've come to make a deal."
Belzar blinked at the unexpected words.
"……What?"
"A deal."
"……."
Belzar blinked again. Then, a beat late—
"Ahaha!"
He burst out laughing.
"Ahahaha! A deal? You've come to make a deal?"
Belzar clutched his stomach, roaring with laughter.
Seha watched him with a serious expression.
Belzar rolled around on the desk for a good while before abruptly stopping.
Clink. Clatter.
The scattered glass shards on the classroom floor floated up. Dozens of them. All edged toward Seha, blades glinting.
"Didn't I say?"
The playfulness had vanished from Belzar's voice.
"Deals and contracts are only for equals."
The glass shards trembled faintly, as if infused with killing intent, poised to fly at any moment.
"How dare a worm like you negotiate with me?"
A chill prickled Seha's skin. His heart pounded wildly. He swallowed hard and spoke.
"Dahong's been captured."
The shards froze mid-tremble.
"They dragged her off to the Management Bureau."
"……."
"Tonight, they're transferring her to the Sejong headquarters. Once she reaches HQ, it's over."
Belzar's expression shifted. The glass shards still hovered in the air.
"So?"
"We need to rescue her. Lend me your power."
"Why should I?"
"I might never see Dahong again. If she goes to HQ, they could seal her away."
"……."
Belzar narrowed his eyes. Humans couldn't kill Dahong with their power alone. But just maybe... if they managed something seal-like? That would be a serious problem.
Belzar wiped the smile from his face and said, "Even so, why cooperate with a worm like you? What can you even do?"
"You can't do it alone either."
Belzar's eyelid twitched.
"……What?"
"Even a great demon can't handle the Management Bureau. They've got S-ranks and A-ranks stationed there full-time."
Seha met Belzar's gaze steadily.
"Last time at the academy, you were surrounded and had to flee. Lost an arm in the process."
"How dare you…!"
Eloise, who had been listening from the side, bristled with rage. But Belzar raised a hand to silence her.
"……Belzar-nim!"
"It's fine. Let him continue."
"The transfer escort will have high-rank hunters too. If you charge in alone, they'll block you before you can extract Dahong."
"……."
Belzar propped his chin on his hand. He gazed down at Seha with a bored expression.
"Not enough."
"……."
"Diversion tactic? Fancy words for a worm. But is that all?"
Belzar swung his foot idly.
"Talk is cheap. Why bother cooperating with you? Any human would do, right?"
Seha fell silent. A simple diversion didn't require him specifically.
"Deal's off. Payment's your life. I'll let you go as thanks for the info."
Belzar looked away, interest lost.
"That was amusing, for a worm."
Instead of leaving, Seha pulled a thick bundle of papers from inside his uniform.
He spread it out before Belzar.
"What's this?"
"The Management Bureau Seoul Branch's transfer plan."
Belzar, turning away, paused.
"Departure time, route, escort numbers, vehicle lineup—everything."
Seha unfolded another sheet.
"And this is the stretch where the escort is thinnest."
Seha pointed to a spot on the map.
"…How did you get this?"
Seha's shadow writhed. A black tail poked out briefly before vanishing.
Shadow Imp. He'd snuck back into the staff room during off-hours and copied it from Teacher Seoyeun's desk and laptop. It wasn't complete, but it had plenty on Dahong's transfer route. Sorry, Teacher—but for Dahong...
"By the way, this is just part of it. Kill me and take it by force, and you'll never see the rest."
Belzar stared at the papers. His eyes narrowed.
"You stole internal Management Bureau docs?"
"……."
Belzar picked up a sheet, examining it.
"Ah…."
His red eyes scanned it rapidly. Transfer time. Route. Escort count. The thin spot. No chance after tonight. All there.
Belzar set the paper down. He looked at Seha.
"No one else could get this tonight. Only me."
Seha said.
"That's why you need to work with me."
Belzar didn't respond.
Seha added one more thing.
"You hit the front of the transfer convoy. While the escorts swarm you, I'll slip in from the rear and extract Dahong from her vehicle."
"……."
Belzar's red eyes turned to Seha.
"But no killing humans."
"……."
Belzar stared at Seha impassively. Seha didn't avert his gaze—instead, he stared back harder.
Pfft. A deflating sound escaped.
"Fine."
Belzar grinned wickedly.
"For the sake of my love, I'll lend you my power."
His red eyes gleamed.
"But you have to rescue her. No fail."
"Of course. That's why I'm dealing with a great demon."
"Ahaha. You talk a good game."
Belzar beckoned Eloise with a wave.
Swish.
The robed woman stepped forward.
"Make the contract, Eloise."
Eloise rolled up her sleeve, revealing a pale hand.
"Contract?"
"A soul-binding one. Break it, and your heart explodes. Your soul becomes theirs."
Belzar said coldly.
Seha swallowed. Fail, and death. His soul too. Class had drilled it in: demons and souls. Never pledge your soul, no matter what.
But... Without Dahong, what's the point?
"Do you accept?"
"Yes."
He nodded without hesitation.
"Confirm the terms."
Belzar said.
"Our side assaults the transfer convoy head-on. No killing humans."
"……."
Eloise extended her hand, palm up.
"Summoner side extracts the target during the diversion. No fail."
Seha extended his hand the same way.
Crackle crackle zap!
Blue light sparked from their hands.
"Nngh…!"
It felt like a blade carving letters into his skin. Seha gritted his teeth and endured.
Moments later, the light faded.
A diamond-shaped pattern appeared on his hand. The center filled with unknown script, framed by chain-like designs.
Eloise had the same on hers.
Eloise stepped back.
Belzar hopped down from the desk and approached Seha. Boyish size, but something forced you to look up at him.
"One question."
"……Sure."
"If you fail, you die. You know that?"
"Yes."
"Your soul's mine. Forever. As a summoner, you know what that means?"
"Yes."
"And still?"
"It's for Dahong."
Belzar stared at Seha. No smile.
"Intriguing."
Belzar turned away.
"Eloise. Prepare."
"Yes, Belzar-nim."
The two vanished into the shadows.
Seha was left alone in the ruined classroom.
Seha's apartment.
Seha changed out of his uniform into dark clothes. A deep gray hoodie. Black track pants. Sneakers. Unobtrusive.
He folded the blueprint and pocketed it.
He glanced at the chain pattern on his hand. A faint red glow lingered.
His shadow squirmed. The Shadow Imp stirred within.
Seha tied his sneakers.
"Let's go, Ruby."
"Nya."
Ruby hopped onto Seha's shoulder.
Seha stood.
Deep into the night. The apartment complex streetlights glowed yellow. No one around.
Seha pulled up his hood and headed for the entrance.
Ruby scanned the surroundings from his shoulder.
Then—
"Hey, Yu Seha."
Seha's feet halted. His heart dropped.
He turned. In the shadows, Isol grinned mischievously. Arms crossed beside her: Harin. And Jinho, lugging a heavy case.
Squad 1.
"You guys…?"
Seha's eyes widened.
Isol approached.
"Heard Dahong-unnie got dragged to the Management Bureau."
"How…?"
"Duh? You've been moping all day alone, no sign of that summon."
"The academy's full of eyes. Rumors like that spread fast."
Harin and Jinho chimed in.
"Going to get Dahong-unnie, right? We'll help."
Isol said.
Seha blinked blankly, then shook his head.
"No. Too dangerous for you all. What if you get caught?"
"Says the weakest one?"
Harin snorted.
Jinho set down the case.
"Heard the gist. Bureau's in the wrong this time. Snatched your summon without explanation."
"……."
"And we owe that summon our lives how many times? Demilich, great demon. Without her, we'd be wiped."
Harin added.
Seha bowed his head.
"Why... go this far?"
Isol placed a hand on Seha's shoulder.
"Dahong-unnie's one of Squad 1 too."
Seha's eyes stung. He sniffled.
"Don't cry. We haven't even started."
"Sniff. Not crying."
Seha wiped his eyes on his sleeve.
Then—
Vroom.
Headlights swept in from the entrance. A gray SUV pulled up. Driver's window rolled down. Jisu.
"Get in."
"Jisu-unnie too?"
Isol shrugged.
"Walking's a hassle. Saves on cab fare."
"Hey, am I your cab driver?"
Isol bantered playfully with Jisu as they piled in. The others loaded gear into the trunk and followed. Doors shut.
Jisu glanced in the rearview.
"Where to?"
Seha pulled out the blueprint.
"From Management Bureau Seoul Branch toward the highway."
"…Bureau?"
Isol said.
"Unnie, I'll explain on the way."
Jisu eyed the rearview briefly, then shifted gears.
"Seatbelts."
The car pulled out. Streetlights streaked past the windows.
Seha spread the blueprint on his lap. Ruby slumped on his shoulder, out of the way.
"Dahong's being transferred to Sejong HQ tonight."
"Transfer?"
"From Seoul Branch via highway to Sejong. Once at HQ, no getting her back."
Seha traced the route.
"Convoy takes this path. Escort vehicles front and rear, Dahong in a middle one."
Harin peered at it.
"Escort count?"
"Two S-ranks, three A-ranks, five B-ranks."
"……That's insane."
One S-rank flips the battlefield. Two? Mood darkened.
Seha pressed on undeterred.
"But here."
Pointed to a spot on the map.
"Right before highway entry. Urban to highway transition—escorts bunch up."
"Thinnest there?"
"Yes."
Jinho asked, "But how dodge two S-ranks? We can't."
"We don't dodge them."
Seha said.
"What?"
Harin narrowed her eyes.
"Someone's handling the diversion."
Isol pondered. No one came to mind.
"Who?"
Seha paused, then said, "Belzar."
The car froze.
"……What?"
Harin stared at Seha.
"The great demon? That one from before?"
"Yeah."
"You're insane!?"
Harin shrieked.
Seha showed his hand. The chain-wrapped pattern.
"Contracted. Belzar hits the convoy to draw eyes. We sneak in the gap and grab Dahong."
"……Terms?"
"Our lives."
Silence in the car.
Jinho said incredulously, "You're really nuts?"
"……Sorry."
"Nah, respect. Gotta be this crazy to make it fun."
Jinho smirked.
Harin uncrossed her arms, eyeing the blueprint again.
"So. Belzar hits here?"
"Escorts all rush front. S-ranks, even A-ranks."
"Leaves us B-ranks?"
"Manageable. Not winning—just stalling."
"But locks? Special vehicles are tough to crack."
"I have a way."
"……?"
Seha's shadow rippled. Shadow Imp's chitter chitter giggle echoed.
Jisu said, "Approaching the spot."
"Good. Everyone out and prep."
Seha folded the map, ready to exit the car.