Chapter 571: Cleaning Up
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 571: Cleaning Up
Ting—
[You have defeated Andras, the Marquis of Discord.]
[You have earned the achievement ‘Veteran Demon Hunter’.]
[You have been awarded the ‘Essence of the Demon’.]
[Essence of the Demon
Grade: Epic
Contains a large amount of unrefined demonic energy.
Upon consumption, you will acquire the Authority, ‘Maestro of Discord’.
※Contains a potent vengeful spirit. Consumption will result in mental erosion and soul contamination.]
The moment I landed the final blow, thanks to Valentina, I earned a new achievement and its reward.
What appeared before my eyes was a beautifully cut ruby.
But unlike an ordinary ruby, its color was strangely murky.
It also gave off a different impression from Bireciel’s essence, which I had obtained before.
Was it because this was a demon from another world?
...But seriously, is this thing even safe to eat? It feels like some kind of sketchy junk food.
With Bireciel’s essence, I’d had an instinctual certainty that it was safe to consume, but this one felt unsettling for some reason.
I wasn't worried about mental erosion, but the "soul contamination" part bothered me.
The phrase "unrefined demonic energy" also felt like a subtle warning.
...Seriously, if you’re going to give me something like this, just give me something else. Does it make any sense to dump defective goods on me as a reward?
I glared at the dating app, but of course, nothing changed.
“Hmm... a peculiar energy emanates from this jewel. No, it feels less like a jewel and more like the core of a magical beast.”
“Huh? Ah, yes. I used my ability to extract and condense the demon’s demonic energy and powers.”
“Hoh... Just absorbing a demon’s energy is surprising enough, but you can extract its abilities as well?”
“Well... something like that.”
Ever the mage, Valentina fiddled with the Essence of the Demon, an irrepressible curiosity showing on her face.
“But I don’t think it’s usable in its current state.”
“Hm? Why not?”
“Andras’s vengeful spirit lingers too strongly within it. Most mages would have their minds collapse the moment they consumed it, and even I can’t be sure I’d be safe.”
It was a real dilemma.
Now that I had reached the Flower Realm and the upper limit of my internal energy had increased, fully absorbing the demonic energy in the essence would be a great help.
But one wrong move, and I could be afflicted with a debuff I’d never even heard of—soul contamination—and get entangled in a whole new set of problems.
“Couldn’t you just soak it in holy water and then take it out?”
“That would probably make the demonic energy and the ability inside the essence disappear along with the spirit.”
“...Tsk. Just like a vile demon to be a nuisance even in death.”
“That’s why they’re called demons.”
I chuckled at Valentina’s grumbling and took the essence back from her.
I guess I’ll have to store it in my inventory until I find a way.
Just as I was about to put the essence away—
—Kieeeet!!
...What?
Tam suddenly spoke to me.
—Kihet, kiheeek, kihit!!
...You can selectively absorb only the vengeful spirit from the essence?
—Kiit, kiit!!
Seeing Tam answer so confidently, I paused to think.
...Are you sure you can do it?
—Kiik, kihit!!
What? You’re hurt?
—Kihiit!!
Hmm...
It was true that Tam had perfectly absorbed Anastasia’s curse without a single mistake.
And while it was still an unidentifiable monster, I couldn’t deny the fact that we had built a relationship of trust over time.
Alright, I’ll trust you this time. But if you fail, you’re not eating for a month.
—Kihit, kihit!
Tam nodded its head with a flourish.
I could tell its emotional expressions had become much richer than before.
I guess that means it’s grown.
Gurgle, gurgle—
Creaaak—
Tam emerged from the Heaven-Shattering Demonic Sword and opened its mouth wide.
“Hyun-woo, what is that...?”
“Oh, it’s kind of like my pet.”
“...You call that a pet? To my eyes, it looks more dangerous than a demon.”
Valentina’s expression soured slightly, as if she had instinctively seen through Tam’s true nature.
“I think so too. But it’s surprisingly useful, despite its looks.”
With a small smile, I tossed the Essence of the Demon into Tam’s mouth.
Chomp, chomp, chomp!
As if it had been waiting, Tam began to chew on the essence with relish.
Just as expected of a creature with no breeding, it had not an ounce of table manners.
Watching it smack its lips so gratingly made me want to smack it on the back of the head.
...No, wait a minute. I’m the one who has to eat that later.
Ah, fuck.
Ugh...
I suddenly felt nauseous, but it was too late to turn back now.
A bitter taste filled my mouth.
Hah, my life...
I frowned and put Tam away.
It seemed the purification process would take some time.
I’d better take care of other things in the meantime.
I walked over to the shattered remains of the ice sculpture.
The moment I placed my hand on the corpse of Dmitri, who had become one with the demon, a considerable amount of demonic energy flowed into my mind, along with his memories.
I scowled.
...Just as I expected.
All the core information—memories of the leader of Belmoras, the location of their base, their plans—had been thoroughly corrupted, making them unreadable.
I didn’t know whether to call it meticulous or a paranoid obsession.
I’d felt it before, but this kind of measure was far from normal.
Of course, it wasn't uncommon for people to place locks on their memories to guard against psychometry users, but my ability was fundamentally different.
If psychometry was a way of peeking into a corpse’s memories, my ability was to absorb them.
In other words, the ownership of the memories themselves was transferred to me.
There was no way a countermeasure for psychometry would work on me.
As proof, I could read information about the other executives without any issue.
The fact that only specific information was intentionally hidden, not all of it, must mean the ability itself has limits. And nine times out of ten, the owner of that ability is the leader of Belmoras.
While several of their executives were on wanted lists worldwide, next to nothing was known about the leader of Belmoras.
Though, perhaps the intelligence agencies of various nations knew something.
Well... strictly speaking, it’s none of my business. It’s not like I’m part of some hero association.
Unless it involved my women, like this time, I had no intention of fighting Belmoras.
I was no apostle of justice.
...In that sense, I guess this counts as being involved.
After absorbing and sorting through the demonic energy from Dmitri, I stood up and walked over to Valentina.
“Valentina. If you don’t mind, how about a date in the city—”
Grab!
Before I could finish, Valentina grabbed my arm and began casting a long-distance teleportation spell.
“There’s a restaurant I frequent near the city center. Are there any foods you don’t eat?”
“You know me. I eat anything.”
I smiled faintly and let Valentina take the lead.
It would have been nice if Ana could have come too, but she would likely be fast asleep for a full day due to the backlash of her curse being lifted.
I’ll have to take her out alone next time.
Fwoosh—!!!
And with that, we leaped through space to enjoy a slightly different kind of date.
*
Igor Vladimirovich Krasov.
He was, by name and by nature, an iron-blooded dictator reviled by the Russian people, but he had never committed any atrocities that crossed the line.
While some third-world countries openly used state-owned slaves—an act illegal under international law—as consumables in Gates, Igor only used serious criminals in such a way.
Because of this, people thought he had at least a shred of conscience left.
Not anymore.
“Your Excellency!! I implore you, reconsider—!”
BANG!!
As smoke billowed from the muzzle of the revolver, a general in a military uniform collapsed to the floor.
“Get him out.”
““...””
Not a field officer, not a junior officer, but a general had just been killed.
At the brutal sight, the faces of the soldiers gathered in the office instantly turned pale.
But Igor, as if it were nothing, didn’t even blink as he lit one of his favorite cigars.
Standing by his side were some of the most powerful figures in the military: the Chief of the General Staff, the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, the Commander of the Moscow Military District, the Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces, and the Director of the National Guard.
“Hoo... What’s the situation?”
“As of 07:35 today, the lockdown of Moscow and the jamming of all communications are complete.”
“Not a single person is to get out. What about the foreign consuls?”
“Special forces deployed in advance have seized all embassies. FSB agents are currently attempting to mind-control the secured diplomats.”
“If it doesn’t work, they have permission to kill them. Once this is over, we won’t have to walk on eggshells around the US, China, or the EU anymore.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
As soon as the Chief of the General Staff finished his report, the Director of the National Guard, sweating profusely, added his own words.
“...My apologies, Your Excellency, but the White Magic Tower’s resistance is stronger than anticipated. Although most of the high-ranking mages are away for an academic conference, a direct confrontation will result in significant military losses.”
“...Tsk. Still no word from Dmitri?”
“We lost contact after 11 PM yesterday. He remains unreachable—”
SLAM!!
Igor slammed his fist on the desk.
“That son of a bitch!! He’s not thinking of backing out now, is he?!”
His face, blotchy with rage, revealed an unconcealable fury.
The original plan was to cooperate with Belmoras, sacrifice the citizens of Moscow, and summon a demon.
There were two main reasons Igor had agreed to such an outrageous plan.
One was immortality.
The other was Valentina’s daughter, Anastasia.
He had been extending his life with expensive elixirs and treatments, but even those were reaching their limits.
In such a situation, Belmoras’s offer was undeniably attractive.
But for this entire plan to proceed without a hitch, Dmitri had to control the mages of the White Magic Tower.
Furthermore, if they couldn’t secure Valentina, the plan could never succeed.
Dammit, don’t tell me something went wrong.
Igor’s leg trembled as he scowled.
If his subordinates weren’t present, he would have already torn his office apart in a fit of rage.
Trrrring—
At that moment, the sound of a telephone ringing echoed softly through the office.
“M-my apologies.”
The Commander-in-Chief of the Army hastily bowed to Igor and answered the phone.
Igor clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“This is he. Hmm? Colonel Senkov? Why is the commander of the Guards Tank Division calling... What?”
Suddenly, the Commander-in-Chief’s face turned deathly pale as he listened to the report.
Cold sweat trickled down his face, which was built like a bear preparing for hibernation.
Watching him, Igor shouted impatiently.
“What is it?!”
“W-well...”
Whatever he had heard, he couldn’t even form a proper sentence, his words trailing off.
Sensing an indescribable anxiety from his reaction, Igor shot up from his seat.
“Give me the phone!”
Snatch!
He roughly snatched the receiver from the Commander-in-Chief’s hand.
“This is Igor!”
—S-Salute!! This is Colonel Andrei Senkov of the 91st Guards Tank Division!!
“Cut the crap and give me a situation report!”
—Sh-she... she’s appeared...!!
“What? Who appeared?! Don’t tell me you’re about to spout some nonsense about a brown bear appearing in the middle of the city—”
—It’s the White Tower Lord!!!
“......What?”
Thump—
The colonel’s words from across the line made Igor’s heart plummet.
He looked around with an expression of utter disbelief.
Seeing the iron-blooded dictator so rattled, the generals in the room instinctively knew that the situation had taken a dire turn.
“Wh-what nonsense are you spouting—?”
CRASH!!!
At that moment, the office window shattered, and a fierce gust of wind burst in.
“A-attack!! Protect His Excellency!!!”
Elite FSB agents scrambled to form a protective circle around Igor.
Surrounded by a human wall, Igor peered through a small gap and saw the intruder’s face.
“H-how are you here?!!!!”
His eyes widened in horror.
“Hello, Mr. President.”
Igor pointed a trembling finger at the man before him, his face ashen. Unmistakable anxiety and fear radiated from his shaking fingertip.
“I believe I told you before, didn’t I?”
Kang Hyun-woo bowed politely, a friendly smile on his face.
“That it would be nice to see you again soon, somewhere pleasant.”