World Destruction (3): The Great Legacy
"We... we don't know the exact name either..."
"Give me something approximate."
I pressed the guys who were already hesitating.
"Uh, well... ahh..."
The leader started acting weird, like sighing out of nowhere as he tried to speak. It was the look of someone who had to say something but just couldn't get it out.
"We Outer God worshippers... call that one the Great Legacy."
"Great Legacy?"
I wasn't an expert on the Cthulhu Mythos, but I knew a fair bit from scouring the internet. Never heard that epithet before, though.
"It's not well-known, but... we've received the signal that it's about to resurrect..."
"I see."
I closed my eyes and nodded at that. Good intel. Time to decide now.
Let these fuckers live.
S-class cult rated by the Association. Not sure of the exact level, but probably just shy of S. S is usually the top tier, so not a group to underestimate.
Keep 'em alive for more info? Or kill 'em here?
"So what the hell were you planning to do here anyway?"
"Pardon?"
The leader looked flustered as he asked back.
"Don't stall."
Thwack!
"Argh! Th-that's..."
I smacked the guy's head in irritation, and he clutched it, mumbling.
"T-terror..."
"Terror?"
"To offer sacrifices through terrorism... for that one's resurrection..."
Whoosh!
"You crazy bastards."
In that instant, the remaining three heads vanished.
Guys directly involved in terror attacks probably weren't high up anyway. They'd have to risk death. Can't expect much from disposable pawns.
And urban terrorism to boot... With the Association swamped as is, could they even contain the info blackout? Letting these live would've just led to more attacks elsewhere.
Ultimately, good call.
"Great Legacy..."
I murmured the new intel, closing my eyes. The name alone gave nothing away, but I'd snagged a lead. Now, how to expand on it.
Ah, right.
A good idea hit; I snapped my fingers. The balcony teleported in instantly. Needed my phone.
Creak.
I opened the balcony door and stepped into the hotel room.
"Welcome ba— Kyaaak!?"
Yoo Hwa spotted me and screamed.
"What the hell is that look?!"
"What's wrong with my— Huh?"
At her pointing it out, I looked down and couldn't help but freak.
Clothes shredded to rags, barely hanging on my body.
Guess my outfit got torn when I wrecked the place earlier!
Lucky the blast radius wasn't huge, so the shape was intact. Still, not exactly presentable...
"...Good thing I killed 'em."
Can't let witnesses see me like this.
Calm now, I texted a pseudo-terror report on my phone.
Jeong Seol-yoon seemed clueless.
She's got nothing.
I spammed her with what I knew, but just confusion back.
No, wait. She won't ask how I know via text.
She could play dumb and report to the Association.
Guess waiting's the play.
Sucks my only Association contact is Jeong Seol-yoon. With ten, I'd be spamming everyone.
If it reaches them, expect interference. If not, it's nothing.
Yoo Hwa's out shopping for my clothes. Smart move buying her a phone for times like this.
I replied, then flopped on the bed rolling around.
Tomorrow: Jungnang-gu, Dongdaemun-gu, Seongbuk-gu, Jongno-gu, Eunpyeong-gu...
Today's three districts were bad enough; tomorrow's five will suck. Yoo Hwa's gonna whine like crazy.
Make new demons?
Assign them the grunt work. No will anyway—disposable.
"Fuck yeah, demons."
I sat up, muttering. Why hadn't I thought of this sooner? Except Yoo Hwa, demons are just puppets.
"Come forth."
I gathered demonic energy in the air, like when I made Yoo Hwa.
Smoke-like energy swirled from my fingertips, forming a vortex.
"Huh?"
Nothing happened. At all.
Could use it for attacks, but no demon.
What the fuck?
I twisted the energy into human shape—still just energy, no life.
Can't make demons without a living base?
Unlike the original Demon King, who conjured from thin air.
I inherited everything upon arrival, plus centuries of training.
How'd I make Yoo Hwa then?
This is fucked...
Can't even make basic demons anymore. My easy-mode army's gone.
"Auuugh..."
I shuddered in annoyance and dove under the covers.
Want my demon legion back.
Mother.
Our Mother.
We shall obey your base desires, as is our duty as children.
But we are weary now.
We can no longer comprehend the reason for our existence.
"..."
Yoo Hwa lay passed out on the bed, plasters stuck all over her.
No real effect, but whatever.
"Fuck, I'm beat."
A day gone. Cleared all five districts, resolved hundreds of cases. A few monsters popped up—counted 'em.
1,405.
Fuck. No wonder the bounty was two hundred billion.
Why tired if I can blitz 'em? Imagine 1,400 ants in your house. You'd lose it.
"Yoo Hwa, wanna quit now?"
Humanity's peace? We'll die first.
"Nooo..."
"Just kidding."
I sighed at her weak reply and lay on the bed.
Come to think, she hasn't showered. Unlike me, she needs hygiene.
Two days of nonstop running, no wash—Yoo Hwa reeked.
"Yoo Hwa, shower."
"Can't..."
"Still shower. You stink."
"Okaay..."
She dragged herself up and shuffled to the bathroom.
I watched, then checked my phone.
Does she really not know? Her texts were pure bafflement.
The contact from before was some Elite Agent Team head. Team 7 leader like her probably can't access internals.
That Team 2 leader I fought was badass.
Lower team numbers, higher authority and power. Explains Team 2.
Team 7 can't touch that info.
Wait, doesn't that put Jeong Seol-yoon at risk?
Like she stumbled on forbidden knowledge?
Nah, probably not.
Maybe contact her or memory wipe at worst.
"This is why you need connections."
If she doesn't know, intel's dead end. What was that Elite Team leader's name? His number would be gold.
"Sigh."
I sighed at the wasted info and turned on the hotel TV. Fancy place—huge screen.
Click.
-Your Highness!
Click.
-I'll try this.
Click.
Programs flickered by. I channel-surfed blankly. Yoo Hwa likes historical dramas—maybe that.
Wasn't really in the mood, just bored. Hit the button for the drama that popped up first.
Click.
-Ah, ah. Can you hear me?
What?
Black background, man in a sharp suit, bright smile.
Hello there? Are you Heuk Seol-ah?
"Who're you?"
-No camera or mic on this TV, huh. Shall we chat via remote?
[Are you Heuk Seol-ah? Yes / No]
[No]
Fuck, hit the wrong button.
Accidentally confirmed "No."
-Hmm? Not Heuk Seol-ah?
He scratched his head.
-Tough luck.
Simultaneously, the window shattered—and a bullet slammed into my head.