Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Should've Just Done Manual Labor
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Thud—!!!
With the resounding crash, I finally caught my breath. I really thought I was done for. Leviathan's "Auto-Defense" had kept me safe, but that didn't make it any less terrifying.
"Phew."
I glanced toward where the thing had flown off. A vampire turned demonkin. A horrific hybrid I'd never even featured in the original story.
"What the hell makes it so strong?"
Because I'd never put it in? Well, yeah—once they turn demonkin, a vampire's identity fades away. Their character gets wiped out. No way I'd include something like that.
Even so, it had to be taken down. Who knew what kind of fallout letting it loose would bring? Just one more reason to kill it.
The situation wasn't great, but at least...
"See? You really can't get by without me, Seong-hoon!"
The archdemon decisive battle weapon had arrived. The downside?
"What's with that look?! From the person who just saved you? Don't you think implying someone else might've been better is a bit much?!"
A better weapon was out there, but this one showed up instead. Call Michael. Michael would've sliced it in one go.
Still, better than nothing.
I peeled myself off the wall and got back into position. I patted Raphael's head to show my thanks, then spun my scythe like always.
"Raphael."
"Yes?"
"We have to take that thing down."
"It's demonkin? Then we smash it!!"
Good. At least she's aggressive toward demons. That attitude of yours, where you get endlessly bolder against anyone stronger.
I respect it. Total respect. That's how you live life.
Ahem!! Raphael struck a pose with her hands on her hips, making the same noise. Slowly—very slowly—we walked toward where the green hair had vanished.
"Let me tell you what happens if we let it get away here."
As if responding to my words, the green-haired figure rose. It was too dark to see clearly, but those glowing red eyes pierced even the shadows as they moved.
"It'll inspire the demonkin who start rampaging from the second semester. Worst case, it could summon a lord if we can't contain them."
"A lord? We just smash demons, right?"
The red eyes rose to match my height. It seemed fully upright now, so I assumed a battle stance and continued.
"On a whole different level from kids like Lily. Just summoning one wipes out everyone nearby. Crushed by the sheer demonic energy."
"Why does something like that even exist?!"
"Power creep. You know what that is?"
"Seong-hoon, you picked the wrong job."
Tell me about it. If I'd just done warehouse work instead of becoming an author, I'd be living happily back in my original world by now.
"That's my line. Why does that exist?!"
A raspy voice echoed from the darkness, accompanied by a wet, squelching sound. Then the red glow vanished.
No letting it escape. I pointed at the direction the pendant indicated. Raphael perfectly read my gesture and charged at the green hair.
"Ahh. This is what they call teamwork."
This time, it had learned—vanishing before Raphael's fist could connect. Like melting into the shadows.
"A power it gained from demonkin transformation."
What a pain. Touching that thing means instant death, and now it has stealth too? Talk about broken.
"Not against me."
I pointed again at the pendant's direction. The lurking green hair burst out.
Unlike my robe, it seemed to have a duration limit.
This time, I supported Raphael's movements to cut off its escape. As the blonde dashed, I aimed for a decapitation on its path.
Get beheaded by me, or eat a punch from Raphael. Take your pick.
"Such a hassle."
The cornered thing muttered. Even just taking a hit from Raphael was devastating, and dodging meant getting decapitated by me on top.
Its crimson eyes flashed in the face of our unavoidable pincer attack. Along with a tearing laugh—
"Having you two stuck together... is annoying."
Mist erupted from its body. I realized the danger and called for Raphael, but we could only lock eyes. No chance to link up.
I reached out. Too late. Thick fog swallowed our vision.
A floating sensation enveloped my body. An unpleasant wind brushed past my skin.
"Especially... you."
A sweet voice rang in my ears. Amid the now-familiar buoyancy, I thought:
"Vampire powers are total bullshit."
What kind of cheat character is this?
And sure enough, this happened. Vampire mist is straight-up busted. Who even made that thing?
"Me, huh."
Can't slap myself, so I vented my frustration and shot to my feet.
The surroundings were the usual: dim fog. No clue how many times I'd ended up here.
"Raphael~"
No response, naturally. Meant I had to take down that crazy vampire alone.
Zero clue how.
"Hm."
I started assessing the situation. The pendant wasn't moving. The vampire was still outside, but Raphael wouldn't lose, so I scanned around.
"Should I head to Rosaline even now?"
[Sports day nya.]
Yeah. Really wanna go to Maldives.
But no—this thing has to be caught. Hand it off to Rosaline, and it'll bolt for sure. I have to do it myself.
Absolutely.
In Academy's Ice Knight, the main villains are demonkin. Vampires, half-demons, etc. There are sub-villains, but the core is demons. Demonkin.
Per the original plot, they ramp up around the second semester. After spotting Yang Min-ji in the first.
They targeted her for her abilities. But I blocked it all.
Completely shut it down. Not even a meeting. Simple reason: she wasn't ready yet.
Benia's asleep, and I'm still weak. If Yang Min-ji got kidnapped out of nowhere and the story accelerated?
Bad end with no counter. Dead, game over.
I went all out messing with Kim Tae-hyun to avert annihilation. Contracted with demons. Rescued Benia.
Risked my life for weapons, spirit cores—everything. Still miles short.
Without Raphael, I'd drop dead facing even low-rank demons.
But if that vampire sides with the demonkin? Unpredictable. How do you predict something that didn't even exist?
"Sorry, Benia."
So I kill it. Even if Justitia's sealed tight, it was lurking in the sewers. No leaving even a one-in-a-million chance. Right here, right now.
"Gonna use some mana."
No matter what.
"Kyaahhh!!! Get away!! This is disgusting!! What is this?! Seong-hoon!! Where are you?!"
"..."
Levia couldn't believe her eyes. Was this the same human who'd cornered her moments ago?
The one who'd nearly killed her with a single punch... now screaming and fleeing from mere rags?
Incomprehensible, but she had no desire to reengage. Her abdomen still throbbed from the earlier blow.
"Whatever. Keep playing."
Without that blonde, she could win against the man. Levia focused her mind and slipped into her mist.
First thing she saw: the black-haired man. He'd been looking elsewhere but turned the moment she arrived.
Just his head swiveled, scythe in hand, staring right at her. Then he waved like greeting an old friend.
"Hey. You came?"
Levia's brow furrowed. A vein bulged on her forehead; her lips twitched.
Rage—the word fit perfectly. It hit her the instant she saw his casual act. How could anyone be this flippant?
Ignoring the greeting, Levia lunged. As if anticipating it, the black hair reacted.
Her vision blacked out. She dove into the darkness, teleporting to his position.
This was the power from her demonkin transformation. Granted by a contract with a high-ranking demon, it synergized perfectly with her innate vampire abilities.
An unavoidable ambush from the shadows. Turning anything she touched to rags. A desperate, all-out strike.
But—
Emerging from the dark, the first thing she saw was him smirking back. He'd countered like he knew the ambush was coming all along.
Annoying as ever.
She swung her arm. Naturally, it met the scythe. As she readied another swing, she dove back into the shadows.
The duration was short, so it'd just put her behind him again, but even then—he was facing her.
No weapon?
But no weapon. The flaming scythe should be in his hands, yet it wasn't. The doubt lasted a moment. Instinct kicked in.
No—beyond instinct. A massive whirring from behind, like a propeller deafening her ears. She deflected it with magic.
Chance. A foe without a weapon was weakened. She whirled—
"Hi."
His face was right there. How? Her mind couldn't process. Charging barehanded? Insane.
No way he fights hand-to-hand—
Then she saw it: the scythe in his hand. She'd just deflected it?
No time to comprehend. Her vision spun. Specifically, her neck twisting—didn't take long to realize.
It's coming again.
Her body shivered. That killing blow from before. But Levia wasn't dumb enough to fall for the same pattern.
She cloaked her body in darkness. Her detached head and body linked back through the shadows.
Like stretched rubber snapping back, her form reformed. She tried to reset her stance. No time.
Crows incoming. Levia lost count of how many times her thoughts froze. What was he pulling out in this mist? Unfathomable.
His fighting style defied common sense. Always ten steps ahead, cornering her relentlessly.
No breather.
Dozens of crows blotted her vision. Some with razor wings, others plain.
And one more. Amid the flock, something undeniable.
A flaming blade. Straight for her neck. Levia felt death.
What the hell is this guy?
This strong? Even without the demon from last time, he was overwhelming. Untouchable.
If I hadn't demonized... I couldn't have lasted.
Levia sneered. Visible through a gap in the crow-veiled vision. Behind the scythe-swinging black hair, rags burst out.
Positions swapped. The rags slashed through the crows, spraying blood. The black hair turned in panic.
Don't stab, and you're dead.
Luxuriate like before, and lose. Body remembering, Levia didn't hesitate—drove her claw into his shoulder.
Twisting her body, but the man groaned as it pierced through.
"It's over."
She activated her power. Tough opponent, but done. No human survived her claws, no matter how strong.
Archmage. Sword saint. Pious priest, cardinal, or pope—no exceptions.
Beyond providence. She injected blood. His shoulder rippled—
"Huh?"
Nothing. Levia blinked in confusion.
"Fucking hurts..."
As he spoke, the mist lit up everywhere. Sensing disaster, she tried to flee. Hide in shadows.
"Where you going, you psycho bitch."
Her hand was caught. The one through his shoulder—he wouldn't let go. No shadows.
Panicking, Levia looked around. Glowing letters. The language her boss had taught her as a kid.
Levia could read them.
"Power... Binding..?"
More besides. [Space Creation] [Variable Block] [Space Distortion] [Ability Amplification] [Mana Block]
"Time to pay up."
The man sneered.