Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: Words That Become Bone and Flesh
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A torrent of thoughts flashed through the demon's mind in an instant. It was truly just an instant. About five seconds of eye contact with the man she'd been watching.
Countless thoughts raced by, but the one that weighed most heavily was, of course—
—Don't rampage in the Maldives.
—It's a dangerous place.
It was advice from the person she called her senior. A warning not to go wild in the Maldives because it was dangerous. He was someone who always gave words that sank deep into her bones and flesh, so she'd planned to heed them.
She was skilled at manipulating demonic energy from the start. She looked no different from an ordinary person. That confidence had led her to follow him even into the restaurant.
Here, she'd pretend it was just a chance glance. Act embarrassed and wait for a moment to slip out of the Maldives. That had been her plan. At first, when their eyes first met.
But minds change in a flash. The demon couldn't hold back and bolted from her seat. The lively buzz of the restaurant flipped in an instant.
The table, which had been holding its circular shape amid the harmonious atmosphere just moments ago, shattered and flew into the air. Wood splintered, blocking the view.
And in that obstructed view was a black-haired boy. The demon didn't look away.
'Something's definitely different about him.'
It was instinct. The long years living as a demon screamed the warning. She might think she was defying her sky-high senior's words based on mere gut feeling.
But that wasn't it.
Her eyes could see it. Every subtle twitch in the face of the black-haired man, Lee Seong-hoon.
The moment their eyes met. His muscles stiffened. His pupils dilated. His body trembled like an aspen leaf. She knew that look all too well.
It was an emotion no demon could fail to recognize. His expression was laced with 'confusion' and 'fear'.
He knew who she was. Then there was only one thing to do. Without a hint of hesitation, she thrust her arm toward the man through the debris.
Demonic energy exploded. The power she'd kept bottled inside her body surged out like an eruption. Manifesting it in her hand was only natural.
—This place has few crimes. That's why hero dispatches are rare too, right?
—Because of the Guardian Dragon? No one's seen it, but everyone's a believer.
Recalling the conversation she'd overheard while watching, she judged quickly. She didn't know why this place was dangerous or for what reason, but the deed was done.
The dice had been cast. Then there was only one task left. Kill fast and vanish. That was possible for a demon.
Amid the still-falling wooden shards, she didn't change her target. The exploding demonic energy was more than enough to claim a life.
An unavoidable surprise attack. This hand would pierce the man's throat. It wouldn't even give him time to resist.
That was how it should have gone.
'Huh?'
The demon instinctively whipped her head around. It was pure reflex. Even before being a demon, before being human. Any living creature possessed it. She understood that easily.
Forcing her unwilling head to turn revealed blonde hair. Flying at her with the same speed as her own strike—a fist.
"Ah."
She couldn't even get a word out. She couldn't dodge the fist. The demon's vision flickered.
"Well done, Raphael!!!"
I calmed my pounding heart and stroked Raphael's head. I really almost died there. For real.
Raphael, receiving my pats, let out a delighted 'Ahem!!' but there was no time for that now. I hurriedly got up, grabbed the dazed Isia's hand, and pulled her to her feet.
"We're running."
"P-Pardon...? What? A demon just attacked us, and you're saying we run?!"
"Yeah. Or should we fight?"
I hoped she'd talk sense. Unless we could summon Raphael's wings, fighting now meant defeat. That last hit was pure luck. If we clashed again, Raphael's fist wouldn't even connect before we lost.
"B-But we're hero candidates—"
"Isia. That's called bravado."
We absolutely couldn't win. The one who just flew off was a named demon—one of those that appeared from the mid-story arc. Unlike nameless demons, they had defined roles and granted powers.
They'd taken in a lot of the devil's strength, making them powerful. I'd come here to avoid them, but to get spotted this quickly...
If I'd known, I'd have stayed at Justitia. At least Rosaline was guarding there.
Whining wouldn't change anything, so I quickly assessed the situation.
"Looks like they're after me, huh?"
"Raphael's wings?"
She made an X with a beep-like sound.
"Okay. Good."
Then there was no need to hesitate. We run. I've always said people should take responsibility for their mistakes, but only within their capabilities.
How can you take responsibility without the ability? That's irresponsible to others too. Running is the right call here.
This wasn't the time to fight. No reason to either. This place wasn't tied to their 'plans.' They just came to kill the nuisance—me.
In times like this, you run and say something cool like, 'My survival is my victory~.'
That's what I planned to do. Run without looking back, seek protection, and preserve my body.
Then a voice rang out from afar.
It came from the panicking crowd fleeing in chaos. Soon, the shouts grew louder.
—It's the Guardian Dragon!!
—The Guardian Dragon is here!!!!
For real?
Can I not run now?
"Haha."
The demon, who had flown to the beach, let out an awkward laugh. She knew something was off. Lee Seong-hoon was a thorn in the demons' side.
She didn't know where he'd come from, but what he'd accomplished was beyond human capability. He'd stolen demons summoned over months of effort.
Was that all? No. He'd killed an assassin demon outright. Tamed a lesser demon to sever a higher one's contract and snatch the offering.
He'd subdued an immortal demon sent to kill him without a fuss. Killed a progenitor demon who could have helped their kind greatly and made even its contracted demon vanish.
To demons, his existence was more than a mere obstacle. He was a bulldozer crushing their plans from above. He had to be eliminated.
As long as he lived, the red moon wouldn't rise again. That's why, even knowing he was here, she'd found it odd.
"Definitely strange."
The Lee Seong-hoon she'd observed was weird. Far from killing demons, he couldn't overpower a single woman, doting idiotically on a girl who looked like his daughter.
He borrowed others' hands against a mere spirit, and hadn't even reacted to her attack earlier.
'It was that woman.'
But that last attack cleared her doubts. Lee Seong-hoon was a hindrance, but the reason he'd won so far was the blonde at his side.
She knew from one hit. An empty fist that felt like it could erase her existence entirely.
'Kill them here.'
The natural choice. Considering why a demon had come alone against a demon-slayer and tamer, it was obvious even to a child.
The demon rose. Her disheveled hair fluttered.
She did nothing. Just extending her arm forward made blood burst forth. The gushing blood soaked the beach.
The sand absorbed it. Without drawing, her demonic energy traced a hexagram on its own.
"《I am the Nameless One.》"
⟨ [Spell Name] ⟩
Demonic energy infused her voice as it emerged. The ominous tone echoed in the air, creating a chilling atmosphere. The wave of demonic energy spread, dyeing the entire island.
Something emerged from the hexagram centered on the demon. Bones. Unidentifiable bones that wrapped around her body.
They melted. The bones dissolved and were absorbed into her flesh.
Her sclera vanished, replaced by black. Her once-vibrant hair turned brittle and dry.
Her human features faded bit by bit. It felt like a transformation.
The demon's mouth didn't stop. She kept chanting.
Languages humans couldn't comprehend—or shouldn't—poured out continuously. Each time, demonic energy pulsed strongly from her body.
'Not enough.'
To kill that blonde, she needed more power. She didn't stop. Before they arrived, she drew out even more demonic energy.
Her senior's warning about the Maldives' dangers was now irrelevant. The fastest way to kill and escape was this path.
That's why she didn't realize. What her surging demonic energy and rising battle power were summoning.
The sea churned. Not from demonic energy. From something else. It rocked gently yet violently.
The demon didn't notice. She only realized when 'it' drew near.
Whoosh────!!!!
A massive spray erupted. In the foam that seemed to engulf the whole island, eyes gleamed. Razor-sharp eyes. Murderous intent palpable.
Faced with the bursting mana, the demon let out an involuntary hollow laugh.
"It was real?"
Adults' words always become bone and flesh.