Chapter 201
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 201
Chapter Title: Adult Beverage
"We need to move our hideout soon."
"Yes. I've got a few places scouted."
"What about the cleanup?"
"Handled."
"Good."
In the dim space, the conversation between two men went back and forth. Even under the scant lighting, their purple skin drew the eye.
But it wasn't an issue. Everyone here had the same skin tone anyway, so they continued their talk.
Demons moved their lairs frequently. The reason was simple: their precarious existence.
Of course, it was a path they'd chosen themselves, but the moment they were spotted, heroes swarmed in and exterminated them like pests.
That's why they never stayed in one place too long. Especially these days, with demons operating more out in the open.
They couldn't linger anywhere for over a week. Not even demons specialized in security and evasion.
"At least we've scouted the whole area around here. Lucky break."
"Tell me about it. Who knows what would've happened if we hadn't."
"Don't even think about it. My head would've been the first to roll. Anyway, they've been sticking us with scouting missions lately. Makes it easy."
"Yeah. Heard another branch found some 'fragment' and contracted with a higher demon."
"Oh yeah? Hmm. Maybe we should give that a shot. Alright, let's move. Tell the others to pack up."
"Yes, sir."
And with that, the man who seemed to be the executive stood up—and that's when the anomaly hit.
Click-clack—
The sound of footsteps echoed.
Click-clack—
They thought they'd misheard at first, but it rang out again.
Click-clack—
It didn't stop. The steps grew louder, as if announcing her presence.
The demons tensed. But they didn't flee. Simple reason.
The security wards hadn't triggered. The ones that reacted to mana, alerting them to heroes or strong mana signatures—they were silent.
That meant one thing: a human whose mana was too faint to detect.
Still, they couldn't let their guard down. Everyone besides the two who'd been talking stood and stared toward the entrance where the footsteps came from.
And amid that tension, what appeared was—
"Huh."
A woman in a maid outfit. It was so absurd, words failed them. The executive demon let out a hollow laugh and said to her,
"We're not open for business."
[Oh? Not even a little? That's a problem.]
"Yes."
She's kinda pretty, isn't she? For a human to wander in here without a second thought—
As if sharing the same notion, the surrounding demons flashed sinister grins and closed in.
They hemmed her in like a pack, but the woman's face remained blank. No—bored, even.
"C-coming here all alone. You've gotta have some resolve for that, right?!"
[Resolve? Hmm. Do I need any?]
"Wha—?! This chick's totally nuts!!"
With those words, one demon lunged. The hyperactive type who always needed watching.
He reached out. Aiming for her head. Clearly planning to grab her hair and slam her down.
"Ugh. That guy's got no manners."
Still, better take her down first. They watched, thinking the same.
But it didn't go that way. Just before his hand touched the maid.
Wait. For a split second—very brief, but every demon here felt it.
Time stopped. Whether it truly halted, who could say. Time crawled slower, like it had frozen, yet the woman moved normally and spoke.
[Oh ho. Thinking of touching my body?]
Her voice carried emotion. Not anger at the assault. Not bewilderment.
[Can you handle it?]
The look of someone witnessing the impossible. The demon scraped together the words for it with his limited vocabulary.
'Disgust.'
In that instant, the maid's eyes glowed. Purple light poured from her irises, leaving trails.
She just stared. Did nothing else. Her eyes shone, fixed straight ahead.
That alone sent the encircling demons crashing to the ground.
It didn't end there. They crumpled mid-crash, without even a final scream, crushed flat.
Faces caved in, bodies twisted beyond recognition. No mercy in sight.
Not a drop of blood spilled. Not even basic human dignity preserved.
Like tossing trash into an incinerator—a matter of course. Her expression never changed.
Click-clack—
She said nothing. Just walked.
Click-clack—
Her heels echoed. Death approaching slowly, proclaiming you were next.
Legs trembled with every step. Even looking was hard. Breath caught in their throats.
'What the hell is that thing?'
Why hadn't the security wards gone off with something like that? No answers came, and she didn't stop.
Click-clack—
With every step she took, a nearby demon shattered.
No spells cast. No mana used. Yet demons—those demons—crumbled without resistance, like brittle snacks.
"W-we gotta run."
How? No thoughts came. How do you escape that?
Forcing his sluggish brain to work, he recalled the back exit.
Run there now. Turning back with that thought—
A guttural roar pierced his ears, one he hadn't heard before.
Pure white light dazzled his vision.
"Ah."
Unlike the quiet battlefield moments ago, this place—lit only by a few bulbs—flooded with pristine white radiance.
A girl with snow-white hair matching the light spread pure white wings and advanced.
—Repent.
—Following demons has always been a grave sin.
—I hope you live kindly in your next life.
—It's not that I'm in a bad mood, so please just die.
Watching the demons split apart under her swinging blade, the man thought,
'We're done for.'
Silent death approached from the front, flashy death from behind.
No way.
No place to look, nowhere to turn.
Meanwhile.
As Benia and Michael carried out their massacre, Lee Seong-hoon was—
"Levatein. Having fun?"
[Yeah!!]
Playfully hanging out with Levatein.
＊＊＊
There wasn't much to do in a café. He could've gone elsewhere, but he had to wait for Michael and Benia.
So he stayed put. This was the best consideration from a playmate's perspective.
He showed Levatein some kids' videos and played along.
Not bad at all.
[Hehe.]
She seemed to enjoy it. Looked good. She shook her head wildly on his lap, mimicking the dance moves.
Cute. Yeah.
The video ended just as he took a sip of coffee and queued the next one.
Ignoring the purple video entirely, she stared at him intently. Glanced at him, then at the coffee in his hand.
"What."
[.....]
Asking just in case, she gave him a look that said, 'You know.'
Know what?
He stroked the curiously expectant Levatein.
"This is an adult drink. Too soon for you, Levatein."
[Adult drink...? I wanna try!!]
Ah. Shouldn't have said that. Better to just pet her and gloss over it.
Now there was no stopping her. Like they say, no parent can win against their kid.
He'd piqued her interest completely, so with no choice, he poured a little into her empty fruit juice glass from earlier.
"Just a little. A little, okay?"
Sure, only a bit, but still.
[Wow!!]
Paying him no mind, Levatein lifted the glass with sparkling eyes and downed it in one go.
He knew exactly how she'd react, so he quietly headed to the restroom.
He never drank coffee bitter. Always sweet.
But that was adult standards. To Levatein—spoiled by the jellies, cakes, and instant snacks he fed her—naturally—
[Bitt...]
That was the reaction. She couldn't even swallow, letting it dribble from her mouth.
Then she stuck out her tongue with a 'pthoo!' and made a weird face.
He waited till she finished, then wiped the coffee from her mouth.
[Daddy's a liar.]
"Huh? What'd I do?"
[You drink it like it's so tasty.]
This was unfair. He'd warned her not to, shared when she insisted, even cleaned her up.
If it were anyone else, he'd be mad, but her pouty lips melted any anger.
He sat the sulking Levatein back properly and pulled out the menu.
"Then Daddy will make it up to you with a palate cleanser."
[Palate cleanser?!]
"Yeah. Pick whatever you want."
[For real?!]
Yeah. For real. He nodded, and Levatein instantly perked up, giggling as she pondered her choice.
He scanned for something for himself when a voice came from the side.
[This one wishes to try something called chiffon cake.]
"Sure, sure. Chiffon ca—"
Silence fell in an instant. Levatein mid-squeal, him mid-laugh—both froze.
Everyone turned toward the voice.
[Hm. I merely followed Benia's scent. Strange. It's strongest here.]
The speaker propped his chin, eyeing them. Those eyes weren't human. Slit pupils unique to reptiles.
No attempt to hide: horns sprouting from his head, red hair, red eyes.
[You. What are you? Your mana trembles. And you carry Benia's scent strongly.]
In that moment, he understood. What this situation meant.
[That idiot. I told her to watch out for humans.]
The creature's eyes began to glow red.