Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: The Worst Duo on Earth
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Su-sun.
The predetermined order. The set procedure.
What that means is this: Kim Tae-hyun staring up at the ceiling glowing with purple light, setting down the two knives he'd been gripping like he would never let go.
Swallowing his boiling blood, steeling his crumbling will.
All of it was just the natural sequence of events.
In a way, it was inevitable.
Mana was crushing his flesh. His body wouldn't move as he willed it, he couldn't circulate his magic power. Casting spells was out of the question.
Nothing went as planned. He couldn't even attempt advanced incantation magic, and the low-level spells had grown too powerful to wield comfortably.
Meanwhile, what about his opponent?
The blood-red moon he'd seen on the way here. The symbol of madness that drove demonic energy into a frenzy. That alone made it an unwinnable fight.
But behind the black robe, the hexagram was converting amethyst mana into demonic qi.
It was a matchup where the fight couldn't even be established.
Naturally, his unique magic power "Path to Victory" hadn't even activated. Not even a 0.1% chance of winning.
Yet Kim Tae-hyun fought. He knew he'd lose, but he gritted his teeth and fought anyway. The reason was simple.
Not some grand sense of duty, conviction, or ideals. He just wanted to kill it. Anything connected to demons, he wanted to tear apart.
And right there in front of him was a demonkin. That was all.
That was the only reason he kept getting up, even as his joints screamed and his muscles wailed.
But that was the end. Now his body wouldn't respond at all. No matter how hard he screamed inside or tried to move, not even a finger twitched.
"Your tenacity, at least, I acknowledge."
The black robe approached. What right did a demonkin have to acknowledge anything? The gaze looking down like he'd fought well made him sick. He wanted to spit, but his body wouldn't move.
Not that spitting would do anything but come back at him now. The robe raised a hand. A repulsive purple hand came into view.
'Is this really it?'
Really? Then what about all the training he'd done? The trials he'd overcome? He didn't want to die yet. He wanted to graduate the academy, become a hero, kill even one more demonkin.
'Even demons.'
Paradoxically, Kim Tae-hyun thought it. If he could just kill a demon, he'd sell his soul to one.
As if responding to that thought, a barrier of fire appeared.
"You just thought it."
Black hair gleamed purple in the amethyst light. Black eyes looked down at him.
"That you'd sell your soul to a demon if you had to."
Then beg me. The man who said that stood before the robe.
A roar echoed. The robe's scream. The robe, calm throughout the fight, had lost its reason and was bellowing.
"Call?"
No need to hesitate. As Kim Tae-hyun nodded, his vision flipped.
"You knocked him out with that? Definitely a devil. The worst devil on earth."
"And you're the worst angel on earth, so we're the worst duo."
"Well, aren't you smooth."
Of course. Guy's a former author. I spun my scythe and stood before the black robe. He was staring at me.
Takes me back. Like that kid from kindergarten at five who called his big bro when we fought.
"But why'd the devil show up all of a sudden?"
"He would've thought that."
He pathologically hates devils. He'd contract with one just to kill another. In the original story, he does contract with one.
Of course, thanks to novel tropes, they become friends through friendship, effort, and victory. But not now.
"Not that he's gonna befriend the devil."
I slung my scythe over my shoulder and ignored the guy screaming his lungs out, glancing to the side.
Sapphire eyes more beautiful than any gem met mine. I patted the guy's shoulder as I looked at him.
"Wings."
She shook her head.
A sigh escaped at the response. What? It's only been how long since Angel Fall and she's still like this?
"Your fuel efficiency sucks."
Sure does. I opened my [Inventory] and pulled out two items. Both from the demonkin hideout last time.
The moment the items hit my hand—
Boom—!!!
"Gah!!"
The black robe charging at me went flying. In an instant. Too fast to react, but he got nailed by an angel punch and soared off.
I glanced once at the robe embedded in the wall, then to the side. Golden hair whipping around. Her pose exactly as it'd been after launching a person.
"Fucking badass."
"Pardon? Yeah, I am pretty cool."
What? Is this the glutton angel I know? I rubbed my eyes.
"You owe me one now?"
Yep. Confirmed glutton angel. She would've stayed cool if she'd shut up, but watching her ruin her own image, I tossed the two items on the floor.
Had to hurry—the robe was getting back up over there.
"Do villains these days attack during transformations? No manners. None."
"Yeah, saw it in my comics."
Well, then. Ridiculous.
I nicked my finger with the scythe. Blood oozed out. Stings like hell.
What I'm doing now is simple. Calling in a winning hand. I've said it a million times: I don't gamble with my life.
Raphael alone might win, but that hexagram behind him is iffy. And it's Raphael.
Can't trust her.
"Seong-hoon."
I ignored the call and dripped blood on the items. Drop by drop. Each time, they made eerie noises.
Weeeeeeng—!!
One's a familiar machine. The guy who drew the magic circle on my hand recently. This one's different.
Not drawn with mana. A hexagram drawn in blood.
The other? Why I raided the demonkin hideout. An item I absolutely needed.
The reason demonkin could operate undetected in Gangnam.
A black paper sucked up my blood. It trembled, then something spread out.
"Whoa. Cool."
"Right? This'll get Benia outside. Once she's healed, housework duty."
"Sounds good. Then I'll—"
"Once she's healed."
Tch. I ignored the voice and watched it spread. Simple explanation: a barrier. Keeps demonic qi, mana, and presence from leaking out.
The demonkin stood. Couldn't see his face under the robe, but he looked panicked.
Like, "How the hell do you have that?" Yeah, probably. Distance muffled it.
Kiririk—!! Kiriririk—!!
The machine doesn't wait. Hexagram complete, I dripped blood.
"I offer iron blood. My soul... Ah, screw it. Just come out, Lily. You don't need this crap, right?"
"Seong-hoon. It's about the vibe. Do it properly."
No way. Tongue'll twist. Embarrassing. Who says lines like that out loud?
"Angels have it easy. Just pray."
"Praying demonkin mindset's driving me nuts."
"P-pray what?!"
I dodged the charging Raphael when a voice rang out. Solemn yet playful.
「What do you—」
"Lily."
「.......」
"Answer me. Lil."
「.....Why.」
"Get to the present world. Now. Don't piss me off."
「........」
Hurry up. Robe's already up and composed. Angels punch should send demonkin flying longer, but nope.
"A devil? What the hell are you?"
"Lee Seong-hoon."
"Raphael."
The robe clicked his tongue. Answers and he still freaks.
"Got careless once. Won't happen again. Looks like you're contracted to a devil, but don't bother. Unless the devil descends itself—"
Bang!!
As if on cue, something burst from the hexagram. Two horns on the head, skimpy outfit covering just the essentials, tail twitching lively.
The devil looked down with lowered eyes.
I didn't half-ass watch Kim Tae-hyun's fight while playing life games or whatever. I watched properly.
Why he lost? Simple. Unwinnable from the start. Enemy regenerates endlessly via hexagram demonic qi, while Tae-hyun can't.
That hexagram keeps converting amethyst mana to demonic qi.
Even with Raphael, it's risky with that there. So I called her.
"Lily. Steal the contract."
「.....」
Huh? No answer? I clapped twice, and a sound came from beside me.
Crack— Crack—
Not a sound an angel should make, but urgent times. Yeah, overlook it.
Anyway, devil steals contract, guy's just a normal demonkin. Angel punch solves it!
But.
「....Stop making noise. Impossible.」
What? Instead of the evasive devil, an answer came from a bit away.
"Obviously. My contracted devil's a higher one. A lesser devil stealing it is suicide."
I looked at Lily. She whistled and looked away. This girl.
"Raphael."
"Yes."
Raphael slowly approached Lily.
"Die here? Or in hell?"
Lily yelped like "Eek!" and bolted. Raphael chased.
—Stop!!
—Spare me!! I don't wanna die!!
Watching the scene, I realized something.
Thud.
"Ah."
"Alone, huh. You called, so I came myself."
Unbelievable. The idiot who walks into a trap when called, and the "backup" playing tag.
Driving me insane.
I smiled at the slowly approaching demonkin. As brightly as possible. Harmless face.
"Haha. Was I too harsh before? Accept my apology? Yeah? I'll pretend I didn't see! Even give you that black-haired guy."
Not working? The robe halted at my words.
Did it?
"Hm. Tribute failed. Guess I'll rip you apart."
Shing—!!
Sharp claws emerged. Yeah, figured.
Glanced back quick—still tag. We'll talk later, Raphael.
Chilling sound as the demonkin rushed me. Frenzied demonic qi and amethyst made him too fast to track visually.
But if you know it's coming, it's dodgeable. Dodging's the plan anyway.
I slipped into the darkness and emerged behind the demonkin.
Our eyes met as he turned like it was nothing. Goosebumps.
"Seriously, vampires or demonkin—do they have eyes in the back or what?!"
Tell me sooner, damn cat! And he emerged mid-air. I racked my brain hard.
And had a weird experience. Read about it once. In extreme situations, human perception expands several times.
Life flashing before death? Due to hyper-focus.
Suddenly it clicked. Why I couldn't imprint the demonkin's mind map with "Super Sense".
It was already a complete skill. Time seemed to stop, yet flowed. And I saw it.
Every muscle twitch entered my sight. Attack trajectory and speed burned into my brain. Understood.
No need for Leviathan or Lachesis skills.
No panic at time's return. I dodged his barrage mid-air, paper-thin margins.
"What."
His panicked voice. Even I couldn't believe my own feat. Our bodies touched.
I placed my hand on his abdomen. Attack came predictably, but fire barrier appeared.
"Ahh."
Eyes met. Feeling his shock, I thought.
"This is skill power."
I want this guy in my inventory.
"What—!"
Not even a final scream before he vanished. I prayed inwardly.
May the deceased rest in peace.
Amen.
"One more down today."
The demonkin opened his eyes.
Couldn't comprehend the situation. Touched by Lee Seong-hoon's hand, and suddenly here.
Looking around, junk everywhere.
He stood and walked. Maybe an exit? But soon regretted it.
A beautiful voice rang out. So lovely it could melt ears, but his body was already tilting.
Knees buckled. Higher being looked down. No willpower could intervene. Knees hit floor automatically.
Breath short, heart pounding wildly—natural.
What? Didn't get it, but forced comprehension came quick.
Sniff. Sniffling from behind.
「Devil. A devil. How's a human scarier than one!!」
Light footsteps. Tail thumping sadly. Wiping tears, she squatted before the demonkin.
Face puffy.
'A devil's face swollen from crying?'
Impossible. Yet reality.
Lifetime chance to see one transcendent being? Two right here.
'Lee Seong-hoon. What the hell are you?'
No one to answer. The devil squatted before him.
「Sorry, kid. Gotta survive too. Now I can't go back to hell, thanks to you.」
「What— Eeeeeek!! D-d-dragon?!」