Seo Gayeon (1)
The demon's corpse turns to ash and scatters in the wind. That's how it always ends for them. Demons are those who gained power by offering up the world's possessions to vile entities. Not even rest is granted in their deaths.
5,000P awarded as reward.
Incredible Record Achieved! Minimized civilian casualties. Additional 10,000P awarded!
Soloed the Demon! Reward upgraded.
Conceptual Stat: Reverse Heaven Body +3
A ton of points rolled in. Maybe I should buy a decent technique with this.
"……."
I paused while claiming the rewards.
The Reverse Heaven stat had increased. The moment I saw the message, the Reverse Heaven inside me began to grow.
-What?
Black Heaven Demon Sword. The tiny marble-sized bead swelled to the size of a knuckle.
-What's going on? Did Reverse Heaven increase?
I ignored the flustered Black Heaven Demon Sword and changed my mind. In that case, it might be better to invest in raising my stats.
"Th-the demon's dead! I believed in you!"
"Thank you, hero! You're Gangnam's savior!"
Citizens murmured here and there. I spotted people with cameras too.
I didn't want my face exposed. I entered the Multidimensional Paid Shop and bought the one-time secrecy device I'd had my eye on.
Escape device crafted by the Electronic Witch.
:Erases the user's appearance from all modern technology.
:Makes the user appear blurry to ordinary people without awakened mana.
1,000P even for a one-use item. Damn expensive. Well, the effect must be solid.
I activated the item. No idea how it worked, but if it was from the Multidimensional Paid Shop, the performance was guaranteed.
I pulled the hood of my hoodie low over my face.
'Did I take too long?'
Heroes would arrive soon. Time to slip away quietly.
Being treated like a hero was nice, but it was too early. If my identity got exposed to demons and they suspected me of being their natural counter, every demon out there would target me.
That was why I hadn't forced Seo Gayeon to do it... but things were different now.
The difficulty was higher than expected. Considering this quest was just the tutorial, the real danger wouldn't be far off.
'How should I reel her in?'
I pondered how to win over Seo Gayeon as I headed down the alley.
"Tch."
In the heart of the smoke-filled downtown, a woman in a suit held a cigarette between her lips and let out a deep sigh.
"Why are those Black Magic Alliance bastards causing such a ruckus lately?"
"It's because of the prophecy."
"The prophecy about someone with the talent to exterminate all demons appearing soon?"
Baek Jiyeon smirked. As if a single talent could solve it.
Even the legendary great heroes of old hadn't eradicated all demons. Self-mocking, Baek Jiyeon walked on.
"It's the Sword Empress."
"Holy crap. The Sword Empress shows up for just two rampaging demons?"
People from the guild whispered among themselves.
"Come to think of it, the report said two Mid Grades... and students took them down?"
"Yes."
Baek Jiyeon whistled. She'd heard the students from this year's Korea Hero School were no joke. Even the usually indifferent Association Chairman was paying attention, which said it all.
"According to civilian reports, one demon holding civilians hostage was taken solo, and the other by four students together."
"......What?"
Baek Jiyeon dropped the cigarette from her mouth.
Students might be strong, but most lived as Low Grade heroes or mere hunters. Soloing a demon? No way.
"And there's something strange."
"Strange?"
"Yes. The student who faced the demon alone doesn't appear on any electronic devices."
"What?"
"Circumstantially, it seems to be Lee Seoha... which makes this tricky."
"...Is that so? Put that one under my name for now. I'll look into it later."
Did the Electronic Witch get involved? She was supposed to be retired.
"Whatever it is, this just got annoying."
Baek Jiyeon ruffled her complicated hair and began organizing the scene.
"Hey, there's a bounty, right?"
"Yes. Prove you exterminated the demon, and it's paid out immediately."
Korea was small. The Association did everything to keep it safe, but they couldn't prevent every incident. So they allowed guilds and offered bounties for demons or monsters.
"Put it up."
"Yes, we can. It happened right in central Seoul Gangnam, and Black Magic Alliance has a big name value."
"And attach the solo demon hunter's bounty to me for now. I'll talk to the Elder Council Head; they'll handle it. I'll check out the guy who caught it myself."
Her secretary's eyes sparkled.
"How about subtly recruiting him? If you step in personally, Baek Jiyeon, it'd make a great picture. You're the most famous High Grade in Korea—and a woman, too."
"What does gender have to do with it?"
"Teens that age tend to idolize adult women."
"......Tch."
Baek Jiyeon nodded readily. At that, the secretary sent a text somewhere.
"Right, that kid from the school—the Holy Knight from America."
"Heaven?"
"Heaven or America, whatever. Tch, anyway, he's there, right?"
"Yes."
"What's his rank? His relative asked me to look out for him."
"Probably 7th place."
"That guy? The genius they call in America? The one who ditched seminary to enroll here and show the difference?"
"This year's freshmen are no pushovers. Especially Lee Seoha—he shattered every record."
"To what extent?"
"He clocked in under a minute."
"What?"
Baek Jiyeon couldn't comprehend. Under a minute? Her personal best was early 5 minutes, in her third-year second semester. Even then, she'd been hailed as a once-in-a-century prodigy.
A first-year under a minute? "Whoever it is, he's a monster."
"That's why you need to step in, Baek Jiyeon. Otherwise, the guilds will snatch him up again."
"Tch."
Baek Jiyeon pulled a lollipop from her pocket and popped it in her mouth. She didn't like it, but if the guilds took him, the old man would nag her endlessly. Guess she'd have to do it herself.
"Fine, schedule it."
"Yes, ma'am."
Lee Seoha. Baek Jiyeon engraved the three syllables in her mind as she began cleanup.
"Do we really have to do this today?"
-Quit whining. You're tired, but that potion restored your vitality, didn't it? Train now, and you'll bleed less later.
I sighed at the Black Heaven Demon Sword's words and entered the training hall.
Penthouse. I'd returned to the dorm.
The smallest miracle I could perform.
Dragging my feet, but agreeing with the Black Heaven Demon Sword.
On normal difficulty, this character could handle anything in just panties and a dagger. Tch.
Sighing, I got out of bed, changed clothes. Too lazy for socks, so I threw on a hoodie over. Pants? Weather was warming, so shorts.
-Can't you stop with that damn hoodie for once?
"What's wrong with it? So comfy and good. No one to impress anyway."
-Kids your age usually care about the opposite sex.
I chuckled at the Black Heaven Demon Sword.
If I hadn't been isekai'd here, I probably would too.
-You going out?
"Yeah."
The penthouse had air purifiers and constant cool temps, but... it lacked that thrill. Outside had views at least.
I pocketed my phone and grabbed the Bluetooth earbuds I'd bought recently.
Stepping out of the dorm, a familiar silhouette appeared.
Seo Gayeon. She was jogging in workout clothes.
"Hey."
"H-hi, h-hey."
Seo Gayeon greeted me flusteredly. I glanced around. No one else.
'Perfect chance.'
"Jogging? Mind if I join?"
"Uh? S-sure, of c-course."
Seo Gayeon and I started running together. After a bit...
She was way ahead.
"……."
I realized something crucial. Seo Gayeon might be called the class failure now, but her stamina outclassed mine.
And pathetically, she slowed to a walk, matching my pace.
"……."
As a man, I felt profound defeat. Maybe seriously invest these points in stamina-related stats—
Seo Gayeon spoke up.
"Seoha. You know a lot about alchemy, right?"
"Eh, decently. Something bugging you? I'll answer if I know."
"L-last lab... I added slime mucus to a healing potion, and it turned into poison..."
"......Did you filter it?"
"Huh?"
"Skip that, and the toxicity turns it poisonous. Should be in the kit they gave—filter processor. Add water, and the kit's magic reacts, filtering out the poison components. Try it next time."
"O-oh, I see."
Basic for slime mucus, but easy to miss if you don't know.
"Seoha, y-you're good at everything."
Deep defeat laced with inferiority.
"Ah, n-no! S-sorry. F-forget what I just said."
Seo Gayeon startled, shaking her head.
"Nah. I'm bad at stuff too. Like running."
I looked at Seo Gayeon.
She was upright. But her life hadn't been smooth.
"Wanna learn magic?"
"Magic...?"
"Yeah. Like I said before, you seem talented. Pure potential-wise, even more than Hong Yuhwa."
"Me?"
"Yeah. Trust me on this."
"……."
Seo Gayeon stared blankly.
"I'll help with what I can."
Of course, I'd force it even if she didn't ask. No refusals.
"Th-thanks."
Seo Gayeon nodded slowly.
Then next weekend, dungeon with her.
I watched Seo Gayeon, thinking.
Awakening mana was tough. Best way: near-death crisis.
Her 'Star Mana' tied to 'demonic' forces needed clash with those.
'In other words, best method is rolling near death against a demon.'
Seo Gayeon smiled faintly.
Yeah, smile while you can.
I smiled back at her.