Chapter 100: Soohyun’s Madness
Chapter 100: Soohyun’s Madness
Thanks to Ahn Sol's unintentional antics, the mood of the party had brightened considerably. Of course, the girl herself was blushing furiously, tears welling in her eyes, but what could we do? It was genuinely funny. The others, their minds feeling a bit clearer, were able to relax and enjoy the break. I wanted to rest too, but that goal was thwarted when Ahn Sol ran to me, crying, and threw herself into my arms.
And so, leaving the fallen Knight of Ruined Souls behind, we resumed our exploration.
The other rooms on the second floor were a paradise for the undead. Every door we opened unleashed zombified experiments from the laboratory, and with each one, Vivian’s eyes blazed with fury. Honestly, from my perspective, what she’d done and what the lab personnel had done were two sides of the same coin, so I couldn’t quite understand why she was so angry.
Moving clockwise, we reached the second door, the north gate, only to find an empty, desolate space. I had secretly hoped to find the stairs to the third floor there, but my prediction was wrong. Since we had already rested enough in the room with the Knight of Ruined Souls while I soothed a sobbing Sol, we headed straight for the last door on the second floor: the east gate.
When we opened it, the undead that greeted us was none other than a Mummy.
A mummy itself isn't a particularly difficult monster, but this one possessed a regenerative ability. Every time Ahn Hyun and Yoojung struck it and severed its bandages, they would immediately regenerate, relentlessly threatening them. The bandages I cut didn't seem to regenerate, but soon, new ones shot out from within its body, putting us in a very tight spot.
In the end, there was only one solution. I raised my left hand, the one with the ring.
“Anti-Magic.”
A white light shot out from the ring on my finger, and seizing the opportunity, Jung Hayeon cast her specialty, an applied spell.
“Target designated: monster, Mummy. Overlap.”
The white light extending from my left hand seeped into the bandages wrapped around the mummy. Soon, the bandages were engulfed in the white light, and I could see them instantly fading.
It seemed she hadn't learned high-level spells like Dispel, but given the right circumstances, applied magic could more than cover for it. A moment later, I heard the mummy scream as Yoojung’s dagger tore through its bandages.
Not to be outdone, Ahn Hyun thrust his spear deep into the creature’s abdomen, and I, wanting to finish it quickly, swung my sword fiercely at its neck. The mummy let out one last horrific scream before its body collapsed. As the others cheered and started to approach, I quickly grabbed them by the scruff of their necks and pulled them far away from the fallen mummy.
Fwoom!
They struggled for a moment, but they shut their mouths when the mummy’s corpse exploded, releasing a foul stench. They shivered intermittently; had they gotten any closer, they would have been drenched in that venom. Only after confirming the mummy had been reduced to a single tattered rag did I gently let them go.
“Good work, everyone. Ms. Jung Hayeon, your application of magic is truly amazing.”
“It’s just a minor trick compared to the melee fighters who risk their lives on the front lines. Please, you’re flattering me.”
Jung Hayeon replied humbly, but the faint smile on her face suggested she wasn’t displeased. Beside her, I saw Vivian pouting, and Ahn Sol, her eyes still swollen, was pouting too. Still, having witnessed Jung Hayeon and Shin Sangyong’s skills firsthand, they said nothing. Since the two mages had joined our caravan, Jung Hayeon’s contributions, especially since the second floor, were nearly on par with Vivian’s.
Inside the east gate’s room was a staircase leading to the third floor. As I stared at it, Shin Sangyong approached me.
“Leader. Are you planning to head up to the third floor right away?”
“We have to. How is everyone’s condition?”
I asked, turning my head. The party members each showed they were fine with their own characteristic gestures. Ahn Hyun, however, kept looking back with an expression of lingering regret.
“Ahn Hyun.”
“Ah, yes, hyung. I’m fine.”
He jumped in surprise when I called his name and nodded. I had a good idea of what he wanted, so I just shook my head.
“Don’t be too disappointed that we didn’t get any items from the second floor. What we’ve already found is more than a jackpot.”
“Yes… but hyung. Don’t you think I could use the items that skeleton knight had?”
“No. It’s better to leave them.”
I was about to say, “Hmm. Should we go get them?” but Vivian beat me to it. As Ahn Hyun’s gaze shifted to her, she also shook her head and continued.
“That thing couldn’t even be called a proper undead… Anyway, items used for a long time by a vengeful spirit are more likely to harm a normal human. The very weapons meant to protect a user’s life could, in turn, threaten yours.”
“Hmm. Master. Couldn’t we just use purification on them?”
“You idiot. They’re dark-attribute items. Do you think they could withstand the purification process? Besides, they were already old and didn’t look very durable.”
“Aha. I see. You truly are the best, Master.”
Her argument wasn’t entirely without merit, so I nodded in agreement. Ahn Hyun, who still couldn’t let go of his desire despite her logical explanation, finally sighed when he saw me agree.
“The third floor is still ahead of us. Everyone, keep your spirits up. We’re going up now.”
After vowing to myself that I would gift Ahn Hyun a proper Aura Spearman class item when I found one, I started toward the stairs leading to the third floor. The rest of the party followed quietly behind me, ascending the stairs one by one.
*
After pushing open the door to the third floor, our eyes were met with a single, vast space. And that space, despite the long years that had passed, seemed to have preserved its horrific scenery, as if wanting to tell the tale of a past tragedy. If I had to describe it, it was a pile of ashes. Literally, a space with nothing left but ashes.
Had a small-scale war been fought in here? Seeing the scattered fragments and the black, rusted debris rolling about, the party seemed at a loss for words.
But I was speechless for a different reason.
A quiet stillness filled the third floor. Then, with a rustle, a figure rose. At the same moment, the chair beneath it crumbled into dust with a crisp snap.
“Well now, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen humans…”
The figure slowly turned to face us. Its skin was dark blue, a horn protruded from its forehead, and devilish wings fluttered behind its back. The figure was Demonkin.
The party flinched when they confirmed the Demonkin’s presence. They had apparently not expected to meet one so soon. Neither had I. I had known we would encounter Demonkin, but I had never dreamed I would meet 〈him〉 here.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen humans. And yet you say nothing. Ah, what a pain.”
There was no mistake. It was him. That arrogant face and those eyes that seemed to look down on everyone. His habit of ending his sentences with ‘what a pain.’ How I had longed to meet him again. How many things I wanted to do, how many words I wanted to say when we finally met. The things I had only wished for in my heart, the things I had buried in a corner of my mind even after returning, were now awakening and creeping throughout my entire body.
I rubbed my eyes and stared at him again. This was real. If I could, I would have pinched my cheek just to confirm it one more time. Feeling my chest swell with emotion, I gripped my sword. The heavy hilt had never felt so good in my hand.
“Why don’t you say anything? Say something. It’s been so long since I’ve seen a human…”
“S-Soohyun-ssi.”
“Hyung.”
My heart pounded violently. The blood flowing through every corner of my body surged and burned hot once more. I could feel the old me, the me I had lost while spending time with the others, returning. I opened my mouth, my voice simmering.
“It’s… khk… good to see you.”
“Hmph. A human who knows no manners. Even if I told you to speak, shouldn’t you kneel and show respect first? You lowly creature.”
You crazy bastard.
“I am Belphegor, a proud Demonkin who holds the rank of Count in the Demon Realm. I will say it again. Kneel.”
“Ah. Shut up. Anyway, if he’s a Count… this is a headache.”
Vivian muttered with a frown. Belphegor, the Devil of Sloth. He could be classified as a high-ranking devil. Though not comparable to a top-grade devil, he possessed the potential to rise to that level at any time, so his power was considerable in its own way.
“If you understand, take care with your words and actions from now on. Hm… even for the Devil of Sloth, being trapped here for so many years without going anywhere was terribly tiresome. Since it has been so long since I saw humans, I will grant you special mercy just this once.”
Hearing his words, the party members all wore uncomfortable expressions.
I hate demons. They are more arrogant, more insidious, and more untrustworthy than anyone. They are insects who will stop at nothing to satisfy their own desires. But their numbers and their power were far too great. And because of their vile schemes, I lost one of my precious comrades. And Belphegor…
“Cut the bullshit. I’m going to kill you, you crazy son of a bitch.”
…was the one who had provided the spark for that incident. The moment I saw Belphegor here, I felt one of the questions I had harbored for so long begin to unravel. Belphegor being in the Ruined Laboratory was surprising enough, and I still did not know the process, but I felt I was beginning to understand how one event from my first run had come to pass.
Remembering that time, my anger surged anew. I smiled grimly and raised my sword. I felt several gazes turn toward me at my intense reaction, but I didn’t care. The most important thing to me right now was to crush the bastard before me as brutally as possible.
The memory belonged to my first run.
Belphegor looked at me with an interested smile, then spoke in a polite tone.
“Humans are truly amusing. Hehe. I’ve decided. I’ll use you as my chair.”
“So those are your last words.”
“Human. Even for worms like you, this is getting on my nerves. I’m done indulging your little show. However, I can be merciful right now. You’re all mortal beings anyway… If you apologize this instant, I’ll grant you and one other male human a clean death. Of course, you’ll have to support me as my chair for the rest of your life.”
“Oh? And what about the female humans?”
When I asked back with a smirk, Belphegor replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“You ask the obvious. Should they not serve this great me? The damn humans who were here before played some pathetic little tricks, so I couldn’t take a single step out of this building. I was quite bored, but some decent female humans have finally arrived. They all look to be of the highest quality. I am very satisfied.”
Hearing his words, I saw the faces of the party members, especially the female users, visibly contort. I glanced at their faces before speaking in a mocking tone.
“They don’t seem too keen on serving you.”
“That is only because they are still ignorant. Do not worry. My ‘thing’ is thick and long enough to satisfy them. The human women should consider it an infinite honor to serve Belphegor, the great Demonkin Count of the Demon Realm.”
“You’re insane.”
“I told you to watch your mouth. Do you dislike the role of a chair, even if you get to live? If you kneel and beg now, I might reconsider.”
“I’ve heard enough. Everyone, prepare for battle.”
At my command, the party members immediately drew their weapons. Belphegor looked down on us with an infinitely arrogant expression before speaking with a bored look on his face.
“Humans always have a tendency to shut up only after a show of force… What a pain.”
The moment he finished speaking, a dark blue flame erupted in front of him. It was Dark Flame, one of the fires wielded by demons. And, of course, it was a fire several ranks below Eternal Flame. Well, it was still plenty powerful on its own.
“It was great when I was first summoned here. But the offerings were insufficient. They offered up all sorts of worthless junk they’d half-made…”
“So you’re saying you weren’t fully summoned. Perfect. This will make it even easier to crush you.”
At my words, a strange light gleamed in Belphegor’s eyes.
“Heheh. Yes. You’re right, human. The power summoned here is less than seventy percent of my true self… You seem to know a thing or two. But.”
He paused, then snapped his fingers with a sharp click. At the same moment, the dark flame before him surged toward me. Belphegor finished speaking with a relaxed smile.
“You’re too grating on my nerves. I’m done holding back, human. Perish as a handful of ash before the great demon’s flame. Writhe in agony! Hahahaha!”
As I watched the flames rushing toward me amidst his mad laughter, I slowly awakened the power of Eternal Flame. A searing heat bloomed throughout my body, and I raised my sword high.
And then, I saw a deep smile spread across Belphegor’s lips as he watched me.