You Interest Me
You Interest Me
While Yor was lost in reminiscence, what was Ha-neul doing?
"...Hoo."
She was busy trying to recover her thoroughly shredded mental state.
For someone who rarely went outside, everything that had happened today was far too stimulating.
It felt like she'd used up an entire week's worth of energy... How could a game be this psychologically draining?
"Exhausting..."
She murmured that as she sat down on a nearby bench.
She was grateful there was even a bench to sit on in a slum like this. Otherwise she might have just plopped down on the roadside like the beggars nearby.
She was also grateful that Yor had been so easygoing about it, more than she'd expected.
Even if it had been an accident, he would have had every right to hold it against her. She'd seen plenty of people get socially destroyed that way.
Mostly in the internet world, that is. It was a little unfair, but that was just how things worked between men and women.
But instead, he'd teased her jokingly and lightened her guilt.
Of course, that had mentally shredded her a bit... but it had actually made the awkwardness fade faster.
Of course, Yor had only been teasing her innocently... but anyway, that was how she'd felt, so that was that.
'What kind of guy is that easygoing?'
Even if it was an accident, was it really okay? She felt a moment of doubt.
Anyway, he was an unusual person in many ways.
After resting for a little while, the next thing she thought was this.
'So why did we come here...?'
They'd come all the way to the city, and the place he'd brought her was a shabby slum in a corner.
There was nothing to see, and the public safety was bad.
Of course, she could guess. When she thought about the wistful look on his face as he'd looked around, she couldn't help but notice, even if she didn't want to.
That this place held memories for him.
'Was it where he used to live?'
Come to think of it, he must have lived in the city too before his sigil manifested.
Though she hadn't expected it to be a slum like this.
Ha-neul thought about him and gave a bittersweet smile for a moment.
Setting aside his personality, she could easily guess that the life Yor had lived hadn't been easy. Even now, when she thought they'd gotten a little closer, she could still sometimes feel the wariness he carried.
Ha-neul felt a brief pang of sympathy as she thought about him.
Fortunately, the thought didn't last long. She knew it was rude to think like that.
Instead, she resolved to just tend to her own mental state, like she'd been doing earlier.
She didn't know when he'd be back, but considering the duration of the Illusion Sight, he'd return within an hour.
In the meantime, she figured she'd just relax on the bench and take in the scenery.
[Demon's Saga]'s excellent graphics stirred a certain sentiment even in a rundown area like this.
Even in a place that didn't seem like it would be very bright, there was a warmth of its own.
Kids in grubby clothes scribbling graffiti on the walls. Priests ladling out porridge to beggars.
There was even a sunset, giving Ha-neul a decent view.
It was the very picture of tranquility. As if it could go on forever.
But that tranquility broke much sooner than expected.
"Gyaaah...!"
"Run... we have to run!"
Suddenly, screams rang out from the edge of the scene.
Wondering what was happening, she looked that way and saw people trying to flee with faces full of terror.
Behind them, a man of extraordinary beauty was walking along calmly.
Long blond hair, a very tall frame, and an expression that looked kindly.
Once she'd confirmed that much, Ha-neul couldn't help but be startled.
Because that was the main culprit who'd been making internet communities buzz lately.
'Seere?'
The 70th demon, Seere. The moment she saw him, Ha-neul felt confusion.
A monster meant to be hunted through a raid had suddenly shown up in a back alley of the Empire?
Even as that confusion set in, the situation kept progressing.
Slash—!
Abruptly, Seere swung his knife-hand and cut the ankle of the beggar fleeing ahead of him.
It wasn't a severing, but the wound was clearly quite deep.
"Gyaaah...!"
"That's why I told you not to run."
Seere walked heavily toward the beggar and spoke.
"Now, I'll ask you again. Will you enter my service, or will you die in agony here?"
Exactly the same as what the communities had described. The choice for the terror-stricken beggar was obvious.
One by one, those who had fled stopped in their tracks and answered that they would serve under him.
Ha-neul thought through her muddled head.
'What do I do?'
She never imagined the event everyone had been so curious about would come looking for her.
Other users would have been delighted to have an audience with Seere, but she couldn't be.
She had no intention of joining some bizarre cult in the first place, and right now, Yor was here too.
'Why does it have to be...'
She didn't care if she died. Losing items would be a shame, but in the end, that was all it was. But not Yor, who was an NPC. The moment he died, he would vanish from this world forever. The value of his life was far too different.
And joining the cult would also be a problem. If he was forcibly inducted into the cult, then naturally he'd have to leave the home he lived in, wouldn't he? Whichever way it went, there was only a bad future for Ha-neul.
'No.'
At the very least, she had to let him know. She had to tell him a demon had appeared here, so he had to run immediately.
So, with her expression hardened, she tried to flee from Seere.
And that was a mistake.
"Are all humans born with blocked-up ear holes? I'm beginning to get irritated."
Slash—!
Along with that sound, this time Ha-neul's thigh was cut.
"Nngh...!"
The searing pain made her lower body collapse. She hurriedly lowered her Assimilation Rate to the minimum.
As soon as she finished adjusting the setting, she saw that Seere had already arrived in front of her.
She'd only paused for an instant; how could he be that fast?
The way he'd noticed her movements from far away, the power of his attack—he was far, far beyond her level in every way.
"Hm? You adapt to pain far too easily... I see. You're a child of the Otherworld too."
Seere smiled kindly and asked. His face was definitely smiling, but she couldn't feel a single speck of emotion in it. An expression that looked unnatural, as if trying to forcibly mimic a human. A demon.
His outward appearance could certainly be called beautiful, but Ha-neul felt nothing but terror from it.
Soon, the creature asked Ha-neul.
"What do you say? Will you enter my service?"
A strange pressure weighed down on her. But Ha-neul's answer was already decided.
"...No."
"Hm... I see."
The creature nodded coldly. Then Seere's knife-hand rushed toward her neck.
Ha-neul squeezed her eyes shut, thinking of the pain to come.
In a moment, her head would be severed just like that.
But contrary to her expectation, she didn't die.
Boom!
Because right before that, something had slammed down in front of her.
The earth caved in from the terrifying force, and stone fragments scattered. Ha-neul, who was right nearby, even felt a slight tremor.
Sensing something wrong, Seere backed away several steps.
Ha-neul opened her tightly shut eyes and looked ahead again.
And there was Yor.
"What the hell are you supposed to be, you bastard?"
With a rather irritated expression.
*
To be honest, I'd gotten a little lost in sentiment.
Memories of the past that I thought had faded came flooding back the moment I arrived here.
To me, who'd lived a harsh life, these feelings that surfaced now and then were quite precious.
It was a little bittersweet, but it hadn't been a bad time at all. Even more lingering than when I'd eaten that pizza bread. If I'd gone home just like that, it would have been a really good day...
But what do you know, when I got back to where Im Ha-neul was, there was some faggot-looking bastard standing there?
And on top of that, the bastard was about to log Ha-neul out, so I had to hurriedly jump in.
Because if she, who could cast Illusion Sight, died, it'd be a real pain for me to get back.
Originally, I was planning to plant a kick right in the bastard's face on the first strike, but he pulled back before I could land it. That was when I realized the guy was someone of considerable skill.
It was a surprise attack, so it should've been hard to react to. The bastard had some serious reflexes.
"No, run! You have to get away from him!"
Just then, Ha-neul shouted at me. She looked pretty desperate.
According to her, my opponent was apparently a demon named Seere.
I couldn't help but be taken aback for a second.
'...Seere?'
I'd heard that name before. And it was a hot-off-the-press name I'd heard recently.
Right, they'd said he was the demon who appeared a few months after Andromalius died.
I remembered being pretty shocked because he'd shown up so soon.
I'd been half-skeptical, wondering if it was just internet hearsay.
'That's...?'
And my doubt hadn't changed much even now that he'd appeared right in front of me.
A greasy-looking guy like that was really that demon?
Just looking at him, he seemed like the type who'd show up in some gay porn. Wearing black leather X-shaped clothes, oozing an atmosphere like he only operated from the shadows.
Still, I stayed on guard, just as she'd said.
I hadn't thought about running yet.
I could take care of myself well enough, and besides her, there were a lot of other people here.
'Of all times...'
What's more, not just Otherworlders, but ordinary people who lived here.
It was obvious that if I ran, their lives would be in danger too.
It wasn't out of some measly sense of justice. That word was pretty distant from me.
It was just that my conscience pricked me a little at abandoning so many people and running away.
If there was a risk of my identity being exposed, that'd be different, but with my appearance changed by Illusion Sight, I was willing to at least buy some time.
And to be honest, I kind of wanted to plant one right in that face of his.
So, I pulled up my hood and took out my weapon.
'Damn it, if things were gonna go like this, I should've brought the weapon pouch.'
Unfortunately, all I had on me right now was a self-defense dagger.
It had been iffy to bring an expensive subspace pocket all the way to the city, and I'd had no intention of fighting in the first place.
Still, I could fight, so I charged at my opponent.
Shiiik—!
The dagger rushed at the bastard with a chill hiss. But it never touched him.
Because before it could, he turned his head and dodged.
A glint of interest colored his blue eyes.
"You're quite fierce."
The attack had missed, but I'd expected that much.
I didn't cling to the first strike and followed up with the next attack. Using the momentum that had gone into the dagger, I fed him a backspin elbow.
Thwack—!
This attack did connect. Though it was blocked by the bastard's palm.
He spoke as if in admiration.
"And the power is considerable, too."
I'd taken my turn, so now it was his.
After deflecting my elbow, the bastard swung his knife-hand at me. I could see mana faintly sheathing the edge of his hand.
I hurriedly blocked his attack with the dagger.
Boom—!
A heavy mass slammed into me. I almost got pushed back, but it was manageable.
While we were locked in a contest of strength, his eyes met mine.
He spoke in an admiring tone.
"Your looks are quite outstanding too, aren't they?"
I didn't enjoy being complimented on my looks by men.
As I frowned for a moment, he continued.
"I'm fond of outstanding children. Whether it's looks or anything else... How about it, will you enter my service? A talent like you is someone I could hold precious. If you have any interest in male love, I could even teach you personally."
"...What?"
I shot back at him.
...Did I seriously hear that right just now?
He really is a fucking faggot!
"You fucking bastard...!"
I hastily shoved him off me.
Goosebumps went crawling down my spine.