Chapter 3. Mint Hero
The hero party spent three days striking out completely. In a way, it was to be expected. Finding clues like that in this vast demon realm was never going to be easy. Smart witches like them wouldn't just drop hints carelessly anyway.
...The only silver lining was that the monsters weren't attacking as aggressively as they'd feared.
But something still felt off to Ji-hyuk. Of course, there wasn't any rational reason for it. Still, he didn't ignore the feeling. After decades fighting demons, he'd developed this unique intuition—like a limited form of foresight. And right now, that gut sense was ringing a faint alarm.
Don't let your guard down—it warned.
...Something was coming soon.
Ji-hyuk kept his mouth shut and stayed quiet, mulling it over.
The group pressed deeper into the demon realm. The mood grew darker than a funeral home. The goblin porters kept having these inexplicable freakouts, sparking constant squabbles. The thick-headed hero grumbled about using such cheap porters.
And that night, the orc Gulatan bolted awake, drenched in cold sweat. His face was ashen black.
Ji-hyuk, on watch, asked if he'd had a nightmare. Lately, this sun god worshiper woke up like this every night.
"...Just a rough night, that's all."
He lay back down, his face caked in exhaustion.
It wasn't just this orc. Plenty of others jolted awake from nightmares too. It was too frequent to blame on the demon realm's malice alone.
Of course, Ji-hyuk had been through it himself.
This has to be witch work.
No way around suspecting it. The witches were up to something, probably trying to wear them down physically like this.
Then, at dawn that day, one porter vanished. He'd gone into the nearby bushes to relieve himself and just... disappeared without a trace, according to the watchman.
Only then did the hero seem to catch on that something was wrong. Leader Isaac, with his years of experience, sniffed out the danger too.
"Hey, all of you—get your heads straight. Fuck up here, and we're dead."
The oblivious Alisa asked what was going on.
"Why? Something happen?"
"We're already in their territory. Those bitches."
"What?!"
"Don't make a fuss. Could be what they want."
From that moment, the group's vibe shifted completely. The heroes braced for whatever might hit them next.
Fairy hero Elraim approached the mercenaries and laid it out bluntly.
"You've probably noticed, but we're in their turf now. ...Especially you guys—watch yourselves. Don't get charmed like idiots. Got it?"
"Don't worry about us, miss."
Isaac told her to save her concern. The fairy shot Ji-hyuk a particularly dirty look. He looked exactly like the type witches would go for.
Soon after, they found something suspicious under a tree. ...Not something you'd expect in a moss-choked spot like this.
"...Underwear?"
Men's high-end drawers.
The fairy called over the beastkin. The werewolf crouched down, buried his nose in it, and sniffed.
"Baron's son. Matches."
Hah—. The fairy smirked sourly, but her eyes boiled with fury. Pure provocation. Come find it if you can.
"Could be a trap," said Isaac's favorite female healer, worry in her voice.
The hero wasn't dumb enough to miss that. But backing off now, this deep in? That'd be even stupider.
"So? We retreat?"
"No, that's not what I—"
"To catch those bitches, we gotta storm their base. That's the job."
Hero Elraim ordered them to keep pushing, no chickening out. They pocketed the baron's son's underwear, of course.
"Fuck... that kid's already dead, right?"
"Shut it. They'll hear. Just move."
Alisa mentioned the baron's daughter—er, son's—fate, and Isaac quickly shut her up. No need for that crap reaching the hero's ears and causing trouble.
...Night soon fell over the demon realm. Exhausted from all the bullshit, the group scarfed dinner and crashed hard. Ji-hyuk dozed off too, only to wake from a nightmare. No matter how badass he was in reality, dreams always left him powerless.
The healer girl asked sweetly if he was okay. ...Bella, was it?
"Yeah, it's nothing."
"Doesn't look like nothing. You seem really tense."
Suddenly, Bella started unbuttoning her top, one by one.
...What the hell?
His brow furrowed. She peeled back the shirt, baring her two full breasts. Plump nipples sat atop pale flesh.
"Like my tits?"
...Fuck, out of nowhere?
"Wanna suck 'em?"
He did, but the sheer absurdity left him speechless.
...Witch illusion, obviously.
Ji-hyuk turned to the other watchman. The werewolf just sat there, ignoring his comrade's state.
...Fuck, are those bitches targeting me?
He squeezed his eyes shut, shook his head, and unleashed a burst of mana. When he slowly opened them, those tempting tits were gone.
"...Everything okay?"
Of course, the primly seated healer Bella had her chest fully covered, not a hint of skin showing.
...Almost lunged for a suckle there.
"You've got time left. Go back to sleep."
She nodded at the hourglass on a tree root. Plenty of sand left.
"Ah, yeah."
Ji-hyuk lay back down, feeling grimy.
...The malice felt thicker now. The air turned ominously heavy. He couldn't sleep, got up again. His turn for watch next.
Paired with Alisa, who yawned hugely and rubbed her sleepy eyes.
"Fuuuck..."
The previous watch— the healer and beastkin—hit the sack. Soon, snores filled the air.
Ji-hyuk stared into the crackling campfire, transfixed. Barely slept, yet wide awake. No—sharper than ever.
Then his gaze snapped somewhere. He pierced the darkness with intense focus.
Alisa, mid-yawn, asked what.
"Hey... hey!"
"Shh."
He pressed a finger to his lips. She went wide-eyed, clamped her mouth shut.
...Something's there.
He sensed it writhing in the shadows.
...It's coming.
Something was definitely approaching. Not a monster.
"Wake 'em. Quick."
"Rise and shine."
Alisa dashed around, shaking everyone without yelling.
"...What? What's up? Monster?"
"Not sure yet."
She shook her head at the hero's question, grinding her teeth as she rose.
Everyone gripped weapons, formed up. Limited visibility ratcheted the tension. Anything could lunge from anywhere.
Hero Elraim sensed the approach too. "Get ready."
- Uuuh, uuuuh—.
Then the sound started. Like a sick patient moaning faintly. Chilling enough to raise hackles.
Something emerged at the edge of firelight and shadow.
...Not a monster. A magical beast.
Ji-hyuk clocked it instantly—life twisted by demonic energy. He'd seen countless like it.
"Ah...!"
Alisa, first-timer, recoiled in horror. She wasn't alone; anyone without experience freaked.
Goblins huddled, trembling in terror.
It looked like a booger rolled in blood, with rotting limbs jutting irregularly. Human heads too.
...Hard to call it "alive." Grotesque horror.
This proved the kidnappings were witch work. Exhibit A: right in front of them.
"What the fuck..."
Even battle-hardened Isaac couldn't hide his shock.
"Don't panic—!"
Fairy hero Elraim nocked and loosed. Her holy arrow speared the beast's torso like a beam.
Uuuuwaaaaa—!!
The massive thing thrashed, then charged.
...Nighttime was the problem. It rolled forward. They dove aside.
But the fire snuffed out—vision gone. The mage quickly conjured a light orb, floating it up.
One wasn't enough to light everything.
"Eyes on the perimeter—! Witch could be anywhere—!"
Elraim yelled. They scanned frantically.
The beast's body convulsed wildly.
Uuuuwaaaa—.
Roars intensified. Tentacles sprouted from its trunk.
"Fuck—!"
Snake-like, they lashed out at the group.
"Aaaaah—!!"
A goblin got snagged by the throat, yanked helpless. No time to save—plunged headfirst into the beast's body. Legs kicked, then stilled.
Elraim severed a tentacle with pinpoint arrow. They handled them okay at first—shocked but steadying.
Then shit hit. A hidden witch struck from behind, targeting the exposed back.
Kihihihi—.
A clawed hand burst from Isaac's chest.
Uh—.
"Iiiiisaac—!!"
Gulatan cried out in grief. But Isaac, clutching his one remaining club, got dragged into the dark.
The witch turned on the heroes. A quick beastkin blocked her mage attack.
Elraim fired—but the witch dissolved into smoke.
She reappeared, lunging at Alisa.
Ah—.
Alisa froze. Death loomed.
Ji-hyuk surged in at blinding speed, severing the witch's arm clean.
"Kiyaaaaaaa—!!"
Shrieking, she vanished. The beast retracted tentacles, rolling away.
Elraim peppered its trunk with arrows—no real damage.
Enemies gone, the group panted, scanning warily.
"...Gone...?"
Alisa collapsed, shell-shocked. Gulatan's face showed his leader's loss. Heroes looked thunderstruck too.
Bolt from the blue—brutal.
"...Pack up. Move camp."
They grabbed gear, shifted spots.
"Hey... thanks. For saving my ass."
Alisa thanked Ji-hyuk. Even a shitty merc knew gratitude for life saved.
He nodded curtly. Honestly, bummed about Isaac. Could've saved him if closer—but too far.
New site, bigger bonfire. Ji-hyuk and Alisa back on watch.
"...Fuckin' bullshit."
Alisa snapped, mood sour. Ji-hyuk rubbed under his nose. Cooling sweat left him shivering.