Chapter 23. Demon Lair
Team Ji-hyuk finished preparing at the crack of dawn and left the castle. The manager, who had been waiting after hearing the news in advance, bowed deeply to Ji-hyuk.
"The lord said it's a token of the castle. He doesn't expect anything in return, so please accept it without refusing."
With that, he pulled out a leather pouch and offered it to Ji-hyuk. The hero stared at it for a moment before taking it.
A guy with mountains of money wouldn't make a fuss over something like this.
"Thanks. Tell him I'll put it to good use."
"I'll make sure to relay that exactly."
They exchanged farewells and were just about to leave the castle when someone called out to Ji-hyuk from afar. It was Hero Katrine.
"Hero Katrine."
She must have rushed here, because she arrived in front of Ji-hyuk panting heavily. Her expression was much improved from yesterday. She seemed to have regained her composure.
"...I was too out of sorts yesterday to thank you properly. Thank you for what you did. For finding my precious comrade. I'll never forget this favor."
Ji-hyuk smiled faintly.
"Is that young man safe?"
"Yes, he's fine."
"That's a relief."
"It's all thanks to you, Hero."
Ji-hyuk's smile deepened. He took one step closer to Hero Katrine and gripped both her shoulders firmly with his hands. Her eyes widened slightly.
"Never forget your righteous heart to the end. That's all that matters. And remember, I'm your eternal ally. ...I'll always support you."
He gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze before letting go. Then he nodded lightly, turned, and waved his team onward.
Katrine stood rooted, watching Ji-hyuk's back as he departed. ...Until he vanished from sight.
The carriage carrying Team Ji-hyuk rattled through the dim dawn air. The leader stared toward the underground city of Horompel, lost in deep thought. Most of the team members dozed off skillfully despite the jolting ride. Ludvine was outright leaning on Grendal's arm, mouth agape in blissful sleep. The orc smiled warmly, like he was watching a little sister, making sure her head didn't slip.
The chain-smoking healer was already puffing away at dawn, exhaling long streams of gray smoke. She thought of that young man lying there in such a horrific state last night. Her long-dormant anxiety had suddenly flared up.
Ah... Her hands trembled.
She slapped her hand on the leader's thigh beside her and gripped it tight. Hoo, hoo, hoo. Grace's breathing grew ragged.
Ji-hyuk quickly clasped her hand firmly.
"He's fully recovered. Thanks to you. ...No need to worry anymore."
The trembling subsided soon enough. Still, compared to before, the symptoms were much milder. It wasn't daily attacks anymore—just occasional bouts of anxiety. That was considered good, even among mercenaries. Mental issues, once rooted in the mind, didn't shake loose easily.
Once calmed, Grace looked up at the leader with moist eyes.
"Sorry."
"Nah, this is nothing. Happens all the time. Don't stress. ...If it's tough, lean on me without worrying. Got it?"
"...Yeah."
Ji-hyuk flashed a kind smile. Grace felt her heart settle like never before. Grendal, watching from across, grinned warmly too.
It was a good team. Reliable comrades and a leader worth respecting.
Leader... Grace's chest warmed every time she thought of him. Seeing him lifted her spirits. ...But she shouldn't feel this way.
The chain-smoking healer lit another cigarette in those moments. She knew she shouldn't, but the heart didn't follow reason. If it did, she'd have overcome her anxiety long ago.
The more she relied on the leader, the deeper her feelings grew. She liked him more and more. ...It was undeniable affection.
And that tormented her. Memories of dead comrades and her dead lover surfaced. The crunching sounds of bones and the tearing screams lingered vividly.
Ah, ah... Surviving already felt like a lifetime of atonement in solitude, and now love games on top of that? Guilt stabbed her heart like a blade. Her mouth tasted bitter. She drowned it in cigarette smoke.
...But the dead lover in her heart had faded almost completely. Thinking of him only amplified her pain. She had to forget. Forgetting was right. She couldn't cling to a dead soul forever.
And someone was slowly filling that empty space. The leader. Her respected leader. He had avenged her without a hint of ulterior motive, even soothing her pain. He was the most noble and righteous hero in the world. It'd be weirder if her heart didn't waver. The desire to lean on someone was too intense amid the hardship.
Ah... The cigarette burned out. Grace tapped the ash into the carriage step, refilled it with fresh leaf powder, and inhaled deeply. Sip, whoo—. The acrid smoke filled her rotten insides again.
The dead lover grew fainter; the leader, sharper.
· · ·
The path to the Catacomb carried an eerie chill. The roads, fields, villages—all of it. The air grew colder by the minute. After leaving the city, the hero team passed two villages over a fortnight and finally entered demon territory.
Demon land, yet beasts and plants thrived. But it felt off from ordinary plains—the energy in the air was different. The faint demonic qi permeating it prickled their skin like blunt needles.
Amusingly, Ludvine, with witch blood in her veins, brimmed with energy unlike her comrades.
"The air here's nicer than I thought?"
She just sensed it as good air. So Ji-hyuk explained.
"That faint mix? Demonic qi. Leaking from the demon lair and spreading this far."
"Demonic qi?"
To the redheaded freckle-face, it was bolt-from-the-blue news. Strangely, she felt no repulsion toward it. That's when she acutely felt her origins. Witch lineage. She'd barely noticed her difference from normals until now.
Being a half-breed kept the inherent nature mild.
"Fuck, it's properly creepy."
"We ain't even near the demon lair and it's this bad... We good?"
The horses pulling the carriage were already showing odd symptoms, starting and stopping repeatedly. The coachman said they couldn't go farther.
The hero team had no choice but to dismount. They'd walk from here.
"How far?"
"At least two days on foot."
"Not too bad, then."
They stretched their stiff bodies. No need for a separate break after sitting so long.
The team moved in two lines. Kobold Jepopo sniffed the air periodically like the dog-head he was. Scarred bulk Bruce used his man-sized iron shield like a staff, thudding it into the dirt and leaving stamp-like prints.
Ludvine oddly enjoyed the thrilling vibe. Giggles bubbled up; her body buzzed. Naturally, she got extra clingy with the leader.
"This bitch eat something?"
Bruce eyed the giggling redhead like she was on drugs. But she ignored him, skipping along happily.
Grendal chuckled at the sight. Ludvine knew she was acting weird but couldn't suppress the high. Magic felt easier too.
"Leader, I think I can cast better now. Impressive, right?"
"Yeah, impressive."
Ji-hyuk ruffled her red hair with a smile. Heehee. She felt like she could float away. Ah—. Her body tingled all the way to her groin.
Sexual arousal.
After walking a while, they took a short break. Ludvine stuck to the leader's side, arm linked, eyes glued to his face. That's when the team noticed something off. They knew she liked him, but this was excessive.
Ji-hyuk glanced at Grace. Quick on the uptake, she stood.
"Hey, Ludvine. Come with me a sec."
"Why?"
"Uh, scout a bit."
"...Annoying."
Ludvine puffed her cheeks, gave the leader a longing look, said she'd be right back, and went. The two vanished into the brush.
Only then did Bruce, chewing dried meat, speak up.
"Leader, she's acting weird."
Kobold Jepopo nodded.
"Yeah, ever since entering demon land."
Ji-hyuk explained.
"Her mom's a witch. First time with demonic qi, so she's hyped. Cut her some slack, no weird comments. Got it?"
They nodded, understanding.
"Got it, Leader."
The women soon returned. Ludvine rushed back to the leader's side and plastered herself there. Grace piped up.
"You bitch, quit bugging the leader—get off!"
"Am I bothering you, Leader...?"
Ji-hyuk ruffled her hair with a laugh.
"Nah, it's fine. Ignore Grace."
"...Okay, Leader."
Hehe. Ludvine was over the moon. She thought of a novel—tender love between a mage heroine and hero protagonist. Even the mean healer fit perfectly.
Leaaader... Her lips parched. She wanted to kiss him. Fuck him. Insanely bad.
...She realized she was in heat.
Why me? Ludvine fanned her clothes, body burning. The heat wouldn't fade. Breath came short.
"Let's move."
They walked till sunset, then set camp and unpacked. Crimson dusk painted the sky. They gathered branches for a bonfire. Roasted meat aromas wafted.
Minus the demon land part, it was beautiful.
Ji-hyuk assigned single watch shifts. Demonic qi aside, it was like any plain. No need for doubles till entering the lair.
Bellies full, they lay down. Night fell.
Wooowooooh—. A beast's howl echoed distantly.
First watch: Grace. She set the hourglass and gazed at the starry sky. Whooo. Cigarette smoke swirled and faded.
...How did my life end up here?
Born to a prestigious noble house, finger-pointed as the illegitimate daughter. Six years ago, she ditched family and blood for a hero team. Talent saved her; otherwise, some noble's concubine.
Better than panting under a pig-noble. Deep mental scars remained, but wasn't life always painful?
She recalled her dead lover, Hero Raig. His face blurred. Too long unseen.
...The leader's face surfaced instead. Ha—. The chain-smoker self-mocked. Guess I'm no better.
Grace stared at the leader sleeping beside her. A soft smile bloomed.
Sleep well, my respected leader. She blew a kiss into the air.