Chapter 23. Demon Lair
Why the hell did I do that? This crazy bitch. Did I really lose my damn mind? How could I say something like that right to his face...
The bizarre impulse had swept over her, making her blurt out words without thinking. Those words left a massive hangover effect on Grace. What made it even worse for her was what he'd said afterward.
"Yeah, I get it, Grace."
The chain-smoking healer couldn't fathom the true meaning behind her captain's words as he said it with a smile.
...Fuck, I'm going insane for real.
She lit up one cigarette after another the moment she woke up. She couldn't even look at the captain's face. It felt like her chest was rotting away from the inside.
The team members forced down whatever food they could stomach to fill their bellies, despite having no appetite, and prepared to move out again. The most energetic one, as always, was Ludvine. She'd slept like a rock, her face radiating freshness. The others, though, all looked like death warmed over.
"Fuck, this place really ain't fit for humans."
Bruce, who'd been tormented by nightmares all night, clicked his tongue, saying he'd never seen a dump this vicious in his life. Even dog-headed Jepopo agreed with the scarred brute for once.
Soon, everyone packed up and slung their bags back on. The thick demonic energy and murderous intent lingered as strong as ever.
"Sleep well, you shitty skull-headed fuck?"
Bruce kicked a skull bowl rolling on the ground. It tumbled away before smashing against the stone wall.
"Let's move."
The formation was the same as yesterday. They followed the twisting path onward.
Huff. Huff.
After trudging along for a good while longer, they hit another fork—this one splitting into three paths. Kang Ji-hyuk paused, pulling the map from his bag and unfurling it. Ludvine quickly conjured a glowing orb to illuminate it brightly. All eyes turned to it.
"This way."
Ji-hyuk pointed to the left path with his finger. He stowed the map back in his bag. Meticulous Grendal had been marking the walls periodically just in case. You never knew what could happen in a maze like this.
A little later, Ludvine broke the eerie silence filled only with footsteps and breathing.
"The demonic energy feels thicker somehow."
As a mana-sensitive mage, she picked up on even the subtle shifts right away. Ji-hyuk nodded lightly. It meant they were on the right track, at least.
"Keep monitoring it. If it spikes too suddenly, report to me immediately. Got it?"
"Yes."
In a place like this, they couldn't afford to miss even the slightest change. It was directly tied to the demons' appearances.
As far as Ji-hyuk knew, there were three demons here. One was the Shadow Demon, Krinto—it looked like the grim reaper people on Earth imagined, and you couldn't even scratch it without mana. Another was the Demon of Pain, Agdali. It wasn't physically overpowering, but getting hit by its energy brought excruciating agony. It resembled a hag with pus oozing everywhere. And finally, the Demon of Sloth, Darophim. That was the bastard Ji-hyuk was here to take down.
True to its title, the aura it exuded induced a deadly laziness in any living being, accompanied by endless torment and despair. An infinite hopelessness and the listless state induced by temptation—that was the demon's version of sloth.
Ji-hyuk had chosen it for two reasons. First, the lazy fuck hadn't moved a single step from its summoning chamber. Second, this slothful energy could be overcome not with raw power, but with mental fortitude.
Of course, breaking through it wasn't easy. You'd have to endure immense despair, pain, tragedy, and temptation. Push past every trial to reach its face and hack apart that grotesque body.
...Even assuming they pulled that off smoothly, the real problem came next. Did he really think the other two demons would just sit on their asses sucking their thumbs? They'd sense it immediately and come charging like mad. From there, they'd need a bit of luck. Fighting demons in these tight quarters wasn't ideal, so the key was bolting for the entrance while dodging combat as much as possible.
Of course, he didn't expect to avoid it entirely. He figured they'd have to tangle with at least one—probably not both. If a fight was unavoidable, the Shadow Demon Krinto was preferable to the Demon of Pain.
"Let's rest."
His comrades let their tense, exhausted bodies relax. It'd only been a day, but everyone looked utterly drained. No wonder the demons were so eager to spam them with mental attacks.
They set off again. The team repeated the cycle of marching and resting several times. After a longer break at a fork, Ji-hyuk scrutinized the map again. They were almost at the end of the marked paths. Anything beyond was dug out by the demon cult. By his rough estimate, they'd arrive in half a day at most.
Distance-wise, it wasn't far, but the pitch-black demon lair without a speck of light naturally slowed their pace compared to the surface.
The monotonous trudging continued. Dog-headed Jepopo finally couldn't hold back.
"Fuck, who the hell builds a shitty place like this...!"
Everyone felt that deeply. Even Ji-hyuk wasn't immune. But if they knew there were far worse spots, they'd shit themselves in shock. Honestly, this didn't even rank among the real hellholes. The true nightmare started when you crossed into the demon realm to hunt its lord. Each demon realm expedition shaved years off your life. You had to go if you wanted them dead, though—it was fucking maddening. He really wanted to meet the genius who created this shit world and punch that smug face... if it were possible.
"Captain, it's getting stronger. Way more than before."
Even Ji-hyuk, sensitive as he was, felt it prickling his skin. The Demon of Sloth's energy. It was already starting to affect them.
"...Fuck, what's this?"
Strength drained from their limbs, chests growing heavy with unease. Bruce trudged along with a listless expression. The malaise was spreading to everyone.
"Captain, let's rest a bit."
Dog-headed Jepopo finally pleaded with the captain. Ji-hyuk glanced at his drained team and halted.
"Snap out of it, all of you. This lethargy? It's the demon's trick. It's the Demon of Sloth—feeds on torment and despair. ...Get your heads straight, or you'll end up like those skeletons."
Ugh.
Ji-hyuk's warning jolted their minds a bit. But they couldn't fully shake the oppressive aura. Everything started feeling like a hassle. They just wanted to flop down and sleep.
Grendal wasn't immune either, nor was Grace. Grendal fought it with his deep loyalty, but Grace—with her anxiety issues—struggled hardest.
"Captain... let's rest."
"No. Pull yourself together. We're almost there."
They dragged their weary bodies forward by sheer will. Then Bruce finally collapsed to the ground with a thud.
"I can't go on, Captain. It's too much. Just a short break, yeah?"
Ji-hyuk sighed deeply, strode over, grabbed Bruce by the collar, and slapped him hard across the face.
Smack!!
Bruce's eyes snapped wide. Ji-hyuk's face was terrifyingly stern.
"Everyone here's suffering, you fuck. If you wanna do your own thing, why'd you come? Huh? Can't handle this pathetic temptation? And you call yourself gold-rank?"
...Ah...
Bruce swallowed dryly under the captain's ferocious glare.
"This is your one and only warning. Next time, no mercy. ...That goes for all of you. Whine again, and you're done. Got it?!"
Ji-hyuk bellowed. No one had seen him this pissed—they all snapped to attention. Grace bowed her head in shame.
...Whining like a baby about being tired. How embarrassing in front of the captain.
"Get your shit together. I know you're all hurting. But what choice do we have? Endure it. It's not your bodies—it's the temptation. Fight it."
"...Yes, Captain."
Their responses still lacked vigor. Ji-hyuk exhaled a long sigh and turned to lead the way again. The team shuffled after him. Bruce, stumbling up to rejoin the line, gently rubbed his stinging cheek. Jepopo smirked sidelong.
"Serves you right."
"Fuck off."
The minor commotion passed, and the hero team finally reached the map's end. No skull graveyard in the demon cult's expanded tunnels gave it away.
Ah.
Everyone sensed it instinctively. This was the real deal now. Demonic energy poured out thickly, battering them relentlessly. Fatigue. Loss. Despair. Fear. It hammered their hearts without mercy.
Aah—.
Grace suddenly shuddered violently, flailing her arms. Ji-hyuk quickly pulled her into his embrace and called for a break.
"I don't wanna do anything. I just wanna stay like this... ...Everything's fucked. Fuck, it's all so fucked I can't deal. Just leave me and go. I'm done going."
The chain-smoking healer's eyes were utterly vacant as she went limp. Ji-hyuk gritted his teeth.
"Grace... hang in there a little longer. Yeah?"
"Captain... I'm worthless. I'm a fucked-up bitch. Fuck, I should just die. ...Good riddance. I'll croak right here. Fuck this shitty life. Dogshit life. Fuck..."
"Grace—!"
"I'm useless trash. Just baggage for you. Right? ...Ha, yeah, right. If I'd died from the start, this wouldn't have happened. Should've died with Raig back then."
Ji-hyuk couldn't hold back and slapped her cheek hard.
Ah—.
Her dazed eyes flickered briefly before sinking again.
"Hit me. Yeah, beat me till I die. I'm worthless trash. Kill me, just do it. ...Here."
She grabbed his hands and pulled them to her throat.
"Strangle me. If it's you doing it, it'd be kinda nice. I wanna die by your hands... Come on, do it."
Ludvine finally jumped up, charged at Grace, and kicked her in the side.
Oof—.
The chain-smoking healer tumbled across the floor.
"You fucking bitch, listen to yourself...!"
Ludvine kicked Grace's ass again as she lay there.
Oof—.
Grace's eyes sharpened. Even suicidal, getting kicked by Ludvine pissed her off.
"What the fuck—!"
Whatever Grace said, Ludvine kicked mercilessly.
"Crazy bitch needs a good beating—! Wanna die? Then fucking die, you cunt—! Cunt, you fucking whore—!"
The red-haired mage stomped and kicked Grace's ass.
"Ow, fuck, ow, fuck, ugh, fuck yeah, ow, urk...!"
Yeah, kill me. Beat me. More, more. Something twisted open in Grace's chest amid the blows—an unknown pleasure. Yeah, I'm a bitch who deserves death. Beat me, beat me, beat me till I'm dead—!
"Ow, hit me, ow, kill me, fucking kill me, ow, urk, you bitch, urk."
She deserved it. Needed it. It felt so good—like atonement. Bitch who needs killing. I'm that bitch. Gotta get hit.
"Enough, Ludvine."
Ji-hyuk stopped her. Ludvine backed off, panting.
"Fucking bitch. Pfft."
No, don't stop. Hit me.
"More, hit this fucking... just kill me, you bitch..., hic."
Tears flowed. I need to get hit. I shouldn't live. Beat me till I die. Keep hitting. More. More—, more—.
The hits strangely eased her mind. Lightened the guilt. She needed them.
...She wanted more.