Chapter 23. Demon Lair
The hero team, barely regaining their composure, dragged their feet toward the demon with grim determination. Their faces grew paler by the minute. Grendal, the only one somewhat holding it together, tried his best to rally his comrades.
"Everyone, snap out of it—! Just a little further—!"
But as the demonic energy thickened, the team started groaning, unable to endure any longer. They were hitting their limits.
"I can't... I can't go on. Fuck, I don't wanna die. We'll die if we go—!"
Bruce finally snapped. Jepopo collapsed too. Ludvine screamed at him like he'd lost his mind. But words weren't enough anymore. They were utterly consumed by terror.
Ji-hyuk lightly rubbed his face with his hand. At least Ludvine was holding up decently—thank god for that. He'd never realized witch blood was so handy for demon hunting. Sure, she got overly hyped sometimes, but once she got used to the demonic energy, she'd learn to control it.
Now the leader had to make a call. Dragging the whole team further was impossible. He called out to Grendal.
"Grendal."
"Yes, Captain."
"Wait here. Just me and Ludvine will go."
"...You sure? It's a demon."
"This one's all mind games anyway. Any kid could kill it up close."
Of course, getting close was never that simple. You had to push through mental assaults, illusions, and hallucinations. No average willpower could make it.
Demons weren't called demons for nothing. Ji-hyuk was playing tough, but he was taking the same brutal mental hits as the others—apathy, laziness, agony, hallucinations gnawing at him. If his emotions weren't so dulled from experience, he'd have knelt to Demon Daropim's attacks long ago.
"Grendal. Keep things from going to shit. I'm counting on you. Got it?"
"Understood. Don't worry about us."
The captain moved on alone with Ludvine. Do we really have to push this far—? Why the fuck am I putting myself through this hell? Shit, maybe I should just turn back. This sucks, for real. Those bastards. Fucking assholes. I wanna kill 'em all. Why should I have to do this? Just give up. Give up and be done with it.
Amid endless torment and doubt, Ji-hyuk clamped his mouth shut and forced one foot in front of the other. The illusions and whispers tormenting him intensified.
Kyaaaaaaa!
Dieeeee!
Run away, run awaaaaay!
Kyaaaaaaa!
Even Ludvine, with her witch blood, was starting to feel it. Her body began to tremble.
"Ludvine. Hang in there, no matter what. We need you."
"...Y-yes."
One step. One step. It wasn't far at all, but it felt endless, like the path stretched on forever. Up ahead, in the pitch-black darkness, he could almost hear the demon's mocking laughter.
Fuck. This fucking thing. I wanna stop. Wanna go back. It's too hard. Just wanna quit.
Negative emotions stabbed at Ji-hyuk's chest without mercy. Finally, Ludvine stopped first. She was panting hard.
"Captain... it's too much. I... I can't go anymore."
"No. Come on. Hurry. You wanna piss me off—?!"
...Urk.
At the captain's shout, Ludvine forced herself to move again, one reluctant step at a time. She couldn't bear his hatred. The two gritted their teeth. Each step took forever.
Urk. Urk. The light orb started flickering dimly.
"Ludvine—!!"
Ji-hyuk reached out and grabbed her small, trembling hand.
Ah—!
She looked up at the captain.
"I'm here. Don't worry. I'll stay right by your side. Come on. Together."
The redheaded girl clutched his warm hand tightly. Hah—! She brightened the orb again.
"Captain...!"
"Right here."
The pair trudged forward like they were battling a fierce blizzard, step by agonizing step. The demonic energy was now thick as air. One step: sloth grabbed their ankles. Two: sorrow. Three: resentment. Four: fear. Five: despair. It cycled endlessly.
Don't. No, you have to. Why me? Because you must. Isn't this fucked? Yeah, it is. Then don't. Who else will? Someone. No one's stepping up. Fuck it, let the world end. Then you'd have to anyway. ...And fuck off, you piece of shit. Do it right or die.
"C-Captain...!"
Ludvine finally couldn't go further and collapsed to the ground. The light orb flickered on and off.
Fuuuuuck...!
Ji-hyuk let go of her hand. He had to go alone. She screamed in panic at losing the captain.
"Don't gooooo—!!! Don't leave me behiiiind—!!!"
The light orb was fading. But Ji-hyuk didn't care. He'd already seen where the demon was. The light vanished soon after.
Aaaaaaaaah—!
Ludvine screamed. But Ji-hyuk kept walking.
You're fucked anyway. You're all gonna die. Stupid fucking creatures—!
Kyahahaha!
Writhe in eternal agony—!!
Ji-hyuk drew his holy sword with a shing. His palm throbbed. Ten steps left.
Think you can do it? A worm like you? Just give up and die. Easier that way. They're all shit anyway, right? Let 'em die.
Ji-hyuk didn't stop. Nothing was visible, but he moved like he could see everything.
Clack, clack. Something tripped his foot—bones, probably. Victims who'd summoned Demon Daropim and paid the price. They deserved it.
...At six, seven steps, even Daropim got desperate. It hadn't expected some puny creature to push this far. What the hell is this guy? Why won't he stop? How's a failed creation enduring me—the demon even other demons fear?
Demon Daropim started tempting him outright. Stop, and live in eternal bliss. It conjured illusions tailored for weaklings: money, power, women.
But he didn't stop. Eight steps. Come closer and die. You'll wander the dark forever, unable to even die—!!
Nine steps. Don't come. You'll die. Die. You're deaaaad—!!!!!
...Ten.
"Fucking demon scum."
In the pitch black, Ji-hyuk swung his holy sword. Once, twice.
Aaaaaaaaah—!!
The demon's piercing scream echoed. Demonic energy surged wildly. Ludvine screamed too at the same moment.
...Demon Daropim wailed for a long time before slowly fading. Ji-hyuk panted heavily. The mental strain was intense.
...But he had to endure. He was the captain leading the team. If he broke, they all died.
The captain called for Ludvine.
"Ludvine! Ludviiiiiine—!!"
A faint, panting voice came through the gasps.
"...I-I'm here, Captain...."
"Keep talking."
Ji-hyuk groped through the darkness. Total blackness—not a thing in sight. Then, not far off, a light orb floated up. Beside it, Ludvine's pale face appeared.
"Ludvine."
"...C-Captain...."
She was trembling violently. The orb flickered dimly.
"Let's go. Hurry."
The redheaded mage struggled, but they had no time to waste. Demon Daropim was gone. The other two demons would sense it for sure. They had to get out now.
"Faster. It's urgent."
"Yes."
At least it wasn't physical exhaustion, so they could manage a brisk pace. Mental pain or whatever—you had to survive first to feel it.
The two hurried back down the passage. The path that had felt endless before was shockingly short.
"Captain—!"
Grendal shouted as he saw the pair approaching fast. Ji-hyuk eyed Jepopo holding a mana orb instead of a torch and asked where he'd gotten it. Bruce grinned awkwardly, scratching his cheek.
"Oh, uh, the demonic energy flared up and killed all the torches. This? Well, there were mana orbs in that room, so I figured it'd be fine to snag one."
The scarred brute, caught red-handed planning to sell it, glanced nervously at the captain. Ji-hyuk chuckled.
"Good call."
Without it, they'd be shivering in the dark. A sneaky theft had paid off for once.
"Everyone back to normal? ...Anyone still wanna bail?"
"No, Captain."
Thankfully, the team hadn't suffered lasting effects like Ludvine. With Daropim gone and the energy thinning, they recovered. Grace, especially, was mortified by her breakdown—whining at the captain, even getting kicked by Ludvine. Her pride was in shreds.
"C-Captain, I... um...."
Grace stammered an excuse, but Ji-hyuk waved her off.
"Later. We're in a rush. Move—!"
Ji-hyuk formed up the team and pushed forward briskly. Thanks to Bruce's stolen mana orb, visibility was good. They advanced quickly, weapons drawn, watching front and rear.
Bruce shivered, balls shrinking in fear. "Fuck—."
Ji-hyuk told Ludvine to shout if she sensed anything. The moment he said it, the redhead yelled.
"Captain, ahead—!"
This fucking—.
Ji-hyuk veered left mid-passage. Now everyone broke into a light jog. Grace and Ludvine were already huffing from their packs.
"Hang on just a bit—!"
The captain navigated by mental map. Maze-like, but no dead ends—everything looped back to the entrance.
They veered right, then straight. Ji-hyuk checked behind often, confirming the team was intact. The women's breaths grew rougher. Grace was nearing her limit.
"Captain—!"
Ludvine shouted. Something ahead. Demonic energy surged. No side paths. Backtracking risked demons pinching them front and rear.
They had to break through. Ji-hyuk gripped his holy sword tight.
"We fight—!"
Vrooooooom—.
Fierce demonic energy swallowed them.
"Positions—!"
Bruce moved up beside Ji-hyuk, then Jepopo. Grace and Ludvine prepped heal and spells behind. Grendal nocked an arrow on his massive bow at the rear.
The demon appeared. It was like flowing black velvet curtains. A pitch abyss under its deep hood. Bony black hands gripped a huge scythe.
Groooooowl.
The low, eerie roar clawed at their ears. Urk— Everyone grimaced. Heads throbbed.
Shadow Demon, Clinto. Ji-hyuk called to Ludvine.
"Ludvine, magic ready. Jepopo, Grendal—defend only, no attacks. Bruce, hold here to the end."
"Yes, Captain."
The scarred bulk gritted his teeth and slammed his iron shield down. Vow to endure.
Physical attacks wouldn't work—only mana. No point in the others joining.
Ji-hyuk cracked his neck and stepped forward. Ludvine chanted fire magic.
"Blast it quick and go."
A fireball shot out, exploding on the demon.
Rooooooar!
The demon shrieked as the flames hit.