Chapter 370
Chapter 370
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 371
Chapter Title: The Hunt for Elina Kim
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Elina Kim.
An S-Rank Demon belonging to the Ten Demon Society, one of the demons hiding in human society.
Unusually for a demon, she uses summoning magic, commanding a black panther, snake, and bird made of demonic energy.
As an S-Rank Summoning Demon who can handle birds, she's exceptionally skilled at escape.
Today, I planned to take her out using the "Moonlight" effect.
I turned around and looked at Gretel.
Gretel was munching on sausages while watching a bizarre zombie movie on the TV channel.
"Gretel."
At my call, Gretel replied without taking her eyes off the TV.
"Mm-hmm."
"I'm heading out for a bit. Wait here and eat your sausages, okay?"
"Okay."
Gretel gave a half-hearted response.
She seemed focused on the zombie movie, but her attitude rubbed me the wrong way.
"Gretel. When someone's talking to you, look them in the eye."
"Okay."
Again, half-hearted.
This kid, seriously.
"...Should I just sell you off to Han Se-yeon?"
At my quiet mutter, Gretel's head snapped around.
Her eyes trembled as she looked at me, then she rushed over.
"Mmm! Mmm! Mmm..."
Her reaction was way more intense than I'd expected.
...This kid's really terrified of Han Se-yeon.
It had been half a joke to scare her, but I hadn't thought she'd react this strongly.
Feeling a bit guilty, I patted Gretel's back.
"Gretel, you'll listen to me from now on, right?"
"Yes!"
"Good. I trust our Gretel. I'll be back soon."
"Yes!"
Gretel neatly clasped her hands at her navel(?) and bowed 90 degrees.
I chuckled at her sudden show of manners and left the dorm.
Once outside, I immediately took a gate to the outskirts of Seoul.
I moved to a deserted, safe spot and opened my subspace to don a black hat and mask.
Then I tapped the Formless Cloak.
It instantly turned into a black jacket—perfect for hiding my identity.
"...Hmm. This should do."
I checked my watch.
9:10 PM.
I'd already confirmed Elina Kim's schedule.
She gets off around 10, so plenty of time.
Overflowing with power from the Moonlight effect, I headed straight to the Cheongil Opera in central Seoul.
"Hoo."
About 15 minutes later, I arrived at my destination.
Using Air Walk, I climbed to the rooftop of a nearby building and looked down at the Cheongil Opera.
Seoul's crowded with people and top-notch security, so I had to prepare thoroughly to avoid detection.
I pulled out the pre-purchased "Mana Concealment Potion."
As I scanned the ground for Elina Kim's position, that's when.
"...Huh?"
I felt the atmosphere on the ground shift abruptly. A strange tension rippling through the crowd.
Using my Third Eye to check the people, I spotted a familiar face.
A middle-aged man in suspicious sunglasses.
Kim Deok-hyun.
And a few other familiar faces.
"...Why is the Special Task Force here?"
The beautiful nightscape of central Seoul.
Near the Cheongil Opera building at its heart, Kim Deok-hyun was receiving reports from his subordinates via a communication magic tool.
-B Area roadblock complete.
-C Area done too.
It was late, but Seoul was a massive city teeming with people.
To minimize civilian casualties during the S-Rank Demon subjugation, they were controlling the perimeter.
Of course, disguised as construction to avoid alerting their target, Elina.
"Good. We can't have civilians caught in the crossfire. Keep the control tight."
Following Kim Deok-hyun's words, another voice came through the communication tool.
-Barrier Team C here. Safety barrier formula installed.
-A Area mana barrier up.
Ongoing reports from his subordinates.
Kim Deok-hyun turned to survey the surroundings.
Support mages disguised as civilians, formula experts.
Among them, Special Task Force combat agents like Jeong Hyun-soo, Kim Mun-tae, and Baek Ye-jin.
They could have gathered more support, but with three S-Rank agents and one A-Rank for a single S-Rank Demon, it was already overwhelming force.
Too many people might tip off the target, so this was optimal.
With preparations complete, Kim Deok-hyun gazed at the Cheongil Opera building.
"Elina's current position?"
-She's on the second floor. Per schedule, she'll exit at 10, so get ready on time.
10 PM. It was 9:55 now—almost time.
Right then.
He felt a gaze looking down on him from somewhere. A sensation no ordinary mage would detect.
Kim Deok-hyun spun around quickly, looking up at the rooftop of the building where the gaze originated.
-Senior? Something wrong?
At Jeong Hyun-soo's question, Kim Deok-hyun blankly stared at the empty rooftop.
"...Nothing. Just my imagination."
-Good. Wow, the moon's really pretty tonight.
-Oh, full moon. Gorgeous.
At that, Kim Deok-hyun looked up at the sky. The round full moon hung beautifully, as if gazing down on the earth.
"Cut the sightseeing and focus on the situation. We're not here to gawk."
-Got it. But what abilities do you think Elina will use?
-No idea. Just hope it's not enhancement-type. Those ones put up a fierce fight.
-Nah, enhancement-types are easier. They're straightforward.
Just then, the door at the opera building's entrance opened, and a woman walked out.
A face so famous it would be weirder not to recognize her.
Once a singer who shook Korea.
Elina Kim.
"...She's out."
"Ah, that startled me."
I'd been watching the Special Task Force gather around the opera when Kim Deok-hyun suddenly looked my way, giving me a scare.
Not what I'd expected, but I read his subtle movement and barely dodged detection by hiding.
"As expected of Kim Deok-hyun. Sharp senses."
Confirming with Third Eye that he'd dropped his suspicion, I looked back down.
Roadblocks to protect civilians, various formula traps—they were definitely after Elina.
"...Faster than I thought."
In the original story, Elina was fated to be subjugated by the Association, but much sooner than expected.
No need to wait for that—I'd planned to eliminate her first, but our timings overlapped.
"No big deal."
My goal was solely Elina's death, the S-Rank Demon.
If the Special Task Force handled it, I wouldn't even need to step in.
Sure, I'd miss out on "Karma" and "Proficiency," but saving points on the Mana Concealment Potion made it a fair trade.
"Still, just in case..."
There was a chance she could escape against the Task Force.
She's a Summoning Demon handling flying summons.
Especially her mana-powered flying summons boast speeds faster than any enhancement mage, impossible to chase once she slips away.
I turned my gaze to Elina emerging from the opera.
She scanned her surroundings, sensing the changed atmosphere, her expression hardening.
As expected of an S-Rank Demon—her keen senses picked up that something was wrong.
Her eyes locked on Kim Deok-hyun, disguised with sunglasses.
That instant.
Woooong!
A massive magic circle rose from the ground centered on her.
A giant circular barrier to block the demon's escape began to unfold.
-...Tch!
Elina erupted her full black demonic energy and leaped high.
Dozens of mana chains shot up from the ground toward her.
Hovering in the air, she condensed demonic energy at her fingertips and unleashed it at the chains.
Bang!
The intense black demonic energy collided, neutralizing the chains in an instant.
Then Jeong Hyun-soo's short shout.
-It's manifestation-type!
Simultaneously, Jeong Hyun-soo appeared behind Elina and swung his sword.
Exploiting the opening from blocking the chains, one of her arms was severed in a flash.
-Kuh!
Elina's brief groan. But sacrificing an arm wasn't a mistake.
For an S-Rank Demon, regenerating a limb was trivial anytime.
The rest of the Special Task Force attacked next.
Kim Deok-hyun, Kim Mun-tae, Baek Ye-jin...
Even tough 1v1, overwhelming numbers left Elina no way out.
"...She'll be subjugated easily like this."
With escape blocked by the barrier, she had no options.
That's when.
Paaaa...
Black demonic energy billowed from Elina like smoke, her eyes turning pitch black.
Realizing her dire straits, she'd activated berserk mode.
Soon, the black energy enveloped the area, taking form.
Two massive black panthers and three black snakes.
Her summons.
-...What? Summoning-type?
Her summons charged at the Special Task Force.
The numerical disadvantage eased momentarily, and Elina exhaled in relief.
Right then.
New demonic energy appeared from somewhere.
"...What?"
A chill-inducing powerful demonic energy down his spine.
Not Elina's—a third party's.
"...Another S-Rank Demon?"
I quickly turned toward the source.
Behind the barrier. A blonde woman spewing black demonic energy, brutally slaughtering Association support mages and formula experts.
"...Seonhwa?"
Looking closer, definitely her.
The S-Rank Demon described as top-tier in the Ten Demon Society.
I remembered her clearly from the previous Special Task Force training encounter.
"...Why is Seonhwa here?"
Woooong!
The massive circular barrier trapping Elina and the Task Force began crumbling. Seonhwa's doing.
-...What? Senior, the barrier's down?
-Judging by the demonic energy elsewhere, more demons nearby.
Elina didn't miss the crumbling barrier.
Woooong!
Black demonic smoke blanketed the area, obscuring all vision.
Kim Deok-hyun swung his spear wide, clearing the smoke ahead.
A black bird pierced the smoke, rocketing into the sky—with Elina riding it.
Kim Deok-hyun stared up at her in momentary shock.
-Flying summon too?
Watching, I felt absurdity.
"...What the hell's going on?"
Seonhwa's sudden intervention had escalated things.
At this rate, she'd escape—so I downed the Mana Concealment Potion and manifested magic orbs.
［Thanks to Moonlight's effect, light orbs infused with powerful mana formed in an instant.
I slowly infused them with demon-slaying power.
The giant bird carrying Elina flapped its wings hard, flying fast before spotting Seonhwa on the ground and stopping.
-When did you get here?
-Talk later. Escape first.
I spread my palm, aiming at Elina.
[Using effect 'Heavy Burden.']
Target: Elina's head.
"Hoo..."
I inhaled and fired.
Paaaang!
The light and demon-slaying magic orb streaked like a laser straight at Elina's head.
Mana concealed, Heavy Burden active—impossible to dodge.
But perhaps the blinding light in the darkness?
Seonhwa and Elina noticed the spell.
-Dodge!
Whoooosh!
-Kaaaagh!
The demon-slaying spell hit her shoulder, not head.
The faint demon-slaying power scorched her shoulder.
-Kuhhh! This power...?!
Elina groaned in pain, turning toward me.
"Tch."
Never thought the spell's light would give it away.
The Special Task Force appeared next.
-That magic...
Spotting them, Seonhwa unleashed demonic energy their way and leaped onto Elina's summon.
-Escape now!
The bird fled at top speed.
The Task Force gritted their teeth and pursued amid the chaos.
But no human could match a giant flying summon's speed.
That was the strength of a Summoning mage with flying summons.
Survival guaranteed in any pinch, if willing.
"...Tch."
Never imagined [Heavy Burden] would fail.
At this rate, they'd get away.
I landed from the rooftop to the ground.
Knees stung from the height, but my mana-reinforced body handled it fine.
"...Who's that?"
Baek Ye-jin's voice noticed me.
Beside her, Kim Deok-hyun stared wide-eyed.
He muttered softly at me.
"That guy..."
"Looked like light magic earlier. Isn't that the mysterious demon hunter?"
Ignoring their chatter, I chased after the fleeing Elina.
No choice now—take out both.
Paat!
-Woah?! What's his running speed?!
-Chase him!
Ignoring the voices behind, I sprinted forward.
-Kyah!
My speed drew screams from civilians somewhere. Seonhwa glanced back, muttering.
-No way, what's with that monster speed?
Elina followed.
-Kuh! That guy's... the Child of Prophecy.
-...What? The Child of Prophecy is 19.
-I don't know. But it wasn't normal light magic. Regeneration's not working... Definitely demon-slaying power.
Closing the gap as much as possible, but the flying summon was hard to catch.
Reluctantly, I manifested five new light orbs.
Aim to take out the flying summon first, hindering pursuit.
-Handle the rear. Focus on recovery.
-Got it. Five minutes.
I halted briefly for precise aim, then fired the five orbs.
Paaaaang!
They shot toward the summon at high speed.
Seonhwa manifested a black demonic barrier to block.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
-Kuh! What power...
She withstood it.
Defense favored over offense—unavoidable.
"...Didn't want to use this method."
I took a deep breath, channeling all mana to my legs.
The road's concrete cratered, and I surged forward again.
Bang!
Short burst acceleration narrowed the gap to the bird momentarily.
Now.
I activated [Rune Bind] instantly.
A massive magic circle rapidly formed ahead of their path.
-Huh?
Countless light tendrils rose like living creatures.
-Dodge!
The summon tried evading, but Rune Bind never misses a locked target.
One tendril snagged the summon's leg.
It yanked, toppling their balance.
-Huh? Huh?
Kwang!
They tumbled to the ground, crashing.
I stopped, exhaling softly.
"...Hoo. Finally down."
The fallen demons slowly rose.
Staring at me in disbelief, one said.
"...This is ridiculous."