Demon Summoning on the Isolated Isle
I returned to my semi-basement studio and called my mom.
I'd been too caught up since awakening to even check in.
"I really awakened. I'm a hunter now too."
My mom's joyful voice came through the smartphone, laced with worry all the same.
Hunters might be the ultimate life lottery these days, but the dangers were real.
I reassured her.
"No dangers at all. Seriously, none."
I wasn't just saying it.
There really weren't any dangers.
Lucifer cleared the labyrinths for me, and world bosses? I took them down from my couch watching TV. What danger?
If anything, it was almost too easy.
"Okay, tell Siyoon too. I'll call again later."
I hung up and set the phone down.
Time to rest a bit.
Looking out the semi-basement window, total darkness had fallen.
The labyrinths were so vast and complex that they took time, but clearing two in a day was impressive.
I leaned my head against the wall, turned on the TV, and summoned the system window. Lucifer wouldn't arrive for a while yet.
Might as well check my items.
Monopolizing two labyrinths solo meant a nice pile of magistones.
"Open inventory."
• Stealth Cloak x1
• Hermit's Mask x1
• Annihilation Sword x1
• Lowest-grade Magistone (Small) x95
• Lowest-grade Magistone (Medium) x57
• Lowest-grade Magistone (Large) x22
• Low-grade Magistone (Small) x8
• Unique Magistone (★) x1
• Black Imugi Soul (SR) x1
• Hellhound Soul (SR) x1
• Legend's Token x5
• Unique Skill Reset Scroll x1
• Experience Potion x1
Quite the haul already.
I grabbed my phone again, tapped the calculator, and searched here and there.
The result?
Even selling just the regular magistones would net me a corporate salary.
No joke.
I could've made even more originally.
Blasting through clears wrecked most materials and drops.
It happened even when I used Instant Death myself. You recover magistones, but not materials.
Worth it for the skill's perks, though.
Adding that unique magistone...
The unique one (★) from the elite beast. Worth 20 million each.
Two days, 52.3 million won.
...Insane.
And this from E- and D-rank labyrinths.
What about C-, B-ranks? Or A+ dungeons?
I'd be scooping money by the sackful.
At this rate, I could really lift my family up. No exaggeration.
Imagining bragging to Mom and Siyoon made me grin.
Mom struggled alone without Dad.
That hardship ends soon.
Of course, I couldn't sell all these magistones yet.
A rookie hunter with no guild dumping this much?
Suspicious as hell. Sell in small batches for now.
At this pace, S-rank's no dream. A month tops, plenty of buffer.
Upcoming dungeons shouldn't be too tough either.
I eyed the Important category.
• Unique Skill Reset Scroll x1
• Experience Potion x1
• Legend's Token x5
Above all, the Unique Skill Reset Scroll.
Instant Death cooldown: 35 days left.
With Lucifer now, no need to force it.
Unless something insanely dangerous pops up...
Thinking that left a bad taste.
Last time, world bosses twice in a row. Too strong even for hunters.
Not a good sign.
But when was it ever?
Whatever. It'll be fine.
Even if not, nothing I could prep anyway. No point worrying.
As I idly channel-surfed the TV out of habit—
Constellation 'White Dawn' has discovered you.
The constellation is extremely pleased with this discovery.
Constellation 'Master of the Black Star' feels a bit disappointed.
New constellation alert.
"Huh?"
White Dawn, huh.
Honestly, I knew zilch about constellations.
But like Master of the Black Star, more sponsors meant more support, right?
Constellation 'White Dawn' greets you.
Constellation 'Master of the Black Star' greets everyone.
"...Hello."
Awkward response to the sudden greeting. A tiny light sparkled in the air in reply.
One more light floating around me.
Constellation 'White Dawn' smiles brightly.
Watching me, I guess.
Not burdensome or anything.
Constellations just didn't feel real.
"Hmm."
Maybe White Dawn would toss something my way too. As I stared at the system window hopefully—
Black Apostle shares vision.
Flash—!
My vision whited out and shifted.
Shared vision again—not rattled anymore.
Lucifer?
From studio corner,
to pitch-black night sky.
Whoosh—!
Lucifer glided through the night sky. Away from city light pollution, maybe.
Stars and moonlight etched vividly overhead.
Master. I have urgent news, so I activated vision share without permission.
Moonlight rippled on the sea below Lucifer.
"...Weren't you going grocery shopping?"
Ah, that'll deliver tomorrow. I, Lucifer, have never missed a sale in my life.
That's not the issue.
Where are you headed?
To the point: There's a group targeting you, Master. Heard of the Awakener Alliance?
"No, never."
And they were targeting me?
Simply put in modern terms: The Awakener Alliance is a villain organization aiming for world domination.
Villain organization.
And they targeted me.
"..."
There was danger.
I'd just sworn to Mom there was none.
Some weird group gunning for me? Shocking.
Constellation 'White Dawn' is outraged.
They pinpointed Mumyeong's location accurately. Seemed ready to use force if needed.
"How'd they find my location?"
Hunter Association, top guild Bulmyeol—couldn't track Mumyeong. Even Asung didn't know where I went.
Yet they did.
That's what I'm heading to find out. Stay comfy at home, Master. They mistook me for Mumyeong.
Reassuring, then.
World domination, though.
Absurd level.
Criminals among awakeners got called villains. Made news fodder sometimes.
First time hearing of Awakener Alliance.
Searched it—nothing online or anywhere.
Oh, FYI: Their goal is summoning demons to Earth. Tonight's the night. Shall I grill their leader and stop it too?
"Huh?"
Summoning demons?
In this world of monsters and systems? Plausible.
No reason for Lucifer to lie.
"Wait. What happens if demons descend?"
Awakener Alliance leader turns Korea into a wasteland. But you'll be fine, Master. I've got you.
"..."
Can't ignore it now.
"Stop it. Full force."
I'm no bleeding-heart hero, but...
Turning a blind eye? Too spineless. Lucifer could handle it anyway.
Plus, had to learn how they got my info.
Lucifer nodded.
Got it. I'll reconnect vision share on arrival. Watch NutTube or whatever while you wait.
NutTube? After hearing world domination?
How much time passed?
Lucifer reconnected on reaching an island.
Here!
Thud.
Lucifer landed dead center on the island. Untamed forest slumbered in darkness.
Pushing through underbrush in dim moonlight revealed a bizarre iron door.
He's inside. Demon unsealing ritual in progress.
Lucifer pulled a bread bag from his pocket and slipped it over his head.
"...What's that?"
Disguise. Wore it raiding their HQ earlier. Let's go.
Better than nothing, I guess. Thorough in his way.
As Lucifer reached for the door—
Shing.
A sharp blade pressed to his nape. Surrounding space trembled from the aura-coated edge.
But the voice was familiar.
"You... What brings you here?"
That unmistakable Korean voice.
Sa Choiheon the hunter.
Why was he here?
Sa Choiheon.
Korea's Rank 1.
Leader of Bulmyeol Guild.
He was a regressor.
A regressor's life was grueling—endless loops to save humanity from ruin.
Knowing the future meant events he had to stop.
Today's the day the Awakener Alliance unseals a demon.
The Awakener Alliance was dangerously real.
In one past timeline, they'd succeeded in demon descent.
Demon emergence now is too risky.
Demons wielded immense power.
Top hunters swarmed it, but couldn't halt the Alliance bolstered by the demon.
Korea plunged into chaos. Cities burned, countless civilians died.
After heavy hero losses, aid from other nations barely sealed it.
But no end there.
Alliance ballooned from demon gains, followers swelling beyond imagination.
Must nip it here.
Perfect timing: summoning start.
Too early, they regroup. Too late, demon descends.
Thus, Sa Choiheon timed his arrival on this uninhabited island.
But.
An apostle awaited.
"...Answer."
Two days since the guild shower encounter.
Bread bag or not, the aura was unmistakable.
No disguise fooled Sa Choiheon. Lucifer shrugged.
"Here to stop the demon summon. Human, why are you here?"
Lucifer replied coolly despite the blade. Sa Choiheon didn't lower it.
"...You know of the Awakener Alliance?"
"What, you knew too? Master, what now?"
Sa Choiheon's sword twitched.
That "master" meant the mighty hunter commanding the apostle.
Brief silence.
Lucifer asked Sa Choiheon.
"My master says cooperate with you. Your call?"
"Need proof you're not with the Alliance."
Lucifer shrugged off the blade.
"Doubt we have time for chit-chat. Demon could revive any second."
"..."
Priority: halt demon summon.
Once revived, irreversible.
"I'm going in. Mull it over out here."
Crunch!
Lucifer tore the door like paper and entered.
"..."
Sa Choiheon followed soon after.
Reason: If Lucifer were Alliance, he'd have attacked already. No need for hassle.
Step step.
Inside: stone ruins lit by sporadic torches.
"Who're you?!"
"S-Sa Choiheon?!"
"Who's the bread bag freak?"
Awakener Alliance charged from shadows.
"Block the ritual site!"
Elites, but—
Slash—!
Sa Choiheon's merciless blade felled one. Lucifer beside him tsked.
"Tch, no mercy among humans?"
Boom—!
Lucifer's fist launched another. Sa Choiheon explained without looking back.
"Awakener Alliance: murderers countless times over. They see non-awakeners as tools, not people."
Slash—! Slash—!
More foes crumpled to his swordplay. Space-slicing technique rendered defense futile.
"Figures."
Sa Choiheon and Lucifer pressed through the passage.
Boom—! Crash!
Interferers dispatched.
Left flank: Sa Choiheon.
Right: Lucifer.
"Man, more complex than expected. Not even a labyrinth."
"You came blind? This way."
Ruins delved underground. Deeper in, golem-like beasts lunged—but...
Boom! Crash!
No match.
Sa Choiheon spoke advancing—to Lucifer, or rather Joo Kanghyeok watching.
"Apostle's master. Join Bulmyeol Guild. Any terms met. Same as for Mumyeong. Humanity's future needs that power."
He mistook Mumyeong and apostle's master for separate.
Lucifer smirked enigmatically.
"Dunno. We got our own situation."
"...Your master's will? Sounds made-up."
"Close enough."
"..."
Sa Choiheon dropped it. Probing meant revealing his own cards.
His regression: top secret, unknown even to constellations.
No more talk.
They silently smashed golems ahead.
Reaching the ruins' heart.
Roooar—!
"Ugh, can't see shit."
"No slacking from here."
"Heh, getting worry from a human."
Vile demonic energy swirled like a storm. At its eye: one man.
Demon descent imminent.
Solomon's 72 Demons: Belial
Awakener Alliance leader: Han Jongyun.
"Ahhh..."
He rasped metallically.
"Sa Choiheon. How'd you know? All my men down?"
Eyes pitch black, intricate tattoos writhing across his body.
"Bread bag your minion? Weird hobby. Heh."
"...Who you calling minion, asshole."
Han Jongyun stayed smug before Sa Choiheon. Demon descent loomed.
Demonic energy flooded him fuller than ever.
Boom—!
Sa Choiheon kicked off, sword swinging to cleave the demonic storm.
Clang!
"Tch."
Deflected futilely. Storm's intensity immense.
Demon descent any second.
"Kahahaha! Useless! Demon god descends as fated! That's the fixed future!"
Han Jongyun screamed maniacally. Sa Choiheon didn't yield.
"I'll stop it."
Demonic power ignited along his blade.
And then—
"Hey, human. Hold up."
Grab.
Lucifer gripped Sa Choiheon's shoulder firmly, smirking openly.
"Kill the demon for massive rewards. Know that?"
"...?"
Of course. As a regressor.
72 Demons: top-tier high-risk beasts.
Rewards beyond Legend-grade.
But descent now? Catastrophe. One nearly doomed Korea before.
Lunacy.
"What're you saying? Let it descend?"
Point.
Sa Choiheon's blade at Lucifer.
Lucifer utterly calm.
"Yeah."
The massive rewards from slaying it?
Lucifer planned to offer them to his master.
To the dumbfounded Sa Choiheon, Lucifer drove it home.
"Scared? Step back then."