The Devil's Explosive End and the Master's Revelation

Puhwaaak—!

The demon Belial, who had descended to the earth, exploded as if it were all a lie.

Chwaaak······.

Blood erupted from it like a flood, soaking the ruins' floor.

Sa Choiheon, confirming the sight with his own eyes, stood frozen.

"Mumyeong······?"

He murmured the two syllables.

The demon, which he couldn't fell even with all his might, had died instantly.

Without any precursor whatsoever.

It was exactly like when he'd faced the world boss.

Sa Choiheon couldn't even read the flow of mana around him or the lingering intent in this space.

But why had Mumyeong appeared here?

He couldn't comprehend it.

Sa Choiheon had assumed the apostles' master and Mumyeong were different people, so it was only natural.

"No way······."

Leaning against the greatsword plunged into the ground like he was collapsing, Sa Choiheon's eyes widened.

The first demon defeated.

The message echoed across the entirety of South Korea.

Naturally, the message appeared to Sa Choiheon at the center of the ruins as well.

The settled system window.

'It's Mumyeong. But······.'

Sa Choiheon's eyes shook as he read down the names etched there.

The rankings showed only Mumyeong's name.

The other names that should have been there were absent.

'No apostle master's name.'

Lucifer had clearly dealt damage to Belial. His master should have contributed somehow as well.

But no matter how hard he looked, only Mumyeong's name appeared in the contribution window.

'It's really true.'

It meant only one thing.

Mumyeong and the apostles' master were the same person.

"······So your master was Mumyeong."

Sa Choiheon's gaze fixed on Lucifer.

"Hm, didn't I mention that?"

Lucifer replied with a feigned smile. But it was answer enough.

"Ha."

Sa Choiheon was stunned.

He'd had no choice but to misunderstand.

The ability to wield an apostle, a higher being, and

the brute force to dispatch a top-tier demon in one blow.

An Awakened possessing both at once?

'Such a human really exists?'

Even Sa Choiheon, who had encountered all sorts of Awakened through repeated regressions, felt chills rack his body at those specs.

Sa Choiheon forcibly calmed his agitation and spoke.

"······Mumyeong. Are you truly on humanity's side?"

He sensed no presence that could be called Mumyeong's aura nearby.

Whether it was simply a ultra-long-range skill or Mumyeong had completely concealed his presence, Sa Choiheon couldn't tell.

But surely Mumyeong was listening.

Through Lucifer, or through his own ears.

"Why ask something so obvious? I told you. Master is on the humans' side. So don't be so scared, human."

No answer came from Mumyeong.

Only Lucifer's cheeky sarcasm returned.

"······I wasn't asking you."

After catching his breath, Sa Choiheon spoke in a serious tone.

"Join Bulmyeol, Mumyeong. I'll provide full support."

Mumyeong's actions had some suspicious elements.

He'd appeared out of nowhere like a hunter dropped from the sky.

Even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so, Sa Choiheon wanted him on his team.

The world boss defeat.

Stopping the Awakened Alliance's demon descent.

The coincidences aligned too neatly.

'······.'

Sa Choiheon stared steadily at Lucifer.

Did Mumyeong know the fate approaching this world?

If so, they should join forces.

If not, he needed to ally even more with someone who knew the future—like himself. That was Sa Choiheon's thinking.

Of course, Lucifer's response was cold.

"A guild made by humans can't contain Master's vessel. Besides, I told you. It's not time yet."

Lucifer sneered as he passed Sa Choiheon.

Master in a guild? As if they'd take him for free.

What a ridiculous attempt.

Was Bulmyeol strong enough to protect Master?

Lucifer didn't think so.

Considering the trials ahead, a human guild would only be shackles for Master.

Of course, the final decision rested with Master.

Thud, thud.

Lucifer approached Han Jongyun collapsed on the floor. The pathetic human who'd exhausted his life force unsealing the demon.

"The incarnation of evil, defeated by mere humans······. Mere, mere······."

Han Jongyun ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠kept muttering.

He looked half-mad.

Kwak.

Lucifer knelt and grabbed Han Jongyun by the hair.

"Hey, I have questions."

"The Awakened Alliance reaches the world's peak. I clearly saw that future. I clearly saw it······."

"Tch."

He'd meant to interrogate him about how he knew of Mumyeong.

"In the seventh month, the King of Terror shall descend from the skies······!"

"What're you on about."

"Kuhk!"

Han Jongyun spouted nonsense, trembled faintly, then vomited blood and died.

A worthless end.

"Damn."

He hadn't gotten the answers he needed. He seemed to have prophecy powers, but it would've been better to hear it directly.

Lucifer's brow furrowed.

"It's Nostradamus's prophecy. An ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠outdated joke that trended around the millennium."

Sa Choiheon explained calmly from behind. Lucifer grimaced.

"What?"

"Han Jongyun had prophecy abilities. That's probably how he learned Mumyeong's whereabouts."

"You know an awful lot."

"I just investigated thoroughly."

Sa Choiheon's words held no tremor.

Lucifer shook off his hand and stood.

He'd known the gist anyway. He was just curious if this guy was the last or if there was a backer.

Having confirmed Han Jongyun was a prophet, his original goal was met. Lucifer tilted his head slightly and asked.

"Got a list of other prophets or something?"

"No. Even if I did, why would I tell an outsider with no ties to Bulmyeol?"

"Tch, stingy."

Lucifer's gaze naturally shifted to the dead demon.

Precisely, where the demon had been.

The center of the bloodstains, like something had burst.

There, items emitting a faint glow lay.

Lucifer approached the items.

"Not bad drops."

Confirming the items, Lucifer caught his breath and wiped sweat. Sa Choiheon asked curiously.

"Tired?"

"What? Me? No way."

"Good."

Sa Choiheon also approached the items.

"What about the items?"

"What're you looking at? Nothing for you. Without Master, it'd have ended there."

"······."

Lucifer had a point.

Besides, rewards weren't just these. Sa Choiheon would receive settlement based on contributions too.

So he nodded.

"······Fair enough. But unused items—Bulmyeol would like to buy them."

"Hold on. Gotta check with Master."

Lucifer crossed his arms, glaring at the items for a moment.

Then he picked one up.

Colors had ranks too.

Above black was jet-black.

'This has the cooldown reduction Master's looking for.'

Same-color items gave set effects when equipped multiply, making it the best choice.

Lucifer pocketed the Devil Pendant.

After a brief silence, he spoke.

"Master says sell the rest."

The other items weren't needed for Joo Kanghyeok.

Taking them would be hard to use or sell properly in his current state.

Handing to Bulmyeol was best.

Sa Choiheon seemed satisfied too. These items would solidly upgrade Bulmyeol and himself.

"How should we handle payment?"

That was the last hurdle.

Lucifer's answer was set. Spreading black wings, he said,

"Cash. Cash only."

The system message that popped up in the dead of night reached every Awakened across South Korea. They buzzed at the new alert.

Not just the internet—hunter communities were in uproar too.

But Bulmyeol members were baffled.

"Hey, see the system message?"

"······Guild master said he was going for a walk."

"Dude, he ditched us to meet Mumyeong? Damn, jealous."

"Mumyeong. Think he'll really join Bulmyeol?"

South Korea, which had quieted a bit, reignited with talk of Mumyeong.

Belial was perfectly defeated.

At Legend+ grade, no less.

'Glad it ended well.'

Sa Choiheon had approved the item split. Felt like he'd even received a favor.

'······Sa Choiheon said it himself.'

Join Bulmyeol?

His eyes had been dead serious.

'How far can I trust Bulmyeol?'

Sa Choiheon was a renowned hunter. Bulmyeol was Korea's top guild. The offer was tempting······.

But control was the issue.

'There's a huge gap between Sa Choiheon's idea of Mumyeong and the real me.'

He saw me as some monster, but I wasn't that strong.

How much say would 'Joo Kanghyeok' with exposed identity have in Bulmyeol?

Mumyeong couldn't act freely.

Worst case, become Bulmyeol's tool.

'Nah, they wouldn't go that far······.'

Still, joining as Joo Kanghyeok meant being dragged around somehow.

But as long as I was Mumyeong, I kept control.

Not about huge gains. Just watch until I could protect myself.

That baseline was S-rank hunter.

'Cooperation like now works fine with Sa Choiheon.'

Mutual benefit is best, right?

'But······.'

I glanced at the front door.

'Why hasn't he come back.'

Lucifer still hadn't returned home.

He must be hungry too, so I'd ordered extra pork hocks. Scraped my last account balance for it.

Had to replenish energy after the demon fight. No choice.

Of course, money wasn't an issue now.

Sold items to Sa Choiheon.

Plenty of delivery food from now on.

Tired of waiting, I sat at the table and grabbed a hock.

Not just Lucifer was late.

'······When's the reward?'

System said it'd issue rewards, so I waited.

But ages passed with no response.

Pajik, pajik—!

Unlike before, payment was delayed.

Even constellations were getting mad.

Didn't seem effective. No sense of progress.

Lucifer had said:

- No need to worry. Proof Master performed so amazingly the System's overwhelmed.

True or just flattery?

Whatever. Yelling at the System's pointless.

Just wait. Heard no stories of System withholding rewards.

Chiiik.

I cracked open a cola can and summoned the system message window.

'Might as well check messages I missed earlier.'

I swiped to view the system log. Function to review unchecked messages.

Swipe swipe.

The passed level-up notice appeared.

Passed Lv.40 to become D-rank, then +10 more to Lv.50.

Thanks to Lucifer, 20 levels at once.

Reached a level no longer weak.

'The rank called Ironman.'

Beyond beginner E and F-ranks,

D-rank was properly recognized as hunter.

'From tomorrow, tackle instance gates, keep clearing labyrinths.'

Used my last unique skill cooldown reset on Belial.

'No regrets, but······.'

Need more resets for peace of mind.

Better to stockpile several for emergencies.

'Levels'll rise naturally too.'

Wondering where to start, I pulled out my smartphone to jot notes.

Beep beep beep. Click—!

Quick door lock beeps, then the front door opened. Lucifer returned home beaming.

"Master, I'm back!"

"Oh, good work. That······."

"Got it."

Lucifer lifted the black briefcases in both hands.

The classic black bags from movies.

"Squeezed as much as possible. Pendant secured too."

The pendant was snug on Lucifer's wrist.

Checked its stats earlier.

More interested in the bags now.

Gulp.

"Let's open 'em."

At my words, Lucifer smugly set the bags down and unlocked them.

"No teasing—opening right up."

Click.

With a satisfying sound, the two briefcases opened.

Shaaaa—.

No actual sound effect, but it felt like it.

Stacks of 50,000-won bills filled them densely.

An aura like invisible light pouring out.

"Whoa."

Cash I'd never dreamed of seeing lay before me, drawing an involuntary gasp.

H-how much is all this?