Chapter 39. Black Sheep Net

My heart starts racing again.

Just like the moment I regained my memories.

"Ugh… yeah. Even though we were struggling financially, they insisted we had to nurture your talent no matter what. They thought so highly of your potential that they even hooked us up with a loan to get you into the Academy!"

"Ha! So that's how you ended up borrowing from that bastard Lee Man-seong's crew…? All that hard-earned money you scraped together over the years, poured straight into their pockets…."

They'd planted a curse in my body according to their schemes, and saddled our lives with the curse of massive debt.

"Well, you did end up paying it all back in the end, so they weren't wrong, right?"

My brother scratches the back of his head sheepishly. To him, they're just the grateful folks who taught me and even awakened my powers.

No need to dwell on it.

I'd already seen it with my own eyes on my first dungeon run—the Hunter Academy dean was the Black Sheep cult's district leader.

I'd brushed it off as no big deal since their followers were scattered everywhere in society.

But the very place meant to safely cultivate future talent, the Hunter Academy, had been infiltrated by those planting and harvesting black seeds.

The quest completion message popped up the instant I pieced together the fragment of truth.

The unseen truth was a fragment tied to my curse trait.

I'd thought it was just some thankless grind with no real reward…

But in truth, it had all been leading me to this realization.

I'd smashed the Black Sheep main temple 998 times, but as the Demon King, I never held any special grudge against every single cultist.

So I'd wrap up my revenge by wiping out the first branch I got caught in or the main temple that drained my life force—and that was that. Now I finally understood why it never changed a damn thing.

The real reason I had to tackle the Humanity Salvation Quest.

All those apocalypses I'd endured and "fixed" over 998 loops might not have stemmed from me at all.

I, more than anyone, needed to uncover the truth to break the curse of extinction.

I hit accept on the reward, and a monocle with a moon-shaped ornament on one lens dropped into my hand with a faint clink, its hue oddly mesmerizing.

A bit underwhelming for such a long quest, but I was thrilled to get an item that boosted my Luck. The non-combat options didn't piss me off much either.

Eh, it'll come in handy eventually.

Even the Echo of Allure that Sanggye-sal picked up had its uses. This was a Unique Grade item, perfect for tracking down hidden truths like I was now.

I worried a monocle might be cumbersome, but it was surprisingly light once I tried it on.

Best of all, equipping it reset my Luck back to 999, easing my worries about corruption or curses.

The next quest arrived right away.

'Fall of the false kings,' huh…

The false king probably meant Balpador, the one I told Baldr to hand the throne over to. But the plural wording suggested someone else was gunning for the Demon King's seat too.

Over countless loops, I'd seen plenty ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠who lusted after that cursed throne I was sick of. But even among infinite regressions, the number who actually aimed for the Demon King spot could be counted on one hand—so I'd find them quick enough.

I accepted the quest with a Y, chatted briefly with my brother about the past, waited for him to fall asleep, then headed to the main temple's underground.

The mana intranet linking the whole world was built purely for safety in communications.

Running on mana instead of electricity, most channels cut out when mana stones ran dry or supplies dwindled.

But one channel always stayed up, even in the worst conditions:

The Black Sheep cult's Black Sheep Net.

No one knew who poured in the mana to keep it running, but it was always online. Even non-cultists used it often.

Lately, the Hero's exploits had blown up there, sparking heated debates.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

After the Hero's debut and feats, folks on the fence were leaning toward Gaon of Light. The vibe shift showed in the chats.

Especially after news broke that the "main temple" got nuked by the Hero—Black Sheep no longer inspired fear or salvation.

The hardest hit? The cult faction in Hunter Academy, breeders of future faithful.

Big-shot cultists who'd lined up their kids' awakenings through cult teachers were pulling support.

And the one reeling from it was right here: Sanggye-dong Hunter Academy Dean Gu Sang-ho.

"Aaaah! Chairman! Nooo, don't go!"

Gu Sang-ho's anguished scream echoed through the dean's office.

DK Chairman, who'd poured endless funds into Sanggye-dong Academy, was cutting all ties in revenge for it producing the Hero.

Already under fire from the Seoul branch for the Hero being an alum, losing DK Group's backing would cripple operations overnight.

Black seed kids often came from poor families. The cult had covered their training costs so far.

But with Seoul branch and DK pulling out, massive debts landed on his lap.

"Gaaah! Damn that Hero bastard!"

The dean pounded his desk, howling in rage.

As he vented, his secretary timidly cracked the door.

"Um… Dean."

"What! Spit it out!"

Flinching at the roar but steeling herself, the secretary pressed on.

"The Hero's stopping by this morning to clear his student records…."

"What? For real?!"

The dean shot up, eyes lighting up.

"Yes. Word from Gaon of Light main temple."

"Hah! So the Hero's coming here!"

"Yes… Should arrive in an hour or two via the back."

"Perfect! No law says I gotta die! Hahaha!"

"Get Professor Kim Na-eun here now."

"Professor Kim Na-eun? Yes, sir."

As she left, Gu Sang-ho leaned back smugly.

"Time to show that clueless brat how scary the world can be. Heh heh…."

His eyes gleamed wickedly. A shadow fell over the sunny morning office like gathering clouds.

After hitting the main temple underground dungeon and scrapping with the dungeon gargoyles, morning had broken.

Last time, the temporary ones barely reacted, but last night they resisted fiercely, blocking skill acquisition.

Why? I'm the Demon King now…

In Japan's lava dungeon, I was just the Hero, so resistance made sense. But now?

Maybe a system glitch in recognizing my dual status.

Either way, I'd need precautions for past-loop skills ahead.

Post-100 skills were prime targets for throne-grabbers, so I'd set gargoyles to demon legion commander level.

Never thought it'd bite me.

I chuckled wryly, checking my status. Luck back at 999, plus a level-up from the tough fight gave some wiggle room.

Quest pinged as I exited, so I notified the temple I'd hit Hunter Academy today.

After going dark in the demon realm last time, Gaon of Light tailed my every move. This quest needed paladins anyway, so I'd formally announced the visit.

Couldn't solo this one regardless.

"We've arrived at the Academy, Hero Kwon."

"Alright, shall we head in?"

I stepped out of the black limo into Hunter Academy like I owned the place, nodding to the paladin who held the door.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Well, look who it is.

My lips curled at the group approaching us.