Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Dungeon Picnic (3)
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BOOM!
As the Heavenly Demon swung his fist toward the monster, the ground shook like there was an earthquake, and a deafening explosion echoed outward.
“W-what was that sound?”
Hwang Janghoon shouted in fear as the blast rang out from afar.
“Hojo, there must be another monster. We’re trapped here for good.”
“Don’t worry.”
Han Hojo, who had activated All-Seeing Vision to watch the Heavenly Demon, grinned widely.
“I think he’s found a way out.”
* * *
Deep underground, around fifty meters down, in the habitat of the Fire Net Earth Dragon.
“Fist Demon Seven Forms, Soaring Wind Dragon Fist!”
The Heavenly Demon’s fist spun ferociously, slicing through the air, and a crimson meteor burst up from the ground, piercing the earth.
“Not a bad toughness on this one.”
At the Heavenly Demon’s feet lay a monster whose body seemed to stretch over thirty meters.
It was the vile dragon, the Fire Net Earth Dragon, known for transforming deep-earth creatures into monsters.
[This is very different from the one we caught under Lady Snow Woman’s feet before.]
Nameless tilted its head as it closely examined the massive corpse of the Fire Net Earth Dragon.
[The size is smaller this time, but it feels twice as strong as the previous one.]
“Probably the female. Most spirit beasts are stronger as females.”
Whir. Whir.
Nameless shook its round head side to side at the Heavenly Demon’s words.
[Even mere monsters have mates... I wonder where the Heavenly Demon’s mate is.]
Meeting the Heavenly Demon’s blazing red gaze, Nameless hurriedly covered its nonexistent mouth.
[My apologies. Must be a glitch in the language system.]
“Strange.”
[What is it?]
“Don’t you feel eyes on us?”
[Eyes?]
Nameless expanded its sensors, scanning the blocked-off underground chamber.
[Aren’t you being a bit too paranoid?]
“What’s that mean?”
[It’s when you imagine gazes that aren’t really there.]
The Heavenly Demon furrowed his thick brows.
“It’s definite. Someone’s watching me. Very clearly.”
[No way. Who could be watching you down here in these empty depths? If anyone could...]
As the Heavenly Demon’s brows twitched, Nameless clamped its mouth shut.
Staring at Nameless’s round head, the Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue.
“No wonder. With that metal lump for a head, you wouldn’t sense it.”
[You’re really saying someone’s spying on you?]
Ignoring Nameless, the Heavenly Demon closed his eyes.
The faint gaze he’d felt grew bolder. Frowning deeply, he summoned his Heavenly Demon powers once more.
BAM!
His physical abilities surged several times over, sharpening his senses.
In an instant, he detected a blatant wave crashing from about a hundred meters away.
“What little rat is this!”
Roaring like thunder, the Heavenly Demon thrust out his right arm, qi condensing within.
RUMBLE!
His forearm bent at an odd angle before spinning wildly.
“Fist Demon Seven Forms, Fierce Foal Bone Shackle!”
A spiral of light poured from his right arm, smashing into the rock wall ahead.
RUMBLE!
“There!”
The Heavenly Demon pointed his left hand at the empty hole, unleashing a powerful Vacuum Pull.
“Eek?!”
A low yelp followed as something small shot out from the hole.
It was Hwang Janghoon, from the pond opposite.
Pulled in by the Heavenly Demon’s suction without warning, he blinked in confusion.
Seeing the massive man like a goblin with flashing red eyes beneath him, his lips quivered.
“Gah! It’s a monster!”
As Hwang Janghoon flailed in midair, the Heavenly Demon addressed Nameless.
“What’s this? Another monster?”
“Janghoon!”
Two small shadows came scrambling out from the hole the Heavenly Demon had made. Han Hojo and Lee Jinsol.
“Gaaah! Hojo! Save me!”
“Eek? It’s a monster?”
Lee Jinsol teared up and hid behind Han Hojo. Spotting the kids, the Heavenly Demon knit his brows.
* * *
Han Hojo made it home safely.
-I’ll turn your ass into one cheek if you whine one more time.
Those were the words from the Heavenly Demon, fangs bared, radiating Blood Flame Radiance.
That single line knocked Hwang Janghoon and Lee Jinsol out cold. With no choice, the Heavenly Demon sent the kids, including Han Hojo, up to the surface.
The Orchard Dungeon was a wreck by the time they surfaced, and all three kids’ phones were smashed.
[The school staff has evacuated, but...]
Having heard the situation from Han Hojo, Nameless tried pinpointing their location via the network.
[Han Hojo’s father entered the dungeon. He’s heading here now, so you should be fine.]
No sooner had Nameless finished than Yoo Eunho and Han Manjae burst into the ruined Orchard Dungeon together.
“You!”
Han Manjae’s eyes widened in shock.
He’d heard a Hidden Monster appeared in the Orchard Dungeon today, and his son Han Hojo had gone missing.
So why was the Heavenly Demon here with his son?
“No way, Mr. Heavenly Demon. Did you summon the Hidden Monster?”
Han Manjae shouted, then gasped. He’d spotted Han Hojo and the other kids behind the Heavenly Demon.
“Dad!”
“Hojo!”
The two embraced, tears flowing, as Nameless spoke up.
[The Heavenly Demon discovered the children trapped underground.]
Nameless, ever the bootlicker, would normally say something like “rescued,” but held back.
In truth, the Orchard Dungeon was trashed chasing the Fire Net Earth Dragon that tracked the Heavenly Demon.
Unlike the Heavenly Demon, Nameless had some conscience and couldn’t bring itself to phrase it that way.
[The Heavenly Demon also happened upon the Hidden Monster.]
The Heavenly Demon picked up Nameless and turned silently.
“Then I’ll be off.”
But trembling Han Manjae blocked his path.
“Mr. Heavenly Demon.”
Han Manjae bowed so low his back nearly snapped.
“Thank you!”
This man was utterly unbeatable. No mere unregistered Awakener. He was an angel who’d saved his son—his life itself—not once but twice.
“Thank you so much!”
Biting his lip as if resolving something, he bowed again.
A decision that would change not just the Heavenly Demon’s fate, but the Special Response Team’s as well—though he didn’t know it yet.
“Mr. Heavenly Demon.”
Yoo Eunho, standing behind, wiped his nose and bowed.
“Thank you for saving the kids.”
“Hmph.”
The Heavenly Demon stood unmoving without reply, then vanished in a flash of body technique.
Swallowing the words, “I didn’t save them.”
* * *
Han Hojo and the others returned to peaceful days.
The incident caused a huge stir at school and the Association for a while, of course.
-We got stuck in a jujube tree while running away.
But Han Hojo, familiar with the Orchard Dungeon’s plants, brushed it off.
The liquid inside the giant jujube tree induced hallucinations. And it bound people with branches if they approached, explaining the smashed phones.
Still, the Association and school couldn’t dodge blame for lax management.
But since Han Manjae, an Association Awakener and Han Hojo’s father, discovered it first, things quieted down.
“Hojo, whatcha doing after school today?”
Hwang Janghoon’s attitude had flipped 180 degrees since then.
“Let’s grab some tteokbokki today.”
The usual prankster now acted overly friendly.
“No thanks.”
“Oops! My bad!”
Han Hojo waved him off, and Hwang Janghoon clapped.
“My thinking was too small. The future Association Chairman wouldn’t eat street food like tteokbokki. How about a plate of pork cutlet instead?”
He sidled up, grinning and rubbing his hands.
“But you gotta hire me at the Association later.”
“Hey, what’re you talking about.”
“C’mon, your dad’s a Rank 3 Awakener, right?”
“So?”
“So you’ll land a big position there someday.”
“What nonsense.”
As Han Hojo grabbed his bag in bewilderment, Hwang Janghoon snatched it.
“Leave this to me. Heh heh.”
“Janghoon, you think sucking up gets you a job?”
Lee Jinsol, watching from the side, snickered and scolded him. Hwang Janghoon bristled.
“Hmph, don’t come crying to join the Association later and regret it.”
“I don’t need it.”
Lee Jinsol turned up her nose coldly.
“I’m marrying Hojo anyway.”
“W-what?”
Han Hojo jumped, and Hwang Janghoon gaped in shock.
“Jinsol, you and Hojo...”
Pondering seriously, Hwang Janghoon’s eyes lit up with “That could work.”
“Then the wife comes too. Heh heh.”
“Fine. Then I want spaghetti.”
“Heh heh. Of course.”
Han Hojo closed his eyes, watching haughty Lee Jinsol and hand-rubbing Hwang Janghoon walk off.
* * *
A lazy Sunday.
Having finished morning meditation early, the Heavenly Demon sat primly before the low table, watching TV.
His favorite show, “Mysteries of the Century,” was on.
-The Illuminati is a secret society that controls global politics and economics from the shadows, infiltrating politicians, the military, scientists, celebrities, and more...
Dramatic music and the narrator’s tense voice flowed on.
The episode was a flimsy conspiracy theory any elementary kid would scoff at, but the Heavenly Demon watched utterly engrossed.
Clang.
Then came the sound of a silver pot dropping outside.
“Argh, it’s dented. It’s brand new.”
“See? I told you I’d carry it.”
The Heavenly Demon tried ignoring it, but the whispers crept into his ears.
“But is this okay? He might not like us showing up out of the blue.”
“It’s fine. Adults love this stuff too.”
Fed up mid-show, the Heavenly Demon shot up and stormed outside.
“What.”
Opening the gate, he found Han Hojo and Yoo Eunho standing side by side, each with a large bundle.
“What do you want.”
Han Hojo scratched his head and bowed at the Heavenly Demon’s question.
“H-hello?”
“I asked what you want.”
Yoo Eunho smiled beside him.
“Mr. Heavenly Demon... do you like dalgona by any chance?”
“What’s that.”
“Oh, right. You’re from overseas. Dalgona is, like, a traditional Korean snack... well, not exactly traditional, but pretty historic... um, you know...”
As Yoo Eunho set down his bundle to explain, Nameless rolled out tumbling.
[It’s a kids’ snack made by heating sugar mixed with baking soda. Like an instant candy.]
“Instant candy?”
The Heavenly Demon frowned, so Yoo Eunho pulled out a gas burner and ladle from the bundle.
“Wanna try making some? It’s sneakily tasty, and the pulling game’s fun.”
Han Hojo, eyes fixed on the Heavenly Demon’s face, whispered shyly.
“You seemed to like Gubongsan Candy, so... it tastes similar when a bit burnt... and I thought you’d like the pulling too.”
Han Hojo’s whisper grated on the Heavenly Demon.
The TV was deep into explaining the Illuminati secret society. No time for snack games.
“Not interested.”
Slam. The Heavenly Demon shut the door without looking back.
Through the closing crack, Nameless saw the sparkle fade from Han Hojo’s lively eyes.
[Mr. Heavenly Demon. It’s Han Hojo’s gesture. Just do it for a bit. It doesn’t take long.]
Frustrated, Nameless clasped its skinny hands, but the Heavenly Demon waved it off.
“Not interested.”
Fair enough. The Heavenly Demon wouldn’t flinch if Han Hojo’s leg snapped.
Barging in for dalgona out of nowhere? Ridiculous from the start.
[My take... Han Hojo came to repay you for saving him last time.]
“......”
[And dalgona’s iconic Korean food culture, right? He wanted to share this retro trend...]
“Quiet. Important part. Don’t talk.”
Arms crossed, face deadly serious at the TV, the Heavenly Demon stared. Nameless retracted its limbs.
[My apologies.]
Cautiously rolling outside, it addressed Yoo Eunho and Han Hojo, still waiting.
[Sorry, Han Hojo. Mr. Heavenly Demon’s favorite show is on. How about next time?]
“Y-yeah.”
As Han Hojo’s eyes welled up, Yoo Eunho patted his head.
“See? Told you not to come unannounced. I’ll set it up next time.”
“Okay.”
The Heavenly Demon, watching TV, clearly heard Han Hojo’s disappointed voice—but his face showed nothing.