The Heavenly Demon Still Loves Desserts
Jeokpung Guild Master's Office.
"......"
Lee Myeong-won sat in silence, turning over the causes of this latest failure in his mind.
It had been a bit early, but the awakening of the ancient species was a predicted step.
Yet three major variables had emerged in the process.
First, the ancient species had fallen far faster than anticipated, leaving a significant number of Seoul's hunters alive.
Second, Kim Jin-seong had arrived much sooner than expected.
Third, they had confirmed the existence of the missing experiment subject, but failed to recover it.
Each variable was organically connected, but the result was the worst possible outcome: not only had they failed to retrieve the experiment subject, but Jeokpung's operational scope had been severely restricted.
Still, this state wouldn't last long.
The investigation team wouldn't be able to pin anything on Jeokpung anyway.
Jeokpung was not alone.
If he could endure this momentary humiliation, he would be able to retrieve the experiment subject and resume the plan.
"All of this happens because I lack power."
In the end, political pressure was something you suffered when you were weak.
If he were so strong that no one in the world could stand against him, he wouldn't care about such pressure at all.
He would have retrieved the experiment subject without hesitation and proceeded with the plan without obstruction.
The voice in his head grew stronger.
The whisper of the being called the Blood Demon.
If you merge with me, you can make them all kneel.
You won't need to worry about those Harmony Realm experts anymore.
You have that much power.
Merge. Dominate.
Lee Myeong-won pressed his hand to his forehead and shook his head, as if trying to shake off the voice.
"...Not yet."
It wasn't time yet.
He could still manage a little longer like this.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, a knock came from outside the office door, followed by the voice of his right-hand man, Jo Yong-hyeop.
"Master, Hunter Kim Jin-seong of Suryong has arrived."
Lee Myeong-won's brow furrowed deeply.
He didn't even want to see that bastard's face, but in the current situation, he had no choice but to face him.
"Let him come up."
Creak.
"Master Lee Myeong-won, you don't look to be in a very good mood."
"Master Kim Jin-seong, I don't recall inviting you."
"Well, can't you just think of it as an old friend dropping by to see your face?"
"Have you come to interrogate me? Do you really think you'll get the answers you want out of my mouth?"
"Come on, no need to be so prickly."
Kim Jin-seong sat down on the guest sofa with his characteristic easygoing smile.
Lee Myeong-won didn't even glance his way, staring out the window instead.
Kim Jin-seong chuckled, seemingly having expected this, and began his own speech.
"...No unusual traces have been found so far. Plus, there are reports that the investigation is showing signs of dragging on, and opinions that we shouldn't leave the area vacant for too long. You're slipping away nicely."
"......"
"Once the joint investigation team disbands, will you move immediately?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Lee Myeong-won. What is your goal? No, before that. Why have you changed?"
"...Changed, you say."
Lee Myeong-won turned his head and looked straight at Kim Jin-seong.
"What's wrong with pursuing power?"
"There's such a thing as a human's duty."
"You know nothing."
"Well, I suppose 'changed' might be a bit inaccurate. In that regard, you've always been the same. You never cared about the means or methods as long as you could get stronger. What, did you take on some mission to save the world by bearing all the karma yourself, even if it means dirtying your own hands?"
"...I've merely realized that power is the only thing that matters. Everything else is useless."
The back-and-forth only left both of them frustrated.
Kim Jin-seong chuckled and shook his head.
"Well, anyway. I hope you remember that I'm watching you."
"This was a waste of time. I won't see you out."
As Kim Jin-seong rose from his seat, leaving Lee Myeong-won staring out the window again, he suddenly spoke.
"Oh, and. It would be better if you didn't find 'that thing'."
"...?"
Now it was Lee Myeong-won's turn to ask.
"What do you mean?"
"You know, the thing you've been working on for so long. Did you think I wouldn't know even that much?"
"......"
Lee Myeong-won stared at Kim Jin-seong in silence.
It might just be a leading question.
But if Kim Jin-seong knew the location of the experiment subject, then the words "it would be better if you didn't find it" were an extremely important statement to Lee Myeong-won.
A dangerous light flickered in Lee Myeong-won's eyes.
If he knew, he couldn't be left alive.
What should he do?
Even if it meant risking the threats from other Masters, subduing Kim Jin-seong, extracting the location of the subject, and then eliminating him...
Whether he knew of Lee Myeong-won's dangerous inner conflict or not, Kim Jin-seong just grinned and added one more remark.
"If you find it, you'll die, you know?"
"......"
"I'll tell you just one thing. You can consider it the last favor from a friend of the past."
Swoosh.
A slip of paper came out of Kim Jin-seong's pocket and was placed on the table.
Creak. Click.
Kim Jin-seong's figure disappeared beyond the office door.
Lee Myeong-won silently stared at the note on the table.
Then he walked over and unfolded it.
[The Heavenly Demon]
"......"
Lee Myeong-won's hand trembled slightly.
The word 'Heavenly Demon' gave off a dangerous feeling.
Barely swallowing the sound of grinding teeth, he checked the next sentence.
[loves strawberry parfait.]
"...Playing games."
Crunch.
The note crumpled in Lee Myeong-won's hand.
Even setting aside the elixir situation, a guild being poor was a problem in many ways.
We needed a better building, a larger branch.
No matter how modern the building, it was far too cramped compared to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult of the past.
"Isn't this all because Na-yeon's older brother failed to fulfill his duties as guild master?!"
"...He only got busy because of you, though."
"Anyway, having a lot of money in the guild is good for many things. For example, a large bathroom and a restaurant serving delicious food should be built as top priority."
"What about the training hall?"
"That's second priority."
"I like the bathroom! I like the restaurant too!"
"To our Young Cult Leader, the training hall should be the most important."
"Eeek, training is hard."
The three ladies of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, including myself, were huddled together on a large tree stump.
Na-yeon chuckled and looked around.
"I never thought clearing a gate could be this comfortable."
"This place is amazing. The air is fresh, and the scenery is beautiful."
"The inside of each gate is different. Still, it's a relief that our first gate has such a nice environment."
"The gate Na-yeon unni cleared last time was super hot."
"Hey, you little rascal. You were the one who took down the boss back then, weren't you?"
"Hehe."
I grinned and stuck out my tongue.
I had already learned that if I smiled like this, Na-yeon didn't get angry easily.
As expected, Na-yeon chuckled helplessly.
Boom! Clang!
"Hey! Hah, hah! While your brother is working so hard! You guys are just taking it easy!"
"Do-yoon oppa, hang in there."
"Brother! Hurry up and catch it!"
"Hmph, this is all part of your training."
"You guys are sitting there comfortably, why is it only me?!"
"Training methods differ depending on the person and the situation. You need to become an S-class hunter quickly so we can use your reputation to recruit guild members, you Right Protector."
"Since when did I become a Right Protector?!"
"Your sword movements are getting sluggish. Steady your breathing and move faster."
Flash! Rumble!
In a clearing in the middle of the forest, Kim Do-yoon's sword and the Orc Berserker's warhammer clashed fiercely.
As expected of a seasoned A-class hunter. Kim Do-yoon's sword easily blocked the Orc Berserker's hammer, and through the contact, he channeled a blue electric current, paralyzing the Orc Berserker.
After that, Do-yoon moved his sword rapidly, carving up the berserker's entire body.
—Keeeeeek!
The Orc Berserker's agonized scream echoed through the forest.
It was a one-sided battle, but it was the boss of a B-rank dungeon, so it didn't go down easily.
Watching this, Lee Da-yeon covered her eyes with her tiny hands.
"Eek."
"Watch carefully. As the Young Cult Leader, when you become a hunter, you'll have to fight creatures like that too."
"Ugh, o-okay!"
Da-yeon forced her eyes open despite her fear. And she began to diligently take in the fight between Do-yoon and the Orc Berserker.
It was the first day of treasure hunting for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult guild.
Searching for gates hidden in remote areas or deep in the mountains.
The first gate we encountered was a B-rank gate in the form of a massive forest where pig-headed monsters called Orcs appeared.
Watching Do-yoon fight, Na-yeon feigned surprise and clicked her tongue.
"But I can't believe we found a gate this fast."
"Didn't I say I would find it quickly? From now on, use this body as your living radar."
No gate could evade the sensory perception of my realm, the Natural Realm.
In fact, as soon as we drove out of Seoul in Do-yoon's car and took the first mountain path we encountered, we immediately found the location of the gate.
"And you also serve as a long-range bombardment unit? Hehe."
"As Na-yeon unni raises This Seat, it's only right that I earn my keep from now on."
Clearing a B-rank gate supposedly takes several days for a standard party.
Na-yeon's old party also took several days to clear a B-rank gate.
But this time, thanks to me wiping out the trash mobs in an instant, we reached the central clearing where the boss was in less than two hours.
With Wiji Yeon, the long-range bombardment unit, the excellent A-class hunter Kim Do-yoon, and the great B-rank tanker Kim Na-yeon, it was a surplus of power for clearing just a B-rank gate.
Na-yeon looked a bit apologetic.
"Still, Ji-yeon is still young, so unni should be the one protecting you."
"Aren't you protecting me even now? This Seat is certainly strong, but with this young body, I am merely a sharp glass sword. After using a burst of power, I will need Na-yeon unni's protection."
"Really? Unni is helpful? Seriously? Kyaa!"
"Ugh, okay, I get it, so stop clinging!"
I grunted and pushed away Na-yeon, who was rubbing her cheek against mine.
Floating around the three sisters was the shield Na-yeon had created.
Na-yeon stroked my head and Da-yeon's as she spoke.
"Ji-yeon worked hard today, so I'll buy you a strawberry parfait when we get back."
"Oh, that was really delicious."
A smile involuntarily spread across my lips.
Strawberry parfait was the best food I'd encountered since coming to this world.