Raiding the Black Market (Complete)
The Agu's Bell Sound was one of the Eight Hells items that the Apocalypse cult leader randomly distributed to his apostles. Among the Six Paths of Reincarnation bells, this one summoned the demon Agu into the mortal realm.
Upon activation, it transformed the space into an instance dungeon, unfolding a true hellscape—the most vicious item imaginable...
But it's just a grinding spot on repeat.
This instance dungeon was the perfect place for level-up grinding.
"Tch... No EXP accumulating?"
The problem was a bug... or glitch? I wasn't sure how to describe it since this was reality, but I wasn't gaining any experience points.
"A prime grinding spot like this, and I'm the only one who can't rack up EXP?"
Like I was the only one who could level up? No, more like I was the only one who couldn't!
"Fine, then no one gets to level up."
If I can't have it, no one can. Fair's fair.
I almost said that. But people are dying if I don't hurry, so hero mode—gotta clear this fast.
The 12th apostle, Yuda Iscariot, had rung Agu's Bell to offer sacrifices, as he'd boasted. More precisely, to reharvest the souls devoured by the Agus and deliver them to the cult leader.
"Esil's fine, no worries there. The other guests aren't my problem, but I can't let Muksirok have their fun."
I felt like the Vigilante Robe and Four Eyes disguise were wasted. I'd planned to show off to the crowd, but Yuda's pointless stunt threw everything off.
-Hungry.
-Need food.
-Eat. Eat. Eat.
-Smells delicious.
"Ugh... you stinking bastards."
Green-skinned Agus started appearing, drooling rivers of spit. Their signature stench assaulted my nose.
-Give us flesh!
-Legs!
-Breast meat!
"What am I, a chicken? I've got an epic weapon, Demon Hunter, in my hand."
Alteration triggered.
Contextual alteration: Temporary Alteration applied.
Alteration content: Han Ijun holds an epic-grade Demon Hunter in his hand.
Alteration in progress...
Alteration complete. Epic-grade Demon Hunter maintained for 7 minutes.
◈ Equipment Type: Weapon
◈ On Equip: Attack +10 / Agility +2
◈ Effect 1 - Demon Damage Advantage: +20% damage to all demons
◈ Effect 2 - Charging: Charge output up to 5 seconds max
A revolver-style dual pistol that boosts damage to all demons.
"Time to dance with guns. I can use Suppressive Fire."
Suppressive Fire was a skill from the Demon Hunter class in Elan Symphonia. It spun the body while unleashing indiscriminate shots in all directions.
Bang-!
Bang-!
Bang-!
Wind holes punched through the Agus' heads, dropping them one by one.
The next 7 minutes were mine. Even if I couldn't get EXP.
"Fuck this buggy game!!! Die!!!"
While I was massacring Agus, Esil wandered the dungeon with her usual blank expression.
Gurgle-!
"Hungry."
Even in this Agu hell dungeon, Esil casually complained about hunger. Probably the strongest in the world.
-Living human.
-Hungry.
-Eat.
Not much meat, but still—eat.
Agus swarmed toward her.
"Tiring."
Despite demons hungry for living flesh closing in, Esil just looked annoyed.
"Agu meat tastes bad."
If I were there, I'd have said, How do you know that, Esil Gong?
"Gotta clear quick and make Ijun buy me food."
Esil activated her Abl, Perfect Clarity State.
Mind Sword Manifest—
Slash-!
-Sliced!
-Hurts!
-Strong human.
-But we outnumber her.
-Overwhelm together.
Agus had no camaraderie. But they knew mobbing prey was efficient, so they charged Esil en masse.
"Clumped up—easy to slice."
Mob tactics were great. Numbers beat skill, as they say—but only against average foes.
Slash-!
Slash-!
Slash-!
If the opponent had overwhelming power, mobbing was suicide.
Esil's sword strikes cubed the Agus like steak. Their clumping was their fatal mistake.
"Why aren't more souls gathering?"
Yuda eyed the orb on Agu's Bell, which auto-reharvested souls from the Agus' hunts. Despite time passing since the dungeon formed, it was less than a third full. He was puzzled.
"If not for that damn Four Eyes, I wouldn't be dealing with this hassle."
Without the 666 Fragment, he needed souls to mitigate punishment. But they weren't coming, souring his mood.
"My position in the cult's already shaky..."
Yuda's standing in Muksirok was precarious. Apostle candidate Matthias threatened his spot. Failing to recover souls might strip his apostleship—hence his anxiety.
"Four Eyes... and that sky-blue-haired girl I glimpsed. Their souls might suffice."
Four Eyes seemed strong—he hadn't sensed him approaching until Gram was stolen. And the blue-haired girl...
"That hair color marks House Rubr, one of the Empire's five great families. Must be the Small Sword Saint, Esil Rubr."
Daughter of Sword Saint Rubr Marquis, heir apparent. Her soul's quality would be immense. Harvesting Four Eyes and Esil could secure his position—or elevate it. So thought Yuda.
"Might as well handle the girl first. Agus aren't reliable."
Small Sword Saint or not, she was just a student. Even as Muksirok's weakest apostle, Yuda was a bona fide 5th-circle mage.
"Intel says Esil Rubr's barely user-level swordsman. Even with a strong Abl, her mana control lags mine."
Yuda considered their Ablos' matchup. He had the edge. He moved to act.
Or tried—until
Bang-!
A gunshot rang out, something piercing his shoulder.
"Gaaah!"
Yuda screamed in agony, like his flesh was melting.
"Found you at last."
"Four... Eyes!"
From the shadows emerged four glowing red eyes. Four Eyes had arrived.
I'd spotted Yuda before the 7 minutes expired and shot him.
Muksirok apostles embed 666 Fragments, using Vil over Act. Their bodies warp demon-like—and Demon Hunter was demon poison, melting flesh on hit.
"Gaaah!"
Yuda screamed as expected.
"Found you at last."
"Four... Eyes!"
"Quit yelling so loud."
"You bastard... Fine, works for me. I'll harvest your soul first."
Yuda assumed a stance.
His Vil: Betrayal. Abl: Mana Density Amplification. Fitting for Judas Iscariot. The stronger his betrayal urge, the denser his mana.
He worshipped 666 but had zero loyalty to Muksirok.
"Burn to ash! Hell's karma flames! Incinerate the foe before me! Hell Fire!"
"This space actually blocks mana use."
Alteration triggered.
Contextual alteration: Temporary Alteration applied.
Alteration content: The entire Agu's Restaurant is a no-mana zone.
Alteration in progress...
Alteration complete. No mana usable in Agu's Restaurant for 5 minutes.
Yuda was a 5th-circle mage—high-tier for a non-demon human (max 7th). But that assumes mana access.
A mage without mana? Red beanless red bean pastry.
"Hell Fire! Hell Fire! Why... no mana?!"
His face twisted in shock as spells failed. I couldn't help a wicked grin.
(Though the mask hid it from him.)
"Time to take some hits."
"S-stay back!"
Gaaah-!
The scream echoed through the dungeon.
With bell-user Yuda incapacitated, the instance dungeon naturally dissolved.
Back in the Auction House, Esil spotted me and trotted over.
"Found Ijun. Constipated?"
"No, what constipation... Anyway, what happened? Door wouldn't open when I tried coming back."
"Turned into dungeon."
"Dungeon?! You okay, Esil?"
"Fine. I'm strong."
"Good, glad you're safe."
I played it cool. Like some unrelated guy who'd gone to the bathroom and got locked out by a dungeon.
Yuda's probably getting tortured by Labra by now.
I'd beaten him just short of death, then lied to teleport him to her upon dungeon collapse. Guy nearly wrecked the auction—she wouldn't just ban him.
And I snagged a nice haul on the side.
Looted heaps of gold and useful items from the Auction House warehouse into my inventory. Money's easy with lies, but swiping it feels better!
I checked the time and said to Esil,
"Head back? Curfew's closing in."
"Buy snack first."
"You forget what you ate before coming?"
"Digested ages ago."
"Fine, fine. What do you want?"
"Pasta, wood-fired pizza, whole roast pig leg."
"That's not a snack... Whatever, eat what you want."
Ijun and Esil left the Auction House.