What Bloomed (1)
The demon's presence was felt nowhere other than the branch chief's office. AAU London branch chief, Baker Chet. The demon had possessed Baker's body. The moment I pieced it together, the lingering question in my mind unraveled. I finally understood the structure of this insidious dungeon.
Dungeon: The Gloomy City of Rain
Recommended Level: Lv.600~Lv.900
Collapse Progress: 2.3%
Emergency update. This dungeon wasn't part of the scheduled rollout. Well, rifts like Cracked Dimensional Gap weren't exactly one-offs, so I could let that slide. But even then, the real issue was that recommended level. It was ambiguous—not sky-high, not low either. Especially since I, Lee Hoyeol, had boldly entered solo. A guarantee of sorts for a tricky rift. Even that could be chalked up to irregular dungeon traits. But...
'The traps crossed the line.'
Those weren't traps a player could spot. They reeked of pure malice. Traps designed to drag not just players, but every trapped civilian in the rift, straight to death. Even I, a demon hunter with our natural enemy relationship, might not have caught them without High El.
'I pegged it as a high demon for sure.'
Which begged the question. Not quite an upper demon king, but at least a high demon. Kindly example? Something like Laxioros, Tyrant of the Demon Realm's West from the Arcana continent. That thing would've swaggered out in front of me by now, full of bluster.
'Laxioros was arrogant enough to rival Grandfell.'
Demon king class, and their confidence pierces the heavens. But this one was weird. So sneaky it felt like a trap. Cowering in a corner of the AAU London branch. But as I said, the mystery was solved. I stared at the branch chief—Baker. No, the demon.
I intoned coldly.
"Thou hast overstepped thy bounds."
"……!!"
"Overstepped...? Do you two know each other?"
Shreyg looked baffled. If it were a demon I knew, it'd be spinning lies by now, three inches of tongue working overtime to fool Shreyg and defuse the situation. But this one didn't even have the wits for that. A perfectly natural reaction.
"Hahk... hahk."
My level as a demon hunter had risen. Our natural enemy relationship was firmer than ever. No demon king, no high demon—just some nobody couldn't even breathe properly in my presence. I gazed down at it with icy eyes.
"Silence thyself."
"……?"
"I have not permitted thee breath."
"……!"
Normally, I'd be griping inside. Now you're controlling people's breathing? And blabbing like that in front of Shreyg? This mouth of mine will be the death of me. But today...
'Spot on. I agree, Grandfell.'
My gaze shifted beyond the window.
"From here, thou couldst see it all clearly, hear it too. The groans of those submerged in rainwater, writhing in agony. What thoughts stirred in thee? What emotions?"
"!"
At my words, Shreyg's eyes changed. Actions spoke louder. Ching! He raised his sword.
"Is what Player Lee Hoyeol says true? Branch Chief Baker?"
The thing couldn't affirm or deny. I hadn't allowed breath. It just clutched its throat in terror, hacking away. No answer needed, of course.
"Yet there is no need to know thy petty thoughts."
"……!!"
"Regardless, mark this well."
Grandfell, who never chats with prey, I who held that creed—why converse with this non-demon king demon? Simple. There are limits to all things. Thus...
"Cross not the line."
No need to raise mana. No need for the umbrella. Yes, a warning sufficed.
'Terror' occurs on the Nameless Demon.
'Suffocation' occurs on the Nameless Demon.
'Death' occurs on the Nameless Demon.
Thud— Baker collapsed, clutching his nape. Shreyg rushed over, checked his pulse, then looked up at me.
"He's still breathing, for now."
Purifying the demon king's trophy, Command Baton Tainted by Evil, was crucial. But no need to sacrifice it on a nameless demon.
'The ritual's power scales with the offering's quality.'
Of course, exorcism ritual had activated long ago. No damage to Baker's body, naturally. Shreyg spoke cautiously.
"Still... what happened here...?"
Why Baker got possessed? I'm no psychologist, don't know, don't care. But explaining what I did know was necessary. Bluntly, without sugarcoating.
"He was taken over by a demon."
"......Branch Chief Baker? Impossible! Possession, you mean?"
A debuff familiar to players. Common among demon monsters in rifts until recently.
"I never dreamed demons could possess civilians too."
How'd it sneak into society...? Shreyg muttered, then stiffened, face paling.
"Wait—then the Baker I met yesterday...!"
Chatted with it, breathed the same air, yet missed the signs. Shocked by the demon's method acting. But the truth is crueler, Shreyg.
'This is just the beginning.'
Seeing is knowing. This incident drove it home. Reality might suit demons rampaging more than Arcana. Suppose it was a true-named demon in Baker...
'The dungeon could've been far worse.'
AAU branch chief. Cosmo, Arcana's devs, preceded AAU. Baker's lore knowledge surpassed most players, even demons. The nameless one exploited that. ...Terrifying just imagining! An inescapable dungeon nightmare. But better safe. Knowing the risk is key. No problem then. All fixable.
I told Shreyg, "Thou seemst shaken."
"......Sorry. Quite the shock."
"Yet this is but the prelude, Shreyg."
"Prelude? What do you mean?"
As I said, crushing demon kings was mere catalyst. Calm before the storm. Demons quiet because eyeing each other before Demon King Struggle. Having entered Arcana, I knew. When the struggle truly ignites, demon activity scales beyond imagination.
"This incident is but a harbinger of greater events."
"……!"
"Fear not."
Clack. I stepped forward. Dungeon depths, demon culprit dead. Message appeared.
"Pride blooming from trials."
With that, the rain fog lifted. Gloomy rain city, they called it. London's submerging tears dried up.
"Shall shine brighter than aught else."
Not mere grand words this time. London's streets brimmed with water-laden trees. Aquarius oaks, blooming from tear-fertilized seeds. Yes, clouds parted, sunlight-glistened leaves truly radiant. And one more radiant thing.
No need to check inventory. I knew.
Hexagram Brooch is glowing.
Found it—the second Hexagram Brooch.
......
Thudududu— Noisy helicopters. Reporters broadcast frantically.
"Th-the clouds are clearing! Everyone!"
As if denying outsiders entry. London's rain-fog-shrouded form emerged. Fog receding from outskirts. First caught on camera: players.
"Second Sun guild members. Look like they were mid-battle! Wait—one moment. Behind the players, collapsed...!"
Precisely, players battling to protect civilians. Unannounced emergency update, but real-time patches visible to all. Onlookers gasped.
"Lv.600 monsters—wraiths at that."
"Barely fazed by physical attacks."
"Protecting civilians against those?"
"How are they even alive?"
Second Sun. Guild master Shreyg's skill unquestioned. But executives like Jackery and average members? Not standout compared to others. Surely casualties. Gulp! Taut nerves swallowed dryly.
"!"
But unbelievable sight. No major injuries, no fallen. Even collapsed civilians stirring, rising one by one.
Thudududu— Every London street the same. Rift—unprecedented dungeon—blanketing the city. Yet zero casualties.
"Are you seeing this? A miracle. A miracle, everyone!"
Britain—no, the world—sighed in relief. Rescue teams, military deployed. Those entering London witnessed.
"......Wait, was there an avenue like this?"
Sublime trees bloomed from tear seeds.
......
Mysterious Trees Appear Across London Streets...!
Second Sun Guild: "The trees restored our life force."
Survivors: "Even unconscious, we felt a warm glow. We want to thank the players who sacrificed for us..."
Trees nonexistent in reality. Shreyg didn't know the name, but knew the truth.
AAU London branch.
"Wait—it's Shreyg!!"
Shreyg emerged; reporters swarmed.
"Shreyg! What happened?"
"Was AAU London branch the dungeon core?"
"Where's Player Lee Hoyeol?"
Shreyg swallowed a chuckle.
'Not my spotlight.'
Hero Hoyeol portaled out post-clear. Begged for formal thanks? Left words: "Just duty." So Shreyg had one choice.
'Today's just a prelude.'
Foolishly grasping Hoyeol's intent now. Why he mobilized Yusra Kingdom, Frost, Muon, Mage Tower for holy war. Knowing that, Shreyg couldn't waver.
'Confidence? Limits? Who cares.'
No faith in self, but in Hoyeol? Unshakable. Resolved, Shreyg spoke to reporters.
"London was saved today by Player Lee Hoyeol."
"!!!"
*
Strict formality, procedure. Even this fool's motormouth I'd adapted to somewhat. Yet I, Lee Hoyeol, remained a hopeless capitalist slave. Pure as driven snow? Rushing portal to check Hexagram Brooch effects says otherwise...!
Yusra Kingdom, office. I pulled the Hexagram Brooch from inventory. Set item indeed. They pulled toward each other.
...Combine for bonus effect?
Childhood robot fusion excitement swelling. But.
"All things have order."
Yes, check item info before merging. Tea first, naturally.
Bubbling— Tongue prickles sans daily green tea...
Clink— Only then, sipping tea-infused cup, did I check the new brooch's effects. And unwittingly murmured.
"Exceedingly splendid."