Demon Hunter (1)

I couldn't help but doubt it. 'Do demons really appear like this in reality?'

...Hasn't it been ten years, and nothing's changed?

The unfolding scene matched the demon hunter quest perfectly.

But the moment the message appeared, certainty hit me.

A demon had possessed Nam Cheolmin's body.

Community info flooded my mind.

Demons in reality were tricky monsters, no doubt.

Ten years ago in quests, they weren't exactly the same.

But I knew one thing.

I couldn't afford petty judgments in front of a demon.

『Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo's pride soars highest, paradoxically, before demons.』

Yes. Whatever demon possessed Nam Cheolmin.

Its level, its status effects—unknown.

Clack—

But my vision was sharper than ever.

My strides were straight, without hesitation.

The moment I faced the demon, I spoke in a cold voice.

"Indeed, you are a demon."

The room gasped at my declaration.

Choi Jeonghun stammered, glancing between me and Nam Cheolmin before stumbling back.

"Wh-what do you mean? A d-demon?"

"Demonkin...!! I knew it felt ominous."

"Wait, if it's demonkin, we can't possibly—?!"

In that shock, Nam Cheolmin—no, the demon—burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! You figured it out quick, you idiots!!"

The demon seemed to relish the situation.

It would. Human negativity fuels demons.

"You humans are sooo~ fake."

But I had no patience for its blather.

"How unbecoming."

A silver dagger was already in my hand.

"Though I doubt a inferior breed like demons knows dignity."

Demons had clear hierarchies, of course.

Akshan job change quests drilled it in: low, mid, high-grade.

Above them, "true-named demons," and far higher, demon kings claiming thrones...

But as I said.

『No demon temptation, deceit, or trial can scratch Grandfell's lofty pride.』

To Grandfell—me—they were all the same demons.

No hesitation in my actions.

With Natural Enemy Relationship active, my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠physical abilities had skyrocketed.

Swish—!

Swift and precise. I thrust the dagger at Nam Cheolmin's nape.

Clang—!

Plate armor, huh. Didn't expect it to cover the nape gap.

A panicked voice rang out.

"...Haha! You crazy bastard? Even crazier than me? We were buddy-buddy, and you swing a knife out of nowhere? Fuck, what kind of—?!"

But I wouldn't allow it.

"Do not converse with me."

"...Wh-what?!"

"I do not parley with prey."

Swish—!

Silver dagger couldn't pierce plate armor.

'Then target the joints.'

Before demons, I moved on instinct.

Body and mind operated on another level compared to goblins.

Stab—!

I drove the silver dagger into the inner elbow.

'No idea how far Exorcism Ritual works in reality, but irrelevant.'

The message was simple: I'd landed a solid hit on the demon.

The demon recoiled in shock, staggering back.

"Crazy!! It's silver!!! Fuck, what the hell are you?!"

No reply. I swung the dagger again.

Side joint. Knee joint. Nape crevice.

Gurgle— Black blood poured from the wounds.

The demon spat.

"You psycho... Can't you see the blood?! Keep this up, and this guy really dies. Kill me, you kill him!! No, I'll make sure we both go down. You think I'll die alone?!"

I chuckled inwardly, delighted.

'Even the lines are straight out of ten years ago?'

Nope, not falling for it.

With Exorcism Ritual active, demon hunter attacks harm only the demon.

I hadn't forgotten that basic fact, old as it was.

But my face betrayed nothing.

"Prey need only be hunted."

Stab—!

*

"Bro, don't push too hard. Avoid dangerous rifts if you can."

"Got it, kid."

"Not joking. Mood's tense lately. That's why... why not join our guild? So much players can do without rifts. Like analyst."

I just didn't want to live pathetically.

"We're brothers, but damn, we're different."

"Gotta step up so I don't smear your name?"

"Taemin aced another boss raid? Tell him congrats."

I didn't want to burden my superior little brother.

Nam Cheolmin watched his body move on its own.

'...Where did it go wrong?'

Memory blurred from rift entry.

But the message stuck clear.

'...An Imp?'

Lv.200 demonkin monster, Imp.

Nam Cheolmin knew their danger—from reports to his brother, Nam Taemin.

He gritted his teeth.

'Can't let it in! Wipeout!'

But no voice came.

'...Other parties. If other parties help!'

Words escaped against his will.

"No worries. Big station hub, right? Pick routes right, no overlap with other parties."

He was herding his team to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠death.

"Cheolmin hyung! No, hyung!!"

Erratic actions led to goblin encirclement.

'My fault. Because of me...!!'

Move. Please move. Help them.

But Nam Cheolmin couldn't budge.

Just watch, frozen.

"Fuck, what's wrong?! Hey, Nam Cheolmin!!"

All his fault. His inadequacy.

Helplessness crushed him.

'...Taemin, you were right.'

Exactly what the Imp wanted.

Nam Cheolmin let go of his fading consciousness.

Only faint voices remained.

"Hey, Nam Cheolmin! You think I trailed you calling 'hyung' thinking you're hot shit? Fuck, if not my bro's bro, you're nothing..."

Yes, Choi Jeonghun was right.

That's all he was.

"Hahaha. Kuhahaha!!"

Then only laughter.

Imp mocking his weakness.

But the endless jeer stopped.

"Indeed, you are a demon."

...It spotted the demon?

How?

Nam Cheolmin clung to awareness.

An unbelievable sight unfolded.

'...Overwhelming the Imp?'

Impossible.

Demons tricky not just from levels.

They inflict status effects constantly.

Fear, Despair, Debilitation...

Counter ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with high mental stats or overwhelming level gap.

'...Who the hell is this guy?'

Unbelievable even watching.

Not a fight.

Yes, as the man said: one-sided "hunt."

Imp's wails rang in his ears.

Nam Cheolmin thought.

'...Imp dies, I die too?'

Then I'll die.

He resolved.

His fault party trapped.

Possession no excuse.

Demons target weak humans.

His fault too.

'Gotta pay my dues, even in death.'

Right, Jeonghun? Taemin?

Thankfully, the man showed no hesitation.

'Regrettably, no way to repay your kindness.'

As Nam Cheolmin thought that.

Stab—!

Dagger to nape. Something left his body.

Blink—

...Why were his eyes open?

"...?"

Subway ceiling above.

Flickering bulb now shone bright.

Dazzlingly so.

A voice came.

"Did I not say?"

Utterly composed, dignified tone.

"With me here, you need not worry."

*

Leveled up.

Counted twelve messages.

One Imp, twelve levels.

What? For real?

I recalled the fight to gauge the Imp's level from EXP flood.

Still didn't add up.

'Goblins were trickier than the Imp.'

Goblins around Lv.30.

Simple implication.

'Don't get hopes up, or crash hard, I said.'

This shattered expectations.

Demon hunter vs. demonkin Natural Enemy Relationship stronger than thought.

'Because low-grade demon.'

Uncanny gap.

Messages continued.

Silver dagger Imp kill boosted proficiency hugely.

From 19% to 24% instantly.

No item drop from Imp, sadly.

But no regret.

Massive EXP instead.

Or Grandfell's disdain for riches.

Who knows.

'More importantly.'

I'd kept my word.

"Did I not say? With me here, you need not worry."

...Failure would've been mortifying.

Experience taught me clear.

Grandfell—my actions under black history can't be fixed.

Even in life-or-death.

Straight posture proved it.

So I must adapt.

Luckily, my adaptability's solid.

"Khuhk. Thank you. Truly. This debt, I swear—!"

"Hyung, you okay? What the hell happened...?"

"Phew. Thank goodness."

"Whoa. Epic...!!"

Overwhelming gazes poured on me.

Adoring eyes.

I took them in stride.

As if natural.

I just thought.

'So rude.'

Young folks these days lack manners, huh?

*

Lv.368. Player ranking 11th.

Nam Taemin read, scoffing.

"So hyung. You want me to believe this? For real?"

Before him sat his brother, Nam Cheolmin.

"Yeah. For real."

Nam Cheolmin dead serious.

"That possessed party leader was me."

"Wh-what?!"