A Grating Presence (2)
As if I'd activated some kind of detector.
My senses sharpened to a razor's edge.
“……!”
The demon's presence washed over me.
The moment [Predator-Prey Relationship] triggered.
Its position etched itself into my mind.
A demon had set foot in Frost.
It hit me anew, but damn, impressive all the same.
Lee Hoyeol.
'If this isn't a giant leap forward, what is? For real.'
Suddenly, memories of my first demon encounter surfaced.
I hadn't even noticed the imp possessing Nam Cheolmin right away.
Comparing then to now, it was hard to believe I was the same demon hunter.
'The biggest factor has to be the levels, obviously.'
Yeah, back then I was a measly level 55.
Now? Level 295.
A whopping 240 levels gained.
Plus, I'd boosted my strength and agility through class quests.
All that moonlit calisthenics was worth it.
“Thou graspest not thine own station.”
In that sense, what the hell was this demon thinking?
Setting foot in Frost…… no, not just any Frost.
The place where I held maximum affinity and influence.
The Frost where I'd activated my [Authority] function.
Not some peddler, but a demon dares tread here?!
What was a demon to Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo?
A blight more unsightly than a helicopter banner.
“Thus befits thy inferior breed.”
Such vermin demanded more than a mere incineration like trash.
I manifested a portal without hesitation.
Portal—a high-tier skill that even ranker players found taxing.
Needless to say, I had no such lofty skill.
So how did I pull it off?
What a ridiculous question.
Magic, distinctly separate from skills.
'The demon's location.'
The direction of the presence.
Right in front of Frost's gates.
Not far, and with [Predator-Prey Relationship] active.
I'd opened the portal with flair.
But……
'……Mana hog. This thing?'
My mana drained visibly.
It dawned on me anew.
'How do they even sustain portals like this?'
The Mage Tower went without saying.
Even the dwarves, who rivaled them, were no joke.
But I didn't let the shock show.
Thud.
“……Wh-what the?!”
I wasn't one for emotional swings.
Especially not now, with a demon right in front of me.
The portal ripped open in midair.
Out stepped I.
A middle-aged man recoiled at the sight.
“Look, I don't know what misunderstanding there is, but yes! This is who I am. Maeda Kenji. I've been steadily involved in politics for over a decade……”
No, that was just the facade.
Of course.
I, Grandfell, wouldn't play along with such excuses.
How many times had I said it?
I do not converse with prey.
Silence stretched.
The man was practically begging now.
“……Yes! I've made a grave mistake. The protesters, even launching the helicopter—it was all my fault. I swear I won't set foot near Frost again!”
In politics, I'd suspected as much.
Sure enough, this guy's doing.
'Worse than expected.'
I'd felt it with Baek Isul too.
Demons were getting craftier by the day.
The succubus possessing Baek Isul.
Using the Shinwa guild master and chaebol heiress to her advantage.
This one was no different.
In that sense, it was a good thing.
'My senses for detecting demons have sharpened.'
The sneakier they got, the more my keen instincts would shine.
Mid-thought, players' chatter drifted over.
“Whoa, it's Hoyeol!”
“……But what's the situation?”
“Dunno. Looks like that Japanese politician's apologizing? Said sorry for the protests and the helicopter. Even bowed his head just now.”
“For real? It was getting so noisy anyway.”
……Hold up.
All good, but.
Hoyeol-nim? Now it's Hoyeol-nim?
What the hell was that cringe-worthy title?
Of course, against my inner turmoil.
Yet such a title was fitting.
My body accepted it with its usual composure.
'Yeah, I get it.'
These were production-class players.
From Yusra's reconstruction to Frost's restoration.
I'd unintentionally created jobs for them.
Not on purpose, mind you.
“Why do that if he's just gonna apologize?”
“'Cause Hoyeol showed up and he tucked tail.”
“Serves him right. He was in the way anyway.”
Eyes poured in.
So many onlookers.
Relieved, perhaps.
I could see the demon relax.
'Not even a hollow laugh at that delusion.'
I might tolerate it, but Grandfell wouldn't.
Onlookers be damned, he'd torch the demon possessing the man.
However.
“Ow! Right in the face!”
“Told you not to mess with sis!”
“Damn. No more calling you sis from now on!”
My pride spoke volumes.
Frost's residents, striving to rise above their wounds.
Torching a demon before them like a show?
Ripping open healing scars?
That wasn't pride—it was mere stubbornness.
Snowballs flew between them.
I turned from the kids locked in a snowball stare-down.
And spoke to him.
“Speak again.”
“Again? Ah, I apologize! The protesters weren't enough……”
“No, again.”
“Pardon? Yes, I apologize once mo……”
“Again.”
“?”
I continued coldly.
“Direct thine apology properly.”
The ones to receive the demon's contrition.
Were Frost's residents, not I.
Realizing my intent, he bowed hastily.
“Sorry about that, kids.”
The siblings flinched in unison.
Then the sister hid her brother behind her.
I watched, manifesting magic.
Yes, apologies were apologies, but demons must be hunted.
I had plenty of spells at my disposal.
A demon like this? I could take it down quietly.
Like with the succubus.
And yet, they insisted on helping.
“Take this!!”
Whoosh—the brother hurled a snowball at the man's face.
Splat—right on target.
And with it, my magic triggered.
The timing lined up perfectly by chance?
*
Maeda Kenji.
“Ugh.”
He came to in a hospital room.
The men at his bedside spoke as soon as he opened his eyes.
“Mr. Maeda, you're awake?”
“Feels like I was out for a damn long time.”
“……Indeed!”
“?”
They wore subtle expressions at his words.
Maeda was puzzled.
It truly felt like he'd slumbered deeply and awakened.
To put it in terms.
Yeah, like surfacing from the depths of the unconscious.
Maeda chuckled.
“Even in such a deep dream, I'm working. What a guy I am.”
Fragments of dream remnants flickered.
At the site with protesters.
Launching a helicopter.
Interviews with reporters.
……And meeting some bigwig at the end?
The men couldn't hide their dismay at his words.
'Has his head really gone funny?'
Tension lasted a moment.
Maeda scowled.
“Turn on the TV.”
“……Pardon?”
“You gonna explain everything from one to ten while I was out? All of you. Don't get cocky just 'cause you're players—keep your eyes and ears open. Gotta watch the news to know how the world's turning.”
Maeda snatched the remote irritably.
“Remember that if you wanna work with me.”
Yes, they were all players.
More precisely, government dogs standing in for Inazuma.
Maeda clicked his tongue.
'Can't even follow simple orders. Useless.'
Compared to Inazuma, they fell woefully short.
But that was Maeda's delusion.
They hadn't failed to understand—they'd pretended not to.
For Maeda's sake.
Beep—
The anchor's voice filled the room from the TV.
-Footage obtained online.
Frost appeared on screen.
A middle-aged man bowing obsequiously.
Maeda tsked louder than before.
“Whoever that is, a man groveling like that……?!”
Then realization hit.
Maeda's eyes bulged.
Wasn't that him?
“Wh-what the hell?!”
“Calm down, sir. You need absolute rest.”
“I'm asking what happened!!”
Not a dream after all?
Protesters, helicopter, bigwig.
All real?
No, it didn't add up.
His memories couldn't be this hazy.
As he agonized.
Subtitles scrolled.
-Maeda Kenji. Politics' greatest humiliation!
“M-me? This body a humiliation to politics?!”
Beep—
Yeah, that station was always biased.
He'd known since they fawned over Hallyu.
Furious, Maeda changed channels.
Others would surely be fairer.
“!”
Perfect timing—new footage.
Splat—he was struck square by a snowball.
By a boy young enough to be his grandson.
And collapsed!
Speechless, Maeda gaped.
The men finally spoke.
“No brain damage, but possible memory loss……”
“You must rest absolutely.”
“Mr. Maeda, watching more won't help……”
Beep—
Beep-beep—
It was real.
Every channel showed his humiliation.
Or praise for Lee Hoyeol.
-Receiving an apology for Frost's residents—a scene we rarely see. Japanese politicians should emulate player Lee Hoyeol's dignity……
“Aaaargh!!”
Maeda roared.
Memory loss for real?
His mind couldn't keep up.
His eyes flashed amid the screams.
“So what were you doing while I made a fool of myself?!”
“We were on standby as instructed……”
“Standby? Until I socially died?! Is that really your job? You think I dragged nobodies like you here for that?! Think proactively!!”
Misplaced rage erupted.
His pathetic image haunted him.
Maeda's fury wouldn't subside.
“Idiot bastards! I was a fool for trying to raise you!”
So he didn't notice.
Creak—
“Hospitals demand quiet. That's etiquette and decorum.”
“……?”
“Don't move. Skewering you lot takes seconds.”
“Hisagi! Wh-what brings you here……?”
Hisagi Kazuma.
Even as he entered.
Hisagi flicked his tongue like a snake.
“Playing dumb? You know.”
Maeda's side had six players on guard.
Hisagi was alone.
Yet the six couldn't budge.
'……Overwhelming pressure!'
Like a viper's venomous aura.
They felt his words weren't bluff.
Thud—
Hisagi sat by Maeda's bed.
“Bit the hand that feeds, did you? Told the higher-ups. Oh, dropping formalities now. You know I've cut ties with the government.”
“……Very well.”
“You're insane, you know?”
“Wh-what do you mean?”
“Pulled this off solo.”
Hisagi's killing intent surged.
He continued.
“I warned you. Don't touch Frost or Lee Hoyeol if you value your life. You knew.”
“I don't remember this incident clearly……!!”
“Ah, memory issues? Convenient excuse.”
Casual tone.
But Hisagi's face held no mirth.
“Save that for bribed judges. Doctor said no anomalies on scans. So why the amnesia?”
“It's true! I can't remember. Please believe me!”
“Hmm. Thinking proactively, as advised.”
“……!”
The frozen players flinched.
Hisagi pressed on.
“But nah, doesn't work.”
“Ugh…… I'm frustrated too. Even without memories, I'll apologize. I'll go back to Frost and……”
“Wrong from the start, not the target.”
Hisagi explained kindly.
“Stay put in a corner. That's remorse for the offender, Maeda. Staying out of sight is the best apology.”
“I'll do that! Just spare my life……!”
“Thinking proactively again.”
“Kuh!”
Maeda sobbed.
That enough?
Hisagi stood.
Gulp—the players swallowed dryly.
He whispered.
“Best let go of snapped threads.”
“……!”
“You've been marked. It's over.”
Hisagi added.
“Senior advice: the more you cling, the surer it snaps.”
“……We'll remember.”
“Good.”
Hisagi's final words.
“Keep thinking proactively and stay hidden, Maeda. I'm not as merciful as Mr. Lee Hoyeol. Thank him for that.”
Terror-stricken, Maeda could barely respond.
He'd live in fear of Hisagi's watch.
No more mischief, naturally.
Creak—
Hisagi's exit.
The men exhaled in relief.
'That's Hisagi Kazuma.'
Top ranker's pressure.
Beyond imagination.
Mind-numbing.
'Even more than Hisagi……'
His feats, and the respect in his words.
The players gulped.
Gulp—
……Just how strong was Lee Hoyeol?
*
I checked my status window.
Level 296, a pittance that belied my growth.
Yet ever self-aware of my station.
“Hoo.”
This frail flesh demanded relentless training.
Class quests were no exception.
But today's good news eased the solitude.
I wiped my sweat and checked my messages.