Delusions End Here
No matter how brilliant they are, they're ultimately just human.
Akampatam, the demon bearing a true name, swallowed his smile. He knew full well how formidable Karimjeba was. The Fire Dragon, was it? Leaving aside his fame on the Arcana Continent for the moment. The mana rippling from his flesh was anything but ordinary.
One wrong word, and I'd probably burst into flames and croak.
But this wasn't the Arcana Continent. It was an entirely different world. And on matters of this world, Akampatam knew more than Karimjeba ever could.
"You're right. I was rash."
At least he could bow his head without losing face.
"Yeah. I went too far myself. We all have to help each other out to survive."
Of course, there was no need to pick a fight with a monster like that. Akampatam graciously accepted the apology and sat across from him on the sofa.
Let's run the numbers first.
He lit a cigarette with a soft exhale and started turning the gears in his head. Heir to a chaebol dynasty. Strip away the status, and the body itself was nothing special. But that brain of his, weighing pros and cons? Sharp as hell. Why, look at him now. Putting his own pleasure above someone else's entire life?
Hell, you could say he's more ruthless than me in that regard.
And that brain was telling him:
This offer doesn't appeal to me one bit.
Upper demon king? Even if the resurrection succeeded, what did he stand to gain? Nothing. Losses, maybe.
All that evil energy would flock straight to His Excellency the Demon King.
A nobody like me is plenty satisfied with my current setup, thank you very much.
Sizzle—!
In short, he'd stepped in shit and couldn't budge. His hand tightened on the cigarette, snuffing it out.
"You need intel on the Mage Tower. Easy enough. This world's got its conveniences—no need for magic. A few taps on the fingers, and you've got what you want."
Smooth—he pulled out his smartphone. Karimjeba's pupils trembled faintly.
Village bumpkin.
Akampatam smirked and played it cool.
"But as you know better than anyone, the Mage Tower's a conservative bunch. Even the rumors floating around are all speculation. Total brain farts. Oh, you know what a brain fart is, right?"
The air shifted at his little jab. Rumble-rumble—the mana surged, and the furniture began to vibrate.
Does this old fart have no self-awareness?
About the mana he was radiating, that is. One misstep in this push-pull, and he'd be toast. Akampatam hurried on.
"But who am I? I've got ways."
"Ways? Care to elaborate?"
"Of course. We're in the same boat now."
And swipe—he scrolled through his contacts.
"I don't know how a mere demon like us looks to you demon-king types. But we're not idiots. Demons like me, wearing human skins, operating all over this world."
He knew that already. Karimjeba nodded, so Akampatam pressed on.
"And naturally, our numbers? Way more than even you imagine, Karimjeba. Their abilities? Useless on Arcana Continent maybe, but here? Plenty useful."
"Get to the point."
"Simple. The Mage Tower isn't just Arcana Continent natives anymore, right?"
Karimjeba caught on instantly.
"......You're talking about the adventurer, Lee Hoyeol."
"Bingo! We've got a demon on our side connected to that Lee Hoyeol."
"......!"
A demon connected to Lee Hoyeol......?
Karimjeba knew the unique powers of demons well. Even if Lee Hoyeol was chief mage material, endorsed by Marcelo. Demon powers ignored his abilities entirely.
Just like with the elders and Banggrit Tom.
It could cloud his judgment.
I can get solid intel on the Mage Tower for sure.
No—leverage Lee Hoyeol, and who knows what more?
Akampatam smiled and continued.
"From that look, you've got the picture. Not easy, though. Not from Arcana Continent eyes, nor this world's. That Lee Hoyeol guy's no joke."
Scroll-scroll—the chaebol connections kept scrolling until it finally stopped.
"But one guy pulled it off anyway."
"So it's possible."
"For His Excellency the Demon King? Of course we'd cooperate."
Akampatam trailed off deliberately. No matter how he crunched it. Still zero appeal.
Damn, can't back out now either.
Of course, refusal wasn't an option.
No need to end up as ashes.
In short, do it or die. And as a demon. He knew how the others would react.
Wonder if I'll even get a reply.
Especially if it involved demon king resurrection. Cooperation? More like blocked on sight.
But.
His scheming brain spat out a solution.
......In the end, they need sacrifices, right?
Demon worshippers. He didn't know their full plan. But resurrecting a demon king—an upper demon king? Massive sacrifices required.
Akampatam's mind whirred viciously. Then, those sacrifices...
If I snag them?
I could seize power rivaling an upper demon king...!
And use this to reel the guy in.
Not for resurrecting the demon king. For hijacking the sacrifices needed for it. That way, he'd get Lee Hoyeol intel too.
Of course, it'd mean double-crossing the double-crosser.
Easier than bailing now and surviving. Do or die.
Calculations complete.
"That said, I have one condition."
Now just slip him the doctored bill slyly.
"We're in the same boat. Don't you think you owe me the exact details of this plan?"
No need to read the mood. The churning mana screamed discomfort.
But Akampatam held firm.
"I just don't want to fail. You, great Karimjeba, can shrug off a flop. But a weak demon like me? Different story."
Silent Karimjeba nodded.
"Very well."
Of course, Akampatam wasn't satisfied there. Knowing the plan didn't mean he was set.
Prep needed for the hijack too.
"Also, while I execute, please stay quiet."
"......?"
"I know it's presumptuous. But your mana stands out like a sore thumb even now. Leave the stealth op to pros like us demons."
Why could he say that? Simple. Karimjeba didn't grasp how this society ticked yet.
Right now, he's not the Fire Dragon—just a frog fresh from the well.
Smooth—Karimjeba rose.
And murmured low.
"I'll await word on Lee Hoyeol."
Meaning: offer accepted.
Akampatam's black pupils gleamed.
"Of course. Good news incoming."
Teleport.
Karimjeba vanished from the hotel room.
Akampatam didn't hesitate. His lips curled vilely.
"Hook, line, and sinker, you moron."
He fired off the message. Big fish hooked—reel fast.
*
Shinwa Guild, under Shinwa Group. Guild master Baek Isul listened intently to the briefing.
"Shinwa Guild's domestic brand preference rose 4.8 percentage points from last month, marking the first consecutive two-month uptrend since founding......"
Once trust crashes, it's hard to rebuild. Shinwa Guild had been thoroughly despised for its past actions.
But as the graphs showed, their image was rebounding.
"The reason: shift in the owner's attitude......"
All thanks to Yusra Kingdom.
Yeah, Hoyeol.
Gazing at the data screen stirred fresh emotions.
At first, it really was...
Bitter medicine down a crying throat. Hoyeol's terms were basically "dig dirt and sell it" to Shinwa Guild.
Of course, she owed him big. Baek Isul signed boldly.
And this was the payoff.
"Bold investments from Shinwa Guild and Group levels. But that boldness drew massive public response."
The Lee Hoyeol effect was this huge? Unimaginable when deciding.
Shinwa was regaining trust money, bribes, connections couldn't buy.
Briefing done, Baek Isul spoke.
"Now we won't hear 'Shinwa's done for' anywhere, right?"
"Damn right."
"Still lacking, honestly. I'll push harder."
Banter flew. Laughter bubbled. Relaxed conference room vibe.
A snapshot of the new Shinwa Guild.
Click—back to her office.
Today's paper on the desk. Front page: Hoyeol's face, naturally.
-World Tree's emergence...... How much does Lee Hoyeol know?
-AAU: "We're baffled too. Want to talk to Lee Hoyeol......"
-Gaon, Inazuma, Berserker...... Birth of the strongest guild alliance?
Her hand drifted to the paper naturally.
"Hmph."
Baek Isul stared holes through it. No—through Hoyeol's article photo. More seriously than in the meeting.
"How does he have zero humiliating shots?"
Portal site, type 'Baek Isul'—autocomplete: [Baek Isul Humiliation]
"Perfection incarnate."
Her own door-slam rejection? Eternally floating online.
Of course, her most shameful black history was separate. Scandals across celebs and politics. Femme fatale this, that. Outfits dizzying even peeking through manicured fingers.
"......Though remembering that makes me grateful forever."
Yeah, humiliation shots or not. To Baek Isul, Hoyeol was a benefactor.
Without him, she'd still be that mess...!
"Horrifying just imagining. For real."
Shiver. She rubbed her goosebumped arm.
Then eyed Hoyeol's photo again.
"......"
Silver hair. Noble gaze. Same impassive face.
That consistency? Flawless from any angle.
But Baek Isul knew.
"Photos still can't capture the real elegance."
Prim blouse and skirt. Grave stare at the paper. CEO reading the era's pulse.
"Can't convey that dignity and poise."
Not idle flattery. She was a Hoyeol cultist too, after all.
Who'd guess? She just looked deep in important work.
Don't interrupt if you're smart.
Bzzz—
But no smarts here. Her smartphone vibrated.
Message. Sender: she flinched.
"Jang Hyundo......?"
Jang Sun Group heir, Jang Hyundo. Same business circles, so she knew the name.
"Hmm."
But not close for private chats.
Simple: foggy memory era. When possessed by succubus demon.
Headache already.
Cleanup was hell. Succubus gone, erotic dream debuff lifted, memories faded. But victims had proof.
Her number, their messages lingered.
"What nonsense now......"
Dreamed of you. We're fated. Were we lovers?
Of all possessions, a succubus? Baek Isul sighed, checked the message.
Her face hardened fast.
"......Succubus?"
Jang Hyundo calling her succubus. Meaning clear.
He wasn't a victim. He was a demon possessor. Like her past self.
And demon king related......?
Baek Isul calmed her pounding heart.
"Demons, demon kings. No clue what he's on about."
One thing sure. He had a plan. Demon king tied. Big enough to rope in other demons.
But Jang Hyundo, demon, lacked one thing.
Tact.
Baek Isul didn't hesitate. No—like she'd been waiting.
Called Hoyeol right aw—
"......Ah."
Stopped. Texted first.
Yeah, even urgent. Manners matter.
*
Jang Sun Group heir, Jang Hyundo. Demon king.
Those words alone confirmed it.
Found you.
Demon worshippers, demons. You schemed too, huh?
Using chaebol power. Spot-on grasp of how Korea runs.
But no matter how quick to adapt here.
Can they know this country better than me, born here?
Arcana Continent maybe. Reality? I've got the mileage.
"Opening a portal to the coordinates at once."
Marcelo declared gravely. Understood the sentiment, but unnecessary.
Demon took Jang Hyundo's body for one reason.
Trusts it.
No need to look far. Baek Isul. Maeda, the Japanese politician demon.
Society's fence protects them.
Player or Arcana native. Demon wearing Jang Hyundo? Touching chaebol-wielding him?
Burdensome for anyone. That's the play.
"No need to air internal affairs outside."
Plus, Mage Tower internal. Tied to its contradictions.
Public knowledge? Zero upside.
Would've been a headache before.
Whined about demons getting slyer.
But.
Not tough for me now.
Yeah. Just drag him where no fence exists.
Rooooar—I drew up mana.
Like Marcelo tracking Banggrit Tom, scanned the area.
Of course, my meager mana couldn't globe-trot like his.
Limit to Seoul? Doable.
Jang Hyundo's definitely in Seoul.
Interference and manifestation? Nothing fancy. Portal underfoot.
Like this.
"Gah, gaaaah! Fuck! Scared the shit outta me! What the—?!"
I eyed Jang Hyundo tumbling on the floor.
Natural Enemy
Yes. Here: Mage Tower. Topaz Hall.
Pre-regular conference private talks. Ultra-closed even for Mage Tower.
No eyes. No CCTV. No chaebol fence.
Perfect for interrogation.
"Let the questioning begin, Marcelo."
"Q-Questioning?! What bullshit is this?!"
"Shall we proceed without asking directly?"
To Marcelo's query, I replied in a voice brimming with pride.
"I do not converse with prey."