Chapter 22. The Nameless Demon (3)

Between Yoon Ui-seong and Andrey Ilyin, a small mana construct flickered into existence.

In that split second before our clash, I reinforced my mana while simultaneously scattering his. The efficiency wasn't great—less than 10% for each—but it was enough.

Ssssss...

Watching the labored construct blur and fade at accelerating speed, I murmured to myself.

Good. That's plenty.

The magic that had just manifested was perfect for my needs—precisely as functional as required. If it'd tried to activate any stronger, I'd have been caught. Just as the subtle magical hint had suggested, it maximized results without detection.

Too nice for his own good... but not lacking in ability.

The man called Dreamer Arnaud Duré.

"Arnauduuu—!"

I gave a small smile as I stared at Andrey Ilyin roaring like a beast in agony. Too late now. My mana had already surpassed his attack.

Poof!

The complex construct Arnaud Duré had manifested fulfilled its role and vanished. I caught Andrey Ilyin's outstretched fist in my hand and gripped it tight.

"Kuhk!"

He snarled, trying to break through my defense, but it wasn't smooth sailing. I held a slight edge in strength, and I activated my skills.

"Gaaah! Graaaah—!"

Andrey Ilyin, eyes bloodshot and bulging, resisted fiercely. Blue mana surged wildly from his entire body, and I gritted my teeth silently.

The skills weren't activating properly. Mana absorption was minimal, and entity absorption had stalled entirely.

Should I just kill him? There was intel I wanted to extract after neutralizing him...

But then.

"Demon!"

He suddenly bellowed. Fear and rage tangled messily ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in his glare at me. Then, spewing a glob of blood, he declared:

"Cough, hack! If I'm a traitor, you're a demon! Think you'll die alone?!"

Kuoooo—!

Blue mana exploded outward from him. His ultimate attack—all his power focused into one point—unleashed not outward, but inward on himself.

Obviously, he'd die... but so would I, most likely.

A mutual suicide pact. Deeming his own survival impossible, he aimed to take the demon lurking in this world with him.

Traitor and hero. Hero and traitor.

The mana from Blue Eyes Andrey Ilyin rampaged with death-defying resolve, shattering my defenses and erupting.

Mana absorption's effect remained negligible, entity absorption wouldn't trigger. And... right then.

Thump.

I felt something beside my heart pulsating with a giggling throb.

This was different. Mana capacity had jumped by nearly a thousand. Entity absorption snagged Andrey Ilyin's ultimate technique, and even my core life force surged dramatically.

It hadn't risen against the long-lived species... maybe because it was already dead, or I hadn't fully utilized entity absorption.

Unclear, but I suspected the latter. Especially in a situation like this.

Another hologram popped up.

Soul Domination. The authority demons used to enslave beings from worlds beyond rifts.

A lingering power, but its true master was elsewhere: the final boss of World Guardian, the demon lord obliterated by Lee Si-hyeok and Jeong Se-bin.

Soul Domination was one of its abilities.

"......"

A moment's hesitation. Then resolve.

I drew forth my mana.

"Eek, kughaaaaah! Gyaaaah!"

The majestic blue mana vanished tracelessly, and Andrey Ilyin screamed. With my hand on his crown, I knew without doubt.

Mana, life force, and now soul.

One of the 36 heroes. Blue Eyes Andrey Ilyin... from this moment obeyed my commands.

And the hologram informed me.

Kuoooo—!

A shockwave rumbled from afar. Demon King Partus, clashing with Charlotte Tate, radiated far greater power than before.

I kicked the unconscious Andrey Ilyin aside and approached Arnaud Duré, who stared up in shock.

Time was critically short. I gauged what needed doing next and opened the hologram.

Arnaud Duré sees himself as innocent. But the hologram brands him a traitor, and there's a reason I don't know.

Makes sense—the motives and circumstances from the quest were only partial. Not just because the Great Rift stemmed from his theory, then.

If so... what was the other reason?

I continued with the next question. About the hologram's true purpose.

"Hilarious."

I snorted at the message, the first directed at me in ten years.

Definitive traitor, other reasons beyond what I know... but share the guilt? With whom? Sea or Jin Yu-ri?

No way in hell. My parents are dead. Unchangeable fact. No need to complicate things further.

The guilty bear their own sins. I get you're looking out for me... but I pass.

Now Arnaud Duré asked me.

"Jin... what... are you?"

"Arnaud, you don't need to know."

I replied coldly, snapping my fingers.

Ting!

Mana shot from my fingertip, instantly nullifying Arnaud Duré's preparing spell. I snapped a few more times.

Ting, ting!

Subduing him was effortless. His condition was poor, and I'd grown far stronger.

His body stiffened, barely able to speak as Arnaud Duré asked:

"Are you... a demon?"

"I don't know either."

I placed my hand on Arnaud Duré's head. His face twisted as if weeping.

"I don't know how all this happened... The Great Rift, you... probably Phantom's... for Ree and Seb's revenge?"

"Don't ask."

I snapped irritably. His questions grated on me. But Arnaud Duré pressed on.

"Will you kill me?"

"No, and you'll treat me better from now on."

I'd considered pulling Arnaud Duré to my side. But impossible and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠unappealing from the start.

Too good. Even if useful militarily, the risks outweighed it.

"Ah, ugh......"

Arnaud Duré groaned. His expression blurred, struggling to maintain consciousness.

Yet in a faint whisper, he told me:

"Sorry... so sorry. Jin... truly—"

"Shut up."

I couldn't hold back anymore. Localized soul domination and mass perception domination wove into his mind.

Arnaud Duré would forget everything. The Great Rift from his theory, Andrey Ilyin the traitor, even his suspicions of me.

All erased, replaced memories taken as truth.

So... this was my last chance to say what I wanted.

"Arnaud, you know what?"

"W-what...?"

"I think that way. The one who pulls the trigger is the criminal—the gunmaker's innocent. Killing someone not even intending harm as a sinner... doesn't feel right."

"Ah, ugh... kuhk......"

"Still...... this crosses my mind."

Arnaud Duré's awareness flickered dimly. I glared with irrepressible hatred.

"Won't kill you... yeah, no killing. But Arnaud, I hate you... enough to want to rip you apart."

Once I clarify all traitor circumstances. Once no traitors remain to eliminate.

You're next, Arnaud.

Thud.

Arnaud Duré finally collapsed unconscious. The five minutes needed to open the passage had passed; Partus and Charlotte Tate's fight was decided.

The hero's defeat.

Sea hadn't taken major damage yet... but I needed to hurry. Prepare everything possible first.

Perception, stuck at the 8.9 human limit without normal means, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had risen. Aptitude 9 was near-impossible for humans.

Wondered what it'd feel like... definitely different. Like holding the whole world in my palm, peering inside.

Bam!

I kicked off and soared skyward.

My body dyed pitch-black. No one would recognize me—like a demon, not human.

Kieeeek!

A monster horde from the rift lunged. I swung my hand lightly.

Splat! Splaaat!

Dozens vaporized instantly.

Below, Demon King Partus unleashed black demonic energy... at people I knew well.

Tang!

Kicking the air, I dove groundward. Like a nameless demon emerging from beyond the rift, unknown to all.

A hologram gleamed in my vision.