#92. Chapter 22. Nameless Demon (4)

Right after Lee Sea and Jin Yu-ri, unable to stand idly by as their mentor faced danger, fired mana bullets at Partus, Yoo Hae-bin, who had followed them, let out a short shout.

"Hey, guys. I'm here, you know... Actually, I'm that whole 'hidden genius with concealed power' thing."

"What're you talking about?"

"...Genius?"

Jin Yu-ri, her face tense, gave a curt reply, while Lee Sea responded like it was a question. Even amid this, all three girls' gazes locked onto Partus as he slowly turned his head. Yoo Hae-bin answered in a playful tone, but with a noticeably subdued voice compared to usual.

"So, like, I'm a genius even when hiding my power, so it's not exactly 'power-hidden-genius'... What I'm trying to say is..."

Tang!

Partus approached, black demonic energy streaming from him in tendrils. But Yoo Hae-bin stepped forward without a hint of fear and murmured lowly.

"I can block him just once, so you guys get out of here quick."

Kuwaaaaaang—!

An enormous mana bullet formed from her outstretched hands and shot forward...

Pishuuu...

It scattered into the black demonic energy before even striking Partus. Now Yoo Hae-bin stomped the ground with all her might.

Kuwoong.

The earth shook violently for dozens of meters ahead of where the three stood. Peureong! Kuaang! The ground split into shards in an instant, infused with her mana as it surged up to form a defensive wall.

But even this was no more than paper to Partus, and the distance between the demon king and the three girls was now within twenty meters. Yoo Hae-bin charged forward, yelling,

"You guys don't listen for shit! I said go!"

And then she collided with Partus. Peureok! She was flung back in one blow, twisting her body midair. She flew right back to her original spot, blocking the demon king's path again. Her heart pounded as a thought crossed her mind.

This is seriously worth demanding at least a two-day mentor-disciple trip, just us...

Not even Lee Dojin himself, but protecting his little sister and her friend by facing off against a demon king. And that demon king was Partus, no less.

Partus the demon king's infamy had been drilled into her since childhood. He was so rarely called a coward—almost an insult—because he seldom took the field personally, but whenever he did, there were no failures.

And now facing him head-on, he exceeded her wildest imagination.

Coward my ass... You guys see him and still call him that?

Of course, plenty called him a coward, but only Yoo Hae-bin twisted the first letter like that. Anyway, she grumbled inwardly as Partus casually swung his right hand.

Peureong! The demonic energy he shot out trapped Yoo Hae-bin before she could react. It wasn't just immobilizing her. The demonic energy was gradually closing in, intent on crushing her until no trace remained.

There was only one way to escape. Steel half-resolving herself, she repeated inwardly.

...Should I do it?

If she reverted to her true form, she could shatter this demonic prison, though with difficulty. The repercussions wouldn't be minor... But better than letting Lee Sea die.

As Yoo Hae-bin steeled herself and drew up her power to pursue Partus heading back toward the riverbank—

Seuaak—!

A blade-like surge of mana suddenly sliced through the demonic prison. And in the next instant—

Kuwaaaaaang!

A dazzling beam of light hurtled in at tremendous speed toward Partus's back. The demon king shook it off irritably without even looking.

Kwang!

"Urk!"

A low groan. Charlotte Tate, drenched in blood, staggered back, barely able to steady herself. The demon king asked her,

"Haa, haa..."

Charlotte Tate glared at Partus, her face twisted in excruciating pain. Her severed limbs couldn't function properly. She was barely moving by channeling mana.

Partus glanced toward Lee Sea and Jin Yu-ri, then spoke calmly.

Instead of leaving these nuisances be, better to kill these two first. Partus's demonic energy rippled like solidified matter, and from afar, Lee Sea spoke to Jin Yu-ri as she watched the battle.

"You go somewhere else."

"...What?"

Lee Sea gripped her sword tightly. Amid the blazing red mana, she continued lowly.

"If things go south... Tell my brother I'm sorry for being a brat for no reason. Just that."

Kwang! She stomped the ground hard enough to crater it and soared into the sky toward the battlefield.

She had talent, sure, but she was just a high school sophomore. Her mana was only A-rank level, and she'd never fought a demon, let alone a demon king. But... Lee Sea wasn't charging in recklessly.

Thump, thump.

Her heart raced. She could vividly feel an unknown power welling up inside her.

What is this...?

She didn't know exactly, but two things were clear. First, her mentor Charlotte Tate and her friend Yoo Hae-bin were in danger over there.

"Krut!"

"Urgaaak!"

And second.

I can do this well.

She didn't know why, but she had a hunch she'd fight better than ever before.

Peureong! Charlotte Tate and Yoo Hae-bin were sent flying hundreds of meters by the demonic energy, and Lee Sea blocked the demon king's path as he pursued them.

"... "

Partus muttered contentedly and snapped his fingers.

Piyuwoong!

An attack that the Lee Sea of an hour ago couldn't have blocked even by chance. But now, its trajectory was crystal clear in her eyes, and she instinctively knew how to parry it.

Her total power was lacking. So she'd just raise its purity.

Teoreong!

The demon king narrowed his eyes, murmuring. An attack impossible to defend against with her current power, regardless of talent. Yet she deflected the demonic energy with exquisite movement.

[...]

Partus closely examined the petite girl blocking his path. Considerable talent, but paltry power. And...

I can't fathom it...

The intuition he'd felt when first seeing this girl. The ominous certainty that she would grow into an arch-enemy capable of slaying all demons. It still warned him... but he couldn't grasp why.

With such meager talent?

Even with heavenly luck a few times, she couldn't grow that strong. It was already unbelievable for a human to reach such heights, let alone with that level of talent. Yet the unease lingered.

Is it fate...?

A plausible guess, talent and power aside. Destined to exterminate demons. She'd just executed a technique far beyond her level to block his attack.

He wanted to probe further, but...

Better not.

His instinct screamed fiercely. Kill her now. No need for reasons—just end her here.

Heeding the warning, Partus formed a small orb of demonic energy...

"Lee Sea—!"

"Sea!"

Yoo Hae-bin and Charlotte Tate, flung aside, shouted as they flew in. Around then, Jin Yu-ri trembled in helpless fury at herself.

I...

She could do nothing. Charlotte Tate kept fighting despite limbs severed like they were gone. Yoo Hae-bin wielded power rivaling an S-rank awakener, astonishingly. And Lee Sea, her rival, blocked that mighty demon's attack.

But she was different. She knew going in would accomplish nothing. She'd only get in the way. She wanted to fight. The man who believed in her talent was there. She'd worked hard. Yet at the crucial moment, her ability fell short, leaving her to watch helplessly.

Immune Body. Would unleashing it change things? Jin Yu-ri didn't think so.

...No.

Even if activated, it wouldn't make a meaningful difference in that fight. She truly could do nothing.

Peureok! Kuaang!

Charlotte Tate spat blood and crashed into the dried riverbed. Yoo Hae-bin was bound by demonic energy, immobile. Only Lee Sea remained.

And yet. Knowing she could do nothing.

"Sea!"

Still, Jin Yu-ri ran with all her might. A sudden thought hit her.

What am I doing?

She'd only hinder. Partus's lightest attack would kill her instantly. What confidence made her infuse her sword with mana and charge with desperate strength?

Jin Yu-ri thought that, and...

Who cares.

She ignored such thoughts entirely. Her two triggers. Lee Dojin, who believed in her talent. Her refusal to lose to Lee Sea. They were firmly rooted in her heart.

And beyond that...

I can't just watch.

Even if she lacked the power. After years as enemies, now slightly closer— she couldn't stand by as her friend, Lee Sea, faced crisis.

The drive to honor her precious benefactor's faith with effort. The ambition spurred by watching her rival. And the will to protect.

In other words, friendship.

Taang! With a faint sound, a construct shot from Jin Yu-ri's sword. Shield-like, it spun on three axes.

A talent too vast for one trigger, even insufficient for two fully. At last, through three triggers, her immense genius revealed itself to the world.

Shuwaaaa— Paaang! Seeing the defensive magic nullify Partus's attack, Charlotte Tate murmured in shocked awe.

"Ah..."

Jin Yu-ri, face flushed red, stood beside Lee Sea. The defensive construct, bearing three axes and not fully dissipated even after blocking Partus's demonic energy.

As the authority on Immune Bodies, Charlotte Tate understood instantly.

Yu-ri... that child...

She could declare it. The greatest genius in a thousand years of magic history—truly the pinnacle of all time stood there.

If not for her Immune Body, what heights would Jin Yu-ri have reached by now? Charlotte Tate couldn't fathom ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it. Trembling, she looked up at the sky.

I... didn't know.

She'd thought of her as a hardworking child. Admirable, even. But she'd also assumed two triggers would slow her growth. All a massive mistake.

Her Immune Body, an iron fortress only now glimpsed through three triggers. How much hardship had she endured? Charlotte Tate's imagined efforts didn't reach even a tenth of Jin Yu-ri's tears.

Days when even praising her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as admirable felt presumptuous. Nonsense that two triggers hindered growth. Jin Yu-ri had met her talent's demands, handling even three triggers.

But me... what about me?

Charlotte Tate reflected on her past. She'd discarded, discarded, and discarded again. A single trigger. The pure goal of growing stronger. To approach it even slightly, she'd erased everything.

Emotions were mere baggage. Her efforts weren't lacking. Her methods weren't meaningless. But...

The girl who overcame fear to run save her friend was telling her: That wasn't the only path. Even if strength wasn't the end goal, merely a means—it could make her even stronger.

"Hoo..."

Charlotte Tate exhaled deeply and struggled to her feet. Her two disciples, Jin Yu-ri and Lee Sea, plus one friend, stood together bracing for Partus's attack.

A ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠face came to mind.

Arnaud.

She'd discarded and sent away everything else. That was all that remained. Arnaud Duré. The core axis of her trigger. No... the one person left to her.

I want to grow stronger.

She wanted strength. As always. But not just pursuing strength itself.

Shuaaaaa— A blinding, pure white light enveloped Charlotte Tate. Slowly, it began to bleed into a deep crimson.

Her trigger... now infused with the color of emotion.

The woman cloaked in brilliantly shining red mana soared into the sky. Standing protectively before the three girls preparing defensive magic in tense silence, she declared to Partus.

"You won't harm a single hair on these kids before you kill me."

Partus smiled faintly in reply and drew up resplendent demonic energy. He'd already decided.

The child of unknown nature. The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠child with talent equal to or surpassing a demon king's. The child fated to slay demons. And the past hero. He'd kill all four at once.

Just kill them all.

No matter how brilliant their talent or what their true nature, the dead rendered it meaningless. In mere seconds, it would be so.

Partus intoned calmly and completed his attack. Power to annihilate them and turn this land into a realm of death.

Teoreong! It launched with a dull thud...

Kuwaaaaaang—!

Black light from the distant sky devoured his demonic energy greedily.