Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: Death Demon Cry
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The recent drinking sessions with his subordinates had taught Yong-un many things.
Among them all, the greatest realization sparked by his men was his own place in the world.
The Killing Ghost Sword Demon of the Heavenly Demon Cult, and Yong-un, the top S-Rank Hunter in this reality.
Even the true feelings he held for his subordinates—feelings he hadn't recognized back in the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Now he knew it without a doubt.
When he had been the Killing Ghost Sword Demon, it wasn't that he felt nothing for his subordinates.
He had simply pushed them away, swept up in the Heavenly Demon Cult's atmosphere, all because he was a Demon Commander.
He'd believed that was simply the role he had to play.
But after distancing himself from the Heavenly Demon Cult, living with his family, and learning love instead of revenge, Yong-un could see it clearly.
Back when he was the Sword Demon, he hadn't viewed his subordinates as mere tools.
He had cared for them deeply, rolling up his sleeves and throwing himself into their growth.
Yong-un had loved them all.
"How embarrassing and awkward."
Facing his true feelings head-on filled him with a flush of shame.
He chalked it up to the far longer years spent in the Heavenly Demon Cult—old habits died hard.
Before stepping out, Yong-un—now composed in both body and mind—emerged from the bathroom.
And in the moment he took a single step toward the front door of his now-empty family home...
Pop.
An unfamiliar ripple of energy brushed against Yong-un's senses.
Right after came the shrill ring of his phone.
Ring ring ring.
"Hello."
[This is Minister Baek Myung-hee.]
It was Minister Baek.
He wondered what early-morning call this could be, but the energy ripple echoing around his family home mattered far more.
"I've got something to check. Keep it short."
[Are you home right now?]
"I am."
[For now... just don't go outside.]
Minister Baek's words came out of nowhere.
Doubt flickered only briefly before Yong-un intuited the weight behind them—they tied directly to the energy ripple that had just appeared right outside his home.
He pulled back the foot he'd extended toward the front door.
And asked,
"I just felt a ripple like someone unleashed a skill outside the house. Know anything about it?"
[Yes. I only learned myself moments ago.]
Minister Baek steadied her breath before pressing on.
[An official notice just came down from the War God and GHO Deputy Director Charlie.]
Yong-un's gaze turned icy.
[It said a special team called Death Demon Cry is launching an operation targeting Hunter Yong-un. They're asking for your cooperation.]
Demon Cry.
War God.
GHO Deputy Director.
Those three names alone told Yong-un exactly who had arrived at his door.
The War God.
He had finally begun to move.
[But it's strange. I'm pulling reports with my ministerial authority right now, and... Death Demon Cry is supposed to handle only Demon Cry cases. So why are they here?]
"To suspect me, most likely."
[Pardon?]
"Thanks for the intel. Very helpful. I'll call you back."
[W-Wait, Hunter Yong-un! Hunter Yong-un!]
Click.
He slipped the phone into his pocket.
Sensing the faint, spreading ripples of energy, he took another step toward the front door.
As he'd instructed the master of Ilgwi-hon from the Ghost Killing Soul Extermination, Yong-un had long anticipated something like this would happen someday.
'They let the Mercenary King slip away once. They'll come fully prepared.'
It might not have been today, but it was inevitable eventually.
Yong-un twisted the front door's knob and shoved it open.
To avoid repeating past mistakes and meet the War God's ironclad preparations head-on with his entire body, he strode toward the outer gate.
Just like those bold steps he'd taken marching out to war against the Murim Alliance.
He advanced to confront the alien energy ripples.
Demon Cry.
Hunters who had contracted with demons.
Beings who must be culled before they inevitably turned into demons themselves—disasters upon humanity.
Yi Gwi-hon Cheon-il and O Gwi-hon Barum of the Ghost Killing Soul Extermination.
They were Demon Cries.
Cheon-il, who had contracted with a deranged demon and fully inherited its power. Barum, a demon by birth who had completely seized a human body.
The two were ghost souls with virtually zero chance of becoming a scourge on humanity.
So what's the problem?
Why not just acknowledge their safety and rack up merits recognized by the world?
Plenty of people would say as much.
Yong-un had a name for them.
'Hypocrites who chase nothing but ideals.'
The Murim Alliance had been full of them, and Yong-un had witnessed and endured countless such fools within its ranks.
And the results? He'd felt them viscerally, watching the others suffer.
Hypocrites or villains aside, humans were all the same at their core.
The instant something clashed with their beliefs or threatened their safety even slightly...
Selfish beasts, desperate to reject and eliminate it.
That was humanity.
Creak.
He pushed open the gate and stepped outside.
There, in the deserted alleyway, eleven hunters clad in distinctive gear appeared.
"No idea who snapped that photo, but it's spot-on."
Yong-un replied in fluent English to Polant's smooth accent.
"You've come for me."
"Pretty fluent yourself."
"Adapting to this world? Not a choice—it's a must."
Death Demon Cry's leader, Polant, stepped closer to Yong-un.
His team members rushed in, blocking his path.
"It's dangerous."
"Dangerous, huh..."
The War God's request hadn't been for Polant alone.
Every member of Death Demon Cry had heard it, so they fixed Yong-un with tense stares, more on edge than usual.
This wasn't just anyone—it was the War God speaking.
If even he couldn't handle it alone, anyone would assume the man before them was his equal... or stronger.
Tap tap.
"You haven't forgotten these eyes of mine, have you?"
Polant tapped beneath his eyes with his index finger.
That was why he'd become leader—why Death Demon Cry reigned supreme at hunting Demon Cries.
"This guy's no demon."
Polant's unique skill let him detect demonic energy and pierce through illusions.
Only then did the hands gripping his arm fall away.
"Though I can't be totally sure."
The team nodded.
Polant's skill could spot a Demon Cry at a glance.
But demons came in far more varieties than Death Demon Cry knew.
Some could even mask their true forms alongside their demonic mana.
That was why they'd stopped their leader.
Polant flashed a grin at Yong-un.
"Just one question. You a demon?"
Yong-un smirked at the words.
"Didn't you just say I wasn't?"
"That's right now. Who knows? You might have a concealment skill blocking detection while you hide your power."
"Ah, sure—possible. Even using it right now."
Whoosh.
Death Demon Cry reacted to every word from Yong-un's mouth.
Battle-hardened as they were, their movements synced like a well-rehearsed drill.
They surged their mana to its limit in an instant, priming skills aimed at Yong-un.
"Not the time to act tough... I've seen more than ten like you. Think about it. Ten demons with concealment skills—how many have we hunted so far?"
"Around a hundred?"
"Wrong. Over five hundred. Fastest concealment drops in two seconds. How long for us to unleash a prepared skill?"
"Faster than two seconds, which is why you're asking."
"Zero-point-five. Means we can dump four skills on you while you're dropping yours."
"Got it."
Polant scowled for the first time.
"This guy's off."
He glanced back at his fully prepped team.
They'd culled countless Demon Cries.
Patterns of their reactions had piled up in Polant's mind like data.
But nothing matched Yong-un's behavior.
"Not running?"
"Why would I?"
"Then you won't fight?"
"Do I have to?"
Demon Cry or not, they usually picked one of three paths.
Run, like he'd said.
Or stand and fight.
"Makes it the fourth. Bluffing on your concealment skill."
Occasionally, they'd play innocent to the bitter end.
But Polant sensed something wrong in Yong-un's actions—and his heartbeat.
Most bluffers showed panic, or at least an elevated pulse if they hid it well.
Yong-un? Abnormal.
Even under threat, his heart beat with perfect calm.
No acceleration. No deceleration.
Just steady, rhythmic pulses—unchanged from the start.
"First one like this. Intriguing."
The surprise faded fast, replaced by a thick grin on Polant's face.
Time to log a new data point.
"Ollie. Drop the skill."
Ollie, mid-attack prep, nodded and flung his black leather long coat back.
He redirected his mana into a new pattern and hurled it at Yong-un.
Swish.
A clump of mana flew to envelop Yong-un.
Yet Yong-un simply watched, unmoving.
Moments later...
"What the..."
Polant faltered again.
No change at all.
"You cast it right?"
"Yes... perfectly. No concealment skill."
"Then... this guy is..."
Not a demon.
No body-hiding skill either.
And yet Polant's eyes saw him as human, plain and simple.
"Hey, you... you're no demon, are you?"
After exhausting every method, the first question circled back.
But the intent had flipped.
No longer probing—it sought confirmation of his own judgment.
Yong-un chuckled softly.
"And if I were?"
They'd assume their methods flawless, everything adding up.
"......"
But if not?
That's when the confusion set in.
'I haven't wasted my life.'
Despite his youthful looks, Yong-un had lived ages.
As a warrior, he'd observed human nature in depth.
"You messing with us?"
That's why he'd chosen this approach.
Not the ideal-chasing hypocrite's way.
The best path to spare the Ghost Killing Soul Extermination maximum harm.
"Demon."
His words hit like a bomb, spurring Death Demon Cry into motion.
"What are you waiting for? One second... two."
For the first time, the genuine smile vanished from Polant's lips.
And then...
Boom!!
The battle between Yong-un and Death Demon Cry erupted.
The Demon-Slaying Sword emerged, fusing with black-red, blood-like crimson demonic qi.
Amid swirling black-red smoke, every Death Demon Cry skill disintegrated.
Polant shouted at the sight.
"Weird. It's mana straight out of a demon's playbook, so why won't this 'human' vibe fade?"
Their doubts melted away under Yong-un's mocking smile.
"Ah, guess we'll catch him and find out. Skin him open—truth'll show. Take him!"
Polant's direct order dropped.
Zero-point-five seconds later...
The hitherto-still Death Demon Cry unleashed their full arsenal on Yong-un.
The deserted alley transformed into a battlefield in that instant.