Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: It's Not Easy, I Told You - 1
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Demon vs. Demon King.
Players who enjoyed main story-focused play naturally claimed the Demon King was stronger.
After all, you couldn't deal proper damage without the Hero, and the Demon King had so many dirty mechanics—didn't that make it stronger?
But players who favored Adventure mode thought differently.
How could you compare the Demon King, which you could beat with just the Hero's sword no matter what final boss it was, to a demon that forced three consecutive random trials?
On the final trial failure, it forcibly applied the "Trauma" status effect, minimizing critical hit chances.
And without specific classes and skills, it forced a total party wipe midway—didn't that make the demon far stronger?
Amid this heated debate, one unchanging opinion remained.
In front of a dragon, they were all just green apples.
Of course, to those whose oil had gone rancid from age, they were all the same.
"Demons weaker than dragons?"
"Weaker."
To catch one, you had to max out favorability with each race, convince them, and build an army—that was the only way to manage it.
Sure, you got good items, but no key achievements.
Hard to catch, long prep time, tons of mid-bosses—why bother?
Catching a demon was way easier.
"Demon... demon..."
Cecil pondered deeply, then nodded.
"Need backup?"
Not really?
The people I needed were already here.
She said she could do it solo, but catching a demon required some prep.
First up was the top-grade mental stabilizer from a recipe completed during the plague event.
"Whoa..."
Veronica, who followed me because she didn't want to be alone, trailed into the compounding room at the Duchy Alchemist Guild and peered over my shoulder as I made the potion.
A nasty green, sticky liquid bubbled in the vial.
Veronica looked queasy just watching, and when I started bottling it, she seemed pretty reluctant.
"You're not gonna drink that, are you?"
"What else, rub it on?"
"...Mental stabilizer, huh? Ugh. Drinking that would drive anyone insane."
I chuckled at her grumbling, but some got on my hand mid-bottling.
Oh no, what a waste.
I quickly licked the remnants off my finger, and a refreshing mint flavor spread in my mouth—way tastier than it looked.
"Tastes super stabilizing. Wanna try?"
As I scooped some leftovers with a spoon, Veronica grabbed my hand.
"This'll do."
*Lick.*
"Huh? Yeah?"
Before I could stop her, she licked the green potion with her red tongue. After a quick hum of approval, she pulled my finger into her mouth.
*Slurp... smack... slurp...*
Was it the weird tickling from her tongue? Felt kinda odd.
She looked up at me with a beaming smile while licking my finger, then sucked hard with a pop before letting go.
"Mmm... not sure yet. Wanna taste more. Hyeonwoo, your other hand has some drops left. Gimme."
"Don't eat it like that—drink from the bottle. Finish one and all your fatigue vanishes. Not top-grade for nothing."
Veronica's eyes widened as she looked at me, then she shook her head.
And then.
"...You're really solid..."
"Huh?"
"Oh? Uh, yeah. Nothing. Hehe. Anyway? This all the prep?"
"Nah. Need other stuff too. Lucky the Duchy capital has it all."
"Gotcha. Let's hit the church too."
"Huh? Why?"
"Gotta grab something."
"You?"
"Oh? Listen to you. You think the church's inquisitor's showing up to demon-hunt empty-handed?"
She leaned in close, looking up at me, poked my nose, and winked.
"Don't you dare leave me behind, just saying. I'm always prepared~"
I nodded at Veronica, who said it so cheerfully, like humming a tune.
We left the Alchemist Guild and headed to the church next. Was it because Veronica came? The priest seemed pretty flustered but relaxed when I said we were shopping.
Made sense. Inspections showing up out of nowhere made anyone tense, guilty or not.
Thanks to Veronica, we scored holy water and relics cheap.
"Hmm~ hmhmhmm~ hmm~"
Veronica kept humming happily. Seemed she was enjoying strolling the streets like this.
"Won't the church cardinal mind you wandering around?"
"I like this stuff."
She slipped her arm around mine. We'd walked like this a lot before, so it wasn't awkward.
I just let it be, and Veronica naturally hugged my arm tight.
As we browsed a reagent shop, she pointed outside.
"That ice cream looks yummy—let's get some later... Eek."
Why'd she freak?
I turned to look, but Veronica hurriedly grabbed my head.
"Eep!"
Next came a sweet scent tickling my nose.
Then warmth and softness filling my face.
This was...
"Um, customers. Not here..."
My face was buried in Veronica's ample chest. No idea what spooked her, but the clerk was right—this was rude.
I patted Veronica's waist, and she finally released me, pulling my hand deeper into the shop.
"Whoa, whoa~ what's that?"
"What was outside to make you do that? Let's check..."
"What's this?"
"Oh, that? Silverbell grass—makes a bell sound if you touch it."
*Ting~*
"Whoa! For real?"
"But what was out..."
"What's this?!"
"Recovery herb."
"Th-this?"
"Maseolche—a purification medium. And."
I poked Veronica. I think I knew what she saw.
"Those guys?"
"Sigh..."
She gave an awkward smile, glanced where I pointed, and sighed deeply.
"...H-Hyeonwoo...?"
In the shop: Leventia. And Evangeline.
The Hero Party members minus the Hero stood there, stunned, staring blankly at me and Veronica.
"......"
"....."
"...."
Chilly.
The magic shop felt like a top-tier ice spell, Blizzard, had hit.
The clerk shivered like he had chills and fled inside.
"What brings you here?"
"Uh? Uh... w-well, we were asked to buy reagents... and..."
Leventia stared blankly at me. No, at.
*Squeeze.*
Veronica.
She smiled sweetly, arms locked tight around mine. Evangeline hesitated, then spoke.
"You're... too... close... aren't you?"
"What's wrong with it?"
Veronica's voice, soft until moments ago, went flat and emotionless, like addressing heretics.
Leventia and Evangeline just stared, saying nothing.
"Hyeonwoo. Got everything?"
"Nah. Need a few more."
"Yeah? Hurry then. Hehe. Tonight we'll need lots of stamina. Oh, I'll get this. Same as using strength for me."
True, demons were the church's enemies, so fighting them suited high-up Veronica.
She beamed warmly at me—worlds apart from how she'd addressed those two—and picked up a potion vial.
A fatigue recovery potion, easy to buy.
"Isn't... your homemade fatigue recovery better, Hyeonwoo?"
Leventia spoke in a trembling voice, like holding something back. Veronica grinned at her.
"Asking the guy who'll need stamina tonight to make potions? Unlike some, I'm not that shameless."
"...Kkh."
"...Ugh."
They flinched, shoulders shaking. Veronica called the clerk, who glanced nervously and wrapped my picks plus ten fatigue potions.
She took them and naturally re-hugged my arm tight.
"Let's go~."
"Yeah. Anyway, buy what you need."
Unexpected encounter, but nothing weird. They weren't banned from the Duchy.
"Oh. Why're you here though?"
"...Well... th-there was a request from the Elf Forest. Need to catch a demon... tracking's best left to Duchy mages..."
Evangeline answered. Elf Forest request. Why them?
Ah, purifying demon horns to restore holy power.
"Perfect—we're demon-hunting too. I can hook you up with horns."
I'd cleared the plague from the Elf Forest, but with future achievements there, racking up favors like this wasn't bad.
"...G-great!"
Evangeline brightened, grinning wide as she approached, clutching a holy-infused arrow.
"Let's go together!"
"Together... but it'll be tough for you guys?"
"Still! We can do it!"
So earnestly. Leventia stepped forward, hand on her chest, eyes trembling as she stared.
"If it's your enemy, it's mine too. Even if..."
Rejected by me?
Yeah, if I said no, they'd tail us secretly. Better they tag along than cause trouble.
"Fine. Whatever. But looks like you won't have much to do... kinda pointless."
"We'll do anything!!"
"Hm. Alright. Just don't disobey orders."
Their faces lit up.
Veronica, watching them intently, tightened her grip on my arm.
"I'm going too. Who else but your best friend... your one true confidant?"
Less to me, more to them—she declared boldly.
"Hey, I was taking you no matter what."
"Oh? Ahaha. R-really?"
Leventia and Evangeline stared silently at her sheepish smile.
Back at the castle, we prepped till night. All set to depart, Cecil showed up with her staff.
"Why're you coming?"
"Veronica the cardinal's going, Leventia and Evangeline too? Any reason I can't?"
The Duchy Knights beside her fidgeted anxiously.
They'd tried stopping her, but she ignored them.
Their eyes begged me to intervene, but I never meddled.
If she wanted to, who was I to stop?
As long as no trouble.
"Fine. Let's go."
"Where to?"
Veronica glanced at Leventia and Evangeline trailing shyly, tilting her head. I said calmly.
"Sewers. Let's move."
No need to explain—they'd figure it out en route.
How long in the maze-like sewers?
We cleared giant rats and slimes, reaching a massive wall with a huge door.
"Such a... place exists?"
"Locked? Let's break it."
Veronica raised her mace. She smashed the lock repeatedly, but...
"...Why?"
Despite hits, the rusty lock didn't budge. I shook my head with a smile.
"It's a seal. Normal attacks won't work."
"Then?"
I pulled the key from the Old Man's Dream quest. Inserted it—light click, seal released.
Then rushed out.
"This is..."
Immense magic power.
Crushing pressure. From inside the iron door, black ripples formed eerie patterns, pouring out mana.
Like.
A warning: the unworthy stay away.
Five patterns flickered in the ripples, appearing and vanishing.
Cecil crossed her arms, eyeing them gravely.
"Hefty mana... Sage. This the trial? Spill it—know what it is?"
I'd briefed them briefly before leaving.
She guessed the ripples' nature and asked straight.
Lemme see... what was this pattern...?
Ah, right.
I checked the ripple's pattern and addressed everyone.
"Hm. Better if I do this trial solo."
"What's the difference solo vs. group?"
"Nothing big. In a group, the leader—me, I guess—takes less burden from the trial."
"...No way we're letting you solo. What is it? Tell us."
Everyone nodded at Veronica's serious tone.
No quitters here, so I spilled.
"Shows the challenger their most painful past. Enduring it is trial one."
The four beauties' faces hardened like stone.
Author's Note
Hello! It's Malmulmalmul!
Ugh... weather's gotten cold... flu was getting better, now it's backㅠㅠ
At least tomorrow's a holiday, so I can rest... Everyone, stay warm and enjoy the rest of your break!
See you tomorrow! Bye~!