Chapter 41: I became close to him first

And so.

The de facto owner of this laboratory, Elnair Grantz, the master of the Blue Mage Tower, would occasionally drop by to check things out and always leave in a state of shock.

“Ohhh, to command a high-ranking demon with a mere gesture! Even the greatest archmages in history probably… couldn’t have done it like this…”

***

Last time, she was stunned watching me subdue and manage demons, and this time, she was floored by how casually I was ordering them around.

To be honest, I only ever planned to summon demons to kill them, not to use them like servants to this extent.

[The Goddess is starting to tilt her head, wondering if you’re a hero or the leader of demons.]

No, seriously.

It just so happened that things got a bit out of hand, but the reason I ended up with this secret laboratory was extremely simple and clear.

I had gone through the trouble of grinding dungeons with my friends to barely make some potions, only for everything to nearly go to waste because of those black sorcerers and that senile old geezer.

Both are problems, sure, but since I can’t exactly go around wiping out every demented elder in this world, I figured I’d at least take care of the other guys.

Of course, I couldn’t just slaughter all of them either—there was a need to be selective.

Unlike the others, who I could kill on sight, there were supposedly “good” black sorcerers in this world.

‘A fact I find utterly unbelievable.’

Anyway, even though it’s a bit annoying that I can’t just blast them all indiscriminately, I figured it’d be fine if I mainly dealt with the ones who get drawn to the honeypot.

I mean, the guys summoning demons are usually genuinely insane, right? 

They’re criminals who secretly commit crimes to gather offerings, aren’t they?

For scum like that, they’re more like devils than humans, so there’s no reason to care about their rights.

Let’s use these damned bastards to build a factory that contributes to the world.

With that idea in mind, a secret laboratory—nominally a prison—was completed.

[Kieeeeek!!!]

This applied not only to black sorcerers but also to demons and fiends. 

After all, any demon desperate to be summoned into this world is bound to cause trouble.

So, with a sealed environment already set up, I decided to preemptively kidnap and deal with them.

I’ve met too many of them to believe there’s such a thing as a “good” demon.

Could they be good? 

I didn’t buy that nonsense.

As a righteous hero, I knew that the only good demon was a dead demon.

Thus, I used the ones crossing over from hell as mana power sources, and those that were utterly unusable, I chopped up immediately.

While slicing them up, I suddenly recalled that back when I was a fledgling hero, I used to struggle against fiends.

Fiends were already stronger than most high-ranking mages, but demons with noble titles were far more monstrous.

‘Oh?’

After taking down such noble-grade demons and eliminating a few irredeemable black sorcerers, the upper limit of my abilities, restricted by the laws of causality, was slightly lifted.

Maybe it went from about 10% of my prime to 20%?

Thanks to the powers of demon-slaying and growth bestowed upon a hero who serves the Goddess, it seems this world judged that I needed at least this much power to handle hell’s demons.

‘Not bad. I get to take out bad guys and recover my abilities.’

If I kept this laboratory running for a while, I might recover a bit more of my power.

Not too much—maybe around 30%?

There’s a limit to how much I can gain from just catching weakened ones, and the black sorcerers and demons in this world probably have some intelligence.

If their buddies keep disappearing without returning, wouldn’t they at least get a little cautious?

Well, it wasn’t bad if they started playing it safe.

The more cautious they were, the less often they’d pull their shady stunts.

Maintaining this secret laboratory-prison until that point was the key.

[Hey, are you not collecting mana properly?! Didn’t you hear the Master say to summon our kin?!]

What should I call it—a “drill sergeant”?

Things got a lot smoother once I had a particularly enthusiastic lackey.

A count-class demon, Albania of Illusions.

Not just cunning, but the strongest one here.

‘If it weren’t weakened, it’d be way stronger than an archmage.’

A demon bearing the title of count in hell, governing the concept of illusions.

Unlike fiends, who merely inherit demonic blood, demons each have their own innate destiny and specialized magic.

[Great Master! The summoning preparations are complete! Shall we execute it now?]

I didn’t pry too deeply, but this hellish count—Albania of Illusions—likely had some innate magic tied to its birth.

A hidden trump card, perhaps.

Even as a hero, I might get caught off guard by a dagger I didn’t see coming.

So, while I used it, I had to stay vigilant and never let my guard down.

[Huff, huff, we caught another noble this time! If you just trust me, I’ll round up all our hellish kin according to your will, Master!]

That’s what I should’ve done, but…

[Master! After interrogating the demons, I obtained new information! They’ve agreed to hold a summoning ritual at a black sorcerer gathering by the end of this month…!]

This girl was unbelievably, unnecessarily competent and overflowing with loyalty.

[Great Master! This guy was hiding an elixir in his pocket, so I confiscated it immediately! To think he didn’t offer it up despite your presence…!]

What is this girl?

She’s weirdly diligent.

As I watched her operate like an auto-hunting bot, a jet-black gem suddenly ended up in my hands.

The so-called Fragment of the Black Sun.

A gem with a gloomy, dark glow yet an elegant appearance, it seemed like it’d be nice just as a decorative piece. 

But apparently, if used well, it was an elixir valuable even in hell.

My lackey—Albania—explained that brewing it in mana water would yield effects several times greater than consuming the finest elixirs in the mortal world.

I wasn’t familiar with it since it was my first time seeing it, but judging by the demon crying blood tears nearby, it must be quite valuable.

‘Hmm, not bad.’

It felt like I’d gotten a pet that automatically collects loot, which wasn’t a bad feeling.

Of course, feeling good and trusting her were separate matters, so I kept a closer eye on her.

I watched it for a while, suspecting it might have some ulterior motive, but it even went and suppressed a rebellion on its own.

Without me even asking.

[Albania! How can a fellow demon betray our kin like this?!]

[And you call yourself a noble of hell?!]

[A vile wretch even the demon gods of hell would recoil from—!]

[Shut it! What do you plan to do if your nonsense angers the Great Master?!]

If this was all some elaborate act or performance, I’d be more than willing to play along. 

The glares of the other demons, filled with pure hatred, were directed at Albania.

At this point, it wasn’t just the level of a mere lackey—it was as if she’d completely switched sides and betrayed her entire race.

Should I call this admirable, or was it still suspicious?

I even gave her a chance to escape in secret, but she didn’t show the slightest hint of scheming.

‘I was ready to kill her the moment she tried to run.’

Good grief, if she was this diligent or cunning, well, fine—she deserved some respect.

“I am deeply moved, Albania. I hereby appoint you as the overseer of this laboratory.”

[Oh, Great Master!]

Lackey Albania bowed deeply, her face brimming with overwhelming gratitude.

A dramatic deal had been struck: in exchange for not being killed, she would work even more diligently.

With such a perfect overseer-lackey in place, I felt a bit more at ease.

It seemed like I could finally set the laboratory to full auto-hunting mode.

Of course, I didn’t rely solely on Albania. 

I secretly placed several restrictions on her.

‘Like, if she betrays me, her heart will explode. Or if she leaves the designated area, her soul will be obliterated.’

I didn’t particularly want to see her corpse sprawled across the summoning gate to hell.

My sincere hope was that this diligent lackey wouldn’t betray me in the future.

If she did, I’d have to manage everything myself or kill them all, which, frankly, would be a hassle.

[The Goddess shakes her head, asking if you’re serious.]

Anyway, after days of managing the secret laboratory, I was finally free to dive back into my studies.

Lately, I’d been busy keeping an eye on black sorcerers and dealing with them, but my true role was that of a student.

Going to school and studying was, in a way, the most natural thing.

Especially since it was already mid-April.

That time had come.

The nightmare of midterm exams.

***

“Okay, I totally get that you guys think practical skills are what matter. I thought the same when I was at this academy. Yep, for a hunter, real combat is key.”

Even with midterms looming, Professor Shin Arin was as nonchalant as ever, shrugging with her usual cheeky expression.

“But—remember that written exams make up a big chunk of your academy grades. Not quite half, but a solid 30%.”

For reference, her “Combat Theory and Practice” class was graded with 60% on practical skills, 30% on theory, and 10% on class attitude.

“So! If any of you mess up on the key points I highlighted in today’s review… I’ll make sure to remember your face.”

With a mock-serious expression and intense eye contact, she made the students laugh and nod.

The only male student, Shin Yuseong, double-checked his notes on the lecture’s key points.

With that level of focus, it’s no wonder the professors adored him.

His earnest effort was definitely a charming quality, but…

**

‘Damn it.’

Sephine Alabad.

A teammate in the same class as Yuseong and a member of their weekend dungeon party, she had recently developed a certain worry.

Missing the last dungeon run due to an urgent schedule had been nagging at her, but there was something even more direct—something upsetting that kept catching her eye.

“Yuseong, you done with your notes…?”

“Uh, almost?”

“Wanna grab some food then?”

“Where to?”

“How about the faculty cafeteria? I heard they’re serving katsu today.”

“Sounds good.”

A stray cat had appeared next to Shin Yuseong, who usually carried himself with an air of aloof independence during class.

It was someone so unexpected that it made her wonder, ‘Why’s she acting like that?’

The genius of the Blue Mage Tower, known as the Ice Flower, Seol Yeonhwa, was the culprit.

Even now, with an uncharacteristically shy expression, she was trailing after him to grab a meal together, and it was really getting on Sephine’s nerves.

‘I got close to him first.’

Sephine Alabad trembled, holding back tears of frustration.

They weren’t dating yet, right?

Surely not, right?

Even she thought moping like this was pathetic, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask outright, her mind growing hazy.

Then,

“His birthday’s coming up.”

“What?”

“You didn’t know? Next week’s Yuseong’s birthday.”

From Maho, who had an almost miraculous knack for networking, Sephine obtained information that could be the key to turning things around.

His birthday?

So, a birthday party or gifts, then?

“Oh.”

This was it.

***

For some reason, the number of black sorcerers in Korea had been dwindling lately.

“And so, you’ve uncovered something important?”

At the main headquarters of the Mysterious Sect, Jeil Yeongrak Church.

The next-in-line leader, Cheon Juyeon, was receiving a report about the person she’d been keeping the closest eye on this year.

Naturally, the informant was a guardian of the church and a spy secretly embedded—a teammate in the same class as Yuseong, Imir.

She spoke solemnly, bowing before the future of the church.

“It is said that his birthday is approaching.”

Cheon Juyeon nodded with a grave air.

Yes, this was it.

Though their thought processes differed, she had, astonishingly, arrived at the same conclusion as someone else.

To be continued.