Ch.280280. Correction

So, despite those unfortunate events.

When there’s a demon right in front of you trying to kill you, you naturally need to focus on that first.

“…That thing, soon I won’t be able to dodge it, will I?”

I stare at His Imperial Majesty slowly walking toward me while muttering.

The brown demonic energy with the power of “corruption” spreading around was steadily growing stronger.

The demonic energy that I could easily avoid with simple movements earlier had now become so thick that I had to carefully calculate every single move just to barely dodge it.

At this rate, it wouldn’t take long for the entire cavity to be filled with demonic energy.

‘…I can’t just leave here right away either.’

I defeated the Predator, but the traces of it trying to engulf and devour the entire imperial palace remained.

Everything around us had collapsed and crumbled, making it impossible to clear the debris and escape. If I tried, I’d instantly come into contact with the demonic energy.

The Brown Demon must have kicked the Emperor’s personality down and emerged on the surface because it was confident that “escape is impossible.”

Though less instantaneously powerful than the Blue Demon’s crushing force, anyone who comes into contact with the Brown Demon’s energy dies slowly but surely.

Compared to being physically ground up, this has the killing power to completely erase one’s existence.

So, my options narrow down to just one.

‘Quick resolution.’

I need to settle this as fast as possible.

Another reason for needing a quick resolution is the Sword Saint, who’s being suppressed with all their might by the Demonic Vessels nearby.

If I leave that situation as is, I’m afraid the Demonic Vessels might break through everything…!

“Talker.”

Fortunately, I wasn’t the only one thinking this way. The Luminary spoke in a low voice.

“Can you make a path?”

“A path?”

“We need to end this quickly. Otherwise, everyone here dies.”

“-Hmm.”

Stroking his chin thoughtfully, Seonhwaryun eventually said cheerfully:

“Maybe once. But I think it’ll only get you close enough to touch?”

The doubt in his sentence means he can only create a “path” and nothing more. No attacking or reinforcement assistance.

But.

“That’s enough.”

I answer while loosening up my body.

“Given who we’re dealing with.”

“…What’s that supposed to mean?”

I give Seonhwaryun a look of incomprehension in response to his blank question.

“Come on. You’ve been traveling with him and observing me quite a bit. Don’t you know yet?”

“…Know what?”

“The opponent is female, and a holder of a demon fragment.”

I continue in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Give me just one chance, and I’ll definitely devour her.”

“…”

As long as I’m here—someone who’s essentially a counter to demons—one chance is all I need.

“…Right, this bastard was the greatest womanizer in history?”

“…”

Honestly, I don’t even feel like denying such statements anymore.

I’m objective enough to see what I’ve been doing.

[Finally starting to admit it…!]

…You be quiet.

While I’m snapping at Calivan, the Luminary takes a deep breath and speaks.

“Then, right now.”

“Yeah, no reason to wait!”

Seonhwaryun spread out all the accessories attached to his body.

It seems like every religious symbol in the world has gathered there. The sacred objects spreading in all directions come together to strengthen the mantra flowing from his mouth.

What follows is the “purification ritual” he usually recites when encountering demon-related opponents.

However, the power contained in those words is far more pure and sublime than before.

-Aga baraye.

-Aga baraye.

-This lowly one prays, that all the carnal desires steeped in every joint,

Clear, transparent energy flowing from the sacred objects converges into a sphere-like mass.

【Wash them away brightly】

With those words, it shoots forward.

Even when colliding with the Brown Demon’s energy, the purification sphere continues advancing without being pushed back, spreading bright light around it.

Like the Red Sea parting before Moses, the demonic energy splits sharply to the left and right upon contact.

“-Now!”

“-Don’t need to tell me!”

The moment we see this, the Luminary and I, who had been waiting for this opportunity, spring forward like arrows.

He’s someone who matches me in basic specs. Almost simultaneously, we reach His Imperial Majesty.

“-Kuk!”

Brown demonic energy surges madly before my eyes.

It feels like it’s trying to violently push me away. I can sense its determination to never allow me to approach.

This is a markedly different reaction from the Red Demon who offered little resistance when I got this close, or the other demons who actively tried to bring me “inside” themselves.

But.

“-“

The Luminary takes a deep breath and charges forward, using his body as a “shield.”

Of course, this is demonic energy we’re talking about. His arm instantly rots and disintegrates.

But it seems to have some effect, as the demonic energy becomes slightly thinner.

“Keep pushing through!”

At those words, my eyes widen.

“You…!”

“Forget about worrying, just hurry up and do it! I roughly know what you’re planning!”

Seeing the Luminary screaming through gritted teeth, I nod instead of answering.

Using his body as a shield, I quickly approach His Imperial Majesty.

After advancing forward for a few seconds with the Luminary groaning in pain through clenched teeth:

“Made…contact…!”

Just as I manage to approach the Emperor through the thick demonic energy and barely touch the tip of his finger.

< System Message >

[ Confirming the presence of ‘Brown Demon’. ]

[ Due to the influence of ‘Fallen Sky Seal’, close contact with the target is possible. ]

[ Would you like to proceed? Y/N ]

Such a message appears.

Of course, there’s no need to hesitate.

< System Message >

[ Entering the target’s ‘mental world’. ]

With that message appearing next.

My vision flickered.

●

“…Ugh.”

This is already the fourth time I’ve entered someone’s mental world.

Riru, Yuria, Faynol, and now His Imperial Majesty.

Of course, there’s a definite difference from the previous three mental world entries.

“…It’s soft and fluffy here. Just like the mental world of someone who grew up pampered.”

The Luminary, who entered the mental world “with” me, muttered in a thorny voice.

While Riru’s mental world showed extreme duality, Yuria’s was connected to past trauma, and Faynol’s was firmly gripped by the Red Demon.

This one is quite neat.

Though somewhat desolate, it depicts the imperial palace scenery that looks most like the “real world.”

It must reflect His Imperial Majesty’s personality. Sensible and gentle, but occasionally feeling human loneliness.

I understand why the Luminary said what he did.

“…Well.”

I look around with a bitter smile.

Unfortunately, it’s quite difficult to agree with that assessment.

“It doesn’t seem all that soft and fluffy to me.”

The surrounding scenery suddenly collapses.

Like someone breaking glass, the scenery shatters into pieces and scatters in all directions. What’s revealed underneath is a black background reminiscent of an endless abyss.

And from below.

-…

-…

-…!!!

Brown color surges up, dyeing everything around.

-…What a surprise. How stupid can you be.

A voice dripping with killing intent rises from below.

It’s the Brown Demon, taking on the exact appearance of His Imperial Majesty.

What fills those bright red eyes is blind hatred that makes the hair on your body stand on end just by looking at it.

-Thinking of fighting a demon in the mental world? You’re making this much easier for me.

With those words, brown demonic energy fills the surroundings again.

As it says, unlike their limited activity in the material world, demons are virtually invincible in the mental world. Only demons of the same level can match them.

-You’re not saying anything. Have you finally gotten scared?

I calmly look at it without answering.

I scan its entire body with my eyes. It’s clearly wearing His Imperial Majesty’s body.

Yes.

Appearance, body.

Those things.

Then probably other things are similar too?

“…Your gaze is disgustingly lecherous…”

“…”

What are you saying, Luminary?

Huh?

What do you take me for?

Deliberately ignoring his words, I calmly speak to the Brown Demon before me.

“Let me ask one thing.”

-…Is this the time for leisurely questions?

“You can at least answer what could be my last words. Do you really want to kill me that badly?”

-…

The demon snickered.

-If you’re that stupid, I don’t even need to explain why I hate you.

-Of course I want to kill you. Tear you to pieces, so thoroughly that you can never resurrect-

“Alright. That’s enough.”

I cut off its words, scratching my head.

“Then there’s no point in talking right now.”

I need to adjust its attitude first.

-What?

Ignoring the Brown Demon’s incredulous voice, I turn to the Luminary.

“Hey.”

“What?”

“You brought something, right?”

“…Don’t talk like you know everything in advance. It’s annoying.”

“…”

Be honest.

You’re a female version of Calivan.

How can two people be so similar in how they irritate others?

The fortunate thing is that, just like Calivan, despite all the grumbling, he still moves according to my wishes.

-!

As he draws a sword from his waist, a brilliant white light bursts forth.

In an instant.

An enormous light so ‘holy’ it can be felt erupts from within.

The Brown Demon is ‘hit’ by it and staggers greatly. Its eyes widen immensely.

-…What!

In response to its voice filled with shock, the Luminary shrugged.

“…Well, you know.”

He withdrew his hand indifferently and continued.

“Unlike the master of demon seduction here, I’m also pretty good at catching demons, in a different way.”

Because that’s how he was ‘born’.

Following that mutter.

The dazzling light that struck the Brown Demon transforms into ‘restraints’ binding its limbs.

“…This actually works.”

“…”

The Luminary looked at me with an expression that asked if I was joking, but I was genuinely surprised.

I didn’t expect to be able to neutralize a demon this easily.

‘…Well, anyway.’

The method to tackle the Brown Demon is something I’ve been thinking about for quite some time.

To be precise, since I was squeezed by the Grey Demon.

Decisively, I even tried it once with the White Demon.

“…Can you promise me one thing?”

“What is it?”

“Keep this to yourself.”

“…”

I can feel the Luminary frowning under his mask.

I can clearly sense his gaze looking at me like garbage, but I continue regardless.

I need to get clear confirmation from him since he’s already blown things up once before.

“If what I’m about to do here gets out, I’ll literally be dismembered.”

“…Whatever.”

“So you’ll keep quiet?”

“…How can a man be so timid? Fine, I got it!”

Still, you like me, don’t you?

If it bothers you, you shouldn’t have fallen for me first.

[…Does this bastard just get more punchable as time goes on?]

‘…’

Let’s not say things that drain people’s energy when we’re in a hurry, sir.

-What are you, talking about-?

I can hear the restrained Brown Demon speaking with a voice full of killing intent.

“It would take a long time to explain.”

Though this is my first meeting with this demon, judging by its attitude toward me, it must have quite a history with me.

That gap in our stories will need to be filled in gradually.

But conversation comes later.

Right now, ‘attitude adjustment’ for this demon comes first.

I answer with a sigh and spread the power of the seal in all directions.

The master of this mental world is this demon right now.

It’s good that we’ve landed an unexpected blow using the Luminary, but after a while, it will recover from the shock and try to kill us again.

So, what needs to be done must be done extremely quickly.

“…”

Fortunately.

Given my accumulated experience, that task probably won’t take very long.

With that thought in mind, I summon into the mental world the most important item for tackling the Brown Demon—something I’d been planning since entering.

-…What is this…?

The Brown Demon uttered those words in a blank voice, seeing ‘that’ rectangular object rising in the center of the space.

“Ah.”

I answer languidly, brushing my forehead.

“This is what we call a bed.”

-…Eh.

“It’s an essential item for your correction.”

-…Eh?

While the Brown Demon’s face goes blank.

“I’ve felt this for a while now.”

The Luminary threw out such a sentence with a snicker.

It’s a voice that doesn’t sound particularly surprised, as if confirming something already known.

“…You’re truly out of your mind.”

And following that.

A voice returns from within the Soul Linker, sounding defeated.

[…So.]

Calivan muttered in an incredulous voice.

[So that’s what you meant by different difficulty levels?]

‘What?’

[With the Red Demon, you could finish with a kiss, but with this one, what is it…]

‘What.’

[You need to thoroughly train it?]

‘…’

[Are you planning to fuck it if necessary?]

‘…’

How vulgar can you be with your expressions.

Weren’t you supposed to be some kind of holy knight?

“…”

But.

It’s quite a sad story.

‘…That’s pretty much correct, isn’t it?’

[…]

He seemed to lack the energy to even respond anymore.

I don’t feel like saying anything to that either.

So, ignoring that side.

I look down at the Brown Demon bound by ‘restraints’ and abandoned on the ‘bed’.

-…

Its expression, wearing His Imperial Majesty’s face, gradually hardens, seemingly sensing that something is seriously going wrong.

Regardless.

“Now then…”

I have no intention of showing mercy.

“…I wonder if your weak points are similar to His Imperial Majesty’s?”

“…Womanizer. Trash. Philanderer. Lecher. Go die.”

You know what, well.

I don’t even feel hurt anymore because it seems true.

●