Ch.36Chapter 36 – The First Child

Rumble-!

“Kugh!”

Suddenly, an earthquake shook the cavern, causing the ground to tremble. Shin Jaehyuk lost his balance and staggered.

The tremors grew increasingly powerful. The entire cave violently shuddered, cracking in several places, until the floor beneath the altar split in two with a loud crack. A pitch-black sinkhole formed, devoid of even a speck of light. The pile of corpses plummeted into the bottomless deep hole like garbage being discarded into a landfill.

Though the depth of the hole was unknown, Shin Jaehyuk instinctively realized two things:

That the hole was connected to “the lowest place,” and

That it was already too late to stop the summoning.

As if confirming his suspicions, the smell of sulfur wafted up from below as wicked flames shot upward. The hellfire, like a thunderbolt intent on burning the entire world, gradually consumed the falling pile of corpses.

After devouring all the sacrifices without a trace, the hellfire from the abyss shook violently with satisfaction, and a terrifying demonic energy that seemed ready to explode at any moment began to emanate.

“What… is this… This energy..!”

Shin Jaehyuk’s spiritual sense detected some enormous entity. It was crawling upward from “the lowest place.” The energy was too massive and dangerous to be classified as a mere high-ranking demon. Like a walking nuclear bomb…

A harsh voice, like boiling phlegm, echoed from within the hole.

= Ex-cellent, my servant-! Now I know that you fear me, for you have not withheld your only son from me!

The revolting voice thundered throughout the cavern. As the voice penetrated his ears, Shin Jaehyuk felt as if spiders were crawling all over his body, sending chills down his spine.

Despite trembling at the fearsome voice, Song Sujeong impudently demanded her due.

“Please fulfill our contract!”

Then the terrifying voice rising from hell spoke:

= I, Belial, the first of the Four Heavenly Kings of Hell and the symbol of Gluttony among the Seven Deadly Sins, swear by my name.

Because you have done this and have not withheld your only son,

I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore;

When the armies of hell cover this land, your descendants shall possess this entire nation.

Through your offspring all the underworld shall be blessed, and your great achievements shall be praised forever,

Because you have obeyed the terms of our contract.

The wicked blessing anointed Song Sujeong’s head.

“Oh, ohhh!”

The old woman clasped her hands together with an expression of ecstasy. At last, the moment her deepest wish would be fulfilled! Tears of emotion glistened in her eyes.

As the demon’s grace, manifested through words, settled into every cell of her body, her cells bubbled with repeated degeneration and evolution. Her physical age grew younger as her tissues and organs were reborn as those of a demon. Her heart pumped demonic energy with each beat, and her muscles and bones became as solid as steel.

“Thank you… thank you so much..!”

= Huhuhahahahahahaha-

The satisfied laughter from below grew louder. The owner of the voice was getting closer to the surface!

= Ah, finally! Fiiiinaaaallyyyyy-!!!

A massive arm shot up from between the split ground. A six-fingered hand pressed against the floor, pushing down to raise its body from the crevice. Shin Jaehyuk looked up at the enormous figure that had risen from hell.

Eight legs and a spider body as large as a house. A human upper body attached to the spider body, like a legendary centaur. Six spider eyes. And most horrifying of all, countless teeth scattered throughout its body.

Multiple rows of shark-like sharp teeth clacked together as if threatening to devour the entire world.

= Ah, the sweet fragrance of this middle realm.

The demon licked its lips. An overwhelming energy burst forth in response to its elation, letting out a roar of triumph.

‘Sh-it. I can’t move.’

Shin Jaehyuk stood frozen, unable to move even a finger. The demonic energy, casually released just to assert its presence, taught him one thing: this demon was far too dangerous. If he moved even a hair and drew the demon’s attention… he could see nothing but defeat in his future.

= Hmm?

Suddenly, the demon who called himself Belial expressed confusion. Shin Jaehyuk’s heart sank, thinking Belial had discovered him.

= Where is my armor? Why is my power so weak?

Fortunately, the demon wasn’t interested in Shin Jaehyuk. Instead, he lowered his repulsive face to human eye level and whispered directly to his summoner.

= The summoning was incomplete, wasn’t it-?

Terrified by the hideous spider head thrust before her face, Song Sujeong confessed.

“I-I’m sorry. Because of an intruder, we had to perform the ritual earlier than planned, so the sacrifices were slightly insufficient…”

= Intruder?

At the mention of an intruder, Belial looked in the direction Song Sujeong pointed. There stood Shin Jaehyuk.

‘I’m fucked.’

= Hooh, this energy…

Belial’s mouth twitched into a smile. From the faint energy contained in that small body, he could guess the intruder’s identity.

= You, little one. That disgusting energy! You’re Eloah’s dog!

Holy light radiated from the mace pointed at the demon. It desperately emitted light to drive away the fear that threatened to devour his mind like a shadow.

“Who are you to call yourself one of the Four Heavenly Kings? The Four Kings are Mammon, Belphegor, Lucifer, and Beelzebub! Reveal your identity, creature of hell!”

Shin Jaehyuk swallowed. He didn’t expect an answer, but it was a desperate attempt to buy time to think of a way to survive. Fortunately, the question piqued Belial’s curiosity.

= Mammon! It’s been a while since I heard that name. How does an earthling know the name of a demon who died a hundred years ago?

“…Dead?”

= The fool personally went to kill a human called a hero, only to lose his own life instead. Thanks to that, I was able to take the vacant position of one of the Four Kings!

A human capable of defeating one of the Four Kings alone? Shin Jaehyuk’s mouth fell slightly open without him realizing it. He couldn’t believe it. Was the demon lying? But there was no reason for his opponent to lie.

Belial observed the peculiar earthling who had caught his attention. For a mortal, he possessed quite pure holy power. Surely a devout paladin.

= Your holy power reminds me of him… A mortal who obtained unprecedented strength and ended up perishing together with the previous Demon King.

Belial recalled the great incident from a hundred years ago that had shocked all of hell. The fact that a mere human had infiltrated the Demon King’s castle and assassinated the Demon King was unbelievable. The Demon King at that time had been the undisputed strongest in hell since its creation, ruling through sheer power, so the demons’ shock was beyond description.

“What…!”

The series of shocking revelations from the Four Heavenly King’s mouth struck Shin Jaehyuk’s mind like a hammer blow. He couldn’t gather his thoughts in the face of such astonishing news. The demon interpreted the human’s shock as fear. His mouth watered.

= I’ll play with you in a bit. First,

Belial grabbed Song Sujeong with his large palm. Suddenly seized, she struggled to escape from his grasp.

“Why, why are you doing this!”

= Due to your incomplete summoning, my power is restricted, so shouldn’t I rightfully recover my strength through you?

At his ominous tone, Song Sujeong struggled more violently.

“Didn’t you promise me a demon’s body and eternal future!”

= Yes! By becoming part of me, a true demon. Isn’t becoming part of my body one way to become a demon and live eternally?

“No! No! I—”

The demon’s jaw opened wide like a snake and swallowed Chairwoman Song Sujeong whole. Through the demon’s bulging throat, one could see the meat descending into his stomach.

= Aaaaah-! Yes, this is the taste I’ve always wanted..! What tender, juicy flesh! Worlds apart from the trash living in hell!

“Hiiiiieek!”

Director Park, who had been waiting his turn to become a demon and witnessed the chairwoman being devoured, tried to crawl away on all fours toward the gate. Unfortunately, his commotion drew the demon’s attention.

= You were here too. You shall also become my strength-

Belial shot out a thread made from compressed corpses from his rear. The corpse-thread wrapped around Director Park’s leg like a whip and pulled him toward Belial.

“Ah, aah, ah!”

Director Park screamed as he struggled not to be dragged away. Blood flowed from his fingernails as they scraped against the cave floor. But despite his desperate resistance, Director Park was eventually caught in Belial’s hand.

Belial giggled with delight at the creature’s desperate struggle.

= Despair is the sweetest spice! In that sense, you must be… quite delicious…

Fangs sprouted from the palm holding the director, and a long tongue shot out. The moist tongue wrapped around the director’s body and licked his face.

“Noooaaaeeeackgukchak!!”

Crunch, crack, squish.

Dozens of teeth, large and small, mercilessly crushed the flesh. The tongue licked the blood and flesh from its hand. It didn’t want to waste even a drop.

After devouring two people right before the paladin’s eyes, Belial flexed his fingers to gauge his increased strength, then burst into anger.

= Damn this system! Are you saying two people aren’t nearly enough to lift the restrictions on my power!

‘System restrictions? What does that mean? Ugh, more importantly, my body…’

The Four Heavenly King’s anger reverberated through the air. Shin Jaehyuk’s skin tingled from the sharp killing intent mixed in the air. His muscles, stiff with tension, refused to move.

= Still- if I eat those outside, I should eventually recover all my power?

Belial looked at the gate and twisted his lips into a smile. The thought of gorging on such delicious humans made him feel happy.

‘No! If the Four Heavenly King escapes through the gate, this city…!’

Shin Jaehyuk bit his lip hard. Belial said his power was currently restricted and would recover as he ate more people. If he were released into the city, the already monstrous power of the Four Heavenly King would become even more terrifying.

He absolutely could not let Belial escape through the gate!

“Lord! Your light, through my hands!”

Startled by the sudden shout, Belial remembered the paladin he had momentarily forgotten and stopped his steps toward the gate.

= Eloah’s hunting dog. Are you saying that you alone will stand against the first legion commander of hell?

The demon giggled as he watched the mortal’s antics.

= Very well, I’ll play along. When your face is contorted with despair, I’m truly curious what flavor you’ll have-!

The spider legs, sharp as awls, pressed against the floor in unison and rushed toward Shin Jaehyuk.

Boom, crash, boom!

Shin Jaehyuk rolled this way and that between the demon’s sharply striking legs. Belial struck the ground cunningly, sometimes with one leg, sometimes with two, sometimes quickly, sometimes with off-timing.

Belial seemed completely focused on attacking with no thought of defense. Shin Jaehyuk shot a lightning spear at the exposed belly.

‘I hit him!’

= Kekeke, that tickles.

With an unperturbed expression, Belial pulled out the lightning toothpick stuck in his body. Indeed, it had no effect. As demonic energy flowed, flesh grew back, and the wound was instantly sealed. The demon’s regenerative ability outweighed the destructive power of the attack.

= Surely this isn’t all you have? Please don’t disappoint me!

As if the previous attacks were merely a warm-up, his offensive became even more violent. His leg movements incorporated even more cunning feints.

‘Damn it! If only I had my spear and armor..!’

His decision not to bring conspicuous equipment when infiltrating the port to avoid creating evidence that could reveal his identity had turned out to be a bad move. It would be hard to guarantee victory even in peak condition, but facing a Four Heavenly King with just a mace? This was a disaster like no other.

‘At this point, I just need to hold out until support arrives from outside..!’

There was no way the hunters outside wouldn’t have felt the enormous demonic energy released when Belial was summoned. They probably thought the gate had burst open and would come in droves. If he could just hold out until then…!

Shin Jaehyuk gave up counterattacking and began fleeing deeper into the cave. He intended to lure Belial deep inside so the demon would completely forget about the gate’s existence.

= Hmm? Huhuhuh…

The demon resembled a cat.

Cats are cruel hunters. Before eating a mouse, a cat plays with its prey. Belial gladly chased after his fleeing prey.

= Run more! More! More!