Ch.53Chapter 53 – Predicament

‘Damn it.’

Jae-hyuk Shin was in a predicament.

It wasn’t that he had left something at the airport. Nor had his identity been exposed. He had safely boarded the flight to New York, and the plane was smoothly flying toward John F. Kennedy International Airport. What troubled him was a very trivial matter.

“What’s wrong? You look pale, friend. Is there a problem?”

‘Damn. You’re the problem.’

The “problem” next to him asked with a slick tone. It was the man sitting in the adjacent seat. Despite being complete strangers, he kept trying to act friendly, persistently striking up conversations with annoying familiarity. For a hikikomori with zero sociability, this was the most burdensome type of human.

Jae-hyuk glanced sideways at him. Black hair, pale skin, and blood-red eyes accentuated his exotic appearance. Judging by his unnecessarily fluent Korean, he seemed to be a foreigner of Korean descent.

“Want some water? Or should I call the stewardess?”

‘Please just shut up….’

Of course, he lacked the courage to say it outright. The other’s words contained inexplicable goodwill toward him, making it awkward to respond harshly.

Jae-hyuk deliberately ignored him and looked out the window. Failing to notice the nonverbal rejection, the man continued to pester him. Machine gun-like questions drilled into his ears.

“You keep looking out the window. Fascinating, isn’t it? First time on a plane? Or are you nervous about flying monsters appearing? Don’t worry. The chances of that happening are lower than being struck by lightning, and international law requires every plane to have a magic-type hunter on board who can intercept from a distance.”

He pointed to a first-class seat in front. Sure enough, there was a foreigner calmly eating peanuts and reading a newspaper. Jae-hyuk’s senses detected the man’s mana. It felt like B-rank energy.

Sensing the mana, Jae-hyuk unconsciously used his skill. Insight. Having developed a habit of using Insight whenever he encountered hunters to improve his proficiency, he now automatically activated it upon detecting mana.

「 ===

《Name》 Wilhelm Shon

《Level》 351

《Achievement》

<Marksman> – Hit an apple on someone’s head.

=== 」

“That American is Wilhelm Shon, a lightning magic B-rank top-tier hunter. His skills are fairly reliable. According to the Hunter Association database, he has the achievement <Marksman>, which enhances the accuracy of his Lightning Arrow skill. He lives in Queens, New York, with his wife who’s two years younger and their daughter…”

He rattled off personal information. Detailed explanations about combat records and pre-Gate occupation continued to pour out. In his mind, he was probably trying to keep the conversation going and break down the awkward wall between them, but it had the opposite effect.

With a voice tinged with wariness, Jae-hyuk questioned him.

“How do you know all that?”

His suspicion grew at the way the man seemed to know all this personal information. Could he have approached knowing Jae-hyuk’s identity? The unidentified stranger was too suspicious. He wondered if the man might be an Awakened, but he couldn’t detect any energy from him.

Unfazed by the suspicious gaze, the man shamelessly explained.

“I just did some research because I can’t entrust my life to a weak hunter.”

Then, he casually extended his hand for a handshake.

“I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Mephisto. I’m a freelance information broker. I travel around for work, and this time I plan to stay in New York for about a week.”

Since he seemed determined not to withdraw his hand until the handshake was accepted, Jae-hyuk reluctantly took it.

“I’m Shin Jae-hyuk. You have an unusual name.”

“It’s a pseudonym, of course! Faust and Mephistopheles. Famous, right? Don’t you know? It’s a German classic literature—I recommend reading it sometime. Quite a masterpiece. It portrays God’s despicable and petty behavior quite well…”

‘Wow. Admitting it’s a pseudonym right to my face. What is this….’

This level of shamelessness was beyond anger. Jae-hyuk’s wariness subsided from sheer disbelief as he asked dejectedly.

“Sigh. So why do you keep talking to me?”

“It’s boring during the flight, and I’d like to get to know you better.”

“Why?”

“I did some research and found out you’re quite a skilled B-rank hunter. Don’t misunderstand—I’m an information broker, so I had to check who would be sitting next to me. How would I know if the passenger beside me might be an assassin targeting me? …Anyway, when I learned that a hunter with high potential for A-rank promotion would be sitting next to me, I naturally wanted to establish a connection.”

Mephisto blatantly revealed his materialistic intentions. Learning his purpose, Jae-hyuk’s wariness noticeably diminished. In his previous life, merchants would occasionally seek him out after hearing of Master Paladin’s reputation, hoping that simply being acquainted might bring them some benefit.

‘Most of them left empty-handed though.’

“So why are you going to New York? If you have any problems, tell me. Maybe I can help.”

“Just for tourism…”

“Tourism is great! Have you been to Times Square? The Statue of Liberty? Central Park isn’t bad either, but the roads there are impassable because the S-rank boss Death Worm destroyed them all. And absolutely avoid the Empire State Building area! A terrifying hunter is watching that area with eagle eyes…”

Even though he understood the reason for the friendly behavior, it was still uncomfortable, so Jae-hyuk gave perfunctory responses while letting the rap-like chatter flow in one ear and out the other.

Jae-hyuk wasn’t the type who enjoyed making friends, and he was reluctant to engage in conversation with strangers. Especially when the other person was suspicious enough to use a pseudonym upon first meeting.

‘Information broker in the 21st century? Clearly the type of profession that would lead to troublesome situations if I got involved…’

Making a mental note to definitely book the adjacent seat next time, Jae-hyuk stared blankly out the window.

The plane’s wings cut through the clouds, peacefully flying through the blue sky.

***

‘This is troublesome.’

Mephisto, or rather Mr. B disguised as the information broker Mephisto, inwardly clicked his tongue. While his tongue smoothly delivered explanations about New York tourist attractions, his mind was preoccupied with other concerns.

‘So awkward, so very awkward.’

The distance between him and Jae-hyuk simply wouldn’t close.

He had gone so far as to disguise himself and personally step onto the stage. That’s how important this matter was. It absolutely could not fail. The contact between Jae-hyuk and Kwak Tae-woo was highly likely to lead to catastrophe.

‘Kwak Tae-woo has been desperately trying to find Jae-hyuk; he won’t let this golden opportunity pass by.’

Kwak Tae-woo harbored inexplicable hatred and resentment toward Jae-hyuk. The backstory between them was beyond his concern. The problem was that Mr. B needed to maintain close relationships with both Jae-hyuk and Kwak Tae-woo. That was why he had informed Kwak Tae-woo of Jae-hyuk’s location, despite the anticipated hassle.

‘Since I told Kwak Tae-woo about Jae-hyuk’s accommodation, he’ll likely attack while Jae-hyuk is sleeping.’

And in a foreign land, not Korea, Jae-hyuk couldn’t do anything alone. To evade Kwak Tae-woo’s pursuit and escape New York, he would definitely need help. But who would Jae-hyuk ask for assistance? Mr. B?

‘Not a chance.’

From Jae-hyuk’s perspective, having been struck by this bolt from the blue, he would conclude that Mr. B was the only possible source of his location leak. Someone as smart as him wouldn’t stupidly ask for help from ‘Mr. B,’ the suspected information leaker.

Therefore, another identity was needed—one that Jae-hyuk wouldn’t suspect and would accept help from. That was the information broker ‘Mephisto.’

‘When Jae-hyuk contacts Mephisto in his desperate situation, I, as Mephisto, will help him escape from Kwak Tae-woo.’

A perfect plan. That’s what he thought until boarding the plane.

‘He’s more cautious than I expected.’

The premise of this entire plan was to befriend Jae-hyuk as Mephisto, but Jae-hyuk’s sociability was severely lacking. Far from becoming friends, he couldn’t even exchange contact information.

His attempt to showcase his competence by reciting Wilhelm the escort hunter’s personal information had also failed to have the desired effect. It only heightened Jae-hyuk’s wariness without making a positive impression.

‘I need at least his contact information to help him.’

Mr. B’s purpose in taking the seat next to Jae-hyuk on the plane was to become friendly enough to exchange contact information. But if he forcefully handed over a business card, Jae-hyuk would find it suspicious and throw it in the trash. He needed a legitimate reason to give his card—a reason Jae-hyuk wouldn’t question.

And for there to be a reason, there needed to be an incident.

‘After rain, the ground hardens…’

While continuing to talk to Jae-hyuk, he concentrated his mind. An extremely subtle wave, undetectable even to Jae-hyuk, began to emanate from the plane…

***

” ̷͓̳̯̺̪͇̙̣̪̖̳̟͙̐͜ͅF̶̬̂̉́̈́̌͋̓͐͌̈́͐̓̅̄͠l̴̡̢̨̘͕͖̺̼̹̽͌è̸͍̘̥̻̻̪̳̺̀͛̌̾̓̂̆̽̇̿͜e̸̙̦̰̬͚̼̣̰̼̪͎̤̺͊̓͜ë̴͔́̇̿́̊͘ę̴͕̦̝͌͗̀̉͊͊̋̾͌̓̅͘̕͝͝è̸̩̳̰͈͕̟͐̾̎̎͛̿̕ͅȩ̴̳̳̲̩͉̳̜͕̀́̃͐ͅę̸̢͎͇̫̣̻̫̂̂͆̇͑̎́̊̃̇è̷̛͓̺̙̬̞̭̞̄͗͊̏̍̈́̊̊̆͊̄̀̚ę̸̯͍̬͍̱̫̩̜̲̈̓́͛̀̐͆è̵͈̖̗̃̊͗̏̔͊́͒̇͗̀͊̚̕ḙ̵̂̎͊̀̔͠ę̶̢͙͈̤̳̩̗̺̉̈́̈́͋̀͊̓̽͒̚ͅͅ-̵̢̨̨̥̺̠̗̻̦̤̼̲̘̮̖̀̅̂̉̊̔̑̈̌͆̚!̵̹̲̲͕̺̜̭͊̒̈͒͆͜!̶͙̯͖͙̩̠̣̗̼̯̙̏̓̌̍̈́̽̃̅͊͒̈́̃͘͠!̷̢̙̣̈́̽̋͝”

A pterosaur was flying in the stratosphere. A life form with a reptilian body, bat-like wings, and a sharp beak connected in disharmony. With each flap of its wings, its body color changed according to the background, blending the pterosaur into its surroundings.

The demon that had escaped from the Brooklyn Gate was flying, leaving only the faintest ripples in the sky that could be detected only through intense, careful observation. Military radar failed to detect the demon’s stealth ability, and thermal cameras couldn’t recognize the cold body of the reptile.

Thus, without anyone being aware of its existence, the demon successfully broke through the military encirclement, flapping its wings to gain altitude. The demon was obsessed with the thought of getting as far away from the Gate as possible—to distance itself from the terrifying entity that had slaughtered its kind.

The pterosaur demon was a being positioned relatively high in the hell’s food chain. In most battles, it was the predator, and while being prey wasn’t familiar, it wasn’t entirely unfamiliar either. It had at least minimal experience in counterattacking and fleeing when in the position of prey.

But the recent battle was neither an equal duel nor a hunt. It was a scene of one-sided slaughter—a pattern that occurs only when the power difference is too vast. Yes, just like when facing the kings of hell…

The pillars of light and storms that had swept away its kind like flies still remained deeply etched in its mind, forcing its wings, stiff with fear, to move. The pterosaur, so thoroughly frightened that even its blind hatred for humans was suppressed, continued to flee farther and farther away.

The scenery kept changing.

And so, hours later, when it had put enough distance to feel safe and its heart was returning to its normal rhythm, the pterosaur sensed something.

“-!”

A subtle wave struck its head. Part of its brain organ functioned like an antenna, receiving the wave of demonic energy that vibrated with rules. The demon could interpret the message contained within—a function imprinted in the genes of newborn demons.

A command system, working like a kind of pheromone, manipulated the pterosaur’s brain. It was a physiological response, and therefore compulsory. After all, living beings often cannot control their bodies at will.

The pterosaur felt its free will being taken away but couldn’t resist. This feeling was familiar—something it had experienced countless times. As a lower-ranked newborn demon, it could never resist an order from an ancient demon…

Fortunately, the order contained content that was also pleasing to itself: attack the flying metal object carrying humans.

Creatures that escape death instinctively seek to relieve stress. Demons were no different.

Having survived a life-threatening situation, the pterosaur felt a terrible hunger. The order conveniently provided a solution.

“̴̞̿̑̍̽̈́̈́̄̕ͅY̶̧̞̗̺̩͇̜̺͎̻̘͚͔̏͗̄̉̚̚͜ẹ̴͓͔̙̤͙̮͚͍͙̤͎̱̠̈̿̅̿̑̍̓͂̾̆͠͠s̷̢̢̫͕͙̬̙̗̤̜̩͕̅̓͊͐̓͜͝,̷͔̓͛ ̴̡͈̘̤̤̼͔͉͍͎̃̔̋͜M̴̛͓̦͉͔̏̐͑̀̾̽̍͋̍͂͗ÿ̵̡̛͔̫̱̬̤̼͎̱̗̰͕̩͛͊̈́̇͘͠ ̶̖̊̈͂̓̌̚L̷͚̗̻̳͉̯̥̈̂̀͆͊͊̐͝͝ȍ̷͔̬͔͝r̶̭̤̓̓̓̈̀̊̆̒̅̚̚̚͝͝ḑ̵̢͖͕͔̠̯̰͎͈̱̰̥̇̊̽̔̑̀-̷̺̼͍͚̺̙̝͓̝̼̝͕̎͝!̵̛͉͖̊͑̒͌!̵̭̱̳̌!̴̖̞̣̗̭̫͈̪̣̰̤͎̤͗̓̀̄̀́̀̿́̄̓̐̕͜ͅ!̸̢͕̘̩̭̭̬͍̘͔́̌̈́͑”̴͚̦̠̾

With a long roar, the pterosaur reset its destination—toward the direction from which the wave had come. Fortunately, it was away from the Gate, and the demon was willing to comply with any order as long as it wasn’t commanded to return to the Gate.

It was extremely hungry. The thought of playing with humans trapped in the sky before filling its stomach made its mouth water. The demon grew excited. And unlike fear, excitement can coexist with bloodlust.

Filled with murderous intent, the demon tore through the void, flying in a straight line.