Ch.9332. New Fire (2)

Whoosh-

The emerald-colored sacred fire spewed intense flames.

“ARGH! AAAAARGH!!!”

“AAAAAAAH!!”

The two subordinates who had been smugly running their mouths against the pair just moments ago screamed in agony like death throes.

In an instant, their entire bodies were engulfed in flames. They couldn’t seem to bear the pain of being burned alive.

“P-put out the fire!! If you put out this fire… I’ll do a-anything…!!!”

Burning pain is the most extreme of all suffering. I’m enduring even that pain right now, but there was no way those guys could.

‘That’s why it’s the best gift for those bastards.’

The men who had been spewing disgusting obscenities at me and Soso just moments ago instantly changed their attitude.

They rolled on the ground in pathetic attempts to extinguish the flames. But the more they struggled, the more intense my sacred fire became.

“AAAAARGH!! This fire… please somehow put it out!!”

“P-please spare me!”

They desperately begged me. But without the slightest movement, I calmly answered them.

“Really? If you beg so desperately, well, I suppose I could grant your wish.”

“A-are you going to spare us?”

“Of course. You two are useful fellows after all.”

“Y-yes! You understand! A devil’s contractor would be very useful indeed. If you just spare us… we’ll become your subordinates right away!”

But instead, I infused even more of the fire’s imagery into the sacred flame. The emerald-colored sacred fire blazed more fiercely.

“Disgusting creatures like you aren’t needed as subordinates. But I do need fuel to test my firepower. Will you quietly burn for me?”

“AAAAARGH!! Y-you bastard!!! You lied to us…”

Villains disguised as priests following a god. Moreover, as small fry, they weren’t worth keeping alive.

‘Well, they’re useful enough to gauge the power of the sacred fire.’

The effect was very satisfying. Their screams grew even more intense.

‘Good. As expected of a fire attribute artifact. I can increase the sacred fire’s power without any faith in Ayel or doctrinal theory. Just as I predicted.’

It’s different from accelerating mana to create blue flames or increasing firepower or explosive force.

My pure image of fire. With that fundamental understanding of fire, I ignite the sacred flame of Parma, that celestial fire, fiercely on earth.

‘Hongok was also a priestess who handled sacred fire.’

To skillfully use the S-class gear, Hongok, I’ve trained extensively since my Ains days to strengthen the image of fire in my mind, almost to the point of tedium.

Even during those two years when I couldn’t use mana, I never stopped training with that fire imagery, even during the hellish rehabilitation.

That fire that never extinguishes and can burn anything.

“I-if you spare me… money, women… all methods of pleasure I can… AAAAARGH!!”

“Shut up. Make your pleas to your devil master. You’ll soon return to hell, so spend eternity there as a devil’s slave.”

The effect of the sacred fire was remarkable. Though not as powerful as Bishop Romeo’s.

At least those two, who seemed to be A-class hunters or higher, became the first sacrifices to the holy flames without offering any resistance.

‘Not bad as the first practical targets for the sacred fire.’

Soon, only ashes remained where the two had stood.

“With pure firepower alone, without explosions… he instantly dealt with two devil contractors? How can it have such power…”

Soso, standing beside me, seemed very surprised. Though I didn’t show it, I too was amazed by the sacred fire’s power beyond my imagination.

‘As expected of a sacred artifact. To think it has this much firepower without consuming mana…’

The power of the sacred fire that just reduced two people to ashes was at least equivalent to a 5th-tier spell.

In other words, with pure fire power alone, it was on par with the high-level fire spell Hellfire. Of course, the sacred fire is Holy Flame, not hellfire.

And this was no time to be distracted.

“That priest is still left.”

Thinking it wasn’t time to stand idle after my performance, Soso quickly swung her sword at Romeo.

CLANG-

But even Soso’s aura sword was easily deflected by him. The devil’s thought-form created a magical shield around him.

“Kekekeke. How arrogant you’ve become after dealing with two small fry. Those two were going to be living sacrifices soon anyway.”

Romeo spread his arms. The priest, who began to float in the air with a devilish appearance.

Then, devil wings grew from his back and began to completely absorb the forest’s thought-form.

“Ahh… Great power flows into me… It’s already too late. Having absorbed this power, I am a devil contractor like a holy maiden… no, I am no different from the devil itself! In just a little more time, I will become a perfect devil…”

Though disgustingly confident, it wasn’t just bluster. Soso’s expression had hardened after swinging her sword at him earlier.

‘If the absorption of that thought-form completes, he’ll be at least an S-class villain. So we may not have much time left.’

But my mind remained cool.

***

I coolly assessed the skills of that priest Romeo and the two people.

No matter how devilish he is, he couldn’t properly fight against Soso, a born genius swordswoman. Yeon Soso, the Little Heavenly Demon. Her potential exceeds that of her father, Yeon Sehwi, the Heavenly Demon.

‘But that thought-form. Very dangerous.’

Like a devil’s thought-form, it seems unable to attack us directly right now because it needs a medium.

But once the fusion with Romeo is complete, an S-class villain or S-class magical beast might awaken—a devil that everyone finds extremely difficult to face.

Although it’s just a thought-form, the archdevil who originally owned it would have ranked higher than Crosel.

‘So I must target him now.’

His fusion doesn’t seem to be fully complete yet, so we have a little time left. But there’s no room for a probing battle with him.

‘So I need to concentrate firepower and end it in one go!’

But his shield is powerful enough to easily deflect even Soso’s aura sword.

The highly cutting aura sword. If it can deflect that, it must already be equivalent to an S-class tanker’s shield. I needed to penetrate that shield in a short time.

‘But I can do it. Now.’

Soso opens a gap in the shield, and I pour the maximum firepower of the sacred fire into that spot. That would be the only way to eliminate him.

And I know well how to make Soso exert her potential beyond her limits.

“This time, we’re a pair.”

I said quietly to her. At those words, Soso looked at me for a moment. And her cheeks flushed.

“Huh? Umm… yes!! Pair… that’s right… y-you and me as a pair… I see…”

The pair that Soso once lost to Yuri. But now I am Soso’s partner. And I also know how much that fact means to Soso.

“Now it’s not Yuri but… you and me together…”

“And you’re much better than Yuri. The way you are now.”

Soso gazed at me intently. In that moment, I noticed the longing in her eyes. Soso was always thirsty for praise. And her feelings for me too.

“I believe in you. A heavenly demon is a being that can cut even the sky. As you always told yourself.”

At those words, Soso’s demeanor changed. It was exactly the trigger word that had awakened Soso’s Heavenly Demon Divine Technique.

In that instant, the devil’s thought-form that had been encroaching around the two of us was pushed back by the vibration of mana created by Soso.

Soso’s Heavenly Demon Divine Technique, that mana acceleration, rose one level higher than usual.

‘My words weren’t lies. It’s just as I thought.’

The Heavenly Demon Divine Technique she normally used was at 60% capacity—about six-tenths of the theoretical mana acceleration limit of the technique.

But with Soso’s potential, it’s not difficult for her to rise one level above her usual skill level.

‘Blood Demon. That Blood Demon was one level above Soso’s usual skill.’

Soso’s timidity imposed restrictions on herself, but the Blood Demon is Soso herself. The terrifying strength of that Blood Demon means it’s her own potential.

I was right.

The black sword Soso held began to emit a radiance bright enough to illuminate the surroundings. It was a new realm of aura.

I shouted to her.

“Cut through that guy’s shield just like that. Then I’ll set fire through the opening.”

“Yes! But… Minsu… can I say one thing?”

“What is it?”

Soso was silent for a moment. She blushed and shook her head before shouting.

“I have o-one favor to ask you! Details later!”

With those words, Soso’s body lunged very quickly toward Romeo.

“Heaven Killer.”

CLANG-

Soso’s new sword technique broke Romeo’s shield. And in that instant, in the incredibly brief time before an eyelid could close and open again.

Simultaneously with Soso’s lunge, my attack was already being formed.

I sink into myself internally. The fire residing in that deepest part. My first gear that replaced my mana heart.

Hongok.

Hongok, released from her second-level seal, watches me as she ignites her fire offered to the god.

With long red hair reaching her waist. Her face, beautiful as if carved, was very calm and composed, befitting a priestess serving the god of flame.

That Hongok, wearing a red priestess robe. A new emerald-colored fire bloomed over her burning robe.

Parma’s sacred fire, born as Hongok’s new priestess robe.

Though she always looks very concerned about me, when I meet her eyes, Hongok smiles and spreads her arms.

I embraced her. Then emerald flames began to consume my body.

At the same time, I opened my eyes.

Like the aurora of the North Pole. The emerald-colored sacred fire. That fire was dancing on my hand. My consciousness returned to reality.

‘Through that gap!’

As if in slow motion, I can see the devil’s shield breaking. And I precisely targeted my spell at that gap.

I uttered the true activation words of Parma’s sacred fire.

“Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.”

The sacred flame burned the demonized priest completely.

***

Adersk.

Three months have passed since visiting the Far East Diocese in the capital of the Slavic Kingdom.

During those three months, many things happened to Flame.

The cooperative mission in Paju that became a big issue in the hunter world. And the punishment of the priest’s betrayal that occurred in the Far East Diocese.

Flame began to be recognized for its value from the outside.

Until now, though it was an S-class guild, it was closer to a small-to-medium guild in scale. Now it has developed to the level of a mid-sized guild, with numerous guilds under its umbrella.

“That’s why this southeastern expansion is very important for us. It’s no exaggeration to say that the fate of the guild, the company, depends on it.”

Yuri Tarkovskaya was attending a meeting at Flame headquarters. Team Leader Seo Duho from the information team was giving a presentation in front of the participants.

‘Southeastern expansion.’

Korea maintains very high security against magical beasts, but not all areas of the Korean peninsula are the same.

The central Korean peninsula, where the capital region is located, has the Association’s security department and major corporations like Manseong and Sigurd maintaining security. The former North Korean area is being jointly developed with the Slavic Kingdom.

The southeastern region, which has little pie for major corporate guilds to take, was now close to being unclaimed territory.

“As you know, the southeastern region has few major manufacturing corporations and a much smaller population than the capital region. So the security maintenance of the region is being shared by small-to-medium guilds of similar size.”

But Flame focused on that area. Flame, a latecomer compared to major corporations. If Flame conquered that unclaimed territory.

It would at least create a solid regional base.

‘And given the southeastern region’s location, it could soon serve as a bridgehead for expansion into Japan.’

Japan. There is Seo Munyeom, an executive of the Red Lake, in that country. So it’s a country Flame must expand into.

That’s why Flame has been working on dominating the southeastern region for some time. Team Leader Seo said.

“A few days ago, Team Leader Yeon Soso and Minsu performed excellently. Especially Team Leader Yeon was already famous, but it seems Minsu’s name has also become quite well-known in the southeastern region.”

Yeon Soso, promoted to S-class hunter. And Lee Minsu, promoted to A-class hunter.

The two are now away from headquarters on a long-term business trip to Busan. And as Team Leader Seo said, the pair was amazing.

From clearing out small-to-medium guilds that could hinder expansion to clearing dangerous dungeons, the two were perfectly fulfilling the tasks requested by Flame.

“Minsu has even earned a nickname on the hunter community. They call him the Flame Master.”

Yuri was pleased at Team Leader Seo’s words. But on the other hand, she felt her heart growing painfully cold.

She had once formed a pair with Minsu and won the exchange competition.

But now, clearly, Soso as Minsu’s new partner was producing results incomparable to their school days.

And they were in a distant place together. Two people with complicated emotions entangled.

‘I’m anxious. If something happens between them… if their relationship deepens as a man and woman…’

The thought of Minsu’s gaze being directed at Soso instead of herself feels like it would tear her heart apart. And it’s not just a delusion but entirely possible.

The current Soso is a beauty anyone would acknowledge. And with the special environment of a business trip away from home, and the special bond formed in the field.

It wouldn’t be strange at all if the two advanced to the stage of lovers.

And she has more right to stand beside Minsu than herself, who did terrible things to him.

‘But no. That absolutely cannot happen. I can’t… I absolutely cannot give Minsu to another woman.’

Yuri, thoroughly hiding her extremely anxious inner thoughts, said to the meeting participants.

“Flame’s southeastern branch. I’m thinking of taking a short business trip there myself this time.”