Chapter 23. Demon’s Lair.

The barely composed Warrior Team reluctantly trudged towards the Demon. The team members’ complexions grew increasingly worse. Grendal, who was still somewhat conscious, tried his best to encourage his comrades.

“Everyone, snap out of it! Just a little more effort and we’re there!”

However, as the demonic energy grew stronger, the team members started groaning, unable to endure it any longer. They seemed to be reaching their limit.

“I can’t go on. I can’t go any further. Shit, I don’t want to die. We’ll die if we go there!”

Bruce finally snapped. Zepopo also collapsed. Ludivine cursed like a madwoman. But it was beyond words now. They were too deeply consumed by fear.

Ji-hyuk lightly ran a hand over his face. Still, he was relieved that Ludivine was holding up relatively well.

The Warrior realized for the first time how useful a witch’s blood was in Demon hunting. Although there was a downside to her getting excessively excited sometimes, he figured she could control it later once she got used to the demonic energy.

Now, the Captain had to make a choice. It seemed impossible to drag the team members along any further. He called Grendal.

“Grendal.”

“Yes, Captain-nim.”

“Stay here and wait. Ludivine and I will go alone.”

“…Are you sure that’s alright? It’s a Demon, you know?”

“This Demon only messes with your mind anyway. Killing it is something even a child could do, as long as they get close enough.”

Of course, getting close was anything but easy. One had to overcome all sorts of mental attacks, illusions, and hallucinations to reach it. Naturally, it was absolutely impossible with ordinary mental strength. There was a reason why Demons were called Demons.

Ji-hyuk might have been pretending to be fine, but he was suffering from severe mental attacks just like his team members. Apathy, laziness, torment, and hallucinations plagued him. If his emotions weren’t so dulled, he would have already succumbed to the mental attacks of the Demon Daropim.

“Grendal. Keep a close watch and make sure no trouble arises. I trust you with this. Understand?”

“Understood. Don’t worry about things here.”

The Captain moved forward with only Ludivine.

Did I really have to go this far?

Why the hell am I putting myself through this?

Shit, should I just turn back?

This is fucked up, seriously.

Bastards. You fucking bastards.

I want to kill them all.

Why do I have to do this?

Let’s give up.

Let’s just give up and end it.

Amidst the constant agony and anguish, Ji-hyuk pressed his lips tightly together and trudged forward. The hallucinations and auditory hallucinations tormenting him grew even worse.

– Kyaaaaaaaa

– Dieeeeeeeee

– Run away, run awayyyyy

– Kyaaaaaaaa

Ludivine, with the blood of a witch flowing through her veins, also seemed to be affected. Her body began to tremble.

“Ludivine. Endure it, even if it’s hard. I need at least you here.”

“…Yes.”

One step at a time.

Even though it wasn’t a long distance, it felt like there was no end in sight. Up ahead, in the pitch-black darkness, he thought he could hear the Demon’s laughter.

Shit.

You son of a bitch.

I want to stop.

I want to go back.

It’s hard.

I want to quit.

Negative emotions relentlessly stabbed at Ji-hyuk’s heart. Eventually, Ludivine stopped first. She gasped for breath.

“Captain-nim… It’s too hard. I, I can’t go any further.”

“No. Let’s go. Quickly. Are you trying to piss me off?!”

…Ugh.

Ludivine forced herself to take another step at the Captain-nim’s scolding. She didn’t want to be hated by him.

The two men and women gritted their teeth. Taking one step took a very long time. Ugh. Ugh.

The sphere of light was starting to fade.

“Ludivineeee!!”

Ji-hyuk reached out to Ludivine and grabbed her trembling little hand tightly. Ah! She looked up at the Captain-nim.

“I’m here. Don’t worry. I’ll be right beside you. Let’s go. Let’s go together.”

The red-haired maiden tightly grasped the Captain-nim’s warm hand. Hiss! She brightened the sphere again.

“Captain-nim…!”

“I’m here.”

The two men and women struggled forward, as if they were pushing through a fierce blizzard. The demonic energy was now as thick as air.

With one step, sloth,

With two steps, sorrow,

With three steps, resentment,

With four steps, fear,

With five steps, despair grabbed at their ankles.

It constantly circulated.

Don’t do it.

No, I have to do it.

Why do I have to do it?

Because I have to.

Isn’t it fucked up?

It is fucked up.

Then don’t do it.

Then who will do it?

Someone will do it.

No one does it.

Shit, then let the world be destroyed.

Then I’ll have to do it again anyway. …And you son of a bitch. Get lost instead of making it so fucked up.

“Ca,ptain,niim…!”

Ludivine eventually stopped and collapsed to the ground. The sphere of light brightened and dimmed repeatedly.

Sheeebaaaaal…!

Eventually, Ji-hyuk let go of Ludivine’s hand. He had to go, even if it was alone. Startled by losing the Captain-nim, she screamed.

“Don’t goooooooo!!! Don’t leave me behinddddd!!!”

The sphere of light was fading more and more. But Ji-hyuk didn’t care. He had already seen where the Demon was anyway.

Soon, the light disappeared. Aaaaaaaah. Ludivine screamed. But Ji-hyuk kept walking.

You’re all dead anyway.

You’re all going to die.

You stupid creations!

Kiyahahahahaha.

Struggle in pain forever!!

Ji-hyuk drew the Holy Sword with a sseu-reung.

His palm tingled.

Ten steps left.

Do you think you can do it?

Someone like you?

Just give up and die.

It’s easier that way.

They’re all fucking bastards, right?

Just die.

Ji-hyuk didn’t stop. He couldn’t see anything, but he moved forward fearlessly as if he could.

Ttagurak ttagurak.

Something caught on his foot. It seemed to be a bone. Probably the bastards who summoned the Demon Daropim and died. They deserved to die.

…When he got to six, seven steps, Daropim started to get desperate.

He didn’t expect that this guy would break through all the way here.

Who is this guy? Why doesn’t he stop?

How can a failed creation endure even this?

Even himself, whom even other Demons shun?

The Demon Daropim began to tempt this insignificant creation. He said that if he stopped, he could live in eternal happiness. He showed him the illusions that creations loved.

Money, power, females.

But he didn’t stop.

Eight steps.

I told you that you’d die if you came. You’ll wander in the darkness forever without being able to dieee!!

Nine steps.

Don’t come. You’ll die. You’ll die.

You’re going to dieeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

…And, ten steps.

“You fucking Demon bastard.”

Ji-hyuk swung the Holy Sword in the pitch-black darkness.

Once, twice.

– Aaaaaaaah!!

The Demon’s piercing scream echoed. The demonic energy surged. At the same time, Ludivine also screamed.

…The Demon Daropim screamed for a long time before slowly disappearing.

Ji-hyuk gasped for breath.

The mental pain was severe. …But he had to overcome it. He was the Captain leading a team. If he collapsed, they would all be dead.

The Captain called Ludivine.

“Ludivine, Ludivineeee!!”

A faint sound was heard amidst the small gasps.

“…I’m, here. Captain-nim…”

“Keep talking.”

Ji-hyuk groped through the darkness. It was completely pitch-black, and he couldn’t see anything.

Then, not far away, a sphere of light floated up. Next to it, he saw Ludivine with a gaunt face.

“Ludivine.”

“…Ca,ptain-nim…”

She was trembling. The sphere of light flickered faintly.

“Let’s go. Quickly.”

The red-haired magician was struggling, but they didn’t have much time to spare.

The Demon Daropim had disappeared. Of course, the other two Demons couldn’t have failed to notice that energy. So they had to get out of here right away.

“Hurry, it’s urgent.”

“Yes.”

Still, it wasn’t physically difficult, so they could somehow move at a fast pace. Whether it was mental pain or whatever, they could only feel it after they survived.

The two walked back through the passage. The path that seemed like a thousand miles earlier was much shorter than expected.

“Captain-nim!”

Grendal shouted as he saw the two people approaching busily. Ji-hyuk saw Zepopo holding a magic sphere instead of a torch and asked where he got it. Then Bruce scratched his cheek awkwardly with his finger.

“Ah, the demonic energy suddenly burst out and all the torches went out. Ah, this… well, there was a magic sphere in the room, and I thought it would be okay to take it, so I quietly took it.”

The scarred bastard, who was caught trying to secretly take it to sell, glanced at the Captain’s face.

Ji-hyuk chuckled.

“Good job.”

If it weren’t for this, they would have been trembling in the pitch-black darkness. The mischievous theft had helped for once.

“Has everyone come to their senses? …Is there anyone who can’t go on?”

“No, Captain-nim.”

Fortunately, the team members didn’t suffer from aftereffects like Ludivine. When the Demon Daropim disappeared and the demonic energy weakened, they fortunately returned to their original state.

In particular, Grace felt so ashamed of her disgraceful behavior that she really wanted to bite her tongue and die. She had been a pain in the ass to the Captain-nim and had even been kicked by Ludivine. …Her reputation was completely shattered.

“Um… Captain-nim, that…”

Grace tried to stammer out an excuse, but Ji-hyuk waved his hand and stopped her.

“Do it later. It’s urgent now. Move quickly!”

Ji-hyuk quickly formed a formation and moved at a fast pace. Fortunately, thanks to the magic sphere that Bruce had stolen, their vision was widely secured.

They moved at a fast pace. Everyone drew their weapons and guarded the front and back. Bruce’s spine was chilled, and his balls were trembling.

“Shibal.”

Ji-hyuk told Ludivine to tell him immediately if she felt anything. As soon as he said that, the red-haired maiden shouted to the Captain.

“Captain-nim, in front of you!”

You son of a bitch.

Ji-hyuk turned left in the middle of the road. Now everyone changed to a light jog. Grace and Ludivine were already panting because of the luggage they were carrying.

“Hold on a little longer!”

The Captain recalled the layout in his head and moved along the path. It was like a maze, but there were no dead ends. That meant that no matter where they went, they were all connected to the entrance they first came in through.

They turned right again. And kept going forward. Ji-hyuk often looked back to check if his team members were safe.

The two women’s breathing was rougher than before. Grace seemed to be reaching her limit.

“Captain-niim!”

Ludivine shouted. There was something in front of them.

The demonic energy suddenly became stronger. There were no exits on either side. But if they turned back, they could be blocked by Demons from both the front and the back.

They had to break through. Ji-hyuk clenched the Holy Sword tightly.

“We’re fighting!”

Woooooooooo.

A fierce demonic energy swallowed them up.

“Everyone, take your positions!”

Bruce, who was in the back, came forward and stood next to Ji-hyuk, followed by Zepopo. Behind them, Grace and Ludivine prepared healing and magic, and Grendal, at the very back, strung an arrow on the string of his huge horn bow.

Soon, a Demon appeared.

It was like a flowing black velvet curtain. A pitch-black abyss could be seen inside the deeply pressed hood. It held a huge scythe in its bony, thin, black hands.

– Ueo-eo-eo-eo-eo.

A low, eerie groan mercilessly pierced their ears. Ugh. Everyone frowned. Their heads throbbed for a moment.

It was the Shadow Demon, Krinto.

Ji-hyuk called Ludivine.

“Ludivine, prepare the magic. Zepopo, Grendal, don’t attack, just protect the two of them. Bruce, hold out here until the end.”

“Yes, Captain-nim.”

The scarred giant gritted his teeth and slammed his iron shield on the ground. It was an expression of his will to endure.

It was a guy who wouldn’t be affected unless it was a mana attack anyway. There was no point in Zepopo and Grendal interfering.

Ji-hyuk cracked his neck and stepped forward. Ludivine chanted fire magic.

“We’ll get rid of it quickly and go.”

At the same time, a fireball flew towards the Demon and exploded.

– Wo-eo-eo-eo-eo

The Demon, hit by the fireball, went berserk.