Chapter 39: You’ve been captured

You shouldn’t recklessly assume that just because you beat up a bad guy and he still doesn’t listen, it means something profound.  

“Oh, this demon can’t be tamed by pain!”  

No, no, no—such foolish thoughts are a big mistake.  

Warlocks and demons, being greedier than anyone, are surprisingly honest creatures in their own way.  

They feel pain keenly and harbor fear just as much.  

Hit them with holy power, and they’ll scream their lungs out.  

Just like the saying, 

“If money doesn’t work, it’s because the amount’s not enough,”

If this guy isn’t listening, maybe he just hasn’t hurt enough yet.  

[Aaaargh! Please—stooop!]  

That’s why you need to take a more aggressive step forward in your thinking.  

Of course, there’s a knack to this.  

After decades of beating up all sorts of these guys, I’ve realized something: 

Even demons and fiends have their own hierarchy, and they can be intimidated into submission.  

These arrogant, grumbling punks, scheming something sinister in their heads—how dare they?  

Me?  

If you make them suffer a bit and then bring in a far superior demon to torment them right in front of their eyes, they’ll naturally start trembling in fear.  

“…Ugh, demon, oh demon lord…”

When they see their so-called “backing” get utterly crushed, their spirits break completely.  

That’s when the hierarchy gets straightened out.  

You have to drill it into their heads that their defeat wasn’t due to some fluke or minor environmental factor.  

No matter how many times they fight, or even if they’re reborn, they need to understand that they’re up against an opponent they can never beat.  

Only then will their corrupt minds be purified, and they’ll finally look at me, a servant of the Goddess, with meek, submissive eyes.  

Today, too, I successfully purged the devil in this warlock’s mind. 

His face, now as pale as snow, brought a smile to my lips as I patted his shoulder.  

“So, brother, don’t you have anything to confess? Maybe a little heart-to-heart?”  

The warlock flinched, his expression indescribable, mumbling before finally sniffling and hanging his head.  

“I’ll… I’ll tell you everything.”  

***

“Up until yesterday, I just wanted to die, but now it all feels like a dream.”  

“Yeah, doesn’t it?”  

In a space left in shambles, Elnair Grantz, the Master of the Magic Tower, and Seol Yeonhwa resolved their past grievances through a sincere conversation, finally able to face each other with lighter hearts.  

A young mage, freed at last from the agony of death, and an experienced mage who had begun to confront her own inevitable end.  

Both mentor and disciple, they found the sudden resolution of their situation bewildering yet relieving, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from their hearts.  

They were stubborn but not foolish.  

Rather than dwelling on unnecessary questions, they chose to cherish this moment of being able to truly face each other.  

They were grateful for the new opportunity.  

To the mysterious young man—or perhaps the man whose name they barely knew—who had brought them this peace.  

With heartfelt gratitude, they didn’t even question Shin Yuseong when he returned empty-handed after disappearing with Erneong.  

‘That guy was a bit of an odd one, wasn’t he?’  

‘Guess something’s up.’  

They figured he’d handled it well enough and didn’t dare press him for details.  

Who could possibly scold a man whose face radiated such unblemished honesty, as if he’d never committed a single sin in his life?  

Shin Yuseong’s handsome face, calmly smiling, seemed to shine with a dazzling light.  

Noticing her disciple’s uncharacteristic blush, Elnair Grantz quietly shook her head with a faint smile.  

That lovestruck expression—her disciple clearly needed a bit more time.  

Without hesitation, Elnair stepped forward and bowed deeply to Shin Yuseong.  

“Thank you, truly. I must’ve lost my mind for a moment… Thanks to you, I’m still alive.”  

It must have been a heart-demon.  

For a swordsman or mage who’s reached the pinnacle, the greatest danger isn’t a stronger foe but their own self.  

When you hit an insurmountable wall, when your heart crumbles and doubts creep in, no amount of physical strength or mana can help.  

Out of fear of her impending death, driven by that heart-demon, she had tried to drain her disciple’s life force.  

Even if it was caused by a heart-demon, it was undeniably a sin. 

And being freed from it, even temporarily, was an undeniable grace.  

Thus, Elnair Grantz, Master of the Magic Tower, bowed her head and spoke to her benefactor.  

“This isn’t just talk. If there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll move heaven and earth to lighten your burden.”  

These were words she could swear on her lifelong mana and heart as a mage.  

That’s how seriously, and gratefully, she regarded this matter.  

At her sincere gratitude, Shin Yuseong looked slightly surprised.  

***

‘Looks like I don’t need to hit this one anymore.’  

[The Goddess advises that you should respect your elders.]  

He wasn’t exactly moved—more like startled that she’d been reformed sooner than expected.  

But since it all worked out well, he nodded willingly and added, as if it was perfect timing:  

“Then, could I borrow this space for a bit?”

“Space? Well, this tower is overflowing with laboratories, so take as much as you need. How much space are we talking about?”  

If other mages hoping to secure a lab in a major Magic Tower had heard this, they’d have jumped in shock. 

But Shin Yuseong just smiled calmly and replied,  

“Well, something about the size of this space should do, but just to be safe, an isolated area would be even better.”  

“Hmm, very well, very well. Use as much as you need. It’s a bit of a mess right now, but I’d even lend you the Tower Master’s office if it came to it.”  

Nodding with a kind smile, Elnair, the Tower Master, suddenly blinked as if she’d realized something and asked,  

“Oh, by the way, what’s the purpose? If you let me know, I can prepare the lab to make things easier for you.”  

Oh, what a generous offer.  

For someone who was just trying to suck the life out of her disciple moments ago, her customer service was remarkably top-notch.  

Impressed by the Tower Master’s tact, Shin Yuseong flashed an innocent smile and explained,  

“I need a place to lock up some dark… warlocks and demons, so I thought I’d borrow a bit of space.”  

“Alright, warlocks and… wait, what? Demons?!”  

The moment this ominous topic popped up, Elnair Grantz, the Blue Tower Master, furrowed her brow and echoed his words in disbelief.  

Seol Yeonhwa, who had been quietly listening nearby, also stared at him with a startled expression.  

Despite their shocked reactions, Shin Yuseong just smiled serenely and added,  

“If possible, I’d appreciate a spacious room.”  

Because he was planning to detain quite a few of them.  

***

Not long ago, the criminal organization “Black Chronicle” and all the villains attending its auction were completely wiped out. 

Yet, criminals still abounded in Korea.  

They just didn’t make it onto the news with blatant acts like kidnapping, murder, or human trafficking.  

In the shadows, dark warlocks committing crimes numbered in the dozens in Seoul alone, and if you included the small fry, the count easily surpassed hundreds.  

What’s more, they were surprisingly tight-knit.  

Through their own community, they casually checked in on recent events, shared intel about whether some self-proclaimed “S-rank Hunter of Justice” was stirring up trouble, and quietly continued their research. 

That was the life of a dark warlock.  

But then, a peculiar story surfaced from a prominent figure in the community known as “Doctor.”  

“I’ve taken control of the Blue Magic Tower. I can manipulate the Blue Tower Master’s mind.”  

And not only that—he claimed to have secured the next Tower Master, Ice Flower, as a suitable offering.  

Whether this was true or a lie, it was such an astonishing claim that it sparked heated debates in the community.  

But those debates didn’t last long.  

[Kyahaha, I summoned a Viscount-level demon!]  

A post proudly announcing the summoning of a Hell’s noble—a Viscount-level demon—appeared, complete with proof.  

They had actually summoned a demon in the Blue Magic Tower!  

He was actually in control!  

The community’s sentiment quickly swung in favor of “Doctor” for achieving this great feat.  

Especially “Apothecary,” a dark warlock who manufactured illegal drugs, was quick to believe it.  

Why? 

Because months ago, he had personally received a message from Erneong, boasting about seducing the Tower Master with a honey trap.  

Erneong had even purchased mind-corroding drugs directly from him, so Apothecary assumed the plan had finally succeeded.  

Ding!  

[Hey, wouldn’t you like to lend a hand in summoning a great being from Hell?]  

As a dark warlock, how could he resist such an enticing offer? 

Besides, the idea of it being a trap set by the Magic Tower seemed absurd—who in their right mind would summon a Viscount-level demon from Hell as a prank?  

These weren’t playful spirits.  

They were transcendent beings, practically sentient gods, impossible for humans to control.  

Thus, the dark warlock “Apothecary,” a devout follower of Hell’s demons, eagerly accepted Doctor’s offer.  

Still, just to be safe, he conducted several background checks and confirmed that Doctor Erneong was indeed coming and going from the Blue Magic Tower. 

Only then did he head to the laboratory.  

And sure enough, Doctor’s words were no lie—the lab was already teeming with countless dark warlocks and demons.  

Even if you could overlook the infamous warlocks, the sheer number of demons summoned was unbelievable.  

“Oh, is this the golden age of dark warlocks beginning in our generation?!”  

With a face full of ecstasy, Apothecary surveyed the lab, but as his excitement settled, he noticed something odd.  

[I am a great demon, a noble… or so I thought.]  

[Idiot, idiot, why did I come here?!]  

[Kieeeek! Please send me back!]  

The demons, who should’ve been revered, were writhing in agony.  

These beings from Hell, meant to inspire fear, were instead trembling in terror.  

Feeling a moment of confusion, Apothecary approached his fellow warlocks, who, despite their achievement of summoning demons, looked as deathly pale as the demons themselves. 

He asked what was going on.  

These dark-hearted comrades only forced awkward smiles and stared in one direction.  

Huh, what’s that?  

Turning his head, he saw a man.  

A strikingly handsome man, so dazzling it was a wonder he hadn’t noticed him sooner, approached with a radiant smile and patted Apothecary’s shoulder.  

Then, he whispered in her ear:  

“You’ve been captured.”  

That’s when he realized something had gone terribly wrong.  

To be continued…