Episode 642. Demon Organization (3)

The world changed rapidly after Gates and Dungeons appeared.

New monsters popped out every day, and those with the aptitude for being Hunters appeared to hunt them.

Monsters that could tear humans apart with a single gesture were objects of fear, but humans eventually adapted to Gates and Dungeons.

A long time passed like that.

Now, Dungeons and Gates had perfectly melted into society and were being recorded in human history.

Science, which had developed dazzlingly alongside magic.

Materials and abilities that didn’t exist on Earth.

The world faced a drastic change.

However, the lives of ordinary people, not Hunters, didn’t change much.

Not everyone could enjoy the changes and development of society.

Most people lived lives similar to before the monsters appeared.

Even when news about the Gates of Hell and demons poured in, the reaction of ordinary people was the same.

– Oh, another new monster appeared.

That was the feeling ordinary people had towards the Gates of Hell.

The darkness covering the Pacific Ocean was certainly abnormal, and there were many strange phenomena, but society wasn’t paralyzed due to a crisis that wasn’t even certain yet.

In other words, society was still running diligently.

Students go to academies.

Office workers who left for work in the morning returned in the evening, and housewives went grocery shopping at the mart.

The world hadn’t changed.

Therefore, no one suspected when some of the people who had finished their day’s work went into the alley.

“Arma de Maestro.”

“Enter.”

The people who entered through the winding alley went inside a rusty iron gate.

As people went deeper into the building, they lost focus and moved their feet blankly.

“Maestro-nim. How shall we proceed with the assembly?”

“Proceed as you see fit.”

“Understood.”

The man sent his subordinate away and looked around.

A man with tired, drooping eyes and hollow pupils.

He was blankly staring downwards.

The believers under the name of the Demon Cult.

They had come to the assembly without even knowing what they would be doing.

Not many people know about the existence of the Demon Cult yet.

This is because the Maestro hadn’t acted properly.

In fact, he wasn’t the one who named it the Demon Cult.

It was just that the followers started calling it that at some point.

Right now, the Maestro was contemplating his own existence.

“That’s a thought that goes against fate….”

It is his fate to bring forth the Demon King to destroy the world.

With the opening of the Gates of Hell, the Demon King’s descent was confirmed, and this world’s path to destruction was already set.

So, what should he do now?

At some point, his prayers stopped reaching the Demon King.

It was the same even after the Gates of Hell opened.

The demons with overwhelming power paid no attention to the Maestro.

There was nothing he could do at the Gates of Hell.

In the end, he returned to the human world and created the Demon Cult to aid the Demon King’s descent, but the Maestro lacked confidence in his actions.

He was merely acting to hold onto his sanity, which would crumble if he did nothing.

Tok-tok.

Just then, approaching footsteps broke the Maestro’s reverie.

This was a place no one could enter without the Maestro’s permission.

Hearing footsteps was definitely strange.

“You are….”

Seeing the approaching woman, the Maestro narrowed his eyes.

A creature from the Underworld he had met several times near the Gates of Hell.

It was the Succubus Queen, called the Demon King’s proxy, who controlled the demons.

“Should I call you Isabella-nim? What brings you here?”

“Do as you please. Human.”

Isabella, who walked over naturally, stood before the Maestro.

The Succubus Queen also had little interest in the human before her.

“The human who killed Karkus. You know of him, right?”

However, she knew this man understood the human world well.

Because Isabella didn’t know this world well yet.

“Yes. I know.”

“I thought so. Hand over the information about that human.”

She needed to find Liliana, who was beside that human.

Even now, she was scattering magic power across the world, but if she had concrete information, it would be easier to find her.

“… Is that an order from the Demon King-nim?”

“What does that matter?”

“I cannot do anything that hinders the Demon King-nim’s descent.”

“Tsk.”

Isabella let out a scoff without realizing it.

Isabella knew of this human’s abnormal loyalty towards the Demon King.

However, the current Demon King might not be the Demon King he knew.

“He is no longer the Demon King you knew.”

The Demon King who rules the Underworld.

He became a different being at some point.

It was subtle enough that one wouldn’t notice unless they looked closely, but Isabella felt that foreignness.

Hearing Isabella’s words, the Maestro wasn’t surprised.

No, he didn’t doubt them.

To him, there was only one Demon King.

“… Still, what I must do remains the same.”

The Maestro already had no way back.

*

The strongest barrier magic, the Rune Barrier.

The Rune Barrier, usable only by the Rune tribe, is magic that can theoretically do anything.

In reality, Rebecca resolves all her battles using only the Rune Barrier.

However, Lee Hoyeon used the Rune Barrier only for spatial control or defense.

He had enough offensive magic, and ultimately, defense was the best way to use the Rune Barrier.

KWAANG-!

Spatial Slash.

Nam Daeun’s sword, which cut space, struck the Rune Barrier.

“Kuh…!”

Lee Hoyeon was startled and focused his magic power.

Nam Daeun’s slash was sharp and solid, but different from Karkus’s attack.

It wasn’t just a physical attack, but a sword that interfered with space.

If he didn’t concentrate all his nerves, he couldn’t block it properly.

“Baby Daddy. I’m not being weird, right? Daeun-yang’s sword felt too heavy.”

“That’s true. I think it would be tough for me too if I only had to defend…!”

Focusing his gaze straight ahead, he answered Rebecca’s words.

If I were to use Blood Beat and Future Sight, maybe. But…

It was difficult to block Nam Daeun’s attack with just the Sky-Piercing Palace and the Rune Barrier.

Of course, this was because Lee Hoyeon was focusing solely on defense.

If he counterattacked, he could exploit the openings in the Spatial Slash.

“Still, seeing Baby Daddy’s barrier gave me some insight.”

“Just from this? But my barrier is even sturdier because of the Sky-Piercing Palace.”

“No. In the end, the foundation is the same. And I’m from the Rune tribe. It doesn’t make sense that I couldn’t use barriers better than Baby Daddy just because I don’t have the Sky-Piercing Palace.”

“I’m glad if it was helpful. Then I’ll go rest for a bit.”

“Okay. Thanks, Baby Daddy. Daeun-yang! Let’s spar again!”

“I, I want to rest a little too… Ah, how about sparring with Scarlet-ssi?”

“… Shall we? Scarlet-yang!”

“Wait, Rebecca-nim!”

Rebecca turned and lunged at Scarlet, and Nam Daeun let out a sigh of relief.

Lee Hoyeon extended his hand to Nam Daeun.

“Good. Let’s go rest together.”

“Okay. Hoyeon-ah.”

As soon as Lee Hoyeon left the training ground, he flopped onto the bench.

Lying down whenever possible isn’t a good habit, but what could he do when he was exhausted?

“I only intended to briefly watch your magic, but I ended up using the Sky-Piercing Palace. Why does everyone like practical application so much?”

A mild headache enveloped his head.

I came down because they asked me to briefly watch their sparring, but I ended up using the Sky-Piercing Palace.

Compared to the first time I used the Sky-Piercing Palace, it was great progress, but I still felt a headache.

“Hoyeon-ah. …I’ll wipe your sweat.”

“It’s fine since I have Clean.”

“R-really…?”

When I casually turned my head, I saw Nam Daeun standing awkwardly, holding a handkerchief.

Only then did Lee Hoyeon speak again.

“… Come to think of it, even with Clean, my body stays hot and I keep sweating. Sorry, but could you do me a favor?”

“Of course….”

In the end, I decided to cool off my sweat while resting my head on Nam Daeun’s lap.

The feel of the handkerchief wiping my forehead wasn’t bad.

‘… I feel like such a pathetic guy.’

Lying on my girlfriend’s thigh and receiving care didn’t suit the manly Lee Hoyeon.

But it felt good, so I didn’t push it away.

“Hoyeon-ah. What are you doing this afternoon?”

“Alice is supposed to be back, so I’m going next door. She said she has something to say at the Iris Guild.”

“Aha….”

“Planning to play with Dah-hee? Sorry I’ve been busy lately.”

“No. Dah-hee was really surprised when she heard you got hurt fighting demons, Hoyeon. She’ll understand. Still, it feels nice being alone with you like this.”

“….”

“I can’t help you like Alice does… so I have to do my best with things like this.”

There was affection in Nam Daeun’s touch as she wiped my sweat.

Even though I’m trying my best to spend time with the heroines, they all seem disappointed.

Should I cut down on sleep time even more?

“Daeun-ah. Don’t say that and don’t worry about it. The Iris Guild is paying off their debts because they made so much money thanks to me.”

“But I also owe a lot of debt, don’t I?”

“… We can just pay that off slowly.”

Nam Daeun gave a faint smile.

She looked so cute that I wanted to hug her tightly.

Honestly, every time I see her like this, I want to demand compensation with my body and pounce on her, but I can always make time for Nam Daeun, whom I live with, tonight.

Once we start, it lasts for hours, enough time to catch a hundred monsters.

And even if we weren’t catching monsters, there were plenty of things to do.

“Daeun-yang! Scarlet-yang, you’re next!”

“Me? Hoyeon-ah. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay. Take your time.”

Lying there and looking at the training ground, Nam Daeun and Scarlet switched places as if taking turns.

Lee Hoyeon sat up as he saw Scarlet approaching, drenched in sweat.

She seemed quite worn out from Rebecca, as she was sweating.

“Scarlet. You worked hard.”

“Thank you. Hoyeon-nim.”

I cast the Clean spell on Scarlet and handed her a towel.

“Rebecca-ssi seems particularly motivated today.”

“It might be because Liliana-nim and Daeun-yang’s growth is faster than expected. Rebecca-ssi also had pride in being the strongest in this house.”

“Right. Rebecca-ssi has her pride, after all. Liliana and Dah-hee are playing upstairs, right?”

“Yes. We decided not to play the game of floating Dah-hee-yang into the sky, so you don’t have to worry.”

“Hmm. But Scarlet, why are you still standing? Sit next to me.”

She remained standing beside Lee Hoyeon even after wiping her sweat.

Scarlet shook her head at Lee Hoyeon’s words.

“This is comfortable for me. I’ve been standing like this since I was young.”

Assassins from the Iris Guild don’t let go of their tension even when resting.

They always rested while standing, so the habit became ingrained.

“If that’s the case, then.”

If she didn’t want to sit, there was nothing I could do.

Lee Hoyeon rested his face against Scarlet’s thigh, who was standing beside him.

The feel of her black stockings registered against my cheek.

It wasn’t soft, but it was warm, which felt good.

“… What are you doing?”

“I was going to get a lap pillow if you sat down, but you keep standing.”

“What does that have to do with resting my cheek on your thigh?”

“Because I’ve been too busy lately to even hold your hand?”

“You didn’t hold my hand much usually, either.”

“Hmph. I’m just saying. It’s about skinship, skinship. I’ll stop if you don’t like it.”

“I didn’t mean I disliked it. If the purpose is skinship rather than rest, I’ll sit down, so please make space.”

“You’re saying that even though you like it.”

Lee Hoyeon chuckled, shifted his hips slightly, and Scarlet quietly sat down next to him.