Episode 646. Extermination of the Demon Cult (4)

Lunchtime at Lee Hoyeon’s mansion.

Nam Daeun placed the cutlery down as she moved the food to the dining table.

Although there were many days they ate separately according to their schedules, today they gathered together at the dining table.

“Seriously. Isn’t this ridiculous? Leaving behind me, the ace who catches devils in the Devil Cult subjugation!”

“Hoyeon-nim must have had his reasons. Liliana-nim.”

“Liliana. Even if you wanted to go, you wouldn’t have gone anyway, right? The baby’s dad was probably considering us.”

“…Still, I’m worried Hoyeon might be in danger.”

“Hoyeon-nim will be fine. From what I heard, over three times the expected number of hunters were sent to the Devil Cult. Hearing that, I decided to rest at home too.”

Scarlet continued, bringing a forkful of salad to her mouth.

When Lee Hoyeon was included in the suddenly formed Devil Cult subjugation team, Scarlet immediately ran to Dr. Kang Hyorin and asked to be put on the team as well.

However, because Lee Hoyeon had expressed his wish for her not to participate in the subjugation, she had no choice but to wait at the mansion.

“Mhm. That’s right. The baby’s dad is unlikely to get hurt.”

“But there have been more than a few times he’s gotten hurt after saying he was safe…”

“Unnie. Is my Oppa in danger?”

“No. He’ll be back soon. Let’s go on a picnic together next time.”

Nom.

Nam Daeun chewed her pork cutlet with a ‘om-om’ sound while stroking Nam Dahee’s head.

Just then, Liliana finished her pork cutlet and turned her head.

“Daeun-ah! But wasn’t today’s lunch supposed to be chicken? Pork cutlet is good too, though.”

“Chicken was yesterday’s lunch. Liliana-ssi.”

“Ah. Was it? If you’re not eating your pork cutlet, can I have it?”

“Yes. I finished mine.”

“Thanksies!”

“Liliana. What do you mean, taking Daeun’s food just because the baby’s dad isn’t here?”

“…Keep it a secret from Lee Hoyeon!”

Instead of worrying about Lee Hoyeon, Liliana diligently moved her chopsticks.

She had realized long ago that worrying about Lee Hoyeon was pointless.

As the head of the household, she needed to focus on the peace of her home rather than such worries.

“…… Huh?”

Just then.

Liliana’s hand, which had been shoveling pork cutlet into her mouth, stopped.

A familiar magical energy was felt from the open window.

It wasn’t the demonic energy from the Underworld, which had become common on Earth.

A warm magical energy, felt constantly beside her throughout her life.

“…Mom?”

*

After passing through the complex paths between alleys, a large open lot appeared.

This was the Devil Cult’s gathering place.

On the wide lot, at a glance, thousands of people seemed to have gathered, and demons could be seen here and there.

[When the signal is given, we strike all at once. Do not touch the civilians.]

The voice of Kim Tae-hyun, the leader of the Ironblood Guild, echoed in his mind.

Lee Hoyeon, hidden, glared at the lot.

Currently, the subjugation team members, including himself, were hidden in various alleys to avoid detection by the Devil Cult.

With additional personnel waiting outside to be deployed once the operation began, the mission could be considered a success the moment they had infiltrated this far.

Despite this, a strange sense of unease lingered.

‘I still don’t sense any demons.’

The subjugation team members began hiding themselves in the alleys one by one.

It was strange how the Devil Cult hadn’t hidden their presence at all, considering they hadn’t been discovered until now.

The fact that the subjugation team infiltrated the gathering place without any interference was proof of this.

‘…Are they performing a ritual?’

The people in the lot were bowing their heads, praying.

Lee Hoyeon frowned, sensing the overwhelming magical energy filling the lot.

There were not only humans but also demons in the lot.

Monstrous beings over 3 meters tall, or stout ones weighing around 400kg.

The demons, clearly not human, guarded the lot like sentries.

However, the fact that no one seemed to find it strange suggested that all these humans had been brainwashed.

Just then, a man walked out from the end of the lot.

Three demons, appearing to be the strongest in the group, stood as if guarding him.

‘Maestro?’

Even in front of brainwashed people, would he expose himself so carelessly?

The Maestro I saw in the original work moved much more cautiously.

[Initiating assault in 5 seconds. Prepare for attack.]

But there was no time to think.

Based on Dr. Kang Hyorin’s testimony, the entire subjugation team already knew Maestro’s face, and the assault order was given the moment Maestro revealed himself.

Lee Hoyeon raised his magical energy the instant he heard the radio transmission.

[Engage!]

Kuaaaang-!

As soon as the order was given, Korea’s top hunters charged forward in an instant.

“A, an ambush! Fu-!”

Seogeok-

Guild Leader Kim Tae-hyun, who was at the forefront, sliced through the neck of a giant demon.

The demons were visibly flustered by the sudden ambush.

But even at that moment, the civilians continued their prayers with bowed heads.

[Do not harm the civilians under any circumstances! They’ve been brainwashed, so their eyes will be unfocused!]

Lee Hoyeon also charged in late, blowing off a demon’s head.

The plan was for the elites who charged in first to inflict damage, while other members waiting behind would rescue the civilians.

Even those not part of the main subjugation force, numerous hunters surrounded every corner of the alleys, leaving no escape route for any remnants.

“K, Kuaaaak!”

“R, Run… Kill them! Kill!”

Just then, the panicked demons’ eyes changed, and they began to fight back with the intent to kill.

It seemed like Maestro’s command.

However, the situation itself was overwhelmingly favorable.

The surprise attack drastically reduced the number of demons, and their strength was no match from the start.

All the aces from the Hunter Association were mobilized for this plan.

The reason was simple: Maestro, who had brainwashed global figures under the name ‘Pandemic’, had to be killed unconditionally.

Even if brainwashed, the demons couldn’t stand against Korea’s hunters.

‘…The demons’ level is lower than I expected.’

Lee Hoyeon, while plunging a spiral into the stomach of the demon before him, scanned his surroundings without letting his guard down.

The tide of battle was already overwhelmingly in their favor, but what was important to him wasn’t the demons.

Maestro.

He had to find that guy’s location.

‘He’s still standing in that spot?’

Lee Hoyeon frowned, watching Maestro still standing in the same place.

The demons guarding him had also joined the fight.

The fact that he hadn’t fled meant he had some ulterior motive.

Siiik.

Maestro watched the battle and slowly raised the corners of his mouth.

‘…A trap?’

Kuaaaang-!

The moment Lee Hoyeon sensed something was wrong, tremendous roars erupted from both sides.

It sounded like heavy objects falling to the ground.

When he turned his head, he understood the source of the sound.

A humanoid monster with a bird’s head, and a man with ore embedded throughout his body.

He recognized both faces.

‘Amon and Malpis. Two devils here?’

As soon as they appeared in the lot, the fiends began tearing apart any humans they saw.

Amon scattered the feathers on his body to gouge out human eyes, while Malpis rapidly launched the ore embedded in his body, attacking in all directions.

He hadn’t expected devils to appear, but two of them showed up.

“Tsk. Guild Leader Kim Tae-hyun. As planned, I will target Maestro. The subjugation team, please handle those two.”

Lee Hoyeon ran up to Kim Tae-hyun, who was nearby.

As they had discussed beforehand, the plan was for him to go after Maestro alone if the battle dragged on.

“Hoyeon-ssi the mage. Will you be alright alone?”

“The subjugation team is more of a problem than me. Those fiends are devils… If you can’t win, at least hold them off. You need to rip off the bird-head’s wings, and for the ore-covered one, shatter the ore on his body.”

After briefly explaining how to counter them, Lee Hoyeon ran straight ahead without waiting for a reply.

Maestro was still standing in the same spot.

*

What is fate?

If the Demon King-nim’s descent and the destruction of Earth is also fate.

Then the collapse of the Devil Cult he created is also fate.

Everything is for the Demon King-nim.

Even if he isn’t the Demon King I knew.

Maestro had already crossed the point of no return countless times.

Lee Hoyeon, the antagonist of fate.

By killing him, I will draw closer to summoning the Demon King.

Thinking thus, Maestro met the eyes of the man approaching him from the front.

A man whose face, even another man would find handsome.

But his true ability wasn’t his face.

“It’s been a while, Lee Hoyeon the mage.”

“…”

“You seem worried about your companions who came with you. But don’t worry too much. You’ll be able to meet them in the same place soon enough.”

Lee Hoyeon stared intently into the eyes of Maestro standing before him.

He felt like he could finally fully understand what Dr. Kang Hyorin had said.

A cornered person looks different, starting with their eyes.

The composure he had felt when he first saw Maestro was completely absent in the man before him.

The reason was easy to discern.

‘It must be because of the Demon King.’

Maestro is the villain.

A villain who dedicates his life to the Demon King and does his best to destroy the Earth.

The reason he lives is to summon the Demon King and destroy the Earth.

In the original work, he actually sacrifices his own life while summoning the Demon King.

‘He’s that kind of fanatic. There are only a few reasons he’d be anxious even though the plan is going smoothly.’

Either the plan isn’t going smoothly, or it’s going smoothly but yielding results different from what he expected.

Since the Demon King’s descent into this world is certain, the reason Maestro is anxious must be the latter.

Lee Hoyeon spoke with conviction.

“You certainly look worse than the last time I saw you. Did you notice something strange about the Demon King?”

At Lee Hoyeon’s words, Maestro’s eyes widened significantly.

He had assumed Maestro’s predicament was solely due to the Demon King, and indeed, it was correct.

He had noticed that the god of this world had become the Demon King.

“How could you know that…! Tch. That Succubus Queen woman!”

“…What did you just say?”

Succubus Queen.

The name Lee Hoyeon was concerned about slipped out of Maestro’s mouth.

‘Did Maestro make contact with the Succubus Queen?’

It was strange that there were two devils here; perhaps he received her help.

Lee Hoyeon also needed information about the Succubus Queen.

He had to find her before she met Liliana.

“…Conversation is unnecessary. I have only one task. To kill you for the Demon King-nim.”

Hwaaahk-

Lee Hoyeon frowned at the magical energy enveloping him.

Maestro’s magic, which brainwashes humans.

Although Lee Hoyeon’s ‘Clear Mind’ prevents him from being brainwashed, Maestro’s abilities aren’t limited to that.

“Deploying Sky-Piercing Palace.”

Chwaaak-

The Sky-Piercing Palace unfolded, shaking off Maestro’s enveloping magical energy.

“Eye Opening.”

Lee Hoyeon’s eyes shone gold as he read the surrounding magical energy.

Brainwashing magic lingered around Maestro’s body.

“…Fire Arrow.”

A fire arrow blooming on his palm rapidly surged towards the fiend.

However, the fire arrow, which had been flying straight, suddenly shot upwards just before reaching Maestro.

“You cannot escape fate with such tricks.”

His ability is brainwashing.

Maestro can even brainwash things without physical substance.

That was Maestro’s fighting style.