Episode 654. Demon King’s Attack (5)

[With the sudden gathering of demons, hunters worldwide have united. The hunters believe humanity’s future is at stake in this battle….]

[The place where hunters have gathered for the future of humanity is Seoul, Korea. Citizens are expressing their gratitude for their dedication….]

Suburbs near Seoul.

Namyangju, turned into a wasteland about 5 years ago due to a gate that appeared.

This was the place to face the demon army.

Lee Hoyeon handed out the blueprints for the interception magic circle to the magicians.

It was too massive a magic circle to create alone, so he needed help from other magicians.

“Installing the magic circle is fine. But telling me the configuration now, isn’t that a bit much? This is the first time I’ve received this kind of treatment.”

“Since there’s no magician superior to Professor, you must have done the configuration yourself, right? Receiving the entire configuration must be a first, right?”

“My disciple speaks well. But that’s not the problem.”

“So, are you saying you can’t do it?”

“… I didn’t say I couldn’t do it. Teaching it to others is my role, so it’s just bothersome.”

Kuuuung-

Im Sol, who understood the magic circle’s configuration as soon as she saw it, immediately infused her magic.

As Im Sol’s magic moved, the magic circle designed by Lee Hoyeon began to vibrate.

The magicians leading the magic circle were Im Sol and Lee Hoyeon.

It was the collaboration of two genius magicians of this era.

The other magicians nearby seemed dazed by Lee Hoyeon and Im Sol’s conversation, muttering amongst themselves.

“… Did Magician Im Sol understand this complex magic circle just by looking at it?”

“I can’t tell if Im Sol understanding it immediately is more amazing, or if the magic circle that no one else can understand, created by Lee Hoyeon, is more amazing.”

“Seeing as Chairman Arthur is looking away, it seems even the Chairman can’t understand it?”

Hundreds of magicians analyzed the magic circle, but they couldn’t even properly read it.

The magicians simply followed Im Sol’s instructions and channeled their magic.

“But where’s the power source? I thought you brought something like Infinite Entropy, don’t tell me you’re using your own magic?”

“As if. The power to be used for this magic circle is the magic of the Underworld.”

“Underworld magic?”

“Yes. The density of Underworld magic should be high where the demon army is. I plan to absorb the Underworld magic spreading in this area.”

“That means absorbing the Underworld magic trying to seize the space around the magic circle, right? Hmm… But for that to happen, the entire demon army must approach at tremendous speed. What if they don’t?”

“Then what? I’ll just have to use my own magic. That’s just the best-case scenario.”

Although he didn’t explicitly tell Im Sol, if things didn’t go according to plan, he intended to use Lee Hoyeon and Liliana’s magic. Especially since Liliana’s magic power should be incredibly abundant, they could receive plenty of help.

“This way. No, the coordinates are wrong. Are you affiliated with the Magician Association?”

“S-sorry….”

Lee Hoyeon designed the magic circle, but teaching other magicians how to use it was Im Sol’s role. He was the leader of the allied forces, so besides this, he had many other tasks.

While confirming Im Sol was giving instructions to the magicians, he soon thought it was fine and turned his head, only to see cute eyes watching from the corner.

“…?”

The Lucy and Lumi twins.

They stood a little distance away from the magicians.

‘Why are they over there?’

Lee Hoyeon approached Lucy and Lumi, who looked tense with their shoulders hunched.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah! Hoyeon-ssi…! The magicians said it was okay for us to sit this one out.”

“It’s such a difficult magic circle, and they told the cadets to rest for now. We figured we shouldn’t get in the way….”

Since the magic circle was so large and required over 12 hours of preparation, it seems they were advised to conserve their stamina.

Surprisingly, they’re nice magicians.

“With talent like yours, you could understand it. Still, it’s true you need to conserve stamina, so let’s rest a bit. And it’s fortunate timing; I had something I wanted to tell you.”

Here, Victoria Academy cadets aren’t just Lucy and Lumi. Even if they were still cadets, if they had contracted with a guild or were already recognized as strong as active hunters, they were all summoned to the allied forces. Although I haven’t seen his face, Kim Young-han must be here too.

After glancing around appropriately, Lee Hoyeon continued speaking.

“You know the team I assigned you. Lucy and Lumi are in Alpha-5 team, right?”

“Yep.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“The two of you absolutely must not stray from the position I assigned. Absolutely not. … Understood?”

The final episode of this world, The Demon King’s Attack. If humanity loses this battle, the world will be destroyed anyway. Knowing that outcome, he agonized for days over the most efficient personnel placement. However, despite that, he had placed the heroines in slightly safer positions. It was a battle where everything was at stake, and defeat meant the end of the world, but Lee Hoyeon was human, so he couldn’t completely remove his emotions. It’s not about ending with all the heroines conquered. It was simply that he didn’t want them to die.

“Uh, uh-huh. Okay.”

“Yes. Hoyeon-ssi….”

Sensing Lee Hoyeon’s serious mood, Lucy and Lumi also nodded. Of course, they had intended to stick right behind Im Sol even if Lee Hoyeon hadn’t said anything.

“Rest a bit, then help Professor. I need to go check on others.”

After giving Lucy and Lumi a smile, Lee Hoyeon walked away to another area.

Where the magicians had gathered, magic circles were being drawn, and in various parts of the field, hunters were conversing. Most of the hunters simulated mock battles against demons. They referenced demon combat footage or shared experiences of fighting them directly.

“Just how did Magician Lee Hoyeon devise such a plan?”

“Right. The Paris Legion’s weakness was eliminating the host. Back then, the flies surely seemed to gather around a single corpse. He figured this out just by observation?”

Amidst the conversing hunters, Lee Hoyeon spotted a familiar face. It was Nam Daeun, surrounded by hunters.

“I’ve heard Cadet Nam Daeun’s story often recently… Wow. A sword that cuts space! Why wasn’t such talent discovered from the start?”

“Ah, ahaha…. Thank you.”

“I’m Min Yeji, former Team Leader of the Ironblood Guild. Cadet Nam Daeun, if you happen to be thinking about joining a guild….”

“Regarding joining a guild, there’s someone I need permission from…. I’m sorry.”

“Permission…? Cadet Nam Daeun, your parents… No. Ahem! Still, here’s my card, just in case….”

That Min Yeji person is still serious about recruitment.

Nam Daeun’s destructive power is so outstanding that I placed her in a different team from the heroines living together, and it seems she’s doing well, which is a relief. Moon Surin is in that team too, and since Nam Daeun is the center, protecting her will be easy. The remaining heroines, staying at home, were all placed together in the same team. Since they don’t have guilds, I was naturally worried.

“Liliana, you… Hmm. Are you on standby in the rear?”

“What the heck. Why don’t I have a role?”

Liliana and Rebecca. The team Scarlet was assigned to is led by Rebecca. Rebecca, too, seems to have become famous during her time eliminating the black pillars, so the other hunters didn’t seem resistant.

“You don’t lack a role. Liliana-nim can perform any role. Based on Liliana-nim’s judgment, you can provide support where things seem difficult.”

“Oh! The protagonist always appears at the end! Scarlet. Do you want to be by my side too?”

“… I have things to do.”

With that, she should be able to handle it herself.

After roughly surveying the surroundings, Lee Hoyeon returned near the magic circle. Although he had entrusted it to Im Sol, the core formations of the magic circle had to be developed together by him and Im Sol.

*

“Rise.”

Jiiiiing-

The interception magic circle, created over a span of 12 hours.

The masterpiece, infused generously with the magic of Lee Hoyeon and Im Sol, rose into the sky.

“This was created in just 12 hours? Are those two really human?”

“Seeing it with your own eyes, how can you say that? … Of course, they’re not human.”

Lee Hoyeon and Im Sol, despite having created most of the massive magic circle’s configuration, seemed not tired at all. At that fact, the magicians could only be more astonished.

As they were securing the completed magic circle, just then, a blond man approached Lee Hoyeon.

“Magician Lee Hoyeon.”

“Yes. Guild Master Irene of the Iris Guild.”

“… They’re coming.”

“I know. Just in time, the magic circle was completed.”

Lee Hoyeon smiled towards Isaac and looked at the darkness beyond. The demons gradually increased their speed as they got closer, reaching Namyangju faster than the estimated time.

“The magic circle is made… it seems everyone is ready, so that’s a relief.”

Lee Hoyeon turned on his smartwatch and brought it to his mouth.

[Please remain in your assigned positions. The enemies are approaching.]

“Prepare for battle!”

“The lightning magic circle is perfect!”

Even without being told, the battle preparations were perfect, but the hunters shouted loudly to raise their fighting spirit. The magicians unfurled the magic circles they had prepared, and those wielding weapons channeled magic into their bodies.

Kung-. Kung-.

The earth’s rumble, drawing ever closer.

It was the sound of them approaching.

“… Hoo.”

Lee Hoyeon closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them.

The darkness covering the blue sky instantly approached the plains of Namyangju.

All possible preparations had been made. If his calculations were correct, the allied forces possessed a strength that would never fall behind against the demons. All that remained was to do their best in this battle.

“Awaken eyes.”

Dugeun- Dugeun-

Lee Hoyeon’s heart began to beat rapidly. Sharpened senses enveloped his body.

His golden eyes scanned the demon army approaching from afar, one by one. Each one was a demon emitting immense magic power, followed by hellish beasts. They seemed to have no intention of assessing their strength, charging to trample the field.

Seeing the demons approaching at high speed, Lee Hoyeon gave a wry smile.

“Right. Charging in without any plan seemed like something they’d do.”

The Demon King’s emitted Underworld magic is like a typhoon. It crushes the entire space and swallows the magic on Earth. What Lee Hoyeon aimed for was that power.

The Underworld magic blanketing Namyangju.

Absorbing it into the magic circle.

• Kuooooo-!

• Kar, kar-reureuk!

Dugeun- Dugeun-

As the demons and beasts drew closer, the pounding of his heart grew stronger. An unprecedented exhilaration filled his body. Unconsciously, Lee Hoyeon smiled.

“Sky-Piercing Palace, deploy.”

As they approached, the Underworld magic naturally followed, and Lee Hoyeon exerted control over the Underworld magic entering the Sky-Piercing Palace. Sending the tremendous amount of Underworld magic to the magic circle was Lee Hoyeon’s responsibility.

“Interception magic circle, activate.”

Lee Hoyeon raised his hand towards the sky. Clouds were blocking the sunlight, as if someone had gathered them. He slashed his hand down towards those clouds.

At that moment.

The sky split open.

Hidden above the clouds was a massive interception magic circle. This magic circle was created by improving and combining hundreds of others. A secret weapon with enough power to easily devastate an entire country.

Without a shred of hesitation, Lee Hoyeon poured magic into the magic circle.

Jiiiiiiiiing-!

A powerful light erupted, so bright it turned Lee Hoyeon’s vision white, as he stood at the forefront. Soon, having absorbed the surrounding Underworld magic, the magic circle began to rotate.

Kwaaaaaaang-!

Above the heads of the charging demon army, magic rained down. Overwhelming destructive power, devastating the area. Having swallowed all the surrounding Underworld magic, the magic circle shone more brilliantly, and each time, the disaster falling from the sky grew stronger.

• Keu, keuaaaak!

• Kagagag. Ka, kagagag!

The charging beasts seemed bewildered by the sudden bombardment, their formation collapsing, but the demons were different from the beasts. Demons, a warrior race born for battle. They knew that this was precisely the time to attack.

Taat-

Bursting out at the front was the fastest demon. It was Karkus. He naturally dodged the bombardment raining down from above and charged towards his prey. Karkus was aiming for the human at the very front.

Lee Hoyeon.

• Human…! Human! I’ll kill you……!

Karkus had low intelligence, but he was a hunter. He had not forgotten the human who had hunted him. Karkus’s claws, empowered by the Demon King, had become faster and sharper. Even if the opponent was the human who had killed him once, the current Karkus could win.

Kka-deudeudeudeuk-

From his bent legs, a roar erupted. A monstrous body that surpassed the speed of sound just by sprinting. Karkus kicked off the ground, instantly sinking his blade into the prey’s nape.

• Human! Got you…!

Karkus was certain of the death of the prey before his eyes. No matter how fast he was, it was an attack that absolutely couldn’t be dodged. It had to be.

But, just before the blade touched his neck.

The prey vanished before his eyes.

Paaaaang-!

“This is why stupid bastards are easy to catch.”

Odeudeuk-

Karkus missing Lee Hoyeon was just an instant. However, as soon as Karkus realized that, he felt his vision flip.

• Th-this human….

Kung-!

Karkus’s body sprawled on the ground.

In less than a second. With a single exchange, he killed a demon. The hunters nearby widened their eyes at Lee Hoyeon’s prowess. But this was just the beginning.

With his golden eyes, as soon as he confirmed Karkus’s head falling, Lee Hoyeon infused his voice with magic.

“Commence battle.”