episode_0041

I can feel your gaze.

No matter how long I wait, the enemy does not appear.

Aru can’t feel it, but I, who have an abnormally developed sense of energy, can feel it, and I’m constantly sensing a powerful presence.

I encountered a pleasant difficulty. An unknown riddle given to me by the other person makes me immerse myself in deep worry.

I can’t see the enemy, but I can feel their heated gaze, but that doesn’t mean they’re doing anything threatening.

How should I solve this problem? Simple. I am trying to empathize with the invisible enemy who is still watching me and Aru.

‘I’ am the one watching.

After causing an uproar at the auction house, he chased the man who ran away with King Lang and came all the way to the Masurim.

The fugitive seems to have no strength to move King Lang’s prison, so he stays in one place. They hurriedly ran away without receiving the key to open the cage from the auctioneer, and it seems there was no way to get Lang Wang out separately.

There is a lot of time. Unless they use magic like teleportation, they won’t be able to escape this place with all kinds of bushes and wild trees with a large cage attached.

So, I’m taking my time and watching.

It seems that it wasn’t only ‘me’ who was being chased.

The demons that followed from the auction house are arriving one after another and attacking the demon body and King Lang. They seem to have the same goals as me, but I can’t say we’re on the same side.

They are also my competitors, targets for elimination that I must fight, kill, and cover up.

… for a moment.

What is the purpose of ‘I’? You need to know that.

I don’t know who ‘I’ am. But there is something you need to find out. That is the purpose that ‘I’ have.

The first thing that came to mind was, of course, Lang Wang. King Lang, whose bloodline alone is of great value, is the source that brought the demons to this forest.

However, does a ‘powerful person’ like ‘me’, who can be seen just by feeling his spirit, really want King Lang?

You can want it, but there’s something more fundamental than that… .

money.

The crystallization of greed, one of the seven great evils. Since one is born as a demon created by evil, it is something that everyone has no choice but to desire. Unless you have acquired overwhelming wealth or achieved liberation.

At the auction house, the fluid demon spent a whopping 500,000 days of gold to purchase Aru. That’s a lot of money. An enormous sum of money that an ordinary demon wouldn’t even dare to dream of, even if he worked all his life.

He even willingly threw that money on the floor. As if he were a very wealthy person. It was clear that there was definitely more money in hand.

The corporeal demons possess a golden El Dorado that far exceeds King Lang’s original ransom of 100,000 gold. As soon as I thought about it, my purpose was decided.

Yes, money in the end. A clever and beautiful substance that stimulates the demons’ innate desire to possess.

It wouldn’t be strange if my eyes rolled right away, but ‘I’ had to remain calm.

Just looking at the appearance of the physical demons at the auction house, it is not at a level that can be underestimated. It wasn’t enough that he calmly provoked the Western Dukes, the most powerful family in the demon world, and escaped so easily.

It should not be underestimated as a fluid. ‘I’ maintained my composure, crouched down, and began to observe.

There was no property visible from the outside. There is a high probability that the property is hidden somewhere. To find out, the best way is to capture that corporeal demon and interrogate him.

There were several people who came looking for the body demons and King Lang. It would be a big problem if they killed the corporeal demons. In order to take away his wealth, even through torture, he must be alive.

Even if they lose, a handshake is the only thing that raises the vigilance of the corporeal demons. ‘I’ killed them silently and hid them.

The physical demons are just doing meaningless things over and over again. Occasionally we throw meat to the king of wolves in us and ask him to do something. For example, push-ups. Like running in place.

If you disobey, you will be hit on the head with a stick about three spans long. The King of Wolves resists his orders at first, but is gradually becoming more compliant.

I wonder if there is much meaning in just continuing to watch like this. I feel like I’ve seen everything there is to see, so how about having a real meal?

Just thinking about it brings sweet saliva to my mouth. How much money will there be? Not only money, but also that Langwang will come with it, so it’s just fun.

… … This is the end of my thoughts transferred to the watcher watching me.

I don’t know any more than this. I am not God, and what can I find out when information is so limited?

“Keng, what are you doing?”

Aru asks a question with meat in his mouth. After the fight, Aru is treating me a little more businesslike.

The orders given are carried out quickly and promptly. The only thing we can do for a caged animal is simple training – sit, stand, lie down, and roll over.

“I am training in telekinesis.”

Ugh-.

“Telekinesis? Kkkk. What is that?”

“You don’t need to know Aru.”

“Keng… .”

Perhaps after hearing my short answer, Aru became slightly depressed. Okay, now you have some affection for me.

The full moon rises tonight. Tonight is the perfect stage for the stage I prepared. However, there is one problem.

Whoever is watching us might not come in tonight. Then it’s a waste of time, and I will be torn beyond recognition by Aru, who receives the full moon’s protection.

That won’t work. At best, the table was all set. What would happen to me if I just walked away without accepting it?

“Aru, let me give you an order.”

“Keng? What command?”

“When I get close to the cage, you grab my collar with your left hand. And hit me hard with my right hand.”

“Keng? Kkong?”

“Don’t overlook the circumstances. I hit him with the sole intention of killing him. That’s right, Aru said you wanted to kill me, right? I can kill him now.”

“Kkkk! What a trick! A cunning demon!”

“It’s true that it’s a trick, but Aru has nothing to lose, right? Stop worrying. Because there will be no such thing as retaliation. Aru just has to do his best to hit me.”

I whispered with a friendly smile, and Aru looked skeptical.

I spoke soothingly and reassuringly.

“If you don’t hit me, I’ll hit Aru. why? Because this is an order. Okay, Aru?”

Well, relief is subjective.

“Kkiing… I, a bad demon… .”

“Good. Then start hitting me now.”

“Keng… .”

Lean your face against the iron bars. At the same time, he sends a glance to Aru, who is still hesitating.

Aru glanced at the magic wand that was far enough out of my reach, then nodded once. I will believe you, Aruya.

Aru’s small left hand slowly moves up to my collar. I waved my arms in protest and grabbed Aru’s wrists with both hands, but I didn’t use any force. To someone who doesn’t know it, it may seem like you’re just trying hard.

“Hit.”

“… Wow!”

Sigh-!

ouch!

Aru’s right fist stuck straight into my cheek. A dizzying feeling of dizziness spreads throughout my body.

Wow, it was quite realistic acting. Okay, let’s just keep it like this, Aruya. No more, no less, just this much… .

Wow!

“Kwaaak! Ah, aru!”

“Kongkeong… ! W, I’ll hit you hard… ! Don’t hit me… !”

“Oh, no! You’re doing great! Very realistic!”

Damn, if I say anything here, I think Aru will be so depressed that he won’t be able to act realistically.

Sigh-!

… But, did I tell Aru that this was an act? Somehow I don’t remember.

It’s true that you have to hit me as if you’re going to kill me, but that doesn’t mean you should really kill me… .

Burbubbuk-! Plop-!

Damn, I didn’t tell you.

“Ahh! Wow!”

“Keng… You’re hitting it well, right? confused… .”

“You’re doing great! So don’t hesitate! It gets even weirder if you stop here!”

I have no choice but to endure it on my own. I just hate this kind of thing.

Burbubbubbuk-!

Aru’s fist flies like a rainstorm and hits my entire body. I grab the bars and struggle as if I’m trying to escape somehow, or I flail my arms and try to grab the magic wand that’s far away. Of course, it’s all just an act.

Burbubbubbuk-!

It’s a strange situation.

Aru, who hits with all his might, me, who holds on for a long time and fakes desperate resistance, and even an unknown person who is watching us.

The three of them are filming a ridiculous three-way match that even comedians will laugh at.

Observer, be conflicted.

The guy who knows the whereabouts of the money you’re after is dying.

Think slowly, the deadline is tonight.

*****

“Ha, ha, ha… .”

“Grrr… are you okay… ?”

“Do you look okay? It’s hard to breathe.”

“Kkiing… .”

“It’s a joke, just stay still from now on.”

In fact, it is true that it is difficult to breathe. It’s just exaggerated breathing. To draw out bystanders who might be watching and measuring angles.

After being beaten by Aru for a long time, I was in a state of extreme fatigue, and only then did I sign to Aru to stop. Aru immediately let go of me, and I stumbled and fell, leaning against the bars, pretending not to have the strength to hold the magic wand.

And it continues like this. He was breathing heavily and stayed still, as if he didn’t even want to wipe his blood-covered face.

Like a demon about to die.

“Ha, haaa… .”

By the way, the demon watching over me is very patient. It hasn’t come out yet.

The sun, which brightens the forest, has already long since set, and in just a moment, the full moon, hidden by clouds, will rise brilliantly in the night sky. If the demons don’t appear by then… .

“… Crrr.”

I will be killed by the wolf girl who is waiting for an opportunity with her claws hidden.

Aru is pretending to be worried about me, but his true intentions are completely different. When the full moon rises, the moment he can overcome the other demons in the demon forest without me, Aru will turn and break the bars.

Then they will kill me. It will also kill a lot of animals around here.

Although the king of wolves is great, the king of mere beasts can never compare to the five kings. But how could the legendary king of wolves fight with Horus?

That’s because the King of Wolves’ combat power increases nearly thousands of times, as if awakening under the full moon. Like a werewolf, a monster version of a wolf beast. Although many people don’t know.

Of course, Aru in his previous life had reached a level of racial transcendence where the concept of increase was meaningless. So much so that even in normal times, King Oh doesn’t bother him at all. It was nothing else but the assassination of the emperor of the empire, so what need I say?

Anyway, for that reason, Aru is waiting. When you kill me and gain freedom.

It is true that I was trained to some extent due to my carrot and stick strategy, but the time was very short. You can’t change a life 180 degrees in just a few days. I never wanted that in the first place.

“Ha, ha… .”

The build-up was done. What are you so worried about? He’s just a weak young demon who will die soon.

Come out.

Come out quickly.

If this continues, I will die.

Stop burning yourself. I know your speed is burning out. If you accidentally take a bite and the fish runs away, are you sure you won’t regret it?

Hwiiing-.

The cold and chilly wind of the demon world blows. Aru seems to have sensed that the full moon will rise soon and is just crouching down and muttering. I have to think about my lines, but I can’t think of anything because I was hit so hard.

The fog is quite hazy. It feels like a ritual to summon the devil. I slowly breathe in through my nose and exhale air through my mouth, waiting for my prey to catch me soon.

Jiing-.

The saint’s rosary that she had in her pocket suddenly rings. My pants and lower body were shaking. What is this? I need to concentrate so hard, but why are you doing this?

“Ha… ha… .”

It was a bit distracting for a moment, but I don’t have time to worry about things like the vibration of the rosary now. Because life depends on alert.

Damn it, please show up quickly. My insides are starting to get hot and I feel like I’m going to squirm. This means that the recovery potion in the bag must be consumed after the show is over.

Like that, maybe ten seconds passed while my lips became dry.

Jeopuk-.

The sound of heavy footsteps was heard. It is not a confident, confident step, but a stomping step with urgency.

Jeopuk-.

The image of a male demon was revealed through the thick fog. He was approaching me with straight steps.

“Kkkk! Kkkk!”

As soon as he senses the presence, Aru, who had been quiet all along, starts barking like crazy. I guess what I was vaguely expecting was correct.

Jeopuk-.

“Krrr… ! Kkkk!”

A seagull-shaped mustache appears, cutting through the white steam. As it got closer and bigger, it was on Inyoung’s face.

For fear of being seen, I don’t raise my head, but just raise my eyes slightly to check In-young’s face. This is the demon that came up next to me at the auction house and spoke to me. There is a long, invisible window tied to its back.

Was it interest? The criminal who massacred Aru’s family, handed Aru over to the auction house, and followed and watched me after I ran away after winning the bid for Aru.

“Kkkk! Grrrr! Kkkk!”

At the appearance of a villain with a grudge, Aru rolls his eyes and cries. It doesn’t look like he can’t turn his head, but I think he might be shedding hot, bloody tears. The cry of an animal that has lost its mind.

Hwii-ing-.

The wind that had been blowing hard earlier is getting stronger. The clouds in the sky are gradually being pushed to the side. The obscured round full moon is about to show off its majesty to the world by removing the obstruction.

The stage is complete. This is because all the main actors appeared on stage.

“Giggle… .”

“… Are you smiling now?”

“Stylish people shouldn’t talk too long. My mouth hurts.”

“Hmm, I thought it was really unusual when I saw it at the auction house, but it was a playful statement in this situation. That’s amazing.”

There is no drum sound. Of course. Because the one fighting on this stage is not me.

My heart feels like it will explode. Holding onto my beating heart, I continue acting. Towards the highlight of this show.

“Kkekekekekekeong! Grrrr! Crrr!”

“Wow, it’s noisy. Isn’t he tired?”

“Why did you get attacked by that wolf guy earlier? I thought the hierarchy was clearly established.”

“Wolf is very strong, isn’t it? Also, be careful not to get your wrist caught. If you are picky, you will end up like me.”

“Anyway, even if you hadn’t been hit by that wolf, you would have been hit by me. It seems like it failed a little earlier.”

“Giggle… .”

The mustache demon stood in front of me and let out a stern voice. Did he realize through a brief conversation that my breathing was not at a level where he would stop immediately? He had become somewhat calm.

“I want to ask you something. What is your identity? I heard how they caught that damn wolf.”

“Nothing much. They just wanted to catch the King of Wolves and sell him at an auction house, and if he was successful and became someone else’s property, he would take it back and sell it back to the auction house. My job is just a hunter.”

“Hunter… mustache… window… Ah, now I see that you are ‘Swalin’s Spearman’? I didn’t recognize it because I’ve never seen it before.”

“Swalin’s spearman? I don’t know that name.”

“I don’t know about that. But I know.”

Swalin’s spearman. Although I have never seen him in person, he is a famous hunter in the demon world who later becomes quite famous. He was famous as a miser who caught all kinds of rare species and sold them at auction houses.

Now he seems to be nothing more than a skilled and ordinary hunter.

“Do you want my property?”

“If you tell me quickly, I will save your life.”

Crazy guy, are you asking me to believe that?

“Giggle, fuck it. Because I will never tell you.”

“Hmm, I didn’t think you would say it so obediently anyway.”

Speaking softly, the mustachioed demon, or rather ‘Swalin’s Spearman’, hung on his back and pulled the spear out of its holder.

I’m still sitting with my back against the iron bars, breathing heavily.

Behind me, Aru.

“Kkekekekekekeong! Wow! Krrrrkkk!! I’ll kill you!! I’ll kill you!!”

It is screaming desperately and spewing out murderous intent. It is the appearance of a perfect beast, with no trace of reason whatsoever.

“First, let’s cut off one leg.”

Swalin’s spearman raised his spear high. Then, without hesitation, he stabbed it at my leg, which was neatly placed on the ground.

To be exact, I tried to stab him.

Ugh-!

The moment the sharply shining silver spear blade rose, I wiggled my fingers and activated the telekinetic power I had trained and accumulated so hard. The magic bubble becomes an intangible control force that changes the target of the spear.

The new target pointed at by the tip of the spear is none other than Aru within us.

Swalin’s spearman was unable to respond to the momentary change. This is because the whole body faithfully carries out the commands given by the brain.

Shuaaa!

“Kkekekekekekekeke! I’ll kill you!!!”

The window advances without hesitation. Aru is still barking at the top of his lungs. Swalin’s spearman tried to retrieve the spear, but it was already too late.

“Oh, no… ! The Wolf King needs to be revived and sold again, so why did he stab him by mistake… !”

Meanwhile, calculating the profit and loss, Swalin’s spearman gave a new command to his hand and reduced the power of the spear. Still, the spear rushes sharply. A sharp spear moves above my head as I sit down.

Well, is this about it?

I quickly strengthened my legs and stood up like a spring. The window that was about to pass over my head is now pointing towards my raised stomach.

It was as if I was sacrificing myself to save Aru, who was in danger.

I was stabbed by a spear.

Fuuuk-!

“Ahhhh!”

Blood-red fireworks explode brilliantly.

My eyes widen as a hot pain penetrates my abdomen.

The spearman’s experienced eyes also sparkle.

Aru’s eyes, who were watching this entire process from behind, also sparkle.

“Uh, huh? Okay… ?”

“You… ? What have you done now… ?”

I fell to the ground with the spear stuck in my stomach. I don’t even have the energy to stand up anymore. I desperately want to take the recovery potion I brought in the bag, but now is the time to wait.

because.

“Kongkeong… ? Young demon… ? What did you do now… ?”

Hwii-ing-.

The long-awaited full moon is rising.

Come on, Aru. Next time I leave it to you.

The show starts now.

*****

Young demon, strange.

He wants me to hit him.

So I hit it hard.

As I was hitting him, I got emotional, so I hit him as hard as I could, pretending to be afraid of punishment.

I felt relieved.

And then he showed up.

A bad guy you can never forget. A guy who will tear you to death. A guy who will chew you to death.

My head was covered in red.

I couldn’t think of anything.

There was no sound.

A young demon and an enemy demon talked. I just barked.

I wanted to tear off this iron bar and bite that guy’s neck right now, but I couldn’t, so I was frustrated.

however.

however.

The enemy demon threw a stick that smelled of iron at me.

It was a stick with a sharp end.

I felt death.

Stinging water flowed from my eyes.

I thought I was going to die like this.

There are still a lot of things I want to do.

I felt sad, resentful, and angry.

however.

The young demon threw himself away.

The young demon sacrificed himself for me.

A cunning, evil, bad demon.

I threw myself away to block the iron pole flying towards me.

Blood splattered.

It was the blood of a young demon.

I don’t understand.

Young demons are bad demons.

The young demon is a demon that hits me at will.

The young demons… He loves me.

… .

Is that really why?

Because you love me, are you going to die instead?

Like mom?

Like dad?

Like uncle, aunt, aunt, or grandmother?

no.

no.

I don’t want to see you die again.

Because of me, someone is giving up their life.

I don’t want to see you again.

My body feels strange. My arms are hot.

I feel like I can do anything.

Strange. I looked up and saw something blue and round.

full moon.

full moon… !

full moon… … !!

*****

“Krrr… .”

Ujikkeun-.

The teeth, which changed from human teeth to wolf teeth, crush the iron bars so easily.

The wolf beast, finally freed from the stuffy cage it had been imprisoned in, looked at me with its sparkling blue eyes.

Those menacing eyes moved to the target that should be annihilated in the current situation.

“Krrr… .”

Long fingernails and toenails, and wolf teeth that are clearly different from those of humans. The glossy mane of the thickened tail and the hair that had grown so long that it covered the waist and back.

And, while before she had the appearance of a human girl, her body has now grown to resemble that of a saintly woman. The hot blood that spread out into the White Sea made the protruding blood vessels even more noticeable.

The blue energy of the full moon illuminates the beast.

The beast quickly closed the distance between itself and the riding demon.

A strong, sharp claw imbued with enormous power lodges itself in the demon’s abdomen.

Behind the series of processes, a young demon was giggling, spewing out blood without anyone noticing.