◈ Episode 435. Had a Feeling This Would Happen (2)
The Demon King of the Fourth Throne, Gamigin.
If we're talking bad blood, it's bad blood.
Of course, I'm speaking from your position, not mine.
'I don't really have any bad feelings about it.'
Back when I sent Gamigin to Hell, what was my level?
Leaving aside high or low, I lacked the foundation.
I was too busy pouring water into a bottomless jar.
It was so pathetic that comparing it to now would be embarrassing.
'I couldn't even understand what Gamigin was saying.'
A truly immeasurable gap.
Because of that, there were times when I recalled sending Gamigin to Hell and let out a sigh of relief. He might be called the Fourth Throne, but if we exclude Baal, who is off the charts, Gamigin was among the top three of the upper demon kings.
'Tenacious.'
I looked down at the Demonic Eye.
The green flames of Hell.
Gamigin was blazing and emanating malice.
-Howl. Let the screams reach him.
It was the reason I had expected.
To take revenge on me, Gamigin had targeted my nemesis, I Yerim.
In that sense, it was fortunate.
The fact that he was still locked away in Hell.
'If he had been released, I wouldn't have been able to handle him alone.'
The upper demon kings who had begun to reveal their presence.
As I said, the influence they were currently exerting on reality was merely a preview. Calling it a prelude didn't do justice to the ominous cityscape, but it wasn't an exaggeration.
They possessed the power to dictate the very worldview.
'But that's not the case right now, is it?'
They were demonic claws reaching through a medium called rifts, which even they didn't fully understand. Naturally, their power was bound to be feeble. Furthermore, Gamigin's influence?
I could be certain.
'You're not in your right state right now, are you?'
Because I had faith.
Faith in my Akshan seniors who resided in Hell……!
Of course, the only Akshan junior.
'Including the Sword Saint, Syegeuwin.'
That my faith wasn't misplaced was evident from the scene before me. That's right. I was looking down at Gamigin's Demonic Eye with an ice-cold gaze.
-I'll stomp on you and turn you into minced meat.
Because Gamigin couldn't detect my presence.
In that sense, I prepared a fitting dramatic entrance.
Recalling the ironclad rule of the Akshan demon hunters.
『Negative emotions are the very root of demons.』
Thanks to my occupational disease, I could guess why an upper demon king was putting on such a cheap show.
You want to spread negative emotions in reality.
But spreading them is my specialty too.
*Swish.*
An elegant and precise switching motion.
I equipped the legacy of Yunakseoseu, [Commander's Gauntlet - Wisdom of the Old Dragon]. Anyway, he doesn't even know how to casually equip a single gauntlet. Seeing that he also doesn't forget to neaten his clothes as a finishing touch…….
'The formality of this guy.'
Normally, I would've complained that I was just putting on unnecessary airs.
But now is a special situation.
The negative emotions covering reality.
With my appearance.
With my presence.
I had to completely reverse them.
Even if they are upper demon kings.
They are nothing to me.
They're not even worth a rat's horn, so you guys don't need to be shaken either.
It was a moment that demanded an attitude of shamelessness beyond the ordinary.
The more it was such a time, the more this bastard's blabbering shone.
I opened my mouth toward Gamigin.
"There is no paradise in the place you fled to."
……
Wow, that's quite a literary expression right from the start.
The moment I opened my mouth.
The crowd coming into view.
Naturally, the senior mages Pei Yan and Nasrou of the Magic Tower. Citizens holding up their smartphones toward me with bated breath. And even the Players who had stopped fighting to look at me.
"Th-that's I Hoyeol!!"
Embarrassment welled up.
'It's not like it's happened once or twice; I can endure it. But…….'
Among them.
I saw my nemesis with sparkling eyes.
I'm glad she's safe, but…
Please, don't spout nonsense about Heavenly Demons or whatever……!
'……I've suffered enough of that on the Arcana continent.'
In the legend of the [Dragon Lord, the Black Rock Dragon, I Hoyeol].
I was someone who had given up changing jobs to the hidden class, Dragon Lord. Therefore, I couldn't use the Dragon Lord's 'Dominating Dragon Word', but I could spout regular 'Dragon Words' as much as I wanted.
[Effect: The great Elder Dragon who will be recorded in myth, Yunakseoseu declared. "Through my legacy, Cloudie shall become able to understand and utter Dragon Words!"]
-……Since when.
I continued speaking to Gamigin, who had only then noticed me.
"Behold."
Slowly taking out equipment with both gauntleted hands.
The unique armament of an Akshan demon hunter that would make him panic just by looking.
A sword in one hand.
A crossbow in the other.
And I declared.
"I am your Hell."
[Skill, 'Natural Enemy Relationship' is activated.]
My body feels light.
The effect of Natural Enemy Relationship resonates more than usual.
Probably thanks to all the suffering I went through on the Arcana continent. Because I was the one who had fought with that absurd fellow, the Apostle of the Shadow God, in the [Valley of the Forgotten].
'Without even having a Natural Enemy Relationship.'
*Swish.*
Thanks to that hellish experience, I had fully absorbed his techniques. Meaning I could now add the techniques of the Shadow Mercenary Corps to the movements of a demon hunter that were simple and endlessly straightforward.
*Click.*
A rapid-fire speed incomparable to something like [Simultaneous Shooting].
*Swish-swack.*
Furthermore, the silver bolts that shot out bent and curved.
You ask if it would be simple if I added magic?
On the outside, it might not look any different.
'But it's different.'
Because I've faced it directly.
I can clearly know that difference. Because the silver bolts weren't simply bending; they were persistently digging into the opponent's blind spots in their field of view.
*Whir.*
Gamigin's pupils moved rapidly, chasing the bolts.
I suppose one would say a Demonic Eye has no combat ability.
Then the only method would be to use surrounding monsters as shields.
'In that sense, it's a pity.'
The King of All Things, Dragon.
At this moment, my voice surpassed the subjugation of all demons.
It was no different from Dragon Fear containing the power of the subjugation of all things.
Thanks to that, the ending was obvious.
*Thud.*
The silver bolt struck the back of Gamigin's Demonic Eye simultaneously.
Likewise, a sword strike digging into a blind spot.
In other words…….
According to my damned naming sense, the 'Invisible Sword' slaughtered him.
*Roar.*
At the same time, the flames of Hell blazed even fiercer.
Honestly, I think it's amazing, Gamigin.
Because you're the Demon King of the Fourth Throne.
You must be tenaciously holding on even after falling into Hell.
In that sense, I think it's fortunate once again.
The hellfire blazing from you will become a beacon lit for my seniors in Hell. I don't know where in Hell you're hiding and pulling these tricks from, but that deviation ends now.
Did he intuit that fact as well?
-Daaamn yooou, braaat!!
Gamigin howled furiously within the flames.
A commotion so loud that the gathered crowd covered their ears.
It really seemed like a final death throe.
Gamigin.
Having cast aside the dignity of the Fourth Throne.
Because he had begun to chatter crassly like any common demon.
-Do you know? I am merely the beginning. Even if you sent me to Hell with cunning tricks and killed Buer. Now that the Ten Thrones have united their opinions. Your world cannot remain safe!
Threats until the very end.
If I think of Akshan's ironclad rule, I shouldn't engage in unnecessary conversation.
But that's how society works—another thing you can't overlook.
I need to score some points with our seniors who are suffering in Hell.
'Especially considering the Akshan Civil War quest.'
I opened my mouth to completely break Gamigin's spirit.
Actually, I didn't need grandiose words. Gamigin is one whose power has weakened in Hell. Between such a toothless tiger and me, a vigorous Demon King of the Ten Thrones, there exists a 'gap' in rank.
At this moment.
"□□□□□ □□□□□, □□."
To Gamigin, you wouldn't understand my words.
-My rank… to such a brat……?
Putting yourself in another's shoes.
That's how frustrated I was back then.
Fall into Hell and wonder about it too.
*Living room.
The sound of the TV echoing.
Madame Choe Ganghui lets out a sigh of relief.
"They say he's safe. Yerim is also almost home."
It wasn't just Players who had endured the early days of the Cataclysm.
Perhaps those who couldn't help but tremble in fear even more than Players were.
Ordinary people who had no ability to respond to monsters that ran amok.
I Junuk opened his mouth.
"Isn't he amazing?"
"Amazing? Who?"
"Our Hoyeol. They're showing him on TV too."
-"I Hoyeol perfectly suppresses the mutant Demonic Eye!"
It was perfect, just as the caption said.
Since they weren't Players.
They couldn't tell how amazing Hoyeol's movements were just by watching.
But they could guess by looking at the experts vehemently talking on TV.
-"It appears that movement has grown once more."
-"Especially the movement digging into blind spots. That's instinct!"
-"Such combat power even without Ego Sword?!"
The next news was also about their son.
-"Not only that, but the cooperation of Arcana forces had a tremendous impact on this incident. Especially the senior mages of the Magic Tower deploying worldwide…."
Just as the announcer said.
If Hoyeol hadn't been there, this incident would have caused far greater damage.
Even so, her heart was not at ease.
Choe Ganghui muttered quietly.
"……It's hard to say I'm simply relieved."
News of casualties scrolling by in the captions.
Although no additional damage had occurred since the world responded to the rift collapse.
It was a situation that started inside the rifts to begin with.
The number of dead Players was being updated belatedly.
I Junuk opened his mouth.
"As long as the Cataclysm hasn't completely ended, it can't always be peaceful. In that sense, we too can never simply forget and be at ease."
The TV was still talking.
That Hoyeol was overwhelmingly strong.
That perhaps he had truly been reborn as the King of All Things.
Even so, a parent's heart couldn't be at ease.
Choe Ganghui nodded.
"He really is amazing, our Hoyeol."
She looked at Hoyeol on the screen.
The silver hair she was now used to.
But at certain moments…….
"He's so amazing that he feels unfamiliar."
I Junuk remained silent.
"…."
To say their only son felt unfamiliar.
That Hoyeol was growing up.
He should have responded, but his lips wouldn't move.
Probably because he empathized.
Suddenly, Hoyeol's voice flowing from the screen.
-"I am your Hell."
I Junuk forced a smile.
"……Maybe it's because of that way he talks?"
It was then.
*Burst!*
The front door opened and I Yerim returned.
"Yerim, you weren't hurt, right?"
"Hurt? Something did happen! Mom, Dad, I saw Hoyeol!"
"……Wh-what?!"
First of all, I Yerim got smacked on the back by Madame Choe Ganghui.
"Ah! Why did you hit me?!"
Getting caught in a collapse rift.
Even though she returned safely.
Pretending nothing happened.
She had sent a text saying nothing was wrong.
"So you met Hoyeol there?"
"Yeah! We totally made eye contact!"
"You're showing off. Bragging."
"Of course it's bragging. Who else was there? I saw Hoyeol working!"
The palm striking her back once again.
"Damn it, Mom!"
"Anyway, I'm glad you're safe, Yerim."
"Right, I'm glad? Yeah, really glad."
I Junuk and Choe Ganghui exchanged glances.
A year apart.
So close they could practically be called twins.
Yerim and Hoyeol were close.
Thanks to that, even if they didn't show it.
At times, more than themselves as parents.
The youngest daughter was the one who worried about Hoyeol more than anyone.
But for some reason, that youngest daughter looked happy.
"……Are you really okay?"
"I'm fine. I'm perfectly fine even after getting smacked."
"Hoyeol is okay too?"
The last question was not asking about Hoyeol's safety.
It meant asking if the Hoyeol she saw was okay.
To explain more directly…….
It was a question asking if she hadn't felt the unfamiliarity they felt from Hoyeol.
"Hmm."
I Yerim thought for a moment.
As his blood relative closer than anyone, she couldn't not know.
After becoming a Player, Hoyeol had definitely changed.
To the point where someday, beyond feeling unfamiliar, Hoyeol might not feel like Hoyeol.
But.
"He was the same. Definitely our youngest."
From today, she was able to shake off such thoughts.
People change, so Hoyeol can change too.
Perhaps that meant he grew up faster than me, his older sister.
Even so, Hoyeol was still Hoyeol.
Because she could feel it from his last words.
-"I'm glad you're safe, Nunim."
The same old love-hate.
*Tower Lord, Marcello.
The King of Yusra, Hakuna.
Even the AAU branch heads.
I declared at the gathering of everyone.
As long as rifts are created.
It wouldn't be strange for Demonic Eyes to keep appearing.
After today's emergency update.
Reality must live with a great threat every single moment.
'Everyone's expressions were no joke.'
Beyond serious, they were determined expressions.
They must have felt that the brief peace had ended.
Of course, my expression after returning to the office couldn't help but be serious too.
On the desk.
Because there was an item I didn't know about.
I emitted mana.
I backtracked the item's trail.
But I couldn't read any memory.
What that means is simple.
This item wasn't placed here by a person from this world.
Naturally, it wasn't placed by someone from the Arcana continent either.
"I see."
A person from the other world.
A demon hunter from Hell.
An item delivered to me by my Akshan seniors in Hell.
I could intuit it.
"Didn't I tell you."
The moment I picked it up, information surfaced.
[Horseshoe of the Fourth Throne]
[Rank: ???]
"That I am your Hell."
Gamigin.
He was hunted by the seniors in Hell.
That Gamigin's trophy had come into my hands.