"──!!"
When I felt like my mind would go crazy at the voice of something heard, I exhaled roughly and sprang up from my seat.
Yoo Joonghyuk also seemed to be in the same state as me, calming his breath and glancing at me.
Time is already…, what. Why is it the same? I feel like we were there for at least a few hours.
…By the way, why is it so dark outside—
-Ring!
Wondering about the strange appearance outside, while cooling down my cold sweat with Cursed Energy and staring blankly.
[A new Main Scenario has arrived.]
As if proving that rest shouldn't exist in a perished world, a new crisis made the relaxed body stiff again.
"…I see. It's not that not much time has passed, but that I fainted for a whole day."
[Main Scenario #9 - 'Proof of a Demon']
Category: Main
Difficulty: A++
Clear Condition: Hunt Demon Species, collect 9 Proofs of a Demon, and offer them to the altar going to the 2nd floor.
Time Limit: 30 days
Reward: 50,000 Coins
Failure: -
Sure enough.
As soon as the Main Scenario was updated, the sky in the middle of Seoul began to tear slowly.
From the torn space, something began to slowly reveal itself along with sticky Demonic Energy, and when it completely settled in the sky, something like a huge castle appeared.
Staring at it intently, did I mutter to myself at that incomprehensible thing?
"What is, that?"
"Dark Castle."
"Dark Castle?"
Yoo Joonghyuk, who answered my monologue as he pleased, leaves the place with those words.
He didn't say anything else, but since that castle has the name 'Dark Castle', and the clear condition of the Main Scenario is to hunt 'Demon Species' and collect Proofs of a Demon, it seemed like we had to head there whether we liked it or not to do anything.
Perhaps I wasn't the only one thinking that; shortly after Yoo Joonghyuk left, several footsteps were suddenly heard.
The owners of these sounds were obvious without looking.
"Dokja-ssi!"
"Dokja Hyung!"
"Hey, Kim Dokja!"
His companions looking for him breathing roughly, perhaps having run without rest.
I glance at his companions once and turn my gaze to Kim Dokja like them.
For now, I had something to talk about with him.
…However.
"Dokja-ssi? Dokja-ssi! Open your eyes, Dokja-ssi!"
"Someone bring Seolhwa Unni!"
"What is, this…?!"
"…."
He, didn't wake up.
What is it? He definitely said he would be reborn after a day. It didn't feel like a lie either.
If so…, did something happen to him?
"…Tch."
"Wait, Yuhyeon-ssi! Where are you going?"
"My time isn't that abundant."
I intended to talk before the scenario started if possible, but if the situation flows like this, the story changes.
Kim Dokja will resurrect someday. Then what I have to do now is….
-Gogogogo…!!
Head to that Dark Castle, and collect Proofs.
"Nue."
-Kieeeek—!!
To head there quickly, I immediately summon Nue, jump out the window, and fly straight there.
The closer I get, the thicker the Demonic Energy and the increasing number of Demon Species.
Surprised for a moment by the volume larger than expected, I soon smile faintly and clear my throat.
"Ah ah."
Cursed Speech (Jugen/呪言).
A compulsory technique by language carrying curses in words.
Using all words spoken out of the mouth as curses to realize them forcibly, but the higher the opponent's Status, and the more violent the content of the Cursed Speech, the greater the risk, a kind of double-edged sword.
However….
[Die.]
The risk was useless against these trivial guys surrounding me.
-Pass-s-s…!!
At that moment, as my voice heavily layered with mechanical sound and echo resonated around, Demon Species turning into dust and disappearing without even a chance to scream.
Honestly, I admired.
Didn't know the performance of the technique would be this good. With this level…, I won't have to worry about dealing with small fries anymore.
However…, rather than that being important right now.
-Kugugugu—!!
Piercing through that endlessly swarming thing seems to be the priority.
Then, let's stop the performance test of Cursed Speech here.
"Come out, 「Shin Yoosung」."
"Aha, ahahat. Ahahahaha—!!!"
Shall we break through the path in earnest.
-Whooosh…!!
As I called the guy's name lowly, 「Shin Yoosung」, vomiting bizarre laughter from the void made of my shadow just like Nue did, began to tear apart the front.
Demon Species being ground up with tremendous wind pressure every time the guy swung her hand roughly once, and another time.
Indeed, was it because she was a Vengeful Spirit made of my Cursed Energy? Or was it because the talents of two Shin Yoosungs bloomed through the existence called me?
Whatever it was, it was a benefit for me, so with a satisfied smile, I continued to move forward, and soon could reach the entrance of the Dark Castle.
"Uuuu…? No, mooore? Can't, kill mooooore?"
"Yeah. So shut up and stay quiet."
"Uuuuu…."
Leaving the guy bowing her head as if a bit sullen behind, I slowly enter the Dark Castle.
-Thud, thud….
-Drip. Driiiip….
"Hunt Demon Species, and collect 9 Proofs of a Demon. But, why didn't any drop just now?"
Even if they were small bat-like mobs, they should have dropped at least one given that numb—
-Thump. Booom. Boooom…!!
—Aha, so that's how it is.
[5th Grade Demon Species, Demon Baron 'Neville' stares at you.]
"Baron?"
"Set foot. Here. Human. You. First."
"Ho-oh. Is that so."
Surrounded by numerous bat-like Demon Species, the guy tilts his head and looks at me as if wondering.
That was brief; soon the guy slowly draws up Demonic Energy with eyes looking at an ant and takes a combat stance, but.
Even so, my smile didn't go down.
[Skill, Cursed Spirit Manipulation (Jureisojutsu/呪霊操術) can tame 'Demon Species'.]
Being able to tame 'Demon Species' means I can put that guy called Baron under me too.
[Activating Skill, 'Cursed Spirit Manipulation Lv.1'.]
[There is a big difference between your Status and the Status of Demon Baron 'Neville'!]
[Cursed Spirit Manipulation activates forcibly and absorbs Demon Baron 'Neville'.]
"Ah, ugh? U, uwaaak…?!"
"Ho-oh. Does this happen if the difference is big?"
As I extended my hand, dark red energy gathered in one place, and soon the guy in front of me slowly stretched long, thinned, became pieces, and turned into something like a bead.
For the end of a guy who has an ego among demons and has excellent Status enough to be called a Baron, it was a somewhat futile and absurd end.
As if shocked by that appearance, Constellations chattered here and there saying they couldn't believe it even seeing with their two eyes, doubting the Probability about me, but.
I lightly ignored their reactions and looked at the bead in front of me turning it around.
Hmm…, seems I just have to ingest this.
"Haaap…, ummm…."
-Gulp.
The thing that was a Baron going down the esophagus.
Big size, and having to swallow it immediately without chewing, it was quite uncomfortable, and the taste wasn't very delicious either….
"…Well, not inedible entirely."
To express it, the taste of swallowing a rag used to wipe vomit whole.
Not inedible. But I don't feel like eating it again next time. Well…, still.
"If done well, could become a one-man army."
Similar to Ten Shadows Technique in dealing with Shikigami, but if there is the biggest difference, Ten Shadows Technique has a small number at most excluding Rabbit Escape, and Cursed Spirit Manipulation increases power infinitely as long as I can tame.
"…Proof of a Demon. Something more important than that has appeared."
Seeing this, Dark Castle is a place full of Demon Species.
If so, this place is now just a feast full of my prey, no different from a hunting ground that will strengthen my power.
-Whooosh…!!
Smiling satisfied at the thought of becoming stronger already, I quietly drew up Cursed Energy and summoned three Shikigami and 「Shin Yoosung」.
"Rabbit Escape, Great Serpent, Toad, and 「Shin Yoosung」."
"Whyyyyy…?"
"If you find a Demon Species of 5th Grade or higher, report to me, and bring all Demon Species of 6th Grade or lower to me. Do not kill. Must capture alive unconditionally."
As my order dropped, the guys scattering at once.
Watching their backs, I grabbed a suitable spot and leaned against the wall.
"Did it say the time limit is 30 days…."
30 days? Ha. Funny.
Is that much needed? 30 days my foot, I'll finish the scenario in a week.
"Pfft, too bad for those guys."
By the way, Kim Dokja is like that because of a problem with resurrection, but what happened to Yoo Joonghyuk.
I saw him leaving, so I thought he headed here straight away, but not coming even after this much time has passed. Does he have a separate plan?
"Well, doesn't matter. Anyway—"
At that moment, before my words could finish completely, a blue window appearing before my eyes.
I had no choice but to stare at that blue window with eyes wide open for a moment.
[Incarnation, 'Anna Croft', asks for your consent to 'Midday Tryst'.]
[Will you accept? Y/N]
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