Chapter 4

◈ Chapter 4. Demon Hunter (1)

I was doubtful.

‘Do demons really appear like this in reality?’

...How come, after ten years, there’s been no progress?

The current situation was similar to the demon hunter quest.

But the moment the message appeared, I was certain.

The demon had possessed Nam Cheolmin’s body.

Instantly, the information from the community came to mind.

-It’s really a demon.

-They’re also at a high level, and the status effects are a pain in the ass.

-Wizards or priest classes have relatively high mental strength, so they can endure, but for us warriors, without buffs or potions, we’re just punching bags.

Indeed, the demon in reality was a troublesome monster.

Ten years ago.

The demons I encountered in the quest weren’t necessarily the same.

But I knew.

I couldn’t afford to be caught up in such trivial judgments in front of a demon.

‘The pride of Granfel Claudius Arpeus Romeo paradoxically rises to its highest in the presence of a demon.’

Yes, I knew what kind of demon had possessed Nam Cheolmin.

What level it was.

What status effects it could cause.

Click—

But my vision was clearer than ever.

My steps were firm, without a hint of hesitation.

At the moment I encountered the demon, I said in a cold voice.

“Indeed, you are a demon.”

My declaration sent shockwaves through the crowd.

Choi Jung-hoon stuttered.

He alternated his gaze between me and Nam Cheolmin, then took a step back.

“W-What do you mean? A-A demon?”

“Demon...!! I had a bad feeling about this.”

“Wait, if it’s a demon, we can’t possibly deal with it...?!”

In the midst of the shock, Nam Cheolmin.

No, the demon, burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! You guys are quick to figure it out, aren’t you?!”

The demon seemed to be enjoying the situation.

Of course, it would.

Human negative emotions are the demon’s power.

“You humans are so... extremely hypocritical.”

But I had no intention of listening to its boasting.

“You’re lacking in dignity.”

In my hand, a silver dagger had already appeared.

“I doubt a lowly creature like a demon has any dignity to begin with.”

Of course, demons have clear hierarchies.

This is something I heard repeatedly during the demon hunter quest in Akkshan.

Low, middle, and high.

Above that are the ‘True Demons,’ and even higher are the ‘Devils’ who claim to be the kings of demons...

But as I said.

‘No matter what temptation, deception, or trial a demon may bring, it cannot even scratch the noble pride of Granfel.’

Granfel.

To me, all demons are the same.

So my actions were without hesitation.

[Skill, ‘Natural Enemy’ has been activated.]

───────

Natural Enemy: Combat power significantly increases when fighting demons.

───────

With the Natural Enemy activated.

My physical abilities had soared.

Swish—

Quickly and decisively.

I stabbed the silver dagger into Nam Cheolmin’s neck.

Clang—

Indeed, it was plate armor.

I didn’t expect it to defend even the neck.

A voice filled with panic echoed.

“...Hahaha! You’re crazy, aren’t you? You’re even worse than me? Just a moment ago, we were getting along, and now you’re swinging a knife? Damn, what kind of guy are you...?!”

But I didn’t allow it.

“Don’t try to talk to me.”

“...W-What?!”

“I don’t converse with my prey.”

Swish—

Piercing the plate armor with a silver dagger was impossible.

‘Then, targeting the seams is the right approach.’

In front of the demon, I moved instinctively.

I could feel that my physical abilities and mental acuity were on a different level compared to when I faced a goblin.

Thud—

I stabbed the silver dagger into the inside of the elbow.

[Skill, ‘Exorcism’ has been activated.]

‘I don’t know how long the effect of Exorcism will last, but it doesn’t matter.’

The message was simple.

I had landed a hit on the demon.

The demon recoiled a few steps, startled.

“Crazy!! It’s silver!! Damn, what are you doing, you guy?”

Instead of answering, I swung the dagger again.

The seam in the side.

The seam in the knee.

And the small gap in the neck.

Gush—

Black blood gushed from the wounds.

The demon said.

“Crazy... Can’t you see the blood? If this continues, this guy will really die. If you kill me, he will die too!! No, I’ll make sure to die with him. Do you think I’ll die alone?!”

I laughed inwardly with relief.

‘How can the lines be exactly the same as ten years ago?’

No, I won’t fall for it.

When the skill [Exorcism] is active, the demon hunter’s attacks only harm the demon.

Even if it’s an old story, I haven’t forgotten this basic fact.

I.

But my face.

Did not reveal my thoughts.

“The prey is only meant to be hunted.”

Thud—

*

“Bro, don’t push yourself too hard. Try to avoid dangerous rifts.”

“Got it. Kid.”

“I’m not kidding. The atmosphere is tense these days. So... why don’t you join our guild? There’s so much you can do as a player without running rifts. Like, being an analyst.”

I just don’t want to live a miserable life.

“You and I are brothers, but we’re quite different.”

“I need to work harder to avoid disgracing you.”

“Taemin succeeded in a boss raid again? Tell him I congratulate him.”

I just didn’t want to be a burden to my more successful younger brother.

Nam Cheolmin watched himself move involuntarily and thought.

‘...Where did it all go wrong?’

His memory was hazy from the moment he entered the rift.

But the messages that appeared were clear.

[Low-level demon, Imp, is watching you.]

[Your mental strength is too low.]

[Status effect: Possession has occurred.]

‘...An Imp?’

A 200-level demon, the Imp.

Nam Cheolmin knew the dangers of demons well.

Because of what he had heard from his younger brother, Nam Taemin.

Nam Cheolmin gritted his teeth.

‘I shouldn’t have entered! It’s a total wipe!’

But he couldn’t speak.

‘...Right, another party. If I get help from another party!’

Words came out of his mouth against his will.

“But, there’s no need to worry. This place is quite large, like a transfer station. If we choose the right route, we can hunt without overlapping with other parties.”

He was leading his party members to certain death.

“Cheolmin! No, bro!!”

Continuous unexpected actions.

Finally, the party members, including Choi Jung-hoon, were surrounded by a mob.

‘It’s my fault. Because of me...!!’

Move.

Please, move.

I need to help.

But Nam Cheolmin couldn’t move a single step.

He could only stand there and watch.

“Damn, why are you doing this!! Hey, Nam Cheolmin!!”

It was all his fault.

His lack of ability.

Nam Cheolmin’s heart began to crumble with a sense of powerlessness.

‘...Taemin, maybe you were right.’

And that was what the Imp wanted.

Nam Cheolmin finally let go of the thread of consciousness he had barely held onto.

All he could hear was a faint voice.

“Hey, Nam Cheolmin! Did you really think I was something special just because I called you ‘bro’ and followed you around? Damn, if I weren’t your brother, I’d be nothing...”

Yes, Choi Jung-hoon’s words were all true.

He was nothing more than that.

“Hahaha. Hahahaha.”

All he could hear after that was laughter.

The Imp’s laughter, mocking his weakness.

But the laughter, which seemed endless, suddenly stopped.

“Indeed, you are a demon.”

...Did he realize the demon’s presence? How?

Nam Cheolmin clung to the thread of consciousness again.

Then he saw an unbelievable sight.

‘...Is he overwhelming the Imp?’

It was an unbelievable situation.

The reason demons are troublesome isn’t just because of their high levels.

Demons frequently induce status effects.

[Fear], [Despair], [Exhaustion]...

To counter these vicious status effects, one needs high mental strength stats.

Or a level gap so overwhelming that it can ignore even that.

‘...But, who is this man?’

It was hard to believe even as he watched.

This wasn’t a fight.

Yes, as the man said.

It was a one-sided ‘hunt.’

The Imp’s wailing echoed in Nam Cheolmin’s ears.

Nam Cheolmin thought.

‘...If the Imp dies, I die too?’

Then I will die.

Nam Cheolmin made up his mind.

His party members were in danger because of him.

Even if his body was possessed by the Imp, it wouldn’t be an excuse.

Demons target weak humans.

Even that was his fault.

‘I should at least die with honor, right?’

Right, Jung-hoon? Taemin?

Fortunately, the man showed no hesitation.

‘Unfortunately, there’s no way to repay you.’

At that moment, Nam Cheolmin thought.

Thud—

As the man’s dagger pierced the neck.

He felt something leave his body.

Click—

...For some reason, his eyes opened.

“...?”

Soon, the ceiling of the subway was in view.

The flickering light bulb was shining brightly.

Bright enough to squint.

In the middle, a voice was heard.

“Didn’t I say?”

It was a voice full of composure,

with a sense of dignity.

“With me here, you have nothing to worry about.”

*

[Low-level demon, ‘Imp,’ has been defeated.]

[Level up.]

[Level up.]

[Level up.]...

My level increased.

Counting the messages, there were 12 in total.

Just by defeating one Imp, I gained 12 levels.

What, is this for real?

I recalled the battle with the Imp.

To gauge its level, which seemed to pour out experience points.

But no matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t understand.

‘Rather, the goblin was a tougher opponent than the Imp.’

The goblin’s level was only in the 30s.

Then the implication is simple.

‘...They say high expectations lead to great disappointment.’

But this far exceeds my expectations.

Apparently, the ‘Natural Enemy’ relationship between demon hunters and demons is much stronger than I thought.

‘Is it because it’s a low-level demon?’

The gap is so significant that it can’t be bridged by a moderate difference.

The message didn’t stop there.

[Skill, ‘Silver Mastery’ proficiency has increased.]

───────

Silver Mastery (24%): Grants additional attack power and special effects to silver weapons.

───────

Thanks to defeating the Imp with a silver dagger, the skill’s proficiency increased dramatically.

The proficiency, which was 19%, jumped to 24%.

Unfortunately, the Imp didn’t drop any items.

But I didn’t feel disappointed.

Perhaps because of the massive experience points gained.

Or maybe because of Granfel’s setting, which doesn’t care about fame and fortune.

I couldn’t tell.

‘But more importantly.’

Keeping my word was more important.

“Didn’t I say? With me here, you have nothing to worry about.”

...If I hadn’t kept it, I would have been embarrassed to death.

Through experience, I realized.

Granfel, my actions, which are steeped in a dark past, cannot be corrected.

Even in a life-or-death situation.

His firm head proved it.

So I have to adapt.

Fortunately, my adaptability seems to be quite good.

“Huh. Thank you. Really. I will definitely...!”

“Bro, are you okay? Man, what the hell happened...”

“Phew. Thank goodness. Really.”

“Wow. Amazing...!!”

The burdensome gazes directed at me.

Those admiring eyes.

I accepted them without any hesitation.

As if it were the most natural thing.

I just thought.

‘They lack manners.’

The saying that young people these days have no manners,

isn’t just a baseless claim.

*

──────────

Title: Today’s 4号线 裂缝攻略后记!! ><

Author: Jeong Yewon

──────────

Content: Today’s strategy was almost a disaster. The party leader was possessed by an Imp... I really thought our party would be wiped out... But there was an incredibly strong player in our party who really beat the Imp to a pulp and saved us!! The party leader was crying, saying sorry and thank you...

──────────

Comments:

─Is it the ex-military high school girl concept again, Jeong Yewon? Now you’re even faking stories?

─Jeong Yeon, at least make your fake stories more convincing. Even in a goblin party, the story of defeating an Imp is too far-fetched.

─At least give the strong player a name, not just ‘a party member’... lol

─Hey, this isn’t fake. I swear. And I wanted to ask for his name... but you guys have to see it to know. It’s not easy to approach him... how should I put it? He had a presence...? Our levels are just so different...

─??? What nonsense

368 levels.

Player ranking 11th.

Nam Taemin read the post and let out a hollow laugh.

“So, bro. You want me to believe this? Really?”

In front of him was his older brother, Nam Cheolmin.

“Yeah. It’s true.”

Nam Cheolmin’s face was dead serious.

“I’m the party leader who was possessed by the Imp.”

“What, what are you saying?”