Chapter 50

◈ Chapter 50. Frost (1)

Myth Group.

To Baek Yiseul, Myth was a massive mountain that needed to be toppled someday.

If it couldn't be brought down from the bottom,

it had to be toppled from the top.

“Vicious woman.”

That's what Baek Yiseul's mother was called.

Baek Yiseul was the illegitimate child of her father, or rather, Chairman Baek.

It was an unfair situation.

The one who did wrong was Chairman Baek, yet the one who faced the finger-pointing was her mother.

It was an unreasonable situation.

Even her mother, who suffered from depression, eventually left the world.

- "Please live quietly, Yiseul."

At a funeral where no one came to pay their respects,

Chairman Baek said those words.

But she couldn't.

Baek Yiseul couldn't bear the injustice.

That's why she was called a vicious woman.

If she inherited the blood of a vicious woman,

she would use the poison flowing through her veins

to intoxicate and destroy Myth, to avenge her mother.

In that sense, the great upheaval was an opportunity.

No, it was fate.

Arcana, which she started to escape from the past and reality,

became her reality.

Baek Yiseul didn't miss this fate.

She walked into the tiger's den called Myth.

And before long, she was recognized by Chairman Baek.

──────

[Exclusive] Myth Group Chairman Baek Juseong, “Baek Yiseul is my daughter.”

──────

She became the master of the Myth Guild.

The Myth Guild became an official subsidiary of the Myth Group.

So, are you happy?

Unfortunately, this was just the beginning of her revenge.

……Yes, it must have been.

‘What am I doing right now?’

A feeling of sinking into the subconscious.

Consciousness returned only when

someone spoke to her.

“How is it? Are we getting closer to our goal, my lady?”

The view of the hotel.

She saw her own face reflected in the glass.

……It was definitely her.

But she couldn't move a single part of her body.

Not even the fingers that caressed her reflection in the glass.

She couldn't even utter a single word.

A voice mocked her, as if laughing at her.

“Of course, there might be differences from what you imagined. But what can you do about it now? It's too late to change anything.”

……That reminded her.

Yes, the one who possessed her body was a demon.

The succubus she met in the rift.

The memory of that day slowly returned.

The rift exploration failed.

A demon-type monster.

No one could have predicted such a variable.

Zing─

Baek Yiseul looked at the guild members who pointed their swords at her.

They were all affected by the succubus's status ailment.

Is this how I die?

Baek Yiseul gritted her teeth.

……I can't die like this.

The revenge has just begun.

Baek Yiseul clenched her fist.

‘Even if I have to sell my soul to the demon…!’

The demon whispered to her.

“Your eyes are entrancing. I like them.”

[Intermediate Demon, Succubus is watching you.]

[Your mental strength is too low.]

[Status Ailment: Possession occurs.]

But Baek Yiseul was mistaken.

What kind of creatures are demons?

Did you think selling your soul would change anything?

Apart from the transaction,

demons see humans as all the same.

Just insignificant beings to be toyed with.

It was useless to regret.

Baek Yiseul finally realized.

‘……This isn't the first time.’

Yes, she realized that her body was possessed by a demon.

The process of feeling dejected and falling back into the subconscious

was something she had repeated dozens of times.

This made her feel even more powerless.

To the point where she couldn't even hear the demon's voice anymore.

“Indeed, a pitiful demon.”

‘……?’

What is this voice?

Not a pitiful human, but a demon…?

It was a man's voice, not a succubus.

Perhaps the succubus was also taken aback.

The disturbance woke Baek Yiseul from her subconscious.

And she saw.

A straight, unwavering posture.

“……W-What are you saying?”

As if the demon's temptation didn't even reach her ears.

“T-This is impossible!!”

She saw Ho Yeol hunting the demon.

“Aaaah!!”

Baek Yiseul felt an indescribable emotion.

……Was it exhilarating?

No, it was far from that.

After all, she was also in a state of dying with the demon.

So, she felt a complex emotion that was hard to express.

But one thing was clear.

‘……Thank you.’

She was grateful to Ho Yeol.

The memory of the succubus's atrocities.

It was so disgusting that it made her want to vomit.

Just the fact that she wouldn't have to endure such behavior anymore

made it worth dying.

Yes, that's what she thought at that moment.

“……?”

Swoosh─

A steady sound was heard.

It was the sound of a sharp pen tip scratching paper.

‘……What is this?’

Whatever it was,

it was strange to hear it for the first time in hell.

Baek Yiseul slowly opened her eyes.

What she saw was, of course, Ho Yeol.

As if nothing had happened,

he was in the same unwavering posture,

writing something.

Baek Yiseul blinked a few times and realized the reality.

Somehow, I'm alive.

Realizing this, she became aware of her situation.

‘……Oh no.’

The fact that she was possessed by a succubus.

Even if that was the reason, she was about to act disgracefully.

Ho Yeol knew everything about her.

Beyond gratitude, it was embarrassing.

‘I need to get up.’

While wiggling her toes and observing, Baek Yiseul heard a voice.

“Are you regaining consciousness?”

“……!”

Ho Yeol spoke to her.

Baek Yiseul reflexively looked at him and flinched.

“……Yes. Thank you.”

But his posture was completely unshaken.

……It was as if he had eyes on the side of his head.

In that state, Ho Yeol continued.

“We can discuss the details later.”

……Details?

Quickly assessing the situation,

Baek Yiseul thought.

Fortunately, she was familiar with such negotiation settings.

So, she quickly organized her stance.

‘……I am in a position where I have no choice but to be led.’

Ho Yeol, who knew her weaknesses,

was also her savior.

Thinking of it as a life debt,

Baek Yiseul was prepared to accept any deal.

She spoke calmly.

“Right now, anything, you can say it.”

But her efforts to think were in vain.

The response was a question she hadn't even considered.

“Isn't it you who should make a proposal?”

“……?”

That was the true "A" (甲方).

“I haven't heard your proposal yet. What investments and risks is the Myth Guild willing to take to participate in the reconstruction of the Yusra Kingdom? Be clear about it at our next meeting.”

“……!”

Not hiding behind someone,

nor scheming.

It was the posture of a noble.

Baek Yiseul nodded at Ho Yeol's words.

“I understand.”

To have misunderstood and misjudged such an opponent.

With gratitude and apology.

Baek Yiseul continued.

“Then I will come back with a sincere proposal.”

*

The predator-prey relationship didn't activate.

In other words, I was in a state of being out of sync.

On top of that, the unfamiliar combat style of emitting sword energy.

I, a mere 350-level monster,

could barely take down just one.

Of course, considering my level, it was quite impressive.

But compared to the levels of the demon-type monsters I had taken down so far,

it was clearly a lower level.

That's why my level was stuck at 230.

Considering other players, it wasn't a slow pace.

‘I've already tasted the flavor of meat.’

But because I've tasted it,

I can't help but feel a bit disappointed.

However.

[Name: Grangfell Claudius Arpeus Romeo]

[Class: Demon Hunter]

[Level: 238]

[Stats]

Strength: 38 / Agility: 42 / Magic: 180 / Luck: 3

[Available Points: 8]

I took down the demon that possessed Baek Yiseul,

and my level instantly increased by 8…!

I couldn't help but be overjoyed at the loot and everything.

Indeed, I need to hunt demons.

There's no one better suited to be a demon hunter than me.

‘Anyway, beyond self-praise.’

Demon-type monsters.

I once again realize their wickedness.

Demons are definitely different from ordinary monsters.

Even if the rift collapses and they escape,

there might be no way to detect them