Chapter 73

◈ Chapter 73. It's Irritating (2)

As if a detector had been activated.

My senses were working sharply.

“……!”

The presence of a demon was felt.

The moment [Predator-Prey Relationship] was activated.

The location of the demon was mapped in my mind.

The demon had set foot in Frost.

Although I had felt this anew.

Still, well done, Lee Ho-yul.

‘If this isn’t a significant improvement, what is? Really.’

Suddenly, the first encounter with the demon came to mind.

Even the imp that possessed Nam Cheol-min couldn’t immediately detect me.

Comparing then and now, it’s hard to believe it’s the same demon hunter.

‘The most significant influence must have been the level, no doubt.’

Yes, back then, I was merely level 55.

Now, I’m level 295.

A rise of 240 levels.

Moreover, I’ve improved my strength and agility stats through class quests. It’s rewarding. The calisthenics at night have paid off.

“You don’t seem to understand your place.”

I wondered what this guy was doing.

In Frost... No, not just in Frost.

The maximum relationship and influence.

In the Frost I had activated the [Authority] function.

Not just a peddler, but a demon dares to step in?!

Who is this demon?

To Granfel, it’s a more offensive presence than a helicopter banner.

“Therefore, it’s fitting for an inferior creature.”

The punishment, he implied, would be insufficient even if the demon were burned like a banner.

I immediately manifested a portal.

A high-level skill that even top-ranked players find burdensome to use.

Of course, I didn’t have such a high-level skill.

If you ask how I manifested the portal.

Well, it’s nothing new.

It’s a spell, distinctly different from a skill.

‘The demon’s location is...’

Where the presence was felt.

The coordinates were in front of the Frost city gate.

Not far away, and [Predator-Prey Relationship] was activated.

I manifested the portal with great momentum.

‘...A mana-consuming behemoth, this is?’

My mana visibly drained.

I realized anew.

‘How do you maintain such a portal?’

Not to mention the magic tower.

The dwarves, in comparison to such a tower, are really a joke.

However, I didn’t show any signs of this fuss.

Thud.

“...W-What is this?!”

A personality that doesn’t get overly excited.

Especially in the current situation, facing a demon.

The portal opened in the air.

I appeared from within it.

A middle-aged man was visibly shaken by the sight.

“Hey. I don’t know what misunderstanding there is, but... Yes! I am such a person. Maeda Kenji. I have been steadily involved in politics for over a decade...”

No, that’s just the surface, of course.

Naturally.

I, Granfel, am not the type to play along with such excuses.

I’ve said it many times.

There’s a rule not to talk to prey.

The silence that followed—

The guy was now practically begging.

“...Yes! I made a huge mistake. Not only the protesters, but launching the helicopter was also my fault. I won’t even come near Frost again!”

He had been involved in politics.

From his words, I had guessed as much.

Indeed, this was his doing.

‘More than I expected.’

I had felt this during the Byi-sul incident.

Demons were becoming increasingly cunning.

The succubus that possessed Byi-sul.

The succubus, who was the master of the Myth guild and a second-generation tycoon, had actively used Byi-sul’s position. This guy was no different.

In that sense, it’s fortunate?

‘That my ability to sense demons has developed.’

The more cunningly demons hide.

The sharper my senses will become.

While thinking.

Suddenly, I heard players talking.

“Wow, it’s Ho-yul!”

“...But what’s going on?”

“I don’t know. It seems like a Japanese politician is apologizing. He’s sorry for the protest and the helicopter. He just bowed deeply.”

“Really? I was already annoyed by the noise.”

...But, wait. All good.

What, Ho-yul? Not enough with the title, now it’s Niim?

What is this very burdensome title?

Of course, contrary to my feelings.

However, the title is also appropriate.

My body calmly accepted it.

‘I can understand that.’

Those players were production class.

From the reconstruction of the Usra Kingdom to the restoration of Frost, I had inadvertently created jobs for the production class. Of course, it wasn’t intentional.

“Why did he apologize like that?”

“He immediately showed his tail when Ho-yul came.”

“Spot on. It was already a nuisance.”

The gazes pouring in.

There were many eyes watching.

Did he feel relieved?

I could see the demon feeling relieved.

‘It’s a delusion that doesn’t even elicit a hollow laugh. That.’

I, Granfel, won’t tolerate it.

Regardless of the onlookers.

I would have burned the demon that possessed this man.

However.

“Ouch! It hit my face!”

“That’s what I said. Don’t mess with the sister!”

“Damn. I won’t look at you as a sister from now on!”

My pride told me.

The residents of Frost, trying to rise from their wounds.

Burning a demon in front of them?

It would be reopening their healing wounds.

That’s not pride, but stubbornness.

Snowball flying.

I turned my head away from the children engaged in a snowball fight.

And I said to the guy.

“Say it again.”

“Again? Ah, I apologize! Not only the protesters...”

“No, again.”

“Yes? Yes, I will apologize again...”

“Again.”

“?”

I continued coldly.

“Look directly at the one you’re apologizing to.”

I will accept the demon’s apology.

From the residents of Frost, not from me.

Realizing my intention, the guy bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, kids.”

The siblings flinched simultaneously.

Then, the sister hid the brother behind her.

I looked at them and manifested a spell.

Yes, an apology is an apology, and a demon must be hunted.

What spells can I manifest?

A demon like this, I can hunt quietly and still have room to spare.

Why, like with the succubus.

Still, he wants to help me?

“Get lost!!”

Whip—

The brother threw a snowball at the man’s face.

Puck—

A strike right in the center of his face.

Simultaneously, the spell manifested.

[Your level has increased.]

By chance, the timing was perfect.

*

Maeda Kenji.

“Ugh.”

He regained consciousness in a hospital room.

As soon as Maeda opened his eyes, the men beside him spoke.

“Mr. Maeda, are you awake?”

“It feels like I’ve been asleep for a very long time.”

“...Indeed!”

“?”

The men made subtle expressions at Maeda’s words.

Maeda was puzzled.

He felt as if he had been asleep for a very long time.

If I had to use a metaphor, it was like waking up from a deep unconsciousness.

Maeda chuckled.

“To work even in such a deep dream. I really am something.”

Fragments of the dream lingered.

Being with the protesters at the scene.

Launching a helicopter.

Giving interviews to journalists.

...And at the end, it seemed like he met someone important?

The men couldn’t hide their bewilderment at Maeda’s words.

‘Is his mind really that messed up?’

Tension for a moment.

Maeda frowned and said.

“Turn on the TV.”

“...Yes?”

“From one to ten. Explain everything that happened while I was asleep. All of you. Don’t get complacent just because you’re players. Open your eyes and ears. You need to watch the news to understand how the world works.”

Maeda picked up the remote control irritably.

“If you want to work with me, remember that.”

Yes, all the men were players.

To be precise, they were the government’s lackeys replacing Inazuma.

Maeda clicked his tongue.

‘How can you use someone who can’t even understand a single word?’

Compared to Inazuma, they were far, far worse.

However, that was Maeda’s misconception.

The men weren’t unable to understand; they were pretending not to.

For Maeda’s sake.

Beep—

The anchor’s voice from the TV.

-This is a screen of materials obtained from the internet.

Frost appeared on the screen.

A middle-aged man bowing obsequiously.

Maeda clicked his tongue more strongly.

“Whoever he is, a man shouldn’t bow like that...?!”

Then he realized.

Maeda’s eyes widened.

Wasn’t that himself?

“T-That, what is that?”

“Calm down. You must remain calm.”

“What happened? I’m asking!”

Could it be that it wasn’t a dream?

The protesters, the helicopter, and the important person.

Were they all real?

No, no matter how I think about it, that’s strange.

My memory shouldn’t be this hazy.

While he was in deep thought.

Subtitles appeared one after another.

-Maeda Kenji. The utmost humiliation in Japanese politics!

“M-Me. Is my body the humiliation of politics?”

Beep—

Yes, the channel was biased from the beginning.

I could tell from when they praised the Korean wave.

The enraged Maeda changed the channel.

Surely, the other channel would show the proper...

“!”

A well-timed screen of materials.

Puck—

There he was, getting hit directly by a snowball.

To be precise, by a boy who could be his grandson.

Getting hit by the snowball and fainting!

Maeda was speechless.

The men, unable to bear it, spoke.

“There’s no abnormality in the brain, but memory loss is suspected...”

“Therefore, you must remain calm.”

“Mr. Maeda, no matter how much you watch, there won’t be any good news...!”

Beep—

Beep—

It was true.

No matter how many channels he changed, all he saw was his humiliation and disgrace.

Or praise for Lee Ho-yul.

-It was a rare sight to see the residents of Frost receive an apology. The attitude of the player Lee Ho-yul is something our Japanese politicians should emulate...

“AAAAAAAAAAH!!”

Maeda screamed.

Is it really memory loss?

His mind couldn’t keep up.

Maeda’s eyes flashed.

“So, what were you doing when I was making a fool of myself?”

“We were waiting as you instructed...”

“Waiting? Was it really your job to wait until I was socially dead? Did you think I brought you here to deal with insignificant people like you?! Think proactively!!”

It was a misplaced outburst.

The sight of his own disgrace before his eyes.

Maeda couldn’t calm down.

“Stupid brats! I was a fool for trying to raise you!”

So, he didn’t realize.

Drip—

“Silence is required in a hospital. It’s a matter of etiquette and decorum.”

“...?”

“Don’t move. It won’t take long to turn you into shish kebabs.”

“Hisaaki! W-What are you doing here...?”

Hisaaki Kazuma.

Even as he opened the door and entered the room.

Hisaaki’s tongue flicked like a snake.

“Are you asking because you don’t know? You know.”

Six players were waiting in the room on Maeda’s side.

In contrast, Hisaaki was alone.

Still, the six players couldn’t move.

‘...An overwhelming presence!’

Is this the kind of aura a venomous snake emits?

They could feel that Hisaaki’s words were not empty threats.

Thud—

Hisaaki sat beside Maeda’s bed.

“I came to ask. From the higher-ups. Ah, I’ll skip the formalities. You know I’ve cut ties with the government.”

“...Do as you please.”

“Still, are you crazy?”

“T-That’s what?”

“You acted alone in this matter.”

Instantly, Hisaaki’s aura flared.

Hisaaki continued.

“I clearly said it. If you don’t want to end up like me, don’t mess with Frost and Lee Ho-yul. You knew that, right?”

“I also don’t know what happened. My memory is...!!”

“Ah, you don’t remember? What a convenient