Chapter 6

Yeon Soo-ji sighed inwardly.

‘Dad, do I really have to do this?’

It was the busiest time of the year as a third-year student and team leader at the academy, yet her father had summoned her to the main house and suddenly told her to get along well with a guy.

What was she supposed to do? Did her father have a problem with his character?

For a moment, Yeon Soo-ji almost became a filial traitor.

Fortunately, it was a suggestion rather than a command, so she could hear the reason.

In short, her younger brother Yeon Jae-hoon had caused trouble, and the target was Park Gi-hyuk.

Park Gi-hyuk, the son of the representative of Optimum Agency and the youngest of the Jeonho family.

...This useless guy.

Yeon Soo-ji had already looked down on Yeon Jae-hoon the moment Park Gi-hyuk's name was mentioned.

Wasn't Park Gi-hyuk the super rookie who had turned the entrance exam upside down?

Why would he make an enemy when they should be getting along?

But what was funny was that her father saw this as an opportunity.

Indeed, he was a businessman without a heart or tears.

Although the start was bad, this was still a connection, so try to get along well. If you build a good relationship with the top student of the entrance exam, it will be good for you too.

Although he beat around the bush, Yeon Soo-ji understood that her father wanted her to get along well with Park Gi-hyuk.

In the Chilseong Group, her father's orders were absolute, so Yeon Soo-ji was even going to the shop in the morning to use her charm.

Perhaps because she started with her brother's apology, the atmosphere was good.

They were about the same age and had similar interests. With his outstanding appearance (??), it really seemed like their relationship could develop into a good one, as her father had said.

See, I'm not dead yet.

In fact, while looking at his broad back, Yeon Soo-ji thought, "This isn't so bad, is it?"

But the moment she stood in front of the Chilseong family's treasure house.

More precisely, the moment she saw the decorations in front of the treasure house.

Park Gi-hyuk was clearly enjoying himself, genuinely!

...What? Am I being outdone by a corpse?

She would have to reconsider her father's suggestion.

* * *

“Wow, impressive.”

“It was my late grandfather's hobby. He used to decorate the heads of the bosses he caught.”

“Was he a superhuman?”

“Yes, he was a Hunter. He was quite famous back then. He was the one who founded the current Chilseong Group.”

“He must have been a great man. Well, a person with such a sophisticated hobby couldn't be anything but great. Yeah, that's right.”

“Is that so...”

“Do you have a moment to look around?”

“...Take your time.”

“I won't refuse.”

My gaze turned to the decorations on the wall.

With a completely different eye from when I had politely responded to his awkward joke.

‘This isn’t so bad, is it?’

This is a Blood Orc Shaman, a Troll Champion. Oh, that's a Twin-Headed Ogre. Why is a Siren placed there...

It seems he wasn't lying about his skills. From the perspective of someone who has caught them, they are all difficult.

Among them, the one that caught my eye was this one.

A goat's head with impressive horns. The only one I've never caught.

But those eyes, completely filled with darkness... No matter how I look at it, it's a demon.

“What is this?”

“It's a demon boss called Baphomet. It appeared in Paris, France, and was caught after a fourth raid.”

“Wow.”

“Due to the significant loss of life, the gate where this boss was located was called the ‘Cursed Red Moon.’ I see, you noticed. Yes, it was the ‘Red Gate.’”

Red Gate (Red Gate)

I've heard of it. A sudden gate that spewed out monsters immediately upon appearing. It was called the worst disaster and was the reason the ‘Knights’ were created.

“I don't know the details. It's too old. But it was a notorious boss that my grandfather mentioned in his autobiography.”

“It must have been.”

If it can still maintain its demonic aura...

“I've seen enough. It's a great ‘decoration.’ I'll be going now.”

“Is that so? This way.”

Yeon Soo-ji loudly proclaimed that she wouldn't even think about such decorations once she went inside.

Well... If that's the case, it would be fortunate.

But is that really possible?

I glanced at Baphomet's head and headed inside.

* * *

That night.

After Park Gi-hyuk received his reward from Chilseong and headed home, lawyer Choi Ha-neul went to the Optimum headquarters.

“So, this is... what our Gi-hyuk chose.”

“Yes, that's right.”

Kim Yeon-hee adjusted her glasses and stared at the pad.

The first thing she saw was a 100-square-meter subspace bag. In simpler terms, a 100-square-meter subspace bag.

100 square meters is ridiculously large for an individual. That's why it's an artifact used by large corporations, like large agents, who need to transport large monster corpses.

It's not a bad choice, given that it's an artifact that's hard to buy even if you have money.

But this is from a general perspective.

Behind Park Gi-hyuk is Kim Yeon-hee.

The owner of Optimum, one of the world's top five agencies.

“This kid, if he needs a subspace bag, he should have said so. It's a waste to get something like this... Shouldn't Team Leader Choi have tried to dissuade him?”

“I tried my best.”

“He still chose this, even after you tried to dissuade him. Hmm, was the Chilseong Group's treasure house really that bad?”

“It wasn't comparable to us, but there were certainly some useful items.”

“Can you give me an example?”

“To name two, the Punishment of Karanga, a mace modified from the Level 7 boss Karanga, and the one you were looking for so desperately before.”

“Could it be the ‘Core of Ignis’?”

“Yes, the original form of the Core of Ignis was there.”

“It was there?!”

The Core of Ignis, a spirit stone that comes in extremely small quantities from the supreme spirit Ignis.

It's a natural elixir for superhumans who handle fire and a crucial material for refining top-tier weapons, always in short supply for agents.

A 100-square-meter subspace bag and the Core of Ignis.

If you asked anyone on the street, the Core of Ignis is clearly more valuable.

“Oh, I should have taken that.”

Why was she looking for the Core of Ignis so desperately? Wasn't it all for Park Gi-hyuk?

For her, and he brought back a useless subspace bag!

Kim Yeon-hee was already feeling a bit annoyed.

“By the way, should I say this, President...”

“It's fine.”

“Well, on my way back, I mentioned the Core of Ignis. I said it would be used for refining and that you wanted to make a weapon for Park Gi-hyuk.”

“The surprise is ruined. Go on.”

“At that moment, Park Gi-hyuk said something interesting.”

“What did he say?”

“...He said he could make it.”

“...!!”

Make a spirit stone...?

A spirit stone, which is considered a step above mana stones?

“Did I hear that wrong? Make a spirit stone. Hahaha. Our son, I didn't think he was so boastful. He takes after his father in that.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes, Team Leader Choi, pretend you didn't hear it. He's still young.”

“Well, that's true. At that age, they tend to exaggerate everything.”

They both laughed and ended the conversation.

But at that moment, they didn't know that Park Gi-hyuk would indeed create a spirit stone and once again shake the world with Optimum's reputation.

“Phew, it's fine. After all, the reward Gi-hyuk receives, if the child wants it, he should have it. But...”

She couldn't understand no matter how she looked at it.

“Baphomet's head? Why did he bring this hideous thing? Do you know why?”

“Well...”

Choi Ha-neul scratched his head awkwardly.

“He said he would make a ‘right arm’...”

“A right... arm? Left, Light. That right arm?”

“Yes, a right arm.”

The two were silent for a while.

* * *

I always think time flies by so quickly.

It feels like just yesterday I took the entrance exam, and now the fifth exam is over. The TV was filled with promising students, and finally, the hype around me started to die down.

It was fortunate. I was already annoyed. To be honest, these reporters are much more persistent than I expected.

What I eat, what exercise I do, the neighbor I greeted is actually an old lover.

Are they crazy? He's still a student! Who are they trying to make a criminal out of?

Under normal circumstances, I would have shrugged it off. This world is just very interested in superhumans.

I would have chuckled like a kind grandfather.

But I'm busy now. I'm extremely sensitive while making the ‘right arm,’ and it's frustrating with reporters around.

If the attention hadn't died down, I might have exploded by now.

But fortunately, this is the last day of this ordeal.

Now that all preparations are complete.

“...”

Squish.

I dragged the goblin corpses and threw them in.

Into the pile of goblin corpses that rose like a mountain.

“666.”

Finally, I've gathered the number he demanded.

What a picky guy. I shook off the dirt and sat on the pile of corpses as if it were a chair.

That's right, this is inside a gate.

A Level 1 gate called ‘Goblin Village.’

I shouldn't be here. Legally, you can't enter a gate without a ‘license.’

But how did I get in? Why are you asking like an amateur? If the world only ran by the law, where would we be?

If a superhuman senses mana, they can observe a gate with a guarantor.

In simpler terms, if the guarantor is solid, you can enter a gate. It's not illegal. It might be a privilege.

“Other kids do this too, they said.”

Rich and well-connected kids usually train in gates this way. By the way, the reason my mother didn't recommend this method to me is simple.

She knew I would fail.

If I did fail, she didn't want me to be too disappointed or feel pressured.

“Lack of faith, lack of faith.”

Anyway, thanks to my mother's help, I'm alone in this gate today.

Whatever I do here today, whether I strip naked and do tap dance or massacre goblins like now.

No one will know.

Even if I summon a demon.

“So, let's have a heart-to-heart talk.”

The subspace opened, and something came out.

A bizarrely protruding horn and a goat-like head.

The master of the red moon that once plunged Europe into fear.

Not only did it leave countless casualties, but it also devoured dozens of S-class Hunters and Knights.

“Baphomet, this is what you desired.”

Finally, the dead Baphomet opened its eyes.

In the pitch-black eyes, the real ‘demon’ was contained.

And at that moment.

The world was dyed in darkness.

* * *

Humans are ignorant.

They are also weak and foolish.

But Baphomet was killed by the very humans he looked down upon.

No, he was ‘hunted.’

It was shameful.

It was humiliating.

To be hunted by a creature less than a bug, a demon, was so frustrating that he couldn't even close his eyes.

Fortunately, the humans thought of Baphomet as just a ‘demon’ and were reassured by a few purification rituals.

Foolish humans, I, Baphomet, swear by my name.

The moment I open my eyes again.

I will be your destruction.

So he waited. He endured the humiliation to become a trophy and waited for the opportunity to take revenge.

And as time passed, the opportunity finally came to Baphomet.

“What is this?”

He was a large and foolish creature.

He boldly lifted the head and spoke to Baphomet.

Wake up!

Words have power.

Baphomet, who had been sleeping at the threshold of death, woke up with those words.

He finally woke from death. His soul, strengthened by overcoming death, stirred dynamically.

But he held back. His power was still insufficient.

Baphomet demanded 666 sacrifices. He cunningly whispered that if he did, he would gain the power he desired.

The fool prepared the sacrifices foolishly. Humans are indeed foolish.

Baphomet laughed in the darkness.

Once he regained his power and escaped, he would manifest in the world.

It would be the end.

He would kill humans and slaughter them.

The world would call him destruction.

With such joy, he entered the fool's body.

...It was strange.

There was nothing. Nothing could be seen.

All he could see was perfect darkness.

Baphomet tried to move, but he felt nothing.

Where am I? What is this darkness?

Am I moving forward? Not backward? Am I walking at all?

I need to get out quickly. To the destination. The... enemy... destination...

Where is the destination? What did I come here to do...?

But...

“Who am I?”

The world is relative.

Stars disappear in front of the sun, and darkness is swallowed by greater darkness.

This is the truth of the world.

Baphomet, being devoured by darkness.

A mere demon could not withstand the darkness of a demon king.

“Being, are you curious about your name?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Your name is Baphomet. My right arm.”

In the darkness, the demon king was laughing.