Demon-Hunting Genius Mage

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]

Chapter 59

After escaping the dungeon.

"Mr. Dwarf!"

"Alright!"

Crack!

We squeezed out the last of our stamina and continued hunting.

And now, everyone was completely exhausted.

"Huff... Huff...!"

Even breathing was difficult, but still.

"It's finally over..."

"...I think we've really done all we can."

"Good work, everyone."

A sense of accomplishment filled us as we reached our target number of monsters hunted.

It felt like playing a game after a long time.

'This is what an RPG is all about.'

As we were taking a break at our temporary shelter, feeling satisfied,

"Here, have a meal."

Barundel brought us food with perfect timing.

The menu was a stew made with the flesh of a one-horned demon pig and herbs found nearby, simmered together. We had run out of the food we had brought with us, so this was an unavoidable choice.

"Mr. Dwarf, are you sure it's okay to eat this...?"

Perhaps he was still apprehensive about eating demon meat.

Thompson, with a spoonful of stew, asked with an anxious expression.

The thick stew broth dripped down Thompson's spoon.

"Try it first and then decide."

However, Barundel was rather confident.

Although the visuals might put you off a bit, he seemed confident in the taste.

Having already experienced Barundel's cooking skills once, I brought the stew to my mouth without any hesitation.

And.

"...Delicious."

Once again, I was impressed by Barundel's culinary skills.

"Delicious? Really, first place?"

"Why would I lie about something like this? Try it."

At my honest recommendation, Thompson gulped and took a spoonful of stew into his mouth.

And

"Huh? Uh...? What is this? Why is it so delicious?"

His face quickly brightened.

It was the same for Kayla and the survivor lady.

"Wow... Mr. Dwarf, you could sell this, you know? How did you make this taste with these ingredients?"

"Thank you... It feels like I'm tasting proper food after a long time."

Praises poured out endlessly.

Only then did Barundel smile with satisfaction and say,

"I may not look like it, but I've spent half my life as a hunter. Now I can make a decent meal even with just grass."

Barundel, who was in a good mood after showing off his skills, even started explaining the secret to this stew.

"First of all, making the broth is the most important thing. Even though it seems like I just put in any herbs, they are all in the right proportions..."

He talked for about 30 minutes.

Finally finished with his explanation, Barundel clapped his hands, signaling that it was time to wrap things up.

"It's time to get ready for bed. We need to conserve our strength for tomorrow's hunt."

However...

Snore, koool-snore, koool-

Everyone except me had already fallen asleep.

Barundel, who was so engrossed in his own story that he only now noticed their state, muttered with a disappointed look,

"...I was talking to myself."

"It was delicious, Barundel."

"...As expected, you're the only one, Yuhan."

Anyway, just like that, we got ready for bed and peace returned once again.

Lying in my spot, I started planning for tomorrow.

'I've leveled up enough...'

What remained were the unresolved requests and uncovering the truth behind the incident in Sector 7.

The former was a matter that could be resolved with time, while the latter required a certain amount of luck.

"Where can I find a demon with high intelligence?"

Demons that could communicate were very rare.

Moreover, even if I encountered such a demon, it would be troublesome.

Just like humans, the higher the intelligence of a demon, the higher the probability of it being strong.

Finding such a creature was risky in many ways.

'It would be better to look for another subordinate, like Haeng-in.'

As I closed my eyes, making that decision,

Crack, crack!

"Ugh...!"

Suddenly, an immense pressure began to weigh down on me.

Like someone experiencing sleep paralysis, my body wouldn't move, and I felt my mind gradually becoming hazy.

When I finally regained consciousness,

"Where am I...?"

I was in a completely different space.

A space covered in pure white.

I had no idea what was going on.

Whoosh. Whoosh.

I cautiously swung my arms.

Fortunately, they seemed to be moving fine, but...

"Wait, something's strange."

The appearance of my moving arms was different from usual.

Or rather, should I say this was normal?

"This... is this really my body?"

It wasn't just my arms.

My arms, legs, head, torso.

Everything was my original, real body, not the one I had in this world after possessing Yuhan's body.

The body I had longed for so much.

A surge of emotion welled up in my throat.

Just then.

[It's nice to meet you, my child.]

A seductive and sweet voice came from somewhere.

I turned my head to find the source of the voice, and there...

Flap- flap-

A crimson butterfly was fluttering about in the air.

Tap.

As I cautiously extended my finger, the butterfly landed on it.

Looking at the butterfly, I asked,

"Was it you who spoke?"

[It was.]

That alluring voice again. If I lost my focus even for a moment, it felt like I would be sucked into somewhere unknown.

I held my mind steady and asked it,

"Did you bring me here?"

[Yes, I called you, my child.]

"...Where is this place?"

[This is... your unconscious mind.]

My unconscious mind.

Only then did I realize.

The reason why my original body had appeared.

'...So that's how it is.'

I tried not to show it, but the corners of my mouth turned down without me realizing.

I had hoped, even if just a little, that I might have returned...

While I was thinking that, the butterfly spoke to me.

[...There's somewhere you want to go.]

It spoke as if it was seeing right through me.

"How did you know?"

Perhaps happy that it was right, the butterfly flapped its wings and said,

[I know everything. Because you are my child.]

'...Child?'

Was it because I was feeling down?

The butterfly's words were starting to bother me.

'Who the hell are you to keep calling me 'child'? Are you my mother or something?'

Those words rose to my throat, but I didn't spit them out.

I still didn't know what was happening.

It wouldn't hurt to be careful.

[My child, you can confide in me. What do you desire? Where do you want to go?]

"What are you going to do with that information?"

[If you truly desire it... I will grant it to you.]

"...What?"

I couldn't help but flinch at those words.

"...Grant it to me? Anything?"

[Yes, anything.]

At that moment.

Tsssssst!

Unknown cracks appeared around me, and the pure white space gradually began to change.

Into the space most familiar to me.

'This is...'

It was my home.

My home that I had longed to go back to.

Once again, my heart welled up with emotion.

"Ah..."

My mind was filled with a single thought.

I wanted to go back.

I wanted to escape this dreadful pain.

Perhaps reading my thoughts, she said,

[Do you want to go there? Then speak. What you truly desire.]

"...."

[Just one word is all it takes.]

The butterfly urged me to say what I wanted, and those words sounded so sweet.

Like the whispers of a devil...

Yes, like the whispers of a devil.

My answer was short.

"Screw you."

[...W-What?]

"I said, screw you. Stop with your tricks."

[...]

Perhaps because of my firm attitude, the butterfly stopped flapping its wings and just stared at me, speechless.

I looked at the butterfly and greeted it as if we were old friends.

"Long time no see, Asmodeus."

[H-How...?]

She looked noticeably flustered.

She was practically admitting that she was Asmodeus.

"How do I know? Is there anyone else besides you who would do something like this?"

I spat out those words and concentrated.

If, as she said, this was truly my unconscious mind,

Then I was the master of this space.

Swoosh...!

Starting from my toes to my head,

My previous body disappeared, and I transformed back into the body of the genius mage, Yuhan.

Simultaneously,

Tsssssst!

The space that had transformed into my house began to return to its original form.

Not the pure white space, but the form she had initially designed it to be.

'The Demon Realm.'

The newly transformed place was undoubtedly the Demon Realm.

Flap- flap-

The butterfly, which seemed to be looking around, abruptly stopped moving.

And then,

[Huhhu, huhuhuhat!]

With a laugh that sounded genuinely amused, she revealed her true form.

Long, flowing black hair and skin as white as polished jade.

Distinct facial features and captivating crimson eyes.

As befitting the Legion Commander of Desire, she possessed a beauty that was almost dizzying.

But there was no reason to be shaken.

Her outward appearance was a stark contrast to her inwardly blackened heart.

Her alluring voice once again tickled my ears.

[Huhuhut. This is fun, so much fun. Just as I expected. A human who shattered my illusion...]

Hoo-

Circling around me, she exhaled as if to tempt me, then drew close to my ear and whispered,

[Indeed... It's no wonder that person is interested in you.]

That person.

For someone of her status as a Legion Commander to refer to someone as "that person," there could only be one being.

The Supreme Commander of the Demon Army, Baal.

"Did Baal send you?"

[...]

Perhaps taken aback by the direct question, she hesitated before speaking.

[Should I say you're ignorant? Or should I admire your courage...?]

"Just answer the question. No nonsense."

[Puhhut—]

Covering her mouth and laughing, she suddenly shook her head.

[That person is indeed watching over you... but it's not about that this time. I simply came to see you because I wanted to meet you.]

Simultaneously,

Goooooooooo—!

A chilling demonic energy relentlessly pressed down on me.

'...This much demonic energy within my own unconscious mind?'

As expected of a Legion Commander.

It was on a completely different level from any demonic energy I had felt before.

It was so overwhelming that even breathing properly was a struggle.

[And now I'm certain.]

"C-Certain of... what...?"

Perhaps finding my struggle amusing, her eyes curved into crescents.

[Certain that I must make you mine.]

The meaning of those words wasn't difficult to interpret.

Asmodeus's ability was [Subjugation].

The ability to stimulate desires and deficiencies, ultimately turning someone into her puppet.

And knowing that... there was no need for me to be intimidated.

I had no intention of falling for such tricks.

Crunch!

A metallic taste rose from my bitten tongue.

Even though this was my unconscious mind, I could feel the pain, but thanks to that, the pressure weighing down on my body lessened.

I didn't miss this opportunity and opened my mouth.

"Do... it, if you can, you damn snake."

I was confident.

Confident that I would never succumb to my own desires.

But Asmodeus shook her head.

[It's not time yet. However...]

Her crimson pupils flashed.

And I saw it.

The blood moon reflected in her pupils.

[Don't be too disappointed. It won't be long now.]

Those words sounded like a promise.

On the day the blood moon rises,

Asmodeus, the Legion Commander of Desire, would come for me.

This was the moment the Great War truly began to unfold.

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]