Returnee's S-Rank Management Guide

Entering the Demonic Zone (2)

Second day of the demonic zone raid.

The monsters that appeared gradually began getting stronger.

It was likely that the hastily summoned monsters had started to come under the influence of demonic energy.

Now, even among A-rank, higher-ranking monsters appeared, and some even hovered at the edge of S-rank.

"S-rank monsters still haven't appeared in groups yet."

"How was it the last time you were here?"

"Back then, there were never any S-rank monsters, except for the King of the Demonic Zone."

Shin Ah-yeon sat down, her face tired.

It was getting dark, making further movement risky.

The night belonged to them.

It was better not to move too late and to keep watch over the surroundings as much as possible.

"By now, we've reached about half... of the objective, I suppose."

Iden Boyd used magic to roughly estimate our position.

Though most S-rank hunters looked exhausted, he was still fine.

'He definitely seems less skilled as a mage compared to Shin Ah-yeon.'

Seeing him like this, I could see why he was called the world's greatest great mage.

Shin Ah-yeon, who had already reached the verge of the 9th circle, was the best mage I knew.

Facing someone like her, Iden clearly was a remarkable mage as well.

'It's fortunate he didn't side with the demons.'

Thinking about it, mages rarely sided with the demons.

At best, there was only Sol Mayer, and even Ivan Hunts only accepted requests—he never fully sided with the demons.

"Sir Boyd."

"What is it?"

"There's something I'd like to ask."

Iden had received a knighthood even in Britain.

Speaking more formally than usual, he looked at me with a questioning gaze.

"I get the feeling mages rarely stand with the demons. Is there a reason for that?"

"A reason? Well, that's obvious."

He smiled briefly and tapped his forehead with his finger.

"Mages see the essence. Ah, I'm not belittling other awakeners of course. Let's just say that we're more sensitive to the essence itself."

Therefore, they couldn't help but know what the demons truly were.

"They are fundamentally without origin. The demon realm, said to be their stronghold—did that place truly birth them? Who knows. It could simply be the last of the worlds they invaded and left behind."

"So, they are fundamentally originless..."

"Right. To put it another way, demons are parasites in human form. Of course they're repulsive. Just imagine—parasites ruling the world. How terrifying and horrifying is that?"

Iden's words struck a chord with me.

Indeed, demons were a race that lived by parasitizing other worlds.

They merely disguised this act as 'invasion'.

"Well, in that sense, Sol Mayer—no, Chester Mayer—was desperate, that's all."

Saying so, Iden clicked his tongue briefly.

He wore a rare bitter expression.

No doubt, Iden had placed a lot of expectations on Sol Mayer.

Perhaps he even intended for him to be his successor.

"So, as you've probably noticed, this situation is extremely bizarre. We're in the very cradle of those parasites—and they know it too. Naturally, they should be running for their lives."

That was something I also found odd.

That's why I kept wondering what their true motivation was.

Demons were not ones to resist to the death.

For them, survival was always the highest goal. If they decided something was too dangerous, they'd bide their time.

When the Demon King died, they didn't resist but withdrew quietly.

Even though there were still several top-ranking demons alive.

***

The third day of the raid dawned.

Alencia, yawning and rubbing her eyes, looked up at the shadow looming over her.

"Alencia, what was the highest number of viewers yesterday?"

Judging from the fact that Park Jung-woo had taken night watch without sleep, he didn't seem tired at all.

"Today, it was well over five million. Average was around three million, I think?"

"That five million mark—must have been around the time the S-rank monsters showed up."

"That's right."

Aside from the 'demonic zone raid' premise, the broadcast was going smoothly.

Alencia, now much better at talking, kept viewers engaged, but their reactions were lukewarm.

"Maybe it's too uneventful compared to expectations?"

"True."

Dmitri, listening to their exchange, was starting to feel anxious.

'Uneventful?!'

He wanted to shout for them to take it back immediately.

Up to this day, Dmitri had faithfully reported all their movements to the demons.

He'd signaled several times for ambushes—but all of them had failed.

Not only did they fail, they failed very simply.

'It's not just because they're strong.'

It was almost as if they knew exactly when ambushes would occur.

They showed no panic, and sometimes even intercepted the ambushers before they struck.

Because of this, Dmitri had even been suspected of betrayal.

'This can't go on.'

Either today or tomorrow, they'd reach the center of the demonic zone.

'That's where Lord Cade should be standing guard.'

The Blade of Malice and highest-ranking demon inhabiting Owen McGregor's body, Cade Barel.

Undoubtedly, among current top-ranking demons, he was in the top three.

At the same time, he was their last line of defense.

Could he handle this many S-rank hunters alone?

Could he defeat Park Jung-woo and Shin Ah-yeon?

He didn't know.

Had it been a mistake to side with the demons?

"There's no need to worry so much."

At that moment, Raidan Bowl spoke to Dmitri.

He wanted to ask what he meant by that, but Raidan Bowl had already vanished.

'Come to think of it, what is he?'

Only now did he realize that Raidan Bowl was a demon spy, but there was something off about him in many ways.

While Dmitri worked hard to send information, that guy never seemed to actually do anything.

'Maybe, instead of being on the demons' side, he's a spy...?'

It was enough to make even him think such thoughts.

Well, if that were true, he would have already told the others that Dmitri was a demon spy.

'For now, I can only try to whittle down their stamina as much as I can.'

Yet, despite Dmitri's efforts, the party made it to the center of the demonic zone without significant problems.

So came the evening of the fourth day.

"From here on, this is the center of the demonic zone."

They finally reached the center of the demonic zone, their initial goal.

"The magic power here... feels very heavy."

Soo-ah, being sensitive to magic power, was the first to notice something different about the area.

'My Life Lantern Ignition... still works without issue.'

But the quality of magic power had changed.

It was more strongly tainted by demonic energy—murky and thick.

"The air is thick with murderous intent, like being sliced with a blade,"

Baek Hojun said—and so did Eugene Garland and Kian Rogers.

They couldn't help but notice.

This was where things got real.

Step.

Just then—

A footfall on fallen leaves pierced the heavy silence.

The step was light, but an odd pressure filled the air.

'This is—'

It was a sensation very familiar to Shin Ah-yeon. She clenched her teeth.

Her body trembled just a little.

'Cade Barel.'

He was the one who had helped her recover a part of Estella's memories.

He was imprinted in Estella's memory as the most dreaded person, and was the one most knowledgeable about her past.

"You came far too quickly."

His tone was almost overly playful for the situation.

At his words, everyone's attention shifted, and a sharp blade slashed through the air.

Baek Hojun's Thousand Sword activated, sending a white blade flying toward him.

KAAAAANG!!

The white blade brushed Cade's neck.

The Thousand Sword, which left deep wounds even on S-rank monsters, didn't leave so much as a scratch on Cade's neck.

'What the—'

Baek Hojun opened his eyes wide.

He'd seen him at the Grand Canyon, but he wasn't like this then.

He'd felt he had a sturdy body, but not to the extent that he was uncuttable.

'... He's become even more perfect than before.'

Park Jung-woo sensed it too and frowned.

Unlike before, when Cade had not fully fused with Owen McGregor, now he looked like the very image of that man at his prime.

'No, perhaps—'

He'd gone beyond even that.

Devouring all of Owen McGregor's potential and amplified even further by divine art.

"I haven't even greeted you properly... Isn't this a bit hasty?"

"If you mean greetings, we've already exchanged those before."

Park Jung-woo shot back at Cade.

But Cade only shrugged in response.

As all the S-ranks in the area tensed up, Alencia quietly glanced at the current viewer count.

'Whoa. Ten million?'

The overwhelming number made her eyes widen.

'When did it get so high?'

The chat was flooded with questions asking who Cade was.

She wondered if she should explain, but the situation hardly seemed appropriate for that.

"In case any of you don't know, let me introduce myself first."

As if reading Alencia's thoughts, Cade smiled gentlemanly and bowed.

"I'm Cade Barel. I've had ties with Park Jung-woo-ssi for some time. Among demons, I'm honored to be called the 'Blade of Malice'."

He said this and pulled out a massive greatsword.

Anyone with even a passing knowledge of hunters would recognize it.

"At the same time, I'm borrowing Owen McGregor's body. Of course, my appearance has changed so much, hardly anyone would recognize me now."

Once hailed as the peak of humanity—

Owen McGregor.

Saying he was using his body sent the chat into a frenzy.

Questions.

Expressions of shock.

Words of denial.

The chat became chaotic.

'Strange.'

Alencia glared at Cade as she watched.

'Does he really need to say all that?'

It felt almost as if he was watching the broadcast and speaking for its sake.

Surely they had no reason to care about broadcasts—so why?

"... I suppose you won't let us pass if we want to go inside?"

"Of course. I do need to buy a bit of time."

The question of why came up, but Park Jung-woo nodded.

He knew Cade wouldn't answer if asked—and the man's behavior was bothering him.

'Maybe...'

A possibility occurred to him.

But even knowing, there was nothing he could do about it now.

Sooner or later, this would become a battle of 'origins.'

"Then we'll just have to remove you. You can't stop all of us alone."

"If I were alone, probably not."

At that moment, as Cade spoke, Park Jung-woo jerked his head back quickly.

KWAKWAKWAKWANG!!

Something pitch black flew toward them, piercing holes in several trees.

The sheer power caused a stir in the surroundings.

"As you can see, I have reinforcements too."

Sniper support from a distance?

Park Jung-woo clicked his tongue and frowned.

There was no sign of any presence.

It was a simple but highly effective attack.

The demon must have focused its power solely on hiding and instant-killing with one strike.

There was no demon like this among those he'd fought before—likely one born after, or perhaps created that way.

'And...'

Park Jung-woo glanced behind at a man.

Raiden Bowl.

His sword was turning black.

'There's one behind, too.'

It seemed getting to the center wouldn't be as easy as expected.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

37 chapters left.

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