The fragments of the Demon King are a mass of malicious entities and immense energy.
They select their hosts through primal yet intense emotions.
The qualifications of a host vary with each fragment, and in some cases, forceful fusion occurs, but they are commonly bound by desire.
I do not want to die.
I want.
I desire.
Longing.
Pain.
The will to kill.
Rage.
Sorrow.
The fragments spread such primal and intense wishes like bait.
And…
“I want.”
Those who unknowingly bite the bait of emotions become slaves to the fragments.
[For what?]
“Power.”
[Why?]
“So that I won’t be robbed again.”
[Very well.]
No need for numerous flowery words or complex contracts.
There was something more intense than a hundred words, and thus, the fragment agreed.
Yes, this time the host is you.
[I shall grant you what you desire.]
However, you must also give me what I want.
Your existence is not here.
Yet your purpose is here.
So, I shall lend you my body.
Conversely, you must also lend me yours.
This is a trade and a contract.
A contract between the malicious entity that devours the world and you.
So, come forth.
Thank you.
The door opened.
You do not need to come.
We will go.
○○○○○○
After that, support arrived little by little.
“We’ve received food support at the first bowl site!”
“Damn it. If the dungeon lasts for days, how can you send things that will spoil by tomorrow!”
“Well, we need to distribute it to the citizens in the shelter right away… Damn! We still haven’t identified the Dopplegangers…”
“This is a mess.”
“Isn’t that how it usually goes?”
An emergency in the form of an Erosion Dungeon occurred in the heart of Seoul, but that did not mean many Hunters could come at once.
If they hastily sent lower-ranked Hunters lacking skill due to the urgency and ended up increasing the number of monsters and the dungeon’s scale, those trapped inside the Erosion Dungeon, as well as those outside, could be in danger.
The guidelines from the government and the Hunter Association also prioritized saving people above all, but if an unavoidable situation arose where the lives of citizens inside the Erosion Dungeon and those outside were weighed against each other, the basic policy would prioritize the lives of many people outside even at the cost of those trapped inside.
Nevertheless, for this reason, it would take time for the A-grade Hunters, who had a guarantee of competence, to gather even if the government called for an emergency meeting.
Additionally, there were numerous difficulties in confirming the situation inside the Erosion Dungeon from the outside, and there was no assurance that time flowed the same inside and outside the dungeon.
Moreover, while the Hunter Assistant Drones were currently transmitting signals, the erosion level of the dungeon was increasing, progressively blocking the smartwatches’ communication network. At this rate, outside communication would likely be cut off, which is why the Association and the government would urgently summon S-grade Hunters or A-grade and above Hunters.
Thus, the trainee personnel of the Hunter Association focused primarily on evacuating the citizens instead of dungeon exploration.
With S-grade Hunter Yeonhwa and Returnee Isia present, they believed that even if an unexpected situation arose, the two would be able to respond adequately.
Having evacuated the citizens and set up an impromptu base camp, a group of Hunters arrived from beyond the space.
“Are you with the Association?”
“Ah… Hello there.”
All the Hunters wore suits, which caused some trainee personnel to slightly frown.
“There are Hunters in suits too?”
“They’re civil service Hunters directly under the Seoul mayor.”
At Yeonhwa’s words, Shia nodded.
Since the era of Hunters began, there were not only individual Hunters or Guild-affiliated Hunters but also Hunters affiliated with the city hall.
Like civil servants?
However, Yeonhwa crossed her arms in a way that suggested she was not at all pleased.
“Calling them civil service Hunters is nice… but in reality, they’re more like the mayor’s direct bodyguards. They are ungraded Awakened Ones. There are stories that one of them is the mayor’s nephew, so he’s essentially a parachute.”
“I see.”
“No, it’s not just a story; it’s confirmed. There are even young masters who want a cushy job but lack skills.”
“…I get what you mean.”
It is common for small business owners or high-ranking politicians to create nominal positions or titles where they do nothing and push their relatives, acquaintances, and friends into those roles just to secure benefits.
The case of civil service Hunters is similar.
While there are indeed Hunters who protect towns like security leaders in regions with sparse Hunter traffic, the civil service Hunters directly under the Seoul mayor arose from impure intentions from the get-go.
On the surface, they provide opportunities to unregistered Awakened Ones who pass the strict criteria set by the city hall, but in truth, those who are swift on the information front, like Yeonhwa, know that the position of civil service Hunters was created to accommodate the mayor’s jobless Awakened nephew.
Aside from that, they seem to merely appoint Hunters or Awakened Ones to maintain an adequate appearance.
“On the outside, they look sharp, but what kind of dungeon exploration can a Hunter in a suit accomplish? They’re just unregistered Awakened Ones from the streets trying to look respectable, but they can’t shake off their inherent vulgarity.”
“You seem to know quite well?”
“That nephew was trying to marry me and made a fuss during our academy days.”
“…….. Should I hit him?”
“I’m fine, Unnie. Just the thought is enough.”
Seriously, feel free to say something whenever you want.
“But why are you here if you lack skills? Are you not worried about getting killed?”
“A Erosion Dungeon appeared in the middle of Seoul, right? It seems like the mayor was quite anxious since it’s election season next year. While this incident isn’t the current mayor’s fault, the fact that it has occurred during his term is a significant blow, so he’s starting image branding, even now.”
He’s trying to create an image of doing everything possible to manage the crisis by sending out his civil service Hunters.
“I get what you mean. Back in my previous world, there were plenty of houses where sons who had never taken the knight order admission exam were pushed into positions only to have their necks on the line later when they got caught by Menelapie.”
While Yeonhwa and Shia were discussing, a young man in a suit approached. He was one of those who had been mingling among the civil service Hunters earlier.
“Yeonhwa, hello! Do you remember me?”
“That’s Choi Junil, right?”
“Oh, you remember me!”
As he spoke to Yeonhwa like a friend, Shia tilted her head.
Ah, I see.
That guy was the one who proposed to Yeonhwa back in the academy, right?
It’s all over his face.
“Under the mayor’s orders, I’ve come to contribute to the exploration of the Erosion Dungeon. Since we’ve met like this…”
“Ah, sure, sure.”
It seemed he understood that he was being ignored naturally, as his expression soured a bit.
“Yeonhwa, how about we patrol inside the dungeon together? The basic terrain hasn’t changed much. Also, it would be good to find any people who may not have evacuated. I heard you just became an S-grade? With you around, the patrol would be much easier…”
“First, entering the interior without having information on the Erosion Dungeon and without a secured route is an act of suicide.”
“What?”
“Second, there are no people left who haven’t evacuated. While you were leisurely having a cup of coffee and changing into a suit, Shia and I guided everyone to the shelter.”
“Wait, what’s that supposed to mean…”
“Third, if you’re unsure of your skills, do not drag me into your mess and just stay here quietly. We don’t even know if the dungeon exploration will succeed, so if you didn’t bring the right gear and food, don’t interfere, just stay at the shelter or camp.”
“Yeonhwa, isn’t that a bit harsh…”
“Fourth, I already have plans with Shia, so I’ll decline.”
And with those words, Yeonhwa clung to Shia’s arm and left the spot, leaving Choi Junil with a face flushed with anger and embarrassment, unable to say anything as he just watched them go.
“…Hmph, that was refreshing. I was really annoyed because he had been under the delusion that I had a crush on him when I was silent back in the academy.”
“Oh wow, I didn’t expect you to be this sharp…”
“S-grade or not, I’m pretty strong. Not as much as you, though.”
No, I’m not talking about raw power here…
○○○○
Doppleganger.
The main form of the Doppleganger is close to a slime that has an average B-grade level of danger.
Not only are there liquid Dopplegangers resembling slimes, but the types vary from Dopplegangers made of dirt or fire to Undead or ghost-type monsters that can only manifest as spirits. But fundamentally, Dopplegangers have a characteristic of mimicking human appearance.
Except for those that have undergone mutations or are extraordinary variants, most Dopplegangers possess physical abilities suitable for B-grade monsters, along with B-grade levels of mana and mana resistance.
However, the ability to perfectly mimic human appearance even as a B-grade monster is unexpectedly troublesome and cumbersome.
Above all, Dopplegangers possess significantly higher intelligence compared to other monsters.
Some possess intelligence equal to or greater than that of humans, and they do not stop at merely mastering the usage of the weapons and equipment used by soldiers and Hunters. There have been cases where they have learned multiple languages and studied and mimicked human relationships, societies, and cultures.
If a Hunter enters a dungeon and encounters a Doppleganger without concern for others, it usually doesn’t lead to serious issues.
Though peculiar in nature, being a B-grade monster means its strength isn’t beyond handling, and if the party meshes well, five C-grade Hunters can deal with it.
However, right now, this was the worst-case scenario.
Dopplegangers frequently create chaos within the Hunter party, and amidst the few kilometers of area in Mapo District that had been eroded, numerous civilians were trapped, and if a dungeon like this one where Dopplegangers appeared were to spiral out of control, the consequences would be unpredictable.
Dopplegangers, which can sow discord, deceive, and cause terror among humans, might just represent the most dreadful form of a dungeon for Hunters.
“Upon investigation, the physical durability and mana resistance of the Doppleganger have been confirmed to be A-grade.”
“Are you kidding me? Aren’t Dopplegangers usually B-grade on average?”
“That could be said of this one individual, but… it would be right to consider its response as A-grade. Moreover, given that a significant portion of Mapo District has been eroded to create a dungeon, it’s not unusual for such monsters to appear.”
“Physical examination results are in. Mimicking human appearance and organs has been confirmed. The blood and eye color are black, but if there’s no injury, distinguishing features are almost impossible.”
Thanks to that, the trainee personnel urgently dispatched from the Association were sweating profusely.
If there were indeed numerous A-grade Dopplegangers around, the Hunters accompanying the personnel would be utterly helpless.
At least 50 A-grade Hunters, carefully selected enough to gain Hunter names, or even three S-grade Hunters, would need to be present.
The commanding personnel on-site operated the drones to request additional support from headquarters.
“Dammit… Now the drone signals aren’t coming in well either.”
“The drone signals…?”
“That’s a huge problem, right?”
“It’s a damn big problem…”
Above all, what the hell are those scoundrels in suits at the city hall planning to do?
With no idea what would happen next, the commanding personnel were furious with the mayor’s behavior, only concerned about his approval rating but entirely unhelpful in managing the incident.
“Alright, get the patrol started!”
Ugh. Sure, off you go.
I said it was dangerous and to stay put, but they strutted out into the open, starting the patrol as if they’d just handed over the initiative to the monsters, causing headaches for the personnel.
It’d be better to assume those without graded skills didn’t exist at all.
Even though communication was possible within the Erosion Dungeon, as time went on, the increasing erosion rate of the dungeon caused the mana wave that interfered with signals to become stronger.
Is it really a mana wave?
Or is someone intentionally jamming the communication?
“Anyway, send the information we’ve gathered so far to Yeonhwa and Isia via drone. Don’t think about dungeon exploration; we need to go into defensive mode… And send it to the other side as well. They might not see it, but just in case.”
“Understood.”
However, they couldn’t carelessly reveal that a Doppleganger was hiding amongst the civilians.
Even a B-grade monster could tear a person apart with its bare hands, so if a Doppleganger lurking among the civilians became aware of being identified by the Hunters, there was a possibility of violent escalation and numerous casualties.
Furthermore, in a scene reminiscent of the city where we usually lived, who could differentiate between a Doppleganger and a human?
Of course, if a Hunter had a naturally sensitive mana perception or specialized detection abilities, it would be different, but over 90% of Awakened Ones worldwide possess combat-oriented abilities, meaning most Hunters…
“Found it.”
Of course, Shia was able to find it with ease.
How?
Thanks to that unmistakably delightful malicious scent.
“Where is it?”
“Nine o’clock from where the fool is standing. A blonde guy. Someone wearing glasses. A V-neck shirt with a yellow drawing on it. His whites are entirely black. The smell is unmistakable.”
“Confirmed.”
Thud thud!
At that moment, when Yeonhwa saw the person Shia had pointed out from a distance, she clenched her fist.
[Internal Freeze]
Crack!
“Ugh, gulp…!”
And instantly, the Doppleganger was unable to scream as its insides froze, and it slumped down as if asleep.
The population density within the shelter was high, so no one noticed the death of a single Doppleganger. Only Yeonhwa’s assistant drone quietly increased the monster kill count.
“You’ve gotten much stronger since we first met?”
“With the formidable Mangja Seongnyeo and the strongest Hunter Grandmother right beside me, I had no choice but to step up my game.”
“Just because you stepped up doesn’t mean you become an S-grade.”
Yeonhwa’s ability is freezing.
However, her power is on a completely different level compared to a regular freezing ability user.
Having just become the youngest officially recognized S-grade Hunter through this promotion battle, Yeonhwa is not merely someone who can shoot a few ice spears like other freezing ability users.
It’s already been over two months since she reached the level of being able to manipulate thermal energy in the air freely. With just a gesture, she could freeze an entire city.
Without needing to make contact, she could freeze objectives from afar, silently killing them—this approach is nearly akin to assassination.
This silent assassination skill is something Shia couldn’t achieve.
‘Miracles tend to be a bit loud.’
Whether it’s an attacking miracle or a healing and protective miracle, the grandeur and scale are such that if Shia were to cast a miracle amid gathered civilians in a shelter, she would undoubtedly draw attention.
Though she now wore her hat pulled down to hide her face, Shia’s overwhelmingly immense Seongnyeok reserve was quite well-known, and thus many civilians currently waiting in the shelter have turned their gaze at least once towards Shia.
“Isn’t that Isia…?”
“No way.”
“What? The Gallery Master is here? Is it for real…?”
Even at this level, if Shia revealed her identity while searching for monsters or Dopplegangers amidst the civilians, it would spark uncontrollable chaos.
Should that happen, not only would Shia’s popularity and recognition be at stake, but also the likelihood of a Doppleganger realizing they were being hunted and holding civilians hostage becomes a significant possibility.
“So far, that’s the eleventh one…”
However, there surprisingly weren’t many Dopplegangers inside the shelter.
Starting from Hapjeong Station to Hongdae Entrance Station, then Sinchon Station, and finally the shelter set up at Hongik University, Shia and Yeonhwa confirmed that only a minimal number of Dopplegangers were mixed among the citizens.
Initially, they feared there might be dozens or, at worst, thousands of Dopplegangers hidden among the civilians, and for Shia and Yeonhwa, who were prepared for a full-scale confrontation, this felt somewhat deflating.
“It’s odd how few there are.”
“Did the fool think the same?”
Well, of course, it was a good thing that no one had been harmed and that the Dopplegangers hadn’t caused havoc among the citizens.
But in such a massive Erosion Dungeon, with the boss monster nowhere in sight and the few Dopplegangers present, it was simply not permissible for them to remain quietly concealed among the citizens.
‘What’s going on…? Aren’t monsters supposed to be hostile towards humans?’
Even though Dopplegangers possess high intelligence, they are classified as ‘monsters’ precisely because they inherently oppose humanity.
They deceive, create chaos, sow discord, and ultimately kill and consume humans.
Dopplegangers may mimic humans, yet their notoriety among Hunters stems from their fundamental nature as adversarial entities to humanity.
“For now, after that last Doppleganger, I don’t sense any more malicious scents in the shelters.”
“I see. Sigh… If it were up to my heart, I would want to go out and enjoy somewhere with my sister to celebrate becoming an S-grade today…”
“Well, there’s tomorrow too. Or do you want to go now? Though we might not see anyone, we won’t have to wait for a table at a restaurant.”
“Sis, there’s no restaurant operating right now…”
“Ah………………”
Even though an emergency situation arose with the sudden appearance of an Erosion Dungeon in central Seoul, the situation had surprisingly progressed without much urgency.
Civilians followed Yeonhwa, Shia, and the trainee personnel’s control well, ensuring safety at the shelter.
Moreover, what they thought was the most threatening, the Dopplegangers, did not cause chaos, thanks to Shia’s detection and Yeonhwa’s silent assassinations.
“Unnie, then can you keep an eye on the shelter just in case?”
“Go out?”
“Yes. With an Erosion Dungeon in play, monster raids are definitely expected. It wouldn’t make sense for so many people to gather without a monster wave starting.”
“Going together would…”
“There’s no knowing what direction the wave will come from.”
“Hmm, you have a point. Fine, I’ll leave it to you. But don’t get hurt, okay?”
“I’m not an S-grade just for show! It’s also a good chance to properly show you my skills.”
“Don’t get hurt. If it’s dangerous, make sure to call me. Got it?”
Shia gently stroked Yeonhwa’s head, imbibing her with a bit of Seongnyeok.
It was nothing more than an ordinary display of affection, but that subtle, Seongnyeok-infused touch itself uplifted Yeonhwa’s spirits.
“Then, I’ll be off.”
“Yeah! Hehe…”
And the moment Yeonhwa disappeared, Shia’s expression grew solemn.
“………..”
Shia’s previously cheerful demeanor felt surprisingly chilling.
“Where are you…?”
○○○○
Boom!
“Dammit!”
While patrolling the bustling streets of Hongdae, Choi Junil kicked an Erosion Dungeon’s fake sign that had been materialized.
Though he was just a rookie compared to Yeonhwa, as an Awakened One, his kick shattered the sign.
“Just because I have a bit of strength, I’m going to act tough like a caveman? In this day and age, you need connections, power, and capital to be perfect.”
“Isn’t Yeonhwa from a better family than you?”
“…………”
Choi Junil kept his mouth shut at the words of the civil service Hunter serving as his bodyguard.
Who is Yeonhwa?
The granddaughter of the living legend Yeonseo.
A woman adored by government officials, the Hunter Association, and the Returnee Management Bureau,
She is the daughter of the Yeon Family.
Moreover, she is a platinum spoon among the fine spoons of wealth, beloved by every member of Congress, politicians, and judicial bodies connected to Yeonseo.
Even Choi Junil, who considered himself a golden spoon, was nowhere near comparable to Yeonhwa.
“It’s just a way of saying. Still, using brute force is just having others do the work for you! Isn’t that right?”
“That’s true, but…”
Junil wanted to partake in a fruit that exceeded his reach, yet it was the same situation.
“Besides, who is that big-breasted woman next to her? Who is she that made Yeonhwa act all delicate around her?”
“That’s Isia Hunter. She’s a recently prospering Hunter streamer and a Returnee.”
“What? Is she doing body cam?”
“No, it seems she abandoned the promotion battle for some reason this time, but among the Hunter gallery, it’s established that she’s an S-grade.”
S-grades hang out among themselves…
Junil began nervously pacing the ground as he became more anxious about the growing gap between him and Yeonhwa.
“Sigh, what am I to just do? Is it enough to patrol the area as a whole?”
“Yes, the mayor instructed us not to engage in any dangerous behavior. Just go easy…”
“Wait.”
At that moment, as he turned down an alleyway, Junil halted in his tracks at the strange chill in the air.
The earth and alley were completely frozen.
He didn’t know what it had fought, but the chill still emanated strongly, indicating a fierce battle had taken place.
If it was cold, it must be Yeonhwa.
To Junil’s knowledge, the only strong ice magic user he knew of was Yeonhwa.
“Looks like Yeonhwa was here. Then it’s surely safe here, right?”
If the intense chill was present, then the monster Yeonhwa had encountered was likely dead.
Then just following this path would mean a safe route.
“Are you recording with the camera? Make sure to capture it properly; it has to be sent to the mayor later.”
“…………..”
“Hey, are you listening?”
“Yeah, I’m listening.”
“What? Yeah?”
His response suddenly shortened, leaving Junil with a bewildered expression as he turned around.
Yeah, Yeonhwa could ignore him, but these guys shouldn’t even talk back to him and show some respect…
[Srrr…]
“Uh…?”
And then Junil saw it.
The icy blue-haired figure, the sharp sword made of ice.
And someone looking down at him, with inky black liquid oozing from their eyes.
“…..Ah?”
With an eerie aura, Junil instinctively attempted to back away.
Though he was far from Yeonhwa, he could still reach the shelter if he ran.
Yet, his legs didn’t move at all.
Was it out of fear?
No.
His legs and toes were frozen…
He was completely immobilized.
