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The ultimate frenzy has been dispatched.

Have I ever smoothly transitioned through a rage like this before?

Occasionally, when Rage A suddenly erupted, I managed to get through it with a sprinkle of holy water.

But to finish my rage this pleasantly feels like a first.

Is this truly the power of Yas? I’ve been missing out on half my life.

Though my actions were unintentional due to the rage, I have no regrets left behind.

I should make use of this going forward.

Anyway, having gotten through this month’s rage, it was time to lead a normal life now.

Though I’m a wanted criminal, my daily life has been relatively peaceful.

It seems everyone has realized that capturing a mere 5 million berry jobber like me isn’t worth their effort.

They’re unsure if they could even enter the Forbidden Forest to catch me, given its natural barriers.

And if they were to get injured while fighting, turning back would also become an issue.

That’s why the number of intruders entering the forest has been surprisingly low.

‘Well, I suppose 5 million berries isn’t enough to contain my worth.’

Thanks to that, I’ve been living without any major incident for a week after the rage ended.

And today is my scheduled day to regularly receive information.

This time, it wasn’t Yoo Chaerin who came, but Im Haneul.

I definitely have a memory of seeing her last time, yet she strangely feels like it’s been a long while.

As I watched her slowly descend from the sky, I greeted her lightly.

“Hey, long time no see. So, did you come instead of Chaerin this time?”

“Yeah, she came down with a cold all of a sudden, so she’s taking a break for about a week. Phew… thanks to that, I had some free time.”

At those words, I felt a twinge of concern.

The reason for her sudden illness was all too apparent. It was undoubtedly because of that operation from a week ago. I did indeed push her a bit too hard.

‘Did she possibly mention anything?’

Thinking about it, I pretended not to know and asked.

“A cold? What happened all of a sudden?”

“I’m not sure. They said it was due to some intense exercise, but I didn’t pry further.”

Hearing that, I nodded quietly to myself.

It seemed like she hadn’t mentioned it specifically. After all, Chaerin wouldn’t just openly talk about such things. It’s a sensitive topic.

I allowed myself a bittersweet smile as I thought.

‘…This is getting complicated.’

Last time, Haneul was the one who hid a secret, and now it’s flipped completely—Chaerin has no idea about this new secret. How should I resolve this… just thinking about it gives me a headache.

‘Well, I suppose it’ll work out somehow.’

However, after that brief thought, I decided to just think positively.

Though we went through an operation together, it doesn’t mean that Chaerin and I developed a romantic relationship. That kind of relationship can be burdensome.

Besides, there’s a massive wall between us.

It’s the great barrier of being an npc and otherworlder.

…Ah, npc.

It’s an expression I truly despise, but to otherworlders, to them I’m nothing more than an npc.

They have a world to return to, and this place is ultimately just a game.

Even with those I’m close to, it wouldn’t be any different.

Sometimes I easily forget, but it’s an unchangeable truth that will never alter.

Thinking about that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

‘Really…’

Of course, I didn’t dwell on it deeply. Reflecting on it would only ruin my mental well-being.

With how much stress I’m already dealing with, it’s not a topic I wish to ponder for too long.

“So, what’s the matter today?”

Thus, I quickly changed the subject.

“Ah, don’t be alarmed, just listen.”

Haneul set a serious tone at my query. As if what she brought today was somewhat important. Finally, the topic she introduced was indeed quite different from usual.

“Dantalion has been exterminated.”

The demon, Dantalion, who had unnaturally long life, has finally been taken down.

The one who had caused me trouble has now returned to hell at last.

However, I found that I was not as happy as I expected.

An inexplicable sense of unease washed over me.

“….”

I stared blankly at Haneul for a moment.

Between the green leaves, I could see a clear blue sky without a single cloud in sight.

The day was fresh to the point of being dry, and not even a small breeze was blowing.

Watching the strangely calm weather, I quietly speculated.

‘Rain will probably come soon.’

It was purely about the weather.

*

The extermination was carried out stealthily.

Dantalion was slow on his feet, yet he always accompanied Harold, the unusually fast-leader.

Because of that, even when they exerted effort to track him down, he would often slip away like an eel.

Since Dantalion was a mage, a mere large force would only lead to more casualties.

This time, the knights were fully prepared for the hunt.

Led by the Fourth Knight Commander Rayleigh, a small elite force was assembled for the operation.

Before the battle even commenced, they expanded their encirclement and cut off his retreat.

Indeed, such thorough measures left Dantalion with no way out.

Crash—!

“Geh!”

With the sound of the barrier breaking, Dantalion’s chest was severely slashed at an angle.

The holy water-laden sword of the knight commander was too much for his barrier to withstand.

To make matters worse, the magic flying from all sides was useless before Rayleigh’s elegant swordsmanship.

“Finally, I’m going to slay a demon with my sword.”

Blood began to ooze from the gaping wound in his chest, a clearly fatal injury.

Not having any notable regeneration abilities, Dantalion would be vanishing soon. It was practically a done deal.

“Ugh! The encirclement has been breached!”

“Don’t let him escape!”

“He’s too fast!”

By that time, Harold, who was with them, had already fled at breakneck speed.

Realizing he could not escape alongside the others, he forced his way out on his own.

He suffered various injuries, but thanks to that, Harold was able to escape.

Indeed, it was a quick judgment and action befitting of a master of escape.

Seeing that, Rayleigh let out a hollow laugh.

“Ha, now even the ones on the same side are betraying me.”

“Hehe, I expected it. I even asked him to run away alone if danger arose.”

However, despite that situation, Dantalion wore a smile. As if he had anticipated such a scenario would eventually occur.

Rayleigh raised his sword and asked,

“Because of that, you’re going to be obliterated today. And yet you talk as if it’s no big deal.”

“It’s fine. The foundation has been firmly established… I’ll just be waiting leisurely in the demon realm.”

Rayleigh thought the term “foundation” was quite ominous.

What does it mean? Could it mean another new demon is going to appear?

If so, that would be quite troublesome, as the damages caused by demons have already been immense.

Nonetheless, Rayleigh couldn’t show weakness before a demon, so he maintained a robust demeanor as he declared,

“No matter what demon appears, it doesn’t matter. Humanity’s resolve remains intact. We will swiftly eradicate the Lemegaton and return to our daily lives.”

“Eh? Hahaha!”

At that statement, Dantalion burst into loud laughter as if he had just heard something absurd.

Rayleigh’s expression slightly faltered at his reaction.

After laughing for a while, Dantalion opened his mouth again.

“You all are under a significant misconception.”

Thud—

He sat down on the ground as if to engage in conversation.

After all, with a massive injury on his chest, he couldn’t escape, and even if he did, he wouldn’t last long.

Seeing him in that lethargic position, Rayleigh raised his guard.

But regardless, Dantalion began to speak.

“600 years ago, in your world, Decarabia descended. That was probably the first demon you faced. Right?”

Upon hearing that, Rayleigh was momentarily shocked. He never thought he would hear the historical account from the demon’s own mouth.

Rayleigh conjectured cautiously.

“… So the Lemegaton told you?”

“No. I heard the news from the demon realm. Although I wasn’t on their side, I went to the afterlife and returned after losing a part of my body. It was impossible for the information not to spread.”

That was something Rayleigh didn’t know. It was likely related to the realm where he originally lived, the demon world.

And come to think of it, he vaguely remembered hearing that demons don’t die but rather go to the demon realm.

Dantalion continued.

“Anyway, since then, until Andromalius appeared, three demons have emerged over 600 years.”

“And after Andromalius, including myself, a total of four demons have appeared in just over a year’s time.”

“Isn’t that a bit odd?”

He asked joyfully, with blood-stained cheeks twisting into a vile grin.

Rayleigh glared at him, displeased.

“That’s… because the ones known as Lemegaton keep providing support to you. Recently, mines have been appearing frequently too.”

“Hoho, do you really think that’s the whole reason?”

Dantalion continued.

“Certainly, with the emergence of mines and the Lemegaton members offering sacrifices at altars, that has contributed as well. But is that all? No, that’s merely a few drops in a cup full of water.”

That was quite a significant statement.

Was he suggesting that the emergence of demons up until now was merely a natural occurrence?

Just thinking about it sent chills down Rayleigh’s spine.

At that moment, Dantalion spoke again.

“Armageddon is not far off. No matter how much you humans struggle, your fate is already sealed.”

“… Damn you.”

Having heard that, the knight commander raised his sword high.

He had gathered enough information and sensed that the demon’s words were rapidly leaning towards a curse.

Swoosh—!

With a chilling slicing sound, Dantalion’s body quickly began to disintegrate.

“When that time comes, humanity will bow their heads to their king…”

And thus, all that remained was one of his ears.

This completed the extermination of the demon splendidly. Yet, within his heart, only a sense of unease lingered.

‘If what he said is true… this is a big problem.’

So, doesn’t that mean another demon will appear someday?

Why is it that demons who had descended only three times in 600 years are all now emerging while I’m here…?

While feeling slightly wronged, there was nothing that could change what they had to do.

To prepare in advance for when the next demon appears.

To conserve as many holy warriors as possible, refraining from sending them into battle, while producing holy water.

And perhaps to eliminate potential future threats.

Such as… a child of the demon that the empire overlooked decades ago.

“… ”

The gaze of the imperial knight Rayleigh looked towards a distant place.