Chapter 90: Reunion

On the way back to the Winter Castle.

It was purely by chance that I discovered the 4th Special Task Force being chased by demonic beasts.

Not only because I hadn’t even expected the 4th Special Task Force to be inside the Demonic Realm, but I also hadn’t known they would be chased by demonic beasts.

‘There’s no way they came looking for me……. The Winter Castle must have dispatched an investigation team.’

As expected of the Winter Castle.

I had considered the possibility that, in the worst case, the Winter Castle might not have detected what happened in the Demonic Realm at all, but it seemed the Winter Castle was the Winter Castle, and they had detected the anomaly in the Demonic Realm without being too late.

If so, it meant that the Winter Castle was also preparing by now, and if I just delivered the fact that the King of the Demonic Realm had awakened, they would officially request support from the Imperial Household based on that.

‘First, I have to move.’

The demonic beasts were gradually tightening their encirclement of the 4th Special Task Force.

If I left them alone, they wouldn’t be able to avoid annihilation before escaping the Demonic Realm.

No, if it was just Edric alone, he might be able to get out somehow, but thinking of the person Edric was, it didn’t seem likely that he would abandon his subordinates and escape that place alone.

‘I have to make an escape route.’

But I couldn’t move recklessly.

Considering the volume of a gunshot, the moment I pulled the trigger, the attention of the surrounding demonic beasts would be focused on me, and then, while trying to save the Special Task Force, I would be exposed to danger instead.

‘If so…….’

Having roughly identified the Special Task Force’s movement path, I positioned myself on a tree at a slightly farther distance.

From this position, even if the gunshot was heard, it would be difficult for the demonic beasts surrounding the Special Task Force to pinpoint my location.

[Activating ‘Weapon Summon(??)’.]

[A ‘Lv.3’ weapon will be summoned.]

[Summoning weapon, ‘AKR-74 Assault Rifle’.]

Gripping the AKR-74 Assault Rifle, I aimed the muzzle at the demonic beasts from the top of the tree.

‘One beast per shot, carefully.’

I couldn’t waste bullets.

Although I could get an unlimited supply of bullets with time, thanks to the Weapon Summon trait, it was also true that bullets were limited for a limited time.

In addition to that, the current level of demonic beasts had strong hides and scales that couldn’t be pierced by ordinary 7.62x39mm rounds.

It meant that to catch them, it was necessary to use Demonic Bullets.

Sss-sss─

The Demonic energy that began to flow from my fingertips imbued the bullets in the magazine.

With this, the preparations were complete.

Hooo…….

I stopped my breath and aimed at the demonic beast.

Taang!─

The Demonic Bullet fired with the pulled trigger instantly pierced the head of the demonic beast that was about to attack Alicia.

Although I had eliminated one demonic beast, there were still many remaining.

Again, from the beginning.

I move the Demonic energy, load it into the bullet, and mechanically pull the trigger.

Taang─!

Tang! Tang!

With the continuous gunshots, the demonic beasts began to fall, one by one, with each shot.

This was the power of the Demonic Bullet, a bullet coated in Demonic energy.

‘I think I’m getting the hang of it now.’

As I fired Demonic Bullets consecutively like that, my skill in loading Demonic energy into the bullets gradually improved.

In other words, it meant that my rate of fire was also gradually starting to increase.

Tang! T-tang!

Along with the increased rate of fire, the speed at which the demonic beasts fell also increased.

And only after emptying one entire magazine did I intuit that it was time to move.

‘Now.’

As the demonic beasts’ encirclement was temporarily broken, I didn’t hesitate and immediately threw my body toward the 4th Special Task Force’s location.

[Krrrooo!]

【Lv.5】

【Bagdon】

In the meantime, demonic beasts that noticed my presence rushed at me, but I already had a double-barrel shotgun in my hand.

Taang─!

With a sound close to an explosion, the head of the demonic beast in front of me exploded.

And it wasn’t just an ordinary demonic beast I had often seen, but a rather high-level, Level 5 demonic beast.

The close-range destructive power of a 70mm 12 gauge shotgun shell loaded with Demonic energy was slightly absurd, even for me, who had pulled the trigger.

‘As expected of a Demonic Bullet.’

If I became a little more used to handling Demonic Bullets in the future, I don’t know for sure, but I would probably be able to unleash firepower beyond imagination momentarily.

Tang!

Tang! Tang─!

As I dashed while kindly putting wind-holes in the heads of the demonic beasts rushing at me, I soon saw the Special Task Force fighting hard at a close distance.

Click-

The double-barrel shotgun’s trigger was pulled again, and the torso of the demonic beast blocking my path exploded.

At that, Edric, who had already noticed my presence, spoke in a voice full of welcome.

“Couldn’t you have come sooner?”

“I wanted to, but there were a lot of things in the way.”

“You cleaned them up before coming, right?”

Well, that goes without saying.

“All of them.”

Edric laughed heartily.

“Still splendid. Thanks to you, an escape route has opened. There’s a lot to talk about, but for now, let’s move immediately.”

“Yes.”

As I shifted my gaze slightly, the Special Task Force members, who had earned a moment to catch their breath, were looking at me.

“Vell……”

“You’re here, Vell.”

“……It’s hard to believe even seeing it in person.”

Alicia, Conlan, and Albino all had expressions that said they had a lot to say, but for now, it was time to move, just as Edric said.

“Let’s talk on the way.”

As the situation was what it was, there were no objections.

No matter how much we had succeeded in securing an escape route for now, it was only a temporary securement.

As if to prove that fact, as soon as we left the escape route, I could feel the demonic beasts’ encirclement tightening from all sides.

“A little more speed!”

“Damn it! I’m already running like hell!”

“I’m saying to run while saving even the energy to speak!”

“Then don’t talk to me!”

Edric laughed heartily at Conlan’s resentful scream.

In that situation, I glanced at the countless presences I felt beyond the bushes.

‘At this rate, they’ll catch up.’

Of course, since Edric was here, being caught itself wasn’t a huge deal, but if that happened, our movement speed would gradually slow down, and in the end, we would be surrounded by the demonic beast horde again.

‘If so.’

[Activating ‘Weapon Summon(??)’.]

[‘Lv.3’ Ammunition will be summoned.]

[Summoning Ammunition, ‘7.62x39mm round’.]

I changed the magazine of the AKR-74 Assault Rifle slung over my shoulder.

Then, while still maintaining my running posture, I momentarily turned my body and pulled the trigger.

Taang!─

The Demonic Bullet fired with the ringing gunshot instantly hit a demonic beast.

[Kehehek……!]

It didn’t seem to be an instant kill, but seeing the demonic beast’s movement stop, it seemed I had at least succeeded in subduing it.

‘For now, that’s enough.’

What we needed right now wasn’t demonic beast hunting, but buying time until we could escape the Demonic Realm.

‘Still, I can’t be careless.’

With my senses awakened as much as possible, I continuously pulled the trigger at the demonic beasts that entered a certain range.

One shot, one shot. Loading Demonic energy into every bullet fired.

Tang!

Taang!─

As the Demonic energy wrapped around my body was drawn out in chunks, the physical support ability weakened relatively, and a slight feeling of enervation set in.

But I couldn’t stop.

Because if I stopped here, we would all die in this place.

As if he recognized this, Edric, who had cut the neck of a demonic beast approaching from the side, spoke.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

“Since you say so, I won’t say much…… but don’t overdo it.”

Perhaps because the sniping of the demonic beasts that were tightening the siege one by one during the process of escaping the Demonic Realm was effective, the encirclement gradually loosened.

Only then did the Special Task Force members, who had regained a little composure, slow down from an all-out sprint to a fast walk and let out deep breaths.

“Ugh…… I can’t do this twice. I get why the Demonic Realm is called the Demonic Realm.”

Conlan shook his head as if he was sick of the harshness of the Demonic Realm.

“Vell, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Alicia worried about me, as always.

“You……”

Albino spoke with a dumbfounded face, as if he had seen a ghost.

“……Did you really go to the Demonic Realm?”

“I said I was.”

“That’s absurd. Who would believe that?”

“Seems like everyone believed it except you?”

“…….”

Albino glanced around and then shook his head as if he had nothing more to say.

The truth is often harder to believe than one thinks.

“……If so, what happened in the Demonic Realm? The power of your magic seems incomparably stronger than before.”

“Well, this and that happened. It’s too long to tell while moving like this.”

“Hmph…… It’s not like you intended to tell me anyway.”

Well, that’s true.

“Sorry to interrupt the conversation, but I think there’s something I need to hear.”

Edric, who had been watching quietly, cut in, and I nodded slightly.

“You mean the story about the anomaly that occurred in the Demonic Realm.”

“That’s right. I thought you, who went to the Demonic Realm in person, would know something. Do you know anything by any chance?”

“Yes. I do.”

Edric’s expression hardened.

“You know, you say……. Is what I’m worried about correct, by any chance?”

“I don’t know what you’re worried about, Commander, but I think I can tell you one thing.”

I added it carefully.

“The King of the Demonic Realm has awakened.”

***

Did a King of the Demonic Realm awaken?

For some time now, the atmosphere of the Demonic Realm had been ominous.

Yohan, who noticed that fact, stopped his busy steps.

“This is……”

The path of the boundary had changed.

To be precise, the path itself had disappeared.

Of course, he wasn’t far from escaping the Demonic Realm now, so he could ignore the path of the boundary and force a breakthrough, but the problem was that the current atmosphere of the Demonic Realm was too different from usual.

Yohan knew.

To move carelessly at a time like this was the same as hastening death.

Moreover, since not an iota of Demonic energy remained in Yohan’s body, he was in a noticeably weakened state compared to when he first entered the Demonic Realm.

‘I have to find the path.’

Even if it meant taking a detour, Yohan felt the need to retrace his steps a bit.

He chose a sure path rather than taking an unnecessary risk.

Even while retracing his steps, the strange atmosphere within the Demonic Realm continued, but fortunately, the presence of demonic beasts was not felt.

The anomaly occurred then.

Kung!

Kuuung─!

A vibration felt from the ground.

And that vibration was felt from a place much closer than he thought.

His perception was a step late because his senses had dulled due to the loss of Demonic energy.

Geuuuuuuuu───!!

With that, the cry of a demonic beast, heard riding on the echo.

It was a cry that stimulated human fear, from a natural-born predator.

“……Oh my god.”

Sensing that the situation was not good, Yohan turned his body and started running.

He had decided that from now on, even if it was somewhat dangerous, he had to do something, whether it was a forced breakthrough or whatever.

Because the situation Yohan was currently in was dangerous enough as it was.

“Heok, heok……!”

How many minutes had he run at full speed like that?

The weakening of physical abilities due to the loss of Demonic energy hit him much harder than he thought.

Was I this weak?

The price for having leaned comfortably on a power that should never have been relied upon was all too great.

[Krrr…….]

[Kuru! Kururuk!]

It didn’t take long for Yohan to be caught by the demonic beasts.

Demonic beasts were approaching from all sides.

It was no longer possible to avoid a fight.

“I…… won’t die here.”

Yohan still had work to do.

For himself, of course, and for all the humans in this world.

“Come at me, you bastards!”

Yohan shouted and swung his spear at the demonic beasts, and thrusted.

But unfortunately, his spear tip, having lost its Demonic energy, was not as sharp as before.

No, even if he had his Demonic energy intact, he couldn’t have survived in this situation.

[Kaaaaak──!]

In an instant, Yohan’s whole body was covered in wounds, and his legs couldn’t even move properly.

‘……Is this the end?’

The moment Yohan sensed the end.

Chwaak─!

The entire body of the demonic beast that was lunging at Yohan literally exploded.

“What……”

Blood scattered in all directions.

Amidst the incomprehensible anomaly, Yohan felt his heart sink for some unknown reason.

It wasn’t just a feeling.

‘……Since when?’

Since when on earth?

At some point, a woman was standing between him and the demonic beasts.

As if she had been there from the beginning, all too naturally.

‘Who?’

Although her face wasn’t visible because it was her back, her long black hair, which hung down, sparkled as if it were moonlight.

That back view even held a certain divinity, as if the goddess of the moon had descended to earth.

In the scene that felt like a dream, a clear voice echoed.

“Eum, this is strange…….”

What on earth was strange, Yohan couldn’t know, but he knew what he had to say right now.

[Kyaooo──!]

Demonic beasts began to lunge at her from all sides.

“Wa-watch out!”

“Annoying.”

With the quiet murmur, her hand was lightly swung.

Chwaaaak!

With a light swing of her hand, the demonic beasts’ entire bodies all exploded, and blood scattered in all directions.

In the scene, which felt not the least bit realistic, Yohan thought he was dreaming.

“Ah……”

Only after the red blood that fell from the sky drenched Yohan’s entire body did he barely come to his senses.

“Th-thank you.”

“Never mind the thanks. More than that, there’s something I want to ask.”

She, Luna, turned around, looked at Yohan, and spoke.

“Around here, by any chance…… Huh?”

Soon, her lips, which were examining Yohan’s face, parted, and a word that was hard to believe popped out.

“Kim Yohan?”

“……Do you know me?”

“It’s me. You don’t know?”

Only then did Yohan’s eyes narrow as he slowly examined her face.

It was definitely a face he had seen somewhere before, but perhaps because of the gap between reality and a monitor screen, he couldn’t easily recognize her.

Meaning, among the people I know, a face like that…….

“Huh?”

Soon, the image of one person surfaced in Yohan’s mind.

But, that person, no matter how, no, is this right?

“Wha-wha-what?!”

Yohan’s expression gradually colored with astonishment.

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