Chapter 155: The Demon (4)

Chapter 155: The Demon (4)

“That person has been getting stronger in the Tower of Demons.”

“Well, I saw in the video last time that he was handling golden flames, which are deadly to Mines, so it’s not strange for him to come to the demons.”

The guild members whisper among themselves.

The masked man was silently walking beside him.

“Why did he join our guild?”

Sung Han-byul looked at the masked man. To be honest, when the team leader first spoke to the masked man, he thought he would refuse because there was no merit for him.

In hunting grounds like the Tower of Demons, the advantage of having a certain attribute is immense. It is rare for someone to operate alone like the masked man, but any party would welcome him with open arms.

While the Guild Hwarang is of high rank, a man like the masked man doesn’t necessarily need to be tied to a guild. His power is estimated to be among the top class, a presence that is one of less than a hundred worldwide.

That is exactly why he is called top class.

“Is that person interested in you?”

“Sister, come on. He doesn’t seem like that type of person.”

The one called sister by Sung Han-byul smiled playfully.

“But look. He has been watching this way since earlier. Even when the team leader first spoke to that masked man, his gaze was here.”

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

Sung Han-byul looked at her sister’s face.

Usually, she could easily detect lies because she was straightforward, but now she wasn’t sure. However, she couldn’t just ignore it. She is a being specialized in senses.

Those who have talents of seeing or feeling are not commonly found.

“Doesn’t he look alright? Han-byul, you’ve been busy living up to expectations since you were a sophomore. Kids that age are all dating and having fun~.”

“I don’t have time for dating.”

“You seem to have too great a sense of mission.”

The one called sister smiled bitterly. She had been actively socializing with friends her age.

“It’s not about a sense of mission. Mines always want to conquer the world and are always lurking, and humans can’t unite, splitting into villains and heroes opposing each other. Villains want to destroy society’s laws to create their world, and heroes are just barely managing to keep the Mines in check.”

“That’s what adults...”

“I’m an adult too. And it’s because those adults haven’t handled it properly that the situation is bad.”

How naïve.

Sister, Moon Dal-rae smiled bitterly. She wished Sung Han-byul would be a bit more lively like her peers. But that was probably asking too much.

‘I hope she doesn’t break.’

Sung Han-byul is too upright.

Moon Dal-rae has seen many upright people. And they all broke. People are not all just. They don’t all want to exterminate the Mines. Their interests are somewhat aligned with those of the Mines and the villains.

‘Even I think so.’

People do not worry about future dangers. Even if they were told that the Earth would be destroyed in 100 years, only a very few would prepare for it. Most just worry about living day by day.

Moon Dal-rae hoped that all the guild members would safely conquer the Tower of Demons and return safely.

That’s why she welcomed the suddenly joined masked man, yet remained cautious.

That’s how she knew.

He was unknowingly paying attention to Sung Han-byul.

Moon Dal-rae looked at the masked man. His black coat and black slacks. Although entirely black, the sense of warning suggested that they might all be magical items, or he might have the ability to defend himself even in such clothes.

Despite the solid body felt beyond the clothes and being unable to clearly see his face, the small face suggested a very high chance of being handsome.

‘Should I connect them?’

It was a sudden thought. But he seemed quite alright.

If only she would be more cautious.

Moon Dal-rae started a conversation lightly.

“By the way, Mr. Masked Man? Which side? Which would you prefer? Or should I call you the ‘Black Messenger’ instead of your real name?”

“Just call me comfortably.”

“Mr. Black Messenger?”

The masked man looked at himself.

His expression, as if incredulous, seemed to be felt through the mask.

“...Not that.”

“Or ‘White Face’?”

“...”

He seemed at a loss for words. Moon Dal-rae chuckled and then looked at Sung Han-byul with a dissatisfied expression.

“Ah, I teased him because I liked his reaction without realizing it.”

Moon Dal-rae blamed herself and moved towards Sung Han-byul.

Then she felt a gaze.

“I subtly poked around, and it seems like the masked man is interested in you?”

“Me?”

“Yes. From the build visible over his clothes, he seems to have good proportions and looks handsome, what do you think?”

“How can you tell when he’s wearing a mask?”

“I’m specialized in senses. The mask doesn’t really affect me. I can only see that he has a small face.”

Before she could finish, Moon Dal-rae suddenly recognized that figure. It seemed familiar, where had she seen it?

“Everyone quiet. We’ve spotted enemy troops.”

At the team leader’s words, the two quieted down and prepared for battle.

It seemed like their eyes met for a moment. Watching him gave her the feeling that he was watching her back.

“It can’t be...”

But the feeling wasn’t unpleasant.

“There he is, Mr. Black Messenger. You’re interested in our Han-byul, aren’t you?”

Moon Dal-rae spoke to me with an interested expression.

I ignored her.

“Of course.”

It would be strange if there wasn’t.

But answering her question in any way would surely make her bother me, so I stuck to ignoring her.

“You’ve been looking at Han-byul... Han-byul is a child with a strong sense of responsibility. She really hates Mines.”

“That would be expected.”

Sung Han-byul was a victim of an incident caused by the Mines.

They called it a human sacrifice to the disaster, and in it, she lost her parents and her only younger brother. In return, perhaps, she awakened unbelievable talents known as the Cup of Infinity and the Law Book.

“No, it’s laughable to even call it an awakening.”

Now, she was consumed by her true talent that no one else knew about.

The Cup of Infinity and the Law Book are merely remnants of that talent.

“You really are interested, aren’t you? Knowing that Han-byul hates Mines.”

“...”

I fell silent again.

But Moon Dal-rae, who was as persistent as ever, continued to annoy me.

“Do you know that our Han-byul is the student president of the Korean Hero School?”

“I know.”

“She’s a sophomore but surpassed the seniors... oh, you knew? Then how about this? Did you know that Han-byul likes Sol’s Eyes and Deja?”

I knew.

Because those are the only two flaws of my favorite character, Sung Han-byul.

Soon after, we stopped.

Because we saw bodies bearing the emblem of the Cheoncheon Guild.

“Eek!”

“My goodness! That’s the emblem of the Cheoncheon Guild, isn’t it?”

The guild members were unsettled.

Because those bearing the emblem of one of Korea’s top three guilds, Cheoncheon, had fallen.

“This is...”

“Not dead for long. But it’s strange? It looks like it was clawed by some beast, but there shouldn’t be a beast of this size here?”

The team leader spoke with a stern expression.

The Tower of Demons is still an unknown world to them. Discovering something unknown could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but it is mostly linked directly to death.

“Let’s conduct a small funeral service first. I, as the team leader, will keep their belongings and hand them over to Cheoncheon.”

The team leader hesitated for a moment.

Debating whether to retreat or advance. But his expression soon cleared, and he gave orders to the guild members.

“We will stop our expedition here. Something is strange. Even Cheoncheon’s second teams are not much different in level from our guild, but they all died. Something is here.”

It was a good decision.

Most of the guild members showed signs of relief.

“...”

I looked up at the tower.

The senses of the Sword Demon sharply warned me.

Just like the incident in the USA.

“Is there a dangerous entity?”

The marks of claws suggest certain individuals.

But they have no business being here.

“No, it’s too early to conclude.”

I’ve been backstabbed too much to jump to conclusions.

While pondering who it could be, my sharpened senses detected the presence of several people.

Through the Divine Sight, I saw a group wearing armors marked with the Cheoncheon emblem.

And Kim Seo-hyun was at the forefront.

The team leader met with their team leader for a conversation.

Kim Seo-hyun, moving towards me, asked me a question.

“But why is Seo-ha with the Hwarang kids?”

“How did you recognize that?”

“Just by the body shape, joint structure, sweat smell?”

“...”

I grew a bit afraid of Kim Seo-hyun.