Demon-Hunting Genius Mage

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]

Chapter 38

Clack, clack, clack.

The four-wheeled carriage moved forward with the power of magic.

This was the carriage promised by the Dean...

The ride was so comfortable that it was in no way inferior to Roan's carriage.

'Things are going well.'

I stopped by the academy without much thought, but I unexpectedly gained a lot.

From the form transformation of light magic to admission to the academy on favorable terms, and various other support.

This was the moment things were going best since I entered this world.

But I wasn't completely at ease.

'I feel uneasy for no reason.'

In [Demon Fantasy], things rarely went this smoothly.

Just when you think things are going well, a major accident is bound to happen.

And above all, I wasn't that lucky.

No, I was very unlucky.

In fact, wasn't I struggling here after entering the game?

The probability of this happening was probably lower than getting struck by lightning or winning the lottery.

Well, anyway...

"The more things go well, the more I shouldn't let my guard down."

Clack-

I closed my eyes, listening to the sound of the carriage.

And I recalled the process I had gone through so far.

Starting from Sector 7 to the raider's hideout, Barundel training ground, the request office, Aldeon, Asion Academy...

I retraced the people I met and the events that occurred in those places.

And even the events that would happen in the future.

As I went over them one by one, I immediately realized what I was lacking.

"Level."

My overall growth rate wasn't bad.

My magic skills and physical abilities were improving day by day, and I had acquired traits that were as good as they could be.

However, the problem was my level.

Currently, my level was 5.

Considering the average leveling speed in [Demon Fantasy], it wasn't low, but by my standards as a veteran, it was an absurdly low level.

It was because my growth had stopped after Aldeon.

"I need to be at least level 10 before The Prophecy of the Blood Moon begins... I've been too cautious."

Leveling up helped both magic and physical abilities by increasing stats.

Therefore, I needed to reach at least level 10 before the war broke out.

Fortunately, there was a way.

'Go outside Sector 7.'

To leave the territory of Asternon altogether.

Outside the Sectors, there were many demons swarming, so it was very dangerous, but it was also the most certain way to grow.

With that decision, I immediately asked the coachman to turn the carriage around.

It would be reckless to go to such a place alone.

Fortunately, there was someone who could be of great help at a time like this.

The owner of the training hall with a human touch.

"Oh, Yuhan? What brings you here at this hour? Didn't you say you found a place to stay? Didn't it work out?"

"I have a favor to ask."

Barundel Damascus.

A demon hunter like him would surely be a great help in hunting.

Above all, I could trust Barundel and have his back.

With that judgement, I spoke.

"Barundel, would you be interested in going hunting with me?"

"...Did you just say hunting?"

"...Yes."

My tone was very cautious.

I still didn't know why Barundel quit being a demon hunter.

And considering the usual reasons why demon hunters quit... it was only natural to be cautious.

All I could do now was pray that Barundel didn't have severe trauma related to his hunter days.

"...Come in first. It's better to talk inside."

Fortunately, I wasn't turned away at the door, and I explained why I made such a request.

"The Blood Moon... So those rumors were true."

"Yes, I think the royal family will soon be recruiting mercenaries for the war. I'm planning to apply as well."

"...Is there a reason why you must do that?"

Barundel continued, his face full of concern.

"Demons are not to be taken lightly. They are crazy beings who are only driven by instinct and are obsessed with killing people. A war against them will not be easy."

"I know that very well."

"...Isn't there a way to go back? That would be a much safer and easier path."

He was saying that I didn't have to participate in the war.

And he was right.

Unless you were a soldier, there was no obligation to participate in the war, and no one was forcing me to.

In fact, the safest way to survive here was to move to the inner Sectors, not participate in the war.

But...

"I'm not used to taking the easy path."

If I did that, my growth would stop again.

And next time, an even more unavoidable trial would come my way.

That trial would eventually lead to death.

I had already experienced that pattern enough in the past 10 years, so there was no change in my choice.

Perhaps Barundel sensed that conviction.

"Sigh, alright. You're going to participate in the war. And you need to gain combat experience before that. I understand both points clearly."

"Then... will you help me?"

At that moment.

Thud! Thud!

Barundel suddenly got up and dragged something over.

It was a bundle that seemed to contain a lot of heavy things, and Barundel opened it in front of me with a faint smile.

And inside it...

"...You were planning this all along."

"Haha! I knew this day would come!"

The demon hunting equipment Barundel wore during the Aldeon incident was all there.

Well-maintained without a single drop of blood.

"Then tell me your plan!"

Thus, a two-person demon hunting party was formed.

***

Late at night, in the quiet hours before dawn.

Swish!

Yuhan and Barundel, who had just finished their discussion, were now moving stealthily like assassins.

They arrived at their destination, avoiding the eyes of the security forces: the outer main gate of Sector 6.

The very place where the ill-fated relationship with Shuhan began.

"There are still a lot of guards. It'll be difficult to get through the main gate."

Although they could break through if they put their minds to it, that would make the situation a bit tricky.

They couldn't attend the academy as wanted criminals.

"Is there really a back gate here? All I see is a solid wall."

"There is, definitely."

Yuhan could be sure of this.

He had inquired about it many times because he felt so wronged by the situation back then.

Based on the information he had heard, he led Barundel to the building closest to the guard post.

And he pointed to a manhole at the bottom of the building's outer wall.

"This is it."

"...That's a very shabby back gate."

While Yuhan kept watch, Barundel quietly lifted the manhole cover.

As expected, a passage with a ladder appeared.

"I'll go in first."

"I'll follow right behind you."

With a nod, Yuhan climbed down the ladder.

After a short pause, Barundel also entered the passage.

As he entered and closed the manhole cover...

Click!

Whoosh.

The luminous stones embedded in the walls of the passage lit up.

"Good. We shouldn't have any trouble going down."

They slowly made their way down, relying on the light.

After about a minute of descending...

Thud. Their feet touched the ground.

'We're here.'

"Is this really the back gate?"

As Barundel said, the end of the deep passage was blocked on all sides.

But if the information Yuhan had heard was correct...

'It's here.'

Wham!

He punched the wall, which had a slightly different texture, with all his might.

Then...

Rumble!

With a faint vibration, the wall opened to both sides, revealing another passage.

Beyond this point was Sector 7.

They were crossing into Sector 7 without being noticed by anyone.

"Hmm, so it was real. Who on earth made this passage...?"

"I heard that the residents of Sector 7 once united and dug this tunnel. It wasn't like this originally, but it was refined over decades and developed into this."

"Decades... So no one was caught by the security forces during that time?"

"Well, I don't know if they weren't caught... or if they knew but turned a blind eye. I think the latter is more likely. Though I don't know the reason."

"Either way, it's good for us."

"Well, that's true."

With that answer, Yuhan carefully examined the passage.

Fortunately, there didn't seem to be any variables that could arise in the passage.

"Shall we go back?"

They had achieved their goal.

Now, when day broke, all they had to do was prepare the necessary supplies and go hunting.

Just then...

Thud, thud.

Suddenly, footsteps began to echo from within the passage.

'Someone's coming.'

Yuhan and Barundel instinctively held their breath and assumed a fighting stance.

Whoever was coming this way must be someone living in Sector 7.

Since most of Sector 7 was made up of criminals, they didn't know what might happen.

Just as they were maintaining their vigilance...

"Who's there!"

A voice called out from ahead, as if they had also sensed their presence.

Yuhan calmly replied.

"We're just trying to cross over too. Let's not harm each other and just pass by."

"We? You're not alone?"

The woman ahead spoke with a wary voice.

But was it just his imagination that the voice felt familiar?

They slowly closed the distance, and the moment they were close enough to see each other's faces, they were completely taken aback by the unexpected figure.

"...Huh?"

The fire attribute mage they had shared camaraderie with while surviving in the raider's hideout.

"...Kayla?"

It was their reunion after three months.

***

"Ehehe, to meet someone you know there of all places. What a strange coincidence."

Barundel chuckled and offered Yuhan and Kayla cups of tea.

"Thank you, Dwarf Mister."

"You're welcome."

Kayla smiled and accepted the teacup.

Her words, her gestures... unlike before, she seemed much more relaxed.

‘Had she achieved what she wanted to do?’

As Yuhan was thinking that, Kayla spoke first.

"So, how have you been? And why are you trying to cross over to that damned Sector 7 again?"

"Well, a lot has happened. I've been through several near-death experiences. As for Sector 7... something came up that requires me to go outside."

"Outside? Are you talking about outside the territory?"

"Yeah."

Kayla's eyes widened at his words.

"Why would you go there? There's nothing but demons out there."

"That's right. But hunting those demons is the goal."

"What?"

Just then, Barundel sat down gently and said,

"We're planning to hunt demons there. The goal is to gain practical experience to become war mercenaries."

"Oh, is that so?"

Kayla looked at Yuhan and Barundel and tilted her head.

Her expression seemed to ask if they were both crazy.

‘...How should I explain this?’

In the end, he brought up The Prophecy of the Blood Moon and explained the reason to Kayla.

"...War."

Of course, he couldn't convince her with just that.

"I still don't understand why you would go to such a dangerous place. But..."

However, whether it made sense to her or not wasn't important from the beginning.

She had changed even more than he thought.

Flare!

"Can't I go with you? There."

Although he didn't know if it was for the better...

Yuhan looked at the flames rising above Kayla's palm and fell into thought.

"..."

Flames much more intense than before.

‘Perhaps, she could be of help.’

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]