Chapter 37
While Yor was lost in memories, what was Ha-neul doing?
"...Phew."
She was busy recovering her severely damaged mental state.
For someone who rarely went outside, today's events had been far too stimulating.
It felt like she'd used up a week's worth of energy... How could a game be so psychologically draining?
"So exhausting..."
She muttered while sitting down on a nearby bench.
Fortunately there were places to sit even in this slum. Otherwise she might have ended up sitting on the ground like the nearby beggars.
It was also fortunate that Yor had been so easygoing about the earlier incident.
Even though it was a mistake, he could have easily made an issue of it if he wanted to. She'd seen plenty of people get socially destroyed in similar situations.
Mostly in the online world, that is. It was a bit unfair, but that's just how male-female interactions worked.
But instead, he'd playfully teased her in a way that helped ease her guilt.
Though it did somewhat stress her out mentally... it actually helped reduce the awkwardness.
Of course, Yor was just genuinely teasing her... but that's how she interpreted it anyway.
'What kind of guy is so easygoing?'
Even if it was a mistake, was he really okay with it? She wondered briefly.
He was unusual in many ways.
After taking a short rest, her next thought was.
'So why did we come here...?'
Of all places to visit in the city, why this slum in the corner?
There was nothing to see, and the security was terrible.
Though she had her suspicions. Judging by the wistful expressions he'd been making while looking around, it wasn't hard to guess.
That he had memories of this place.
'Did he use to live here?'
Come to think of it, he must have lived in the city too before the tattoo appeared.
She just hadn't expected it to be in a slum like this.
Ha-neul gave a bitter smile thinking about him.
It was easy enough to predict that his life hadn't been easy, regardless of his personality. Even now that they'd gotten somewhat close, she could still occasionally sense his wariness.
Ha-neul felt a moment of sympathy thinking about him.
Fortunately that thought didn't last long. She knew it would be rude to dwell on such things.
Instead she decided to focus on recovering her mental state like before.
She wasn't sure when he'd return, but considering the duration of Illusion, it would have to be within an hour.
Until then she planned to relax on the bench and take in the scenery.
The impressive graphics of [Demons Saga] managed to give even this rundown area its own kind of charm.
There was a certain warmth even in this seemingly gloomy place.
Children scribbling graffiti on walls in their ragged clothes. Priests sharing porridge with beggars.
With the sunset in the sky, it created quite a picturesque scene.
A peaceful sight. As if it could last forever.
However, that peace was shattered sooner than expected.
"Aaaaaah...!"
"Run... we have to run!"
Suddenly screams rang out from the edge of this scenery.
Looking over, she saw people fleeing with terrified expressions.
Behind them walked an incredibly handsome man with an air of composure.
Long golden hair, towering height, and a seemingly gentle expression.
Ha-neul was shocked when she recognized him.
He was the one causing such a stir in online communities lately.
'Seere?'
The 70th ranked demon, Seere. Ha-neul was confused by his presence.
Why was a raid boss that needed to be defeated suddenly appearing in a back alley of the Empire?
Meanwhile the situation continued to unfold.
Slash-!
Suddenly Seere swung his hand, cutting into a fleeing beggar's ankle.
Though not severed, it was clearly a deep wound.
"Aaaaaah...!"
"I told you not to run away."
Seere walked steadily toward the beggar and spoke.
"Let me ask once more. Will you serve under me, or die here in agony?"
Just like the communities had described. The terrified beggar's choice was obvious.
One by one, those who had been fleeing stopped and agreed to join.
Ha-neul thought with her confused mind.
'What do I do?'
To think the event everyone had been curious about would come to her.
While other users might be excited to encounter Seere, she couldn't feel the same.
She had no intention of joining some weird cult in the first place, and Yor was here too.
'Why now of all times...'
She wouldn't mind dying herself. Losing items would be annoying, but that's all it would amount to. But it was different for Yor as an NPC. If he died, he'd disappear from this world forever. The value of their lives was completely different.
Joining the cult would be problematic too. If he was forced to join the cult, wouldn't he have to leave his home in the forest? No matter what happened, the future looked bleak for Ha-neul.
'No.'
At minimum she had to warn him. Tell him a demon had appeared and he needed to flee immediately.
With that thought, she tried to escape from Seere with a grim expression.
And that was a mistake.
"Are all humans deaf? I'm starting to get annoyed."
Slash-!
With that sound, this time her thigh was cut.
"Ugh...!"
Her lower body collapsed from the searing pain. She quickly lowered her Synchronization Rate to minimum.
When she finished adjusting the settings, she saw Seere had already arrived in front of her.
Even though she'd only stopped briefly, how was he so fast?
From noticing her footsteps from far away to the power of his attacks, he was far beyond her level in every way.
"Hmm? You adapt to pain more easily than expected... Ah yes. You're an Otherworlder."
Seere asked with a gentle smile. Though his face was smiling, not a hint of emotion could be felt from it. An unnatural appearance like someone forcibly imitating humans - a demon.
Though his appearance could be called beautiful, Ha-neul felt nothing but terror from him.
Finally he asked her:
"What do you say? Will you join under me?"
A strange pressure bore down on her. But Ha-neul's answer was already decided.
"...No."
"Hmm... I see."
He nodded coldly. Then Seere's hand blade rushed toward her neck.
Ha-neul squeezed her eyes shut thinking about the pain to come.
In a moment her head would be separated from her body.
But contrary to her expectations, she didn't die.
Bang!
Because something landed in front of her first.
The ground cracked and stone fragments scattered from the tremendous force. Ha-neul could even feel slight tremors from her close distance.
Sensing something amiss, Seere stepped back several paces.
Ha-neul opened her tightly shut eyes and looked forward again.
And there stood Yor.
"What the fuck are you doing?"
With a rather annoyed expression.
*
To be honest, I was getting a bit sentimental.
Memories I thought had grown dim came flooding back fresh upon arriving here.
These occasional moments of emotion are quite precious to someone who's lived such a bleak life.
Though slightly bitter, it wasn't a bad time. The lingering feeling was even deeper than when eating that pizza bread. If I'd gone straight home it would have been quite a nice day...
But what's this? When I return to where Ha-neul was, there's some gay-looking bastard?
And worse, he was trying to log her out so I had to hurriedly intervene.
If she dies, it would be quite troublesome for me to return since she knows how to use 'Illusion'.
Originally I planned to plant a kick in his face with the first strike, but he withdrew before that. That's when I noticed he was quite skilled.
Even though it was a surprise attack and should have been awkward to react to. His reflexes were impressive.
"No, run away! You have to avoid him!"
Around then Ha-neul shouted to me. She looked quite urgent.
From what she said, it seems the opponent was a demon called Seere.
I couldn't help but be surprised.
'...Seere?'
A name I'd heard before. A very recent one at that.
Wasn't this the demon that appeared just months after Andromalius died?
I remember being quite shocked when I heard about it.
I was half skeptical it might just be internet rumors.
'Is that...?'
And that skepticism hadn't really changed even now that he was before me.
This creepy-looking guy is really that demon?
Just looking at him, he looks like he belongs in some gay porn. The black leather X-shaped outfit gives off strong underground vibes.
Still, I stayed cautious as she said.
Though I hadn't thought about running away yet.
I could take care of myself fine, and there were other people here besides her.
'Of all times...'
And not Otherworlders, but regular people who lived here.
If I ran away, their lives would clearly be in danger.
It wasn't because of some noble sense of justice. That word was quite distant from me.
I just felt a bit guilty about abandoning all these people and running.
Unless my identity was about to be exposed, I was willing to buy some time while disguised with 'Illusion'.
And honestly, I kind of wanted to punch that face too.
So I pulled up my hood and drew my weapon.
'Damn, should have brought my weapon pouch.'
Unfortunately all I had was a self-defense dagger.
It would have been awkward to bring an expensive subspace pouch to the city, and I hadn't planned on fighting anyway.
Still, I could fight with this much, so I charged at the opponent.
Swoosh-!
The dagger rushed at him with a chilling sound. But it never reached him.
He dodged by turning his head before that.
A gleam flashed in his blue eyes.
"Quite fierce."
The attack missed but that was expected.
I didn't dwell on the first strike and continued into my next attack. Using the dagger's momentum, I threw in a back spin elbow.
Thud-!
This attack did connect. Though it was blocked by his palm.
He spoke with an impressed tone.
"And quite powerful too."
I'd used my turn, so now it was his.
After deflecting my elbow, he swung a hand blade at me. I could see a faint mana coating the edge of his hand.
I quickly blocked his attack with my dagger.
Bang-!
A massive force bore down on me. I almost got pushed back but managed to block it.
Our eyes met while locked in the power struggle.
He spoke in an admiring tone.
"And quite handsome too?"
I don't have a hobby of getting appearance compliments from men.
When I briefly frowned, he continued.
"I like talented children. Whether it's looks or anything else... How about joining under me? I can treat someone of your caliber preciously. If you're interested in male love, I could even teach you personally."
"...What?"
I asked him back.
...Did I hear that correctly?
No way he's actually gay!
"You son of a...!"
I hurriedly knocked him away.
Chills ran down my spine.