The roar of a gun echoed through the air, deafening the world. Without waiting for the earlier sound to subside, a sharp sound of metallic thing hitting the solid ground could be heard.
Thanks to [Shooting(S)] talent, every action I took with a gun came to me naturally. Moreover, it also allows me to clearly predict the movement of the monster I aim for, its weak points as well as its behaviour pattern, which was impossible to do even with my 17 years worth of experience.
At first, I felt really empty after receiving this talent. It was as if this single talent mocked all my long-life hard work. However, I had come to terms with it.
With another shot, a giant rock pterosaur in the red sky above shrieked. It fell to the ground after a bullet dug deep into its chest.
After seeing the monster crashing to the ground, I could feel a tap on my shoulder. It was Taylor Nine, she tapped on my shoulder using her baseball bat. It seems like her hunt for a rock giant in the distance had also finished.
“Oh? If I remember correctly, you always said that rock pterosaur’s weakness was its eyes. Wasn’t that the case?”
Just like always, Taylor didn’t even question the fact that I had killed an A-rank monster with a single shot.
“It used to be.”
Every monster had its weaknesses, and I became aware of them through my experience. In rock pterosaur case, its eyeball was the weakest part of its entire body; hunters could kill it easily if they focused their attack on it.
Of course, it wouldn’t become an extremely easy hunt just because they know its weakness. Afterall, the rock pterosaur was a flying monster. It was hard to even reach it, forget knocking it down. Moreover, it’s impossible to fight it with a gun unless someone uses a special bullet called ‘magic bullet’ like me.
“It seems that we have discovered a new weakness.”
“Really? Let’s write it down on Another League information channel then. Our great CEO wanted it to be filled up.”
It seems that Yekaterina had once again made something ridiculous when I was away. This time, it seems to be an information channel. Certainly, it would come handy to have an information channel exclusive to guild members which also allows guild members to communicate with each other. However, the real question is, just how did Yekaterina, someone who was locked away from the outside world for so long, could think of that?
“Well, that’s indeed a good idea. But unfortunately, my method isn’t something that can be written there.”
The reason I was able to kill the pterosaur with only one shot on its chest was purely thanks to [Soul Piercing Eyes]. When I focused my holy power on my eyes with [Holy Conversion] and looked at the opponent, I could see the weakness of the soul that moves fluidly.
It also works on humans. Not only the heart and head, any fast-moving ‘point’ just like the collarbone, waist, and right chest could also become a weakness, not only head and heart. and if you hit it, it could be overpowered with a single blow.
Of course, it is a weakness that appears and disappears in less than 0.3 seconds, so even if you know it, it is virtually impossible to hit it. Would it have been possible with my old talent, which was [Shooting(C)]?
Well, honestly, I don’t know. Perhaps it was impossible.
In any case, even when I had trained in both swordsmanship and magic, I would still use guns as my main weapon… Since it’s a weapon I’ve been with for 17 years.
“Anyway, it’s all sorted out, so let’s go out~ I’m craving for a beer.”
“Is that so?”
After defeating the boss monster alone, Taylor headed to the exit of the dungeon. It was an A+ rank dungeon, but it was refreshingly easy. In the past, to enter a place like this one, one had to wear at least several hundred million won worth of equipment. Reminds me of old times, really.
Then suddenly. I remembered what happened two weeks ago. I had met a woman with spiritual power in another world. But could I really use the modifier of ‘spiritual power’ on her? She was at least 100 years old, but I believed that she had lived many years longer than that. That very woman… knew the future me.
Of course, she doesn’t know where the future me was, or what happened to him. She didn’t tell me all the details, she only told me ‘In the past, you too looked at me with such a playful face, but sometimes seriously…’ as if recalling her memories. I couldn’t understand any of it, but I just nodded my head without saying a word.
I wonder how it felt when the person she remembered doesn’t remember her at all.
Even though they shared the same time with each other, they couldn’t share the same memories with the other person.
I could still remember her face that was filled with happiness for the last 30 minutes of her life. It was as if she was reminiscing about her long life in that short amount of time.
‘It was a pleasure meeting you, Yoo Seodam.’
With a beautiful smile, she disappeared as if the existence of a woman named Malea was only a dream that lasted only for a moment.
The system had told me that she also didn’t know where she went. She could be dead, or she could wander in the flow of time forever.
“Hey. What’s wrong with your expression?”
“….”
When I looked up, Taylor was looking at me with a grim expression. Regaining my expression, I threw a smile at her.
“Why are you smiling like a fool, now?”
“Nothing. I just feel that I like being like this.”
“Huh? I think you’ve been a little more honest these days. Well, you should, because you had done something bad to me.”
What did I do wrong…
As I was about to say that, I remembered the press conference I had before leaving for another world.
Taylor and Seol Jungyeon. I pushed the two women away, and that should have been very painful for them. But neither woman seemed to care, and they kept treating me as usual… No, they were just pretending not to care about it.
For that, I was quite grateful.
“Let’s have a drink next time.”
“Really? You know I don’t drink cheap stuff, right?”
“What are you talking about when you drink beer every day?”
“When you ask someone to drink with you, you have to go big! Aren’t you making good money these days?”
“It’s all gone as an investment cost. I don’t have any money.”
Saying that, we walked out from the dungeon. Our current location was in Gangwon-do. As it was close to North Korea, there was a very sensitive fuss about the ‘ownership’ of the dungeon, but in the end, it was taken over by South Korea. It’s a really nice country to live in. Even now, Southeast Asia must be in trouble because they couldn’t manage the dungeons properly.
As I got on the parked bike, Taylor sat in the back seat and grabbed my waist. It’s a pretty expensive bike in its own right, and it had a name that contains a lot of alphabets and numbers… but I gave it a very nice nickname, which impressed Taylor when she heard it for the first time, it was ‘Another Private Vehicle’.
-Hey witch~
Suddenly, a shining spirit came out from my hands. Her ‘body’ was still a flower pot in a special glass tube that I made for her, but now she was able to fly by taking off some of her body.
Seeing the little girl-like child, Taylor instantly rubbed her cheek with her finger. The Flower Pot had always said that it’s annoying when I touch it, but she enjoyed Taylor’s finger on its cheek because she said that it’s okay for women to touch her.
“Why did you come all of a sudden?”
-The wind is nice~
“Is that so?”
Flower Pot likes soju. She also likes the cool breeze. Our speed was no joke when we rode the bike. Normal people wouldn’t even be able to open their eyes because of it.
“Then let’s go back.”
* * *
Upon his return from another world, Yoo Seodam had been quite busy traveling around the world. He filled Yekaterina’s role who didn’t have any spare time to meet numerous companies and guilds. Luckily, he wasn’t alone. With Taylor in tow, both of them traveled around each country, feeling once again how big Another League had become.
“My name is ‘Al’, team leader of the engineering technology development department of Cage Industries. Nice to meet you.”
The first time they met, Yoo Seodam was in the position of bowing his head towards them. On the second meeting, they had become an equal. But in the third meeting, which was now, Yoo Seodam had become someone to bow to.
Cage Industries was a weapons company that specifically produced weapons for hunters. It was a company that manufactures the world’s finest ether weapons. So, it was natural that a huge company like them had a stake in the development of new weapons related to ‘essence’.
Although the Russian side said that they were also working hard to develop a magic weapon, their magic was very inferior to magic from Another League, it was to the point it was embarrassing to even call it ‘magic’.
For that reason, numerous world-class corporations have reached out to Another League, and Yekaterina only needs to hold the hand that suits her own taste.
Cage Industries had been maintaining a close relationship with Another League until now because it was a company that had invested in Another League since the early days.
“This one is the blueprint for the ‘Level 3 Auto-Augmented Magical Shield’ that President Yekaterina is developing. Even if monsters appear in the city, measures can be taken to isolate and protect citizens and monsters by installing barriers at the coordinates. Advice on this……”
“Oh, yes. Oh, I see.”
To be honest, Yoo Seodam had a hard time understanding what Al was talking about. The Library of White Witch could not help him, and the Flower Pot knew how to use purely memorized magic, not some magic technology, so it made him sweat even more.
In the public eye, Yoo Seodam was known as an Archmage comparable to Yekaterina (after all, she was the highest level Magician on Earth), so it was only natural for engineers to seek advice from him.
‘Just what are you talking about…’
Yekaterina also sees Yoo Seodam as some kind of her magic teacher. And she trusted him a lot, but such trust was only burdensome for Yoo Seodam.
Yoo Seodam glanced around to see Taylor yawning with her legs crossed. She was clearly bored out of her mind. If Yoo Seodam was to interpret her expression roughly, it would be along the lines of, ‘Oh, I want it to finish quickly and go to the dungeon…’.
A few members of the Cage Industries development team were also stealing a glance towards Taylor. Well, no one could fault them, Taylor was a woman in her twenties who had a striking appearance and had a great sense of fashion. A combination that could shake the hearts of any man.
Yoo Seodam, who was struggling with a cold sweat trickling on his back, quickly came up with an appropriate answer to the situation.
“I will put a separate inquiry to the Another League magic development team.”
It was nothing but an excuse. An excuse he made with the thought of ‘I don’t know how to do it, so I’ll pass it on to my subordinates anyway!’
But the reaction he got back was something he didn’t see coming.
“Ah! Thank you very much!”
Team leader Al thanked Yoo Seodam with all of his body, he bowed deeply as well as shaking Yoo Seodam’s hand with both of his hands. Yoo Seodam was clearly taken aback by his reaction. He only became aware of Al’s reason once he contacted Yekaterina.
-There are a lot of people who want to borrow the knowledge of our magic development team.
Another League ‘Magic Development Team’ was a team made up of very few scholars who were chosen directly by Yekaterina. It was said that they were a bunch of talented individuals who gave up all their status and honor in society to develop magic in Another League’s ‘Magic Tower’.
Their actual ability as a magician could be said as non-existent due to their lack of ‘mana’, though, their knowledge was already high enough to the extent that they could become a professor at any magic university.
‘Wow, if it was to that extent… I can’t even throw a jab at them…’
Then Yekaterina continued:
– Well. It would be strange for Seodam-nim to be involved to that extent. Your feeling of wanting to support the Magic Development Team is already a huge blessing.
“No, well, it’s not really like that…”
-Seodam-nim is working on something more important.
“Well yeah, you are not wrong…”
Yekaterina clearly misunderstood something. But Yoo Seodam decided to just let it go because he doesn’t know how to correct it.
-Anyway, once the magic battery is developed, it could be used forever. You made a wise decision. Don’t worry, we’ll start developing it.
“Okay…”
After the call was disconnected, Yoo Seodam scratched his head.
“It’s been a while since I’ve worked, I don’t even know what is what for God’s sake.”
“Is that so?”
After everyone was gone, Taylor Nine, who was busy slurping on her coffee through a straw while playing a game on her phone, whipped her head towards Yoo Seodam.
“Is it hard?”
“No, well, it’s not that hard…”
“But, why are you so obsessed with the guild? Do you want to win over Lost Day?”
“Ummm… that was only one of the reasons.”
But in the end, his original purpose was only one, and now he can honestly tell her about his concerns. But, the moment he was about to tell it to Taylor, both of their phones vibrated.
It was an emergency message. However, except for Yoo Seodam and Taylor Nine’s cell phones, no other phone rang.
[Emergency Disaster Message: An unknown monster with an estimated rank of SS appears in Pretoria, South Africa! Unique and different from the past… (Link)]
Yoo Seodam and Taylor Nine are currently in London. There was no reason for them to get an emergency message of a disaster that occurred in a faraway place like in South Africa here. However, if they still received the text message that came only to S rank hunters or higher, there was only one reason: some kind of problem that was different from any before had occurred. And that problem could possibly become a global problem sooner or later.
[Emergency Disaster Message: For now, we will assign the code name ‘Demon’ to the creature.]
“What? Demon…?”
In the photo attached to the disaster message was a figure of a demon, a monster humanity had never seen before.
* * *
Southwest Africa, Kalahari Desert.
Spanning around 900,000 square kilometers, Kalahari Desert was one of the largest desert in the world.
Since monster appearances 32 years ago, deserts that were sparsely populated had no choice but to become the land of monsters. Most of those monster-populated land such as the desert, the North Pole, and the mountain range had not been reclaimed by humanity, and now only hunters aiming for a fortune dare to enter these areas.
That’s why it was very strange to see Avon, master of the Morian Guild of Russia crossing the desert.
“Ha ha ha ha ha.”
At one time, she was destined to become Earth’s first and greatest magician. Her guild had a considerable number of witches, and amongst them she herself was the most outstanding one. Moreover, her guild even had a ‘prophet’ once.
Her guild kept getting stronger and stronger as they secretly sold amulets that could only be created by witches at a high price all over the world. She even gained influence over the Russian government through that endeavour.
But now, it was all over.
The world no longer saw Morian Guild as Another League’s rival. Magic was now synonymous only to Another League. There were also rumours that said that some of the magicians taught at Another League were better than them.
It was disgraceful, but it was true.
So, by all means and methods, she had tried to give Another League a blow. She used all kinds of political and legal plots with an overwhelming amount of money to perform conspiracy tactics, slander and dirty media fabrications.
However, all of it was to no avail.
Avon had to admit it. The Prophet, Yekaterina, was a monster. She could not defeat Yekaterina through resource, magic, or anything else.
But that doesn’t mean she had any intention of staying still.
She was a witch. It means that she had lived in this world in hiding before the appearance of monsters. It was so painful for her. And yet, when she finally appeared in the world, she lost all of her value?
Blood dripped from Avon’s parched lips. The existence of the monster ‘Sand Hell’ which couldn’t be predicted when and where it would attack was more painful than the scorching sun hanging at the sky above, and the existence of the ‘Rain Scavenger’, which robbed the area of all moisture, was even more painful.
And yet she had endured it.
“Found it.”
Avon took a deep breath while standing in front of a certain ‘defective dungeon’. The huge black tombstone that stands upright to the point where it feels foreign on the scarlet-colored desert was the entrance to the dungeon, but it will not be opened by ordinary means.
But Avon was certain. She could open the dungeon. It just hadn’t happened just yet. She might have lost all of her feelings, but she was still able to distinguish the things that should not be done.
But what use is that now?
Right now, she needs that power for herself.
When Avon finally placed his hand on the black tombstone, an eerie black energy emanated from it.
She was a witch, she was born as a witch, and she had lived as a witch. Witches have always existed in history, and witches have always existed in every world, it was just that the world wasn’t aware of their existence.
And, just like witches, there was something else that also existed in every world.
‘Demons.’
Either by word of mouth or by tradition the existence of demons would always remain in history. Why? Is it because the demon was the only incarnation of evil that can be imagined by living beings living in countless worlds? No, no.
Just like humans who exist in many worlds, demons also exist in many worlds. To be exact, they always exist in the world where humans exist.
Avon was well aware of this fact, and she and the witch under her had set out to find the one that had disappeared into history.
Eventually, the black tombstone tilted like a door with a rumble, and then, a portal connecting the desert and the dungeon was created. Without waiting any longer, Avon set her foot to the dungeon…
Towards the demon resides inside.