101 – Become a Myth #3
Out of the extermination team members, 17 individuals remained after excluding the three women associated with “Witch’s Herb.”
Out of these 17, excluding students like Baek Yeo-ul, Seugal, and Prince Juhyun, approximately 13 were left.
These 13 were veterans with firmly established positions in society.
“Set the tent up this way! Wire traps go over here!”
“Will traps even work on demons?”
“We might as well try everything.”
In less than an hour in the wide forest clearing, a decent defensive base was set up. A fence large enough to catch a tiger was installed, and within it, they placed jelly that long-lived beetles would like, with a strong scent of bl**d.
It was a smell demon beasts loved.
It was a demon beast trap.
I myself was impressed by how smoothly everything was progressing; there was nothing for me to help with.
As I stood there, touched by the efficiency, Uncle Jeon Su-ho, who was effectively the team leader of this expedition, gave me a big pat on the back.
“Why are you shaking like that? Are you scared? Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you kids, so don’t do anything reckless and just stay close to me.”
It was refreshing to have adults who could be trusted.
Pah-shh. At that moment, the bushes rustled violently, the sound of snapping branches echoing loudly.
“A demon beast is coming!”
Jeon Su-ho banged his shield, as large as his own body, with a hammer, signaling a warning.
Everyone who had been chatting a moment ago shifted into guard mode.
“Ha-nam-jin! Stay close to me!”
The snail-like Bangdaengi clung to my side, carrying a huge bag like a snail’s shell. She said she was protecting me, but she was mostly hiding behind me.
Ugk-kkenn.
Waza-jak. Jjejek.
The snapping of branches heightened the tension. Wi Seon-a, the doctor who possessed the concept of “Analysis,” tapped her forehead with her finger and reached a conclusion.
“It’s approaching at about 60km per hour! It weighs roughly 1 ton!”
Could she really determine speed and weight from the sound of breaking branches?
Dr. Wi had some amazing talent, it seemed.
Paaah!
At that moment, something burst forth, parting the bushes. It was a large lizard as big as a small passenger car.
What stood out was that it was walking on two legs.
Its tough-looking red skin and a crest resembling a chicken’s comb stretched from its forehead to the tip of its tail, giving it a rather flamboyant look.
“Dinosaur…!?”
Bangdaengi was surprised.
Because of its size and bipedal gait, it did resemble a dinosaur.
-Shaaack!
The demon beast lizard’s red eyes were fixated on the people.
Jeon Su-ho banged his shield.
“The beast is paying more attention to us than the bait inside the trap! It’s probably a ferocious one. Everyone, get ready for an attack! I’ll draw its attention while you prepare for a surprise attack!”
We had planned to lure the demon with the smell and trap it, but things rarely go according to plan. You have to improvise.
The problem was that the demon lizard’s gaze didn’t turn toward Jeon Su-ho, who had volunteered to be bait.
“Why, why is it looking at me!”
Nyul-nyul-nyul.
It flicked its long tongue around its mouth while staring at Bangdaengi.
Jeon Su-ho clicked his tongue.
“Looks like this one’s smarter than its peanut-sized brain would suggest; attacking the weakest member of the group is basic tactics.”
Did the demon lizard target Bangdaengi because she looked the weakest?
No, I thought differently.
It seemed whatever was inside Bangdaengi’s bag had caught the lizard’s attention.
“Bangdaengi, looks like you and I need to play bait.”
“Me?!?”
Plans need to be flexible, that’s the rule.
Pweok!
At that moment, a rock came flying from somewhere and struck the lizard on the head.
Turning around, we saw a sleek-looking pretty boy holding a few rocks and shouting.
“I’ll be the bait, so get out of the way!”
It was Prince Juhyun.
-Shaaack!
The demon lizard’s gaze turned toward Prince Juhyun, perhaps angered by being hit with the rock. Its crest, resembling a chicken comb, swelled up and caught fire, emitting flames.
Shwook, shwook.
The problem was that one of the rocks Prince Juhyun kept throwing hit Bangdaengi squarely in the forehead.
“Ouch!”
Bangdaengi stumbled.
What rotten luck!
Because of this, the excessively large bag she had brought spilled its contents—combat rations and the like—onto the ground.
The starving-looking demon lizard turned its gaze back to Bangdaengi. If nothing was done, the defenseless Bangdaengi would surely be attacked by this fire-breathing monster.
Thinking there was no other option, I quickly scooped up Bangdaengi.
“Bangdaengi, hold on tight to my neck! And keep your mouth shut so you don’t bite your tongue!”
“Eep!”
I turned my body just as I grabbed Bangdaengi, narrowly evading the demon lizard’s slashing claw.
-Shaaack!
Kwaaang!
The monster carved the ground with its sharp claws.
If I hadn’t dodged with Bangdaengi in my arms, those pick-like claws would’ve inflicted serious injuries.
Whoosh! Pang!
At that moment, something powerful split through the air.
-Keeeeeek!
It was Seugal firing miracle bullets from her palms.
Pang, pang-pang-pang-pang!
The bullets Seugal fired continuously ricocheted off the demon lizard’s body.
“We’ll drive it into the cage!”
-Shaaack!
The demon lizard was gradually pushed towards the demon beast trap, struggling around wildly and spitting flames from its mouth.
But with a strong push from the men, including Jeon Su-ho, the beast was pushed into the cage.
Chhheook!
The moment the cage closed, everyone cheered simultaneously.
“Good job!”
“We did it!”
Of course, there were also those who weren’t just celebrating.
Moving toward Prince Juhyun, Jeon Su-ho grabbed his shoulders and shook him hard.
“You b*stard! What the heck were you doing? We nearly had a disaster! If you’d just stayed put, we might’ve at least stood a chance!”
Prince Juhyun’s actions in hitting Bangdaengi with a rock could’ve ruined everything. Everyone felt the same way, leaving the deflated Prince Juhyun tongue-tied, only clicking his tongue in response.
“Bangdaengi, are you okay? Got hit by the flying rock? Bad luck, huh?”
I asked Bangdaengi, who looked up at me.
Instead, she said with a red face.
“Maybe my luck was actually good?”
Saying her luck was good after being hit with a rock.
It must’ve really hurt her head!
-Shaaack!
The trapped demon lizard licked the piled-up jelly.
Watching this scene, Wi Seon-a licked her lips with her tongue.
“From what I can see, this one has the concepts of ‘Claws’ and ‘Evolution.’ It’s the first time we’ve encountered a multi-concept demon beast in these woods—usually, they’re only found deep in the Labyrinth.”
“A demon beast from the deep layers escaped.”
Wi Seon-a concluded that.
Apparently, there was something powerful in the labyrinth’s deep layers that caused the strong demon beast to flee.
A Demon of “Stars.”
Anyhow, capturing the demon beast marked the end of our preparations to summon the Demon of Stars.
I pulled out the Concept Gem of “Conquest” from my pocket.
“If I shove this into that lizard’s mouth, it’ll probably go berserk.”
A heavily contaminated Concept Gem so potent that even Yining, who had a monstrous appetite, refused to eat it.
If the lizard ingested it, it would immediately go berserk, and perhaps the Demon of Stars would be drawn to the intense energy.
“Got it! It’s the same strategy as when we lured Kangkang with ketchup in the factory!”
Bangdaengi nudged me with her elbow as she whispered, impressed.
That’s right.
While tracking demon beasts is difficult, luring them is relatively easy.
Even a Demon wouldn’t be different.
“I’ll thrust my hand into this one’s throat. Give it here.”
Jeon Su-ho, who possessed the concept of “Steel,” took the Concept Gem of “Conquest” from me.
Grrrr.
Jeon Su-ho’s face contorted.
“Kkkrgh!”
“Wh-what’s wrong?”
Wi Seon-a looked panicked, while veteran teacher Moon Hyun-a was also tense.
“It’s as hot as a glowing ingot pulled from a heated furnace! Just holding this is making my mind swim. Anyone who touches it will know—it’s poison!”
It seemed the contamination from the Concept Gem of “Conquest” was affecting Jeon Su-ho’s mind. He dropped the gem because of it.
Tuck, deggururur.
As the Concept Gem rolled on the ground, Wi Seon-a covered her nose.
“Ugh, such a foul smell.”
The other Awakened individuals also backed away step by step.
They handled it as though it were uranium material loaded with radiation.
“Hey, how did you even carry something like this around?”
It was an incredulous question directed at me for bringing the Concept Gem. Though honestly, I didn’t find it that unpleasant.
Teacher Moon Hyun-a slightly lifted her blindfold and asked me.
“Speaking of which, Hanamjin, you didn’t have any recoil with the concepts you handle, right? Seon-ah, aren’t there people who don’t react much to concepts?”
“There are. People with a low probability of becoming Demons.”
Perhaps this Concept Gem was meant to be handled by me.
At that moment, Jeon Su-ho picked up the Concept Gem that had fallen on the ground.
“Alright! I said I’ll do it, so I’m doing it!”
Because he was an adult, he endured the pain.
Gritting his teeth, Jeon Su-ho thrust his hand into the cage, forcing the gem into the mouth of the demon lizard. The beast gnashed its sharp teeth, as if trying to bite off Jeon Su-ho’s arm, but only shallow scratches appeared on his steel-like skin.
Thwack!
As Jeon Su-ho pulled his hand out of the demon lizard’s mouth, healer Yang Sun-soon, who had been waiting, sprayed medicine on his arm and wrapped it with bandages.
What will happen now?
-Krrk, Gurk, Guaaaak!
The demon lizard thrashed about as if it had swallowed poison.
It looked like a rat that had eaten rat poison.
Flump, puh-druh.
The dinosaur-like demon, which was somewhat cool-looking, began to swell up. Its rooster-like crest rose majestically, resembling a crown.
The ‘Conquest’ Demon Lizard roared.
-Krrrrroooaaa-!
It resembled a dragon (龍).
Wi Seon-a shouted at the overwhelming power emanating from it.
“A 4th rank demon beast!”
A 4th rank demon beast, comparable to a 4th rank Awakened.
We had created this dangerous entity with our own hands.
But the demon’s transformation wasn’t over yet.
-Krrrrrk…!?
The demon let out a pitiful sound, unable to handle the changes occurring in its body.
Its skin tore apart, its muscles swelled, and its bones twisted, then instantly bulged like a massive lump of flesh.
Seeing this, Seugal responded.
“Hanamjin! It’s turning into a ‘Conquest’ Titan!”
“I know.”
“If the plan fails, we’ll just gain a dangerous new enemy!”
“Everyone, fall back!”
“Maintain the formation! Keep ranks!”
Everyone was in a state of panic.
The Gigantic Dragon of Conquest needed to attract the Demon of ‘Stars.’
So, at the moment when we had never performed a prayer—or wish, which could be called prayer—to an unknown entity before.
『A threat to the safety of the Labyrinth has been detected.』
『By royal authority, do you authorize the activation of the defense system?』
『YES/NO』
The awaited text appeared.
YES.
As I projected my will onto the text, an intense ripple in space occurred, making my skin tingle.
A ring of light appeared in the air.
Fwah-!
Just as a brilliant light flashed, a figure glowing like a universe containing stars appeared in midair.
One peculiar aspect was the absence of a head.
Instead of a head, there was a perfectly flat neck and shoulder area, atop which rested a black hole. It looked somewhat like Sauron’s tower with its black hole. Whatever it was, this being was no longer a member of the human species.
【Eliminating the threat to the kingdom.】
Kwajik!
The demon lizard transforming into a ‘Conquest’ Giant Dragon was compressed and crushed by an intense gravitational force.
“The one that surpasses a 4th rank demon… that’s the Demon of ‘Stars.'”
Researcher Wi Seon-a reacted first.
Taken by the beautiful starlight, it seemed.
On the other hand, Jeon Su-ho planted his shield into the ground, not hiding his tension.
“I get it now, looking at it. It’s the same chill I felt when I was face-to-face with a nuclear missile at the research facility in the north. Are we really supposed to fight against a monster like that…!?”
“Hanamjin was right. The Demon of ‘Stars’ has arrived.”
“The operation so far has been a success… A success, that is…—.”
“Can we really take it down with just us? Even the army would have trouble with this!”
Be it admiration or tension, or having lost words.
As everyone reacted differently when confronted with the wall of life, the most intense reaction came from Bangdaengi.
She extended her delicate hand, insignificant compared to the radiant starlight, toward the sky and cried out.
“…Big brother! It’s me!”
“Yeo-ul, it’s dangerous!”
Wi Seon-a warned, but Baek Yeo-ul wouldn’t give up.
She shouted louder.
“Big brother! It’s me, Baek Yeo-ul! Don’t you remember me? You know who I am! Mom and Dad are worried too! We ate watermelon together and spat out the seeds when we were little!”
Eventually, Baek Yeo-ul began crying.
Is there still a “heart” in Nam Woo-joo, who has become a concept and is no longer human?
Soon, the black hole pupil akin to Sauron’s eye turned toward Baek Yeo-ul.
【…Yeo…ul…]
