Chapter 83 – Dealing with Devils

It was a direct attack. A point blank question to Hajin when he wasn't in a state of mind to properly deflect or change the subject.

Lee did it on purpose, obviously.

It could have been done more subtly or at a different time...

But honestly, Lee's patience bar ran out a while ago after realizing that damage checks were DEFINITELY a thing in this world against people of a certain caliber.

And that mana manipulation was absolutely not a sure-kill technique if your opponent was just ridiculously sturdy.

Also that [No Second Strike (rederived)] basically didn't matter if your opponent didn't use mana.

...Which meant Lee should ABSOLUTELY never piss off Nayun's grandfather until he figured out countermeasures...

But anyway.

Hajin wiped the sweat off his brow at Nayun's look, clearly wracking his mind on how to answer the question. Then he slowly said, "...It's just theoretical. But you all know how Djinn are contracted with demons to draw their power, right?"

Nayun nodded. "Yeah. That's why you can tell if someone is a Djinn really easily, isn't it? Their body changes and their magic power starts shifting towards malice and darkness."

Evandel wrinkled her nose and said, "Debil, stinky."

Lee nodded as he cut Evandel's pancakes into tiny circles for her. "Brimstone, fire, and rot. Djinn supposedly smell like that when they use their powers... at least according to our textbooks."

Hajin blinked. "They do? I-I mean, that's right. I knew that."

Rachel raised an eyebrow and said, "...That does not sound like the response of someone who tied with Lee and I for first in theory, Hajin..."

Hajin coughed. "Minor details. Anyway. The point is... Djinn are borrowing the power of demons. But a Devil Seed... it turns someone into an avatar of a demon once it blooms." He looked at Lee, frowning. "...But how do you know about that?"

"Well, divine manifestation is a thing. So is reincarnated souls. I figured that demonic possession is possible too."

Lee didn't say a single lie. But he also didn't say the exact way he knew.

Hajin paused. "...Divine manifestation is a thing?"

"Yeah. Isn't that basically what Nayun's grandfather is? He's manifesting the will of nature, isn't he?"

Hajin blinked. "...Huh. I mean, you aren't wrong. I never thought about it like that though..."

Rachel looked over at Lee and said, "...Should I be concerned on why you know reincarnated souls are possible, Lee?"

Lee pointed at Evandel. "Our daughter is DEFINITELY either King Arthur's reincarnation or Morgan le Fay."

Evandel looked up and smiled. "Morgana! Yes." She puffed up her chest. "Big Queen!"

Rachel slowly blinked. "...That explains so much and yet so little..."

Evandel giggled and went back to eating her tiny pancakes.

At that time, Yeonha spoke up and said, "So... the reason that Nayun's older brother is still in a coma is because he is harboring the essence of a demon? Or a devil?"

Hajin nodded, looking grim. "...Yes. A devil-" He paused, as if reading something that popped up in front of him. "...Demon technically, but Devil by title. Either way, there's nothing we can do."

Nayun froze. Then she glared at Hajin. "What do you mean there's nothing we can do?!"

Hajin shook his head and said, "A devil seed laces throughout the host's entire body and soul. It's less possession and more fusion. At this rate-"

Lee interrupted and said, "Can't Suho just cut it?"

Hajin paused. "...Suho?"

Lee nodded. "Yeah. He can cut concepts. Can't he just cut the concept of the devil seed away?"

Although the extent that Suho mastered his Gift was still unclear...

Lee was fairly sure that, at least on a simple logic level, being able to cut concepts included cutting away a devil seed possessing somebody.

Nayun quickly nodded and said, "Yeah! If Suho can use a bullsh-"

Rachel cleared her throat.

Nayun corrected herself and said, "If Suho can use a bullcrap Gift to cut intangible things, can't he cut out the devil possessing Oppa?"

Yeonha glanced at Hajin.

Hajin frowned, his eyes flicking as if reading something...

Well, that's how it looked to Lee.

To the others, it probably looked like he was just scanning his memory.

As for what Hajin was reading...

If Lee followed the movements of his eyes, right...

===

[Book of Truth]

> It is impossible for Kim Suho's Gift to sever the Devil Seed without killing Chae Jinyoon in the process.

> It would be like attempting to turn a cake back into its ingredients.

> Kim Suho lacks the control and understanding to accomplish the task.

===

...Oh.

That made sense.

Suho's ability let him 'cut' things.

But he had to decide what to cut.

And while Suho was pretty smart, he wasn't 'understand the metaphysics of the soul' smart.

After a bit, Hajin said, "Suho could probably turn a djinn back to a normal person by cutting the connection and contract. But a Devil Seed is different. It's like trying to unbake a cake."

"Then...!" Nayun started to tear up out of frustration. "You can't seriously be telling me that we just have to...!"

Yeonha spoke up and said, "Calm down, Nayun. We are all here, are we not?"

Rachel nodded as she fed Evandel a grape. "That is correct. Between us, we should be able to determine a solution."

Evandel held up her fork and said, "Yeah! Like Gwail!"

Hajin blinked. "...Grail?"

Lee paused. "Oh yeah. You missed it. Long story short, Eva has Excalibur and the Holy Grail. We're making sure she grows up first before using either though."

Hajin gave Lee a blank stare. "...Your daughter. Has Excalibur? The holy sword Excalibur?"

"Rachel's the heir to the throne already. Is it THAT surprising?"

Hajin opened his mouth. Then he shut it. After that, he placed his hand on his chin and quietly murmured, "That makes sense. That made sense. Why the heck didn't I do anything with that?"

Before anyone could probe Hajin on his ramblings, Lee interrupted and said, "Okay. So..." He glanced around and noticed Essence of Strait people eyeing Hajin and Yeonha, clearly wanting to interrogate the two.

"Since we can't buy that much more time for you two before you're dragged away by the family, let's get down to the essentials. First, high probability that Nayun's Oppa is harboring a devil. Yes?"

Hajin nodded. "Near 100%, yes."

Lee nodded. "Alright. Then to save him, we need to resolve that. Otherwise, the demon will be born and Nayun's Oppa will die anyway when it hijacks his entire existence. Right?"

Nayun pursed her lips. "...No. I won't let that happen."

Hajin noticed Nayun's reaction and hesitated. But he slowly nodded. "...If nothing changes, then yes."

Nayun narrowed her eyes, clearly growing agitated.

But Lee interrupted and said, "Is there a way to find out the name of the demon inside him? Because if we do, I have seals that can bind the demon."

Hajin blinked. "What?"

Nayun's eyes widened. "Lee? Really?!"

"Yeah. If it's one of the 72, then we can use Solomon's Key to control it as long as we know which one." Lee paused. "...Or I guess we could just inscribe all the seals to cover our bases. Thing is, we'd probably have to do it quick-"

"Wait, wait." Hajin looked at Lee. "Back up. What do you mean, Solomon's Key?"

"The Lemegeton. Or Ars Goetia." Lee paused. "Ars Almadel? I forget the actual name for it, but I remember the seal designs for the top twelve. I can probably design the rest too since the logic is pretty simple-"

"No, no." Hajin shook his head. "I mean... Solomon had a key? To control the demons?"

"...Yes? Multiple ways, actually. His signet ring gave him divine authority, then there was the two different Seals of Solomon, and then there were the individual demon sigils that loked like fancy circuit diagrams."

Hajin gave Lee a blank stare. Then his eyes flickered, as if reading a sudden pop-up.

And as for what was on the pop-up, if Lee read it right...

===

> Update: The forgotten knowledge regarding King Solomon and the 72 Demons sealed by the Lemegeton has been spoken into the world!

> Update: The Demons sense the return of Solomon's bindings and begin to move in earnest!

> Update: Various dungeons related to King Solomon and the 72 Demons will soon awaken!

===

...Trouble.

Big trouble.

Nayun, completely oblivious to it all, turned to Lee and said, "Wait. Does that mean if we can find the ring or whatever of this King Solomon guy, we can save Oppa?"

Lee was mildly concerned. Especially since Hajin went quiet, clearly spending his SP to ask the Book of Truth more questions.

But for the moment, he ignored Hajin's actions and focused on Nayun. "Definitely. But, uh. That might be hard. We'd probably have to head towards Jerusalem for that."

Rachel immediately looked concerned and said, "No."

Nayun blinked. "Huh? Why not?"

Hajin looked confused too. "Is something wrong with going towards Jerusalem?"

Yeonha sighed. "Husband... the region was already a hectic warzone before Outcall. Afterwards, it became the den and hideout for numerous foreign Djinn and villains. Not to mention that there are strange dungeons in the area that rejects outsiders."

Lee nodded. "Yep."

It was definitely something Hajin didn't write in, but it seemed the co-author must have done some research.

Lee had been curious about other world affairs in his free time since he wanted to look around to grab mythical weapons.

In that research, he realized that the middle east was a complete wash. Apparently, the Hassans were revived and actively quelling the turmoil caused by militant leaders.

Now, Lee might be confident in his combat skills.

But after seeing with his own eyes the ridiculous power gap that the older generation had, even when he pulled out all the stops just to not get instantly wiped...

'Yeah, not testing that.'

"...Right." Hajin nodded. "I forgot about that... Most of Africa is overrun by monsters and both Central Asia and the Middle East are dominated by the Djinns' rule."

Nayun paused. Then she slowly said, "...If that's the case. Can't we just ask Grandfather to go look? If it's something relating to the Chae family, he'll move. And there's no one in the world who can stop him."

Silence.

Lee slowly blinked and said, "...You know what? That's actually true."

There would definitely be political fall out and danger if any of them went hunting in Jerusalem and the Middle East for any artifacts of King Solomon.

...But who in the world would stop The Immortal, Chae Joochul?

Evandel's eyes lit up and she said, "Grampa Joochul?"

Hajin frowned. "...Would he even listen?"

Nayun nodded. "If I ask him and explain, he should do it." Her brown eyes turned hazel as her magic power roused in response to her determination. "He gave up on Oppa because he thought it was impossible. But if we explain this... If I explain this, he should go looking. I'll be back." She immediately got up and ran towards her father.

Hajin watched her go and frowned, clearly lost in thought.

Yeonha just leaned against Hajin, taking the time to rest.

But as for Lee...

"Oh right. I almost forgot."

...He snapped his fingers and looked at Yeonha. "Hey, Yeonha. Did you hear from Suho yet? You know, about Jonghak keeping you and Nayun on a roster while he was actually interested in Seo Youngji the entire time?"

Yeonha immediately sat up straight, her eyes flickering violet from pure fury. "...I am sorry. I may have misheard. What is this about Shin Jonghak and a roster?"

Hajin blinked. Then he sighed. "...Rest in piece, Shin Jonghak."