Chapter 70 070

"You're a human." The cracking, naturally unpleasant voice penetrated their ears.

'I have no idea why all greater demons speak like that. I can't even have a chat with them without my ears starting to bleed.'

Seojin didn't even feel much tension, unlike his nervous party members, as he knew the monster before him was a greater demon at best; the fact that it was still classified under "demons" meant it wasn't Seojin's match.

'Forget these demons, I could even mow down the devils in Asgard in my prime.'

Devil lords, devil gods, etc, were nothing but trash mobs to Seojin back when he played Asgard as it was set in the Realm of God. That was why Seojin was able to speak to the colossal demon in such a relaxed manner.

"I believe you've heard from your minion by now."

"Such a name shouldn't be spoken by a mere human's tongue."

"It depends on who that human is. How's Legion Master Lancar?"

"…!"

Vales was shocked once again. He could understand how the human knew about Hellfire Peninsula. Much of human strength came from records, and the name of that region was included in such ancient records. However, the Legion Master Lancar was not supposed to be within that scope.

'He's never revealed his presence in the realm of man. How could a human know his name…?!'

Vales' senses were telling him that the being in front of him was human.

'Have my senses failed me?'

That was possible, if the opponent was stronger than the legion master. Vales wouldn't be able to measure such power as he was granted his strength by the legion master.

'That can't be the case though. I chose Churai Island as my base for a reason.'

Vales was confused, wondering why such a higher being would appear in this low-level region.

"Where did you hear that name?"

"From Lancar himself, of course. Did you expect something else? You know? Your commander and I used to…"

Vales couldn't believe what he was hearing. Why on earth would the demon legion master spend time with a mere human being?

"Besides… well, scratch that. By the way, Vales, you do realize that you're in a… vacation spot, right? A place that people come to rest."

"…Go on."

"That's the reason high-level players like me are here. Must be a little unfamiliar to the devils, right?"

"…"

The human being was right, it did feel unfamiliar. Maybe it was similar to the demons' long tradition of enjoying pain by sinking deep into the lava of hell.

"How unfortunate for you, Vales. You might have succeeded if you had chosen any other place."

"Are you saying that you can stop me?"

"Stop you?" Seojin chuckled.

"…"

"Try and you'll see for yourself. Anyway, I think you've heard about it. From Lancar, or someone else… about what happened in the Hellfire Peninsula."

"No human should be speaking of that."

"What could possibly be worse than pureblood demons? Fallen angels. They don't see you demons as anything more than a tool. Well, that much is something a human might know if they find hard enough, so… here's something different."

Seojin proved his confidence. Vales forgot about the situation at hand as he immersed himself deep into Seojin's story.

'So that was how it is…'

Even the same types of demons could maintain a difference in their class. Vales was just a low-level demon at the time, so he didn't know too many details.

"W-what happened next?!"

"Do you really wanna know?"

"Yes, of course, I d… you sly human. You're doing what your kind are good at! Making up false fiction!"

"Fiction, my ass. I guess it's your loss if you don't want to hear it."

"I… I want to."

The story was about Hellfire Peninsula, fallen angels, and the oppressed demons under them. Demons were evil beings, but even they could learn a thing or two about villainy and evilness from the fallen angels.

"So, what happened next…?!"

By that point, Vales was nothing more than an audience member craving the end of the story.

* * *

'I'm almost there.'

Seojin possessed the heart of an old man telling his grandson a bedtime story as he gradually told Vales what happened back then. He didn't forget to flavor the story with a little drama and action to captivate his mind, too.

'I have a great advantage when it comes to demons. This was practically my game the moment I found out about it.'

The final nail in the coffin was the fact that the final boss was one of Lokan's subordinates.

'I had no idea that my experiences in Asgard would help me so much. It's a good thing I clung onto the game after everyone else quit.'

By the end of the story, Vales was left staring into thin air as if his soul had been sucked out.

"That's what happened… why didn't the legion master tell me…?"

Now was the time to finish things. Seojin pulled out the final card up his sleeve.

Stanceshift: Petty Liar

"Why do you think that I didn't destroy the towers? You clearly know that I know they act as the gates between dimensions."

"…?"

Vales finally came back to his senses and shook his head.

"I do not know."

"Do I look like a normal human being to you?"

"No."

"Then take a guess at what I was going to do here, and just who exactly was behind me."

"That's…"

Vales' eyes filled with suspicion as Seojin gave him another blatant hint.

"Get it wrong and you and your minions will be bound here forever."

Something whipped at Seojin, making a sharp crack sound, but he couldn't even see what it was.

Divine Necklace Blocked A Fatal Blow!

Warning: Large Amount of Power Depleted.

Remaining Divine Power: 33%

'Shit, all that after one hit?'

It was no wonder that Vales was the final boss of the World Quest. One more hit and everything Seojin had prepared would all be in vain.

"I will not be bound, nor my subordinates, no matter who you may b—"

"You insolent child." Seojin stared at Vales with pitiful eyes. "Do you not yet see why I have told you this story? Did you believe that I would do the same to you?

He changed his tone as if he had full authority over the demon and pitied him.

"Lord Lokan has sent me. The legion master embraced you even after you left his embrace. Do you truly not know what this entails?"

"What are you…?"

"The official message ends here. From now on, these are my personal words to you."

Seojin spoke as if he was frustrated by how slow Vales was.

"Lord Lokan's mercy is limited. He will not give you another chance. The reason he let you build the towers and not close the gates… is well, it just goes to show that he does not care what becomes of you after he kicked away his opportunity."

The five towers were a gateway to hell, which meant nothing would stop the fallen angels from enslaving every demon that came out of them.

Of course, that was a lie, but Seojin was at least bold about it.

"So, get the hell out if you do not wish to end up like that."

* * *

-What the hell is he talking about? What's a fallen angel, and what's Hellfire Peninsula?

-Well, I guess only Hidden Class knows.

-I don't know what any of it means, but he looks amazing.

Odie didn't reply to Roth's message because she knew it was true, but that didn't mean it wasn't a bitter pill to swallow.

'So, simply being a hidden class grants you all those perks?'

She thought that hidden classes were just allowed to enjoy a unique playstyle rather than getting exclusive knowledge. Of course, their efficiency could be superior to other normal classes, but she didn't think that having a hidden class alone granted them the ability to affect an entire World Quest.

'It's totally unfair! What about other people?!'

It was nothing but luck. He was simply lucky to have obtained a rare class, and now he doing the World Quest like it was a walk in the park. Odie and her friends, however, had to stand in the back like side characters because they were so unlucky.

That was what Odie was thinking, while Haydall and Roth felt something completely different.

-Jinsu.

-Yes?

-You played Asgard, too, right?

-I used to say I was a full-time warrior when others asked what I did for a living before becoming a manager.

-I was a wizard. Anyway, isn't that…?

Roth finished Haydall's sentence.

-You mean Hellfire Peninsula?

-So, you thought the same thing, right? That Seojin guy must be an old-school Asgard player. I can bet that he was lying when he said he studied lores on the official website.

-Not just old-school. He's a massive old-school nerd. I didn't even know that many details.

-Maybe he was involved in it…?

-If you mean to say he was the top player until the end of Asgard… I'll go and ask for his autograph first.

Roth was genuine and Haydall could sense that as Roth was always the blunt one.

-Better ask for two. I'll draw Hyesun's attention… do you think that's really the case?

-No way, he suddenly vanished. I'm pretty sure he'd be in the ranks if he's playing Midgard.

-Well… yeah, no way someone like him would be in this noob region.

They had once put their lives into Asgard, so it was no wonder they had an extra interest in what Seojin was saying. Haydall soon flinched as he saw Odie was frowning and hurriedly sent her a message.

-Odie.

-What?

-I think he left that one for you.

-What do you mean?

-I'm talking about the contribution points. You have zero right now.

-That's… oh?

Odie felt her overwhelming frustration vanish in a moment. She was now thinking about other things instead of complaints and the sense of relative deprivation.

'That's mine?!'

The colossal demon with vicious horns was still standing there.

'That's what it is!'

This was definitely a World Quest.

Hunting it down would make Odie famous, perhaps everyone would talk about her, the legendary demon-slayer!

'That's why he didn't let me get any points! I'm the one who paid and he's planning to give me the best part!'

Seojin continued as Odie clenched her fists in excitement.

"Leave while you still have the chance. I can't do anything about it once it's too late."

"You could just kill me instead, why are you not doing so?"

"So, you're a fool who wants a reason for mercy. What? Do you want me to kill you instead?"

"N-no, I'll leave."

"Wait."

"…?"

"Are you going to leave just like that? You know I just saved you from living the rest of your life as a slave."