Chapter 293

0.

Seonghyun and Edian, who had come out to the forest near Heptarion to find materials.

Seonghyun walked in front, and Edian followed behind him.

Meanwhile, Seonghyun was thinking that Edian, who was following behind him, was a demon.

Putting aside the fact that he felt a gloomy energy.

His intuition was telling him so.

But he wasn't sure.

It was a bit much to catch him just based on a feeling.

Wasn't it possible that he wasn't?

It would be nice if he could detect him again with the weapons imbued with demonic energy.

But he couldn't even use them because of the setting that once used, they couldn't be used for a while.

The Sword Saint was said to arrive the day after tomorrow.

‘I just need to find out before then.’

As Seonghyun was being suspicious.

Helena also spoke as if she was unsure.

-I think he's the one. But I can't be sure.

She shared the same opinion as Seonghyun.

When Seonghyun first used the Galaxy Sword Dance while dealing with the monsters.

Edian watched with great interest as the monsters were cut down.

Seonghyun watched him and tilted his head as if he still didn't know.

Edian then walked through the forest, saying they were not far from where the materials were.

And Seonghyun also took the lead, guided by him.

In that moment when the standoff, which wasn't really a standoff, continued for a while.

“...Hm.”

“Something's coming.”

Seonghyun's brow furrowed.

And in that moment, Edian also gave a warning.

The thing that appeared was not an ordinary monster.

A system message even appeared before Seonghyun's eyes.

[A monster imbued with demonic energy appears!]

[A monster imbued with demonic energy is a being comparable to a raid monster!]

[Be careful!]

A monster that looked like a grotesque monkey appeared, fitting the slightly dramatic message.

It was a type of creature he had often seen on his way here, but was it because it was imbued with demonic energy?

Was it because its ashen fur couldn't withstand the demonic energy?

It showed parts of its flesh melting here and there.

It was a truly grotesque sight.

But Seonghyun didn't particularly care.

‘Is he planning to aim for my back while I'm dealing with this guy?’

Hoping that would be the case, Seonghyun drew his sword to hunt it.

Sssreung.

The sword was drawn with a clear and sharp trembling sound.

After that, as Seonghyun focused on the Galaxy Sword Dance, starlight seemed to pour into his sword.

A dark blue energy, like the light of the mysterious night sky, bloomed around the sword.

And Seonghyun, looking at it, lightly prepared his stance and looked at the creature.

The monkey imbued with demonic energy instinctively realized that Seonghyun's sword was its natural enemy and cowered, but it didn't seem to have any intention of running away, and it bristled its fur and let out a roar.

“Kyaaaaah!!!”

Along with a sharp roar.

The creature rushed towards Seonghyun.

The monkey split the air as it stretched its two legs, launching itself from a tree.

Although its body was huge, its speed was so fast that most people at this level would have missed its movements, but that was out of the question for Seonghyun.

Seonghyun accurately read its trajectory and swung his shining sword towards the monkey rushing at him.

Then, the trajectory of the sword unfolded like a constellation, as if the stars in the sky were connected.

The monkey that was rushing in was startled and tried to dodge, but Seonghyun's sword shone down on it in an instant like starlight, and a constellation was engraved on its chest.

Scre———ech!

“Kkieeeeeek!!!”

The monkey took fatal damage in a single blow.

However, this was only possible because Seonghyun had held back a little, and all of this was to lure Edian in.

‘Will he take the bait?’

Thinking so, he tried to grasp Edian's movements.

He could see him preparing to use magic.

Seeing that, Seonghyun thought he should dig deeper.

Although it had taken damage.

The monkey, still able to move, glared and swung its long arms to grab Seonghyun.

Seonghyun naturally tried to dodge, but pretending he couldn't control the distance due to the long arms, he belatedly raised his sword and created a barrier with the pouring starlight, like the Milky Way, to block the monkey's arms.

Kwaaaaaang—!!!

With a rather large impact sound, the moment Seonghyun's opening was completely exposed.

If he was going to aim, now was the most optimal situation, and Seonghyun intentionally created a large opening to the point where he would take a lot of damage if he was hit.

And in that moment.

A magic circle was completed from behind, and magic was cast.

Is it finally coming?

He thought so, but.

Kwagagagagaga——!!!

A blue beam shot out from the magic circle and struck the monkey's chest.

When the beam directly hit the wound inflicted by Seonghyun.

The monkey, as if it couldn't come to its senses, opened its mouth and spewed out ashen smoke.

“...?”

Seonghyun was momentarily bewildered by the fact that he had been helped.

But he moved instinctively and finished off the monkey.

Scre——ch!

Its neck was cut in a single blow, and its head fell off, and as the corpse disappeared, nothing was left in its place.

Seonghyun tilted his head as if in wonder.

“It's a monster imbued with demonic energy.”

“Hmm. It needs to be investigated.”

Seonghyun said, as if to poke at him slightly.

Edian replied as if it were nothing.

Just a moment ago, it was the perfect situation to attack him.

But instead of attacking, didn't he provide cover?

Could it be that it's not Edian?

As that thought came to him, Seonghyun tilted his head, still unsure.

He'd just watch for now.

Thinking so, he stepped back.

Edian spoke.

“Let's go find the materials.”

After dealing with the monster imbued with demonic energy, nothing much happened, and the escort mission that followed ended smoothly.

The materials were gathered well, and Seonghyun had escorted him well.

And so they returned to the Caliber Magic Tower.

Edian, looking at Seonghyun, smiled faintly as if he was very pleased and said.

“It was very good. Keep your schedule free for tomorrow as well, as there are materials I need.”

At Edian's words, Seonghyun also nodded his head in a daze and said.

“Yes, I understand.”

“Alright, then I'll see you tomorrow.”

Edian said so and disappeared.

Is he really not the one?

1.

With a puzzled expression, Seonghyun scratched his cheek.

After one escort mission ended.

Seonghyun returned to the Caliber Magic Tower and was about to go on another mission.

The escort knight captain spoke as if there was something else.

“The Archmage is looking for you.”

“Is it an escort mission?”

“It seems so. I'm sorry to make you do two escort missions, but I'm asking you. You can go home after the second escort is over.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“I'm the one who's more grateful. Then, good work.”

Leaving behind the escort knight captain, who was still pleased with Seonghyun, as if he was commendable.

As Seonghyun came outside.

Serena called out to Seonghyun as if she had been waiting.

“Oh! Yoosung! You're here!”

“Yes, I heard you were looking for me.”

“Yeah, I need materials this time too.”

“Yes, let's go.”

Seonghyun said so and escorted Serena, searching for materials.

Going around with Serena was no different from the previous times.

And of course, no monsters imbued with demonic energy appeared.

‘Is he really the one?’

Since there was a demon nearby.

It was possible for a monster imbued with demonic energy to appear.

But it just had to appear when he was with Edian?

Isn't that suspicious?

But if that were the case, he couldn't understand why he didn't take such an opportunity.

Why is that?

Because he's not a demon?

Just as his thoughts were getting considerably deep.

Serena looked at Seonghyun and asked.

“Is something bothering you?”

“Yes? Ah…”

Just when he was wondering if he should say this.

Seonghyun spoke as if he had a good idea.

“I went to the forest with Edian-nim earlier and encountered a monster imbued with demonic energy.”

“A monster imbued with demonic energy???”

Serena was startled, as if asking if such a thing existed.

Seonghyun looked at Serena and casually remarked.

“Yes, it's a bit suspicious that a monster imbued with demonic energy suddenly appeared.”

“Well, demonic energy is not something you see often.”

“Serena-nim, you seem to know a bit about demonic energy as well.”

“Yeah, since weapons imbued with demonic energy have often appeared around here.”

“Hmm, I see.”

As they talked, he tried to sound out Serena just in case.

But seeing her genuine lack of knowledge, he slightly retracted his suspicion.

He had wondered if Serena might be a demon, just in case.

But he decided to watch a little longer.

Anyway, as he was thinking that, they talked about other things.

He naturally continued the conversation.

“By the way, I heard Edian-nim was difficult, but he wasn't as bad as I thought.”

“Edian???”

Serena looked genuinely surprised, as if it were truly unexpected.

And Seonghyun didn't miss it and asked.

“Yes, he helped me quite a bit.”

“Hmm, that's not like Edian.”

“Is that so?”

Seonghyun asked.

Serena nodded.

At least the Edian she knew wasn't like that.

“When he takes an escort knight, he says he won't lift a single finger. And he complains about everything. That's why he's known among the knights for being difficult. Did he take a liking to you, Yoosung?”

“Hmm, he actually asked me to help him tomorrow as well.”

“Really?”

At those words, Serena smiled as if she was interested.

Considering Edian's reputation, Serena's words couldn't be a lie, so he decided to ask the escort knight captain as well, just in case.

Why is everything so complicated.

But maybe that's why?

‘This is more fun than I thought.’

In this pressing time.

To have to do this kind of deduction.

Should he call him a demon after all?

He's hiding his identity well.

But.

‘The Sword Saint is coming soon, let's see if you can hide until then.’

2.

In the middle of the forest, where only ashes remained.

It was the location where Seonghyun and Edian had been until a moment ago.

And there, two shadows slowly rose.

They were not the demon who had infiltrated the magic tower, but his comrades.

The two demons looked at the ashes, scowled, and muttered.

“It seems we're not a good match for him.”

“It's not holy power, yet it's strange. It's as if he was defeated by the hero.”

At those words, the other demon scowled and said irritably.

“Stop joking. The hero is already on our side.”

“Hmph, it's just an expression. It's because it's strange.”

“That's true.”

Both of them were frowning as if it had been a long time since they had seen demonic energy defeated like this.

Certainly, in this case, it was right to stall as much as possible.

At his comrade's request, they had imbued a monster with demonic energy and made it attack.

In this case, it was right to do as he said.

There wasn't much time left, but with such a mismatch, the three of them had to gather.

And in their own base.

Otherwise, it was clear they would be devoured.

The demons thought so and muttered.

“Even if he's an outsider, we can make a demonic weapon.”

“The body will remain in the end.”

“Kehehe, even if he's our perfect counter, he can't possibly face the three of us at the same time.”

“We'll tear him to shreds.”

“He said he'll bring the natives after that. We should prepare in advance.”

“If we prepare in advance, all we have to do is tear up the body and sprinkle it, and it will be complete. We have to finish preparing that before the Sword Saint says anything.”

The demons laughed and chatted like that.

They left the place, wishing for tomorrow to come quickly.