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The lords of the Demon Realm are constantly at war over their territories, and it’s been over 100 years since it all started.

Out of the seven lords, this area is ruled by Satan, known as Satan’s Territory.

Among them, it’s a place called the Barren Desert.

A strange region with unpredictable weather, sometimes resembling a white night, other times a polar night.

“So… this Barren Desert is quite unique, huh?”

“Yes, exactly!”

“Alright, Heukgu, I get that far, but why is the sand purple?”

The loud one answering me is a black-skinned demon who mistook me for a sex slave.

Since he started spouting nonsense the moment we met, I decided to call him Heukgu.

“Ah, that’s, um, well…”

“I’ll explain. That guy has no interest in history.”

This time, Heukgu’s friend stepped in.

He had the same black skin as Heukgu but was better-looking and more composed, so I decided to call him Heukrang.

“It’s been 40 years since Satan took over the Barren Desert… 42 years ago, when I was in the desert, I finally joined Satan’s army, the one I had dreamed of. Everywhere I went, people followed me, asking me to marry them, and it felt like I was part of Satan’s elite guard. But after just three days of fighting Asmodeus’s soldiers in the Barren Desert, my magic circuit got damaged, and I was kicked out of the army. I really wanted to die back then. On my way back home, I bought six bottles of Imp’s Tears with all my money and drank them as I walked… I still remember that time…”

Heukrang, who I thought was composed, turned out to be an extreme chatterbox, making me want to slap my past self.

If I listened any longer, we’d never reach the village.

“I won’t ask you anything, so let’s just be quiet and go…”

“You told me to be quiet, but now I remember something else. While I was walking after drinking those six bottles of Imp’s Tears, I actually met Satan’s elite guard. I don’t know if they were on vacation or visiting their hometown, but I was so happy that I tried to act like I knew them, saying I was also in Satan’s army! But they just glared at me and told me to shut up. That aura, that presence… it felt just like our Captain now. Of course, the Captain is probably much stronger. Speaking of strength, Satan’s elite guard only accepts the strongest. Asmodeus, for example, often filled his guard with pretty demons who looked human to satisfy his lust, mainly succubi and incubi. That’s why my friend thought the Captain was part of Asmodeus’s guard. The Barren Desert is closest to Asmodeus’s territory, and the Captain is an incredibly beautiful humanoid… Speaking of humanoids…”

“Stop! Just stop!”

I used telekinesis to clamp his lips shut.

“Mmmpfmmphmmph!”

Even then, he kept trying to say something, making me utterly exhausted.

‘He’s the biggest chatterbox I’ve ever met…’

I shouldn’t ask Heukrang anything.

I don’t even want to hear why the desert sand is purple anymore.

“But Captain, what exactly are you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Among the demons who take on beautiful human forms, I’ve never heard of a wanderer with as much magic power as you.”

Listening to them, it seems they don’t think I’m human.

Is it because I possess strength beyond that of a human?

To figure out whether to introduce myself as human or pretend to be a demon to the people I meet, I decided to be honest with Heukgu and Heukrang.

“I’m human.”

“Pfft…”

“…This guy.”

Seeing him trying to hold back laughter with his tail sticking straight up made me want to smack the back of his head.

They say Satan’s territory governs anger.

Have I already been tainted by it?

I’m not usually this violent, you know.

“S-sorry, Captain! But humans are considered weaker than even the drunken Imps, so hearing you say you’re human with that kind of power, I thought you were joking…”

“…”

*Smack*

“Ouch!”

In the end, I smacked the back of his head.

Ah… Satan, truly a terrifying demon.

Just by staying in his territory, he’s already tainting my emotions with anger.

“Are there humans in the Demon Realm?”

“Huh? Of course, who else would till the fields and clean the poop?”

These crazy demons were using humans as slaves.

Though I frowned at Heukgu’s words… I’m not here to start a revolution in the Demon Realm. I need to find a way back to where I came from, as there are people waiting for me.

Of course, if I come across humans, I’ll rescue them, but I’m not the kind of saint who will go around liberating everyone.

Anyway… listening to Heukrang and Heukgu, it seems this world won’t be easy either.

If soldiers like Satan’s elite guard feel similar to me… then the seven great lords are definitely stronger than me.

And who knows how strong their generals are.

In that case…

‘Training is the answer.’

Let’s go—

I climbed onto the cargo cart pulled by a ghost horse.

Heukrang and Heukgu also seemed more at ease, their expressions relaxing.

I released the telekinesis clamping Heukrang’s mouth and sank into thought.

Reviewing my sparring with the apostles, I realized something.

It seems I can use magic.

Unlike before, when I controlled Hayan’s Ice Spear, I could sense its structure, or rather, its principle.

Anyway, it felt like I could read it.

Creating the spear’s framework by drawing out magic power, then reducing the magic’s movement to zero to drop it to near absolute zero.

That’s probably how the Ice Spear is made.

And the spell for it automatically came to mind.

‘I think I can do it too.’

Magic isn’t anything special. It’s just shaping magic power into a desired form, creating a core inside it, and filling that core with magic power converted into elemental energy.

Then, pouring magic power into the entire spell to the desired intensity, and that’s it.

‘Easy, right?’

Those in the Super Ability or Physical categories can’t do this because they can’t convert magic power into elemental energy.

But… I can?

The fact that the three categories the Cult Leader mentioned have merged seems to help me in this way.

Rolling magic power around inside my body, it felt like I could fully use all attributes.

Being able to use all attributes.

Among the Magic category, only Grand Mage Heinz and Lee Ha-yoon had that talent.

Now my name is added to that list, and I can instantly convert to any attribute.

Which means, without even training in magic, I’m already close to the pinnacle of magic and have ascended to the ranks of Grand Mages who can create magic.

Sorry, Hayan.

The day you surpass me will never come.

A combat machine that uses super abilities, magic, and physical prowess.

A one-man army that doesn’t need anyone’s help.

A suspicious hero who can tank, deal close and ranged damage, and support all by himself.

While I was fiddling with my magic power, the cargo cart stopped.

“…?”

Thinking we had already arrived at the village, I looked ahead…

Heukgu and Heukrang were staring at me with their jaws dropped.

“What are you guys doing?”

“…Can you show us what you just did one more time?”

What I just did… this?

*Whoosh!*

A flame sparked in my hand and instantly grew to the size of a bowling ball.

*Crackle!*

Then it shrank to the size of a baseball, and a strong lightning force emanated from it.

The flow of the lightning energy spreading outward was visible.

*Sizzle—*

The scattered magic power formed a crystalline frost, blooming like a flower in my hand.

“Woah…”

“Heukrang… can high-ranking demons do that?”

“I… I don’t know…”

Now they were even using the nicknames I gave them among themselves.

Anyway, why are they making such a big deal out of this?

Heheh.

Heheheh.

“Anyway, let’s get going.”

“…Yes, Captain!”

I urged the stunned guys to head to the village.

Not long after, we arrived at the village…

‘Is… this a village?’

It was in worse condition than the shantytown I left after choosing Jeong Ha-yul.

“Wow, wanderers!”

“Really? Wanderers!”

“What’s with the cargo cart? Are they merchants?”

“More importantly, look at the person on the cart, they’re so pretty.”

“But isn’t that Brek from the neighboring village pulling the cart?”

“…Could be?”

It seemed like it had been a long time since outsiders visited the village, as the few residents were quite noisy.

Like the Heuk brothers, they had horns on their foreheads, but their green skin and very blunt tails seemed to indicate their race.

Bowing awkwardly to the villagers, we made our way through the village to the chief’s house.

“To think there are still young people crossing this desert these days…”

“Elder! I’m Brek from the neighboring village. Do you remember me?”

“Ah! Brek! Yes! I thought I’d seen you somewhere!”

Heukrang and the chief exchanged greetings (Heukrang introduced Heukgu as a friend and colleague, and me as the Captain).

Since there was no inn in the village, we decided to stay at the chief’s house.

“I’ll call you when it’s time for dinner. Make yourself at home.”

“Yes, thank you, Elder.”

After roughly parking the cargo cart, I lay down in a small room and dozed off.

How long had it been?

I woke up to the commotion outside.

Rushing out, I saw the villagers had lit a fire in the center and were having a barbecue.

“Ah, pretty lady! Did you sleep well? Come here, it’s almost done.”

As soon as I stepped out of the chief’s house, a little kid grabbed my hand and pulled me.

“You’re awake. How was the bed? If it’s uncomfortable, you can come sleep at our house.”

“Ahaha, the chief’s house was comfortable, thank you.”

“Oh! You’re awake. Stamina is important in the desert. When you leave the village, come to our house, and I’ll give you some simple provisions.”

“Wow, really? Thank you.”

“Hey! I was going to give her provisions! Pretty lady, we’ll share water with you at our house!”

Exchanging awkward greetings with the villagers I passed, I sat by the fire with the kid.

Despite their own hardships, they treated me, a mere outsider, so kindly.

It was a warm village that made my heart swell.

“Captain! You’re awake. You should eat.”

“Yeah… what’s all this?”

“The chief is holding a feast for us.”

The impression I had of the village being shabbier than the shantytown was just my prejudice.

It was a much warmer, much more beautiful village.

“Let’s eat!”

“Captain! Enjoy your meal!”

Heukgu and Heukrang kept bringing me meat, and my first eating show in the Demon Realm began.

 

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