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The group, guided by Blandiya, headed towards the house where Kim Yu-shin was staying.

Normally, Blandiya’s subordinates would have escorted them, but their base was already in chaos.

The expedition team, capable of wiping out all the organizations in the dark valley alone, didn’t need an escort, so only Blandiya was guiding them.

After about thirty minutes from Bloodfang’s base…

A modest house came into view, too humble for the leader of an organization that had divided the dark valley.

“…Is that where you live?”

“Ah, yes. I apologize for bringing esteemed guests to such a humble place.”

“…?”

Blandiya was so nervous he didn’t even know what he was saying.

He had been threatened by the human who cut off his arm and had to give up his house.

Then, the human who claimed to be his disciple and his group came and turned his base into a wasteland.

Even worse, it was all done by just one person.

He was fully aware that one mistake could cost him his head.

But his excessive nervousness backfired, leading to a blunder.

Realizing his slip of the tongue from the group’s reaction, Blandiya panicked and waved his hands.

“Ah, no! I misspoke! I meant to apologize for bringing esteemed guests to such a humble place…”

“We got the gist, let’s just go in.”

“…Yes.”

Relieved that the matter was dropped, he led them inside.

As soon as they entered and the door closed, something cold touched Blandiya’s neck from above.

“Stop.”

“…W-why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

“What’s with the things you brought? They don’t seem like the kind of people you’d be escorting.”

It was Kim Yu-shin, holding a blade to Blandiya’s neck.

Kim Yu-shin hadn’t expected the strong individuals following Blandiya to be the expedition team.

He had left clues, but with little time, they were vague.

He wasn’t sure if the demons could read Korean or if the translation worked for them.

That’s why he thought it would take a while for the expedition team to find him.

Kim Yu-shin’s caution was natural.

Alone, he might have been fine, but protecting Belphegor’s son made him even more vigilant.

“I-I didn’t bring them! I was dragged here… weren’t they the humans you called for?”

“…Humans?”

Only then did Kim Yu-shin realize who the strong individuals were.

‘This detection interference is so annoying…’

Due to the magic detection interference, likely caused by Satan, only Jeong Gyeoul and Jeong Ha-yul could sense the surroundings properly.

Even Kim Yu-shin, an S-Class Hero, could only vaguely sense five strong individuals approaching, not realizing they were the expedition team.

In Korea, this would have been unimaginable.

If he spread his magic power, detecting within a few kilometers would have been no problem, and with the basic magic always active, he could identify magic within a few hundred meters.

Only then did Kim Yu-shin withdraw the blade from Blandiya’s neck.

“Five human women, right?”

“…You knew that and still held a blade to my neck?”

“I just realized. My apologies.”

Kim Yu-shin opened the door, leaving Blandiya to check if he had any injuries.

“You found me faster than I expected.”

“Master!”

“…What happened?”

While they could have been laughing and joking, the atmosphere was serious.

Kim Yu-shin’s arm and thigh were bandaged.

Even Dantalian, leading hundreds of subordinates, would find it nearly impossible to injure a Hwarang.

“I thought you bled on purpose… was it because of the injury?”

“No, I bled on purpose. I stopped the bleeding as soon as I left the battle. I remembered Seolhwa’s ability and came here with a wound on my palm.”

“What on earth happened? To be injured to this extent…”

“Let’s not do this here, let’s go inside.”

Blandiya, listening from behind, felt strange seeing Kim Yu-shin acting like the host in his own house.

He felt uneasy, thinking he might lose his house if this continued.

“…It’s humble, but please come in and make yourselves comfortable.”

Blandiya led them to the living room, reminiscing about his younger days as he served them refreshments.

Then he naturally sat down.

“…What are you doing?”

“Huh?”

“Don’t you have anything to do?”

“…A lot?”

“Then why are you here?”

“…?”

Guests ordering the host around.

It was the first time in 124 years of demon realm life he had seen, no, experienced such a situation.

But in the demon realm, those without power have no authority or dignity to assert.

He forced a smile and stood up.

“Oh, my mind’s gone. I’ll take my leave now. Please rest comfortably in MY HOUSE!”

Whether Blandiya emphasized it was his house or not, the group exchanged greetings and caught up.

No one responded, so he awkwardly scratched the back of his head and left.

After confirming Kim Yu-shin wasn’t seriously injured and that the expedition team was unharmed, the conversation continued.

“Did Satan move personally?”

“Huh? Satan? No, it was someone I’ve never seen before.”

“If it’s not Dantalian or Satan, then who… Asmodeus said Dantalian’s army was here?”

Before leaving, Asmodeus had informed them that Belarus had clashed with Dantalian’s army at the border and had since gone missing.

Having dined at Dantalian’s castle, Kim Yu-shin couldn’t have not known Dantalian’s face.

Jeong Gyeoul’s mind grew even more tangled.

‘These demons… always talking about power and strength, but they’re all busy scheming behind the scenes.’

When Jeong Gyeoul first arrived, there was a Lord’s Meeting that could be called a world summit, where fists flew.

Now, that macho romance was nowhere to be found.

“Let’s hear it from the beginning. Ask your questions after the story’s done.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, and Kim Yu-shin began.

“I’ll explain in detail from the point we separated.”

***

“Thank you so much. You saved my life.”

“I think that’s enough thanks. I’ve heard it dozens of times already.”

“Really? Haha.”

Belarus’s subordinates, having witnessed Kim Yu-shin’s strength, had no complaints.

In fact, they seemed to feel sorry towards him.

Belarus stepped in to lighten the mood, and they naturally became friendly within a day.

Kim Yu-shin also didn’t want to feel awkward or uncomfortable while traveling together.

He initiated conversations and treated them comfortably, so Belarus’s subordinates had no hesitation in talking to him.

“Wow… that little human is that strong?”

“If he gets seriously angry, I can’t even buy time.”

“…What is he? Not a legendary dragon in polymorph, right?”

Kim Yu-shin chuckled at the naive soldier’s question.

“Then am I the dragon’s guardian?”

“That makes sense, haha.”

“All of them are either stronger than me or as strong as me. If you underestimate them for being young, female, or human, you’ll all end up meeting again in hell.”

“…Hell? Sounds good! Sending us to hell.”

“…Right, this is the demon realm. Should I say heaven? That sounds a bit off.”

As they laughed and chatted while walking…

A Hellhound, a monster of the demon realm, appeared.

The general by Belarus’s side stepped forward and shouted.

“Protect the young master!”

“All units, defensive formation!”

“Monster sighted! Defensive formation!”

As the subordinates busily formed a defensive circle around the young master, Kim Yu-shin also stepped forward and stood by the general.

“What’s that? A dog with fire coming out of its body?”

“It’s a Hellhound, a monster. One or two are manageable for lower demons, but… they usually travel in packs.”

“Hmm, looks like a hyena that’ll stick around all day if underestimated.”

The general looked at Kim Yu-shin in surprise and replied.

“I don’t know what a hyena is, but as you said, a few will test the waters, and if it seems manageable, they’ll persistently follow.”

There were fourteen Hellhounds scouting.

Considering that usually two or three scout while dozens wait… it meant at least a hundred Hellhounds were waiting.

If they all charged, the current soldiers might not handle it.

Kim Yu-shin made a troubled expression.

“What’s so serious? I’ll handle it. There’s a special way to deal with these guys.”

“…?”

Regardless of the general’s stunned expression, Kim Yu-shin took out a bow from his back.

 

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