---

Chapter 306

The aura of a demon isn’t something one can typically sense. Even distinguishing its color requires a rare talent that only a mana synesthete possesses. Unless faced directly and threatened, it was nearly impossible to tell a demon apart.

Yet, Yeon-woo could feel their presence not with his eyes, but through his senses. The reason was something he could only guess.

‘Did he realize something during the fight with the Demon King?’

What that realization was, he couldn’t pinpoint. He merely had a vague feeling that something had clicked for him. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be possible to sense the demons.

His prosthetic leg was slightly awkward, causing him to limp, but Yeon-woo was clearly running. He dashed through the World Tree, heading towards two late-arriving strangers.

[What’s going on, Dad!?]

‘Demons have appeared. Two of them. I don’t need to handle this alone, but I don’t think we should add to the chaos while the Queen is absent. Could you ask the Sister to come out?’

[Uh, she’s already on the move. I’ll just let you know her position.]

‘Thanks. I feel it might be tough to handle both alone.’

From the aura he sensed, it seemed he could contend with them without Shar or Tae-oh. Even considering the penalty of having a prosthetic.

He figured they wouldn’t be very strong demons, which was why he came to that conclusion. It was wise to stay cautious, though, since variables could arise that weren’t present before his regression.

In any case, the demons’ intention to burn down the World Tree was evident. No matter how much fire or wind they used, the World Tree remained untouched; that was primarily due to magic or miraculous effects.

And the Soolma’s perfected Sammae Evolution was something that completely neglected all of that, something that could only be described as a divine artifact.

If there were flames capable of burning the World Tree, they would likely be the flames emitted by the Demon King of Fire and Sammae Evolution.

‘What if they throw it at me?’

Hmm, I hadn’t thought about that. I guess I’ll just have to try not to get hit?

As Yeon-woo had these trivial thoughts, his body continued to move, arriving in front of the demons. Oh, I’m so annoyingly diligent, huh?

“Wow, I guess you’re the guide!”

“No way, you idiot.”

Excitedly shouting were the two demons: a woman with murky red hair and a guy with a prickly demeanor.

Getting closer made it even clearer. The energy undulated like a flickering serpent.

Seeing them made it certain. Was it that he could now distinguish the unique, violent mana of demons simply by sensing their flow?

“Why are you here?”

“To burn it down! Completely!”

“…Hoo….”

The man suppressed his rage. Should I just smack him in the back of the head? If he wants to punish me, it wouldn’t be bad to throw a punch or two.

Yeon-woo, with a mischievous grin, gestured with his thumb across his throat towards the woman. The man barely held back the fury that almost spilled from his throat. What incredible restraint! I can’t believe they are demons!

“I’m Choi Yeon-woo, the contractor of the Dragon. If I can be killed, the Demon King will surely rejoice.”

“Really!? Really, really!? Then I want to kill you! Let’s burn you alive!”

“Ouch, that’s vicious.”

Of course, I had no intention of letting that happen. They dare say they will kill me and set fire to the World Tree! It’s been a long time since I’ve met a demon with such grand ambitions.

“Come at me, you fools.”

“Gah! Did he just call us idiots!? Mama!”

“…Who’s your mama?”

The two demons took their stances. Yeon-woo casually drew his pristine white sword. White. There was no better weapon for dealing with monsters and demons.

*

“You idiot! How can you go there!”

“…Should I kill you?”

Despite their usual bickering, the two demons fought smoothly, their coordination as seamless as the gears of a well-oiled machine.

At that moment, Yeon-woo couldn’t help but admire them.

Demons, by nature, are creatures far from cooperation. Those who betray humanity for power have no reason to collaborate with rivals and share strength.

However, there were instances where they did combine forces. Yet among the many cases Yeon-woo had seen of cooperation, these two were a unique case.

For demons to band together, there had to be a reason. They needed a pretext to deceive themselves into cooperating, even if just for a brief moment.

Yet these two? They were cooperating while quarreling with no pretexts whatsoever. They were already instinctively matching their martial arts from the basic stages onward.

The conclusion was simple.

“Were you close before betraying humanity?”

“Don’t say anything so disgusting.”

“Look! Someone finally recognized me! Thanks, die!!”

At Yeon-woo’s taunts, the two demons rushed at him in anger. Yeon-woo stepped back, rotating his wrist to simultaneously counter their attacks. If only his prosthetic wouldn’t slip.

“Whaaaat?”

As surprised Yeon-woo looked on, the two demons’ strikes converged on him. If they connected, they would easily break his ribs and crush his heart.

Fighting with a non-custom prosthetic was indeed a struggle. As he quickly processed this in his mind, Yeon-woo stepped forth with his sliding leg.

Thanks to the starlight mana coursing through him like diluted ink in water.

Yeon-woo’s right foot had become something that had long ago returned to mere dust and could be no longer revived—a foot that virtually never existed—was now recreated by his bravery.

‘What an absurd level of performance.’

That was all Yeon-woo could think about his elemental mana.

Even what Dawn’s healing divine art could do would sound unimaginable to others, but this elemental mana practically brushed against the realm of creation.

Excluding his own bewildered voice, he responded at a speed so smooth that it didn’t feel awkward at all, causing his sword to entwine around the fists of both demons.

There was a mishap, but it was astonishingly natural. What he thought had connected turned out only to be the amount of strength that left his body along with the one punch he swung.

“…This won’t do.”

“I think so too!”

Having made several attacks without success, it seemed they grasped the situation and leapt back.

It was apparent they were attempting to achieve their minimal objective by widening the distance.

Yeon-woo’s prediction was spot on. The woman reached into her cloak and pulled out a round object glowing with a reddish hue.

Hmm, looking at it from different angles, it looked like a bomb. Yeon-woo nodded, seeing a size and design similar to those created by Sullivan.

Could the Soolma also be similar to Sullivan? Perhaps a kind of ultimate bomb-maker tainted by evil.

As long as I keep it from reaching the World Tree, I should be fine. Indeed, Yeon-woo was also concocting strategies to deal with it if a fire broke out on his body.

Hadn’t something similar happened before? When he extracted that unnameable friend who was infested with the Mana Fever from Noel…

When a part of your body catches fire, it’s only natural that it will spread throughout your entire body. The body is connected, after all. That’s common sense.

But conversely, that means if I cut off the burning part, it won’t spread, right?

Nea would probably freak out after hearing such a thought, but my body regenerates, so cutting a bit off should be fine, right? Hehe, as long as I don’t get caught.

However, as the red bomb slipped between the fingers like a card trick, Yeon-woo had to firm his expression. There were so many of them.

“Wait. Can we talk if you put down that bomb?”

“Huh? I don’t have anything to talk about.”

The female demon cocked her head, which appeared clueless, as she scattered the bombs she was holding. Oh no…!!

“That’s enough.”

As Yeon-woo sensed the possible catastrophe and tried to remove at least one, a calm voice rang from above. Naturally, it was Claire, who had requested support in advance.

If I block just one, the Sister can take care of the rest; a certainty formed in his mind.

After all, it didn’t make sense to unnecessarily sever my arm when I could avoid it. Even lizards don’t shed their tails on a whim.

One bomb was on the verge of touching the ground, and he managed to catch it on the broad blade characteristic of White. By minimizing the impact, he could prevent it from exploding.

‘What about the Sister!?’

As he thought that, he looked toward her, and there was a barrier that could only be described as a protective barrier.

Claire’s Aura Blade impaled the ground, blocking the flames of Sammae Evolution, which could incinerate anything.

How is she able to maintain the sword energy shaped like a square up to the ceiling?

Not only that, but she also swept away the bombs that were bouncing off in all directions. Truly, there was nothing else to do but call her a Sword Master.

Even if he was an injured party, seeing the mastery of Claire made the wall of understanding between them seem only faint.

The two demons, feeling the pressure of their situation, quickly cut their wrists, spilling blood onto the ground.

Whatever their goal was, Yeon-woo rushed to subdue them, but a fierce heat blocked him.

“Human sacrifice…!?”

To fuel the flames of Sammae Evolution, they were setting themselves alight as fuel.

Considering the value of the human body as a sacrifice, and knowing that these guys usually belong to the Violence Cult, this was quite an effective act of terrorism.

“Oh, I thought I could make it back! I never thought I’d die here!!”

“…Tch.”

The two demons tsked in the midst of their own burning body. It amazed him they could even speak like this while burning alive.

Though somewhat different in lineage from the Cult of Despair, the Violence Cult was notorious for its fanaticism.

Especially the Demon King of Fire was known for easily sharing power with demons, leading to an insane loyalty to the King. They would go so far as to commit suicide bombings.

“Sister, let’s put out those flames first!”

“Sounds good.”

Claire, who couldn’t understand the actions of the two demons setting themselves ablaze, lightly swung her sword.

This was a scenario she never could have imagined, but it was a good situation nonetheless. Claire’s swordsmanship proved her strength, and even unintentionally, they were protecting the World Tree in the Queen’s absence.

This would also likely prompt the nobles who had been hidden, carefully watching the situation, to finally take action. With such thoughts in mind, Yeon-woo swung his aura to contain the flames.

(To be continued next time.)

 

---