Chapter 142: A Bunch of Enforcers (1)

“The demon king and the bat were already free long ago, mating around~ raising grandkids, living cozily. Enjoying life, huh…. Envy him, really envious.”

Sa-on swept his hair back.

Bran grumbled too.

“We were dumbfounded too, f*ck…. Everyone’s scattered across Idea searching now.”

“You think he’s in Idea.”

“Yeah. If he crossed to demon realm, he’d lead demons to invade Idea again, so he’s probably somewhere in Idea.”

Ion was confused.

The demon king wasn’t sealed… but actually freed from the seal.

Hard to believe, but.

“Kyuung.”

This small, cute bat is a descendant of the bat sealed with the demon king.

The demon king’s bat produced descendants.

No matter how unbelievable, this was the only truth.

So he couldn’t stay confused forever.

Finding the missing demon king remained unchanged.

“The demon king….”

Voice cracked, Ion cleared his throat.

“The demon king’s memories aren’t intact. If they were, he wouldn’t hide.”

The demon king was originally aggressive and ferocious, invading heavens then Idea.

Imagining him living ignorantly as a rustic villager in deep forest… chills ran down.

What if the demon king suddenly regained memories?

The memoir entry [52.08.24 Demon King Revival] flashed in Ion’s mind.

‘Was that revival actually meaning regaining memories?’

An unexploded bomb… no, anti-matter bomb hidden somewhere in the world.

‘Insane…….’

Apostle checks or whatever, the ‘real <Hunter and Hero>’ scenario… such a dangerous factor must be found.

For now, dungeon clear first.

Ion’s group resumed the raid.

Following Sa-on’s snakes through the maze, the mood was heavy and gloomy.

“Damion okay?”

“Huh? Yeah.”

At the concerned voice, Ion reflexively looked up.

Baba sat splat on Sanse leaves, looking worriedly at Ion.

“Been bad since earlier. Don’t worry about me. No memory still special.”

“Not particularly worried about you….”

“Not honest. Cute.”

“Who are you to call me cute.”

“Damion praise me too. Then feel better. I majestic bat. Great special bat. Repeat.”

“Praise you…?”

“Yeah, praise me!”

“Sigh, followers and ancient beasts sang praises of our bat-nim’s majesty, ended up like this.”

Bran added from side.

Majesty what, still squishy and cute only.

Ion kneaded Baba.

Baba made kyuung kyuung weird sounds.

“Yeah. Overflowing majesty.”

Ion chuckled.

Then Baba, enjoying the touch, eyes sparkled.

“I got ultimate move too!”

“Ah, yeah.”

“Oh, really? What?”

Unlike zero-expectation Ion, Sa-on narrowed eyes to crescents, interested.

“Can’t show now. Better not show ultimate. But really amazing ability!”

“Better not show? Don’t understand. Won’t show just to On-on?”

“Especially don’t want use on Damion!”

What?

Ion frowned.

“Aha…….”

Sa-on nodded, lips curling like he got it.

‘Curse type?’

Abilities fitting demon king’s bat—like spreading curses or poison—flashed in Ion’s mind.

Wouldn’t be great power anyway.

No expectation, so didn’t pry.

“Damion, scratch here. Scratch there too.”

Protruding chest, forgetting ultimate boast, demanding touch immediately.

Ion obliged, scratching plump belly, wings, butt with fingers.

Laughter from side.

Sa-on.

“Thought last time too, you being affectionate to non-plant… surprising.”

“When was I affectionate.”

“Damion, scratch my belly too. Scratch.”

“Didn’t wash? Why so scratchy.”

“Misunderstand! I clean bat, neat bat. Like Damion fingers, want touch. And Damion feel better touching me. Headache gone. We help each other.”

“Where’d you learn ‘help each other’….”

Ion helplessly met Baba’s demands.

Watching quietly, Sa-on suddenly sly snake-like smile.

“Oh, Baba. Know what? On way, we had secret-sharing time. On-on actually finds Ppuru that cute. Ppuru, you know? Jin Seong-ha’s pet monster.”

“Yeah. Ppuru cute. Wanna see Ppuru soon.”

“Wants pet and touch whenever chance. Leaving our cute Baba, adoring other animal. World~ Is this okay? Not betrayal?”

“Not betrayal. Good thing. Damion adore many. Adore make heart happy. Become happy Damion!”

“…….”

Sa-on shook head, defeated by Baba’s pure heart.

Bran snickered, Ion smiled too.

Ion’s group reached central area swarming with giants three days later.

Grrrr.

Groooar.

Mad giants wandered square like ghosts.

Easily over a hundred.

Thud!

Thud thud!

Ground shook with each step, hard to stand.

Some giants banged heads on maze walls thud thud, some jerked heads searching prey.

Ion’s group peeked eyes only at square, gathered inside corner.

“Hey, you two scared? Don’t worry. I alone enough. Raided giant bases in Idea. Sh*tty bastards? Just time ult dodge. Killed five alone.”

“First fighting mad giants in field.”

“What big difference.”

Bran’s abilities, from battles so far, better solo than coop.

No mad giant experience… wouldn’t help much.

‘Only three here… watch other groups’ moves.’

Ion’s group hadn’t grown en route to square.

Other groups became 20 and 23.

Per Sa-on, 24-person at 12 o’clock, 20 at 7 o’clock, Ion’s at 3 o’clock surrounding square.

Ion curious where Jin Seong-ha was.

“Hey, where’s Jin Seong-ha? Said owner blue triangle, others red.”

Luckily Bran non-awakened too, asked for Ion.

Sa-on frowning at system window.

“Non-awakened. Tsk. Annoying.”

“You just tsked?”

“Jin Seong-ha at 12 o’clock. On-on, what do? Other groups seem waiting your orders.”

“Why wait for my orders?”

“Then who gives in this situation.”

“Jin Seong-ha, Dam Da-on, Elliot, Sara Harundas… many.”

“Our On-on still thinks he’s extra.”

As Ion frowned….

Ppurung!

Familiar sound.

Three heads whipped around.

Turning corner: Ppuru.

Hidden by giant presence, unnoticed till close.

Ppururu!

Ppuru crying, flew fast, paused briefly.

Alternating Ion, Sa-on, Bran, flew to Ion’s arms.

Ppururung!

“Ppuru…?”

Pii! Ppuru ppuru!

“Wait, don’t cry, speak slowly.”

Piiiiiii.

“How here. Jin Seong-ha send you? Something happen to Jin Seong-ha?”

At name, Ppuru cried harder.

Ion awkwardly comforted.

Palm wet with tears.

“Ppuru, long time! What happened?”

Pirung? Pi… pii!

Spotting Baba late, Ppuru flew to Baba thankfully.

Meanwhile Sa-on unfolded note on Ppuru’s tail.

Jin Seong-ha group and 7 o’clock group lists.

And memo.

‘Attack on signal. Plan use <Ice Age>-request no approach.’

‘We ready too. Awaiting signal.’

“Used this guy as messenger. Jin Seong-ha… creepy sometimes.”

Delivery method quite bold.

Even Sa-on, no slouch in extreme, tsked.

To giants, humans hamster-sized, Ppuru less than housefly.

Too small, could weave between giants.

Still risky—misstep foot or swing arm could kill….

‘Now terrified Ppuru returns crying into arms, feels thrill….’

Ion thought Ppuru suffering Jin Seong-ha’s twisted affection.

“Signal from us then. On-on, your vines shoot up means attack, I’ll write.”

Sa-on didn’t wait Ion reply, took pen, wrote in Korean, English, Idea language three ways.

“Damion… Ppuru shivering. Pitiful poor. Must send Ppuru?”

Now resend note, but Ppuru curled tail, clung to Baba.

Sa-on grinned.

“Then Baba go?”

“Yeah! I go. I brave bat. Helpful bat with ultimate!”

Ion’s face paled.

Luckily before Ion spoke, Bran raged instead.

“Crazy? Don’t even think touch Baba-nim. Snake-like human bastard. You go if anyone, f*ck. <Shell> or aura, can’t die! Just throw you in!”

“Calm down, just said. How send On-on’s pet bat. Instead attach hyung’s pet snake as Ppuru escort.”

Smallest threadsnake appeared among Sa-on’s snakes.

Threadsnake poked Ppuru with round head.

Hiss hiss.

Ppururung….

Shh shhh.

Ppuru, ppurut.

Some conversation, Ppuru left Baba’s arms.

Ppuru!

Ppuru looked up at Ion.

Lips tight, resolute, ears flat.

Ion roundly petted, encouraged.

Note tied to tail, Ppuru turned corner.

Grooo.

Groooar.

Thud, thud. Creepy mad giants roaming, shaking ground.

As Ppuru and threadsnake about to move between.

“……!”

Spotting something among giants, Ion quickly yanked both tails.

To puzzled Sa-on and Bran, Ion mouthed.

‘There, ringed giant. Enforcer.’

An Enforcer among giants.

Group retreated inside.

“Hey, ringed one Enforcer? One sitting atop tower and sleeping prone also ringed.”

“No way mistake. Three Enforcers in this dungeon.”

But.

“Real…….”

Ion checked again—two more ringed giants.

Five giant Enforcers total.

One killed by Ion in Idea, four left.

Three here.

Only describable as arranged.

Anomaly not end.

Pondering unexpected Enforcers……

Rumble!

Black space appeared above square center sky.

“What, what? F*ck, startled.”

“……Space transfer array?”

As Sa-on said, demon-exclusive space transfer array.

Like Daisy Town dungeon.

Ion’s eyes widened.

“……!”

Emerging from black space: familiar silhouette.

Each step out, silhouette gained color bit by bit.

Finally fully human form.

‘Dam Il-on.’

And.

‘That person……!’

Il-on not alone.

Behind: red-lipped demon.

The demon who dismantled kraken instantly in mermaid nest.