Chapter 145: Villa in the Forest

“If no one can handle primal energy, then Danju’s ability source isn’t primal energy but other ingredient. Could be celestial blood source.”

“What. This human kid celestial hybrid?”

Pi recoiled in disgust.

But when Il-on coughed few times, soon clung back.

“What Danju think? Own ability, must investigated.”

“Don’t know primal or celestial blood, but know now not time talk my ability.”

“What mean…….”

“Right now kimchi jjigae boiling crisis, debating miyeokguk tuna or fish cake? Dam Il-on, demon king talk more urgent?”

“No. Damion health more… mmph.”

Ion covered Baba’s beak.

“If <Brainstorming> no Baba, then not know demon king unsealed fact.”

“What?”

“What!? Demon king-nim… what how?”

They shared events during Il-on in demon realm.

Il-on predicted all related to pre-departure knowledge.

Hahoetal, Butterfly Mask, memoir, Breeder… seven emotion Apostles too.

Even guessed [April 18 Descent].

If continue, system administrator descend.

But demon king missing completely unexpected.

In other words, if knew Baba, could infer demon king missing sufficiently.

Buzzz—

Dark navy magic dwelled Il-on’s eyes.

<Brainstorming>.

Il-on’s face paler.

But no one could say stop.

While Il-on wandered <Brainstorming> with new keywords Baba and demon king missing, Ion nagged by Baba.

“Damion keep cover my mouth. I worry Damion.”

“Mana sulfur give?”

“Don’t tempt food. I now adult bat. No work.”

“Then no give?”

“First give I eat.”

Mealtime, Baba couldn’t refuse.

Baba sat chomp mana sulfur, Ppuru peeked.

Nom, Ppuru cautiously ate one, spit, terrified clung Jin Seong-ha.

Ppururu….

Ppuru cried sadly.

“Told not eat random.”

Petting gentle, but Jin Seong-ha eyes coldly sunk.

“Danju not curious own ability source what?”

“Not really. Most curious now where demon king buried.”

“If unknowingly consuming primal energy, someday side effects all at once.”

Regret but too well knowing consuming.

“Whatever side effects come I handle. Not your concern.”

Jin Seong-ha face hardened more.

Pi short laugh.

“Human kid. You really family with our human. Spit blood worry, say not Pi-nim concern cut clean. Each time how disillusioned know?”

“Upbringing environment big influence. You tough too.”

“You tough too, human.”

Strange empathy Jin Seong-ha and Pi.

Moment later result out, magic around Il-on vanished.

Pi supported collapsing Il-on.

Wiping cold sweat temples looked very familiar.

Ion poured warm tea, Il-on took trembling hands drank.

Ion feelings complicated.

Il-on healthiest among orphans.

Never caught cold sturdy constitution, when all orphans sick alone survived quietly nursed.

‘Il-on……’

Ion absolutely convinced all orphans same age.

But somehow seeing current Il-on, felt like strong big sister led family sick hurting.

Moment later somewhat stable Il-on opened mouth.

“Missing demon king in heavens.”

Unimaginable story.

“Wait, human. Not Titan temple, not demon realm or Idea, heavens?”

“Yes, Pi-nim. Take that out.”

“That, that? Ah, that. Got it.”

Pi hand into empty air.

“Vest?”

Ion received open buttonless vest.

Moment in Ion hand, vest size auto adjusted to holder.

“This… miniaturization equipment?”

“Yeah. Felt strongly must secure, strange, for going heavens.”

“Spare? Can’t send Danju alone.”

“Anyway heavens only non-awakened enter. Only you can.”

“……!”

Ion stiffened.

‘Knows… I’m non-awakened.’

Secret didn’t want exposed.

Ears burned, neck heated.

Shameful.

Non-awakened fact.

Ion’s eyes shook like dog grass stormy field.

Then Jin Seong-ha sighed said.

“Knew you non-awakened fact already. Until you reveal self, won’t tell others, don’t worry.”

“Knew…?”

“Strange not know… no, I quick notice.”

“Then others all……”

“Others probably not noticed, relax continue talk. On-il guild master, then attach non-awakened hybrid duke to Danju. More miniaturization equipment?”

Jin Seong-ha acted like Ion awakened or not irrelevant.

Non-awakened whatever, focus attach companion.

Jin Seong-ha so nonchalant, Ion dazed.

Secret always anxious exposed.

But exposure aftermath not as fatal thought.

Realizing that…

Tension fully released.

“Two more. We no need, humans use yourselves.”

Pi gave two more to Jin Seong-ha instead lost-in-thought Ion.

Jin Seong-ha learned usage though can’t enter anyway.

“Then I and Danju after raid over to Idea.”

Ion snapped said.

“Why you? Me alone enough. Anyway can’t enter heavens.”

“Go together mind ease. Go check if awakened enter way or not.”

“I agree. Jin Seong-ha accompany. Then Damion safer. Cute Ppuru, cute me. Cute double. Damion mind stable.”

“Mana sulfur all ate already?”

“Yeah!”

Ion finger wiped mana sulfur crumbs Baba mouth.

“Ion, one more give.”

“What?”

“That ring I gave then—”

“Ring, what?”

“…….”

Il-on stopped, stared Ion and Baba.

Watching Ion fiddle soft fluffy bat, Il-on said.

“One question. After achieve your goal, after that what plan do?”

Question heard before.

Daisy Town dungeon, before demon realm depart asked same.

‘After achieve your goal, after that what plan do?’

‘What?’

‘All goals achieve after what do asked. Answer this question send you demon realm.’

“…….”

Same as then…… Ion closed mouth.

But not same reason.

Long ago wanted die.

Ion craved death.

Die no need find life reason, no suffer fact I residue.

Free.

Different from Teacher’s freedom.

Ion wanted freedom no ‘after story’.

From young, Ion knew no other escape.

Only death frees plants like.

Only death residue can dream sole freedom.

‘But now…….’

Ion gaze lingered arms Sanse and listening eating mana sulfur Baba.

All end, build house deep forest… surrounded Sanse Baba vines spirits plants nap want.

Strange.

Until now Ion never napped.

Yet why such leisurely scene came mind unknown.

Just hear after goal achieve, mind drew forest villa.

“Don’t know well.”

Ion answered honestly.

Didn’t say forest villa story.

“……Yeah.”

Il-on smiled.

Reaction different Daisy Town dungeon too.

Smile got wanted answer.

[Shin Min-ji: Treasure chest this crazy bastard write mercury oxide decomposition chemical equation f*ck system crazy?????]

Dam Da-on read Shin Min-ji message sighed.

“Sent like this?”

“Yup. Moment too pissed. Hehe.”

“Horizon guild image damage….”

“Hey, Adjutant-nim. Don’t worry too much. On-il guild master not old fogey, same age just laugh pass.”

Shin Min-ji grinned widely.

Really thick-skinned person.

‘Wonder real appearance.’

Ding.

“Look, Adjutant-nim, clean reply only.”

Shin Min-ji input answer, fanfare burst treasure chest vanished.

Two continued search.

Not open every discovered treasure chest.

Selected opening.

Thanks Da-on <Sage’s Eye>, knew trial type before open.

[Ta-da~☆

Pass treasure chest trial!

Can defeat S-rank monster-Hydra?]

S-rank monster appear, mark location public phone pass.

[Prepared for knowledge seeker☞]

Quiz open.

[Bored system tell fun story♪]

Childish riddle passable trial open.

Thus wandered day cleared five treasure chests.

Da-on <Sage’s Eye> check map, their zone no unopened left.

Other groups few six hours finish too.

“Adjutant-nim, what do? Sleep here? Or return right?”

“Rest bit return.”

“Okay. Sit. I quick prepare.”

Shin Min-ji whistled out portable chairs heater blankets etc.

Said sit, but naturally Da-on helped prepare too.

Maze cold, out five heaters one each hug three circle around.

Two sat facing.

‘How bring up.’

When split for treasure chests, Da-on chose pair Shin Min-ji.

Hahoetal leader.

Time confirm guess fact or not.