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Given that it appeared every time Orias was absent, it must have been watching Dokyeom all along. Even Dokyeom hadn’t expected it to follow him inside the gate and loiter around.
[The demon ‘???’ of the ‘Lemegeton’ peacefully says it desperately wants to talk to you.]
It was a tone that sounded like a suggestion, barely keeping its face from twisting up. It looked like it would cry soon.
Propping his chin, Dokyeom watched the words pouring out. Finally, he spoke reluctantly.
“What is it? Why?”
[The demon ‘???’ of the ‘Lemegeton’ opens its eyes wide.]
The way it blinked at him was so similar to Orias. Even its tone of voice was starting to resemble them. Well, they were beasts of the same kind.
[The demon ‘???’ of the ‘Lemegeton’ stares at you, asking if your answer is correct.]
“Yes, it is. What do you want to talk about that you keep approaching a contractor who already has a master? Don’t you know that’s against the rules?”
Of course, this was something he’d have to face eventually. That was why he’d left it in such a state of anxiety. Dokyeom also had something to gain from it.
So it was better to open up the conversation when no one else was around.
[The demon ‘???’ of the ‘Lemegeton’ clears its throat and approaches you with its hands behind its back.]
“Don’t come closer.”
[The demon ‘???’ of the ‘Lemegeton’ naturally turns around, your back to it, and looks up at the sky for no reason.]
Then it cleared its throat again. As if the words wouldn’t come out, the demon paced around for a long time, clearing its throat, despite how earnestly it had begged.
Finally, after a long while, it moved to another spot and looked at Dokyeom.
[The demon ‘???’ of the ‘Lemegeton’ says it has a proposal for you and asks if you’ll hear it out.]
Just as expected.
Dokyeom tapped his chin. This demon was a [Bystander], one without a contractor. It didn’t participate in the game, but watched from afar, enjoying the situation as it was.
If it hadn’t happened to see the story of ‘Han Dokyeom’, it would have watched the game from the position of a [Bystander] as always.
Of course, that didn’t mean its reason for approaching Han Dokyeom was particularly grand. Narrowly, it was to satisfy its own greed. Broadly, to obtain something that would directly affect its reputation.
The problem was that only Han Dokyeom could give it that ‘something’, and that it was one of the things Han Dokyeom possessed. It would offer a ‘wish’ to Dokyeom as an equal exchange for that ‘something’, and that would only apply at the moment of exchange.
So, using this creature had to come later. Because it might be the only demon that could save Nam Yuseong.
“Demon.”
Dokyeom rose from where he was sitting. A gentle smile hung on his lips, his expression kind and soft, as if he’d listen to anything.
[The demon ‘???’ of the ‘Lemegeton’ nods and gives you a gentle smile.]
But what came out of his mouth was merciless.
“You’re noisy. Someone’s coming, so just go.”
[The demon ‘???’ of the ‘Lemegeton’ doubts its ears and digs at them.]
“Proposal? What do I have to trust to make a deal with you? Ah, forget it. Stop with the nonsense and go. I bet you’re going to tell me to sell my soul.”
[The demon ‘???’ of the ‘Lemegeton’ says it’s not finished yet…]
Dokyeom waved his hand, dismissing the text before his eyes. From a distance, he heard someone walking on snow. The faint crunching sound grew clearer as he listened.
[The demon ‘???’ of the ‘Lemegeton’ insists it will only take a moment, that its proposal is not a bad one, so at least hear it out.]
[The demon ‘???’ of the ‘Lemegeton’ pulls at its own hair!]
It must not want to let this hard-won opportunity slip away. It was pitiful to see it rushing around, anxiously grabbing its head and pleading. Dokyeom watched for a while before finally responding reluctantly.
“Fine, fine. But now is not the time. I’ll think about it and call you. Ah, but I need to know your name. What should I call you when I summon you later?”
[The demon ‘???’ of the ‘Lemegeton’ stops its actions and looks at you through narrowed eyes.]
Dokyeom turned his gaze toward the sound of crunching snow. Through the bare branches, he could see a pale figure.
Was that Agon? Or maybe Beom Yeonhu, given the size.
“If you don’t want to tell me your name, I can’t help it. Farewell. I hope we don’t see each other again…”
[The demon ‘???’ of the ‘Lemegeton’ quickly reveals its true name to you.]
Just as he was about to take a step. Before Dokyeom’s eyes, where only dense trees had been, black letters flared up like flames. The characters felt hot.
When they aligned into proper script, Dokyeom smiled secretly.
Just as he’d expected.
[The demon ‘Marvas’ of the ‘Lemegeton’ urges you to keep your promise.]
It was the true name of ‘Marvas’, ranked fifth among the demons of the ‘Lemegeton.’
The words were an urging, but they were also a binding contract that forced him to summon it someday. As expected, it was that rank.
The fiery black letters vanished quickly, as if afraid of being seen. After they died out like a candle, the shape of a man became distinct.
Looking at him, Dokyeom whispered faintly.
“Of course I’ll call you. Who are you to say otherwise?”
Of course, the private talk with ‘Marvas’ had to remain a secret. If the ‘Administrators’ found out, ‘Marvas’ would have to pay a huge price to ‘Orias’ for coveting their contractor.
It was a rule set by the ‘Administrators’ to prevent other ranks from approaching hunters who already had contractors. It wasn’t illegal.
And in the process, many agreed to material compensation and avoided punishment.
But still, possessive ranks wanted to monopolize their contractors completely. From ‘Orias’s perspective, ‘Marvas’s actions were worthy of being considered illegal. If this got out, Dokyeom would have to endure scolding from ‘Orias’ for a while.
‘Who told you to keep leaving the house?’
He planned to hit back so hard that Orias would never think of leaving again.
Dokyeom focused on the figure approaching through the faint darkness, now that ‘Marvas’s presence had vanished. As the shape became clearer, Dokyeom also stepped forward.
One step, two steps.
Exactly three steps later. A man, stepping on branches and pushing through dry twigs, finally appeared. But-
He was not the man Dokyeom had been waiting for.
“So you really are a Hunter.”
The man with white pupils stood there, breathing warm air, his eyes curved gently. A sense of déjà vu. A gentle smile spread on his lips.
Dokyeom instinctively stepped back, but the man closed the distance.
“I was worried because everyone scattered, but I’m relieved to meet Hunter Han Dokyeom. I was a bit concerned.”
One cheek with a dimple. A robust build. And a smile that seemed kind yet cold.
Tap-
It was ‘Kang Taesan.’
He smiled like white snow and approached Dokyeom.
There was no one around. Only the fierce wind blew at his back. The scene from the snowy mountain overlapped. But it was different from then.
What was here,
“Ah, but… it seems you’ve also ended up alone, Hunter.”
was just him and Dokyeom.
Kang Taesan’s eyes, scanning the desolate snow-covered surroundings, reached Dokyeom.
“No one’s here?”
When a strange light seemed to flash in those eyes, Dokyeom instinctively turned and ran. Kang Taesan’s expression was too dangerous.
“Huff, hah…”
Even as Dokyeom fled, Kang Taesan merely took steady steps, as if unsurprised. A low laugh rose from his throat.
“Hunter, why are you running away? That makes me sad.”
With each forceful step on the ground, the distance between them shrank astonishingly. The chase ended when Dokyeom slipped on a snow-covered slope and fell.
“Ha…!”
Seizing the opportunity, Kang Taesan grabbed Dokyeom’s nape as he collapsed and pressed him into the ground. Then, he placed his knee, hard as a rock, on Dokyeom’s back, pressing down.
“Cough, ha… Can you get your knee off…?”
“If I do, you’ll run again. I’m fine, but I’m worried you might have a hard time this way.”
Dokyeom tried to struggle free, but the weight on his back only grew heavier.
This bastard.
Gritting his teeth, Dokyeom pulled a dagger from his inventory. But before he could swing it, Kang Taesan grabbed his wrist, crushing it, and made him drop the blade.
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