Chapter 144: Information Exchange

A warm yet holy light.

From the area Baba covered with his black wings, a light flowed out that was surprisingly sacred for a descendant of a bat that once served the Demon King.

A moment later, when Baba spread his wings, the bleeding from Elliot’s wound had stopped, and even the scar had vanished.

“Healing abilities…? That’s a much more incredible ultimate move than I expected.” “Wow, the Team Leader’s familiar even has healing powers. This will be a huge help to our combat strength.” “What the… how can a bat… was that not just a normal pet bat?”

Those were the reactions of Saon, Sarah, and Elliot. However, the one most shocked among them was Ion.

“How… how did you do that?”

He was so bewildered he even stammered. To think that a descendant of the Demon King’s bat possessed healing powers instead of a terrifying, horrific curse or poison.

‘The Demon King’s bat, famous for its ferocity, had healing abilities? Is this allowed?’

For a split second, Blan and Ion’s eyes met. Blan simply shrugged, his face saying they had already gone through all that absurdity themselves.

“I thought, I want to fix Damion. So I got ability to fix. I great bat now. Helpful bat. If Damion hurt, call me anytime!”

Just as Baba said… he really was a great bat now. …Even if it was suspicious whether the Demon King’s bat was supposed to have healing powers.

Ion gently stroked Baba out of pride.

“Right. Please take good care of us whenever we’re hurt from now on.” “Yes!”

Baba grinned broadly. At that time, Ion thought Baba’s healing ability would only be effective on scratches or bruises at best. He would soon be surprised by an ability far beyond his imagination, but that was a story for later. For now, he simply praised Baba, who was puffing out his chest with pride over his “ultimate move.”

Once the situation was somewhat settled, the leadership gathered together. Ilon, who was said to be dying soon, sat in a plush chair, calmly sipping tea. Beside him stood Pi, the red-lipped demon, with an annoyed expression. It was immediately obvious why she was irritated. It was because she had been dressed in an Earth-style shirt and jeans. Since demonic attire was practically the same as being naked, Daon had lent her some clothes. The demon had refused to wear them at first, but when Ilon stared at her intently, she took the clothes with a huff. Ilon nodded toward Elliot.

“I apologize for back then.”

He was referring to the time he knocked Elliot unconscious during the Daisy Dungeon incident.

“……In the future, provide an explanation beforehand.”

Ilon was pale, and his once-sturdy frame had thinned significantly; anyone could see he was riddled with illness. Elliot seemed unable to stay angry at a sick man, so she let it end there.

“What is the situation in the Demon Realm like now? How is the war with the giants progressing?”

When Ion asked, Pi answered.

“The war is over. Madness spread so quickly that we withdrew from their territory. I heard a small number of giants are taking refuge around the temple, but it’s a meaningless struggle.” “Aren’t you going to go finish them off?” “They’ll be wiped out within half a year anyway, so there’s no need to risk the contagion of madness. Just make sure you keep the key safe. As long as you don’t lose the key, there are no variables.”

According to the memoirs, the extermination of the giants was supposed to happen four months after the regression. In other words, it was exactly half a year from the current point, so the timing matched perfectly.

“Hey, you guys are next after the giants. Are you letting your guard down just because you won for now?” “Better off than you lot, who are treated like half-breeds in Idea. Instead of worrying about us, think about your own path to survival.” “What a shameless mouth. We are the descendants of the demons who remained in Idea without forgetting our demonic pride. You are the descendants of cowardly weaklings who fled to the Demon Realm. Better to live as a noble half-breed than to be held up among cowards!” “You little…! How long did you think I would tolerate your arrogant tongue just because we’re of the same race?!”

Just as Ion had worried from the start, Blan and Pi were indeed polar opposites.

“Lady Pi, my head hurts when you raise your voice.” “Blan, stop it. Fight later when you’re free; now is not the time for bickering.”

Ilon and Ion restrained the two. Blan and Pi continued to glare at each other, but they didn’t come to blows right then and there.

“Dam Ilon, then how much do you know about the current situation?”

There was a mountain of things to talk about—everything that had happened in Idea and on Earth… from the beings descending on April 18th to the fact that the Demon King had actually been released from the seal long ago and was currently missing. Since it was unclear how much Dam Ilon’s had grasped, they needed to have an information exchange.

“I’ll have to talk to find out. I didn’t think my predictions would be 100% correct, but first of all, that bat is an unexpected variable.” “Wait. Hey, I hope you both haven’t forgotten? Clearing this dungeon comes first. Do you know how to get out of here?”

Elliot cut in. Even though all the giants had been wiped out, an exit had not yet appeared. That meant the clear condition for this place was something other than the extermination of giants.

Nodding, Dam Ilon spoke.

“Yes. I know. The clear method for this Hallucination Dungeon is ‘opening all treasure chests’.”

It would have been better if it were destroying a Gate Stone or wiping out monsters. The people who had finally managed to regroup scattered back into the maze to open the treasure chests. However, Ion, Jin Seongha, Ilon, and Pi remained in the central plaza.

In Idea, they had created a magical communication device in the meantime. It was a modification of the cellphone left behind by the heterochromatic Age cultist when they took Sansevieria hostage. Since it was still a prototype, it could only communicate with one public terminal, and Dam Ilon decided to keep the active terminal. Since Ilon stayed in the plaza, Pi stayed as well.

Accordingly, Ion and Jin Seongha also remained to protect the wounded and the byproduct collection teams from the demon. Above all, there was the purpose of exchanging information.

“Indeed. The descendant of the bat the Demon King employed.”

Pi stared at Baba with interest.

“It seems the blood has thinned over the generations. To be such a trivial size. Those teeth wouldn’t even tickle if bitten.” “Lady Pi.” “Yes, human. Do you want a biscuit?” “I’m fine. More importantly, you are currently kneeling.”

Far from valor or dignity, Pi had naturally fallen into a humble posture before the tiny bat that was tangling and playing with Puru. Her words and actions were far apart.

“Goodness, when did I…!?”

Pi trembled as if humiliated.

“I heard that those with demon blood naturally end up kneeling before Baba. Don’t be too upset.” “Your reaction same as Blan. You follow my orders like Blan too?” “Kugh. To think I’m on the same level as that half-breed!”

“Not only the Knight Commander of Ruir Sillon but even high-ranking demons will be on the same level before Baba, so there’s no need to tremble like that. By the way, Ilon. You said you didn’t predict Baba with ?” “Yes. When and where did you meet that bat? I’ll need to use after getting information about it first.”

Ion told him about the dungeon and the timing when he met Baba. And how the overflow period of that dungeon had been excessively long. And just as he was about to reveal the fact about Baba’s memory and the breaking of the Demon King’s seal.

“Sorry to interrupt the conversation, but a request for help came from this side.”

Jin Seongha pointed to the public cellphone.

[Shin Minji: This crazy treasure chest is asking for the chemical equation for the decomposition reaction of mercury oxide f*ck is the system insane?????]

Ion felt an extremely awkward sensation whenever he saw Shin Minji’s messages. The leader of the Hahoetal is really working hard on her double life….

“I would have been trapped forever if I went alone. Let’s leave this problem to the Team Leader.” “The only reaction equation I know is the photosynthesis one.” “Why do you know th… Guild Leader On-il will have to answer.”

Ilon took the phone and silently messaged the answer. As simply as writing the answer to a multiplication table. He didn’t use ; it was just basic knowledge.

[Shin Minji: Oh daebak I solved it thank you!]

At the sound of a cough, Ion looked up. Ilon, who had looked fine until a moment ago, was spitting up blood.

“I knew you were overdoing it.”

Pi jumped up and wiped the blood with a wet towel. The third time he had coughed up blood since their reunion. At this point, even Jin Seongha couldn’t help but ask.

“Guild Leader On-il… your body looks like it’s in very bad shape.” “It’s nothing to worry about. I’ll hold out until the raid is finished.”

Jin Seongha closed his mouth with a furrowed brow. Pi covered Ilon’s thin body with a blanket.

“He was exposed to the air of the Demon Realm for too long with a body suffering from skill side effects. The Demon Realm is a place where even we find it hard to stay healthy. He would have died if he stayed there. He’ll get better once he goes to Earth and rests.” “You said your name is Pi. Are you planning to go to Earth as well?” “I plan to go to Earth with him, confirm this guy gets better, and then return to the Demon Realm. And how old are you to call me ‘you’? I’m over three hundred years old.”

Pi furrowed her brows at Jin Seongha’s question as if offended. But the opponent was Jin Seongha.

“You look quite young. What is the usual lifespan of a demon?” “You keep using informal speech. We live for two thousand years easily!” “If you’re three hundred out of two thousand… you’re on the younger side. For a demon, is that adolescence? If anything, I should be the one hearing polite speech.” “This human is too arrogant!” “Lady Pi, my head hurts if you raise your voice.” “Ah, I’m sorry. I keep forgetting.”

Putting aside the childish conversation between Jin Seongha and Pi, Ion found it fascinating that Ilon seemed to have such a firm grip on Pi.

“Ilon, your health will improve again if you rest on Earth, right?” “Yes. Worry about yourself rather than me. That power you’re using for ‘For Now, Magic’ is…” “Power? Is the Team Leader hiding something again?”

Jin Seongha immediately lowered his voice. Of course, Jin Seongha wasn’t the only one who reacted more than necessary to Ilon’s calm words.

“Damion, why! What happen to Damion? Need rest? Need my ultimate move?” “Nothing’s wrong. Calm down and keep playing with Puru.” “If nothing wrong, why worry about Damion? I want to hear too! Sanse curious too!”

Baba opened his round eyes quite sharply. Puru, now alone, slunk his head under Jin Seongha’s large hand. Jin Seongha kneaded his pet monster like dough.

“I’d like to hear the details. Guild Leader On-il.” “…I analyzed Ion’s ‘For Now, Magic’ with , but errors kept coming up. It means it’s impossible with mana alone… there is definitely another fuel.” “A fuel that is neither mana, magic power, nor aura.” “Yes. I haven’t yet discovered what it is.”

The topic that had been focused on Ilon’s health just a moment ago had shifted to Ion before they knew it. It was a bit of an uncomfortable situation, but Ion just stayed quiet. This was because Ion was equally curious about this life force… this power called vitality. Jin Seongha thought for a moment and then spoke.

“Harry Strange once mentioned a power called life force. He said it’s vitality that all living beings possess from birth. Unlike HP, where you just faint when it’s depleted, he said you die when vitality is exhausted.” “Life force……. Lady Pi, do you know about it?” “I’ve heard of it. The word ‘vitality’ is used more often than life force. Vitality is certainly an existing power, but it’s impossible to manipulate it with one’s will. We only recognize its existence through artifacts bestowed by the Demon God; no one has ever succeeded in manipulating that power. Not even us demons.” “Then what about the Heavenly Tribe?” “If demons can’t handle it, how could the likes of the Heavenly Tribe handle it?”

A power that neither demons nor the Heavenly Tribe could manipulate?

‘Then what am I, using it….’

One thing he suspected was [Sadness].

Had [Sadness] performed some kind of experiment on the infant from the Heavenly Realm?