Chapter 3: Home run

A demon lord is a clearly asymmetrical power.

Just as a demon lord is the only means to stand against a god, there is no existence capable of opposing a demon lord except for another demon lord of equal standing.

Even if the current demon lord in Japan is a newly born, inexperienced one, the fact that Japan now possesses such a demon lord means their power is far beyond what South Korea can contend with.

The officials of the National History Compilation Committee and the aristocratic families managing Japan’s abilities were aware of this fact, which is why they instigated this event.

“Of course, the United States also has a demon lord, and one far beyond the comparison of a newbie, the Underworld King Pluto, reigning.”

“Even if they are an ally, the US position is always ‘America First.’ They wouldn’t interfere in a conflict that doesn’t benefit them.”

“Not to mention they wouldn’t take the risk of a conflict potentially escalating into a clash between kings.”

“Besides, it’s unlikely Pluto would involve himself in such international disputes.”

There is no solution.

An unavoidable reality.

They are the ones living in a world unknown to ordinary people leading normal lives.

In this world, in this industry, being weak was actually a sin.

To be powerless and to be crushed.

In the end, sighing or clicking their tongues, the team leaders exchanged brief greetings and returned to their respective places.

They weren’t free enough to waste time on futile matters.

Even during this time, South Korea was being overwhelmed with issues that needed to be resolved.

However, one person,

Lee Ga-ram, the team leader of the Supernatural Crime Response Team, turned her head upon hearing a voice calling her from behind.

There stood Han Seok-gyu, one of the leaders of the field analysis team they had just parted with, gesturing toward her.

“Huh? Do you have something to say?”

“What else would I be looking for you for?”

“Haa… I’m busy as hell, what kind of guy is it this time?”

The reason why the field analysis team looks for the supernatural crime team.

As Seok-gyu said, there was only one reason.

That’s only when individuals illegally using supernatural abilities have been discovered.

To Ga-ram, who frowned with annoyance, Seok-gyu chuckled and sent over the investigated data.

As he did so, he began to explain the situation to her simply.

“It’s presumed to be a mental-type manifestor. The initial location was Busan. It seems they have moved to Seoul. There are signs that they are laundering their identity with their ability.”

“A manifestor? Are you sure?”

“Yeah, of course, we initially were sure it was magic. Then when no traces of incantations appeared, we investigated martial arts’ soul absorption technique. But neither are correct. It’s a manifestor.”

A manifestor
A genuine, natural ability user commonly called a psychic.

Although they’re said to handle supernatural abilities in this industry, over 90% are actually the result of learning and acquiring skills.

Of course, even that isn’t possible if you don’t have the aptitude.

And less than 10% of the remainder are those who are born ‘with’ their abilities due to the influence of a god, which is considered a divine calling.

Sometimes called witches, sometimes shamans, or priestesses, they were the founders of magic and sorcery.

However, there are those who do not belong to any of these categories and ‘awaken’ supernatural abilities on their own.

They are the psychics, the manifestors.

Though they can’t use any other supernatural ability besides the one they awakened,

within the realm of the ability they awakened, they can use their abilities without going through the process of what is considered an incantation.

And the more they use their power, the output and versatility also naturally increase.

Although it depends on the ability awakened on a case-by-case basis.

Manifestors themselves are incredibly rare, so the majority are hired by the country or groups under very good conditions or work as freelancers earning high fees.

“A manifestor like that. Especially one with a mental ability…”

“It’s a jackpot.”

“Oh, that’s huge.”

“Moreover, the level of power is quite high. Of course, it’s also possible that I’m not familiar with mental-type manifestors, but all those who are suspected of being hit with the ability assumed to be hypnosis, didn’t feel any warning signs or any discomfort. Probably if we hadn’t found a loophole in their records, we wouldn’t have been able to discover it.”

How high of a level magician would be needed to achieve the same thing with magic?

At least a high-level sorcerer that everyone would know by name would have to come.

Or a witch.

As soon as she recognized this fact, Ga-ram’s lips curled up.

She immediately snatched the investigation data that Seok-gyu was holding

and said to him.

“They didn’t do anything that crossed the line, like murder, right?”

“At least, we haven’t found any such circumstances yet.”

“Good. Hey, this is a secret from the chief and the other team leaders for now.”

“What?!”

“I’m gonna get this one. Since it’s mental ability, our team is a better fit than the others, right? Isn’t that right? A win-win situation.”

The crime team is honestly being treated like a white elephant right now.

To be more precise, would you say over-powered?

Criminals who use abilities

Traitors of the National Intelligence Service

Spies from other countries, etc.

They’re forced to deploy and operate with an elite force,

but to put it bluntly, they have less to do as of now with the supernatural phenomena occurring more frequently than people.

Because of this, these days it’s become common for them to go to other teams as support.

Meanwhile, things aren’t getting easier for them, making it chaos everywhere.

“However, if we have just one ability user like this, things will be different.”

“Well, I guess that’s right. It’s not like your team is lacking in power.”

“Instead of fighting, if we give this guy all the small tasks, everything can be done in an instant.”

Identity laundering using abilities.

The justification is sufficient.

Ga-ram said that she would use this as leverage to put a leash on this mental-type manifestor and bring them to her team.

However, since mental abilities are very useful, other teams might want them too, so she asked them to keep it secret until she can definitely get them into her team.

Since the field analysis team didn’t particularly need a mental-type ability, that’s fine.

“Tsk, I don’t mind, but without a treat?”

“I’ll buy you a meal later.”

“Pay for our team’s company dinner.”

“Ugh! You bad bastard…..”

And thus, the deal was struck.

Seok-gyu also knew that it wasn’t the time for an ability user like this to needlessly rot in prison, so he agreed to Ga-ram’s proposal.

He hesitated a bit at the mention of a company dinner, but when Seok-gyu nodded, Ga-ram cheered.

She quickly called her deputy team leader and confirmed the ability user’s current address on the documents,

and hurried to secure him.

“Hey, Jang Hyuk-ah. I caught a big one. It’s the real deal this time. It’s a manifestor, so just leave the others behind and come with me–“

But she didn’t know until then.

Fighting…

That the best thing that this manifestor was good at was fighting.

Another energetic happy modern life.

In choosing the evening delivery menu, I couldn’t choose just one, succumbing to indecision and ended up ordering pizza, pig’s feet, and mango shaved ice, eating it all.

After sleeping soundly until noon due to overeating, I leisurely finished my shower and sat down at my computer.

“All right. My condition is perfect. Shall I run all the way to the end today?”

Having done almost everything I needed to, I’ve been absorbed in the hobby of playing games lately.

The genre is Soulslike.

Ah, of course, I know that people who see me like this would consider me crazy.

This crazy guy, after getting dragged into another world and suffering that hardship after watching a Souls-like story video,

is now just playing a souls game himself.

They’d think like that.

But I want to say that’s a wrong thought.

Because, why would they drag me away again with the same boring scenario, when they already dragged me once?

In addition to that, right now, I’m a returning, experienced veteran.

I’ve learned that I’ll return once I clear all the DLCs.

“To be honest, the Elden Ring bosses went way overboard. I can handle guys like these.”

Dragons?

I’ve killed countless dragons there.

How many dragon heads did I collect?

That damn dragon king Placidusax, you bastard.

If you’re that old, you should just die quietly.

Because of that guy, I had to fight Malekith with a hole in my side.

Honestly, that was more dangerous than fighting Radagon at the end.

If I hadn’t had the authority I gained after killing Demigod Mohg and the Death of Destiny I got from killing Malekith, I might have really died.

“But that’s all in the past. Umu haha! Now I’m stronger than even the game characters! Try dragging me away, you bastards! This time, I’ll clear the ending in a year, not 11 years!”

That’s why I’m doing this!

Soulslike!

This is the expression of confidence.

The fact that I’m challenging a no-hit, full-parry run with only basic underwear, a basic sword, and a basic shield is the same reason.

It’s definitely not because I’m a wandering soul madly absorbed in Souls.

Luckily, I still have enough money.

With the mindset of taking only a year off and then finding a job as compensation for all the hardships, I rub my palms together and turn on the game, when suddenly the bell rings, informing me of a guest I was never expecting.

Ding dong~~

“Jae-in, are you in there?”

“Jae-in? Isn’t that a guy’s name? Why does it sound like this?”

“How should I know. It’s probably a laundered name.”

“That guy has weird naming senses. Anyway, let’s take him quickly.”

Ding dong~~

Ding dong~~

Bang bang bang!!

The man and woman pressing the bell and banging on the door again.

I got a bad feeling about this, so I quickly thought it over, then I went to the front door, but without opening it, I spoke from behind the closed door.

“Who is it?”

“We’re the police. Open the door.”

“Do you have a warrant?”

“No. But we don’t need one.”

“Huh? What nonsense-“

“Because if you consider me a prosecutor, I’m equivalent to the chief prosecutor.”

And immediately after

“FBI, OPEN UP!”

KWAANG!!

The woman kicked my door open with force.

It wasn’t a high-end bomb shelter, but still a steel door, yet it was torn off like a cardboard box.

The woman with crimson-black hair that was revealed had a mischievous smile.

A confident face.

She was full of anticipation that I would be surprised by what happened, as if she thought “You didn’t expect this, did you?”

The tall man beside her was shaking his head in disbelief

Ah, am I surprised?

Of course, I am surprised.

There’s no way someone wouldn’t be surprised when a police officer suddenly shows up without a warrant, saying they’re equivalent to the chief prosecutor, shouting ‘FBI open up’ and kicking down the door.

I guarantee that anyone, not just me, would be surprised.

However,

“This freaking b*tch? My door!!”

Being surprised is one thing, but what we did after was different.

I immediately caught the flying door.

And then charged towards the intruder in my precious home.

She froze and didn’t know what to do, while I was coming for her.

I swung the door that I had caught with a full swing directly at her.

“W-Wait!”

“Die!”

WHOOSH!

She flew away and broke through the apartment’s hallway window and flew further away.

Home run.

“Ah, but this is the 23rd floor, will she be alright?”

“Team leaaaader!!”

I decided to worry about the aftermath later.