Chapter 292 – Heavenly Demon Casts Magic (2)

The crux of magic lies in achieving maximum efficiency with minimal mana.

When creating a single fireball, the true measure of a mage’s skill is how little mana can be used to produce a fireball of the same power. Competency as a mage is assessed through this standard. Chanting speed and the amount of mana are separate talents.

This led to a single thought: can one use demonic energy to cast magic?

The greatest power that can be harnessed with a small amount of mana. If it is possible to convert the mana in the container into demonic energy and use it as the basis for casting magic, the efficiency of the spells I’ve crafted until now could be increased by at least three or four times.

Of course, there is a clear distinction between the magical power that assists in casting spells and the intrinsic nature of demonic energy. It’s not a matter of one being superior or inferior; rather, their essence is fundamentally different. In severe cases, it may be impossible to cast magic using demonic energy alone, or I might need to create it as though I were forging a martial art technique.

There was another reason for such an obsession with magic. Having learned from the Heavenly Demon multiple times in the past, Si-heon had reached the pinnacle of his martial arts prowess. The techniques involving punches and strikes were flawless.

Greater power and firepower were needed. As time grew scarce, desperation set in.

For that, Si-heon even considered going to a place like a host bar.

“Lee Si-heon, were you thinking about something else?”

Even attempting to touch this monstrous sage was a daunting task. How could one possibly seduce someone who was far from ordinary?

“Please, concentrate.”
“Concentrating!”

Si-heon continued to move the pen, stroking Sephirot who was seated on his lap. Today, the problems didn’t seem to come into focus.

“If there’s anything you don’t understand, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Despite the distractions, the learning progressed smoothly. Once this lesson was over, it would be like taking a step closer to Zodiac. Having been taught by Heaven, White Peach, and Zodiac, Si-heon had always wanted to follow in the footsteps of their power.

Hwangdo is a noblewoman who currently holds the esteemed title of unparalleled Archmage in the world. Even the wisest sage would highly praise her remarkable talents. Marronnier, too, possesses abilities akin to those of Hwangdo, which explains the sage’s keen interest in her.

The exact intentions of the noble who claims to pursue neutrality in approaching Marronnier and Sansuyu remain unclear.

For now, I must follow in Hwangdo’s footsteps on my own.

* * * * * * * *

-Scratch, scratch.

The sound of a pen moving. Gradually, the noise draws nearer.

Three days.

We have reached the final stage of completing the task initially assigned to us by the sage. Resigned to the inevitability of pulling an all-nighter, I persist in my studies. Marronnier also sits beside me, seemingly struggling to digest the vast amount of material within three days.

-Flick.

The sound of turning a page emanates from right beside me.

– Squeak.

The sound of a chair scraping against the floor tiles.
A cat cautiously approaches.

Before long, *tok* – Marronnier’s head touched my shoulder.
Blanche has been getting increasingly touchy these days.

“Blanche.”
“…….”

Receiving no response, I glance to the side and see Marronnier with her eyes closed.
It was obvious that she was pretending to be asleep.
This mischievous cat has learned only the bad things, often imitating the antics Sansuyu would play on me.

“Are you tired?”

I pause the pen and raise my hand slightly.
Waving my palm in front of Marronnier’s face.

Her long eyelashes quiver faintly, as if feeling the breeze or warmth.

“Phew.”

As I sigh, her shoulders tremble slightly.
She clearly knows that I’ve noticed, but she must think that admitting it would be too embarrassing. Instead, she tightens her eyelids even more and begins to feign desperate slumber.

I cast a furtive glance at the book on Marronnier’s lap.

Traces of writing covered the white pages. Unbeknownst to Marronnier, it had been a while since he had completed all his share of problems. He had been sitting beside me, pretending to solve the problems on the middle pages.

‘When did he start acting like this?’

It must have been after the day he helped Sansuyu with her breast milk issue. His behavior had been suspicious ever since. Had he noticed something? The frequency of his masturbation and his eagerness to be close to me had changed dramatically since that day.

I couldn’t know, as I had never experienced subjugation. I couldn’t understand the emotions that drove Marronnier to pretend to sleep like this. However, his actions made him seem like a woman hopelessly in love.

Even at dinner, if there was something like sausage, he would add an extra piece for me. When I tried to pass some food to Sansuyu because I had taken too much, he would glare at me with the expression of an abandoned cat, as if shocked. It seemed as if in revenge, every night since then, an article of clothing would disappear one by one.

I couldn’t tell what I was doing beneath the covers, but I was fidgeting restlessly. At first, I thought it was some kind of cursed artifact and nearly shuddered in fear.

“If it’s this bad, should I help alleviate it?”

Marronnier, once her lust was sated, was not very responsive to touch.

– Flinch.

My voice made Marronnier’s face tremble. Her breathing grew slightly faster as if she were expectant. Swallowing her saliva caused her throat to quiver momentarily.

First things first: the assignments. With only a few problems left, I worked through them while Marronnier was draped over my right shoulder. By the time I finished, it was 3 a.m. Everyone should have been asleep, and it was then that I gently shook Marronnier’s shoulder. She still didn’t wake up.

With no other choice, I grasped her knees and shoulders and hoisted her up.

– Gasp.

Marronnier held her breath in surprise. I hastily closed the book, left it on my desk, and headed towards the room.

– Thud.

Lately, Cornus has had more nights working late.
She seemed to be deeply investigating the experiments of the Cornus family, and the sage appeared to be assisting her as well.

“Uhm.”

As the sound of the door reaches my ears, Cornus is sleep-talking on my bed.
This one has also learned some questionable habits from Marronnier, using my bed whenever she gets the chance.
Unlike Marronnier’s promiscuous intentions, Cornus is seeking her mother’s scent in me, so I generously let her be.

However, due to this, I’m going mad as I drift to sleep amidst Cornus’s bodily fragrance.
I place Marronnier on the bed in the darkness.

I know she’s pretending to sleep, but as I cautiously and gently lay her down on the sheet, her eyelids above her red face slightly open.
Just as I’m about to leave, Marronnier grabs hold of me.

“…”
“Blanche?”

Without answering, she tightens her grip on my hand.

She tugs me closer, lifting her eyelids just a bit to gaze at me with tear-filled eyes.

As if it had been planned, there was an unusually high amount of contact today.

The mental fortitude of the national tree must be far from ordinary.
Taking that into account, is it truly that difficult?
It’s the first time I’ve ever used King Mokryeong’s power, and it’s a force that makes me tremble.

Gradually, as he pulled on my arm with force, my body leaned and tipped over.

– Thud, thud.

His feet moved twice, and his head lowered.

I asked one last time.

“Is it really difficult for you?”

Marronnier’s mouth opened slightly.
He seemed to want to say something, but as if he couldn’t bear to let the words leave his lips, he stuck his fingernail out and pricked my arm.

I don’t know what King Mokryeong’s power will become.
With each passing day, it grows little by little in some way.

The ability to exude pheromones while walking was also gained through King Mokryeong’s power.
In the future, such abilities will continue to increase, one by one.
Perhaps there will even be abilities that I cannot handle.

“…Can you not bear it?”

– Nod.

“Ah… I don’t know how this will turn out, but can we?”
“……”
“You’re fragile, Blanche. I mentioned it’s my ability, but even I’m unsure of how this will unfold.”

It’s true that I need to support and guide her until the brainwashing is undone.
Should I try treating her roughly instead?
Being so harsh that all her feelings toward me drop to nothing.

No.
If it were Marronnier now, my actions might shock her to the point where she can’t even eat.

“…You.”

That’s when Blanche spoke up.

“You… You made me like this.”
“That’s why-“
“I won’t ask you to do everything… Just a little.”

She’s pleading.
No, it’s not even right to call it pleading. Up until now, Marronnier has been holding up quite well.
It’s only been four days. I don’t know the extent of the brainwashing.

After a long silence, I finally covered my face and sighed.

“…Come to the bathroom.”

Marronnier, who had slightly lifted herself, finally opened her eyes and got up. Her face was flushed, but she also appeared to be soaked in ecstasy.

– Startled.

I opened the door, let Marronnier in first, and then closed it. I didn’t light any fire. Unless I spread my mana separately, her expression would remain hidden from me. I could barely make out some faint movements.

Marronnier, seated on the toilet.

“What would you like me to do? It’s not over yet.”

I made one request. It shouldn’t lead to sex.

This is truly addictive. Didn’t most of the bodies that intertwined show the same reaction? Even the gentle and delicate Azalea torments me at night. If I do everything Marronnier, who has been captivated, asks for, it might become a serious situation.

“…What about a light?”
“Let’s keep it like this.”
“Alright.”

Marronnier’s hand was the first to grasp my waist. Since I was standing and Marronnier was sitting on the toilet, it was inevitable.

Fumbling, Marronnier, who gradually rose while caressing my stomach, embraced me first.

“…Uhhh.”

– Thump, thump.

The sound of the heartbeat was incredibly loud.

“Do you hear it? My sound. Is this really… not my emotion?”
“Blanche.”
“…Tell me. Lee Si-heon. Is it truly, truly not?”
“Don’t be deceived.”

Upon speaking firmly, Marronnier slightly scratched my back with her nails, seemingly a little hurt.

“I still don’t know.”

Marronnier’s hands reached up and tenderly touched my cheeks.
It was as if she felt the contours of my face through the surface of my skin, taking a considerable amount of time to commit them to memory.
Marronnier, whose shorter stature allowed her head to rest against my chest.
I couldn’t tell if she was licking with her tongue, but my clothing gradually began to dampen.

It didn’t take long for Marronnier’s scent to permeate the bathroom.

– Clank.

She started to caress my belt.

“Hey, that’s…”

“Just a little… If you don’t put it in…”
“Still.”

It’s not that I haven’t witnessed the progression of intimacy from merely holding hands to advancing further.

Marronnier gripped my body tightly once more. No matter how hard she dug her nails in, not a single mark was left on my skin.

“…Is it something you only do with her?”
“What?”
“With Cornus… Because it’s simply a romantic relationship. But with me… am I just brainwashed?”

It seemed she had a significant misunderstanding.
Marronnier must have seen it happening back then.
Perhaps it was correct to assume it led to jealousy.

“…I like you too.”
“Hey, that’s what I’m saying.”
“I don’t mean right now! Currently…”

She abruptly cut off my words.
Then, what she did next was fiddle with her pants.
Slowly, arousal began to build.
As I hadn’t engaged in any relations recently, my reaction was almost immediate.

Upon unzipping my pants, my erection sprang forth as if leaping out.

Marronnier gazed in ecstasy at the appendage that jutted out from his lower belly, as if it were reaching up to scratch him.

He had gone all the way, if that were the right phrase.

With her legs seemingly devoid of strength, Marronnier sat on the toilet and lowered her hollowed-out nose onto the protrusion resting on her face.

“…”

– Thump, thump. Thump, thump.

Her heartbeat grew louder.

* * * * * * * *

[Champi~]

A star’s voice echoed through the phone.

Champi smiled warmly, holding the smartphone between her shoulder and ear.

“Ah, Byul.”
[How’s work? Is it going well?]
“Of course. Gu-seul is still under surveillance. As for the other hunters, I’m not sure. I guess I’ll know once I see them.”

Blood crept beneath the sneakers.
Champi took a step back, not wanting her shoes to get dirty.

[I’ll trust you!]

“…Yes, yes. The Vice President is speaking, and I can’t just stand idly by. One must act this way to even receive the smallest of rewards. Isn’t that right, the next president of the association?”
[The next president goes too far!]

The elderly man is overly conservative.
Or should I say conservative?
It would be more accurate to regard him as excessively devoted to his country.
If it’s for the purpose of elevating the national prestige of the Republic of Korea, he would set anything ablaze.
This dedication may be one of the reasons the Korean branch of the Hunter Association stands strong.

In the first place, there is no one with abilities that can surpass Mugung.
That’s why South Korea is now treated as a developed country.
Absolute advantage in diplomacy, preemptive rights to magical stones, and so on.
His clear goals make him somewhat like an old man who can’t see his surroundings well.

On the other hand, Byul… is flexible, isn’t he?
This is why Champi likes Byul.

[So what about those traitorous bastards?]

Byul’s voice grows quieter.

“I sent them. Over there.”

Setting aside the phone, Champi gazed downward once more.
Bodies brutally torn to pieces.

[I’ve checked.]
“Ah. Good work, Rehu.”
[Rehu~]

Champi ended the call and slipped the smartphone into her pocket.
Then, she ruthlessly stomped on the corpse before her.

“…Damn it. Why… Why are there more of us?”
“The dead speak.”

The flesh of the man’s thigh was crushed and it burst.
Unable to scream, he clenched his eyes shut.

“Are you their mentor, kid? Trying to spread Flower’s ideology or something?”
“…It was never meant to be a fight to the death.”
“Heh heh heh heh heh.”

A sinister laugh emerged.

“Ha ha ha ha! Look at this arrogant bastard. That’s why I can’t stand the likes of you these days. You think you’ve accomplished something?”
“…!”

“Well, the S-class these days. Yes, it’s stronger than it used to be. I recall ’98… or was it ’05? Regardless, I don’t even deal with the ones before that. It’s true that it’s improved compared to the old days of the Heavenly Demon.”
“…Damn it.”
“But you see.”

There’s a huge misconception there.

“Once you become S-class and gain some power, it’s as if you have a massive stake in the world. Do you think the tense balance would change if you were to join the ranks of the Flowers? Are you stronger than a god?”
“…Ugh.”

The man frowned in response to the overt criticism.

“Heh heh heh. It’s fascinating, really.”

Champi lifted his head, gazing at the seven sprawled corpses.

“That you and I are considered the same S-class.”
“…You wretch!”
“Even within the S-class, there’s a clear difference in caliber. I mean, just look at this. An A-class hunter hiding and picking off civilians is treated as an S-class calamity. Both the Heavenly Demon and King Mokryeong are deemed the same S-class.”

Rank play is absurd.

In this world, you can’t truly know something unless you experience it firsthand.

“You’ll never die peacefully.”

That’s why even the S-class hunters, seven or more of them, who were killed by Champi, were all ultimately cut from the same cloth.

“I get it, you idiot.”

Champi stomped on the man’s head.

*Crunch!*

His skull burst open, and the man’s eyeballs rolled across the floor. It was a swift execution. Those who had sided with Flower had committed a grave offense. Whether they were good or evil was unclear, but they had interfered with Champi’s affairs.

“…My mouth tastes bitter.”

The armor that covered Champi’s body slowly peeled away. It had been a while since he had used his full strength, and blood spurted from his mouth.

“Heh, I’ll be screwed soon.”

The Forest Keeper Selection was underway. The traitor had been dealt with, but there were still many unknown individuals. How many more would there be in this place? Dark clouds were gathering throughout the world.