[Chapter 211]
[Seven Devils (3)]
Hana Bank Yeonsinnae Branch, Eunpyeong-gu.
Jung Geum-jeon, special advisor to Donghae Clan, stopped by the bank on business that day.
"But why are you following me?"
"To make sure young master doesn't do anything else like last time."
"Oh my. Noona, are you really my secretary? No, if you're a secretary, shouldn't you assist me instead of saying you're monitoring me?"
"Monitoring is also part of a secretary's duties."
It wasn't just Jung Geum-jeon who visited the bank.
Secretary Lee Se-hee also followed.
Actually, it was now awkward to call her a secretary.
After Noh Eun-ha married Lee Yu-jung, he married her unable to withstand the pressure from her and his grandfather.
"Anyway... Do as you like."
"But young master."
"What?"
"I heard news recently that Miss Lee Yu-jung of Luminous Group is pregnant."
"Again? It seems like I just heard Jung's kid got pregnant. Is that Noh kid not doing player work and just doing night work every day? Whew, he's got good stamina."
"Yes. Very different from a certain young master living somewhere."
"..."
It was strangely stinging words.
Jung Geum-jeon glanced sideways at Lee Se-hee.
She quickly averted her gaze.
Jung Geum-jeon made a sulky face.
Then he sat down to wait for his turn.
She expressed doubt.
"Is there a need to wait for a number? Our business will be handled by the branch manager anyway."
"...Don't you feel sorry for those people? Let's just follow the order."
"You just don't want to quickly finish work and return to the clan hall."
"..."
"Hah... Alright. I guess you need to rest like this sometimes."
Fortunately, Lee Se-hee allowed it.
Jung Geum-jeon sighed in relief and hugged the money bag tightly.
Inside was a large sum of 1 billion won.
Including the money bag Lee Se-hee was holding with handcuffs, it was 2 billion won.
He had to be especially careful not to have the money bag stolen.
"It would have been much easier not to deal in cash."
"It can't be helped. It's better to use cash for underground market transactions to avoid trouble."
The recent northern Gyeonggi development.
Donghae Clan discovered a large number of artifacts while developing the north.
So Donghae Clan allocated what the clan would use to clan members, and sold the rest in the underground auction market.
They could earn much more money than using the market auction.
It was a method clans often used.
Instead, they traded in cash to block transaction tracing.
"Give bonuses to clan members, and put the rest in Pine Page cash. Whenever I do cash draws, I only get 100 cash, sigh..."
"Just buy cash directly."
"This has its own charm, I'm telling you."
Jung Geum-jeon giggled.
Since the topic came up, Jung Geum-jeon decided to read web novels while waiting for his turn.
He had quite a few works he had been putting off reading because he was too busy lately.
He should use this free time.
It was when he was choosing a work.
Lee Se-hee muttered, seemingly displeased.
"I didn't know because we've been meeting the branch manager directly until now, but the bank management is really not good."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I've been feeling it for a while, but there are a lot of flies flying around."
"Flies? Huh?"
Only then did Jung Geum-jeon realize.
Flies were flying around.
Not fruit flies.
Flies as big as thumbnails were flying around making buzzing sounds.
Here, there.
Flies could be seen everywhere.
"Why is it like this? Did food waste burst or something?"
"Even if food waste burst, there wouldn't be this many. This won't do. Young master, let's leave here. I can't stay in a place like this anymore."
"Hah, okay, let's go. I should say something to that Yu kid later..."
This isn't a garbage dump.
Why are there so many flies?
Jung Geum-jeon sighed and stood up.
He decided to look for another branch.
He didn't want to stay in a bank with dung flies buzzing around.
It was then.
"That person seems to be the cause?"
"...There are a lot more over there."
The waiting number decreased by one.
A woman wearing a dress you'd expect to see in a bar approached an employee.
Red dress, red shoes.
And black sunglasses.
The woman showed off a haughty walk, making clicking sounds with her shoes.
However, people's gazes weren't directed at the woman's beauty.
It was because dung flies were buzzing around her enough to wake people from her beauty.
"Did she come out of the bathroom without wiping after going?"
"Young master, she'll hear you."
"Or maybe she's wearing perfume that dung flies like."
"Let's just go, young master."
Jung Geum-jeon grumbled.
That woman seemed to be the culprit.
He tried to eavesdrop on what business the woman had at the bank.
"Young master, let's ignore it and go. Somehow I have a bad feeling."
"Oh my, don't raise flags. Someone might die if you do that."
"Young master..."
"Alright, I'm going, I'm going!"
Lee Se-hee was unusually insistent.
Jung Geum-jeon had no choice but to turn away from the woman.
Nevertheless, he kept his ears perked up.
Bits of conversation could be heard.
"Yes, customer. What brings you..."
"I came because I need money, a lot."
"...Pardon? If it's a loan, please use that counter..."
"Loan? I didn't come to borrow money."
"Then what brings you..."
"I said I came because I need money? How many times do I have to say it?"
Isn't this completely crazy?
The conversation was just nonsensical.
Jung Geum-jeon was dumbfounded.
He stopped in his tracks.
He was very curious about the face of the crazy woman who was bringing a swarm of dung flies.
Jung Geum-jeon turned around and looked at the crazy woman leaning on the counter, troubling the employee.
And he realized.
That the woman wasn't human.
"Bank, robbery. Don't you know? I came to do that now. I'll go play paddy later with that money. I want to paint it blue prettily."
"Wh-What are you..."
"Ah, I'll stop this act. From now on, I can do as I please, right?"
Dozens, hundreds of flies were born and filled the surroundings.
The swarm of flies covered the counter employee and instantly sucked their blood.
Buzz buzz buzz
Jung Geum-jeon was stunned by the surreal sight.
"Well, just take the money yourself. And make fly friends as a bonus. From now on, consider it an honor to become Beelzebub's slave."
☆
Mapo-gu, Luminous Hall.
The Artist Autumn Live Festival was in full swing.
But the festival was flowing in a completely unexpected direction.
♪♬♩♬♭♩
Music could be heard.
To that sound, a cauldron of frenzy was unfolding.
Thump thump thump.
People were shaking their bodies.
Sweat droplets were flying everywhere, coloring the surrounding people with excitement.
The artists on stage were screaming loudly and going wild.
However, only one woman remained completely unshaken amidst the atmosphere of abandoning reason and being faithful to emotions.
"Hmm..."
Rather, the woman snorted and laughed watching the scene unfolding in the audience.
Humans who have lost reason are beasts.
Dogs.
Pigs.
Look at those dog-pigs tangled up there.
Humans who pretended to be noble and expensive on the outside, putting on airs, are now spewing out lust regardless of age or gender.
The woman giggled.
"This place truly can be called a world without distinction between noble and lowly. People born nobly and people born lowly are all going wild just to satisfy their own lust!"
Moreover, even the laws of human society had no effect here.
Married couples who came together are sticking with other people they matched eyes with.
There is no law, no reason.
One person is clinging to several people, and several more people are clinging behind those people.
It's hideously filthy.
Grrrr!!
Eventually, monsters born from their emotions devour humans.
Or stick with humans.
Humans are immersed in pleasure, for whatever reason they find good about it.
Regardless of gender, they are conceiving monsters in their bellies.
Just then, a man climbed onto the stage and approached the woman.
"Woman... It's a woman..."
"You irreverent bastard. If you really want to stick with me, at least make a body and come."
The woman kicked away the man rushing at her with a displeased look.
That was the end.
It was a light kick.
The man's head flew off.
Thud
The man whose neck flew off collapsed.
Humans rushed at the man, saying that was good too.
The man's body is torn to pieces.
It was a terrible sight as humans who couldn't control their lust tried to claim the man for themselves.
It was then.
A singing voice was heard.
Gift
Mode: Diva Siren
Live on!
─Every morning
Becoming a person
Who wants to see me♪
The movements of the humans who heard the singing voice paused for a moment.
They try to regain their reason.
The woman turned her head.
The entrance doors opened, and players were entering.
Five people.
The pink-haired woman standing at the front was singing into a microphone.
"Foolish girls. To think you would try to directly step into this ecstasy."
Seven Devil Lilith.
And the 5-member idol group Pandora Hearts who arrived late to the live festival.
They exerted their aura.
☆
Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Jongno-gu.
Police who received reports of disturbances occurring everywhere were also trying to help players.
But far from helping, they were busy going out of the building and arresting people they saw.
Hitting with batons was basic, and in severe cases they even used firearms.
Kyaaaaaaah!!
People flee in shock.
The police chase after them giggling and spread throughout Seoul.
They drive cars ignoring signals and paralyze Seoul's traffic.
Traffic accidents occur.
Even after causing accidents, as long as their bodies move, the police move like zombies and cause terror.
"The other guys don't seem to have any thoughts... If they're going to cause terror, they should destroy infrastructure that affects social functions, I don't know what they're trying to do acting on their own desires. Well, I guess that's why those guys became new humans."
Seven Devil Mastema.
The young man with piercings, who had the name of a devil that corrupts humans, clicked his tongue.
The handsome youth relaxed in the seat the police chief had been sitting in.
He had already finished brainwashing everyone inside the police agency.
"You can subjugate monsters. But how will you deal with humans? Will there really be manpower to catch those scattered throughout Seoul?"
Mastema shrugged his shoulders.
From now on, public safety will seriously deteriorate and suffer long-term problems.
He got up from his seat.
"The police in charge of traffic should be here too... I guess I should go paralyze traffic."
The terror is just the beginning.
As Samael noisily shouted, it's just their debut day.
They will cause terror nationwide starting with Seoul.
☆
Mammon appeared.
That means other Mines have also started full-scale terror.
I shouldn't just think about that guy.
Terror by the Bears must be occurring throughout Seoul right now.
Eun-ha clicked his tongue.
He knew it would happen someday, but now that terror actually occurred, he became anxious thinking about the many casualties that would occur.
Transformation
Phoenix Wings
Demon-type monsters rushed in.
Their average rank was 5th rank.
Monsters boasting bodies larger than humans, proficient in magic, and capable of aerial combat were quite tricky.
Moreover, with the power of Pandemonium added, their danger level rises at least half a rank.
Average 5th rank overrank.
They appeared all over the National Cemetery, and their numbers kept increasing.
Sonic Wave
Eun-ha, who flew into the air, quickly confirmed the monsters with detection magic.
The current number of monsters that appeared was 26.
Quite a lot have appeared.
It would be difficult even if the players in the National Cemetery fought together.
Considering the increasing numbers, the forces were quite lacking.
Moreover, Eun-ha didn't properly know the skills of the players fighting below.
There were even ordinary people.
Players had to fight while protecting them.
It was then.
Kuaaaaaah!!!
A pure white demon was in the air.
It was casting some magic while shouting.
A sphere forming above its two hands.
Although he couldn't identify the nature of the magic, he could tell that if that sphere fell, the area would be terribly destroyed.
A Blanco Demon?
An annoying one popped out.
Eun-ha identified the monster.
It was a 4th rank Blanco Demon.
Eun-ha immediately flew towards it.
Hamper Wave
First, nullify its magic.
The jamming worked.
It failed to cast.
Not only did it fail.
When the magic that was about to be completed was canceled, the resulting backlash hit it.
The creature was curled up in pain, unable to properly use magic.
Eun-ha didn't miss that moment.
Wubo
Blast Counter
Blaze Crasher
Eun-ha accelerated.
He stimulated the mana scattered in the air as the creature's magic was nullified.
The mana caused a fierce explosion.
The creature was caught in the explosion.
Eun-ha boldly entered the explosion and cut down the Blanco Demon.
Kuooo...
It disappeared without being able to resist.
Eun-ha quickly twisted his body.
He dealt with the most dangerous demon.
He could only hope the other players would somehow counter the rest.
Meanwhile, he would face Mammon.
I have to do something about the Pandemonium first.
As long as that exists, Demon-type monsters will keep appearing.
Demon-type monsters consume a lot of mana in the process of appearing.
So they move individually rather than in groups.
Pandemonium provided an environment where they could move in groups.
So he had to eliminate the environment first.
To eliminate that environment, he had to kill Mammon who caused this situation.
"Tsk, such bad luck. To think that guy would be here of all places."
By then, Mammon had also noticed Eun-ha.
The masked magician deployed magic towards the air.
Multi-casting and 8 incantations.
Eight types of magic circles filled his surroundings.
Even if he could respond to one magic, he would be in a situation where seven magics were aiming at him.
The number of magic circles was 64.
Mammon giggled.
Hamper Wave
But contrary to Mammon's expectations.
The ripples centered on Eun-ha distorted the magic circles.
A considerable number of magic circles were nullified.
"Kuk...! But there are still some left!!"
The backlash of magic comes.
Mammon barely shook off the backlash and activated the remaining magic.
The magic circles emitted light and flew towards Eun-ha.
Wormhole
Eun-ha didn't dodge.
Nor did he block.
A subspace appeared before his eyes, and he immediately jumped into the subspace.
And Eun-ha suddenly appeared behind Mammon.
Blast Cross
Invisible Tracker
Boom boom boom boom boom boom!!!
Magic activated at close range.
Flaming sword strikes burned Mammon.
Mammon screamed in the flames.
Mammon's ability is magic.
But I have the providence of Yegyeong which is advantageous against magic.
Here, synergy effects occur with the addition of Magoo's providence.
That was the reason Eun-ha recklessly charged at Mammon.
Wormhole
Blaze Crasher
Meanwhile, he had marked a ton of coordinates.
Eun-ha opened a subspace.
It wasn't easy to attack him while engulfed in flames.
But Eun-ha could freely attack him using subspace.
Conversely, Mammon, who hadn't marked any coordinates, could only defend.
"Kyaaaaaaah!!"
Mammon screamed.
He was a tough one.
As expected of a Mine.
At first, he took big damage from Eun-ha's attacks, but gradually started to develop resistance.
It was Mammon's characteristic.
He would gain resistance from the second time onwards to magic he had been hit with once.
"You, you...!!"
Furthermore, Mammon broke through the magic.
Escaping from the continuous bombardment, he quickly widened the distance.
The magician's outfit had burned away, revealing a bare body.
It wasn't a human body.
Skin that seemed to be made of steel.
Spreading demonic wings, he flew up gasping for breath.
"Tch, no choice. I'll have to give up on the Pandemonium."
His body was in tatters.
His arm was half torn off, and tissues were scattered in the air.
Mammon had no choice but to return the power that changed the area into a Pandemonium back into his body to recover.
The Pandemonium collapses.
The area returns to normal.
Demon-type monsters lose power and start fleeing in all directions.
Mammon turned his body too.
"I will never forget today's incident."
Mammon growled.
Eun-ha didn't chase after him.
Wormhole
Blast Cross
There were still coordinates left.
Eun-ha poured attacks into the subspace to attack Mammon.
"Cough...!!"
Mammon, who was healing his body, loses balance in the air and falls.
He barely manages to put strength into his wings and flies high into the sky.
Eun-ha clicked his tongue.
"Unless it was Divine Crimson, it seems Blast Cross isn't enough. I want to chase after him, but I can't..."
The situation had become one where time would be consumed fighting Mammon.
Other Mines would be causing terror now too.
He had to stop their terror first.
Eun-ha decided to contact the clan hall to find out the situation in Seoul.
Still, I confirmed that I can deal damage to Mines with my current power.
Meanwhile, Eun-ha felt relieved.
In his previous life, dozens of players had to gather to face one Mine.
The fact that he alone overwhelmed Mammon was a very encouraging achievement.
Though it's probably because Mammon had a bad compatibility with me.
Anyway, he decided to stop the terror of other Mines.
People would not be able to properly respond to the sudden terror.
"Seo-hyeon."
[Is it because of what's happening now? The Mana Management Organization issued a mobilization order, so Pa-rang ajuboni and Han Chang-jin oppa have each been deployed to terror sites. Other clan members have been deployed too.]
Eun-ha called Han Seo-hyeon.
Han Seo-hyeon immediately informed him of what he was curious about.
It was as Eun-ha expected.
Terror by Samael, Abaddon, Lilith, Beelzebub, and Mastema had occurred.
Coincidentally, there were Pandora Clan members at their terror sites.
So Pandora Clan deployed forces to rescue them.
Eun-ha frowned.
So Seo-na is facing Abaddon, Ariel and Ilya are facing Lilith, and Ga-yeon is facing Samael?
This is troublesome...
The Mines clan members were facing were three.
Even prioritizing retreat over repelling, forces were tight to send clan members to three sites.
But it couldn't be helped.
They had to rescue the clan members who encountered Mines even if it was pushing it.
[Yeon-hwa unni just got deployed too. Seems she's going after abandoning her mission.]
"...That's fortunate."
Soon Eun-ha felt relieved hearing that Ryu Yeon-hwa's party was heading straight to the scene.
Han Chang-jin, Jin Pa-rang, Ryu Yeon-hwa.
If those three were deployed dividing the forces, it seemed like it might somehow work out.
"Still, just in case, quickly ask other clans for support too."
[I'm already doing that. Clans with jurisdiction in Seoul are actively moving too, so don't worry.]
"Hah... Okay, I got it. But Seo-hyeon, were there no other terrors?"
[Other terrors? No, 6 is the end. Among them, I heard the National Cemetery terror was thwarted because you were there.]
In the previous life, there were 9 Mines who caused terror.
Even assuming it became 8 in this life with Belphegor's death.
There were still 2 missing.
Armageddon and Agareth.
Even assuming Agareth is gone because the future changed like when they encountered Mines last year, Armageddon is missing.
Armageddon, the leader of the Mines.
Eun-ha focused on his movements.
In the previous life, Armageddon first─
It was then.
Han Seo-hyeon's voice became urgent.
[A report just came in. A new terror was observed in Nowon-gu. According to information, it's an old man leaning on a staff...]
It's Armageddon.
Although the timing was delayed, he caused the same terror in this life too.
"I'll go there. Quickly contact that side."
[Okay, I wish you luck.]
Eun-ha spread his wings.
☆
Zenith Clan Hall, Nowon-gu.
Armageddon was standing in front of the hall leaning on a staff.
The old man emitted an aura fierce enough to make people unconsciously feel fear.
"Who are you to spread your aura in someone else's front yard? Are you perhaps related to those who caused terror?"
""""...."""
This was a clear challenge.
Zenith Clan members sensed the aura and came out armed.
Zenith Clan Lord, Twelve Seat
Sensing an ominous aura, he instinctively knew the opponent couldn't be taken lightly.
"Kkulkkul."
The old man laughed seeing clan members surrounding him in a circle.
"My, my... For the top clan in the country, the players' skills don't seem much to look at. I'm a bit disappointed."
"...Kuh...ack...cough..."
""""...!!""""
The old man tapped the ground with his staff.
Then one person collapsed.
A man clutching his neck fell and floundered.
The man died just like that.
"I merely touched his soul lightly, yet he dies from this..."
Amidst the shocked players.
The old man clicked his tongue.
"Urgh..."
Soon the fallen man got up.
It was necromancy.
Magic that controls souls.
Wariness appeared on people's faces as they witnessed a taboo of mana studies.
Seeing that sight, Ji Yong-hyeon stepped forward.
"What's your purpose for coming?"
"Assessing the opponent's skills and judging you can't rashly face them is quite a good choice. Seong-un taught that kid well."
"...Seong-un? You know my master..."
"What does that matter? The fact that I'm your enemy doesn't change anyway."
"..."
"You asked what my purpose for coming is? I came to check the strength of the clan said to be the strongest in this country. Above all, I wanted to see you."
The old man split his mouth wide.
The intensified aura started suffocating the clan members.
"There are various meanings contained in the alias
"..."
"So you can clearly show the people of the world. How strong the new humans are. Above all─"
─Your deaths will greatly lower the morale of people in the world.
Armageddon chuckled.