147th Episode: The Rabbit and the Hunter
The next morning.
In the dining hall, a table stands between me and Adrang as we sit there. A subtly warm yet razor-sharp atmosphere fills the air.
“…….”
“…….”
For reference, Seop Baek is probably already down in the dungeon by now.
Luci went out to play with the kids from the slums. I sent Seseona along just in case, keeping her close enough so that she wouldn’t go too far. There shouldn’t be any real danger.
After all, Hector Cassas and the rest of the Cassas disciples only act according to meticulous planning. As long as I don’t take any wildcard actions here, they definitely won’t move until the night assault planned for tonight.
This is a fact proven through repeated loops.
“You know more about me than I expected.”
Adequately laid-back personality. Kind of similar to me, if I dare say.
Instinctively, I could tell from the way he went straight to the point as soon as we started talking.
‘Right. Might as well keep things simple.’
I relaxed the tension I had been holding and decided to go all in, as the elaborate feast on the table finally caught my attention.
I took a bite out of the softbread and gasped—surprisingly delicious.
“Mm, I understand a general notion of your intentions, so let me formally introduce myself again.”
“Sure.”
“Knight Ver Schultz, from the 4576th wave of the summoned warriors, the 402,5703rd in the order of summonings. Currently serving as the 13th Cavalier in Markeuteuriseu, also known as ‘Adequate Knight’ or simply ‘Adrang.’ You can call me whatever’s comfortable for you.”
“Ahh, yes….”
I responded vaguely while nodding incessantly.
Fine, whatever your name and status may be—why are you revealing the exact wave? Are you in a marine reunions society or something? Should I salute?
As I pondered my reaction, Adrang chuckled heartily and spoke.
“No intention of showing off. Most warriors were extremely curious to know what order they were summoned in, so it’s purely out of habit.”
“I see.”
I smiled sheepishly, knowing he had read my thoughts.
Nevertheless, with a billion and a few million warriors summoned before me makes you a very distinguished senior indeed, which definitely offers much to learn from. In fact, I’ve already received a lot of help from you.
I aimlessly stirred the fragrant chicken soup.
“By the way, if the 4500th wave reaches the 4 million mark… then the 9999th wave comes to around 160 million? The numbers don’t add up, though.”
“The frequency and numbers of summoned warriors have been exponentially increasing. Especially from my wave onwards… in that short span of 30 years, over a billion warriors have been summoned.”
“I see.”
You were the starting point of the Warrior Baby Boom era then, huh?
As these thoughts crossed my mind, Adrang suddenly blurted out after staring at me intently.
“You’re the final wave, right? The 9999th wave, the 163,417,413th warrior.”
It was a casual tone, but the thin gaze fixed on me carried an undeniable pressure.
It wasn’t just a passing remark. Even a clueless person like me could feel the overt intimidation.
‘But…’
How did he know such a precise warrior number?
It’s a nine-digit figure. I’d stumble saying it myself without referring to the status window.
“Adrang-sama. Did you conduct a background check on me before?”
“That’s right.”
Surprisingly, Adrang readily admitted it. I let out a low whistle.
‘Damn it. That’s why you’ve been so suspicious of me.’
Having completed his investigation, he likely already knew my history—everything, including the fact that there was no chance for me to have revealed any of the insights I gained from my previous life about the Cassas and the Resurrection Sect.
Not only that, but I was aware of something else.
What’s more, a guy already suspecting me pops up and blurts out something like this:
—As it turns out, I’m the contract holder of the Immortal Demon King. Time resets when I die. At any rate, Hector Cassas is a jerk. We’ve gotta kill him. Anyway!
Spitting these grievances out without any context.
A Porsche 911-level zero-to-sixty acceleration—it lacked any persuasiveness, and naturally, my intentions were questioned.
Though I understood the injustice of my previous death, I still couldn’t accept it.
“Jung Yong. I have immense interest in you.”
Adrang, apparently deciding there was no need to hide anymore, began to emanate more intense pressure throughout his demeanor.
“Ah… is that so?”
While in my position handling top-secret matters regarding Luci, I’d rather not attract anyone’s interest.
This guy’s attention is something I don’t need when it matters but comes uninvited when it doesn’t.
“Did you know? The summoning of warriors has completely ceased.”
Just as I let out a casual snort, Adrang continued.
Somehow, the conversation had veered into an unexpected direction that touched on something I couldn’t overlook.
“…Pardon?”
“You were the last. The 9999th summoning ceremony has ended. So now, the 10,000th summoning should have started by now, but no summonings have been detected anywhere. They’ve been completely cut off.”
“Ah, I see.”
“All the warrior trial sites currently sit idle. It’s an unprecedented phenomenon, as far as my memory goes.”
Even someone like me, with little interest in the world’s affairs, couldn’t help but pay attention to this.
As if sensing my intent focus, Adrang leaned forward with a faint smile at the corner of his lips.
“I’ve been wondering, Jung Yong.”
“What about?”
“The summoning of the Demon King hasn’t stopped. Even now, Demon Kings are being summoned somewhere in the world without interruption.”
“That’s true.”
Exactly today, in CrossFade, the summoning of the Demon King is planned.
I suppressed a wry smile as those words came to mind.
“So, why has the previously smooth warrior summoning suddenly halted?”
After I closed my mouth, Adrang murmured on without pause.
Countless questions poured out, none of which I could answer.
“Did somebody from the 9999 waves tinker with the system? Or has the side of the lesser deities judged it sufficient by now? Or, perhaps, a specific condition has been met?”
At that point, Adrang donned a significant smile.
The furrowed creases on his brow flexed in line with his smile.
“That’s right. A condition has been met—a condition rendering further warrior summoning unnecessary.”
And Adrang raised his fork, pointing it at me.
While staring at me as if he were about to impale me, he spoke.
“I believe it’s you, Park Jung Yong.”
“… What…”
This logic unfolded so abruptly that my brain nearly froze.
The sensation of my brain getting sliced into pieces prompted me to furrow my brow deeply. I immediately raised my hand and questioned hastily.
“Could you explain why you believe so?”
“Because you’re the only warrior who received a ‘special privilege’ from the lesser deities.”
“Special privilege…?”
Hold on a moment.
How does this gentleman know I received a damn special privilege from those guys?
Special skills are all passive and aren’t visually noticeable.
Items like Izanami’s Heart or the Box of the Dead are visible only to me.
“The most obvious would be… your Vestark and Eter flask?”
However, dark double-bladed swords with that sort of black blade are everywhere in this world. The red script flowing on its surface is only visible to me, as older brother Suho mentioned.
The potion is certainly rare and could catch attention, but not to the extent where it’s the only one in existence. It’s rather awkward to be suspected on this basis alone. So, how did he spot something?
While I involuntarily stiffened my expression, Adrang waved a hand, as if telling me not to pretend anymore.
“The egg of the Immortal Demon King, am I right? Surely you didn’t expect me to not know?”
“… Ahh, right.”
Yeah. Now that I think about it, I did receive that. In fact, that was the main dish.
As I nodded, my gaze towards Adrang narrowed.
‘This guy already knew all that.’
Am I such a well-known figure among the higher-ups? Or is his determination to purge witches that strong?
Based on past experiences from my previous life, probably the latter.
‘If I said I received it, that would be accurate—it’s more like timing coincided.’
Thinking about the shock and terror I experienced, thanks to the damnable Immortal Demon King, makes me sigh again.
While I was grinding my teeth mentally, Adrang leaned in closer, his eyes gleaming with overt curiosity.
“Could you show it to me?”
“Ah, no, that’s not possible.”
“……”
Maybe I rejected too abruptly? Adrang’s expression stiffened slightly.
… Should I at least pretend to deliberate?
“Oh. No, it’s not that.”
Seeing Adrang’s expression, it seems I might’ve been misunderstood somewhat.
It’s not that I don’t trust you and refuse to show you—it’s simply that I can’t show it to you. Since the egg has already hatched and the creature is walking around freely.
“Hyaa! Warrior! You’re over here!”
Speak of the devil.
Just as the person who should not have appeared entered abruptly, flung open the dining hall doors, and revealed himself— the former Demon King’s Egg.
With a big, toothy smile plastered on his face, it seems he just achieved some grand victory in a battle with the village kids.
“No doubt. The kid with the nosebleed story, laying out the tale of his prowess in beating a demon king’s physical manifestation.”
Just as he was about to boast about it, he caught sight of Adrang mid-step and stopped dead in his tracks.
“… Huh?”
The beaming smile on his face froze solid, adopting a defensive stance.
Luci glared at Adrang with suspicion.
“So. What are you doing here, old man?”
“Old man? Watch your mouth, brat.”
“Old man is old man. Should I call you Big Brother?”
“That’s true, but…”
As usual, they had a small spat, and I sighed deeply.
Luci openly glared at Adrang with a suspicious eye.
“So, what are you doing here, old man?”
“Old man here… Hmph! Adequate, this is my house. Why question the homeowner?”
“Ah.”
Instinctively wary of strong warriors due to her nature as a demon king, Luci evidently bore hostility toward Adrang.
In contrast, Adrang looked at Luci and me alternately, wearing a baffled expression.
“I’ve been meaning to ask. Who is this fine lady, exactly?”
“That… she is the essence of the special privilege.”
I was straightforward in my response.
This moment was exceptionally tense, memories of my past life with Adrang flooding back, accompanied by the ever-present red death character flickering in my mind.
Adrang’s previously relaxed eyes dilated then rounded comically in disbelief.
“What?”
“This is the egg of the Immortal Demon King. She’s the Immortal Demon King now.”
Our eyes simultaneously focused on Luci.
I gestured with my fingers to beckon her closer. With wide eyes, Luci came closer, though hesitantly.
Swiftly, I pulled off the tiara covering her head and the shawl draped over her shoulders.
“Yyy!”
Luci emitted a peculiar yelp and flinched.
Two sharp, hand-sized wings and three horns made their appearance.
“… That’s…!”
Adrang jumped to his feet, wide-eyed and flabbergasted.
The tension in the room was palpable. Despite the awkwardness, Luci defiantly crossed her arms.
“Ruthika… no. Luci. Hmm!”
She appeared eager to self-promote.
The situation seemed to get awkward. Quickly, I stepped closer to Luci and whispered, “Do something cute. Do it now if you don’t want to die!”
Luci, upon seeing the urgency in my face, seemed to grasp the situation immediately and began flustered.
“Uh… de, deh?”
She quickly formed a double peace sign with her fingers, forcing herself into a strained but bright smile.
