BXBX NOVEL Chapter 578: Demon Contractor (2)
Chapter 578: Demon Contractor (2)
“Do… Dodge it!”
Craaaackkk!
Cruuuussshhhh!
The bone-made thorns filled the place, spreading out without any form or pattern whatsoever.
Several roaring sounds scraped against the walls and charged forward to penetrate everything in sight. Everyone present bore witness to its colossal size.
The demon contractors scattered around to escape with their faces crumpled, but one couldn’t escape and was swept away.
“Cough… Cough…”
I naturally frowned while looking at him. He survived even though he continued to spit blood.
However, it seemed that he couldn’t move anymore.
How could he still be alive when there were quite a few big holes in his arms, legs, and torso?
No other thought came in except that he was too perseverant.
‘I guess I can’t use the common-grade plague… Can I even classify them as humans?’
As I thought it would be better to prepare an attack that melted their bodies, and as I hurried to cast the spell, faintly visible ghosts began to cover my surroundings. I could only use the Doom state about three hours a day, but its combat power wasn’t bad. I thought it was only proper to use it at such a crucial point.
Of course, it didn’t mean there were no penalties about this at all.
‘Are they only killable by high-purity divine power?’
That was why they were extremely wary of the Bomb of Light potions, and I couldn’t kill them using normal methods. Given the atmosphere, wouldn’t it be possible for them to move their bodies even without their heads?
‘I have no choice but to ensure fighting would be impossible for them.’
Just giving them wounds didn’t have much of an effect.
‘Their number is around forty, maybe more…’
That didn’t include those who were pushed to consume the Bomb of Light and those who couldn’t get in where we were. In short, there were about forty people that made a contract with the demon.
No, about fifty people… It seemed that all of those that temporarily acquired the legendary grade’s power were from the upper level as well.
‘More than three people among them…’
They could be classified as leaders.
‘It’s unfavorable to us in terms of power.’
I had one Bomb of Light potion remaining, and my guards could be classified as high-ranking on the continent, but our opponents were monsters that knew nothing of death. Even if we could overwhelm them with our combat experience, there was no guarantee that nothing would go wrong.
The trickiest part about this was the fact that we were outnumbered.
Considering their ability to transform the troops outside and even their own bodies into high-ranking undead, we would be the ones to feel the physical burden first.
‘This is a mud fight.’
We had to get out of the besieged situation somehow.
They were analyzing power just like I did in the premises, which was briefly lulled into becoming a bone tomb, and when they saw the mask slowly covering my face, I saw them biting their lips.
“You finally revealed your true color, you filthy swindler!”
“Shut up, demon contractors! The Vice Guild Master is different from those of you who have chosen to make a deal with the demon yourselves!”
“We’re not strong enough… I’m sorry, Vice Guild Master.”
‘It seems like she’s defending me too passionately…’
The guards, including Park Li-ahn, already knew about my Doom Kiyoung state.
And they knew the penalties that the change would bring. Looking at the atmosphere…
‘They seem to think it’s because of them.’
They probably thought that the reason why I changed my class right at that moment was because of them. I was a bit puzzled, but I could understand why they thought so.
We were actually in danger, and if they dragged time using common methods, there was a possibility that casualties would occur even within them.
I wasn’t really aiming for it, but I had to take the necessary countermeasures. I staggered while slightly grasping my mask that automatically covered my face. Upon seeing this, Park Li-ahn immediately worried about me.
“Vice… Vice Guild Master!”
“It’s fine. I just had a headache for a moment.”
“But…”
“For now, let’s just think about getting out of this place. You don’t have to think about anything else. We’re leaving this place without a single person left behind.”
“I will risk my life to protect you.”
‘I’m telling you there’s no need to do that.’
However, I liked that motivation. Even the tears in her eyes were true.
I thought there was no way she would show her emotions, but it seemed that she had more sensibility deep inside than I thought.
If she reacted like that just with that, in the first Doom Kiyoung incident…
‘She must have wept aloud…’
Looking at her at that moment, I could see her suffering. Even the other members were also quite agitated.
‘I’m glad I always take care of my reputation.’
There was also someone spouting unnecessary words. It was unusual enough, considering that she didn’t usually talk much.
‘Kang Eun-hye?’
She was born on the continent just like Kim Ye-ri, and after she lost her parents in the war against the Republic, she was selected as a bodyguard. She had so much talent and achievement that she made the current Blue Youth Program happen.
So to speak, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that she thought of Kim Hyunsung and me as her parents. If it weren’t for the Blue Guild, she probably would’ve been sold to a slave market.
Eun-hye was very loyal because she knew it best, and she was the one I didn’t remove during the process of reducing the number of my bodyguards.
Still, she didn’t talk much after joining the guards.
Honestly, that was my first time seeing her utilizing such a loud voice.
“You guys are also being deceived. Wake up and take a closer look at him. I mean, open your eyes and see if that’s really what you’re trying to protect.”
“Shut up, you dirty bastards…”
“You were brainwashed. He’s just keeping you close because he thinks you guys are easy to tame.”
“You guys are the ones that have been brainwashed by the demon summoner, you traitors. Lee Kiyoung is the savior of the continent and a great man who will lead the new era. He is the benefactor who accepted and nurtured us that had nowhere to go. He will never be treated the same as you guys. Look at him still torturing himself to protect the continent. How can you say that even while witnessing all this? All you have to do is open your eyes, you reactionaries! These reactionary bastards… I will kill you all. I’ll kill you all!”
“…”
“We apologize for not being strong enough, Vice Guild Master…”
Since the guards’ average age was young, they seemed to be easily agitated by this situation.
I felt a bit guilty, and I had no choice but to fiddle with the mask.
“This is your last warning, poor beings… If you throw away your weapon and leave right now, we’ll spare you.”
“Shut up, you maggots! We’ll end up dying together here with the Vice Guild Master!”
‘I don’t intend to die. I really don’t.’
“Kill them! Cut that filthy scammer’s head off! The time has come for the continent’s safety and the revenge of the soldiers to be gained! The desire of the Order must be quenched!”
“Vice Guild Master!”
“There is no need to panic. And there is no need to be agitated. Just think about getting out of this place while maintaining the shield firmly. The possibility of us succeeding is still high enough. Don’t force yourself outside the barrier and keep the shield up even when you see a chance to counterattack. Even if the enemy made a contract with a demon to obtain cursed power, they’re not used to it yet.”
“As you wish!”
“I believe in you all.”
“…”
“…”
“Yes, sir.”
“Protect the Chairman!”
“Don’t make even one of the enemies’ fingers touch him! Remember what our job is!”
“Come! Demon contractors!”
“Die! Motherfuckers!”
“Protect him! Protect him!”
“Break the shield! Unleash everything you’ve got! Destroy all of those stupid bones!”
Craaashh!
Baaaaaaaanng!
‘This is even tougher than I thought.’
There was a limit to the shield and the bones that blocked the magic power attacking from all directions. In the meantime, a plague ghost began to hug one of Jin Qing’s remnants.
“Ahhhhhhhhh!”
Along with that sound, I saw the guy melting in an instant.
I thought that the effect was pretty good, but how could he still shoot arrow steadily in the midst of that?
They moved a little more carefully as if they were aware of the invisible ghost, but nothing changed that much. I had summoned a giant tentacle to wrap around one, but support came in quickly, and the tentacle failed to gain favorable results.
Of course, the plague hidden in it penetrated his respiratory system, but…
‘It’ll take some time before that one dies… Fuck, there’s definitely a difference in firepower from when Belial was with me.’
I thought I had reduced the power difference a lot over the past time, but it still wasn’t enough.
Due to us being outnumbered, the guards also gradually stepped back, and that reaction forced me to look after them more and more. I raised my hand and sent support with bones and tentacles a couple of times, and since I was keeping the general defense up, they didn’t collapse, but…
‘This is dangerous.’
No one with me would disagree that it was a situation that could become fatal with a small mistake. It would be nice if the three ‘siblings’ Park, Ki, and Lee, whom I hadn’t seen in a year, would come out like the clichés in ordinary movies.
However, such a movie-like event most likely wouldn’t happen, and as I looked toward the exit without knowing, I saw someone popping out.
“Huh?”
‘And that imagination became reali-‘
It turned out to be Cho Hyejin holding a spear.
‘Why are you here?’
I couldn’t help but look at her swinging her spear in a motion that I couldn’t even understand properly.
She looked like a general from the Three Kingdoms. Despite being surrounded by enemies, she wielded her spear in a way that secured space and stabbed at her foes accurately.
Arrows and swords were trying to put an end to her, but she dodged and deflected them all using her long weapon. The enemy’s attack with a spear from behind was dodged by using the spear as leverage. She then evaded the attack that was sent upward by momentarily twisting her body.
‘I thought that Park, Ki, and Lee would only do the labor movement and revolution…’
She wasn’t fast like Kim Hyunsung or had tremendous muscle strength like Cha Hee-ra.
She showed the ultimate skill that the ordinary premier, who failed to become a genius, could display and talent that couldn’t be explained with her stats. She made me feel as if I was watching a martial arts movie.
After one jump, she immediately landed in front of me. After that, she spoke with a voice with a different atmosphere from usual.
“Are you okay?”
“Hyejin… Why are you here?”
“I asked first, Vice Guild Master. Are you really okay?”
‘Alright… thanks for worrying. Hyejin, you’re the best.’
“Sigh… Yes… I-I’m fine.”
“I don’t think you look fine. We should get out of here as fast as possible. Ms. Park Li-ahn.”
“Yes, Chief.”
“Just take care of the safety of the Vice Guild Master. I will open a path.”
“Copy that.”
She even caught an arrow that had come flying with her bare hand.
‘Nuna, really… why are you so cool?’
She reminded me of Kim Hyunsung, whom I couldn’t see anywhere.
‘You’re making my heart beat, Hyejin.’