“Fuck.”
Strange.
It was a very strange day.
“Why did I forget Seo Young-ho…?”
The personnel check was off, and nothing was going right today.
It felt as if I was possessed by something.
“Let’s focus for now.”
I had to pay attention to other things.
I couldn’t waste time on trivial matters.
As soon as Choi Ji-hoon went outside the barracks, he shouted in a loud voice.
“Everyone assemble immediately! We’re going to do a personnel check again, hurry!”
One thought was running through his mind.
‘Please, let it be nothing.’
He just hoped it was a mishap and waited for the personnel to gather quickly.
A moment later.
“Everyone is here. Captain Choi Ji-hoon!”
The subordinate officer’s voice was heard.
“Mm. Good.”
Choi Ji-hoon looked at the hunters and quickly performed the personnel check.
“One, two, three, four…”
The problem was elsewhere.
“…Twenty-two.”
The total number of personnel should have been twenty-one, but the actual number was still twenty-two.
I wished the status board the subordinate officer submitted was wrong…
I checked again, but unfortunately, the number of personnel was indeed twenty-two.
“Haa…”
This time, Choi Ji-hoon scanned the faces of all the hunters.
After all, I just needed to find Seo Young-ho’s face.
“……”
I definitely thought that.
But Seo Young-ho’s appearance was nowhere to be seen.
“Fuck! I’m going crazy.”
The hunters were startled by Choi Ji-hoon’s sudden curse.
But Choi Ji-hoon wouldn’t stop there.
“Everyone, take out your Hunter IDs!”
Choi Ji-hoon was the captain leading the patrol.
Even if he didn’t know what was going on, he had to follow the orders of his superiors.
The hunters took out their Hunter IDs and held them out.
“Uh… Captain, I’m sorry. I forgot my Hunter ID and left it behind…?”
Among them, there was an individual without a Hunter ID.
Choi Ji-hoon looked at the person.
“Tell me your name and rank!”
Then he quickly drew a pistol from his waist.
It was a magic gun operated by mana.
Choi Ji-hoon aimed the gun at the person without a Hunter ID.
Everyone around was surprised when their captain suddenly drew a gun.
“C-Captain?”
“What on earth are you doing?!”
What on earth was this situation?
“Hurry up and tell me your name and rank!”
When Choi Ji-hoon spoke loudly again, the person quickly opened his mouth.
“C-Rank Hunter, Kang Seong-woo!”
But Choi Ji-hoon’s gun continued to aim at him.
“Um… Captain…?”
Kang Seong-woo, who had just revealed his name and rank, called out to Choi Ji-hoon in a trembling voice.
“Why are you really doing this…”
He was almost crying as he spoke.
Still, Choi Ji-hoon’s gun barrel did not move away from him.
Choi Ji-hoon continued to look at Kang Seong-woo.
“Why didn’t you bring your Hunter ID?”
Normally, a hunter would always carry their Hunter ID.
But no Hunter ID?
It was very suspicious in the current situation.
“Everyone listen carefully! There is a non-human among us!”
Perhaps his words were the starting point.
All the hunters looked at each other, gradually distancing themselves.
Everyone’s gaze was most focused on one person, Kang Seong-woo, who lacked a Hunter ID.
“No… why is everyone like this…”
Kang Seong-woo said in a desperate voice, but the others didn’t pay attention.
Choi Ji-hoon especially approached Kang Seong-woo slowly.
At first, he only intended to threaten him.
But Choi Ji-hoon saw it.
He saw Kang Seong-woo’s neck twist momentarily.
‘Huh?’
It wasn’t just turning his head; his neck was literally twisted in a bizarre direction.
How should I put it?
Like something not human?
Although it happened in a brief moment, Choi Ji-hoon didn’t hesitate.
His appearance a moment ago was too creepy.
*Bang-*
Blue mana burst from the magic gun Choi Ji-hoon was holding.
*Bang-*
The mana shot from the gun hit Kang Seong-woo’s head precisely.
“Cough!”
Kang Seong-woo died instantly with a short scream.
One of the most suspicious hunters was gone.
But Choi Ji-hoon could not relax.
He aimed his gun at another hunter next to him.
“Name and rank!”
Just as the other hunter was about to say something.
Choi Ji-hoon saw another strange sight.
The corner of the opponent’s mouth subtly raised.
It was a smirk.
Why would he smile at a time like this?
It was a chilling smile.
This time, it was certain.
That person was not a hunter.
*Bang-*
*Bang-*
Two rapid gunshots echoed consecutively.
“Cough…”
As before, one hunter collapsed, spitting blood.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
Choi Ji-hoon aimed his gun at another person again.
*Bang-*
This time, there was no hesitation.
He just pulled the trigger.
Then he aimed his gun at another person.
*Bang-*
By this point, others were also agitated.
*Bang-*
“The captain has gone mad! Everyone, stop him!”
Everyone brought out their equipment and tried to respond.
But Choi Ji-hoon was a B-Rank Hunter.
The problem was that he wasn’t just a B-Rank, but a B-Rank close to A-Rank.
Furthermore, he was a hunter with the skill to be captain of the patrol.
“Hold him for now!”
Even if they combined their strength, they were at best D-Rank or C-Rank hunters.
There were no B-Rank hunters except for the captain.
*Bang-*
Therefore, it was urgent to block Choi Ji-hoon’s attack right now.
But another problem arose.
Choi Ji-hoon, feeling the limitations of the magic gun, drew his sword.
“……”
It didn’t take long.
Choi Ji-hoon who kept swinging his sword.
When he came to his senses, the surroundings were splattered with red blood.
“Ah…”
What was happening right now.
“I…”
My hands trembled.
My whole body trembled.
“What did I do…”
I suddenly acted like I had lost my mind.
The result was that the area around the dungeon became a sea of blood.
Choi Ji-hoon looked around with dazed eyes.
But he discovered something strange.
“Huh?”
The blood was scattered everywhere, but there were few bodies.
And then something alien caught his eye.
“Liquid?”
A liquid that glowed blue.
The liquid moved slightly and took on a shape.
“…Slime.”
There was no doubt that it was a slime.
But why was a slime here?
Choi Ji-hoon stared blankly at the slime.
The blue slime approached the remaining bodies.
Then it began to absorb them.
“……”
Choi Ji-hoon couldn’t keep up with what was happening because too many things had occurred.
He could only stare blankly at the slime.
At that moment of bewilderment, the slime noticed Choi Ji-hoon’s gaze and turned around.
The slime soon began to approach him.
Choi Ji-hoon’s hand holding the weapon tensed.
An ordinary slime is not a very dangerous monster.
But the slime in front of him was somehow different.
Choi Ji-hoon’s mind was sending out danger signals.
“……”
But the slime stopped after approaching a certain distance.
Perhaps that was a relief.
Just as he was about to catch his breath.
The slime’s body began to twist.
“Uh…”
At the same time, the slime started to change its form.
It took on a human shape.
“…Subordinate officer?”
Choi Ji-hoon called out to his subordinate officer.
His subordinate officer was present before his eyes.
To be precise, the slime had transformed into the appearance of his subordinate officer.
And the slime in the form of the subordinate officer opened its mouth.
“Kick.”
It was an obvious smirk.
“Captain Choi Ji-hoon? Since when did you have a subordinate officer?”
Huh?
What was this being in front of him saying?
Since when did I have a subordinate officer?
I originally had a subordinate officer under me…
“Uh…?”
Choi Ji-hoon expressed his confusion.
Come to think of it, something was off.
Yes, I definitely had a subordinate officer assigned to me.
Definitely… the subordinate officer…
Who was the subordinate officer?
Why can’t I remember his name?
Choi Ji-hoon’s mind was filled with a series of questions.
While he was agonizing alone.
The slime turned towards the dungeon and said.
“As expected, the administrator’s skill is amazing, isn’t it?”
The closed dungeon door opened.
Ghouls began to emerge from beyond the door.
*Viiiiiing-*
A siren sound echoed, and monsters emerged, but there were no hunters guarding this place.
“Hahaha, I have merely received the grace of the Great One.”
And from among the group of ghouls, a being slowly walked out.
It was Incubus Azmo.
* * *
Ghouls began to emerge from the dungeon.
Incubus Azmo was present among the horde of ghouls.
His appearance was like a jewel shining even in the darkness, with masculine elegance and charisma.
The sharp horns extending above his head indicated his strength.
He had a well-groomed appearance, and his beautiful muscles were clearly visible.
His face was sharp, with clear features.
His eyes contained not only intelligence but also deep insight, making him seem to hold infinite wisdom and secrets.
With a slightly lecherous smile, he radiated confidence and dangerous charm in all directions.
Azmo looked around the outside of the dungeon.
The surroundings had turned into a sea of blood.
It was a sweet sight.
“As expected, Administrator Azmo’s skill is amazing, isn’t it?”
The being standing amidst the sea of blood spoke to Azmo.
It was his subordinate officer, Betta.
He was originally a slime, but now he wore a human form.
As expected, he was a master of transformation.
Azmo replied to Betta’s words.
“I have merely received the grace of the Great One.”
Azmo smiled.
“I received the grace of the Master and acquired a new skill.”
It was ‘Distorted Charm.’
In the past, I took an Incubus bestowed by the Master.
It was the first time I took one of my own kind, so I felt a little resistant, but the result was that I became stronger.
[Distorted Charm]
Now I can charm not only the opposite sex but also the same sex.
Of course, the effect was extremely minimal compared to the opposite sex.
However, it was enough to cause appropriate cognitive impairment and confusion in the opponent, as it is now.
Azmo looked down at his hands.
Certainly, he was becoming stronger.
Much has happened since then.
In the beginning, I was simply the master of a small Incubus Dungeon.
I was a very ordinary master managing an ordinary dungeon.
“When did it start…”
Yes, it was probably from that day.
The day Celia-nim first descended and helped me.
Celia-nim had truly amazing power.
She could disable hunters who invaded the dungeon with just a wave of her hand.
Azmo was greatly shocked by that sight.
I want to have that power too.
Primitive desire rose in his heart.
Until now, he had pursued external beauty rather than powerful strength.
This was natural for the Incubus race.
But seeing Celia’s appearance caused a significant shift in Azmo’s thinking.
The ultimate beauty.
Of course, that was valid.
But true beauty flowed from strength.
Yes, I want to have that strong power too.
Beauty without strength is simply swallowed by its surroundings.
Strong power is beauty itself.
Even though our races were different, he had a strong desire to serve under the great being named Celia.
But Celia-nim said.
– I am merely a servant who follows the Great One.
Even Celia, who showed such great power, had someone she followed.
‘How great a being could that be…’
From that day on, Azmo’s perspective opened up.
But Azmo’s surprise didn’t end there.
He was shocked again by the beings who descended into the dungeon after Celia.
Death Knight and Lich.
He felt reverence for them sending such strong beings so casually.
And the surprise didn’t end there.
Azmo witnessed a miracle.
He saw the Lich transcend into an Arch Lich before his eyes.
‘Ah, a miracle happened before me.’
At that moment, tears flowed from Azmo’s eyes.
And he set a goal.
He wanted to be reborn as an even more powerful being.
To do that, he needed to receive the grace of the Great One.
To receive the grace of the Great and Noble Master, one thing was needed.
‘Celia-nim said it herself.’
– Act for the Master and spread the Master’s will throughout the world.
Then, someday, the Master would bestow grace upon me.
‘Spread the Master’s will throughout the world…’
The Master’s will was easy to guess.
By summarizing what Celia-nim said immediately, I could reach one conclusion.
“The world will kneel before the Master.”
And it would start with Azmo’s own hands.
“My children!”
Azmo shouted to the Incubi.
“And you who have returned from death!”
He also shouted to the Ghouls.
“Go! Go and show the Master’s will!”
The Ghouls and Incubi began to move according to Azmo’s command.
Behind them.
*Clang-*
*Thump- Thump-*
The Arch Lich and the Death Knight began to follow.
It was the beginning of a Monster Wave.
“Th-This is impossible…”
And there was the only human who had witnessed the current scene from the beginning, namely patrol captain Choi Ji-hoon.
“Hahaha…”
A knight of death armed with black armor and a sword.
And an undead mage who had forgotten even death.
Choi Ji-hoon could only laugh at the current scene.
“There is no answer to this…”
No, perhaps humanity never had hope in the first place.
Choi Ji-hoon pointed the sword in his hand towards his own throat.
Today was really a day where nothing went right.
Still, if one thing went right.
At least the end could be decided by his own hand.
His hand gripping the sword tightened.
*Thwack-*