After Ten Millennia in Hell

Black light flickered around Oh Kang-Woo's middle finger. He looked down at his black ring, which was vibrating subtly.

'It's been like this for a while now.'

After fulfilling one of the conditions for Chaos, the advanced quest of Road to Becoming a Demon God, the Key of the Demonic Sea had begun to change.

He didn't know if the digestion of the Hell Armament was about to be complete or if there was another reason, but the Key of the Demonic Sea, which had remained dormant for a while, had started to show some changes.

'Well, I guess it's a good thing.'

Although he didn't need a weapon, being unable to use Transcendent-grade equipment that could ease the burden of using numerous Authorities simultaneously was unfortunate.

'I'm also curious… about what this thing is.'

Kang-Woo looked down at the Key of the Demonic Sea. It was a convenient weapon that could change into any shape. Although it had some limits, it could replicate the power of weapons made through merging Authorities.

Not only that…

'It's a weapon… that eats Hell Armaments.'

Hell Armaments represented the power of the princes of Hell. If all seven of those transcendental weapons gathered, they could easily tear open a Rift between dimensions and bend space and time.

"… I wonder what it'll become."

The secret behind why the Key of the Demonic Sea could devour Hell Armaments could possibly be more important than the Road to Becoming a Demon God quest. After all, the demonic energy within the Hell Armaments could not even be eaten by the Authority of Predation.

"Well, whatever the case…"

There was nothing he could do at the moment but wait for results.

Kang-Woo stopped giving the Key of the Demonic Sea any more attention and grabbed a cup of coffee.

Just then…

Knock, knock.

"Darling?"

When he turned his head toward the opening door, he saw Lilith smiling in the doorway.

She bowed and entered the room.

"What's up?"

"I have come to report what I had learned by interrogating Jason."

Lilith handed Kang-Woo several documents. It was a list of names of politicians and billionaires from all over the world who had been involved in the Valencia incident. Most were Americans, but there were also influential figures from other countries.

"That's a lot."

"It seems there have been many people dissatisfied with Guardians' quick rise in power."

"I bet. It's a bit too much power for one organization to have."

It was only obvious, considering a group made up of Players possessed enough power surpassing some countries, to be able to influence the entire world.

"But," Kang-Woo continued as he handed the documents back to her. "We need this much power, at the very least, to prepare for what's ahead."

No, they needed even more power to defend against the imminent invasion of the outer worlds.

"Hoho." Lilith smiled. She bowed and said, "There is no need to worry. I will make it so that this world bows down to you, my king."

"I don't want or need anything like that."

Kang-Woo shook his head in disapproval. He hated hassles; the one that the world should be bowing down to needed to be Guardians, or more specifically, Kim Si-Hun. Although Kang-Woo had appointed Si-Hun to be the figurehead, he couldn't just play around behind the shadows either.

'I feel like I'm moving further away from my dream.'

To illustrate that point, he was stuck looking over documents as soon as he had woken up. He sighed as he felt himself getting further away from his dream of becoming a wealthy bum. If it were up to him, he'd just spend the entire day flirting with his darling.

"What's the status in Valencia?" Kang-Woo asked.

"Si-Hun is cleaning up the entire city with the Sirius Corps. He captured a bulk of Guardians Players that had laid their hands on the natives, and they will be undergoing trial in a month's time."

"It'd be difficult to secure evidence, though."

There weren't many crime prevention measures, such as CCTV cameras, in place yet in Valencia. If the issue went to court, many Players would get away scot-free due to lack of evidence. Whatever they were charged with, it was easy to claim one's innocence if there was no evidence for their crimes to be backed up with.

"Hoho. The victims' tears are evidence enough."

Lilith smiled widely. Even if she had to fabricate evidence, she was planning on winning the case.

Kang-Woo smiled bitterly and nodded.

"Then give this list to Si-Hun too."

The public leaders of Guardians were Grace McCubbin and Si-Hun. There was a need for Si-Hun himself to punish the culprits for his influence and for public awareness of him to rise even higher.

'As well as molding the press so that the public would be fine with the culprits receiving harsher sentences.'

He had to make them fear Si-Hun so they wouldn't dare to do something like that again.

'I guess I'll be busy for a while again.'

Kang-Woo had to do some things of his own while Si-Hun cracked down on the influential figures that had been involved in the Valencia incident.

'I'll have to make rules.'

He had to do the things that he'd been putting off.

If it were up to him, he'd make cruel and unbending rules like those he'd established in Hell, but he wasn't in Hell anymore, so he couldn't implement such rules.

'I should get other people to help me.'

Gaia had said that she would make the rules herself, blaming herself for her indolence after Si-Hun had told her about the incident. However, there was no way that a girl who could just barely lead a group of ten individuals would be proficient in making rules for such a massive organization.

As for Kang-Woo, he had gotten used to the rules of Hell, so he was having a hard time drawing a line. He was in desperate need of help from others.

'I should ask Wuchen and Yeon-Joo.'

Although the groups led by Tian Wuchen and Cha Yeon-Joo weren't as large as Guardians, they had the know-how after having led large groups for so long.

"And… there is one more thing I have to report."

"Hm? Besides this?" Kang-Woo asked as he tilted his head.

"Yes. I have found… traces of demonic energy in the downtown area of Seoul."

"… What?"

Kang-Woo narrowed his eyes.

"Although the traces themselves are very faint… judging by how widespread they are, it seems that whatever is leaving behind the demonic energy is going around the entire city."

"Mm."

Kang-Woo crossed his arms.

Traces of demonic energy had been found in downtown Seoul. Now that the Demon Cult had completely broken apart, there weren't many things that could leave such traces.

"I guess a demonic beast must've escaped from a Gate."

"Yes, I believe so as well."

Beings of the Nine Hells have occasionally crossed into the Gates ever since the Gaia System's defensive mechanisms have been broken.

Demonic beasts like the Hellhound had been categorized as variant monsters that didn't have mana stones among Players. It was highly likely that one of such demonic beasts had managed to come out of a Gate.

'Demonic beasts coming out of Gates have pretty much become a common occurrence.'

He'd received similar reports quite a few times. If it had just been about the traces of demonic energy, Lilith wouldn't have bothered to report it to Kang-Woo.

'Meaning, the locations of said traces must be the problem.'

If a demonic beast wandered around downtown Seoul, there would be a high risk of there being many civilian casualties.

Seoul was where Si-Hun lived. The Hall of Protection was located in Washington DC, so Seoul was the city that Guardians paid most attention to after it. Kang-Woo honestly couldn't care less if people he didn't know died out, but a commotion in Seoul at a time like this would be bad.

"I guess we should deal with it," Kang-Woo mentioned.

"Fufu. In that case, I will personally take care of it."

"Please."

Si-Hun was in Valencia, and Kang-Woo had to discuss appropriate rules to place with Gaia, Yeon-Joo, and others. Having Lilith take care of it personally was the best course of action. She was exceptional in terms of searching, so she would be able to hunt down and kill the demonic beast in a flash.

"Understood, please leave it to me," Lilith replied with a smile.

She clenched her fists while snorting as if she were Echidna.

Kang-Woo smiled bitterly.

'This is why I can't come to hate her.'

To be honest, he still wanted to keep his distance from her because of her hideous appearance, which he would never be able to get used to, but he couldn't do that because of things like this.

"Fufu. Will you go on a trip with me again if I manage to resolve this issue without a hitch?"

"…!"

Kang-Woo's expression hardened. He recalled how he'd rewarded her thanks to all the work she'd been doing and what he had gone through in the famous Japanese onsen.

"Urpp."

He covered his mouth, and his face paled.

"Are you okay, Master Kang-Woo?"

Lilith stroked his back in worry. Although she looked like Kurosaki Yurie at the moment, her hand touching his back felt sticky for some reason.

"I-I'm fine. Let's set aside the travel plans for a bit. There are still a ton of things we have to do, and I also have plans with Seol-Ah."

"… I see."

Lilith nodded while making a sad expression. Her expression had noticeably darkened when Han-Seol-Ah was mentioned.

Creak.

"Umm…"

Seol-Ah opened the door and peeked into the room, holding a tray full of delicious fruits.

"You were in the middle of a meeting, right? Have some fruit."

"Thanks, darling."

Kang-Woo grabbed the tray from Seol-Ah with a bright smile, as if he had found a ray of light within the endless darkness.

"…"

Lilith frowned when she saw this side of Kang-Woo. She placed her hand on her chest. It started to hurt.

'He has…'

Tears slightly formed around her eyes.

'… Never smiled like that to me.'

A feeling that she had never felt before burned her heart.

Lilith shook her head.

'What am I thinking?'

In the end, she was the legal wife. The vows of love that they had pledged were still vivid in her memories.

'Maybe…'

Worries that Kang-Woo might have forgotten about the vows they had made surged.

'There's no way.'

Her masterful tentacle techniques always caused him to scream in such a lovely way, even during their last trip. There was no way the king didn't love her.

'But still…'

Lilith pouted. She would prefer if he gave her a bit more attention.

"In that case, I will be excusing myself."

"Why?" Kang-Woo asked. "Stay for a bit longer and have some fruit."

"Hohoho. The faster I resolve this, the earlier I will be rewarded by you, Master Kang-Woo."

Lilith lightly waved and walked out of the room.

Clack.

The door closed.

"Haaa."

Lilith softly sighed. Her mind was in a mess.

'Now isn't the time.'

She hadn't hurried just to receive Kang-Woo's love.

The traces of demonic energy around Seoul had spread at tremendous speed over just a few days. At this rate, a massive incident would break out at any second.

'It's as if… it's searching for something.'

Lilith narrowed her eyes and set off. And…

* * *

"… What?" Kang-Woo asked while aggressively frowning.

Balrog, who was on his knees in front of him, flapped his lips in hesitation but then bit his lip and lowered his head.

"Lilith has… disappeared."