DEB 68

“Be careful. If anything happens, contact me right away. And please use the doll for communication.”

“…I get it. But please get rid of that doll when I come back.”

“Hm. I’ll think about it.”

“Please, just throw it away….”

After much difficulty, Huigang finally accepted the doll from Nameless and gave up on entering the demon realm. 

He was a bit downcast after realizing there would be no communication in the demon realm, but he was at least relieved to have a doll that worked in the gate. 

Huiyun, more dejected than Huigang, looked at the doll in his brother’s arms.

‘Of all the dolls, why did it have to be that one?’

The moment the doll said, “I love you, Yasha,” Huiyun threw a fit and demanded a different one, 

but Nameless claimed he had no spare dolls, leaving no other option. 

Giving such a cursed doll to Huigang was unsettling, but compromising with the doll was better than nothing.

Despite his unease, Huiyun left the hospital room, now accompanied by four S-rank hunters, and entered a high-level gate. 

With their strong lineup, he expected the gate clear time to be significantly reduced. 

However, things didn’t go as planned.

To be precise, the normal lineup would have shortened the gate clear time, but Vita’s condition disrupted the plan.

Five minutes into the high-level gate, Vita stumbled.

This caused the hunters to temporarily halt the battle and assess Vita’s condition in a safe zone.

During this process, it was revealed that Vita had formed a Vow of Protection. 

Needless to say, the gate was thrown into chaos.

“You received a fatal injury from the demon realm and yet you still form a Vow of Protection? Are you out of your mind?”

“No wonder Huiyun had bandages on his hands… What an unethical move!”

“He lost too much blood. Let’s treat him first.”

It was clear that forming the vow wasn’t something Vita had discussed with the other three disciples. 

Showing their disbelief, they scolded Vita, who merely smirked in response.

“Just admit you’re jealous, you idiots. You were envious to death before too.”

“Vina.”

“Right.”

At Nameless’s call, Jiwook quickly grabbed Vita’s hand.

“Ash.”

“I was going to help anyway.”

Following that, Juan grabbed Vita’s legs, while Nameless clicked his tongue and took out the white gem seen before. 

The three synchronized seamlessly only in such situations, causing Vita to scream, but the three disciples ignored his cries, focusing on applying the hemostatic agent. 

It was no surprise Vita’s struggles intensified.

“You crazy bastards! It hurts! It hurts, Yasha!”

Shouting in pain, 

Vita called for help, but Huiyun merely checked for approaching monsters without assisting. 

As Vita screamed louder, Juan covered his mouth.

“Hang in there a bit more, Vita.” 

“Mmmmph!”

Juan’s hand muffled Vita’s screams. 

Huiyun silently thanked that the Vow of Protection didn’t mean he had to share Vita’s pain.

‘That’s what you get for making a vow without permission.’

After paying the price for forming the vow without consent, Vita was freed from the three hunters, and the gate clearing resumed smoothly.

First gate clear time: 30 minutes. 

Second gate clear time: 5 minutes.

Setting a new record, they cleared the gates, and Huiyun received a call from Huigang asking about their progress. 

Awkwardly holding the doll, Huiyun finished the call and claimed the quest reward from the cleared gate.

Once again, he was given a cube as a reward.

“Let’s move to the Ash Guild.”

“Are you going to install it underground again?”

“It’s the safest option.”

“If you’re unhappy, install it in the Blue Flame Guild’s basement and move Yasha’s residence there.”

“Why does it always end up like this? Just let me install it!”

After some childish banter, it was decided that the path would be opened in the Ash Guild’s basement.

Arriving at the still unrepaired basement where they escaped last time, Huiyun assembled the cube. 

As before, the cube emitted light, opening a path to the demon realm. 

Before entering, Huiyun lined up the four hunter and asked:

“What’s our top priority?”

“Rescue Zenith.”

“And the second?”

“Assess the enemy’s number and escape without engaging.”

Satisfied with their precise answers, Huiyun smiled. 

Jiwook sent him an exasperated look.

“Are you happy after threatening to close the path if we didn’t answer correctly?”

“With your stubbornness and unruliness, yes. You need to be handled like this. Let’s go.”

Having gotten used to Jiwook’s sharp tongue, Huiyun stepped into the gate. 

Juan, worried he might get left behind, quickly grabbed Huiyun and entered together.

The sensation of being lifted and then dropped again never felt normal. 

As Huiyun opened his eyes, he realized something was wrong.

“…!”

Juan pushed Huiyun back as the four disciples drew their weapons, ready to fight. 

Recognizing the demonic energy and the killing intent from the hunters, Huiyun quickly guessed why they were on edge.

He would be stupid if he didn’t notice it.

Standing right in front of the open path was a high-ranking demon with a short-haired woman beside him.

“Zenith!”

Seeing the green-haired woman, Vita shouted. 

She looked up at the call, her hands bound in red cuffs and her legs tied with ropes.

“Vita….”

Though she looked exhausted, she seemed unharmed, which felt even more suspicious.

“What did you do to Zenith?”

It wasn’t just Huiyun who felt this way. 

Jiwook, also suspicious, stared at the demon. 

The demon, standing as if to welcome them, bowed, placing his hand on his chest. 

The hunters’’ killing intent intensified. 

The demon smiled wryly.

“Please lower your killing intent. I didn’t come here to fight.”

“That aura…”

Huiyun sensed a familiar aura from the demon. 

It was the same as the one they felt when they first came to the demon realm. 

Recognizing the demon from the one who had approached them fiercely before, Huiyun widened his eyes. 

Juan, shielding Huiyun, glared at the demon.

“You came charging at us ready to fight before. Now you say you’re not here to fight? And you even captured one of ours.”

Juan gestured towards Zenith, igniting flames in his hand. 

The high-ranking demon watched the flames curiously before bowing again.

“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Baron Cherban of the 2nd District. I lacked information the first time you visited, hence my rudeness. Today, I truly don’t intend to fight. I’ve even brought the person you need, haven’t I?”

With a snap of his fingers, the ropes around Zenith’s ankles loosened.

A baron.

Focusing on the demon’s rank, Huiyun searched through Yasha’s memories.

…This is strange.

Even though his memories were incomplete, this demon felt odd. 

A baron was the lowest-ranking noble, below a viscount, but this one’s power seemed similar to, if not greater than, a count-level demon he had faced as Yasha.

“…Hong Juan.”

To confirm, he grabbed Juan, who chuckled.

“Baron you say? With that kind of power level, you must be at least a viscount.”

“Oh, so you’ve met other nobles?”

“…”

The prepared response came without hesitation. 

Huiyun, realizing the situation, pulled Juan’s arm.

“Don’t reveal any information.”

This was a reconnaissance mission. 

The more information they gave, the more disadvantageous it would be in future encounters with the demon. 

Jiwook frowned.

“What’s your purpose for kidnapping hunters?”

“There is no particular purpose. We merely had an incident, and invaders came in, so we captured them.”

“We’re not here for wordplay.”

“I regret to say I didn’t come here to play either. I’m here to propose a deal to those from another world.”

“A deal?”

Jiwook, puzzled, watched Cherban smile.

“As a baron of the demon realm, I desire peace here. I don’t want unexpected guests and noisy battles. I suggest a 30-day non-aggression pack. If you agree, I’ll release those who came from another world without harm.”

A 30-day mutual non-aggression pack? Why?

For what purpose?

Quietly observing the mysterious baron, Huiyun felt an uneasy premonition.

-Yippp.

Siho let out a small cry from his shoulder. 

A sense of foreboding crept over Huiyun.