Act 29

Prev I TOC I Next

In this world, demons’ strength is classified by their form and the number of horns they possess. 

However, in the game, demons with three horns or more are given unique names based on their special abilities. 

One such demon is the Dream Beast, Hameln, which appears in the Pyrun Forest near the city of Berniden. 

The reason why I can recall this demon’s name so clearly is thanks to its infamous reputation. 

‘It even had over 15 pages of strategy guides on the wiki.’

As an erosion-type demon, once Hameln completes eroding a certain area, it can then transform that area into its fortress. 

A labyrinth with entrances and exits that change daily. 

A swamp that looks harmless but poisons you the moment you step into it. 

Demons armed with all sorts of status ailments and Hameln’s own mental attacks. 

And so on. 

Hameln was like a nightmare to players, so the words ‘Berniden,’ ‘tri-horned demon,’ and ‘Pyrun Forest’ immediately brought to mind the demon Hameln.

I anticipated that the schedule for subjugation missions would be moved up after the Ascension Festival because I could recall Hameln’s abilities. 

Now, about two days have passed, so probably tomorrow. 

If not, then on the day the festival begins………….

“Sir Julian! Lord Oronil has requested your immediate presence at the mansion!” 

I thought it would be soon, but this was faster than expected. 

As I was spreading Berniden’s famous bacon jam on my bread, enjoying the warm sunlight, I looked up at the ‘Closed Eyes’ member of the squad who had rushed in through the door. 

Then, ‘the color of fear’ started to rise above his head.

“I’m so, so sorry! I didn’t know you were eating!” 

“No, it’s okay. It was urgent.” 

As I took a bite of the bread, the rich sweet and salty flavor began to unfold on my tongue. 

No wonder it’s a specialty, I thought, smiling. 

It was just the right taste to start the day.

***

Upon arriving at the mansion, the first to greet me was Oronil, who looked deathly pale and defeated, a stark contrast to his proud demeanor the day before. 

Next to him stood a woman who appeared to be his wife. 

She, too, looked troubled and anxious, similar to Oronil. 

“You called for me, Lord Oronil.” 

As I greeted Oronil respectfully, he slowly lifted his head to meet my gaze. 

It hadn’t even been a full day since our conversation yesterday, yet his face was filled with worry, suggesting some troubling news. 

The first thing he mentioned was about his daughter. 

“My daughter, Terina, has not awakened since last night.” 

“I see.”

“The family doctor doesn’t know why she’s in this condition…?” 

Oronil mumbled with a look of utter despair. 

It seems his daughter fell unconscious last night. 

The cause is unknown. 

Since even the family doctor couldn’t determine the cause, this must have been devastating news for Oronil and his family. 

“Terina is like a treasure to me, born after several miscarriages. Why would this happen to her…….”

Had I been Julian, I might have responded with sarcasm. 

The thought crossed my mind, but I wasn’t heartless enough to say such things to a father distressed over his daughter. 

“You called me because of your daughter, Terina. You thought I might know why she cannot awaken.” 

“…..”

“Originally, I’m not a medical expert. I specialize in demon subjugation. By calling me, Lord Oronil, you must have some suspicion, don’t you?” 

Oronil let out a low sigh filled with self-reproach. 

“Then, let me say it first. As you suspected, Lord Oronil, the reason your daughter cannot wake up is indeed due to a demon from Pyrun Forest.” 

Seeing hope in Oronil’s eyes after my words, it was clear he had been desperate for an explanation for his daughter’s condition and the source of her affliction, which I had just confirmed. 

No longer appearing near death, Oronil urgently asked me for more information.

“If that’s the case… then let’s move up the subjugation schedule we postponed yesterday! Who cares about Ascension Day now! My daughter is…!” 

“It’s already too late.” 

However, when I pointed out that the recent incident was the work of a demon, the hope that had been blossoming on his face withered away with my response. 

“What do you mean by that?!” 

“The demon sleeping in the Pyrun Forest is named ‘Mongsu Hameln’. It is a Tri-horn-grade demon with three horns, an erosion type that roots itself into the ground, making the surrounding land its territory.” 

As I continued to speak, Oronil watched me open my mouth with a very serious expression. 

“As it absorbs the energy of the land, it also spreads pollen, implanting its seeds into the animals nearby.” 

“Seeds, you say?” 

“Animals implanted with the seed soon become Hameln’s limbs and start moving. Fortunately, it doesn’t have a significant effect on humans, but there are always exceptions.” 

“What are the exceptions?” 

“The exceptions are…” 

“Young children.” 

His face darkened dramatically. It was clear he could easily infer the situation his daughter was in from my words. 

“Especially for children who have just lost their baby teeth. The spots where the teeth fell out are connected to nerves, making it easier to reach the brain.” 

“Then shouldn’t we subjugate that demon as soon as possible?” 

Oronil yelled at me in frustration, but my response was cold. 

“As I said earlier, it’s too late. Hasn’t it already started its activity? Demons are not fools. Especially those of a Tri-horn grade have quite developed intelligence.” 

A war is started only when one thinks they can win. 

“Mongsu Hameln, judged that it has Pyrun Forest under its feet and resumed its activities. Using the forest it dominates, it will interfere with all our efforts to find it.” 

“Then, even now…………….” 

“Meanwhile, Sir Oronil’s daughter will lose her life.” 

Oronil glared at me with wide eyes, anger flickering above his head, ready to lash out at any moment. 

However, that intense emotion faded away soon. Like a flame with nothing left to burn, the color of ‘anger’ eventually disappeared completely. 

“Sir Julian, I must ask, just in case… 

“Yes.” 

“If I had granted permission for the subjugation when you came yesterday, could we have prevented this situation from happening?” 

“Yes, that’s why I came from the institution.” 

A sigh full of sorrow escaped Oronil’s lips. Unable to hold back her tears, his wife began to cry, and Oronil started to console her. 

“Do you want to save your daughter?” 

At my words, Oronil, startled, turned his gaze back to me. 

“Is that… possible?” 

“It is possible. But it will cause harm to Sir Oronil. No, to be precise, to the border city of Berniden.” 

“Damage, you say?” 

“Yes.” 

Despite sensing something suspicious, his concern for his daughter seemed to outweigh his mistrust of me. 

Instead, that mistrust turned into immense trust. 

The Empire’s laughing executioner, Julian Crypart Frason. 

This character has many nicknames, one of which is ‘the master of demon subjugation’, isn’t it? 

“I can bear any damage. For my daughter’s sake…!” 

“Is that so? Then, I’m glad.” 

As I was about to smile at Oronil’s response, I suddenly remembered to hide my emotions as much as possible. 

After all, Julian, already not well-received, smiling in such a situation would look like a villain playing with a daughter’s life.

***

Mongsu Hameln.

As I mentioned earlier, there are more than a few players who shudder at this name.

And for a good reason. If it begins to resume its activities, it starts by turning the Pyrun Forest into a maze, trapping players with its minions armed with various status ailments.

Moreover, the maze’s exit changes every day, making it impossible to develop a systematic strategy to conquer it.

This led people to call this Hameln a demon imbued with the developers’ malice.

‘If you vent this frustration on the forums, you’ll just get a bunch of replies telling you to endure with sheer grit.’

Of course, I’m also one of the victims of this bundle of malice.

Out of the 15 pages listed on the wiki, about 7 pages were written by me, so you can’t even begin to describe the rage I felt at the time.

Now, having become ‘Julian’, I find myself in a situation where I must eliminate this embodiment of evil.

However, I don’t feel as helpless as before.

I could spend days pondering how to breach the maze that Pyrun Forest has become.

I wasn’t afraid to face enemies armed with poison, convulsions, decay, and blindness, among other status ailments.

The reason is simple.

Instead of facing those dangers, I chose the simplest and easiest strategy.

Not thinking about the future.

“Preparations are complete, Sir Julian. We can start as soon as the wind changes direction.”

“But… must we really do this?”

“We must. If we leave it be, it will clearly become a threat to Berniden. Ignoring a danger is a foolish act.”

“But… to burn down Pyrun Forest…”

The members of ‘Closed Eyes’ looked at me bewildered, holding the oil drums they had spread around.

“We don’t intend to burn down Pyrun Forest entirely. We’re just exterminating the area where the demon has taken root.”

“Is that alright? Lord Oronil will be furious. Pyrun Forest is closely related to Ascension Day, isn’t it?”

When one of the Closed Eyes members asked with a worried voice, I replied, “Lord Oronil has given his permission. He prioritizes the safety of Berniden’s citizens over Ascension Day.”

“But why would he… Yesterday, he was against it…”

The member who was speaking glanced at me. When I gave him a reassuring smile, he coughed awkwardly and bowed his head.

“Ah, my apologies. It seems I spoke out of turn.”

Should I clear up this misunderstanding? It’s not like I’ve threatened them, but it seems they might be thinking that way.

“The wind has changed direction!”

That was when one of the other members loudly announced the change in wind direction.

All eyes turned to me.

The members of ‘Closed Eyes’ and the soldiers deployed from Berniden at Oronil’s behest.

“Then let’s begin.”

Was there a need to wait any longer?

With my word, the members and soldiers threw their lit torches into the depths of Pyrun Forest.

As the torches touched the oil-soaked trees, the flames grew into a blazing inferno.

Crackling!

The sound of sparks flying and the acrid smoke began to fill the surroundings, and I tapped the sword at my waist.

Roar!

Along with the monstrous screams filled with pain, a massive rumbling began.

At the center of that sound was a monstrous tree with human faces carved into it, ‘Mongsu Hameln,’ charging towards us.

“Eeek!”

“It’s the demon! Prepare for battle!”

Some of the soldiers, preemptively frightened by the giant Tri-horn demon’s charge, either froze in place or stumbled backward.

Unperturbed by their reaction, I stepped forward, drew my moon-blade sword as always, and sent aura flowing through the blade.

Its horrific appearance and tree-like size were no reason for fear.

Of the 15 pages listed on the wiki, 14.9 pages were all about how to break the fortress it had created.

The character count of the text detailing the strategy against the demon ‘Mongsu Hameln’ was barely 500.

The moment it revealed itself, its fate was as good as sealed.

Prev I TOC I Next