The Red Demon phenomenon.
This phenomenon appears only in demons with a Tri-horn level of demonic energy.
When the thoughts of the demon Barbatos accumulate in their body, they eventually overload and manifest in their horns.
This can be seen as a type of overload case.
At this point, the demon will follow one of two paths:
One path is when the vessel cannot withstand the overloaded thoughts and breaks.
In this case, the Tri-horn demon loses its original form, explodes, and transforms into a mucous-like substance.
It becomes unrecognizable as a demon.
The other path is when the vessel endures the accumulation of thoughts and undergoes metamorphosis.
More precisely, it’s not so much that the vessel endures, but rather that the thoughts adapt to the body.
A demon beginning to undergo Red Demon transformation develops paths in their body, similar to humans, which facilitate the consumption of powerful demonic energy.
These are called “Mana Veins.”
Indeed,
A demon that successfully accumulates excessive thoughts develops an organ similar to humans, specifically designed for handling demonic energy, purely for demons.
This can be identified by the reddening of their horns.
The problem arises when the demon fully adapts to this process.
In essence, the Red Demon transformation itself is not highly dangerous.
While it’s true that they gain power stronger than typical Tri-horn demons, they are still at the Tri-horn demon level.
However, once a demon completes the metamorphosis beyond the Red Demon stage, a new horn grows on their head.
This makes them a “Quad-horn Demon.”
Each one possesses immense power, enough to easily destroy a city.
Most demons that complete the Red Demon process become this, hence the term “metamorphosis.”
The demon seen through Julian’s memory has not yet completed the Red Demon transformation.
The horns are not fully red, indicating this.
However, of all times…
That demon…
Seeing the one-armed demon in the amnesia-induced vision, I clicked my tongue in disapproval.
As a bitter taste lingered on my tongue,
“Who’s there!”
Felkor’s loud voice rang in my ears.
For some reason, his voice was unusual.
The hostility in it was not a reaction to an ordinary person.
“I asked, who’s there?”
Felkor continued to question, and I paused the replaying of the “Amnesia” trait to turn my head and see the uninvited guest.
Covered in battle scars.
Hair dyed in dark gray.
Eyes without pupils.
In the vision replayed by the trait, the appearance of a “Red Demon” suggested this person’s arrival.
Because of this, I wasn’t particularly surprised by the sudden appearance.
“Sir. Jahat.”
The person, who was both a disciple of Sword Saint Hayden Reich and known as the “Blind Warrior,” appeared, tapping the ground with his staff.
“Hmm, I didn’t think we were that closely connected, but we meet here.”
Though his tone was emotionless, his aura trembled slightly.
I could sense that Jahat was internally troubled by my sudden appearance.
He wondered why an old enemy from the Grand Arena was here.
That question was evident in his aura.
“Did you follow me here? If so, I must commend your dedication.”
Guessing that I was here to capture him, he clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“It’s the first time since that day. It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
“I’ve been well until now, but seeing your face… Damn it! I doubt that will continue.”
“That’s quite unfortunate.”
Jahat seemed to know that my words were insincere. We exchanged these light greetings as a joke, but Jahat’s hostility did not disappear.
‘His aura is still sharp.’
His specialty, aura dispersion.
Being blind, he always spread his aura around.
Through this, he constantly checked the positions of me and those around us.
It was precise and sharp enough to engage in battle at any moment.
“It doesn’t seem like you followed me…”
“That’s correct, Sir Jahat.”
“Then why are you here?”
I couldn’t easily answer that question.
“Well, let’s say it’s a light walk. Haha.”
A walk in the northern region filled with monsters and demons?
Even without looking, I could imagine the expressions of Felkor, Joshua, and Jahat.
‘They must think I’m crazy.’
Even if I told the truth, they wouldn’t believe me, so saying it this way felt more like myself.
“Why are you here, Sir Jahat?”
Although I asked, I already knew the reason.
A while ago, through “Amnesia,” I saw the one-armed demon.
That’s the reason Jahat is here.
That demon was closely related to him.
“Is there a reason to tell you? We aren’t that close to discuss personal matters.”
“You’re looking for a demon, aren’t you? That’s why you’re working as a mercenary in this remote place, right?”
Searching for a demon?
Jahat’s faded eyes slightly frowned at my words.
“Did I ever say I was looking for ‘that’?”
I shrugged at his words.
I didn’t have a reason to say it, but I wanted Jahat to finish off the one-armed demon.
‘That demon is still alive.’
What I glimpsed through “Amnesia.”
Among the two demons Julian fought, Julian killed one, but the other escaped.
That demon is the one-armed demon Jahat is searching for, and before it completes its metamorphosis, I plan to have Jahat kill it.
Because I find it bothersome to do it myself.
Besides, Jahat needs to do it.
“Oh… even though I never said it, you know.”
As Jahat’s eyes narrowed, his surrounding aura also seemed to sharpen.
“Judging by your tone, you know I’m chasing the one-armed demon?”
“Sir Jahat, I am Julian of the Royal Special Agency, The Closed Eyes.”
I simply smiled at his words.
“And… you must also know that the demon is my ‘son,’ right?”
Jahat sighed and leaned his head back at my continuous smile.
“A son? A demon as a son?”
Since I already knew the story, I tried to pass it off casually, but Felkor couldn’t hide his astonishment.
“Did you marry a demon…?”
Felkor, Felkor.
Why are you spouting nonsense again?
Can’t you just stay quiet?
“Haha, you have an amusing guy with you. The Royal Family must really be short on talent to keep such an idiot around.”
Jahat found Felkor’s ridiculous comment amusing and spat out near insults.
Unfortunately, Felkor isn’t related to the Royal Family, but since I, The Closed Eyes, keep him around, Jahat seemed to think so.
Well, I can’t exactly deny it. It’s true that he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. Is it strange that the Dawn Society accepted such a fool, or is it that the Dawn Society is strange for accepting him? While I pondered this briefly, Jahat continued to speak.
“More importantly, Julian, I want to hear the full story from you.”
Clink.
Jahat subtly lifted his staff, then grasped the end of the rod and pulled.
Swish.
The menacing blade of the sword slowly revealed itself.
“Where and how did you hear that story?”
Indeed.
If I were in his position, knowing that someone else knew my secret, I would react the same way.
How did you find out?
And further, I would take measures to silence those who knew.
“Are you sure… it’s okay?”
But I held the initiative in this conversation.
He was searching for the one-armed demon, his son who had become a demon.
And I was the only one with a rough idea of his whereabouts.
“You’re looking for the one-armed demon, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“If it were me, I would have asked politely. You seem to be in too much of a hurry.”
I finished with a short laugh, showing confidence.
Although Jahat knew this, the hostility emanating from him did not seem to dissipate.
‘Do I have to subdue him once?’
That might be necessary.
The stubbornness of a father blinded by denial was beyond imagination…
“…Looks like we have more uninvited guests.”
Fortunately or unfortunately, a sinister presence began to rise around us.
“Demons.”
Although he didn’t track them with his eyes, Jahat sensed the demonic energy around us and identified the intruders.
Soon, Felkor also sensed the demonic energy and tensed up.
“Wh-what’s happening, Brother Julian?”
Only one.
Joshua couldn’t accurately detect the enemy.
“It seems that the leftover demonic energy from the Tri-horn demon has attracted a bunch of low-level demons.”
Although considerable time had passed, the strong residual thoughts suggested the influence of the Red Demon wasn’t small.
Seeing the increasing number of demons, Jahat clicked his tongue.
“Well, we’ll have to postpone our conversation for now. It’s better to discuss this after we clear this area.”
“Is that what you want? I don’t mind talking now.”
I indulged in unnecessary bravado again. After all, Jahat would be the one at a disadvantage either way.
Kraaaah!
The first demon to appear lunged at Jahat.
A demon without horns.
An ordinary person would have had trouble, but no one here was ordinary.
“How can you be so composed in this situation…?”
Swish—
Jahat drew his sword from his staff and naturally sliced the demon.
Its mucous-like blood sprayed like a fountain.
“Still as arrogant as ever…”
Slash.
He sliced it again, completely ending its life.
“Is that what the Sword Saint taught you?”
“Perhaps, that might be the case.”
The brazenness of that man has surely been picked up by ‘Julian,’ so it’s not a lie.
“Tsk, we need to start by cleaning up this place.”
With a slightly irritated voice, Jahat’s body vanished in an instant.
***
After dealing with a swarm of demons, Felkor groaned as if he were about to die.
“What, did you die?”
Felkor mocked Joshua, who had collapsed.
Though he looked dead, lying limp, he was still gasping for breath.
He looked quite pitiful in that state.
“So, what will you do now?”
After dealing with the demons and wiping the blood off the Moonlight Sword with a swing, I turned to look at Jahat.
“Would you like to continue the conversation from earlier?”
Smiling faintly, I referred to the matter from a moment ago.
I knew that the earlier confrontation had somewhat lost its momentum.
At this point, it seemed there would be no fight with Jahat.
If there was, it would be troublesome.
There might be more demons around.
While dealing with them wouldn’t be hard,
‘It would be annoying.’
So, I really didn’t want to fight the strong Jahat.
If, by chance, more powerful demons like the Tri-horn Demon or the Red Demon appeared when we were exhausted, it would be a direct path to the afterlife.
However, this extraordinary ego wouldn’t allow me to show any sign of weakness, so I put on a bravado.
“Let’s stop. I’m curious where you heard that story, but if you want to know, it’s something you can find out easily enough.”
“Is that so?”
“Besides, you served on the northern front, albeit briefly, so you could have known.”
Phew, fortunately, Jahat conceded a point.
“In any case, even so, what can an outdated man like me do to the Imperial Sword and the smiling executioner?”
Jahat gave a self-deprecating laugh.
Putting the sword back into his cane, he began to move his weary body.
“Seeing that you are not stopping me, it seems you really didn’t come here to capture me. I’m curious why you are here though…”
“The One-Armed Demon must have headed to the northern part of the continent.”
At the mention of his son, Jahat’s tired eyes changed.
“You can find him in the Blizzard Forest.”
The Blizzard Forest.
The place where Jahat and his son, who had become the One-Armed Demon, would settle their scores.
Although the story had changed a lot, Jahat would still end things with the ‘One-Armed Demon’ in the Blizzard Forest.
Once, harsher than a raging blizzard as a father, he would reflect on his mistakes while looking at his transformed son.
‘That’s how it has been.’
It has to be.
If that ‘incident’ doesn’t happen, the subsequent events would be catastrophic.
Cliche Novel 