Chapter 260

“What happened?”
Arriving at the office, Kim Moo-woong called out to Jang Moo-yeol, who was sitting in his seat, tapping away at his keyboard.
“Hold on.”
Jang Moo-yeol, who had been staring at the screen, responded briefly to Kim Mu-woong’s shout and started tapping away at the keyboard again. Kim Mu-woong quickly walked up behind him.
“…”
He looked at the screen. Looking at the screen, Kim Mu-woong said nothing. No, he couldn’t.
“Hmmm…”
Kim’s expression slowly began to twist.
“I’m so caught…
Honestly, just a moment ago, I thought it was a prank by Jang Moo-yeol. But now I realize that it wasn’t a prank.
“How do I…
I couldn’t believe what was happening. Maltario was a monster that shouldn’t be captured, and couldn’t be captured.
‘It’s not even weakened…’
There were a whopping 10 quests that could have weakened him, but those 10 quests hadn’t been cleared, meaning he was currently at 100% unweakened power. I couldn’t believe I’d gotten caught.
‘I thought it would take at least two years…’
Kim thought it would take at least two years for users to catch Maltario, even if they did right away, because the Maltario episode was scheduled to take place two years later, and even if they cleared the episode without breaking the weakening quest, it would still take two years, and now Maltario was dead.
“Who caught it?”
“Wait a minute… I’m checking it out now.”
Jang Moo-yeol told Kim Mu-woong to wait a moment and tapped on the keyboard again. The screen changed, and Jang Moo-yeol’s expression became blank. It wasn’t just Jang Moo-yeol.
“…Huh?”
Kim Mu-woong, who was watching the screen with me, also looked at the screen with a look that said, What is this?
“…”
“…”
Suddenly, there was silence. Kim Mu-woong and Jang Moo-yeol stared blankly at the screen.
“This user… is that the user?”
It was Jang Moo-yeol who broke the silence. Jang Moo-yeol looked away from the screen and asked Kim Mu-woong.
“Uh, did you report to your teacher?”
“No, not yet…”
Kim Mu-woong nodded in response to Jang Moo-yeol’s words, and then asked, “What is it?” to which Jang Moo-yeol shook his head and looked back at the screen.
“…”
“…”
There was silence again.
* * * * *
<Demons and Demons of the Seven Realms Beyond the Gate
7 The gate from the Demon Realm to Middle-earth has been reopened. The gates are open, but the demon king Rakuza has no intention of descending. The problem is the demons and creatures of the Seven Realms. They have rebelled against the New Demon King Rakuza and are attempting to cross into Middle-earth through the open gate. Stop them and preserve the peace of Middle Earth!
[Maltario: 1/1].
[makusa den kurza: 0 / 1].
Difficulty Level: S
Quest Reward: Mark of Elgav
"Now I just need to catch one more.
After confirming the quest, Ming Hu smiled. With Maltario out of the way, all that remained was Makusa Den Kurza.
"If I were a warlord…
Ming Hu closed the quest window and thought of Makusa Den Kurza, the former demon lord of the Seven Realms.
'It must be a lot to have.'
Of course, it wasn't a sure thing, and there was a chance that we'd be broke.
"By the way… where's the deterrent ball?
Capturing Makusa Den Kurza was not the end of your work in the Demon Realm. It only ended the quest Elgav gave you, but you still needed to find the Inhibitory Orb to fulfill the quest from the Temple.
"Uh, I see it."
As Ming Hu pondered where the suppression orb might be, he was interrupted by Minhyung's voice in his ear and turned to look ahead. In the distance, he could see his destination, the Demon Castle.
-My lord, there are some waiting in the ground near the entrance… what should we do?
Prominus said. Ming Hu looked at the ground at the entrance to the Demon Castle as Prominus spoke. It was flat and empty, but if Prominus had said so, there must be monsters in the ground.
"Undead monsters?"
Ming Hu asked.
-Yes, it's presumed to be a skeleton.
"Then leave it alone."
It didn't matter if it was an undead monster because it had the Mark of Agranecto. Undead monsters couldn't attack him anyway. Ming Hu spoke to Prominus and continued to move toward the demon castle. After a while, Ming Hu and his group were able to reach the entrance of the demon castle.
Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp
When they reached the entrance, the ground cracked open, revealing the skeletons.
"…?
Ming Hu, who had assumed that the mark would prevent him from attacking, looked at the skeleton with mild bewilderment as it appeared.
-…
-…
But when the skeleton appeared, it didn't move. It just stood there.
"It just showed up…
Ming Hu smiled at the dazed skeleton. He wondered if the token's option hadn't been applied, but it hadn't.
"Are you just going to go?"
Minhyung said, looking at the skeletons. Even if they stayed still, it seemed a little creepy to walk through the skeletons.
But he could not kill the gatekeepers, the skeletons. Ming Hu's party had not come to capture Rakuza, the current master of the Demon Castle, but to gain information. There was no need to kill the gatekeepers as a favor.
"For now."
In response to Minhyung's question, Ming Hu pushed past the skeleton and entered the city through the gates.
[7 You have entered the Demon City of the Demon Realm].
[The demon Rakuza recognizes your presence].
Upon entering the city of Mawang, a message appeared.
"…?"
When Ming Hu saw the message, he couldn't help but shake his head.
"It didn't show up before?
When I was in the old Mawang Castle, I didn't see the message.
"Is it because I'm in the warp?
The only difference between then and now was the way I entered. Apparently, the reason I didn't see the message before was because I entered via warp scroll.
'You say you're aware. It's going to show up on its own.'
The message clearly said that Rakuza had recognized him. If he waited here, it would show itself.
That was the moment.
Someone warped in front of Myung-Hoo's group.
"…?
It was not Rakuza. The skeletal figure was pale but smooth-skinned.
"Is it a demon?
I thought it might be a demon. No, it was definitely a demon, judging by the large, thick horns on its head.
"I'm busy chasing the butler."
After introducing himself, the butler of the Demon King City, Churze, bowed slightly. With a smile, he glanced at Ming Hu's group, then at Ming Hu in the front, and continued.
"What are you here for?"
"I'm here to see Rakuza."
When asked why he had come to the Demon King's Castle, Ming Hu replied.
"…"
Ming Hu's answer left her speechless. But after a moment, she tilted her head slightly and spoke.
"I'm sorry. What is your relationship with the Demon King?"
"…Hmm.
Ming Hu wondered how he should answer her question. Suddenly realizing that this was the Demon Castle, Ming Hu looked at her, who was waiting for his answer, and said, "What is your relationship with Rakuza?
"I sold this place."
"…What?"
Ming Hu's words were met with a questioning look from Churchen. She looked at Ming Hu with a confused expression. It was clear from her expression that she didn't understand. Ming Hu raised his hand and pointed to the Demon King.
"I sold the Demon Castle to Rakuza."
"…Ah!"
Churchen let out an exclamation. Then she looked at Ming Hu with a surprised expression and continued.
"So you're the one I've heard so much about, but what's your business…"
"I need to ask you something."
"…Hmmm, I see."
At Ming Hu's words, Churchen cleared her throat and nodded in understanding.
"Please wait a moment."
He told me to wait a moment and disappeared again. From the looks of it, he had gone to see Rakuza.
"Are you going to wait?"
"Yes."
Myung-hoo nodded at Min-hyung's question.
Siaak
A few moments later, the waiting Churches reappeared. She hadn't warped alone.
"Well, just in case, it was you guys…"
Rakuza started to say something, but never finished. Ming Hu realized that Rakuza's gaze was not on him, and he turned his head to follow it. There was a girl with a look of fear, embarrassment, and other mixed emotions on her face. Ming Hu turned his gaze back to the girl and looked at Rakuza. Rakuza, who was looking at the girl, was now looking at Mingfu.
"You're not a normal human after all, you're a dragon…"
Rakuza said.
"…"
Ming Hu smiled wordlessly. Then Rakuza spoke up.
"I was told you had something to ask me…"
Rakuza cut straight to the chase, and Ming Hu smiled.
"Yes, I was wondering if you could help me locate a demon who lives in the Seven Realms."
"…?"
Rakuza gave Ming Hu a puzzled look.
"Makusa den Kurza."
"…!"
Rakuza, who had been looking at Ming Hu with a puzzled expression, was surprised.
"Do you know where it is?"
"Hmmm, why is he looking for it?"
Rakuza cleared his throat in response to Ming Hu's question, but before Ming Hu could answer, Rakuza continued.
"You're going to extinguish him?"
At Rakuza's words, Ming Hu nodded. That was the moment.
[Rakuza the Demon King].
[Increased affinity with Demon King Rakuza].
[Relations with Demon King Rakuza have risen to 'friendly'].
"…?
Ming Hu looked away from the message, puzzled by its sudden appearance, and looked at Rakuza.