Chapter 07. The Power of the Demon Tribe
Gates appear in places where people live. Of course, it's not like they never show up in forests, mountains, or underwater.
But for every gate that appears in a remote area, three show up in populated zones. That's why the Seoul division of the Hunter Association’s Gate Management Department is split into three teams.
Hunter Association, Gate Management Department, Seoul Team 1
"Just one person?"
Ghost Town wasn’t exactly popular even before it changed. After the transformations, no one went near it. That’s why Team Leader Lee Yowon had stopped paying attention to it entirely.
"Yes, that’s correct."
An employee with a stack of paperwork for approval nodded.
"There’s a Hunter currently active inside Ghost Town—the one that underwent the recent changes."
"Training?"
"No, I don’t think so."
"Why not?"
"You can tell from the mana stone transaction records at the gate’s purchase booth."
Team Leader Lee, who had taken off her glasses for a break, put them back on and reviewed the report.
In the section showing the average number of mana stones purchased per day, the number 30 was listed.
"Hmm."
Ghost Town.
The first transformation occurred when the blue moon turned red, and normal specters evolved into dark specters. A week later, they received word of a second transformation.
And then today—a third transformation, reported just one day after the second.
She had requested a report and was now reviewing it, with about thirty minutes left before the end of her shift.
"The mana stone drop rate for specters is about 30%, right?"
"Yes, that’s correct."
"That means he’s been hunting about a hundred per day. Even today, after the third transformation, he sold 28 mana stones."
He had hunted about 100 dark specters even after the third transformation.
Team Leader Lee flipped through the report to check the entry logs.
"Kim Suho?"
A name she didn’t recognize.
"What guild is he with?"
"He’s unaffiliated."
The employee, clearly hoping to get out on time, jumped in with more info about Kim Suho.
"His class is Summoner, and his main weapon is a sword. Hunter Kim Suho is currently level 10. Since the gate’s level cap increased from 10 to 15 due to the transformation, he plans to continue activity inside Ghost Town tomorrow. We got this info from a C-rank Hunter stationed at the gate."
The state of a gate can be assessed through the appraisal system. Team Leader Lee turned the page and confirmed the new level restriction.
Level Limit: 1–15
"It used to be 1 to 10. A typical low-rank gate, right?"
"Correct."
"The level cap changed after the first transformation?"
"No. After Kim Suho finished today’s activity, he reported the third transformation, and we confirmed the new cap through the appraisal system."
"What changed in the gate?"
"All specters’ stats increased by 20%."
"And yet, even with the third transformation, Kim Suho continued hunting in the gate and sold twenty-eight mana stones?"
"Yes, that’s right."
Ghost Town was scheduled for a break-triggered raid. It was a gate filled with specters—troublesome incorporeal monsters that were hard to deal with.
"Hmm."
If things kept going this way, they might not need to trigger a break at all.
"What are his activity hours?"
"From 10 AM to 5 PM."
"Got it. You can go home now."
With that, the employee, who had already mentally clocked out, bowed and quickly left.
"Being able to take one break gate off the list..."
Break gates are especially tough ones that need to be tackled after a break occurs to thin out the monsters. Large numbers of Hunters are required to handle them because monsters pour out into the world, and Hunters have to hold the line and protect civilians.
"Can I really trust him with this?"
"I’m back from the gate."
It was an odd greeting. Late in the evening, Kim Suho returned home after finishing his part-time shift at a barbecue restaurant. His younger siblings—high schoolers munching on ice cream in the living room—welcomed him.
"Hey, you’re ba—"
"Good job, oppa—"
"Whoa—"
The siblings who had been studying, watching TV, or scrolling on their phones froze mid-sentence and stared wide-eyed at Kim Suho. More precisely, they were staring at the two plant-like creatures perched on his shoulders.
"Say hi. These are my siblings."
– "Maah!"
– "Ma!"
The True Demon King raised both hands and waved energetically from side to side.
The sword-wielding True Demon—Blade Demon—pressed his left fist to his chest and bowed slightly.
Like a little king and his royal guard.
The True Demon was the size of a human forearm, had a tiny mouth like a knot in wood, and large, jewel-like green eyes that sparkled every time he blinked.
In short, adorable.
Thump-thump-thump-thump!
The younger sisters raced over and stood in front of Kim Suho.
"Wow!"
"So cute!"
"Hi there!"
In response to their greetings, the Demon King’s eyes turned into crescent moons and he excitedly waved both hands again.
"Kyaa..."
"Quiet. The others are sleeping."
A long-haired girl quickly covered her younger sibling’s mouth to stifle a squeal and turned to Kim Suho.
"Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"What... are those?"
"Oh, that one’s the Demon King. The other one’s Blade Demon."
He pointed to each one in turn.
– "Maah!"
– "Ma!"
"Huh?"
The girl, Lee Yoona, frowned and glanced between the little creatures that let out their trademark cries.
"Demon King?"
– "Maah!"
"Blade Demon?"
– "Ma!"
"...I’m confused."
"They’re true demons."
"True... demons..."
Muttering to herself, Yoona pulled out her phone and searched up 'true demon.'
"...It kinda matches. But why the names Demon King and Blade Demon?"
"The true demon absorbed mana and evolved into a mandragora. Then it gained intelligence and self-awareness. Since it's the leader of the true demon mandragoras, it’s the Demon King."
"You made them?"
"No, I just confirmed their species and class."
"Through the system?"
"Yeah."
"So... they’re real."
While the younger sisters giggled at the Demon King, the boys approached and asked,
"Then what’s Blade Demon?"
"He’s the top swordsman of the true demon mandragora species. They’re called the Demon Tribe."
"Holy..."
"Hey, don’t underestimate them. They’re strong."
"What?"
"They’re stronger than me."
The siblings turned their heads in sync.
They glanced between Kim Suho and the two little creatures. Just as they tilted their heads skeptically, Blade Demon puffed out his chest, lifted his chin, and infused his wooden sword with mana.
"...Sword aura?"
"Isn’t that called 'aura'?"
"Sword aura, aura—same thing."
As the kids puzzled over this, Kim Suho, now wearing slippers, said,
"Anyway, they’re part of the family now. Say hello."
Early morning.
Awakened by his smartphone alarm, Kim Suho stepped out into the yard.
His morning routine was simple: wake up, wash up, wake the kids, eat breakfast with them, and then start physical and combat training.
A basic schedule. But today, he’d gotten up earlier than usual.
"Demon King, Blade Demon, Sarang—summon."
The magic circle on the floor vanished as soon as the summons appeared.
He gave them a brief wave, then headed with the Demon King and Blade Demon on his shoulders, and Sarang lying on his head, toward the garden in the backyard.
It was a vegetable patch created by their foster family for the kids’ education.
Glancing at the label, he saw they were growing sweet potatoes this time.
"Demon King."
– "Maah."
"Can you use your 'King of Plants' skill on the garden?"
– "Maah!"
The Demon King had seen Blade Demon and Sarang in action yesterday and was itching to contribute. Without hesitation, he raised both hands high.
Wuuuuum.
Green mana flowed from the Demon King’s body into the soil. The brown earth shimmered with a soft green light.
Kim Suho waited quietly, watching with a curious expression. But the light didn’t fade even after some time, so he looked back at the Demon King.
The green mana had long stopped flowing. The Demon King was no longer casting the skill.
"Hmm... how should I put this."
It lasts after one use.
Like his second skill, King’s Domain.
"Is this a continuous effect like King’s Domain?"
– "Maah!"
The Demon King nodded, his eyes crescent-shaped once again.
Kim Suho took out his phone and started a timer to see how long the effect would last.
Ten minutes passed. Then thirty. The light didn’t fade until a full hour had gone by.
– "Maah!"
The Demon King jumped off his shoulder. Blade Demon followed to protect him. The two walked over to the garden and dug up a sweet potato.
– "Maah!"
With Blade Demon’s help, the Demon King tore off the stem and brought the potato back to Kim Suho.
"That’s... pretty big."
Was it always this big?
As he studied the potato, Kim Suho noticed something. It held mana.
He quickly used the appraisal system.
"Appraise."
Name: Sweet Potato Grade: F Description: A sweet potato grown under the influence of the King of Plants, Mandragora (True Demon). Effect: Increases max mana by 0.05%
"...Huh?"
A single potato grown under a one-hour skill became an elixir—no, a mana herb.
– "Maah!"
Hands on his hips, the Demon King puffed out his chest and raised his chin like Blade Demon.
Behold—the power of the King of Plants!
Kim Suho blinked, then gave a thumbs-up.
"Wow. That’s amazing."
– "Maah!"
"You’re the best, Demon King."
– "Maah! Maah!"
The Demon King bounced in place with joy. Blade Demon clapped his hands with his sword planted in the ground.
They both looked up toward Kim Suho’s head.
– "Nyaa?"
– "Maah!"
With sparkling eyes, the Demon King clapped silently, inviting someone to join in.
– "Nyaaang."
Sarang, catching on, clapped her front paws to join the praise party.
Breakfast and lunch were taken care of with sweet potato chicken stew, candied sweet potatoes, sweet potato rice, and sweet potato fries. After eating, Kim Suho packed a lunchbox for later and headed out to the gate.
"Hello, Hunter Kim Suho."
"...Hello?"
Just as he was filling in his name and ID at the gate entrance, a woman’s voice called out.
"Excuse me, but who are you?"
"Ah, sorry for the sudden approach. I’m from the Hunter Association, Gate Management Department."
"...Am I being banned already?"
"No."
She shook her head and smiled.
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