Chapter 78 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon's First Blind Date (3)
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Dating. The word didn't exist in the Heavenly Demon's dictionary. Only loyal subordinates surrounded him. He had never dated anyone, let alone made a single friend who truly matched his temperament.
Even the elders who rebelled against him or nitpicked every little thing, and the Ten Demon Lords, had been turned into faithful servants.
'No, there is one.'
The Heavenly Demon thought of Ma Gi-ja.
He was the only one in the entire martial world who didn't watch his every move and treated him without reservation. But in the end, he was still a loyal subordinate and the chief enforcer of the Ten Thousand Demons Palace.
"Was that too fast?"
Seo Yu-ri said with a confident expression.
"But I don't want to waste time. I like you, Heavenly Demon."
"What exactly does 'dating' mean?"
The Heavenly Demon's eyes were too serious for it to be a joke. Seo Yu-ri, who had meant to brush it off with a laugh, responded earnestly.
"It means being lovers."
"Lovers?"
"Yes. The most common relationship in the world."
Seo Yu-ri stared straight into the Heavenly Demon's red eyes.
"Actually, before meeting you, I was planning to quit the Association and move to another city."
She took a sip of her sweet coffee and continued.
"It was in the provinces, but a pretty good guild scouted me to be the head of their tactical analysis department."
"Is that good?"
"Much better. And the pay is great. Honestly, working at the Association is more about a sense of duty than making big money."
With her Association salary, she couldn't even buy one of the sports cars she drove, no matter how much she saved in a year. Seo Yu-ri could afford her luxurious lifestyle thanks to the vast fortune her parents had left her.
"Of course, the Association has its perks. Like power. But that means nothing to me."
Shadows fell over Seo Yu-ri's eyes as she recalled her parents, who had perished in a Variable Dungeon.
"At first, I joined the Association because I wanted to eliminate all Variable Dungeons like the one that killed my parents. But with my abilities, I couldn't even join an assault team... I could barely handle monsters with a threat level of 1,000."
She looked into the Heavenly Demon's eyes with an awkward expression.
"And at some point, I got scared. Scared that if my analysis was wrong, the assault team members could die..."
She gripped her coffee cup tightly and whispered.
"But I've changed my mind. I think sticking with the Association might not be so bad after all."
"Why is that?"
"Because you're here."
It was a passionate confession.
The Heavenly Demon had never imagined someone confessing to him so directly.
'The women of this world are truly free-spirited.'
The word "free-spirited" reminded him of Jang Chaewon's bold face.
"You're quite hasty."
The Heavenly Demon cleared his throat and spoke calmly.
"Haven't we only met once a few days ago?"
"Some people fall into fateful love after just one meeting."
"I don't believe in fate."
"I'm not asking for an answer right now."
Seo Yu-ri stared intently at the Heavenly Demon's face.
Having never experienced anything like this, the Heavenly Demon was at a loss for words.
"I..."
"Let's meet three more times. Then give me your answer."
"Three times? What difference will that make?"
"I have a lot of strengths. I believe that if you meet me three times, you'll see them."
"I don't care about people's strengths or weaknesses."
Confidence filled Seo Yu-ri's eyes.
"No. You'll definitely notice my strengths."
"How do you know?"
"Because you're interested in me."
True to her work in the big data room, she had pierced through the Heavenly Demon's heart at a glance. She knew he had at least some interest in her.
"I know how hard it is to catch the interest of someone like you. And if you weren't interested, you wouldn't have met me."
It was spot-on analysis.
As she saw through his heart even a little, the Heavenly Demon's eyebrow twitched slightly.
"And each time we meet, your interest in me will grow. Just like how you treated me a few days ago versus how you're treating me now."
Seo Yu-ri knew exactly how to pique the curiosity of the Heavenly Demon, who was more detached than an enlightened monk.
And she was a unique beauty, blending innocent charm with sensuality.
-That girl might just capture your heart.
The Heavenly Demon suddenly recalled what Kim Chanwon had said before introducing her. Seo Yu-ri definitely had something that drew him in.
"Three times."
The Heavenly Demon nodded decisively.
"Very well. Let's do that."
* * *
One week later, in the Heavenly Demon's rooftop room.
Sitting primly in front of the TV, the Heavenly Demon was watching a documentary called "Driving Techniques Taught by Awakener Instructors" with great interest.
It was footage stored in the nano chip that Seo Yu-ri had given him as a gift.
-If you're an Awakener with the Hardening skill, try stabbing your arm into the ground at corners and attempting a drift.
On screen, the driver suddenly slammed his arm into the road during a turn, executing a sharp drift.
Crunch. Screeech.
He didn't seem to care that the road was being destroyed. To the Heavenly Demon, who had only seen footage of ordinary drivers' skills, this was fascinating.
Lost in time, the Heavenly Demon glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already past 2 a.m.
-I have a lot of strengths.
Recalling Seo Yu-ri's words, the Heavenly Demon muttered lowly.
"Indeed."
Though it was only one meeting, Seo Yu-ri had grasped his temperament at once.
With her bold and unreserved attitude, she had piqued his interest, quickly found things he would like, and treated him more comfortably than anyone else.
"She's clever. And thoughtful."
The reason all this was possible was that Seo Yu-ri was smart. With her considerate personality and striking looks, she had no flaws as a potential lover.
[Thank you.]
At that moment, Nameless, who had been wiggling its feet while lying in the charging station, bowed its head.
[It gives me strength that you've noticed, Heavenly Demon.]
"What are you talking about?"
[What you just said... wasn't it about me?]
"No."
[Then who...]
Avoiding Nameless's gaze, the Heavenly Demon pointed at the TV and cleared his throat.
"I meant those people. Their driving skills are no joke."
[Ah, I see. The drivers, right? Heh heh heh.]
As Nameless stared at the Heavenly Demon's face and let out a sly chuckle.
Thud thud thud.
Someone urgently knocked on the front door. When he went out, Kim Chanwon was there, panting.
"Heavenly Demon!"
"Kim? What's the matter?"
The Heavenly Demon noticed that Kim Chanwon was wearing a glossy black combat Nano Suit, just like the Awakener ones.
"What's with the outfit?"
"Heavenly Demon. Big trouble!"
"Big trouble? What is it?"
Instead of answering, Kim Chanwon rushed inside and fiddled with the TV remote.
-...A few days ago, members of the data mining team from the Big Data Analysis Room, who analyze dungeon threat levels and structures, went missing in the 'Bull's Eye' labyrinth dungeon located 1 kilometer northwest of the Variable Dungeon area.
-The Association dispatched an assault team immediately, but due to accelerating destabilization of the dungeon, they can't easily approach Bull's Eye...
Pointing at the news screen, Kim Chanwon said in a frantic voice.
"It's Yu-ri. Yu-ri's missing."
The Heavenly Demon's expression hardened.
Bull's Eye. It was the dungeon where he and Nameless had barely escaped with their lives not long ago.
"I see."
"Heavenly Demon."
Kim Chanwon grabbed the Heavenly Demon's hand.
"Time is of the essence. We have to head to the Variable Dungeon area right now."
"Why?"
"Why? The Awakener Association is sitting on their hands because the Bull's Eye Dungeon keeps destabilizing."
Seeing the Heavenly Demon's impassive expression, Kim Chanwon urged again.
"The Association won't send a rescue team until the destabilization stops and they map the dungeon. But by then, it'll be too late."
But the Heavenly Demon's face showed not the slightest change.
"What's her specialty?"
"Her specialty? Oh, her skill? Infinity Barrier... She can create powerful cover."
"Cover creation... Then she'll hold out fine."
Kim Chanwon stepped back in shock.
"Heavenly Demon. Aren't you worried about Yu-ri?"
"Worrying won't help. And you shouldn't go in either."
"W-What?"
"I've been in that dungeon. It's a maze that constantly shifts, with plants everywhere that produce effects similar to scattering powder. Going in unprepared is just throwing your life away."
"Heavenly Demon!"
Kim Chanwon said with a disappointed expression.
"How can you say that? We have to at least try, right?"
"Trying won't make a difference."
The Heavenly Demon spoke coldly.
"To be honest, Kim, your abilities are useless there. Calm down and wait."
"Heavenly Demon!"
Unable to hold back, Kim Chanwon yelled.
"Manager Jang can't get involved in dungeon matters, fine! But how can you say that to me?"
"Kim. Get a grip. My intention is..."
"I'm really disappointed!"
Yelling, Kim Chanwon spun around.
"Just stay huddled up like a damn chick! I'll go rescue her myself."
So furious that even the ever-smiling Kim Chanwon cursed. Without giving him a chance to respond, he leaped into the air and vanished into the sky.
"Hmm."
Frowning, the Heavenly Demon shook his head.
"He doesn't listen at all. Fear and confusion have paralyzed his reason."
Then Nameless emerged from the charging station and approached.
[Heavenly Demon.]
Looking into the Heavenly Demon's deeply sunken eyes, Nameless said.
[Kim Chanwon doesn't know that your current physical condition is very weakened.]
The Heavenly Demon didn't respond.
[If you'd told him you've been off since eating those mushrooms, he would have understood. Why didn't you say...]
"Why should I?"
[Huh?]
The Heavenly Demon laughed coldly.
"I don't seek understanding from anyone. Got it?"
[I'm sorry.]
As Nameless bowed its head, the Heavenly Demon opened the rooftop door and stepped out, as if to get some air.
Nameless, standing still, returned to the charging station.
Nameless. It was the only being in this world who understood the Heavenly Demon's personality better than anyone.
Including his weakened physical state.
[...]
Lying back in the charging station, Nameless suddenly stared at something the Heavenly Demon had hung on the wall.
[Hmm.]
Fixing its gaze on the wall, Nameless extended its limbs. And snatched the item hanging there.
Deep into the night.
The Heavenly Demon, who had been sitting primly on the rooftop lounge meditating and regulating his breathing, suddenly stood up.
"Hoo."
Exhaling deeply, he circulated his energy through his body once more. Though it amounted to about 40 years of cultivation, to the Heavenly Demon, it felt like the power of a single drop of water.
"Hmm."
Turning his head, he gazed toward the dungeon area shrouded in darkness beyond the shield.
And just as he climbed onto the rooftop railing to leap into the sky with all his might.
[Heavenly Demon.]
With a creak, Nameless emerged from the rooftop door, a bundle cloth tightly wrapped around its round body.
[Were you planning to head to the dungeon without me?]
"What nonsense. I'm just going for a night stroll."
Nameless looked at the Heavenly Demon, who was forcibly tightening his loose Blood Demon Battle Robe.
[In that loose outfit you're forcing on?]
At a loss for words, the Heavenly Demon snorted lowly.
"I'm just taking my night stroll to the dungeon."
[Then let's go on that night stroll together.]
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