***
Min Sung, who defeated the devil, looked back at the pillar of flames that Repone shot up.
He could instinctively feel that something changed about Repone.
Min Sung threw his Gungnir S into his item window and walked toward Repone.
He then stared at Repone.
Ho Sung Lee was also staring at Repone.
After shooting up the pillar of flames, Repone stood still and looked up at the sky.
Nothing had particularly changed other than that.
“Repone.”
In response to Ho Sung Lee’s calling, Repone turned around.
“Shall we go into the tent?”
Ho Sung Lee asked while pointing at the tent.
Repone walked in front of Ho Sung Lee and looked up at him.
As soon as Ho Sung Lee walked toward the tent, Repone followed after him.
After nodding to Min Sung, Ho Sung Lee gestured for Bowl to follow him and Repone into the tent.
Ho Sung Lee began another session in hopes that Repone would learn a human language.
***
The next morning, no changes could be seen in the gate, and no new devil appeared, but Min Sung’s eyes were dark as he watched the gate while sitting on a wooden chair.
His eyes were filled with chaos and darkness.
Min Sung slowly got up and looked toward where the tent was located.
He could hear Ho Sung Lee making an effort to teach Repone their language.
Min Sung then turned his gaze toward the fiery gate.
Two different suppositions lingered in Min Sung’s head.
One was in the case that Repone wouldn’t be able to make a barrier with his magic.
The thought of powerful devils pouring out of the gate was enough to make Min Sung feel uncomfortable.
He didn’t think that the devils would solely target him once they got out.
The possibility of that was nearly zero.
Once he faced off against the devils, there was bound to be some that would leak out.
It was a relief that there was only one gate, but even so, if the devils had a higher fighting ability, it was impossible for him to cover all of them himself.
If the leaked devils happened to spread throughout the city as well as the world, the earth would soon face extinction.
Not even the highest-ranked hunters could stop the devils.
They couldn’t even handle them before they became more powerful.
So now that they were much more powerful, it would only take the devils a few days to take over mankind.
For that reason, he desperately needed Repone’s magic ability.
If he could put up a barrier with Repone’s great magic, the country would still face harm, but they would be able to fight within that territory.
Min Sung stroked his chin with a restless look on his face before getting up and entering the tent.
Ho Sung Lee, who was watching Repone with his hands on his waist, looked back at Min Sung.
“How’s it going?”
Ho Sung Lee smiled.
“We’re getting somewhere.”
Min Sung showed a twinkle in his eye and walked toward Repone.
Repone was asleep.
“How far have you gone?”
“We can only exchange a few words here and there, but since he’s a dragon, I’m guessing he’ll learn quickly.”
Min Sung nodded.
“Oh, shall I prepare your meal?”
Min Sung shook his head.
“Let’s just have lunch later.”
Ho Sung Lee’s eyes looked surprised, but it lasted for just a moment.
“Yes, Sir.”
Min Sung looked at Repone for a moment before gesturing at Bowl and walking off.
Bowl quickly followed behind him.
The sky was still filled with dark clouds, but the rain was light.
Min Sung sat on the chair outside the tent, and Bowl climbed up Min Sung’s pants. He sat on Min Sung’s thigh and looked up at his master.
Min Sung checked Bowl’s status.
Bowl had undergone substantial growth after eating the magic stones.
Bowl’s role in the war against the devils was important.
Since no one could help defeat the devils beside Min sung and Repone, Bowl’s abilities were very crucial in the current situation.
He used the system to check Bowl’s stats, and it made Min Sung feel even more burdened.
That was because Bowl had grown, but it was still not enough to stop the devils from attacking.
That was how prepared the Demonic Realm was this time around.
It was as if the Demonic Realm was pouring all that they had to destroy the human world.
It was an important time.
They had to be prepared before the Demonic Realm attacked.
But all that they could do to prepare was help Repone learn the language so that he could put up a barrier.
Min Sung looked back at the gate with a stiffened face
***
No devils appeared for a few days straight, and those few days felt like a long time to Min Sung.
But then, he finally heard a word.
“Sir!”
Min Sung, who was eating skewers outside the tent, looked back at Ho Sung Lee.
“We’ve succeeded. We can communicate!”
Ho Sung Lee exclaimed with a bright smile.
Min Sung put down his skewer and quickly walked into the tent.
Bowl and Repone were looking at each other.
“It’s hard to have a direct conversation, but Bowl is speaking with him in the magic language. Repone has accepted Bowl.”
“What about the magic barrier?”
Bowl sprung up. He ran over to Min Sung and made a circle with his boney finger.
Min Sung smiled at Bowl.
“Good job.”
The rare praise he received from Min Sung made Bowl so happy that he rolled on the ground.
Repone flew over and looked at Bowl strangely.
“Let’s talk for a second,” said Min Sung before stepping out of the tent.
Min Sung sat back down in front of the fire, and Ho Sung Lee took a seat next to him.
The fire continued to blaze thanks to Bowl’s dark magic.
Min Sung stared at the sparks with lowered eyes.
Ho Sung Lee waited for Min Sung to speak with anxiousness.
“It won’t be long before the devils come,” said Min Sung.
“I’m aware,” Ho Sung Lee replied with a nod.
“I want you out of this one,” Min Sung said while looking into the distance.
It didn’t sound like he was worried.
He just wanted to convey that he was unneeded, and that hurt Ho Sung Lee deeply.
Ho Sung Lee dropped his shoulders.
There was no doubt that he completed the important task of teaching Repone the language, but that was more due to Bowl’s ability.
That meant that he did nearly nothing.
Furthermore, he couldn’t think of anything he did to contribute while accompanying Min Sung.
“Don’t get any weird thoughts,” said Min Sung, and Ho Sung Lee lifted his head.
Min Sung continued, “You’ve done everything in your power. You obeyed my commands with preparation to die, and that’s not something anyone can do.”
Ho Sung Lee smiled bitterly.
“That doesn’t comfort me very much.”
“I’m the only one on earth who can stop the devils, so don’t beat yourself up.”
Min Sung continued, “I came from the Demonic Realm, so I’m here to put an end to this.”
“But this means a lot to me, too. To end this once and for all…”
Ho Sung Lee looked at the gate and continued, “I’ve come to the finish line with you when I was weak, scared, and always lacking. That devil gate is that finish line.”
“…”
“Of course, we don’t really know if this is the end. But putting an end to this is my goal, too. We’ve been together through all of this, so I should be here for the end.”
“If you die, I can’t revive you immediately. It’s likely you’ll die again, and even with my reincarnation power, there could be a flaw in it. It’s possible that you might not come back.”
Ho Sung Lee looked at Min Sung with knitted brows.
“Sir, more than this situation where we’ll have to fight the devils with your reincarnation power, we’ve been through much more dangerous situations. And back then, you didn’t even have the reincarnation power,” said Ho Sung Lee, and Min Sung smiled bitterly at his joke.
“So this isn’t even that dangerous. Ho Sung Lee has 9 lives. Haha.”
Ho Sung Lee attempted to laugh, but Min Sung’s face remained stiff.
“But this time, you should…”
“I can’t. I want to finish this. You’re not the only one who puts your life on the line. The same goes for Bowl, Ssol, and Repone. We’re all in this together. I’m saying you’re not alone. Doesn’t that give you strength?”
“Nope.”
Ho Sung Lee laughed.
“I can’t leave this place just to cowardly survive.”
“There’s no such thing as cowardice in surviving,” said Min Sung with a heavy tone.
“But I can’t just ignore how far we’ve come together. I was scared, and it was hard, but it was like a dream for me. Thanks to you, I experienced the peak of mankind.”
“If we die, it all ends there.”
“All humans die. What’s important is how you live until you die.”
Min Sung scoffed.
“All death is the same in the end.”
“But I’ve avoided it until now, so don’t worry about me. And who else will feed you during the war? And please stop moping around. I can’t get used to this.”
Min Sung laughed while staring into the distance.
Min Sung cooked a skewer over the fire and answered, “Just don’t come crying asking me to save you.”
Min Sung then chewed on his chicken skewer.
Ho Sung Lee took out a cigarette. He put it into his mouth and laughed.
“When this is all over, try dating. It’s sad to see you alone.”
Min Sung glared at Ho Sung Lee with his veins popping out.
Ho Sung Lee snickered and proceeded to smoke his cigarette.
Despite being the afternoon, Ho Sung Lee’s cigarette smoke floated up toward the dark sky.
It was the calm before the storm.