The evening sky of Seoul was painted in warm hues of orange and purple, a soft breeze carrying the scent of street food through air. Kids ran along the street cheerfully. Things were peaceful and healthy—nothing like my world.
"The wind feels nice today," Ye-rin said trying to start a conversation. "Yeah it does," I replied not wanting to stop the conversation. We had spent considerable hours searching for clothes for me to wear. I had suggested the suit, but she frowned and forced me to wear something else.
I stared at the skinny jeans I was forced to wear with a slight baggy tee top. Ye-rin caught my expression and muttered loudly. "It fits you properly," she snorted unable to stop her laughter. I sighed, defeated.
We continued walking and the mood between us suddenly went back to the way it was. Noticing the shift in her mood, I reached for hand without thinking, and pulled her closer. "W-what are you doing?" She squeaked, her facing suddenly turning bright red as she tried to pull away.
"Look at that, that's the former chief director's daughter," "has she gotten a new boyfriend?" the whispers began to increase. I glanced at her. Was she that famous?
Before I could think further, a horde of girls suddenly rushed out of no where shouting," is that a model, his sooo hot," "run!" Ye-rin shouted.
We darted across the street, she took the lead, and I slowed down my pace to match hers. For a girl she was quite fast, then again I wondered how many girls I had met in my life. We ran through a narrow street. Jumping over scattered debris on the ground we suddenly appeared into an open field
"Huh" w-we lost them, Ye-rin managed to speak the words out, as she breathed heavily, her hands on her knees. Though I wasn't tired but I pretended anyway and mimicked her posture. "What were you thinking?" She pouted staring intently at me. "Sorry, it felt like You were spacing out for a sec. How should I know you're a diva," I replied. "D-diva," she replied puzzled by my words. "How do you even know these words," she wailed.
I was about to reply when a small figure stumbled in front of me, causing him to fall. "Oww!" He cried. "Hello little guy what's wrong," Ye-rin said kneeling in front of the child. The child crying now stopped and looked at Ye-rin in terror "I don't wanna die," he shouted grabbing onto Ye-rin tightly.
Her facial expression changed, I suddenly noticed something was off. "What happe...." She stopped, suddenly realizing something. The boy in unison pointed to a large tree at the center of the field.
"We need to call the EDC!"
"Ji-ho we need to leave here now!" She shouted her voice strained. She took on her heels carrying the childing. She tugged onto my top urging me to run with her, but I refused standing still. I could hear her confused mumbling which filtered through my mind, as I stared intently at the tree.
"My snack!" A loud voice rang, the weight of the voice shook the trees violently. Ye-rin face completely went pale as she staggered a bit, unconsciously letting the child fall from her grip. She fell towards my chest, with her weak, barely audible voice she muttered, "please save the child," I nodded as I gently laid her down close to child.
I bent on one knee to the child, "kid, whose the big bad over there," I asked trying to sound playful. "A-a demon," he shouted, terrified.
Two red eyes peered out behind the tree. "B-big bad," it said, trying to mimick a human. I froze, had there been a demon who was capable of speech. I knew so little of the world and that needed to change.
It moved it's large red head to the side to examine me, moving out of the shadow, I could see the monstrosity before me. It was several inches taller than me, hunched over, it's body was cracked and marked with dark energy like some ancient markings. "G-give me, me food," it said angrily.
A talking demon who had a little bit of understanding, even if it could barely form words. "Don't worry kiddo," I said to the kid, giving him a warm smile.
I dusted the dirt off my knees then stood in front of the demon with few steps separating us. "Since when did demons start speaking," I spoke out trying to incite it.
"Give me, me food!," it roared angrily, as he charged towards me. "Might want to stand back a little a bit I said. With a burst of unnatural speed it lunged towards me, not wanting our attack to affect Ye-rin and the kid, I moved closer to it and took the full force of the attack.
I skidded across the field, my body rolling across the sand.
"Human weak, no energy!" It laughed. I grinned, wiping the dirt off me. "Getting insulted by a demon, that's a soft spot you know," I jeered. Lunging against it this time.
I moved faster than before, it's body was huge and wasn't able to evade my barrage of punches. It's claws swung across my face, but I dodged, as it sliced through the air. It took a step back and turned towards the others. "Human strong, me attack weak!" It shouted.
The air shimmered, mana coalesced in between it's large mouth. This demon was condensing mana to form something large, powerful and pricised.
It fired almost instantly, I moved in a blur, appearing almost instantaneously, tanking the attacks. It kept on releasing several mana blasts at me. A single blast would be enough to disintegrate the pair at my back if I faltered just a bit.
After withstanding several blasts, my hands were starting to part away, the pain becoming unbearable the numbness in my hand starting to take effect. I noticed it had stopped, it was trying to gather ambient mana from the surrounding. I took my chance, I moved in a blur, appearing right infront of it, it swung it's large claw trying to push me back. I side-stepped, clenching my fist I drove right into it. The impact of the force sent it tumbling several meters away as it crashed unto the tree. It mouth closed heavily, the condensed mana being formed exploded in it's mouth, it's head scattered across the sand bit by bit.
The large body slumped to ground, dust gathered up in the air as it withered away into wisp of black smoke leaving a purple sharp shard. I looked at the shard on the floor, then wiped the bead of sweat starting to appear on my fore head. The noise faded before the pain arrived. As I steadied my breath, a memory I hadn't touched in years crept back in.
I had just awakened my mana arts and defeated a senior in training, despite winning I wasn't cheered or praised but resented. "A freak, they said. How could he use mana without it being sensed," "are you suppressing your mana because you look down on us!," one instructor shouted before I was smacked across the dojo.
After that, I trained day after day, a goal to rely only my physical strength. The type of training even the seniors couldn't comprehend. Sometimes I almost died, but I continued either way. But despite all that, no matter how or what I did the criticism never changed. That was when I realized, I was playing a fools errand. I never belonged, and I never will.
Looking back at what just happened, I was somewhat grateful, atleast I could now blend in with the humans without showing my abilities. I will carve my path only with my fists.
"J-ji-ho," a voice barely audible called snapping me from my daze. I quickly hurried towards her, she was still shocked about all she had witnessed.
I pulled her into a gentle hug and whispered to her ears, "it's fine now, I'll explain later" "okay she said," as she pulled a little bit tighter, but almost immediately she pulled away and pushed me to the sand "pervert," were did that come from," I asked surprised.
"Thank you mister," the child spoke out, tugging my jeans. I bent down and ruffled his hair "no problem kiddo," I said, smiling ever so slightly.
I was about to say something else, but I stopped sensing footsteps coming closer. As the two figures appeared, it happened to be two men, a blond man with a scar running through his face, he wore a black uniform, there were several gadgets strapped around it along with a bullet proof vest attached at the front. Along the shoulder plates there was a clear imprint of a logo 'EDC'. The boy who followed was younger than him . He wore a similar outfit but there was a difference, the blond man had a silver strap attached around his shoulder plates while the lad had a black strap attached his.
"Did you see a demon around here?" The younger boy asked, his eyes full of vigor. The older man frowned and smacked the boy on the head. "You fool, it's obvious they had encountered it."
His eyes scanned the area, the heap of dust still gathered in the air, the chunks of trees scattered, and the energy which still hung in the air. His gaze suddenly fell upon the purple shard. I wasn't sure what it implied, probably their strength level. But that wasn't the case as I looked at the younger boy, his face was pale and confused.
Was this something remarkable for their race? I wondered to myself. The older man looked at me again, he paused. Then spoke in a calm but firm tone. "Were you the one who killed it? He asked.
"Yes, I only landed the killing blow really," I said my gaze firm. He was about to say something but I continued, "it was chasing the boy and had injured itself badly hitting all those trees," I said pointing at them. "I see," he said chuckling. "Were are my manners he said turning towards the boy.
"My name is Dae-ho, a unit of the crimson valiant fighting-force. And over there is my subordinate, Shin-bora a member of the iron warden. "We got the report of the 'ranked 5' demon a little bit late. Sorry we couldn't come in time," "it's fine, I said nonchalantly.
He was about to say something else until his gaze shifted towards Ye-rin his eyes widen in shock. Miss Y-ye-rin he stuttered. "W-what are you doing here," he asked. "I was taking a stroll with my boyfriend before that thing attacked," she said, her freightened state making it more believable.
He took a long glance at me, which made me feel uncomfortable. "I see, you're in good hands then." He said somewhat pleased. He looked at me again, then his gaze shifted to the shard lying on the floor. "I guess you won't be needing it then?" He asked. "Nope," I replied Immediately. "Well we'll be taking the child to his parents and the shard then. Thank you once again." And with that he left with the younger officer and the little boy.
I received a punch to my gut, I winced. "Oww," I replied. "How are you so strong," she asked. "I'm not I barely won," I replied rubbing my stomach. "You took down a demon even several ranked E-5 would struggle to defeat and with just your fist" she said matter-of-fact.
It would seem I over did it. I will try limiting my physical output even more I thought to myself. "I see," I said as I started to walk. "Again with that word, you know it's not going to get you out of every trouble right?" she said, but I didn't reply but simply whistled.
Due to the incident we were only able to get a few clothes and I was able to get a phone. Apparently the ¥100,000 wasn't that much and Ye-rin had to cover for everything. As I stared at the items in hand, I knew tomorrow would decide my fate.