"Indeed. I am the Heavenly Demon."
My voice was deeper and more resonant than usual, altered by my Deception (SS) skill.
"..."
The man standing in the alley scanned me from head to toe before clicking his tongue.
"Tch. What's with that ridiculous mask? Trying to imitate Helten's executives?"
Helten.
The most notorious criminal legion in Atlantis. However, their base of operations and exact strength remain unknown.
Rumor has it that Helten's executives operate while wearing masks.
Of course, I knew about Helten. He was one of the protagonist's main enemies in the original story. And right now, my goal was to infiltrate Helten.
"This is none of your business. Act like a proper guide."
"What kind of bullshit is this... Ugh. Fine. Worrying about someone like you would only tire me out. I'll guide you. Just stick close behind me."
I started walking behind the man.
The back alleys of the City of Today in the Second District were as winding as a maze. As befitting Atlantis's largest city, even the back alleys were massive.
"Harek! Working hard? Who's the clown behind you?"
As we walked through the alleys, rough-looking men would occasionally call out to the burly man.
"Just an old hag client. Don't mind her," Harek, the burly man, snapped irritably. He seemed to be quite popular, at least in this back alley.
After a fifteen-minute walk, we arrived at a dilapidated building. Scattered furniture and rusted armor littered the area, creating an eerie atmosphere.
"Here's the place. The old hag's inside. Go on in."
"Thanks for the help."
Harek simply waved his hand, urging me to hurry along without another word.
I strode confidently into the building.
Inside, the place was surprisingly clean and well-maintained, a stark contrast to the exterior. The ceiling lights shone brightly.
I glanced at the papers pinned to the walls. They were requests: kill someone, steal something, find someone.
This was a Request Agency that arranged illegal commissions. Here, even murder contracts could be easily fulfilled.
"Another madman has come," the old woman muttered.
At the far end of the building, an elderly woman sat in a chair. Dressed in a crimson cloak, she appeared to be at least seventy years old. Her hair was snow-white, and her face was deeply lined with wrinkles.
What stood out was the abundance of piercings adorning her chin, the sides of her nose, and both ears.
Pesica, the broker. An old woman who arranges all sorts of illegal activities. And a member of Helten.
Pesica also introduced promising talents to Helten.
"I am called the Heavenly Demon," I announced, introducing myself as I approached her.
Pesica frowned.
"Cut the bullshit and tell me why you went so far as to kill an innocent man just to find me, you bastard."
"Innocent man? That guy was a pickpocket."
I sat across from Pesica, using the haoche style of speech to conceal my true identity.
"You beat him to death and dumped his body in an alley, didn't you? You even wrote my name on the alley wall!"
I winced at the old woman's shrill voice.
"I only killed the pickpocket because he crossed my path. As for writing your name on the wall, wouldn't that be because I have business with you? And let's be honest, you don't really care whether that pickpocket lives or dies, do you?"
Two hours ago, I followed a man who looked like a pickpocket and beat him to death. Pesica, who was sensitive to information in the back alleys, would undoubtedly hear about my actions within an hour.
Moreover, it was faster to let her find me than for me to find her.
"You have business with me? What kind of business?"
"..."
Instead of answering, I tilted my head upward.
In my Heavenly Demon state, my senses were incredibly sharp. I could feel something on the ceiling.
No need to look. It's probably a wraith. Pesica is a necromancer, after all.
Despite her aged appearance, Pesica possessed considerable power as a necromancer. If I fought her now, I might very well lose.
I lowered my gaze back to Pesica and said,
"If you have business with a Soul Harvester, there's only one reason: you want a request."
"You killed a pickpocket just to meet me and get a request? You're insane."
A chilling presence surrounded me. Unseen wraiths had encircled me, likely intending to kill me here.
"It was the quickest way. Besides, that pickpocket was annoying."
"Annoying? Did he steal your money?"
"No. He was picking a woman's pocket."
"Then why kill him?!"
Killing the pickpocket wasn't necessary. Catching him and beating him up would have been enough to get Pesica's attention. He controlled the city's back alleys that thoroughly.
"She was a beautiful woman."
"...What?"
"And quite to my taste, too."
"...You're a lunatic. I've seen all kinds of crazies in this line of work, but you're in a league of your own."
"I'm perfectly sane... Well, whatever. Will you take the request?"
"I'll take the request. The pickpocket wasn't one of ours, so it doesn't violate any regulations. However... this guy seems to have taken a dislike to you."
Whoosh.
A blue wraith materialized before me, its elongated face and thin eyebrows unmistakable. It was the pickpocket I'd killed two hours earlier.
That old hag. She turned the pickpocket's soul into a wraith.
Pesica calls me crazy, but to me, it's just a pot calling the kettle black.
A glance. My eyes darted sideways.
The wraiths had fully materialized and were slowly closing in.
Pesica watched me silently, her face expressionless.
Is this a test?
If Pesica truly intended to kill me, she wouldn't resort to such childish games.
Fine. I'll meet her head-on.
I began to draw upon the mana within my body no, the Demonic Heavenly Energy.
I unleashed the Demonic Heavenly Energy in all directions, seizing control of the surrounding area.
Demonic Heavenly Art.
Heavenly Demon Force.
The wraiths, sensing the overwhelming presence of the Heavenly Demon's energy that dominates all demons, hesitated, then began to retreat.
I reached out and grabbed the Pickpocket Wraith by the neck. Thanks to the Subduing Demon Gauntlet, which possessed Anti-Magic, I could grasp the incorporeal wraith.
Screeeeeeeech!
The wraith thrashed in my grip.
"To die twice by my hand... you're fortunate. Heavenly Demon Explosion!"
Boom!
A black explosion erupted from my hand. The wraith, caught in the blast, vanished without a trace.
Swish.
As I surveyed the surroundings, the remaining wraiths retreated from me.
"...It's done," Pesica said curtly, and the wraiths vanished completely not merely concealing themselves, but ceasing to exist.
"Wraiths fearing humans... that defies all logic. Just what are you?"
"You should know. I am the Heavenly Demon."
As I spoke with solemn authority, Pesica clicked her tongue.
"Tch. No one would believe that's your real name. First, let's see your face. Take off that ridiculous, childish clown mask."
"Impossible. My social status is far too significant. Revealing my face would cause considerable complications."
"If you're here to take on a request, you should at least provide some basic information about yourself, shouldn't you?"
"Hmm. My name is the Heavenly Demon. I'm in my early twenties."
"That's not enough. You look like an Exile... When did you come to Atlantis?"
"Three years ago."
"That's a lie."
"Why do you think so?"
"You little brat. How long do you think I've been doing this? I've been doing this since the world began. I've seen plenty of lunatics like you."
"I'm perfectly sane."
"Enough. I'm not going to argue with you. If you won't reveal your personal information... it's a shame, but I'll back down. In exchange, tell me which Divine Throne you're contracted with. That's the condition for me referring requests to you."
"The Sower of Seeds. That's the Divine Throne I'm contracted with."
Pesica glared fiercely at me.
"Don't play games with me."
"I'm not playing games. Besides, how would you even verify the Divine Throne's name if I told you?"
"I'll ask the Divine Throne to send a message. Surely they can do that much."
"Do you really think the Divine Throne would listen to me?"
"Hmph. If your Divine Throne can't even grant such a simple request, then your capabilities are clearly limited. Without revealing your name, face, or any real skill, there's no commission for you here. Get out."
I couldn't leave.
My plan was to complete Pesica's commission, naturally come into contact with Helten, and become one of Helten's executives. I couldn't afford to fail at this stage.
"...The Divine Throne I'm contracted with is rather eccentric. Why don't you reveal your Divine Throne first? Wouldn't that be fair?"
"..."
The Soul Harvester desires to harvest your soul.
The Soul Harvester.
It had to be Pesica's Divine Throne.
"King of the Demonic Heavens, I request your assistance."
The King of the Demonic Heavens is now watching the Soul Harvester.
The Soul Harvester startles, glancing around nervously.
Pesica's lips parted slightly, as if she too could see the notification window.
"...King of the Demonic Heavens. This is no ordinary Divine Throne."
"Do you know the King of the Demonic Heavens' true identity? Could you tell me? I'm dying of curiosity."
"No. I don't know who the King of the Demonic Heavens is."
"Then why are you so surprised?"
"If the Divine Throne I'm contracted with is surprised, it means the King of the Demonic Heavens is of a very high caliber. Moreover... if a Divine Throne's name includes the word 'King,' there's more than a fifty percent chance it's no ordinary Divine Throne."
"The King of the Demonic Heavens is quite impressive, I must admit. Now, can you take on a request?"
"Very well. What kind of request do you have?"
Thanks to the King of the Demonic Heavens' cooperation, things were proceeding smoothly.
"I don't have much time. I need a request that can be completed by tonight."
I still hadn't left the Chapel of Beginnings. Today, I skipped class and snuck out. Since attendance wasn't taken, I wouldn't get caught. But just in case, I'd agreed with Yu Seohee to say I was sick if anyone asked.
"Tonight... Perfect, there are three available."
Pesica peeled three request slips from the wall and showed them to me.
"Choose one and get it done."
I examined the slips closely.
"One's a contract killing... another's information gathering... and the last one's theft."
Surprisingly, the contract killing offered the lowest reward, while the theft paid the most.
"Hite? What kind of piss-like name is that? What does this guy do?"
"He's a herbalist scammer. He sells low-quality herbs disguised as fresh ones."
"I think I know who the client is. What about the information gathering?"
"Just gather information on the Mate Legion."
"Can that be done in a single day?"
"If we kidnap a member of the Mate Legion and interrogate them, it can be finished in a day."
As expected, that old man is truly ruthless.
"For stealing, 3 million Pennies just for a single red branch? What's so special about that branch that warrants such a high reward?"
3 million Pennies is roughly equivalent to 30 million Korean Won.
"The reward isn't for the item itself, but for the location where it must be stolen. The branch is in Hobson's mansion in District 57. Hobson is the wealthiest tycoon in District 57."
"District 57... It'll take days to get there."
"If you take on this request, I'll give you a scroll."
"A scroll?"
"It's a Space Displacement Scroll."
A Space Displacement Scroll allows you to teleport to pre-set coordinates. It's single-use, difficult to obtain, and extremely expensive.
"Do you realize the scroll costs more than the reward for this request?"
"If you don't want to do it, don't. There are plenty of others who'd take this job."
"Who said I wouldn't do it? I'll take the request."
"Don't forget, you must bring the branch to me to complete the request."
"What's so special about that branch anyway?"
"I don't know either."
That was a lie.
Pesica clearly had no intention of explaining the branch to me.
Well, it doesn't matter.
I knew about this branch. Helten had issued this request.
"The branch is one of the blades of the Seven-Branched Sword."
Even if I didn't take on this request, Helten would retrieve the branch soon enough.
Pesica likely showed me this request to test me. As someone who had contracted with the King of the Demonic Heavens, a high-ranking Divine Throne, I was the kind of talent Helten sought.
"Tear this scroll, and you'll be transported to an alleyway in District 57. The scroll's coordinates are set to the outskirts of the City of Today. Don't be foolish enough to lose it."
"Understood. But I have one question."
"What is it?"