SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy
Chapter 47: Umbra’s Plans and the Nature of Demons

Seojun’s dying body was rescued by demons and taken to the catacombs—the base of Umbra. As his limbs regenerated, he was summoned for interrogation by none other than the boss himself.

Those glowing emerald eyes widened in disbelief at the secrets the Death Icon had kept hidden from the rest.

Left alone with the Crimson Reaper afterward, Seojun took several cruel punches to the face and gut.

"How could you keep such crucial information from us?!" roared the Reaper, grabbing him by the shoulders. "Your arrogance will cost us dearly! Do you even realize no one trusts you anymore?!"

"What else could I have done?" came Seojun’s rasping voice. "Everything I did... was for the future of my little brother!"

With that, he landed a blow of his own—right into the Reaper’s stomach.

"You damn fool!"

"Say what you want, call me whatever you please... I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my brother. I had my terms when I joined you!"

"Umbra exists for one purpose," the Reaper growled. "Dominance over Korea. You’ve crossed the line too many times. You should be executed right here and now!"

A deep, demonic voice echoed beside them.

"Gentlemen. The boss would like to see you in his chamber."

Straightening their clothing, they entered the room laced with pipes.

And then—those eyes opened from within the shadows. Glowing emerald, grim and piercing, as if peering directly into their souls.

"Seojun," said the boss. "Your actions to protect your brother may be justified—but he’s now in enemy hands. Who’s to say the humans won’t turn him against us? He’s just a boy, blessed with the blood of a mysterious deity."

"Yes, boss. I understand... Haebin is a kind child. But he would never betray me. He knows I’m with Umbra. He won’t reveal anything."

"I hope so. Regardless, we now have a bigger issue. I’ve decided—there’s no point delaying our plan to take over the Association any longer. I will personally gauge how ready the hunters are to stand against Umbra."

"You mean..." asked the Crimson Reaper, "we’re preparing for an attack soon?"

"Yes. And it will mark the first major step into a new era. Gentlemen, our loyal ally will soon return. He’s been conducting demon mutation research in China—and he’s ready to stand with us."

"Is it... the one with Veidris blood?"

"Indeed. Thanks to his ’Voice of Command,’ we can launch a covert strike."

"If that’s true... we could seize Seoul within an hour!"

The Crimson Reaper was impressed by the plan. Seojun, meanwhile, looked uneasy—his mind occupied with his brother’s safety.

Then the boss declared:

"Our victory lies in a ’weapon’ I’ve been developing for many years. A true creation of mind and miracle. An entity of limitless power. This will be our trump card."

"What are you talking about?" Seojun asked, confused.

"You’ll find out soon enough. Your job is to lead the elite unit into the frontlines."

Seojun scowled. The vague answer only confirmed his fears—they no longer trusted him.

Only the boss and the Reaper knew the full truth.

Seojun scoffed.

"Hmph. Veidris blood, mysterious entities... Can I at least know what all this means?"

The emerald eyes glanced over him, and Seojun tensed.

"We, the demons, all serve the blood and faith of the Four Dukes. Their blood flows within us, granting us fragments of their power. Veidris, Nivara, Magnum Opus... and Astaroth."

"I’ve never heard of this... Are we all descendants of their blood?"

"Yes. You, Seojun, carry the blood of Veidris. Lesser demons submit to your howl. The Reaper here—he bears the blood of Magnum Opus. A Duke with a beast’s genome, whose thick dermal armor grants immense resistance to all attacks. As for me..."

The three demons froze, awaiting his answer. The room grew darker with every passing second.

"I am of Astaroth—the God of the Demon World."

Seojun paled. Perhaps the unease he felt stemmed from the demons’ very nature. Astaroth’s authority over others was so immense, it flowed through blood itself.

Present Day

Where am I? Why is it so dark?

Am I... dead?

There was nothing around me. No light, no darkness—just a void where life had lost its meaning.

The last thing I remember... was defeating Zeno. And after that... nothing.

In a flash, everything changed.

I was a child again, back in my old home.

My mother sat on the couch beside me, knitting a scarf for winter.

"My son," came her gentle voice. "Winter’s almost here. You’ll wear this scarf so you don’t catch a cold."

Her blue eyes were a vivid memory of her existence. Her brown hair, fragile shoulders... I could never forget her.

"Mom, when does winter start?"

"It’s hard to say. Ever since the demons came, the seasons have gone strange. I was born in the demon era, but I remember winter used to begin in December."

"December... And what month is it now?"

"December, New Year’s Eve."

"So... will there be no more winters?"

"No, my darling. I believe it will arrive on the night of January first."

Finishing the scarf, she wrapped it around my neck.

"Now you won’t feel cold anymore, my sweet boy."

"Mom..."

"Come here, let me hold you," she said, opening her arms.

I stepped toward her, slowly. This memory... so warm, so peaceful.

I refuse to believe my parents were demons...

Just as I reached her—the world shattered like glass.

Everything around me tore apart.

My eyes snapped open. I woke from the nightmare, wrists chained, bars before me. A cell, with only a small bed.

Lights shone from the corners of the room.

In terror, I looked around—and then I saw it.

My eyes froze.

Sitting on the bed... was a cloaked being, three meters tall. Its red body, immense presence, and two long horns protruding from the cloak...

A demon.

"W-what is this?!" I thrashed against the chains, my body trembling.

Where am I?! Why is there a demon here?!

"You’re finally awake."

The being’s oppressive voice echoed.

"What are you...?"

"Shh. Be silent."

W-what...?

"If you see me, it can only mean one thing—your world is collapsing from within. You’re on the edge. Soon, I’ll be free from your body."

What is he saying? I don’t understand anything anymore...

"No one else can see me. I’m just a piece of your consciousness—brought to the surface. You can speak to me mentally."

He can hear my inner voice?

"Correct," the demon smirked, placing a hand on his cheek. Long silver hair fell from his cloak.

Those horns... they were familiar. This creature—I’ve seen it before. But when?

That grim face... only nightmares could conjure something so terrifying.

What... are you?

After a tense pause, the demon spoke:

"Taurus Demon."

No... It can’t be. That name—I heard it from the winged demon. So it’s true...

Do you know what’s happening?

"Your own kind locked you up. Your powers were deemed demonic. No one trusts you. Surprised? People fear what they don’t understand. Especially when that ’thing’—is you."

B-but why? What did I do wrong?

"Think about it, human. You sprouted wings. You flew into the sky. You fought a demon like yourself. What judgment could they possibly give you after that?"

So they hate me... And who knows how long I’ll rot here. I wonder—are things peaceful outside?

If I escape, they’ll never treat me as human again. I’ll be branded a demon and hunted down.

If I’m not dead yet, it means the Association doesn’t know what to do with me. That could be to my advantage. I just hope they don’t find out about my regeneration...

"If you want, I can borrow your body. We’ll be out of here in a minute."

Out of the question, demon. If you take my body—I don’t know what destruction you’ll bring. You could doom all humanity.

The demon fell silent, smirking.

"As you wish. I’m more curious how you’ll handle this. No one would want to be in your position. So, what’s your move?"

He laughed—a low, ominous chuckle. My cold stare barely hid my fear. I was imprisoned—stripped of choice.

After a while, a man entered the cell, carrying a briefcase. His black suit and stern look—I recognized him. He was the agent who captured and interrogated me at the very beginning.

Park Jin-ho. That was his name.

"Lee Ki-hyun. Long time no see."

"Sir Jin-ho... What brings you here?"

"Kid, I get it. You’re a hunter. We used to believe that too. So don’t hold it against me. But we need to know—are you really human?"

He opened the case, pulled out a gun, and aimed it at me.

W-what...?

I was stunned. In the blink of an eye, he fired—without mercy.

The bullet struck my shoulder. Blood poured like a river.

I screamed in agony, unable to reach the wound. My teeth clenched, my eyes wide.

"Why?!" I shouted. "Why did you shoot?! It hurts... it hurts so much!"

The man simply watched me closely as I writhed on the floor. My clothes were soaked in blood.

"Freeze," came his stern command.

I lay on my back, my sharp eyes burning with rage, ready to attack.

But I couldn’t break free from the chains.

Then the agent removed his glasses, his eyes freezing in shock.

My wounds began to close. Cells knitted over the torn flesh, and the embedded bullet was pushed out.

A red light flooded the gash, filling it with blood and healing it completely.

"Now it all makes sense," the man said, placing the weapon back into its case. "The game didn’t last long, demon."

As he turned to leave, I threw myself against the bars.

"No, don’t go! Sir, it’s not what you think! I’m not a demon... I’m human! Please, don’t leave. Please, anything but this!"

And with that, the iron door shut behind him. My cries faded into despair.