SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy
Chapter 60: The Apocalypse Begins

Chapter 60: The Apocalypse Begins

The following morning, every staff member in the Association was ordered to undergo blood testing. This mandatory measure was intended to ensure no demons had infiltrated their ranks. To everyone’s surprise, all employees complied without objection.

Nothing unusual was found. Most workers had no demonic blood whatsoever—or only a trace amount inherited from distant ancestors.

Sashi Heiwa’s decision stirred no backlash. Quite the opposite—many were relieved, even glad, to know there were no traitors among them.

In the days that followed, the government announced it would restrict access to the Green Zone for Orange Zone citizens until they, too, underwent blood tests. The goal was to identify how many were infected with the demonic flu.

Then came news from the Association hospital: the surgery to save Chanwook’s life had succeeded. Yet the procedure’s details remained classified. No one knew what exactly had been done to him.

The only shadow was Park Jisun. Seoul’s strongest hunter remained in a coma. His heartbeat was weakening. His organs were beginning to shut down. Doctors were preparing for the worst.

And yet... strange data began showing on the monitors connected to his body—irregular spikes, bursts of brain activity. That’s when they realized: Jisun was still fighting. His will to live refused to die. The entire nation prayed for him to wake up.

Meanwhile, two newcomers under Trainer Nam’s supervision were making fast progress. Adam showed promise as a future tank, possibly taking over the role once filled by the late Yushin. As for Shingen, Nam described his adaptability as "exceptional."

A few days later, Director Kang Suwon summoned me to his office. When I entered, four hunters stood in formation. Among them—Yeonghee.

"Director Kang," I said.

"Ah, Kihyun. Come in—I’ve been waiting."

I took the chair across from him, eyes scanning the hunters.

"You brought them too?"

"Exactly as you requested. Your squad’s been assembled and is ready for your command."

"I did ask for this... but are you sure about putting your daughter in my team?"

Yeonghee answered for him, firm and unwavering.

"Hunter Lee, I understand your concern—and my father’s. But I have no intention of abandoning my duty. This squad was built around you. Each member was chosen to match your leadership."

Sharp words. Where did you get that resolve?

Kang Suwon sighed.

"You heard her. Besides, the team’s solid."

Three men accompanied Yeonghee: one muscular, one tall, one bald.

"Can’t say I’m convinced," I muttered, looking them over.

"What? Something wrong?" the Director asked. "They’re all trained, experienced fighters."

"You’re A-Ranks, correct?" I addressed them.

"Yes, sir!" they answered in unison.

Still... something about the musclehead rubbed me the wrong way. He looked way too smug—like he thought he was better than me.

No point arguing.

"At ease. Wait for me outside."

A new squad... Never thought I’d be a commander. But my concern wasn’t with them—it was with someone else.

"Director... this isn’t a game. We’ll be in real danger. And your daughter—"

"Yes," he interrupted. "That’s why I’m asking you to protect her."

"What?"

"She’s been rebellious since she was a child. I kept thinking she’d grow out of it, but her defiance only grew. She even bleached and cut her hair just to look less like me."

Great. Now I was part of someone’s family drama. Still... she was a capable teammate.

I stepped out. The new squad waited outside, standing at attention.

"I’m Lee Kihyun. S-Rank Hunter. You may call me Prodigy. This squad is unique. We will fight against hell itself—and we will become the omen of death for demons. Each of you knows what’s at stake. Introduce yourselves."

"Khan Ryujin, codename Ryu," said the muscular one, pointing to himself. "Formerly of Park Jisun’s squad."

"Seo Mirak, codename Blade," said the tall hunter.

"Min Raye, codename Ming!" shouted the bald one.

And last—the ice queen herself. Her very presence chilled the air.

"Kang Yeonghee. Pleased to meet you. Codename: Tempest."

After introductions, I ordered them to follow a new dress code—black, tactical, fully covered gear. I created an online channel for remote briefings and directives.

"Before we begin," I told them, "forget the rest of the world. From now on, we are one family. One mission. Our goal: to bring down the Dukes of the Blood Moon. And to do that, we trust only each other."

Ryu smirked.

"Why do you think I joined? Killing those bastards is what I live for."

"We’re all here for the same reason," Ming added. "You said so yourself."

Blade nodded. "What unites us is our love for this country—and unbreakable will. It’s no coincidence that we’ve found ourselves together."

I smiled faintly.

"Then I place my trust in you. And you will entrust your lives to me. We’ll take down the worst monsters this world has ever seen."

"Damn right!" Ryu grinned. "Now that’s a commander I can follow."

After that, I dismissed the team for the day. Only Yeonghee remained. We strolled through the park together.

The sun dipped behind the horizon. Crickets chirped, birds sang in the trees.

"Quite the squad I’ve put together," I muttered. "They’re all tyrannical."

"Isn’t that what you wanted?" Yeonghee asked beside me. "You picked them."

"Yeah... And now I’m responsible for all four lives. Every choice carries a price."

"Exactly. Including mine. So you’ll take responsibility for me now, commander."

Of all the people she treated coldly, I was the only one she opened up to. Looking into her soft eyes, I saw a hidden garden of wonders, a place no one else could reach.

She had a kind soul. And she was letting me see it.

"By the way, Yeonghee..."

By then, we were sitting on a bench.

"I wanted to ask you something. My childhood... it’s a blur. How exactly did we meet?"

"Our families visited often. My father and yours were good friends. We used to play together, don’t you remember?"

"Only vaguely. I don’t even recall your face. Or my father’s. I want to know... what did he look like?"

"He was... cold. Pale skin. Hair black like a panther’s. And eyes that didn’t reflect the light. That’s how I remember him."

"All I picture is some ruthless bastard who would kill anything that moved."

She chuckled. "Well, that’s how he looked on TV. But you’re nothing like him. Except maybe the eyes."

"Really...?"

I fell silent. Then she continued.

"There are videos of him online, you know. Why haven’t you watched any?"

"I’m scared. Every time I see anything about my parents, my body shakes. My mind fogs over. I feel like throwing up."

Yeonghee didn’t respond. She saw the hollowness in my gaze and understood just how much it meant to me—to know anything about what happened.

"I hated my father," she said quietly, "for abandoning your family. After your mother died, he never mentioned Yeon-ho again. But the truth is... my father loved your mother. A hopeless, unrequited love."

My eyes widened.

"Director Kang... loved my mother?"

"Yes. He cheated on my mom. Had mistresses. I wanted to forget I was his daughter. But I can’t. I stay in touch with my mother, even though she moved overseas."

Kang Suwon... What a disgrace. You had everything, and still you destroyed the only thing that mattered—your family. Was it worth it? The medals? The women? The throne?

"Children bear the sins of their parents," she said, voice trembling. "We can’t escape that."

She lowered her head. Her blonde hair fell over her face, hiding the pain. She never let anyone see her emotions.

"Sorry... You shouldn’t have to see me like this."

"No... it’s okay."

That’s when I realized—she had no one to confide in. She kept everything bottled up, isolating herself from the world. All her emotions buried deep inside.

She needed someone to listen. A friend. A partner. A parent. Someone to understand her.

And no matter how I felt... I couldn’t reach out to her. Because doing so would mean betraying someone else I held dear.

"I just wish..." she said, voice shaking, "that someone would listen. I wanted that someone to be you. Kihyun, I admire you—and your father. You’re the only one I’ve ever truly called a friend..."

She buried her face in her hands. Tears streamed through her fingers.

My hands trembled. I wanted to touch her. To hold her.

But if I did, I’d accept her feelings—and I’d hate myself for it.

Time passed. Enough for her to understand my silence. She stood and ran, covering her tears.

My hand, half-raised, fell limp. My eyes lost all light.

Darkness. That’s all I felt.

I hate myself.

And I’ve hated myself ever since I read those dossiers on my parents a few days ago.

Profile: Lee Yeon-ho. Missing in action during a raid on the Red Zone at age 40. The last footage captured by helicopter showed him and his team engaging one of the Great Dukes. S-Rank Hunter.

Profile: Lee Arinel. Murdered in her own home at 14:56. Age: 38. Cause of death unknown. All evidence points to an intrusion by an unidentified demon. No traces of demonic blood.

Absolutely nothing else.

Just a failed operation in the Red Zone. No proof that my father was a demon. No answers—only silence.

At this rate, I’ll dig myself an early grave.

Everything I fight for is slipping away, erased from history...

Even now, I feel a crushing fear of the truth. It’s close—close enough to glimpse by peeling back the nature of these cursed demons... But still too far to piece the puzzle together.

The next morning, I went out to have breakfast. Alone. I sipped my hot coffee in a quiet restaurant, letting classical music from a nearby speaker wash over me.

Another peaceful day.

No surprises. No battles. No pain.

Until I glanced out the window.

In an instant, I saw the crowd jolt as if struck by an invisible force. A second later, a massive explosion ripped through the building across the street.

Cars flipped and flew. The shockwave shattered windows and sent debris raining down.

Figures in cloaks leapt from the blast, landing in the chaos. Within seconds, their human forms twisted—mutated—into something monstrous.

Demons.

I barely had time to react before they were everywhere, tearing through the streets like a plague.

The glass next to me exploded as another concussive blast slammed into the building.

More explosions erupted in nearby blocks—synchronized and brutal.

And without thinking, my hand moved on its own. My palm shimmered, summoning a blade into being.

Out of nowhere, when no one expected it...

The demon assault had begun.

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