SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy
Chapter 82: Thunder Road, Part 2

Chapter 82: Thunder Road, Part 2

When the trainer left, the girl remained alone in the quiet. In that silence, her thoughts rang louder than any noise. To want strength — that was one thing. But to understand why you need it — something entirely different.

People had changed. They had grown colder, more calculating. As if the fear that their home might burn down again had dried out any sympathy left in their hearts.

The world had grown quieter — but not warmer. And to Yeonghee, that felt deeply alien.

It was as if the sense of unity that once bound people together had vanished. Perhaps that was for the better — ever since demons faded from the radar, humanity had begun to worry about other things.

Seated on the floor, Yeonghee brewed tea from dried herbs. Despite the size of the house, she didn’t feel lonely in it. The silence was her companion — never oppressive, always calm.

The next day, she arrived at the Association. The high-rise building hadn’t changed much, save for the new banner painted above the entrance.

As she walked through the corridors, her tranquil gaze passed over hunters in their new uniforms.

Each uniform bore a different-colored emblem depending on the hunter’s rank. At present, Yeonghee wore a green uniform with a silver crest — marking her as an A-rank combatant.

S-rank hunters wore golden insignias, and they also could be easily distinguished by the stars on their shoulder straps.

At last, Yeonghee reached the nerve center. The room was full of staff analyzing field reports on their monitors.

At the front stood a screen spanning an entire wall. And in front of it stood Sashi Heiwa.

Over the past year, Sashi had changed as well — adopting Korean customs so fully that she now blended in seamlessly.

It was this transformation that had earned her the trust and loyalty of the entire operations center, who now recognized her as their new Director.

"Miss Sashi," Yeonghee called as she approached. "How is the new CEO of the Association doing? Have you gotten used to the workload?"

"Oh, Lady Kang..." Sashi smiled warmly. "At times it’s hard to manage such a heavy load, but duty waits for no one."

"Tough job you have," Yeonghee said, letting her eyes drift around the room. "I remember my father staying up late at night, drowning in unresolved issues. The Association still remains a cornerstone of the country. I’m finally starting to understand what he felt."

"My dear lady..." Sashi responded gently, glancing to the side. "I’ll admit, I’m beginning to feel his fatigue too. Even though Umbra has vanished from the radar, new problems have surfaced in the Orange Zone — the local mafia is getting bolder. Rumors say some of them are demons in disguise. And so, we spend long nights trying to resolve these threats."

Yeonghee chuckled softly.

"It’s not easy for hunters these days. People don’t realize that even without an external threat, it’s our duty to protect order from within. But you made the right decision in abolishing the old ranking system. No longer is one’s worth tied to how much demon blood they have — now it’s about what they do. That gives everyone a fair chance to show their true strength."

Sashi nodded, a faint sadness in her expression.

"Yes... Back then, your entire fate could be dictated by a number on paper. But even among the low-ranks, there were some who rivaled the S-class. I still believe — even with just a drop of demonic blood, a person can reach the same heights as someone with a lot of in them."

"And I believe that too," Yeonghee replied.

Sashi paused, visibly struck by her conviction. A few minutes later, they were both in the Director’s office.

As she took her seat, Sashi brought up the topic again.

"Lady Kang, why haven’t you joined the S-rank division? These days, one doesn’t need to summon blood weapons or armor to qualify. Since you have the will to fight, you can be one of them."

Yeonghee shook her head.

"With all due respect, I’m not ready to abandon the old ways just yet. I don’t want to stand among the strongest until I truly believe I belong there."

"But strength isn’t only about summoning," Sashi insisted. "You already possess all the other qualities."

"Maybe... but I still can’t see myself as their equal. I’ve looked them in the eye — those who’ve faced death and returned. There’s something in their aura that can’t be faked. I may stand beside them, but I’ve always felt like a shadow at the foot of a mountain."

As she spoke, her mind drifted to Jisun, Minho... and Lee Kihyun. Longing for the past roster, she wished they could all be together again — even if she knew that was no longer possible.

"That’s why," she continued, "I’m learning the art of summoning."

"Y-you don’t mean... You’re going to prove that the old limitations around summoning are a myth?"

"Yes — and I’m already halfway there. Miss Sashi, thanks to the changes you brought, I finally realized... The world doesn’t need icons anymore. People will adapt to the new — and in such a world, it’s easier for the strong to find their place."

And so, she continued down the untamed path, determined to test herself. But she never forgot her duty — to protect the homeland she loved.

When she returned home, she walked into her room and stood before the portrait of her family. Her fingers gently traced the faces, searching for the warmth of her parents — but the picture was cold. Lifeless.

"Father... ever since they imprisoned you... I haven’t visited you even once. Don’t get me wrong — I’m still angry. But no one... no one can ever take your place as my father."

She covered her face with her hand, fighting back the tears. So many feelings left unsaid. So many words that burned inside her — waiting to be released. But more than anything... she just wanted to see him again.

"It’s cruel, isn’t it...? I have everything, and yet I’ve never known what it means to be truly seen. I never felt like a daughter... never felt loved by her father."

Meanwhile, in the darker corners of unholy places, where lawlessness reigned, parts of the Orange Zone had fallen under criminal control.

These groups split into clans and called themselves the Mafia. And some of them hid their true nature behind human faces.

Demons moved through the shadows.