CHAPTER 174: 174 - THE FIELD TRIP [7]

(Raven’s POV)

"Kekekeke—"

I turned around to face the majin that appeared from the bushes. He was still laughing like an idiot, as if the entire situation was a joke meant for his amusement.

I felt him following me just a few minutes after I entered this forest.

His killing intent was weak, but consistent. The kind of intent that comes from someone confident enough to play with their prey.

"Hmm? Why are you just standing there, scared?"

Anyway, he suddenly asked me that, his voice echoing faintly in the quiet forest.

’In what aspect do I look scared for him? Is he an idiot?’

I asked myself, a frown forming on my face in disbelief. His grin widened as if he could sense irritation, mistaking it for fear.

[I mean, he’s contracted to a demon— he’s not right in the head.]

Sariel said to me, his tone as calm as usual.

"Fair."

I replied to him, shrugging a little. My shoulders felt light, almost too relaxed for a moment like this.

"Why are you talking to the air? Are you pretending to have someone else with you?"

The majin asked again, tilting his head in mock curiosity. His tone had that condescending ring to it— the kind that made people want to punch him in the face.

"That’s not going to work, kid. I can sense every presence a hundred meters around me."

He sounded proud of that. Like it was something special.

"I know you’re alone. Nice try though."

Then he followed with that, smirking like a lunatic.

"..."

Just looking at his face annoys me. He thinks I’m some kind of cornered rat, like I should be trembling before him or begging for mercy.

"This is absurd, I should finish up here."

Fwish~

I muttered as I took out [Nyx] from my [Quick Slot] and held it in my right hand. The cool metal felt familiar— steadying.

Seeing me do that—

"KAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA—!!"

The majin started laughing maniacally. It was the kind of laughter that scraped the air, crawling into your ears until it made you clench your teeth.

"What are you going to do with that gun?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

He asked and then continued laughing. Now it’s not just his face that annoys me, but his voice too. Every second he spoke, I felt my patience thinning.

"Ugh, just shut the fuck up and come at me already."

I grumbled, my voice low.

"Or what? Are you scared?"

Then I followed with that, throwing his own words back at him.

"HA—"

The majin stopped laughing at my last words. His grin faded slightly as he slowly looked at me again, now with a frown spreading across his face.

’Provoking enemies with problems in their heads is really that easy, huh.’

I thought, taking note of that mentally for later.

"You’re funny, kid. If that’s what you want..."

BAM!

"THEN I’LL GIVE IT TO YOU!!!"

Anyway, the majin kicked off the ground with a crazed smile on his face. He was rushing straight at me like a wild bull charging for blood. His feet tore into the soil, scattering leaves and dust with every step.

FWIP-

I immediately raised my right hand, [Nyx] pointed in front of me, and without hesitation—

PSH-

I pulled the trigger.

"THAT’S NOT GOING TO WORK!!!"

SWISH~

The majin twisted his body in midair and dodged my bullet. His movement was unnatural, like his joints didn’t follow human logic.

Then in the next moment—

FWISH—

He was already on my left side, literally just a step away. A short sword in each of his hands, his expression deranged with bloodlust.

"DIE!!!"

He lunged at me, ready to attack!

Though—

PHUCK-

I guess I was faster than him.

"Huh...?"

Thud-

The majin dropped to his knees and straight up fell flat on the ground, like a puppet whose strings were suddenly cut.

But in this case, he stopped because of the dagger stabbed in his neck.

"Ghuck?!"

He coughed out blood, dark red and thick, splattering on the ground as he trembled. With his remaining strength, he looked up at me.

"H-How...?"

He managed to ask between gurgles.

"..."

I just looked at him without saying anything, my [Black Dagger] still lodged in his neck. He’ll die any second now.

I guess he’s surprised. After all, for him— he just rushed at me, and now he’s suddenly dying.

But for me, it’s not just that.

Earlier, I took out [Nyx] to grab his attention using it. I knew he’d underestimate me because of how guns are seen in this world.

Then, I provoked him to make him come at me in a straight line.

And when he did, I fired in front of me, not to kill, but to make him go where I want him to.

It would’ve been good if he got hit in the head and died there, but I guess he was still a majin, so he managed to dodge in the end.

Well, I already expected that. That’s why I had already taken out [Black Dagger] from my [Quick Slot] the moment I fired my shot.

Then, using [Insight], I was able to predict where he would go and try to attack me... to my left side.

I poured mana into my dagger, and when he lunged to strike— I momentarily activated [Thought Acceleration].

The world slowed, the sound around me stretching thin. In that slowed-down moment, I precisely stabbed him at the side of his neck.

It all happened in a matter of seconds.

"Hmm, this guy’s dead. That was fast."

I mumbled, seeing the majin’s unfocused reddish eyes. I kicked him a few times to see any reaction, but still nothing.

"This is the first time I killed someone with my own hands, and using a dagger at that— not my gun."

SHIIK-

I said as I crouched down and pulled out [Black Dagger] from the majin’s neck. The sound of the blade leaving his flesh echoed briefly.

I don’t feel any remorse or guilt. If anything, I just feel disgusted because his blood got on me and it’s sticky. I cast [Cleanse] to myself to remove that.

Maybe because I know this guy deserves death. I might not know his story, but I’m pretty sure that if he’s trying to kill innocent people, he deserves this.

And also, even though it’s my first time killing with my own hand— it’s not my first time cutting people’s flesh.

I literally cut Sean and his goons... I cut off his limbs and threw him at a herd of goblins.

Anyway, I was actually searching the majin’s body right now.

"Nothing worth taking. I already expected it, seeing how weak he is."

But all he has is trash.

I mean, yes, he’s a majin.

But he’s probably the lowest of the low. Someone who made a contract with a nameless, low-ranking demon.

And that demon probably has a lot of contractors as well, so this guy only gets a small fraction of its power.

"It just seems like this guy’s strength and speed got boosted two levels from his original rank. Is it really worth it to sign with a demon just for that?"

I asked myself. This majin is [D-] rank, a rank below me.

I mean, what can I expect? The professors and staff are letting guys like him roam around. That just means this one isn’t dangerous at all.

"There’s probably more of this guy here in the forest."

I stated, standing up as the night breeze brushed against me.

And with a casual tone—

"Hmm, I’ll try and search for them. I’m bored anyway."

I added that, walking deeper into the woods, the moonlight faintly trailing behind me.

Just like that— my first encounter with a majin ended like a breeze passing by.