Chapter 926

‘Ugh... I really miss Hyung-Seok right now...’

Siegfried waited patiently for the search to finish, his heart thumping wildly at the thought of finally getting to mess with Chae Hyung-Seok again.

[Alert: Target located!]

[Alert: Revealing the location of Hyungseokius!]

Fortunately, Chae Hyung-Seok was still in the Eternal Forest.

‘

Ah! Found him! He’s still here!’

Siegfried cheered inwardly.

Actually, he half-expected Chae Hyung-Seok to have been forcefully recalled to the Demon Realm by now. With Credos and Baroque incinerated into ashes, Chae Hyung-Seok, who was summoned by his master’s powers, should have been automatically unsummoned as well.

But that was not the case.

Chae Hyung-Seok was still in the Eternal Forest, and he was just a short distance from where Siegfried stood.

‘

Eh? Why is he hiding over there?’

Siegfried wondered, narrowing his eyes and taking a closer look at Chae Hyung-Seok’s location.

Siegfried tilted his head in confusion after seeing Chae Hyung-Seok lying flat in a patch of tall grass roughly thirty meters away. After all, he should have hightailed it out of the forest ages ago if the thing between his shoulders was working.

‘

Hmm... It looks like he’s spying on us...’

Siegfried came to that conclusion and decided to issue a command.

“We’re going back!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

He pretended not to notice Chae Hyung-Seok at all and ordered his men to go back.

Siegfried flashed a grin after noticing Chae Hyung-Seok discreetly tailing them from a distance.

‘So, you’re scheming something, aren’t you?’

He knew Chae Hyung-Seok was plotting something, so he decided to strike first.

“I’ll excuse myself for a while. I have to take a leak,” Siegfried said before breaking away from the group and circling around to get behind Chae Hyung-Seok.

He could feel chills throughout his body as the hair on his arms stood up.

‘

Angh! Nngg! Hyung-Seok baby~!’

Just the thought of seeing his beloved Chae Hyung-Seok once again sent a surge of dopamine in his brain.

***

Meanwhile, Chae Hyung-Seok gnashed his teeth while hiding in a bush and spying on Siegfried.

‘

Damn it... What the hell am I supposed to do now?’

Right before being forcibly recalled to the Demon Realm, Baroque gave Chae Hyung-Seok an order.

“

Hyungseokius! Anyone will do! Kill just one among Siegfried van Proa, Lohengrin, Brunhilde, or Verdandi! The contract will be complete then!”

“You have exactly one hour! You must complete your mission within an hour! I’ll use my remaining mana to delay it, so make sure to complete your mission! I’m counting on you, Hyungseokius!”

Chae Hyung-Seok received a quest from Baroque.

[Relief Pitcher]

[Baroque is being recalled to the Demon Realm!]

[Complete the contract with Credos by eliminating any member of the Proatine Royal Family in place of Baroque.]

[Type: Time Attack Quest]

[Time Limit: 1 hour]

[Progress: 0% (0/1)]

[Siegfried van Proa]

[Brunhilde van Proa]

[Verdandi van Proa]

[Lohengrin]

[Reward: +20 Levels, 5 Tons of Gold]

[Warning: This quest must be completed within the time limit.]

The quest rewards were tremendous. A whopping twenty levels was one thing, but the five tons of gold further sweetened the deal.

It was indeed a high-risk mission, but the payoff was just as high.

‘I have to clear this quest no matter what.’

Lately, Chae Hyung-Seok was still barely scraping by. Yes, he cleared most of his debts thanks to Baroque’s help, but he was still repaying his debts and couldn’t afford to live the life of luxury he once lived.

If he managed to clear this quest, then he would be able to pay off a significant chunk of his debt and make a financial comeback.

In other words, he couldn’t afford to let this chance slip away.

‘

I just need an opening. Just a small opening is all I need...’

Chae Hyung-Seok thought while lying low in the bush and waiting patiently.

His target was Lohengrin, who was currently unconscious and completely defenseless. If he could somehow just slip past the knights guarding him, then killing him would be a piece of cake.

What if he got caught after killing Lohengrin?

‘

I’ll smile for them before they kill me.’

Chae Hyung-Seok’s sole focus right now was to complete the Relief Pitcher quest.

Nothing else mattered as long as he cleared the quest, and even if he died afterward, he would still gain a net increase of seventeen levels after losing three levels from dying.

It was then.

“I’ll excuse myself for a while. I have to take a leak.”

Siegfried left to take a bathroom break.

‘

Now’s my chance!’

Chae Hyung-Seok began moving quietly the moment Siegfried left, and he discreetly made his way toward the stretcher carrying Lohengrin.

‘

You have to focus. You only got one shot at this.’

Chae Hyung-Seok focused, knowing that he couldn’t afford to miss this single opportunity.

‘

Three... two...’

“Hey, what are you doing, Hyung-Seok?”

Just as he was about to strike, someone asked him a question.

“I’m busy right now. Don’t talk to me.”

“Busy with what?”

“An important quest—”

“...?”

Chae Hyung-Seok turned and froze.

“...!”

Siegfried was standing right behind him, staring at him with a wide mischievous grin.

Badump! Badump! Badump!

Chae Hyung-Seok’s heart pounded like a war drum.

“Hey~ I thought you went back to the Demon Realm already, Hyung-Seok~” Siegfried said, his eyes gleaming.

“T-That is...”

“Oh! Did you want to play with me?!”

“...”

“You should’ve just said so, man. You know I’ll welcome you anytime with open arms, right?”

Chae Hyung-Seok’s mind went blank as Siegfried teased with a smug grin.

Before he realized it, the first emotion he felt after coming face to face with Siegfried wasn't anger but fear. He thought he would finally get his revenge with the help of the demons, but he never expected that the Marchioni Empire and dragons, of all things, would enter the fray.

“Were you trying to mess with my family while I was gone, Hyung-Seok?”

“N-No, it’s not like that...! T-This is all just a misunderstanding!”

“Just shut up and take your beating, bro.”

Bam!

Siegfried punched Chae Hyung-Seok so hard he was sent flying.

“

Gah!”

He crashed into the ground, groaning in pain.

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!

Bam! Smack, smaaack!

Siegfried quickly followed up by kicking Chae Hyung-Seok... right between his legs.

“

Ack!

W-Wait! No! Not there! Plea—

aaaack!

YOU SADISTIC SON OF A—

aaaargh!”

[Warning: Your reproductive organs have suffered severe damage!]

[Alert: Status Ailment!]

[Alert: You have been afflicted with the Eunuch’s Curse!]

[Alert: You will be unable to access adult content for the next 6 months!]

As a result, Chae Hyung-Seok could no longer enjoy his only source of joy in the Demon Realm.

However, Siegfried didn't stop there.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

He stomped Chae Hyung-Seok’s precious spot until it was reduced to an unrecognizable state.

“

AAAAAAARGHH!”

Chae Hyung-Seok screamed in agony.

His precious part was reduced to minced meat that blood started soaking only the groin area of his pants.

[Alert: You will be unable to access adult content for the next 1 year and 6 months!]

[Alert: You will be unable to access adult content for the next 3 years and 6 months!]

(omitted...)

[Alert: You will be unable to access adult content for the next 10 years!]

Chae Hyung-Seok was now impotent—literally.

“N-No... Noooo...! I’m a eunuch...? I can’t access adult content... I’m... a eunuch... It’s gone... gone...” Chae Hyung-Seok sobbed uncontrollably while clutching his groin.

Anger? He had forgotten what that was even.

All that remained was fear, sorrow, and despair.

However, Siegfried was still far from done.

He infused the fire attribute into his +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp and heated it up until it shone red.

“Oh no...”

“That’s a bit...”

The knights and soldiers, who rushed over after hearing the screams, stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of the glowing red weapon.

“You must be sad because your character is weak, Hyung-Seok. Let me make you stronger,” Siegfried said.

“H-Hey, no way...!”

“I noticed bald characters are really strong.”

“N-No! Anything but that!”

“Your haircut is long overdue, buddy. You look way too messy.”

“Hey! Y-You crazy bastard! This is too much! Even if I—!”

It was then.

Tssssss!

The red-hot +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp seared Chae Hyung-Seok’s scalp.

“S-Stop! Stop! You maniac—

aaaaaaah!”

Chae Hyung-Seok screamed in sheer agony.

However, Siegfried did not let up.

After all, Chae Hyung-Seok dared to lay hands on his family. And for that, Siegfried would make sure to destroy both his precious party and his hairline.

***

Siegfried burned every single hair follicle on Chae Hyung-Seok’s scalp, leaving not a single patch of it unburnt.

As a result, a new skill was created.

[Alert: You have acquired a new skill!]

[Alert: Grow Hair Grow has been created!]

The effect of this new skill was...

[Grow Hair Grow]

[The last hope for bald people.]

[A magical incantation to restore precious hair.]

[Type: Passive Skill]

[Effect: Chant Hair Grow Hair whenever you have time. The burnt hair follicles will gradually revive over ten years, allowing hair to grow back slowly afterward.]

[Note: Stay strong! Don’t lose hope!]

Fortunately, he was not permanently bald. If he diligently chanted "Hair Grow Hair," there was a chance that he'd regain his hair in ten years.

“

Woohoo!”

Siegfried let out a triumphant cheer, completely unaware of the skill he had just gifted Chae Hyung-Seok. All the frustration he had bottled up from not being able to torment him was released in one go.

Of course, his frustration would eventually go off-cooldown, which meant that he would start missing Chae Hyung-Seok again.

While Siegfried reveled in the satisfaction...

“

Sniff... Sniff...”

Chae Hyung-Seok sobbed uncontrollably at his misery...

“Huh? Hey, are you crying...?” Siegfried asked in surprise.

“

Sniff...”

“Y-You’re really crying, man?”

“Don’t talk to me!” Chae Hyung-Seok screamed, slapping his hand away.

“...”

“

Sniff... Sniff...”

At this point, he was not even angry at Siegfried anymore, and he also didn't feel like cursing at him. He just felt so bad for himself that he couldn’t stop crying.

‘How did I end up getting involved with that bastard...? Sniff...’

Without a doubt, the worst mistake of his life was messing with that loser, Han Tae-Sung, three years ago.

Why?

If he had never messed with Han Tae-Sung, the monster known as Siegfried van Proa wouldn't have been born.

However, Siegfried took Chae Hyung-Seok’s reaction in a completely different way.

“Oh! I knew it! You’re happy to have fun with me after so long! Aww, come on, man! You should visit more often then!” Siegfried said with a huge smile. He had completely misunderstood the reason behind Chae Hyung-Seok's tears.

‘

W-Who wouldn’t see that he’s crying out of misery?’

‘What part of him looks happy...?’

‘Your Majesty... I don’t think that is the case...’

The Proatine soldiers and knights were at a loss for words after witnessing Siegfried’s complete lack of empathy for Chae Hyung-Seok.

It was clear to anyone with eyes that Chae Hyung-Seok was crying out of despair rather than out of happiness.

“Man, did you really have that much fun? I mean, crying tears of joy is a bit too much, no? We can always play again next time,” Siegfried said, patting Chae Hyung-Sok on his seared head.

Swoosh.

He injected him with some radioactive microbes.

“That’s enough playing for today, Hyung-Seok. Do me a favor and deliver my gift to Baroque, okay?”

“

Urrghhhhh!”

As Siegfried’s radioactive microbes invaded him, Chae Hyung-Seok’s eyes took on an eerie green hue.