Chapter 275: To The Demonic District

—This is Choi Kyung-Mi from International News, bringing you a global perspective. At around two in the morning, local time on June eighth, a large-scale organization distributing illegal Astral Relics was apprehended in France.

—All arrested members of the organization suffered third-degree burns or worse and were immediately transferred to local hospitals. There are growing suspicions that the organization is connected to the influential Duberman Family, which holds considerable power in France. The Duberman Family has publicly denied all allegations, stating they are baseless rumors and that they will respond firmly to any defamation.

—A string of arson attacks on illegal businesses across Europe has occurred over the past month. In response, the EU has—

Beep.

Kwon Oh-Jin turned off the TV and clicked his tongue. “The world is a mess.”

While preparing for his journey to the Demonic District, he heard rumors of an arsonist actively operating in Europe. Eight illegal operations had already been reduced to ashes in the past month. It seemed far too widespread to be the work of a single arsonist.

“You’d have to be at least a high-ranking Awakener to pull that off, right, Ha-Eun?”

Song Ha-Eun, who had been packing next to him, quickly raised her head and awkwardly laughed. “

Huh? Uh

, yeah. Totally!”

“What’s with your reaction?”

“

A-Ah,

it’s nothing! Anyway, are you done packing?”

“Yup. This should be more than enough.” Kwon Oh-Jin patted the black backpack on his back and grinned.

Despite saying that, the backpack only seemed big enough to take on a short hike up a local hill. It looked laughably inadequate for a journey into the unknown Demonic District.

“That's the item Si-Hoo gave you, right?”

“Yeah.”

A month ago, Kwon Oh-Jin had visited the association after hearing that Kim Si-Hoo had prepared something for him. He had received this backpack as a gift. It was an Astral Relic with expandable storage, like the classic infinite bag one would find in fantasy novels. It even reduced the weight of whatever it stored inside, making it light and easy to carry.

“How much did you pack in it?” she asked.

“About four to five hundred kilograms? I loaded it with six months’ worth of food, emergency potions, a tent, and a foldable bed. Basically, everything we might need.”

With this much, they likely wouldn’t have to worry about the basics to survive once they entered the Demonic District.

“Damn, you really crammed it full.”

“Do you need anything else, Mr. Oh-Jin? If you tell me, I can have Roberto get it right away.” Isabella had meticulously gone through the bag’s contents with a checklist to make sure nothing essential was missing.

“This should be plenty. We can get anything else we need once we’re there anyway,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

“Alright. Oh, right. Do you need anything, unnie?”

“

Hmm?

Me? Not really?” Song Ha-Eun had already packed a change of clothes and everything she would need.

“What about skincare? Lotion? Sheet masks?”

“

Huh?

Why would I need that in the Demonic District?”

They weren’t going on a relaxing vacation. Their goal was to defeat the Demonic District kings and stop the Heavenly Demon, so she didn’t care about cosmetics.

Isabella frowned and shouted, “You can’t ignore skincare!”

She reached out and gently touched Song Ha-Eun’s flawless skin.

“You can’t afford to be careless just because you’re a high-ranking Awakener. If something happened to your skin, just imagine how heartbroken Mr. Oh-Jin would be!”

“

Uh...

y-you think so?”

“They don’t take up much space anyway, so you have to bring them. Your skin will be at major risk, especially in harsh environments like the Demonic District!”

“It’s not like we’re going on vacation or anything...”

“Just come with me, unnie. I’ve got a few travel-sized products. They may not be top-tier, but their portability is perfect.”

“W-Wait!”

Isabella dragged away Song Ha-Eun.

“They’ve gotten a lot closer, haven’t they?” Vega said.

“I know, right?”

No one knew what had happened when he went to the association a month ago, but ever since then, Song Ha-Eun and Isabella had grown surprisingly closer. They had even left the country together for a few days while he prepared for the Demonic District. They often spent time together at home too. Sometimes, they would chat for hours in the bath like old friends.

They were so attached that even Kwon Oh-Jin began to feel left out.

“Are you feeling a little left out?” He looked over at Vega, perched on his shoulder.

If even he felt this way, Vega probably felt it even more.

“

Ahem

. O-Of course not!” Vega coughed awkwardly and shook her head.

Judging by her flustered face, she definitely felt left out.

“Well, we’ll have lots of time together again once we’re in the Demonic District.”

Until now, they had all been busy with preparations. Once inside, they likely wouldn’t be apart much.

“I told you, I’m not.” Vega huffed and lightly slapped Kwon Oh-Jin’s forehead.

“Where’s Riarc?” he asked.

“Wait a moment.”

Vega pressed her hands together as if praying. A silver glow shimmered as light burst into the air. From it, a wolf with beautiful silver fur emerged.

Riarc, a Star Spirit who inherited a portion of Vega’s soul, looked over at Kwon Oh-Jin. “Kid, are you really thinking of going to the Demonic District?”

“I have to.”

Riarc looked away with a heavy silence. His drooping ears and gloomy eyes gave off a sorrowful atmosphere.

“You’re not acting like yourself. What’s wrong?” Kwon Oh-Jin asked.

Riarc shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

He was acting quite differently from the fiery personality he usually displayed.

“So, are you heading straight for the Khan Kingdom?” Riarc asked.

The Kingdom of Khan was the beastkin nation in the Demonic District. It was the closest kingdom to the first rift that connected Earth to the Demonic District and also Riarc’s homeland.

“No, I want to talk to Megrez first and hear what he knows about the Khan Kingdom. You said you don’t know the current state of things there either, right?”

Riarc had become Vega’s Star Spirit more than a hundred years ago. Once he became a Star Spirit, the restrictions of the Law made it difficult for him to leave the Sanctum. It made sense that he knew little about the current situation in his homeland.

“That’s right... I don’t know what things are like there now.” Riarc drooped his head and stared at the floor.

Kwon Oh-Jin noticed Riarc’s front paw trembling slightly. “Riarc?”

Just as Kwon Oh-Jin furrowed his brow and moved toward Riarc, his vision distorted as new memories flooded in.

“How could a beastkin enter the Sanctum...”

“Grrrk, grrr.”

“Your wounds are serious. Are you alright?

Inside a Sanctum made of starlight, a silver wolf covered in blood collapsed while a goddess looked down at him with concern.

“I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn’t protect you...”

The wounded wolf murmured, tears tinged with blood streamed from his eyes.

The silver-haired goddess gently furrowed her graceful brow as she looked down at him.

“I’ll call for Albali. Wait just a moment.”

The goddess rose and summoned the Celestial of Aquarius. Soon, Albali appeared and healed the wolf’s wounds.

As soon as he was healed, the silver wolf staggered away.

“Your wounds haven’t fully healed. Stay still for now.”

The goddess gently held him back and asked,

“Come to think of it, I haven’t even asked your name?”

The silver wolf turned to her silently and finally opened his mouth.

“Riarc,”

he said, full of regret and guilt.

“Riarc, warrior of the Silver Mane Tribe.”

Crackle!

Kwon Oh-Jin’s vision returned to normal.

Riarc stood with his head hung low, just like in the vision, drenched in self-blame and remorse.

Kwon Oh-Jin narrowed his eyes.

This is...

These weren’t Riarc’s own memories. They belonged to someone else, most likely Vega’s.

Was that Deja Vu activating?

Deja Vu was a skill that passed down fragments of memories embedded in one’s Stigma. It didn’t necessarily react only to Lee Shin-Hyuk’s memories.

Still, Vega’s memories had never come through before.

Perhaps something had changed when the Black Heaven had undergone its ninth enlightenment.

Kwon Oh-Jin furrowed his brow in thought and looked back at Riarc. In the memory, Riarc had looked just like he did now, crushed by guilt and regret.

“Is it because of what happened back then?” Kwon Oh-Jin asked.

“W-What?! H-how do you know—

ah

.” Riarc stuttered, but soon understood that only the Regressor Kwon Oh-Jin could know his past.

“This isn’t something you need to think about, kid.” Riarc coldly turned his head. “More importantly, how long are you going to dawdle? A true warrior acts swiftly and decisively!”

“Alright, alright...” Kwon Oh-Jin didn’t press further about Riarc’s past.

After all, everyone had at least one painful memory they would rather not talk about.

“Ha-Eun! Isabella! Time to head out!”

“Ah, okay!”

“Mr. Oh-Jin, just a moment, please!”

Song Ha-Eun and Isabella came rushing out of the room, their arms full of cosmetics.

***

Kwon Oh-Jin boarded the private jet prepared by the Colgrande Family and headed for the North Pole.

As always, demonic beasts surrounded the area around the first rift. However, Kwon Oh-Jin’s group pushed through without being overwhelmed.

“Now then.” He stepped into the black rift that spanned a diameter of fifty kilometers.

A weightless sensation washed over him, and his vision blacked out. Soon, the Demonic District unfolded before him. A land devoid of humans and full of demonic beasts.

As soon as he set foot in the Demonic District, a mocking voice echoed in his mind.

—So you’ve arrived. I’ve been waiting.

Without hesitation, Kwon Oh-Jin stepped forward. “Yeah...”

He didn't know whose voice this was when he first entered the Demonic District, but now he knew.

“I’m here now.”