At the heart of the garden bathed in blue moonlight.

Gangwoo stared at the System window, his face bright with anticipation.

[DLC — Shop]

DLC — Book of Job Change: Elemental Master – 500,000,000 Gold

DLC — Equipment Window Upgrade – 80,000,000 Gold

DLC — Costume Set Box – 18,000,000 Gold

(Refresh)

A list of items with names that were already alluring appeared.

Gangwoo’s gaze locked onto one DLC item.

“500 million Gold…”

It was an item called ‘DLC – Book of Job Change: Elemental Master’.

The price was a staggering 500 million Gold. More than double the Gold he currently had.

‘Just what kind of job could it be…’

Even without the DLC Book of Job Change, there were those who possessed Hidden jobs.

Each and every one of them had carved out a place in their field—job classes were that significant and critical.

Ha Gangwoo knew the importance of a job class all too well.

That’s why he kept collecting job books priced in the hundreds of millions. He didn’t want to skip even one and regret it later.

But the price of this Job Change book was way over the line. So much so that if it wasn’t absolutely necessary, he should just let it go.

Ha Gangwoo stared at ‘DLC – Book of Job Change: Elemental Master’ and let out a heavy sigh.

‘Can’t believe I’m already running low on funds.’

To be honest, he was flustered. He thought 500 million Gold would let him live without worrying about money for a while.

But after just a few Refreshes, he was already facing a shortage of funds.

Ha Gangwoo stroked his chin, lost in thought.

‘I want to buy it. Is there a way? If I sold the Blacksmith class, that might be enough.’

All sorts of thoughts churned through his mind, leaving it a tangled mess.

‘First, let’s just check it out.’

Just what kind of incredible job could be worth 500 million Gold?

Ha Gangwoo smacked his lips and decided to check the item in the DLC list.

“Elemental Master? That’s a magic-type… right.”

Ha Gangwoo tried to check the list but suddenly stopped dead.

‘What the hell.’

In an instant, his expression turned ice-cold.

Ha Gangwoo slowly lifted his head and looked up at the sky.

Countless stars, two blue moons.

And at the center of it all was a single silhouette.

Gangwoo’s eyes narrowed.

‘Demon…’

The wings of a demon, spread wide and enormous.

It was flying straight toward this spot.

‘There was nothing about this.’

Nothing in the Clearing guide.

The Scenario must have changed due to the influence of the DLC – Another Story.

At the center of the quiet flower field, the silhouette descended with its massive wings outspread. The huge wingbeats sent petals swirling into the air.

A woman’s slender frame, two small horns, enormous demonic wings. It was a demon.

The demon’s blue pupils fixed on Ha Gangwoo. Those blue eyes added an uncanny eeriness.

Ha Gangwoo tugged his hoodie’s hood lower and stared back at the demon.

Ding-

[Encounter with Serchel][DLC Hidden]

Description: The demon forces occupying the Teron Kingdom have sensed your presence. Defense Unit Commander Serchel has come in person. Protect your party from Serchel!

Reward: ???

At that moment, a new Quest window appeared.

‘DLC…’

That confirmed it. The being before him was part of the Scenario changed by the DLC.

‘Serchel… I’ve heard that name before.’

Serchel was a must-kill Monster on the kingdom route—she dropped a required item.

‘How strong is she, really?’

The aura she gave off was, at best, beneath Lucifel’s. It didn’t look like she’d be a problem.

‘Let’s wrap this up fast.’

Ha Gangwoo smirked, and Serchel’s lips curled into an enchanting expression as she spoke.

“That power… it’s really *his* power, isn’t it? Interesting. How’d you get it?”

Serchel strode toward him in a form close to nudity. Her voice was refreshingly clear for a demon—pleasant to hear.

‘So this is the Succubus I’ve heard about…’

A figure, gestures, and voice all captivating enough to steal any man’s gaze. The Succubus guess seemed spot on.

‘Ignore her.’

Ha Gangwoo paid Serchel’s words no mind, gripped his Big Glaive, and lowered his stance. He didn’t want to trade words with a Monster spawned by the Scenario anyway.

At the sight, Serchel’s eyebrow twitched.

‘You dare ignore my words, you lowly wretch?’

In an instant, Serchel’s eyes went cold.

‘If you won’t answer, I’ll make you want to.’

Serchel licked her index finger with her tongue and smacked her lips.

A face decent enough to look at—a toy just right for playing with.

To Serchel, the man before her was exactly that kind of existence.

A murderous silence hung over the peaceful flower field lit by two moons.

Whoosh—the moment a fresh breeze swept through, scattering tens of thousands of petals.

Shiiiink—

Serchel’s fingernails lengthened eerily like blades.

‘Cut off his legs first? No… If I want to savor this, better not leave wounds?’

Serchel smiled a mad grin, lost in happy thoughts.

She stared intently at the man before her.

And right then.

Shoosh—

The man before her vanished without a trace.

‘Stealth?!’

Serchel flinched, narrowing her eyes. A blue gleam flashed in them.

But then she frowned.

‘What? Not even my Demon Eye can see him?’

The moment Serchel faltered in confusion—

*Thud!!!!!!*

A thunderous blast erupted as a dizzying impact slammed into her abdomen.

“Haaah…”

Her legs lifted off the ground, and with a *bang!* she hurtled through the air, tearing through it.

*Ccrrrash—* Her body plowed through the flower field, gouging the earth, tumbling all the way out of the mist.

“Haaah…”

Serchel trembled all over, clutching her belly. Green blood dripped from her alluring mouth.

‘What just… how could he have that kind of power…’

In the fog where she couldn’t see an inch ahead, Serchel swept her gaze with a blue gleam.

*Gulp—*

Serchel swallowed dryly without meaning to, forcing himself upright.

‘Pull back. For now.’

His massive wings spread wide.

The moment they stirred the mist, a sickening *Crrrack —*

“Ughhh!!!”

A dizzying pain crashed over him.

Trembling hands found his wing struts. Torn to shreds, raw bone jutting out.

“You bastard!!! Where are you!”

Serchel’s shriek was pure fury, then he saw it.

Two crimson eyes. Blazing red.

“Th—that power…”

Backing away from those red eyes, fear swallowed him whole — demonic energy rivaling his Liege’s.

‘What in the world…’

*Crunch —*

The moment the question surfaced.

Serchel’s head thudded against the ground.

*Ding-*

[You have defeated Elite Commander Serchel.]

[You acquire 22,500 EXP!!]

[Perk bonus: 22,500 bonus EXP acquired.]

[You acquire 210,000 Gold.]

[Encounter with Serchel [DLC] cleared.]

[You acquire 32,500 EXP!!]

[Perk bonus: 32,500 bonus EXP acquired.]

[Acquired Serchel’s Allure.]

[Level up!!]

[Level up!!]

Ha Gangwoo’s crimson eyes flashed, a wicked smile curling his lips.

‘Easy, as expected.’

Serchel — a Mid-Boss in Scenario 1. Supposedly tough. And yet…

His growth curve was insane now.

Gangwoo eyed a single card flickering intensely before Serchel’s body, a satisfied look on his face.

‘What’s this now?’

[Demonfolk: Catalog]

Grade: D

Description: A Catalog exclusive to Demonfolk. Grants a Demonfolk-exclusive skill.

“Demonfolk only?”

Never seen a Catalog like this before.

Gangwoo grasped the Catalog with his black, Demonization-twisted arm.

[You have placed the Demonfolk: Catalog in your Inventory.]

He wanted to use it right away, but there was something to do first.

Gangwoo’s eerie red eyes fixed on Serchel’s corpse — head savagely torn off, yet true to her Succubus title, her body still traced beautiful curves.

But his gaze locked on one spot.

An item pulsing with ominous energy from Serchel’s abdomen.

Gangwoo thrust his hand in without hesitation. The hot slickness of bodily fluids felt all too real, but at this point, that didn’t matter.

*Thud—thud—*

Thick green gore dripped from the item he pulled out.

[Serchel’s Core]

Grade: C

A core imbued with Serchel’s Demonic Energy. Beware—it may lure you into the pleasure of pain.

‘I should take this.’

Serchel’s Core. A key item for clearing the boss.

[You have placed Serchel’s Core into your Inventory.]

‘Only one thing left now.’

Ha Gangwoo cracked a sinister smile and trudged through the mist, his footsteps heavy and deliberate.

Then he picked up a single object.

Thump-thump—

In that instant, Ha Gangwoo’s heart slammed against his ribs.

Was it the Demonic Energy? A faint dizziness crept in, but his mood was soaring.

The object he lifted was none other than Serchel’s head. The beauty’s features—eyes drained of light—felt strangely alluring.

Ha Gangwoo looked at her head, a satisfied expression spreading across his face.

‘I’m curious.’

For one reason only.

‘Devour.’

He wanted to know if Barzel’s Appetite worked on monsters too.

The moment Ha Gangwoo uttered the Activation Word, Barzel’s Appetite engulfed Serchel’s head like black liquid.

Gulp. Gulp—

It contracted and expanded in grotesque shapes, then, with a swallowing sound, a system window appeared.

Ding-

[You have devoured Serchel.]

[Absorption rate: 50%]

[You have acquired 1 of Serchel’s abilities.]

“It works.”

Ha Gangwoo smiled wide as he read the notification.

As expected of a ???-rank item—it didn’t disappoint.

Ha Gangwoo immediately checked Barzel’s Appetite’s Status Window.

[Barzel’s Appetite]

Grade: ???

Durability: ∞/∞

Satiety: 62/100

Attack Power: 30

Mana: +6

Description: A glove imbued with Barzel’s Appetite. A ravenous hunger lingers within; beware lest it consume even the user.

Effects

-Barzel’s Appetite gains the Devour effect.

-On striking, has a 30% (3↑) chance to explode.

-Gains the Extreme Pain effect.

*Extreme Pain: Increases the pain felt by the target by 5 times.

‘Pain?’

Ha Gangwoo frowned as he read the effect.

The acquired effect granted pain. It seemed versatile, but it wasn’t exactly a great one.

‘Can’t be helped.’

A bit disappointing, but since it could absorb monsters, he no longer had to feed it items.

Ha Gangwoo immediately deactivated Demonization. In an instant, his crimson pupils returned to normal. The dizzying vertigo faded just as quickly.

“Hoo…”

Ha Gangwoo grabbed his forehead, his mind suddenly clear, and took a step forward.

‘Let’s go.’

With the current DLC quest, the Scenario must have shifted dramatically. He needed time to think.

And so Ha Gangwoo made his way to Zenon’s hideout.

***

Upon arriving at Zenon’s hideout, there was a brief commotion.

Rain and Teil, both utterly terrified. Evan and his party, with their swords drawn.

Zenon stood with an extraordinary expression, his massive staff trained on them.

Ha Gangwoo brushed it off, muttering something about a commotion from practicing magic.

Everyone’s face eased with relief as they filed into Zenon’s wooden house.

Only Shamiel lingered, stepping closer to Ha Gangwoo.

“Have you made a decision?”

She was asking about the same scenario from that morning.

Shamiel had evidently washed up at Zenon’s place — not a trace of the bloodstained mess remained. She carried an old-world aristocratic air, fitting for high nobility.

‘Hmm…’

Ha Gangwoo scratched his cheek at her question. That last battle had only made the choice ahead more complicated.

‘Better stall.’

Organizing his thoughts, he spoke to Shamiel.

“I’m still thinking it over. I’ll have an answer by tomorrow morning.”

“Ah. I see.”

At his reply, Shamiel’s expression hardened, as if she’d made some resolve.

She approached him slowly. A faint flush colored her face, a strange allure spilling from it.

She gripped his arm and pressed her body close against him. A soft, intimate sensation seeped through his sleeve.

“This is my wish. If you’ll only grant it, I’ll give you every treasure from the castle.”

Shamiel breathed the words, her face less than a handspan away.

‘…’

Ha Gangwoo saw right through her.

‘A honey trap, huh.’

For an instant, the vivid touch threw him off, but he turned his body, putting distance between them.

“There’s no need to go that far. I’ll think about it, though.”

“…”

A hurt flicker crossed Shamiel’s face at his firmness, then she turned and left.

Ha Gangwoo watched her go with a cold expression.

He knew her story well enough from what he’d heard.

Ir Castle, ravaged by a monster horde. Shamiel was its princess.

Her only goal was vengeance.

‘But I have to go there anyway.’

Ir Castle — a stop he’d need to make according to scenario progression.

The artifact slumbering in the castle was a crucial item for the boss fight.

‘Tch… This is tough.’

Ha Gangwoo flopped down onto the flower field and gazed up at the star-filled sky.

[Time of Choice — Main]

Description: You stand at a fork in the path. Skypier awaits your aid. Choose the right road and reach the end of the scenario.

Reward: ???

‘Still the same with the …’

Even after killing Serchel, the Quest hadn’t changed. It seemed the story wouldn’t progress until he chose one of the NPCs.

‘Maybe I’ll just pick Shamiel.’

No matter who he chose, the ending would be similar anyway, but Shamiel’s route looked shortest.

‘And the Evan route doesn’t sit right.’

Evan’s route meant crossing into another country to convince a king — not something he felt like doing.

Ha Gangwoo pushed himself upright and sat cross-legged in the flower garden.

Morning was still a good ways off.

He could take his time sorting things out before deciding.

[Ha Gangwoo]

Level: 40 (2↑)

Strength: 100→110 (10↑)

Vitality: 82→86 (4↑)

A single fight had netted him two whole levels. Just as you’d expect from a Mid-Boss — the EXP was substantial.

*Not much left now,* he thought.

Gangwoo studied his level with a satisfied expression.

Even with the Scenario changed, there’d still be plenty of monsters to fight.

By the time an ordinary Player finished a Scenario, they’d be hovering around Level 40.

But Gangwoo had a 2x EXP bonus. Hitting Level 50 would be a breeze.

Smiling contentedly, he spread his palm.

[Demonfolk: Catalog has been summoned from Inventory.]

A single black card snapped into his hand.

[Demonfolk: Catalog]

Grade: D

Description: A Catalog exclusive to the Demonfolk. Grants a Demonfolk-exclusive skill.

‘I’ve got to learn this.’

A D-grade Catalog — the grade wasn’t anything special, but the format was something he’d never seen before.

A skill just for the Demonfolk? Curiosity burned in him. He wanted to learn it right now.

‘Let’s use it.’

Gangwoo activated the Catalog without hesitation.

Ding-

[Demonfolk: Catalog has been used.]

This time, there was no halo of light.

The Catalog dissolved into black smoke, then *puffed* and seeped into Gangwoo’s body.

Ding-

[Brainwash has been acquired.]

[Brainwash] — Cannot Use

Grade: D

Type: Active

Demonic Energy Cost: 1,000

Action: Lock eyes with the target using the Demon Eye.

Effect: Uses Demonic Energy to brainwash the target.

(Caution! If the target’s resistance is too high, brainwashing will fail.)

“Brainwash?”

Gangwoo stroked his chin, intrigued.

Brainwash. For a mere D-grade skill, its potential was enormous.

The ability to brainwash a target — if his guess was right, the versatility was insane.

‘Brainwash… how far does it go?’

Could it manipulate memories? Or just actions? Questions swirled, but there was no way to test it.

As the doubts crowded his mind,

Gangwoo’s brow furrowed as he stared at the system window.

[Brainwash] — Cannot Use

‘Cannot use?’

He had a rough idea why.

‘So I can only use it while Demonization is active.’

Gangwoo immediately triggered Demonization and checked the Status Window.

[Brainwash]

Grade: D

Type: Active

Demonic Energy Cost: 1,000

Action: Lock eyes with the target using the Demon Eye.

Effect: Uses Demonic Energy to brainwash the target.

‘For an effect like that, this penalty is nothing.’

A satisfied smirk played on Gangwoo’s lips as he deactivated Demonization.

He flopped back onto the flower garden and gazed up at the sky.

‘Should I just storm the castle alone? If Evan’s party dies in the process… hmm. Or maybe the Zenon route?’

Gangwoo’s head swam with the choices ahead.

*Srrrrk-*

“Huh?”

Ha Gangwoo shot to his feet, craning his neck to look up at the sky.

The two moons, which had been glowing a cool blue, were shifting.

‘What the hell?!’

A bead of sweat traced down his temple.

The blue deepened to crimson, inch by inch. And then—the moment they turned fully red—

A low, viscous growl rolled across the earth.

Demonic energy flooded the ground like black tar.

Gangwoo’s fist clenched before he even knew it.

‘Red moons all of a sudden? This wasn’t in the guide.’

Crimson moons. Demonic energy blanketing the land. None of this appeared anywhere in the clearing manual.

He narrowed his eyes, boring straight into the heart of the red moon.

‘De…mons.’

At the center of that crimson disk, five silhouettes were hurtling straight toward him.

Ding-

[The main Quest has been updated.]

[DLC—Another Story is now active.]

From this point forward, the Scenario’s flow had just been rewritten.