Chapter 33: Approaching the End

"I'm a fire user, is there a problem with that?"

As I asked this question, I remembered when I told Zhu Shi about my superpowers, she was surprised that I had defeated the Fallen Witcher with my fire abilities.

And during the confrontation with the Fallen Witcher, when he discovered that I was a fire user, his wariness dropped by more than one level.

He had been proceeding cautiously, carefully employing feints and diversions against me, an opponent with unknown abilities, but then he suddenly closed the distance boldly. It seemed not only because the unknown had become known, but also because he genuinely believed that fire abilities weren't anything special.

Does Zhu Shi think so too? But I've already told her about my battle. Since she thinks the Fallen Demon Hunter is strong, then I, who was able to defeat the Fallen Demon Hunter relatively easily, shouldn't at least not be considered weak, right?

"The common problem for fire-type ability users is their severe lack of defense and mobility," Agent Kong explained. "Those of you who manipulate natural elements, especially those like you who manipulate fire, are characterized by extremely powerful destructive force. Once an opponent takes your attack head-on, they will easily be reduced to dust on the spot. Even if the opponent has strong defense, it's just a matter of attacking a few more times—provided that the opponent obediently acts as a punching bag."

"Correspondingly, your margin for error in the face of danger is far lower than that of your opponents. Once you embark on the path of the Witcher, you will face countless dangerous monsters, some of which can even make mistakes in front of you countless times; and if you make a mistake even once, you will be doomed."

"The key to going far on the path of a witcher is not how much success you can achieve, but how much failure you can withstand."

"I see, it's a matter of margin for error..." Now I completely understand. "So, all we need to do is improve defense and mobility, right?"

"That's easier said than done. The danger posed by these strange creatures comes in countless forms, not just physical forces, but also spiritual and cursed powers, even the power of spacetime and the power of rules, and forces even more incomprehensible. That's why I've never envied those witchers; the world they face is too terrifying." Agent Kong sighed, "You've already experienced it firsthand, haven't you? That truly helpless and hopeless situation, that despair from which there's no way to escape..."

"Zhu Shi mentioned in his report that the cave beneath the fifteenth-floor room is an absolutely isolated alternate dimension. Not only can electronic signals not be transmitted, but even supernatural connections are severed. It seems that there is a spiritual connection between you and the flames you summoned, which should be the conclusion you reached through your exploration."

“That’s right.” I recalled the experience of being trapped in the cave and said with empathy, “Even with great power, there are always times when you are powerless against unpredictable monsters… So is that Zhu Shi’s reason for resisting me becoming the Demon Hunter of Luoshan?”

Thinking about it this way, Zhu Shi might not have directly used this argument against me because he was afraid of hurting my self-esteem.

“That’s not all.” Detective Kong thought for a moment. “Zhu Shi also detests killing and bloodshed. Even so, she will still act when necessary… In short, a demon hunter’s opponents are not only monsters and strange creatures, but also humans who manipulate magic to do evil. Perhaps she doesn’t want you to kill anyone.”

"But I've already fought the Fallen Witcher!" I retorted.

"That's different. First, the Fallen Witcher didn't die at your hands; second, he wasn't defeated by you in human form." His voice suddenly became very serious. "With your superpowers, killing a human would be a piece of cake. There's this claim, whether true or not, that on the battlefields of this era, humans are more likely to overcome the psychological burden of killing each other than in ancient times. Do you know what the basis for this claim is?"

I've never been on a battlefield, but I immediately understood his unspoken meaning: "Because of the difference in weapons?"

"That's right. In ancient times, humans killed people with knives and guns. Although there were ranged weapons, it was more about face-to-face stabbing weapons into the opponent's living flesh. They even had to listen to the enemy's screams and watch their painful faces up close. This process was extremely cruel," he said slowly. "In modern times, however, humans use firearms. Pulling the trigger can take the life of an opponent."

"Even more relaxed than soldiers who wield firearms are those in positions of power. They can simply sit in their offices and give a single order to kill people thousands of miles away, without any psychological burden. Many powerful people have harmed countless people, not because they were born cold-blooded demons, but because it all seems too easy to them, no different from clicking the left mouse button in a strategy game."

"And what about you? As a superpowered individual, you are born with 'power' that is far more terrifying than that of those in power. You don't need to move your own hands or feet, or even give orders to anyone but yourself; you can take many lives with just a thought... Once you start killing, can you really go back?"

After hearing his words, I couldn't help but start to think seriously.

This is an examination of one's own soul.

I am well aware that I possess the power to take another's life with a mere thought, and therefore I have often imagined myself killing. Right now, I am also simulating the scene of actually killing someone in my mind, repeatedly confirming my resolve.

However, whether a person living in a peaceful society can bring themselves to kill someone at a critical moment cannot be truly confirmed until the situation arises; and whether killing someone in such an effortless manner will lead to indifference towards human life, treating it as insignificant as dust or dirt, is something that cannot be known without actually experiencing it.

As I pondered this, I noticed that Detective Kong didn't seem to be waiting for my answer. Instead, he stared silently into the distance, lost in his own thoughts.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through my mind. His question wasn't just applicable to me; it applied to the entire demon hunter community as well. Didn't they, like me, possess "power far more terrifying than that of those in high positions of authority"?

Perhaps not all of them possess the power to easily turn humans to ashes like I do, but they should certainly have all the means at play, such as mind manipulation and curse attacks. Since ancient times, many self-made heroes, upon rising to power, have claimed that auspicious omens have descended from heaven. Any slight element of coincidence in their achievements is glorified as divine mandate, as if they were favored by an unimaginable being, thus gaining the support of numerous superstitious followers.

Even deception has this effect, let alone the demon hunters who truly possess supernatural powers?

Why, even with the existence of supernatural organizations like Luo Shan, does history still primarily focus on ordinary people? Shouldn't the current political system also be based on "superhumans"? It's not that "superhumans" are necessarily better at governing a country than ordinary people, but rather that it's hard to understand how ordinary people could possibly compete for power and profit.

To date, there has never been any news of a witcher causing a major uproar in society, which means that a powerful force has suppressed it.

Is this restraining force from Luoshan? Then how can the demon hunters of Luoshan ensure that they do not become the source of unrest?

According to Zhu Shi, Luoshan currently appears to be in a disturbing state of turmoil...

I don't know if I'm overthinking things in the current conversation, but I feel like I can smell a storm brewing.

As an outsider, I have no right to investigate the inside story of Luoshan. Even when I asked Luoshan last time why he concealed information about the strange events from the general public, Zhu Shi gave vague answers.

It seems that one must first become a demon hunter to unlock more clues.

Detective Kong turned his gaze away from the distance, then smiled and said in a tone that eased the serious atmosphere, "After saying so much, I still hope you can join Luoshan."

I immediately became concerned: "Why?"

“I am Luo Shan’s probe, and it is my job to discover potential demon hunters from among the people, but that is secondary. More importantly, I hope that Zhu Shi can become your guide, and you can stand by her side to help her.” He said gently, “As someone who shoulders the mission of demon hunting, she is far less strong than she thinks. She is afraid of bleeding herself, and she is also afraid of her opponents bleeding. Even if she kills a bad person, she will feel sorry for her… She is too naive and fragile. If you can support her heart, that would be best.”

“She is my friend’s sister. If she is in danger, I will do everything I can to help her,” I replied earnestly.

"That's good." He nodded happily. "I'll be transferred to another region soon. With you looking after her, I can rest assured."

As we talked, we had already left the residential area and arrived at the streets near Xianshui University. It was still rush hour, and the roads were bustling with traffic. Many pedestrians and students passed by on the street, and there were also breakfast carts parked at the intersection selling hand-pulled pancakes and hamburgers.

Our conversation contained many mysterious details unknown to the general public, but Detective Kong didn't seem to care if passersby overheard, so I spoke freely as well. It was obvious that even if passersby did hear our conversation, they wouldn't take it seriously. Witcher, superpowered beings—to the uninformed, these were all fantastical, fictional concepts.

Although I was walking through this familiar landscape filled with the atmosphere of everyday life, I suddenly began to feel a real sense of being "far removed from everything in normal society".

This is a kind of loneliness that is completely different from being isolated in a cave.

"Detective Kong, can you answer a question for me?"

“As long as it’s not a question I can’t answer,” Agent Kong replied.

"It's about the time you impersonated a police officer."

"Ahem..." He looked embarrassed again. "Wasn't this topic already over?"

"No, I'm not trying to tease you... I want to ask about the girl you accused of being a serial killer." I was speechless at first, but then I continued, "I asked Zhu Shi before, and Zhu Shi said that this was a task under your charge and that she couldn't reveal more information, so I came to ask you."

Why is Luo Shan searching for this girl? Who exactly is she?

(End of this chapter)