The Seven Demon's Tamer

"It's been a while, Master. You're welcome."

Master Sung's serious expression broke into one of his rare, genuinely cheerful smiles—the kind that would make even guild members' jaws drop because it was such an unusual sight.

"Thank you, thank you," he responded warmly, his voice sounding almost grandfatherly, a tone none of them had heard before.

It was strange seeing this legendary figure, who commanded respect from entire districts, acting so... human. Even Ryder could tell this wasn't like the fake emotions he had been showing all this while.

Akira Tian's piercing gaze swept from Master Sung to the group standing behind him, and her expression immediately shifted to one of observation.

"You seem to have some company," she observed, gesturing toward Ryder and the others with a fluid motion that somehow managed to be both dismissive and acknowledging at the same time. "Are they the reason for your visit?"

"Yes, yes, certainly!" Master Sung replied with a bright smile. He placed a firm hand on Ryder's shoulder—a gesture that made Ryder stagger due to the combination of the oppressive force in the air and Master Sung's casual strength. "These behind me are the new allies of the Red Eastern Guild."

Akira narrowed her eyes into slits as she approached Ryder in particular.

She got so close that her nose nearly touched his, studying his face with an intensity that made a bead of sweat run down his forehead.

After what felt like an eternity but was probably only thirty seconds, she moved to Leo, and the moment her eyes fell on him, something changed.

Her composure slipped just slightly, revealing a flicker of surprise that she quickly tried to suppress.

With Mara and Brok still sprawled on the ground like defeated warriors after an earth-shaking battle—only that they didn't look so cool because they weren't coming from a battle—she gave them barely a glance before arriving at her conclusion: two living trash bags.

"Master Sung," she said, turning back to him with an expression that almost made it seem like she was questioning his sanity, "are you really sure these are your choices of allies?"

"I mean, take a look at them," she continued, gesturing. "None of them seems worthy even from sight observation."

She began counting off on her fingers as she started. "Two among them can't even withstand the pressure of the presence of the Tians—and that's just our natural aura, not even an active display of power.

One among them is not even a summoner, which raises the question of why he's here at all.

And this other one..." She paused, staring at Ryder with the surprised expression of someone who had just discovered something particularly puzzling. "This other one has the most foreign energy signature I've ever encountered, but he cannot put it to good use—waste."

All she had done was give them a simple glance—not even a thorough examination—and she had already assessed their capabilities, limitations, and potential worth with accurate precision. This was Akira Tian, the supreme leader who was rumored to be approaching the same level as the greatest powers in the entire guild.

"Don't worry about their current stage," Master Sung assured her with the kind of confidence that brooked no argument. "Every single one of them has great potential. You can have my word on that."

Akira slapped her forehead with the palm of her hand in an exaggerated gesture. The sound echoed in the garden like a small thunderclap, causing a few nearby flower petals to flutter in response—guess what, she thought it was casual.

"Oh damn—" she muttered under her breath as she turned and walked toward the hut. Master Sung and the others trailed behind her silently, with Ryder and Leo still supporting the barely conscious Brok and Mara.

As they made their way through the garden, Akira's voice rang out in a low tone. "I cannot assume you took them in because they can be useful in battle."

She paused at the entrance to the hut, turning to face Master Sung with an expression that was part curiosity, part disbelief. "The only reason you have ever made allies is to acquire more manpower for battles.

She raised her hand to demonstrate as she spoke. "It's your standard—find strong people, convince them to join your cause, point them at your enemies, and watch the fireworks."

"Well, you are right," Master Sung responded with a shrug that seemed way too casual for the seriousness of the admission. "And that is the only reason I will continue to do so until now."

Akira's head tilted back sharply at the admission. Her eyes widened to the size of plates due to shock—not literally though.

"I am not joking," Master Sung replied, dead serious. "If only you knew their potential, you wouldn't be looking down on them."

As they entered the hut and settled onto the wooden benches inside—a process that wasn't so easy for Brok and Mara to take semi-upright positions—Master Sung's expression grew more serious, like the typical expression they all knew him by.

The interior of the hut was surprisingly spacious... No, not surprisingly, abnormally. From the outside, it was as big as a single room, but on the inside, it was as big as the Tian leader's throne room.

"They have great potential; that's why I'm bringing them to you," Master Sung began. "To take them under your wing and train them properly."

Akira turned her head to stare at Ryder and Leo again, her expression blank as a fresh sheet of paper.

She was about to speak when a thud sound resounded, interrupting her; it was the sound of Mara's body that was only managing to sit on the bench in a semi-upright position, crashing to the ground, still under the influence of the oppressive pressure around.

"They don't appear like summoners who know the basics," Akira couldn't even blink as she stared at them with such disappointment that words couldn't explain. "Just how did these... specimens manage to catch your attention?"

Completely ignoring Akira, Master Sung's dead serious tone sounded.

"You are to assign them to their various apartments," he commanded in a tone that carried no room for argument, "and treat them with respect."

Pointing his thumb towards Ryder in particular, he added, "This young man is the first and only confirmed black-marked summoner of the current age."

Akira's reaction was immediate and visible, an expression of surprise. The news startled her considerably, but as the seconds ticked by, her expression shifted from shock to understanding.

She had sensed that Ryder was an anomaly from the moment she had laid eyes on him—the oddness and density of the aura flowing through him had been unlike anything she had encountered before. Now it all made sense.

"Not bad," she finally managed, nodding in acknowledgment with proof of respect in her gesture.

Her nonchalant voice quickly changed—not quite admiration, but definitely elevated from her previous dismissiveness. "What is his name?"

Master Sung gestured for Ryder to speak, and he cleared his throat. "I am Ryder."

Looking at Leo, Master Sung didn't utter any word, and just like Ryder, Leo knew what he needed to do.

"I am Leo," he said, his voice steady despite the obvious strain he was under from the oppressive atmosphere.

Silence stretched at the mention of the name, as everyone waited for the completion.

In the society of summoners, only the first name was considered relevant for most individuals, unless the last name carried particular value or significance.

The Red Eastern Guild members, for example, all bore surnames that served as immediate identification—mention Fan, Luo, Tian, or Sen, and the bearer's relation with the Red Eastern Guild becomes instantly clear. The same principle applied to other major guilds, and even the FSG's valuable members were given titles that functioned as surnames, such as Commander, Captain, or General.

Everyone waited for Leo to continue, not because he was expected to have relation to a guild that would grant him a valuable surname, but because he was a solo hunter who had earned himself a reputation back in his prime—a title that had become as much a part of his identity as his actual name.

"The Summoner Slayer," he added with a sigh that carried resignation. After seeing the anticipated gazes of everyone focused on him like spotlights, he knew he must mention it. "I am Leo the Summoner Slayer."

Akira, for the first time, lost her nonchalant composure completely.

"You are him!" she gasped.

"The legendary Summoner Slayer that I was taught about in my childhood!" she blurted out.

"Yep, that's me," Leo responded with the kind of casual acknowledgment like he wasn't expecting any less of this reaction.

He attempted to relax his back against the bench but nearly fell off in the process, his body still struggling with the oppressive atmospheric pressure. For a moment there, he had forgotten he wasn't sitting on his comfortable couch back home, but rather on a simple wooden bench in a mystical hut floating in the sky.

For several fleeting moments, her jaw was still wide open, but eventually, she regained her composure and chuckled.

"So you're truly an ordinary human with no familiar, but you have the strength to slay summoners," she commented, her voice now carrying respect. "I'm really surprised you look so young—you barely appear to be someone who has reached their mid-twenties."

"How about the other two?" she couldn't help but ask, her curiosity now genuinely piqued rather than dismissive.

Although she had already come to a conclusion about them previously, after learning about the first two allies Master Sung had brought, she suddenly gained curiosity towards the others.

She wouldn't be surprised if she discovered the other two crawling on the ground like pathetic losers were also legendary figures.

Mara seemed to struggle to respond, knowing it was her turn to introduce herself, but she just couldn't. Her mouth kept fidgeting, but no words came out.

"That is Mara," Leo pointed helpfully, his voice gentle in a way that proved he understood her struggle. "And this is Brok. They're friends of ours."

"What else?" Akira pressed, clearly hoping for more exciting follow-up. "Don't they have some sort of title or accomplishment or legendary reputation?"

Master Sung shook his head. "No, Mara is a brown-marked summoner now, and Brok is an orange."

"I brought them here only because Ryder insisted," he added.

"Such a letdown!" Akira stressed, her voice carrying genuine disappointment. "This was starting to become fun."

Standing up from the bench with the kind of fluidity that proved the oppressive pressure affected him about as much as a gentle breeze, Master Sung moved to conclude the meeting.

"I believe I am done here," he announced with satisfaction. "I will be coming some other time to check on their progress."

"Ensure you train them properly," he continued, his voice carrying the weight of absolute authority, "and give them the best treatment."

Shortly after, he disappeared from their sight and from the entire Tian district.