Chapter 103: The Despair Brought by Humanity

Cheng Feng heard the urgent evacuation alarm blaring outside.

This was the red alert signal triggered only when demon hunters were about to engage in battle within a certain area, prompting nearby civilians to evacuate swiftly.

The Disaster Association was preparing to launch an assault on this café. As one of the demon hunters, Cheng Feng naturally could not remain here, lest he arouse suspicion.

Snow Ju, being a cat demon, also could not stay. If any other demon hunters discovered her presence, it would only bring trouble.

Originally, Cheng Feng had come to the café today with the intention of sending the shop manager and Snow Ju to Crimson Moon City. He never expected matters to escalate to this point.

Now that he possessed the Lord’s Token, the affairs of Crimson Moon City could be set aside for the time being.

Soon, Snow Ju and a dozen or so other cat-maid demon girls were called over by Cheng Feng.

They were busy tidying up the shop and had no idea what was happening, much less the impending disaster.

…

Between the thick, oppressive leaden-gray clouds, streaks of fiery white lightning coiled and danced. The thunder roared incessantly, and fierce winds howled through the city streets.

The thunder still rumbled.

The rain continued to fall.

At eleven o’clock, the commercial street’s alarm wail pierced the air.

The operation had begun.

Helicopters streaked across the sky, while dozens of armored, bulletproof vehicles rolled orderly through the streets.

The commercial street was swiftly sealed off by the police. No other vehicles were allowed passage. Officers drew red safety lines, forbidding anyone from entering to prevent accidental intrusion into the imminent war zone.

Only the Disaster Association’s armored vehicles were granted passage. The force accompanying this mission was vast and imposing.

The operation was code-named “Nightshade Annihilation,” with a target danger level rated at the highest SSS rank.

Such a classification was reserved solely for Abyssal Beings posing the greatest threat to humanity.

Since its founding, the Disaster Association had never succeeded in eliminating an Abyssal-level monster.

Today, they had finally located one.

If the mission went smoothly, it might mark humanity’s first official victory over a terrifying Abyssal.

At the forefront command vehicle sat Liu Shiyu, an elite member and captain of the second squad for this operation.

The scene outside the window blurred past as she held her phone, sending a message to Cheng Feng, asking where he was—since the mission had already commenced.

After waiting for a long time without a reply, despite having answered the phone moments ago, Liu Shiyu felt a sudden, uneasy premonition. Cheng Feng was always prone to getting into trouble; she only hoped nothing had gone wrong.

This deployment comprised about two hundred demon hunters, including five elite members.

One ace member had also been assigned to the mission but was en route and expected to arrive late to the battlefield.

On this commercial street, citizens who had been shopping and strolling suddenly heard the red alert broadcast.

Panic and confusion spread. Historically, such alarms meant demon hunters would soon clash with monsters nearby.

Police personnel appeared swiftly, organizing an orderly evacuation from the street.

Soon, dozens of armored vehicles halted near the target location.

With a series of doors opening, a large group of demon hunters clad in combat gear disembarked.

Centered around the cat-maid café, as per prior arrangements, the hunters moved quickly, forming a containment circle within a designated perimeter.

…

Inside the café, Cheng Feng hurriedly briefed the cat-maid demons on the dangerous situation.

“What? We’ve been discovered?!” Snow Ju and the others all wore identical expressions of shock.

They never imagined the Disaster Association had uncovered the café as a demon stronghold.

Knowing that many demons gathered here, the association had dispatched a large contingent en route to exterminate this café.

Hearing this nightmarish news, the cat demons exchanged worried glances, each more panicked than the last.

This sudden upheaval caught them completely unprepared. Having lived peaceful lives for so long, they never expected to be hunted by demon hunters.

Fear and despair spread through their hearts. Demon hunters were almost their worst nightmare.

“It’s you! It must have been you who reported us, right?” Cat Xiaojv gritted her teeth, her nerves fraying as she glared at Cheng Feng. “We’ve lived here quietly for so many years, never causing trouble! Why is it that the moment you arrive, we get discovered?”

Cheng Feng frowned slightly. “You suspect me?”

Snow Ju quickly defended him. “Xiaojv, don’t jump to conclusions. This has nothing to do with Cheng Feng.”

“Snow Ju, you’ve been deceived by him. Don’t you know how much humans despise demons?” Cat Xiaojv, overwhelmed by fear, stared daggers at Cheng Feng. “You must have colluded with outsiders. I should have realized sooner—you’re human, a demon hunter. How could you possibly spare us!”

The shop manager spoke up. “Xiaojv, please stop. Our guest wouldn’t do such a thing.”

It then turned to Cheng Feng. “Please understand. We hope to—”

“Given how things have unfolded, I admit I’m highly suspect,” Cheng Feng interrupted, shaking his head. “But there’s no time to explain. The urgent task now is to leave before the Disaster Association completes their encirclement.”

“Manager, now that things have come to this, we can’t just wait to be slaughtered! Honestly, I’ve hated humans for a long time!”

At that moment, a black cat-maid maid, her face full of fury, spoke out shockingly: “Why have we been hiding in this café all these years, always fearing discovery? Why do humans get to stand on the moral high ground? So what if demons eat people? Humans themselves have slaughtered hundreds, thousands of creatures! The real savages are humans. Why should they rule the world? Demons are far stronger than them!”

Another cat-maid dressed in red maid attire retorted indignantly, “Exactly. Besides, we don’t eat people—we’ve never harmed anyone! Why must we be treated like those man-eating monsters? Humans want to exterminate us completely.”

Her voice cracked with tears as she wiped at her eyes, her tone trembling with sobs. “Why… why must we be killed? We just want to live too…”

The other maids couldn’t help but wipe away their tears.

Watching the girls’ despair, Cheng Feng felt a pang of pity.

They had never done wrong, yet simply because they were demons, they faced human hostility. It was as if their very existence was a mistake.

In this world, no harmless demon could ever find a true sanctuary—not before, not now, and not ever.

Monsters had but one fate: to be slain by humans.

Was this world truly just?