422
[Chapter 122]
[Intentions Disguised as Goodwill (4)]
Activities resumed after lunch.
On Tae-yang, now accustomed to resolving mana imbalances, skillfully handled the imbalances Dongdaemun-gu had informed them about in advance.
"Oh, they're selling fish-shaped bread over there. Shall we eat some?"
"How long has it been since we ate lunch and you're talking about fish bread again?"
"Isn't this the taste we do cultural exploration club for? Let's go buy one fish bread each for everyone."
"You're really incorrigible."
On Tae-yang who resolved a fist-sized mana imbalance heard Eun-ha and Eun-woo chatting behind him.
Though they were close until the morning.
Eun-woo no longer came to his side after eating lunch.
It felt like she was avoiding him.
...It's because of No Eun-ha.
On Tae-yang concluded seeing Eun-woo trying to please No Eun-ha.
No Eun-ha must be deliberately doing that to prevent her from coming to his side by holding onto Eun-woo like that.
"Guys! We'll go buy fish bread!"
Eun-woo shouted from behind.
On Tae-yang couldn't hide his regret seeing Eun-woo's back as she followed after No Eun-ha.
If he had power, he could have helped Eun-woo who was chasing after Eun-ha with drooping shoulders to carry his luggage.
I need to... become stronger.
It was the same when preparing for the launch ceremony.
He who lost to Mok Min-ho in a duel realized he currently couldn't win against No Eun-ha and Mok Min-ho.
So he had to become stronger.
Because the only weapon he had to counter their backgrounds was skill.
"Ah, there's a puppy collapsed over there!"
It was when he was resolving like that.
He turned his head towards Yoon I-byeol who was resolving a mana imbalance not far away.
She wearing round glasses with braided hair.
She who didn't seem like she would express her own opinions well had to receive mana control education from Eun-ha all morning.
If it weren't for comforting Eun-woo, he would have gotten angry at No Eun-ha right away.
"Oh no... It seems to have hurt its leg..."
On Tae-yang approached Yoon I-byeol.
He realized anew how pretty her voice tone was.
Meanwhile, she was restless discovering a puppy sprawled in an alley.
"It seems badly hurt..."
"Oh no, what should we do..."
Yoon I-byeol worries.
On Tae-yang who was momentarily captivated by her voice tone came to his senses and checked the puppy's condition.
It seemed injured not just on its leg but under its belly too.
The blood flowing profusely wasn't normal.
It would surely die if left like this.
"Eun-woo is good at healing magic. Let's ask Eun-woo when she returns later."
Lee Cheon-seo standing far away unlike the two spoke up.
But On Tae-yang shook his head.
"No... We can't wait until Eun-woo returns. It'll be too late."
"Then what can we do. What, are you going to heal it, On Tae-yang?"
"...I learned a bit in middle school. I should be able to do first aid."
"Really?"
"Yeah, just trust me."
Father said.
Don't make women cry.
On Tae-yang spoke confidently to the sniffling Yoon I-byeol.
I-byeol is crying, how sad must she be.
And the puppy is a life too.
How can you ignore a life dying before your eyes?
On Tae-yang searched his memories.
He who roughly recalled manifested internal mana to envelop his entire palm.
He brings that hand to the puppy's wound.
"Ah! It seems to be working!"
"See? I told you to just trust me, right?"
Vitality fills Yoon I-byeol's voice.
On Tae-yang examined the puppy he gave first aid to while showing off.
The puppy is breathing evenly.
He successfully completed first aid.
"Tae-yang, you're really amazing. I couldn't do anything..."
"This much is nothing. You can do it too if you just learn."
On Tae-yang swells with pride at Yoon I-byeol's praise.
He now decided to wait for Eun-woo to return and finish healing the puppy.
Just then, Eun-woo carrying an armful of bags containing fish bread came into view.
"Guys! I bought fish bread!"
"Eun-woo─!!"
On Tae-yang called Eun-woo with all his might.
It was to separate her from No Eun-ha on the pretext of needing to heal the puppy.
But she who was called by him stopped in her tracks while running over.
No Eun-ha who appeared belatedly was the same.
"─What are you doing now!!"
No Eun-ha's sudden shout.
On Tae-yang flared up at that sound.
Why is he getting angry at himself who saved a life, even if it's a puppy?
"What do you mean what! I saved a puppy!"
On Tae-yang raised his voice.
He tried to point to show the puppy he saved.
But─.
"─Huh...?"
"Kyaaaaaah─!!"
"Ugh, shit! What's going on!!"
The puppy that was lying on the ground unconscious like it was sleeping just before.
Was now standing on four legs.
The problem was that the appearance of the puppy standing with trembling legs was shockingly strange.
No, not strange but grotesque.
Kiiing kiiiiiing....
...Iiing? I...kkkkkk....
The puppy whines kiing kiing.
That sound broke off strangely.
Soon the puppy's body that looked swollen rapidly inflated and became huge.
The cells unable to withstand the enormous body burst with a pop sound.
Flesh fell off with a plop while blood flowed with a splat.
"Wh-what...?"
The puppy's characteristics could no longer be found.
On Tae-yang couldn't understand the phenomenon happening before his eyes.
He just stared at the lump of flesh that couldn't be described as anything.
Pop pop pop pop!
And soon.
The lump of flesh that had swollen to its limit burst in succession.
On Tae-yang standing right next to the lump of flesh had no choice but to be exposed to the gushing blood.
"Uu... uuub...!"
Sticky blood clinging to his body.
A pungent smell vibrated.
On Tae-yang couldn't endure that smell and vomited.
He who wiped the blood flowing down from his head with his forearm painfully opened his eyes towards where the lump of flesh was.
Guruk guruk
Gurururururu
Though there was only one puppy.
How many monsters appeared from inside the lump of flesh.
Soon they grinned and hastily left the place.
The monsters' purpose was clear.
Craving the mana of living beings.
In other words, killing people.
"I... I didn't mean for this to happen..."
On Tae-yang covered in blood uttered words close to lamentation looking at the scattered monsters.
He just stepped forward with the righteous heart of wanting to save a puppy.
So he─.
"I... I didn't do anything wrong."
─didn't do anything wrong.
He was just unlucky.
☆
Before regression.
Exorcism, Samael subjugation operation.
And finally.
On Tae-yang's sword pierced Samael─.
"─You're all fucked now."
Samael laughed hoarsely in a state waiting for death.
The Mein who was skilled at causing simultaneous mana imbalances continued speaking while coughing up blood as if it was a gift.
"Did you think... I'd die quietly. Maybe Agareth, but... I absolutely can't go like this."
""""...""""
"Now... my death will become a trigger, and simultaneous... mana imbalances will occur in the surrounding area. The scale? Hehe... how would I know that, you bastards!"
"Can't you stop it right now?"
"Kihihihahahahaha! No matter what you do... it's already too late. Want to stop it...? Then try saving me. Well.... It seems too late already. Hihihihihi...!"
"..."
"...How do you feel? Mr. Hero. Because of you, so many people...!! Will fall into hell...kuhak...!"
"It's because of you, not me. Don't be ridiculous. I didn't do anything wrong. You're the one who did wrong."
There's no value in listening anymore.
On Tae-yang slit Samael's throat.
And with his death as a trigger, signs of large-scale mana imbalances began to appear in the area.
Nevertheless, On Tae-yang turned to look at his party members with a cheerful face.
As if there was no need to worry at all.
"We subjugated Samael with our power. We saved the world again!"
"Hey, Tae-yang speak properly. We didn't save it with our power, you saved it purely with your power. We just... played supporting roles? Hahaha!"
"What are you saying. I couldn't have defeated Samael without you guys."
On Tae-yang speaks cheerfully.
Lee Cheon-seo lifts the mood.
But the expressions of the other party members weren't entirely bright.
They just let out awkward laughs so as not to ruin the mood.
Then─.
"─You have a plan, right?"
"Huh? For what?"
She who glared at him with a hardened face opened her mouth in an irritated tone.
"I asked if you have a plan for how to deal with the large-scale mana imbalances starting to occur as a price for defeating Samael."
"Kaede, you seem to be misunderstanding something, but why should we think about that?"
"What?"
On Tae-yang smiled kindly as if soothing a child.
He who patted her head once spoke with force in his voice as if for the party members to hear.
"We are heroes who saved this country. Warriors who killed the demon king Samael. Have you ever heard of heroes, warriors dealing with small fry?"
""""...""""
"Small fry should be handled by extras among themselves. We need to defeat another demon king."
"This is... something you did, On Tae-yang. How can you say that now..."
"This is something Samael did?"
"..."
On Tae-yang tilted his head as if it was nonsense.
Kaede was at a loss for words.
Silence fell again.
"Um... guys."
Then, Eun-woo who was reading the atmosphere spoke up.
Cha Eun-woo wearing a red choker carefully raised her hand.
"Actually, Ga-in told me something before coming here. That there will be a grand welcome party as soon as we return after defeating Samael..."
"As expected of our big sister-in-law! She knows well what's most needed! Right, guys? Haha!"
Lee Cheon-seo giggles.
Cha Eun-woo gave a bitter smile and quietly retreated.
Kaede clicked her tongue seeing her behavior.
At her appearance of always fulfilling her role as a messenger only relaying Choi Ga-in's words as if she wasn't here.
"Okay, guys let's go back now! Other people will take care of the rest!"
Meanwhile, On Tae-yang clapped.
The party members tired from the intense battle walked trudgingly.
Kaede grabbed Yoon I-byeol's wrist as she tried to approach On Tae-yang.
"...Yoon I-byeol. Do you think the same as On Tae-yang too?"
Kaede's voice trembled greatly.
Yoon I-byeol whose wrist was grabbed by her tried to make a face sympathizing with her feelings at first.
But she soon gave a bitter smile and shook her head.
"...I'm sorry. The residents are pitiful but... Tae-yang is more important to me."
Kaede loosened her grip on her wrist.
Yoon I-byeol ran to Cha Eun-woo who was walking looking at the ground and matched her pace.
She blankly watched the people moving away like that.
A sound was heard from behind.
"Waaater...! Give me water...! I'm thirsty...!"
"Looks like this kid took drugs again. People would be surprised if they knew you who appear brightly like an idol on TV actually take drugs every day."
"You didn't bring soju? That would help Riel sober up somewhat..."
Ariel staggers while being supported by Lee Cheon-seo.
Though she didn't seem to participate in the battle, it seemed she fell into hallucinations after taking drugs she brought without the party members knowing.
Meanwhile, Lee Cheon-seo tried to grope Ariel's body under the pretext of supporting her.
Kaede frowned.
"Ariel. You'll have to stand on ceremony laughing at the party anyway, so would you rather drink quietly in the room with us instead?"
"Alcohol? Aaaalcohol that's gooood!"
"Really? Then let's drink cozily in the room just the two of us... Ack ack! Hey, what are you doing!? Let go of this!"
When Kaede was about to take action.
Bong Gu-rae who acted faster than her firmly grabbed Lee Cheon-seo's wrist as he tried to grope Ariel's body.
Bong Gu-rae who twisted his wrist behind his back without mercy glared at him with cold eyes.
"Hey, now you're trying to lay hands on someone who has an owner!? You're really trash."
"Hey! I just said let's drink, did I say let's have an affair!?"
"Shut your mouth. Know you'll die if you touch them. Especially that Ariel, don't even think about trying anything with a kid suffering from bipolar disorder."
"Hey!"
"What. Want a hole in your ass?"
"...Tch. You think you're On Tae-yang or something. Fine, you're so~ good being close with the girls!"
Lee Cheon-seo and Bong Gu-rae got into an argument.
But the party members moved forward centered on Tae-yang without paying attention.
Kaede had no choice but to follow them too.
"Tae-yaaaang─!!"
And Ariel followed the group while staggering.
She who ran recklessly without looking ahead hugged On Tae-yang.
On Tae-yang's steps stopped abruptly.
"Tae-yang. I'm so lonely. I feel empty. It feels like there's a hole somewhere in my chest. Tonight... won't you stay with me?"
The others stopped walking too.
The atmosphere became sharp.
All the party members looked down at Ariel who was crying and appealing to emotions with cold eyes.
Kaede could read their gazes.
It meant to keep the order.
And On Tae-yang, the only one who could speak in this situation, patted Ariel's back with a calm face.
With a face that seemed somewhat annoyed.
With a face that seemed somewhat reluctant.
"I'm sorry, please endure a little."
"...Okay... you were always like that. Okay, I'll just endure."
"Okay. And there might be a press conference soon so sober up. The public will be shocked wondering if you're really
"Okay... I understand. My appearance is no longer just mine but the public's
"Okay…, I understand. My appearance is no longer mine, but the people's. Our party's visual…, I have to do it." "And…. You don't have to tell me that the eccentricity occurred because of Samael's death. Gain or Jinwoo hyung will probably tell you again beforehand."
"...Yeah... Yeah."
"The people should only hear good things. Instead of an incompetent government, we should have warriors like us (Br
"I need to let you know that there is an aver."
"…that's right."
"It's all for justice, you know?"
"…Yeah. For justice."
The sun gently teaches Ariel.
Hearing those words, Kaede had no choice but to stop asking.
"Justice for whom, after all…."
"Huh? Of course it's justice for the world."
me
There is no doubt on On Tae-yang's face.
But Kaede could tell the difference between what he was saying and what he was hiding.
"You… are rotten."
That's why Kaede regretted her choice and blamed Ontaeyang.
To this, On Tae-yang answered with an innocent face.
"─The world is rotten. Isn't it?"