Chapter 134

EP.134 Dr. Strategy Begins #2

“Are you naive? Or just stupid?”

Why the sudden strange question while eating?

I put down my knife and asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Do you remember our first meeting?”

“Of course… I remember. A demon named Amducias appeared, Sehwa transformed… I was trapped under the rubble and rescued by your airship…”

“Do you know how funny your reaction was when you saw the lab?”

At the time, I pretended to be fascinated by the medical devices and various machines in the lab.

Of course, it was fake interest, but I played the role of a machine enthusiast to win the doctor’s favor.

I forced a weak smile and nodded.

“From my perspective, there was nothing but things that made my head spin. Thanks to you, my knowledge has improved.”

“You could quit and use your own money to conduct experiments, so why don’t you?”

“You told me not to quit.”

“I wish you’d be serious.”

Should I be serious?

I’m sticking around to separate Sehwa, Yuria, and you.

The two have become demons, and now you’re the only one left.

I picked up the knife again but stopped and wiped my mouth with a napkin.

I could step on the accelerator here.

Say something like, “I can’t leave you alone…”

But as I thought when strategizing the doctor, it’s better to take it slow.

Opportunities will come anyway.

Starting next week, we’ll be together almost every day. In a confined space, two people who like each other will naturally grow closer.

I’ll slowly erase the existence of your husband from your mind.

“It’s for Sehwa.”

“For Sehwa?”

“Yes. Yuria doesn’t have much emotional fluctuation and has strong mental fortitude. Tairat’s kingdom was destroyed, so she has a clear sense of purpose. She won’t break easily. But Sehwa is different. She’s much weaker mentally than Yuria.”

“I can’t agree with that. When she transforms into the Beast Slayer, her will becomes strong. Have you seen Leona waver?”

“That’s not what I mean. I’m talking about when she’s Sehwa, not Leona.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Sehwa’s environment is completely different from Yuria’s. She was an ordinary college student living well until she suddenly became the Beast Slayer. She struggles when the transformation wears off. You know that, right?”

Sehwa has made several mistakes in front of the doctor.

The doctor, recalling this, agreed.

“That’s true.”

What’s true about it?

Before her fall, Sehwa had a strong heart, just as the doctor said.

Her arguments with the doctor were entirely because of me.

I shook Sehwa’s heart, causing those incidents.

“She’s a bit better now… but she still needs a guide to lead her on the right path. That’s why I’m in the lab. I also need to charge the Device.”

The doctor flinched at that.

She must have felt embarrassed because she knows the Device charging method very well.

She quickly regained her composure.

“You can take care of Sehwa and charge the Device at home. You could leave the lab…”

“Should I leave then?”

“No, don’t leave.”

The doctor opposed with a serious expression.

I smirked and nodded.

“Alright. Oh, there’s another reason I need to stay in the lab.”

“Another reason? What is it?”

“I’ll tell you later. Shall we finish our meal?”

“Let’s.”

The doctor, with a nonchalant expression, picked up her fork and stabbed the steak.

Watching her long, narrow mouth open wide, I also brought my fork to the food.

After finishing the meal, we didn’t return to the lab.

To aid digestion, we walked side by side along the forest park’s trail, chatting.

“Doctor, aren’t you tired?”

“Me? Time flies when I’m developing equipment…”

“I wanted to tell you to take it easy, but since you have to develop the Device… I can’t. I’ll do my best to help.”

As I expressed my determination, the doctor chuckled and patted my back.

“Thanks. By the way, isn’t the air really nice? The weather’s getting better… I want to come out every day.”

“Let’s take walks often.”

The doctor didn’t answer and looked at me.

She opened and closed her mouth, hesitating to say something.

Patiently waiting, the doctor suddenly spoke.

“I just can’t figure you out.”

“Huh?”

“Sometimes you’re like a three-year-old, and other times you’re incredibly mature.”

“When do I act like a child?”

“You’re the one who came up with the childish name ‘Beast Slayer,’ and you gave Sehwa the name ‘Leona’… When you show interest in machines, or when you visited the Central Intelligence Agency in a spider hero costume… It’s not just one or two things. Oh, I don’t mean it in a bad way. It’s good that you’re pure.”

“Am I a bit lacking in the head?”

Jokingly self-deprecating, the doctor giggled and tapped my arm.

Very good. She’s becoming more comfortable with physical contact.

“No, really. It was a compliment. You make me laugh often. It’s a great talent to make people feel good. I can see why Sehwa follows and likes you so much. If it weren’t for you…”

After a brief silence, the doctor swallowed and continued.

“If it weren’t for you, the lab would have been really bleak. Maybe it would have fallen apart before meeting Yuria.”

“Don’t say such terrible things…”

“It means you’ve become indispensable.”

“To you? Or to the lab?”

“Both.”

The doctor’s eyelashes slightly lowered.

She must be thinking of her husband.

Imagining me and her husband laughing and playing childish pranks, right?

I changed the subject to lighten the mood.

“It’s nice to have a serious conversation for once.”

“Don’t you have these kinds of talks with Sehwa?”

“Mostly, I indulge Sehwa’s whims.”

“I see…”

“Just as Sehwa relies on me, I rely on you. I consider you my mentor.”

“Don’t say such embarrassing things.”

“It’s true, though. I’ll continue to rely on you.”

“…..”

The doctor slowly shook her head and turned her gaze to the outdoor exercise equipment in the park, staring at an elderly couple chatting.

She unknowingly let out a shallow sigh.

She must envy the peaceful daily life that elderly couple enjoys.

I walked past the doctor and sat on the exercise equipment where two people could sit facing each other.

Then I gestured to the doctor.

“Sit across from me.”

“Huh? Suddenly?”

“Let’s play for a bit.”

The doctor hesitated.

I smiled brightly, provoking her.

“You always sit, and you’re getting older, so your joints might creak.”

“I don’t think so at all? My body is young.”

“Really?”

The doctor let out a hollow laugh and looked at me as if she couldn’t win.

After a moment of hesitation, she finally sat across from me.

“How do you do this?”

“Just put strength into your legs and push. Like this…”

I slowly extended and then bent my knees.

My body slightly rose and fell diagonally.

The doctor, watching intently, put strength into her legs.

Feeling her body rise and fall, she let out an “Oh…” of admiration.

After repeating the motion a few times in rhythm with the doctor, a faint smile appeared on her face.

“Fun, right? It’s like swinging on a swing.”

“Not really… But is this exercise?”

“Better than nothing, right? I thought I heard a creak in your joints the first time?”

“Your ears must be a bit off. Should you see an ENT?”

*Creak!*

While talking, the doctor’s knees made a clear sound.

My cheeks puffed up, and laughter burst out.

“Pfft… Hahaha!”

Tears welled up as I laughed uncontrollably.

The doctor, her face red, looked around and urgently said.

“Can you be quiet? Getting excited over a little noise…”

“Heehee… My ears are off?”

“Shut up…! You’re driving me crazy…”

The doctor, scolding me, soon burst into laughter.

She repeated the motion and said.

“Thank you, Jihyuk.”

“What are you thanking… Huh? What did you say?”

“Thank you.”

“After that. You definitely…”

“Let’s stop here. My knees hurt.”

The doctor cut me off and started walking down from the park.

She called me Jihyuk, not Song… My strategy worked.

I chased after her, teasing.

“Your knees hurt? But your body is young, right?”

The doctor quickened her pace.

She must be really embarrassed. It’s quite cute. Teasing her is fun.

I quickly caught up and matched her stride.

“Why are you leaving me? I almost got lost.”

“Lost? Are you a child?”

“You said I’m like a child sometimes. Maybe now’s the time.”

“You never miss a chance to jab at me, huh? I don’t like it.”

Despite her words, the doctor’s face was blooming with smiles.

It seems like it won’t be long before I bury my face in those big breasts.

Let’s keep it like this.

**

The next night.

I transformed Sehwa into the Evil Valkyrie in a corner of the Antarctic base.

Dark energy surged powerfully from Leona’s transformed body.

I’m afraid Adeline might sense it.

Leona, with her purple pupils, looked at the crimson scythe in my hand with anticipation.

“Master… Is that…”

“Yes, it’s your weapon.”

The finally completed Death Scythe was about 170cm long, slightly taller than Leona.

The blade was long and curved sharply, looking like it could cleanly slice through several human necks with one swing.

I handed the scythe to Leona, holding it reverse-handed.

“Try holding it.”

“Ah, yes!”

Leona, swallowing hard, grabbed the scythe with one hand and lifted it slightly.

Then,

*Whoosh…!*

The dark energy enveloped the scythe, emitting a black aura, and soon enlarged it.

It didn’t double in size like the Beast Slayer’s finishing move, but its destructive power increased due to resonance with the corrupted Aiter.

Made from the versatile polymer, it was lightweight yet durable.

With hidden functions, it was a masterpiece.

Leona’s eyes sparkled with delight.

“This… This is amazing…! It naturally absorbs my energy!”

“That’s not all.”

“Huh…?”

“Do you know Astaroth?”

Leona’s eyes burned.

“I know. That bastard…”

Bastard? Ah… Astaroth once burned Sehwa’s boots during her Beast Slayer days.

Sehwa cried so much back then.

Even as a demon, that memory makes her grind her teeth.

“You killed him with your own hands.”

“That’s true. But why Astaroth…”

“Astaroth’s power is in this scythe. The more lifeless energy it absorbs, the stronger it becomes.”

“Really…?”

“The deep sea still holds Astaroth’s energy. It was a stroke of luck. Marcella gathered it and infused it into this scythe.”

Astaroth was slow to grow stronger, but his ability alone was truly remarkable.

The sense of lethargy that directly affects the mind, lowering motivation, is rare even among demons.

“Really?”

Leona’s vertical pupils slightly dilated.

Knowing Astaroth’s power well, she was also delighted.

“Yes. If Marcella captures humans, you can test it on them.”

“Understood…”

Her eyes filled with anticipation.

She’ll be beheading humans all day today.

I fixed Sehwa’s bangs and advised.

“School’s starting soon, right? Behave.”

“Of course. I won’t cause any trouble.”

A satisfying answer.

Good, just don’t cause trouble.

Let me strategize the doctor in peace.

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

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