Chapter 16

EP.16 New Encounter

“Hey! Jihyuk! Did you see this?”

A male colleague shoved his mobile phone in front of me.

There was a photo of Leona plunging a sword into Octoa’s eyeball.

The image quality wasn’t great, like it was taken with an old film camera.

Dr. Jennifer Cash had used various methods to prevent such photos or videos from being leaked, but she couldn’t do much about this analog-style leak.

Among the things that boosted Beast Slayer’s reputation were these vintage items.

“Yeah, I saw it. It’s been circulating online.”

“Even though the details aren’t clear, you can tell she’s a pretty woman. Plus, she’s a real-life superhero. Doesn’t that make you think anything?”

“Hmm… Not really?”

“Her hair is sky blue, so I can’t tell if she’s a foreigner or Korean… And her figure is insane. I really want to see her in person once.”

“Are you more interested in her face than the monster that appeared?”

“That monster didn’t harm me. I was at home playing games when the incident happened. Besides, the damage wasn’t much compared to the first monster that appeared.”

On Monday, Korea University was abuzz with talk about Octoa and Leona.

Wherever you went, at any time, the conversation would pop up, with Leona being the main topic.

On the other hand, older people were more interested in the monster.

They began seriously speculating about where it came from and why it appeared, saying that proper research was needed to prepare for it.

South Korea was now receiving immense attention from around the world.

The Magical Girl and the monster were huge topics of discussion, not just for the World Union but also for the general public.

There were all sorts of speculations and conspiracy theories, like the government secretly injecting drugs to create superhumans or a new species from an alien planet.

There were even fan clubs.

A café was created, and within less than a day, the membership surged past two million due to a rush of global sign-ups.

The actual subject of the buzz, Sehwa, was utterly embarrassed.

After finishing my afternoon classes, I listened to Sehwa’s complaints as she waited for me at the main gate.

“I’m going crazy… It’s all anyone talks about.”

“Well, of course. A magical girl fighting monsters… Who wouldn’t be curious and excited?”

“I’m not a magical girl, I just transform…”

“Shh. Lower your voice and let’s go home.”

At my words, Sehwa realized her mistake and looked around.

Fortunately, no one had heard, so she let out a sigh of relief.

“Haah… My head’s a mess. What do you think Dr. Cash is doing right now?”

Dr. Cash? By now, she’s probably preparing countermeasures against the demons.

Since Evil Line energy hasn’t appeared yet, she’s busy contacting the World Union.

As for me and Sehwa, we just need to sit back and watch how things unfold.

I smiled and said, “Don’t overthink it. Let’s go in. Didn’t the doctor say to live in the moment? And you said you really wanted to do this. Isn’t it better to try to adapt?”

“I can’t adapt right now.”

“Then don’t bring it up. Simple, right?”

“Okay…”

“Should we get some tteokbokki on the way back?”

“No. Let’s just go… I want to rest.”

“Alright.”

Sehwa was worried that her colleagues would find out she lived in my office apartment.

So, pretending to wait for the bus, she went separately.

At home, I took out a beer and lay down on the sofa, waiting for Sehwa to ring the doorbell.

Right now, she definitely wants to talk to me about something.

Ding-dong!

As expected.

I opened the door without a word, smiled, and let Sehwa in.

She hurried over to my sofa, leaned back, and sat down.

In her hands were various kinds of snacks.

“What’s with the snacks?”

“They looked tasty, so I bought them… Give me a beer too.”

“Get it yourself.”

“Ah, come on! I’m stressed out!”

She suddenly raised her voice.

I shook my head in disbelief and threw her a beer.

Sehwa caught it with a flustered motion and frowned.

She pouted cutely.

“Why are you throwing it?”

“Shut up.”

I answered sharply and moved away from Sehwa to turn on the TV.

After that, I watched a variety show without saying a word, expressionless.

Sehwa, who was stuffing snacks into her mouth, glanced at me and fidgeted.

She wiggled her hips and moved closer to me.

“Jihyuk, are you mad?”

“No.”

“Then why are you so cold?”

“I’m not cold, I’m watching TV.”

“It’s not fun.”

“It is.”

“It’s a variety show… You haven’t laughed once.”

I didn’t answer and changed my posture.

I leaned my head on the armrest and lifted my legs over Sehwa’s sides, lying down.

My gaze was still on the TV.

Sehwa, watching my reaction, moved closer.

I didn’t stop her.

Her face brightened as she snuggled into my chest, turning her body to lie down.

She even grabbed my arm and placed it under her chest.

Then she apologized.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For acting childish…”

“You know it well.”

“But I rely on you so much…”

What about Yoo Seunghyun?

Isn’t he the first person you turn to when you’re in trouble?

These questions almost came out of my throat.

It’s not that I’m afraid to ask because I fear her answer.

If she tells me to ask, I can ask right away.

It’s good to shake things up.

But Sehwa has to keep meeting Yoo Seunghyun.

Over time, she’ll struggle between me and him, and slowly, she’ll entangle herself in the net I’ve woven.

As I fiddled with Sehwa’s hand, I said, “I have somewhere to go after school tomorrow. I’ll be back late, so go to bed first.”

“Where are you going? To see that secretary you mentioned last time?”

“No.”

“Can I come with you? I’m bored in the evening…”

“No.”

Sehwa brought her nails to her mouth and chewed on them.

She seemed annoyed that I didn’t tell her the destination.

But she probably didn’t want to push it, fearing I might get angry.

“I’ll give you my card, so go hang out with your friends or something.”

“I have money…”

“Who cares? Just use it. Think of it as welfare. Welfare for the world’s hero.”

“… Don’t say that. It’s childish…”

“Anyway, use it if you want. Eat what you want, buy what you want.”

“…..”

“Answer.”

“Ah, okay.”

Satisfied, I nodded and gently stroked Sehwa’s delicate chin.

“And your hairstyle looks too stuffy…”

“Really…? Maybe the perm’s worn off. Should I go to the salon tomorrow and get it redone?”

Yoo Seunghyun really liked Sehwa’s innocent-looking hairstyle.

But I didn’t like it.

The style itself was fine, but I didn’t like it because Yoo Seunghyun liked it.

“Try something bolder. I like it when the nape is visible.”

“I’ll… think about it.”

Think about it? Then her hairstyle will probably be different when I get back.

I smiled faintly, raising the corner of my mouth.

**

The next day, I flew to Daejeon as soon as class ended.

To see Yuria.

The tracking demon wasn’t fully modified yet, so I could only see its location, and the surveillance cameras couldn’t see inside the house.

That’s why I had to go in person.

‘Yuria is officially classified as an immigrant by the government, so she’s not an illegal resident.’

But how did she become an immigrant?

She didn’t marry a Korean, nor did she get a job anywhere.

It’s certain she lives alone.

There’s a possibility someone is helping her, but… the surveillance cameras didn’t show anyone suspicious.

Just a bunch of lustful guys drawn to Yuria’s beauty.

As I was thinking this and heading to where Yuria lived, my phone buzzed with a text notification.

Checking it, it was a card payment record.

A karaoke place in Handaegyo. Seems like she went to sing with her friends.

I chuckled and was about to put my phone away when a message from Sehwa came in.

[I went to karaoke with my colleagues. After this, I’ll go see Seunghyun. It’s been a while since I last saw him.]

Huh, adding that last part?

Trying to make me jealous?

Do whatever you want, Sehwa.

Are you going to tell me you lost your virginity to Yoo Seunghyun?

I tapped the screen and sent a reply.

[Do what you want. I’m busy, so I won’t be checking messages.]

I roughly shoved my phone into my pocket and headed near Yuria’s house, surveying the area.

A pretty decent neighborhood.

There are apartments and commercial buildings.

Lots of cameras, so it’s a safe area.

I manipulated the surveillance camera footage of my route, checked Yuria’s real-time location, and found a secluded alley nearby to change my appearance.

Creak! Creak!

With eerie sounds, my body transformed.

My body became slightly smaller, and wrinkles appeared all over my face.

A thick beard grew on my nose and chin, making me look like a middle-aged man in his 50s.

“Ah. Ah.”

I liked how my voice changed too.

By the way, the feeling of transforming was disgusting.

Especially the way my bones realigned felt alien and annoying.

I grumbled inwardly as I stepped back onto the street.

“Excuse me! Wait…! Wait a moment, sir!”

A thin, angelic voice called out from behind.

The heroine of Part 2, who shot me full of holes with her arrow baptism at the end.

Yuria was calling out to me from behind.

‘You thought you’d catch me, didn’t you?’

Yuria was destined to catch me.

Because I looked exactly like her dead father.

Not completely identical, but the key parts were similar.

Like the back view, body size, and hairstyle.

‘You’ll be even more surprised if I turn around.’

Thinking that, I turned around.

In my sight was a woman with blonde hair draped over one shoulder and blue eyes.

Fox-like eyes, full lips, snow-white skin… A walk that exuded the grace of a supermodel.

Unlike Sehwa, who had a cute charm, this woman radiated a cold, aloof beauty.

It was Yuria Elenard.

She was utterly shocked upon seeing my face.

Of course, since my features closely resembled her dead father’s.

It was satisfying to see that proud face crumple.

In the game, I didn’t get to see such drastic emotional changes… It’s quite entertaining.

I turned around with a bewildered expression.

“What’s the matter?”

My voice was also similar to her father’s.

Low, calm, and even kind, like that of a middle-aged gentleman.

Only the speech pattern resembled that of an Earthling.

Yuria, feeling nauseous, brought her hand to her mouth and gagged.

“Ugh…!”

I acted like a startled middle-aged man and approached her.

“Oh dear… Are you okay? Did you catch something…? Where’s the pharmacy…”

Her gaze slowly rose to meet mine.

An expression and eyes filled with disbelief.

The dark pupils within her blue irises trembled as if an earthquake had struck.

Her strawberry-red lips parted.

And from there, a language that doesn’t exist on Earth came out.

“F… Father?”

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

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