Chapter 174

EP.174 The Demon Reappears

There’s a smell.

The unique, pungent smell of chemically treated photos.

Sitting on the sofa with my legs spread, I smiled and asked as the doctor, who had finished processing the album and frames, entered.

“Done?”

The doctor answered with an excited expression.

“Yeah. Done.”

“How do you feel?”

“Just… bittersweet? That seems about right. It was something I was attached to… though not anymore.”

The doctor hurriedly added more words, worried I might feel bad.

After washing her hands, she came over and sniffed.

“It smells. Should I open the window more?”

“It’s fine. It’ll go away soon.”

“I’ll call the antique dealer tomorrow to take the golf clubs.”

I gently rubbed the doctor’s leg that was on mine.

“You don’t have to report everything to me. You can handle it yourself.”

“But I want to tell you.”

“Then do as you like.”

As the doctor smiled and tried to hold my hand,

Rumble!

Thunder sounded outside, and soon rain began to fall.

The doctor got up and closed the window, leaving it slightly open.

Listening to the rain, she stretched and turned her head.

“Since you’re here, even rainy days are nice… Want some coffee?”

“Sure.”

“Hot or cold?”

“Hot.”

“Got it.”

While the doctor brewed coffee, I checked the TV for any noteworthy news.

There was no mention of demons, which had been sporadically reported until last week.

Now it’s just regular news. Proof of a peaceful world.

All thanks to the Demon King’s mercy. Humans should be grateful to me.

As I flipped through channels to pass the time, the doctor, who had finished brewing, handed me a mug.

“Here you go.”

I took the cup and sipped the coffee.

It’s rich. She ground a lot of beans.

Much better than the bland coffee I had when I first came here.

Smiling at the memory, the doctor widened her eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing… it’s nothing.”

Staring at the doctor, I decided to bring up something I had been thinking about.

“Shall we start making the device tomorrow?”

“Starting tomorrow? Okay.”

“And I want to add a restriction when making it.”

“A restriction? What kind?”

“Let’s make it so we can control Aiter.”

The doctor tilted her head, not understanding.

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s make it so the device only works with our approval.”

The doctor covered her mouth.

Shocked by the sensitive topic, she soon calmed down and tried to persuade me.

“Is that really necessary…? It’s restricting freedom… There haven’t been any issues so far. Sehwa and Yuria only transformed when absolutely necessary.”

“Silvia and Adeline are incredibly strong. The capacity of their Aiter is much greater than Sehwa and Yuria’s… If they can freely charge and use it, who knows what they might do.”

“You don’t trust them?”

“Honestly, I’m suspicious. Since they’re not from Earth, we can’t investigate their past. Adeline uses divine power and can purify demons, so she’s fine, but Silvia is the problem.”

“What’s the issue?”

“It’s hard to read her. She seems to be hiding something.”

The doctor thought for a moment and denied my words.

“She didn’t seem that way when talking to me… And Silvia is a suitable candidate for Aiter. She has a fundamentally good heart.”

“You know this too. Those we firmly believed to be good tried to overthrow America. No one knows what’s truly in a human’s heart.”

“Well, that’s true… but still…”

“If you’re really worried, how about this? We secretly install a control device and monitor the situation before deciding whether to remove it. How about it? If we can fully trust them, we’ll remove the device.”

“Hmm…”

After deep thought, the doctor nodded, seemingly stepping back.

The doctor fully trusts me now.

But since she hasn’t been corrupted by magic, she’s reluctant to do anything drastic.

Even though she decided to follow my lead, she still looked unconvinced.

Time will solve this.

It hasn’t been long since the doctor assimilated to my values.

**

From the next day, we started making the device.

Thanks to my understanding of future science, I quickly learned the manufacturing method, and sitting side by side with the doctor, we smoothly created the device’s framework.

For the first three days, we worked hard, and the production speed was very fast.

But after that, it slowed down.

Because the doctor decided to learn yoga and attended classes from morning to lunch.

Also, her fertile period arrived, and she constantly demanded intimacy.

Her libido was so strong that she often got wet before we even started.

Today, the fourth day, was the same. After yoga, the doctor stopped making the device and gave me a look, her eyes sparkling, suggesting we have a round.

Feeling her gaze, I took off the microscope and gave a weak smile.

“Want to do it now?”

“Yeah…”

“Let’s go home and do it. We’re working now.”

The doctor’s embarrassed expression changed.

“I didn’t want to, but I still granted your request.”

She was referring to making the button to control the device.

It was funny and absurd that she used the same excuse yesterday and today.

Putting down the polymer welder, I said.

“Since I granted your request, let’s stop? Are we in a transactional relationship?”

As my voice rose, the doctor flinched.

But she didn’t back down.

“Sorry if I misunderstood. But you promised too. You said you’d do it a lot during my fertile period. We’re trying to conceive, so let’s work together.”

“My fertile period isn’t just today, so why the rush? And it’s not like I collapse as soon as I get home… We do it until dawn. Yesterday, we did it about three times in the lab, and more at home.”

“I’m anxious… I’ve never had a child, and time is running out…”

The doctor expressed her complex feelings by swiveling her chair.

I approached her, reached out, and gently massaged the back of her neck.

As she seemed to calm down, I asked gently.

“Did you get the ovulation induction prescription at the hospital today?”

“Yeah… I have to take it for four days starting today.”

“Did you get the ovulation shot too?”

“They said to start the shots the day after tomorrow.”

“The reason you couldn’t get pregnant before is because you didn’t think to try these things. It’ll work out, so don’t worry. I guarantee it.”

The doctor’s expression brightened a bit.

“Yeah… Sorry for pushing…”

“Come here.”

I spread my arms wide, and the doctor jumped from her chair into my embrace.

Normally, we’d be careful since we’re in the middle of making the device, but seeing her rush like this, I could tell she was really on edge.

Gently stroking her back, I said.

“Shall we watch a movie we missed today?”

“I’d like that…”

“Then let’s book…”

Beep-! Beep-!

An alarm went off right as I spoke.

Startled, we both looked at the monitor without a word.

The word [Warning] appeared prominently on the central monitor.

And a mechanical female voice sounded.

[Evil Energy detected.]

[Evil Energy detected.]

The doctor’s eyes widened.

“Wh… what’s this…?”

In the past, we would have prepared immediately upon hearing the alarm.

But due to the long peace, the doctor couldn’t stay calm.

Silently pushing the chair, I went to the control panel and checked the expected location of the portal.

“Argentina.”

“Argentina? That’s on the opposite side of the world from Korea…!”

“We can get there quickly, so why the fuss? Calm down and check the status of the portals in Argentina.”

“Ah, okay. Just a second…”

Shaking her head and regaining her composure, the doctor tapped on the keyboard.

After checking the portal’s status, the doctor nodded.

“It’s fine. It’s operating normally. What about the Evil Energy Gauge? What grade demon is it?”

“It stopped at 54%. It’s a C-grade.”

“Then we’ll need the Beast Slayer. I’ll contact Yuria.”

Doctor, why leave out Sehwa? Your intentions are showing.

Why not just muster the courage and ask? How’s your relationship now?

Of course, now’s not the time for that.

Putting on the wireless communicator, the doctor immediately connected to Yuria’s device.

-Doctor, go ahead.

Yuria’s clear voice.

The doctor asked in the calmest tone possible.

“You heard the alarm, right?”

-Yes, I saw the info on the device. C-grade, location Argentina… right?

“Right. Can you go now?”

-I’ll leave right away.

“We’ll…”

The doctor was about to say something, but seeing me shake my head, she quickly corrected herself.

“A C-grade should be enough for you alone. We’ll monitor from here.”

-Got it.

After ending the communication, the doctor stomped her feet and looked at me.

“Jihyuk, shouldn’t we go too…?”

“It’s fine. It’s a C-grade. 54% is on the lower end for demons.”

“But it’s been a while since a demon appeared. The World Union and Argentina might not handle the response process properly.”

“Helping for free is already generous. Sending Yuria is enough. The rest is their problem. Besides, it would take hours to get there by fighter jet. Our bodies can’t handle the portal. So it’s better to just monitor from here.”

“Haah…”

The doctor sighed deeply and leaned back in her chair.

Even though she’s fed up with the World Union and lost interest, she still cares for humanity.

I wish she’d turn her back on humanity sooner… but it can’t be helped.

The doctor hasn’t been injected with malice, so let’s understand.

Until the saint becomes my retainer, or at least until she can’t use her power, we must be extremely cautious.

Approaching the doctor, who had a worried expression, I placed my hand on her shoulder and gently massaged it.

At the same time, I reassured her.

“If Yuria gets there quickly, it might end without any casualties.”

“Yeah…”

“Is it strange for me to act like this?”

“…No. I agree with you…”

“Don’t stress. It’s an important time.”

“Okay… but is Tairat starting to move again?”

Yes, he’s starting to move. Our beautiful demons are starving for blood.

“Since a demon appeared… I guess so?”

“Where on Earth is he hiding that we can’t find him… This is serious…”

“He might not be on Earth but in space.”

“True… They use portals like us… That makes sense.”

As I chatted with the doctor, I manipulated the monitor to zoom in on the portal closest to the demon.

In the middle of a desolate field, the portal stood alone, and soon Yuria appeared in Beast Slayer form.

Her green braid draped over one shoulder, wearing a tight leotard and skirt, she looked around.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen that. I remember the day Astaroth died.

-Kuuoooooo!!

The demon’s roar echoed from afar.

Yuria kicked the ground, leaping into the air, stepping on invisible stairs as she flew towards the sound.

I controlled the drone installed near the portal to follow Yuria.

Then I sat back in my chair and leisurely watched the monitor.

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

---