“Damn it! What is this supposed to look like…!”
Bag was desperately trying to regenerate the severed parts while running. Due to the enormous size of the wound, complete restoration was impossible, but it should be enough to prolong his life.
He could only say that he’d had a streak of bad luck. Of all places he had chosen, there happened to be a magical girl.
Not just one, but two of them.
The blue-haired one wasn’t much of an issue. The real threat was the pink-haired one.
“Damn brat…”
Bag gritted his teeth in frustration.
Despite appearances, Bag was one of the elites in the Demon King’s army. A figure who had risen to command and lead the numerous orc races.
Because Bag was confident in his abilities, he had acted boldly, and that boldness led to failure.
Who would have thought that in such a high school, there would be someone who could defeat him?
Still, Bag felt somewhat satisfied.
‘At least I’ve learned about this kid. Her name was Magical Girl Iris, right? As soon as I return, I need to report that she should be put on the blacklist.’
Firstly, because he now knew about this dangerous magical girl.
Secondly…
“Hah hah… Still, I survived… One day, I will get my revenge!”
Even surviving this encounter meant something.
As long as he was alive, there was always a chance. Next time would be different! He’d bring the main force, and no matter how strong she was, he’d cut her down!
It almost made him happy. After all, things acquired with difficulty tend to be more cherished than those easily obtained.
Just imagining the magical girl groveling beneath him sent blood rushing to his groin.
“Ho ho ho…”
Bag, satisfied with his thoughts, arrived at a secluded spot.
Surrounded by obstacles, it was a small open space accessible only through side paths.
“Hmm… Here, I can finally relax. Let’s head back.”
Sitting on the ground, Bag began chanting a spell. A large ominous stone gate appeared.
Bag had summoned the portal to return to the Demon World.
Then, a voice came from behind him.
“Lord, let’s go back.”
“Yes, we must. You managed to survive too, huh?”
“Haha… Barely. Here’s the key. We’ll need it to return, right?”
“Yes… Fortunately. I was worried what we’d do if the person holding the key had died.”
Without the key, he couldn’t open the gate, and without opening the gate, he couldn’t return.
Though he hadn’t had the presence of mind to grab the key himself, it seemed the person responsible for it had somehow survived.
“Let’s go back then. Hand over the key.”
“Yes, here it is.”
Bag extended his remaining hand.
His gaze remained fixed on the portal to the Demon World.
This foolish individual never even considered whether the person who followed him was truly his subordinate or perhaps something else entirely.
And this would likely be his undoing.
“Huh?”
Bag noticed something strange when the other’s hand touched his.
It didn’t feel like a normal five-fingered hand; rather, it felt sticky and slimy, like an octopus tentacle—
“Nice to meet you.”
“Gyaaargh!?”
Startled, Bag fell backward. Only then did he take a closer look at the person next to him.
It wasn’t an orc.
He was cloaked in a robe, wearing a mask with glowing red eyes, and nearby, tentacle-like appendages writhed.
“Wh-who are you!”
“Death.”
“…What?”
“To escape yet be pursued—that thing’s name is death, you know.”
“What nonsense is this again…!”
The magical girl mentioned earlier went on about some “cutie-cutie,” and now this madman was spouting madness.
Is there anyone sane left in this place?
“What do you plan to do with me?”
“I already said—I’m going to kill you.”
“Are you saying I’ll just die quietly!?”
With a powerful kick against the ground, Bag threatened his opponent. An ordinary human would have been scared off by now.
But the man simply laughed mockingly.
“If you were at full strength, it might have given me pause…”
The tentacles wriggled and then struck downward toward Bag’s head. Though Bag blocked the heavy attack, he felt his body shattering.
His body was already in tatters. Continuing to fight wouldn’t be wise.
Thinking this, Bag tried to flee.
“Even if you run, I’ll follow.”
Caught by the tentacle around his ankle, Bag fell with a loud crash. The impact shook the ground.
The tentacle grabbed his remaining arm and lifted his body into the air.
The man smiled contentedly.
“I’ve got you, boy.”
+++++
After Bag disappeared, I quickly chased after him. Thankfully, Iris hadn’t lost, but I couldn’t leave him be.
Watching the battle between Bag and Iris revealed something: Iris was definitely strong now. She could deal significant damage to him if she was willing to self-destruct.
Compared to her game version where she couldn’t land a single hit, this was incredible growth.
But she still wasn’t enough.
‘She needs to grow more.’
It wouldn’t do to be satisfied with her current level. Someday, Iris would have to face the Demon King directly.
To achieve that…
‘Kkomkmu, prepare for transformation.’
‘Yes, let’s hide somewhere first.’
‘Alright.’
I needed Bag’s essence.
Bag and Iris had many similarities—both favored close combat, excelling in physical attacks. Therefore, Bag’s essence would undoubtedly benefit Iris. In fact, after absorbing it, Iris had seen a significant boost in strength, agility, and durability.
After completing the transformation, voices erupted nearby.
“That…isn’t that the S-Rank villain!?”
That was the sound of people recognizing me.
‘Popular, aren’t we?’
“Don’t joke around at a time like this?”
‘I see. Let’s hurry after him.’
‘Well, with the tracks he left behind, chasing him won’t be hard.’
Following Bag’s large footprints, we leapt great distances. The tentacles pushed off the ground, and I attempted short flights using magic.
Thus, we soared between buildings, pursuing Bag.
And this was the result.
“Aaaaagh!!! Let go! Release me!!”
“Ow…my ears…Kkomkmu has it good.”
“Why?”
“You don’t have ears.”
“But I can hear everything.”
“Really?”
“Yes. So stop fooling around and get to work. My nonexistent ears are about to fall off.”
I nodded and drew my knife. A long blade resembling a scimitar pierced Bag’s chest.
“Aaaagh! Aaaargh!!!”
“Scared of dying, huh? Kkomkmu, cover his mouth.”
“Yes.”
Kkomkmu sealed Bag’s mouth with a tentacle as the operation continued. Cutting through Bag’s tough skin was laborious.
Even the expensive Kerberos fang I bought from the black market broke instantly, forcing me to switch knives.
As the process continued, Bag’s eyes rolled back, and red blood flowed as his body convulsed.
Probably his last instinctive struggle.
There was no sympathy in me, only relief and satisfaction.
A guy who would have forcibly defiled Noah if left alone. Thinking about it chilled me to the bone.
“Mmph… Ugh…”
“Next life, try living virtuously.”
Puuuk!
“To hell first, anyway.”
I pulled the knife out of his heart repeatedly. Blood gushed out like a fountain.
With that, Bag met his end, and Kkomkmu’s tentacles entered the severed gap.
After wandering inside for a while, Kkomkmu exclaimed in amazement.
“I found it.”
A small pearl emerged.
Considering it came from inside his body, it was surprisingly clean and pure white.
“Good job.”
I took the essence, placed it in a plastic bag, and hid it within Kkomkmu’s cluster of tentacles.
Now all that was left was to feed it to Noah.
“So, how do we get Noah to eat this?”
“How about a candy kiss?”
“Am I gonna do that?”
We’ll worry about the method later.
Definitely not the candy kiss.
+++++
“Uncle!”
“Noah! I heard something happened at school! Are you okay?”
“Uncle~…”
Noah hugged me.
His body started trembling slightly, then he raised his bandaged right arm.
“I got hurt…”
“Serious? Should we go to the hospital?”
“No…just a little…hehe.”
Lying.
If I saw how that sturdy Bag was torn apart right before my eyes, Noah’s arm injury must have been severe.
“Are you really okay?”
“QQQ healed me completely.”
“QQQ, I’ve taken care of everything.”
QQQ peeked out from the pocket.
I gently stroked its head.
“Good job, QQQ. You worked hard.”
While petting QQQ, I felt a sharp gaze.
It was like a cold dagger flying straight into my chest.
“Ugh…only QQQ gets petted…”
“Noah?”
“I worked hard to get cuddles too…”
As Noah clung to me, I could feel the stares around us.
To diffuse the situation, I vigorously patted Noah’s head.
“Hehe…”
Noah happily giggled in my embrace.
Though the gazes felt like they were looking at trash, I endured.
Eventually, this too shall pass.
Better to endure early criticism.
When Noah finally let go, he wore a satisfied smile.
“It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“Thank goodness.”
“Yes. Now let’s go eat! I’ll treat you!”
“…No, I’ll pay.”
“No, I—”
“You worked hard today. Let me treat you.”
Noah stared at my face and shook his head, conceding.
“Next time, I’ll definitely treat you.”
“Alright. I’m hungry, let’s go.”
“Yes!”
I led Noah into a nearby Chinese restaurant, which was bustling with people.
“Wow…”
“There are so many people.”
“Yeah…I’ve never been here before.”
“Me neither.”
Fortunately, after receiving our number, we were seated quickly at a small table.
Servers bustled around us.
“Huh? Many students got injured, yet they’re still working?”
“Oh, it’s fine.”
“Hmm…no forced contract or anything?”
“…This is my parents’ restaurant!”
Apparently, the owners’ children also worked here. While observing this conversation, Noah spoke up.
“I want to eat jjamppong!”
“Then let’s have two bowls of jjamppong and one plate of tangsuyuk.”
“Tangsuyuk too!?”
“If we’re eating, we might as well do it right. Who knows when we’ll come back?”
Noah drooled in excitement.
“Tangsuyuk…it’s been so long…”
“I made it for you last time, didn’t I?”
“…”
“…It wasn’t very good, was it? Anyway, let’s eat.”
“Yes. I’ll place the order.”
Noah pressed the call button, and a voice responded.
It sounded familiar, like something I’d heard earlier. There was a strange sense of déjà vu.
I must have heard it today somewhere.
“Yes! Coming!”
As the student approached, I recognized their face.
Perhaps it was fate.
A girl with a bandage on her face, her blue hair tied in a ponytail, approached our table.
Her name was Lee Tae-hwa.
“Ah…”
“…Ah.”
An old friend from childhood, though now somewhat estranged.
Upon seeing Noah, she froze stiff like ice.
Our two friends, who had been avoiding each other, met again by fate.
“…How did it come to this?”
Truly persistent fate.
…Well, it’s my job to guide Noah’s destiny in a positive direction.
‘Shall I set the stage once more?’
