Chapter 227

“No, today is really my first day off in five years… I got a frantic call and came here…”

Seeing the uncle looking somber after getting slapped, even I felt complicated. Of course, Chunja continued explaining as ordered by our mother.

“First, the King leading the Black Round Table… even we have no way of knowing who that is.”

“Huh?”

“There’s a library that stores records of all life forms in this universe… Someone broke in, killed the caretakers—my ten siblings—and erased all records about the King of the Black Round Table. It’s obviously the perpetrator.”

“Um… So, you must really hate them, huh?”

Just look at Hadaesu, that uncle. He rebelled after losing three of his children. But if you lost ten siblings…

“No, I don’t care at all. Look at our father over there—he doesn’t seem bothered either.”

“Uh…?”

I was speechless at Chunja’s words. There were too many points to address.

“Ah, I should’ve explained earlier. I’m the eldest daughter of Sabriel, who was the Young Gentleman’s nanny, and also Father’s first daughter.”

“But, I mean, I get that now, but…”

“Ah… Father doesn’t care at all about killing his children. Even if they die, they can keep living in the Underworld. But… if someone destroys a child’s soul, he’ll never forgive them. Not that I care much about my siblings, though.”

She said that, but both of them were radiating serious killing intent. They definitely wanted to annihilate Media’s soul.

“So, Media’s soul is…”

“I personally want to annihilate the soul of such a dangerous individual… but Father seems to think differently. He’s not usually that merciful.”

“Hmm, getting slapped on a day off and not even getting angry… isn’t that merciful enough?”

Wait, as far as I know, he’s the strongest in this universe… Even when Lorcha slapped him, he just sat there sniffling. And it wasn’t just one slap—it was three slaps in a row and a kick to the solar plexus.

“Well, he’s quite generous in that regard. That’s why I’m asking you, Young Gentleman. Please defeat that woman who destroyed my sibling’s soul, and the King of the Black Round Table.”

“Sure, Chunja. But can’t you really do it yourself?”

“It’s Persephone. During the rebellion war Father started, I opposed him and suffered greatly. I look fine now… but if I even try to use 5% of my original power, I vomit blood. If I could use my full strength, we wouldn’t have bothered you, Young Gentleman. For something like this, Father would have to step in… but if he did, this planet wouldn’t survive.”

“Surprisingly considerate of people, huh? I thought he’d just destroy a planet or two.”

“Well, for me or gods, destroying a planet or two… is easy if needed.”

I couldn’t hide my confusion at her words.

“But the planet where the people you love reside, and the planet God particularly favors, are exceptions. He cares for you that much, Young Gentleman.”

“Is there a reason to care for me?”

He didn’t even give birth to me—he made me, right?

“Young Gentleman.”

Chunja patted my head as she spoke.

“You are the only lifeform God personally crafted with his hands. Many are jealous of that. So, for their sake, please don’t say such things.”

Is she saying it sounds like I’m mocking them? I wanted to know more about my past, so I decided to ask.

“By the way, I’m curious why I was created… but do you know why my skin melts like acid when I touch that person?”

“It’s Persephone. And that… God said it’s a secret… He’s too embarrassed to say.”

So, I can’t know yet. It feels like some mobile game detective who keeps saying, “I can’t tell you yet.”

“Anyway, moving on… can I ask something important?”

“Ask away.”

I should ask Chunja everything I can while I have the chance.

“That damn Media… I mean, that woman, why is she like that? If she tries to sell her sob story later, I’ll smash her head in right now, so tell me.”

“From our perspective, it’s an overly common story that’s become tiresome… She lost her family to black sorcerers, wandered aimlessly, and suffered all kinds of hardships because she had no power. Then, a demon reached out to her, and she became intoxicated by that power. Eventually, she ended up killing the man she loved with her own hands due to the demon’s manipulation. In her madness, she devoured the demon, absorbed its power, and turned her resentment toward God and us… That’s the story. It’s so cliché at this point.”

If it’s that cliché, how many incidents like this happen in this damn world? It feels like there are thousands of incidents listed on Namu Wiki.

“Well, I don’t feel sorry for her at all.”

Given what that bitch did, I don’t feel an ounce of pity. I just thought about provoking her with that story next time I see her.

“That’s an admirable mindset.”

But Lorcha seemed to think differently.

“Ultimately, it’s the demons’ fault. Regardless of how awful that woman is, the demons provided the opportunity. We should’ve just wiped them all out. Why does black magic even exist? At the very least, the risks should’ve been heavily regulated.”

“Beautiful one, that’s not under our jurisdiction. And above all, it’s humans who use it, right? If they didn’t use it, it wouldn’t be a problem. Why are you complaining to us? Black magic is tempting, after all. It’s the only way to become powerful quickly, and it’s so strong that even we struggle with it. Honestly, it’s almost omnipotent.”

Seeing the power Damian wielded, it did seem almost omnipotent. He could handle all kinds of troublesome abilities. Of course, the black sorcerers from the original story were no slouches either. There was poison that killed on contact, heatwaves that melted steel like ice, and even the ability to grow as large as the clouds. And there was that black sorcerer who made a contract with a demon to bring his dead daughter back to life.

“That’s why we describe black magic like this: it’s omnipotence with risks, granted to mortals. Of course, how one wields it depends on individual capability.”

But our uncle, oblivious as ever, chimed in.

“Well, I do think the risks are a bit high, but if such power had no risks, it’d be problematic. Besides, I’m a hands-off kind of guy. I don’t really want to interfere with what people do—”

*Slap!*

Lorcha slapped our uncle again. This time, it was a proper hit—the sound was different from before.

“Don’t you dare talk like that after ruining people’s lives because you couldn’t be bothered. You’re the one who unleashed those disgusting demons and ruined the world.”

Today, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for that uncle. It’s unfair enough to have to work on a day off, but coming here to babysit his boss and getting slapped six times in total…

“Not all demons are my children, and not all demons are like that…”

Now he even looked pitiful.

“Oh, and uncle, I have a question.”

“Yes, as long as it’s not about getting slapped…”

“That black feather you gave me last time… what’s it for?”

That black feather he gave me as a gift had been on my mind. It felt like it had some unusual power, but it also seemed dangerous, so I kept it stored away.

“Ah, that’s a piece of my power I gave to you.”

“Your power?”

“Well, I’m a demon too. There are many forms of black magic contracts… but one way is to use an object infused with power. I gave it to you in case you ever feel completely out of options when fighting Media or other enemies. I forgot to explain that minor detail.”

That’s the most important part, you idiot.

“But I already knew you were a demon… What kind of power does this give me?”

“You can open a door to the Underworld once. If you send someone through it, they’ll die. It’s a one-time, temporary contract, so the risk is relatively low… but there is still a risk, so please only use it as a last resort.”

“What’s the risk?”

If it’s something like a stiff shoulder, I’d consider using it.

“It guarantees you’ll go to hell after you die. Pretty light, right?”

This time, both Lorcha and I punched him in the face simultaneously.

“……. What a way to spend a weekend, coming to work and getting treated like this.”