Chapter 237

EP.237 The Second Collapse #2

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“Like this?”

“Yes. That way, it won’t explode, and the output will increase. Try adjusting it once.”

“Okay.”

Marcella, who seemed nervous, answered and turned the regulator to the right.

Then, with a *whoosh* sound, the barrel of the photon cannon placed on the workbench lit up.

Marcella’s face brightened as she watched it.

“Wow, it really works…! Amazing!”

Feeling proud, the doctor patted Marcella on the shoulder.

“It’s because you followed along so well.”

Currently, the two were repairing a futuristic weapon developed by Marcella.

The doctor, who had knowledge of medical devices, shared her knowledge of weapons with Marcella in a give-and-take manner.

Their conversation flowed smoothly.

Whenever there were questions, they asked each other good questions, and the answers came without hesitation.

Scientific discussions with someone who matched her wavelength were incredibly enjoyable.

So much so that the doctor lost track of time, spending a long time with Marcella and sharing various knowledge.

Honestly, she was worried.

If she shared her knowledge, futuristic weapons might appear during demon attacks, and there was a possibility of chimeras—creatures combining demons and weapons—emerging.

Unlike the conspiracy in Syria, which had ended as just a plot, this could actually happen.

But she decided to accept it all. After all, those who went against Sehwa’s will deserved to die.

They were just lowly creatures who divided themselves into classes within society.

Such beings, who only wasted air, were unnecessary on Earth.

*Beep! Beep!*

As evening fell, an alarm sounded from the smartwatch on Marcella’s wrist.

She spoke with a regretful expression.

“The time set by the Queen is almost up. You should head back now…”

“Okay. Let’s go. Should I wear the blindfold?”

“No. The Queen has ordered that you no longer need to wear the blindfold.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You seem happy. Your face is glowing.”

“Well… of course I’m happy… Let’s hurry back. If we’re late, Sehwa might get angry.”

“Understood.”

The doctor walked alongside Marcella, passing by the medical room where Yuria was.

Glancing at the partitioned area, the doctor asked.

“How’s Yuria?”

“Hmm… Not good. She keeps defying the Queen… She’s accumulated ten punishments.”

“Ten… already?”

“Yes. But… the Queen, who was worried you might take the punishment for her, has decided to forgive her.”

The doctor was genuinely pleased.

Hearing about Sehwa’s love for her from a third party had a unique flavor.

First the blindfold issue, now this… Sehwa truly cherished her.

Still, Yuria was a concern.

What on earth was she thinking, doing things that would get her scolded, trying to kill a hundred humans… It was impossible to understand.

Sehwa’s patience must have its limits.

Before that, Yuria’s heart needed to be turned around.

Even if it required extreme measures.

“I’m worried… She’s too stubborn.”

“But… I think things will work out over time.”

The doctor, looking at Marcella’s positive attitude with a warm expression, suddenly became curious about her true nature.

Was she a demon? Or something else?

Unable to hold back her curiosity, the doctor asked.

“Marcella, are you… a demon? Ah, if it’s hard to answer, you don’t have to.”

“It’s not hard. I’m not a demon, I’m a demonkin.”

“Demonkin?”

“Yes. Just a moment…”

Marcella undid the button on her skirt and slightly lifted it.

The doctor, flustered by her sudden boldness, quickly turned her head away.

Ignoring that, Marcella, who had even pulled up her shirt, called out to the doctor.

“Doctor, could you look here?”

“Huh…?”

“It’s fine, just look below my navel.”

At Marcella’s urging, the doctor hesitantly looked inside the skirt.

Sure enough, there was a somewhat provocative red mark near where the uterus would be.

Such a mark on a grown virgin’s private area?

In the past, she would have found it vulgar and crude.

But now, it felt familiar.

Why? She didn’t know. It just seemed natural and beautiful.

“This is the mark of a demonkin. Demonkin are very different from demons. Demonkin are higher beings.”

“Ah… So it’s like a hierarchy? Like nobles and slaves?”

“Exactly. By the way, the Queen is also a demonkin.”

Sehwa is a demonkin too?

So, can demonkin retain their human form?

Moreover, if demons are like slaves in the hierarchy, it seems demonkin can command demons.

Given the rejuvenation effect, it seems their lifespan is extended too…

Immortality has been a wish of countless humans throughout history.

She hadn’t imagined immortality for herself… but now, experiencing it firsthand, it felt incredibly appealing.

As the doctor was organizing her thoughts, Marcella, who had fixed her clothes, smiled brightly.

“Let’s head back now.”

“Huh? Oh, right… Ah, and… could you put a full-length mirror in my room?”

“I’ll ask the Queen.”

“Thanks.”

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The doctor, standing naked in front of the full-length mirror, let out a sigh of admiration.

She had been taking good care of herself, but nearing her 40s, she was worried about rough skin and loss of elasticity… Now, she didn’t have to worry about such things anymore, as she had become so much younger.

Just like when she first saw this reflection in the bathroom, it felt real now too.

She had become much more beautiful than in her prime.

It was like being reborn.

Beauty isn’t perfect.

In imperfection, in individuality, lies beauty.

All those sayings about beauty now felt like nonsense.

Admiring her flawless naked body, the doctor suddenly felt a pang of regret.

She felt something was missing.

Was it because there was no mark on her lower abdomen?

Unconsciously, she started fidgeting near her uterus, but when she heard a knock and the door opened, her body froze.

“Doctor… huh? What are you doing?”

Sehwa, with a puzzled expression.

Realizing she was naked, the doctor covered herself and scolded in a low voice.

“Y-you didn’t even ask to come in… What if you just open the door like that…”

“If you didn’t want anyone to come in, you should’ve locked the door.”

“I didn’t because I thought you might not like it… But why are you here…?”

“I had a really frustrating day today… I came to talk to you.”

Sehwa, having finished speaking, lay down on the bed.

The doctor, hastily putting on her clothes, smiled broadly.

The fact that Sehwa came to talk to her while angry meant she trusted and relied on her.

Carefully lying down next to Sehwa, the doctor asked.

“Is it because of Yuria?”

“Yes. I don’t understand why she’s so disobedient. She’s so different from you. It’s getting on my nerves.”

By now, she should’ve adapted to reality… Yuria was just too stupid.

It was infuriating. Why did she keep provoking Sehwa?

If she just listened, she could live comfortably, but this way, it’s hard to cover for her anymore.

Seeing the doctor’s worried expression, Sehwa spoke affectionately.

“Doctor. You know what? When you’re deep in thought, your pupils move upward.”

“Me…? Really?”

“Yes. Were you worried about me just now?”

“Yeah… Was I being presumptuous? Sorry…”

“Presumptuous? Not at all… I’m really happy.”

Sehwa placed her palm on the pillow next to the doctor.

The doctor, as if it were the most natural thing, rested her cheek on Sehwa’s palm and rubbed against it.

After savoring Sehwa’s touch for a while, the doctor remembered what Marcella had said and sat up.

Then she asked.

“Sehwa. I heard you’re a demonkin, is that true?”

“Did Marcella tell you? Yes, I’m a demonkin.”

“Then… is this your…”

“True form? No.”

Just as she thought.

Her earlier assumption was correct.

She was curious. About Sehwa’s true form.

But she was afraid to ask, fearing Sehwa might get angry.

Did Sehwa sense her thoughts? She giggled and asked.

“Do you want to see?”

“Huh…?”

“My true form.”

“Can… can you show me…?”

“There’s no reason not to. I can show you anytime.”

The doctor’s face flushed.

But there was a concern.

What if… she turned into some hideous monster? She wasn’t sure if she could handle seeing Sehwa like that.

Given that Sehwa’s aging had reversed, it probably wouldn’t happen, but you never know.

Still, she wanted to see, so the doctor cautiously said.

“I want to see…”

“Alright.”

Sehwa brushed the doctor’s bangs aside and got off the bed.

She cleared the table to make space and smiled at the doctor.

“I hope you like it.”

With that, Sehwa closed her eyes, and a dark aura began to emanate from her body.

A gentle wind rose from below, lifting Sehwa’s hair into the air.

No, it wasn’t wind—it seemed to be an effect of the dark aura.

Soon, Sehwa’s hair grew longer, turning a soft purple at the ends.

That wasn’t all.

A red light seeped from her lower abdomen, and the beautiful mark she had seen on Marcella’s body appeared.

Her skin turned pure white, her nails grew sharp, and her lips glistened as if coated with glossy tint.

Finally, her eyes.

Slowly opening her eyes, Sehwa’s irises had turned purple.

The lighting was too dim to see clearly, but her pupils seemed to have split vertically.

Like a cat’s.

The doctor, forgetting all decorum, stared at Sehwa with her mouth agape.

Unconsciously, she muttered.

“So beautiful…”

Sehwa’s true form, exuding a chilling aura, was as beautiful as the doctor had just said.

Her earlier worry about Sehwa becoming ugly was unfounded.

The satisfaction she felt looking at herself in the mirror now seemed pitiful in comparison.

A beauty that far surpassed imagination. No matter what poetic words she used, all she could say was “beautiful.”

There was a nobility that couldn’t even be compared to lowly humans.

Her gaze was sharp, but her aura was gentle.

It felt as if Sehwa was looking down at her from a great height, taking care of her.

Is that what a demonkin is? She wanted to be like that so badly.

Her breath caught, and her blood boiled.

Not from excitement, but from the feeling that she should kneel on her own.

Moreover, the dark aura continuously emanating from Sehwa’s body…

She couldn’t define it exactly, but it felt familiar.

As the doctor instinctively tried to adjust her posture, Sehwa reverted to her normal form.

At the same time, the heavy atmosphere lifted, and the doctor let out a deep breath.

“*Gasp*…!”

“Are you okay?”

Sehwa, now back to her usual self, asked with no trace of her cold demeanor.

The doctor nodded absentmindedly.

“I’m fine… I’m fine… I was just so surprised I couldn’t breathe…”

“Wait a moment.”

Sehwa quickly opened the fridge, took out cold water, and poured it into a cup.

Then she approached the doctor and gave her the water.

Thanks to that, the doctor calmed down a bit and asked.

“Was that… you?”

“Yes. That’s the true me, as a demonkin.”

“Ah…!”

The doctor, recalling the earlier beauty, let out a sigh of admiration and remembered what Sehwa had said yesterday.

She had said that if the doctor made a decision in her heart, she would become family.

Did that mean… she could become a noble demonkin like Sehwa?

And would her child be born with such beauty too?

“Doctor.”

Sehwa’s call snapped the doctor out of her deep thoughts.

The doctor, startled, replied.

“Y-yes…?”

“Though it’s sudden, there’s something I must tell you. You remember what I said about thinking of you as family, right?”

She had just been thinking about that… Sehwa truly knew everything about her.

“I remember… I remember everything…”

“No matter what hardships come in the future, don’t worry. I’m here for you. I’m your soul’s sanctuary. If you’re tired, lean on me anytime. I’m the only one who will embrace you without pushing you away. Understand?”

Just hearing those words made her happy.

Yes, if things get tough, she’ll lean on Sehwa anytime.

The doctor, with a dazed expression, nodded.

“Got it…”

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