Chapter 3

EP.3 The Scheming Me #2

The next day, mandatory major class.

As I entered the lecture hall, I noticed Sehwa’s expression wasn’t good.

She must have heard about Yoo Seunghyun’s situation.

After exchanging bright greetings with my classmates, I handed Sehwa a banana milk.

“Want some? You don’t look so good.”

“Huh… Yeah?”

Sehwa, who flinched, turned her head.

Her expression softened slightly when she saw me.

“When did you get here?”

“Just now. What were you thinking about…”

– Oooooh!

I couldn’t finish my sentence.

Because my classmates, seeing me offering banana milk to Sehwa, let out exclamations in a teasing tone.

If Sehwa accepted the milk here, she’d be teased too.

I could see her looking embarrassed.

Shrugging my shoulders, I casually tossed the milk to the male classmate I’d gotten closest to yesterday.

The classmate, who caught it well, peeled off the lid and said,

“What’s this, are you giving it to me because you’re embarrassed?”

“I gave it to you because your voice is the loudest, so keep it down.”

“Jackpot! Thanks!”

He grinned and gulped down the milk.

I gave Sehwa an apologetic look and found a seat.

A seat a bit away from Sehwa.

Before class started, I took out my book and then my mobile phone.

Then I sent a text to Sehwa’s number, which I got yesterday.

[Did you get home safely yesterday?]

Sehwa, who checked the message, slightly turned her head to the side.

Then she sent a reply.

[No. It was the worst.]

I cheered inwardly.

I thought she’d send a short reply like [Yeah.] or [No.], but she shared her feelings.

Pretending to hide my inner thoughts, I fiddled with my phone again.

[Did you drink too much?]

[I didn’t even drink half a bottle of soju yesterday? How about you? Are you okay?]

[What?]

[I mean, are you feeling okay?]

[I felt a bit off until morning, but after eating hangover soup and coming to school, I felt better. There was a tasty place.]

[I want hangover soup too…]

Sehwa, don’t use cute speech.

You’re supposed to be the savior who will become the warrior of justice.

So show some dignity.

But it is cute.

[Then eat. Want to go together for lunch?]

[You said you already had hangover soup.]

[What’s wrong with eating it again? The hangover soup place is a bit out of the way, let’s go with the classmates. They don’t seem to know there’s a restaurant there. It was all middle-aged men going to work.]

[Look ahead.]

Instead of answering, she suddenly told me to look ahead.

I did as Sehwa said.

And then I couldn’t hold back my laughter.

She was giving me an okay sign over her shoulder.

**

After several classes, lunchtime.

Five people met at the back gate at the appointed time and, following my lead, headed to the hangover soup place.

And there, they practically devoured the hangover soup.

“Ugh… I think I can live now.”

The male classmate’s main sweet potato had a relieved expression.

He, who was cleaning his teeth with a toothpick on the table, asked me,

“How do you know about a place like this?”

“I just stumbled upon it today. Isn’t it good?”

“It’s not just good, it’s freaking awesome. I think I’ll come here often. The price is good too.”

“Let’s keep it a secret from anyone outside the first-year Future Science department. I don’t want this place to get famous.”

“Oh… A sense of belonging… Not bad, huh?”

The other classmates also had satisfied expressions.

Actually, I don’t care about their expressions, but as long as Sehwa was satisfied, that’s all that mattered.

When many people gather, there are always those who try to lead.

One classmate said they’d pay with a card and asked for money.

And I noticed Sehwa hesitating for a moment as she took out her wallet.

‘Hmm… Did Yoo Seunghyun ask her for money? No, he’s not that kind of guy…’

I’ll find out later.

The classmates suggested going to a café, whether they wanted to drink coffee or have a conversation.

But I had no such intention.

“I think I’ll take a walk to digest. There’s a small mountain behind the university. I want to check it out.”

“Ah… Don’t you know it’s ruined if one person doesn’t go?”

One classmate whined.

I apologized and, without looking back, headed to the mountain behind the school.

As I walked along the quiet trail, checking my future plans, a pretty voice came from behind.

“Jihyuk!”

It was Sehwa’s voice.

Honestly, I didn’t think she’d follow me this far… Have we already progressed this much?

I don’t know what it is, but it was a good thing.

I could get closer to her, and it was an opportunity to find out what happened between the two.

“Why are you here?”

“Ah, I wanted to take a walk too. The auntie at the hangover soup place gave me too much food, I feel like I’m going to burst.”

“Really? Then… let’s go together.”

As Sehwa matched my pace, I asked,

“What about the others?”

“The guys have a free period and went to a PC bang. The girls went to a café.”

“You didn’t go to the café?”

“Not really… I didn’t feel like drinking anything.”

I could tell she was avoiding it to save money.

Pretending to be nonchalant, I nodded and took out a latte from my bag.

It was coffee I bought to drink before coming to the mountain.

I handed it to Sehwa.

“Want some?”

“It’s okay. I said I don’t feel like drinking anything.”

“Your voice is cracking, what do you mean you don’t feel like it… Just drink it. I drank enough water earlier.”

Sehwa hesitated, then took the latte.

“Thanks. I’ll buy you the same thing later.”

“Don’t worry about it. By the way, are you feeling better?”

“Feeling?”

“This morning, you said you were feeling the worst.”

“Ah… That…”

Sehwa hesitated for a moment.

It must be a serious topic.

I smiled comfortably and reassured her.

“You’re too kind. You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.”

“No. It’s not that serious… Can I ask you something?”

“Sure, ask.”

“If someone you love is going through something big and says they’ll take responsibility alone, what would you do?”

Aha, I can guess.

Clearly, Yoo Seunghyun explained the situation to Sehwa and told her not to worry because he’d handle it.

But Sehwa, who loves Yoo Seunghyun very much, must have suggested paying it off together or suing for insurance fraud.

Then I should say something she’d like to hear.

“Hmm… If I went through that or heard about it from someone I love, I’d try to take it on together.”

“Right? Exactly?”

“At least, I would.”

“Me too.”

“Looks like you had a fight with your boyfriend over an accident. Right?”

Sehwa flinched.

She asked with a surprised face,

“How did you know?”

“Your boyfriend had an accident, you went to see him, and today you’re feeling the worst. It’s easy to guess. But I didn’t think I’d hit the mark… Should I become a shaman?”

Sehwa giggled and took a sip of the latte.

Then she let out a deep sigh.

“Haah… I’m really worried. It feels like everything’s blocked.”

She was unknowingly revealing her inner thoughts.

Sehwa’s appearance before awakening was always fresh.

This kind of girl is Tairat… no, she always puts me in trouble.

“First, you should get a lawyer’s consultation. If it’s insurance fraud, we have to find out, right?”

“That’s true but…”

You don’t have money, do you? I know.

That’s why I’ll help you.

That’s why I set up this scheme.

And don’t worry, I don’t plan to completely ruin Yoo Seunghyun’s life.

I’ll just mess him up enough so that he spends very little time with you.

I took out my card holder from my pocket and rummaged through it.

As various designed business cards spilled out, Sehwa’s eyes widened.

I looked at one of them intently and handed it to Sehwa.

“Go see this person.”

Sehwa checked the card’s content and muttered,

“A… lawyer?”

“He was the dedicated lawyer for my parents’ company, but after they passed away, he opened his own office. Go there with your boyfriend. I’ll arrange for a free consultation.”

“Ji… Jihyuk, this is too much…”

“You have to help your boyfriend. Right?”

Sehwa, who was about to return the card, had a firm look in her eyes at my words.

I continued,

“In return, if something happens to me, help me out.”

“What ability do I have…”

“You underestimate yourself too much. Anyway… Will you? Or not?”

“… I will. Thank you so much.”

I smiled sinisterly inside.

By now, Marcella must have finished everything.

Sehwa will meet my advisor disguised as an intellectual lawyer.

**

Antarctica, Tairat’s base.

“Why am I doing such trivial things… Can’t we just kill them? The Demon King is really… What is he thinking…”

Marcella, who vented her dissatisfaction, threw her suit.

It’s time to make an appearance.

“You seem quite dissatisfied, Marcella.”

“Gasp! Demon King!”

Startled, she prostrated herself on the floor.

The tail at her waist disappeared, and her long ears became normal.

Before prostrating, I briefly saw her fangs disappear, completely transforming into a human.

This much is possible…

But since she badmouthed, it’s canceled, you bitch.

“I was going to give you a reward, but I guess I’ll have to cancel.”

“A… reward…?”

“That’s what I was going to do…”

As I leisurely walked over and sat on a chair, Marcella quickly crawled over and bowed her head at my feet.

“De… Demon King… What was the reward…?”

“Well, I wonder what it could have been. I’m curious too. Hearing your words just now, I was so surprised I forgot. What was it again… Trivial things? Can’t we just kill them?”

“Demon King… I’m sorry…”

Marcella’s human form, with a sullen expression, was quite cute.

Well, even in the game, her snorting was cute.

Even though she drove the demons crazy with her modifications.

“Report.”

At those words, Marcella slowly got up.

Then she transformed back to her original form.

Her fangs grew long, and dark wings sprouted from her back.

The tail that had disappeared grew long and became pointed.

Her nails also grew long and sharp.

Anyone would think she was a demon, a succubus, that was Marcella’s true form.

She turned the monitor towards me and operated the screen.

Then, three people sitting around a round table in a well-decorated lawyer’s office appeared.

Marcella in disguise, the always beautiful Sehwa, and finally, the fool Yoo Seunghyun.

He wasn’t exactly handsome, but he had a simple face that anyone would find likable.

With a face full of worry, he weakly responded to Marcella’s explanations.

Ugh… What a fool.

Why did I think that was me? Just thinking about the past makes me angry.

Marcella, through a long consultation, only said things Yoo Seunghyun and Sehwa didn’t want to hear.

Without evidence, this can’t be resolved, there’s no recording, and they didn’t copy the application forms, it’s a perfect dead end.

With such words, she gradually plunged the two into despair.

But at the end, she tried to give them a glimmer of hope.

-You said you were fired, right? But the application forms might still be there, so I’ll contact the company and review them carefully.

At those words, Yoo Seunghyun and Sehwa’s faces brightened a little.

-Since Young Master Song Jihyuk specially requested… I’ll do my best. Don’t be too down.

At the end, she even mentioned me.

Yoo Seunghyun tells Sehwa to meet with Mr. Song Jihyuk when he has time.

It seems they want to express their gratitude.

Sehwa nods with a bright face, and the two express their thanks to Marcella several times before leaving.

After watching the screen, I burst into laughter.

Then Marcella’s face brightened.

“Very good. Very good indeed.”

“Really?”

“Well done, Marcella.”

“Thank… Thank you, Demon King.”

“Listen well, I’ll tell you what I’m aiming for now.”

Today, I told Marcella all my goals.

The long-term plan to make the mighty Beast Slayers my subordinates.

After hearing everything, Marcella clapped like a seal.

“As expected… As expected of the Demon King! I, Marcella, will work hard to help in the Demon King’s great cause!”

Thanks for understanding.

Now stop whining.

If you badmouth, my heart gets startled. It’s scary!

“What about the company Yoo Seunghyun was in? Can you manipulate it as you intend?”

“Of course. Small and medium-sized human companies are within my control. If necessary, I can send Amon to hypnotize everyone…”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. Don’t be cocky and do it like this. First…”

I gave Marcella the guidelines for what to do next.

Thanks to Marcella and me, Yoo Seunghyun will be relieved.

But not completely resolved.

If that happens, Yoo Seunghyun will have to work his body to the bone for several months, and that’s when I plan to approach him.

I’ll give him a great job.

A job that will be a big problem if Sehwa finds out.

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

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