Chapter 37

EP.37 The Aiter of the Gobi Desert

A few days after a series of incidents, I was at home watching TV.

[This afternoon, a C-class monster appeared in what is believed to be the headquarters of a terrorist group in Syria. The monster was immediately slain by Beast Slayer Leona, but an interview with a suspected terrorist has caused a stir in online communities. Let’s meet him now.]

As the anchor finished speaking, a hospital appeared on the screen.

A Syrian man, half of his body burned, lay on the hospital bed, furious.

He was spitting out all sorts of words, and subtitles appeared beneath him.

-They saw me near the monster, but they just ignored me! They even pushed the monster toward me, trying to kill me! And that woman is supposed to be humanity’s guardian? She should make some sense!

[Netizens’ reactions are cold. One netizen mocked, saying no one would believe a terrorist, and that he should be grateful just to be alive…]

I watched the TV silently, then let out an evil laugh.

Leona’s justice is about “protecting people” from monsters.

She’s not a warrior who picks and chooses whom to save.

She hated seeing people die in front of her, no matter who they were.

Even if they were heinous criminals or terrorists.

She saves everyone first, and if they’re guilty, she lets them face the judgment of the law.

‘But now it’s different.’

This incident is proof.

The terrorist’s words are partly true.

Pushing the monster toward the terrorists was just a misunderstanding, but Leona didn’t save the members of the extremist terrorist group.

Not saving globally condemned terrorists might seem understandable, but the original Leona would have extended a helping hand even to them.

However, now that Aiter has been eroded by me, her sense of justice is slowly changing.

Over time, her definition of protecting people will dilute and shift.

By the time it fully breaks, a warrior who moves only for me will be born.

Until then, praise Leona deeply in your hearts, humans.

Anyway, right now, Sehwa was getting a scolding from Dr. Cash, who had sent me back first.

Even if they’re part of a terrorist group, people are still people, so she’s probably getting an earful about justice.

About 30 minutes later,

Ding!

[25th floor.]

The elevator’s mechanical voice reached my ears as I focused my hearing.

Sehwa’s back.

I switched the channel to a variety show and put on a calm face as the sound of a card being swiped at the front door was heard.

Clunk!

The door opened, and Sehwa stormed in, huffing.

She looked angry, but when she saw me, her expression quickly softened.

She ran over and hugged me, then tapped her lips with her index finger.

A sign that she wanted a kiss.

I chuckled and pressed my lips firmly against hers.

As she tried to slip her tongue into my mouth, I barely managed to pull away and asked,

“Did you get scolded a lot?”

Sehwa made a face.

“I don’t know. She’s been so nosy lately. I just said I got it and apologized.”

Her aggressive side is so endearing.

“You should’ve listened properly. Isn’t the doctor the one you trust the most? Well, aside from me.”

“That’s true. Am I being too sensitive? I’ve been less stressed lately…”

“One thing’s for sure, I’m on your side. Got it? If you have any worries, tell me anytime.”

Sehwa placed her calf on my leg and smiled brightly.

Yes, depend on me like that, and think my words are law.

After crossing her legs and acting cute for a while, Sehwa spoke.

“Jihyuk, I felt something strange when I transformed today. It happened last time too, but I just brushed it off… But today, I felt the same thing again. I don’t think I should ignore it.”

She’s talking about the hidden Aiter.

Finally, she’s bringing it up.

“What is it?”

“It’s… something calling me.”

“Calling you?”

“Yeah. It feels like it’s trying to pull me. To the west of Korea, and a bit north. I’m sure it’s not too far.”

“Then it’s probably around China, Mongolia, or Russia… If you felt that way, you should’ve told the doctor.”

Sehwa stiffened and shook her head.

“It’s fine. You tell her. Or I can just transform and check it out myself…”

“Don’t transform recklessly. You never know when a Gate might open. I’ll tell the doctor.”

“Thanks. By the way, today’s humanities professor is super strict about attendance… I missed class because of the monster. What do I do?”

“I can’t help with that…”

Seeing my troubled face, Sehwa laughed like a child.

“I was just whining a bit.”

“You whine so cutely. Finals are coming up soon, right?”

“Yeah. After exams and the semester ends, let’s go somewhere. I want to travel.”

Travel, huh? She must be bored, going back and forth between school, home, and the lab.

We’ve been overseas, but it was to deal with demons, so it didn’t feel like a trip.

“Should we go to Jeju Island?”

“Let’s go anywhere, just the two of us. Oh, I need to go out for a bit.”

“Where are you going?”

“I need to pick up something I ordered…”

Hmm… Dodging the question? She probably bought some sexy lingerie.

Fine, I’ll play along. I should contact Yuria now.

The meeting is in two days, but if I call, she’ll want to meet right away, so it’s fine.

“Alright. Then I’ll stop by the company and come back?”

“Yeah.”

**

“Uncle Taegon! Over here!”

Yuria waved her hand happily.

Now, I need to make that pretty face shed a few tears.

I approached her with a warm smile and greeted her.

“You’ve been well, right? I passed through Jung-gu, which is being restored, and people are amazing. They’re bouncing back like a spring. I can see hope in their eyes.”

“That’s just how people are. But you said you had something to tell me, that you had a dream. What is it? I was so curious I couldn’t sleep.”

“This isn’t something to talk about on the street.”

My expression suddenly turned serious.

Yuria’s expression changed too.

“Right. I know a quiet café. Shall we walk?”

“There’ll be people at the café… Let’s take my car. We can have a private conversation there.”

“Ah… Okay.”

I silently led Yuria to the car I had parked in Daejeon.

A large luxury sedan.

An expensive imported car.

We got in the back seat instead of the front.

I turned to her and spoke.

“I had a dream.”

“Yes. You mentioned that.”

“Usually, dreams feel like walking on clouds. Hazy, and hard to remember after waking up. But this dream was different. It was vivid, even after time passed.”

Yuria shifted her posture, lifting her hips.

She looked like she was about to burst with curiosity.

After swallowing hard and making her wait, I began.

“Everything around me was green… A hill covered in grass I’d never seen before, with a large, majestic tree in the middle. I was there with someone.”

“That…!”

Yuria opened her mouth to say something.

But I closed my eyes and slowly shook my head, so she coughed lightly and closed her mouth again.

Her expression was on the verge of shock.

Her already large eyes widened even more, so she must’ve been really surprised.

“She was a beautiful woman. She looked about ten years younger than me, and she resembled you, Yuria. She had an antique aura… and wore a long, pure white dress that matched the atmosphere.”

“…..”

“In the dream, I was looking at her affectionately, and she was looking back at me with eyes full of love. If I had to guess…”

“…. Please don’t drag it out.”

“I think she might’ve been your mother.”

“Huh…!”

Yuria burst into tears instantly.

Thick tears fell, wetting her black skirt.

She suddenly hugged me. She must’ve been reminded of the past.

I gently stroked her back and smiled.

Thanks to Marcella’s help, I’ve already gathered all the information about Yuria’s kingdom.

The green grass-covered hill, the large tree in the middle.

That’s where Yuria’s father, Glen Elenard, and her mother, Margaret Elenard, promised their love.

It’s also where Margaret announced her pregnancy.

I planned to use this story.

By the way, Yuria’s chest feels quite soft.

I thought it’d be smaller than Sehwa’s and not worth much, but it’s actually quite nice to touch.

Her straight spine feels good too. It suits the tall and elegant Yuria perfectly.

After hugging Yuria for a while, I slowly pulled away.

Yuria, who had been crying silently, had red, swollen eyes.

Her makeup-free face is truly beautiful. Not as much as Sehwa’s, though.

I took out a handkerchief and handed it to her.

“And today, I had another dream.”

“…..”

Yuria, wiping her eyes as if the handkerchief was a precious gift, looked at me.

“I was in a dark, shadowy sky. Below me, a massive… medieval-style castle was burning. I could clearly hear people screaming.”

“Ah…”

“The woman who looked like you, from before, was crying tears of blood as a massive man shrouded in darkness set her entire body on fire… My heart felt like it was being torn apart, and I wanted to scream, but my throat was too tight to make a sound.”

Tears were flowing from my eyes too.

Crocodile tears, naturally made as I calmly told the story.

Yuria, completely fooled, shook her head several times.

“Don’t cry… Don’t cry…”

She seems to firmly believe I’ve been reincarnated.

Of course, that’s why I asked Marcella for all that information.

I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand and spoke.

“Yuria, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I had these dreams after meeting you. What you told me last time might be true.”

“…..”

“I wanted to tell you this story, so I asked to meet.”

At those words, Yuria hugged me again.

She spoke in a tearful voice.

“Uncle… No, my father’s name is Glen. His wife, my mother, is Margaret.”

“Even if you say that, I’m just Kim Taegon. I’m still thinking about it.”

“With time… With time, you’ll remember me. Until then, just stay as Uncle Taegon… And don’t be so cold. At least not now…”

This time, I placed my hand on Yuria’s flowing golden hair.

“I’ll do that.”

That’s enough for today.

Let’s find the Aiter for Yuria, create a new Device, and start again.

Until then, let’s take it slow.

Until Yuria is completely desperate.

Then, I’ll throw in another bait.

The knight captain who died for me on the day the kingdom fell, the one who promised to marry you.

I’ll tell her he’s been reincarnated as Yoo Seunghyun.

Try hard to seduce him, who knows nothing, to break down the walls.

Given Seunghyun’s personality, it’ll take a lot of effort to divert his attention.

Meanwhile, I’ll embed myself deep in your heart.

I originally planned to do this as Kim Taegon… but doing it as Song Jihyuk isn’t bad either.

I’ll think about it a bit more.

“I should go. I need to calm this chaotic heart. I’ll drive you home, so rest well.”

At my kind words, Yuria nodded.

Her hair brushed against my cheek. It even smells fragrant.

I can’t wait for the day I grab your soft hair and take your virginity.

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

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