Chapter 49

EP.49 Yuria Introduction Plan #2

Currently, Mapo-gu, Seoul, was in complete chaos.

Marcella had Amon hypnotize the entire criminal organization, and they came up to Seoul, causing massive damage to the citizens.

Shortly after they appeared, Leona jumped in and began suppressing them, but since she was controlling herself to not kill the members, instead knocking them out or incapacitating them, it was taking some time.

*Bam!*

“Ugh!”

One of the members slammed his face into the wall, letting out a dying scream.

He collapsed, blood streaming from his head.

Leona looked down at the twitching member with an indifferent expression.

From the laboratory, I, who had been watching Leona with the doctor, gave the order.

“200 meters ahead, take a left into the alley. Two of them. Once you handle them, Sangam-dong is clear.”

-Got it.

Leona, who responded briefly, moved at an incredibly fast speed.

And then…

*Crash! Crunch!*

With brutal sounds, the two criminals who were trying to assault a citizen fell silent.

She wiped her blood-stained gloves once and made a complicated expression.

But soon, she gritted her teeth and moved to another area to start clearing out the criminals.

The doctor, who was watching the screen, chewed on her lips.

“This can’t be… This can’t be… Leona! Stop…”

*Click.*

As the doctor tried to give Leona an order, I pressed a button to cut off the communication.

The doctor then looked at me as if she wanted to kill me.

“What are you doing right now?”

“Protecting the citizens. Don’t stop me.”

“Song Jihyuk! Leona’s justice is…”

“Doctor, aren’t you misunderstanding something? Leona’s justice is ‘protecting people from monsters.’ Monsters are evil. If the criminals harming the citizens over there aren’t evil, then what are they? If innocent citizens die because you’re trying to think about those people, how do you think Leona would feel?”

“You…”

“I’ll have Leona choose the lesser evil. I think it’s the right thing to do in this situation. Since I gave the order, I’ll take responsibility.”

“…..”

The doctor looked at my twisted face and let out a deep sigh.

Yeah, I’m struggling too. It’s hard giving Leona such orders.

No, it’s hard acting like this.

“It would be better to leave the criminal suppression to the state. There’s a saying that if you try to catch two rabbits, you end up catching none. Let’s just focus on the monsters. Do you think we can wipe out all the criminal organizations in the world? Crimes are happening in real-time all over the world right now, are you going to stop them all?”

“Damn it…”

Don’t be greedy and just deal with the monsters.

Criminals, humans… no, all humans will be handled by me and the fallen Beast Slayers.

Not long after, the police and military arrived in Mapo-gu.

They helped Leona deal with the criminals, and with their ruthless shooting, all the criminals were killed, and the situation was quickly resolved.

No matter how big the organization was, no matter how many smuggled weapons they had, it was impossible to stand against the authorities and the military.

Mapo-gu fell silent.

The doctor closed her eyes tightly and then opened them.

“It’s over.”

“Yes.”

Gritting my teeth, I placed my elbows on either side of the keyboard and pulled at my hair.

I was acting like I was struggling after giving Leona such orders.

The doctor placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Sorry. Let’s leave the criminal organizations to the state, as you said. Dealing with just the monsters is already overwhelming… I was too greedy, obsessed with peace.”

“Yeah…”

“Do you want to go in first? I’ll send Leona back directly when she arrives.”

I nodded and got up from my seat.

And then I hugged her tightly.

“Ah…!”

She was flustered.

But soon, she patted my back.

Her chest is so soft. I’ll suck on it later.

After a strong hug with her, I immediately went home.

**

[The claim that Beast Slayer Leona is Korean is gaining more credibility. This afternoon, a criminal group in the Daegu region…]

I chuckled while watching the news.

I don’t understand why humans like heroes to be from their own country.

I get the desire to be proud, but you’re all going to die by that hero’s hand anyway.

Well, since you don’t know that fact yet, I’ll forgive you.

Praise all you want.

*Beep! Clunk!*

The front door opened, and Sehwa came in.

I turned off the TV and greeted her with a bright smile.

“You’re back?”

Sehwa tilted her head.

She must have heard from the doctor that I was struggling.

“Why do you look so fine?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“The doctor said you were struggling…”

“I’m not struggling at all? If you’re back, come up already.”

I shrugged and patted my knees.

Sehwa, who was smiling, came over and sat on my lap. I gently pulled her cheek and asked.

“How about you? Are you struggling?”

“They deserved it. They were evil people.”

Her immediate answer. Very good.

“That’s right. They deserved it.”

“But… no matter how evil they are, they’re still people…”

She quickly lowered her eyes.

I need to help her.

“I was the one who gave you that order. Don’t feel bad.”

“I don’t feel bad… I just feel a little complicated. But why aren’t you struggling when you acted like you were in front of the doctor? Are you hiding your feelings?”

“No. To keep some distance… and to act like I was struggling.”

“Why?”

“Lately, the doctor has been getting greedy. Asking us to take down criminal organizations was too much. It feels like she’s trying to overwork us. You feel it too, right?”

Sehwa strongly agreed with me.

“Right. Honestly, I don’t get it.”

“I don’t know if my acting worked, but now we can focus on fighting the monsters. And… don’t watch the news today.”

I subtly added fuel, and the spark of evil sealed within Sehwa reignited.

Her eyes darkened.

“I already saw the article on my way back. There were comments criticizing me, but why are they doing that? We’re helping them without asking for anything in return…”

Those criticisms? Marcella manipulated them.

“That’s just how humans are. The World Union only bows to us because their countries would be in danger without us, but deep down, they have other intentions, right? Last time, there was someone from the board who offered money to the doctor, asking her to prioritize their country.”

“…Really?”

“Really. I was so angry back then… I wanted to take back the Explorer, like you said to the doctor last time.”

The doctor had warned me.

Never to tell Sehwa such things.

But why should I?

I can further nurture the evil within Sehwa’s heart.

“That was just a mistake… I said it… The doctor said last time that there are more good people in the world than those kinds of people.”

“I think differently. Most of them are just pretending to be good. Hypocritical, opportunistic bastards… They’re more dangerous. If you see them reveal their true intentions, you’ll feel like the ones who openly criticized you were saints.”

“Really…?”

“There are a lot of comments mocking you online. Those kinds of people will act normal when they’re out in society.”

Sehwa unconsciously gritted her teeth.

Her eyes turned sharp, and she let out a fierce breath.

Get angrier. Hold onto that resentment. Humans are all untrustworthy bastards.

“The doctor also takes your transformation for granted. It’s not something you can do with just a sense of duty… It’s frustrating that she doesn’t appreciate it. Has the doctor thanked you lately? Instead, she’s just been scolding you.”

“…Yeah.”

“If even the doctor, who’s close to you, is like that, what about the rest of the world? Only a very few people are truly grateful to you.”

Sehwa’s face turned sad.

She looked like she was about to burst into tears.

I kissed her lips once.

And then I said.

“You deserve the praise you’re not getting.”

“Jihyuk… You… You tell me. Thank you, I love you… That’s enough for me… It gives me a lot of strength.”

“I can tell you anytime.”

“Then tell me… I’m struggling right now…”

“Thank you, I love you.”

Sehwa actively kissed me in response.

As I accepted her kiss, I couldn’t help but laugh inside.

**

The day after successfully shaking Sehwa’s heart, I let Sehwa rest at home and stopped by the laboratory.

“Doctor.”

“Why did you come? I told you to rest… What’s that in your hand?”

“I brought some good tonic.”

The doctor smiled kindly and thanked me, then opened the box I had placed.

She downed one tonic and made a face.

“It’s bitter.”

“Medicine that’s good for you is bitter.”

“Thank you. But… you didn’t come to quit, did you?”

“I have no intention of quitting. I just… wanted to apologize for yesterday’s sternness.”

“You were right, so there’s no need to apologize. If anything, I should be the one apologizing.”

“It feels a bit awkward hearing you say that. You suit being dignified. Oh, there’s something I want to show you.”

I sat in front of the situation board, plugged in a USB, and played a video from the portable drive.

It was a video of me guiding Yuria in a car.

Not Song Jihyuk, but Kim Taegon.

The doctor asked with interest.

“Who’s that?”

“That’s Mr. Kim Taegon. My business partner. While hacking the surveillance cameras to investigate his movements, I found someone next to him. I looked into her background, and she’s an immigrant named Yuria Elenard. She’s 21, doesn’t have a job, and lives off money from Mr. Kim Taegon.”

“Really? She’s a very pretty girl.”

“She seems to be the acquaintance Mr. Kim Taegon mentioned. At first, I thought she might be his hidden daughter, but she suddenly registered as an immigrant about a year ago. I couldn’t find any information before that. The documents say she’s from Sweden… but I searched their database and found nothing.”

“Hmm… That’s suspicious.”

“Right? I don’t know if she’s good or bad. But if she was bad…”

“If she was bad, she would have tried to use Kim Taegon to do something by now. No… she might be trying to work on Kim Taegon right now. What do you think?”

“I don’t know. Should we approach her carefully?”

“Can you do it?”

Of course, I can. I can do anything.

I’ll handle everything, so you just keep working on the device.

I stood up and spoke enthusiastically.

“Let’s subtly bring it up with Mr. Kim Taegon.”

“Don’t move too quickly. I think it’s not too late to approach after cooling your head a bit. You need to be very cautious.”

“I’ll do as you say, Doctor. Uh… is the device development going well?”

“There should be good news soon.”

Then Marcella will bring me good news too.

I nodded and smiled.

Then I changed my attitude and hesitantly thanked the doctor.

“Uh… thank you. For everything.”

“I should be thanking you. I would have been in a lot of trouble without you. I believe in you.”

“I believe in you too.”

After saying that, I walked over to the doctor and hugged her tightly like yesterday.

As I patted her upper back, I said.

“Let’s do well from now on.”

The doctor seemed uncomfortable and coughed.

But soon, she adapted and patted my lower back.

Yeah, since I’m struggling, you can do this much for me, right?

After a long hug with the doctor, I let her go.

“I’ll head back now.”

“Alright… Be careful on your way.”

“Yes.”

As I left the laboratory, I whistled.

The plan is going too smoothly.

The weather is annoyingly good today.

Sehwa wanted to eat jajangmyeon… I’ll pick it up on my way back.

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

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