Chapter 7

EP.7 Transform, Sehwa!

The weather in Korea was getting warmer as the month of family approached.

Although it was a bit chilly at night, it was still enough to eat noodles on the street.

We sat on the bench on the hill we had just come from.

I watched Sehwa tidy her hair and eat noodles while venting about Yoo Seunghyun.

I just listened silently, with a face that said I understood everything.

“Seriously, it’s so frustrating… He thinks I’m mad because I work at a place like that.”

She kept talking even before swallowing her noodles.

I like seeing her so carefree like this.

“Say something! It feels like I’m talking to a stone!”

Even her raising her voice is cute.

I shrugged and said, “I’d like to comfort you, but what can I say? You’ve been together for a long time and know each other well.”

“Ah… So you’re stepping out of this?”

“Hey, what does that make me?”

“Have you been watching from the beginning?”

“Not exactly… But I can kind of see how things are going.”

“So you know everything. Just be honest.”

“About what?”

“Everything you’re thinking right now.”

I could tear Yoo Seunghyun apart here.

But that’s what amateurs do.

If I sympathize with Sehwa and badmouth Yoo Seunghyun, she’ll just defend him.

I licked my lips and prepared my words.

“Well… I get why you’re disappointed that Yoo Seunghyun lied. But I also get why he did it.”

“Why?”

“From what I can see, that hotel also runs a room salon… Honestly, who could proudly tell their girlfriend they work at a place like that? Right?”

“Hmm… That’s true.”

“Plus, if Yoo Seunghyun, who loves you so much, is willing to lie, it must mean they’re paying him a lot. He probably wants to pay off his debt as quickly as possible. From his perspective, it’s like debt suddenly fell from the sky. It’s unfair.”

Sehwa silently nodded.

Watching her bring the noodles to her mouth, I continued.

“He must be in a hurry to pay off the debt and live like before. That doesn’t justify lying to you, though. I completely understand how you feel. It’s just…”

I paused and glanced at Sehwa.

She urged me on.

“Just what? Go on.”

“It’s a bit cringy, but I see this as actions born out of worrying and caring for each other. If only you could read each other’s minds, right? But people don’t have that kind of telepathy. He’s not that kind of person either…”

“That kind of person?”

“Who coughed? There are so many demons around!”

I exaggeratedly imitated a character from a popular old Korean drama, making Sehwa laugh.

“Pfft! That’s not even close!”

“Is it? Anyway, we’ve strayed a bit, but the point is, why don’t you both take a step back and try to understand each other?”

I subtly hinted that Sehwa and Yoo Seunghyun don’t fully understand each other’s hearts.

Seeing her listen intently, my intention seemed to work.

Yoo Seunghyun’s lie and the small prank in my advice would become the fuse of distrust growing in Sehwa’s heart.

After finishing my words, I reached for Sehwa’s disposable bowl.

“I talked too much, so the broth is calling me. Just one bite…”

Then Sehwa tapped my hand with her chopsticks.

“Hey! We just bought water, and you’re messing around… This is all mine.”

“So cold…”

“Just kidding. Wait a sec…”

Sehwa shifted her hips slightly forward and handed me the bowl.

I took it calmly and smirked.

Sehwa smiled brightly back at me.

Our distance had grown closer.

Our hearts had clearly grown closer too.

**

[I’m really sorry. I’ve decided to forgive him. Thanks, Jihyuk. You’re probably asleep by now, right? Good night.]

I glanced at the message and smiled contentedly.

Yes, Sehwa. You should get along well with Yoo Seunghyun.

That way, taking you away will be more satisfying.

I wonder what expression Yoo Seunghyun will make when he sees you by my side, completely fallen.

Just imagining it makes me excited.

I used to not understand those who chose the path of corruption and betrayal, but now that I’m the Demon King, it makes perfect sense.

I took my eyes off my phone and stared coldly ahead.

“Puhuhu! Huhu!”

A strange, grotesque breathing sound.

A humanoid monster with a horse’s head, Amducias, tied up in the laboratory, snorted loudly.

Its body was three to four times larger than an adult’s, and it was entirely muscular.

Amducias, the awakening boss for Leona, was here.

I looked at it with satisfaction and asked Marcella, “It’s the same as the old Amducias, right?”

Our base, which condensed the technology of Chapters 1 to 5, had various modification facilities.

But if we modified Amducias, the legend of the Beast Slayer wouldn’t even begin.

It would just destroy everything around it, including Sehwa.

Amducias should be released without any modifications.

“Yes, of course. It’s exactly the same as the old Amducias.”

“Is it ready to be released?”

“We can release it immediately.”

“Good. Give Yoo Seunghyun a vacation tomorrow, no matter the reason.”

“Yes. Is it finally starting?”

Marcella’s excitement was palpable.

I felt the same.

But as the Demon King, I had to maintain my dignity.

“Yes. It’s starting.”

Ah… My voice is trembling, but that can’t be helped.

“Do you think Dr. Cash will really show up?”

“I don’t know. But there’s a high chance she will.”

She has to show up.

If she doesn’t, it’s all for nothing.

Calm down, calm down.

Getting excited will only ruin things.

“What about the remaining Beast Slayers? Haven’t found them yet?”

“No… Only Yuria is left…”

“What’s Yuria doing now?”

“Just living her daily life. She doesn’t seem to be looking for the Demon King yet… But we can’t let our guard down.”

“Right.”

I’ll also be near Amducias tomorrow.

Not to take Yoo Seunghyun’s place, but to catch Dr. Cash’s attention.

She’s a genius.

She’s not the type to overlook someone like me, disguised as a genius engineer.

I’ll pretend to be groaning nearby, and when Sehwa tries to save me after the battle… If Dr. Cash shows interest in whatever she does… She’ll pay close attention to me.

Then Sehwa will introduce me, and that’s it.

That was my plan.

I’m not sure if it’ll work out.

If this were the game’s timeline, Amducias would have already appeared, and news about the Beast Slayer Leona would have spread worldwide.

Since I’m already a bit late in securing a place in Sehwa’s heart, I had to consider the possibility that Dr. Cash might not show up.

If she doesn’t, I’ll have to save Sehwa, so it’s right to be there.

After reviewing all the plans, I told Marcella, “Prepare everything perfectly. We’ll proceed as planned. Nothing can go wrong. The location where Amducias falls must be precise.”

“Yes! Leave it to me!”

**

On the evening the legend of the Beast Slayer begins, I arrived in Sehwa’s neighborhood and looked up at the sky.

The weather was appropriately gloomy, as if it might rain.

It felt like a blessing for the start of my grand plan… Or not.

This was happening because Marcella was gathering magical energy to open a portal just before releasing Amducias.

Dr. Cash would definitely sense this energy.

‘Please come… Please come.’

I prayed over and over, hiding my anxiety as I walked the streets.

Yoo Seunghyun is on vacation now.

He’s at home with Sehwa.

He’s probably preparing to go out.

I had promised to meet them today.

They wanted to thank me for introducing a lawyer and mediating their argument by treating me to a meal.

They said if not today, they didn’t know when they’d see me again.

I accepted their offer and was on my way with a fancy health supplement set as a gift.

As I walked through a neighborhood full of cheap-looking one-room apartments, I manipulated the signal device attached to my finger.

It was a disposable signal device for Marcella.

Tick!

When I pressed the button, the device disappeared with a small sound.

At the same time, a loud noise came from the sky.

Kugugung!

It sounded like thunder and lightning.

People would mistake it for that, but I knew it was Marcella opening the portal.

Soon, a huge mouth appeared in the air.

A mouth filled with hundreds, thousands of teeth.

It looked like something out of a monster movie.

Squelch!

Look at that, as it opens its mouth, sticky drool drips down.

Where’s Amducias…?

“Kwooooooar!”

It’s here.

Amducias fell from the sky and landed gracefully a block away from Yoo Seunghyun’s house.

Kung!

Gracefully, my foot. It destroyed buildings and sent up clouds of dust.

“What… What’s that!?”

“Kyaaaaaaah!!”

With the screams of people on the street, chaos began in earnest.

Amducias ignored the fleeing people and destroyed buildings.

Kwaaaaaaang!!

The giant club in its right hand shattered reinforced concrete buildings like they were crackers.

The police in 2533 had a system where they would dispatch immediately upon receiving a report, and someone must have called because heavily armed vehicles arrived in no time.

They fired state-of-the-art weapons at Amducias.

But their weapons couldn’t even scratch Amducias.

‘It’s a monster meant for the awakening of a Magical Girl. If those weapons worked, it’d be weird.’

Kwachik!

“Kihihihihing!!”

Amducias, naked, split the police car in half like a toothpick, roared once, and finally smashed the building next to Yoo Seunghyun’s house.

Bang-!

One of the fragments shattered by the tremendous force flew and broke the corner of the one-room apartment where Yoo Seunghyun lived.

This is it, this is it.

Here, Yoo Seunghyun and Sehwa, living on the top floor, discover Amducias through the destroyed building.

And they’re in mortal danger.

Because Amducias, trembling, tries to eat them.

I created a situation where I was trapped in the debris near their building and sent a scout demon to observe.

‘Where… where… there it is.’

The demon sent real-time footage to my eyes.

I see them, hugging each other and trembling, just like in the game.

I also see Amducias, with its horse head, licking its lips.

Now Dr. Cash needs to show up.

Quickly, fire the unfinished future weapon at Amducias.

And while trying to rescue Sehwa and Yoo Seunghyun, see their latent sense of justice emerge and change your mind!

Then transform Sehwa! That’s your role!

As I was thinking this…

Pshooom-! Kwaang!

A green laser shot from the sky above Amducias and struck its shoulder.

“Puhihihing!”

The naked Amducias was thrown back by the tremendous destructive power of the laser and crashed into a building.

Its massive body swaying.

‘Damn… It’s so disgusting.’

We should’ve at least put pants on it.

Anyway, I wanted to cheer inside.

The game’s scenes were unfolding right before my eyes.

Suddenly, an unidentified drone appeared in the sky and aimed its cannon at the fallen Amducias.

But…

Pshik-!

Only smoke came out of the cannon, not the laser like before.

This is also just like the game.

The unfinished weapon malfunctioned.

Now Amducias will get angry…

“Grrrr…!”

Hearing the growling from its horse mouth, it’s done.

That’s always funny to see.

Amducias, using the collapsed building as support, stood up and swung at the drone.

Pung!

The drone exploded helplessly.

They must’ve worked hard on it for years. What a shame.

I’ll improve it when I infiltrate the lab.

“Damn it…! My masterpiece…!”

My enhanced senses picked up a husky woman’s voice.

The owner of that voice was running towards the one-room apartment where Yoo Seunghyun and Sehwa were.

Wheeeeng-!

At the same time, a transport aircraft appeared in the sky.

I signaled the demon.

‘Show me the bottom of the transport.’

The demon turned its gaze and showed the area below the one-room apartment.

A blonde ponytail with blue eyes.

The frameless glasses on top looked very intellectual.

A white lab coat over a white shirt.

Topping it off, a black pencil skirt hugging her hips and legs, and high heels.

‘It’s Dr. Cash.’

She’s here…! She’s here!

Now, if only Sehwa transforms… If Sehwa transforms, no matter how the story changes, I can push the plan forward smoothly.

I felt the heavy lump in my chest fall away.

Now, let’s watch.

The process of Sehwa becoming the Beast Slayer Leona.

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

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