Chapter 9

EP.9 Me Trying to Get a Disguised Job

Somewhere underground in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul.

This place, filled with state-of-the-art equipment spanning about 50 pyeong, was none other than Dr. Cash’s laboratory.

Sehwa, Dr. Cash, and I were currently here, unbeknownst to anyone.

Sehwa, who had transformed into the cold and strong Leona, muttered as she looked around the lab.

“I had no idea such a place existed underground in Seoul…”

She seemed to be maintaining her composure, perhaps because of her transformation.

Meanwhile, I was being transported on a stretcher with wheels…

“Even in a near-death situation, you’re making that kind of expression? You’re quite the oddball.”

Dr. Cash made such a remark as I pretended to be fascinated by the facilities.

Sehwa shot her a glare.

“Ma’am, just focus on the treatment…”

“I know. And if you keep calling me ‘ma’am,’ I might just throw this guy out. It’s Dr. Jennifer Cash. Call me Dr. Cash, Dr. Jennifer, or just Doctor. Pick one.”

“…Yes, Doctor…”

Sehwa reluctantly chose to call her “Doctor.”

Honestly, Dr. Cash looked young enough to be called “unnie.”

It was hard to believe she was in her early 40s.

To me, she was an infuriating woman, but others would probably see her as a sexy, young doctor.

Dr. Cash moved me to a medical device that looked like an MRI and started pressing buttons.

I knew exactly what this was.

It was a medical device used by Beast Slayers when they were injured.

*Bzzzt!*

As I entered the cylindrical machine, a blue light enveloped my body, and the sound of beeping filled the air as my body was scanned in real-time. I widened my eyes in feigned amazement.

Even the way it treated the various wounds on my skin seemed fascinating.

The device wasn’t some over-the-top technology that healed wounds instantly.

But since it was an invention by Dr. Cash, a genius among humans, it had a much faster healing speed than the latest medical equipment in hospitals in 2533.

*Sploosh!*

A green liquid sprayed onto my wounds, rapidly healing the scars.

It was a combination of antibiotics and restorative serum developed by Dr. Cash.

“I copied serum identical to your tissue to heal your wounds. It might itch a bit for a day, so bear with it. And consider yourself lucky. You were fortunate to be in a space between large debris; otherwise, you’d have been flattened. Got it?”

Dr. Cash’s words were somewhat coercive.

Now that my body was feeling much better, I peeked my head up and looked at my body.

Then I asked a question.

“Serum…? What’s it made of? Stem cells? Seeing how quickly the wounds heal, it seems like it’s combined with some kind of dynamics… How did you do it?”

How about that? My interest in you is skyrocketing, isn’t it?

Dr. Cash looked at me with a disgusted expression.

“You’re really a lunatic, aren’t you? Do you even know what happened?”

“Huh?”

After pondering for a moment, I spoke.

“When I woke up, I was between the debris… Sehwa came to help me… and you, ma’am—no, Doctor—cleared the debris with your polymer alloy mechanical arm.”

“I can’t tell if you’re insane or not. They said you were a quirky genius who won several prestigious awards at a young age… That description fits you perfectly.”

“How did you know that?”

“I did some background checks.”

She said it so confidently.

I asked, surprised.

“Background checks?”

“I had to make sure you weren’t some shady guy.”

From the way she didn’t say anything else, it seemed I had passed her suspicions.

Marcella, you did well.

*Bzzzt!*

The machine moved, slowly spitting me out.

I was only wearing my underwear, and despite the embarrassment of Sehwa watching, I abruptly stood up.

No, it wasn’t out of embarrassment—it was intentional.

I was acting like a crazy engineer.

“Can I take a quick look at disassembling that machine? Or maybe analyze the components of the medicine sprayed on my body…”

“If you try that, I’ll cut your hands off. Shut up and get dressed.”

“…Gasp!”

Only then did I cover my body and pretend to be embarrassed.

Dr. Cash shook her head and pointed to a room in the corner.

“Go in there, and you’ll find a wardrobe. Grab anything and put it on.”

“Yes…”

**

After coming out wearing slightly oversized clothes, I approached the TV Dr. Cash had turned on in the corner of the lab.

Every channel was broadcasting breaking news.

It was inevitable, given the unbelievable events that had just happened.

[A mysterious monster has appeared in downtown Seoul, destroying five buildings and……]

*Kuhihihihihing!*

The screen showed Amducias, seemingly filmed by a police bodycam, letting out an idiotic roar.

His crotch was pixelated.

My jaw dropped.

“What… what is that…”

Sehwa approached me and said.

“I was shocked too. The building collapsed, and that monster with a horse’s head… was licking its lips at me and Seunghyun.”

“…So you ran away?”

At that, Sehwa gave a mysterious smile.

“No… that’s not it… I’ll tell you later. Let’s finish watching the news first.”

“O-okay…”

[This creature, which appears to be a legendary monster, was killed—no, I’m sorry, it seems to have been slain by something that emitted a blue flash. The sudden white night phenomenon that occurred before has experts……]

*Tsk tsk…* Look at this experienced news anchor stumbling over their words.

You’re about to announce the legendary exploits of the Beast Slayers to the nation.

So, hang in there.

The news continued to report on the casualties and various other stories.

Towards the end, they even invited self-proclaimed sci-fi experts to discuss why this had happened.

But nothing became clear.

Sehwa becoming the Earth’s protector is a story for a bit later.

She gains fame when the demons start appearing in full force.

I tilted my head and looked at Sehwa.

“Wait a minute… There’s a lot of talk about the white night phenomenon and the flash, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“Before you found me, there was also a blinding light…”

“That’s right too.”

“That lady—Doctor—seems to have played a big role in resolving this, and the lab is filled with things I’ve never seen before… And it seems like you and the Doctor know each other…”

After a brief silence, I laughed awkwardly.

“Hehe… No way… It can’t be…”

Seeing my reaction, a mischievous glint appeared in Sehwa’s eyes.

She had completely fallen for my acting.

She asked.

“What do you think?”

“Why are you like this? It’s scary…”

“Scary? You were just showing interest in the machines earlier, and now you’re like this? Am I that unfamiliar to you?”

“Hey, stop joking. I’m really starting to get scared.”

“You do look like it. Look at the goosebumps on your arm.”

Sehwa said as she brushed my arm.

I like this kind of skinship.

Keep it up… No, I need to keep pretending to be scared.

“Should I just leave…?”

“Do you even have anywhere to run? Everything’s blocked off. How are you going to open the door? Do you know the password? Is it fingerprint recognition?”

“…..”

“Pfft… Just kidding. What you’re thinking is probably right.”

“What am I thinking right now?”

“You’re thinking that I’m the one who killed that monster, aren’t you? Am I wrong?”

“…No?”

“No? I know you well. I thought you’d figure it out.”

Thanks, Sehwa.

But you know me well?

I can’t quite agree with that.

I placed a hand on my chest and breathed heavily.

Sehwa quickly approached and supported me.

“Jihyuk! Are you okay?”

“Wait… I just need to calm down…”

“I guess the joke went too far… I’m sorry…”

For a moment, I acted confused.

Trembling body, restless pupils.

But gradually, I calmed down and acted like I was regaining my composure.

As I straightened up, Dr. Cash, who had approached unnoticed, spoke.

“Your courage is worse than a minnow’s.”

I defended myself.

“No… How many people can stay composed in a situation like this…”

“You’re composed enough. Now, should I erase your memory and send you back… or…”

Erase my memory? As if.

There’s no way that’s possible.

You’re testing me, aren’t you?

I’ll play along.

“Wait! Stop! You can erase memories?”

“It’s not impossible.”

“You want me to forget this paradise? No way. I’m staying here until I can research these machines. Go ahead and cut me open.”

“Alright. Lie down.”

“Huh?”

“You said to cut you open. I’ll do it.”

My pupils shook violently.

Sehwa quickly stepped in to stop Dr. Cash.

“Doctor, that’s enough joking. Don’t erase Jihyuk’s memory.”

“There’s no such thing. I was just messing with him. But is this guy trustworthy? Be honest.”

“He’s the most trustworthy person I know.”

Sehwa’s firm and sharp reply.

The most trustworthy… So, is she ranking me higher than Yoo Seunghyun? Or on the same level?

This is quite pleasing.

Seeing her resolute eyes, Dr. Cash nodded in agreement.

Perhaps because Sehwa had become Leona, who couldn’t transform without a sense of justice, Dr. Cash seemed to trust her judgment.

She seemed to be sending her trust to someone who would become—or already was—a hero of justice.

Honestly, if you think about it, there wasn’t much reason to suspect me.

I’m not some monster like Amducias… I’m just a harmless victim and a human.

Whatever it was, it was good for me.

I’d be able to infiltrate here smoothly.

“Alright. You over there, try disassembling this.”

Dr. Cash threw me a small cylindrical object.

I caught it and examined it with interest, then shook my head.

‘Since the inspection is over, I won’t need to scan anymore.’

I secretly returned my body to its modified state.

Then, I headed to a desk in the corner of the lab, filled with tools, ready to show Dr. Cash my skills.

‘A flash grenade. She gave me this to disassemble? That b*tch…’

This was a consumable item I often used in games.

A flash grenade for demons, incomparable to regular flash grenades in terms of power.

It was made for anti-crime purposes, but from now on, it’ll be used against demons, so it’s an anti-demon flash grenade.

Anyway, if I accidentally triggered it and it exploded?

I wouldn’t go blind, but my vision would be severely impaired.

My eardrums would also take a hit.

I wondered if she still didn’t trust me, but Dr. Cash was always a bit eccentric.

This wasn’t out of character.

Thinking the disassembly would take a while, Dr. Cash took Sehwa into another room, saying she had something to discuss.

Maybe she was avoiding the potential explosion of the flash grenade.

I analyzed the flash grenade with the wave of information flooding my mind and soon began disassembling it.

At the same time, I heightened my hearing, pricking up my ears.

I wanted to eavesdrop on the conversation in the room.

Dr. Cash’s questioning began.

-How did it feel?

-What do you mean?

-When you transformed into that dragon… no, warrior.

-Well… I felt like I had to defeat evil. I also thought I had to destroy that monster.

I can hear it clearly.

-So, if more monsters like today appear or if a vicious criminal terrorizes the people… will you step up?

-Are there more monsters like that?

-Is there a law saying there can’t be? Just answer.

-Well… I’d step up. You said it yourself, Doctor. That device belongs to me now.

-Right. Only you can use the Device now. So, you’re saying you’ll step up? You want to be a hero of justice.

-It’s not that…

-I know, you thought it was fate, right? I think so too. I was just making a silly joke earlier.

Having already disassembled the flash grenade, I paused and looked around.

I’ll make you regret leaving me alone.

Be amazed by my skills and hire me as an assistant, intern, or employee.

I won’t take a salary. I’m one of the richest people in South Korea.

I secretly brought in various consumables that the Beast Slayers would use and started disassembling them.

At the same time, I kept my ears open.

-Do you know about Aiter?

-No…

-It’s…

Aiter, I know about it.

Like in other magical girl adult games, it’s a mysterious and omnipotent energy that uses sexual excitement and mutual feelings as a medium.

It’s also the opposite energy of evil and the source of the Beast Slayers’ power.

Dr. Cash fused this Aiter with various rare materials, including polymers, to create the Device.

After hearing Dr. Cash’s explanation, Sehwa was shocked.

-So, I have to get excited by… sexual activities with someone I like… for the energy to fill up…? Don’t lie to me…

-It’s a bit like that, isn’t it? But that’s what Aiter is. I feel like a cult leader saying this, but… it’s true.

Yes, Aiter is like that.

Magical girl stories are all like that! They use sexual excitement and love to power up!

-You’re in a better position. You’re pretty, and you have a just and lovely boyfriend, right? And that guy you trust is there too.

-Ji, Jihyuk is my…

-It’s noisy. When you get back, keep the Device by your side and spend the night with your boyfriend. You’ll understand what I mean. Don’t look at me like that. It’s not strange for couples to spend a night together.

Sehwa fell silent.

And I knew why she was hesitating.

Sehwa wasn’t embarrassed because of me.

She was flustered because she had never had sex with Yoo Seunghyun.

‘Your virginity is mine. I can’t give it to someone like Yoo Seunghyun.’

Originally, the second wave of demon attacks would come much later, after Sehwa reluctantly listened to Dr. Cash and slept with Yoo Seunghyun.

But this time is different.

Why? Because I’m the Demon King who can send out demons whenever I want.

I’ll make sure you have no choice but to sleep with me.

I’ll add other functions to the Device, so look forward to it.

After finishing my thoughts, I shouted.

“Doctor! Don’t you have more of these!?”

The lab floor was littered with an enormous number of parts.

I had accurately disassembled about ten consumables and neatly arranged them.

“What, you’ve already disassembled… No way!?”

Dr. Cash, who had come out of the room, was so shocked she almost fell over.

Of course, I disassembled the things you worked so hard on in less than 10 minutes.

I sparkled my eyes and said.

“The routine was consistent, so it was easy… Should I reassemble them?”

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

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