Chapter 93

EP.93 Brainwashing #2

[Breaking news. Approximately ten thousand monsters that appeared in North China have been completely defeated and eliminated by the World Union. This is the first time such a large number has appeared in a single country, and experts specializing in “monster response” are…]

[The appearance of a new Beast Slayer has the whole world buzzing. The World Union says they need time to prepare an official statement…]

[Interest is heating up for the hero with green braided hair who wields a bow. With just one photo, signs of fan cafes popping up are already visible…]

Yuria, watching the news in the laboratory, frowned as she noticed people were more interested in her than the appearance of the monsters.

Ten thousand monsters had poured out, and they were calmly talking about fan cafes? It was absurd.

Yuria looked around the lab.

The doctor had flown to Europe for a meeting with the World Union, and Sehwa was being scolded by Jihyuk in another room.

It was because of the things he had said during the fight with the monsters, calling her dirty and whatnot.

Yuria secretly hoped the two would have a big fight.

If that happened, the chances of Jihyuk’s feelings leaning more toward her than Sehwa would increase.

Turning off the TV, the lab became eerily quiet.

She thought, if it was this quiet, maybe… just maybe, she could overhear their conversation. She tiptoed to the door and pressed her ear against it.

-…Huh.

‘I-I can hear them?’

Yuria, swallowing her saliva secretly, clung to the door.

She felt embarrassed about eavesdropping, but… she was so curious about what they were talking about that she decided to endure it.

Holding her breath and focusing, the conversation became quite clear.

-I’m starting to feel disillusioned.

Sehwa’s voice. Disillusioned? What was she talking about?

Had her relationship with Jihyuk soured? But Sehwa’s tone didn’t sound sad or angry.

Staying silent, Jihyuk’s reply came.

-I told you not to look at the internet.

-In this day and age, how can I not look at the internet? That’s ridiculous. Humans who lost their homes to monsters are cursing us. I’m not sure if protecting humans is the right thing anymore.

‘What…?’

Yuria swallowed hard.

She never imagined Sehwa would say something like that.

Jihyuk had mentioned it before.

Sehwa was struggling with the criticism and mockery online, so he told her to avoid the news as much as possible.

It seemed this was the reason.

In some ways, it was understandable.

Sehwa had become a Beast Slayer while still being an “insignificant” ordinary person.

While transformed, she felt like she could overcome anything, but once the transformation wore off, she returned to being that same human, feeling powerless.

The feeling of overwhelming power and mental strength disappearing in an instant was utterly hollow.

This was something Yuria had also felt right after deactivating her transformation.

‘But…’

But even considering that, it was hard to understand how someone with the destiny of a hero could feel that way.

They had to eliminate Tairat and protect peace… They couldn’t waver already.

Yuria thought she should meet Sehwa later, if she was okay, and comfort her.

Even though she was a rival, she was still a precious comrade and younger sister.

-I get it too. You can’t talk about this anywhere else, okay?

Thump!

Yuria felt her heart sink.

Even Jihyuk agreed with Sehwa.

Did that mean humans weren’t worth protecting?

No. Life is precious just for its value alone.

Jihyuk had been busy, exposed to various media, and his spirit was wearing thin.

He needed to regain his composure.

But could she, of all people, dare to do that for the lofty Jihyuk?

Thinking this, Yuria suddenly felt hatred toward humans.

Why were they hurting her beloved Jihyuk like this?

What was the doctor even doing? If she told the World Union, they could control all media worldwide.

Seeing Jihyuk like this made her feel disillusioned too.

Was there a need to protect humans?

‘No… I can’t think like this. Humans must be protected. Peace too. The reason Aiter was bound to me was because of this strong heart. It was because my heart was firm.’

Barely regaining her composure, Yuria continued eavesdropping.

-I know… I’m just venting because it’s hard…

-Should I hug you?

-Yeah… Hug me.

-Come here.

Jihyuk’s affectionate tone.

Jealousy surged in Yuria as she nibbled her nails, focusing on the sounds from the room.

Soon, rustling sounds were heard.

The hug must have ended.

Sehwa spoke.

-I’ll go ahead… I want to go home and sleep soon.

-Okay.

Yuria quickly returned to her seat as a thud was heard, and the door opened, revealing Sehwa with a weary expression.

She approached Yuria and greeted her.

“Unnie, I’ll go ahead.”

“Is something wrong?”

Yuria’s calm expression.

Sehwa looked at Yuria with a complicated gaze and replied.

“I’m feeling a bit off. Let’s eat together later.”

“Of course. Let me hug you.”

“Suddenly…?”

As Sehwa looked flustered, Yuria smiled and reached out, hugging her.

“Everything will be fine.”

“…What are you suddenly saying…?”

“Just… believe that everything will be fine.”

Yuria gently patted Sehwa’s back.

Sehwa soon teared up and buried her face in Yuria’s chest.

The two hugged for a while, and Sehwa wiped her teary eyes before heading home through the portal.

Only the two of them remained in the lab.

Jihyuk, who had been silent until now, scoffed at Yuria.

“Everything will be fine? Out of nowhere?”

“….”

“You were eavesdropping, weren’t you?”

“N-No…”

Yuria, who had shown composure to Sehwa earlier, was now fidgeting nervously.

It showed how overwhelmed she was by Jihyuk.

Jihyuk spoke.

“Otherwise, how would you know Sehwa’s feelings so well? Answer honestly. Don’t think about lying.”

“Well…”

After hesitating, Yuria finally confessed.

“Yes… I was eavesdropping…”

“From where to where?”

“From when Sehwa said she felt disillusioned… and that she wasn’t sure if protecting humans was the right thing… I heard everything from there…”

“I see. What do you think?”

Jihyuk didn’t seem to blame her for eavesdropping.

Yuria answered immediately.

“I… think you shouldn’t agree with Sehwa…”

“Why?”

“Life is precious just for its value. It’s noble. Protecting it is the right thing.”

Jihyuk chuckled and stepped closer to Yuria.

She swallowed hard as Jihyuk grabbed her chin, making her blink rapidly.

After a moment, Jihyuk spoke.

“That’s sophistry.”

“…Huh?”

“Life is precious just for its value? What about monsters? Aren’t they life too?”

“T-That’s… I misspoke. I meant human lives… human lives are precious…”

“Oh? So other life forms can die, no problem?”

“That’s not what I meant! Life forms with malicious intentions…”

“Shut up.”

“….”

Yuria clenched her mouth shut.

She felt deeply wronged but didn’t want to upset Jihyuk further, so she stayed quiet.

Jihyuk took Yuria out of the lab.

He started the car with her in the passenger seat and said,

“The world is ruled by strength. Life forms are no different. The phrase ‘survival of the fittest’ exists for a reason. Only the strong survive.”

Yuria agreed with that.

Even before meeting Jihyuk, she had tried to beat up a drunkard.

The weak shouldn’t stand up to the strong.

“Yes… I know…”

“You know? Then monsters destroying human habitats and trying to dominate isn’t wrong. Monsters are much stronger than humans.”

“….”

“And we’re people stronger than those monsters. Yet we’re helping the weak without any reward. We’re showing mercy. But humans are pouring their energy into trying to control us, who they should be worshipping. What do you think about that?”

Yuria felt a deep, instinctive rejection rising from within.

But her heart, which actively agreed with Jihyuk, suppressed that rejection.

“B-But we must protect peace…”

“To achieve peace, we must create a world ruled by the strong. We must suppress them so they can’t even squeak. Look at Earth now. They formed the World Union, but behind the scenes, powerful nations are in a cold war. This has been going on for hundreds, even thousands of years.”

He was right.

Yuria’s own kingdom had a “king,” a strong ruler.

With one command from the king, all the people followed.

The nobles also fulfilled their roles as the king’s close aides, overseeing the “lower classes.”

Of course, there were problems, but incidents didn’t happen as frequently as on Earth, and they enjoyed long periods of peace and prosperity.

Though it collapsed due to Tairat, the absolute strong leading the monsters.

But… now that she thought about it, Tairat made sense.

It wasn’t strange for the strong to rule the weak.

Tairat ruled the kingdom, a collective of the weak, to…

‘No, no…! Snap out of it!’

Feeling like she was crumbling, Yuria shook her head and tried to hold onto her ego.

But Jihyuk’s following words made her barely stabilized mind chaotic again.

“Earth needs a new king. One who can make others kneel with overwhelming strength… a king who can pursue true peace.”

“Jihyuk… don’t do this…”

“You agree too, don’t you?”

“….”

She agreed but didn’t want to admit it.

But Jihyuk’s words were absolute.

Her own opinions were nothing but scraps of paper before Jihyuk’s gospel.

Yuria exhaled roughly and shook her head.

“I… agree…”

She didn’t even think of refuting.

That’s how much Yuria revered Jihyuk.

“Respect comes from fear.”

“Ugh…!”

Yuria clenched her eyes shut.

She felt like her ego was about to disappear.

No. She couldn’t admit that.

The moment she admitted it, it would be like admitting the justification for Tairat’s invasion of her kingdom.

Thinking this, Yuria’s chest felt heavy, and her breathing became labored.

“Hoo… Hoo…!”

Clenching her fists and trembling, Yuria suddenly thought of Seunghyun.

She didn’t know why. It just came to her.

Maybe it was because he might be Aaron’s reincarnation.

Thinking of him calmed her heart a little.

But that was all. The weight of Jihyuk in Yuria’s heart couldn’t even compare to someone like Seunghyun.

It’s hard. She’s tired.

She wanted to escape this uncomfortable topic.

She wanted to talk about something else, but Jihyuk probably wouldn’t allow it.

Just as Yuria thought that,

“Ask Kim Taegon.”

Jihyuk’s soft voice came.

Right, her father, who had been a king, would know the answer.

Lately, he’s been a bit pitiful, but he’d give an accurate answer on this.

Yuria thought so.

Then, her tightly blocked chest felt like it had been cleared, and a refreshing sensation spread through her body.

“Go home today. You look tired.”

“Ah…! Yes…!”

“I’ll give you some homework.”

“H-Homework…?”

“Ask the people you trust about this topic and gather their opinions. The deadline is three days. Organize it and report to me. I want an answer immediately, but since you’re struggling, I’ll give you time.”

Yuria’s face became dazed.

The “king’s” mercy, taking care of his “subject” who was struggling, left her at a loss.

Yuria nodded hurriedly.

“Yes…! Yes!”

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