< Chapter 142: Development (2) >
In the original story, the release of the black demon, Mephisto, takes place about one year from now.
The seal comes undone when the durability of the Scribe’s restraint hits zero.
That’s why I assumed that it had one year left to appear.
That was my fatal mistake.
“… I overlooked that the durability of the Scribe’s restraint had been consumed more than in the original.”
Choi Ji-hoon caused minor damage to the restraint’s durability by tampering with it with a black iron greatsword.
Then, when I used it to reseal the demon, it slightly consumed additional durability.
This minor decrease in durability brought about a reduction of 8 months in its lifespan.
It was plausible for the chain that had sealed Mephisto for ten thousand years to have its sealing period shortened by 8 months due to a minor reduction in durability.
Thinking about it now, it was stupid. Making such a basic mistake… perhaps it happened because I had not fully experienced the butterfly effect of this world yet. I was too careless.
“Ah…”
With events occurring non-stop, one after another, it’s hard to regain my composure.
There is no need for additional problems to arise during this already head-aching period. It’s really too much.
I scratched my head vigorously.
“The saving grace is that I have a way to kill him right now.”
Michael’s Holy Spear and the Bloody Sword of Intra-Species Slaughter, both artifacts are specialized in defeating evil.
With the support from Jia using the Transcendent Lineage, it wouldn’t be too difficult to take down Mephisto.
“Thinking of the time with Lucifer, Mephisto would also be in a state where he can’t use the transcendent system.”
Then, Mephisto’s stats would roughly be between A and S rank. It’s not an unmanageable stat if I borrow the awakened Jia’s power. The key will be how to deal with Mephisto’s unique traits…
“Mephisto’s trait, ‘Concentration of Evil’, can be neutralized by me.”
By utilizing both Dragon Eye and the artifacts, somehow it will be possible to do it.
“In a small-scale battle.”
Initially, Mephisto’s ability is specialized for large-scale battles. It’s quite vulnerable in 1:1 personal combat.
In many ways, the odds are in our favor.
“…The problem is how to prevent the involvement of other superhumans.”
Mephisto has a trait where he becomes stronger the more enemy forces are around. The intervening superhumans would be nothing but burdens.
“Upon Mephisto’s appearance, sensing his magical power, numerous superhumans will be dispatched.”
Is there a way to prevent this? Even if we use Maiden, Yu Hwa, and Jia’s speaking rights to request the government to stop the dispatch, it will be difficult.
The government won’t accept it.
It would be a relief if they did not have the superhumans on standby in advance.
“…So, I have no choice but to prevent Mephisto’s magical power from leaking out without others noticing.”
Secure the location in advance and block it. Prevent the leakage of magical power and clean it up nicely during that time. There’s no other way.
“I wonder if Maiden has such a technique.”
Since it’s Maiden, she might be able to install at least a magic-blocking barrier.
It would be troublesome if not.
“I should ask for now.”
I picked up my phone and called Maiden.
* * *
Yu Hwa was having a serious conversation in Maiden’s room.
“…So Seo-yul said he would handle that demon himself?”
“Precisely speaking, it would be the two of them. He said he would be working with Jia.”
“And? What did he ask you?”
Maiden recalled the conversation she had with Kang Seo-yul about 2 hours ago.
“He asked if the Bihon guild could oversee the security in the Gangwon-do field around 8 o’clock tomorrow. He requested to install a thick magic block barrier at the point where the seal will be released.”
Yu Hwa’s eyes became somber.
“…So, they will handle the demon in that timeframe and bring the incident to a close.”
“That’s the plan.”
Both of them scanned the empty air with serious expressions; it seemed like they had a lot on their minds.
“That means Seo-yul knew that Mephisto would appear tomorrow at 8 o’clock.”
Maiden sighed heavily.
“Yes, and it’s driving me crazy worrying about it.”
It is plausible for Kang Seo-yul to say he would handle the demon himself.
Considering the recent awakening of Shin Jia, it is understandable that they would work together.
Asking to block others with a magic barrier is a request that makes sense coming from Kang Seo-yul, who pathologically hates his information leaking out.
However, it was very strange to firmly decide on the time of the operation.
“How on earth does that kid know about such a legendary existence as a demon?”
Information about the savior of truth.
Information about the Gray Out.
Let’s say that these things can somehow be known in advance. It would be plausible if one had exceptional information and technical skills.
But knowing about the demon is different. It is not something that can be known with information and skills.
“That kid, he even knew the demon’s name.”
“The name?”
“The black demon, Mephisto… that’s what he said.”
Maiden tapped on the table with her index finger.
Mephisto. She had never heard that name before. No, she had never heard that there were documents containing the names of demons in the first place.
But that wasn’t the only strange thing.
“3 months ago, it was Seo-yul who first encountered that demon.”
“During the recent gate explosion incident, he also confronted a small demon.”
Kang Seo-yul has an unusually deep connection with the demon.
“Thinking about it now, also that 1.3 million gates incident….”
At Yu Hwa’s murmur, Maiden asked,
“Are you talking about the incident where a being that looked like an angel blocked the gate? What about that incident?”
Yu Hwa wore a serious expression.
“Wasn’t the angel who stopped that incident Seo-yul?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
It was something they had already heard.
“So I’m wondering if the thing that came out of that 1.3 million gate might have been that demon.”
Given that angels and demons are known to be in opposition.
“…It might be possible.”
Maiden seemed to agree as she nodded her head.
“So, you mean Seo-yul has some kind of bad fate with the demon?”
“Yes. It seems like that given the circumstances, doesn’t it?”
Maiden closed her eyes.
With a hollow laugh, she shook her head desperately.
“Even assuming that hypothesis is true, how the hell would that kid know anything about the demon….”
In the end, the question returned to the starting point.
“No matter what kind of past that kid had, it doesn’t make sense that he knows about a demon that only appears in legends from thousands of years ago.”
“That’s right….”
In the end, they were at a standstill.
They couldn’t reach a conclusion.
“Phew. My head is killing me already because of that kid these days.”
The secret Kang Seo-yul was hiding.
It was certain that there were secrets about Kang Seo-yul that only Shin Jia and Ha Si-yeon knew.
‘Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain the relationship between that kid, Jia, and Si-yeon.’
The fact that they readily accepted Kang Seo-yul using ancient artifacts.
The fact that they didn’t question Kang Seo-yul’s hidden power.
‘There is plenty of circumstantial evidence.’
Including the fact that he had prior knowledge about the demon.
‘It’s certain that he’s hiding something….’
But they couldn’t figure out what it was.
“Is there any chance that might be possible?”
Suddenly, Yu Hwa opened up a topic.
“What possibility?”
“The possibility of memories flowing back from the numerous other species’ traits that Mr. Seo-yul is harboring.”
“…What?”
“Jia said that her relationship with Seo-yul has been oddly lukewarm lately, right?”
“Yes. Si-yeon was worried.”
As Kang Seo-yul had worried, the relationship between Shin Jia and Kang Seo-yul had indeed become quite ambiguous.
“…Tsk.”
Maiden pressed her forehead.
“That’s why I told you. There’s no way Seo-yul would say something to deceive us.”
Yu Hwa reprimanded Maiden.
Her gaze was filled with resentment.
“Do you think I brought it up because I don’t trust the kid? That kid has done me favors, of course, I trust him. I just brought it up because I was a little worried….”
Worried that he might be lying, worried that he might be lying to Shin Jia and Ha Si-yeon.
That was the only concern.
“Seo-yul can’t lie. He is too kind-hearted.”
Every single word from Yu Hwa felt like a sharp weapon stabbing into Maiden’s heart.
“…Indeed.”
If the hypothesis they had thought of now was all true…
‘I would be such a bitch.’
Maiden covered her eyes with her hands and let out a deep sigh.
She felt the urge to kick her past self for not being able to suppress her curiosity and acting without consulting others.
“Do you know what Seo-yul said to me?”
“…What did he say?”
Yu Hwa’s eyebrows raised.
Her expression showed she was quite angry.
“He asked if I didn’t have anything I was curious about. Saying it with such pitiful eyes, it must have hurt him a lot.”
Zzzit.
She glared at Maiden.
Once again, a dagger flew and stabbed into Maiden’s chest.
“…Yeah. I’m the world’s worst bitch.”
“Yes. You’re right.”
Yu Hwa nodded repeatedly.
“By the way, why did that kid hide the fact that he knows the past of those mixed breeds from us? Let’s say he hid it because it was a past worth hiding for the experiment.”
“It would be the same. He might have been afraid that if he talked about it, we would see him as even more strange. He must have been scared of that.”
Considering Kang Seo-yul’s past, it could very well be the case.
“…That damn kid, really.”
It must be a kind of distrust of humans stemming from trauma. Her heart hurt even more.
“Anyway, unnie.”
Yu Hwa got up from her seat.
She was planning to negotiate to be in charge of the security of the Gangwon-do field at 8 o’clock tomorrow when she returned to the guild.
“When this matter is over, I will definitely apologize. I will get forgiveness somehow.”
“There was no need to say it, I was thinking the same.”
Maiden responded as if she were sighing.
“Anyway, unnie, I will go and see. Please take good care of the magic blocking device.”
“Alright. You too, do well in securing the security role.”
* * *
After all the Friday classes were over.
The current time is 7 pm.
It is one hour before the operation begins.
―Really, is it okay if I don’t go?
―It’s fine. I’ll quickly deal with Mephisto and come back, so don’t worry too much.
I was reassuring Rena in front of the entrance.
―Don’t you trust me? I am a man who defeated Lucifer. Do you think someone like Mephisto can do anything to me?
―……Right. You alone were the man who brought down Lucifer.
A bit of anxiety disappeared from Rena’s expression.
―Okay. Then, I will trust you and wait for you at home.
―Yeah. I will be back before 10 o’clock, so don’t worry too much.
―Okay. I will be waiting.
Rena smiled broadly.
“Meow.”
Goldie seemed to be saying to call on him anytime if something happens.
“I got it. I will call you if it gets dangerous.”
“Meow~”
Next to him, White Tiger was looking at me with a strange eye.
“Why?”
It seemed to claim, ‘I especially want to go and help.’
I smirked.
“Alright. I’ll keep that in mind.”
I petted Goldie and White Tiger each once and opened the front door.
“See you later then.”
“Take care.”
Leaving Rena, Goldie, and White Tiger behind, I stepped out of the house.
* * *
Gangwon-do field blockade area.
“Whew. The discharge of magical power is not ordinary.”
“…Yes. It’s a dreadful evil aura.”
Jia and I were standing alone at the scene.
The current time was 7:59 p.m. There was 1 minute left until the operation began. In the center of the magical barrier dome prepared by Maiden, I took a deep breath.
“Are you ready?”
I casually looked at Jia.
A beauty with long ears like an elf and prominent green eyes.
Jia, who activated her lineage skill, nodded with a stern expression.
“Then we start immediately.”
“Yes.”
I took out the prepared black iron greatsword.
At the same time, I activated Dragon’s Eye.
I could see the detailed magical circuits of the seal engraved on the ground.
An incredibly complex and intricate circuit.
It was to the point that I even felt admiration for Choi Ji-hoon, who accidentally destroyed this.
“…Here it is.”
I found it.
This is the point of destruction.
I prepared to thrust the black iron greatsword in reverse over it.
Inserting the black iron greatsword here will unseal Mephisto.
It was to intentionally recreate what Choi Ji-hoon had done by mistake in the past.
“What’s the time now?”
“19:59:32.”
“Okay. Then I’ll unseal it.”
I exerted force and stabbed the black iron greatsword into the ground.
Paaaaah-!
The next moment, an evil magic power exploded and burst out.
The next moment.
―Uhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
The unending laughter of the black demon, Mephisto, echoed within the magical barrier.
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