Chapter 124
Chapter 124
Academy’s Gumiho is a Magic Genius – Chapter 124
Since when had it been like this?
Was his personality twisted, or was it his perception that was warped?
Tamamo, connected to Seung-woo through the ring and their contract, could at least read the surface of his mind. His thoughts were always colorful, but...
Looking back now, the core of it all seemed to be a colorless void, devoid of any hue.
This is... honestly, pretty impressive.
She was a gumiho who had lived a hundred lives, enchanting men and women, young and old alike without discrimination, past and present. But in each life, she had worn only a single mask.
For instance, her current form bore a face and personality strikingly similar to when she had been called "Tamamo-no-Mae."
But Seung-woo was different.
He wore multiple masks at once.
They were so intricately woven that she hadn't noticed until now, but seeing it clearly, she understood.
In the eyes of Tamamo, who had become a spirit and merged her lifetime abilities into powerful ghostly vision, all auras took tangible form. Countless fragments and shards of multicolored masks overlapped across Seung-woo's face in a jumbled mess.
Are all those... masks to hide his true self?
What the hell is going on here?
Everyone wears masks in life.
Some for social survival, others to shield their fragile selves from the world's harsh storms.
But the masks visible to Tamamo's eyes had no flaws, no fleeting cracks. Their meaning was clear without a word.
They were all worn solely to protect a single, innermost truth.
Contractor, you're not multiple personalities, right?
'Do people usually say that to someone's face?'
So, are you or aren't you?
'Not really. I've never once questioned my own identity in life.'
Tamamo pressed relentlessly at Seung-woo's subtle evasion, tacking on that "not really."
Be honest. Back in that mental world, when I saw you, that pitch-black abyss wasn't real, was it? It was just the masks of all those personas you play merging into that distorted vision, right?
The fathomless void like an endless emptiness.
The hellish sea of corpses and blood that unfolded after.
Those were fragments of the masks defining the man called Baek Seung-woo.
Especially the formera clear result of various sub-personas combining to stage that warped realm.
His response to that was.
'Does it really matter that much?'
!!!
Was that sincere?
Or just another deception?
Even Tamamo, who harbored immense curiosity about the man named Baek Seung-woo, couldn't comprehend this.
She couldn't grasp his intent.
His true feelings were equally elusive.
Maybe everything I've seen of him so far is just the tip of the iceberg.
Such thoughts swirled in her mind.
...You do know about the contract, right?
'No lies, no betrayal, and full disclosure of everything.'
That was the gist. Sigh... I never imagined you'd turn it around and use it on me instead.
Lies were aimed at Seung-woo.
Betrayal targeted Tamamo.
Two clauses to let each other get what they wanted while binding one another.
Yet she hadn't expected those two clauses to suddenly work in her favor.
If there hadn't been that betrayal clause, I might've been in real trouble.
The moment she mentioned the masks.
Tamamo felt like she was walking a knife's edge.
One slip, one misstep, and even as a mere soul, she could die.
That was her judgment, but...
It was heavily influenced by the killing intent she sensed from Seung-woo through their ring connection.
If an ordinary person exuded such intent, she'd scoff at their bravado. But with Seung-woo, there was absolute confidence.
Confidence that, even if impossible now, he could kill her someday.
And that confidence made even her, a gumiho, think she might truly meet her end if she wasn't careful.
What kind of person is he, anyway?
No, is he even human?
He wore multiple masks to hide his personality and true feelings.
His teaching skills with students were extraordinary, but even more suspicious was his inexplicable combat sense and seasoned prowess from an unknown source.
How much is he hiding?
Tamamo realized anew how little she truly knew about Seung-woo.
And even what she knew were just shattered fragments.
Until now, she'd planned to savor the situation slowly, waiting for him to open up on his own...
But not anymore.
For some reason.
She felt an urgent need to uncover the life and identity of Baek Seung-woo. It seemed like disaster would strike if she didn't.
She was a gumiho.
A heavenly fox on the cusp of true ascension.
Not the open sky itself, but closest to itTamamo's divine powers rivaled any prophet's.
Though weakened in death, unable to wield full might just yet, even this remnant power revealed truths.
You... what's your name?
"Name? Predictable question. Baek Seung-woo."
No lie there.
But that wasn't the name she sought.
Not the packaged label, but the true name beyond.
Don't you have another one? Come on, say it. Throw in your origins too.
"...You're sharp, as always."
She knew exactly how to start.
This was an extension of that day they exchanged ring finger and heart.
A somewhat belated first greeting.
"My name is Baek Seung-woo."
Same name?
"Of course."
This body.
"Is the original me. In other words, just a creation based on the template."
...Huh?
Seung-woo gave a faint smile at Tamamo's dumbfounded expression.
He'd expected this reaction.
That's why I didn't want to say it.
But it looked unavoidable now.
This was... a bitno, a lottroublesome.
* * *
The barrage of questions continued, but none touched the core.
At best, when asked her favorite food, he replied "none," and after ten minutes of pondering her dissatisfied look, added, "Uh... army stew, maybe?"
He hadn't eaten army stew in over seven years, actually.
But he'd loved it as a kid, so it wasn't wrong.
Anyway, amid these trivial queries.
That's when it happened.
"You... must be really mentally ill, huh?"
"!!!"
"You've been muttering to yourself nonstop. What do humans call that...? Oh, right, schizophrenia or something?"
Where the hell did this woman come from? I didn't see her at all.
Same here.
His body flinched briefly at the sudden voice behind his neck.
'...The stench of lead powder.'
The smell tickled his nose.
Sniff sniff. Revolting.
Usually, mixing stench with perfume softens it.
But excessive stench reacts oppositely, amplifying the perfume's intensity.
'It's lead powder, but something's off. Like human skin...'
Human skin?
'Yeah, I almost mistook it myself, but this is definitely a human-like scent...!!'
His mind flashed.
Ha, haha, no way.
His head denied it, but his body was certain.
Sniff sniff. Flesh, rot, and lead powder aroma.
This was probably.
Lead powder made from human flesh?
'You get it. Likely.'
Probably sliced, dried, ground into powder.
Her fox senses were annoyingly acute, hypersensitive to smells.
Especially demonic kinshe loathed them intensely. Mixed with that foul odor, it made her stomach churn.
"Oh? No answer? I like statue-like men, but actual statues are a no."
"...Who knows."
"Hmm~ I sensed a vibe like my kin, so I came over, but strikeout."
My kin?
If a demon of her caliber calls it kin...
'[The Nobles of Paradise Lost]?'
Paradise Lost...? Lost Paradise?
'Could be. Or exiles yearning for paradise.'
Their group's meaning didn't matter.
What did was their power and threat.
This crazy bitch in front of us doesn't seem that strong. If you're saying that, the others must be pretty damn powerful?
'Probably... she's likely the weakest.'
W-Wait... that's the weakest? Even a glance shows unusual demonic energy.
The Nobles of Paradise Lost influenced the novel up to the late game.
Essentially the final boss faction opposing the protagonist and heroines.
I'd meticulously noted them in my journal before forgetting.
'Her name's probably... huh?'
Why can't I recall... no, why did I think I knew her?
She's not based on anyone from my world. I'd slain most demons with my sword, so I remember basic appearances and powers.
But not her.
No memories at all.
Yet I'd approached as if I knew her.
Can't chalk it up to fatigue.
Something's there.
Before long, she vanished, calling him an intriguing statue despite being wooden, saying they'd meet again.
I just stared blankly at the empty spot.
Like a toy with its batteries removedstill and silent enough that passersby turned to stare.
"..."
I stood there, ignoring their gazes.
Just standing.
Until guards arrived after anxious citizens reported me.
"...Eve's doing?"
I just stood there.
Right now, I didn't want to do anything but think.
* * *
"Welcome back."
The peacock who slyly devoured men's brains with her three-inch tongue.
One alias: Beauty Marquess.
Escorted by Simon, she headed to the deepest part of Viscount Epots's mansion.
Incidentally, she liked "Beauty Marquess" but not the former moniker.
Such a fitting descriptor.
She flashed a bright smile at the wistful Simon.
"But first, hear me out."
"What is it?"
"I just met a handsome man in town."
A prickly, taciturn manirresistibly charming.
Even if he'd been chatty or rude, she'd have found him attractive anyway.
"So cold. That was the appeal."
Appeal is completed by the face.
...Or so Beauty Marquess claimed.
She obsessed over beauty enough to earn that prefix.
And that man fit her tastes perfectly.
"Could you describe him?"
"His face? Prettier than yours. Can't put it into words, so skip that. Unique part: an ain with black body hair and pure fox traits I've never seen in this world."
Black body hair.
Fox traits.
Ain.
One man popped into Simon's mind.
The media darling scorching headlines for two months straight.
"Black hair, fox tail and ears...?"
"Yes, and three tails even. Heavenly Fox Baek bloodline, I think?"
"...Pffft."
Hearing the androgynous figure's description, Simon chuckled, then burst into laughter.
I hadn't expected contact this soon.
They'll fortify defenses now.
Puhaha!
Simons booming laugh drew stares from the red-haired man and peacock.
"What, livestock? Hit your head?"
"You okay? Dazed by my charm? Ah... why am I so captivating?"
"Cut the crap, you lunatic. Charm my ass."
"Oh? Don't wanna hear that from rabies kin."
Their brows furrowed as man and woman clashed.
"Schizo narcissist."
"Anger issues. But controls it perfectly before the duke and marquess."
"You too, no?"
"Hehe, not to mad dog levels."
Simon, still smirking at their barbs, thought.
First, use the kids.
This city's underbelly overflowed with vagrants.
With Viscount's approval to use them freely as worthless, he planned suicide bombings and decoys.
Their sacrifice: martyrdom.
All for the Demonic Cult.
As Simon schemed sinisterly, the red-haired demon passed behind.
Worn from bickering, he scratched his head irritably.
"Just in case: don't forget, livestock. I humor you and cooperate not for our kin's awakening"
But because you promised status rise, staking that pathetic life.
Just testing your capabilities.
The low voice resonated straight to the soul.
Then, as if done thinking, he waved dismissively and headed to bed.
The red-haired demon had read Simon's thoughts with a mere glance.
Oh my... quite perceptive.
"Haha! Of course. Ah, already gone?"
"Can't be helped, Simon. He's awfully slothful and petty."
"Well, that's his charm. Anyway, Beauty Marquess, preparations complete. Time to flaunt your doctrine."
Meanwhile, the peacock clapped gleefully.
Unlike the man, she showed no hostility.
Quite the opposite: joy.
Finally.
"I can enlighten the ignorant masses of this benighted era and world with knowledge and wisdom. Hehe... I'm going mad with anticipation...!!"
Wisdom and knowledge.
Teaching and oratory demon.
She was a sky-crossing bird, a beautiful peacock atop a mountain of sacrifices, Beauty Marquess, and baroness to the demons.