Awakening
The first thing I felt upon opening my eyes was pain.
“Ugh…!”
An excruciating wave of agony surged through me, as if countless needles were piercing every inch of my body. Something was clearly wrong with my physical form. I furrowed my brow, waiting for the pain to subside before attempting to sit up, but Marcela’s voice stopped me.
“My King, you mustn’t move.”
“Understood.”
The sensation of returning from that illusory world to reality left me feeling hollow and drained. Yuria would probably feel the same when she woke. No, her sense of emptiness would likely be far worse. It must feel as though her homeland had vanished. I would need to care for her well.
That aside, it had been quite some time since I last saw Marcela. Watching her meticulously examine every corner of my body brought a smile to my lips unbidden.
“How is my condition?”
“Not good at all. The damage inflicted on Your Majesty’s sacred body on the first day has persisted until now. On the sixth day, there was also severe trauma to your throat.”
First day? What damage had I sustained on the first day?
As I pondered, the memory clicked into place. In the dream, I had overpowered a vastly empowered Yuria with raw strength. My real body wasn’t nearly as resilient, so blocking that arrow attack must have strained it considerably. The destructive power had indeed been formidable. It made perfect sense that the damage was so extensive.
On the sixth day, right before Yuria’s fall, I had taken a dagger to her throat to test the depths of her heart. That checked out as well.
“Is it life-threatening?”
“You will recover fully with treatment in the medical apparatus. It should take about two hours.”
Two hours in one of Marcela’s medical devices? The damage must be worse than I thought. I turned my head to look at Yuria, who lay beside me.
The Yuria in reality had undergone visible changes. The stigma on her lower abdomen had grown larger, and both her physique and hair color had transformed to match her form from the dream. It was clear proof that my constant reinforcement of the idea that this was reality had taken root.
“When will Yuria wake?”
“She should awaken in about a day.”
“Why so long?”
“Lady Yuria experienced an overwhelming shift in emotion. No matter how strong her mental fortitude, she needs time to process it. Any ordinary human would have had their mind completely shattered… but she endured because it is her.”
She had finished processing everything in the dream, but reality was different. Since Marcela said so, it must be true. As I nodded silently, Marcela continued.
“Congratulations, my King. You have finally claimed a second Beast Slayer…”
“Indeed. This is thanks to you.”
Come to think of it, I had bought a house in Busan for Marcela. I should visit soon and shower her with affection. I would grant her every desire. She had more than earned it.
Marcela shyly lowered her head beneath my loving gaze.
“I had the servants bring the medical apparatus. Please enter it for treatment right away.”
“Understood.”
After a tedious wait, my body was fully healed. I stepped out of the device, cracking my joints in every direction as I entered the room. There lay Yuria, all electrodes and VR equipment removed, sleeping peacefully.
It would take her a full day to wake… In the meantime, I should check on Sehwa. What had she been up to during the week I was gone? I had warned her not to cause any trouble… She had probably played regent at the base and tormented the monsters.
I quietly left the room and dialed Sehwa on my phone. After a few rings, she answered.
“Jihyeok!”
Her bright, cheerful voice suggested she was doing well. The fact that she hadn’t called me Master meant she was currently outside.
“Where are you?”
“I’m at Handaegori meeting up with my classmates. Are you done with work?”
“I’m finished.”
“Then will you come here?”
“No.”
“Why not!”
Her cute, pouty whine was followed by giggling from the other side of the speaker. Her classmates were laughing at her. It seemed she had already told them we were dating, seeing how openly affectionate she was acting in front of them. Well, it didn’t matter anymore.
Still, it was a relief that she seemed fine.
“It’s too much of a hassle. Have fun and I’ll see you at the officetel tonight.”
“Okay…”
I told the now-dejected Sehwa that I loved her, then summoned a few monsters and ordered them to guard Yuria. After stepping outside and stretching, I noticed it was raining. The gloomy atmosphere actually improved my mood. I took out my car, started the engine, and called the Doctor.
“Song, what’s up?”
“Where are you?”
“In the lab. You?”
“I’m heading to the lab too.”
“What for?”
“Just bored.”
“Alright, I’ll wait for you.”
People really are honest creatures. No matter how hard they try to hide it, their gestures, eyes, or tone of voice always reveal their true feelings. The Doctor was no exception. In the past, she would have responded with a curt “Do as you like.” Now she was speaking gently, saying she would wait. It wasn’t a massive change, but it satisfied me.
“It’ll take me an hour. I’ll be there soon.”
“Drive safely.”
“I will.”
I hung up with a smirk. My heart felt incredibly light. So very light.
> [Iris Authentication Complete.]
The massive blast door slid open with a hiss. The moment I stepped inside, a pleasant fragrance filled the entire lab, catching my attention. This place had always smelled only of machines. Now it carried the scent of air freshener, and a strong one at that, as if the packaging had just been opened. It seemed the Doctor had been paying subtle attention to the atmosphere.
She was working on equipment at her research bench, just like always.
“You’re here?”
She turned her chair to look at me. I approached with a smile and asked,
“Yes. What were you working on?”
“Nothing much… I didn’t have anything else to do, so I was just tinkering with machines.”
I sat in the chair beside her and rolled my shoulders. They still felt a little stiff.
“Are you uncomfortable? What’s wrong?”
“I was lying down for a long time, so my body feels sore. By the way, it’s been over a week since any monsters appeared.”
“That’s right. Not even F-class monsters have shown up. It’s been completely quiet. However…”
“Yes, we must remain vigilant.”
“We should, but I’m worried a few countries have grown complacent. They’re reluctant to install air-raid shelters. They say it costs too much money… and they won’t even accept support from the World Coalition.”
Tsk tsk… After enjoying peace for merely a week, they were already letting their guard down. Complacency truly was a global issue. Pathetic fools… I would have to conquer them soon.
As I nodded silently, the Doctor let out a sigh.
“I don’t understand why Tyrat is staying quiet.”
Why else? Because he still hadn’t found the Aether. Since he had no idea what might happen, he was conserving his forces and preparing for every possibility.
“Who knows… Maybe he’s preparing to launch one massive strike.”
“Can you not say such scary things? Just thinking about it is horrifying. And you… you seem different somehow?”
“How so?”
“You seem more relaxed…? Did something good happen?”
It had. Something very good indeed. I shrugged and gave her a sly smile.
“Who knows?”
“How boring… But what were you doing for an entire week that you didn’t even call? Sehwa too… and Yuria… Those two I can understand, but you usually stop by the lab at least once every three days unless something major comes up.”
“Were you bored without me?”
“It wasn’t boredom. I was curious.”
She was clearly sulking while claiming it was only curiosity. If she was so curious, she could have contacted me first. Was her pride too great to do so in front of the younger girls?
“I should have been more considerate… I’m sorry.”
“What… I told you, I was just curious?”
The Doctor looked visibly flustered. I let it slide and glanced at the device she had been building.
“What is that?”
“Ah, this… I was trying to create a small unmanned transport drone that could resupply consumables during battle.”
A supply drone… She had been doing unnecessary work. It was a waste of money. Not that it would put a dent in my wealth. Still, her dedication to humanity was truly noble. For someone who wasn’t even a Beast Slayer, she possessed an admirable sense of justice. I wanted to corrupt her as soon as possible.
“You work too much. It’s hard to watch. Why don’t you go see an opera or something once in a while?”
“Opera isn’t really my taste…”
“Really? You look exactly like the type who would enjoy it…”
The Doctor let out a dry laugh and lightly smacked my arm. She turned her gaze back to the research bench and asked,
“What do I look like, then?”
She seemed curious about my assessment. I deliberately stared at her face intently, enough to make her slightly uncomfortable. After a moment, she cleared her throat. It seemed my gaze was bothering her. I could answer now.
“You look like an intellectual beauty.”
“Mm… Is that all?”
“I want to say more, but I’m scared Sehwa will get mad at me.”
The phrase “I’m scared Sehwa will get mad” was a roundabout way of saying I wanted to compliment her. The Doctor saw right through it and became flustered. Before she could respond, I took the initiative.
“Would you like to get something to eat? I don’t have any plans today.”
“What about… Sehwa?”
“She said she’s meeting her university classmates.”
“I see… Then… let’s go. I found a place a few days ago that was really good. Will you trust me this once? You won’t regret it.”
“I always trust you, Doctor.”
When I stood up, she did the same and picked up her handbag. She took off her glasses, squinting as she looked around. I grabbed the lens cleaner from the bench and handed it to her.
“Were you looking for this?”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
“You should find it before taking them off. What’s with taking them off first? Even you have your clumsy moments…”
The Doctor gracefully ignored my teasing, cleaned her glasses, and put them back on.
“Shall we?”
“Yes.”
We left the lab and headed to the restaurant she had scouted. It was within walking distance and specialized in Western course meals. It wasn’t quite Michelin-starred, but the prices were quite high. We were seated at a rather nice table, ordered our food, and chatted.
“How is it? Not bad, right?”
“The atmosphere is nice. How did you find this place?”
“You told me last time, remember? To go outside once in a while and refresh myself. I took your advice and went for a walk, and that’s when I found it. The food is good too.”
“Don’t eat alone. If you’re coming out again, contact me.”
“Thanks, even if you’re just saying that.”
I’m not just saying it, you idiot. Don’t try to keep your distance from me. Before I kidnap you to the base and brainwash you.
We enjoyed the course meal in a warm, friendly atmosphere, finished dessert cleanly, and returned to the lab. After brushing my teeth in the bathroom, I came out and said,
“I’ll be heading out now.”
“Alright. Today was fun.”
The Doctor spoke as if it were no big deal. There was still a long way to go before I could conquer her. Still, I had made progress in building favor. After that first drinking session, serving her a home-cooked meal had earned me significant points… I shouldn’t ruin it by crossing the line too soon. I would take it slow and seduce her gradually.
When I returned to the officetel, Sehwa was already there. The moment she saw me, she rushed over and threw herself into my arms. She wrapped her legs around my waist and showered my lips with passionate kisses. The scent of alcohol lingered on her breath. It seemed she had been drinking with her classmates.
I pulled her face away from mine, as she seemed ready to devour my lips, and asked,
“You drank?”
“Yeah. I missed you.”
Hah, using casual speech even when we were alone in a closed space. I’d let it slide. I had been away for a while dealing with Yuria, and technically, this place was outside the base. I patted her backside lightly and carried her to the sofa, where I sat down heavily.
“I missed you too.”
“Hehe… What about Yuria? Is it over?”
“It’s over.”
“Why didn’t you bring her with you?”
“She won’t wake up until tomorrow. Be nice to her when you meet.”
“Okay.”
Okay? I had expected her to at least show some displeasure, if not outright rage, but she was surprisingly docile. It seemed something had changed in her heart during the week.
As I gently stroked her lush hair with a deep gaze, she asked,
“Jihyeok. You know Yeon-su, right?”
Oh Yeon-su? Of course I did. I had used her before to provoke Sehwa’s jealousy. She had shown interest in me… I wondered what she was doing these days.
“I do. Why?”
“Did you know she joined an agency? She says she’s going to be an actress.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. She was showing off so much today. She said the agency is pretty big too. She kept interrupting me and bragging, it was so annoying.”
“So you want me to get revenge for you?”
“Yes.”
She could have done it herself, but the fact that she was asking me suggested she was about to start nagging again. I should just agree for now. If I fed her to the monsters in secret… Wait, hold on… An agency?
“Is the agency she joined specialized in actors?”
“No. When I looked it up, they also manage singers.”
“Does that include idols?”
“Probably not? Why?”
Rose, also known as Stella Hayley, was a girl with dreams of becoming a singer. She would later become so famous that every album she released would top the Billboard charts, but her early path had been rocky due to one mistake. She had chosen to debut as an idol. And in Korea, she had picked the wrong agency and fallen victim to fraud. Even in an industry with hundreds of years of history, scammers still ran rampant. Stella had been tricked, suffered terribly, ruined her health, and received almost no proper payment, which left her disillusioned with this world. She had nearly given up on her dream of singing. She returned to America, wandered for a while, recovered mentally, passed an audition for an American label, and then rose to stardom.
That was the basic story of Stella.
In that case, acquiring an entertainment agency wouldn’t be a bad idea… It would make the perfect bait to lure her in. Right now, she was vaguely hoping to become an idol. The whereabouts of the Aether, not to mention Caroline and Celine, were still unknown… It didn’t seem like they would be found anytime soon… I should take my time ripening Stella like Sehwa and Yuria, let her marinate until the juices flowed, and then savor her. For now, it would be good to build a relationship where we were at least mutually interested, or perhaps dating.
After thinking it through, I grinned.
“I’ll get revenge for you.”
“Really?”
Sehwa wiggled her hips in delight. I picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. Since she had been slighted, I would set up a trap for Stella and take revenge at the same time. I wondered if Yeon-su had a boyfriend. If she did, I would have to mark her as dessert.