The Revealed Truth #2

Inside the private jet, Silvia and Adeline let out awed gasps of “Ooh…” They had already been exclaiming “Wow!” nonstop while admiring the scenery on the car ride to the airport, acting like little children seeing the outside world for the first time. The sight had made me chuckle.

“Have a seat.”

I gestured toward the plush seats, and the two of them obediently sat down. I took the seat across from them, then removed my mask. After drawing in a deep breath, I let it out slowly.

“Phew…”

It was the end of August in Arizona, which was already scorching hot. My human body was a sweaty mess from the triple combo of heat, humidity, and stress. As I wiped my sweat with a handkerchief from the seat’s table, I noticed Silvia and Adeline staring at my face with curious eyes. I flashed them a bright smile and motioned for them to stand.

“….?”

The two rose with puzzled expressions. They really do listen well. I led them to the shower facility prepared in the private jet and pressed the button.

Whoosh—!

A powerful stream of water poured down from the showerhead. Their eyes widened at the sight.

“Waaah!”

Adeline’s exclamation was full of wonder. After days of desperately waiting, the sight of water cascading like a waterfall must have thrilled her. I figured they knew how to shower and only needed to be shown how to use the shampoo and body wash.

Adeline had observed my body language for a long time and learned the simple words I spoke. Silvia, on the other hand, looked bored, as if she already knew everything. The civilization on the planet where Silvia lived must be quite advanced.

After teaching them how to use the high-speed washer and dryer and instructing them to hang their clothes there, I returned to my seat.

“Haa…”

This was frustrating. I couldn’t keep communicating like this. I needed to make them learn the language quickly.

While Silvia and Adeline showered, I changed my clothes and sat back down. Pressing firmly on my throbbing temples eased the pain a little.

I planned to bring Silvia and Adeline to Korea. It would be easier to control them that way. After that, I would have Stella summoned to WW Entertainment, then corrupt them one by one, separating them individually.

As for the monsters… I would first figure out the circumstances that brought these two here, then decide whether to send them back to the Magic Realm or not.

While rubbing my temples and sketching out future plans, Silvia finished her shower and approached, extending her hand.

“Silvia.”

What do you want me to do with that? I already know your name is Silvia. Ah, she must be asking for my name now.

I stood up, took her hand, and smiled brightly.

“Song Jihyeok.”

“Song… Jihyeok?”

Her pronunciation was excellent, just as I had noticed earlier. I nodded and repeated it once more.

“Yes, Song Jihyeok. You can call me Jihyeok. Jihyeok. Jihyeooook. Jihyeok.”

After repeating my name and even dragging it out dramatically, Silvia let out a small snort. She really does have that haughty vibe, just like Yuria. It’ll be fun when those two meet.

“My name is Silvia Liz. Nice to meet you, Jihyeok.”

She’s quick-witted too… I like her.

Next, Adeline approached while drying her hair with a towel. She chatted animatedly with Silvia, and from the way I heard “Song Jihyeok” and “Jihyeok” mentioned, it seemed they were talking about me.

A short while later, Adeline bowed her head with a bright smile.

“Nice to meet you, Jihyeok.”

She’s really cute, but it makes me sigh. I’ll have to lock them in the house and make them study the language nonstop.

After introducing themselves, the two only talked among themselves and didn’t say a single word to me. Silvia occasionally glanced at me, but Adeline kept her head buried in a notebook, scribbling away with a pen.

Fine, do whatever you want. You’re already in the palm of my hand anyway.

I was glad I had left the house in Uijeongbu—the one I used to corrupt Yuria—untouched. It would make an excellent residence for Silvia and Adeline.

As soon as we arrived in Korea, I brought them straight here. Adeline looked around the living room and clasped her hands together. Even the usually cool Silvia widened her eyes, seemingly impressed by the house.

Watching them, a glint appeared in my eyes.

This was the place where monsters had come and gone, and where Yuria had been corrupted. Since it was filled with lingering traces of magi, I worried Adeline might sense something off. But she showed no such reaction at all.

It seemed erasing the magi had worked. From what I had learned so far about Adeline’s abilities: weak magi couldn’t be detected unless one got close, sealed magi was completely undetectable, and if the lingering traces were erased, she wouldn’t notice.

I introduced the two to their rooms with a gentle smile, then explained how to use the bathroom, how to turn on the TV, how to eat the stocked food, and everything else necessary for daily life. By the time I finished introducing and guiding them through countless items, my throat was hoarse and dawn was approaching.

‘I’m exhausted.’

As a human, I was overwhelmed with drowsiness. My eyes were sunken, and the fatigue was clearly visible on my face. Seeing me like this, the two looked apologetic. Adeline especially twisted her body in discomfort, not knowing what to do.

It’s fine. You can repay me with your bodies later.

I forced a smile and gestured that I would leave for now and that they must not run away under any circumstances. Silvia and Adeline nodded in understanding.

They’ve been listening so well since earlier. It makes me feel strangely proud.

As I tilted my head from side to side and headed for the front door, Adeline tapped my back. I turned around.

“What is it?”

With a shy expression, she held out her notebook to me.

‘What’s this? Is she telling me to look at it when I get back?’

She had been drawing something on the jet… I’ll take it for now.

“Goodbye! Jihyeok!”

As soon as I took the notebook, Adeline waved her hands wildly. Her energetic demeanor, day or night, made her seem like a child. I gave her an awkward smile, then got in the car and headed home.

After the busy hours passed and I finally had a moment to breathe, I sat with Sehwa and Yuria on either side of me, staring intently at the notebook Adeline had given me.

After examining every drawing in detail, I could roughly guess how Silvia and Adeline had ended up here. To summarize, the pictures were drawn like this: a demon holding a trident piercing the Earth, a sunlit temple, Adeline kneeling in the center of the temple offering prayers, and Silvia arriving through a portal.

Putting it all together…

“It looks like they received an oracle saying a demon is targeting Earth, so they came to stop it,” I muttered.

Sehwa chimed in. “That seems to be it. And the demon here is you, right?”

“Looks that way.”

“This is ridiculous. They drew you as some ugly monster.”

Ah, so that’s what she found ridiculous? I let out a hollow laugh ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in disbelief.

Yuria picked up where Sehwa left off. “Exactly. It doesn’t look like you have any blood or tears. When Jihyeok is such a kind and affectionate person…”

Me? I can’t agree with that. Still, I do treat you two well.

I tossed the notebook aside and pulled Sehwa and Yuria closer by their waists. The two snuggled tightly against my sides. My mind felt at ease. Now I could finally rest comfortably.

“Jihyeok.”

Sehwa called my name while gently stroking my chest. I had been leaning back with my eyes closed in a languid state, but I turned my head toward her.

“Yeah?”

“Are those two really that strong?”

“They really are.”

“What would happen if I fought them right now?”

Even winning would be lucky; she would have to prepare for death. Right now, thanks to Marcela’s medicine, my magi was tightly concealed, but the source of Sehwa and Yuria’s power was corrupted Aether. If they transformed into Evil Valkyries, magi would surface, and if they received purification in that state, it would be over. Even if Adeline didn’t use purification, there was a high chance Silvia would overpower and humiliate them.

“It seems ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠difficult to face them right now.”

“Then what should we do?”

What else? I have to wait until I fully understand Adeline’s purification trait and create the weapon, steadily absorbing souls to grow stronger. It wouldn’t be bad to get close to Silvia and Adeline first, then stab them in the back when the time is right.

“Just live your daily lives for now. I’ll figure something out.”

“I’m sorry… for not being any help…”

Sehwa quickly became downcast. Yuria looked equally deflated. There was no need to feel sorry since Silvia and Adeline were abnormally strong, but…

Come to think of it, those two never explained why they were surprised by the Aether. Once communication improves, I should be able to find out… Let’s solve that first.

“You two, take care of your bodies. Whenever you go outside, make sure to take the medicine Marcela gave you.”

At my words, the two pouted their lips but nodded in agreement.

Just endure it for now. I’ll let you two shine properly later.

Unable to roll around with my lovely Evil Valkyries, I only got ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a little sleep before buying various books and video materials for language study and heading to Uijeongbu.

When I arrived, knocked, and carefully opened the door, Silvia and Adeline were waiting for me in loose t-shirts. They seem to be adapting well.

Smiling like a teacher, I spread the books out on the table. If I started language lessons today… simple communication should be possible in about a month.

Just as I was about to call them over, Silvia approached and held something out to me.

“This.”

What she handed me was a palm-sized device. As I tilted my head in confusion and took it, Silvia pulled out an identical one and rubbed the side like she was polishing a lamp.

Then, with a whirring sound, the device activated and began speaking Korean at high speed.

‘What the hell is this…?’

News, debates, and movie lines poured out of the device like they were on fast-forward. Silvia looked at my dumbfounded face, burst into laughter, and gestured for me to imitate her.

She definitely wasn’t trying to harm me with this. That was good enough.

I fiddled with the side of the device just as Silvia had done.

For dozens of seconds, incomprehensible language flashed by at high speed. Then I saw blue ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠light cross between the device in my hand and the one in Silvia’s.

This couldn’t be… As I stood there with my mouth agape in astonishment, Silvia revealed her pure white teeth and spoke.

“My name is Silvia Liz. Nice to meet you, Jihyeok. Thank you so much for rescuing us from that suffocating place and providing us with clothes, food, a place to sleep… everything.”

The words coming from her mouth were natural Korean. She even distinguished between casual and polite speech and used proper honorifics—at a native level.

I slapped my forehead and glared at her.

Fuck. Are you kidding me?

If you had such a great simultaneous translator, you should have used it from the beginning, you damn woman!

After nearly losing my sanity for a moment, I spoke.

“This… is a translator?”

“That’s right. It’s a device from my planet. The moment we arrived on this planet, it learned all the languages and finished synthesizing them with ours. If you hadn’t retrieved our luggage when you rescued us, it would have been really frustrating.”

What kind of cheat item is this? The civilization on Silvia’s planet seemed far more advanced than I had anticipated. It was convenient for me, so that was fortunate.

“Did you come from a planet with highly advanced technology?”

“Yes.”

“If you had something like this, you should have used it sooner…”

“Please understand. We had no one we could trust. The moment we fell to this planet, we had to fight monsters, and then humans even exploded. After that, some country tried to arrest us. Everyone was hostile.”

“Then why did you trust me…”

“You acted to protect us, showed us videos about Aether, showed us footage of the women we were looking for, and you were friendly and even secured us a place to stay. We judged you trustworthy. Adel also said you seem like a really good person. She said you have no malice at all.”

What terrible judgment. Can’t she sense my sinister intentions?

“Haa… Still, it feels a bit hollow.”

“I’ll say it again… please understand.”

“Yes… For now, that energy you call Aether is known as Aether on this Earth. Only a very small number of people know of its existence. You know how powerful this energy is, right? Never mention it anywhere. Absolutely not.”

“I have no intention of doing that. Shall we have a proper conversation now…? How about it?”

“That’s exactly what I want. Shall we sit?”

I sat at the dining table with Silvia. Then Adeline approached, took the translator from Silvia, and activated it. A moment later, she bowed her head with a cheerful voice.

“Hello? Jihyeok? My name is Adeline. Thank you so much.”

“Nice to meet you, Adeline.”

“Please call me Adel.”

“Yes, well… Please have a seat for now.”

“Okay!”

Adel plopped down immediately, smiled brightly at me, and asked.

“Were my drawings easy to understand?”

“I roughly got the idea. You received an oracle, I assume?”

“That’s right! Thank goodness! First, I’ll tell you why we came here.”

I immediately shook my head.

“Let me speak first. About how I found the two of you, and what’s happening in this place right now. Everything.”

At my words, Silvia’s expression softened even more. My decision to open up first and build trust had hit the mark. Chuckling inwardly, I opened my mouth.

“First of all…”