Strategy Against the Doctor #2
“Are you naive? Or just stupid?”
The strange question came out of nowhere while I was in the middle of eating. I set down my knife and asked,
“What do you mean?”
“Do you remember our first meeting?”
“Of course… I remember. That horse-headed monster called Amducias appeared, Sehwa transformed, and I was trapped under the building debris until you rescued me with your airship, Doctor…”
“Do you know how funny your reaction was when we first entered the lab?”
Back then, I had shown interest in the medical equipment and various machines in the laboratory. Of course, it was all fake enthusiasm, but by playing the part of a machine-obsessed engineering nerd, I had successfully earned the Doctor’s favor. I let out a weak laugh and nodded.
“From my perspective, everything there was enough to make my eyes spin. Thanks to you, Doctor, my knowledge has broadened as well.”
“You could run all sorts of experiments with your own money, yet you don’t. Why is that?”
“You told me not to quit, Doctor.”
“I’d like you to answer me seriously.”
Should I tell her the truth? That I’m sticking around to bring down Sehwa, Yuria, and you. The other two have already become demons. Now only you remain. I almost picked up the knife again but stopped, instead using a napkin to wipe around my mouth.
I could press the accelerator here. Say something like, I can’t leave you alone, Doctor… But just as I had decided when I first began targeting her, I would take it slow. The opportunity would come on its own anyway. Starting next week, we would be together almost every day. In a confined space, two people who already felt favorable toward each other were bound to grow closer. It was practically a law of nature.
I would slowly erase the image of your husband from your mind.
“It’s for Sehwa.”
“For Sehwa?”
“Yes. Yuria doesn’t experience much emotional fluctuation, and her mental strength is incredibly strong. After losing her entire kingdom to Tyrat, she even has a clear sense of purpose. It’s unlikely her mind would break easily. But Sehwa is different. Her mental fortitude is far weaker than Yuria’s.”
“I can’t agree with that. When she transforms into a Beast Slayer, her will becomes rock-solid. Haven’t you seen how unshakable Leona is?”
“That’s not what I mean. I’m talking about when she’s Sehwa, not Leona.”
“Really?”
“Yes. The environment Sehwa grew up in is completely different from Yuria’s. She was living an ordinary life as a college student when she suddenly became a Beast Slayer. Whenever her transformation ends, she suffers. You know that too, Doctor.”
Sehwa had made several verbal slips in front of the Doctor. Recalling that, the Doctor nodded in agreement.
“That’s true.”
True? What’s true about it? Before her corruption, Sehwa had possessed exactly the kind of steadfast heart the Doctor described. The reason she had argued with the Doctor was entirely because of me. It had only happened because I had shaken Sehwa’s heart.
“She’s gotten a little better now… but she still needs a guide to lead her down the right path. That’s why I’m staying in the lab. I also need to charge the Device.”
At those words, the Doctor flinched. Since she knew the Device charging method all too well, she must have felt embarrassed. After a moment of flustered hesitation, she quickly returned to her usual expression.
“You can take care of Sehwa and charge the Device at home. Even if you leave the lab…”
“Then should I leave?”
“No. Don’t leave.”
The Doctor’s face grew stern as she immediately opposed the idea. I smirked and nodded.
“I won’t, then. Oh, there’s another reason I need to stay in the lab.”
“Another reason? What is it?”
“I’ll tell you later. Shall we finish our meal first?”
“Let’s do that.”
The Doctor put on an indifferent expression and stabbed her steak with her fork. Watching her long, narrow mouth open wide, I also brought my fork to my food.
After finishing our meal, we didn’t return to the lab. Instead, we took a stroll along the walking path in a nearby forest park to aid digestion, chatting casually as we walked side by side.
“Aren’t you tired, Doctor?”
“Me? Well… time flies when I’m developing equipment…”
“I want to tell you to take it easy, but since you have to develop the Device… that’s not really possible. I’ll help as much as I can.”
When I showed firm determination, the Doctor let out a small chuckle and patted my back a few times.
“Yeah, thank you. By the way, the air is really nice, isn’t it? The weather’s warming up too… I feel like coming outside every day.”
“Then let’s go for walks together often.”
The Doctor didn’t answer. Instead, she turned to look at me. Her mouth opened and closed, as if she had something to say but was hesitating. I waited patiently in silence. Then, out of nowhere, she said,
“I really can’t figure you out.”
“Pardon?”
“Sometimes you seem like a three-year-old child, and other times you seem incredibly mature.”
“When have I ever acted like a child?”
“You’re the one who gave the childish name Beast Slayer, and you’re the one who named Sehwa Leona… Whether it’s getting excited over machines, or showing up at the Central Intelligence Agency in that spider hero costume… there are too many examples to count. Oh, I don’t mean it in a bad way. I mean it’s good because you’re so pure.”
“So you’re saying my head’s a little empty?”
When I jokingly criticized myself, the Doctor giggled and lightly punched my arm. This was excellent. She was becoming much more comfortable with physical touch.
“That’s not what I meant. It was a genuine compliment. When I look at you, I smile often. Having the talent to make people feel good is a huge advantage. Now I understand why Sehwa follows you and likes you so much. If you weren’t here…”
After a brief silence, the Doctor swallowed and continued.
“If you weren’t here, the lab would have been unbearably bleak. It might have fallen apart before we even met Yuria.”
“Why would you say something so horrible…”
“It means you’ve become an indispensable presence.”
“To you, Doctor? Or to the lab?”
“Both.”
The Doctor’s eyelashes lowered slightly. She was clearly thinking about her husband. She must have been imagining me and her husband laughing together while playing childish pranks. To keep the mood from sinking, I changed the subject.
“It feels nice to have a serious conversation after so long.”
“Don’t you have conversations like this with Sehwa?”
“Most of the time, I’m the one indulging her childish whining.”
“I see…”
“Just as Sehwa relies on me, I rely on you too, Doctor. I think of you as my mentor.”
“Can you stop saying such embarrassing things?”
“It’s the truth. Why not? I’ll continue to rely on you in the future as well.”
“.....”
The Doctor slowly nodded, then turned her gaze toward the outdoor exercise equipment set up in the park. She stared intently at an elderly couple chatting happily. Without realizing it, she let out a soft sigh. She must have been envious of that peaceful daily life they shared.
I walked past her and sat down on a piece of equipment designed for two people to sit facing each other and stretch their legs. Then I gestured toward her.
“Sit across from me.”
“Huh? Suddenly?”
“Let’s play for a bit before we go.”
The Doctor hesitated. I smiled brightly and provoked her.
“You sit all the time, and you’re not getting any younger. Your joints must be creaking.”
“I don’t think so at all. My biological age is still young.”
“I doubt it.”
The Doctor let out a dry laugh and looked at me as if she couldn’t stop me. After a moment of hesitation, she finally sat down across from me.
“How do you use this?”
“Just put strength into your whole leg and push. Like this…”
I slowly straightened my knees and then bent them again. My body rose slightly at an angle before coming back down. The Doctor watched my demonstration carefully, then put strength into her own legs. The unfamiliar sensation of her body rising and falling made her exclaim in surprise.
We matched our rhythm and repeated the motion several times. A faint smile gradually spread across her face.
“It’s fun, right? Doesn’t it feel like riding a swing?”
“Not really… but does this even count as exercise?”
“It’s better than doing nothing. When you first started, I thought I heard a cracking sound from your joints?”
“Your ears must be a little off. Want to visit an ENT specialist?”
Crack!
Even while speaking, the Doctor didn’t stop moving. A clear popping sound came from her knee. My cheeks puffed up instantly as laughter burst out of me.
“Pfft… Ahahaha!”
I laughed so hard that tears welled up in my eyes. The Doctor’s face turned bright red. She looked around quickly and spoke in a hurry.
“C-can you be quiet? It just made a little noise, why are you so excited…”
“Hehehe… You said my ears were weird?”
“Shut up…! You’re driving me crazy…”
Even as she scolded me, the Doctor eventually let out a small laugh. While continuing to stretch her legs, she said,
“Thank you, Jihyeok.”
“Thank you for what… Hm? What did you say?”
“I said thank you.”
“After that. You definitely said…”
“Let’s stop here. My knees hurt.”
The Doctor cut me off abruptly, got off the equipment, and began walking down from the park. Not Song, but Jihyeok… I had successfully scored a proper favorability point. I followed behind her and teased her.
“Your knees hurt? I thought your biological age was young!?”
At that, the Doctor’s steps quickened. She seemed quite embarrassed. It was rather cute. And fun to tease. I quickly ran up and matched her pace.
“Why are you leaving me behind? I almost became a lost child.”
“Lost child? What are you talking about… Are you a kid?”
“You said I sometimes seem like a child. This must be one of those moments.”
“You really never let me win even once, do you? I don’t like it.”
Even though she said that, a bright smile was blooming on the Doctor’s face. It seemed the day when I could bury my face in those large breasts wasn’t far off. I just had to keep this up.
**The next night.**
In a corner of the Antarctic base, I transformed Sehwa into an Evil Valkyrie. From the body of the girl who had become Leona, dark magi rose powerfully. I hoped Adeline wouldn’t sense this. Leona’s purple pupils rolled as she gazed at the blood-red scythe in my hand with eyes full of anticipation.
“Master… that is…”
“Yes. It’s your weapon.”
The Death Scythe I had finally completed was about 170 centimeters long—slightly taller than Leona herself. The blade curved in a long arc and was extremely sharp. A single horizontal swing looked like it could cleanly sever the necks of several humans at once.
Holding the scythe in a reverse grip, I handed the handle to Leona.
“Try holding it.”
“Ah, yes!”
Leona swallowed hard, grabbed the scythe with one hand, and lifted it lightly. Then—
Sssss…!
The magi wrapped around the scythe, emitting black energy and increasing its size. It didn’t grow nearly as large as the finishing move Leona had used as a Beast Slayer, but it resonated with the power of corrupted Aether, greatly increasing its destructive force.
Made from the all-purpose material Polymus, it was light yet incredibly durable. When its hidden functions were included, it was truly my masterpiece. Leona’s eyes sparkled brightly, clearly pleased with it.
“A-amazing…! It’s naturally accepting my energy!”
“That’s not all.”
“Yes…?”
“You know Astaroth, right?”
Leona’s eyes burned with fury.
“I know. That bastard…”
Bastard? Ah… During her Beast Slayer days, Astaroth had burned her boots. Sehwa had cried her eyes out in pain back then. That memory must have remained, making her grind her teeth even after becoming a demon.
“You killed him with your own hands.”
“That’s true. But why Astaroth…”
“Astaroth’s power is contained within this scythe. The more lethargic energy it absorbs from living beings, the stronger the scythe becomes.”
“Huh…?”
“There was still some of Astaroth’s energy left deep in the West Sea. It was incredibly fortunate. Marcela worked hard to collect it and infused it into the scythe.”
Although Astaroth was slow at building power, when it came to its ability alone, it was an incredibly powerful monster. The lethargy that directly affected the mind and sapped one’s will to act was rare even among monsters.
“Really?”
Leona’s vertical pupils dilated slightly. Knowing Astaroth’s ability well, she was clearly delighted.
“Yes. When Marcela brings humans, you can experiment with it.”
“Understood…”
Her eyes were filled with anticipation. It looked like she would be harvesting human necks all day today. I brushed Sehwa’s bangs aside and gave her a reminder.
“The new semester is starting soon, right? Behave yourself while you’re there.”
“Of course. I absolutely won’t cause any trouble.”
It was the perfect answer. Yes, just don’t cause any trouble. Let me focus on targeting the Doctor in peace.