The Ring's True Owner
The Minotaur's movements were so fast that my eyes couldn't even register them. And the moment it swung its spear at me, I couldn't react at all.
Then—
Slice—
The Minotaur's head was severed in an instant.
The man was still wearing his mask. It was impossible to identify who he was. He casually pulled off the ring that should have gone to Jeong Hayeon and slipped it into his own pocket.
This development didn't exist in the original game at all.
[‘Setting Change’ — The demonic human group ‘Ilmun’ has noticed the location of the ‘Crystal’ ring.]
“....”
So that’s why.
I started chasing after the demonic human. Normally, there was no chance of victory against the man who had sliced the Minotaur in one blow. The moment our eyes met, I would have died for sure. But if that guy was a demonic human belonging to Ilmun, then there was a way through.
I smirked.
The demonic human soon exited the cave and slipped into the dense forest. I continued pursuing him. Then, at some point, his footsteps stopped.
The demonic human turned around and looked at me.
“Didn’t I clearly say I’d spare you? Why did you follow me all the way here?”
“....”
“Do you really want to die that badly?”
The demonic human’s eyes widened. An enormous amount of demonic energy surged out and engulfed the surroundings. If I cowered here, I was dead.
“Aren’t you the one who wants to die?”
“What?”
The demonic human’s expression twisted in an instant. A terrifying killing intent began radiating from his body. One wrong word and my head would fly off right here. I had to choose my words carefully.
“That ring. Mari from Requiem ordered me to retrieve it.”
“....What… what did you say?”
I could feel his pupils shaking violently at those words. As expected.
Just as human guilds had ranking systems, the organizations formed by demonic humans had rankings too. There were thousands of demonic human groups. An overwhelming number. And among those countless groups, the one ranked in the TOP 3 was none other than Requiem.
In comparison, the group called Ilmun didn’t even make it into the TOP 100. And demonic human society operated strictly on the logic of power. Lower-ranked groups had no choice but to bow their heads to higher-ranked ones. If they didn’t, bloody revenge would follow.
“...It was Mari who gave me the order. To bring her that ring.”
“....”
“It doesn’t matter if I fail to retrieve it. I’d just get a light scolding. But will Ilmun get off so easily? Daring to interfere with Requiem’s plans—won’t every demonic human in that group end up dead?”
“....”
I could sense the man growing increasingly anxious.
“But how can I believe that you’re really acting on Mari’s orders?”
“Pardon?”
The man smirked as if he’d found an opening. “I knew it. It was all a lie after all.”
As he spoke, he drew a dagger. The moment he leaped toward me, I pulled out the business card I had kept in my pocket and showed it to him.
“.....”
His expression froze instantly. Of course it did. This business card from Mari was only given to those she personally acknowledged.
“...Tsk.”
The man clicked his tongue. He removed the ring from his hand and tossed it to me.
“What rotten luck. Here, take it and go.”
With those words, he vanished.
I smirked. Thank you.
The dungeon practice for Class 1-A at Elphon Academy ended in the blink of an eye. It was all because of the incredibly powerful demonic human who had suddenly invaded.
“For now, everyone return to the lodging.”
The homeroom teacher said. In the distance, I could see the line of 1-A students walking back toward the lodging. I quietly slipped into the group heading that way.
As I walked toward the lodging, I felt a presence beside me. I turned my head. It was Cha Jiyun.
“...It seems my thoughts were correct after all.”
“Pardon?”
“...You’ve safely retrieved the ring you were carrying.”
Cha Jiyun pointed at the ring now in my hand—the one I had taken from the demonic human just moments ago.
“...That demonic human looked quite strong. As expected, you’re truly impressive...”
“...?”
“...You chased after the demonic human and returned to join us in less than five minutes. It seems even that demonic human was no match for you.”
Cha Jiyun looked at me with open admiration. She had been saying things I couldn’t quite understand for a while now.
We soon arrived at the lodging. It was a typical Japanese-style inn. The rooms on the left were for the boys, and the ones on the right were for the girls. Three people were assigned to each room.
“Alright then, everyone unpack your luggage and gather here again. And Nam Doyun.”
The homeroom teacher looked at me and said.
“Yes?”
“You come with me for a moment.”
“...?”
“Ugh. Looks like he caused trouble again.”
“What do you expect from a problem student? Heh heh—”
Jeong Hayeon entered the room and began unpacking her luggage. Or rather, she tried to.
“...Hayeon?”
Kim Minseo called out to her. She was standing there blankly with a dazed expression, her mind clearly somewhere else.
“Hayeon?”
Kim Minseo placed a hand on her shoulder.
“...Ah.. huh?”
Jeong Hayeon jumped in surprise and turned to look at her.
“Is something wrong?”
“No… it’s not that something’s wrong, exactly.”
As she spoke, Jeong Hayeon began pacing restlessly around the room.
No way… it couldn’t be, right?
She had definitely said those words in front of Nam Doyun. That the Crystal ring was pretty. When she said that, Nam Doyun had bought a fake version of that Crystal ring. A counterfeit with no effects whatsoever.
She had even told him she wasn’t interested in the fake to completely shut down any confession. She had definitely said that.
But that had only been to reject him. There was no way… he had taken her words seriously and brought back the real one, right? And from a dangerous-looking demonic human, no less?
For what? To give it to her?
Jeong Hayeon shook her head vigorously. No. It’s just my misunderstanding. That’s all.
The ring was certainly pretty on the outside. But beyond its beautiful appearance, the effect it held was incredibly powerful. It doubled magic recovery rate, didn’t it? Surely any person with magic power would want to obtain it.
“Yeah. That must be it.”
Nam Doyun hadn’t obtained that artifact to give to her. He must have gotten it for his own use. That had to be it. Probably.
I was called into the homeroom teacher’s room.
“....”
As soon as I entered, the teacher stared at me silently for a long time.
“...Haa, Doyun.”
The homeroom teacher eventually let out a deep sigh.
“Yes?”
“I heard you followed that demonic human.”
“....”
I thought I had returned pretty quickly, but it seemed the teacher had seen everything.
“I’m glad you’re safe, but what were you going to do if something went wrong?”
“...I’m sorry.”
“No, well… you don’t need to apologize to me. It’s your life. You only have one. You can’t go doing such dangerous things.”
“...Yes. I was wrong.”
“Well, anyway. Since you made it back safely, that’s what matters. I’ll keep this matter a secret.”
That was a relief. Disobeying the teacher’s orders and chasing after a demonic human on my own was more than enough reason for disciplinary action. It was fortunate that he was willing to keep it quiet.
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Since I’m keeping it a secret, you have to tell me one thing in return.”
“Yes. I understand.”
“Why did you chase after that demonic human?”
“....That ring the demonic human took was absolutely necessary for me. I can’t do without it.”
“That ring, huh? Can I take a look at it?”
“Yes, of course.”
The homeroom teacher began examining the ring from every angle.
“Oh. It really is quite a fine item. A ring that nearly doubles magic recovery rate.”
“Thank you.”
“Did you get this ring to wear yourself?”
“No?”
After all, the ring’s effect of doubling magic recovery didn’t apply to Nam Doyun’s unique mana. Even if I wore it, my magic recovery rate wouldn’t increase. It would be nothing more than a pretty ornament.
I just needed to keep wearing the fake ring and enjoy the stat benefits.
“There’s someone who absolutely needs to wear this.”
This ring had to go back to Jeong Hayeon. It didn’t just double magic recovery. When she wore it, she would gain a clue to her awakening. And the sooner she awakened, the greater help she would be in preventing the destruction of this world.
“Is that so? Who is it?”
“It’s Jeong Hayeon.”
“Is she your girlfriend?”
“No. Absolutely not.”
The homeroom teacher let out a small chuckle.
“Then I’ll be going now.”
“Alright.”
I finished the meeting with the teacher and stepped outside. At that moment—
Bang—
The sound of a door slamming shut violently rang out. It was the door to the room where Jeong Hayeon was staying.