After the Battle (2)
The Devil Doppelganger fiasco was over. The devil hadn't grown gigantic, Snow White hadn't unveiled any new techniques, it hadn't shrunk to escape her attacks, and its three heads hadn't exploded simultaneously under Dokkaebi's strike. There had been the existence of Du Eok Sini, another entity driving the human-turned-devil into a rampage. So many things had happened.
"......."
Yoon Isun was at the scene of the incident. Not from the very beginning, but from the moment Yuk Kibong started rampaging, she'd been there—trying to persuade him, facing off against him. But midway through, her presence had faded. From the moment Dokkaebi stepped in, from the moment Snow White did, from the moment Du Eok Sini appeared.
In the feast of S-grades, she—an A-grade—could exert no power. She could only focus on spreading a barrier from the back to protect the citizens in case the devil went berserk.
In the end, the protagonists were always the S-grades. The title of student council president was her badge of pride, but it made her realize once more that in this world, what mattered most to the superpowered was strength.
I want to get stronger. I have to.
But she didn't want to grow strong by becoming a devil like Yuk Kibong had. If she turned into one, Dokkaebi would surely come for her.
-Student Council President Yoon Isun. You've become a devil. From this moment, I sentence you to execution.-
He'd try to kill her without a doubt. Regardless of everything she'd done as student council president, just for becoming a devil, for becoming a villain, Yoon Isun would be executed by Dokkaebi.
"...I don't want that."
Yoon Isun entered the student council room. Alone in the empty room on the weekend, she slumped into a chair, lamenting her own incompetence.
"I need power. But I can't hope for some sudden stroke of luck to make me strong overnight."
To uphold her ideals, she needed strong power—but even for that, she couldn't reach into shady places. She had to walk the straight path and grow quickly. She knew it was nonsense, knew it was incredibly tough, but she had to do it no matter what.
Because if Dokkaebi came to execute her, it'd be too heartbreaking for him.
"...Yeah. After telling me all this."
(Fan Cam) Dokkaebi Side-Angle Footage
[Live Stream] Kibong Rider Chaos: Dokkaebi Unleashes Technique (Not Ultimate)
[Subbed & Donated] ??? : That's Not How You Use Flames
Videos of Dokkaebi from every angle filled the conference screen in a colorful array. Naturally, her own ultra-close-up footage was among them.
"That's not how you use flames."
With the sync matched across multiple videos, Yoon Isun let Dokkaebi's voice surround her.
"This is how you use them."
Whoosh.
Yoon Isun channeled mana into her outstretched hand, creating a pink fireball shaped like a fox's face.
"...Not me."
Even growing a single fireball was no easy task. Maintaining one took enormous mana—how much would it require to make flames erupt dozens of meters high?
"I... Huh?"
Her Taeguk Watch started ringing. Yoon Isun hurriedly muted the PC connected to the screen and silenced it before answering.
"Yes, this is Yoon Isun."
"Isun, you okay?"
"Ah! Teacher!!"
She'd forgotten. Amid the massive incident and her self-loathing, she'd overlooked what mattered most as a hero.
"Are you okay?!"
"Haha, I'm fine, but you sound a bit off right now, Isun."
"Huh?"
"I told you to drop the formalities, but when I went formal again, you matched me without missing a beat. Normally, you'd have said, 'Why are you being formal again?'"
"Ah."
As Do Jihwan said, Yoon Isun's mind was elsewhere. Whether she was enchanted by Dokkaebi or frustrated at not standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him, she couldn't pinpoint it herself.
"S-Sorry."
"No need to apologize. Thanks to you buying time, bravely persuading and holding back Yuk Kibong, I survived. Thank you, Isun."
"...Thank you."
Thanks. That simple word made her heart flutter for no reason. It wasn't like she craved praise, and it was just what a hero should do—but hearing it directly couldn't help but lift her spirits.
"Your voice sounds down, so you're probably overthinking things. Is it because the student turned into a devil?"
No.
"If that's it, I don't think you need to worry too much. You did your absolute best. Even though Kibong became a devil, you did everything you could."
"Thank you, Teacher. Hearing that helps."
It was one of her concerns, as Do Jihwan said, but it didn't quite soothe the ache inside.
"If you need to talk anytime, come find me. I'm on your side."
"Yes, thank you so much."
In the end, she'd have to find the answer herself.
"...Your answer sounds unsatisfactory, so it seems worse than I thought. If it's not too rude, mind if I take a guess?"
"Pardon?"
"Feeling pushed aside, unable to stand with Dokkaebi and Snow White? Something like that?"
Yoon Isun shot up from her seat without realizing. She couldn't even say How did you know? She was shocked he'd read her so precisely, shocked he'd brought it up first knowing it might hurt, and her heart sank at how his voice alone divined her feelings, sought permission, and asked anyway.
"...Are you a mind reader?"
"Nah. Just picked the most likely worry you might have and asked."
"What other worries?"
"Plenty, I'm sure. But listing them would just complicate your head, so since I guessed right, here's my take. Don't rush it, Isun. You have your own path."
Do Jihwan's voice felt like a pat on the back.
"They might seem ahead now, but if you advance steadily, one day you'll stand tall beside them—or even surpass them. You have that potential."
"...Thank you so much."
"There, that sounds satisfied. How's that? Been reading psych counseling books in the B2 library lately—think I could moonlight as a counselor?"
"Pfft."
A goofy laugh escaped at Do Jihwan's pun.
"You'd be great at mental care for heroes later."
"Yeah? That's high praise. If I get fired from librarian, I'll consider your recommendation. Ah, time's up. Eat well for dinner. Let's grab a meal when you're free."
"Yes. I'll call this weekend."
"Sure. Oh, right."
Do Jihwan cleared his throat.
"Thank you for saving me. Hero."
With that, the call ended.
"......Jeez."
Yoon Isun clutched her Taeguk Watch and faceplanted on the desk.
"Hero. What the..."
Behind her, the sunset warmed her back, her ears flushing sunset red.
"Mental care... Pfft."
She wiggled her fingers, silently replaying Dokkaebi's video on the screen.
"I got help now, but someday..."
She firmly pressed her shoulder where Dokkaebi's hand had rested in her imagination.
Someday.
Imagining the day she'd step forward to Dokkaebi and repay those words exactly, Yoon Isun replayed his technique over and over.
"...Hee hee."
In the video, the quality wasn't great, but Dokkaebi had definitely wiggled his fingers lightly on her shoulder. That faint pat was real.
* * *
Back in Jumo's room.
"Said you were going for food, didn't expect you'd slay a devil."
"Same here. Mind if I borrow the bed?"
"You're already on it."
I lay on Jumo's bed, resting.
"Used too much mana. It's completely drained."
"Enough to break your transformation?"
"Nah. Just hit my personal... 'first deadline'—the limit where I figure it's safe to use this much and still escape undetected afterward."
I'd conserved enough mana post-battle to flee without issue, assuming I might face an S-grade mid-fight.
"Gotta build up more mana."
"Doesn't Sejong Island naturally boost it?"
"It does. But there's an easier way than just breathing here."
I sent Jumo a link on her smartphone.
"What's this?"
"What else? A special way to grow strong fast—increase your mana pool."
"...Ulleungdo?"
"Yeah. Ulleungdo has a special spot that fills mana 1.5 times faster and boosts max mana."
Only six knew: me, Gung-gi, Do-cheol, Do Ol, Chaos, and Chongsu.
"A pension with hot springs. Imae Mangnyang direct operation."