Just as Planned
As if time had rewound, the heroes and Kurus returned to their original positions. And just as I'd set it, the battle unfolded exactly as scripted.
The other heroes' bodies were pushed back, leaving only four in front of Kurus: [Gwak Chunsik], [Young Hoham], [Park Yunho], [Lottie].
"Frontline dealer, frontline tank, rear support, rear dealer. A textbook basic formation if there ever was one. And remember this: what you're about to see is a perfect recreation of their skills from back then."
With a snap of his fingers—like signaling the start of the fight—Park Yunho set the four heroes in motion.
Gwak Chunsik moved first. The pure white blade in his hand turned blue, emitting a low vibration that echoed around us.
Gulp—
A swallow from beside me. No one here made a sound, but we were all thinking the same thing: even if this was just an illusion, their power felt real.
Startup
Gwak Chunsik's low murmur kicked off the battle. His sword charged at Kurus with speed too fast to track, slashing straight down in a single line.
Kurus's mouth gaped wide in shock. From that gaping maw, a black mass erupted, instantly forming a humanoid shape that swung both arms at Gwak Chunsik.
-Kikikikikik!!
The black mass let out a bizarre laugh as if mocking Gwak Chunsik flying off into the distance. Then it vanished, only for two pitch-black swords to sprout from its hands. It charged at the fallen Gwak Chunsik.
Gwak Chunsik scrambled up, trying to ready himself, but the impact from being knocked away was too much—he collapsed again with a thud.
A dire moment. But the creature's advance halted abruptly, like a lie.
Because someone far off was pointing at Kurus: Park Yunho. He'd frozen it with his magic.
At the same time, Young Hoham from the rear whipped her golden hair as she rushed forward. Raising both hands high, she smashed down with all her might.
Kurus crumpled like wrinkled paper, slamming into the ground. But it shifted to liquid form as if it were nothing, trying to retreat and absorb the shock.
Stop Harbor Ice House
Blue swords stabbed into the ground around it from all sides, halting its movement—like a vow to pin it down. Gwak Chunsik, recovered, had unleashed his aura to lock it in place.
-Kik! Kikikik! Gigigik!
With its position fixed, Kurus thrashed wildly. Facing a mage while immobile? That was utter despair.
Lottie, who'd been casting, thrust her staff forward and chanted.
Delete
In the blink of an eye—just a flicker—a crimson pillar that hadn't existed moments ago plummeted toward the trapped Kurus.
Like a sunset descending from the sky's edge, the red beam of light poured down.
"Whoa..."
The kids, who'd been holding their breath, gasped in awe, staring blankly. Top-tier magecraft wasn't something you saw every day, illusion or not.
──────!!
A deafening roar tore through the space, swallowing everything. Lottie's spell? No.
The kids grimaced, looking toward the source. The red pillar was gradually staining black, like...
"Eclipse. Kurus's ability to turn light to darkness. It's why demons, who despise light, flocked to him."
At Park Yunho's words, the kids nodded and refocused.
The pillar, like white tissue dipped in ink, was slowly consumed by darkness until it blackened completely—then it began devouring the sky.
"Whoa, insane. Boss, who wins between you and that thing?"
"Scary as hell..."
Even Familia couldn't shut up at this level beyond any villain they'd seen.
The dark pillar vanished, and what emerged was no longer humanoid—a grotesque lifeform like clumped black tar.
lethum.lethumlethumlethumlethumlethum.
It mumbled incomprehensible words furiously.
mors descendet in te.
(Death shall descend upon you.)
Just those words. Lottie screamed and collapsed; Park Yunho grimaced, glaring.
"A curse most demons can use. You'll face it someday—remember this: the easiest way to dispel it is—"
────CLANG.
"—to drown it out with an even louder sound."
A massive explosion rocked the area. At its source: Young Hoham, hands clapped together.
A single clap nullified the curses from 33 demons.
Kurus tilted its head, then raised one of its new six arms toward the unrecovered Lottie. Energy gathered at its fingertip, absorbing surrounding darkness.
At this rate, she'd be pierced. But—
Dogyacheongcheong
A familiar voice, and blue flashes rained down, shredding its arm and body. Hero Gwak Chunsik—he'd moved.
Young Hoham smirked, syncing breaths as she charged the recovering Kurus. It conjured an obsidian shield to block, but—
-Chiiip!BOOM──!!
One punch shattered it, exposing its body.
-Kikikikikikik!
It resisted, aiming a gathered-energy hand at Young Hoham. A black laser beam shot straight to impale her.
Then—
Paji
──The world tilted.
The black beam grazed Young Hoham's cheek, shooting skyward.
Cabinet
Park Yunho, waiting for an opening, clasped his hands and unleashed magic—a translucent purple pillar enveloped Kurus.
Unable to move, just twitching, Gwak Chunsik pointed his sword and declared lowly:
Moonwhite Wind Clear
The moon is clear, the breeze gentle.
Gwak Chunsik swung his sword lightly, as if shooing a butterfly. Would such a feeble strike work?
The thought hit just as—
Swish—.
A soft breeze tousled my hair.
"Huh?"
"What the?"
Not just me—every kid who felt it looked around puzzled. This was illusion space; it shouldn't affect us. Yet a faint wind swept us all.
And that wind swept everything: the enveloping darkness, the fear, the corrupt energy—whisking it away.
The darkened sky turned to starry night; the black sun became a blue-glowing moon.
Moonwhite Wind Clear.
The moon was clear, the breeze gentle.
-Kyeeeeeeek!!
Park Yunho's magic faded, and the creature's screech echoed as it spewed black blood, collapsing.
With that, time froze, everything turning pitch black.
"That's why we study villains."
Park Yunho's voice pulled us back to the classroom.
"Know their powers and techniques, master counters, consider optimal scenarios. As you saw, just four minor injuries. Worlds apart from charging in blindly."
Thud.
He placed a hand on the desk, eyeing us.
"This curriculum exists so you won't repeat our seniors' mistakes."
A strange heat rose from everyone. To find the best way in unknown crises. To never err again.
Satisfied, Park Yunho looked our way.
"Alright, Jinwoo Bivalt and members—hit the faculty office at lunch for your prizes."
Even after classes ended and I got home to rest, that Villain Studies lesson lingered.
Middle-aged Gwak Chunsik. He was strong. At that age, power to reshape the world—and he landed a fatal blow on Kurus, contracted to 33 demons.
Sure, it'd return someday, undead. But no sightings since meant that strike hit hard.
"...Can't shake it."
I called him via smart lens right away.
A few rings.
"What's up this late?"
His voice, surprised I'd call first.
"Elder. It's been ages since our last mentoring."
"Yeah? Blame yourself—always off fighting somewhere."
...Fair. My karma.
"Tomorrow? It's the weekend; time's good."
"Tomorrow?"
A pause, then—
"No."
"Why? No academy tomorrow."
"No means no! Got a date with my granddaughter tomorrow!"
"...Pardon?"
"Date—you know, date? She's finally hanging out with Grandpa—can't bail! Tomorrow's off-limits, punk!"
His firm tone flustered me. Granddaughter time over sole disciple? At his age, maybe... but still.
Wait—one granddaughter?
-Knock knock~! "Oppa~ Wanna play~?"
Jiyoon's voice from outside. Jiyoon?
Flash. That's it!
I opened the door for her, gestured to hush, and continued the call.
"Elder. Your granddaughter's seven, right?"
"Yeah?"
"Got a great idea."
"Great idea?"
"My sister's seven too. Playdate—they make friends, win-win?"
"What? Jiyoon?"
"Bit biased saying it, but Jiyoon's polite and sweet. Perfect friend for your granddaughter."
Silence.
"Sounds good?"
"Right?"
"Yeah, tomorrow it is. I'll text time and place."
"See you then."
"Alright~ Sweet."
Call ended. I looked at Jiyoon, sitting primly on the bed, staring blankly.
"Oppa, call done~?"
"Yeah."
I scooped her up.
"Jiyoon, wanna go play with oppa tomorrow~?"
"Tomorrow? Really?!"
"Yep. Meet a new friend too."
"Friend! Yay!"
Overjoyed at "friend," she hugged me tight while I held her.
"So happy~!"
Smirk— Just as planned.