The Promise
Slap—!
A sound like the air being torn asunder.
Slap!
It sounded like a round of applause, or perhaps a firm pat on the back to offer encouragement.
Slap—! Slap—!
But this sound, which had been echoing for over ten minutes, was nothing so mundane.
"Hup. H-hup...!"
Slap—!
A groan of stifled agony mingled with the sound of the strike. It was a very faint sound, but to the ears of an Outsider—a being whose physical specs easily transcended those of a human—it was painfully clear.
Slap—! Slap—!
Nakamura was being slapped by Shin Jin-pae. Over and over, again and again.
Two people were watching. One was a woman known as the "Ordinary Clerk," a person with the appearance of a perfect office worker who had misunderstood Shin Jin-pae’s orders and handed over the work to the Gold Taeyang Clan. The other was Ajin, a man who, like Nakamura and Shin Jin-pae, could be considered part of the "Headquarters" management.
They were all executives. Originally, others had been sitting with them, but they had all scurried away the moment Shin Jin-pae told anyone uncomfortable with the situation to leave. Because Shin Jin-pae was usually gentle and rarely lost his temper, the executives felt a jarring disconnect from his current, savage demeanor. Moreover, seeing Nakamura—a man considered his rival—being subdued so easily made them realize that if Shin Jin-pae truly put his mind to it, rank meant absolutely nothing.
Tremble.
The Clerk, who had caused this situation by giving the wrong instructions, clutched her skirt tightly, shivering in fear. The thought, "What if that violence turns toward me?" dominated her mind.
However, Shin Jin-pae didn't care what the other riffraff thought.
Slap—!
"Guh..."
Even though Nakamura’s face was already swollen beyond recognition, Shin Jin-pae showed no signs of stopping. It wasn't as if Nakamura had been unresisting from the start.
From the moment he heard the Gold Taeyang Clan had failed, Nakamura, wary of the punishment Shin Jin-pae had mentioned, had thoroughly prepared for potential combat with all sorts of items and buffs. But when the news of the Gold Taeyang Clan’s annihilation and Inris’s disappearance reached them, Shin Jin-pae, who had threatened sanctions, merely made meaningless attempts to contact the clan. Nakamura had sneered, thinking it was all talk, and felt relieved. Instead, he had heightened his vigilance toward Yeodre.
To kill the entire Gold Taeyang Clan and even destroy the 'Incubus King' Inris? Was that even possible?
The Incubus King was a Demon King of the True Purgatory. He was an opponent that even the twelve Rankers called monsters among users, and even the 2nd and 3rd ranked users—the so-called "Heaven Above Heaven"—would shake their heads at. Among users, the only one with a clean chance of victory was the 1st ranked user, Makia.
Nakamura had believed there was some secret to Yeodre’s strength and had resolved to dig it up.
But then, Shin Jin-pae’s state had suddenly changed. He had spent every day trying to contact the Gold Taeyang Clan, then suddenly summoned Nakamura with a hardened face and an air of being somehow terrified.
Foreseeing a grim future, Nakamura had prepared thoroughly, but before he could even use his prepared strength, he was instantly defeated, subdued, and beaten to a pulp. And all of this in front of the company employees.
And now, before the mental sting of losing the duel and being humiliated in front of his subordinates could even fade, he was being dragged into Shin Jin-pae’s office to be slapped.
The proud Nakamura had naturally tried to resist, but this time, Shin Jin-pae had brought a pile of neutralization items, subdued him, and demonstrated an overwhelming difference in power.
Nakamura, now helpless, realized the gap between himself and the man before him. Even with all his preparations, he was powerless before Shin Jin-pae’s strength. In such a state, with his combat ability restricted to the level of an ordinary user and one-sided violence underway, it would have been strange not to be cowed. All he could do now was cling to his meager pride.
Every time he was slapped, it felt like his brain was rattling, but he endured it. Even as blood leaked from his mouth, he held it in. Not letting out a loud groan was the last shred of pride Nakamura had left. But even that last shred was crumbling.
'How long... is he going to do this?'
The Shin Jin-pae that Nakamura knew was a soft-hearted man. He didn't know this man who wore a cold expression, who showed no emotion even while looking at a face covered in blood and bruises, and who kept slapping him over and over. Nakamura didn't know this Shin Jin-pae who inflicted violence with the attitude that it didn't matter whether a person lived or died.
In his original world, Nakamura had been recognized for his outstanding capability, accumulated wealth, built connections... and had gotten his hands on most of what he wanted, whether it was women, money, or objects. He had been successful in Elynar as well, and that was why he had been mistaken. It was an arrogant and insolent delusion that he was a special human chosen by the heavens. That was why this situation—himself being helplessly beaten—felt so alien.
'I was... a frog in a well...'
He had never experienced this kind of irresistible violence.
Slap!
"Kuh! Ugh! Ahhhk!"
The pain grew increasingly severe. His pride, his mind, was collapsing. Eventually, Nakamura began to let out loud screams, whether by his own will or forced by the pain, and Shin Jin-pae kept moving his hand regardless.
Slap—! Slap—!
'Is he... really... trying to kill me?'
Purge. Disposal.
The moment those two words surfaced, another word became vivid.
Death.
For the first time, Nakamura felt his survival instinct threatened, and he struggled to live. That struggle was to offer an apology—the kind he used to give his parents as a child, though he had stopped doing even that long ago.
"I... was wrong..."
Slap—!
"I... was wrong... please forgive me... Director Shin..."
He stretched out both arms as if begging. He tilted his head back as if to say he didn't want to be hit anymore. Tremble. He shivered and begged, just like the weaklings Nakamura himself had always sneered at. Shin Jin-pae stopped with his hand raised, let out a long breath, and then lowered his hand.
"Nakamura."
"Y-yes..."
"There won't be a second time."
"......"
"What's your answer?"
"Th-thank you..."
Shin Jin-pae, who had been silently glaring at Nakamura, who couldn't even steady his own body, turned his head slightly and spoke to the shivering executive and junior, Ajin.
"Ajin. Take this guy and get him treated."
"Y-yes!"
Ajin, who had been extremely uncomfortable with this situation anyway, immediately helped Nakamura to his feet. As Nakamura was being helped out, Shin Jin-pae spoke to his back.
"Consider yourself lucky that it was me who did this to you."
"......"
"If you had been caught by the Chairman or Yeodre, you would have... no, never mind."
He wouldn't understand what that meant unless he experienced it directly, just as he had now. Only after they left did Shin Jin-pae stand up, looking exhausted. His eyes and face were hollow with fatigue and worry.
"...Since we need to grasp Yeodre’s movements, Clerk, return to your work."
"Yes...!"
The Clerk, seizing the opportunity, left the director’s office immediately. Shin Jin-pae, having sent everyone away, let out a deep, deep sigh.
'With this, the discipline of the slack executives should be corrected.'
Shin Jin-pae wanted to believe that no one would be doing anything useless for a long time to come.
"...What do I do now."
Shin Jin-pae worried about when the rampaging Yeodre would come crashing in. The fact that the Gold Taeyang Clan had been hit didn't really matter. They were just a group recognized as fodder for the real deal, or a convenient errand-running collective, and an organization that only functioned due to the existence of Inris. Those guys had gained groundless confidence from bullying the weak and had touched several of the "real deals," like the Ten Great Families. To avoid making enemies of those the Headquarters couldn't handle, the Headquarters had to show an attitude and sincerity that they had nothing to do with them. The Outsiders didn't know of the Headquarters' existence, but they were well aware of the shell companies they had put forward, and it would be troublesome if those companies were kept in check. As long as they had to lay low for a while, it was better for that trash to just die.
'But those damn pieces of trash, of all people, had to touch Yeodre.'
Yeodre was a user and would know that the Gold Taeyang Clan at least followed the Headquarters' orders. He would think it was all the Headquarters' instructions. And Yeodre was still cruel and persistent.
'All the Gold Taeyangs scattered across the countries of the world have gone missing.'
He didn't know what method he had used, but it was definitely Yeodre. The Gold Taeyangs didn't know the location of the "Headquarters," but a guy like him would eventually find this place.
'I’ll have to prepare for that time...'
Prepare for a fight? Not a chance. Shin Jin-pae devised a way to appease him.
"A way to appease..."
A bitter laugh suddenly escaped him. At the word "appease," his dead old friend, Kang Gu-han, came to mind, as did the Chairman, who was wearing that very appearance.
'What is the Chairman thinking right now.'
Thanks to "that ability," he should have obtained much more information than himself, and Yeodre should be targeting them, so why was he not revealing himself and what was he doing? Shin Jin-pae didn't interfere with the Chairman’s work, but not now. He headed to where the Chairman was likely to be. Probably, in a high place.
That is, on the roof.
To think he could go up to the roof. He’s quite relaxed, Shin Jin-pae thought.
"Will he really come if we do this?"
It was a mutter from Mullin, who was standing guard.
"Who knooows~ If he has nothing to feel guilty abooout. Wouldn't he... come eventually..."
The reply came from Geul-kweang, who had returned to his original tone over the past few days. It was because he was convinced that Dre hadn't turned into a murderer or a demon-friendly creature like a Black Mage.
At first, Geul-kweang thought Dre killing the Gold Taeyangs with the intention of not leaving a single one alive was influenced by the cruelty unique to a Demon King, or because of the contract details. The reason contracts with Demon Kings were prohibited by law was because one was unknowingly influenced by the contract and became cruel, so it was a plausible guess.
However, even though Yeodre had killed the Gold Taeyangs, he hadn't touched any unrelated civilians during the process, and the knights he encountered were only subdued, so it was clear he hadn't fallen to the demon side.
"This is troublesome in many ways. It’s already the start of the semester, too."
"Ooh~? Mullin. Are you worried about the missed classes?"
"No. I can just get by with pretending to be holy and praying, but what is that idiot going to do when he’s a new instructor?"
No matter how much of a special case he was or what circumstances he had, if he acted this selfishly, he could be kicked out.
"...Mullin is kind~"
"Excuse me?"
Geul-kweang, who had smiled and complimented her, immediately turned his head away when Mullin glared at him.
"Are you doing well?"
Without any precursor, a blue warp gate opened along with a voice, and Principal Lenea, carrying a basket, walked out. The basket was full of refreshments, and Geul-kweang’s eyes sparkled as he opened his mouth like a baby bird.
"Aaaah~"
"Eat it yourself."
Lenea grumbled but still put the refreshment into Geul-kweang’s mouth.
"Wow. It’s delicious."
"I told you Emily made it fresh."
"Where is that Emily? Class?"
Emily tended to be diligent in her classes, so Mullin thought that would be the case, but Lenea shook her head.
"It seems she’s moving in various ways through personal routes."
"......"
I thought I knew what that meant. Emily hadn't followed Yeodre when he went to the Gold Taeyang Clan hideout, so I thought she wasn't interested in him, but it seemed she had been working behind the scenes. She was probably managing his reputation and so on.
"She’s like a supportive wife."
"She might be offended if she heard you. Anyway, you must be tired, so the two of you should take turns..."
"More, more~"
Geul-kweang opened his mouth again. Lenea, whose words were cut off, sighed and picked up another snack. Then she put on a serious expression. The air itself changed, and Geul-kweang closed his mouth with an awkward face.
"I, I’ll eat it myself..."
"...Mullin. Geul-kweang."
Mullin thought she knew what was going on. She stood up, caressing a flail she had pulled from who knows where, and Geul-kweang realized what was happening then, too.
"The other instructors are in class, so I’ll just let them know he’s arrived. First, let the three of us talk to him."
Lenea added quietly.
"Instructor Yeodre has arrived on the floating island."
Lenea looked at the magic doll sitting in front of the entrance to the building decorated like a tavern. It belonged to the Vice-Principal, Gijaier. Gijaier had also realized Dre had arrived and would soon reach this tavern.
A few minutes later.
It shouldn't have been a distance to cover in just a few minutes, but he had come. Mullin opened her mouth in astonishment without realizing it. Was that really Yeodre?
His appearance was... rather than shabby, it looked hideous. Clothes torn here and there and stained with blood. His face was also dark red, giving the impression of a monster rather than a person. Above all, that aura. The relaxed and strong Ryunar was emitting a sinister, ominous, and evil aura that seemed more like a Demon King than a Demon King—no, like a being even beyond that.
Was that Dre? No, was he even a person?
He didn't even try to hide his murderous intent. To begin with, he was walking straight toward them with a sword in one hand.
"Hmm~"
Geul-kweang was certain he hadn't fallen to the demon side, but he didn't know how to explain what that was.
'It looks like a state worse than corruption...'
He wasn't a Demon King, but he felt more dangerous than a Demon King or a monster. He was truly a type I had never seen before.
Dre didn't try to slow down at all. Seeing him up close, his eyes were terribly hollow, and he was breathing heavily. It had been over a week since the disappearance of the Incubus King, so could it be that he hadn't rested even once?
"Instructor Dre."
Lenea managed to open her mouth, and fortunately, Dre reacted and stopped.
"Shall we talk?"
"Talk about what?"
Unlike his appearance, his voice was quite flat.
"Hmm... First, I’ll put you at ease. You are not at fault."
"......"
"It was self-defense to begin with, and while there are protests pouring in from the Demon World, most of them are from low-ranking demons, so there’s no problem other than your name being widely spread in the Demon World. The contract you made with the Demon King seems to be one where you have the upper hand, so I think we can pass it off somehow."
The reason contracts with Demon Kings were prohibited by human law was that it was decided that way for fear of harm to the human world. It was unbelievable, but if he hadn't been dominated but had instead made the Demon King submit, it was something to be praised. Legally, it was a problem, but there were plenty of connections to exercise flexibility. However, Lenea hesitated and added.
"I hear that you took many of the kingdom’s citizens along with those criminals. That is something the kingdom and the academy cannot overlook."
"......"
In fact, the King of Sers had immediately ordered Yeodre to be captured. If Queen Eniris, most of the Ten Great Families, and the academy hadn't vehemently opposed it, a warrant would have been issued long ago. There was no need to say such things. No, she shouldn't say it. Because Dre, as he was now, was that ominous.
"Instructor Dre."
"Yes."
Answering normally was even more unsettling. Lenea tried not to show her unease.
"I know you’ve had a hard time. So, rest now. You have to prepare for class..."
"It’s not hard at all."
Dre smiled. It was a smile that, combined with his scorched-looking face, made one’s heart grow cold rather than offering relief.
"I’m punishing the bad guys. It’s actually rewarding."
It felt like words weren't getting through. It was chilling, as if he were forcibly acting out his daily life.
"And. Is class preparation really necessary?"
"Yes...?"
"Come to think of it, I don't think I need the instructor position. Why, my servant seems to have had a rough time, too..."
If she isn't here, there’s nothing for me to be responsible for at this school, he added. At Dre’s words, the three were speechless and each took a defensive stance.
"As the manager of the floating island and the Principal of Pruynar Academy, I cannot just watch you run wild."
"I... it’s not because I’m an instructor. I just don't like things getting noisy if you run wild, so why don't you just stay put."
Contrary to Lenea’s firm and sincere attitude, Mullin spoke bluntly. Dre slowly turned his head to look at her. He seemed to be thinking about what to say, then chuckled.
"Hey. That didn't work."
"What was that?"
"What do you mean, you fucking bitch."
"......"
It was different. He had cursed at Mullin before, but back then, there was a sense of clumsiness, lies, or humanity. Now, it was the tone of someone facing a deadly enemy. It was a murderous intent that made even Mullin, who had smashed the heads of countless monsters and evil beings, feel cold.
Lenea judged his combat power objectively. Dre was strong. Including numerous applications and combat methods such as cutting swords and space swords, the Pruynar Academy instructor position wasn't a waste. If viewed solely by combat power, he was in the top tier of the academy. Yes, at best, top tier. In other words, he couldn't handle three instructors.
It wasn't that Lenea had misjudged his martial power. If she used hidden techniques, she could somehow respond to his cutting sword or her flames and other mysterious techniques. No, she could overwhelm him. The difference in power was clear. But why? The feeling that if they fought, this side would be ruined. Moreover, he was clearly exhausted and weak, not in a normal state.
Dre giggled as he looked at Lenea, who was sweating, and Geul-kweang, who had stiffened his face.
"Fucking hell. You talk way too much. So what. What do you want to do?"
"......"
"You want to go at it?"
Dre stepped forward. Mullin had been expressionless until then.
"You. What are you so impatient about?"
Dre stopped. It wasn't that he was impatient because of a contract or anything like that. However, Mullin felt like he was being chased by something, and it must have hit the mark. Dre stared at Mullin with a dazed expression.
I must not stop here.
I whipped my unmotivated body, slaughtered all the Gold Taeyangs, and captured their souls. Now, there was only one person left related to the Gold Taeyangs. Mail.
I thought the name sounded familiar; he was a reasonably righteous knight I had seen when I destroyed the Count Serton family in the past. Had he fallen that much? Moreover, even if I didn't know the details, I heard he did something to Rena. I can't forgive him. I will kill him. I will make him regret being born.
Mail might have been a good person. But he revealed his true nature. The conclusion I reached after seeing the groups of humans I had seen so far was that people are evil. Not just people, but all living things are evil. They follow their own interests, and the strong act arrogantly without limit. It’s just that people have learned how to restrain themselves and live kindly—or to be precise, how to survive without standing out—and among them, trash who can't control their evil emerge.
The Gold Taeyang Clan was the same. They felt superior by bullying ordinary people, and I killed them. Mail, in the end, couldn't control his own evil. Punishing the evil. What a righteous thing this is. Like the protagonist Shiyeon talked about. I am righteous.
I know. It’s a messy self-justification. Still, if I didn't think that way, I felt like my body would stop right now. I knew I wasn't in a normal state, but I didn't want to stop. Stop just because I heard the word "son" and thought of my dad? After killing that many?
There’s no comedy like this. What kind of forgiveness is forgiveness? Do you think they’ll be grateful if you forgive them? Do you think they’ll turn over a new leaf? Not once has that ever happened. Evil only regrets when it is punished.
I will kill him. I will kill him, torture him, and make him realize. To them, and to the people who stood by and watched... that an evil world is not needed. If this world is maintained only because there are evil people, it would be better to destroy the world.
I moved my steps. I’ll kill the damn nun who figured out my hesitation first. It’ll be a bit tough, but so what. Honestly, I don't think I’ll win, but if I die, I die. The moment I approached with a grin.
"Let him in."
A voice that grated on my ears. When I turned around, Vice-Principal Gijaier was standing there, leaning on his cane.
"Blocking him by force will only cause greater damage. Let him do as he wishes, and then plan for the future."
Do you say "plan for the future" in front of the person involved? No, he must be saying it for me to hear. I scoffed. The Principal, Lenea, looked back and forth between me and Gijaier with a tense face.
"Mail. I’ve taken measures so that it doesn't matter if that friend dies."
"Gijaier."
Lenea said it as if to blame him, but Gijaier didn't care.
"Now. Go ahead."
"......."
"Go, and carry out what you intend."
You cheeky old man. ...No. Isn't he an old man? Whatever, it doesn't matter. If he backs off, there’s no reason for me to fight on this side either. Because they aren't evil. If they don't protect the evil, they are good people. Lenea hesitated, but when Gijaier made a strange gesture, she seemed to have made up her mind and made Mullin and Geul-kweang step back. I walked through them without hesitation. The building where Mail was inside. I threw the doll that had been sitting in front of the entrance of the building that looked like a tavern. It must have been Gijaier’s. At the sound of the doll breaking, I felt "several" signs of surprise inside.
Several, huh. Are there more guards inside? It doesn't matter who they are. If they get in my way, I’ll just kill them. I opened the door and went in.
There was Mail, wearing clothes stained with dirt, his hair messy, his beard full, his eyes hollow, holding a liquor bottle in one hand. He was quite different from the one in my memory, but I could still recognize his face. Slowly, I closed the distance. Seeing the sword in my hand, he shook his hands like an alcoholic, then squeezed his eyes shut and poured the remaining liquor in the bottle down his throat. The liquor he couldn't hold in his mouth flowed down his chin, and he said as if self-mocking.
"...I know. I know. That I did something terrible. I know everything."
"......"
"I know I’m an idiot, too. Still, fuck. I couldn't endure it otherwise."
So what, you idiot. Yeah. It’s a life that’s going to die anyway. Just chatter away as you please.
"Yeah. I’m a coward who couldn't do anything because I was scared. If I live any longer, I’ll just become miserable."
A coward who couldn't do anything? Looking at the documents, it was written in detail what the Gold Taeyang Clan had ordered that bastard to do to Rena. I had seen that fucking order that made me want to vomit. I’m angry. But he was already speaking in a resigned tone. This isn't fun. I should torture him and liven up the atmosphere...
Thud.
Someone hugged my legs. What is this? An attack? My brain, which hadn't slept for over a week, was dazed, but it reacted properly to murderous intent. I was in a state much more suitable for combat than my usual self, so why couldn't I respond? Why?
I looked down at the small life that was hugging me as hard as it could. The cute black-haired twin-tails in my memory. And the maid outfit. I opened my mouth blankly as I confirmed the girl’s face.
"......Rena."
For some reason, my voice came out cracked. She, who had been told she had been done terrible things by Mail, looked perfectly fine. No, she wasn't fine. The face she lifted was covered in tears, evoking great sadness. Her clear, large eyes were filled with worry for me.
I. Very ridiculously, lost my will to fight because of that. It was a sense of guilt I hadn't felt even after killing thousands of people, but seeing my servant cry made me feel like I had committed a great sin.
I knelt on one knee and looked closely at her face. It was because I wondered if I had mistaken her for someone else. Rena hugged my neck this time. She trembled and said.
"Teacher... I, I was... wrong..."
"......"
What were you wrong about? Could it be that you were still holding onto the fact that I was annoyed at the Heart family’s mansion? I couldn't even offer the obvious comfort. I just realized it.
The fact that the anger that had been burning pitch-black this time had completely disappeared.
Eldo. Ashita. Gold. Even Clarire’s atmosphere is dark. I know the reason. The noisy topic in the classroom. The news that the new instructor Yeodre was involved with some criminal organization, slaughtered them, and then disappeared. Meyal heard from Clarire and the others that it was true.
The successors of the Ten Great Families, who were usually gentle. El and Clarire were making a fuss at their subordinates, telling them to find Dre immediately, that cool instructor Emily had been dazed lately, and many others were worried about him.
'Where is Dre now.'
I was worried if he had been done something terrible, or if he was sick somewhere. Why wasn't he coming back? What was he trying to do?
While I was worried, I was also relieved on the other hand. The current Dre showed a tendency to try to solve things alone. Meyal could understand the feeling of wanting to be alone. Because she also had times when she would walk alone when things were hard.
I thought he was a person who sometimes had no worries, but seeing him now, didn't it look like he was wandering? Perhaps, when the wandering ends, he might have a lot of heartache. Meyal thought about it and made a decision.
That when he returns, I would welcome him more warmly than anyone else.
"Should I make some cookies?"