Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: I Won't Submit to Unprovoked Violence
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Gazing up at the darkening sky as the sun sets, I'm walking home right now.
Sophia's date... no, our meetup, wait no. What should I even call it!?
[It's just hanging out with a friend, nyang.]
Yeah, that's it. Anyway, my time with Sophia passed by smoothly without any hitches. Nothing special happened.
We just met up, grabbed some food, chatted while strolling through the park a bit. We didn't do much more than spend time together, but Sophia's smile never left her face.
Compared to that fake smile she plastered on when we first met, this is solid progress.
"I hope it stays like this."
For real. I wish she'd live as her normal self without any rampages. That would cut down on incidents by a ton—how great would that be?
"Sigh."
Of course, that's not gonna happen. With vampires glaring daggers at her, it's impossible. Still, I have to at least try.
She's not the mid-boss Sophia Blandydd anymore—she's my Maid No. 2 now. I've got to take responsibility and protect her.
I'm a responsible man from the 21st century.
With that in mind, I glance at the crow perched on the utility pole, but it doesn't budge.
That means nothing's happening where I sent it.
Obviously. With monsters from the Dawn Guild running wild, what could Kim Tae-hyun possibly do? He's not even the original story's version—he's the one I've messed with.
The demon who caused the incident is a bit annoying, but it'll be fine. Even if he escapes, Kim Tae-hyun won't get a chance to shine.
He doesn't have the specs for it.
If something does go down? The crow will fly back. How simple and reassuring is that engineering?
Lost in those comforting thoughts, I arrive at the dorm before I know it. I tap my keycard lightly and open the door—
Then I hear the pattering footsteps. Not one set, but two.
[Welcome back!!]
"W-Wel, wel, welcome... b-back..."
Blond and black hair. The two little ones rush out to greet me at the door. Levatein was definitely clutching her hands over her stomach and bowing properly just a little while ago.
Has she already forgotten, or is she just happy I'm home? Either way, she comes charging with arms outstretched.
Considering her ego weapon traits, it's the latter, but she's so cute I scoop her up with both arms and pet her wildly.
She seems to love it, trembling as she buries her head in my chest. I carry her like that into the living room.
Sion is there, scratching her cheek shyly while staring at the floor. I pat her head once as a reward for coming out to greet me.
I wave Lily off to keep working since she's in the middle of chores, then head to the center of the living room—
Where Raphael sits on the sofa. Legs crossed, elbow on the armrest, chin propped up.
Her eyes look down imperiously. Her expression screams "kneel." For some reason, I actually feel like kneeling.
"Wh-Why are you sitting like that?"
"....."
No answer comes. She just keeps staring at the floor as if telling me to sit.
She must think I'll sit if she does that, but if so, she's dead wrong. Me, Lee Seong-hoon, age 25. A man who doesn't yield to violence.
I absolutely won't submit to unprovoked violence.
"《O great and mighty master of mine—》"
"What has made you so angry?!"
[Whoa.]
I ignore the impressed voice from my shoulder. This is unavoidable. Prayer chants are cheating. I set down Levatein as I kneel, and she naturally heads to Raphael. Sion glances around nervously before joining her and sitting too.
"This is why quick-witted kids are..."
I let out a voice full of resentment, but no reply. All I get are eyes looking down at me like a criminal.
"Now then. Speak, sinner. Keep your head down. You're definitely the sinner here."
"...."
"Who'd you meet when you went out today?"
"A friend."
Raphael pauses at my answer. She tilts her head for about five seconds—
"A friend? Frieeend? But Seong-hoon doesn't have any friends!!"
"....."
That kinda hurts. It's true, though. I don't have friends, but truth is the cruelest thing.
"....Sophia."
"Sophia?"
"We ate."
"Just food?"
"The park a little too..."
Raphael's eyes change. Is this really something to get mad about? It's just meeting my maid. She's gonna sprout wings at this rate.
"Seong-hoon."
"Yes, Your Honor."
I lift my head uneasily at her call. But surprisingly, Raphael is smiling.
Yeah, it's not that big a deal—
"The verdict is in."
My thoughts flip in an instant. Her smiling eyes change. Eyebrows, mouth, expression—all reverse in a flash.
"Death penalty!!!!"
"Why?!"
[Death penalty!!!!]
"It's not something to say so excitedly. Levatein..."
As Levatein cheers gleefully and Sion tries to calm her, Raphael approaches. Her knuckles crack with a pop!!.
I shoot a pleading look at the one normal one, Sion, but what comes back is—
"Oppa did something wrong."
What did I do?! I have no idea. Raphael draws near. No, death approaches.
"Why is this happening?! Let's talk it out!! Start with something simple. Right, first tell me what I did wrong—"
"Physical conversation. The best way to communicate."
"Words aren't getting through?!"
I start staggering backward ridiculously to somehow survive the approaching gorilla—
Knock knock—
Something taps the window. We all freeze in surprise. I turn to look.
A crow is there.
Seeing the crow perched on the windowsill pecking at the glass, I feel it. Sometimes even the heavens lend a hand.
Kim Tae-hyun is running. Not just running—he's sprinting at full speed. His destination—
He has no idea.
He's just following his instincts, letting his body lead the way. Sounds crazy, but—
He has a hunch. A bad feeling, an urge to rip something apart right now.
It usually shows up around demons or demon-possessed. That's how Kim Tae-hyun found the demon on the 11th floor too.
[Sigh. Can't you stay still for once? You got an itch or something? Just tell the guild folks and they'd move.]
Kim Tae-hyun doesn't reply. He ignores the voice and keeps running. Sure, the guild would act if he told them.
If a parachute student who's not even officially in the guild has solid grounds to say so.
But if all he has is "it's a hunch"? Better to move alone.
No time to convince guild members. The museum got raided—who knows what they stole.
'Tail-cutting or a decoy op from the start.'
Either way, he has to catch them. Kim Tae-hyun doesn't think he'll win. At best, he'll buy time.
Make enough noise and backup will come. That's why he's pushing so hard.
The fight between the demon and Dawn Guild members was that fierce. Demons are strong.
But that's no reason not to fight.
[Sigh. All good looks and no brains.]
"Shut up."
Running like that, he reaches where his hunch leads. Chasing the fading feeling takes him into a sewer. Moonlight trickles in faintly, barely lighting the path.
But he doesn't stop. He keeps going, closing in on the hunch.
And what he meets there—
"Ha."
Is inevitable.
"Busted."
A man stands there. Too dark to make out details, but the wrongness is overwhelming. Not human mana or life force.
It's death aura eroded by demonic energy and polluted mana spilling everywhere. Like radioactive waste, if you need a metaphor.
"Was perfect... how'd you know...."
His words trail off. Kim Tae-hyun doesn't exchange a single word.
But in a flash, he draws two weapons from his waist, gripping them reverse-style. No need for talk.
The demon knows why he's here, and Kim Tae-hyun is here to take him down.
Demonic energy and mana clash instantly. Demonic energy pollutes the air. Ice mana freezes it.
The sewer water flash-freezes. Not just water—walls, ceiling, floor, everything freezes solid without exception.
Like an ice age hit. Everything around, demon included, freezes over.
And he doesn't miss the opening. Kim Tae-hyun shows no mercy to demon-related things.
His reverse-grip knives shred the frozen demon's body.
[This is why you can't take your eyes off the original troublemaker for a second. Blink and boom—trouble.]
"....."
[What? You're the troublemaker here. Same eyes? Sorry, but it's Raphael, not me.]
"....."
Shin Chae-yeon considers plugging her ears but keeps running. The crow's sudden chatter startled her at first, but the tone grew familiar.
That infuriating way of speaking, the self-important attitude.
She instantly knew who it reminded her of.
To make a living familiar like this and enable communication too. What kind of person is he?
Questions arose, but she'd seen crazier, so she just accepted it.
Kim Tae-hyun is way ahead. His speed is so insane that even her footwork can't keep up.
That's why she's only now entering the sewer entrance.
[Listen up. He's gone after the demon.]
"How do you—never mind. Spill it."
[What's with that half-assed quit? That hurts my feelings. And they linger if I get 'em.]
So annoying. Shin Chae-yeon scowls, but the crow pecks insistently, so she smooths her expression.
The deeper into the sewer, the colder it feels, but she keeps running.
[He'll probably be mid-fight when you find him. Jump in no matter what. You owe me, right? Obey me.]
Shin Chae-yeon nods. Her breath fogs visibly. Her skin screams that he's telling the truth.
Kim Tae-hyun's ice mana radiates from afar. She instantly grasps this isn't the time for backtalk.
[Don't let him kill it. With his personality, if he can't subdue it, he'll end it. Interrupt and block him.]
Ice chunks finally enter her view. It's so cold her body shivers, but she circulates mana to warm up and stays calm.
[Death is the trigger. It's not even the real body, and killing it spells big trouble—]
The voice from the crow cuts off. Naturally, Shin Chae-yeon's steps halt too.
Simple reason. A figure appears at the edge of her vision. A black-haired man breathing fog in the frigid space.
Weapons held reverse-grip, standing in the center like he's won.
And behind him—
[Ah. Damn.]
The demon's frozen corpse crumbles.
[My mouth is always the problem.]