Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Doomed but a Genius, So It's Fine
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Sunday morning.
Back to my normal routine, I got up at dawn and headed to the physical training room.
I stood in front of the treadmill, draped a towel around my neck, set the speed and distance, and was just about to hit start.
"You're here today. I was wondering when you'd show up."
Baek Sa-young poked his head in and acted all friendly.
He was dressed in the tight tank top and short five-inch shorts that were practically gym bro uniform.
But was it the protagonist's halo...?
It looked hideous on anyone else, but this guy pulled it off pretty well.
Thanks to his kind-hearted pretty boy face and that standout physique.
His taut, defined muscles weren't overdone but packed tight, drawing an involuntary sigh of admiration.
"Why are you staring like that? Got something on my face?"
"You've got kim on you."
"Kim?"
"Handsome kim."
"What? Still half-asleep?"
Baek Sa-young snorted in disbelief.
We killed some time bantering like that for a bit.
Sure enough, things felt a little more comfortable since we'd gone into the Demonic Space together.
Seizing the moment, I asked about the Heavenly Sword.
"How's the sword?"
"Oh, that. Still not sure. Feels good, but it's blunt and heavy... Doesn't really feel like holding a sword."
Yeah, figures. It's probably just club-level right now.
As an evolving armament, it wouldn't show much edge early on.
Still, there's nothing more I can do to help.
The Heavenly Sword evolves based on the proficiency of Martial God Body and Attribute Conversion, so now it's all up to his own effort.
"After your run, wanna train together..."
"No thanks."
I shot down Baek Sa-young's invitation without a second thought.
No way was I tagging along with the stork and ripping my crotch.
"Keep the run simple, focus weights for training. And weight is everything. Keep pushing heavier, even if it hurts."
Baek Sa-young offered his so-called advice with some idiotic line, but I waved him off dismissively.
"Weight is everything, my ass. You think you're Lee Dae-ho or something..."
I snorted and readjusted my stance.
I'd stuck to my path through all the naysayers, so no point overdoing it now.
This talentless body of mine would be plenty with average stats, making stamina more efficient than raw strength anyway.
Sure, scientifically, strength builds the base for stamina...
But for me, cardio was just as crucial as weights.
As long as I didn't tire out, I could always hurl a dagger.
"Wow..."
"...Whoa."
A sudden wave of exclamations filled the air right then.
The gym, full of grunts and clangs, erupted in bizarre cheers, stirring up even more chaos.
"Real-life thug."
"Same species?"
As one or two started paying attention, even the gym veterans who never budged set down their barbells and glanced toward the entrance.
"What? What's going on?"
It was rare enough that I craned my neck to check the source of the commotion.
Step step—
Then came the sound of footsteps.
Rhythmic strides, clean contact with the ground—familiar enough.
A single ray of light piercing the drab training room, like a spotlight trained on her, brightening just that spot...
"The Saintess hits the gym too?"
"Duh, idiot. She's human."
It was all because of Reina.
The most famous figure at Taehak these days had made her entrance.
But is this for real?
I tilted my head at the suspicious timing.
From the comprehensive training hall yesterday to the physical training room today.
Too many overlapping paths to call it coincidence.
Meanwhile, Reina stepped into the space lined with rows of treadmills.
"...!"
"Huh?"
She spotted me and gave a quick nod.
An awkward greeting, then she abruptly changed course, stopping at the nearest machine. As if that had been her target all along.
...
But of all things, it was the inverted bench.
You lie on the board, secure your feet, hit the button, and it flips you upside down into a handstand position.
Known to be great for circulation and lower back disks.
But Reina doing that? Right from the start?
It felt so unnatural that I finally spoke up.
"You doing that one?"
In case she'd followed me in and panicked at running into me...
But Reina continued calmly.
"...Yes. It's one of my usual machines."
"That one?"
Did the Vatican even have inverted benches?
Well, they were human too, so probably.
"Any problem?"
"No. Don't mind me."
It didn't sit right, but I decided not to pry.
Why's she butting in—Are you two close?—I know training better anyway—etc.
The guys' grumbling and piercing glares were stinging enough.
Plus, she said it was her favorite.
"Enjoy your upside-down time."
"Pardon? ...Yes."
I shook off the curiosity and mashed the start button. Began jogging lightly.
Breathing in four counts: heh-heh-hah-hah—
Meanwhile, Reina clumsily hung herself on the inverted bench.
Whiiiir—the machine hummed as it rotated, startling her a bit.
Once fully inverted in handstand position, she let out an impressed "Ooh."
Wasn't trying to look, but I saw it anyway.
Reflected in the front mirror by the treadmill...
['Greed' says that woman's after you.]
I stumbled for a second, then yelled inwardly.
Damn it, get lost already?
Who do you think she came all this way for?
['Greed' says no need to worry.]
[You've erased your presence on purpose, so she can't sense you, it guarantees.]
...
Really?
I snuck a glance at Reina just in case.
Fortunately, she was still hanging there like a bat.
Face flushed from the rush of blood aside, she looked perfectly calm...
* * *
Reina's tailing(?) continued into the afternoon.
Peek when I hit the student cafeteria for late breakfast/early lunch.
Peek going to and from the comprehensive training hall after.
...
She's no social pro, sure, but not this bluntly clueless.
Who knew how long she'd keep this up if I let it slide.
So, I made up my mind. Time to ask straight up.
Two big questions: how she kept up without missing a beat, and why.
Her Satan sensitivity was extreme enough to explain it, but still.
I turned my steps toward the dorms.
West of the main building at Taehak, toward the food alley packed with restaurants and cafes—
[Ulpa So Bakery & Cafe]
The bakery that had enchanted Reina last visit.
Name aside, it was a famous spot with killer food.
I swept up every last signature jindaeppang.
About a dozen, but still short. Aiming for at least thirty.
Anyway, I grabbed a seat, then stepped back out.
Toward the presence hovering nearby, too shy to come in, I called out.
"It's hot out there tailing me. Come have some bread."
...
No response, naturally.
But I knew Reina too well.
"Since you've been caught, wanna talk? Got over ten of those tasty ones from last time."
Would a proud Saintess show for a mere ten breads?
—Think that, and you'd be wrong.
Saintess or princess, character settings were core to who they were.
Ingrained traits no logic could override.
I started counting down in my head. Just past five seconds.
"...How long have you known?"
Lush silver hair peeked from behind the building.
'Since yesterday,' I couldn't say, just beckoned her into the cafe.
Reina shuffled in hesitantly.
Soon, we sat across a table piled high with bread.
"Eat up first."
"Yes."
Reina didn't hold back, reaching with both hands.
Now that she was busted, she seemed more at ease, chomping wide and chewing thoroughly, savoring it.
I waited till she finished one, then casually asked.
"Why the stalking? You're not exactly idle."
Reina naturally pulled back her hand from the next bread.
Ahem—she cleared her throat, then spoke.
"It's Satan."
"Satan?"
Satan again?
Hearing it out loud frustrated me, raising my voice.
"No, that was just a brief thing way back..."
"Not way back. I felt it again recently."
"Huh?"
Her unexpected reply made me tilt my head.
Recently? No way.
Reina brushed crumbs from her lips, her face turning more serious.
"Midterms' last day, Satan appeared once more. Judging by the aura, same as before."
"Ah..."
I nodded knowingly with a sigh.
I could guess what happened.
Probably an accident while absorbing Cheongho's corrupted mana.
I'd used Greed's authority, however briefly.
['Greed' says it couldn't be helped.]
I know. You're innocent.
Her divine power's anti-demon nature made her extra sensitive.
Even Soyi-hyun and Lee Taek-jin hadn't noticed that faint trace.
The Vatican was hyper-tuned to demons.
Not just tangible demonic energy, but intangible abstracts too.
Lumps of negative or dark emotions—all lumped under "Satan."
Deeply tied to this world's roots: Judgment Day, when demons overran.
The Vatican existed to halt demons and save humanity.
That was Yoo So-young's "purpose" for them.
...
But specific demon lore? I didn't know much. Probably neither did Yoo So-young.
Demons popped up occasionally, tied to Reina's tragic backstory—the reason she became Saintess...
But ultimately, demons were distant.
A far-off setting beyond chapter 532, no discussions.
['Greed' says no need to look far.]
[It is the demon...]
Ah, whatever. What demon are you?
If you're a demon, I'd be demon-possessed and dead already. You planted yourself in me.
[...]
Still, probably a potent, rare clump of specific emotions.
Greed wasn't exactly wholesome, so Reina pegged it as Satan.
Anyway, as I went to continue—
Bzzz.
My phone on the table vibrated. I glanced down at the sender.
[From: Choi Cheol-su.]
Cheol-su?
"Sorry, hold on."
Remembering I'd asked him for something, I checked the message quick.
[Hayul-ssi. Found some intriguing info. Recent...]
I shot to my feet after reading.
Vague, but couldn't ignore it.
"Sorry, something urgent came up. Gotta go now."
"...Ri... right now?"
Reina's already big eyes went wide.
Face saying, 'Just go later, whatever.'
But I wouldn't.
Felt the opposite.
If Cheol-su's text was right, a dogfight was brewing—and here was the apostle of justice.
So I asked.
"Wanna come? I'll pack the bread for you."