Gratitude from the Future Demon
"Thank you so much. Really, I don't even know how to repay this kindness..."
"No, it's fine."
"I just want to do something to show my gratitude. If it weren't for you, my little brother would be... sob, thank you so much."
Enough already. How many times was that thank-you? My ears were gonna fall off.
Of course, I couldn't say that out loud, so I just smiled silently.
The girl talking to me had tears welling up in her eyes. She had to be the rescuer boy's older sister.
"I rushed over in a hurry and don't have much on me, but if it's okay, let me at least treat you to a meal..."
"It's fine."
I'll make it up to you. It's fine. But no, really, it's okay. She'd repeated that repertoire about five times already.
Wait a sec, though.
Something was off. The more I looked at her, the more familiar she seemed. We definitely met for the first time today, but there was this nagging sense of déjà vu, like I'd seen her somewhere before... It was right on the tip of my tongue... Argh, I hate this feeling.
While I mechanically repeated "it's fine" and racked my brain, I spotted two men in suits walking toward us from behind her shoulder.
Their chest badges gave them away.
Association guys.
I was wondering how to politely end the conversation when—perfect timing.
I flashed a friendly, people-pleaser smile and took a step back.
"Looks like the Association folks are here. I'll get going then."
"W-wait! At least take this!"
The girl grabbed my hand as I turned to leave and shoved something into it.
Man, she was persistent. What now?
Crumple. It was paper. Not quite regular A4 stock—slightly stiff to the touch.
"This is my business card. Call me anytime at this number when you're free. I really want to treat you to a meal later."
You have a business card? She looked younger than my twenty-three—no, twenty now—probably still in high school.
I glanced down at the card's details.
-Guild: Mad Dog Affiliation-
Player Name: Lee Ji-yoon
HP: 010-xxxx-xxxx
"Huh?"
It wasn't surprising that this girl was a guild-affiliated player. There were underage players in the world these days.
"......"
But chills shot up my spine.
First, shock at her guild's name. Then, her actual name nearly made me gasp.
...Lee Ji-yoon of Mad Dog?
No wonder she looked familiar. How could she not?
This girl... she was that one. The Demon. The mass murderer whispered about in the first timeline—and one year from now.
***
One year from now, the Mad Dog Guild vanishes from the world.
It coincides exactly with "the Demon" cementing her infamous reputation. And it's no coincidence.
Because that Demon—Lee Ji-yoon—slaughters her entire guild.
For a high school girl not even of age yet, it was an unbelievable tragedy. The media went wild, of course. Reports on Lee Ji-yoon flooded the news daily, and that's when she earned the moniker "Demon."
"You have to call me, okay?"
Tap tap.
Lee Ji-yoon's slender fingers tapped the back of my hand holding the card. The cold touch froze me from senses to brain.
"Thank you so much for today."
Imagining the Demon's face overlaying her innocent one, sweat beaded on my forehead unbidden.
Lee Ji-yoon gave one last gentle smile, then left with her brother.
...I wanted to deny it, call it an unfair resemblance to a mass murderer's face, but with her name printed right there, game over.
"What the hell is this?"
How could such a sweet-looking girl turn into that lunatic? What disaster hits in the next year to cause such a reversal—
"Are you the reporter, by any chance?"
A heavy voice snapped me out of it. I startled and turned to see the two Association employees.
"Uh, y-yeah, that's me."
I answered the one who seemed like the senior. My throat was dry, voice hoarse, so I cleared it with a cough.
Damn, get it together.
For now, put Lee Ji-yoon out of my mind. It's not happening today, and my priority is handling my own mess.
Keep the card just in case.
Then, the junior pulled out what looked like a personal info form. Probably included monster byproduct ownership details.
The senior extended his hand.
"Could I see your Player registration card?"
"Ah, well... I don't have one yet."
"Pardon?"
"I awakened just this morning. Planning to stop by the Association soon to get it issued."
"...So you're saying a fresh awakener took down all these orcs—alone?"
He trailed off, then started counting the orc corpses scattered on the ground. Excluding the ones crushed under rubble, there were still seven dead orcs.
"...You're claiming you soloed this many orcs?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"......"
His sharp, distrustful gaze pierced me. Yeah, yeah.
It happens sometimes. People who awaken but delay registration for some reason. Usually, they're criminals dodging oversight for illegal crap.
But not me. I'd get caught in an Association investigation quick. No point risking it.
So don't look at me like that.
"Even with high starting stats, no awakener solos over ten orcs on day one."
"But it happened. Why assume otherwise without evidence... What're you doing?"
Listen when someone's talking—why glare at your partner?
...Why's he wearing leather gloves?
If memory served, those blocked mana circuits. Player restraint gear.
Ah, got it. Planning to cuff me?
"You might not know, but failing to register within 14 days of awakening is a legal offense."
"Yeah, I know."
"With that in mind... sorry, but come with us for a bit. Just a few questions."
"So you're detaining me here on suspicion of being an illegal player."
"Just basic info check. Unregistered awakener crime rates are spiking lately."
"......"
No point arguing. I just scratched my ear.
These boneheads yapping endlessly after I saved civilians? Unbelievable.
'Sung Hyun-sook' is shocked, asking what the hell this situation is after lending coins!
Oh! Mom.
...You actually lent them, huh. God Coins.
"Don't overdo it on my account... Huh? No, don't worry. I'm talking to my sponsor constellation right now. Oh, and instead of standing there like poles, call over some other staff. Looks like I won't get through to you guys."
"......"
What're you glaring at? Ignoring them, I continued my cozy chat with Mom.
'Sung Hyun-sook' sulks, saying she could only borrow a pittance because this place is full of cheapskates.
"Nah, no need to sulk over pocket change like this."
You're already making me feel bad enough—don't be so pitiful.
'Sung Hyun-sook' asks why they're picking on you like that!
"Those uncles say I'm a criminal."
Haha, gotta tattle.
Realistically, there's not much Mom could do from there, but.
"No, it's not confirmed suspicion yet, just an investigation..."
"Tell me that after your buddy takes off the gloves."
'Sung Hyun-sook' rages that if it were her, she'd cut off those bastards' balls!
"My constellation says if it were her, she'd cut off all your balls."
I smirked sarcastically, and a vein bulged on the senior's forehead. Gonna pop, huh.
Snap.
At the senior's chin flick, the loyal junior cracked his gloved knuckles and advanced.
He glared.
"...We've been very patient."
"Who's about to explode here?"
They should be pinning medals on me, not screwing over a law-abiding citizen. Nice work.
As his glove reached for my collar, I leaned back, easily dodging.
Their faces darkened just as a hologram popped up.
'Sung Hyun-sook' shares info: There's an item called 'Orb of Oblivion' that erases a target's memories once!
'Sung Hyun-sook' asks if you want sponsorship—it can barely save you with the borrowed God Coins!
Basically, an item that turns someone into an idiot. Total cheat.
I kinda wanted to use it... but nah. Too wasteful on these clowns.
"Keep this up, and it's obstruction of official duties—real jail time."
"Got it. Who's not coming?"
"......"
"I'll go, so take off the gloves. You're scaring me so bad I'm about to piss myself."
I raised both hands to show no resistance. That do it?
Maybe my compliance weirded them out. Wrinkles creased their brows.
What's wrong? I'm playing nice along with your game.
Instead, "One phone call before we go. That's fine, right?"
"......"
"Gotta tell my guardian first. Better than what you're doing, no?"
I dangled my phone from my pocket.
The boneheads didn't push it, lips sealed tight. Good job. Keep freezing.
I dialed a saved number. It connected quick.
I pressed it to my ear fast.
"Hello?"
I gave an awkward chuckle to the voice on the other end. Not acting—genuinely embarrassed.
"Ah, yeah. Been a while, surprised you picked up. Sorry, Uncle. I'll call more often. Anyway... it's not that, I awakened today... Whoa, don't yell."
The second I said "awakened," a shocked yell exploded. Ears ringing.
I pulled the phone away slightly and continued.
"Okay, calm down. Hear me out first. Yeah, I awakened, but got tangled in some mess. So here's the situation—"
I explained every ridiculous detail, no summary.
Meanwhile, I eyed the boneheads' faces. Dumbstruck, like wondering who I was calling.
Yeah, kids. Feeling the chill yet?
Sigh... put those staff on.
"No, I'll switch to speaker. Just talk."
Cranked the volume max for their eardrums.
Hit speaker, and:
You're gonna get me killed, kid.
A grave middle-aged voice, well past forty. I shoved the phone toward the scowling boneheads.
Senior leaned in nervously, mouth to the mic.
"...Wh-who is this?"
[It's the Association Chairman.]
Connections, motherfuckers.