Chapter 8
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Do You Know Who I Am?!
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“First, let’s check out this dagger.”
[Rusty Bronze Dagger (F)]
[Attack Power 8. Durability 4. Weight 0.2]
The bronze dagger had more attack power than I’d expected. But as expected of bronze, it had its limits, and after years of corrosion, its durability was abysmally low.
On the plus side, it was practically weightless, so swinging it barehanded would feel about the same. If I put my mind to it, I could probably stab one or two times per second.
That’s one or two times in words, but if I let them attack for just five seconds straight, my whole body would end up like a honeycomb.
If I hadn’t used Illusion to sow discord among them, I really could’ve died.
“As expected… using Illusion was a brilliant call.”
I muttered to myself as I stowed the dagger in my inventory. Thanks to my level-up, I’d gained an extra slot, so I didn’t need to toss anything out.
“Alright. Got myself a weapon now. Next up, skills?”
Truth be told, I already knew what skill it was. I’d seen the info when I recruited the goblin as a minion.
But back then, I had no spare mana, so I could only look at it like a pie in the sky.
[Stealth (隱身, F): Find a good hiding spot, erase your presence, and blend naturally into your surroundings. The effect breaks the moment you move.]
I’d learned Stealth. Stealth meant ambush, and an ambush after one was the most effective form of attack across all ages and cultures.
‘Plus, with Stealth, I can pull off ninja play like Kage Gatsu.’
I slipped into the bushes and activated Stealth. My body blended into the foliage, my presence vanished. A sparrow even landed in the bushes without noticing me.
At this level, they wouldn’t spot me unless they combed through every inch of the brush.
‘This means I could handle even a gang of delinquents charging at once.’
Now I could see a path to victory. I could use Illusion like before to make them fight each other, or if things got dicey, Stealth and ambush to take them down one by one.
Of course, the best outcome would be to avoid fighting altogether and make peace.
‘But they’re not the type to back down that easily.’
There was personal grudge, sure, but more than that, they had to pay up to Lee Joo-hyuk. Kim Cheol-min was in a position where he had no choice but to extort, whether he wanted to or not.
In the end, a fight was unavoidable. It’d happen again sooner or later.
Honestly, I wasn’t worried. I’d already beaten them once, and I was stronger now.
I could probably take two or three delinquents without skills. With skills, maybe even five.
What concerned me was whether anyone would get seriously hurt in the process.
Awakeners faced aggravated penalties for assaulting civilians. Awakeners were superhumans, after all—a casual punch could kill a normal person.
The law was naturally stricter. If word got out that I was an Awakener and I’d injured civilians, I’d be headed straight to prison that day.
‘Right. I’m an Awakener. I can’t use my power recklessly.’
Thinking back, taking down Kim Cheol-min had been insanely risky. I’d lost control for a moment, blinded by rage, and swung with everything I had.
If I’d been even a bit stronger then, I might’ve killed him.
That couldn’t happen. No matter how rotten Kim Cheol-min was, murder was off-limits.
Not some noble ideal. Pure pragmatism.
I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life as a murderer over a guy like that. It’d be the ultimate betrayal to my dad.
To avoid that mess, I needed to control my anger. Like Batman sticking to his no-kill rule even with the Joker who murdered Robin right in front of him.
‘But how do I control my anger? Meditate or something? Hmm. I’m confident in delusions, though….’
Holding back when you’re weak is one thing. When you’re strong? Totally different.
The former, you endure out of necessity. The latter, there’s no reason to, so it’s even harder.
That’s when principles matter.
‘I need to set my own principles. Something unshakable, no matter the situation.’
They say principles come from a person’s convictions. And if there’s one conviction I can’t abandon, it’s shonen manga, hands down.
Luckily, shonen manga always hammers home the same values. Namely…
Dreams and hope!
Passion and grit!
Friendship, effort, victory!
And maid outfits!!!
…No, ignore that last one. Total nonsense. Scratch it.
Everything but the maid outfits were lessons from my ten years as an otaku.
And my principles, my convictions? They spring from those values.
‘Yeah. No shonen manga ever has murder, arson, or robbery. That’s villain stuff.’
What? Demon King makes me the villain? Nonsense!
Light novels are full of Demon King protagonists already. Some even adopt the hero or fall in love with them.
Demon Kings being evil is an outdated stereotype, a crappy prejudice.
‘Yeah. Why not? There could totally be a hot-blooded Demon King singing dreams and hope.’
I resolved myself. If I’m fated to be a Demon King, I’ll be a righteous one.
“Phew. Alright. Mind’s sorted. Time to head back to Earth?”
I still had stamina to spare, but my mental energy was tapped out.
Fighting Kim Cheol-min—my own personal trauma—getting chased by delinquents, casting Illusion on the goblin.
I was beat. The pace was fast—too fast. I was keeping up somehow, but one slip and I’d die. The stress was immense.
With thoughts of returning to school, I slotted the key into the iron gate. A new menu popped up.
[Two locations with saved coordinates. Where would you like to go?]
[1. Home]
[2. School Gymnasium]
“Huh? What? Isn’t it supposed to always send me back where I entered?”
[1-level dungeons can store up to three coordinates.]
“1-level dungeon? Dungeons can level up too?”
[Add Dungeon Crystals to increase total mana capacity.]
“Add Dungeon Crystals? You mean raid other dungeons for them? How do I even…? Nah, later. I need rest today. Home it is.”
My bag was still at school, but I gave up on it cleanly. All my valuables were in inventory anyway, and I planned to ditch the contents after graduation.
The bag was cheap junk—whoever took it or tossed it, whatever.
The door opened to my familiar room. How had time flown? The sun was already setting.
I showered right away, then chilled with the latest anime to recover. Today’s pick: *I, the Demon King, Became the Hero’s Stepdad*.
* * *
“So you’re short on cash?”
“Y-yeah. Sorry, Joo-hyuk.”
Kim Cheol-min trembled as he bowed his head. But Lee Joo-hyuk slapped his cheek mercilessly.
The sharp claps echoed as Kim Cheol-min crumpled to the rooftop floor. Blood streamed from his nose.
“The world’s so easy, huh? Just say sorry and it all goes away.”
Lee Joo-hyuk grabbed Kim Cheol-min’s hair and yanked him up. Kim Cheol-min screamed as he was hoisted by one arm.
Lee Joo-hyuk’s strength was unreal—he lifted Kim Cheol-min’s whole body with a single arm. Kim Cheol-min begged frantically.
“I-I’ll bring it by tomorrow, for sure.”
“You said the same yesterday and blew it.”
“I’ll get it somehow, somehow.”
Kim Cheol-min’s face was a mess of blood and tears. But Lee Joo-hyuk stared down with cold, emotionless eyes.
No pity, no excitement. Just a flicker of annoyance.
Meeting that gaze, Kim Cheol-min nearly pissed himself.
Lee Joo-hyuk didn’t see him as a friend. Hell, not even human. More like a predator eyeing prey.
And predators don’t pity prey. If he failed tomorrow, it wouldn’t end at a bloody nose.
“Fine. I’ll buy it this time and trust you.”
“Th-thanks.”
“One million won.”
“Huh?”
“The amount. Double for blowing yesterday’s promise.”
The debt doubled in an instant, but Kim Cheol-min didn’t dare object.
* * *
The next day, I debated skipping school but decided to scout the vibe and headed out cautiously.
“…No delinquents, right?”
I’d left early on purpose and avoided them. The classroom was empty when I arrived. Heading to my seat, I froze at my trashed bag.
“Of course they wouldn’t leave it alone.”
I brushed off the dirt with a sigh. My character notebooks were shredded.
Nothing expensive, but seeing my fave characters roughed up soured my mood.
As I cleaned, the back door opened. Someone entered.
“Huh? Cha In-hyeok?”
“Huh? Oh, Deok-hun? What brings you here so early…”
I started with the usual greeting, but his face stopped me cold.
His left eye was bruised purple, lips scabbed from a fresh split.
Someone had beaten him.
“Kim Cheol-min do this?”
“…Yeah.”
“Why? You paid up, didn’t you?”
“No idea. Yesterday he suddenly demanded another 500,000 won. I said I didn’t have it, and then…”
Deok-hun’s voice cracked, tears welling. He bowed his head and went silent.
I could guess. They’d dumped what they couldn’t squeeze from me onto him.
So half of this was my fault.
While I celebrated saving my collectibles, Deok-hun took the heat for my share.
And I hadn’t noticed… I was too ashamed to call myself his friend.
“What do I do? Where do I get another 500,000 won so quick…”
“I’ll… handle it.”
“What? How?”
“I’ve got ways. Don’t worry. Worst case, sell my limited-edition Kage Gatsu.”
“You’re crazy? No way. How’d you even get that!”
Deok-hun fretted over my collectible despite his own desperation.
He got it. What limited figures mean to otakus like us. Especially if it’s your top fave.
“That treasure…”
Yeah, a treasure. But!
“I can’t watch shonen manga while abandoning a friend!”
“In-hyeok…”
For a friend, I’d ditch any collectible. That’s resolve. Not that I’d actually sell it.
I’d fight. Fight and protect.
“Where’s Kim Cheol-min meeting you? Just tell me that.”
“Rooftop. By 8 a.m.”
“Morning?”
“Yeah.”
“Damn, thugs actually have work ethic.”
It was already 7:40.
“You stay here. I’ll go instead.”
“But…”
Deok-hun started to protest, then bit his lip. The scab tore, blood trickling again.
I understood. Hated passing the debt to a friend, but couldn’t say he was fine.
Guilt, shame, gratitude—all mixed.
I’d feel the same.
That’s why I said it. To lighten his load.
“Deok-hun.”
“Y-yeah?”
“Believe in me! Don’t believe in yourself! Believe in the me who believes in you!”
Deok-hun’s eyes went wide. I flashed a confident grin. He grinned back.
The iconic line from the mecha classic *Breakthrough to the Heavens* had us both chuckling.
“Do you know who I am!”
I asked.
“Who do you think we are!”
Deok-hun answered.
My chest swelled with grandeur. Clutching my heroic chest, I headed for the rooftop.
8 a.m. any minute now. Time to end this.