Chapter 410
Chapter 410
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 411
Chapter Title: The New Demon King
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The Seoul terror attack by the Ten Demons Conference, which had the entire world watching in shock, had finally been fully suppressed.
The remaining demon stragglers in Seoul were swiftly exterminated with the help of Special Task Force agents and major guilds. Afterward, the Association focused on recovery efforts using various Mysteries.
[……The unprecedented demon terror incident has reached its conclusion. The Association has announced there will be no further damage, but citizens' anxiety and fear show no signs of abating. Some among the public are reacting positively to the demon king's defeat.]
[……Han Sejin, vice chairman of Hansung Group, identified as complicit in the terror, was arrested tonight by Chairman Kim Jincheol.]
[Han Sejin denies the charges, but the Association states they have secured irrefutable evidence. Finally, the footage that leaked and shocked the nation—the downfall of Kim Seon…… from the Wizard Academy……]
Beep!
At the top floor of the Wizard Association, in the "President's Office."
The hologram news cut off, plunging the entire room into deep silence.
Soon, faint footsteps approached from outside the door.
Kim Jincheol turned around with a stern expression.
—President. This is Information Security Director Yoo Sumin.
"Come in."
A middle-aged woman in a suit entered.
She glanced at Kim Jincheol before bowing her head slightly.
"I heard you fought the demon king. Are you unharmed?"
"……I'm fine. More importantly, what's the situation?"
"The paralyzed electronic and magitech facilities are back online, and we're mobilizing manpower to repair the damage from the terror."
"That's not what I meant."
Kim Jincheol walked to the window with heavy steps and looked down at Seoul's skyline.
The dark dawn.
In what should have been a peaceful hour for sleep, countless workers used Mysteries to restore the collapsed facilities.
"……Ah, you mean Kim Seonwoo's whereabouts? Unfortunately, the tracking failed. We don't know what trick the demon who kidnapped him used, but they completely erased their presence."
"I see."
It was the expected outcome.
Demons, long oppressed by humans, learned first and foremost how to conceal their presence.
"What do you think?"
"About Kim Seonwoo? It's a shock. I thought we'd lost a talent surpassing even Lee Seojun, only to find out he was a demon. Was his age a lie too?"
Kim Jincheol silently gazed out the window. Yoo Sumin continued.
"There's talk that this whole situation was Kim Seonwoo's plan. That he disguised himself as a human to infiltrate the Association, all to become the third king."
At that, Kim Jincheol turned to face her.
Disbelief filled his eyes.
"What?"
Yoo Sumin pressed on undeterred.
"It's pretty plausible, isn't it? Why else would a demon infiltrate the Association?"
"Oh! And a wanted order will go out for Kim Seonwoo—the demon, or presumed third demon king."
"……Hold on. Kim Seonwoo isn't a demon."
Yoo Sumin tilted her head at Kim Jincheol's words.
"Pardon?"
Kim Jincheol recalled his encounters with Kim Seonwoo.
He was undoubtedly connected to Jin Cheonwoo, and there were more than a few suspicious points, but the mana he felt when they clasped hands was unmistakably human.
No demon could fool him.
"Then what about the demonic energy that burst from Kim Seonwoo? The regeneration and berserk transformation?"
Despite his conviction, Kim Jincheol had no answer.
No human could wield demonic energy—regeneration even less so.
And Kim Seonwoo's use of those powers meant, in that moment, he had truly become a demon.
Kim Jincheol's mind grew complicated.
What was Kim Seonwoo's true identity? How could a human use demon powers?
Jin Cheonwoo's experiments? Or some other secret?
The more he learned, the deeper he sank into a maze.
"Unless you can present evidence to convince the entire Association—and the whole nation—the investigation into Kim Seonwoo will continue."
She was right.
His authority was immense, but the Association existed for the people.
Reluctantly, Kim Jincheol decided to step back.
Above all, finding Kim Seonwoo mattered to him too.
"……Finally."
Yoo Sumin handed over some documents. Kim Jincheol took them.
"There's something I need to report about the Horyong, Cruas, that was detected yesterday."
A chill swept through his body. Black demonic energy rose, wary of him.
_……Seonwoo.
He called the name, but there was no response.
The usual warmth, even if sometimes curt, was gone without a trace.
Eyes turned black. An aura turned terrifying……
His chest ached.
It felt like his own shortcomings—his fault—had led to this. But regret came too late; the moment had passed.
What should he do now?
Whoosh.
Feeling warm sunlight and breeze on her skin, Yoon Hayoung opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.
Puzzled, she sat up and looked around.
"......Where is this?"
It looked like a hospital room. Why was she here?
Yoon Hayoung slowly pieced together her memories.
The demon king descending on Seoul.
Her all-out Demon-Slaying technique to defeat it……
In the end, the king vanished, leaving only Seonwoo—turned demon—behind.
……Her memories ended there.
Demonic energy had twisted her mana, overwhelming her body.
Then the door opened, and a familiar face entered.
She called his name.
"Seojun."
"……You're awake?"
At Lee Seojun's appearance, Yoon Hayoung tried to stand.
"No. Stay there."
Lee Seojun sat in front of her.
"You were out for four days. Demonic energy poisoning combined with mana exhaustion damaged your brain temporarily. But they say you're fine now, so don't worry."
"……Four days?"
Yoon Hayoung was startled. Four whole days asleep.
A lot of time had passed while she was out.
"How's your body?"
"It's fine. What about Seonwoo? What happened to him?"
Yoon Hayoung asked first thing. Lee Seojun's expression darkened.
"Missing."
Yoon Hayoung pressed her lips together.
Missing. For some reason, that brought relief.
She had feared Kim Seonwoo, mistaken for a demon, might have been hunted by the Association.
Yes, this was better.
"What's the Association saying?"
"They issued a wanted order for Kim Seonwoo. Chaos everywhere. The footage spread, and public opinion is ugly. From the start—"
Lee Seojun paused. After a moment's thought, he spoke.
"Using demonic energy is a grave matter. Rumors he's the third king are swirling too. We can't just let this slide."
Then he let out a pained sigh. Seeming to organize his thoughts, he looked straight at Yoon Hayoung.
"Yoon Hayoung. You know something, don't you?"
At his serious question, Yoon Hayoung bit her lip.
"……Seonwoo."
She recalled her time with Kim Seonwoo.
"Seonwoo isn't a demon. I'm certain."
"Evidence?"
"I've seen his abilities for a while. He hasn't revealed it yet, but he can use all sorts of powers others can't—even those unique to certain clans."
"The demonic energy he used. I think it's one of those."
"……Regeneration too?"
"Yeah."
"Berserk transformation?"
Yoon Hayoung nodded silently. Her evidence was thin, but that was all she could say.
Lee Seojun stared at her face before dropping his head with a deep sigh.
"……I hope you're right. Really."
He wanted to ask about the 'Child of Prophecy' that had raised so many questions, but for her sake, he changed the subject.
"Oh, right. The Wizard Academy's on break for a while. Lots to sort out, especially investigating Seonwoo."
"Mm…… Ah, the others? Are the others okay?"
Lee Seojun nodded.
"Youngjun and Hyeonju are fine. I heard Yuar is resting at home too."
"……I see. What about Seoyun?"
"Choi Seoyun……
Lee Seojun scratched his head.
"I don't know."
"Huh? No contact?"
"After the terror, she got dragged back home. They took her student handbook or something—no word."
"Ah—"
Yoon Hayoung understood immediately.
Choi Seoyun's family head, her father Choi Jaehyung, was notoriously strict.
Especially with his daughter.
With Kim Seonwoo—close to her—exposed as a demon, they must have taken extreme measures just in case.
That's when.
Footsteps came from outside. Sensing it, Yoon Hayoung and Lee Seojun turned.
The door opened, and Kim Deokhyeon entered.
"……Awake?"
[……Some are making sense of Kim Seonwoo's exceptional talent. Next news. With Han Sejin vice chairman's terror complicity revealed, his other crimes are coming to light. His blood relative, Han Seyeon division head, faces suspicions of involvement too. Currently, Han Seyeon……]
The world's in an uproar. Never imagined it'd blow up this big."
In Hansung Pharmaceuticals' division head office.
The Sword Ghost, leaning against the wall watching the news, muttered.
Han Seyeon turned off the TV and pressed her hand to her forehead.
Since the demon terror, it had been nonstop chaos.
Her brother Han Sejin's secrets upended the entire group, rippling even to her company.
Some subordinates cheered, thinking her path to chairman was clear, but she couldn't rejoice.
"……Kim Seonwoo."
She stared at the documents on her desk.
Having learned of Kim Jinwoo's secrets through the world's hidden side and Mysteries, she knew he had a special story.
Of course, seeing him wield demonic energy and demon-exclusive berserk transformation was shocking.
It was utterly unlike the rational man he always showed her.
So watching that footage, her heart inexplicably ached.
That surely wasn't his intent. Why did it end like this?
Han Seyeon turned on her smartphone.
She dismissed the pile of missed calls and opened messages.
She found 'Kim Jinwoo.'
[Jinwoo, contact me if you see this.]
The message from three days ago popped up when she entered.
No reply yet.
..Ugh
A splitting headache hit as I opened my eyes.
My blurred vision showed an unfamiliar ceiling.
Moments later, messages flooded like a glitch.
['Berserk Transformation' achievement unlocked.]
[5,000 points acquired as reward.]
['Demon King' achieved.]
[The king's authority is granted to you.]
[Future cataclysm detected. Corresponding karma stacks.]
[Karma increases by 3.]
[People worldwide feel intense betrayal and hostility toward you.]
['Enemy of Humanity' achievement unlocked.]
[30,000 points acquired as reward.]
Amid the endless messages, my eyes stopped on one.
I squinted.
"……Demon King?"
Demon king? What did that mean? Me, a demon king?
Stunned by the suddenness, I recalled the last memory.
Soon, like faded film, that day's events surfaced hazily.
The battle with the king. The 'Berserk Transformation' message before my eyes.
And……
I had lost my reason.
Right then.
"Have you awakened?"
A familiar voice came from beside me. But its tone was oddly formal.
I sat up and turned.
As expected, Haryeong was there.
But he knelt on one knee in an uncharacteristically deferential pose.
What……
And he wasn't alone.
Seonhwa beside him knelt the same way.
Maintaining her posture, Seonhwa spoke to me.
"……Our new king."
At the same moment, a massive voice echoed from the darkness behind them.
—O King.
I stared blankly into the shadows.
Countless demons knelt before me there.