Chapter 426
Chapter 426
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 427
Chapter Title: Reunion with the Witch of Fire
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[……Next up is a greeting from the Chairman.]
The grand graduation ceremony was underway in the grand auditorium of the Wizard Academy.
Confirming Choi Seo-yoon stepping down from the podium, I pushed through the crowd at the entrance and made my way out of the auditorium.
“Phew……”
As soon as I stepped outside, a short sigh escaped my lips.
Lee Seo-jun and Choi Seo-yoon, who had been sharing their stories in front of so many attentive people……
Listening to them stirred up complicated emotions that were hard to put into words.
……The source of this feeling was probably longing.
And it hit me anew.
Over the nearly two years, all of them had achieved mental growth without me even noticing.
I gave a small smile.
Even though I couldn't participate in the graduation ceremony, I'd come because I wanted to be with them, and it felt like the right decision.
If I hadn't come out of fear of the Association's surveillance, I definitely would've regretted it.
“……Guess it's about time to head back.”
There was a lot to prepare ahead for the 'plan.'
With Cruas's descent so close, to survive, I had to pull out every trick I had.
I stared blankly at the blue sky before turning my steps toward the main gate bustling with crowds.
……As I wove through the throng, that's when I accidentally bumped shoulders with someone.
A trained shoulder……
Instinct told me right away.
The owner of this shoulder was a wizard.
In my current situation, getting tangled up with a wizard was the last thing I needed, so I bowed my head immediately.
“My apologies.”
No reply came. They just stood there silently, staring at me.
……Looks like they noticed I'm a wizard too.
Worried it might lead to trouble, I spoke up again.
“……Well, I'm in a hurry, so.”
The moment I turned to leave.
“Wait a second.”
A voice called out.
It was a woman's voice—soft yet tough.
But somehow, it sounded familiar.
Wait, this voice……
Snap!
In that instant, the other person grabbed my wrist.
The speed was so quick, like they'd used mana on impulse, that I couldn't react.
Stunned for a moment, I checked the face of the person holding my hand.
A deeply pulled-down hat, long straight hair peeking out behind it, and a mask……
And between them, black eyes staring straight at me.
“……I knew it. It was you.”
Even with her face obscured, I recognized her identity at once.
An S-Rank wizard, one of the few geniuses in the world……
The Witch of Fire, Yoo Ah-yeon.
Early evening.
Yoo Ah-yeon and I arrived at a small room-style Korean restaurant on the outskirts of Seoul.
I took a sip of water and looked at Yoo Ah-yeon sitting across from me.
I'd worried she might show hostility toward me, the King of Demons, but surprisingly, her attitude hadn't changed much from before.
Being this close to a human after so long is making me oddly tense.
What should I do?
Should I start the conversation? And what should I explain first? The berserk transformation?
As I pondered, she spoke first.
“We're matching outfits, like a couple.”
“……Pardon?”
For a moment, I thought I'd misheard.
Coughing awkwardly in embarrassment, I examined her clothes.
A deeply pulled-down black hat, long coat, and even a turtleneck underneath.
……Yeah, we're dressed the same.
“It's a style that's easy to blend into crowds.”
……She said that, but in truth, I couldn't wear Kim Sun-woo's old clothes(?), so I'd copied Haryeong's outfit with Shapeshift.
Yoo Ah-yeon nodded casually and spoke again.
“Anyway, I was shocked when I heard about you. King of Demons…… What the hell happened?”
I hesitated for a moment before replying.
“It's hard for me to explain too. It happened suddenly. And due to circumstances, I can't really answer.”
“……I see. That's a shame, but can't be helped.”
Yoo Ah-yeon took it surprisingly coolly.
She must know somewhat about the speech restrictions from the 'Laws of the World,' so she let it go.
“Then answer this. Are you still human right now?”
Yoo Ah-yeon asked cautiously. I nodded.
“Yes, I'm human.”
“……I see. That's a relief.”
Yoo Ah-yeon gave a small chuckle.
With many of her doubts cleared, her expression looked much more at ease.
Seeing that, a natural smile came to me too.
After becoming the King of Demons, I'd missed conversations like this normal one.
Yoo Ah-yeon seemed lost in thought for a moment, gazing down at her water glass on the table, then spoke.
“When I saw you in berserk form, I thought a lot about what happened. I was sure you were human—did I miss something? What was up with the berserk transformation……
Probably not just Yoo Ah-yeon—everyone close to me must've had similar worries.
And with rumors in the media that 'Kim Jin-woo' and 'Kim Sun-woo' were the same person, the confusion would've only grown.
“Then it suddenly hit me—Jin Cheon-woo's experiment.”
At those words, I felt a moment of doubt.
Jin Cheon-woo's experiment?
“The Kim Chang-hyeon you were chasing. According to the lab monster, he was an experiment made using 25 members of a minority tribe.”
Wondering what she was getting at, I just watched her quietly.
“So I thought maybe you were like him—an experiment of Jin Cheon-woo's. That would explain why you chased Jin Cheon-woo. And why you chased Kim Chang-hyeon. ……And even how you could use berserk transformation with a human body. Am I right?”
It sounded absurd at first glance, but it wasn't wrong.
I didn't know the exact process, but my summoning to this world was tied to Jin Cheon-woo's experiment.
So calling me one of his experiments wasn't entirely off.
“I can't go into details, but you're not wrong.”
“……As I thought.”
Yoo Ah-yeon murmured thoughtfully, then looked at me with pity in her eyes.
It was a bit off the mark, but having a human ally warmed a corner of my heart.
After that, we talked about a ton of things we hadn't discussed recently.
Life after becoming the King of Demons. Did I drink blood? What did berserk transformation feel like? And so on.
When our long talk finally wrapped up, Yoo Ah-yeon smiled.
“You've been through a lot.”
“I've adapted now. And I've got so much to do lately, I'm not bored.”
As if reminded by my words, Yoo Ah-yeon said,
“Oh, right. That warning about Cruas descending—what's that about?”
“Exactly what it sounds like—Cruas is coming soon. He warned me directly, so it's certain.”
Her expression grew serious at that.
“……Cruas's descent.”
Last year, Yoo Ah-yeon had already faced the disaster-class beast known as the 'Plague Demon Beast.'
Having been there, she knew better than anyone how terrifying the catastrophe Cruas would bring.
“If you're right, that's bad.”
Yoo Ah-yeon continued.
“But no one's believing you right now. How do you plan to handle it? I hear Chairman Kim Jin-cheol issued an evacuation order for Seoul, but there's a lot of backlash.”
“I have a plan.”
“A plan?”
Yoo Ah-yeon blinked at me.
I smirked at her and said,
“Yeah. Can't tell you now, but you'll be shocked when you find out.”
“……What the heck is it?”
It was an incredibly reckless plan.
Dangerous too. But considering everyone's safety and my growth, nothing was more efficient.
After that, Yoo Ah-yeon and I started eating.
I found real enjoyment in this ordinary meal with a human after so long.
Demons didn't eat human food well, so I'd been eating alone a lot, feeling lonely.
Time flew by, and we finished the enjoyable meal.
Setting down her chopsticks, Yoo Ah-yeon took a sip of water and said to me,
“How should we keep in touch from now on? I want to help as much as possible. But you can't use a smart account anymore, right?”
In this world, the anti-terror security law allowed only one smart account per person.
Using Kim Sun-woo's or Kim Jin-woo's would likely leak info to the Association, so I couldn't.
“I'll contact you separately. You have my number.”
Yoo Ah-yeon nodded.
“Got it. Oh, and can I tell Ah-ra or the others that I met you? They all seem really worried.”
I paused for a moment.
“No. Just a bit longer.”
With so many dangers right in front of us now.
These people, not fully grown yet, couldn't handle this risk.
……And.
It might weaken my resolve for what I had to do next.
“I want to steel my heart.”
“……Guess it can't be helped. Okay.”
Yoo Ah-yeon nodded.
“It's gotten pretty late—shall we head out?”
“Sure.”
As we finished our meal with Yoo Ah-yeon and stood to leave.
Ding!
An alarm rang through the [Smart Link] function of Outsider's Blessing.
It was a system that alerted me automatically when news articles matched my set keywords from media outlets.
I checked the news right away.
[Lee Seo-jun, Choi Seo-yoon, Yoo Ah-ra Declare Support for Kim Sun-woo's Warning After Wizard Academy Graduation…… 'Cruas Will Definitely Descend.']
[O! S! A! M! I! Day!]
[2034 New Year Has Dawned! Happy New Year, Everyone!]
2033, a year full of incidents and accidents, had passed, and the new year of 2034 had arrived.
Snow fell heavily from the sky as if celebrating the special day, gradually blanketing the ground in white and creating a beautiful scene.
“Pretty……”
I gazed out the window, lost in appreciation.
The many people outside.
Seeing them joyfully watching the first snow of the new year made me feel their happy energy rubbing off on me.
Then darkness welled up behind me, and Haryeong and Seonhwa appeared.
“My King. All preparations are complete.”
I nodded at Haryeong's words.
It was finally time to begin the 'plan.'
I turned from the window and looked at Haryeong and Seonhwa.
Our eyes met, and they bowed to me.
After watching the two waiting for my response, I said,
“Happy New Year.”
“……”
Haryeong and Seonhwa lifted their heads with puzzled expressions.
They clearly hadn't expected such words from their king.
I chuckled and said,
“Why the faces? First New Year's greeting you've gotten?”
At my question, Seonhwa replied.
“……No, my King. It's just the first time hearing it from you, so I was a bit surprised.”
Then she bowed to me again.
“We wish our King a Happy New Year as well.”
Haryeong followed with an awkward bow.
“……We wish you a Happy New Year.”
Their greetings brought a small smile to my lips.
As they said, I hadn't imagined a day would come when I'd get New Year's greetings from them either.
I turned my gaze back to the window.
“Thanks. I hope I get some New Year's luck too, like you said.”
……Though to do that, I'd have to survive Cruas first.
I reaffirmed my resolve inwardly.
……I will survive. No matter what it takes.
“Alright, then. Let's draw the world's attention.”
