Chapter 39
My roommate is a final boss candidate. Humanity succeeded in subjugating one of the Eight Kings. That was the unadulterated truth—no fabricated disinformation released under the pretext of reassuring the public. The pinnacle of humanity's destructive power, nuclear weapons amplified to their maximum potential by the combined assault of the heroes, had undoubtedly rendered that Eight King combat-incapable, striking it from the list of threats to mankind.
But the notion people held—that the Eight King was "dead"—was slightly at odds with reality.
Among the Eight Kings, Ganwang had indeed been subjugated, reduced to a state so pathetic it was embarrassing to even call it a threat to humanity. And yet, even so, the flame of its life hadn't been fully extinguished. He—she—was still alive right now, breathing in this very world.
Right in front of my eyes.
"Ahahaha, you don't have to look at me like that. Why the scared face? That's not how you look at a classmate, is it? Or am I the one who's got it wrong?"
Was the sly, sadistic smile curling on Kiru's lips just my bias playing tricks? My mouth went dry. Even knowing full well she didn't have the power to kill me right now.
In the original story, Kiru had faithfully played the role of the protagonist Hwa Yujin's supporter. She constantly egged him on whenever he regretted his actions and tried to come to his senses, pushing him to tame more women. She even proudly declared herself his devoted female slave, taking his lust with her whole body.
But if you fell for her act and got too deeply involved, the situation flipped 180 degrees. That was Kiru's true nature—playing the role of a route's final boss.
That's why, even as I liked Kiru, I'd done my utmost to keep her distance from Hwa Yujin as much as possible.
And yet, for her to come out with such a blatant reveal. This was unexpected.
"Huh? Tell me. You know my real identity, right, Hyowon? Otherwise, too much doesn't add up. Do you have some connection with the academy bigwigs or something?"
"...I'll exercise my right to remain silent."
Since I'd already been found out, what choice did I have? I decided to play it brazen.
What're you gonna do if I don't tell you?
Kiru's eyes widened at my stone-faced attitude, then she burst into giggles like it was the funniest thing ever.
"Ahahaha! Oh man, this is hilarious. Aren't I scary? You must have some idea what I am, even if not the full picture."
"Feels like I'd win if we fought right now?"
"Whoa, that's humiliating. For real. To hear that from an academy cadet who knows what I am... I can't even deny it. Total shock. Why the hell did I ever think of going toe-to-toe with a nuke back then? Humans are terrifying."
For someone calling it humiliating herself, she looked way too amused. And humans are terrifying? Speak for yourself.
"From our side, you're the scary one—taking a nuke head-on and coming out fine."
And not just any nuke. Regular nukes have this fearsome image, but compared to natural disasters like tornadoes, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions, their power falls short. But what if that power was focused to a single point?
The moment a nuke hits, its energy doesn't all go into destruction. It radiates in three dimensions, and the massive shockwave, terrifying as it is to hear, represents energy loss. It's great for wiping out a city in one blow, but efficiency-wise, the proportion of energy converted to actual destruction isn't that high.
The heroes fighting Kiru had pinpointed all that nuke's energy into one square meter and detonated it. The force to level a city crammed into a single room's worth of space.
And Kiru was still alive.
"Yeah, any other Eight King probably would've died. I survived because I had the highest defense among them. Or... maybe I can't say I 'survived' outright. I'm not the Ganwang of before anymore."
Ganwang endured that insane blow. But it wasn't just a loss of power. Ganwang judged it couldn't last long in its injured state from the nuke. So it gathered the remaining intact qi from its body, sealed its soul away—and that became the current Kiru.
"I have awareness that I'm Ganwang. Memories are sorta there too. But still, it doesn't feel like a perfect continuation from the old Ganwang. I'm me, and the old me is the old me?"
"Hmm."
I already knew the story, and honestly, I didn't care much. I'd never seen the old Ganwang with my own eyes anyway. What I wanted to know was something else.
"Why reveal yourself to me? Wouldn't it be better for you to play dumb whether I know or not?"
"'Cause you're interesting. Hwa Yujin too. You two are... irregulars, y'know? Any Eight King would've taken interest in you, not just me."
Kiru's slender finger traced my lower belly. Right over the faint pink tattoo.
"I can feel it. Hwa Yujin's qi planted here. Normally, someone else's qi filling you up like this would only cause bad reactions... but Yujin's is special, huh."
"......"
"Felt good?"
"Why ask that?"
"Just curious! Since getting this body, I've never done it with a guy. First time feeling human desires like this—natural to be curious, right?"
What scared me was the pure, innocent curiosity in Kiru's eyes. Clear intent to charge straight at Yujin for a sex angle if she got the chance.
"Dream on. I'll tell that Yujin guy never to do it with you, at least."
"Hng, no fair. Who Yujin sleeps with is his choice, not yours. You've always been weirdly clingy with me... Ah, is this girlfriend jealousy?"
Bullshit. Like I'd be jealous of that guy's romantic life. I'm not his girlfriend or anything. Hell, if he went after another girl right now, I'd cheer him on with both hands up. More strong allies the better.
Once he gets used to women through me, I can subtly hook him up with others. I won't turn him into a trashy protagonist who ignores women's wills for conquest, but for the greater good—and a bit of personal desire fulfillment—it's barely okay, right?
But not with Kiru. You don't empower a character who could rocket straight to final boss if things go wrong. Specifically, not until the "Artificial Gate Rampage Incident" wraps up.
"Tch. Would be nice if you shared the good stuff. Humans..."
Kiru finally got out of the tub I'd claimed. Her water-slicked body gleamed, and once again, I found myself staring.
Damn it... Staring at that gorgeous figure, and I don't even get turned on. How unfair is this?
Kiru grumbled nonstop as she rinsed off lightly and left the bathroom. As she did, she shot me a confirming glance.
"Oh, and keep it secret that I got found out by you, okay? Can't let the academy folks know. Got it? If you blab, I'll spill your secret too."
"Obviously no plans to. I want peace around me too. ...For reference, what's my secret?"
"That you're getting tamed by Hwa Yujin."
Ridiculous. I smirked inwardly. It was a secret at this stage, but long-term, it was gonna come out anyway.
You think I'd pass up a perfect level-up event like public taming? Idiot.
No matter how much someone tries to ruin your life, if you preemptively wreck it yourself, they can't do shit. I win!
...Ah, sage time again. Hitting me too often lately. Not even in the mood for therapy.
"Anyway, since that's how it is... let's keep each other's secrets and get along as roommates."
※
"You've placed a remnant of Ganwang in a regular dorm? Even if it's dangerous, isn't that too much? Sure, right now it's only at academy cadet level, but its roots don't change. I'm deeply concerned."
An opinion from someone without decision-making rights at the academy. But when that someone is one of humanity's Five Heroes, Fernando, it carries serious weight.
The academy principal, Phrixos, shared Fernando's deep concerns. And yet, the reason for that decision was simple.
"The party in question, Ganwang herself, wants it."
"Just because she wants it doesn't mean the academy has to oblige."
"But her cooperation is essential for the project. Even if it means some risk, it's better to accommodate her minor requests as much as possible."
"Hmph."
Fernando snorted, his face showing clear dissatisfaction. As a hero who'd clashed directly with Ganwang in a life-or-death battle, he didn't like the academy's lax attitude.
Even fallen to cadet level, it was still a monster among monsters. Feeding and raising a tumor you should excise immediately?
"I understand your complaints. It can't feel good knowing a risk is in the academy where your daughter studies. But if the 'Artificial Gate Creation Project' succeeds, humanity will gain a decisive edge against the beasts."
Gates, the stages of the Eight Kings and monsters. If humanity could create them artificially and twist them to our advantage, it'd be a game-changer.
For that, they needed to study an Eight King's ability to create and open gates. That's why they kept the remnant of humanity's clear enemy alive.
"Don't worry too much. Ganwang is under strict academy surveillance. Any suspicious move, and we'll neutralize her immediately."
Fernando still frowned, clearly not fully accepting it emotionally, but he didn't press further. After all, this wasn't just the academy's call—it was the full Monster Countermeasures Headquarters leading the heroes.
Just...
"At least keep her out of the same room as my daughter Esmeralda. As a father, I can't tolerate that."
"No need to worry. Ganwang herself specified that. ...Do you know a cadet named Joo Hyowon, by chance?"
Of course he did. She'd been hugely famous even before entering the academy. News reports and fellow heroes' sightings painted her as a dangerously pitiful girl, but meeting her in person, Fernando realized she was more than that.
A super-genius talent possibly surpassing even him. That was Joo Hyowon.
And she was Ganwang's roommate. Coincidence? Or inevitability?
Of course he was worried. But also...
"Curiously, I'm looking forward to it."