Chapter 21. Partus (2)

Soon, a phenomenon that humans call a Rift—connecting this world to that one—would occur. By their standards, it would be on the scale of S-rank. For the descent of Demon King Partus, it was nothing more than a narrow, suffocating passage.

[Without this power, that might have been the case.]

He muttered as he looked down at his subordinates, who knelt prostrate without even breathing. It had taken a full ten years. Ever since the Great Rift, analyzing the information derived from that phenomenon and manifesting it into a usable power like this. It didn't match the era when gods existed, but it was the feat of freely manipulating Rifts and expanding their scope. The achievement of Partus, the longest-lived Demon King, who had mobilized all his forces and resources.

[How many pieces of trash are breathing on that land?]

At Partus's question, one subordinate stepped forward with his head bowed and reported.

Even the insect-like kings among the demons who had confronted them twenty years ago had deemed them somewhat usable. There were seven such beings currently in the city where the Rift would open.

'Cheonri-an' Shim Jeong-woong.

'Martial God' Han Tae-gang.

'Acrobat' Yoon Ui-seong.

'Mist Witch' Seo Yeon-hee.

'Blue Eyes' Andrey Ilyin.

'Dreamer' Arnaud Duré.

'Sword Queen' Charlotte Tate.

Names that lingered faintly even in Partus's memory. He stated in a calm tone,

[Seven... That is more than I can handle.]

One or two were no great concern. Three, he could still take their lives. But from four onward, gaining the upper hand would be difficult, and at five, even Partus would have to brace for death. Six or seven went without saying. A direct confrontation would mean certain defeat.

But...

[Then I need only summon as many as I can manage.]

Partus, the Demon King who had lived two thousand years, felt no shame in that. By his four ways of distinguishing individual beings, there was no reason for shame.

Those without ability or thought were mere trash.

Those with thought but no ability were vermin not to be kept nearby.

Those with ability but lacking thought were consumables to be used and discarded appropriately.

And the final fourth type. Those with ability, who clearly knew what they could and couldn't do, and ceaselessly devised ways to reach their goals. Partus cherished such beings—and among all existences in this vast world, he himself was the pinnacle of that category.

For the able to acknowledge their shortcomings was boldness.

For the able to avoid danger was prudence.

Partus had lived that way, and he intended to uphold that principle now as well. Prudently, boldly.

[From the fourth onward, they shall not enter.]

The three locations forming a triangle—the pillars of the Rift. He planned to allow only that exact number of intruders inside. Even if all seven came, he wouldn't let them all intervene. Not until he found the fragment of the vanished god and absorbed the authority contained within it.

[It is near...]

Partus repeated in a voice rare with passion. Truly a long era, and now just one step away. The longest-surviving Demon King... would become a Demon God.

May 23rd, Sunday afternoon.

Heading to a bustling area not far from home, Yoo Hae-bin hummed a tune.

"Lil' Dragon girl♪ Bam-pa-bam! Lil' Dragon girl♪ Bam-pa-bam!"

"Lil' Dragon heading to school, muah muah muah~ Dojin coming home from work, muah muah muah~ Sea eating snacks, muah muah muah~"

"Chubby baby Haebin~ Dragon dragon, feed me~ Husband Dojin pamper pamper~ Okay, got it......♪ Hmm...... Uhmm......"

Yoo Hae-bin groaned as she continued the lyrics along her stream of consciousness.

'Come to think of it, what sound do humans make?'

Nothing came to mind readily, and soon she adopted a rather critical perspective.

'Thinking about it, this is subtly human-centric thinking...'

Pigs go oink oink, cats go meow, dogs go woof woof. They define others that way but have none for their own kind. There were a few like waa waa for babies, but no onomatopoeia representing humans as a whole.

Recalling the conversation with Lee Dojin last Friday evening.

<Yongyong...? That's what you're calling me?>

<Why, don't like it?>

<No, it sounds cute... but we don't make sounds like that.>

<Hmm... probably not, yeah?>

<Wow... You knew and still called me that? Turns out you're a species discriminator, Lee Dojin. Ahem, uh-hum! I'm pretty disappointed.>

<Uh, sorry. I was thoughtless. I'll be careful from now—>

<No need to apologize or anything.>

In a sly tone, Yoo Hae-bin cut him off. Up to here, it had gone exactly as she intended, and envisioning the flow of the next conversation, she stated her true feelings.

<As long as you use it just for me, I don't mind. Even if things go well later and you meet my family or other dragons as a professor, if you only call me Yongyong, it won't count as a nickname beyond that, since I'm the one allowing it. That's how I see it.>

<In that case, just use my name—>

<Nooo... Listen carefully, Lee Dojin. I'm fine with it, okay? Just for me. Got it? Understood?>

<Uh... yeah. Got it.>

Smooth sailing so far, and for her final revenge-cum-flirt, Yoo Hae-bin executed her planned ploy.

<Alright, Professor? Now repeat after me carefully.>

<...What?>

Sensing what was coming, wariness crept into Lee Dojin's voice, but Yoo Hae-bin pressed on firmly, unperturbed.

<'I, Lee Dojin,'>

<Haebin... Can't I just not call you Yongyong and be done—>

<Huh? Not doing it? Discriminator mode ON?>

<Hoo... I, Lee Dojin.>

<'Do hereby declare that the term "Yongyong" carries no discriminatory intent whatsoever.'>

<Yongyong... carries no discriminatory intent whatsoever...>

<'And that it is solely a term of endearment, laden with trust and affection for Yoo Hae-bin alone, which I solemnly and clearly affirm.'>

<Solely for Yoo Hae-bin... Wait, you know you're not even really upset but just want revenge—>

<Hey now, wanna start over from the beginning?>

<Ha... Solely for Yoo Hae-bin... laden with trust and affection—>

Hee hee.

<...Why are you laughing? Funny?>

<No, just about to sneeze. And you think this is funny? Come on, don't stall—keep going.>

<—a term of endearment, which I solemnly and clearly affirm...>

Clap clap clap. Yoo Hae-bin clapped in satisfaction, and the coerced Lee Dojin, having been forced into the same declaration he'd imposed on her, quickly issued instructions.

<Sunday afternoon, I'll let you know the place separately once it's set. Come there. It's that favor I mentioned before—taking care of Sea and Yuri.>

<Yes! Got it!>

<Alright... Go on in.>

<Yongyong!>

<............>

<Ah, Professor, it means rest well and sweet dreams tonight.>

<Hey, you weren't upset at all but—>

Just before Lee Dojin could unleash a barrage of questions over the receiver, Yoo Hae-bin hung up. She'd received the exact time and place yesterday, late Saturday evening. Matching that, she headed out now, turning on her phone as she recalled the memory that still made her smile.

Her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wallpaper showed a cute winged dragon doll. Right after hanging up the other day, she'd searched "Yongyong" online and picked the cutest doll result to set as her background.

'I'm not that small, though.'

Of course, dragons had no fixed true size. Large bodies had their advantages, and small ones had theirs in certain situations. She could shrink to doll size if she tried, but... the smallest she could maintain effortlessly was about the size of a Golden Retriever.

'Well, that should be fine living together.'

A bigger bed, and they could even sleep side by side. If everything truly worked out and happy days followed...

'He started calling me like a pet first. If he's responsible, he'll feed me, house me, take care of everything.'

The six Demon Kings lurking beyond the Rift.

The former heroes who caused the current crisis by opening the Great Rift.

Once they were all defeated... the future afterward could be one of happy living.

The clichéd fairy tale ending. Happily Ever After.

'And they all lived happily ever after.'

'I hope it turns out that way...'

A strong wish. But objectively, the odds weren't high right now. With those two thoughts coexisting, Yoo Hae-bin kept walking.

She was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠entering an area with heavy foot traffic now, and far ahead loomed a tall shopping center.

Where Lee Dojin, Lee Sea, and Jin Yu-ri would be waiting.

"Huh?"

A voice suddenly from a few meters away. Lee Sea, Jin Yu-ri, and I, who had been strolling through the shopping center discussing gift ideas, all turned our heads at once.

"What's this? Why are you three together? Oh, hi Professor!"

Yoo Hae-bin approached with a surprised expression and greeted me, while Lee Sea narrowed her eyes slightly and asked,

"What about you?"

"Me? Just shopping for clothes. But seriously, what combo is this? You and the professor out for fun, fine... but Yurimental?"

"Doesn't matter."

Jin Yu-ri replied curtly. Her cheeks were still faintly flushed from earlier, but her eyes seemed to curse Yoo Hae-bin. As if telling her to butt out and go elsewhere.

This could derail the plan, so I explained to Yoo Hae-bin.

"We have some gift shopping to do. Oh, outside school—casual speech okay?"

"You two don't even use it at school."

Lee Sea jabbed back in protest, but Yoo Hae-bin brushed it off breezily.

"Come on, we're outside school. No one from our school around anyway. So, whose gift? I'm bored shopping alone—mind if I tag along and help pick?"

"......It's my dad's birthday, so no need."

Jin Yu-ri's tone grew ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠icier as she glanced at Lee Sea. Hesitant to ask me directly, she was seeking backup there. But...

Lee Sea pondered for a moment, then said,

"One more pair of eyes... might not be bad."

"Ah... really...?"

"Right? Don't freak out, Yurimental. I've got a good eye—I'll help properly."

"Then... what do you think, Professor...?"

"Yuri, it's your call. But from the school trip, Haebin's got decent taste."

"See? 3 to 1. No need to thank us, but don't refuse."

"......Fine."

Though reluctant, Jin Yu-ri acquiesced, swelling our group to four. I checked the hologram.

Progress had visibly accelerated since Yoo Hae-bin approached. Now the real start, then.

The main event of Kill the Evil Volume 2.

Excusing myself to the restroom, I slipped away to an empty spot and flicked my hand lightly. Mana flowed from me, dispersing into the air and flying off. Seconds later, sentences formed of mana shimmered in my vision.

Seo Yeon-hee's reply. Keeping that in mind, I gauged today's tasks.

Numerous, difficult, complicated.

Expose the traitors clearly.

Assassinate that bastard in secret.

Block the demons invading Seoul from beyond the Rift.

Acquire one derivative skill of the Black Heart and activate its complete form.

And gather any other obtainable intel without missing it.

"Hoo..."

I gathered my tension with a deep breath. And then...

Weeeeeng—

An alarm blared across the entire shopping center.