Chapter 23. Pawn (2)
In the middle of the Han River, an S-rank Rift had unfolded, and just outside it, Seo Yeon-hee stood silently gazing at the black wall. She heard the voice of the old man, sharpened like a blade.
“Do you have any clever ideas?”
“No, as you probably know, Elder, this isn’t a wall we can break through with brute force. The inside and outside are completely separated now. All we can do is wait.”
When it came to spatial magic, no mage in the world—not even if they gathered everyone here and every mage on the planet—surpassed Seo Yeon-hee in authority. Her firm declaration made it clear: no external means could breach it. Shim Jeong-woong, the eldest of the 36 Heroes, let out a heavy sigh.
“The damage… could be severe.”
Taking up his words was Yoon Ui-seong, another of the 36 Heroes and the head of the Korean Awakener Association.
“Worrying won’t change anything. We just have to hope they handle it inside. A few monsters popping out? There are plenty of hunters in there, so no need to fret. The real issue is Partus… but that’s on Arnaud.”
Before the rift fully formed and blocked their view inside, they’d gathered this intel: the one who descended through the rift was the demon king Partus. Even he was pushing the rift’s capacity to its limit, so high-rank monsters were unlikely, and there’d be no civilian casualties.
So… as long as they could handle Partus.
Yoon Ui-seong continued. “While Charlotte and Andrey hold him off, Arnaud just needs to open the passage. If they can’t manage that… they should quit being heroes.”
“Don’t talk like it’s not your problem.”
“Ah, with one senior pacing around like a dog desperate to pee, someone has to stay calm.”
“What did you say?”
Han Tae-gang, who’d snapped coldly only to get a cheeky retort, glared at Yoon Ui-seong with wide eyes. But they’d been bickering like this for decades now. Yoon Ui-seong muttered gruffly, unperturbed.
“And why wouldn’t it be my problem? I’m the association head—any flak comes my way. Seriously, it’s impossible, I’m telling you. Don’t waste your energy. Just focus on taking down Partus once the passage opens—”
“Hoo… Hup!”
Han Tae-gang drew in a massive breath and unleashed a punch.
Kwaaaaaa—!
The mana distorted space as it surged forward, slamming into the rift’s outer wall. But it didn’t shatter. Instead, Han Tae-gang’s mana spread out across the entire triangular pyramid-shaped exterior.
An ultra-high-rank spell dispersing external force was protecting the rift.
Yoon Ui-seong clicked his tongue and sidled up to Seo Yeon-hee, gossiping like it was the juiciest scandal.
“He’s acting up extra because his prospective son-in-law’s in there, I bet. Sheesh, if he’s gonna lose it like that, he should’ve been nicer to the kid all along.”
“…Prospective son-in-law?”
“Huh? Don’t you know? Dojin lives around here. Unless he’s off gallivanting somewhere, he’s gotta be inside.”
“I heard Dojin and Se-ra are breaking off their engagement soon.”
Yoon Ui-seong shook his head at Seo Yeon-hee’s flat, disinterested reply.
“You’re not close with Han senior, so you wouldn’t get it… That guy’s personality? If he really wanted to call it off, he’d have blown a gasket ages ago. He’s been waiting it out like an investor betting on one last shot. And now, jackpot.”
“…”
Seo Yeon-hee didn’t respond, turning away. It wasn’t a pleasant topic, and she had no desire to chat with Yoon Ui-seong. She gazed up at the pitch-black wall, speaking to him in her mind.
‘You’re doing fine, right?’
Truth be told, she wanted to tear through this wall right now. Lee Dojin was inside the rift. She was so worried about him that she ached to rush to his side. Half of what she’d told Shim Jeong-woong was true—she couldn’t break through with raw power. The other half was a lie.
More precisely, she didn’t know.
The Mist Witch Seo Yeon-hee couldn’t pierce this rift, but if she unleashed her long-lived species power… who knew? Today was nearly a full moon. At full strength, she might rip apart a mere demon king’s rift with ease.
Even if it derailed their plans, she’d risk it to protect Lee Dojin.
If he hadn’t messaged her, she’d have done it already.
‘It’s past the five minutes he mentioned…’
He’d relayed that a passage would open inside and asked her to cover for him so no one would notice.
That’s what she was doing now. But Lee Dojin hadn’t kept his promise. He’d said he’d wrap it up and contact her within five minutes, but there was still no word.
‘Even now…’
Seo Yeon-hee clenched her fist unconsciously. She wanted to shatter the rift to pieces and confirm he was safe.
This wasn’t about trust or lack thereof. It was more emotional than that. She was just… too worried to bear it.
And right then.
The voice of Lee Dojin she’d desperately longed for echoed in her ear.
Her worried question. Lee Dojin replied calmly.
<Yes. Things are fine here. Let me tell you what I need help with first.>
I quickly relayed my request to Seo Yeon-hee. Preparations to perfectly prove my alibi.
Then I immediately opened the hologram.
Always-Active Trait 'Black Heart' cheers! (Rank SSS)
Skill 'Mana Absorption' activated. (Rank S)
Skill 'Entity Absorption' activated. (Rank SS)
Skill 'Soul Domination' activated. (Rank SSS)
The Black Heart’s meddling, spouting nonsense about lending me its power. Partus was roaring in resistance.
[Grk, kaaaaak!]
With my next steps firmly in mind, I circulated my mana.
Passive Trait 'Peering Eye' activated. (Rank S)
Senses boosted to 9.0. The upgraded Peering Eye at S-rank. Mobilizing them all, I analyzed the ongoing flow.
Partus and the Black Heart were evenly matched. The advantage was slowly tilting toward the Black Heart, but right now, neither held a clear edge.
A fable came to mind. Forest animals gathered to push a massive boulder, but it wouldn’t budge. Then a young deer joined, and with that small extra force, it finally moved. The moral: even tiny power matters how it’s used—respect each other and hold your head high.
What I was about to do shared some similarities. If anything, it was the polar opposite.
[Uuugh, krk, uaaaaak!]
With Partus’s screams as background noise, I focused every nerve.
Something thread-like snagged in my senses. The demon king’s core—ultra-pure demonic energy—kept sinking deep into his flesh to protect him. But the Black Heart’s authority pursued it, clashing there.
Having grasped it all, I funneled my mana into that spot.
And the next moment.
“…”
I stood before a wall like an illusion, black as night. A mental space crafted by the demon king’s soul itself—half-transcendent being that he was.
In , it was where the Demon God communed directly and lent power… but now, no solemnity lingered.
All that reached me from beyond was Partus’s defiant roars, the Black Heart’s mockery—noise unfit to call dialogue.
Neither noticed me. No spare attention for that.
I spoke with mockery.
[Having fun, you two losers?]
I slashed my mana-infused hand down on the pitch-black wall.
Srrek—!
Space split, revealing the scene. Partus tangled with black cloud-like demonic energy. Both fixed their gazes on me. I strolled toward them leisurely, sneering.
[I must look like easy prey to you.]
I knew.
The Black Heart was the Demon God’s remnant, aiming to revive using me as host. Its true goal.
I knew its “offer” of power wasn’t kindness.
I knew it could read my thoughts to some degree.
I knew, the moment Partus appeared beyond the rift. Why the Black Heart reacted at those three points forming a perfect triangle.
It was a trap it dug to draw in a demon king from the start.
I knew. The Black Heart’s rapid growth. Left unchecked, full awakening wasn’t far off—absorbing Partus could make it today.
I knew it all. That’s why I accepted its offer on purpose.
To create this exact situation.
Shiiik—
I swung my hand. Mana flew from me, bolstering Partus just a bit.
Their standoff hit perfect deadlock. I allowed no more.
No, no. Both of you, push a little harder.
Piiyung, shuuuuaaa!
I fired mana repeatedly, alternating between Partus and the Black Heart.
They couldn’t move. Pull back even slightly, and they’d devour each other.
I alone was free.
Then Partus muttered as if realizing something.
[You…]
[Sharp eyes, huh?]
Even I could see the resemblance. Strangely proud amid it all, Partus widened his eyes and shouted.
[No way… those ones they left—]
Kwaaang!
My mana seared his mouth shut.
[Kwk!]
To the low groan, I warned.
[Watch your mouth, you worm.]
You’re not worthy to speak their names.
Lee Si-hyeok and Jeong Se-bin. Protagonist and heroine of . My beloved parents.
Now, I turned to the Black Heart.
[Thought I’d be your pawn?]
[You… you, ga…]
[Can’t even speak right, yet dreaming big.]
I wasn’t the Black Heart’s host. I was its owner.
If pawn there was, it was mine.
A trait fragment eyeing its master? Absurd.
I stared in disbelief, then spat contemptuously.
[You two—Demon King, Demon God, whatever. Losers both.]
Lee Si-hyeok and Jeong Se-bin, my parents, crushed you.
Annihilated the Demon God, slew the demon kings, terrified Partus into hiding in his domain.
I wrote that tale. As ’s author, I poured my soul into scripting your defeat and their victory.
[Yet the coward only now pokes around a barren world post-endgame, and you… still half-mad, it seems. Watching you two try to eat each other? Pathetic and hilarious.]
With my added power several times over, their clash neared critical.
Dominating Partus’s soul for a puppet? No— it’d supercharge the Black Heart.
Sending him back intact? Impossible. He’d pieced together too much; had to end him here.
And I needed a proper sacrifice to achieve my goal.
I drew mana.
Peering Eye. Senses at 9.0.
Then fired a mana construct at them.
The interference magic I’d shown Sea at Namsan Memorial Plaza. It destabilized their standoff to the brink.
One last piece.
Skill 'Control Explosion' activated. (Rank S)
Andrey Ilyin’s stolen ultimate technique. I unleashed its massive mana overload on these losers.
[Kwik, kaaaaaaaak—!]
[You… you, scum, ga…!]
Partus’s scream. The Black Heart’s furious words.
Both rang like defeat declarations to me.
I replied nonchalantly.
[You just die. You… better stay gone for a while. Anyway, I’m done talking. Both of you, scram.]
Peering Eye and senses gauged it; interference magic primed the instability; now Control Explosion intervened in their mana clash.
Kuaaaaaang!
Black radiance erupted wildly.
I slipped out leisurely, declaring inwardly.
. I’m this novel’s final boss.
No room for you has-beens from the prequel.
Kuoooooo—
The explosion consuming Demon King Partus’s existence surged toward the sky, up to the rift.
A hologram appeared in my view.
Always-Active Trait 'Black Heart' rank temporarily drops. (Rank SSS → Rank D)