Chapter 23. Chess Pieces (3)

Perfect success. Using Partus's demonic energy to weaken and seal the Black Heart. Even though it's temporary, the rank has dropped to D, and as proof, the constant pulsing I'd always felt next to my heart has nearly vanished now. It's only detectable as the faintest thread. It'll take quite some time for it to grow back to its previous level and pull any tricks. And I won't let it anyway.

And the next moment.

Vwooooom—

A soft mana enveloped me at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the center of the fierce explosion. A familiar sensation, like being sucked somewhere. Before I knew it, my vision showed a dark clearing. I could see Arnaud Duré and Andrey Ilyin, collapsed and unconscious. We'd returned to the spot where we'd created the mana construct earlier.

Kuoooooo—

Kwaaaaaang!

Far off, demonic energy was still exploding into the sky, and Seo Yeon-hee, who had summoned me with warp magic, asked,

"You didn't get hurt, did you?"

"......Yeah, a little."

I answered honestly since she'd find out anyway, then released my manifestation skill. The state I was revealed in was... a total mess, literally. My clothes were soaked in blood and torn in places, and it was harder to find spots on my body that didn't hurt.

"Haa......"

Seo Yeon-hee let out a sigh, her expression a mix of anger and worry, and asked again.

"Situation report—details later, just the basics."

"Andrey Ilyin is a traitor. I manipulated both their memories. While we were making the passage construct, a demon ambushed us, and he'll report that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he fought Partus."

The powers derived from the Black Heart, but the ranks of the three skills including Soul Domination hadn't changed. They were skills I'd acquired anyway, now fully mine. I should hold back on using them recklessly from now on... but at least their previous effects remained intact.

Now Seo Yeon-hee briefed me.

"I'm the only one who's come in so far. I hid and pretended to discover you, then said I'd go in first and secretly closed it."

"Chance of them catching on?"

"Him? He'd have used another method if he suspected. Don't worry about that... but it won't matter soon anyway."

Thuuuung!

Pajik, pajijik—

Right after the explosion at the top of the triangular-horn-shaped rift dispersed. The black-stained outer wall of the rift began to blur and crack bit by bit. The rift phenomenon could no longer be maintained and was dissipating.

I asked for final confirmation.

"Partus is dead for sure, right? I made sure to finish him off."

Seo Yeon-hee didn't ask unnecessary questions, like how I'd managed to kill Partus. She just affirmed it plainly.

"Yeah, no trace of escape. He's completely obliterated."

"Phew......"

Relieved, I prepared to act the part and plopped down on the ground.

"I'm controlling Andrey Ilyin. When Arnaud Duré wakes up and people come from outside, could you explain? My cover is that I passed out during the fight."

"The blood on your clothes from him is from protecting him?"

"I like how quick you are, noona."

"Hng...... But why are you like this?"

"Huh?"

I reflexively asked back at the sudden question, but Seo Yeon-hee didn't answer. There wasn't time for more talk anyway. Footsteps of several people approached from a distance.

Urgent footsteps, followed by...

"Oppa!"

Lee Sea called out to me at the top of her lungs. Keeping my eyes shut, I felt my heart pound harder than at any point today. She'd be so worried seeing me like this... But it was too late to do anything now.

Lee Sea rushed over in one bound and hugged my sprawled body tight, pouring out tearful words nonstop.

"Oppa, why... Get up, quick... You said you'd be right back... Hic, ugh......"

"Professor......"

"Uh...... Um......"

Jin Yu-ri's voice was thick with worry too, and Yoo Hae-bin, who roughly knew the situation, seemed to opt for silence over awkward acting.

Then Seo Yeon-hee spoke in a calm tone.

"No need to worry. They're just unconscious—no life-threatening injuries for any of them."

Swoosh.

Suddenly, I felt a trembling hand on my neck. Yoo Hae-bin said nonchalantly,

"Ah, he's really out. Lee Sea, you're probably hurting oppa more holding him like that."

Spot on. It would've been better if she'd left me alone, but with Lee Sea clinging and shaking me, the pain surged, and now with Jin Yu-ri joining in, prodding here and there, it doubled.

As I subtly winced, gauging when to pretend to wake, I overheard Arnaud Duré and Charlotte Tate talking after he came to.

"Lo......ty?"

"What, you're alive? Who did this to you?"

Playful tone, but laced with anger. Arnaud Duré groaned thoughtfully for a moment before answering.

"Mm...... While making the construct...... a demon ambushed us...... Jin and Andy?"

"They're fine. Dojin really is okay, and Andrey... he's hurt but he'll recover with treatment."

"I......see? Good, then. I'm a bit tired...... need to lie down more."

Swaaaaa—!

The rift's energy, already fading fast, vanished completely. That was enough—I cautiously cracked my eyes open, and...

"Oppa—!"

My vision went black in an instant. Lee Sea yanked my head to her chest in a tight hug, sobbing as she spoke to me.

"Why, why'd you get hurt... Again, leaving me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠behind... I'm, hic, sorry, I was wrong, sorry... I won't do it anymore. Sorry for always being bratty, I was wrong, oppa, don't leave me, hic, ugh... Don't go anywhere without me anymore, I'll listen now, sorry, oppa I'm sorry......"

"............"

This was more serious than I'd thought. Lee Sea was seriously unstable. Her words rambled incoherently, tears pouring out in sobs. Maybe... some unexpected trauma had been triggered.

Jin Yu-ri wrapped an arm around Lee Sea's shoulders, stroking her soothingly. Finally a bit distanced from Lee Sea, I said what needed saying first.

"Oppa’s not going anywhere."

I absolutely didn’t want to either. Until the moment came when I had no choice but to leave, I'd stay by her side.

My gaze met Jin Yu-ri's next. I could tell at a glance. She'd achieved tremendous growth, no less than my own gains today.

"Professor, you're safe... Thank goodness."

"......Yeah. Thanks."

I wasn't even sure anymore. Who the protagonist of Kill the Evil was. Jin Yu-ri? Or Lee Sea? Originally Lee Sea, but switched at volume 2? Or both right now? It was impossible to say, so I checked the hologram.

Volume 2 was nearly over. This was the moment to decide.

Charlotte Tate and Arnaud Duré hadn't died. Andrey Ilyin was under my control, but that didn't count as a clear kill. Killing him would be simple—just manipulate mana undetected to burst his heart. Even if his condition suddenly worsened fatally, it wouldn't raise much suspicion.

Should I kill? Or spare him, risk quest failure, no rewards, possible penalties, and use him as bait?

Then the hologram added new lines.

"......"

I quickly scanned the new info. One of Volume 3's tags: Urban Fantasy. In genre terms, that meant fighting unknown beings like werewolves or vampires in a city setting. My unique quest was to eliminate at least one non-human intelligent entity as a Phantom member. Not to fight Seo Yeon-hee, surely—some such creature would appear this time. No detailed profile yet.

And the start date: June 28. Jeil High's closing ceremony, from what I knew. Two months of summer break until late August. Was it telling me I could hold off deciding Andrey Ilyin's fate until then?

Doubtful. The hologram wouldn't be that helpful. Sure enough, another long message followed.

Hard to judge. It wasn't fully cleared, but they gave conditional rewards anyway—should I be grateful? Or complain that they rated it C Rank already, before Volume 2 truly ended, boxing me in? Either way, rewards were set, no more demands possible. Only option left was using Andrey Ilyin as bait. I'd gotten both sides in a way, so positive overall.

"Hic, huu......"

Lee Sea was calming her sobs a bit, and I glanced at Yoo Hae-bin.

"Mm, hmm......"

She'd been staring intently at one spot since earlier. Not me or Lee Sea. None other than where Seo Yeon-hee stood. Quick on the uptake, as expected... She'd figured it out.

Seo Yeon-hee met her gaze without evasion, not bothering to hide.

Then one person rapidly approached from the air.

Thud.

Han Tae-gang landed with a footstep and silently stared at me. Pity? Or relief that a junior's son survived? His eyes were unreadable. I bowed my head laboriously in greeting, and with that, today's incident finally wrapped up.

Tuesday evening, May 25.

After school, Yoo Hae-bin changed into casual clothes at home and stepped out with firm resolve etched in her mind. Her thoughts swirled complexly. But one goal took priority.

No need to be scared.

When the opponent's identity was unknown, extreme caution was needed—but now it was different. She had solid info, and based on that, Yoo Hae-bin herself didn't seem outmatched.

How does that even make sense? I've known Dojin-kun since he was a baby going 'ngae ngae'...... How can he be so shameless?

That was it. Not relaxed—pure audacity. The opponent was no longer some hidden final boss shrouded in mystery. Yoo Hae-bin steeled herself.

"Yongyongi is smiling......"

Her face was tense without a hint of mirth, but she mustered her spirits and headed straight to her destination without delay. After twenty or thirty minutes, on a deserted road, a bright glow unfolded before her. Stepping into it, Yoo Hae-bin's appearance changed.

"O, oooh......"

An amazing sensation. Her hair lengthened, features shifted, height and body along with her clothes transformed by magic. Calming her nerves, Yoo Hae-bin entered a stylish Western-style bar.

Ugh, feels kinda weird...

Even before meeting, she felt preempted. An adult space she'd never enter, couldn't enter. Unfamiliar music played, quiet patrons drank. Like stepping into enemy territory away from home.

"Ahem, ahem......"

Ignoring stares with feigned nonchalance, Yoo Hae-bin found the pre-arranged room.

Farthest inside... Ah, here.

She knocked.

Knock, knock.

Paused, then three more. A woman's voice came from inside.

"Hoo......"

Opening this door meant a silent war from here on. Steel resolve once more, Yoo Hae-bin stepped forward with trembling feet.

The sight that greeted her.

"Ah, sorry I couldn't greet you at the door. Gotta be careful this time."

Lee Dojin approached her with a genuinely apologetic face. And beside him, a woman sitting leisurely in the center of the sofa, holding a wine glass.

"Hae-bin, hi? First time chatting like this, right?"

One of the 36 Heroes. The Mist Witch Seo Yeon-hee smiled brightly and greeted her.