Chapter 23
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Acceleration (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
...I dont think I can.
Siyeon!
While fleeing, leaving the demon behind, Ha Siyeon stopped in her tracks.
You guys go and get help from the instructors. I'll escape with Seoyul.
You can't.
Choi Jihoon, his face still pale, tried to stop her.
If you go, you'll die too. Th-that thing it's not something a human can f-fight.
Was it because he had faced that dreadful aura at such close range?
Choi Jihoon's expression was steeped in deep fear.
Still.
Ha Siyeon bit her lip.
I can't abandon a friend.
Siyeon. Seoyul said he had a trump card. We'll only get in the way if we go back.
Kim Cheoljin calmly tried to dissuade her.
Jihoon said it earlier. That it's not something a human can fight. I agree.
Ha Siyeon turned and looked back in the direction where Kang Seoyul was left alone.
How could Seoyul possibly handle something like that on his own?
Siyeon.
Seoyul lied to make us run.
It was a truth they all secretly knew. No matter what incredible trick Kang Seoyul had up his sleeve, there was no way he could win against that demon.
But they all forced themselves to deny it. The will to survive suppressed their conscience.
So you guys should
It was then.
Ruuuumble-!
Kuaaaaaah!
A violent shockwave erupted from where the demon had appeared, followed by the monster's roar.
Ha Siyeon bit her lip.
So tightly that blood began to seep out.
There really was no time.
You guys go! Give the instructors the details! They must be nearby!
With those words, Ha Siyeon shot back the way she came.
S-Siyeon!
Behind her, everyone called her name.
But not a single one of them followed. Not even Kim Cheoljin or Choi Jihoon.
They all stood frozen as if their feet were glued to the ground.
Shit!
It was only natural.
No matter how much you wanted to be righteous, nothing was more important than your own life.
If you saw a baby sleeping inside a lion's mouth, not many people would stick their own hand in.
Please be alive.
And Ha Siyeon was the kind of person who, in that situation, would shove not just both her hands but her entire upper body into the lion's mouth without a second thought.
If she could save the child's life by using her own body as a brace, she would do so without hesitation.
Please please!
Ha Siyeons pace quickened. She was regretting her decision now.
I shouldnt have done that. At the very least, I should have stayed with him! I should have been the one to stay behind!
Gripped by fear from the demon's presence, she was filled with deep regret for leaving Kang Seoyul there alone.
Kuaaaaaaaaah!
The demons roar grew closer. The simple cry made her whole body stiffen, her teeth chattering in fear.
I can handle this!
But Ha Siyeon ran.
Embracing the fear, driven by the sole thought that she couldn't abandon her friend.
It wasn't because she held any special feelings for Kang Seoyul.
It was simply because that was the kind of hero Ha Siyeon had always dreamed of being.
She did it because her conviction commanded it.
Y-You bastard!
She was almost there.
Kang Seoyul was just ahead.
You goddamn bastard!
Until that moment, Ha Siyeon hadn't registered what the demon was saying.
She didn't have the time.
I finally! I finally got out! Why!
Im here!
At last, Kang Seoyul came into view.
Seoyul?
The sight of Kang Seoyul, wrapped in white chains, confronting the demon alone.
Time to go back in, Mephisto. Let's meet again later.
A sacred aura emanated from his entire body.
You son of a bitch!
Along with Mephisto's howl, the white chains drifting around Kang Seoyul began to move.
Three chains.
They circled Kang Seoyul as if they had a will of their own.
Has it been about a minute? Good.
The two were so focused on each other that they didn't notice Ha Siyeon's sudden return.
Let's see each other in about a year.
Kang Seoyul offered a smirk and reached out his hand.
Clank-!
Behind the demon, now completely bound by the white chains.
The air split wide open.
Aaaaaaaah! I finally! I finally got out!
Witnessing the unbelievable scene, Ha Siyeon's eyes trembled as if an earthquake had struck.
Just like a demon. Such foul language.
As the demon vanished, the chains floating around Kang Seoyul's body began to fade.
Just one minute.
Kang Seoyul muttered something cryptic.
Since I used three chains at once, this is going to hurt like hell, isn't it?
Zzzzzzzzzzt!
Keuheuk!
At that moment, violent sparks flew across his entire body.
Kang Seoyul's body tilted to the side.
Seoyul!
Ha Siyeon leaped forward and caught his body.
Ha Siyeon?
His face contorted in pain, he called her name.
You, keuk! Why are you here?
I-I was worried, so I c-came back. But more importantly, are you okay? Where does it hurt?
Wh-when did you start keuh. Watching?
Ha Siyeon fell silent.
So you saw.
Kang Seoyul sighed.
Hey, sorry, but. Can I ask you a favor?
Kang Seoyul said in a trembling voice.
What you just saw. Could you pretend you didn't see it?
He spoke as clearly as he could, fighting through the pain.
Why? This is clearly a disaster-level situation. If they find out you resolved it, surely!
There's a reason.
A reason?
Yeah. A reason Keuuup!
The pain consuming Kang Seoyul's body was growing stronger.
O-Okay, I get it! So just stop talking for now!
Seeing Kang Seoyul in such a state, Ha Siyeon panicked.
P-Please. Keuuup!
S-Seoyul!
With those words, Kang Seoyul lost consciousness.
I-Instructor! Seoyul and Siyeon are over there!
From a distance, Kim Cheoljin's voice rang out. Instructor Pi Jinho, who must have been nearby, ran over with the rest of Team 3, his expression grave.
He stood near Ha Siyeon and Kang Seoyul, surveying the area cautiously as he spoke.
Ha Siyeon. What's the situation? I received a call from Disaster Response that a disaster-level monster's mana source was detected. The demon. Where is it?
The other team members followed Pi Jinho and took up their positions.
But the surroundings were far too quiet.
it's gone.
What did you say?
I-It's gone!
Pi Jinhos eyes widened.
Gone? Don't tell me it left the field!
N-No! I think the seal wasn't completely broken. Th-these pure white chains wrapped around the demon, and it went back into the rift.
What?
Ha Siyeon suppressed her conscience and lied desperately.
Is that true?
Yes, yes!
Her mind was blank and her brain wasn't working properly, so she didn't know why, but she believed there must be a reason for Kang Seoyul's request.
I see. That's a relief.
Pi Jinho let out a sigh of relief. He didn't understand what had happened, but Ha Siyeon's words must be true.
Otherwise, there was no way both she and Kang Seoyul would still be alive.
What a relief.
And so, the Gangwon Province Field incident came to a safe conclusion.
Leaving behind the new issue of a demon that had appeared for the first time in ten thousand years.
* * *
Seonjonim!
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Jia's face, filled with worry.
Where am I?
It looked like a hospital.
But it didn't seem to be the on-campus infirmary.
It's a hospital affiliated with the Shinhwa Group. More importantly, are you feeling okay?
Huh? Oh. Im fine.
That's a relief
Jia clutched her chest.
Oh, I managed to block any hospital examinations. Your identity could have been exposed, Seonjonim.
Ah. I see. Thanks.
So that's why I was brought to a hospital a bit further away, instead of the on-campus infirmary.
Are you really sure there's nothing wrong?
Yeah. I'm okay.
I'd only passed out from the intense pain. I guess it was because I used three Scribe's Shackles at once. Three times the sparks, three times the pain.
More importantly, what happened with the situation?
Ha Siyeon had seen me seal Mephisto.
Her nature was honesty itself.
I had asked her to keep it a secret, but with her personality, she might have told the truth anyway.
They're just investigating. Calling it 'the mysterious demon that suddenly appeared and then vanished again.'
Ah. I see.
I let out an internal sigh of relief. It seemed Ha Siyeon had listened to my request after all.
But that you did it, didn't you, Seonjonim?
What?
Resealing the demon. I heard you stayed behind alone, Seonjonim.
It was true that I stayed behind alone, and it was true that I sealed it, but
Uh, no?
I tried denying it first.
Oh, come on. So humble, just as expected of you, Seonjonim. It's okay. I know everything.
Right.
Of course, there was no way Jia, who blindly trusted me, would believe it.
I was truly moved. I never imagined you infiltrated the academy to stop the demon, Seonjonim.
Huh?
Is that how it turned out?
You're truly amazing. How on earth did you get the information that a demon would appear there?
I subtly averted my gaze.
That it would appear.
I didn't know.
Is it the power of the Elven secret society?
Huh?
The Elven what society?
Anyway, Seonjonim. Now that you're awake, I'll go take care of the loose ends. I have to report to the academy, too.
She spewed out a storm of words and then stood up with lightning speed.
Well then, Seonjonim, please get plenty of rest today~
Huh? Oh.
And she left the hospital room at the speed of light.
I was just dumbfounded.
What in the world was going on inside Shin Jia's head?
What kind of being had I become in her mind?
I couldn't even imagine.
No, I was scared to imagine.
I dont know anymore.
I changed my train of thought.
To something more important.
I had to think about why Mephisto had suddenly appeared.
Because Choi Jihoon plunged the Black Iron Greatsword into the sealing circuit.
Then why did Choi Jihoon plunge it in there?
Because Ha Siyeon and I got closer faster than expected?
It was probably because of jealousy.
Choi Jihoon has feelings for Ha Siyeon.
To vent his dark, jealous feelings, he must have been swinging his sword from afar, and eventually swung the Black Iron Greatsword too.
In short, it was a butterfly effect caused by my actions.
Are you serious?
Just how twisted is this damn story going to get?
This is too much.
Just because I got close to Ha Siyeon a little early, Mephisto, who was supposed to appear in the mid-game, shows up now? What kind of bullshit is that?
Hah.
It's as if someone is telling me:
If you don't want the story to get any more twisted, be moderate about changing the future.
I snorted.
Tell them to go fuck themselves.
Be moderate about changing the future? Don't give me that bullshit.
The future changing is already a given. Because I, the protagonist who's supposed to drive this novel's scenario, have changed.
There's no novel where the story doesn't change when the protagonist is different.
For me, right now, using my knowledge of the future isn't a 'choice,' it's a 'necessity.'
Giving that up would be the same as sitting back and waiting to die.
I will always choose to do the best I can in the present.
Just as I have been.
My resolve won't waver.
Besides, changes to the story don't always lead to bad things.
In this case, I even managed to obtain an 'Angelic Trait.'
Ah. I should probably figure out what trait I got first.
I changed my train of thought again.
What mattered now was what kind of Angelic Trait I got,
and how many.
Please be three! Give me three!
Since I used three Scribe's Shackles at once, there's a high chance I got three traits!
With a trembling heart, I checked my body.
Agh!
And was disappointed.
The angel's crest engraved on my chest was green.
Meaning, I had only obtained a single trait.
So if it's the same item, it doesn't matter how many you use at once. That's how it works.
Well, it's not like another special case like this will happen again.
Anyway, what trait is it?
I tried experimenting with the trait, recalling the Angelic Traits I knew one by one.
It doesn't seem to be Light Mana.
Not something like Divine Punishment either.
Not Archangel's Insight, either.
But just like when I got Predator's Bloodlust, none of the traits I remembered seemed to match.
Ah. Do I have to grind again?
I put my hand to my forehead and sighed.
Figuring out these traits is no easy task.
And while you're at it, couldn't you just give me one of the overpowered traits I remember?
Sigh.
Still, you never know.
An incredible trait I don't know about might just pop up.
Just as I did when trying to figure out Predator's Bloodlust, I went over the characteristics of the angel race one by one.
First, they use Light Mana.
They oppose demons.
A strict hierarchical society.
They have battle angels like Valkyries.
.
.
.
My thoughts continued, one leading to another.
What else was there? Ah.
I just remembered, I'd forgotten the simplest feature.
They have wings.
Convenient, retractable wings.
The kind that look sort of like pigeon wings.
Zing-
Ouch, that stings!
At that moment, I felt a strange pain in my chest.
A strange sense of dread washed over me.
No way.
It can't be.
Nah. It can't be.
Just as I was thinking that.
Bang!
Seoyul! I heard you were awake!
The hospital room door opened, and Ha Siyeon walked in with a worried expression.
Fwoooosh!
I was so worri
Angel wings spread wide from my back.
I'm screwed.