Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Delusional Demon
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“Hmm... Looks like you're after me, right?”
His stance was blatantly hostile, so I dropped the formalities and asked bluntly. No need to play nice with a creep like this.
“Right.”
“Why show your face now? You killed someone and went into hiding—why not stay hidden?”
“...The National Intelligence Service must've called me in.”
“They're in a mutually beneficial arrangement with me. They called in a panic, so I figured something was up... and here you are, some lunatic barging in.”
“Lunatic? That's you, not me.”
“Says the guy running around killing people on a whim.”
“You mutate and all you do is play hero?”
“Whether I play hero or not has nothing to do with you. If anything, guys like you are the reason I ended up doing hero shit. I just wanted to live peacefully. But when I woke up, mutants were already public enemy number one.”
Perfect timing to ask. This guy wasn't some mindless Minotaur-type Mutant—why go around killing people? Was it lack of self-control or something?
I pressed on.
“Fine, let's hear it. Why kill people? What's in it for you? Some instinct you can't control?”
“I kill them because I'm bored.”
“...What?”
What did I just hear?
“I kill because I'm bored. Got a problem? The moment we mutated, we stopped being human. No reason to live by human rules, and I don't want to anyway. The cops can't catch me, so why bother playing by their rules?”
“...Did you turn into a devil, or were you always like this?”
“Always. If I could, I'd kill all the annoying bastards around me. That dogshit boss, those dogshit coworkers, my dogshit parents... So I did.”
“Psycho.”
“That's why seeing a guy like you pisses me off. You get that kind of power and waste it kissing human ass.”
This guy's a total nutjob. No doubt about it.
No matter how shitty someone's life is, not everyone snaps and starts killing.
I don't think I'm some paragon of justice.
Just your average Joe's mindset.
Help if I can, watch from the sidelines if I can't.
But scum like this? Yeah, that rubs me the wrong way on a basic level.
His fundamental personality was rotten to the core.
Or more like a chuunibyou who'd gone dark.
Special existence?
What a joke.
No matter how “special” you are, society—made up of humans—decides that.
Humans run the world right now.
And “special” means everyone in society sees you that way.
Not shunned.
But I didn't bother sharing these thoughts with him.
No point arguing with someone who'd just let it go in one ear and out the other.
And no desire to find common ground either.
Why bond with a psycho like this?
Even if mutation twisted his personality to extremes.
He should've at least tried to fight it.
If everyone followed base instincts, are they even human? At least show some effort to hold back.
That's just a beast.
So he's a beast.
A chuunibyou beast who thinks he's the most unique in the world and humans are lesser scum.
And above all... childish.
Hell, after months as a mutant, this is the first one I've met who actually says this crap out loud.
“Wow... you're seriously so damn childish.”
It slipped out before I knew it.
Oh, crap.
Should've held back. But who could?
I'm no social butterfly—sometimes I blurt out stuff I shouldn't.
“...What?”
He looked seriously pissed. It is childish—why rage?
“Hey, it's true. Acting like you're the new humanity or something? You think people will worship you like a god? What do they call you? Criminal. That's it. You mutate and become a criminal, then brag like it's a good thing... Isn't that peak chuunibyou? 'I'll get revenge on those who bullied me and do whatever I want...' That kinda crap?”
“You...!”
“Can you even go to a convenience store? How do you make money for food? Oh, Demon-type Mutant, so you probably steal it. But doesn't that get exhausting? Constantly ripping people off. Cops can't catch you? So what? They're still trying. You're a fugitive. You really like that?”
He probably couldn't counter. Who chooses that headache on purpose? Insane.
“And every time psychos like you rampage, normal mutants trying to live everyday lives take the hit. Perceptions are shaped by the few, and when you idiots go wild, we all suffer.”
“All I wanted was a world where mutants can live freely! Why should we tiptoe around humans? We gained power to do whatever— isn't it sadder not to use it?”
“No... You think you're the leader of some secret society? That's why it's childish. So, how many joined your secret club?”
“...”
“Oh, just you? Figures. Even I'd hate being rejected in this modern world full of conveniences.”
“Shut up...!”
“And if idiots like you didn't pull that crap, we wouldn't have to tiptoe. You're the main reason we do, so it's just ridiculous hearing you whine.”
Lost for words, maybe? His face flushed redder with rage as he snarled at me.
“Fine. If you'd just obeyed, I might've kept you as a pet...”
“Pet? Cocky much? Guess mutating into a mythic devil filled you with baseless confidence... Too bad, I've got overflowing unfounded confidence too.”
“Shut up!”
With that, he charged. He stomped the ground hard, shattering it.
KABOOM!
The well-maintained plaza crumbled in seconds.
Damn it, this asshole messing up my university!
This all comes out of my tuition!
Fine, you want to get wrecked? Your funeral.
His fist rocketed toward me. Faster than expected. But still...
Slow.
I saw his move clearly. I caught his fist right at my jaw.
CRACK!
Just grabbing his arm without holding back, and something snapped.
He hurriedly erupted flames from his whole body.
WHOOSH!
Whoa. Devil thing? He controls fire too? I can do that.
“Grrgh...!”
The pain from his grabbed arm must've been intense—he quickly backed off. Huh, tough. My casual swing dents alloys, and I gripped full force, yet his arm just broke?
“Devil. How many months in? Pretty sturdy.”
“Quit spouting nonsense...!”
“How long since you mutated? About two months?”
“...”
Nailed it. I clicked my tongue.
Two months, and in the one month gap, I'd already taken out a bunch?
No, more like comparing him to Sia—same two months, worlds apart. At least try to live cheerfully like her.
“With that weak power, you thought you'd make me a pet?”
“Hah, I haven't even gone serious yet!”
“Yeah, sure...”
No more chit-chat. Time to end this and hand him to the agents.
Right then, his aura shifted.
His body swelled, skin turning red.
Lower half fur-covered, head morphing into goat-like shape.
Like Baphomet from Christian legends.
Not just looks—black ominous flames ignited around him. Ah, so that's your ace?
But... didn't feel threatening.
If anything, it looked ridiculous.
“Ah, phase two.”
-I'll burn that smug mouth of yours!
He roared, conjuring a massive fireball in his hand and hurling it at me.
Seeing the black fireball flying—big enough to torch everything in a straight line—I felt like I could swat it easy.
I just held out my palm.
The fireball that should've incinerated me and everything else got sucked right into my hand.
Knew it—piece of cake.
-Impossible...!
“That all?”
-Not yet, not yet!
Shouting, he brewed an even bigger fireball. Big enough to wreck the whole area.
I saw onlookers who'd been gawking in shock now fleeing.
This psycho doesn't know moderation.
Fine. If you won't hold back, neither will I.
Perfect timing, actually.
To ensure half-assed punks never mess with me again, time to show 'em for real.
I'd held back before—full dragon mode wrecks my house.
Wings alone mess up the furniture; imagine the full massive body.
I knew my dragon size instinctively. Yeah, that's about right.
Knew how huge, so never dared on streets—buildings would've crumbled.
But this is a wide-open campus.
And he'd trashed all structures already.
Meaning, no more damage possible if I go full form...
Time to go true self.
Naked? Wings and tail to cover, ask for help after.
Wait, smartphone?
Eh, whatever. Buy a new one. Contract's up, got money.
Not the time for trivia.
Teaching this clueless pest a lesson mattered more.
I unleashed the power boiling inside.
VRMMM-!
Everything shook. Ground quaking like an earthquake, air trembling with shockwaves.
Felt the maxed power surging through my veins.
My vision shifted.
Clairvoyance on constantly—people scurrying like ants.
The devil too.