Chapter 123: A Brief Peace

< Chapter 123: A Brief Peace (1) >

―So, it’s a temporary farewell then.

Lust left those final words and departed.

She was likely returning to the organization.

I had worried that my information would reach Unknown once she returned, but those worries turned out to be unnecessary.

―When I found Seo-yul, he was already being cornered by that monster.

Fortunately, it seemed Lust hadn’t seen me using the ancient relic.

It could be a lie, but it was probably the truth.

―If I had found you earlier, you wouldn’t have had to sustain such injuries...

I could vividly recall the look on her face as she ground her teeth while saying this.

...And well, I had also taken some extra precautions.

“Sigh.”

It was now 11:30 p.m.

Rena, Goldie, and White Tiger had long since gone to sleep in their bedrooms.

“Ah, my head hurts.”

I was alone, sitting at my desk, deeply pondering.

What kind of changes would Lucifer’s death bring? Thinking about it naturally made my head hurt.

“If I look at it one-dimensionally, it’s an extremely good change...”

The death of Lucifer, essentially the mid-boss of part two, was undoubtedly a good thing.

I no longer had to deal with him.

However, considering all the events that had unfolded around me, I couldn’t simply be relieved.

‘What if Lucifer’s death changes the moves of the demon side?’

‘What are the odds of a third person appearing to replace Lucifer?’

‘Could the demon become more cautious due to Lucifer’s death and make a mistake?’

These vague anxieties were eating away at my mind.

I had been smacked upside the head by the butterfly effect many times after all.

“Ah. I wish I could kill whoever coined the term ‘butterfly effect.'”

My irritation had reached its peak, and everything seemed negative.

“Ah, forget it.”

I closed my notebook and stood up from the chair.

I jumped straight into bed and closed my eyes.

“What’s the point of thinking about it now?”

All it would do is make my head hurt more.

After all, nobody knows what changes will actually occur.

Therefore, all the worrying I was doing was pointless.

It’s funny that I’m even worrying like this, to begin with.

I had always known from the start that changes in the future were inevitable.

I had only repeatedly taken actions to try to steer that future in a better direction.

...Even if the result was the premature appearance of Lucifer, I shouldn’t regret it.

Getting stuck in a cycle of anxiety about an uncertain future is the worst possible course of action.

“Sigh.”

Having settled my thoughts, I immediately felt my body relax.

Maybe because I had overworked my brain, sleep soon overwhelmed me.

“...Ah.”

It then occurred to me that in worrying about unimportant things, I had forgotten something crucial.

‘I still have to find out what the full activation effect of the Angel race is...’

My eyelids grew heavier.

‘I also need to experiment with the two new attributes I’ve gained...’

There was still much left to do, but I didn’t want to get up.

Flutter. Flutter.

Forget it.

I should sleep.

A moment later.

My consciousness went blank, like a light bulb suddenly switching off.

* * *

Sunday.

Today is the day I have plans with Jia and Si-yeon.

Well, we’re not going anywhere.

The two are coming over to my house to hang out.

Ding Dong-

The doorbell rang.

When I checked the intercom screen, I saw Jia and Si-yeon.

They’re here.

I immediately opened the door.

“Seo-yul-ah! Hello!”

“Ancestor. Hello.”

The two enter, smiling brightly.

“Welcome!”

Looking at the two, Rena responded in Korean.

Yes, in ‘Korean.’

Recently, she has been self-studying with a Korean textbook and realized that honorifics are not reserved only for the dignified royal family. So her tone became like this.

What a shame.

“Hello.”

“Hello.”

“Mm!”

Rena smiles brightly.

“Princess, your Korean has improved a lot, hasn’t it?”

Si-yeon broadly smiles and lifts up a shopping bag. At that moment, Rena’s face lights up.

Is Galbijjim that great?

...Well, it is delicious.

“Today, we’ve also prepared marinated ribs.”

“Marinated... ribs?”

Whether it was the word “ribs” that triggered it, Rena’s face brightened up like the sun.

Seeing her like that, I couldn’t help but smile.

...In a few days, she’ll probably be pronouncing ‘yangnyeom galbi’ correctly.

* * *

Sanctuary of Truth

“Welcome back.”

Maestro greeted Lust, who had returned earlier than expected.

“You said you wouldn’t come back until the deadline, but here you are. What changed?”

“That’s my business. Where’s the boss?”

“He’s busy merging the form of the Dragon’s Eye.”

“Is that so?”

Lust’s expression was sharp, like that of a predatory lioness.

The innocent smile she showed to Kang Seo-yul just yesterday seemed like a lie. A mask is fittingly worn in the name of lust.

“Did you gather a lot of Qi in Korea?”

Maestro spoke, thinking that the only thing Lust would have done while resting in Korea was collect Qi.

“Do I need to report that to you?”

“Hmm.”

Lust’s eyes emitted a cold light.

‘Was the phone call back then the issue?’

The day Maestro had asked her to return, perhaps touching upon her disgust was the problem.

Although he couldn’t yet understand why she reacted that way, it was probably certain.

“Then I can’t meet with the boss?”

“He said he’d like to focus on his work for at least the next three days.”

“I see.”

Without hesitation, Lust turned her body.

“I’ll come back in three days. Tell the boss when he’s available.”

As she was leaving, Maestro tried to stop her.

“Wait. I have a mission I’d like to entrust you with.”

Lust didn’t stop her steps.

“Send it by email. Emotionless notification is your forte, isn’t it?”

She then left the room without another word.

She didn’t want to engage in conversation with Maestro.

A sense of loathing bubbled up within her.

If the conversation continued any further, the ‘lustful’ mask she was currently wearing might be peeled off.

‘Why did I ever follow someone like that?’

She was irritated.

She couldn’t bear how foolish she had been, following Maestro simply because he was good-looking and posed no problems upon contact.

‘To think I considered that love.’

Her stupidity made her teeth chatter.

‘...I want to see Seo-yul.’

It’s been only a day, but I miss Kang Seo-yul.

My heart is pounding fast, and heat rises to my face.

“Ah...”

This must be the feeling they call true love.

‘Just hold on a bit longer. Once this matter is settled, I can be with Seo-yul.’

Once I fulfill all the terms of the contract with Unknown, I’ll be free.

‘Just hold out until then.’

Lust’s eyes shone with yearning.

Ssssh...

Darkness surged towards Lust. It wasn’t an attack.

“It’s been a while.”

“What brings you here? You approaching me first?”

Shadows began to coalesce, taking form.

“Lust, I have something to tell you.”

Soon, it took the shape of a person, revealing Hermit.

“You do? To me?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

Hermit leaned close to Lust’s ear.

“It’s about Kang Seo-yul.”

“!”

Lust’s eyes widened but quickly returned to her usual composed expression.

Pretending to be unfazed is one of Lust’s specialties.

“There are too many ears here. If you want to hear the details, come to the place I designate in two hours.”

Hermit looked at Lust, who seemed lost in thought and his mind racing.

“Think of it as a talk about Kang Seo-yul’s past, his purpose.”

Hermit had received a call from Kang Seo-yul a short while ago, using a one-time-use communication ring that Hermit had provided.

Kang Seo-yul had said this to Hermit:

‘Tell Lust about my past. Don’t leave anything out.’

He added:

‘Then she will become the sharp blade that will strike a fatal blow to Unknown’s heart.’

< Chapter 123: Brief Peace (1) > End