episode_0306

***

“It’s been a while, Persona.”

He was on his way back after reducing a monster with a crow’s face to a handful of ashes.

A man with crooked legs suddenly appeared in front of Kang In-ho, who landed on the roof of a suitable building and detransformed.

Kang In-ho frowned at the appearance of a man who seemed to have been there, without any warning.

“What are you?”

At the blunt words, the man’s eyes turned round for a moment.

“Your personality has changed a lot in the time we haven’t seen each other. So much so that he even makes eye contact with me. Hehe….”

He smiled an eerie smile. It was because the smile brought back memories of an old colleague who used to be very scared.

However, the old colleague I met after a long time had changed more than I thought.

“…….”

Fatigue and irritation were clearly visible in the half-masked eyes.

Crown cleared his throat in embarrassment at that expression he had never seen before.

“Surely you didn’t forget this crown?”

“Crown….”

“Oh my… Oh my… Have you at least lost your memory?”

Crown expressed regret in response to Kang In-ho’s question.

That exaggerated gesture upset Kang In-ho.

“It would make sense if he lost his memory.”

“Instead of muttering to yourself, can you please tell me?”

“Haha, I never thought I’d see you talking to me like that…”

As Kang In-ho continued to speak, a frown stood out on Crown’s forehead.

“Persona. Let me tell you who you are.”

“…?”

“You are one of the Four Heavenly Kings, the original witch’s faithful servants.”

“I know.”

“I don’t know why you lost your memory, but you know that a magical girl took you away…?”

Crown opened his eyes.

“Uh. I know. And I know one more thing.”

When Kang In-ho moved his neck, a crackling sound was heard.

“What…!”

Before Crown could finish speaking, Kang In-ho’s hand pierced his chest.

“You are left behind here.”

“…….”

The crown did not move even though it was pierced through the chest and burning inside.

Kang In-ho quickly recognized that sense of discomfort.

“What are you?”

“You figured it out right away. Yes, this is a dummy. After seeing Lilith and Tols die like that, did you think I would show up in front of you unguarded?”

Kang In-ho clicked his tongue and withdrew his hand, and Crown, whose chest was full, smiled at him.

“So why did you make a dummy and appear in front of me?”

“I thought you had lost your memory, so I tried to recruit you. But looking at what you’re saying… It seems like you’re obsessed with the magical girl even though you know she’s the Four Heavenly Kings.”

“Well, you can see it that way.”

“For some reason, I want to ask you something.”

“Because there is a better chance of winning this way?”

“Hahahaha, odds of winning? Are you planning to kill me laughing?”

When he held his stomach and laughed, Kang In-ho frowned.

“What’s funny? Two of the Four Heavenly Kings are already dead.”

“Hahaha, ah~ sorry. I laughed so hard at this.”

It must have been difficult to suppress the laughter that was bursting out, and Crown even had tears in her eyes.

“Your skills in dealing with Tols are definitely impressive. You have become twice as strong as you were before. Perhaps the magic of a magical girl made you stronger, right?”

Kang In-ho did not bother to answer that question.

Anyway, Crown continued the story.

“But even if you and two magical girls attack at once, the witch will not be able to win.”

“You’ll have to try it to find out.”

“Persona, did you get hit on the head hard in the last fight? Don’t you know the witch’s power?”

Crown let out a laugh.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“Are you strange?”

Kang In-ho, who was listening to him sullenly, narrowed his eyes.

“What do you mean?”

Crown said that there was no stabbing, but Kang In-ho did not erase his suspicion.

“If you were that confident, you wouldn’t have appeared like this.”

“…….”

“There is such an overwhelming power difference, are you trying to appease me? Breaking my morale? Are the Four Heavenly Kings such kind beings?”

“In the meantime, your brain has also improved. So what do you want to say?”

When Crown looked at him with the expression on his face erased, Kang In-ho raised his middle finger.

“No matter what the conditions, I do not negotiate with the evil group. So, don’t waste your time and get out.”

“…your will. Well sir. I hope that you will carry out your will until the end.”

“Okay, get out~ And don’t think about unnecessary surveillance, because it will only make you die more painfully.”

He raised his middle finger with both hands, as if waving to a friend leaving far away, and taunted him to the end with his tongue lashing out.

Grinding his teeth to make a clicking sound, Crown turned around, and soon his body collapsed like a collapsing building.

When he disappeared without any warning, Kang In-ho, wearing a mask, breathed a sigh of relief.

“Ugh… things are going to get complicated.”

Why am I acting like a vigilante who is not even in the Eight Characters…

It’s a hassle to buy it for no reason.

***

A few days after that.

Kim Seong-ah, who was preparing to go to school while eating the food he prepared, looked at Kang In-ho worriedly.

“Uncle, are you okay?”

“It’s worth holding on.”

“You went out today too, right?”

“Uh, those crazy people came at dawn. Bastards with no morals.”

“It must have been difficult to wake up… I also had a hard time waking up at dawn.”

She glanced at him.

“Mister, we just work in 2 shifts…”

“Let’s think about it after the CSAT. First of all, focus on taking the CSAT.”

“How can I study with peace of mind when my uncle is dozing off like a sick chicken?”

“So is that what your mock evaluation score was like?”

“…When did I see you again?”

“When I went to wake you up, it was lying on the desk.”

“…….”

“I worked a lot of overtime while working at the company, so don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

“I don’t care if it’s someone else, but I’m worried.”

Seongah Kim pouted her mouth and grumbled.

“But they won’t invade again today. If you go to school, I should get some sleep.”

“Because I need to make up for the lack of sleep. Do you really need to sleep?”

She spoke again as if trying to confirm her promise.

He nodded and rubbed his eyes. The stuffy eyes showed no signs of loosening.

When Kim Seong-ah headed to the entrance after finishing her meal, he also moved to see her off.

After watching her for a moment as she put on her shoes, he opened his mouth.

“Ah, let’s eat out today.”

“I like it. You too, get some rest.”

“Okay, I’ll get to the school on time. See you there.”

“In front of the school…?”

“Yes, why?”

Kim Seong-ah paused for a moment in response to his question.

“Um… no. See you in front of the school. Instead, please do not stand in front of the school gate.”

“Why?”

“Just think of it that way.”

With a smile like sunshine, she opened the door and walked out.

“I’ll be back~”

Kang In-ho sees her off with a fresh smile.

Seeing someone off feels a little strange.

“…I’m sleepy.”

He rubbed his watery eyes again and headed to his room.

I thought I should sleep well now so my body would return to its original state.