29. Shall We Become Villains?

* * *

Reina and Suji returned after handling the aftermath outside, followed closely by Yoo-jeong. Their expressions suggested they had many questions for me.

“Eun-ha…you’ve become a monster, haven’t you?”

Well, not exactly – but by human standards, my current physiology would qualify.

“Not entirely wrong. The core was the key to unlocking my power.”
“Becoming a monster was the condition?”

Suji and Reina tilted their heads in confusion, while Yoo-jeong looked uncomfortable. She likely knew my true identity already – the revelation that her lover was the dragon responsible for billions of deaths must be unsettling.

“Senior Yoo-jeong knows now, right?”
“Y-yes.”
“Then show them the information. I permit it.”

Yoo-jeong hesitated before updating my status screen:

Name: Yoo Eun-ha (Azhidahaka) Age: ?? Gender: Female Abilities: [Dragon's Authority] [Ruler's Prerogative] [White Flame] [Chaos] Skills: [Swordsmanship] [Physical Enhancement]

Their faces twisted like Munch’s The Scream.

“This is a joke, right? Eun-ha being Azhidahaka?”
“Look at my eyes and tongue.”

The physical changes – golden serpentine eyes and forked tongue – were permanent markers of my awakening. Though the tongue could revert at will.

“Whoa.” Suji gaped at my flickering tongue while Reina blinked rapidly. Convincing them took considerable time. I positioned myself as Azhidahaka’s successor rather than the original – a distinction supported by my documented birth as Jin-seok’s sister.

“What about those ‘Constellations’ you mentioned before?”
“That was…just my hallucination.”

A convenient lie. No need to explain my nostalgia for corporate drudgery in another world.

“Won’t using miasma be dangerous? The Association”””
“I don’t need miasma anyway.”

Miasma was for amateurs who couldn’t control mana. I could still pass as normal Eun-ha.

“Where were you earlier, Senior?”
“Submitting footage of you defeating Jae-su to the Association.”

The video made me sigh. Why did I attract so many stalkers?

“The public needs to know a student stopped him. Especially after the academy attack.”

This world craved heroes. With Korea still recovering lost territories, Jae-su’s betrayal had shaken society. My victory could restore hope – especially tied to Jin-seok’s legacy.

“300 casualties…they couldn’t hide this even if they wanted to.”
“Jae-su underestimated the hunters’ resistance. At least we protected the students.”

The real problem was the Association’s crippled authority. Their “Hunter Deployment Rights” – emergency command over guilds – were now jeopardized. Without this, handling China’s impending “Sin of Gluttony” invasion would be difficult.

“What about the team battles?”
“Postponed indefinitely.”

As expected. Holding tournaments now would be insanity.

* * *

I returned home while the others tended to Si-woo. The plot had diverged too far – with Si-woo weakened and me awakened, I’d effectively become the protagonist.

[Congratulations on reclaiming your true name, Master.]
“I’m still Eun-ha. But with the Association weakened and China looming…”
[You are the protagonist now.]
“That’s obvious. What’s the plan?”

The system suggested an unconventional solution:

[Rather than suppressing Korea’s villains…recruit them.]
“You expect monsters to follow me?”
[You’re technically a monster too.]

A villain route. Faster than rebuilding hunter forces. But problematic – the original story had hunters reclaiming Korea by eliminating villain factions. My approach would invert that dynamic.

[The current government is useless anyway.]

True. President Ha Jung-seok was corrupt – secretly exploiting dungeons despite UN bans, eyeing Pyongyang’s sealed gates. With the Association weakened, a villain takeover might be optimal.

“Where to start?”
[I recommend seizing control of the Black God Cult first.]

Of course. The cult worshipped Azhidahaka – me. Taking leadership would be effortless. But playing messiah to fanatics held little appeal.

“Any alternatives?”
[Only minor factions in Incheon and Bucheon.]

Unremarkable groups. The cult remained the pragmatic choice.

“Strike while the iron’s hot then.”

Incheon’s Michuhol District would be the stronghold. The challenge was bypassing Seoul’s quarantine walls – remnants from the cataclysm isolating the miasma-corrupted city.

Flight was possible with draconic wings, but would attract unwanted attention. I considered contacting Geum Tae-yang for transport, but revealing myself carried risks.

*Buzz*

A text interrupted my planning:

From Jung Na-yoon, Vice Chairwoman of Hunter Association: Eun-ha, could you visit the Association at your convenience?

Jin-seok’s former lover might provide the perfect excuse to reach Incheon.