Ch.141Chapter 6. The Devil Is Everywhere. (3)

I shouldn’t judge people hastily by their names.

However, living in this world, I’ve learned one of its rules.

A person’s name is a mirror that reflects who they are.

And whether the author was too lazy to care or deliberately chose this concept, in this world, those who show potential to become demons invariably have strange names.

“Celestia, I need you to look into something for me.”

“Ymir’s internship mates? Let’s see… Nam Du-chang, Gong Tae-beom, Eun Hae-young. D, C, and B-rank respectively.”

“Just looking at their profile pictures, I feel like I already know what kind of people they are.”

One shouldn’t judge people by appearances alone, but if I had to give these people demon names based on what they might become, they’d be something like:

The Demon of Prison Tattoos.

The Demon of Shifty Eyes.

The Demon of Gossip.

“I feel like I’ve suddenly gained insight into physiognomy.”

Names, faces, abilities, and reputations gathered from ability user wikis and the people around them.

Using Celestia’s information network and the communities I frequent, I discovered that these three Koreans embodied what might unkindly be called the “Ugly Korean” stereotype in appearance.

“We shouldn’t judge people by their looks, but this is really something…”

“A person’s face reveals the life they’ve lived and their character. Don’t you think so, Mr. Jang?”

“I agree completely.”

We’re currently in a limousine heading to the pension.

Since these weren’t conversations we could have in public, we were speaking quietly in the car with its soundproofing.

“Ulleungdo is somewhat better, but if you go to Busan or Gangwon Province, you’ll often see such people. Koreans who pester foreigners.”

“Like those who go to Japan and say ‘Let’s drink together’?”

“You don’t even need to go to Japan—just go to Gangneung or Pohang. There are plenty of people who approach foreigners saying ‘Do you know makgeolli?'”

“Don’t criticize those people too much. As tavern owners, they’re all ‘customers’ to us.”

“…Fair point.”

How should I put this?

It’s sad how twisted things have become.

“Still, that’s relatively decent, isn’t it? There’s a reason for the term ‘kimchi premium.'”

“Do you think people get picked up because of who they are? They get picked up for being Korean, having Korean citizenship, and owning property in Korea. These days, just saying ‘I’m from Busan’ is enough to attract foreign women. As long as you’re reasonably average-looking.”

We live in an era where Koreans can freely bring home foreign daughters-in-law from abroad.

“If someone’s face isn’t great, they can just get plastic surgery, and once their child becomes an ability user, they automatically get the pretty boy/girl enhancement anyway.”

We live in a world where people aim to increase the chances of having children with abilities in Korea, and even if they fail, women marry Korean men hoping their entire family can immigrate to Korea.

“What about the cases that don’t fit this pattern?”

I showed Mr. Jang a photo of Eun Hae-young, Ymir’s B-rank 21-year-old female internship mate.

“…Could it be that kind of ability? Maybe she’s normally large-built, and the source of her ability is fat, so she had to build up her body?”

“That’s not it, sir. She simply failed at self-management, despite being born with a god-given ability user’s body.”

Celestia was visibly annoyed.

“Even E-rank ability users don’t gain weight eating tteokbokki three meals a day without any vegetables. It gets even more extreme as you go up the ranks. She just eats enormously and failed at self-management.”

“Hmm…”

“Tch, and some of us manage our bodies by chewing celery for one meal a day.”

Special trait of ability users:

No matter how much they eat, they don’t gain weight.

However, if the amount of food exceeds what their mana can handle, even mana eventually surrenders.

“Do-manager, what would you choose? An E-rank blonde, blue-eyed foreign beauty, or a B-rank Korean woman who doesn’t take care of herself?”

“It’s absurd to even ask me that.”

“Objectively speaking. Setting aside that it’s Ymir.”

“That’s exactly why asking me is meaningless.”

As someone not originally from this world, I can answer with certainty.

“I’d choose the blonde, blue-eyed foreign beauty even if she were a non-ability user instead of E-rank. What about you, Mr. Jang?”

“Even if that B-rank woman had enough wealth to buy Ulleungdo, I’d choose the beauty.”

“Wow, men.”

Celestia scoffed at our judgment.

“Are you saying a woman’s face and figure are everything?”

“If it’s someone I’ll spend my life with, shouldn’t I consider that?”

“When you wake up in the morning, the first thing you see isn’t the ceiling but your wife’s bare face. Of course it matters. Celestia, you’re not someone we need to worry about in that regard, but with women like her, it’s something to consider.”

“…Hmph.”

Wow.

Is that what experience brings?

In a situation discussing Eun Hae-young, he naturally compliments Celestia.

“What about men then? These two guys.”

“If I had to say, if my little sister said she was dating this guy, I’d definitely try to stop her.”

“They’re the kind of men you’d have to think twice about even being friends with, judging by their appearance.”

“Harsh assessment.”

“It’s the truth based on what people around them say.”

Celestia seems to have missed something.

“Celestia, there’s a place where information about notorious people on Sejong Island gathers. Do you know where?”

“The Ugly Korean Collection?”

“Similar. Actually… it’s here.”

I pulled up a community site, and Celestia’s eyes widened.

“Here…?”

“A community for nurses working at an obstetrics clinic in Busan.”

“You check even places like this?”

“There’s information worth finding. You probably don’t go this deep, so it’s natural you’re behind. Look at this.”

When I showed Celestia what I’d found, she openly frowned.

“What the f…”

“Disgusting, right?”

“Is this real?”

“I think so. It might not be in official records, but sites like this are where you can see truly revolting things.”

A site filled with contempt.

Not created for hatred, but one where contempt naturally developed because the people here have seen so many such cases.

-Girls, another victim came in. I think NDC knocked someone up and abandoned them again.

-What garbage. Is this the third one this year?

-She’s crying saying she’ll raise it, but how is she going to manage as a single mother without abilities?

“I’m not saying having abilities means you must take responsibility, but God didn’t give people abilities so they could enjoy pleasure without consequences.”

Using their superior status as ability users.

Using their “kimchi premium” as Koreans.

“Trash who target only ordinary people, use them, and throw them away.”

These men were a breeding ground for vile, disgusting individuals.

* * *

Meanwhile, at Seoul Station.

“I’m worried.”

Baek Seol-hee, who had just gotten off the train with her luggage, sighed as she checked the regional internship group assignments on her tablet.

“Will she be okay?”

She looked through various groups, checking the one Ymir was in.

Some students she had taught directly, others she knew only by reputation.

Of course, they were all adults over 20, responsible for their own lives, and as an educator, she shouldn’t judge people based on rumors.

But judging by facts, not rumors, these were the kind of people who would cause Ymir significant mental stress.

“I’m sure she’ll manage, but still…”

Baek Seol-hee briefly bit her lower lip.

-Teacher, I started dating my internship mate. I’m sorry.

-Oh, really? Then I can hang out with Seol-hee every day. Ms. Seol-hee, come visit me every night from now on. Ymir won’t be coming anymore.

-Really…? Don’t worry. Instead of the unfaithful Ymir, I’ll counsel Ji-hwan as much as she did.

Such a scenario would never happen.

She had briefly entertained the thought, but unless Ymir lost her mind or was hypnotized, she would never leave Do Ji-hwan for another man.

Seol-hee’s concern was just one:

-Wow, teacher. Men are the worst. You’re the only one I can trust.

-Weren’t you in the middle of your internship? Be careful what you say.

-How can I help it? They smoke, drink instant coffee, get in the car without brushing their teeth, keep pestering me for my number, creepily investigate me with alt accounts, and keep glancing at my chest. They think they’re so great and try to seduce me, probably planning to get me drunk and do weird things.

What worried her was that Ymir might see her internship mates and conclude that Do Ji-hwan was the only decent man.

Regardless of abilities, she might come to like Do Ji-hwan even more simply as a man.

“That would be a problem…”

“Seol-hee!!”

“……”

Seol-hee felt irritated at the man approaching her, calling her name so casually.

“Please don’t address me so informally, [Crater].”

“Wow, so picky. The Ice Princess as always.”

“……”

“Isn’t that a bit harsh? We’re both from the 0th generation. And I’m A-rank, you know.”

A tanned man with a sly face approached her.

“…I’m no different.”

“Huh? What do you mean you’re no different?”

“Nothing.”

Looking at him, Baek Seol-hee thought:

‘Ji-hwan is definitely better.’

Regardless of abilities, when dealing with humans, one must consider fundamental issues first.