Ch.158Chapter 6. Kill the Dueoksini (2)

“What’s with the sudden talk about aliens?

You might be thinking that.

I think so too.

But no matter how imaginative the original author is, modern content can’t help but be influenced by previous content.

Whether it’s market research or something that left a deep impression in childhood, there’s always at least one element influenced by existing cultural content in some form.

The meteorite from outer space is a case in point.

The meteorite fell in the middle of the East Sea, but unlike many around the world who worried about an asteroid collision, it slowly settled into the East Sea as if a spacecraft were landing on the moon.

Whether programmed or containing actual life, it’s clear there was some ‘will’ behind it.

This will is the alien, and the beings created by the alien are the demons.

If I go deeper into this, things get really complicated, but I’ve decided not to think about that part right now.

“Dueoksini turned 72 ability users into demons and caused hundreds of casualties. That alone is enough justification to kill Dueoksini. Even if The Syndicate doesn’t step in, the whole world will hunt Dueoksini down.”

“So we’re creating a net to catch Dueoksini? Like that thing in martial arts novels, the heavenly net?”

“No. I just need to say one thing on the dark web and he’ll come out.”

“…Really?”

“Probably.”

I’m not certain.

But if I set the stage, he’ll definitely appear even knowing it’s a trap.

“Whether it’s to protect his identity or whatever, if he’s truly obsessed with Korean nationalism, he won’t be able to resist coming out after hearing this.”

“What are you going to say?”

“……that.”

I told them exactly what I planned to say to Dueoksini.

“Wow, that’s insane.”

“If he doesn’t show up, he’s not Korean.”

Taowu stuck out his tongue in surprise, while the Tavern Owner immediately connected to the internet.

“How should we do this? Should we spread it right now?”

“No. Not right now. He’s taken considerable damage, but mentally he’s probably feeling victorious.”

He’s thrown the entire country into chaos and shocked the world.

“Let him savor his victory for now. In fact, I hope he really enjoys it. To enhance his sense of victory, he’ll reach for modern taboos.”

Using my Taegeuk Watch connected to the TV, I typed a word into the search engine.

“Dueoksini.”

Search results, last 24 hours: 939,215 hits.

“Of course the whole world is paying attention to someone who’s set the world on fire. Especially since he caused this incident in Korea.”

“He’s going to ego-search?”

“Definitely.”

That’s how villains are.

Whatever reaction people have to their deeds, they enjoy watching the chaos they’ve created on TV, the internet, or wherever.

“Taowu. Rest up properly. Go lie down in the hot spring over there and you’ll recover some magical power. I’ll join you as soon as I’m done with preparations.”

“Okay. But you know, there’s a lot of that stuff next to the hot spring right now.”

“That stuff?”

“Yeah. The things Platinum Sun left behind. I think… he left them for you to deal with?”

“……”

Outside on the veranda, by the open-air bath, a pile of golden orbs was stacked up, protected by Taowu’s magical barrier.

“…Looks like I need to start swinging before setting the stage.”

I took out my goblin club.

“Taowu. Do you like golf by any chance?”

“Oh, can we use that for it?”

“Let’s merge.”

“Wow!”

Taowu happily clung to my back, and her body crumbled like mist and seeped into me.

“Hmm….”

“Is that what you looked like under the mask?”

“Yes.”

Through the veranda, I checked my appearance after purely accepting Taowu without any clothing or mask.

“Whether it’s Goblin or Do-rider, this should probably be covered.”

Geometric tattoos glimmered across my body.

Like a being who had achieved transcendence, patterns began to shine on my skin from upper to lower body.

My hair and eye color changed too.

Not to Taowu’s characteristic green, but to white.

White-dyed hair.

And tiger-like black patterns appearing all over my skin.

“Who would think this is Taowu of the Four Evils?”

“…That’s true. It looks more like….”

“Stop.”

I lightly touched the Tavern Owner’s lips with my index finger, and she raised both hands in understanding.

“Got it. Need a caddy?”

“Unfortunately, touching these is a bit dangerous. I’ll do it myself.”

I gripped the goblin club, shaped like a 7-iron, in one hand, then placed a golden orb on the floor of the open-air bath.

“Well then… one Dueoksini.”

-Just kidding!

CLANG!

As soon as I swung the goblin club [golf club], the golden orb shattered and crumbled to ashes.

“Nice shot.”

The Tavern Owner applauded from the side, and I placed the next golden orb on the floor.

Sometimes.

Humans need to engage in violent acts to relieve stress.

That applies to me too.

-Dueoksini, you piece of…!

And also for Taowu Hyun Se-rin who now resides in my body.

CLANG.

The second Dueoksini exploded after being hit by the golf club.

* * *

The field training was essentially over.

The Academy students were deeply shocked by the chaos of losing colleagues, friends, or family, and the situation was too difficult for anyone to comfort them properly.

Faculty members died, civilians died, and above all, ability users died en masse.

-This is the first time so many ability users have died since the [Great War] in China last November….

Ymir assessed the situation through the news on her Taegeuk Watch.

-Didn’t Platinum Sun ultimately cause more damage?

-What are you saying? Dueoksini is the cause. This chaos happened because that madman did such insane things! Don’t distort the facts!

Ymir was still somewhat afraid to check the reactions in online communities, so she didn’t try to look right away.

Instead.

“President.”

“Just call me Yi-seon. I’ll call you casually too. We’re the same age anyway.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

“You’re cool.”

Since her identity was already exposed, Ymir requested a conversation with the student council president, Yoon Yi-seon.

“What’s going to happen now? With the training.”

“Today, they’ll have everyone sleep in various locations. Since S-class heroes are gathered in Daejeon, they’ll requisition vehicles from across the country to gather everyone in one place. Except for us, I guess.”

Just as Yoon Yi-seon predicted, ability users were indeed gathering in one place.

With ability users scattered across the country during this chaotic situation, would it make sense to leave them in local accommodations?

-Hey! Are you telling us to die if another one goes berserk?!

There was fierce opposition from civilians, and above all, the ability users themselves wanted to gather in one place.

Even if I become a demon, if I’m near an S-class, they might “seal” me rather than kill me.

“The world is anxious. But ability users have one sanctuary. Do you know what that is?”

“What is it?”

“Even if I become a demon, there’s someone who can save me.”

Ymir was silent for a moment at Yoon Yi-seon’s words.

“Who are you talking about?”

“Platinum Sun.”

Yoon Yi-seon swallowed the word “you” and handed Ymir an ice cream from the dormitory refrigerator.

“Thanks to Platinum Sun, demons became human. They lost their abilities and will need to get all the vaccines babies get before they can live outside, and above all, they’ll have to adapt to living without abilities.”

“……”

“But at least people didn’t die. It’s a dilemma in many ways, but at least I don’t think Platinum Sun was wrong to purify demons into humans.”

“In the news debates….”

“Media, especially those panel discussions you mentioned, always feature people with opposing views to present different opinions. You don’t need to take the negative views about Platinum Sun to heart.”

“……”

Ymir put the ice cream in her mouth.

“Um, sorry. For not being able to do anything.”

“Huh? Earlier? It’s okay. I don’t know if I should say this, but well, no, I should—I was really happy to be saved by Goblin.”

“…Goblin? You were happy?”

“Yes.”

Yoon Yi-seon blushed and rubbed her cheeks with both hands.

“Ah. Goblin saved me with a princess carry.”

“You like Goblin?”

“Yes. I’m a fan. I’m member number 38 in the fan club.”

“…That’s impressive.”

“Right? Others call him a villain, but to me, he’s my own dark hero now.”

“A dark hero….”

It felt both wrong and right at the same time.

Ymir couldn’t say anything definitive about it, but she became certain of one thing.

“Yi-seon.”

“Yes?”

“If you were Goblin, what would you do right now?”

“If I were Goblin? Um, well.”

Yoon Yi-seon scratched her cheek for a moment.

“I’d try to catch Dueoksini somehow, wouldn’t I? Since I would have used up a lot of magical power, I’d probably move as soon as my power recovered.”

“Then, if your magical power recovered right away?”

“…I’d try to move as quickly as possible, right?”

“Then.”

Ymir approached Yoon Yi-seon with a serious face and lowered her voice.

“…If we had a means to recover magical power, wouldn’t it be best to attack before the opponent recovers their power?”

“…Um, Goblin probably needs at least a day to recover his magical power, don’t you think?”

Yoon Yi-seon’s eyes began to shift back and forth.

“What if it takes less than a day?”

“…If I know Goblin, he would definitely try to move right away…?”

“You, perhaps.”

Ymir narrowed her eyes and lowered her voice even more.

“Did Goblin tell you something? Besides Platinum Sun’s identity?”

“Uh?”

Ymir looked around before lowering her voice further.

“Ask me now, while no one can hear us.”

“Well, that’s….”

“I’ll ask you directly.”

Ymir brought her face close to Yoon Yi-seon’s with fierce eyes.

“If Goblin asked you to do something related to Dueoksini, tell me. If it’s about dealing with Dueoksini.”

Ymir looked at Yoon Yi-seon with cold, settled eyes.

“Let’s handle it before midnight, before the date changes.”