Ch.48Chapter 2. When a Villain Falls, Transforming is the Standard Rule (1)

Before I could say anything to Yoon Yi-seon, a strange figure wearing hanbok-style casual wear appeared.

There’s an occasional joke about this. If you ever see a high school teacher who wears hanbok-style casual wear, they’re highly likely to be considered the “villain” among the teaching staff.

I don’t need to elaborate on what kind of not-quite-evil deeds they commit against students, but this person before us called Dueoksini is beyond the realm of fashion from their clothes alone.

The magical power emanating from them is immeasurable, and they’re strong enough that I couldn’t guarantee victory if I fought recklessly.

Their outward appearance suggests a madman prone to bizarre behavior, but the power and combat ability hidden beneath that mask is strong enough to easily toy with even decent S-rank heroes.

This person threw a demon seed at Yuk Gi-bong’s body.

There wasn’t even time to react.

[Grr, grrr…]

The Doppelgänger, whose body instantly grew to over 2 meters, gnashed its teeth like a beast, like a lycanthrope going berserk on a full moon night. Dueoksini bowed behind the Doppelgänger.

“As much as I’d like to take down you, Goblin, right now… I should first deal with the ‘traitor to our people.'”

[Traitor to our people? The Doppelgänger?]

“Yes, indeed. This one has committed truly wicked deeds. Actions that make me ashamed to be of the same ethnicity. How… how dare they claim a villain’s outfit as their own!”

Dueoksini spread both arms and shouted.

“In an era where stealing others’ property is punishable, they dare steal from villains! This person is a capitalist demon who steals not physical items but appearances to make enormous profits! A demonic sprout with evil writhing in their heart! Therefore, I’ve turned this demon into a complete demon, making it impossible for them to ever die as a human.”

Splash!

From the middle of the diagonal wound across the Doppelgänger’s chest, something like a parasitic organism shot out, extending tentacle-like legs to establish itself.

If before the demon’s eyes merely gleamed, now even the pupils seemed infected by the monster, becoming demonic.

“Huhuhu. This one has tarnished the honor of the Korean people. They’ve made our people look like dirty, pathetic creatures who steal others’ patents. Ah, what would others think? Wouldn’t they think we’re a people who only steal and copy from others? Such a person deserves death!”

Dueoksini spread both arms and tilted their head backward.

“It would be a waste to just kill them, so I’ll recycle this corpse in the most beneficial way for humanity. Like this.”

Tok, toktok.

Dueoksini pulled out two more demon seeds and sprinkled them on the Doppelgänger, who seemed on the verge of going berserk.

“They’ll become experience points for heroes. Hahaha.”

Splash!

The mass of magical power that burst out from the diagonal wound on the chest, breaking blood vessels, clearly resembled human eyes.

Despite already having an eye with tentacles in the middle, two more sprouted, creating a sight that filled observers with shock and terror.

Moreover—

“Grow even larger, demon. To atone for your original sin, for the eternal peace and development of those living in this land, you must sacrifice yourself.”

[Grrrr…!!]

The Doppelgänger, now containing two more demon seeds, began to swell even larger.

Not just swelling—the tentacles bursting from the Doppelgänger’s chest wrapped around its entire body, forming a round, egg-like membrane.

It had enclosed itself in an egg.

As if to metamorphose into a new form.

“A-Attack!”

One of the heroes issued an attack order in a panicked voice.

Several heroes unleashed attacks from a distance, trying to break the Doppelgänger’s egg, but it didn’t even scratch.

The egg kept growing, easily reaching 5 meters, approaching 10 meters. I was about to step forward with my club made from the Goblin’s cudgel but held back.

[Dueoksini. What exactly are you?]

“A patriot.”

[You, a patriot? Don’t talk nonsense.]

“That’s not something I want to hear from someone who spouts English techniques on Sejong Island. And one more thing.”

Dueoksini pointed at me with a white-gloved hand.

“How dare you speak informally to me when we’ve just met? Don’t you know that in the land of Eastern courtesy, it’s mutual respect to use formal speech when meeting someone for the first time?”

[I don’t think I need to show that level of courtesy to someone who possesses an item that turns villains into demons and demons into even larger demons.]

“Ha…! Interesting. Very well. That kind of character is indeed fitting for a Syndicate villain who shouts technique names in English.”

Dueoksini raised both hands and bowed again.

Without lowering their head, but bending it upward to look at me while bowing, they lightly tapped the ground with their jipsin sandals.

“Then try facing that traitorous demon.”

[Before you leave, let me ask you one thing.]

I pointed at the Doppelgänger on the verge of going berserk.

[How is creating such a monster, which will likely kill people and go on a rampage if left alone, an act of ‘patriotism’ or ‘atonement’?]

“…Huhu.”

Dueoksini pointed at the people and heroes all around.

“The only value of a treasonous demon who has damaged our national dignity is to serve as a ‘foundation’ for heroes to become stronger. Of course, if this foundation is too high to climb, everyone will simply perish.”

[I see. So that’s your ideology.]

“My ideology, and simultaneously the ideology of the organization I belong to. Huhuhuhu, Goblin. What will you do? Will you run away, or will you fight alongside the heroes? I’ll quietly observe your answer.”

Flutter.

With the fluttering of their jeogori, Dueoksini instantly disappeared as a magic circle-like formation of light appeared beneath them.

[…Tsk.]

I was trying to get some information by making them talk, but they just rambled on their own and left.

‘If you’re not going to tell me where you made the demon seeds, how many you have left, or what other functions they have besides strengthening demons, then don’t bother talking.’

I engaged in conversation, but it was completely fruitless.

Next time, I’ll smash their skull with my Goblin cudgel before they can talk like that.

[All talk and no substance, that one.]

They’re probably watching from somewhere right now.

When I meet Dueoksini again, I’ll be sure to tell them exactly that.

The kind of words that would make Dueoksini hit their rage button and go crazy.

[KYSHAAAAA!]

Having completed its transformation, the demon Doppelgänger roared in all directions.

It threw off the shell surrounding it, tearing through the giant membrane cocoon to violently reveal its existence to the world.

[A 10-meter humanoid wolf. I thought it would grow bigger. Disappointing.]

I expected it to be about 50 meters, but fortunately or unfortunately, it didn’t grow that large.

If it had, we might have needed to bring in a non-existent giant robot for a transformation and combination, or I’d have had to hold up something like a spoon high in the air and become a giant of light for three minutes to engage in hand-to-hand combat.

Others might be disappointed, but if I went that far, my magical power would be completely depleted, and my transformation would end with me naked.

I have no reason to go that far.

“Um, excuse me!”

Yoon Yi-seon urgently called to me from behind.

“As a hero, it’s embarrassing to ask a villain for help… but would you assist in ‘saving’ student Yuk Gi-bong from that demon!”

[Saving?]

“…At the very least, giving them peace so they don’t kill anyone in that demonic state.”

Yoon Yi-seon pointed to her Taegeuk Watch with a heavy voice.

“One of the hero rules: Subdue demonized ability users by any means necessary, regardless of who they are. And for ability users who have gone too mad for dialogue… take action to prevent them from committing more killings.”

[Death can also be salvation, I suppose. From the perspective of not accumulating the karma of killing.]

“…Will you help us?”

[KYAOOOOO!]

It howls in victory, celebrating its complete rebirth.

The estimated rank of the Doppelgänger glaring around is nearly S-rank.

I wonder why A-rank and S-rank villains keep appearing on Sejong Island where students are trying to study, but that’s the power of the demon seed.

Deals with demons bring greater gifts than humans expect, but take more terrible tolls.

[I could help, but I don’t think I need to step in.]

I pointed to the sky.

[The strongest hero has arrived.]

I’m not being sarcastic.

I’m completely serious.

[No matter how much magical power was dumped into someone with three demon seeds, they can’t win against pure class.]

From the sky.

[Finally here.]

White snow began to fall.