Ch.51Chapter 2. After the Battle (2)

The Doppelgänger demon incident had finally ended.

So many things had happened—the demon growing enormous, Baek Seol-hee showcasing a new technique, the demon shrinking to escape her attack, and finally dying when the Goblin’s strike simultaneously destroyed all three of its heads.

And then there was the revelation about Dueoksini, another entity that could drive humans who had become demons into a frenzy.

So many events had unfolded.

“…….”

Yoon Yi-seon had been at the scene of the incident.

Though not from the very beginning, she had been there from the moment Yuk Gi-bong started going berserk, trying to persuade him and confronting him.

But her presence had faded into the background midway through.

From the moment the Goblin stepped forward, from when Baek Seol-hee took action, from when Dueoksini appeared.

In the spectacle of S-rank heroes, she, as an A-rank, couldn’t contribute any meaningful power. She could only focus on spreading protective barriers from behind to ensure civilian safety and prevent the demon from running wild.

In the end, the protagonists were the S-ranks.

While her title as student council president was a badge of honor and source of pride, she was reminded once again that in this world, power was what mattered most for ability users.

She wanted to become stronger.

She needed to become stronger.

But she had no desire to gain power by becoming a demon like Yuk Gi-bong had.

If she became a demon, he would surely come to kill her.

-Student Council President Yoon Yi-seon. You’ve become a demon. I will execute you now.

That’s what he would say as he tried to kill her.

Regardless of everything she had done as student council president, she would be executed by the Goblin simply for becoming a demon, for becoming a villain.

“…I don’t want that.”

Yoon Yi-seon entered the student council room.

Alone in the empty room on a weekend, she slumped into a chair, acutely aware of her own inadequacy.

“I need power. But I can’t expect to suddenly become stronger or hope for some stroke of luck.”

Though she needed strength to achieve her ideals, she couldn’t reach out to dubious sources even for the sake of gaining power.

She had to walk the right path while becoming stronger quickly.

Though she knew it sounded impossible and would be incredibly difficult, she had no choice.

Because having the Goblin come to execute her would be too unfair to him.

“…Right. After he even talked to me like that.”

Yoon Yi-seon manipulated her Taegeuk Watch to display various screens on the conference monitor in the student council room.

(Direct Cam) Video shot from the Goblin’s side

[Hot Live] Video of the Goblin using a technique (not ultimate) during the Gibong Rider incident

[Subscribe O Donate O] ???: That’s not how you use fire

Videos of the Goblin from all angles appeared on the screen in various formats.

Among them was, of course, her own close-up footage.

[[[[That’s not how you use fire.]]]]

With all the videos synchronized, Yoon Yi-seon listened to the Goblin’s voice in surround sound.

“This is how you use it.”

Whoosh.

Yoon Yi-seon infused her outstretched hand with magical power, creating a pink fireball that resembled a fox’s face.

“…I can’t do it.”

Even creating a single fireball wasn’t easy.

Maintaining one required tremendous mana, so how much magical power would be needed to create a pillar of fire dozens of meters high?

“I am…huh?”

Her Taegeuk Watch started ringing.

Yoon Yi-seon quickly turned the volume of the PC connected to the screen to zero, muted it, and answered the call.

“Hello, this is Yoon Yi-seon.”

[Yi-seon, are you okay?]

“Ah! Teacher!!”

She had forgotten.

With such a major incident and her feelings of self-loathing, she had overlooked something crucial as a hero.

“Are you alright?!”

[Haha, I’m fine, but you don’t seem quite alright?]

“What?”

[I told you to speak casually, but when I spoke formally again, you naturally responded in kind. If you were your usual self, you would have said, ‘Why are you being formal again?’]

“Ah.”

As Do Ji-hwan pointed out, Yoon Yi-seon was distracted.

Whether she was enchanted by the Goblin or feeling inadequate for not being able to stand alongside him, she found it difficult to answer herself.

“I’m sorry.”

[No need to apologize. I survived thanks to you buying time, bravely persuading and stopping Gi-bong. Thank you, Yi-seon.]

“…Thank you.”

Those words of gratitude made Yoon Yi-seon’s heart flutter unnecessarily.

Though she didn’t act for praise and was simply doing what a hero should, hearing such direct appreciation naturally made her feel good.

[Your voice sounds a bit down, so you seem to be thinking a lot. Is it because of the student becoming a demon?]

No.

[If that’s the case, I don’t think you need to worry too much. You did your best. Even though Gi-bong became a demon, you did everything you could.]

“Thank you, teacher. For saying that.”

While Do Ji-hwan’s words addressed part of her concerns, they didn’t quite scratch the real itch troubling Yoon Yi-seon.

[If you ever need counseling, feel free to come to me anytime. I’m on your side.]

“Yes, thank you so much.”

In the end, would she have to find the answer herself?

[…Your response seems unsatisfactory, which makes me think you’re troubled by something more serious than I thought. If it’s not too presumptuous, may I guess?]

“Pardon?”

[Do you feel like you were pushed aside, unable to stand next to the Goblin and Snow White? Perhaps?]

Yoon Yi-seon unconsciously stood up.

She couldn’t ask how he knew.

She was surprised that he had read her inner thoughts so accurately, surprised that he had deliberately avoided mentioning it first because it might hurt her, and her heart sank at Do Ji-hwan’s words as he read her mind just from her voice and asked with consideration.

“…Are you a mind reader?”

[Nothing like that. I just asked about the most likely concern I thought you might have.]

“What other concerns did you think I might have?”

[Well, there could be many. But if I mention them all, it might complicate your thoughts, so I’ll give you my answer to the question I seem to have guessed correctly. Yi-seon, don’t rush. You have your own path.]

Do Ji-hwan’s voice felt like a reassuring pat on her back.

[They may seem ahead of you now, but if you steadily move forward, you might one day stand shoulder to shoulder with them, or even surpass them. You definitely have that potential.]

“…Thank you so much.”

[Now you sound more satisfied. What do you think? I’ve been reading some counseling books in basement level 2 lately. Do you think I could work as a counselor?]

“Pfft.”

Yoon Yi-seon couldn’t help but laugh at Do Ji-hwan’s silly remark.

“I think you’d be good at providing mental care for heroes later on.”

[Really? That’s nice to hear. If I ever get fired from being a librarian, I’ll consider the job you recommended. Ah, it’s getting late. Enjoy your dinner. Let’s have a meal together sometime when we’re both free.]

“Yes. I’ll contact you on the weekend.”

[Okay. Oh, and one more thing.]

Do Ji-hwan cleared his throat before saying:

[Thank you for saving me, Hero.]

With those words, he ended the call.

“…Geez.”

Yoon Yi-seon clutched her Taegeuk Watch and slumped over the desk.

“Calling me ‘Hero.’ Really….”

Behind Yoon Yi-seon, the setting sun warmly illuminated her back, and her ears had turned as red as the sunset.

“Mental care…. Pfft.”

Yoon Yi-seon fidgeted with her fingers as she silently replayed the Goblin’s videos on the screen.

“I received help now, but someday….”

She firmly pressed her shoulder where the Goblin had placed his hand.

Someday.

Imagining the day when she would stand before the Goblin and return those same words she had heard today, Yoon Yi-seon replayed the Goblin’s technique over and over again.

“…Hehee.”

In the video, despite the poor quality, the Goblin had clearly wiggled his finger slightly on her shoulder.

That small, gentle pat was undeniably real.

* * *

After returning to the Tavern Owner’s room.

“You said you were going out to eat, but I didn’t expect you to come back after dealing with a demon.”

“Neither did I. Let me borrow your bed.”

“You’re already lying on it.”

I lay on the Tavern Owner’s bed, resting.

“I used too much mana. I’m completely drained.”

“Did you use enough for your transformation to wear off?”

“Not quite. I used up to what I consider my ‘first deadline’—the amount I can safely use while still having enough left.”

I had used my mana while leaving enough to escape safely without being caught by anyone after the battle, and considering the possibility of encountering an S-rank opponent during combat.

“I need to increase my mana capacity too.”

“Doesn’t it naturally increase while you’re on Sejong Island?”

“It does. But there’s an easier way to increase magical power than just breathing here.”

I sent an advertisement link to the Tavern Owner’s smartphone.

“What’s this?”

“What else? A very special method to get stronger quickly and increase your mana capacity.”

“…Ulleungdo?”

“Yes. In Ulleungdo, there’s a special place that fills your mana 1.5 times faster and increases your maximum mana.”

Only six people know about this: me, Qiongqi, Taotie, Taowu, Hundun, and the Chairman.

“It’s a pension with hot springs. Operated directly by Yimemangryang.”