Chapter 132

Chapter 132

Episode 132: A New Beginning As an aside, I was told I had been asleep for almost four days. Of course, it’s easy to guess that there were some happenings during that time. “Priest, can I draw some more blood?” Looking at Josef, who was holding a syringe and sparkling his eyes, I sighed and held out my arm. “Take as much as you want.” Even though he had drawn blood and collected samples countless times while I was asleep, Josef didn’t seem satisfied yet. According to Mien, he went almost crazy when he saw me demonized, rampaging like a madman, which I couldn’t imagine at all. It was already strange to see the man who had such a fragile and cold expression as his trademark so excited, but rampaging like a madman? I could believe it, but I couldn’t picture it. Josef continued, drawing blood from me. “Priest’s body is completely different from the cells I restored. If I had to define it, I would say it’s half-demon? And the quality of magic power is probably different too. The exact details will only be known when Master’s experiment results come out….” Probably so. The reason I, who was dying, successfully completed my metamorphosis was because the Doppelganger’s cells I had swallowed were able to react to magic power and become active. Even as other cells were dying, the Doppelganger’s cells used magic power as a power source to make my heart beat, endlessly replicating themselves and replacing the dying cells. Half of my body died, and the other half was filled with Doppelganger’s cells, so of course I would become a demon. “I really thought you were dead at first. Blood was flowing all over your body as if you were covered in it, and your skin was falling off, but it was a wonder you were still alive. The blood you shed was probably enough for one person.” Mien was the same in saving me from death. She didn’t listen to me when I told her not to touch me and immediately performed a blood transfusion. It seems that the Iron God Armor was destroyed at that time, so the needle went in. If it weren’t for that blood transfusion, I would have definitely died. No matter how much waste there is in the body, you can’t help but die if you don’t have blood. You need materials to perform a metamorphosis. As a result, it was a stroke of luck that all these factors combined. If I hadn’t received a blood transfusion, if I didn’t have the Doppelganger’s cells, if I hadn’t learned martial arts, and if the demon’s core wasn’t the Doppelganger’s, I would have died. “Thank you. I did something unnecessary…” “No, you did really well. I’m really grateful that you did that unnecessary thing.” When I offered a weak apology, Josef replied with sparkling eyes. I was originally going to thank him, but looking at his attitude, I was starting to wonder if I was the one who should be thanked. “Until now, the demonization of half-demons and humans was a concept that existed only in imagination, defined as theoretically impossible. You have shown that possibility. If I submit this to the academy….” “….They will definitely reject it. They’ll ask what kind of crazy experiment I did. I’d be lucky if they didn’t put me on the wanted list for violating the taboo.” It was Quirjev, who was leaning against the bedroom door, who continued the sentence. Of course, the older Quirjev. “….You said it was 40 years ago?” “There are things that don’t change even after 400 years, let alone 40 years.” Well, 400 years is enough time for a matchlock gun to evolve into an M2 Browning. There are probably far more things that change than things that don’t. “….Can’t we just go back to the southern desert?” “Shut up. I like it here. They give me money, and the stupid magic academy guys publish papers regularly, so why would I go back?” Josef and Quirjev talked back and forth for a while. But soon Josef left the room, saying he would test the results, and only Quirjev and I were left in the bedroom. “….” When it was just the two of us, a slightly awkward atmosphere unfolded. Of course, it wasn’t a pink atmosphere. It’s not that I think Quirjev is ugly, but I don’t have the taste of having a romance with a 70-year-old man. Maybe the old Laila would, but the newly born me, Laila Mk2, doesn’t. “How’s your body?” Looking at Quirjev asking that, I chuckled and answered. “Don’t worry. The child is safe.” ….Still, it seems that the playful side remains the same. Seeing that I want to tease people even in this situation. Quirjev’s face contorted strangely at my absurd answer. “Ahem, that’s….fortunate.” Too bad. I don’t think so. I can’t understand why this crazy tentacle monster survived even though I lost 5 liters of blood and my body was being destroyed. Shouldn’t it have just died with me? ….At the same time, I can’t understand myself for thinking that it’s a good thing it survived. It would be difficult to define this feeling in the corner of my heart as maternal love. There’s no reason for me to have such a feeling, and I should feel disgusted if the object is just a monster. It was just a feeling close to pure relief, so I couldn’t figure out the cause even more. “Something might have gone wrong, though.” Still, I put in some insurance just in case. Metamorphosis was a change that happened at the genetic level. It’s obvious because it’s inherited. However, since the decisive factor is the ambiguous concept of enlightenment, there is no guarantee that the child of a father who has undergone metamorphosis will achieve metamorphosis. “….I have to hope that’s not the case. It’s unfortunate for you, but.” “I understand. It’s understandable.” I nodded and waved my purple hand. I was briefly captivated by the enchanting color reflected in the lamp, but I smiled and turned my gaze back to Quirjev. “There won’t be another chance. I’m a demon now.” Quirjev has been raising Laufer by parasitizing it on other monsters. Since they are creatures with magic power, they will be fine with the magic power of Laufer’s core. And now I am the same kind of monster. In other words, this Laufer is the seed I had when I was human, and it is proof that I was human. ….So, is that why I have a special feeling? I don’t think there’s any reason to, but it’s hard to know how your heart flows, so I couldn’t be sure. // My body was all better, but these days I was just lying in bed. There’s no particular reason, it’s just comfortable. If it was the Mk1 version, I would have been working as a prostitute in Peqs to gather energy without any shame, but I can’t do that. I probably can’t. I would if I really didn’t have any money. Otherwise, there’s no need to. Thanks to that, I’ve been living a life of diligently reading books these days. And, even if it’s not a book, there’s something else worth reading. “Ha, really….” I chuckled and read the letters written on the brown paper. The letters reflected in the light had a familiar shape. It was the language we used in our past life. I haven’t forgotten Korean even after 15 years, so I should praise myself for that. [I got the note. Damn it, you should have told me sooner. I don’t know who you are, but my head is still tingling. I’ll definitely pay you back next time we meet, so look forward to it.] Taliman Rebote. What I was reading was a letter left by him. I sent a note through Josef, and fortunately, he seemed to have received it. [I want to talk more, but I can’t help it since you have urgent business. I’ll go back first. I can’t help it because I’m tied down. If you want to talk more, come to the Tyvon County next time. It’s in the eastern region, so it’ll be easy to find. Yoo Tae-jin.] Yoo Tae-jin. When I closed my eyes and recalled my memories, I felt like I knew him. Even though the outline was a bit blurry, he was a friend who I thought was quite handsome in my past life. “….Tyvon County.” I recited the name softly, as if engraving it in my head. If it was the old me, who was out of my mind, I would have spouted nonsense about definitely taking him, but it’s different now that I’ve come to my senses. Still, if I leave the underground plaza, should I go meet him? [P.s Oh, and I found Kim Ah-ram too. Meet her on the way. She’s Lutrisia Lante, the daughter of Baron Lante in the county.] Since the three of them are tied together, Yoo Tae-jin must have found one person and exchanged contact information with them. Anyway, if it’s Kim Ah-ram….she would have been a woman, so it’s lucky that her gender hasn’t changed. And she’s a noble, so she’s lucky. When you think about it, Yoo Tae-jin’s gender hasn’t changed either. Compared to the three men here who all became women, it could be said to be a pretty successful reincarnation. At least better than me. There’s no one who has done as much crazy shit as I have. “Hoo….” When I look back on the past, I can’t help but sigh. What should I say to Emily and El later? ….I even went into a relationship similar to a lover with Emily. We had sex together, I was fucked by Charka, and we were gang-banged together. What the fuck. “No, how can that be?” I shook my head to scatter the images that came to mind and put the letter on the table. No one would be able to read it anyway, so it doesn’t matter if I leave it there. It’s not like it has any nutritious content anyway.

-Thud.

Then I lay down again and looked at the ceiling. “….” I’m leaving the underground plaza as early as tomorrow, or as late as the day after tomorrow. Of course, there are still many unresolved issues everywhere. I couldn’t find where Caldin ran off to, and my relationship with Sartun, especially Muren, ended ambiguously. ….But, right now, I just don’t want to face all those relationships as much as possible. Ah, of course, not Caldin. If I meet that guy, I’ll cut off his head first…but I don’t have to. When you think about it, I came to my senses thanks to him. Still, as much as he did that to me, my thought that I should beat him to death if I meet him next time hasn’t changed.

-Tap.

After being lost in thought for a while, I got up from the bed. The place I’m heading to is the mirror in the corner of the room. After passing the short distance, I stand in front of the mirror. “….” Purple skin, yellow eyes, and black hair. It’s an appearance that can be said to be seductive, but it’s an appearance that gives a sense of rejection to ordinary people. It’s reminiscent of demons, and especially an alien color among demons. After admiring my changed appearance for a while, I let magic power flow through my body.

-Swish.

The pigment faded from the purple skin, turning it into a pure white milky color, and the black hair regained its old golden color. The eyes, which had been yellow on a black background, also turned blue like the sea again. Before I knew it, the woman in the mirror was Laila Freeman. Except for the fact that she had grown a little more, anyone would know it was me. “…..” But, is there a need to maintain this appearance? There are quite a few people who know my face in the underground plaza, including organizations like Sartun. Not only in the underground plaza, but I was even sold at a slave auction on the stage, so other people must have seen my face. Isn’t there no need to maintain this appearance full of cumbersome relationships? “….” I worry and stare at myself in the mirror. Even if I can’t fully use the Doppelganger’s abilities, I can transform into other people as much as I want.

-Swish.

The appearance of Emily with red hair and brown eyes,

-Swish.

I can imitate El’s appearance with black hair, red eyes, and white skin as much as I want. It’s hard to transform into a man because my chest is swollen, but if the target is a woman and has a similar body shape to me, I can transform into any form. Along with the opportunity, I also had the opportunity to gain a new identity. If the appearance is different, no one will think it’s the same person. It was a problem worth thinking about at least once. “….Hoo.” I sighed once again and walked towards the bed.

Let’s sleep on it and think about it later, I thought with a naive heart, hugging my strangely warm lower abdomen as I lay down on the bed.