episode_0223

If you’re looking for a comparison, Haru is probably best likened to Yang Chan-ho. After all, in some ways, he’s a superhuman who has transcended the limits of a typical awakened.

‘I haven’t seen that President-nim use his powers all that often, though.’

Including Violet, the old man who used a demonic sword—was his name Kederak? Anyway, his appearance during the Cheongsongje, when he swept away the black mages all at once, is still vivid in my memory. Because, as far as I knew, that kind of performance wasn’t something just anyone could easily produce.

“…Hoo.”

Rumble!

With a single gesture, lightning struck from the sky. In that moment, my eyes were dyed not blue, but gold, and thick lightning swirled and coalesced in both my hands. Most villains would tremble and naturally bow down just from the energy contained in this lightning.

“Hmm…”

But Haru was not. Of course, wasn’t she a woman close to the apex of the villain world?

She merely tried something by waving her arm once.

A chill.

“…!”

Immediately after, feeling a chilling presence behind me, I quickly ducked my head.

Swish!

And just then, a beam of light shot past the spot where my head had been. That indigo-colored thing, which I’d only glimpsed, was probably related to her ability to summon those beast-like creatures. I still couldn’t figure out its source, but at least it wouldn’t be important in combat.

‘It would be great if I could summon Ice Wood.’

Unfortunately, I was in a position where I couldn’t use my full power right now. The environment where I could fight best was formed on that sea. Still, since a villain close to Special S-rank was helping me, it wasn’t a completely losing situation, but…

Bang! Boom!

“Tsk.”

Even then, it wasn’t without its drawbacks. Eileen was also a mage specializing in explosions, and for that reason, she seemed unable to even use proper area-of-effect skills for fear of causing collapse.

‘This is tricky.’

While continuing the fight in real-time, I became aware that I had grown incredibly strong, but as for whether I could subdue Haru? Well…

It was still not enough. Truly, if I had been given a little more time and opportunity, the outcome might have been a little different…

“Hup.”

I took a deep breath, then discreetly moved behind her through etherealization. Haru also reacted without delay, reaching out her hand without turning to face me, but at this range, I clearly had the advantage in terms of firepower.

Whoosh!

Blackish-red flames blazed from my fist. It was Yeonhwa’s flame, potent enough to melt everything at any moment. Of course, it wasn’t my full power, but—

‘At this close range, I should be able to land a proper hit…!’

It would be. With that conviction, I immediately threw my fist.

Roooooar!

And flames boiling like lava shot forth with a sound like thunder. It was truly a power that could easily turn a girl’s delicate body into ash.

“…Honestly, that’s too much.”

However, the voice coming from within the black smoke was utterly nonchalant. I wasn’t as flustered as I expected, but I couldn’t help my expression darkening. I twisted my lips helplessly and muttered.

“…You monster of a woman, truly.”

“Oh my. What are you saying to a girl? Do you really want to be scolded?”

Before I could even respond, Haru, who cleared the smoke and appeared in an instant, was immediately right under my chin.

“…!”

A distance so close that it wouldn’t be strange for our breaths to touch. In other words, this time it was my turn to endure a close-range attack.

‘Blink? Etherealization?’

I instantly racked my brain to think of a countermeasure, but there was none. Nothing came to mind. Because there was no way to completely evade an attack from this position—

“Gah!”

Crack!

With no other choice, I tried to twist my body as much as possible to minimize the damage. Even then, my arm was bitten by the indigo-colored alligator that shot out. I scrunched my face in agony, and seeing me like that, Haru wore a dangerous smile.

“I’m sorry for hurting you, Lee Hyunjin.”

“…Gulp.”

“But you’ll understand, won’t you? You have super-regeneration abilities anyway, so please forgive that much as your future wife’s charm, with a cutesy tone.”

‘*Aing*,’ I cursed inwardly. I almost swore out loud, but if I did, wouldn’t this woman really tear me apart into Lee and Hyunjin? Even though I held back my words, I couldn’t help my expression twisting. Haru seemed to tolerate that much, placing her hand on my chest with a rather benevolent smile.

“Well, then… Shall we incapacitate our groom-to-be first? Eileen can be subdued later, that’s fine.”

As she subtly curled the corners of her mouth, the red blush that rose on both her cheeks felt utterly like that of a madwoman. How could she put someone in such a state and still make such a happy-looking expression?

‘…Does she have sadistic tendencies too?’

The fact that I was even thinking such thoughts at a time like this meant I must be an incorrigible person. I gently closed my eyes, then let out a deep sigh inwardly.

‘There’s no way out.’

I made a decision. My hesitation was brief, and the speed at which I twitched my one remaining hand was quick.

Ruumble…

“…!”

For the first time, surprise flickered across Haru’s face. Because right behind her, a frozen tree had shot up.

‘…Please, Teacher-nim.’

Inwardly, I earnestly prayed that Seol Hayeon would protect the people on the sea, and manipulating the Ice Wood branches, I immediately exerted my full power. By fiercely clenching my grip, blue branches like tentacles shot down.

Whish!

“…Ah, um.”

Even Haru, regardless of her power, was unable to calmly respond to that, wasn’t she? She was suspended in mid-air, dangling, held by the branches, and the brief opening I gained from that was my first and last chance.

“Eileen!!!”

I immediately roared. In the instant Haru’s expression stiffened, a shadow easily dropped from the tree.

“This might hurt a little, Matriarch.”

“…No, wait.”

“Demolition.”

KABOOOM!!!

A huge explosion erupted from Eileen, who had placed her hand on Haru’s back.

“…”

Isn’t that going to kill her?

*****

When we vaguely call them krakens for convenience, referring to the octopi, there were a total of thirteen of them that appeared on the sea. Each one of them was not an easy opponent even for an S-rank awakened, but…

“Is everything cleared?”

Nevertheless, those standing on this frozen land above the Arctic Ocean were elites. A squad that included Special S-ranks, as well as a Hero.

With a single stroke of his purple holy sword, Yang Chan-ho, who killed the last octopus, turned his head with an uncharacteristically serious expression.

“…The Ice Wood…”

The place where Lee Hyunjin’s unique magic originally existed. It had been a foothold protecting the crew members, but now it had disappeared. Lee Hyunjin, who had been dragged away by spatial magic, must be considered to be in quite a dangerous situation.

Yang Chan-ho, who was looking around, let out a low sigh. Fortunately, Seol Hayeon had protected the crew members by deploying an ice sheet in time, but…

“…Hey, Empress-nim?”

“…”

“First, calm down. I fully understand that you’re worried about your beloved disciple, but—”

“Shut up, old man.”

“…I’m not that much older than you, you know?”

Seol Hayeon’s expression was truly unusual. Yang Chan-ho wondered how he could best explain that he was in his thirties, but now was not the time for such leisurely talk. Wasn’t she the woman who knew better than anyone what the disappearance of the Ice Wood meant? Naturally, her gaze and expression couldn’t help but become incredibly chilling. Moreover, her gaze looking down at the bottom of the sea seemed to have already made a decision.

“Haa.”

There was nothing to be done. There’s no stopping her.

“Violet.”

So Yang Chan-ho spoke to the only S-rank villain participating in this subjugation operation. The purple-haired woman, who was just then picking off octopus tentacle suckers stuck to her fist, blinked and turned her head.

“…What. Why are you calling me? Old man.”

“Don’t you call me old man too…”

“I said, why are you calling?”

There wasn’t a single woman who listened to him. Yang Chan-ho felt the urge to beat that criminal with his holy sword, but he suppressed it with superhuman patience and continued speaking.

“Aren’t you acquainted with the Empress?”

“…Huh?”

“Follow her. No matter if it’s ‘that’ Seol Hayeon, we can’t send her alone, can we?”

“What are you suddenly talking about—”

And immediately after.

Splash!

A sound of something falling into the sea resounded clearly, and Violet, who was about to ask Yang Chan-ho again, froze foolishly and turned her gaze. For there, only Seol Hayeon’s discarded outer garment remained.

Violet, who had been momentarily petrified, turned her head stiffly and asked.

“…Follow? That? Me?”

Yang Chan-ho nodded silently, and Violet’s face crumpled into a mournful expression. Especially since she had once been beaten half to death by Seol Hayeon.

“Haa…”

But of course, there was no right to refuse. Even though she was speaking on equal terms like this, she was, strictly speaking, a captured villain.

“Fine, I’ll go. I’ll just go, won’t I…”

After muttering that in a slightly deflated voice, she immediately looked down at the sea.

…As if it wasn’t bad enough that this was the Arctic Ocean, where she had had a terrible first encounter with Seol Hayeon.

‘To think I’d fall into this place again.’

And this time, not by coercion but by choice?

That’s how unpredictable things in the world were.

“Ughhh…!”

Violet, who swept her face up with both hands, immediately launched herself. There was nothing good about delaying something that had to be done anyway.

Splash!

Squinting her eyes underwater, Violet also thought to herself. She understood very well why Seol Hayeon’s eyes had glazed over like that, but…

‘…If it’s that guy, he’d probably be chasing women even in a place like this?’

For some reason, she wasn’t particularly worried about Lee Hyunjin’s safety. Even though intimacy was just beginning to form after they had spent many nights together.

The thought that came to mind was still just one: wasn’t he the kind of guy who, no matter where he was thrown, would amazingly manage his sexual desires?