Episode 40: The Demonic humans (4)
Ultimately, only Yu Hana and Cheon Yeoul mattered.
As harsh as it may sound, only the key figures needed protection.
In the original story, Moras’ temptations were directed only at those two.
It should be the same in this world as well.
The sight of the students flashes past me.
I’m heading to Yu Hana first.
‘She’s closer, for now.’
And more than anything, Cheon Yeoul was likely in a state where some of her desires had already been fulfilled.
In many ways, her influence within the Order has grown significantly.
On the other hand, Yu Hana’s desires are never fulfilled.
Her ‘craving’ is insatiable.
The thirst for martial arts is like that.
That’s what Moras will target.
I quicken my pace.
Finally, I arrive at Arena B.
With the evacuation order issued, the arena was completely empty.
Not a single spectator remained.
And at the center of the arena, a purple barrier stands.
I open my eyes.
Universal Perception (一切知覺).
Beyond the purple veil, I can see everything inside clearly.
Yu Hana.
She stands, sword in hand, facing Moras.
Her feet firmly planted.
From the faint tremor in her fingertips, an intense energy radiates.
I take a short breath.
“…Good.”
If with this…
I sit down in the audience stands.
If she had succumbed to the temptation, I would have intervened.
But there’s no need. She has already resisted and drawn her sword.
Moras is not an overwhelmingly strong demonic human in terms of brute force, but he is not an opponent to be taken lightly.
That makes him the perfect adversary for Yu Hana.
The energy emanating from her blade—
From her blade, a crimson aura bloomed like camellia petals.
A blade that eradicates evil.
Flower Butterfly Sword (花蝶劍).
The very swordsmanship I taught her.
At some point, she had completely abandoned her family’s sword techniques, using only what I had taught her.
And with that alone, she subdues Moras completely.
My hands sweat as I watch her.
‘Faster. Just a little faster.’
The more I picture it in my mind, the more she moves exactly as I envision—
In the direction I hope for.
This is…
I suddenly realize.
Is this the joy of a teacher watching their student grow?
I can feel it—she has been completely dyed in my colors.
A warmth stirs in my chest.
—Swish.
And finally, Yu Hana’s sword slashes through Moras’ neck.
Even the final strike is the exact movement I taught her yesterday.
“How admirable.”
I rise from my seat.
Before the barrier completely disappears.
***
A warehouse-like space, devoid of light.
Damp air.
The musty scent of mold lingers at the tip of my nose.
Faint breathing sounds echo in the darkness.
A hooded demonic human, Arktu.
And a hulking demonic human, Ganian.
Before them lies a wooden snake figurine.
No—more precisely, its severed head rolls across the floor.
Medusa has failed.
The two remain silent, their gazes fixed on the figure seated in the darkness.
Moras.
They had to believe—
That he would succeed.
“—Cough!”
A sudden cough breaks the silence.
Moras flinched and bent forward.
Then, he coughed up a handful of blood.
“Lord Moras?!”
Arktu hurriedly stood up.
However, Moras raised his blood-covered hand, stopping him.
“One of my clones… has perished.”
Slowly, he closed his eyes.
Then, he opened them again.
“And on top of that… the memories aren’t returning.”
Arktu and Ganian’s faces stiffened.
When a clone dies or returns, its memories are supposed to transfer back to the original.
This had never once failed in all of Moras’ existence—an absolute principle.
But now,
The memories had not returned.
His eyes narrowed sharply.
Neither Ganian nor Arktu dared to speak.
Moras wiped the blood from his fingertips and asked quietly,
“How is Medusa progressing? Does she need more time?”
However, Arktu and Ganian could not answer.
They only lowered their heads, their eyes trembling with unease.
“…Is it going well?”
He repeated his question, this time more clearly.
But the response was the same.
Silence.
And silence was an answer in itself.
Moras’ eyes widened.
“ーーーー!!”
A deafening roar filled the warehouse.
And then—
“Cough—!! Kuheeegh—!!”
Moras once again violently coughed up blood.
Arktu and Ganian gasped in shock.
“Lo-Lord Mo-Moras?!”
But Moras did not respond.
His pupils trembled in confusion.
Just now, another one had died.
***
This was the Arcadia Temple located within the premises.
After checking on Yu Hana, I had rushed here to confirm whether Moras had also approached Cheon Yeoul.
However, the moment I arrived—
‘It’s already over?’
Cheon Yeoul had already subdued Moras.
The moment I confirmed that she was unharmed, I turned to leave.
But then—
“Haein?”
I stopped in my tracks.
And before I could even turn around—
“Wait.”
A hand grasped my wrist.
A warm touch.
Her fingers wrapped gently around my wrist.
I slowly turned my head.
Clear, bright eyes.
Like a deep, tranquil lake, her gaze wavered slightly.
And then,
She began to tear up.
“I’m sorry…”
Her voice trembled softly. I looked at her in surprise.
Cheon Yeoul’s long eyelashes quivered slightly.
Her face looked as if tears would form at any moment.
‘Ah.’
I realized it in an instant.
The time when the Crusaders attacked me.
She was probably feeling guilty because of that incident.
After all, if I looked at the bigger picture, it had all started because of Yohan’s feelings toward her.
“I must atone for this sin with my own body—”
“It’s fine.”
I cut her off firmly.
I hadn’t thought much about it.
Besides, it wasn’t something she was responsible for.
Cheon Yeoul flinched at my response.
Her gaze wavered slightly before she lowered her head.
“…Still.”
Her fingers twitched slightly.
“You gave me a cross, and you’ve placed your trust in me so many times… But I feel like I haven’t lived up to that.”
“…Aren’t you disappointed in me?”
I let out a short sigh and slowly looked at her.
“Cheon Yeoul.”
She lifted her head.
“You just need to do what you have to do.”
“…”
“That’s the best way to make up for it.”
I smirked playfully.
As soon as I said that, she stared at me intently.
Disappointment?
I could never be disappointed in them.
They were created as imperfect beings—meant to grow and develop over time.
How could I possibly be disappointed?
I shifted my gaze.
That’s when I noticed the shattered remains of the cross on the ground.
My body froze in an instant.
No way…
I quickly crouched down and lifted a handful of the cross’s dust with my fingertips.
The soft powder scattered over my palm.
I looked up.
“…This.”
Taking a short breath, I met Cheon Yeoul’s gaze.
“Did you absorb it?”
Cheon Yeoul quietly nodded.
At that moment, I gently placed my hands on her shoulders.
“Well done.”
I meant it.
It couldn’t have been easy.
She had done an incredible job.
Something far more important than a mere disturbance caused by the Crusaders.
I quickly composed myself and, maintaining a respectful distance.
She was still a saintess, after all.
As I stepped back, releasing her hand, Cheon Yeoul quietly looked at me.
For a moment, neither of us said anything.
A faint blush had spread across her cheeks.
Her long eyelashes trembled ever so slightly.
I could see the small motion of her slowly inhaling.
She bit her lip as if holding something back.
“…I can’t.”
Her voice was quiet.
And then—her hand reached out toward me, cautiously and slowly.
At that moment.
—Boom!
The temple doors swung open violently.
“Saintess!”
Paladins rushed inside.
“Are you alright?!”
Their eyes first landed on Cheon Yeoul.
Then, they quickly shifted their gaze to me as well.
Cheon Yeoul silently looked at them.
Her eyes wavered slightly.
“I’ll be going.”
From now on, the Paladins would be responsible for protecting the Saintess.
Without giving it further thought, I walked out of the temple.
Outside, the situation was mostly under control.
According to the Paladins, the pursuit had failed.
Apparently, the demonic human entity had such a low amount of mana that it was difficult to track.
Meanwhile, reports came in that several Moras had been captured.
“It’s almost over.”
I walked around the premises, checking for any remaining issues.
The key figures had already been confirmed safe.
Kang Arin was being guarded by the Lord himself,
And Ha Sion was under the protection of the Vanquisher.
There were no problems.
I continued walking, patrolling the less crowded areas.
And in the forest on the premises—
I ran into Sung Siwoo.
He was facing off against a demonic human.
But unlike Yu Hana,
Who had drawn her sword and engaged in combat,
Sung Siwoo hadn’t even unsheathed his weapon.
He was just standing there.
“…Shit.”
His gaze was locked onto the demonic human.
The demonic human was whispering something slowly, quietly.
And rather than fighting, Sung Siwoo was listening.
I had overlooked this.
Back when he was the protagonist, he actively hunted demonic humans.
But that was no longer the case.
Sung Siwoo had an immense mana capacity,
A trait granted by his protagonist status.
And demonic humans sought out beings like him the most.
I had assumed he wouldn’t fall under mind control,
Protected as he was by the system’s blessings…
But I was completely wrong.
I kicked off the ground.
“Hey, snap out of it!!”
I threw my spear, channeling all my mana into the throw.
It tore through the air.
—Slash!
The spear ripped through the illusion veil and pierced straight through the demonic human’s throat.
The weapon shattered, sending fragments flying in all directions.
I turned to Sung Siwoo.
He was clutching his head.
His breathing was rough.
With a furrowed brow, he gripped his forehead tightly.