Chapter 133: Do Ji-hwan's Ambitious Project (10)
“Amazing.”
S-class hero, [Baridegi] Tae Irin, watched the situation in Ulleungdo on her tablet from the boat heading there, and exclaimed in admiration.
“The attack was so refreshing.”
[Hey, sister. You think that was refreshing…?]
“Of course. If she hadn’t hit him like that, I would’ve felt sick. Ah, truly refreshing.”
The man, who was struck by Solar Platina with a single disciplinary hit, lay unconscious with foam at his mouth.
“A beating with a stick. Just right. It’s a pity it was only one hit, but such punishment is necessary for men like him. A punishment everyone needs.”
[Are you talking about me now?]
“Who else would it be?”
Tae Irin retorted, leaving [Armored Taejo]-Taejo, on the video call, speechless.
“If you weren’t S-class, and if it wasn’t Yuliana’s fault, you would’ve deserved a beating like that, too.”
[But at least I didn’t turn someone into a demon.]
“That’s because she has a warm heart. And here you are, acting all high and mighty?”
[That just shows how much my sister loves me…hey. Why are you glaring at me like that? Even grandfather and the other elders said so. For a capable man, having multiple women was a tradition and history. According to the Three Bonds and Five Relationships…]
“So, having powers means you can have a harem? Ridiculous.”
Look at Taejo, taking it for granted that he could have multiple women simultaneously.
“Really, what have you been learning?”
[Hey, you grew up with me, remember?]
“At least I didn’t grow up to be a philanderer seeing this woman and that.”
[If you were a man, you’d have been just like me.]
“Too bad. I plan to love only one person for my whole life.”
[You’ve watched too many old dramas.]
As they bickered, the boat arrived at the harbor of Ulleungdo.
“Hey. I’m going to sort things out now, so call me later. Don’t make my sister angry by flirting with other women.”
[I’m already setting them free. Oh, why do I have to dress up and act cute like this…]
“If you’ve done something wrong, you should face the consequences.”
Click.
Tae Irin ended the call.
“Yes. If you’ve done wrong, you should be punished. Right, everyone? First, go and detain the two. The man is a non-ability user, and the woman seems to have become an ordinary person, so you can handle her.”
“Yes!”
The men in suits who were with Tae Irin immediately disembarked from the boat and headed towards the square.
“Stop, access denied! We’re from the Villain Countermeasure Headquarters! Please do not approach any further!”
“What’s this? Why are you just arriving now? You’re late!”
“We’re not late; we came from Sejong Island as fast as we could. We asked local ability users for support. Didn’t you hear about that?”
“That, that is…”
While the suited men started to control the crowd, Tae Irin slowly walked into the square and checked the woman’s condition.
“Wow! It’s Baridegi!”
“Baridegi noticed me! Ahh, so cute!”
“…….”
Thinking the incident was over, people beyond the taped line in the square were just excited to see an S-class hero.
No tension.
It seemed that the situation was considered over since Solar Platina had suddenly disappeared, and people were only watching the aftermath.
“Tsk.”
Tae Irin was not pleased with this.
No ability users at the scene had stepped forward to deal with the rampaging demon. It was a B-class level demon, certainly a significant threat, but the ability users just stood back, watching or not intervening at all.
There were so many B-class and higher-ability users here who could have arrived at the scene faster than her, who had raced over from Sejong Island on a speedboat.
“Ah. This is Baridegi. Please send me the investigation documents on Ulleungdo’s arrival records later via official communication. I need to look into B-class and above ability users who could have responded to the scene.”
[Understood. We’ll start by identifying those who turned off their Taeguk Watch signals.]
“Yes, thanks. I understand they’re on a patriotic vacation in Ulleungdo, but it’s a problem if they can’t even come out for a while when someone’s life is at stake.”
Tae Irin covered her Taeguk Watch with her hand.
She then remembered the emergency alarm of the Taeguk Watch, which had been ringing non-stop until she left Sejong Island.
“Tsk. Anyway.”
When the Taeguk Watch rang, one could only watch videos without sound, and everything started blaring as emergency news. Even devices linked with the Taeguk Watch would begin to pour out information about villain or demon alerts.
“Maybe I should take a vacation too. Seol-hee probably just got a text.”
Such an important vacation was pre-approved by the government, or situations where one might really turn into a demon due to Taeguk Watch’s annoyance might arise. Otherwise, the Taeguk Watch wouldn’t ring so loudly.
“I can’t wait to become a senior in high school. If I’m a senior studying for the college entrance exam, all the alarms will be on silent mode.”
“Aaaah!!”
While Tae Irin was lost in thought, the man, regaining consciousness, began to scream again.
“I’m going to report this! I will definitely report this woman! I’ll report her as a villain, too!!”
“Sigh.”
Was he still not in his right mind? Or rather, if he had been sensible in the first place, he wouldn’t have done such a thing.
The act of fooling around with the sister of the woman he married while knowing she was pregnant. Especially when they had just gotten married and came to Ulleungdo dreaming of happiness. The despair of the woman when she found out.
…And with that, Tae Irin momentarily lost her focus on Solar Platina. The despicable behavior of the people at the scene was so irritating that she missed the most concerning part.
“Excuse me. I will check the woman who was a demon and is now a case of ‘Total Loss’.”
Tae Irin reached out to the woman who had become human again. She extended her hand to touch her skin and flowed her magic through, confirming that there was no longer any magical power flowing within her.
“Baridegi. Verification of Total Loss complete. She is no longer an ability user. Now… an ordinary person. Solar Platina can turn a demon back into a human. It seems like a side effect is the complete loss of abilities.”
Beep.
“Yes, Mr. President.”
[Irin, I’ve reviewed the data. Is there… no possibility?]
The only man who could address Tae Irin so casually was, of course, the president of the country and her grandfather, Tae Chae-jin.
“I’m investigating, but there are no traces left.”
[What about that golden circle that she disappeared into? I’ve read old novels where there are traces left behind for investigation.]
“Really? Hmm, it should be around here.”
Tae Irin approached the spot where Solar Platina had drawn the circle, but, unfortunately, she couldn’t sense anything.
“There’s nothing. Absolutely no trace. She completely erased her tracks and left.”
[I see. Well, just knowing she has that level of skill is enough to rate her as S+ class. You’ve done well. Sorry for calling you out in the evening while you’re studying.]
“It’s okay. Think of it as a chance to get some fresh air and clear my head. Don’t worry about it.”
[Thanks for understanding, Irin. When you get a chance to come to Busan….]
“Yaaaahh!!”
The man screamed again. Tae Irin frowned, and even through the speaker, a tsking sound could be heard.
[That, that. How dare he make such a fuss. Unless he’s an ability user.]
“It doesn’t have to be that way.”
[Huh? Oh, uh, Irin, that’s…]
“It’s fine. I’ll sort this out and get back to you. Bye.”
Click.
Tae Irin covered her wrist.
“Blood is thicker than water, after all. Ugh.”
Before people became ability users, committing infidelity was absurd. It was bizarre to think that being an ability user justified seeing multiple women.
Tae Irin almost blurted out these thoughts but swallowed them back. To do so would be akin to spitting in her own face, or rather her family’s.
“Hey, you there.”
“Ba, Baridegi…!”
“You know about that?”
Pooof.
“Aaaah?!”
“Being S-class, turning one person into a villain is nothing.”
Tae Irin kicked the man in the stomach.
“Oops. That’s quite sturdy.”
“You just kicked me with your foot?!”
“It didn’t even hurt. Hmm, what’s this? A shield-like rope? Or something as strong as a shield? Impressive. It’s valuable for research.”
Thump.
Tae Irin kicked the man again, but he looked at her with confused eyes.
“This mat seems pretty tough. Stepping on it probably won’t hurt much.”
“Wait a minute…! What did I do wrong…?!”
“The crime of shaking an ability user’s mental state and turning them into a demon.”
Tae Irin crouched in front of the man, pointing her Taeguk Watch at him.
“Think being attacked by a demon gives you the right to legal protection? Think again. You’re just a ‘corruptor’ who caused a righteous ability user to fall into demonhood.”
“No, it’s not…! She did it on her own…!”
“I arrest you. And…”
Tae I-rin carefully grabbed the end of the rope near the man’s head.
“For research on this red rope left by the Golden Priestess, I’ll take you along as is.”
“Wait a minute! Dragging me along, aahhh!!”
Gurgling.
Tae Irin, holding onto the rope, dragged the man along the ground towards the boat.
Meanwhile.
“Excuse me.”
A voice came from behind.
“Where is Seol-hee?”
“……Well, about that.”
Sitting on the sofa, I leaned back on the sofa’s backrest and turned my head.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“It wasn’t really tough, but, um, Seol-hee wouldn’t have gone anywhere.”
Yumir, having reverted from her transformation, walked slowly towards the sofa, resting her chest on the backrest over my arm, and leaned forward.
“So you were here?”
“…….”
“Wow, a knee pillow. That’s quite bold. But….”
Yumir extended her fingers forward, poking Baek Seol-hee, who was burying her head in my lap, on the waist.
“Why so quiet? Did you enjoy some delicious honey while I was away?”
“…….”
“Excuse me.”
Yumir continued to poke Baek Seol-hee with her finger.
“Even if it’s Ulleungdo, isn’t it a bit much to enjoy honey alone while the hero is hard at work?”
Baek Seol-hee couldn’t say a word.
“Well.”
She slowly lifted her head, swallowed the saliva that was glistening on her lips, and smiled faintly.
“…Would you like a taste, too, Yumir?”
“…….”
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