Chapter 174: The Pressure Of The Heroine
Was Do Ji-hwan the Goblin?
The answer to this question remains elusive.
Baek Seol-hee, whose quick wit allowed her to score 100 in the language section and whose logic enabled her to score 100 in the mathematics section of the college entrance exam, could not rush to accept the hypothesis Do Ji-hwan = Goblin as truth without proper verification.
Yet, if one were to assume the hypothesis as true, everything would fit together neatly.
That day.
The day Red Scarf Jeong Gong-in threatened to engulf Seoul in flames, speeding along the Gyeongbu Expressway.
Baek Seol-hee encountered Do Ji-hwan for the first time and hastily borrowed a bike. At that moment, she did not feel the need for super-fast movement, like ice wings, so she had no choice but to borrow a bike.
Then, the Goblin emerged from the direction where Do Ji-hwan was last seen.
Why did the Goblin appear from the direction of Seoul that day?
Answer: Because the Goblin had been in Seoul at the time, and someone stole his bike.
1-1. Then, why did the Goblin set out to catch Red Scarf?
Answer: Seoul was like a home to the Goblin, and no villain would want their home threatened by another malevolent force.
Next.
The Goblin made an unexpected appearance on Sejong Island, a place where he had never been spotted before.
And this occurred right at the beginning of the school term.
This coincides with the theory that the Goblin took a librarian job on Sejong Island as a cover.
Why did the Goblin show up on Sejong Island?
Answer: While making hasty conclusions is risky, it seems likely he came to woo women.
There appeared to be no other reasonable explanation.
Spending time reading books in the library was merely a pastime; his real objective was probably to recruit S or EX-class ability users like Yumir or Baek Seol-hee into the Secret Society.
This seemed to be the most logical and rational explanation.
Even if Baek Seol-hee had not come to Sejong Island, the place was rife with talented ability users such as Baridegi Tae Irin or student council president Yoon Iseon.
2-1. Just to woo women, really?
Answer: Perhaps his arrival was also to confront Duoexini and its supporters.
Knowing that Duoexini, who was capable of creating demons, had its background on Sejong Island, he might have come to blow up their stronghold.
The theory fits perfectly.
Another point.
When they clashed in Gangneung, the Goblin had blocked her attack with his left hand.
This was after Do Ji-hwan, and she had spent a patriotic night on Ulleungdo, and the Goblin had chosen to block her attack, not cut her.
If the Goblin was Do Ji-hwan, and if there was no significant difference between Do Ji-hwans demeanor and the Goblins
Why had the Goblin specifically blocked her attack with his left hand?
Answer: Because he didnt want to hurt a woman he had gotten close to.
Excluding the fact that he was a villain, it was somewhat of a sweet gesture, but it raised a question.
Why had he chosen to do that, even at the risk of injuring his left hand? Even to the extent of wearing a cast?
Making excuses like he was injured during patriotic activities with his wife?
The Goblins hand had shown no signs of magic power.
But as the Goblin, he might have had a way to extract magic power, leaving only a broken bone injury and returning to Sejong Island.
Therefore
Appropriate evidence was needed to prove the proposition Do Ji-hwan is the Goblin true.
It was not about forcing a fit but about finding information that gave plausibility to the process.
Just like how police identify suspects based on their appearance and characteristics.
Physique.
Voice.
Appearance.
Thus, Baek Seol-hee decided to start verifying, beginning with the physique, to secure that first piece of evidence.
The battle in Yangyang.
The battle in Jindo.
In one, she had directly fought with the Goblin; in the other, she had faced an S-class demon.
In those encounters, the Goblin, for whatever reason, had attacked his enemies with powerful stomps on the ground.
She had seen the imprint.
It was something akin to skid marks, perhaps.
The footprints werent obvious, but she could estimate the size of the Goblin by the spread and feel of mana when magic was infused into the feet.
Estimated size: 280.
And the size Do Ji-hwan himself had revealed was also 280.
Furthermore
By matching the footprint of the Goblins shoe that she had eyeballed with the shoe size, she concluded the two sizes were nearly identical.
Well, how could one be sure about a person based on shoe size alone?
Just
If theres a reason to think Do Ji-hwan was the Goblin?
Answer: As absurd as it sounds, theres no other way to put it.
A womans intuition.
Just that.
Aside from being S-class, its nothing more than a baseless hunch, This man is that man.
But if thats the case
If everything from the shoe size started to align
From now
Just start gathering information, one by one, with certainty.
The day its confirmed that Do Ji-hwan was the Goblin,
Baek Seol-hee will
Her gaze looks like she wants to lock me up somewhere and pour out her emotions.
Yumir subtly gave me a hint.
I immediately caught on.
Baek Seol-hee was now using the shoes as a pretext to gather definite information about me and then compare it to the Goblin.
Ive been burned once, so I know.
Yumir was signaling me with eyes, hands, and feet, trying to warn me without Baek Seol-hee noticing me.
- I realized you were the Goblin based on your physique, but wouldnt Seol-hee unnie also know?
I hadnt thought Baek Seol-hee was that observant, but I assumed she would catch on since I had thrown out that bait.
Still, I wasnt worried.
Why?
Thank you, Seol-hee-ssi.
Because I already had all the countermeasures prepared.
When you asked about my shoe size last time, I had my suspicions. Im glad I prepared a return gift.
A return gift?
Yes. Actually, its something my wife sent me.
I pulled out an item hidden in the closet at home.
Ta-da.
That, that is!
Its lingerie bought from abroad.
I handed Baek Seol-hee the box containing the black lingerie without shame.
Try it on sometime. Or think of it as a base and overlay it with mana-made clothing.
How can I wear such a thing Oh, no.
Just as Baek Seol-hee was about to protest, she suddenly lost her composure.
This, this wont fit me, will it?
No, it should fit perfectly. Unless youve grown since then.
How did you know?
Well, I can estimate just by eye.
Baek Seol-hee fell silent.
Her eyes noticeably shook at the sudden intrusion of the black lingerie.
Wow, Teacher! What about me?
Yours need to be specially made.
Really?
Off-the-rack covers Seol-hees size, but yours require custom orders.
Hehe.
Yumir straightened her shoulders and lifted her head proudly.
If its something like that, it cant be helped. Custom-making such things must be incredibly difficult.
Baek Seol-hee looked down with a subdued gaze, then up at Yumir.
She might possess S-class magic power, but she had to yield a bit in front of Yumir, who wielded EX-class magic.
Of course, both would have to bow their heads in front of an EX+ class ability user.
Thanks for the shoes, Seol-hee. Will you accept my return gift?
Ah, yes. Ill Ill show you how it looks on me later.
Yes. Definitely. And wear it when we go to Ulleungdo later.
!
Baek Seol-hees face reddened.
As I knelt on one knee and offered her the gift, she hesitated before clutching the lingerie box.
Ji-hwan.
Yes.
Are you hiding something from me?
There is.
It must have been a final ultimatum.
But I didnt want to foolishly say no and later hear her say, You said you werent hiding anything!
Just.
Someday, Ill tell Seol-hee about a very important secret I have.
I buried my face in her hands as though I had no choice.
If that day comes, you might resent me. No, you will certainly resent me. Asking how I could do such a thing. That its a betrayal.
.
But please understand this. Im on Seol-hees side, and I dont want to hurt her.
That kind of person
If, someday, the day comes when I reveal all my secrets.
My voice trembled slightly.
Will I be able to face Seol-hee like this Im a little afraid.
I just looked up at Baek Seol-hee and smiled.
There was a time when I thought such a thing.
If Baek Seol-hee discovered my identity.
She, as a hero, would confront me.
Then, I thought I should make her judge me as a woman, not as a hero.
And even if she became suspicious, I thought I would make her bury that suspicion herself.
Humans were selfish and self-centered creatures.
I
I caressed Baek Seol-hees legs and gently kissed her knee.
I seem to like Seol-hee more than I thought.
The reason the Goblin revealed his identity?
Ji-hwan?
Sorry, Seol-hee. This is a bit unlike me.
Appealing that the Goblin was also human.
Im a man, after all.
Baek Seol-hees eyes.
They glanced between my legs.
Instinctively.
Its your fault, Seol-hee.
In front of love, even an S or EX-class villain would be shaken because theyre human.
You made me this way.
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