Chapter 51: After The Battle (2)
The uproar over the demon Doppelganger was over.
Whether it was the demon becoming gigantic, Baek Seol-hee showing off a new technique, the demon shrinking to escape Baek Seol-hee’s attacks, or dying by the Goblin’s strike, which caused three heads to explode simultaneously.
The existence of Duoexini, another being that turned humans into demons.
There was so much that happened.
“…….”
Yoon Iseon was at the scene of the incident.
She wasn’t there from the very beginning, but she tried to persuade and confront Yook Gibong from the moment he began to rampage.
However, her presence faded halfway through.
From the moment the Goblin stepped in, the moment Baek Seol-hee stepped in, the moment Duoexini appeared.
In that feast of S-class individuals, Yoon Iseon, an A-class, was powerless and could only focus on spreading a protective barrier in the background to prevent any rampaging demons for the safety of the civilians.
Ultimately, the protagonist was S-class.
Being a student council president was, in its own right, part of her pride and ego. Yet, she was once again reminded that power mattered most to those with special abilities in this world.
She wanted to be stronger.
She needed to be stronger.
But she did not want to become stronger by becoming a demon like Yook Gibong.
If she became a demon, he would certainly come to kill her.
[President Yoon Iseon, have you become a demon? I’m going to execute you now.]
He would undoubtedly try to kill Yoon Iseon, stating this.
Regardless of all her actions as the president thus far, if she became a demon, if she became a villain, Yoon Iseon would be executed by the Goblin.
“…I don’t want that.”
Yoon Iseon entered the student council room.
Alone in the student council room, which was empty because it was the weekend, she slumped into a chair, deeply feeling her own powerlessness.
“I need power. But I can’t hope for some miracle to suddenly become powerful.”
To achieve her ideals, she needed strong power, but she couldn’t reach out to strange places to get it.
She needed to progress in moderation and quickly become stronger.
Knowing that it was an absurd thing to say and that it was a really hard thing to do, she had no choice but to do so.
It would be too pitiful for the Goblin to come and execute her.
“…Right. You even told me all this.”
Yoon Iseon manipulated her Taeguk Watch and displayed various screens on the conference screen in the student council room.
[(Cam view) Video taken from the Goblin’s side]
[[Hotlife] Video of the Goblin using a technique (not ultimate) during the Gibong Rider incident]
[[SubscribeOdonateO] ??? : That’s not how you use fire]
Videos of the Goblin taken from all directions were widely spread out on the screen.
Of course, there were close-up shots that she had taken herself among them.
[[[[That’s not how you use fire.]]]]
Having even synced the videos, Yoon Iseon listened to the Goblin’s voice in surround sound.
“This is how you do it.”
With a whoosh, Yoon Iseon blew power into her outstretched hand, creating a pink fireball that looked like a fox’s face.
“…I can’t do it.”
Even trying to maintain one fireball was not easy.
It required a tremendous amount of mana to maintain one fireball, and how much power would it take to make it rise into a pillar of fire that extended tens of meters?
“I… Huh?”
The Taeguk Watch began to ring.
Yoon Iseon hastily set the sound of the PC connected to the screen to 0 and muted it before answering the phone.
“Yes, this is Yoon Iseon.”
[Are you okay, student Iseon?]
“Ah! Teacher!!”
She had forgotten.
Such a huge incident had occurred, and she had been immersed in self-loathing. She had missed the most important thing as a hero.
“Are you okay?!”
[Ha ha, I’m fine, but it seems like you’re not quite okay right now, student Iseon?]
“Huh?”
[I asked you to speak casually, but when I raised my tone again, you naturally accepted it. If it were the usual Iseon, you would have said, ‘Why are you raising your speech again?’]
“Ah.”
As Do Ji-hwan said, Yoon Iseon’s mind was scattered right now.
She had a hard time figuring out whether she was enchanted by the Goblin or if she was feeling self-loathing for not being able to stand next to the Goblin.
“I’m, I’m sorry.”
[You don’t have to be sorry. Thanks to you, student Iseon, for buying me time; I was able to survive because you bravely persuaded Yook Gibong and stopped him. Thank you, student Iseon.]
“…Thank you.”
Thank you.
That single phrase made Yoon Iseon’s heart flutter unnecessarily.
It was not something she did because she wanted to be praised by someone, but it was something she had to do as a hero, but naturally, it made her feel good when she heard it directly.
[Judging from your slightly downcast voice, you seem to have a lot on your mind. Is it because the student became a devil?]
No.
[If that’s the case, I don’t think student Iseon needs to worry too much. Student Iseon, you did your best. Although Yook Gibong became a devil, you did everything you could.]
“Thank you, teacher. For saying that.”
What Do Ji-hwan said was certainly something she had been worried about, but it didn’t quite soothe Yoon Iseon’s inner turmoil.
[If you need counseling, feel free to reach out at any time. I’m on your side, student Iseon.]
“Yes, thank you so much.”
In the end, would she have to find the answer herself?
[…Looking at the unsatisfying response from student Iseon, it seems like you’re dealing with a much deeper issue than I thought. If it’s not too presumptuous, could I venture a guess?]
“Yes?”
[Do you feel like you’ve been pushed away from standing next to the Goblin and Snow White? Is that it?]
Yoon Iseon rose from her seat without realizing it.
She couldn’t ask, “How did you know?”
She was startled that he had accurately read her inner thoughts, surprised that he had not mentioned it first as it could be hurtful to her, and her heart sank at Do Ji-hwan’s words that were probing her feelings and seeking her consent just with his voice.
“…Are you a mind reader?”
[No, nothing like that. I just brought up the most probable concern I thought you might have and asked about it.]
“What other concerns might I have?”
[Well, there could be many. But mentioning them might make your mind more cluttered, so I will give you my answer to the question I guessed. Student Iseon, don’t rush your thoughts. You have your own path.]
Do Ji-hwan’s voice felt like a comforting pat on Yoon Iseon’s back.
[Even if it looks like others are ahead for now, if you steadily move forward, soon enough, you might be standing shoulder to shoulder with them or even leading. You certainly have that potential, student Iseon.]
“…Thank you very much.”
[You seem more satisfied now. How is it? I’ve been reading some counseling books on the 2nd basement floor recently. Do you think I could be a counselor?]
“Pfft.”
Yoon Iseon let out a hollow laugh at Do Ji-hwan’s light-hearted comment.
“You’d be good at providing mental care for the heroes.”
[Really? That’s kind of you. If I ever get fired from being a staff member, I’ll consider your suggestion. Oh, it’s getting late. Enjoy your dinner. Let’s have a meal together next time.]
“Yes. I’ll contact you on the weekend.”
[Yeah. Oh, by the way.]
Do Ji-hwan cleared his throat.
[Thank you very much for saving me, Hero.]
With that, he ended the call.
“……Oh my.”
Yoon Iseon, clutching the Taeguk Watch, leaned over the desk.
“Calling me a hero. What….”
Behind Yoon Iseon…
The setting sun warmed her back with its rays, and her ears were reddening in the glow of the sunset.
“Mental care…. Pfft.”
Yoon Iseon fiddled with her fingers, silently replaying the Goblin’s video and looking at the screen.
“I received help now, but someday….”
While pressing hard on her shoulder where the Goblin’s hand had been placed,
Someday…
Imagining the day when she would stand before the Goblin and reciprocate the words she heard today, Yoon Iseon played the Goblin’s technique over and over again.
“…Hehe.”
In the video…
Although the video quality wasn’t good, the Goblin clearly flicked his finger that had been resting on her shoulder.
That slight comforting gesture was undoubtedly not a lie.
After returning to Brewer’s room,
“I didn’t know you’d go out to eat and come back after dealing with a demon.”
“Same here. I’ll borrow your bed.”
“You’re already lying on it.”
I lay on the bed in Brewer’s house to rest.
“I’ve used too much mana. I’m completely drained.”
“Did you use enough to cancel your transformation?”
“Not that. It’s my personal… ‘first deadline’, as I would say, to use this much and still be okay.”
I used my mana with the assumption that I might face an S-class opponent during combat, while still leaving enough mana to safely escape without getting caught after the fight.
“I also need to increase my mana.”
“Doesn’t it naturally increase when you’re on Sejong Island?”
“It does. But there’s a way to increase your mana easier than just breathing here.”
I sent an advertising link to Brewer’s smartphone.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a very special way to get stronger quickly, to increase your mana pool.”
“…Ulleung Island?”
“Yes. They say there’s a special place in Ulleung Island that replenishes your mana 1.5 times faster and increases your maximum mana.”
Including me, only six people knew about it.
Gunggi, Docheol, Dool, Hondon, and the Chief.
“It’s a pension with a hot spring. It’s owned by a direct branch of Yi Maemangryang.”
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