Chapter 49

Chapter 48

Before Yun Isun could say anything, a maniac dressed in a traditional Korean hanbok appeared.

Occasionally, there are such jokes.

If there happens to be a teacher in high school who wears traditional hanbok, that teacher is likely to be known among the teachers as a 'villain' with a high probability.

There's no need to specify what kind of evil deeds, not exactly evil, this person does to students, but the maniac who appeared before us now is not just a fashion disaster.

The magical power he exudes is immeasurable, and he is so strong that it would be unwise to fight him recklessly and easily predict the outcome.

He looks like a madman who revels in eccentricity, but the hidden power and combat strength beneath his mask are so strong that they can toy with even S-rank beings with ease.

He took out a seed of evil and threw it at Yook Gibeom's body.

There was no time to react.

[Growl, growl...]

The Doppelganger, who instantly grew over 2 meters tall, gnashed its teeth like a berserk lycanthrope on a full moon night, and the maniac bowed deeply behind it.

"If I could, I would knock you down immediately, you goblin... But first, I must deal with the 'traitor to the nation.'"

[Traitor to the nation? The Doppelganger?]

"Yes, that's right. This one has committed a heinous act. It's truly shameful to be of the same ethnicity. How... How can he claim that the villain's clothes are his own?!"

The maniac spread his arms and shouted.

"In an era where stealing from others is punishable, to steal from a villain! This one steals the appearance of a villain to make a fortune, a demon of capitalism! A demonic sprout with evil growing in its heart! Therefore, I have made this demon a complete demon, ensuring it can never die as a human being."

Puhwack.

A parasitic-like creature sprang from the center of the diagonal wound on the Doppelganger's chest, extending tentacles and taking hold.

While the demon's eyes previously just glowed, now they seemed to be infected by the monster, turning into demonic eyes.

"Hehehe. This one has defiled the honor of the Korean people. He has made the Korean people seem like a dirty and pitiful race that steals and lives off others' patents. Ah, what would others think if they saw this? They would think we are a race that only steals and copies, wouldn't they? Therefore, this one deserves to die!"

The maniac spread his arms and tilted his head back.

"Simply dying would be a waste, so I will recycle this corpse in the most helpful way for humanity. Like this."

Tap, tap.

The maniac took out two more seeds of evil from his robe and sprinkled them on the Doppelganger, which seemed about to go berserk.

"They will become experience points for heroes. Hahaha."

Puhwack.

A lump of magic, clearly shaped like a human eye, sprang from the diagonal wound on the Doppelganger's chest, breaking the blood vessels.

Even with the eye already sprouting with a bundle of tentacles, two more eyes sprouted, creating a horrifying and terrifying sight.

Moreover—

"Grow even larger, demon. To atone for your original sin, for the endless peace and development of those living on this land, you must sacrifice yourself."

[Growl...!!]

With two more seeds of evil, the Doppelganger began to swell even more.

It wasn't just swelling; the tentacles sprouting from the Doppelganger's chest wrapped around its entire body, forming a round, bloody cocoon.

It had enclosed itself in an egg.

As if to metamorphose into a new form.

"Attack—!"

One of the heroes gave the order to attack in a panicked voice.

Several heroes attacked from a distance, trying to break the Doppelganger's egg, but it remained unscathed.

The egg continued to grow, reaching about 5 meters, then 10 meters. I was about to step forward with my club made from a six-sided bat but held back.

[Two-ekshini. What are you, anyway?]

"Patriot."

[You're a patriot? Don't make me laugh.]

"Those who spout English technical terms on Jeju Island are not the ones I want to hear that from. And one more thing."

Two-ekshini pointed at me with his white-gloved hand.

"Where did you learn to speak informally on first meeting? In the Eastern land of etiquette, it's polite to use honorifics with someone you just met, don't you know?"

[There's no need for politeness towards someone who has the ability to turn villains into demons and demons into even larger demons.]

"Ha...! Interesting. Fine. Indeed, you must have that level of character to be a villain of the alliance and to shout English technical names."

Two-ekshini raised both hands and bowed again.

Without lowering his head, he looked at me and bowed, then lightly tapped the ground with his shoe.

"Then, why don't you face this traitorous demon?"

[Before you leave, I have one question.]

I pointed at the Doppelganger about to go berserk.

[If you leave this monster alone, it will kill people and wreak havoc. How is that 'patriotism' or 'atonement'?]

"...Hehe."

Two-ekshini pointed at the people and heroes around us.

"The value of this traitorous demon, who has damaged the national dignity, is only one thing: a 'foundation' for heroes to become even stronger. Of course, if this foundation is too high to climb, they will all be eliminated and die."

[So, that's your ideology.]

"It is my ideology and the ideology of the place I belong to. Hehehe, goblin. What will you do? Will you run away, or will you fight among the heroes? I will quietly watch for your answer."

Rustle.

His hanbok fluttered, and as the light from a magic circle-like formation on the ground flashed, Two-ekshini disappeared instantly.

[...Tsk.]

I tried to get some information by talking to him, but he just rambled on and left without giving me anything useful.

'If he's not going to tell me where he makes the seeds of evil, how many are left, or what other functions they have besides strengthening demons, he shouldn't have talked at all.'

I gave him the benefit of the doubt, but it was a complete waste of time.

Next time, I'll smash his skull with a goblin bat before he starts talking like that.

[All talk and no substance.]

He's definitely watching from somewhere.

When I meet Two-ekshini again, I'll definitely say that to him.

Something that will make him go berserk.

[Kishaaaaaah—!!]

The transformation complete, the demonic Doppelganger roared in all directions.

Shedding the shell that surrounded it, it burst out of the giant, bloody cocoon and brutally revealed its existence to the world.

[A 10-meter-tall humanoid wolf. I thought it would be bigger, but it's a bit disappointing.]

I expected it to be about 50 meters, but fortunately or unfortunately, it didn't grow that large.

If it had, I would have had to bring out a giant robot or something that doesn't exist, transform and combine, or hold a spoon and raise it high to become a giant of light for three minutes to engage in a close combat battle.

It would be a shame for others, but if I did that, my magic power would be completely drained, and I would revert to my naked form.

I have no reason to go that far.

"Hey, over there!"

Yun Isun called me urgently from behind.

"Requesting help from a villain is not something a hero can do with dignity... But will you help 'save' Yook Gibeom from that demon?"

[Save?]

"...At least, to prevent someone from dying in that demon's state, to give them rest."

Yun Isun pointed at his Taeguk watch with a heavy voice.

"One of the hero rules. Any superpowered individual who becomes a demon must be suppressed by any means necessary, regardless of who they are. And if a superpowered individual has gone so mad that communication is impossible... they must be stopped from causing more deaths."

[Death can also be a form of salvation. From the perspective of not accumulating the karma of killing.]

"...Will you help?"

[Kyaaaaaah—!!]

The Doppelganger roared in triumph, celebrating its rebirth.

The estimated rank of the Doppelganger, glaring around, is almost S-rank.

I wonder why A-rank and S-rank villains keep appearing in this Jeju Island where students study, but that's the power of the seeds of evil.

Deals with demons bring more magnificent gifts than humans can imagine and take away even more horrific prices.

[I can help, but I don't think I need to step in.]

I pointed at the sky.

[The strongest hero has appeared.]

I'm not being sarcastic.

I'm speaking sincerely.

[No matter how much magic power a creature has dumped with three seeds of evil, it can't win against a pure-class opponent.]

From the sky.

[Finally, you're here.]

White snow began to fall.