Chapter 52

Chapter 51

The commotion with the demon doppleganger has ended.

Things like the demon becoming gigantic, Baek Seulhee unveiling a new technique, the demon shrinking to escape Baek Seulhee's attack, and the demon's head exploding into three pieces simultaneously from a single strike by the Gwangeo, or the existence of another entity that drives humans turned into demons into a frenzy, like the Dooeokshini.

So many things happened.

"......"

Yoon Eui-seon was at the scene of the incident.

While she wasn't there from the very beginning, she was present from the moment Yook Gi-bong started to lose control, trying to persuade and negotiate with him.

However, her presence was erased halfway through.

From the moment the Gwangeo stepped in, from the moment Baek Seulhee stepped in, and from the moment the Dooeokshini appeared.

She, an A-rank, had no power to contribute to the feast of S-ranks and could only focus on setting up protective barriers to ensure the safety of the citizens in case the demon went on a rampage.

In the end, the protagonist was an S-rank.

Being the student council president was a badge of honor and a source of pride for her, but she was once again reminded that in this world, the most important thing for a superhuman is power.

She wants to become stronger.

She must become stronger.

But she doesn't want to become stronger by turning into a demon like Yook Gi-bong did.

If she were to become a demon, he would surely come to kill her.

- Student Council President Yoon Eui-seon. Have you become a demon? I will execute you now.

He would definitely try to kill Yoon Eui-seon, regardless of her actions as the student council president, simply because she had become a demon, a villain.

"...I don't want that."

Yoon Eui-seon entered the student council room.

Alone in the empty room on a weekend, she slumped into a chair, deeply feeling her own inadequacy.

"I need power. But I can't hope for a sudden boost or some stroke of luck."

To achieve her ideals, she needs strong power, but even to obtain strong power, she can't reach out to dubious sources.

She needs to become stronger quickly while maintaining her principles.

She knows it's an unrealistic goal, and she knows it's a very difficult task, but she must do it.

It would be too much of a burden to the Gwangeo if he had to come to execute her.

"...Yeah. Even talking to me like this."

Yoon Eui-seon manipulated the Taeguk Watch to display various screens on the meeting room screen.

(Live) Video taken from the side of the Gwangeo

[Hot Live] Video of the Gwangeo using a technique (not an ultimate move) during the Gibong Rider commotion

[Subscribed and Donated] ??? : That's not how you use fire

The screen displayed a variety of videos of the Gwangeo taken from all directions.

Among them, of course, was the close-up footage she had taken herself.

[[[[That's not how you use fire.]]]]

The videos were synchronized, and Yoon Eui-seon listened to the Gwangeo's voice in surround sound.

"That's how you use it."

Whoosh.

Yoon Eui-seon infused mana into her outstretched hand and created a pink fireball that resembled a fox's face.

"...I can't do it."

Even trying to grow a single fireball was not easy.

Maintaining a single fireball requires a tremendous amount of mana, and to make a fire pillar dozens of meters high, how much mana would be needed?

"I... huh?"

The Taeguk Watch began to ring.

Yoon Eui-seon quickly muted the sound from the PC connected to the screen and answered the call.

"Yes, this is Yoon Eui-seon."

[Is everything okay, Eui-seon?]

"Ah! Teacher!!"

She had forgotten.

With such a significant incident and feeling of self-reproach, she had overlooked the most important aspect of being a hero.

"Are you okay?!"

[Ha-ha, I'm fine, but it seems like Eui-seon is a bit off.]

"Huh?"

[I told you to speak casually, but I raised my tone again, and you naturally followed. If Eui-seon were her usual self, she would have said, 'Why are you raising your tone again?']

"Oh."

As Do Ji-hwan said, Yoon Eui-seon was distracted.

Was it because she was bewitched by the Gwangeo, or because she felt self-reproach for not being able to stand beside the Gwangeo and Snow White?

"I'm sorry."

[There's no need to apologize. Thanks to Eui-seon, I was able to buy time and bravely persuade and stop Yook Gi-bong. Thank you, Eui-seon.]

"...Thank you."

Thank you.

Those words made Yoon Eui-seon's heart flutter.

It wasn't that she wanted praise, but as a hero, it was something she should do. Hearing it directly, of course, made her feel good.

[It seems like you have a lot on your mind. Is it because the student turned into a demon?]

No.

[If that's the case, I don't think Eui-seon needs to worry too much. Eui-seon did her best. Although Yook Gi-bong became a demon, Eui-seon did everything she could.]

"Thank you, Teacher. I appreciate your words."

While Do Ji-hwan's words were certainly something she had been pondering, they didn't fully resolve her inner turmoil.

[If you need counseling, feel free to come anytime. I'm on your side.]

"Yes, really thank you."

In the end, would she have to find the answer herself?

[...It seems like Eui-seon is having deeper concerns than I thought. If it's not too much of an intrusion, can I guess?]

"Huh?"

[Do you feel like you were pushed aside and couldn't stand beside the Gwangeo and Snow White? Maybe?]

Yoon Eui-seon involuntarily stood up from her seat.

She couldn't say how he knew.

She was surprised that he had read her inner thoughts so accurately, and even more surprised that he had deliberately not mentioned it to avoid hurting her. His words, which read her mind and sought understanding, made her heart sink.

"...Are you a mind reader?"

[No, I'm not. I just guessed the most likely concern among the things I thought Eui-seon might be worrying about.]

"What other concerns do you have?"

[There are many, but mentioning them would only complicate Eui-seon's mind. I'll give my own answer to the question I guessed. Eui-seon, don't rush. Eui-seon has her own path.]

Do Ji-hwan's voice felt like a pat on the back.

[Even if it seems like others are ahead now, if Eui-seon steadily moves forward, she might find herself standing shoulder to shoulder with them, or even ahead, before she knows it. Eui-seon definitely has that potential.]

"...Really, thank you."

[Now you seem a bit more satisfied. How about it? I've been reading some counseling books in the basement recently. Do you think I could be a counselor?]

"Haha."

Yoon Eui-seon let out a hollow laugh at Do Ji-hwan's playful words.

"You'd do well taking care of the heroes' mental health later."

[Really? That's a very kind thing to say. If I get fired from being a teacher, I'll consider the job you recommended. Oh, it's getting late. Have a good dinner. Let's have a meal together when we have time next time.]

"Yes. I'll contact you over the weekend."

[Yeah. Oh, by the way.]

Do Ji-hwan composed his voice.

[Thank you so much for saving me, Hero.]

He ended the call with those words.

"......Me."

Yoon Eui-seon clutched the Taeguk Watch and laid her head on the desk.

"Hero... what...."

Behind Yoon Eui-seon.

The warm sunlight of the sunset shone on her back, and her ears were flushed with the glow of the sunset.

"Mental care.... Haha."

Yoon Eui-seon fidgeted with her fingers, silently replaying the Gwangeo's video on the screen.

"Now I've received help, but someday...."

Pressing her hand firmly on the shoulder where the Gwangeo's hand had rested.

Someday.

Imagining the day when she would step forward in front of the Gwangeo and repay the words she heard today, Yoon Eui-seon replayed the Gwangeo's technique over and over again.

"...Hehe."

In the video.

The quality wasn't great, but the Gwangeo clearly flicked the fingers he had placed on her shoulder.

That faint pat was definitely not a lie.

* * *

After returning to Joo Mo's room.

"You said you were going out to eat, but I didn't expect you to deal with a demon."

"Same here. Can I borrow your bed?"

"You're already lying in it."

I lay on Joo Mo's bed, resting.

"I used too much mana. I'm completely drained."

"Did you use enough to lose your transformation?"

"No. I used up to my... usual 'first deadline' where I think it's okay to use this much."

I left enough mana to escape safely and without being caught by anyone after the battle, and I used it assuming I might encounter an S-rank opponent during the fight.

"I need to increase my mana too."

"Doesn't it naturally increase while you're on Jeju Island?"

"It does. But there's a way to increase mana more easily than just breathing here."

I sent a link to an advertisement on Joo Mo's smartphone.

"What's this?"

"What else? A very special method to get stronger quickly and increase your mana capacity."

"...Ulleung Island?"

"Yeah. On Ulleung Island, there's a special place that fills your mana 1.5 times faster and increases your maximum mana."

There are only six people who know about it, including me.

Gunggi, Docheol, Do-ol, Chaos, and the Boss.

"It's a pension with a hot spring. It's a direct branch of Imma Mangryang."