Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Song Seokhwan (6)

"Ow, ow ow......"

Where Ryeoun's blade had pierced me throbbed with pain.

I'd known he was strong, but he'd been far stronger than I'd expected.

I'd nearly lost.

It was a mercy that my final gambit had worked.

"What am I going to do about this......"

The stab wound alone was severe, and I'd been exposed to far too much of the venom.

It fucking hurt.

The saving grace was that my body—freakish as it was—started recovering the moment the fight ended.

What incredible natural healing.

"Phew. Ryeoun, you useless bastard."

Leaving me in this state and then asking for a favor.

He hadn't even told me anything useful.

Song Seokhwan had changed? I already knew that. But how, and why—that was what mattered.

The important parts were all missing.

After recovering enough to move, I made my way to the second stage.

This area was empty too.

Scorch marks from magic lined the burrow. Song Seokhwan's handiwork, probably.

"What the hell happened?"

The answer would be in the boss stage.

Without hesitation, I entered the boss stage.

HISSS—

A chilling cold filled the air.

This was nothing like the place I knew.

When I'd scouted it during exam prep, the Slime Burrow's boss stage had been nothing like this.

Dark, potent mana saturated the entire stage.

"This is......"

The smell of blood, thick and heavy.

Dread crept through my thoughts.

I needed to confirm what had happened.

It wasn't what I feared. It couldn't be. But the dark imaginings wouldn't stop circling.

"Professor."

Song Seokhwan's voice.

I definitely heard Song Seokhwan's voice.

"Song Seokhwan!"

What greeted me in the direction of his voice was a horrific scene.

I wanted to deny reality.

A-team's members lay in pools of blood.

Mercifully, despite their gruesome condition, they were still alive.

"What the hell happened?"

"Heheh... Do you like it? This is a stage set for you, Professor. A stage for killing you! Hahahaha!"

Song Seokhwan began laughing like a madman.

At the same time, a message window appeared before my eyes.

DING!

───────────────

▼ First Scenario

—You have encountered the Evil God, Bonibatus.

—Bonibatus is currently possessing Song Seokhwan's body.

—Defeat Bonibatus and rescue the students.

───────────────

"Ha. Fuck."

I knew something was off.

If this thing had gotten involved, every bizarre event up to now made perfect sense.

Bonibatus—the Evil God that manipulated the human heart.

I'd played this goddamn game hundreds of times, but I'd never seen anything this fucked.

The first scenario wasn't supposed to begin for another six months.

And Bonibatus wasn't supposed to appear until the seventh scenario.

What was this thing doing here already?

"Song Seokhwan, snap out of it! You're being controlled by that thing!"

My plea didn't reach him.

The sinister energy only grew stronger.

Song Seokhwan stared at me with a lunatic's grin.

"Professor, I'll be sure to kill you."

Evil Gods.

The root of all evil in this world.

Transcendent beings that existed to bring about the world's destruction.

The ones who'd opened the Gates on Earth.

And the enemies the player had to defeat in this game.

Twelve Evil Gods had crossed over to Earth.

Their purpose: the annihilation of the world.

Destroying them all was the game's ultimate objective.

Fortunately, Bonibatus wasn't one of the stronger Evil Gods.

And having been forced to appear in the early game, it should be significantly weakened.

But weakened or not, an Evil God was still an Evil God.

To fight it properly, I'd need at least Chancellor Ryu Jeonga.

"Hahahaha!"

Multiple long tentacles sprouted from Song Seokhwan's back.

Each tentacle ended in a razor-sharp blade.

Possessed by the Evil God, Song Seokhwan no longer looked human.

WHOOOM!

The tentacles lashed out.

A fast, heavy strike.

I raised my sword and blocked, but my hand went numb.

Song Seokhwan followed up with a spell.

"Stone Edge!"

Boulders rained from above.

Both the casting speed and the spell's power far exceeded Song Seokhwan's normal capabilities.

THUD! THOOM!

I threw myself clear of the magic, but it wasn't over.

The tentacles came flying again.

Between dodging spells and deflecting tentacles, every part of my body was occupied.

"You can't beat me, Professor. Just die while I'm willing to make it painless."

"Song Seokhwan, snap out of it! That thing is controlling you!"

"Controlling? Wanting to kill you is entirely my own will."

Clearly, he wasn't in any state for a conversation.

The silver lining was that Bonibatus's power was far weaker than I'd expected.

Appearing ahead of schedule must have come with a steep penalty.

At this level, I had a chance.

"This might sting. Bear with me."

Baek Seolhwa's swordsmanship excelled in duels against people but fell short against monsters.

The finesse was superb, but it lacked raw power.

I needed something rougher, more violent—Nam Hyeju's swordsmanship.

CRUNCH!

"Kgh!"

I brought my sword down like an axe, crushing a tentacle outright.

The damage to the tentacle apparently hurt the host—Song Seokhwan let out a pained groan.

"How dare you!"

WHOOOOOM!

Every tentacle converged on me at once.

Moments like these demanded nerve.

Boldly, savagely, I cut through the tentacles head-on and pushed forward.

"You can't beat me, Professor! Stop struggling!"

I closed in on Song Seokhwan.

He was a mage. If I swung my sword at full power, it might kill him.

But under Bonibatus's control, his physical abilities would be far beyond their normal state.

WHOOOM!

"Hah, a sword like that!"

Song Seokhwan caught my Aura-infused blade with his bare hand.

That much was expected.

Let's see if he could handle this too.

"Thunderbolt!"

A blue flash struck down.

This one hit hard—Song Seokhwan shuddered violently and released the sword.

I didn't waste the opening, pouring in as many sword strikes as I could.

"GAAAAAH!"

Black smoke erupted.

Weakened or not, Bonibatus's patterns were exactly as I remembered.

That was the animation signaling Phase 2.

I pulled back from Song Seokhwan immediately.

KABOOOOM!

A black tornado engulfed Song Seokhwan.

If I'd gotten greedy trying to squeeze out a bit more damage and taken that head-on, it would've been bad.

"GRRRR... If you insist on drinking the bitter cup, so be it!"

Song Seokhwan—no, Bonibatus—had dropped the polite speech.

A bad sign.

It meant Bonibatus had completely consumed Song Seokhwan's personality.

"Bonibatus."

Hearing its own name, the creature reacted with surprise.

"I knew you were no ordinary human, but to know my name!"

Of course I knew.

The Evil God that burrowed into humanity's weak points, broke them down, and made them into hosts.

I'd known all of that.

So why hadn't I been wary of this thing from the start?

The assumption that no Evil God would appear in the first semester—that was the fatal mistake.

Originally, Bonibatus was supposed to possess Jeon Taejin.

But my interference had caused events that didn't exist in the original story, altering the timeline.

A discarded potion vial lay on the ground.

In the game, Bonibatus always awakened when Jeon Taejin drank the black potion.

That vial was probably it.

"I'll need you to tell me how you know of me."

Song Seokhwan's fingernails elongated grotesquely.

Not fingernails—they'd become something like swords.

The more Bonibatus's influence grew, the more Song Seokhwan's body lost its human form, twisting into something hideous.

At this rate, wings would sprout from his back next.

SLASH!

"Kgh!"

A nail slash flew at me.

Block that, and tentacles followed. Survive the tentacles, magic came next. Then another nail slash.

The relentless chain of attacks was maddening.

"Kahahaha! I'll kill you as painfully as possible! Tell me how you know of me, and I might grant you a painless death."

"Phew... cut the crap."

There was no room left for playing it safe.

I threw every card I had on the table.

Edelin's swordsmanship.

I couldn't wield it with full control yet, but in terms of momentary peak output, it was hands down the best in my arsenal.

The Aura wreathing my sword turned gold.

A plain horizontal slash, devoid of any technique.

Bonibatus casually extended an arm to block.

SHING!

"......!"

The golden Aura was ferocious.

For the first time, I overpowered Bonibatus in raw strength.

"You, you bastard!"

I followed up with a barrage of sword strikes and magic.

The tide was finally starting to turn.

But this state wouldn't last.

Maintaining Aura through an unfamiliar style while spamming spells—my mana was bottoming out.

Brute force wouldn't cut it.

For this brief window, with Bonibatus cornered, it wouldn't be able to devote much energy to suppressing Song Seokhwan's mind.

This was the only chance to awaken Song Seokhwan's consciousness.

"Song Seokhwan! Snap out of it!"

"Kgh, you bastard!"

"I said snap out of it, you braindead idiot! You can't even beat a thing like this, and you expect to beat Park Seohu and Seo Dayun?"

TWITCH—

Good.

The moment I dropped keywords that pricked Song Seokhwan's pride, his personality started to surface.

The proof: Bonibatus's power waned slightly.

It looked like the creature was trying to suppress Song Seokhwan's consciousness again.

"Hey, you goddamn Evil God bastard! Your fight's with me!"

CRUNCH!

My sword found the opening and pierced Song Seokhwan's right arm.

This should prevent Bonibatus from interfering with Song Seokhwan's mind any further.

"GAAAAAAH! You, you bastard!"

"Song Seokhwan, snap out of it!"

***

In his early years, Song Seokhwan's entire world had been a small orphanage.

To Song Seokhwan, being an orphan was a brand.

Whether walking through the neighborhood or going to school, the label "orphan" followed him everywhere.

—Don't play with kids like that.

—Hang around an uneducated orphan and it'll rub off on you.

Was being an orphan a disease?

Rub off? What exactly rubs off?

If orphanhood were contagious, did that mean any child who spoke to him would have their parents drop dead?

Even so, Song Seokhwan's days were happy.

The orphanage was poor but always full of life.

Then, one day, that small world shattered.

Under the Awakened Special Act, all citizens had the obligation and right to undergo aptitude testing as potential Awakened.

Song Seokhwan's test results stunned everyone.

—What is this kid... Th-this can't be real......

—Hey, what's your name?

From that day, Song Seokhwan's life changed.

Powerful people came seeking him out.

In a short span, he met countless figures of authority in Korea.

'There are this many people who want me......'

And then he met the man who would become his father—Song Jihyeok.

'I've heard all about you.'

Song Jihyeok.

The Guild Master of Bisang—a name every Korean citizen knew.

'Become my son. In return, I'll give you everything I have.'

To Song Seokhwan, who'd begun tasting wealth and power, it was an irresistible offer.

Without hesitation, he called Song Jihyeok "Father."

And regretted it.

'What is this?'

Life as an adopted son was brutally hard.

He needed a sanctuary to comfort his heart.

Song Seokhwan's nest of happiness was the orphanage.

But he couldn't go back.

Where could he find solace?

'Father.'

A name he'd always wanted to say.

Father—the name he'd longed to call someone.

He wanted to be loved by parents in a family, like everyone else.

He wanted to be comforted by a parent.

But what returned was cold indifference.

'You told me to become your son.'

Song Jihyeok turned his anger on Song Seokhwan instead.

'F-Father......'

'What is that pathetic display? Since when was a son of Song Jihyeok so weak? Did you think getting on the family register was the end of it?'

'No, no sir......'

'You're the one who said you wanted to seize everything in the world. Prove you're worthy.'

Everything in the world?

He didn't need any of that.

He'd be fine without any of it—all he wanted was a single warm word.

'Yes, sir......'

But Song Seokhwan couldn't bring himself to say what was in his heart.

As always, he just nodded meekly.

It was cold.

So cold that his whole body trembled.

He ached for human warmth.

'Heh, heheh......'

You already know the answer.

What you have to do to earn your father's recognition.

Getting praised by your father isn't that hard.

The world went dark.

A familiar place—a party venue.

Some faces he knew. Others he didn't.

—You're Song Seokhwan of Bisang?

—Song Jihyeok's adopted son? A filthy nobody from who-knows-where—keep your head down from now on.

An Sehyeon, berating him.

An almost comforting, familiar scene.

This was where Song Seokhwan had lost his temper and beaten An Sehyeon down.

And then received his father's praise.

【Is that enough to satisfy you?】

SLINK—

Before he knew it, Song Seokhwan was holding a jet-black sword in his right hand.

What is this?

When did I—

【Kill him.】

What are you saying?

Heroes aren't allowed to kill.

【Kill An Sehyeon with that. Then your father will recognize you.】

My father will recognize me?

I can escape this cold and bask in warmth too?

An Sehyeon sneered and taunted.

"What's that sword for? You're not actually going to stab me, are you? Yeah right—a weak coward like you could never."

A coward?

No.

I am Song Seokhwan, son of Song Jihyeok.

The man who'll lead Bisang someday can't possibly be a coward.

【Stab him!】

Yes. Let's stab him.

Kill An Sehyeon and earn recognition.

Let's end all of this.

"A coward like you could never kill me!"

Song Seokhwan raised the sword high.

Goodbye, Sehyeon hyung.

The instant he brought the blade down—

"......!"

The sword wouldn't move.

Why?

"That's enough."

Someone had grabbed the blade from behind.

Who the hell—

He turned to find the face of a man infuriatingly handsome.

"Song Seokhwan, what is the meaning of this disgrace?"

The man he loathed with every fiber of his being.

Professor Cha Eunwoo was there.

"Why are you here?"

Murderous intent boiled over.

A hatred greater than what he'd felt toward An Sehyeon.

He had to kill him.

He had to kill this man—

"Song Seokhwan, if you go any further, you will never be recognized by anyone."

What did he say?

That I'll never be recognized?

"Remember this. Heroes exist to protect people. What kind of Hero hurts the very people they're meant to defend?"

Words his father had once spoken to him.

Words he'd thought were truly good, words he'd always carried close to his heart.

Cha Eunwoo recited them without a single syllable's difference.

"You......"

He was right.

His father wanted Song Seokhwan to become a Guild Master who led Heroes.

A Hero.

Song Seokhwan had to become a good Hero—

"Stop lying! Father never recognized me in the end! A good Hero? What does that even matter? I need to get stronger!"

Song Seokhwan screamed at the top of his lungs.

Wasn't that the truth?

He'd done everything he could.

And it was Father who'd refused to acknowledge him.

"You want to be recognized?"

"Yes! I want to be recognized! Is that so wrong?"

Cha Eunwoo smirked.

Is that funny to him?

Is it really that wrong?

"It's okay. You don't have to be a strong Hero."

"What?"

"It's okay to be weak. It's okay if you don't become an exceptional Guild Master."

"Th-then what worth would I have......"

Cha Eunwoo smiled warmly.

"I'll be the one who recognizes you. You don't have to be a strong Hero. Just be a good Hero and protect the world."

"A good Hero......"

Ah. So that's what it was.

That's what it was all along.

How foolish I've been.

A Hero who's only strong has no meaning. No one welcomes someone like that.

【Stop! Stop it!】

Bonibatus thrashed in desperation.

But as Song Seokhwan's consciousness steadily returned, the world within his mind began to crumble.

Before long, the sound of shattering glass rang out, and the world collapsed entirely.

At last, Song Seokhwan's mind was clear.

He opened his eyes slowly.

***

"Kghh, grrrrgh......!"

Bonibatus's power waned rapidly.

The nails and tentacles that had sprouted from Song Seokhwan's body shrank bit by bit, then vanished completely.

He'd done it.

Song Seokhwan had successfully expelled Bonibatus.

"You're awake."

"...Professor?"

The murderous intent that had clouded Song Seokhwan's eyes was gone—replaced by a clear, transparent gaze.

A clean, good look.

"Ngh!"

"Your injuries are severe. Don't move."

One arm was deeply slashed and dangling, and his body had been driven so hard it was in full overload.

The fact that he was still conscious at all spoke to superhuman mental fortitude.

"Where's that spider bastard......"

"Leave the rest to me. Get some sleep."

"I'll kill that bastard with my own—"

Song Seokhwan's voice faded until it fell silent. He'd finally lost consciousness.

The sound of steady breathing.

His life, at least, was not in danger.

【N-no......! Th-this can't be......!】

Bonibatus's true form was finally revealed.

A slightly oversized spider.

There was a reason it possessed others to fight.

Bonibatus's true form had zero combat ability.

"Time to disappear."

【W-wait! I'll grant your wish! I am a Demon God! Demon God Bonibatus! If you spare me......!】

"Pathetic."

SLASH!

One of the game's final bosses.

For one of the twelve Demon Gods, it was an anticlimactically hollow end.

DING!

───────────────

▶ First Scenario cleared.

—Bonibatus subjugated (1/1)

▶ A heroic achievement has been recorded.

—Survive an encounter with an Evil God (1/1)

▶ A legendary achievement has been recorded.

—Rescue a companion from an Evil God (1/1)

▶ A mythical achievement has been recorded.

—Subjugate an Evil God (1/1)

───────────────

"Phew."

It was all finally over.

The exam. A-team's rescue. The Evil God's destruction.

I administered basic first aid to Song Seokhwan and A-team's members, then made my way out of the dungeon.

When I got back, Lee Yeeun greeted me in a frenzy.

"Professor? Oh my god! You're a wreck! What happened in there? And why are the kids like this? There shouldn't be anything in a Slime Burrow that could threaten you......"

"It's a long story."

I wanted to explain everything, but I didn't have the energy.

My eyelids grew heavier. My body turned sluggish.

Fighting the thugs. Fighting Song Seokhwan's men. Fighting the Demon God.

Too much had happened today.

I just wanted to rest.

"Professor! Stay with me!"

My eyelids were heavy.

Right now, it felt like I could fall into a deep, deep sleep.

Just... a little... let me close my eyes.