Chapter 12


After trying a few more times, I could only manage to lift something as heavy as a phone for about 10 to 15 seconds.

It’s a secret that I dropped Kang-woo’s phone on the floor multiple times during the process.

I didn’t do it on purpose because I was upset.

Really…

While killing time like that, Jeong Ha-yul came in with the bald old man Heinz.

“How’s your body?”

“I’m fine.”

“This time, your brain shut down appropriately, so you got through it safely… but if you mess with the seal again next time, you’ll be hit with tremendous pain.”

“…Tremendous pain?”

The uncontrolled magic power will turn into telekinesis on its own, and they say it will pick up, put down, squeeze, and unfold everything, including organs.

To prevent that, they say I need to stay by their side and train…

This looks like a scam no matter how you look at it.

I don’t trust this bald old man…

But I can’t just not believe him either.

What if it really happens like he said?

‘Horrifying…’

I feel like I’d die just from a stomach cramp, and now something similar is spreading all over my body…?

I don’t even want to imagine it.

Glancing at Jeong Ha-yul, she nods as if to say it’s okay to trust him.

Damn it. Even if I can’t trust that old man, I have no choice but to trust Jeong Ha-yul.

“While you’re staying in England, I’ll guide you.”

“In return… let me go back to Korea whenever I want.”

“Of course. Right now, you’re not my disciple or a mage of the Clock Tower, but a guest. No one will restrain you.”

In the end, it seems I’ll be staying in England longer than expected.

It’s not like I have friends or family in Korea anyway.

Since the Demon King’s family decided to stay in England with me, it doesn’t matter even more.

Just enjoy it like a trip abroad.

But…

There was one thing I overlooked.

‘The food is too tasteless.’

[Fish and Chips]

The first meal at the Clock Tower was the worst.

There’s even a movie about a British chef who became a cook because his mom’s food was so bad, which says it all.

I can feel the freshness of the fish, but that’s it.

It was almost crispy, but the oil canceled out the crispiness.

And it’s not even moist inside.

It’s worse than hastily made frozen pollack pancakes.

This is the representative dish of England?

I want to go back to Korea right now.

But since I don’t want to live in pain until I’m 17, I need to absorb the bald old man’s teachings as quickly as possible and run away to Korea.

“The first lesson is to use magic power until you’re exhausted. Knowing your limits is the top priority.”

“…I passed out using telekinesis just a day ago.”

“That was your brain making you faint, not exhaustion from magic power. Those two are clearly different.”

From the very first lesson, the vicious bald man is trying to make me faint from exhaustion.

I don’t know if I’m learning how to use magic power or getting PT from a Spartan trainer.

It’s been about 30 minutes since the lesson started.

I’m already dying.

“Two more times!”

“Ugh!”

My whole body is already trembling.

“Last one!”

“Ahhh!”

I barely lifted it while screaming. I can’t do any more.

I might really die at this rate.

“Just one more!”

“Kyaaaak!”

It feels like my neck is about to snap.

I can taste something metallic, like blood is rising…

But the vicious bald man didn’t stop.

“One last time!”

“This is the last one. Just one more!”

“This is really the last one. Just one more!”

“This is the final last one. Just one more!”

“This is the ultimate final last one!”

“You bald man!”

Training to lift a 500-gram pink dumbbell.

He said it’s to develop control over magic power…

But he’s definitely trying to make me bald too.

I’ll tell Jeong Ha-yul.

Really.

After shouting for the final ultimate last one, I lifted it and my vision went blurry.

In the end, I fainted.

***

Heinz was admiring the fallen Jeong Gyeoul.

“It’s not something a child can do…”

The exhaustion was just a figure of speech, and he planned to squeeze me moderately and then stop.

But seeing Jeong Gyeoul follow everything he said, he got carried away.

“If the Demon King finds out about this… I might die.”

Before worrying about what kind of person this child will become.

I need to worry first if I’ll even live to see it.

I must never let the Demon King see Jeong Gyeoul in this state.

Just as he was about to move Jeong Gyeoul’s body to the sofa using magic.

“Gyeoul, are you training well…”

“…”

The Demon King opened the door without knocking and our eyes met.

A brief silence flowed.

“It’s clearly a scene that could be misunderstood. But hold your anger and listen to me first…”

“You bald man!”

Heinz tried to explain quickly, but.

He was punched by Jeong Ha-yul, who ran at full speed, and slammed into the wall.

“Ugh!”

As a Grand Mage, he managed to deploy a shield the moment he was hit and saved his life.

‘No wonder they’re sisters… that bald man talk…’

As Jeong Ha-yul caught the falling Jeong Gyeoul.

In the end, Heinz also fainted.

***

A week passed like that.

Heinz crossed the line every lesson.

Jeong Gyeoul fainted every lesson.

And Jeong Ha-yul sent Heinz flying every lesson.

“Gyeoul, won’t you become the old man’s disciple?”

“Stop it already, you bald man!”

Heinz kept following Jeong Gyeoul around even outside of lessons.

All day except when going to the bathroom and bedtime.

In the end, even Jeong Gyeoul started calling him ‘bald man’.

“He’s bald but he’s a Grand Mage. Won’t you become this old man’s disciple?”

“Please go away!”

Jeong Gyeoul, born in the Land of Courtesy, felt guilty for using such language with an old man, but it automatically came out whenever they met, so there was no way to stop it.

Even when meeting Heinz’s disciple Angel.

“If I become a disciple, I’ll obviously monopolize the attention. Angel! Protect your title as the only disciple!”

“I don’t mind, having such a cute junior would actually be nice.”

Even when meeting the mages of the Clock Tower.

“Didn’t you all work hard to get here and want to become the bald old man’s disciple? Are you going to let a kid like me take that glorious position? Step up and claim it!”

“We don’t mind. If Miss Jeong Gyeoul becomes the master’s disciple, we should welcome it.”

Even when meeting Eun-chae and Kang-woo.

“Do you want me to live in England forever? Do something about it!”

“Sister, England is fine too. Whether it’s Korea or England, it doesn’t matter.”

“I don’t care which country, I’ll just follow you guys around.”

There was no one to take Jeong Gyeoul’s side and stop Heinz.

It’s been a month since I stayed in England.

The 500-gram pink dumbbell has now increased to a 1-kilogram pink dumbbell.

It feels like just yesterday I was happy to barely lift a phone.

Now I can juggle a pink dumbbell five times that weight.

Even so, it’s still a useless ability.

But it’s incredibly useful in daily life.

Jeong Gyeoul can do things that even the world’s strongest hero, the Demon King Jeong Ha-yul, can’t do.

I can put out fires.

I can bring the remote.

I can close doors and open windows.

I can open the fridge and get water.

All of this can be done while lying in bed.

‘This is enough. It’s time to leave this tedious Clock Tower!’

One night when everyone was supposed to be asleep.

Jeong Ha-yul heard a whisper in her ear.

“Sister… I want to go back to Korea.”

Gyeoul regretted saying it.

‘She came here because of me and just got used to it, and now I’m saying I want to go back. Will she get mad?’

Remembering how happy Jeong Ha-yul was when we went out to play, I was about to say it was a joke.

“Let’s do it.”

Jeong Ha-yul, with a smile on her face, booked a flight to Korea right then.

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“I was here because Gyeoul seemed to enjoy learning, but I like Korea better too.”

Touched, Gyeoul hugged Jeong Ha-yul tightly.

‘At times like this, she’s really as kind as she is beautiful… but sometimes she seems possessed by a demon.’

Even now, thinking about it, it’s a bit strange that she thought I enjoyed the training where I fainted every day.

Thinking about why she’s called the Demon King, Gyeoul soon fell asleep.

Jeong Ha-yul, who patted Gyeoul until she fell asleep, also finally went to sleep.

***

I can’t open my eyes properly because of the flowing blood.

I try to wipe it with my hand, but it just smears and doesn’t come off.

“Ugh… sisters… brother…”

How did this happen?

A few hours ago. We said goodbye to the people at the Clock Tower and headed to the airport.

We were excitedly talking about what food we’d eat first when we got back to Korea.

Boom—

A loud noise and a huge shock hit us.

At that moment, Jeong Ha-yul pulled me into a protective embrace, so I only got this much injury.

“Gyeoul, are you okay?”

“Yes… I’m a bit dizzy but I’m okay…. What about Kang-woo and Eun-chae?”

“…Gyeoul, are you really okay?”

“…?”

I’m still bleeding, but I’m fine… why are they looking at me like that?

“Let’s get out of the car first.”

“Okay.”

I keep pressing the belt to unbuckle it, but it won’t come off.

The lock seems to be broken.

Thanks to Jeong Ha-yul tearing it open with strength, I managed to get out.

As expected, telekinesis is a useless ability.

Eun-chae and Kang-woo seem to have fainted and aren’t responding.

After moving me to a safe place, Jeong Ha-yul headed back to the car to get Eun-chae and Kang-woo.

Boom—

Another loud noise and a shockwave hit me, knocking me down.

“Ugh!”

I barely lifted my head to look ahead…

Whoosh—

The car we were in exploded.

“Jeong Ha-yul!”

As the smoke cleared, Jeong Ha-yul was staggering towards us, carrying Kang-woo and Eun-chae under her arms.

“Jeong Ha-yul? You’re calling me by my name so casually, Gyeoul has grown up a lot?”

She’s joking around, so she must not be seriously hurt.

“That’s a relief… are you really okay?”

As I sighed in relief and approached Jeong Ha-yul.

Jeong Ha-yul, who was smiling reassuringly, suddenly froze.

“Gyeoul, get out of the way!”

Clang—

Three daggers flew between me and Jeong Ha-yul, embedding themselves in the asphalt.

“That’s enough. Save the touching reunion for hell. For now, you’ll have to be my hostage.”

“…What?”

A man wearing a fox-shaped mask picked me up.

Who the hell are you?