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After dinner, as usual, I headed to the training ground with Jeong Ha-yul.

Kang-woo had gone back to his hometown for the first time in a while, and Eun-chae’s driving was unreliable.

I didn’t feel like taking a taxi, so I decided to just walk.

I wore a white sports bra top with black dolphin pants and threw a black jacket over it.

It wasn’t cold enough to need a jacket, but… walking around the streets in just that would’ve been too revealing, so I had no choice.

My ash-gray hair was tied up in a ponytail.

We looked so alike that people could’ve mistaken us for twins.

“So, when are you going to reveal the secret of my birth? Are you my mom? My sister? What?”

“There’s no such thing. I first saw you in that shantytown.”

“No matter how I think about it, it’s weird… We’re practically genetic copies.”

“It’s just a coincidence. I’ve never heard of our mom having another kid, and I’ve definitely never had one.”

“Hmm…”

So, we’re really not related at all?

Well, there’s such a thing as doppelgangers, so it’s possible to look alike even if we’re strangers.

Still, just in case, I tried to remember everything, and while I was busy trying to uncover the secret of my birth, we arrived at the training ground.

Today, we skipped other exercises and went straight to sparring.

Jeong Ha-yul, who had heard about me capturing an Apostle, declared that it was time to spar seriously, and I was dragged there like a lamb being led to the slaughter.

“Let’s see how much our Gyeoul has grown.”

“Please don’t talk like an old man.”

Despite her beautiful appearance and enchanting voice, her way of speaking always sounded like she’d had a glass of makgeolli.

“…I can’t fix this. Give up. Go back.”

It was sad to see Jeong Ha-yul give up without even trying, but… if she doesn’t want to, what can I do?

Even I’d faint if I tried to act more feminine.

Anyway, I warmed up to avoid getting hurt during the spar.

“Ready?”

“Yeah, let’s start.”

Of course, I wasn’t alone, but I’ve grown strong enough to take down an Apostle.

Every day, I’d get beaten by villains until my bones broke and crumbled.

My organs would rupture, and internal bleeding would occur.

The weak Jeong Gyeoul from before is no more.

‘How far can I go?’

If I’ve grown strong enough to spar with Jeong Ha-yul… then I must be at a level that’s recognized worldwide.

In the end, this spar is like a level test for me.

*Tap!*

After taking one step, my next foot landed 2-3 meters ahead.

The tremendous propulsion after a relaxed first step.

Most people would’ve panicked and frozen by now.

It almost looked like I was teleporting or leaping through space.

After the battle with the Apostle, I took another step forward.

‘I’m a real-time growth-type Awakened One.’

*Thud!*

But Jeong Ha-yul casually deflected my punch.

Even though my punch, loaded with speed and power, was completely off course, there was no loud noise.

She literally “lightly” deflected it.

‘…What is this?’

It felt like something out of a martial arts novel, like the Tai Chi I’ve seen.

Using softness to overcome hardness.

Jeong Ha-yul, who smoothly redirected my powerful punch, lightly slapped my back like a mother scolding her child.

*Crash!*

‘Ugh!’

It didn’t hurt as much as Jeong Ha-yul’s usual hits, but… for a light slap, the impact was insane.

“You okay?”

“Yeah! I’m fine!”

Still, fighting bare-handed doesn’t seem to work.

I used telekinesis to pull the sword I’d gently placed on the floor toward me.

“Now it’s swords?”

“Life’s all about the gear, right?”

As soon as I finished speaking, I drew the sword and threw it.

The force of the throw combined with my telekinesis created an incredible power.

*Whoosh!*

The sound of the sword tearing through the air was deafening.

The sword was flying straight toward Jeong Ha-yul’s abdomen.

Yeah, I didn’t think she’d fall for that.

‘But that’s not it.’

Jeong Ha-yul extended her index and middle fingers and thrust her hand forward as if to stab the flying sword…

The sword slipped between her fingers and nestled comfortably.

“I told you before… ranged attacks are just supplementary, Gyeoul.”

“I know. But I didn’t think you’d block it so easily…”

Even after that, I tried to control the sword in mid-air and time my attacks.

But if she can just grab it, what timing is there to match?

If I had attacked along with the sword…

‘That would’ve just been the timing for me to get hit.’

S-Class.

She’s different from the usual S-Class.

I’m not sure if “S-Class” and “usual” can even go together, but…

Lee Ha-yoon, Master, Kim Bong-du, Jang Gil-yong, Park Seol-hwa.

She feels completely different from the S-Class heroes I know.

Is it because she’s fully opened her circuits, or was she always this strong and I’m only now seeing it?

Even standing there so casually, I can’t sense any openings.

But I can’t give up.

“Wow, your eyes look sharp.”

The corners of my mouth and Jeong Ha-yul’s rose simultaneously.

*Tap!*

The sword that was caught between Jeong Ha-yul’s fingers returned to my hand.

She let go because she knew I was trying to retrieve it.

I’ve only learned up to the first form of the Ra Sword, but…

Whether it’s Xiao Lin’s fist techniques or the fake Demon King Punch, there’s no denying that the swordsmanship I can perform with the Ra Sword is the strongest among my attacks.

Since this was a test of my level, I had no reason to hold back.

I raised the sword in an upper stance and gathered my magic power.

*Tap!*

I closed the distance to the sword at my maximum speed.

The sword, capable of bringing down stars, was swung to bring down the Demon King.

Ra Sword, Mid-Level Move: Falling Star.

*Crash!*

The training ground floor, which usually only got scratched by most attacks, was gouged out.

Jeong Ha-yul, who had taken the attack head-on, was now at eye level with me.

‘Does that mean the ground was dug out by at least 5 cm?’

Jeong Ha-yul was calm, her expression relaxed as if this level of force was nothing.

“Wow, a few more hits like that and the building might collapse.”

“…Are you mocking me now?”

“No, I’m genuinely impressed. When did you learn to deliver such heavy attacks? This is about as strong as when my sister hits me with a serious flick.”

…A flick? You’re definitely mocking me.

“You don’t believe me? Gyeoul, you should try getting flicked by me for real.”

“Uh… I believe you, okay? Don’t come near me, stay back!”

Jeong Ha-yul simply walked forward, and I couldn’t escape her grasp.

It was too much to dodge… I created a small shield with telekinesis in front of my forehead and concentrated my magic power there to minimize the pain.

But…

*Crash!*

The noise was even louder than when I had struck Jeong Ha-yul with the sword.

The entire building shook as if an earthquake had hit.

Was it the building shaking, or was it my brain?

“W-what kind of technique is this…?”

“Just a flick.”

“…From now on, I’ll call it the Brain-Shaking Flick.”

After naming the flick technique, my body collapsed, and I kissed the training ground floor.

***

I enjoyed listening to the excited Gyeoul ramble on about the second part of the Jeong Gyeoul Chronicles, but I didn’t fully believe it.

But…

‘At this point, it might all be true.’

The Jeong Gyeoul I faced at the training ground was incomparably stronger than before.

I grabbed her throbbing arm and laid her down properly.

“A few more hits like that, and the building really would’ve collapsed.”

If she had tried to show off another technique, we’d have had to rebuild the building, so I knocked her out with a flick.

“When did our little one grow up so much?”

I was overwhelmed with emotion, but Gyeoul’s recovery came first.

I opened a potion and poured it into her mouth.

It seemed like a mild concussion, so this should be enough.

I lay down next to Jeong Gyeoul, remembering how much easier life had become since Park Seol-hwa started making potions.

“Oh, right.”

I placed my left arm under Jeong Gyeoul’s head as a pillow and used my right hand to operate my phone.

[LK Guild, Jang Gil-yong]

While villains are one thing… I was furious that someone who calls themselves a hero dared to mess with my sibling.

I wasn’t going to let this slide easily.

But…

-“The customer is not answering the phone. After the beep, please leave a message…”

“…Is he avoiding me?”

I failed to get through to Jang Gil-yong.

So, I searched for the LK Guild customer service online and called.

-“Hello, this is LK Guild. How may I assist you?”

-“Where’s Jang Gil-yong?”

-“Jang Gil-yong? Are you referring to our guild master, sir?”

-“Yes. The Immortal Jang Gil-yong.”

-“I’m sorry, sir, but we cannot disclose the guild master’s schedule or whereabouts.”

I didn’t have high expectations.

What guild member would just reveal their master’s location?

I’ll just visit the LK Guild every morning before work.

‘Just one more question.’

-“Is he in Seoul?”

-“We cannot disclose that either, sir. By the way… may I ask who’s calling?”

The name “Jeong Ha-yul” isn’t as well-known as “Demon King,” so I used the more recognizable title.

-“This is the Demon King.”

-“……That’s a very unique name, sir.”

-“No, it’s not my name. It’s my title.”

-“……Are you saying you’re the Demon King Jeong Ha-yul, sir?”

-“Yes, that’s right.”

-“……Oh dear.”

-“…?”

The consultant connected to Jeong Ha-yul suddenly sighed.

-“Impersonating an active hero is a crime.”

-“I’m not impersonating anyone. It’s really me.”

-“Do you know how many calls like this I get every day? This is the fourth ‘Demon King’ impersonation today.”

-“…That’s unfortunate, but I’m the real one…”

-“Enough. I’m reporting this to the cyber investigation unit. You can discuss the rest with the LK legal team.”

-“…?”

*Beep beep beep.*

The consultant hung up.

“What? They hung up? Are they rude?”

“Team leader, I’m dying here…”

“Why? What type was it this time?”

“Hero impersonation… I don’t know why there are so many lately. I just got off the phone with someone claiming to be the Demon King Jeong Ha-yul.”

“What? Pfft, hahaha, those kids are really something… Do they really think a hero of that caliber would call customer service?”

“Exactly… Even if Jeong Gyeoul called, I wouldn’t believe it, let alone Jeong Ha-yul…”

While the employee complained to the team leader, Jeong Ha-yul was trembling.

She had simply called herself the Demon King and got reported.

At first, she was stunned, but gradually, her shock turned to anger.

And that anger was directed at Jang Gil-yong.

‘This is all because that jerk Jang Gil-yong didn’t answer his phone…’

Deciding to look for the absent Jang Gil-yong later, she calmed her anger by stroking Jeong Gyeoul’s head.

‘They say stroking a cat brings peace of mind. Is Gyeoul a cat?’

Jeong Ha-yul’s hand didn’t stop until Jeong Gyeoul woke up.

 

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