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“Right. If it’s the four of us, it’s exactly as Serena predicted.”

“Wait, are we stopping Satan, or is Satan stopping us?”

It seemed like we needed to learn more about the mechanism of the prophecy.

Was it a vision of what would happen without Serena’s prophecy, or was it a vision of us moving according to her prophecy?

But there was no time for that.

We had to solve this problem first.

Meanwhile, Jeong Ho-min raised his hand, saying he wanted to go too…

But if the Association Head leaves his post, what if something happens in his absence?

Of course, they’d follow the manual and do things by the book, but… isn’t there a big difference between having someone in the Association Head’s seat or not?

“What, an A-Class wants to join this noble expedition? Just sit quietly in the back room.”

It might sound like an attack on the elderly, but I don’t want to see Jeong Ho-min die either.

It was a comment thrown out with the hope that he’d stay in Korea, in the Association, for a long, long time.

If I had said, ‘I’m worried about you, so I’d rather you didn’t go,’ and he had replied, ‘Oh, was that your deep meaning? Then I’ll stay in Korea,’ I wouldn’t have had to be so harsh.

Honestly, it wasn’t to mock an A-Class who’d obviously be useless if he came.

…Really.

After kicking Jeong Ho-min’s support away, Hwarang immediately raised his hand.

“A disciple is going on a dangerous path, so the master can’t just stand by.”

“Having the Master with us is reassuring.”

Hwarang doesn’t have as much power as Jeong Ha-yul, nor the overwhelming firepower of Lee Ha-yoon, nor the utility of Park Seol-hwa… so what does he have?

Hmm, experience, I guess.

…

I was about to leave Hwarang out too, but since the prophecy mentioned four women going, it felt too risky, so I decided to include him in the expedition.

Somehow, it seems I’ve become the expedition leader.

I was handpicking the participants, and no one even complained.

Is this the power that strength brings?

Sweet, so sweet.

Jeong Ho-min was cut, and Hwarang was included.

Now, the only way to cross into the Demon Realm. We had to discuss how to persuade the Satan Church’s cult leader…

“I’ll join too.”

Jang Gil-yong raised his hand late, expressing his intention to join.

At first, no one raised their hand, so I stepped forward first… I don’t know if he raised his hand out of some stupid pride and honor or if he was just testing the waters.

But…

No way, dude.

“Jang Gil-yong, Hero, I’ll pass on you.”

“…When fighting unknown enemies like the Demon Race, there’s no one like me.”

After Jeong Ho-min, Jang Gil-yong, who was also cut, was unusually flustered and tried to sell himself.

He’s not wrong.

Honestly, regular demons would be dealt with if just one of us stepped forward, whether picking our noses or scratching our backs.

But when dealing with commanders or lords, Jang Gil-yong would be useful.

We wouldn’t need to scout or test their techniques; we could just charge in.

I’ve never seen an immortal among the lords, so it’d be good to catch them off guard.

But I can do that too. If I charge in and the opponent can’t handle it, they die. If they can, they die from a gang-up.

And I have pretty decent regenerative abilities too.

I’m not immortal, but I’m like a lizard, mixing Jeong Ha-yul’s genes with a bit of Jang Gil-yong’s.

Jang Gil-yong, the immortal charging in, and a middle school girl charging in, losing a finger or two.

‘Somehow, we seem more like demons.’

But… then Jeong Ha-yul is the mom, and Jang Gil-yong is the dad?

Oh shit.

But it’s already been proven in academia that awakened genes and genetics have no relation.

And the DNA test showed Jeong Ha-yul and I don’t match, so let’s stop this delusion.

It’s not good for my mental health.

Let’s drop the delusions, and anyway, I won’t include Jang Gil-yong in my expedition.

It’s not because I’m still upset about the Satan Church incident.

Really…

“Anyway, Jang Gil-yong, Hero, you’re not coming.”

“Are you still holding a grudge over the past?”

Even after keeping my distance, he still doesn’t get it. I can’t convince him.

I decided to just be shameless.

“No, it’s just that you won’t be helpful.”

“So… why do you think I won’t be helpful…”

“You just won’t be helpful.”

“…I’m asking why…”

“You just won’t be helpful, right?”

“Sigh…”

The onlookers were starting to feel sorry for Jang Gil-yong.

But I, Jeong Gyeoul.

Am the iron-blooded expedition leader who knows no forgiveness or mercy.

“Jang Gil-yong, Hero. Are you stronger than me?”

“…Probably not. I can feel that the current you could break through my immortality and kill me.”

“Then are your fists sharper than Ha-yul’s?”

“…No.”

By now, Jang Gil-yong’s expression was hardening.

He seemed to have realized that no matter what he said, I wasn’t going to take him.

People watching this might think I’m narrow-minded and selfish, only thinking of the small picture and not the big one…

But hey, anyone who’s saying that, have you ever almost been killed by Jang Gil-yong as a kid?

I have. A perfectly fine hero flipping out and trying to kill a kid, geez…

Even now, I feel like he might say, ‘Oh, you’re the hybrid made by the Satan Church. Extermination.’ and hit me from behind.

My intuition is quiet, so it’s probably just my imagination… but what can I do if my mind’s like that?

If we actually fight, I’d be too busy watching my back to fight properly.

But he still doesn’t seem to have given up. I decided to attack a bit more.

It’s not because I’m enjoying this.

Really.

“Then are you better at magic than Hayan?”

“…I can’t use magic.”

“Then can you support us better than Seol-hwa?”

“…”

“See, you’re completely useless. It’d be better to take our cat Loki.”

“…Loki?”

“Oh, we have a cute cat. She’d be more helpful than you, Jang Gil-yong.”

Jang Gil-yong can’t teleport or anything.

…Actually, taking Loki wouldn’t be a bad idea.

The problem is, no one knows where she is right now.

This guy followed me to Korea but is now practicing social distancing from me.

I see her maybe once a month, so it’s getting awkward.

“Just stay here… someone needs to guard the house.”

“…”

Hwarang looked at Jang Gil-yong with pity and spoke.

That pitiful look made me feel like I was the one in the wrong.

But what can I do?

It’s fun.

And so, everyone except Jang Gil-yong, Jeong Ho-min, and Serena joined the Demon Realm expedition.

“But… how do we get to the Demon Realm?”

“That’s the problem. Let’s go solve that first.”

“…?”

“…You stepped forward so confidently, I thought you had a way.”

These people, really.

They love freeloading so much, they’ll get parasitic infections and drop dead.

“There’s no such thing. Just spit it out and see.”

“…”

“No, we’re going to make a way now, so technically, there is a way.”

“Right? You didn’t just spit it out and form an expedition team without thinking, did you? Gyeoul’s not an idiot, she wouldn’t do that.”

…Is Lee Ha-yoon still in her dark phase?

She’s stabbing sharply and fiercely.

***

“Pfft, hahaha, so… you need me to cross into the Demon Realm?”

“…That’s right.”

“I’m not an idiot. I refuse.”

“…We’re sorry for beating you up, but just cooperate this once.”

“Now I see, you guys are the idiots. Do you think I’d listen to that?”

“Let’s just kill this bastard.”

Everyone seemed to agree with Park Seol-hwa’s violent remark… but no, our plan would go down the drain from the start.

“Don’t do that, let’s just cross over. I’ll set up a one-on-one meeting with Satan, who you like.”

“…What?”

The art of negotiation.

Hold the card the other wants.

What could a Satan worshipper’s leader want more than meeting Satan?

Actually, when I returned from the Demon Realm, the cult leader crawled over, even while being beaten by heroes, to ask if I’d seen Satan in person.

“Do you know Lucifer? A charismatic, stylish middle-aged demon. You’d definitely like him. He’s friends with Satan too. You could meet him.”

In reality, the more you talk to him, the more you realize he’s just a cringy middle schooler.

“Not interested? Then what about Asmodeus, uh… he’s just a snake kid, so pass. Who else? Mammon? Leviathan? Belphegor? Baal Zebul? Just name it.”

“R-really?”

True to someone who’s dedicated their life to Satan.

His eyes lit up at the mention of Satan and the Demon Realm.

Now you all see, right? People aren’t for beating, you violent folks.

And…

Sorry, cult leader, but I said I’d set up a meeting and call anyone, not that I’d take you to the Demon Realm.

I hope you can meet them in your dreams at least.

 

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