Chapter 74: Fox and dog(4).

Chayeon was standing on clouds. The sky was closer to white than blue, and the clouds were spread out as wide as a fluffy floor.

“Hello, Chayeon-ah.”

A voice was heard not far away. A soft, beautiful voice. It was a voice familiar to Chayeon.

“Jo Namyeon.”

“You came on time.”

That expression too was the same as what was in Chayeon’s memory. The smile of her closest friend, who she had seen since high school.

Even though all of those memories were false.

Chayeon looked around. There was nothing. Only the white sky was spread out.

“Where is Teacher.”

Jo Namyeon gestured softly. Accordingly, the white things that she had only thought were the sky rustled and were swept away, and a black silhouette was revealed behind them.

On a chair that was studded with rainbow-colored jewels and shining brilliantly, looking excessively luxurious, Seohee was sitting with her ash-gray hair flowing down and her eyes closed.

It had been months since she had seen Seohee Teacher. It already felt so distant. She bit back the impulse to run out right away.

The man in front of her was not her friend. He was the demon who was the root cause of all this.

She couldn’t act rashly.

“Is Seohee Teacher safe?”

“Don’t worry. I haven’t laid a single finger on Teacher’s body.”

Even though I like women too, Jo Namyeon playfully raised both his hands. He was perhaps a more dangerous existence than the demons she had met until now.

A demon who had king-level demons in his control. As if trying to shatter that prejudice, he was maintaining his light actions and light tone just like Namyeon that Chayeon knew.

“What exactly is your purpose.”

Attacking humanity through Hexennacht. If that was his intention, then there was no need to bring Chayeon here by making Seohee a hostage in such a bothersome way. Judging from the tricks he had played until now, there had been plenty of opportunities to kill Chayeon.

“I’m happy? Chayeon, you’re overestimating me.”

As if reading her thoughts, Jo Namyeon brought up those words.

“But you know, I’m not that strong actually. What can I do when the Heukgumiho over there is glaring like that. It would be a big problem if I just came recklessly and got hurt badly and went back.”

And-

“Does a demon need a reason to do a demon thing?”

Jo Namyeon coolly acknowledged that he was a demon and continued his words.

“Of course it’s not that there isn’t any reason at all, though. You see, I’m a romantic.”

“A romantic?”

“Yeah, a romantic. Or you can even call me a scholar who studies love. I was curious. Can a Shinsu love a Shinsu. Can a Shinsu love a human. Can humans love other humans. Can humans love themselves.”

Exaggerated gestures, exaggerated tone. Jo Namyeon kept continuing his words as if reciting a script.

“And my own love too. Chayeon-ah.”

“I love you.”

“Bullsh*t.”

“Ahaha, you’re not flustered at all?”

Jo Namyeon, who was finding it so fun, swept back his hair and laughed coolly.

“What kind of form is your affection towards Seohee Teacher, Chayeon-ah. In the incense burner, you saw Seohee as an Unni. But to me, it seemed closer to a Mother than an Unni.”

Chayeon quietly gripped her sword again.

“You said you would protect your mother, right. As expected, I should say that’s like you, Chayeon. So I’m curious. The size, the essence, and the price of your love.”

“……Price?”

“Okay, that’s enough useless talk. Let’s start. You said you like games, right?”

Jo Namyeon raised his hand. Light gathered at his fingertips.

“It’s the last stage.”

Chayeon too pointed the tip of her sword towards Namyeon, Mephistopheles.

Many things came to mind. When she was a 1st year in high school, she had skipped night study and gone to a PC cafe with him. She had acted without thinking about the future, and of course, she had gotten scolded by the teacher the next day.

Was that when she was a 2nd year in high school? On the weekend, Namyeon called a few friends. All the other friends refused saying they were busy, and only Chayeon headed to the meeting place.

It was a cafe near the movie theater in the downtown area. She wondered why he was calling her to such a crowded place, but when she went, Namyeon and his then-girlfriend were there together.

Chayeon, and his girlfriend too, had bad expressions at the fact that he had called a friend to their date. Namyeon, who was finding it so fun, was soothing his girlfriend slyly, and dragged Chayeon, who was trying to go home, to the movie theater.

The movie she watched at that time was the last series of a popular superhero movie at that time.

The conversation from the next day was still clearly imprinted in Chayeon’s mind.

-You crazy bastard. What were you thinking. Your girlfriend’s expression was f*cking rotten.
-Don’t worry. I can relieve my girlfriend’s mood at night.

Really.

Even though she knew that all of those things were false, the memories were stubbornly pouring into Chayeon like a tide.

Perhaps, if it was the Chayeon from before, she might not have been able to overcome this tsunami of memories and just sat down. She wouldn’t have been able to accept that her school days, her friends, and those memories were all false, she had such thoughts.

But, something that was false couldn’t become true. She had already abandoned her sweet dream once.

She had no intention of averting her eyes anymore.

That’s why, Chayeon swung her sword without hesitating. Tails grew, and the black energy and red energy were mixed together and poured towards Namyeon following her sword’s blade.

The golden light that had settled on Namyeon’s fingertips burned brightly and formed a giant screen.

Thunder rang out in the spot where Chayeon, who was wearing the red-black sword energy that formed a spiral, had passed by. Chayeon, who had surged in front of Namyeon in an instant, swung her sword, and a red storm whirled horizontally.

Kagagagagang-!

The giant barrier that contained sacredness, and the red storm collided.

<<As expected, it’s not easy.>>

The Heukgu’s mumbling. As expected, it was strong.

But, it wasn’t to the extent that she couldn’t break it.

“Heuaaaat-!”

Putting strength into her voice and kicking off her body once again in the air, Namyeon and the screen were pushed back at the same time with a creaking sound. And,

Chaenggeurang!

“…Euk!”

The red energy sliced through the screen as if it was breaking a window. The storm didn’t stop there and poured towards Jo Namyeon, Mephistopheles.

From Namyeon’s opposite hand that had belatedly been raised, a dazzling light rose up once again. Chayeon’s sword, which had lost its force once, was bounced off by the newly spread screen.

She hadn’t thought that she would be able to break through it in one try. She had no intention of stopping with just this much either.

Chayeon’s body, which had been pushed back by the recoil, corrected its trajectory in the air while ignoring the laws of physics. She rotated her body in the direction that she had been pushed and thrust her sword towards the opposite side as she was. She corrected her posture without a foothold, and pushed the tip in as if she was fencing.

The red storm whirled once again through the tip of the sword.

Namyeon’s eyes shone whitish. At the same time, the space began to squirm.

The black screen was blocking in front.

She had seen it several times and knew.

It was the heart. He was trying to stop Chayeon, like he had until now, by using the power of the heart.

<<Too late!>>

Chayeon passed through the screen that had surrounded her in a circle. Namyeon’s eyes widened at that appearance. Even he probably hadn’t expected up to here.

Jeon Chayeon, the best vessel who wouldn’t exist again in all of history, had fully accepted the Heukgumiho’s power, and had ‘adapted’ and ‘defeated’ even the power of the heart that ruled the space.

The sword, which had been thrust in while heading towards the middle of his body, changed its trajectory once again at a right angle and slapped up his chin as it was. An upward current whirled from below. Tens of thousands of spider lilies scattered into the black storm that was full of dust.

Kwagagagang-!

Chayeon jumped into the air at a faster speed than Namyeon’s body, which had been slapped up his chin and was floating into the air as he was. She swung her leg at Namyeon’s head as it was.

Pang!

Namyeon’s body was planted into the white floor that looked like clouds at a speed that couldn’t be seen, and whitish dust exploded in that spot.

Tak.

“Cough, cough. Haa. I really knew it, but isn’t it too much?”

After the white powders had settled, Jo Namyeon’s appearance, who was sitting down after having all his fluttering blonde hair messed up, came into her sight.

“You’re so ignorantly strong, really. Cough, originally, the difficulty had to be a bit higher.”

She walked forward, pulled the sword back. The red energy whirled and began to gather, covering Chayeon’s blade.

“…Chayeon-ah, do you remember when I called you to watch a movie? With my girlfriend.”

Namyeon’s words shook her memories, piercing through her brain. If it had been the Chayeon from before, she might have wavered. Inside Chayeon, Namyeon was still the closest friend with whom she had spent 3 years of high school, and even though he was sly, he was a trustworthy, reliable only male peer.

“The final boss who dies at the end, you see. Like that.”

But, it wasn’t now.

Before Namyeon’s words ended, the sword drew a crescent moon’s trajectory. The crimson storm tore the air following the sword’s trajectory.

Namyeon, who only had his body below the waist, collapsed on the spot.

<<I don’t feel any energy anymore.>>

The Heukgu’s mumbling. Even so, Chayeon didn’t lower her guard.

Had that great demon really ended with just this?

However, even after a long time passed, there was no change in this place that was full of clouds. Only a subtle wind ruffled her hair as it passed by her cheek.

“…Heukgu?”

<<I still don’t feel anything. I don’t believe it either, but…>>

The Heukgu trailed off at the end for once.

Could it be, really.

Had everything ended with just this?

<<Don’t let your guard down yet, but it would be good to check first.>>

At the Heukgu’s words, Chayeon didn’t lower her sword and quickly approached Seohee.

On the large and flashy chair that could be called a throne, Seohee was sleeping quietly.

“Teacher.”

Chayeon checked her pulse and shook her shoulder. As her eyes, which had been closed, opened, light came into the blue pupils that suited this place.

“Are you okay, Teacher?”

“…Chayeon-ah.”

“Yes, it’s Chayeon. I came to rescue you.”

Seohee was staring blankly at her as if her mind hadn’t completely returned yet. Still, there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with her body.

She would have to do a precise examination later, but for now, the urgent matter was to take Seohee and get out of this place. If Mephistopheles hadn’t died, he would block her from going out, and if she had really defeated him, she would have rescued both the heart and Seohee safely.

“Chayeon-ah, you untied your hair tie?”

“Huh? Ah, yes.”

“…Is that so.”

Seohee’s tone felt like she was slurring her words. It also felt like she was on drugs. It was presumed that it was because she had been asleep for a long time.

She focused her energy in preparation for a possible situation, and approached to hug Seohee.

“Chayeon-ah.”

“Yes.”

“…New, hair tie.”

Seohee, with her eyes still dazed, rummaged through her pocket and then took out a hair tie.

“Let’s go outside first, Teacher.”

“I’ll tie it.”

“Let’s go out. You can tie it however you want after we go out.”

“It’ll be over soon.”

Seohee’s eyes shone blue.

(gibberish)

“Kueup, Puhaak! Kak, Heok, Heok!”

She came to her senses. Blood was pouring out from her eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, all the holes in her face, without anything being left out. The damaged brain was being reconstructed quickly.

The black energy was gnawing at the foreign substances that had invaded and quickly removing them. Her reason was returning, her memories were returning, and her soul was regaining its place.

The hair tie that had teleported from Seohee’s hand and had been in the middle of her brain, squeezing her blood vessels tightly, disappeared.

Chayeon, who had put her hands on the ground and was breathing heavily, lifted her head.

Seohee was looking down while shining her blue eyes.

“…..Wh…at….”

“It’s like this, Chayeon-ah.”

Seohee opened her mouth as if she was explaining like when she was giving a lecture.

“A Geumje, you see, mostly has death as its medium. A Geumje that drives the demon who is trying to spout about Mephistopheles to death, or.”

Seohee swirled her fingers, and the air pressure at her fingertips increased.

“Or, using one’s own death as the price, they superimposed the memories that had been injected in advance onto the other party.”

Sswaaaaek!

As she lowered her fingers as she was, the compressed air shot towards Chayeon.

“Keuek!”

She quickly blocked with her sword, but she was bounced back right away. Her body couldn’t react to the kind of energy that she was experiencing for the first time, and she was pushed back as she was.

But that was only for a moment, and a reconstruction occurred and she ‘adapted’ to the other party’s energy.

“Chayeon is amazing as expected. She immediately ‘adapted’ to the Teacher’s power too.”

“…What exactly is that…”

“Oh my, haven’t you understood yet?”

Seohee put her index finger on her cheek and tilted her head exaggeratedly.

“Mephistopheles is dead. Congratulations, Chayeon-ah. You cleared the last stage.”

“…Ah…….”

The one who was in front of her was clearly Seohee.

Seohee, with Jo Namyeon’s expression, opened her mouth.

“So the Geumje was activated. The Geumje that superimposed the memories, that is. Isn’t it really amazing? I am clearly Jeong Seohee. I know. My essence, my real memories are that side. But, memories that are so long that Seohee’s memories feel like a fraction of a second compared to this long period of time remain.”

“Stop it, stop it…”

“Compared to this long period of time, the memories as Seohee feel so short that they feel like a fraction of a second, so I feel like I’ll forget them if I don’t constantly keep myself aware. Ah, so where was I?”

“Stop kidding around! Get out of Teacher’s body!”

Chayeon raised her sword.

A demon was definitely residing in her body. Mephistopheles had possessed her.

That’s why Seohee Teacher was spouting incomprehensible words.

“Chayeon-ah, do you love Teacher?”

“……

“Do you love Unni? Can Teacher become Chayeon’s Unni?”

Chayeon’s eyelashes fluttered.

“If I do this, will Chayeon love me?”

“Shut up!!”

No, no, no. That wasn’t Teacher. She was possessed by a demon.

“…Jo Namyeon!!!!”

“Well, it isn’t that. Open your eyes properly. There isn’t any kind of mind control. I’m Seohee. Your teacher, Jeong Seohee. The very person who Chayeon, you, wanted to rescue.”

“No, no………….”

Her fingertips trembled. The tip of the sword also wasn’t fixed and kept constantly vibrating. Calm down. She had to calm down. There was definitely a way.

Arena, Byeol, that Teacher whose name she didn’t know, Wolmyeong, and Yeonkyung were coming. When they came, she would be able to find a way.

“They’re not coming, Chayeon-ah. No, they can’t come.”

“They, can’t come, that’s……..”

“I told you, you had to leave one person behind. They’re staying there forever. With the demons, forever.”

On the ghost ship,
In the city,
On the beach,
In the cave.
That place is the place they will live forever.

“There is one way actually. Chayeon, you can destroy the heart. Then well, won’t everyone who you separated from be able to come here?”

While saying that, Seohee swung her left hand. Chayeon deflected and scattered the pressure that was crashing down.

“Choose. Accept Teacher, or, well, you can kill me. Either way, Mephistopheles is dead now. Give up. It depends on how you, Chayeon, accept me.”

“…It depends on how I accept her…?”

“Yeah. Even though memories have been superimposed, Teacher is still Teacher. Chayeon-ah, destroy the heart. Then everyone else will come back too, and Teacher will be by your side. It’s game clear.”

Seohee Teacher had a soft and benevolent smile.

“Congratulations, Chayeon-ah. You finally defeated the demon and rescued Teacher? Hmm, I feel that strange memories are coming up, but what does it matter? The real Mephistopheles is dead, and you’ll be able to calm down Hexennacht too, so. Everything is back in place.”

On one hand, her lips were twitching, and she seemed to be holding back laughter.

Rather than a sneer, it was an expression like she couldn’t help but find Chayeon cute.

That face that Seohee Teacher was showing in front of Chayeon.

“So, will you accept even someone like me? Will you tell me to stay by your side? Love me?”

The teacher added with a kind voice, as if she was encouraging Chayeon.

“The Baekgumiho is dead too, so now there’s nothing threatening Chayeon’s peace.”

…What?

<<……Poot, Puhehe, Puhehehehe, Hehehe, Hahahahaha.>>

Laughter was heard.

The Heukgu, was really laughing coolly. He had thrown away the concept of controlling his emotions and maintaining a sonorous and low voice, and was making a large laughter she had never heard before.

Chayeon also laughed likewise. As if she had been infected by the Heukgu, she at first snorted, and later laughed out loud.

“Ha, hahaha, hahahahaha.”

“…Chayeon-ah?”

“Hahaha, just a minute. Ah, geez.”

Seohee raised her eyebrows.

“Why are you like this?”

“That’s right. Ah, really. I was so scared.”

-Mephistopheles.

Reading her thoughts, manipulating, and dominating.

Moving as if he had predicted everything, placing Chayeon, a person, in the place he wanted. Pushing Chayeon into a corner where there was no way to do anything, and presenting her with choices that were impossible to choose.

He had anticipated people’s emotions, read the future, and drawn out the results he wanted.

He was an absolute existence, an existence like a god,

That’s what she had thought.

“Teacher, no, Jo Namyeon.”

“The Baekgumiho is dead?”

No. This demon was, she was just skilled at manipulating people’s psychology, so she was wondering if she knew everything. She was impressed by that power and what they had come to here because a lot of that  Actually turned out to be fit.

But, he didn’t know everything.

Mephistopheles, was thinking that the Baekgumiho was dead because Chayeon was standing here.

Clearly, he was thinking that Chayeon had killed the Baekgumiho, who had blocked the Heukgumiho.

No way, that Baekgumiho,

<<It’s absurd to try to read that crazy woman’s actions.>>

Wouldn’t have just let the Heukgumiho go and left.

-Jjalang, jjalang.

A bell sound rang out.

Seohee’s eyes widened greatly.

On that face, she could read Jo Namyeon’s expression.

It was the first time Chayeon had seen Jo Namyeon looking flustered.

Chiiiik-

The heart’s walls, the power that was swallowing and manipulating the space, were ‘nullified’ in vain. The air cracked.

And,

“Chayeon-ah! Get away from there!”

Countless pure white sword energies,

A cloth made of aramid fiber,

Red and blue energies,

Split the sky through the cracked gap.