Chapter 262

〈Chapter 262〉 Part 1, Chapter 12, Section 8

The alarm signaling the intruder caused the conference to naturally come to a halt.

“……Hmph.”

Suborof, who had been incessantly puffing cigarette smoke over his daughter’s situation, began to have a dangerous glint in his eyes. Magic Power started coursing through his body, revitalizing him, and as the ‘Commander’ of the Russian Association, Suborof began to calmly assess the situation.

“Diversion? Or exploitation?”

Though it was merely three words, Suborof’s insight pierced through the current circumstances. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say he was reading the flow of destiny; Suborof instantly understood the situation he was in.

“Whichever it is, someone is definitely targeting Undine. Let’s pause the conference for now.”

Suborof rose from his seat, scattering ominous Magic Power around. On the opposite side were five A Rank Special Ability users starting with Sky Castle, but they didn’t dare move recklessly.

“We’ll stay here. We don’t want to be misunderstood by General Yoo.”

Sky Castle raised his hands in surrender. Suborof, not being a fool, already knew the true background of the man and needed to delve into the intentions behind such actions.

“Is it truly a misunderstanding…?”

But that would be after things settled down. Given the vastness of Russian territory, it wouldn’t be easy for these five Koreans to escape easily anyway. Thus, Suborof decided to first deal with the monster heading toward the Side Palace where his daughter was.

“Good. That’s wise judgment. I’ll pursue your true intentions when I return.”

“…….”

Sky Castle grimly smiled as he noticed the servants approaching from behind them. Pungbaek clicked his tongue and lightly tapped his cane on the floor.

“What do you think you’re glaring at from behind, huh? Like some frail old man can’t fight back?”

“I already know everything about you all. <Pungbaek>, and that you’re the strongest among them.”

At Suborof’s command, the head servant stood behind Pungbaek with white gloves clenched tightly. Sky Castle sighed in admiration and turned away.

“What nonsense! I’m way stronger than that guy.”

“Ho ho, even I could beat an S Rank just by talking!”

“…….”

Ji Hwa Kim ignored the two elders bickering in the enemy camp and looked out the window. Although he wasn’t in Seoul where he could overlook the city freely, the situation outside was clearly visible through the window.

“You guys seem like you’ll handle things well enough….”

They had merely come to Russia as special envoys. Ji Hwa Kim’s bounty had already been rescinded, and his crimes pardoned.

“Can we sit and wait?”

“……Sure.”

Architect and Ji Hwa Kim sat down comfortably, and Pungbaek also sat across from Sky Castle to engage in a battle of wits.

“……What a world.”

U.S.A felt like his common sense was collapsing. How could there be such tranquility amidst what was essentially an enemy encampment?

“Truly hellish.”

He wanted to immediately call Seung-hyeong Lee from the next room.

“……Why are those two so quiet?”

Beyond the office, the two S Ranks were eerily silent.

* * *

Rusalka got up wearing a semi-transparent negligee but, having cried so much, she stumbled forward and fell off the bed.

“Rusalka.”

I transformed back from my monster form into human shape. Fortunately, there were no CCTVs in the room, and only Rusalka remained inside.

“There are questions I need to ask and help I need to offer, but for now, just come here.”

I walked briskly and climbed onto the bed. Rusalka seemed scared for some reason, and I helped her sit up from where she’d collapsed face-down on the mattress.

“You look completely pale. Haven’t eaten? If you keep this up, how will you defeat your husband’s technique during the next lecture?”

“……How can I ever face my husband?”

Rusalka lowered her head in despair. I couldn’t help but feel my heart sink, wondering if something akin to losing her chastity or a similar event had occurred.

“Even if something happened, gather your resolve. Would Guangjian abandon you just because of something like this?”

“No! It’s not that. Do you really think I’d accept another man besides my husband?”

Rusalka immediately rebutted my implication of her chastity with a provocative glare. Though I felt apologetic for my mistake, I still couldn’t understand her state.

“So why exactly were you crying so much?”

“I… I’ve become a divorcee…!”

“Huh…?”

Just because her engagement ended in a broken promise?

“Wait a moment. So…?”

“Because I’ve become secondhand!”

“Let’s avoid statements that invite misunderstanding.”

“……Huh…”

Rusalka sniffled, looking wronged as tears welled up in her eyes.

“I… I gave my first kiss, my first experience, my virginity—all to my husband. Now, only marriage remains… Huh…! All because my dad made the engagement without consulting me, I’ve become a divorcee before even meeting my husband!”

“……So you’re this upset over that?”

“Upset?! Don’t you understand how important giving your first to your husband is?!”

“Ho ho.”

She offered her maidenhood twice and is worried about a single line of divorce history on her record.

“It was just an engagement that broke, right?”

“It’s the same! Just the fact that I was engaged to someone other than my husband means I’m ruined. Waaaahh…!”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her lack of sense, but to Rusalka, this ‘first’ held considerable importance.

“Ho, what am I doing?”

Did my laughter sound mocking? Rusalka lifted her head, grabbed my shoulders, and shook me.

“You! Are you mocking me?! I was so happy thinking about meeting and marrying my husband! I planned to spend six months in Busan and then return to our homeland for a grand wedding! But… Huh…!”

“Aah, you’re making me cry too.”

The Dragon coiled on the floor laughed at me. The Dragon, showing no intention to console Rusalka or help me, yawned and slowly got up.

“Let’s escape quickly. Suborof is coming this way.”

“Indeed. Those father-obsessed types are all extreme, aren’t they?”

Even breaking the window alone seems to have tipped Suborof off to our tower invasion; the magic power around us grew sharp like walking on thin ice.

“He’s coming fast.”

“That’s true. Maybe we should’ve just thrown people into the river while conscious. Or made more of a ruckus.”

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TWO EVEN DOING?!”

Rusalka yelled, and we simply shrugged.

“It’s nothing major. Just knocked out and buried the people working for your family.”

“Hey!”

Rusalka grabbed my collar angrily.

“What do you mean by ‘my people’?!”

“They’re not dead, so calm down. You act like being the wife of Guangjian matters more than anything else.”

I pulled Rusalka, who had grabbed my collar, towards me and struck the back of her neck hard.

“Guh!”

Had she anticipated my unexpected attack? Rusalka gathered magic power at the base of her neck to block my strike.

“Aaah… That hurts…!”

Though clearly in pain, Rusalka didn’t pass out as intended. Unable to continue harming my former mother-in-law and current sister-like figure, I pressed down on Rusalka’s shoulder, pushing her onto the bed.

“Are you still going to act like this and expect to get away scot-free? Your dad and husband won’t let you off easy!”

“The spirits have regressed into complete children. Is it due to heightened emotions?”

I glanced around casually. Empty vodka crates were scattered throughout the room.

“Have you not eaten and only drank alcohol?”

“Huh… This was all meant to be shared with my husband… Huh…!”

Seemed like the alcohol didn’t affect her much due to the magic power.

KWA—ANG!!

A tremendous explosion sounded from the bridge. At the same time, a great disturbance in magic power was felt from the main palace.

“Let’s focus on our tasks. Dragon!”

“My turn. …Excuse me.”

The Dragon slithered between Rusalka and me from the bed.

“Sis Rusalka. Sorry?”

“Y-you, what are you doing, huuuuh?!”

Seeing the Dragon smiling down at her, Rusalka trembled violently, trying to escape from both of us. The Dragon rubbed its face against Rusalka’s chest and played with her.

“Now, stop it! Ahhh!”

“Dragon. Stop fooling around and get to it.”

“……Can’t I even joke? Tch.”

While teasing Rusalka, the Dragon embraced her with lips puckered.

“Then I’ll start.”

As the Dragon grabbed Rusalka’s face and kissed her, it disappeared into her like being sucked into a vacuum cleaner.

“Ugh, uh?!?”

Rusalka twisted her body violently as the Dragon entered her. I pinned her limbs to prevent her from moving.

“Looks like I’m really setting you up for marriage. Again.”

“Uh, huuuugh!”

Rusalka writhed her whole body in resistance. However, thanks to my physical restraint and the Dragon’s mental suppression, Rusalka’s resistance gradually weakened.

“Tsk. If only you weren’t my mother-in-law, exploiting your weaknesses would be easier.”

“Y-you, what do you mean by that, hiyaat?!”

With heavy breathing, Rusalka screamed. Her eyes, provocatively glaring at me, began to fill with a gray hue from below.

“No, what are you even doing to me…!”

“What are we doing?”

I moved my face close enough to touch Rusalka’s breath and gradually pressured her with my magic power.

“I’ve come to fetch the bride per Heo Yoon-hwan’s request.”

“!!”

Upon hearing that, Rusalka tightly shut her eyes. The movements of her restrained limbs gradually subsided, and her trembling body calmed like a quiet lake under a snowy night.

* * *

Amidst the chaos at the Side Palace and the office, Seung-hyeong Lee abruptly stood up, feeling a tingling sensation on his skin.

“Of course…!”

His heart raced. As the alarm went off, the Blue Flame in his heart began to burn. Seung-hyeong circulated the magic power throughout his body and headed toward the office.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Tak. Rasputin grabbed Seung-hyeong’s wrist. Without asking for permission, the rude grip made Seung-hyeong try to break free with force, but Rasputin held on using magic power.

“Let’s finish our conversation.”

“In this situation, do you think we can talk? You’re Russia’s S Rank hero, right? So in this situation—”

“Yes. I used to be Russia’s S Rank hero.”

Rasputin deliberately emphasized the past tense. The nuance that he was no longer was clear even without translation. From the sticky magic power spreading around Rasputin, Seung-hyeong could read his intent.

“Who… are you?”

Seung-hyeong detected ominous magic power. The once peaceful magic power of a monk-like figure began to feel unpleasantly sticky, making the hairs on Seung-hyeong’s body stand on end.

It felt familiar, like sensing the Dullahan horde descending upon Gwanak—

BOOM!

Rasputin stomped his foot. A black shadow emerging from beneath his cassock rapidly spread across the reception room floor.

“What is this…!”

Though unclear, Seung-hyeong sensed malice aimed at restraining him. Loading magic power into his captured arm, he broke free from Rasputin’s hold.

“HAA!”

Seung-hyeong leaped backward and rushed toward the office. Regardless of intent, Rasputin clearly intended to attack him.

“Unfortunately.”

Rasputin, rubbing his tingling hand, grinned smugly. The door leading to the office was already blocked by the thick, dark shadows Rasputin had spread.

Crackle. Click.

“. The name of this technique is also my new alias granted by God.”

Rasputin—now called DD—smirked, revealing neat white teeth from within the darkness. Seung-hyeong ignited white flames in both fists and swept away the darkness enveloping him with bright light.

“……Indeed. You’re neither the Hero of the association nor Russia’s Hero. No, you’re not a Hero.”

Seung-hyeong raised his fist, burning with fighting spirit. His senses already warned him that this individual had transcended humanity.

“Ho ho ho.”

DD approached Seung-hyeong with arms wide open, as if to embrace and pull him close.

“Thankfully, this commotion allows me to quietly chat with a fine gentleman like yourself.”

“…Stop messing around. I’m not into that kind of thing.”

“Ah. You keep misunderstanding somehow…”

DD shook his head as if hurt and extended a hand for a handshake toward Seung-hyeong.

“I think we could be good colleagues. I believe you qualify, actually, as one of the best among our Lord’s New Humanity (新人類).”

DD stroked his face with his hand and extended his fingers toward Seung-hyeong.

“Your appearance, abilities, muscles, sense of justice. There’s nothing lacking in your appeal. So, speaking of which…”

With each condition mentioned, DD folded his fingers one by one, licking his upper lip and smiling faintly.

“I want to see this handsome man corrupted by His hand.”

“Insane.”

Seung-hyeong involuntarily spat out curses. DD frowned as if hurt and wagged his last remaining pinky finger.

“It’s fine. If His last condition isn’t met, our Lord won’t accept you as New Humanity and will eliminate you instead. Ho ho ho.”

Breathing excitedly, DD ran his sweaty hand through his hair, creating a slicked-back style.

“Let’s start by stripping off your clothes…!”

“AAAAHHHH!!”

Inside the impenetrable boundary of <Dark Darkness>, Seung-hyeong’s desperate struggle to protect himself began.