Plush, plush, plush, plush.
“…”
Plushplush plushplush.
“…”
Plushplushplushplush.
“…Noah?”
Plushplushplushplushplushplushplushplush.
“Noah!”
“…Ah, why?”
“Just calm down a bit. I know you’re anxious, but—”
“…I’m perfectly fine.”
“I don’t think so.”
Taihua forced a smile. In response, Noah turned his head sharply away.
“I’m fine.”
“We’re all patients here, so just rest for now.”
“Ugh…seriously…when are they going to discharge us?”
At the same time, a sigh was heard.
Moang turned his head and sighed.
Despite denying it himself, Noah was clearly worried.
“It’s already been three days! Three whole days!”
When Noah turned his head again, his face had grown pale.
He was on the verge of losing his mind.
It’s bad enough that Uncle is a Kraken, but he’s been missing for three days now. Judging the situation objectively, it would be accurate to say we’re caught in a pretty serious threat.
“QQQ, are you sure about this?”
“Yes. I can still sense Mr. Shin Hyun’s magic from the sky. He must still be alive, right?”
“But why can I feel it from the sky?! There’s that thing up there!”
Noah glanced at the sky through the window.
Hovering in midair was a massive, ominous lump of meat.
There’s no need for such an exaggerated name like Rust.
“It’s just flying pork! Should we cook it with soju?”
“You shouldn’t drink soju…”
“Hmph! I’ve already had some with Uncle!”
Truthfully, he wanted to roast it right there. Especially since they said he could feel Uncle’s magic inside it.
What exactly is he doing in there? What’s happening inside? Even setting aside the betrayal of him being a Villain, worry came first.
Of course, there will be proper accountability later. That’s also why I’m trying to save him.
“Hmm…it really is suffocating.”
“Right? So let’s ask the manager to discharge us quickly.”
“Do you really like that uncle so much?”
“…Well, yes. Even if there was deception, there must have been a reason.”
Noah nodded.
“There must have been a reason for what he did.”
If he intended to threaten, he would’ve done it long ago. If he wanted to k*ll, he would’ve killed by now.
How many chances has he had?
“Alright, let’s calm down first, Noah. It won’t be too late to rest our bodies fully before heading out.”
“Ugh…”
“Soon, there will be a major attack. Let’s go rescue Mr. Shin Hyun then, alright?”
“…Huh…Okay, I’ll hold on a little longer.”
His head hurt from worrying so much.
d*mn it. If only my body was fine, I would’ve stormed in already! I’d tear it apart, crush it, and proudly rescue Uncle!
Of course, the fact that he’s the Kraken needs to remain a secret.
‘…Let’s wait.’
Noah closed her eyes and entered meditation. A shimmering starlight appeared around her.
For now, she planned to relax her body and think about how to rescue him. The deeper she thought, the deeper her worries grew, but she managed to endure.
Rather, I wish the Kraken were here. Come to think of it, he felt incredibly reliable when we fought together.
“Hmm…”
Just thinking about it made her sigh.
‘Why did he become a Villain?’
Is he truly a Villain now? Or has he always been one?
We’ll find out when we defeat this thing and meet Uncle again.
“…I will definitely destroy it.”
Noah took a deep breath and regained her composure, determined to shatter that monstrosity.
…
It was roughly four days later when the operation began. Since the other side showed signs of initiating an attack, we launched a preemptive strike.
To summarize, the extermination went smoothly.
Not only that, but with the help of other heroes dispatched by the Association, there weren’t any major issues.
The real problem was always the sheer number and civilian protection; it wasn’t as if the quality of the enemy was overwhelming.
Of course,
“How long will they keep coming?”
“I’m tired…”
“Kids, just hang in there a little longer. I know it’s tough to fight right after being discharged from the hospital.”
Still, it wasn’t entirely easy. No matter how many times we defeated them, they kept reappearing and charging at us.
How long can we maintain this advantageous situation? At most, a day? Maybe two?
Eventually, the heroes’ strength will run out.
“I’ll be back!”
“Iris!”
“Everyone, please hold on just a little longer! I’ll clear a path and come back!”
Iris soared high into the air.
I will eliminate it. Destroy it, and I will definitely find Uncle.
“QQQ! Iris!”
“What!”
“There’s a trace of the Kraken’s magical scent over there!”
“Okay! Let’s go straight for it! Hold on tight!”
Iris’ gaze sharply focused on a location. A massive wall of meat.
According to QQQ, the scent of the Kraken’s magic comes from inside there.
Noah clenched her fist tightly and struck.
“With the stars!”
A meteor-like blow hit its mark, and chunks of flesh flew everywhere. Having created a large hole, Noah infiltrated inside.
It was a strange place.
All red and wriggling. It felt like entering the living innards of a creature.
No, it’s correct.
“…Let’s find him and get out quickly.”
In order to leave this unpleasant place as soon as possible, Iris began walking.
The mission was to break through this dungeon and reach the heart. Once we destroy the chunk of essence there, the game is over.
Other than that, the only goal left is finding Uncle.
“QQQ…it’s enormous…”
“That’s true. It smells bad and makes me uncomfortable. I want to leave quickly.”
“How can we possibly search every inch of this place…?”
It was a valid question. However, Iris answered nonchalantly.
“We’ll blast through.”
“There are strange creatures here…tentacle-like things too.”
“Hm? We’re not talking about blasting through those?”
“QQQ?”
Boom—
“Blasting through means…”
“Yeah. QQQ, hold on tight.”
“I don’t want to watch…”
QQQ shut his eyes tightly. Another booming sound echoed, and he felt himself falling.
‘This person seems a bit more violent lately…’
Is it because of the stress? Because they haven’t met that man yet?
QQQ sincerely hoped he was safe. Otherwise, it felt like his own body wouldn’t survive.
After breaking walls, cutting tentacles, and searching endlessly, how much time passed?
“Here!”
Iris stopped in front of a large rock. Not a stone gate or statue, just a big rock.
It might resemble kidney stones, but right now, these details aren’t important.
“The essence is beyond here!”
“Okay…here, right?”
“…I can sense the Kraken’s magic nearby too.”
“Is he inside?”
“Yes, probably…”
With that, Iris wasted no time. She delivered another powerful punch, and the rock shattered into pieces.
Through the swirling dust, the interior came into view. A room surrounded by walls of meat, where someone’s silhouette flickered.
“Uncle!”
“…Iris.”
With a thud, the Kraken stepped toward Iris.
“Uncle…”
Iris called out to him and slowly approached.
What were you doing here all this time?
“Aiiris.”
“Hmm?”
“Take this.”
Whoosh!
A shadowy tentacle rose behind Iris.
+++++
“…”
“Uncle?”
“…”
“Uncle…!”
“…”
Sorry, Noah.
…
“Deal?”
“Yes. A deal.”
The rabbit doll looked at me curiously.
“I want to make a deal.”
“…Oh ho.”
The kid now showed interest.
Now that I’ve dangled the bait, it’s time to throw the line.
“To halt—or rather, delay this guy’s invasion for a week, is that possible?”
“Huh? That’s quite a difficult request.”
“Yes. I understand.”
“The only one who can stop this person is…an equal, no. A Demon King with power surpassing this person?”
“In that case, tell the Demon King.”
I took a deep breath and continued.
“If you delay this guy’s invasion for about a week, I will willingly become your plaything.”
“Oh ho…”
“You and the Demon King obviously don’t like this lump of meat. So…how about playing with a new toy?”
…
‘Is this the result?’
“…”
“Excuse me?”
Iris exhaled heavily while gripping her shoulder. It was the spot pierced by the shadow tentacle.
Crimson bl**d flowed down her alabaster skin.
It was really laughable.
I finally understood why they asked for this farce as entertainment.
Two kids who used to call each other brother and sister and got along well are now trying to k*ll each other.
“…My state is too ridiculous…”
She looked up at Noah.
Tears welled up in his eyes. The pain of being betrayed by someone he trusted. It must feel like having his heart torn out.
I’d like to run away, but I can’t. My heart is infested with worms planted by the Demon King.
That’s the punishment for actors who fail to fulfill their roles.
“…Ha.”
“…”
“…Raise your fists, Noah.”
“Uncle…?”
“Otherwise, I will have no choice but to k*ll you.”
Iris’ eyes wavered. She clearly didn’t expect to hear such words.
Neither did I expect to say them to him.
But, I had mentally prepared myself for this moment.
I threw at him a phrase I had pondered over for a long time.
“So before that, you must k*ll me.”
“Uncle…”
“You must definitely k*ll me. If you don’t, you will d*e.”
