“Se-ah, did you just come in from outside?”
‘Judging by the timing of her words, she probably just arrived not too long ago.’
First, assuming I arrived earlier than expected… Seol-hwa would’ve already unleashed an ice magic attack on my face the moment she found out. I thought the lab didn’t have any CCTV, but unfortunately, looking up now, there’s one clearly still operational.
Sliding my head slightly to the side to glance behind Yoon Se-ah, I can see some flesh chunks that haven’t been properly cleaned up yet. Behind them, an elderly woman with white hair is staring at me with her mouth agape.
The moment I saw her face, I immediately understood.
‘So this is Yoon Se-ah’s birth mother.’
This is Yoon Se-ah’s real mother, a character not detailed much in the original work.
Thanks to the memories of Yoon Se-ah that I’ve absorbed, I know this very well.
Yoon Seong-ho, who had many goods due to the potion patent but was known as a commoner with only money, not from a noble family.
The Kim family, a declining noble family, thought they’d found an awakened individual but was instead disappointed when Kim Gyeo-ul, with only minimal abilities, quickly fell from being the family’s hope to becoming a strategic marriage daughter.
Their meeting was fateful.
Their wedding followed swiftly; the Kim family got the missing finances while Yoon Seong-ho became part of the Kim family—what seemed like a simple win-win situation.
Unfortunately, the Kim family’s biggest issue was underestimating Yoon Seong-ho for simply being a wealthy commoner.
‘And then, as soon as the Yuseong Group, controlled by Yoon Seong-ho, became a giant enterprise overshadowing the Kim family, their true ugly motives revealed themselves disgustingly when they demanded that Kim Gyeo-ul be discarded and they suggested a marriage with someone else’s child instead.’
No matter how you look at it, the Kim family was trying to latch onto the Yuseong Group.
Yoon Seong-ho, seeing through their plans to control the Yuseong Group, refused their proposals, but the problem arose after that.
The Kim family, blinded by jealousy, began causing trouble whenever Kim Gyeo-ul made a public appearance – claiming she didn’t know how to maintain proper dining etiquette, deliberately misleading her on dress codes for parties, thereby embarrassing her.
Even worse, when they used the broadcasting station owned by the family to air fabricated affairs, it seemed Kim Gyeo-ul reached her mental limit, retreating into her room like a recluse and beginning a life as a virtual shut-in.
‘And the starting point of the fabricated affairs was me.’
The reason was simple—though everyone in the family had white hair and red eyes, I alone did not.
Using this as proof, the Kim family spread numerous adultery scandals. And because of this, whenever anything happened to me, Kim Gyeo-ul would just stay locked up in her room and ignore it.
‘There’s a story behind this person as well, but at least from Yoon Se-ah’s perspective, she’s not someone to just let pass.’
Hmm, I’ve talked too much about Kim Gyeo-ul… anyway, after this thought process.
“Remove this right now.”
“No. At least you need to tell me what happened here.”
I am currently being interrogated by Seol-hwa while my whole body is restrained.
I thought she wouldn’t immediately use ice magic, assuming she just arrived. This is quite frustrating as it turns out to be a sting operation.
…
‘Even though I’m trapped in ice, it doesn’t feel like the kind that would turn me into a permanent statue.’
She used a weaker ice magic to avoid harming me, even while I’m resisting with all my might, and yet, she restrains me with just three fingers—an overwhelming force.
‘Yoon Seong-ho was at a C-grade level, so I could easily defeat him, but how am I supposed to defeat A-grade top-tier Seol-hwa? If I could beat Seol-hwa, the next S-rank contender, I’d be the next S-rank contender too.’
Even though I’d like to use the [Eye of Hypnosis], I’ve never used it on someone with magical power similar to mine, so I can’t guarantee success.
Even with my unmeasured psychokinesis skills and my depleted ammunition, I can’t beat Seol-hwa no matter what.
‘Really, why did you come?’
I should have dealt with Lady Kim before the researchers killed each other.
“….The way you’re crawling out now that your life is in danger is truly pitiful, Mother.”
“…”
This is troublesome…but something’s really gone wrong, and now I feel frustrated.
Even Yoon Se-ah’s usual tone of voice is breaking.
If she had just stayed locked up in her room, everything would have been settled.
“Se-ah, how can you speak to your parents like that…….”
“Be quiet. I already told you never to appear before me again.”
Because of that previous statement, Seol-hwa doesn’t dare to pressure me further.
‘Yoon Se-ah, I don’t really understand how you feel about these people.’
Even when under brainwashing, Yoon Se-ah would willingly sacrifice her life to protect adorable juniors and save the world, suggesting she’s very soft-hearted. If Yoon Se-ah returned right now and Seol-hwa and Kim Gyeo-ul sincerely apologized…she might forgive them.
‘But alas, I cannot hear your voice.’
Remembering how Yoon Se-ah would swear in front of the mirror like a mantra to take care of me.
She would mumble about entrusting me her world while standing in front of the mirror.
‘If I leave this world, will you re-enter the empty body when I return, or will you fade and be forgotten like I did?’
The latter seems more likely given how Yoon Se-ah turned to dust in the mirror that time.
‘In that case…perhaps I should proceed a bit selfishly, Yoon Se-ah.’
The protagonist and I will just laugh together and defeat the final boss. The price of obsessing over an extra like me will be paid entirely.
“Haa…if you want to know the full truth…I killed them. I confined those people inside an invisible barrier created with psychokinesis, hypnotized them into perceiving each other as enemies, and made them shoot each other. Then, since they were former heroes, I blew them up with bombs for good measure.”
“……!!!”
As I delivered the matter-of-fact explanation, both Seol-hwa and Kim Gyeo-ul couldn’t hide their shock and confusion.
“Why the surprised faces? Those bastards subjected my body to all sorts of tortures during my childhood alongside Yoon Seong-ho. It was perfectly justified to kill them.”
Even after explaining everything so kindly, the only effect was that Seol-hwa’s ice constraint grew stronger. She remained silent.
“Then why not execute someone like me, an evil person who killed your estranged but blood-related family, immediately as a hero should do?”
“Be quiet…”
“Could it be that you’re planning to repent for the abuses of your youth now?”
“Just shut up…please!”
The ice grew stronger, encroaching on my neck.
‘This is getting dangerous.’
I can’t move even a finger.
I knew she didn’t intend to kill me, but if this continues, I’ll end up in prison.
I won’t get a chance to help the protagonist.
‘Fortunately, telekinesis can be used without needing to move my hands.’
But can I break this ice?…
‘Since it wasn’t lethal ice, it might be worth the gamble.’
“Pharisee, what’s the difference between you and Yoon Seong-ho?”
“………!!”
This is it. Now that I’ve cracked Seol-hwa’s mental defenses, it’s my only chance to break free.
I quickly focused my spirit and erected a powerful psychic barrier around my body.
-BOOM!
Seol-hwa’s ice shattered effortlessly.
“Se-ah, I’m really…!”
The startled Seol-hwa flew to guard Kim Gyeo-ul, thinking I was going to attack her, but my target was not her.
-BANG!
I already had a pistol in my hand.
As I started to slowly leave the lab and enter the house, Seol-hwa shouted, “What are you doing?”
It didn’t matter much.
-BANG, BANG!
I blew away the frozen parts near the door with the gun. That should be enough to let me enter by hand.
-CHHERRR…
‘Ah, might as well take Lady Kim with me.’
Seol-hwa froze the lab entrance to block my way.
Of course, I should feel awkward too. Even from my perspective, this was quite a crazy gamble.
“Se-ah, you know this…magic circle…”
Unfortunately, though I clearly had an edge, it wouldn’t be a sure victory…
“If I’m completely restrained or subdued, the magic circle is set to crush my head instantly.”
At explaining the real nature of that magic circle, Seol-hwa froze in place.
“Whatever you do, the activation speed of the magic circle is faster. You’d have to strangle me to stop it, Miss Seol-hwa.”
“Se-ah, you really…”
“You must have felt pleased about repentance, didn’t you? As a child, during the experiments on me when you couldn’t react and ran away. Oh, by the way, that person didn’t blame you. She thought you left because of her.”
At this, the eyes of the distant Lady Kim began to waver.
“The family blamed her for scandals just because her hair and eye color were different, cursed their only two daughters, and even subjected her to near-torturous abuse while hiding like a coward in her room. What kind of mother is that?”
“No, Se-ah…”
“Shut up! Because of your attitude, Yoon Seong-ho, that bastard, forcibly transplanted monster blood, corpses, body parts, even monster eyes into her!!”
As I activated the [Eye of Hypnosis], bleeding blood tears that signified its overuse, both of them looked like their mentality completely collapsed.
‘Good, the ice on the door has weakened.’
I should be able to break it with telekinesis now.
“Well, since Yoon Seong-ho did such secretive experiments and this Evil Eye allowed me to kill President Yoon Seong-ho, I might let the human experimentation slide…but if both of you want to sincerely repent so much, I’ll give you a chance.”
“…”
At my words, the two quietly stared at me silently.
“Abdicate your inheritance. And do whatever justice-seeking behavior you want, or lock yourself in a room like a cripple, but don’t show your face in front of me.”
“That, that’s…”
“Handing out all wounds and then trying to reconcile at this late stage is truly repulsive and dirty.”
“……Alright, I’ll do as you wish.”
Though it was a very rude statement practically asking them to give up the inheritance and leave, Lady Kim weakly agreed before fainting.
“Mother!”
Naturally, Seol-hwa flew to catch the collapsing Lady Kim, and while she was distracted, I opened the lab door, preparing to enter the house.
“And, including this underground lab, nothing happened today.”
-BOOM!
After making that statement and closing the iron door, I received a text message from Deok-bae.
[010-1256-1257]
[Miss, this is Deok-bae. Miss Seol-hwa and Lady Kim left without any further action…]
‘Ah, Deok-bae.’
[010-1256-1257]
[I’m freezing to death, Miss.]
Remembering that Deok-bae’s legs were frozen earlier.
I quickly defrosted his legs, explained briefly what needs to be done next, and sent him home.
Deok-bae, who was Yoon Seong-ho’s personal secretary, receives high pay and through Yoon Seong-ho had an ID card made, so he’s no longer an unnamed orphan but a proper citizen of the Republic of Korea.
‘That said, it appears Miss Seol-hwa feels a lot of guilt towards Yoon Se-ah.’
If it had been me, I would’ve had him delivered to prison frozen solid by now, but it seems she’s quite troubled by her guilt.
‘You’re not my type. If it were Yoon Se-ah, it might be different.’
But Yoon Se-ah is gone now.
Only I, the game player, remained.
-Tap, toc!
I already had all data backed up using Yoon Seong-ho’s fingerprints.
Including the Spiral Guild, many guilds had records of threats and hiring unknown mercenary guilds to send assassins to rival companies, along with the ugly background of the Yuseong Group, thought to be merely a large corporation.
“So…what should I do with all these secret ledgers?~♪”
…
…
…
And the next day.
[Yuseong Group President Yoon Seong-ho Dies in Car Accident After Sudden Acceleration Over Cliff Edge]
[Yoon Seong-ho’s Luxury Car Manufacturer’s Stock Falls 18%; More Decline Expected]
[Lee Deok-bae Appointed Temporary President Following Yoon Seong-ho’s Death]
[Lee Family: “Of Course, Since One of Our Family Members Died, One of Our Lee Family Members Must Assume the Presidency of Yuseong.”]
[Tentative Funeral Arrangements Set for Three Days Later and Emergency Press Conference Scheduled for December 30th by Temporary President Kim Deok-bae]
The world erupted in chaos due to the death of Yoon Seong-ho.
