Chapter 35

What, they were talking about me?

At the single phrase Trishy spoke, groans of despair rippled through the chamber.

Vampires trembled at the jaw, werewolves clawed out their fur, and witches struck their shoulders and chests with bundles of mugwort.

Some slammed their desks in protest, unable to overcome their fear.

“You mustn’t speak of that being so carelessly!”

“Compose yourselves! We are inside the Council—his power cannot reach here!”

“Have you forgotten the prophecy of the three Levanica sisters? They said he’s been seeking a way across dimensions for three years!”

“He could even now be watching us all from this very place…!”

One demon’s slip of truth sent the entire chamber into panic.

Was that the image they had of me?

For fifteen years, I had roamed the Demon Realm, wiping out every territory I laid eyes on.

I fought bitterly against every demon that challenged me, beheading even the toughest and tossing their corpses into the flames.

I nearly died many times—half-dead and clawing back to life.

After seven years of this, I began hunting Star Scars in earnest.

I barely survived meetings with high-ranked Archdukes more times than I could count.

But as the number of tentacles I could wield grew, and as I mastered Extreme Magic, I became capable of standing against them.

By the time I was complaining to Mala-nim about “openers” while gnawing on my own tentacles, the entire Demon Realm had become my enemy.

Of course I expected hostility—but I never imagined they saw me as a figure of pure terror.

“The Apostle of the Outer God is a disaster you cannot dodge or block. There are records—whole mountain ranges erased from maps overnight, or battles where he fought rank-thirty Archdukes for three days straight without falling.”

“…”

“You look like you don’t believe me. But if the stories are wrong, they’re understatements, not exaggerations.”

“No, it’s not that I don’t believe…”

“And above all, what terrifies us most is the shameful fate of those who defied him until the end. Unspeakably disgraceful.”

Shameful fate?

A chill ran down my spine.

“He most often used tentacles. Some said it was an unknown form of magic, but what everyone saw was the tentacles. Do you know of them?”

“Yes. They’re the most basic monsters you can summon with Black Magic, and with enough mana they sprout anywhere in the Demon Realm. Look closely—they’re even cute.”

“‘Cute’…? I can’t agree. To demons who were humiliated by those lowly creatures, nothing could be more horrific.”

No way—my tentacles are good kids!

Humiliation? I’ve never once used Mala-nim’s gift in the way Trishy suggests.

Even if they were born for such a purpose, I raised them with affection.

Well… sometimes I ate them or used them as currency, but still.

Rumors always grew flesh as they passed from mouth to mouth.

Forneus, who had left the Seed of Calamity in the Sea of Decay, was long gone.

That’s why if you used it as a Dimensional Core to open a Gate, no matter how much you prepared, you couldn’t predict who would emerge.

And in that tiny chance, the Apostle of the Outer God might appear.

That slim possibility alone was enough to make the demons hesitate.

“If Velada hadn’t found you and brought you here, we might have assumed it was you who seeded the Sea of Decay with tentacles.”

“Ahem, I…”

“Of course, that would be nonsense. If such an aberrant being had crossed over, this place would already resemble the Demon Realm itself.”

“…”

Truth was, I’d crossed over half a year ago.

But with everyone here quaking in terror, I had no reason to correct them.

As I kept silent, Trishy seemed satisfied and returned to her seat.

Once the matter of the Apostle ended, Kravec resumed proceedings.

“Then let us return to the Sea of Decay. There is little time left.”

“Are we going to let the Archduke’s legacy be destroyed?”

“What about attacking the humans outright, keep them from reaching the core?”

“The distance is too great.”

“Those seated in the Flame might reach in time, but…”

So they’re nesting in China, huh?

When eyes turned toward Karzos’s faction, none of them stepped forward.

As I thought—cowards. All bark, no bite.

Velada seemed to agree, answering Kravec’s query with a scoff.

“Velada. You and your contractor are close to it, aren’t you?”

“You want the two of us to stop them? Ridiculous.”

“Not to stop them—better to summon an Archduke than let the legacy be destroyed.”

“My master is impossible. Too little preparation, and the gap in stature is far too wide.”

Indeed, the hole left by Forneus wasn’t nearly large enough to bring forth Gamigin, ranked fourth.

But perhaps Furcas, ranked twentieth—or some Archduke even lower—could be drawn through.

Gradually, opinion shifted from “block the humans” to “at least attempt a summoning before the legacy is lost.”

At last, Kravec raised the gavel.

“We will proceed to a vote. If more than half of the representatives present here agree, then we shall hold the summoning ritual—even at the risk of the Apostle of the Outer God appearing.”

“And the overseer?”

“Time is short, so Lord Karzos, your side will take responsibility.”

“Khmm…”

He looked desperate to refuse, but Kravec’s tone left no room for argument.

These were only projections, so to the eye they seemed equal—but in truth, the gap in their strength was overwhelming.

“You won’t be required to fight the humans. Simply attempt the summoning. If it fails, withdraw.”

“But we lack the mana stones and sacrifices to spare…”

“This is not a request. As vice-chair, I expect you to honor the Council’s rules.”

“…Very well.”

He regretted ever picking a fight with me. But it was too late now.

Unwillingly, he gave assent.

With a third of the chamber’s seats, Karzos could only hope the rest would let their fear of the Apostle drive them to vote against.

The vote proceeded.

Moments later, the results were announced.

“Serves you right, snake-head bastards. Now all that wealth you saved for shaping vessels will go straight down the drain.”

Dawn broke overhead.

Stretching as she climbed out of the dingy sewer, Velada wore a satisfied smile.

In her hand she carried the shoes I’d bought her. She’d insisted on wearing them outside despite my warnings about her feet, so she carried them with her now.

I watched her bite into a Choco Pie with obvious delight and asked what I’d been wondering.

“If they actually succeed in summoning, what happens to the Sea of Decay?”

“Mmph? Well, slim chance as it is, if an Archduke manifests, it depends entirely on their will. They might change the flood cycle—or, if they see no need for it, simply erase it.”

Unlike the surrounding continents that had already collapsed, Korea still had Seoul intact. She added that the Archduke would likely leave it alone.

Most Archdukes seeking to cross saw no need to coexist with humanity.

Morning had come, but my work was far from done.

I handed Velada a slip of paper with the address of Sector 4 in Ground Zero—once the Revelation Prayer House.

“For now, stay here. Find the bald-headed preacher and say you were sent by a believer named ‘Sae Hayan.’ He’ll give you food and a bed.”

“Sae Hayan? What is that?”

“It’s… something. Just stay there quietly. I’ll come find you later.”

“…Alright.”

That secured my entry into the next Council.

If I was still alive by then.

[Missed Calls] Ha Yeri: 2

[Missed Calls] Yoo Se-byeol: 44

This is terrifying.

What if I just skipped everything—Archdukes, Council, and all?

I checked my smartwatch. Nearly fifty messages had piled up.

From Ha Yeri: one demand for a written explanation for “mocking her,” and one terse order to join the assault on the Sea of Decay’s core.

From my division commander, on the other hand…

Yoo Se-byeol: The dam at the West Sea will open soon.

Yoo Se-byeol: Your name came up in the assault team roster.

Yoo Se-byeol: You’re a mage, Hayan. Even if you’re from Division 3, don’t push to stand at the very front.

Yoo Se-byeol: It’s a small assault team. From our division, only you were selected. I’ll stay behind to command.

Yoo Se-byeol: This was requested by Commander Ha Yeri.

Yoo Se-byeol: Same as last training… this time too…

Yoo Se-byeol: You’re not planning a transfer, are you?

Yoo Se-byeol: Is it because of something I failed to do for you?

Yoo Se-byeol: Or because you keep trying to avoid the Oath?

Yoo Se-byeol: Are you reading these?

Yoo Se-byeol: Hayan?

…

…

This was fine… right?

Her words carried a strange note of obsession—as though my constant reassignment left her unsettled.

In any case, the mission came first.

I’d been placed in the core assault team. I couldn’t afford to let this chance slip.

Judging from the rising water, the dam had already been opened. Every second counted.

But with Velada still by my side, I couldn’t remove the mask or slip Mala-nim back into my sleeve.

The problem was, she had yet to leave—hovering uncertainly beside me while I silently wished she’d go.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you leaving?”

“I-I am going!”

“Then disappear already.”

“…Hey, Patel.”

“What?”

“You… you’ve changed.”

After rinsing the sewer filth from herself in the river, Velada hesitated a moment, then slipped on the shoes.

Inside, her toes wriggled nervously, and finally she shyly held out her hand.

“I don’t mean it badly! Only, if you’d treated me this way from the beginning, how much better it would have been!”

“…”

“Let’s meet again.”

“Sure.”

I watched her retreat with brisk footsteps, and Mala-nim nudged me in the ribs.

Then, shifting into the form of a pale-white tentacle, she spoke directly.

『Fear not.』

“You’re right. You warned me not to grow attached.”

Sooner or later, my identity would be exposed. Or she would regain her full power.

Or perhaps she’d try to harm another human—would I be able to strike her down without hesitation then?

Mala-nim’s words were never wrong.

“It’s my fault. Next time, I won’t argue back against you.”

『Not!』

“Yes, yes. As penance, I’ll eat nothing but tentacles for three days instead of cafeteria food.”

『Not, not?』

“A week!? Ugh… fine, fine.”

『Not…?』

“Without any opener seasoning!? No, that I can’t accept!”

『Fear not!』

“Look, all of this is to help you regain your strength, isn’t it? If you keep this up, I’ll confiscate the smartwatch!”

I was still bickering with Mala-nim over my latest “dietary betrayals” when a familiar voice called out behind me.

“A tall man with a decent face, acting bizarrely and talking to himself… I wondered how I’d track you with just that, but it looks like I’ve found the right one.”

“Hm?”

A faint current danced along the spear, paired with an ability so fast it blurred like instant movement.

“Are you perhaps the ‘Spear of Thunder’ from Special Unit Division 2?”

“You know me?”

“No. Not at all.”

I shook my head, erasing Kang Nabi’s face from my mind for the second time today.

She glanced at my black robe with an odd sense of déjà vu, but then leveled her spear at me.

“I’ve come on Commander Ha Yeri’s orders. Enough stalling—let’s go.”