Episode 105

Although she held the position of a school principal, she was one of the few transcendent beings whose numbers could be counted on one hand across the whole world.

She was one of those people I couldn’t just meet immediately, even if I wished to.

That’s why I first requested to have a private meeting with the Emperor, Seo Ye-bin.

‘It couldn’t be helped.’

So, I tried to find another way.

-You can come anytime.

Seo Ye-bin immediately allowed a private meeting with me.

So now,

I was standing in front of the principal’s office.

“…You are truly amazing.”

“…I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.”

“Sigh.”

Seo Woo-ju looked at me and then sighed briefly.

“No, that’s not what I meant. And though I have instructed otherwise, please do not tell others that you frequently meet privately with Seo Ye-bin.”

“Alright, I’ll be careful.”

“She is the Emperor. A figure revered by countless heroes. There are even Mines and villains who admire her. And the professors at this school too.”

Seo Woo-ju looked at me.

“It’s fine for me, but others might see you in a negative light. Being favored by the Emperor means, in other words, that those who wish for her favor might see you as a rival.”

“Understood.”

I smiled bitterly and nodded.

I remembered a professor glaring at me as if wanting to kill me when he heard I was meeting Seo Ye-bin privately.

‘What will happen?’

The professor had sold his soul to a Mine to earn the favor of the emperor in the future.

And he was dismissed by Seo Ye-bin, who looked at him as if he was a mere cockroach.

-Come in.

A quiet voice was heard. Creak- the door opened on its own, and violet eyes turned towards me.

Her golden hair tied to one side, she smiled at me. It was a bright smile that stunned me for a moment.

“It’s been a long time.”

“Yes, it has been a long time.”

Seo Ye-bin said that and then looked at Seo Woo-ju.

“You may leave now, Instructor Seo Woo-ju.”

“Yes, y-yes!”

Seo Woo-ju replied as if biting his tongue and left with a surprised expression.

It must have been his first time seeing Seo Ye-bin react like that.

Seo Ye-bin slightly shook her head. Her violet eyes, full of charm, focused on me. Her gaze swept over my body once. Then her eyes widened slightly.

“You’ve really become much stronger. Children of your age usually grow fast. Is this the martial arts your master bestowed upon you?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“It’s more like magic than martial arts… no, it’s closer to a mystery. You’ve gained something valuable. Keep improving.”

“Yes.”

“It’s a pity, though. You’ve focused too much on cultivating your body. The power of your core, commonly known as the heart technique, seems weaker than I thought.”

-It’s nonsense. Black God Martial Arts is complete and flawless. Master, that woman is saying such things because she wants your attention.

‘Or maybe she’s considering what ‘thing’ to put there in the future.’

Her eyes, piercing as if seeing through everything, focused on my heart.

“It’s a pity. As your level increases, I can see the body, but not what’s inside.”

“The inside, you mean?”

“There are various ways. The state of the body, how fiercely the energy inside you ‘denies’ everything, one can estimate by calculating backwards from that.”

“……”

I looked at Seo Ye-bin with a vacant expression. I knew that awakening the Divine Sight was quite difficult.

‘If I focus solely on training the Divine Sight, would it be possible in about six months?’

It would be a waste of an absurd amount of time, not a good method.

While I was thinking, I felt an oppressive gaze. Seo Ye-bin was piercingly staring at me.

-Master, that woman is dangerous.

-Women who show that much interest are extremely dangerous! Just by listening to her, she seems like the Heavenly Demon from a previous life. You should run before you get devoured!

Black Heaven and Eternal Heaven were chattering. I ignored them and looked at Seo Ye-bin.

“So, what brings you to me?”

“I have a favor to ask.”

“Speak freely.”

“I think the Brigade of Eternal Heaven is targeting me.”

“Is that so?”

Seo Ye-bin momentarily nodded and then stretched out her finger.

“I’ll speak to my star about it.”

“Is there a way to summon a star?”

The corners of Seo Ye-bin’s mouth rose. She quietly stood up.

“So, you want to wipe out the Brigade of Eternal Heaven.”

She spoke to me in a voice that could make the listener feel dreamy.

“Come here.”

I approached her. Up close. Even though there were only three steps left between us, her amethyst-like eyes were fixed on me.

As if beckoning me closer.

I moved closer. Her smile grew a bit deeper.

Seo Ye-bin took out a small wooden box from her bosom.

“This is my gift to you.”

When she opened the box, a necklace appeared. She looked at me for a moment and then smiled playfully.

“Press the gem part of this necklace, and the stars will come to you. I’ll let the third and fifth stars know.”

She said this while looking at me.

“Come a bit closer.”

“Do you mean from here?”

“Yes.”

One step.

Now we were close enough to hear each other’s breathing.

“Stay still.”

Saying so, she put the necklace around my neck.

A fragrance brushed against my nose. It was a mesmerizing scent.

After a moment like that, Seo Ye-bin put the necklace on me and looked at me.

“It suits you well.”

“…But do you believe what I said?”

Feeling somewhat hot, I changed the topic.

“Yes. It’s unlikely that you would lie to me. If anything, you could just do me a small favor.”

“A favor?”

I tilted my head, wondering what she could possibly want from me.

“Yes, just a small favor.”

“What is it?”

I looked at her nervously. Her smile grew wider at my reaction.

“I’d like you to grow your hair a bit longer.”

“…What?”

I didn’t understand for a moment. Grow my hair? Was she talking about my hair?

“Since the first time I saw you, I thought it was a pity. Your hair, carelessly grown, why not trim and grow it properly this time?”

“……Yes. I will do that.”

I answered bewilderedly. If growing my hair could get me a star, then why not.

“Hehe. Good. Is there anything else you want?”

“……Not at the moment.”

“Speaking of which, you made a workshop recently, right? I’ll add some more items to it.”

“……I’ll receive them gratefully.”

“Do you need anything else?”

“No.”

“You can tell me anytime if you need something.”

“……No.”

It was starting to feel quite burdensome.

“The Alchemy Guild recently made an Alchemy Kit. How about that?”

“……I would like to have it.”

“Alright. I’ll give it to you. And recently, I found a Spirit Elixir that’s good for Yang energy…”

“……I would gratefully accept it.”

Suddenly, that scene flashed in my mind.

The time I met my ex-girlfriend’s parents in my past life, and her mother kept trying to feed me something.

“And……”

“No, no, it’s fine. Maybe I should go now.”

“Alright. You may leave.”

Somehow, Seo Ye-bin seemed a bit disappointed, but that must have been my imagination.

Seo Ye-bin watched as Lee Seo-ha left.

She sat down in her chair.

Her warm and bright smile disappeared in an instant, replaced by the cold expression of the ruthless Emperor.

Puppeteer Seo Ye-bin.

It was the expression that gave her that title. Not only because she handled a star called “Puppet,” but also because of her expressionless and cold demeanor, like a puppet.

“First.”

As she finished speaking, a person covered in white cloth appeared behind her. Judging by the build, it reminded one of a sturdy man. The arms were unusually long, stretching down to below the knees. There were three sheaths at the waist.

-Command me.

“Kill everything related to the Brigade of Eternal Heaven, except for its members.”

-Understood.

The star, referred to as her “First,” nodded and disappeared. He left to carry out the given mission.

Seeing this, Seo Ye-bin smiled coldly.

Celestial said,

Lee Seo-ha cannot become a star.

After all, a star was a power that ‘killed’ potential. Lee Seo-ha, just a mere person, should not become that.

Seo Ye-bin gazed at the trajectory Lee Seo-ha had left. He was a star. A dazzling star that could not be compared to anything she possessed.

And.

That would be hers. A creeping desire surfaced. She wanted to imprint her color on him. How wonderful it would be if his eyes held only her.

Seo Ye-bin felt an intense desire gnawing at her heart, surprising even herself. But now was not the time.

‘Well, anyway.’

She could not forgive those who touched what was hers. The Brigade of Eternal Heaven was strong. But that’s all they were.

One by one, methodically.

Make them suffer to the point where living feels like hell. Break them down.

Make them pay for daring to touch what was hers.

Seo Ye-bin stretched her slender fingers towards the documents on the desk.

Documents about how to use the Brigade of Eternal Heaven. As her finger touched them, they turned to dust in an instant.

As if foreshadowing the fate of certain beings.

Seo Ye-bin buried herself in the chair with a cold smile.

And about an hour later.

Every being with even the slightest connection to the Brigade of Eternal Heaven disappeared from the face of the Earth.