306 – EP.11 The Troubles of Buying-4
***
“It’s been a while, Persona.”
I was on my way back after reducing a monster with a crow’s face to a handful of ashes.
A man with crooked legs suddenly appeared in front of Kang In-ho, who landed on the rooftop of a suitable building and detransformed.
Without any foreshadowing, Kang In-ho frowned at the appearance of a man who seemed as if he had been there.
“What are you?”
At the blunt words, the man’s eyes turned round for a moment.
“Your personality has changed a lot in the time we haven’t seen each other. He even makes eye contact with me. hehehe…”
He smiled an eerie smile. Because that smile brought back memories of his former colleague who used to be so scared.
However, the old colleague I met after a long time had changed more than I thought.
“…….”
Fatigue and irritation were clearly visible in the half-masked eyes.
Crown cleared his throat in embarrassment at that expression he had never seen before.
“I’m sure you haven’t forgotten this crown, right?”
“Crown….”
“Oh my… Oh my… Have you lost your memory?”
Crown expressed regret in response to Kang In-ho’s question.
That exaggerated gesture upset Kang In-ho.
“It would make sense if you lost your memory.”
“Stop muttering to yourself, can’t you tell me something?”
“hahahaha, I never thought I’d see you talking to me like that…”
As Kang In-ho continued to speak, a frown stood out on Crown’s forehead.
“Persona. I will tell you who you are.”
“…?”
“You are one of the Four Heavenly Kings, the original witch’s faithful servants.”
“I know.”
“I don’t know why you lost your memories, but you know that a magical girl took you away…?”
Crown opened his eyes.
“Uh, I know. And there’s one more thing I know.”
When Kang In-ho moved his neck, a clicking sound was heard.
“What…!”
Before Crown could finish speaking, Kang In-ho’s hand pierced his chest.
“You are being left behind here.”
“…….”
Even though his chest was pierced and his insides were burning, the crown did not move.
Kang In-ho quickly recognized the sense of incongruity.
“What are you?”
“You figured it out right away. Yes, this is a dummy. I saw Lilith and Tols die like that, and did you think I would show up in front of you unguarded?”
Kang In-ho clicked his tongue and withdrew his hand, and Crown, whose chest was open, smiled at him.
“So, why did you make a dummy and appear in front of me?”
“I thought you had lost your memory, so I tried to recruit you. But looking at what you were saying… It looks like you stuck with the magic girl even though you knew you were the Four Heavenly Kings.”
“Well, you can say so.”
“I’d like to ask you something.”
“Because there is a better chance of winning this way?”
“hahahaha, are you saying you’re going to win? Are you going to laugh at me to death?”
When he held his stomach and laughed, Kang In-ho frowned.
“What’s funny? Two of the Four Heavenly Kings are already dead.”
“hahahahaha, ah~ I’m sorry. I laughed too hard at this.”
It must have been difficult to suppress the laughter that was bursting out, and Crown even had tears in her eyes.
“Your skills in dealing with Tols are definitely impressive. You have become twice as strong as before. Perhaps the magical girl’s magic made you stronger, right?”
Kang In-ho did not bother to answer that question.
Anyway, Crown continued the story.
“But even if you and two magical girls attack at once, the witch won’t be able to win.”
“You’ll have to tell me to find out.”
“Persona, did you hit her head hard during the last fight? Don’t you know the witch’s power?”
The Crown laughed.
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
“Are you strange?”
Kang In-ho, who was listening to him sullenly, narrowed his eyes.
“What do you mean?”
Crown said that there was no stabbing, but Kang In-ho did not erase his suspicions.
“If you were that confident, you wouldn’t have appeared like this.”
“…….”
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“There is such an overwhelming power difference, but you are trying to placate me? Breaking my morale? Are the Four Heavenly Kings such kind beings?”
“You’ve gotten better in the meantime. So what do you want to say?”
As Crown looked at him with the expression on his face erased, Kang In-ho raised his middle finger.
“No matter what the conditions, I don’t negotiate with the evil hordes. So, don’t waste your time and get the hell out of there.”
“…I understand your will. I hope you will carry out your will until the end.”
“Yeah, get out~ And don’t even think about attaching unnecessary surveillance. It’ll only make you die more painfully.”
He raised his middle finger with both hands, as if waving to a friend who was leaving far away, and taunted him to the end with his tongue lashing out.
Grinding his teeth until he made a clicking sound, Crown turned around, and soon his body collapsed like a collapsing building.
When he disappeared without any warning, Kang In-ho, wearing a mask, breathed a sigh of relief.
“Ugh… Things are going to get complicated.”
Why am I acting like a vigilante who is not even in the Eight Characters?…
It’s a pain to buy for no reason.
***
A few days after that.
Kim Seong-ah, who was preparing to go to school while eating the food he prepared, looked at Kang In-ho worriedly.
“Mister, are you okay?”
“It’s worth holding on.”
“You went out today too, right?”
“Oh, those crazy people come at dawn. They have no morals.”
“It must have been difficult to wake up… I also had a really hard time waking up at dawn.”
She glanced at his gaze.
“Mister, we’re just moving in two shifts…”
“Let’s think about it after the CSAT. For now, focus on taking the CSAT.”
“How can I study with peace of mind when my uncle is dozing off like a sick chicken?”
“So that’s what the mock evaluation score was like?”
“…I saw you again sometime.”
“When I went to wake you up, it was on the desk.”
“…….”
“I’ve worked quite a bit of overtime while working at the company, so don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”
“I don’t care if it’s someone else, but I’m worried.”
Kim Seong-ah grumbled, sticking out her mouth.
“But they won’t attack you again today. If you go to school, I’ll get some sleep.”
“I have to make up for the sleep I lack. Do I really have to sleep?”
She spoke again, as if trying to accept her promise.
He nodded and rubbed his eyes. The stuffy eyes showed no signs of loosening.
When Kim Seong-ah finished her meal and headed toward her front door, he also moved his feet to see her off.
After watching her for a moment as she put on her shoes, he opened her mouth.
“Ah, let’s eat out today.”
“I’m fine. You too, get some rest.”
“Okay, I’ll be in front of the school on time. See you there.”
“In front of the school…?”
“Yes, why?”
Kim Seong-ah paused for a moment in response to his question.
“Um… No. See you in front of the school. Instead, don’t stand in front of the school gate.”
“Why?”
“Just think of it that way.”
Showing her sunny smile, she opened the door and walked out.
“I’ll be back~”
Kang In-ho sees her off with her fresh smile.
Seeing someone off feels a little strange.
“…I’m sleepy.”
He rubbed his watery eyes again and headed to his room.
He thought that if he slept well now, his body would return to its original state.