Chapter 17: Master of the Hero and Heavenly Demon (2)

"Master, I think it's too early for my sister disciple to make promises. Just as streams have their upper and lower parts, she should wait at least 4 years..."

An ice-cold voice like carving out a heart with ice. Bi Wol was speaking while pulling my left arm.

It was an uncharacteristically cold and calculating tone for her. Though the Heart Demon had surely been eliminated, her voice carried sticky, heavy emotions.

"Aha, you're lying! If that's the case, wouldn't Senior become an adult first! Are you planning to monopolize all of Master's firsts?"

On the opposite side of Bi Wol was Verdandi, pulling my arm in the other direction to avoid losing me.

The gazes of the two exchanging verbal battles while even using Eyes That See Truth were like sparking flames, resembling dogs and cats fighting over the same toy.

"Since you just took Master's kiss, shouldn't you concede other things!"

No, to be honest, it was just a childish fight showing their immaturity.

"Having bigger lumps and knowing him first isn't everything!"

Their immaturity showed in how they criticized each other's shortcomings and boasted about themselves.

"Yes, I became Master's disciple long before you, and I'm special enough to be called the favorite disciple among other disciples."

Bi Wol emphasized her superiority while making nasal sounds.

It was the first time hearing informal speech from her mouth, when she usually spoke formally even to children on the street.

"I must also be a disciple Master thinks specially of! Otherwise, why would he risk his life for a complete stranger!"

"Our Master originally takes pity on unfortunate people. And in your case, you said there was even an oracle."

No, the oracle was something I made up. Though it was a lie I told to accept the hero who would kill the Demon King as my disciple.

I felt pain in my brow as dizziness swept over me. Though I desperately wanted to press my fingers against it to resolve this dizziness.

"Girls, girls. Please calm down and let's talk after releasing this first?"

The beings currently holding me and engaging in verbal battle were each final bosses that decorated the climax of their respective novels.

"I refuse."

"I refuse!"

On one side, a martial artist who had reached the entrance of the pinnacle realm,

On the other side, a hero chosen by the Main God.

They showed no signs of yielding to each other in pure strength. That must be why Bi Wol had been able to knock me down and kiss me.

Caught between two disciples and feeling soft yet heavy sensations, I felt guilty as if doing something I shouldn't.

'...Calm down, Han Do-hyeon. Absolutely do not focus on the sensation in your arms.'

They were the ones doing wrong, holding my arms so tightly in their embrace that blood couldn't flow.

Looking at my cramping arms, I realized I had experienced a similar situation before in life.

It was exactly like when I got caught between female students who had put chocolate in my locker on Valentine's Day.

- Ah, hello, Do-hyeon? The weather is so nice today... Haha.

For reference, it was raining that day.

A girl scratching her cheek while speaking to me as I entered school shaking my umbrella.

- Seolhwa? Why are you in front of my locker?

- Ah, yes! Since it's Valentine's Day! I wanted to give you friendship chocolate!

That girl was Yu Seolhwa. The one who had harshly criticized my writing while looking at my manuscript paper not long ago.

- I'm sorry about last time! It was just habit! You have the talent to write better things, but it was disappointing that you chose to write such sad stories...

When I opened my locker, there was an expensive-looking chocolate that seemed like it came from a department store. An item that commanded presence even among other chocolates.

It was a new trend called Dubai chocolate, containing pistachio spread.

- Later when I told the chauffeur, he said I was in the wrong. So...

Though Seolhwa was scratching her cheek with a face red as a radish, I was someone who knew little about romance then and now.

Living in a shanty house in the slums, I thought such luxuries were only for wealthy people.

- Thanks, I'll enjoy it.

I just nodded and spoke to Seolhwa while taking out the other chocolates from my locker one by one.

- ...Do-hyeon, do you have time? Would you come to the back of the school after classes end today?

There was a girl grabbing my sleeve with her fingertips. She was a cold-looking girl with short hair who tied her gym uniform top around her waist.

Among the girls, she was called 'Prince,' showing talent surpassing even the boys in all sports during PE class.

I can't remember what her name was.

It was my first time seeing her face then, and I only remember her appearance because she sent love letters covered in hearts despite her looks.

- Hey, who are you to act close with Do-hyeon?

And similar to my current situation, Seolhwa picked a fight to check the other girl.

- Huh? I'm the class president. Of course I know our Do-hyeon's name and face?

- 'Our'? Ha, this is ridiculous. Listen, Do-hyeon received tremendous help from me yesterday. Do you even know how moved he was when I corrected his manuscript paper?

Their growling at each other while showing off their connections was ridiculous even to me. In truth, they were both practically strangers.

- Hey, Han Do-hyeon, you bastard. Because of you, I'm not getting a single chocolate or love letter!! Quickly give one to your big bro!

Rather, the buzz-cut male student spouting such nonsense beside me was someone I could say was closer to me.

- Huh? Why's the atmosphere like this? Did you do something wrong to these girls? Got caught two-timing?

- How would I know...

Come to think of it, this guy was someone I kept in touch with even after graduation - I wonder how he's doing?

Personally, I hope he's not writing web novels. Because couldn't that guy, like me, get pulled into his own work by getting involved with the wrong reader?

"Master, only I, Bi Wol, your beloved disciple, can stay by your side and assist you."

"Hah, is someone so great that they nurture darkness in their heart and trouble their master?"

"You're the same! Didn't you try to kill your mother who raised you without knowing anything!"

"Ugh...!"

Unable to refute this logical argument, Verdandi groaned and hesitated momentarily.

Come to think of it, Bi Wol's Heart Demon who tried to kill everyone else here was no small matter either.

"Verdandi, do you really like that person?"

"Yes! If it's by his side, I would walk through hell! Master is the model hero I aspire to be!"

As if supporting Verdandi, her mother added a word. She responded by nodding her head vigorously to Eila's words.

"...Please take good care of my daughter."

Eila looked at me with a pitying expression that seemed to say it couldn't be helped, delivering a final blow. Her cold gaze pierced my heart like a dagger.

"Verdandi's mother, this is a misunderstanding...!!"

I wanted to shake my head and explain that this whole situation was just a temporary happening, just childish affection that would pass as a joke of youth.

Why, among people who said "I'm going to marry daddy!" or "I'll love you forever!" when young, none of them kept their word, right?

"I will absolutely never lay hands on my disciples!!"

"My child has grown up without a father, and though she lacks in many ways, she has a good heart..."

"Thank you! Mother!"

Verdandi showed a satisfied smile at Eila's defense. In contrast, watching Bi Wol's expression grow darker, I had to rack my brains as much as possible.

"...Bi Wol. Wouldn't it be better to curry favor with your sister disciple?"

"Why should I do that?"

"So you can establish your position and authority with the third disciple who will come later."

Just as humans cannot understand ants, she was a Holy Maiden who served Outer Gods that existed outside this world and treated all living things like toys.

I spoke to Bi Wol while thinking of Azazel Blackheart. After all, the reason I came all the way to this village to find Verdandi was because of her.

"Master, then please first tell me about that sister disciple. As your most beloved disciple, I will follow your intentions."

After pondering deeply for a moment before accepting the proposal, Bi Wol nodded and spoke.

"She's a pitiful figure who serves gods from another world. One who had everything she loved stolen by her twin sister."

"I've heard of gods from other worlds! They're said to be beings that Demon Kings have received power from since ancient times!"

Verdandi, who had been eavesdropping on my conversation with Bi Wol, eagerly joined in, showing curiosity about the next disciple we needed to find.

When writing "Must Kill the Hero," I had already conceived my next work, "Possessed by an Idle Game," while watching the view count hit rock bottom.

This was why the settings of the two works were connected. Like the world I was in now, I had originally planned to create connections between works.

"Her name is Azazel Blackheart. The Holy Maiden of the Outer God. We'll probably need a guide like Wolfram to find her."

Just as I couldn't find Verdandi no matter how hard I tried alone, but was able to meet her with her guidance, it would probably be similar this time.

As if determined by fate, even meeting final bosses required order and connections.

"Huh? Me?"

Wolfram, who had been quietly watching this scene while sighing, pointed at herself as if surprised to hear her name.

"Yes, probably... we'll need to meet Azazel's sister."

As I said this, I felt a tightness in my chest. Like with the others, Azazel's setting was derived from part of my unfortunate past.

I had an older brother who died first.

Someone who monopolized all our parents' expectations and was thought capable of escaping this insufferable poverty.

I had lived my childhood buried in the shadow left by such a brother.

"Wolfram, do you know about Dream Demons?"

To make it easier for others to understand, I first asked Wolfram, who seemed likely to have prior knowledge.

"Aren't they a race that steals life force by burrowing into people's hearts and showing them their desired dreams?"

"Right, but in Azazel's case, there's another danger. She can glimpse someone's future just by making eye contact."

Rainbow-like eyes. With her heterochromatic colors, she was truly a difficult being to deal with.

After all, she had become the final boss in the novel "Possessed by an Idle Game" by reading the future immediately upon making eye contact and using that information to counterattack or attack.

"My holy sword will be essential against such an opponent! A succubus holy maiden who serves taboo Outer Gods - I want to make her repent quickly and become Master's disciple!"

Verdandi shouted in an excited voice while listening to my explanation, while in contrast, Bi Wol rested her chin on her hand.

Finally,

"...When the concubines increase, a proper first wife needs allies to maintain her dignity. I understand. What should I help with?"

Words about the future came from her mouth as if it were natural.

'I hope she doesn't see some strange future when we actually meet Azazel.'

A chilling thought suddenly occurred to me.

It couldn't be.

Our good disciples wouldn't do such things, right?