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I almost died. Not just saying that - I really almost died.

Kang Minseong's wind definitely had assured destructive power. The problem is I also got caught up and slammed into building debris. I barely managed to crawl out before being buried alive.

I barely got up and first stopped bleeding from wound areas. Maybe because I already shed tremendous blood, my mind seems hazy. Momentarily I even thought I'd like to just sleep like this.

Ah, was 'falling asleep means dying' used for times like this? I don't want to die. There's still much I haven't done, I can't die. So I hurriedly poked at the leg wound once.

"Kkeueueut!"

Fuck! It hurts like hell! Since it hurts, I'm still alive. When stinging pain came once, my blurring vision brightened again. Before experiencing similar symptoms again, I got up and checked surroundings.

'...This is maddening. I wielded this but wasn't S-rank?'

The area was literally devastated.

Unlike before when buildings were somewhat visible. Now even those buildings are more than half gone, only frameworks remaining.

Surely the association or government won't say something about this later. If they really do, I'll just claim Elders did it. Bad guys did it, so they can't say anything to a good guy!

Paseu!—

At this time, I heard something collapsing from ahead. Running right there, I saw the messed-up Hyun Sujin emerging from debris.

"Kkeoeoe..."

With that suited middle-aged man in one hand.

"Cough, cough!"

Hyun Sujin coughs roughly several times then vomits blood. The earlier strike hit properly. My prediction was right. She acted as a shield to secure that man.

I approached Hyun Sujin quietly holding my sword. Did she sense my presence? She turns to look at me.

"...You lived."

"That was what I wanted to say, but it's strange when you say it."

"You finally used it. The 'storm.' That was something even that old man Kang Minseong had trouble handling. Since it affects not only enemies but himself and the entire area. You knew that too."

This fucking... That's what it was? No, Chairman Kang Minseong? Shouldn't such precautions be told in advance? A range attack that even devours the caster.

'This is completely a suicide technique.'

Why disciples and children failed to use it. I immediately understood why Kang Minseong himself wasn't S-rank despite this. Power you can't handle can never become perfect force.

"...What. Looking at your expression, you didn't know."

If I say I didn't know, she might mock me. Let's act like I knew. There'll be a lot to question our chairman about later.

"Cough! Cough!"

Hyun Sujin coughs and spits blood again. I'm also bad, but that side seems worse. Whether hemoptysis or hematemesis, blood backing up isn't ordinary.

"Baek Seojin."

Just as I was wondering whether to finish it. With a voice full of fatigue, Hyun Sujin parted her lips.

"You noticed, right? That I couldn't properly defend while saving this bastard."

"...Yes. I saw. The urgency I'd never seen from you."

"Really? I'm done for too. The great Hyun Sujin almost completely beaten by such a novice."

Kkeuk kkeuk, Hyun Sujin who was laughing suddenly grabs the man's collar. He seems not even conscious yet, but her eyes looking at him burn with anger.

"You're thinking of subduing me here."

"Yes."

"So I can't rampage anymore."

"That's right."

My injuries are severe but Hyun Sujin's are worse. Plus she has baggage she must secure.

She knows escaping from me won't be easy. Most shadows around her have been lost too. It means she no longer has even a trace of power to deploy that giant curtain.

Sorry to Hyun Sujin, but she must stop now. The world no longer has power or time to spare for villains. When the great catastrophe begins in earnest, gates and monsters alone will be overwhelming.

Before that, I must reduce enemies even a little more.

"You. Do you know who this bastard is?"

Suddenly Hyun Sujin shoves the unconscious man in her hands. To her question, I answered immediately without hesitation.

"I don't know."

"You don't know."

"Yes."

How would I know? This is an uncle I'm seeing for the first time. Quietly looking at Hyun Sujin, she smiled once more.

"One of the fragments I was looking for. One of that damned experiment's very few. The extremely small number of remaining higher-ups. Trash who buried all their evil deeds and live well laughing."

"Is that so?"

"You can't just say that and stop. He's someone who conducted that cursed experiment. Trash who gave all orders from behind and pushed all responsibility onto subordinates to erase them."

According to Hyun Sujin, both her fiancé and I were test subjects of that experiment.

An experiment conducted solely for profit while thoroughly ignoring bioethics. Most died in the process and the experiment ended as a failure. And even those who barely survived all died miserably without living long.

Only one exception. Except for me.

"So what do you want me to do?"

"...Aren't you angry? These are demons who threw you into this world with nothing. They presented hell with no dreams or hopes, telling you to just be used and die!"

Even at that angry outcry, I couldn't give any particular answer. Am I angry? Of course I am. They definitely committed outrageous acts. But that's as far as it goes. No reason exists to go mad with revenge.

This might be somewhat sorry words to Hyun Sujin. When I don't remember anything, I can't suddenly hate them. They deserve punishment but I don't want to destroy myself like that.

"Ah. Looking at those eyes, I get it. You have no particular thoughts, right? Since in your memories they never particularly harmed you. You survived and even gained power? Is that it? Seriously?"

I couldn't answer. Because that might be so. What more could I say with dim revenge feelings?

"You're fine because you're living well?! Others who were with you died miserably! I lived, I'm actually living well, so I'll just forget?"

Hyun Sujin screams while even vomiting blood. That appearance looked very pitiful and pathetic. A person who couldn't endure without revenge. A person who became a monster unable to forget.

"...Ms. Hyun Sujin."

But I decided to tell her the facts as they are.

"Your revenge is the life you chose. By doing so, you caused many innocent people to die and get hurt. And what you're talking about now is 'my life.' Whether I take revenge or not is my decision and my life. You have absolutely no qualification to rant about that."

Right. That woman has no such qualification. Even if she can be angry and shout about my decision and choice. She can't pressure me and evaluate me.

"This is the minimum courtesy to my life I've lived."

At my answer, Hyun Sujin bites her lips. Then she shows the man in her hands and says:

"There's new news. That research might be conducted again."

"...What did you say?"

"Until now there was no reason to proceed further. But the world has changed. Gates burst out ignoring suppressors and monsters suddenly became strong, threatening ability users. In that situation, these bastards started showing interest again in that cursed research."

It was shocking content. They're trying to do that insane thing again. It meant more victims like me and Hyun Sujin's fiancé could emerge.

"...Really?"

"If you don't want to believe it, don't. But know this. Regarding that cursed matter, I've never, to anyone, I swear to heaven, told a lie."

It didn't seem like she was lying. I had that premonition.

"Step aside."

I wondered if I heard wrong. Not just 'move aside' but asking to step aside. An Elder, the supreme skilled person who was once S-rank, is making a request. When I involuntarily asked "What?" Hyun Sujin continued.

"Step aside, I said. Starting with this bastard, I need to do my best to take revenge. I'll make sure that research can never be conducted again. I'll judge all bastards related to it."

"..."

At her words, I couldn't move. While not sending her away. I also couldn't take action to forcibly capture her.

"Don't even think of saying such bullshit. That revenge isn't right. That legal punishment is proper. Don't spout such garbage. It's disgusting."

Hearing that far, I silently put strength into the hand holding my sword. Cleverly noticing that, Hyun Sujin looks at me sneeringly.

"Really going to? Stop revenge, legal judgment is proper..."

"No."

I worked in public service, albeit briefly. And I know well how corrupt that system has become. Even the law that should be most sacred was quite broken.

So I don't have such pure faith. Legal judgment my ass. They'll just get suspended sentences.

"That revenge you talk so much about. You're telling me to do it. So I'm going to do it."

"What are you saying..."

"People who died and got hurt because of you. Academy students. Innocent people. Let's call it revenge for them. Well, the revenge blade won't be as sharp as yours."

Saying so, I no longer hesitated and slashed down with my sword.

"..."

The collision of forces from across completely subsided. Irina's side seems finished too. Ah, why didn't I go help? Going in this state would just be baggage. Cheering from here is better.

"Eutcha."

I got up. And roughly stored the sword back in my clothes. Then I slightly turned my head to look where Hyun Sujin had been.

If asked to report on today's events, I'd probably say this:

- Engaged Elder Hyun Sujin. Both seriously injured in combat. Pursued but Elder escaped. One VIP kidnapped. -