Following Seoyun’s fingertips, the tangled mana lines of the Portal found their places one by one.
‘The Imperial Army’s Barrier is only holding the Portal so it cannot unfold. It is not that the Portal itself is blocked.’
Erica asked while holding the center of the Portal that was about to close and maintaining her Mana.
“Can you do it?”
“I can do it. Riv. Hold that side’s Mana. I can hold this side.”
“Yes!”
When Riv adjusted her Mana, one side of the fluctuating Portal’s mana formation stabilized.
“Hold tight. If it shakes, we’ll have to start over from the beginning.”
“I will never let go.”
Seoyun’s fingertips trembled.
Adjusting the Mana Circuit again with a body twisted by Torture Magic was not easy.
Red blood trickled down from the tip of her nose again.
If she had been alone now, she would not have been able to finish.
But this time, there was someone beside her holding the flow together with her.
‘Just a little more…’
Wuuung-
At last, the Portal Erica had summoned regained its size and opened.
“The Portal has opened again! Amazing!”
Eileen gripped Seoyun’s hand tightly.
“Let’s go!”
“We are not going to join the Demon King’s Army.”
Seoyun also took Eileen’s hand in return.
“We are going to take time to make my choice.”
“I know.”
Seoyun crossed the Portal together with Eileen.
Perhaps because her tension had eased a little in that moment.
As soon as she set foot in the Demon Realm, strength drained from her legs.
Thud-
“The protected target has arrived!”
“Bring the stretcher first!”
Seoyun saw the Demon Race of the Demon King’s Castle running toward her and then lost consciousness.
…
-Demon King. Everyone returned safely.
“Kukuku, good.”
The Demon King, hearing Erica’s communication, laughed low.
“Very good. My work ends here.”
The Demon King drove his greatsword strongly into the ground.
Bang!
Crimson Mana split the cliffs on both sides.
“Everyone, get back! The canyon is collapsing!”
Rumble!
The collapsing rocks and the mound of earth surging above them completely blocked the canyon.
“Are you running away, Demon King!”
Hadowk’s shout came from beyond the pile of rocks.
Soon after, Hadowk’s powerful slash struck the obstacle made of the rock pile.
Kwaang!
Kwaang!
A large crack formed on the pile of rocks.
This defense did not seem likely to withstand Hadowk’s power for long.
If Hadowk attacked only once or twice more, Hadowk and the 1st Battalion would be able to break through easily.
“Today’s business trip was not to defeat you.”
A red Portal opened behind the Demon King.
It had torn through space with overwhelming power from inside the Barrier.
“It was to safely return my employee and the protected target.”
“Stop! I will not let you go!”
“Next time, prepare a reason for me to stay first. If I don’t clock out, my subordinate employees waiting for me will be troubled. Kukuku.”
Leaving Hadowk’s angry voice behind, the Portal closed.
When Hadowk and the 1st Battalion broke through the rock pile, the Demon King was not there.
…
“Kuh! Demon King! Just kill me instead! You may take my body! But my heart…!”
As soon as Seoyun opened her eyes, she reflexively raised her body and shouted.
“Hm?”
“Pfft. What on earth did you dream about?”
Eileen added while holding back laughter.
“I said something similar on my first day too. This proves I wasn’t being overly dramatic.”
“Wh-where is this?”
“Are you awake? This is the Demon King’s Castle medical room.”
The place where Seoyun opened her eyes was both familiar and unfamiliar.
It was like a hospital ward.
A white ceiling, clean air, and a bed.
And Eileen, who had been staring down at the Magic Tool in her hand for a while.
“This is the Demon King’s Castle?”
“I just contacted him, so if you check the messenger, the Demon King will come to see you.”
“De… mon King.”
Seoyun gripped the blanket covering her with both hands tightly.
Rumors and stories passed down about the being called the Demon King.
Since coming to this world, she had continuously heard about that terrible and frightening being.
‘That Demon King is coming to see me himself?’
Even while trembling with fear, Seoyun doubted whether her existence was worth that much.
The Princess sitting beside her now was also far too good for her.
Though she was now humming comfortably beside her in a Demon King’s Army uniform, until recently she had been someone Seoyun could not dare speak to without permission.
‘When I first met the Princess, I couldn’t even meet her eyes…’
When she had been at the workshop before, it began when she was called to talk because they were both Transmigrators.
The Princess told her every time they met to treat her comfortably, but the Empire had a strict hierarchy of status, so even if she said she was the reincarnation of a Transmigrator like herself, she was someone hard to even speak to.
The Princess was sitting beside her, and the Demon King was coming to visit.
Her own existence lying in bed began to feel utterly insignificant.
“I-I’m sorry. I don’t think this is a time for me to be lying down.”
“Don’t get up.”
Eileen stopped Seoyun, who was trying to raise her body.
“U-um… is it okay if I stay lying down like this?”
“Of course. You’re a patient. Anyway, eat something. You must be very hungry, right?”
Eileen pointed to the small table beside the bed.
Triangle Kimbap and juice.
“Is this too shabby for your first treatment in the Demon King’s Army? I thought you would like it.”
Eileen smiled at Seoyun.
“They said you can’t have spicy food yet. Among the late-night snacks you can eat now, this is the best.”
“Th-this is kimbap, isn’t it…?”
“Yes, that’s right. The taste is quite similar too. I was surprised.”
At the Triangle Kimbap Eileen held out, Seoyun was utterly dumbfounded.
If it’s the Demon King’s Castle, shouldn’t there be a more impressive atmosphere?
Triangle Kimbap in a hospital room?
“I know it’s chaotic, but eat something first. You must be hungry.”
“Ah…“
Eat something first.
It was a familiar sentence that somehow sounded warm.
***
In her previous life, Seoyun was a developer working in the Digital Complex.
A neatly decorated office.
An employee ID hanging around her neck.
A monitor on the desk, a high-end mechanical keyboard, and an Americano.
Seoyun was scouted as an experienced hire by a new startup.
It was a business started by people who had hit it off at her previous company.
The beginning was plausible, but creating something new always came with trial and error.
“It’s nice that nothing happened today. I can go home early! Haha. Clocking out!”
Seoyun shouted cheerfully as she stood up from her seat.
Just as she was praising herself for getting through the day safely and putting on her backpack to leave work.
Her smartphone rang.
[Login queue surge]
[Login server response delay]
[Urgent check required]
“Seoyun, what is this?”
“Uh… it looks like a problem blew up on the external cloud side.”
“Ah! Seriously! Why is that side acting up again! It’s an important time after the update!”
Seoyun, who had risen from her seat with a bright smile.
Quietly set the backpack she had been wearing back down at her seat.
The people preparing to leave work with her also scratched their heads and let out deep sighs.
“The person who just said nothing happened?”
Someone asked from the desk across from Seoyun.
“That person over there~”
“Seoyun, those words are a curse. Please make something happen! It’s no different from praying to the heavens, you know? From now on, optimistic words like that are forbidden. The server is listening. It gets jealous.”
“Ugh… I’m sorry.”
There were many days she worked late into the night at the company.
Still, there was taxi fare support and overtime pay.
Though it was tiring, she did not dislike earning money by working.
“Did you eat something?”
“Once the recovery notice is posted.”
“And when do you think that will be?”
The Team Leader placed Triangle Kimbap and coffee on the desk.
“Ugh. This damned company. This is why I said let’s hire one more infrastructure person. Seoyun, at least eat this while you work. I’m really sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, Team Leader.”
“Even if it’s not my fault, I’m the Team Leader, so I am sorry. Is there anything else I can help with?”
Convenience store food that could be bought at dawn.
A brief joke.
“Once this update is over, I’m going to use my accumulated vacation and rest properly.”
“Oh, where are you going?”
“I don’t know. I want to rest at a good hotel. Jeju Island sounds good. I have a lot of friends working there.”
That kind of trivial talk.
“A Jeju Island hotel. Nice… Can I come too?”
“Can two people take vacation at the same time?”
The Team Leader grinned and said to Seoyun, who was eating Triangle Kimbap.
“Maybe. Should I grab the CEO by the collar again? Then maybe he’ll allow it?”
The Team Leader, who was married to the CEO, did not hold back what she had to say to him even at the company.
“Do you fight like that with the CEO at home too?”
“At home it’s worse. I see him at work and then see him again at home, so it’s killing me. Hmm… Would he like it if I went on vacation?”
But she could not keep that promise.
Because she ran into the damned Otherworld Truck.
Still, the feeling that someone had recognized her fatigue and handed her something to eat first remained for a long time.
The team recorded why they had failed to prevent it and what additional manpower was needed, rather than driving someone into a corner over who was at fault.
At least they did not push all responsibility onto one person.
She could endure having a lot of work.
There, she could focus only on work, safely.
Because there was a cost, and there was a team to share responsibility with.
She missed it.
***
Munch munch-
‘The taste is similar, but it doesn’t seem to be seaweed… The Demon King’s Castle is inland, so where did they get ingredients like this?’
It was when Seoyun was recalling such memories and analyzing the filling of the Triangle Kimbap.
Eileen placed a thin booklet in front of Seoyun.
[Temporary Protected Person Guide]
“A promise heard in such an urgent situation must be hard to believe. So I brought the official guide.”
Short sentences were written on the first page of the booklet.
Seoyun reread the two clauses at the beginning of the booklet.
[The target is not obligated to respond to any work orders or contracts]
The Empire’s pledges always wrote down loyalty, duty, and punishment.
Yet this guide explained the target’s rights first.
“You’re saying I don’t have to do anything?”
“Because you’re a patient right now.”
“Does everyone follow this rule?”
“Yes, the Demon King too. If the person who made the rule breaks it first, who would follow? The Demon Race is especially sensitive about contracts.”
Eileen answered as if it were no big deal.
“Make your decision after your body heals and you’ve slept properly.”
Buzz-
Eileen’s Magic Tool vibrated.
[He says the patient’s stability comes first. The face-to-face interview with me is postponed until after recovery]
[I will send Agent Riv in my place]
“The Demon King says he isn’t coming.”
Knock knock-
“I came in his place.”
“Oh my. Riv.”
It was Riv.
This time, she was not hiding the Demon Race’s horns and wings.
“Director Erica said the Demon King’s appearance does not help stabilize the patient… The Demon King also admitted his face is not meant for a first meeting.”
“Well, he is scary.”
Seoyun put down the Triangle Kimbap she had been eating and stared at Riv.
“Riv.”
“Yes.”
“You deceived me.”
Riv did not make excuses.
“Yes. I deceived you.”
The answer was so quick and honest that Seoyun was rather left speechless.
Riv did not come close to the bed.
She stayed at the doorway without coming closer and neatly folded her hands.
“I remember the explanation I heard yesterday. There’s no need to make excuses again.”
“I did not come to make excuses.”
Riv bowed her head more deeply.
“I used your trust for the sake of the mission. I wanted to apologize.”
“Then from where was it sincere?”
Riv’s fingers gripped the hem of her uniform.
“I don’t know exactly either.”
“…”
Only after a long while did the answer continue.
“But in the moment you were being tortured, I did not think about the mission or the operation. I could only think that you should not be left there.”
“You want me to believe that?”
“No.”
Riv did not raise her head.
“I have no right to ask you to believe me. I only ask that you give me a chance to prove it again.”
Silence flowed for a moment.
Seoyun asked as if pleading for an answer.
“I want to believe. But how am I supposed to verify whether the Demon King’s Army’s words are lies or not?”
Riv carefully approached from the side and held out a sheet of paper.
“How about this?”
[Demon Realm Adaptation Support Program]
-Purgatory City Magic Spring vacation
-Optional tour: Magic Portal Control Center
“In the field they call it Brainwashing training, but since you haven’t signed a contract yet, it isn’t work.”
“Wow, Purgatory City?”
Eileen cut in from the side as if envious.
“They say it feels similar to Jeju Island. It’s a famous resort in the Demon King’s Army. The Black Beach and Magic Spring are famous, right?”
“Magic Spring?”
“I was thinking of going when I get vacation too. Ah, maybe I should have insisted I need adaptation support too.”
Eileen seriously pondered for a moment.
“If I’m envious of a Brainwashing program more than vacation, am I a workaholic?”
Eileen writhed with regret over missing the Brainwashing training.
Seoyun accepted the paper Riv held out.
“Seoyun, could you go together with me?”
At Riv’s question, Seoyun silently picked up another Triangle Kimbap.
Then she looked down at the Triangle Kimbap wrapper and fell into thought.
“Feels like Jeju Island… A sea in this world…”
The sound of tearing the wrapper rustled in the quiet hospital room.
“If you don’t want to, you can change to someone else. Like me?”
At Eileen’s suggestion, Seoyun looked at Riv.
Black wings.
Small horns.
A Demon Race member who had deceived her.
But the person who had blocked the way in front of her in a dangerous moment was also Riv.
“Purgatory City…”
Seoyun did not answer and read down the paper she had received from Riv.
It seemed it would still be difficult to walk for long alone.
However, thanks to Riv’s first aid, the pain had subsided enough to be bearable.
If it had not been for Riv’s emergency treatment, she might not have recovered like this, and might even have died.
Riv’s teacher, a highly skilled priest, must have healed her injured body and exhausted stamina.
She thought she knew who had healed her.
A Mana flow similar to Riv’s Healing Magic method remained in Seoyun’s body.
And healing magic superior to Riv’s.
“Riv.”
“Yes?”
“The teacher you mentioned, Riv. Erica, right? The person who taught you Healing Magic.”
“Yes, that’s right. She’s a truly wonderful person.”
Riv nodded and smiled.
“Please tell the Director thank you for the treatment. As for calling her a traitor, I’ll talk about it when I meet her in person next time.”
Seeing Riv’s expression, Seoyun also nodded and spoke.
At least when Riv spoke of Erica, her expression was natural.
At least the words that she respected her human teacher did not seem like acting.
She felt she could understand a little of the internal atmosphere of the Demon King’s Army Fallen Department.
And…
‘Is Riv’s current appearance acting or sincere?’
That curiosity.
It could be well-crafted propaganda.
If so, she could just see and verify it herself.
Riv’s sincerity, the Demon King’s Army’s welfare, and the choice promised to her.
To decide on a contract, she needed information.
And Seoyun was a person who believed in results she verified herself more than answers decided by others.
“All right, Riv. Let’s go together.”
At Seoyun’s acceptance, Riv’s eyes widened round.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
After finishing one Triangle Kimbap, Seoyun said.
“It doesn’t mean I believe you yet.”
“I know.”
“And it doesn’t mean I forgive everything yet either.”
“I know that too.”
Eileen, watching Seoyun from the side, admired her.
She might have been afraid, but her face showed determination not to give up just because she was afraid.
“But you know.”
Seoyun paused to choose her words, then looked down at the booklet she had received from Eileen earlier.
-The target is not an employee of the Demon King’s Army.
-The target is not obligated to respond to any work orders or contracts.
No matter how many times she read it, it was a strange sentence.
A sentence that told her she did not have to do anything.
Words that told her she could choose for herself.
In the Empire, it was not like that.
“I want to verify it.”
Seoyun spoke calmly.
“What the Demon King’s Army is really like. Whether it’s not just theater and acting.”
“Yes. I will guide you.”
Riv smiled and nodded.
“Then I’ll register the schedule. If you sign a contract, I’m scheduled to be the Team Leader. For now, I’m the recruitment requester and protection officer.”
“The Princess is my Team Leader…”
“I was the one who requested the scouting, after all. If you sign, I plan to offer the Evolution Department. In our terms, the Technology Innovation Team.”
Seoyun tilted her head.
“Why are there always two names?”
“We lost the vote to revise the official name. They said it wasn’t a name befitting the Demon King’s Army.”
“Why…”
“Didn’t you also use Pangyo-speak when you worked before, Seoyun?”
“Ah, right. I roughly understand.”
Seoyun nodded.
Eileen tapped the Magic Tool she was holding.
“Lodging, meals, and travel expenses are fully covered by the Demon King’s Army. In addition, Riv receives separate business trip pay. Seoyun, as a protected target, is not charged. And…”
Eileen showed Seoyun the Magic Tool screen.
A payment statement with Seoyun’s name written on it.
“You get an allowance for participating in the Brainwashing program. If you have an interview with the Demon King, there’s a separate interview fee.”
“I receive compensation?”
“According to the Demon King, if you make someone use their time, it can’t be free.”
Riv carefully added.
“I told Director Erica that you could just go as a vacation.”
“It was rejected.”
Eileen tapped the buttons on the Magic Tool.
“The Demon King processed it as a business trip, saying it’s Brainwashing work the moment you accompany a Fallen target. Your annual leave is preserved separately.”
“I was really just trying to go for fun…”
“If you argue for unpaid labor in front of the Demon King, you get scolded.”
Eileen laughed as if even she found it absurd after saying it.
“The headcount is at small-business level, but the welfare imitates a large corporation.”