Demon King
Chapter 91 Lee Man Corps [4]

“Hmm.”

“Whoo..”.

“Captain, why should you sigh long?”

“Only..”.

Finally, we found a Chinese restaurant on the university road in Jongno-gu. The same one where I died. Since I could not find any food in Seongbuk-gu, I was determined to come here and completely dispel any regrets I had.

“This is a place where I was once highly respected.” I heard Lee Chan-yu muttering these words, a little surprised. I looked up to see him as I entered the shop.

“Can you appear here?”

“It's okay. I evolved a few times in the dungeon, so my face changed a little. ” That's how it happened to me too. When I evolved into a Crimson Elf, Lee Chan-yu once said that he envied my appearance. But in my opinion, I think he's the one who looks pretty cool. I sat at the table that had just been removed as I thought of these empty thoughts.

“Last time I'm here, I'm still human.”

“See.” Following Lee Chan-yu's movements, I stared outside the shop. I was so focused on the restaurant that I didn't even notice the other shops around it. There are many types of businesses around us: Italian and Indian restaurants, clothing stores, and even a movie theater right across the street. Thinking back on my human memory, I don't remember this place being so active. In fact, I assumed that most of the places here would be destroyed in the attack. But instead, it seemed to be evolving.

Thinking about it, it started to make sense. The facilities and people here were all gathered in one place, meaning the manpower needed to maintain them would be reduced. They did not need to spread thinly to defend a large area; they only needed to protect this fortified place. It was an effective way to deal with the enemy and reduce the number of allies being sacrificed. Theoretically. The danger will never be zero. Now, humans have to risk their lives every day, and if they are afraid of death, then their only option is to hide inside their homes and wait for death. Knowing that everyone here had to live with death around every corner, the sight of them laughing and talking seemed different to me. Maybe more determined.

“The whole world has changed in a short time.”

“Difficult to adapt to it. For me too. ” He muttered with a bitter smile after we ordered some jajangmyeon and sweet sour pork.

“Profit of communication and transportation still working.”

“No kidding.” Many of the humans we saw in Seongbuk-gu were not natives of the city. There would not be enough to deal with that group of monsters if that was the case. Other nearby administrative districts, including Jongno-gu, supported them. Not that such battles are common. Everywhere is dangerous, but it would be too much to handle even given how effective humans are at moving along to solve problems. In any case, they need to do that to keep their population safe. They sent people with the ability to fight against obstacles, so that others might be safe.

Your food. The officer brought us some dishes. The dish is a proud reminder that the restaurant has survived despite the world around it. I cannot help but remember the events when I faced my death here.

“If you need anything else, let me know.” I felt like I could hear the voice of an old friend. I raised my head, the young male employee stepped back as she felt my gaze at him.

“Are you a student?”

“What exactly is a student in a place like this? I just work here. ”

“I'm sorry for asking something strange.”

“No, it's okay.” He waved and left, my eyes staring blankly at his back. I sighed and put a hand on my forehead, closing my eyes.

Captain, what's wrong?

“It was someone who was with me when I died.” I laughed, the situation made no sense. He worked at a restaurant where his friend died. Lee Chan-yu gave me a bitter smile.

“Life is often full of irony.”

“It sounds nothing like a joke when you talk about it.” He retorted as he raised his chopsticks. I decided to get rid of everything, the jajangmyeon in front of me was much more important than that reflection. I have to eat before it gets cold. I immediately dug.

‘Ah.’ Unexpressible emotions filled me, countless memories filled my mind rather than the taste of food. Jajangmyeon in front of me is no longer a simple meal. Instead, it became a symbol of my life, my death, my patience, and my suffering. Everything that's happened since I turned down Rain's offer. I can't be human, but here I am. I became the one who could deceive all these humans. I haven't achieved everything, but I'm here, eating jajangmyeon. That's delicious. It was so good that I wanted to cry.

“If there is an eating contest, you will definitely occupy the first position, Captain.” I ignored his words, focusing on the food in front of me. There is no time to joke.

“Ah, wait. Don't eat in a hurry; we have plenty of time!” Lee Chan-yu's chopsticks also moved faster. None of us said a word until our bowls were clean.

“What do you think?”

“Nothing special.”

“No?”

The elves. Knight Elakatra. Even in this world, we need to be vigilant. I had Lee Chan-yu use a flying creature to stalk us as we moved.

“We should do it in Seongbuk-gu too.” Elakatra pretended to cooperate with humans and could not just betray them. It would jeopardize their already tense alliance. So they wouldn't do anything conspicuous in a place like this, at least. As I was wondering what their plan was here with these monsters, a hypothesis came to my mind.

‘In the Rookie Battlefield ..’ I destroyed a horde of monsters on the battlefield enough to create a void. Even one of the knights died. I wonder if they're in a mess right now, trying to restore control. Maybe that's why they didn't show up to help humans earlier. That thought made me happy because my enemy could be so hurt right now.

“Lee Chan-yu, can you find a place to stay for a while?”

“I'll find a room in this neighborhood.”

“Alright, let me know via message if you do.” I waved to him and continued on. Using the power of the Reaper, I slowly erased my presence and floated in the air. No one around me noticed it when I disappeared, unable to register the power born from this higher system. I floated alone in the air, wanting to reach a place far from the noise of the city. But it was just my desire to escape. I ran away once. Not this time.

“I have to move forward.” I took a step through the endless sky, making full use of Ubiquitous to move. It made me jump several kilometers forward at once. When returning to Seongbuk-gu will not be instantaneous like this, it is faster than driving a car. The distance I could jump continued to grow longer as my control increased, and I became accustomed to using it in the sky. The mana consumption was huge, but my recovery was able to compensate. As I got used to it, the amount consumed was also reduced.

[Everywhere becomes Lv2. The strength of the skill has been strengthened.]

The notice appeared when I reached the midpoint, a welcome sight. Soon, I arrived in Seongbuk-gu. My residence. It's completely gone.

“...” I landed there, looking around. Originally, it was a place where apartments and houses were built, but now, it was just a vacant lot. There are even some popular restaurants nearby, and supermarkets that you should use as they are very close, despite their high prices. Now, a clean stone wall was placed in that space, some tombstones standing inside the — grave wall.

I jumped over it, past the young guard who couldn't feel me. I paid no heed to it as I passed the tombstones, one after another. It didn't take long for me to find it, although I wish I hadn't found it. My parents, two great people who raised me. One tombstone, their names written on it with black letters.

“... Ugh...” Although I knew that I was not originally a human being, it was impossible for me to forget the person who raised me, who loved me. No, more because I'm not human so I know how noble they are. I thought I couldn't cry anymore, but the tears that ran down my cheek and onto the ground proved that it was wrong. I sobbed for a few minutes, unable to even apologize. Even after my tears stopped, my emotions did not subside at all. Few reasons have returned to my mind.

‘Why is this tombstone so big?’ My parents weren't great heroes or celebrities. They are just ordinary citizens.

“Who are you?’ The voice of a young woman came from behind me. This is someone who can tell me the answer.

“I came here to visit after the battle, but strangers cried in front of the graves of other people's parents.” I did not turn to look at it, I did not want to see it with my own eyes. I was afraid of being caught by the past; my eyes were fixed on the tombstone as I replied.

“My father's name is the same. I must be wrong. ”

“Ah.” I felt it behind me and could only admire its power.

“Sorry, I'm just a little tired after the battle. I thought I'd come to see my parents. ”

“No, you don't have to apologize. I'm the one who's wrong. ”

“I still want to apologize..”.

“Excuse.”

“Ah.” I got away from the tombstone, walked to the other side, so I didn't have to meet him face to face. This girl, who had an ordinary bandit as a partner, had managed to reach levels above 150 in such a short period of time. I don't know how, but I know it must have been very painful and very difficult for him. All I wanted to do was hug her and comfort her.

But I didn't do it.

Ignoring her gaze on my back, I left my sister in the grave and went outside.