Chapter 30: The Demon Is Smiling. Just Smiling.

“Hm. You came here for me, didn’t you?”

He was clearly acting hostile, so I didn’t bother with honorifics.

It’s not like someone like him deserved any kind of courtesy.

“That’s right.”

“Why? You’ve been laying low after killing all those people—what made you show your face now?”

“…I guess the National Intelligence Service ratted me out.”

“I work pretty closely with those people, actually. They called me in a panic, so I figured something was up…and look at that—a nutjob came all the way here.”

“A nutjob? That’s not me—that’s you.”

“Pretty bold of you to say, considering you’re the one running around killing people.”

“So you get mutant powers and decide to play hero? How cute.”

“Whether I play hero or not doesn’t concern you. Actually, it’s because of freaks like you that I ended up doing anything remotely heroic. All I wanted was to live peacefully, you know? But when I woke up, people’s perception of mutants was already completely shattered.”

This was the perfect time to ask.

Unlike the Minotaur-type mutant who had lost all reason, this guy clearly still had his mind.

So then, why was he going around killing people?

Was it a lack of control? Some kind of compulsion?

I pressed on.

“Alright, let me just ask. Why the hell are you going around killing people? What do you even gain from it? Are you losing control or something?”

“I kill them because I’m bored.”

“…What?”

What did I just hear?

“I said, I kill because I’m bored. What, is that not allowed? From the moment we mutated, we stopped being human. So why should we keep living by human rules? It’s not like the great and mighty law enforcement can even catch me—so why should I let myself be tied down?”

“…Did you start thinking like this after becoming a demon, or were you always like this?”

“I was always like this. If I could’ve, I would’ve killed all those miserable bastards around me. That dog of a boss, those disgusting coworkers, my trash parents… So I did. I killed them all.”

“You’re insane.”

“That’s why people like you piss me off. You get all that power and waste it trying to please humans.”

He’s insane.

No doubt about it.

No matter how messed up your life is, thinking about killing someone isn’t something people just casually do.

Sure, maybe his life was garbage.

But there are people out there who survive and push through lives just as bad.

I don’t think I’m some great, righteous person either.

I just have the mindset of your average, ordinary citizen.

If I can help, I help.

If I can’t, I stand back and watch.

But someone like him…

Just looking at him twisted my gut.

The guy was rotten at his core.

No—more accurately, he was like an edgy teen gone dark mode.

A “special being”?

Don’t make me laugh.

No matter how “special” you are, that value is only recognized through human society.

Because right now, it’s humans who run the world.

And someone truly special is a person society as a whole considers special.

Not someone who’s been rejected and cast out.

Still, I didn’t bother voicing any of this out loud.

There was no point trying to reason with someone who wouldn’t listen even if you shouted in their ear.

And honestly, I didn’t want to form any kind of connection or mutual understanding with someone like him.

Why the hell would I want to relate to a psycho like that?

Let’s say his personality changed drastically after mutating.

Even so, he should’ve made some effort to resist it.

If a person just follows every impulse and instinct without question, they’re not a person—they’re an animal.

And if they don’t even try to restrain themselves, they’re worse than that.

So yeah, he’s a beast.

A self-obsessed, delusional brat who thinks he’s the most special creature on Earth,
and sees humans as inferior.

Most of all…

He’s pathetic.

Seriously, this is the first time I’ve met a mutant who’d actually say something that cringey out loud, and I’ve been a mutant for months now.

“Wow… you are so unbelievably childish.”

I muttered it without even meaning to.

Oops.

I probably should’ve held that in.

But come on—how could I?

It’s not like I’m some expert in social graces either.

Sometimes I just blurt stuff out, no filter.

“What was that?”

Yeah, he looked really pissed now.

But like—he is childish.

Why get mad when it’s true?

“I mean, it is true. You go on and on like you’re some kind of next-gen human or something, but what, you really thought people would treat you like a god? What do people actually call you? Just a criminal, right?”

“So you became a mutant, and that’s all you managed to do—be a criminal. And now you’re bragging about it like it’s a good thing… Doesn’t that just scream middle school edgelord? Like, ‘I’ll take revenge on everyone who wronged me and rule over them all!’ Pfft… come on.”

“Tsk…!”

“You even go to convenience stores? How do you pay for food? Oh right, demon-type mutant, so I guess you manage somehow. But isn’t it exhausting? Leeching off people, threatening them every time you need something—it’s gotta be tiring. And sure, you say the government can’t catch you. So what? They’re still trying, aren’t they?
In the end, you’re just a fugitive. Tell me honestly—do you actually enjoy living like that?”

He wouldn’t be able to argue with that.

Choosing to live like that?

It’s insane.

Why put yourself through that mess on purpose?

“Every time guys like you go wild, it’s mutants like me—just trying to live a normal life—who end up suffering. It’s always the loud few who shape public perception. When freaks like you cause trouble, it makes life hell for the rest of us.”

“I just wanted to create a world where mutants could live freely! Why should we have to tiptoe around others?! We gained the power to live as we want, so why is it so sad that we can’t live that way?!”

“What the heck—do you think you’re the leader of some secret organization? That’s what I mean when I say you’re childish. So tell me—how many people have joined your little rebel squad?”

“Oh wait, it’s just you, huh? Yeah, can’t blame people. No one wants to be exiled from this modern world of comfort and tech.”

“Shut up…!”

“And by the way, if people like you hadn’t gone around wrecking everything, we wouldn’t even have to walk on eggshells in the first place. You’re literally the reason people are scared of us, so it’s kinda rich hearing you complain about having to hide.”

He had nothing to say.

His face flushed bright red with rage as he growled at me like he wanted to rip me apart.

“If you’d just obeyed me, I was gonna keep you around as a pet. But now—”

“A pet? Wow, someone’s confident today. You turned into a demon-type and now you think you’re some mythical being? Hate to break it to you, but you’re not the only one full of baseless confidence. I’ve got plenty of that myself.”

“Shut your mouth!!”

And with that, he charged straight at me.

He kicked off the ground hard.

KWA-A-AANG!

The well-maintained plaza shattered like paper under his feet.

Oh hell no.

Is this psycho seriously destroying my school campus?!

That’s my tuition money you’re wrecking, you bastard!!

Alright then.

If getting your face smashed in is what you want.

I’ll gladly grant that wish.

His fist shot toward me in an instant.

Faster than I expected.

But still.

Too slow.

I could see every movement clearly.

I caught the incoming punch by the wrist.

Crunch!

I didn’t even use my full strength—just grabbed his arm—but I heard something snap.
The guy panicked and erupted into flames, his whole body bursting into fire.

Fwoooosh!

Yikes.

Demon-type, huh?

Guess that includes fire control?

Cool trick.

I can do that too.

He backed away quickly, clearly in pain from me grabbing his arm.

Oh? Not bad.

My casual punches can crush reinforced alloys, and even when I went all-in, his arm only ended up fractured?

“Hey, demon. How long’s it been since your mutation? You’re pretty sturdy.”

“What the hell are you babbling about…!”

“I asked how many months since your transformation. Judging by that… two months, right?”

Judging by the look on his face, I hit the mark.

I clicked my tongue.

Two months, huh?

That means in just one month’s difference, this guy managed to rack up quite the body count.

More than that.

He looks pathetic compared to someone like Si-ah.

At least she’s trying to live a decent, cheerful life.

He could’ve made an effort, too.

“With that level of strength, you were gonna keep me as a pet?”

“Hah… I haven’t even gotten serious yet!”

“Ohhh~ sure you haven’t…”

I didn’t feel like arguing anymore.

I just wanted to end this quickly and hand him over to Agent Choi.

Just then, his aura changed.

His body suddenly started to swell, his skin turning a deep crimson.

Hair spread across his lower half, and his head began to morph into something resembling a goat.

He looked exactly like Baphomet, straight out of some twisted Christian legend.

And it wasn’t just his form that changed.

Flames began swirling around him, ominous, black fire.

Ah.

So this was what he was saving up for, huh?

A hidden trump card?

But…I didn’t feel scared.

Actually, He just looked pathetic.

“Oh look, Phase Two.”

“I’LL BURN THAT ARROGANT MOUTH OF YOURS TO ASHES!”

With a roar, he conjured an enormous fireball in his hand and hurled it at me.

The black flame tore through the air, headed straight for me, and yet, for some reason, I knew I could easily get rid of it.

I raised my palm, calm and steady.

And just like that, the fireball that looked powerful enough to incinerate everything in a straight line, was completely absorbed into my hand.

Huh.

I thought that might work.

Too easy.

“T-That’s impossible…!”

“That’s it?”

“I’m not done yet!”

As he shouted, he began forming an even bigger fireball, so massive that if he threw it, the entire area would be obliterated.

I could see the crowd, those who’d been watching in stunned silence, now running for their lives.

Great.

This lunatic doesn’t do moderation.

Alright.

If he wants to go all out, then I’ve got no choice but to get serious, too.

Actually, this is perfect.

Maybe it’s time I showed these halfway monsters that messing with me comes with consequences.

That they’ll never dare step to me again.

Up until now, I hadn’t fully transformed, because just turning into my true form was enough to level a house.

Even just spreading my wings inside broke half the furniture.

If I brought out my entire form…?

Yeah, no way.

I knew how massive I was as a dragon.

The moment I awakened, it was like my body instinctively understood what size I would be.

And that’s why I’d never dared to transform completely—not even once.

If I did it on a city street, I’d destroy entire buildings.

But now?

This was a vast university campus.

And thanks to that demon’s little tantrum, everything around was already reduced to rubble.

In other words, there weren’t any more buildings left to destroy if I transformed into my true form.

Which meant one thing.

It was finally okay for me to return to my full self.

Even if I ended up naked afterward, I could just wrap myself in my wings and tail and ask for help nearby.

…Ah, wait.

What about my smartphone?

…Eh, whatever.

I’ll just get a new one.

My contract’s up anyway, and it’s not like I’m short on cash.

I didn’t feel like worrying about those small things right now.

Right now, putting that cockroach who thinks he’s invincible back in his place was more important.

I unleashed the power surging inside me.

WUUUUNG!

In an instant, everything around me shook.

The ground trembled like an earthquake, and the air vibrated—shockwaves rippled outward in every direction.

I could feel it clearly, this immense power flowing through my veins, unrestricted.

At the same time, the way I perceived the world began to shift.

My clairvoyance went into full release mode.

Everyone around me looked like tiny ants.

And that included the demon….