Chapter 103
Chapter 103: Alpha Male (1)
Park Chang-ho's head felt numb. It was because he had glimpsed fragments of Erik's insane way of thinking.
'Not caring whether the person I like got married to someone else, or even whether they had a child... Just charging forward if I like them.'
It wasn't just being an alpha male. He was a crazy alpha male.
"Dwelling on the past is what cowardly beta males do. Isn't that what the brother said?"
Jang Du-sik's words proved this point.
"Not dwelling on the past! That's so cool!"
Kang Pung-ho's reaction was the same. However, Park Chang-ho found it difficult to simply accept.
'In fact, it might be incredibly human if you really think about it...'
As far as Park Chang-ho knew, people who genuinely didn't care about such things didn't exist in reality.
'I obsessed so much over what my ex-girlfriend did with her previous boyfriend...'
Wasn't there even a saying about "ex-boyfriend's work, ex-girlfriend's work"? No human could ignore this. Even those who claimed not to care were surely different on the inside. Of course, as far as Park Chang-ho knew, only one person was different.
'That Erik... he would genuinely act that way.'
This was how Park Chang-ho had observed Erik so far.
'All his actions are unrestrained and intuitive.'
It was the same when he had things to worry about. The moment he finished thinking, he would execute without a shred of doubt—that crazy alpha male Paladin. The situation happening now was no exception. This thought wasn't limited to Park Chang-ho alone. Nishida Ryo felt similar impressions.
'The Deity probably wouldn't have cared even if the priestess had a previous husband...'
However, Nishida Ryo did care greatly.
'Aren't they the male and female leads of the world?'
The white-haired girl appeared, and for a moment Nishida questioned the existence of the protagonist.
'She was truly a monstrous woman.'
But as soon as he recognized her as the Riferoze he had only heard about, he realized once again that Erik was the protagonist.
'He might have taken her even if she had a husband?'
That was how bold Erik seemed to Nishida.
'Ignoring age differences and just charging forward without hesitation.'
Ruelle was in her late thirties, and Erik was only fifteen, wasn't he? An enormous age gap.
'But if someone actually pulled it off...'
The three Possessors didn't know that Erik was a Possessor. In fact, there were quite a few events suspicious enough to notice. They had even heard many deliberately Possessor-like statements...
'Or does it work because he's a deity?'
Erik had achieved Divinity, so suspicion never arose. To the Possessors, Erik was a monster, something that transcended humanity. While lost in such contemplation, the conversation between Kang Pung-ho and Jang Du-sik resumed.
"Du-sik, didn't you ask the Crown Princess something like that?"
"Whether my wife dated someone before and what she did?"
"Yes!"
Crack!
Jang Du-sik swung a club downward.
"Ow!"
Even as she cried out, Kang Pung-ho had a smile on her lips.
"This is getting crazier and crazier..."
Jang Du-sik shook his head as if fed up with Kang Pung-ho.
"Getting hit and still smiling, you crazy woman."
"Hehe."
Kang Pung-ho was happy. The systematic name change to [Kang Ji-na] hadn't happened yet... But didn't two people already acknowledge her as she was?
'People who don't care that I was a man!'
Alpha males and females who didn't dwell on the past. Rather than the Possessors who shared the same world, it was the locals who saw her for who she truly was.
'I'm having a love life too.'
Kang Pung-ho resolved firmly. She raised her slender arms and clenched both fists. That's when she suddenly felt a gaze. Turning her head, she saw the handsome fencing athlete staring at her intently.
'Park... Chang-ho.'
She had liked him once. In fact, Kang Pung-ho still liked Park Chang-ho now.
'You bastard.'
But Park Chang-ho always called her Kang Pung-ho and referred to her as a man in his forties. Kang Pung-ho's heart ached. So she abruptly turned her head away. At that cold gesture, Park Chang-ho bit his lower lip.
'I've done something terrible.'
His regret was profound. He should have realized it at least when they experienced the great upheaval in the Labyrinth... Realizing only belatedly that he had feelings for Kang Pung-ho.
However, it was already too late to fix this.
'Who could it be?'
Time that had already passed could not be rewound. Moreover, when one missed an opportunity in such a situation, it simply passed by.
"Well then, Jang Du-sik!"
With Kang Seo-hyun, who managed Earthtown, Imperial bureaucrats came to visit. Behind those bureaucrats, there was a magnificent woman holding a fan.
'The Crown Princess...'
Park Chang-ho realized the peaceful conversation time had ended. As if to prove this point, the situation changed rapidly.
"Du-sik."
Click, click. With the sound of pointed heels, the Crown Princess approached Jang Du-sik. Then,
Smack!
"Why didn't you say a word when going to such a battlefield!!!"
The Crown Princess slapped Jang Du-sik's cheek.
"Oh..."
Jang Du-sik blinked at the impact. Reflexively, he touched the club momentarily, then lowered his head.
"My wife... I was wrong."
Jang Du-sik recalled Erik's advice.
"Du-sik, if your woman gets angry, first say you're sorry."
It was also mentioned that a question would definitely come back with 100% probability.
"Jang Du-sik, what did you do wrong?"
Jang Du-sik felt chills.
'That really is exactly what brother said.'
Jang Du-sik recited the answer to the Crown Princess just as Erik had taught him.
"I made the Crown Princess feel neglected."
"Specifically, what?"
The hair on Jang Du-sik's head stood on end.
'Does the brother really read the future?'
It was spine-tingling.
"Du-sik, after you apologize, she'll usually ask what you did wrong. At that point, you probably won't think of a specific answer."
Wasn't it as if he was reading his own mind? Jang Du-sik's mind went blank now. Not knowing what he did wrong, and not even thinking of what to say.
"When that happens, calmly tell her about the things that happened recently. Add a comment like 'That's why I'm sorry' while you're talking.'"
Not knowing what he was wrong about, Jang Du-sik calmly recited the things that had happened to him.
"Well, I suddenly followed the brother to the Demon Realm. I'm sorry. There were huge incidents like the Holy Palace Bombardment..."
The Crown Princess' eyes widened. After returning to the capital, Jang Du-sik hadn't even come to see her. That bothered her, so she had the Information Bureau find his location and came here. Still, she wanted to hear his excuse, so she listened carefully.
"...Then suddenly a guy who achieved 9 circles fought a duel with the Pope... Well, I'm really sorry about that."
She had come angry, but,
'The scale of the battlefield was bigger than I heard.'
As Jang Du-sik talked, she began to understand the situation he had faced.
"And then sister Rif even came back... I was really wrong."
"Du-sik."
The Crown Princess looked at Jang Du-sik intently.
'So you do know what you did wrong.'
The Crown Princess's face became a little more relieved. However, one more question remained for her.
"But Du-sik, why didn't you come find me right after returning to the Imperial Capital?"
"That's because Erik took me to Sister Ruelle's church. There, Sister Rif dragged me..."
The Crown Princess listened calmly to Jang Du-sik's words.
"...And that's how I ended up here. Wife, I was really wrong."
"Fine. But from now on, don't do that again."
The Crown Princess walked toward Jang Du-sik with a soft smile. They didn't embrace, but her eyes were affectionate. To think he remained so composed even after experiencing such a great battle...
'I'm glad he's doing well.'
Seeing him after a while, even his manner of speech felt warm and his large round eyes felt endearing.
'Most of all...'
The Crown Princess carefully took Jang Du-sik's hand. And asked,
"This time, how did the magic circle you carved perform?"
Now that she had confirmed Du-sik's safety, it was time to check his magical capability. The magic circle carved on Jang Du-sik's body in the shape of a twin-bladed tattoo. It was the secret technique that transformed Jang Du-sik into a true War-Mage.
"Well, the brother called it a Dragon Rune, and after carving it, combat became much easier!"
Jang Du-sik smiled brightly.
***
Erik visited the Possessor Management Bureau with Ruelle.
Dr-r-r-uck! Boom!
The heavy iron gate opened and a dome-shaped detention camp was revealed.
"E-Erik. Are all of these Possessors?"
Ruelle was shocked and scanned the inside of the detention camp thoroughly. The walls of the dome were filled with iron bars, and inside were narrow spaces of about two pyeong.
"Basic human rights even..."
"Don't you understand?"
Ruelle stopped speaking. Possessors are treated as pseudo-Black Mages or monsters. A well-known fact. Though their treatment had improved considerably, most Possessors were still confined in detention camps.
"...Still, it's pitiful."
"Treatment will gradually improve."
Then the Royal Guard managing the detention camp approached Erik.
"Sire!"
Erik smiled gently and asked him,
"How are the injuries from before?"
"...Y-Yes, I'm fine!"
With a subtly lingering aftertaste, the Royal Guard became tense. So he called the Possessors with an even more stern, solemn, and serious expression.
"Assemble!"
As the iron gates opened, Possessors marched in perfect unison to the center of the detention camp. The Possessors lined up in rows and columns all had their heads lowered, looking down at the ground. After confirming the assembled Possessors, Erik asked the Royal Guard a question.
"What about the empty spaces?"
"Personnel assigned to construction!"
"When will they return?"
"T-That is..."
After hearing the Royal Guard's explanation, Erik became very pleased.
'Possessors who welcome 24-hour shifts.'
Even just the Black Mage Group had unions and plenty of workers doing sloppy jobs, but the Empire's Possessors were very diligent.
'Violence and fear really are the best tools.'
It was the moment when the theory Erik had established while learning from his mentor Riferoze was actually proven. As Erik nodded in satisfaction,
"But what brought you to assemble everyone like this?"
The Royal Guard asked a question.
"Assembling at the center of the detention camp can also give the Possessors a sense of liberation."
It was somewhat presumptuous interference, but Erik just nodded.
'So that's the Imperial Palace's policy.'
For some reason, the Imperial Family had set strict guidelines specifically for Possessor management. The policy was to thoroughly confine them in prison and instill a sense of helplessness without specific purpose. Erik recalled a conversation with the Emperor.
"Possessors are like very upright trees. They break if bent."
At that time, Erik had wondered, 'Aren't Possessors the type to have conviction?' but outwardly, he couldn't say so. Back then, he was a weakling with 3rd Tier Divine Power, and didn't have the current prestige.
'Things would be different now, though...'
Anyway, according to the Emperor, there was a separate secret to making straight trees bend.
"However, trees drenched in despair and helplessness bend easily."
The Empire had experience absorbing numerous kingdoms and ethnic minorities. Perhaps because of that, it was incredibly professional in these matters.
Indeed, the Possessors in the detention camp were being controlled very well. Erik calmly stepped onto the podium and recited a name.
"Marquis Aaron, step forward."
There was one person Erik was prioritizing to find. That was Marquis Aaron.
"......"
The Third-in-Command of the Magic Alliance, Marquis Aaron, now imprisoned behind iron bars.
'The one who created Dongtan Misirok.'
From Erik's perspective, he was the Possessor with the worst crimes.
'But since he lived as a nobleman, he's quite useful.'
However, there were several reasons for keeping him alive. He was a Possessor at level 87 who had completed a 2nd Class Change without negative accomplishments like [Disqualified as Human]. Of course, the Duke helped him, making it possible...
'Moreover, he actually trained his real body.'
His achievements relative to his possession period were quite high. Though not among the very first Possessors, he claimed to have learned to handle magical power on his own...
[Cha Ye-rin / Lv.87]
[Class: Mage - Elementalist]
[Unique Trait: Ideal Manifestation]
Erik narrowed his eyes. [Ideal Manifestation], a trait that greatly helped the Duke when creating the Magical Tool Factory.
"Cha Ye-rin, you were female before possessing, right?"
"...Y-Yes, that's correct."
Erik determined his usefulness. A dedicated Magical Tool for Ruelle and a pseudo-smartphone. Also, as a stepping stone for specifically implementing Earth's civilizations.
[Possessor Appearance Change Ticket]
Erik took out a long ticket and approached Marquis Aaron.
"I'm giving you one chance."
At that heavy baritone, Marquis Aaron's body trembled. Of course, Erik's purpose didn't end there.
'Things the Duke hid.'
Duke Lafin admitted all charges and departed for the battlefield. There were many things to ask him, but he remained silent about everything. Instead, he only recited the Emperor's command guaranteeing his son's life.
"The Duke was beside you, so you'd know. His son, Jabor Raffin. What exactly is that guy?"
Marquis Aaron, whose hands trembled, finally accepted the ticket Erik handed him. And he tore it without hesitation.
Whooo-ung!
A blue light like a hologram enveloped Marquis Aaron's body. The middle-aged white man's body became slender, gradually taking on smooth curves. His skin color changed to the yellow hue characteristic of East Asians. Cha Ye-rin appeared, her long black hair flowing.
"So, the answer?"
Erik stepped toward her. Cha Ye-rin stepped back, her back hitting the wall.
"...His body is a living corpse."
Erik's eyes curved into a slit.
'Found it.'
As expected...
[Warrior] - Slayer Luke
[Archer] - Holy Archer Yuren
[Knight] - Lackey Janson
[Mage] - Someone the mentor knows.
[Black Mage] - Dead Lucifer.
[Necromancer] - ???
[Paladin] - Erik himself.
The first Possessors existing for each class.
'The Duke would know his face.'
Just as he was pleased though...
"Erik? How long are you planning to stay pressed against her like that?"
Ruelle glared at him with a pouty face. Only then did Erik realize his situation. Cha Ye-rin pinned against the wall and Erik pressing against her.
"Th-Ruelle. This is a misunderstanding."
Erik hastily created distance.