Chapter 115
In fact, I didn’t even think he would be hurt this much.
Lee Jae-Joon, head of the Thorns Cross Society.
And Svengali, the Seven Evil who gave him power.
If there was one thing they had in common, it was that they toyed with others and played with the human mind.
If Margo simply enraged the opponent and made them move as he wanted, Svengali could directly contact and influence their mind and make them do what he wanted.
In any case, it didn’t change the fact that it didn’t feel good.
Of course, it is not a universal ability, and it has the disadvantage of requiring a long time and effort to come into contact with the mind and affect it, but it doesn’t change the fact that it was a powerful ability.
In short, it meant if you are a member of the Thorns Cross Society who follows him, he’s already had enough of coming into contact with the mind to remain.
“…… .”
As Henir’s shadow penetrated his whole body, his skin was peeled off, revealing a completely different man.
I wasn’t surprised at all because it was something I saw a lot in the original story.
After seeing Henir’s shadow cutting his neck off as if beheading him and blowing his head away like a guillotine, I finally looked around.
Before I knew it, there was not a single passerby walking around, even though that was rare in the area.
This must be his doing as well.
“Just say something.”
The lips of the severed head moved as I spoke, looking at the head rolling on the ground.
“… Wow, this is a bit surprising.”
The branches of the World Tree crawled from the cross-section of the severed head and the eyeball area.
It was a scene that would only appear in horror SF movies.
In this way, Lee Jae-Joon often used the method of taking control of the body and mind of the person he implanted his power into, and using them as if they were his alter ego.
Because, although there were only a handful of people who could be controlled in this way, they were nothing more than an extra chess piece that could be used.
Perhaps the real one is hiding somewhere safe and watching this scene.
It was really an unpleasant thing to do.
“Honestly, I thought it would surprise you, but I suppose you already noticed?”
The severed head muttered like that as it stared at me.
Then it rolled over and stood upright, making eye contact with me.
“Indeed, you, like me, have a branch of the World Tree rooted in you. So, perhaps this is a natural thing.”
The already dead man’s mouth moved on its own, and Lee Jae-Joon’s voice flowed out.
“Actually, I already knew that you would reject my proposal. If you had rather kept silent or pretended not to know, I would have judged that you would never join hands with me. But honestly, you won’t stay silent, you’ll definitely stand on the other side of me.”
“…How can you be so sure? No, more than that, you’re saying that you can’t appease a child like me when you’re a pseudo-religious leader?”
“Yes.”
He grinned.
“Of course, Ji-Hyuk, you really hate me, don’t you? Besides, you and I are pretty adamant about our opposing views, if not down to perfection. I don’t know if it was possible if we had more time, but it’s impossible right now.”
“You know that very well. But knowing that, you revealed your plan to me?”
“Yes. Since I can’t avoid your senses anyway. It’s better for me to declare war like this and it suits my temperament.”
His severed head began to tremble.
Maybe it was a sign that the time was running out.
“Do whatever you want. Originally, I just wanted to do as I pleased, but… . still, since you’re holding the branch of the World Tree as me, I thought I should pay you a visit to show you this much courtesy.”
“You’re very courteous.”
“Hahaha.”
He laughed briefly.
“My brother had a bold personality, but I was passive. Maybe it’s because Ye-Eun grew up looking at me, but she also grew up to be a coward, and I can’t tell you how much my brother bad-mouthed me… .”
He muttered as if he missed it, choked up, and spat out branches of the World Tree.
“So, like a coward, I prepared well. Even if there are several variables, it doesn’t matter.”
“…… .”
“Well, anyway. Take care. I hope to see you later… .”
His head exploded with a loud sound.
I didn’t do it.
“Tsk… .”
At the nauseating sight, I quickly got up.
Because it was enough to cause a misunderstanding.
As I got up and began to pack my bag, Mandragora poked his face out with a boink from between my collars. [Note: Boink(Here) – the cute-ish SFX when something suddenly appears.]
It wasn’t my imagination, but he was definitely gripped by anxiety.
I spoke in a soft voice as if I were comforting him, thinking I sure have grown attached to him in the meantime.
“It’s okay, come here.”
When I held out my hand, he looked up at me and immediately climbed on it.
I put him in the inner pocket of my jacket, and he went inside and poked out his face.
“Do you feel a little safer here?”
Then he looked at me and carefully nodded.
Along the way the leaves appeared and perhaps irritated by them, he skillfully rolled them up with his roots, making them look like dumplings.
“… Let’s just get out of here.”
There was nothing good about staying here for too long.
And I had to let Lee Ye-Eun know about this as well.
I got out of there and called her, but this time again she didn’t answer my call.
It was after I sent a text message that said, I met the head of the Thorns Cross Society, it’s really urgent, so please contact me.
Tiling!
A notification window appeared in front of me with a clear sound.
[Margo’s authority has bloomed over time!]
“This… ?”
* * *
“Hey, Choi Hyun-Woo! Come quickly!”
“Soo-Young, we still have a lot of time before it starts… .”
Choi Hyun-Woo replied to Han Soo-Young’s urging with a small sigh.
It was barely five minutes after he got the text from Yoo Ji-Hyuk saying that it would start after at least an hour.
And the two of them had just arrived at the estate where the World Tree clan resided and World Tree was located.
“Even if we crawl here now, we’ll arrive on time, you know? You don’t need to rush too much… .”
“Then we won’t be able to get a seat at the front. Oh, come on! Hurry up!”
He didn’t think that it would be crowded because the preliminary round wasn’t held in one place and it was literally a preliminary round, but Han Soo-Young seemed to think differently.
Just a few months ago, it was me who stepped forward without thinking, and Soo-Young definitely had the role of stopping me cool-headedly… .
Choi Hyun-Woo thought so and opened his mouth to her as if to tell her to calm down.
“You promised Ye-Seul that you’ll go together, didn’t you? Let’s wait here and go together.”
“Uh… .”
At that, Han Soo-Young gave a troubled expression for a while.
Then, as if she had no choice, she sighed and carefully let go of Choi Hyun-Woo’s arm that she was pulling on.
“I’m going to wait for 10 minutes.”
“We have 20 minutes left until the original appointment time?”
“I don’t know.”
Han Soo-Young muttered with a sulky face.
He’d already gotten used to the way she looks like she’s a few years younger when it came to Yoo Ji-Hyuk.
“She’s here.”
Not long after, Jin Ye-Seul appeared.
The problem was that there was a familiar person next to her.
“Isn’t that Yu-Na?”
Han Soo-Young muttered as if it was surprising.
And when Jin Ye-Seul found them looking at her, who was approaching, as if saying, what’s going on, she nodded and explained.
“I didn’t know either. But I happened to meet her by chance, so we tagged along on the way.”
“What’s going on?”
“She’s not participating this time, but she has something else to do.”
At Jin Ye-Seul’s words, Lee Yu-Na responded with a slightly awkward smile.
“I participated in the last tournament. I was lucky enough to make it to the finals and even won a prize, so… .I got an invitation, so I came.”
Han Soo-Young remembered that the World Tree Family had been distributing support money to various academies under the name of nurturing promising talents.
She guessed that Lee Yu-Na might have participated semi-forcedly, but she didn’t ask because she knew her situation.
“That’s great. Why don’t you come with me and watch?”
“Watch? Oh, Ji-Hyuk… ?”
When Han Soo-Young smiled and suggested, Lee Yu-Na smiled more awkwardly than before.
Everyone here knew well that she, who was usually confident and did not bend over to anyone, was reluctant to Yoo Ji-Hyuk.
“Wouldn’t he hate it if I went… ?”
“Not really?”
Han Soo-Young tilted her head.
From what she’d seen last time, Yoo Ji-Hyuk seemed to be awkward as well, but he didn’t hate her.
She knew well that when he saw someone he really hated, his mouth would harden.
“If he does, I’ll scold him.”
As Han Soo-Young said with a bright smile, Jin Ye-Seul also touched Lee Yu-Na’s back as if to say, it’s okay.
“See? I told you it’s okay.”
“Still… .”
“If Ji-Hyuk gets angry, I’ll get down on my knees.”
“… uh?”
At Jin Ye-Seul’s calm words, Lee Yu-Na looked at her with trembling eyes.
Lee Yu-Na wanted her to say that she was joking, but Jin Ye-Seul stared down at her with eyes that seemed to say, what’s the problem?
Just before the atmosphere became subtle, Choi Hyun-Woo immediately raised his hand.
“Hey, before we go, shall we fill up our stomachs?”
Confirming that all three of their eyes were focused on him, he breathed a small sigh of relief inside.
“You have to have a strong stomach to cheer.”
“I’m fine.”
Han Soo-Young shook his head.
On her side, there was a lunch box with kimbap, which she had made while reducing sleep.
“Oh, I’m also fine.”
Jin Ye-Seul nodded.
She also had something hanging by her side.
Thinking neither of them would really help him, Choi Hyun-Woo looked at Lee Yu-Na.
“… I can’t eat alone, so why don’t we eat together?”
“Oka, okay.”
Lee Yu-Na nodded quickly.
Once they had agreed to buy and eat whatever they could on their way to the place where the preliminaries would be held, they began to make their way over.
“Wow… .”
“Crazy… .”
And as they walked down the street, they naturally caught the attention of passersby.
The pale blue hair of Choi Hyun-Woo, who was walking in the lead, was enough to draw attention, but he was also a handsome man with distinct facial features and a gentle impression that was hard to forget once you saw him.
It meant that he couldn’t help but attract attention.
“What do you want to eat?”
“Let’s just eat something simple. I think I’ll eat the lunch I’ve brought after the preliminaries.”
Lee Yu-Na, who was talking right next to him, was smaller than average, but being next to Choi Hyun-Woo, who had a reliable build, made her look even smaller.
Her hair was a normal light dark brown, but her skin was so pale that it was especially stood out.
She smiled softly as she pulled on the turtleneck that covered her neck, and those who saw her felt as if they were looking at a squirrel.
“What have you made?”
“Fried chicken and sandwiches. And you?”
“Tuna Kimbap.”
“It’s all Ji-Hyuk’s favorite.”
“Yeah, I’m glad they don’t overlap.”
And Han Soo-Young and Jin Ye-Seul, who are talking to each other a little behind them, were also enough to attract the attention of passersby.
Red hair and dark red eyes.
She had cat-like eyes, but somehow gave the impression of being gentle.
Han Soo-Young, who was of average height for her age and dressed casually, hummed softly, but she had a cheerful expression on her face that made people feel better.
Her earrings glittered between her wavy hair.
Jin Ye-Seul, who was walking next to her, looked like a model.
She was a head taller than Han Soo-Young, and her long legs were stretched out as she moved her feet.
Her eyes, glittering purple through her dark black hair as if she had dyed it, were like purple amethyst.
She, who looked tired and uninterested in everything in the world, had a decadent feeling.
“Oh, my, son! Look, there! They are really pretty and kind kids!”
And towards the four of them, an innocent woman’s voice was heard from somewhere.
His voice was so loud that people around her were startled and surprised.
“Mother, how many times have I’ve told you to be careful about your words and actions… !”
And the man who was stopping such a woman next to her looked slightly surprised.
With his typical western appearance of blond hair and blue eyes, he immediately showed a welcoming expression on his face.
“It’s Ivan, right?”
Choi Hyun-Woo muttered like that.
Ivan Hunt stepped closer and happily greeted the four in turn.
“I’ve been killing time trying to watch Ji-Hyuk, but I didn’t expect to meet you all.”
Ivan said so with a friendly smile.
And then he introduced them one by one to Belluna, who was nonchalantly eating cotton candy next to him.
“This is my mother. Mother, these are my friends. They are trustworthy people.”
“I’m Belluna. You can call me Bellona, but I like Belluna.”
When they introduced themselves by saying their names in turn, Belluna smiled brightly.
“It’s nice to meet you too. Abraham, Anastasia, Rebecca, and Elizabeth.”
“… My mother is not good at memorizing people’s names. She’s not trying to make fun of you.”
Saying so, Ivan gave an awkward smile.
Then he said, I know exactly where Yoo Ji-Hyuk will be competing in the preliminary round, and naturally took the lead.
Soon after, they were able to arrive at the preliminary round site.
Even in the preliminary round, it was a competition to see how fast and accurately they could hit the target from the standing place.
They were able to sit in the front seat without difficulty.
There were so many places where the preliminary round took place, and most of all, they were almost last.
“Right. Ivan, so you have already passed?”
At Choi Hyun-Woo’s question, he nodded.
“Yes, I already finished an hour ago. I arrived a little late, so we didn’t have time to talk…. Oh, over there!”
Ivan pointed, and there was Yoo Ji-Hyuk walking with a bow in one hand.
There were many other people besides him in the standing place, but it was not difficult to find him because he was in the very front.
“Soo-Young, that… .”
“Shh.”
“…… .”
Choi Hyun-Woo turned his head with a smile, but the return was her response to shut up.
Before he knew it, Han Soo-Young and Jin Ye-Seul had taken out their cell phones and were filming him.
“Crazy. Really… .”
“…… .”
After Yoo Ji-Hyeok pulled the string and fired an arrow, Han Soo-Young quietly muttered, and Jin Ye-Seul just nodded silently and stretched her hand holding the cell phone forward.
“What should I do, really… . I must be really crazy… . look at that face… .”
“……… .”
Choi Hyun-woo, who saw that, turned his head without saying a word and looked at Yoo Ji-Hyuk.
He didn’t want to say anything.
“What?”
“… I was right, wasn’t I?”
Meanwhile, Lee Yu-Na and Ivan looked closely at Yoo Ji-Hyuk as if it were strange.
Suddenly, the two whispered in small voices.
“… He’s shooting too well, isn’t he?”
“I know, right. Posture, speed, strength, accuracy… . There’s not a single flaw.”
“As far as I know, it’s been less than two months since Ji-Hyuk learned the bow… ?”
“Two months? He’s learned that in two months?”
The two muttered as if they were dumbfounded.
They started muttering, he’s a genius and he has talent, and Han Soo-Young and Jin Ye-Seul, who heard them, looked elated for some reason.
Choi Hyun-Woo didn’t say anything.
He just quietly rolled up the pamphlet he had brought and waved it carefully.
“Hmm… .”
And Belluna was looking at Yoo Ji-Hyuk while licking a candy.
Ivan, who noticed the gaze, quietly spoke to her.
“Mother, that friend is Yoo Ji-Hyuk… .”
“I know.”
“Yes?”
Belluna put the candy in her mouth and took a bite.