Chapter 43: The reunion with the redhead was the worst (4)

Although he didn’t particularly like the guy named Hyunwoo.

Separate from that, Yushin pitied Hyunwoo’s end.
Because he had suffered a fate similar to those in a dark fantasy.
And at the hands of his own sister, no less.

But that didn’t mean Yushin could do anything about it.
If it were just ordinary magic, perhaps things would be different.
But the Sage’s magic was on a completely different level.

To dispel a spell, one must first understand the magic itself.
However, the Sage doesn’t use conventional magic, but his very own.

And there isn’t a magician in this world skilled enough to dispel it.
He could at least say that for certain.
That is why he is called the Sage.

Even if he didn’t acknowledge anything else about him.

He had to acknowledge the Sage’s skill.

Because he had experienced it firsthand.
Because he had suffered like hell.
But he absolutely could not stand seeing that bastard run rampant here again.
Yushin quickly gathered everyone.

Fortunately, none among Selena, Yuri, or Hayoung had fallen for the Sage’s deception.
He couldn’t explain the details of this incident, so he gave them a plausible explanation.

“Athena’s sworn enemy came over too?!”

“Yeah. That’s what happened.”

“I’m sorry.”

Since he couldn’t reveal the fact that he was the Hero Revil.
He just made do with the story that Athena’s arch-nemesis had crossed over.
Thankfully, they easily believed him.

“This isn’t the time for apologies, we need to clean up this mess!”

“Th-that’s right. We can’t just stay like this!”

“For now, we have no choice but to chase after that Hyunwoo guy.”

The Sage is currently wearing the mask of Hyunwoo.
This means that the people here perceive him as Hyunwoo.
In that case, we need to catch him quickly and beat him down.

Before he causes any more trouble here.

Although they were exhausted from the continuous search.
Yushin moved again without resting.
Of course, he thought about letting Hayoung and Yuri rest, but they refused.

“You’re working so hard on something. We can’t just let you go alone.”

“I-I don’t want to run away anymore either!”

“Then do as you please.”

Yushin had no intention of stopping them.
It was all their own choice.
He would only promise to provide minimal protection.

Just so they wouldn’t get harmed.

‘He’s not very honest, as expected. But that’s precisely why he is the hero I love.’

During his time as a hero, he was persecuted and discriminated against more than one could imagine.
Just for the simple reason that he lacked power.
Of course, the position of a hero is one that requires power.

Naturally, if one lacks power, they are bound to be pushed aside.

But he wasn’t even given a fair chance.
He was continuously attacked just because of the stigma from a first impression.
But, despite all that.

He ultimately saved the world.

That, one could say, is the proof of his nobility.
While swallowing humiliation and anger so great it could have driven him to hate humanity and destroy the world.

He personally saved the very people who had mocked and exiled him.

And things are not much different now.
If so, there is only one thing I must do.
To be his unchanging sword.
Yes, that is all.

“What are you smiling about all by yourself?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

She had merely reaffirmed it.
Her mission, and what she had to do.
Although Yushin felt it was suspicious, he decided to focus on the Sage for now.

The Sage stole Hyunwoo’s body.
If it ended with just that, it wouldn’t be so much of a problem.
Of course, there was no way the Sage would steal a body without a plan.

And above all, he said it himself with his own mouth.
That he was overwriting his consciousness.
This means that the people of this world perceive the Sage as ‘Hyunwoo’.

“At first, I felt like I was going crazy. It felt like my memories of Hyunwoo were being erased and forcibly covered over.”

This was made clear by Seolyeon’s testimony.
Although she said that for some reason, she hadn’t lost her memories now.
It was fortunate that Seolyeon had been aware from the beginning.

Other humans would have fallen for the Sage’s trick right away.
Considering that, the Academy couldn’t be considered safe either.
Yushin kept racking his brain.

What on earth is the Sage aiming for?
He did spout some nonsense about salvation.
In the fantasy world, it was the delusion that he himself had to lead the people.

‘But this time, something was different.’

Unlike last time, when he packaged himself as a savior and led a pseudo-religious cult.
This time, it was clear that something was different.
Did his way of thinking change after dying and coming back to life?

Well, like it or not.

He would find out soon enough.

And Yushin’s prediction was correct.
As soon as they returned to the Academy, they found Hyunwoo surrounded by students.

Upon seeing Hyunwoo, Seolyeon bit her lip.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to endure the surging emotions.
If Yushin hadn’t been by her side.

She might have rushed forward and attacked Hyunwoo right then and there.
Yushin grabbed Seolyeon’s wrist.
Because it felt like she was about to bolt at any moment.

“Calm down. If you cause a scene here, it will only be bad for us.”

“I know that too.”

“Then that’s fine.”

‘So could you let go of my hand now.’

Even though she said she knew, Seolyeon wouldn’t let go of Yushin’s hand.
They struggled for a brief moment, but Yushin soon nodded his head as if he understood.

Since her family had suffered such a fate.

She must need someone to lean on.
In that case, he had no choice but to play that role.
It was definitely not because he lacked the strength to pull his hand away.

It was because he was genuinely worried about Seolyeon.

Anyway, to get back to the point, after gathering the circulating information.
It was said that Hyunwoo was a famous rising star at the Academy, and was very popular for his kind and caring personality.

‘So, you’re going with that kind of setup, are you?’

Of course, for Yushin, whose memories of the Academy hadn’t been altered, it was a laughable story.
But it seemed that the Academy students, at least, believed it.

“He’s really gone all out spreading his poison.”

“This seems almost like hypnosis.”

“You feel that way too?”

The one who reacted most sensitively was, surprisingly, Yuri.
Was it because a similar experience came to mind?
She was not accepting Hyunwoo’s current situation as normal.

On the other hand, Hayoung was trembling in fear at the sight.
Hayoung felt like she was going insane.
She already knew in her head that it wasn’t normal.

But seeing it in person, she found herself unconsciously thinking, ‘Wasn’t he always like that?’
Hayoung chose to close her eyes instead.
It would be fine if she just didn’t look.

“Hey.”

“And who are you?”

Yushin and Seolyeon came face to face with a completely unexpected person.
A small girl with white hair, the student council president Ban Hayeon, stood before them.

Her expression didn’t look very pleased.
She wore a sullen look, like a child whose toy had been taken away.
She let out a sigh and spoke.

“I’m the student council president. For now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Because it looks like I’m about to lose my position to that guy soon.”

Hayeon raised a finger and pointed at Hyunwoo, who was surrounded by students.
Being the Academy’s student council president isn’t something you can achieve just by being strong.

No matter how much it’s the law of the jungle.
To obtain a high position like student council president, one needs the consent of numerous students.
In other words, it’s only possible by gaining fame and votes.

And Hayeon had never once lost the position of student council president from her first to her second year.
But now, in the second semester of her third year, her confidence was greatly shaken for the first time.

“Could it be that you’re not affected by that guy?”

Not only Seolyeon, but also Athena and Yushin, who were watching from behind, were surprised.
Because they never thought there would be a student unaffected by the Sage’s magic.

“Hmph, isn’t that obvious?”

“What exactly is supposed to be obvious?”

“As if I would have stood by and done nothing while a guy like that grew so prominent!”

Student council president Hayeon uses any and all means to become the student council president.
And if there had been such a conspicuous guy, she would have dealt with him immediately one way or another.

But she didn’t do that?

If the information in my head is true, and yet I stood by and did nothing?
That doesn’t make sense.
In other words, all this information in my head is fake.

At the sight of Hayeon, who had broken free from the manipulation in such an unimaginable way, not only Seolyeon but even Yushin was stunned.
‘What kind of self-centered person is this?’

“But he’s a guy you could call transcendent. To the point that even I feel a sense of fear.”

“What exactly is the information in your head?”

“I perceive him as… the strongest, trying to righteously reform this Academy. A kind guy who has helped countless students. And apparently, I myself have received his help a few times.”

‘How utterly ridiculous.’

‘Me, receiving help?’

‘No way!’

Yushin, who was watching this, thought.

‘This bastard is just another complete psycho.’