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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 39: You’ve been kidnapped.
Just because a bad guy doesn’t listen even after being beaten, you mustn't misunderstand and jump to conclusions.
‘Ah, this demon isn’t the kind that can be subdued through pain.’
Such foolish thoughts are a big no-no.
Black mages and demons, being more greedy than anyone else, are surprisingly honest creatures.
They feel pain well and know fear too.
If you strike them with holy power, they’ll scream properly.
If money doesn't work, it's because you simply haven't offered enough — similarly, if they aren’t obeying yet, maybe they just haven't been hurt enough.
[Aaaaaaagh! Please—stoooop!]
That's why you need to push your thinking one step further with a more aggressive approach.
Of course, there’s a method to it.
Over the decades, after a lot of experience beating them up, I realized that even among demons and black mages, there’s a strict hierarchy, and they do get scared preemptively.
They’re arrogant, they grumble, and they secretly harbor schemes — those insolent creatures.
After giving them a thorough beating, if you then bring in far superior demons and torment them, they instinctively start feeling fear.
"...Oh, demon, O mighty demon..."
When they see the pillars of their trust being shattered so thoroughly, they go completely blank.
That's when the hierarchy finally falls into place.
You have to engrave into their minds that it wasn’t luck or environmental factors that led to their defeat, but an absolute and overwhelming gap.
If you do that, no matter how many times they fight you, or even if they're reborn, they'll realize it's impossible to win.
Only then does their corrupted mind become purified, and they can look at me, the servant of the Goddess, with clear, gentle eyes.
Today, too, looking at the black mage whose face had turned ghostly pale — as if the demon within his mind had been successfully purified — I smiled and patted his shoulder.
"So, brother. By any chance, do you have anything you’d like to confess to me?"
The black mage flinched, then sniffled and lowered his head with a miserable expression.
"...I’ll tell you everything. Everything."
* * *
"Just yesterday, I really wanted to die... but now it all feels like a dream."
"Yeah, really."
Archmage Elneor Grants and Seol Yeonhwa, after clearing the mess in the space around them and having an honest conversation, were finally able to face each other with more relaxed expressions.
The young mage who had escaped the pain of death, and the seasoned mage who had finally begun to face her imminent death.
The master and disciple, though still feeling a bit dazed by the sudden resolution, noticed that the heavy burden on their chests had lightened a little.
They were stubborn, but not foolish.
Rather than obsessing over unnecessary doubts, they savored the moment — the fact that they could finally face each other properly.
They were grateful for the second chance given to them.
They felt genuine gratitude toward the nameless young man — or rather, the man whose name they barely knew.
Thus, when Shin Yuseong returned empty-handed after disappearing with Erneon, neither of them questioned him.
'He was a bit strange, that guy.'
'There must be something going on.'
They simply trusted that he had taken care of it, without even daring to pry.
After all, who could accuse a man whose face radiated nothing but pure honesty, as if he had never committed a single wrongdoing in his entire life?
Seeing Shin Yuseong’s handsomely smiling face practically sparkling, Seol Yeonhwa, uncharacteristically, blushed.
Watching her disciple's expression — looking very much like someone smitten with love — Elneor Grants quietly smiled and shook her head.
It seemed her disciple would need a bit more time.
Feeling no shame, Elneor stepped forward and bowed her head deeply to Shin Yuseong.
"Truly, thank you. I must have been momentarily out of my mind... Thanks to you, I survived."
It must have been an inner demon.
For those who have reached the pinnacle — swordmasters and archmages alike — the greatest enemy is not a stronger foe, but themselves.
When one encounters an insurmountable wall and their mind begins to crumble with doubt and fear, even the strongest body and magic are useless.
Blinded by that mental illness, she had tried to devour her disciple’s very marrow in fear of her impending death.
Though it was caused by the inner demon, it was still a sin.
And though it may be temporary, to be freed from that mental demon was an unmistakable grace.
Therefore, the Tower Master Elneor Grants, bowing her head, spoke to her benefactor:
"It’s not just empty words. If there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll mobilize everything I have to ease your burdens."
This was a promise that could be made with a mage’s lifetime of magic, even with her heart as collateral.
Elneor was that deeply grateful and serious about the matter.
Seeing her genuine gratitude, Shin Yuseong showed a slightly surprised expression.
'Looks like I don't need to beat this one anymore, huh?'
[The Goddess advises you to respect your elders.]
It wasn’t so much that he was moved — he was simply a bit surprised that someone had been reformed so easily.
Still, a good outcome was a good outcome.
Nodding readily, he added with a bright smile:
"Then, would it be possible for me to borrow a bit of space?"
"Space? Well, there’s no shortage of labs in this Tower — take as much as you need. How large are we talking?"
If any aspiring mage hoping for a lab in a major magic tower had heard this, they would have been stunned — but Shin Yuseong smiled nonchalantly and said:
"Just about the size of this room would be fine. Though, if possible, an isolated space would be even better."
"Hmm, yes, yes. You can use however much you need. Right now it’s in shambles, but I would even lend you the Tower Master's chamber if you required it."
With a kind smile, Tower Master Elneor nodded before suddenly asking with a look of realization:
“Oh, and what exactly are you going to use it for? If you tell me, I’ll get the lab organized ahead of time so it’s easier for you to use.”
Oh, what a considerate offer.
For someone who had just been trying to squeeze every last drop out of her disciple, she showed a surprisingly excellent sense of service.
Marveling anew at the Tower Master's tact, Shin Yuseong responded with a gentle smile:
“I just need a space to, uh, lock up some black mages and demons. That's why I want to borrow it.”
“I see, black mages and... wait, demons?!”
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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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At the sudden mention of something clearly unusual, the Blue Tower Master, Elneor Grants, furrowed her brow deeply and questioned him back.
Seol Yeonhwa, who had been quietly listening nearby, also turned to him with a shocked expression.
Despite their startled reactions, Shin Yuseong merely smiled calmly and added:
“And please, if possible, a spacious room.”
Because he planned to capture a lot of them.
* * *
Not long ago, the criminal organization 'Black Chronicle' and the villains participating in its auction had been completely wiped out, but even so, criminals still overran Korea.
They were just more careful not to get caught—keeping activities like kidnapping, murder, and human trafficking out of the news.
In secret, dozens of black mages operated within Seoul alone, and if you counted the small fry, the number easily exceeded hundreds.
And they were quite tightly connected.
Through their own underground communities, they kept each other informed about any unusual events, like whether any self-proclaimed heroes, especially S-Class Hunters, were active in the area, all while quietly continuing their research.
Then one day, a curious rumor spread from a prominent figure in the community known as "Doctor."
"I have conquered the Blue Tower. I can control the Tower Master's mind."
Even more astonishing was the claim that he had secured the next Tower Master candidate, the 'Ice Flower.'
It was such an unbelievable story that heated debates erupted across the community about whether it could possibly be true.
But that discussion soon ended.
[Check it out, I summoned a baron-level demon.]
A post showing the successful summoning of a noble demon, ranked as a baron of Hell, appeared.
They really had summoned a demon from the Blue Tower!
They really had taken control!
The community's opinion quickly shifted to admiration for the 'Doctor' who had achieved such a monumental feat.
Especially among them, a black mage known as "Pharmacist," who specialized in the illegal manufacture of drugs, readily believed the news.
After all, it had been months since he had been contacted by Erneon about charming the Tower Master using a mind-corrupting drug he had purchased.
And now, it seemed the operation had finally succeeded.
Ding—!
[Hey, would you like to lend a hand in summoning the mighty beings of Hell?]
As a black mage, how could he possibly refuse such a tempting offer?
Besides, he reasoned, it was unlikely to be a trap—who in their right mind would go so far as to summon a baron-level demon just to lure someone?
These were not playful spirits.
They were transcendent beings, comparable to gods in terms of power and personality, utterly beyond human control.
Thus, the black mage "Pharmacist," a follower of the mighty demons of Hell, gladly accepted the Doctor's proposal.
Still, just to be sure, he did some background checks and confirmed that Doctor Erneon was indeed frequenting the Blue Tower.
Only then did he head to the designated laboratory.
And indeed, it was packed with numerous black mages and demons.
It was hard to believe his eyes—so many demons had been summoned successfully.
It felt like witnessing the beginning of a golden age for black mages.
"……Oh, is this the beginning of a glorious new era for us?"
Filled with joy, "Pharmacist" looked around the lab but eventually noticed something odd as his excitement cooled.
[Though I am a mighty noble demon…]
[Stupid, stupid! Why am I here!]
[Kyaaaah! Please, send me back!]
The demons, who should have been revered, were instead writhing in agony.
Those who should have inspired terror were themselves consumed by fear.
Feeling uneasy, "Pharmacist" approached his fellow black mages, who also looked as miserable as the demons, and asked them what was going on.
These black-hearted comrades simply forced awkward smiles and pointed toward one spot.
Huh?
What?
He turned his head—and saw a man standing there.
A man so good-looking that it seemed absurd he hadn’t noticed him until now, who approached him with a bright, refreshing smile and patted his shoulder.
Then whispered softly in his ear:
"You've been kidnapped."
Only then did he realize he had really, really screwed up.
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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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