The Friend Who Returned Is Not Normal (3)

There is always vitality overflowing in clear, fertile land.

The sunlight that poured down caressed the earth like a mother’s warm touch, and the land that received that sunlight grew new sprouts as if encouraged by a parent’s praise.

The river flowing through this vibrant land shone with a beauty like something from a painting.

The surrounding trees clustered together, forming a forest as if embracing each other.

Humans born from such land inevitably emitted a sacred radiance as well.

‘That’s exactly what the world called Mewzealand was like.’

It was a good land, that’s true, but honestly, it wasn’t that different from Earth.

There were diligent people, but also disgusting ones; when controversy erupted, crowds would foam at the mouth and rush in, just like here or there—it was always the same.

But correcting wrongdoing and leading things the right way wasn’t so different either.

At least, the basic sentiment of cherishing one another existed among them.

‘But only limited to their fellow humans.’

Yes, when it came to non-human beings, they were all heartless.

Their attitude toward beasts or livestock was no different from that on Earth, but the real problem was with other races.

In Mewzealand, there were naturally born monsters, and other races were treated exactly the same as those monsters.

Even if they were innocent, and even if they were just children.

― They cannot be with us.

― They are a race with filthy power.

― Quick, strike them down.

No matter what happened, they were treated as criminals.

They acted as if they’d been taught this was only natural from a young age.

I hated them but still tried to think it through in my own way.

Why on earth were they like this?

We could communicate with each other—was it really necessary to ignore even that?

― The Guardian has commanded! You are no different from monsters!

Why?

― You are essentially of the same kind!

― You wretched demons. We will wipe you all out!

Do you have evidence?

― The magic power you possess is identical to the magic power possessed by monsters!

― It is a force completely opposed to our sacred power.

Was that really enough reason to throw such a fit?

There were demonkin who communicated perfectly well with humans!

― Your magic power eats away at your master’s mind.

― At first, it just twists one’s personality, but over time you lose your humanity.

― In the end, the evil magic power swallows you, and even your heart becomes that of a monster.

Damn it.

As if they’re normal themselves.

― And no matter how much you bare your fangs, it’s useless.

― As long as our eight Guardians watch over us, evil ones like you will never threaten us for eternity.

― Just perish already!

So, for such reasons, we were hunted constantly.

Since we had no human rights anyway, we were captured and experimented on.

They’d also use the fact that we were sentient beings as justification to torture us out of spite.

Naturally, some gathered forces, swearing revenge, but every single one was annihilated.

― The Eight Guardians are absolute!

They had a strong backing.

To put it simply, those Guardians were gods.

They were said to have created Mewzealand and dearly cherished the humans they birthed.

So much so, that whenever humans were in danger, these Guardians would send down help to drive off invaders, over and over.

― HAHAHAHA! As expected of the Guardian!

― As long as we have the Guardian, we’re invincible!

― Dare to covet us? We have the Guardian! Hahahahaha!

Of course, the Guardian’s help was limited.

They’d only help when there was a devout hero on the humans’ side, and when the army led by that hero was about to fall.

That’s because the humans’ sacred will would draw out the strength for the god to intervene.

‘But if goodwill continues, people start to think it’s their right.’

Humans had come to rely far too much on divine protection.

In the end, their minds became so light they reached the height of arrogance.

They believed that no matter how cowardly their actions, they’d be forgiven.

Because they were the race chosen by God.

No matter how much inhumane conduct humans committed, the gods only watched.

Is it that whatever their children do will always be forgiven?

‘What a remarkable parent.’

But their glory and prosperity did not last long.

Up until now, every race that opposed the humans ended in extinction.

Some fell before heroes wielding holy power, but ultimately, god’s aid could not be discounted.

There was once a time when a god descended directly upon Mewzealand.

With wings shining brilliantly, the clouds over the land dispersed, and with each step, islands trembled.

Before that unapproachable presence, people bowed their heads as one.

But what if… those gods disappeared?

― D, divine Guardian!!

― Ah… no!

― How could… such a thing…!

The moment of rejoicing at God’s descent was brief.

On the humans’ faces, despair twisted all their expressions.

― A demon… It’s a demon!!

― No!! Please, don’t touch him!!

― We can’t go on without him!!

― No!! Uwaaaaaaaa!!

A masked demon appeared and ignored all of God’s holy authority.

God’s wings were cut off by the demon’s claws, and eventually, god was devoured by fangs erupting from the demon’s shadow.

Cries of humans rang out everywhere.

But the other races cheered.

To them, that demon was a god.

― Kwa-jik!

In the end, god was erased by the hand of the Demon King.

The devoured god flailed desperately in the demon’s belly, trying to lash out one last time.

Because of this intense struggle, the demon felt pain and had its lifespan shortened.

As a result, the demon was left with only one year to live.

― Are you angry?

The demon muttered at the fury it felt within its stomach.

It felt as if its entire body was boiling.

It sensed that the god’s consciousness was still present.

It must have found its death unbearably unfair.

Of course, the demon would not live for much longer, so it was fair to say it had been thoroughly cursed.

― A curse, huh… Heh heh heh.

However, the demon just scoffed at that.

― Sure. I can just run off to Earth anyway~

****

“So, that more or less sums up the years I spent in Mewzealand.”

“…”

“…”

A snack shop in front of the school.

I was eating dinner with Sang-ah and Ah-rin, telling them many stories.

1. The fact that I actually traveled to and from Mewzealand.

2. That I lived as demonkin there and became the Demon King in the end.

3. That, ultimately, I defeated a god and then reincarnated back to Earth.

Sang-ah already knew up to 1, but 2 and 3 I was telling for the first time.

That’s why both of them were making expressions of shared shock.

Especially Ah-rin, who didn’t know anything from the start—unlike

Sang-ah—must have found it even harder to believe.

“Seongjin, I can believe anything you say. But this story is just so random…”

“Ah-rin, didn’t you feel anything while you were in that Sura Guild?”

“Like what?”

“Like how the people there are oddly different from Earthlings… or how they keep bringing up another world.”

“…”

At my question, Ah-rin thought for a while.

Apparently nothing I’d said was off, so she simply fell silent in the end.

“But you told the people from the church you were just a mercenary, not the Demon King. Were you lying then, Seongjin?”

“That’s right.”

I nodded at Sang-ah’s question.

“There’s nothing good about there being too many people who know I’m the Demon King.”

The more people know my true identity, the more likely it’ll reach too many ears.

If the Sura Guild or some bunch like the Holy Church found out, it would be nothing but trouble.

“Then are we going to be safe?”

Ah-rin asked worriedly.

Because I’d confessed a secret to them alone, one that nobody else knew.

“I don’t know if we’ll be fine, but there’s more serious business.”

I asked Ah-rin in return.

“Ah-rin, you were chosen as Sura. Then what do you think the Sura was born for?”

“That’s…”

To defeat the demon that killed that god.

That’s why the Sura must be protected at all costs.

For the advent of the true Sura.

“Could you actually kill me?”

“…”

She couldn’t answer.

I could tell just by Ah-rin’s reaction lately.

Her blind devotion for me was sincere.

If I were to disappear, I felt like she would lose all attachment to the world and go on a rampage.

Would someone like that really be able to hurt me?

“No…”

“…”

“I absolutely couldn’t. Not even if I died!”

Suddenly, Ah-rin’s eyes became fierce.

Her mouth moved as though controlled.

“Why? Why should I hurt Seongjin? That doesn’t make any sense. There’s no way I could do something like that. How could I possibly do something so horrible?”

Uh… Ah-rin?

“Who says they’ll hurt Seongjin? Never. I’ll protect him. I’ll definitely protect him.”

“A-Ah-rin?”

“Seongjin is never allowed. Seongjin is never allowed. Seongjin is never allowed. Seongjin is never allowed. Seongjin is never allowed. I’ll protect him. I’ll protect him. I’ll protect him. I’ll protect him. I’ll protect him. I said I’ll protect him!!”

“Hey, Kang Ah-rin!!”

“Eek!”

When I shouted, Ah-rin flinched to a stop.

It was chilling to see her mumble repetitively in a song-like voice with a blank, emotionless gaze.

She looked ready to draw a knife at the slightest provocation.

Sang-ah had already shriveled up just watching Ah-rin like that.

“I’m really sorry. I must have lost it for a second.”

Having come to her senses, Ah-rin rushed to apologize.

Anyway, this made one thing clear.

“Ah-rin, you could never hurt me, could you?”

“… Yeah.”

No matter if I really was that demon, she would never lay a finger on me.

So it wasn’t a bad idea to confirm this now.

Rather…

“No matter what happens, I’ll protect you, Seongjin!”

She was back to her cheerful self.

It was unusual, how quickly she could alternate between a scary face and a cute face.

How had the kid changed so much like this in just six years?

She seemed to be hiding something, but I couldn’t quite tell what.

‘How can I not read her feelings?’

It was as if she was intentionally and desperately concealing her inner self so no one would see.

“Huh?”

I tried to pick up a rice cake with my chopsticks.

I stirred the red broth around, but I couldn’t even find a single fish cake.

‘Strange? I only ate two pieces of rice cake.’

Same with the three servings of dumplings and three rolls of kimbap on the side.

Except for some small meat pieces and loose pickled radish, nothing was left on the plates.

“Why am I so hungry? No matter how much I eat, I’m not full at all.”

“Huh? You too?”

“Yeah! Me too!”

Ah-rin and Sang-ah were each holding a piece of kimbap and one dumpling with their chopsticks.

There were red stains around their lips.

I could clearly guess who the culprits were.

“Hey, you two.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you remember how many servings we ordered?”

“Well… four rice cakes, three kimbap, three dumplings, right?”

“Then look at the plates.”

“Gasp!”

Seeing the empty plates, Sang-ah jumped in surprise.

She realized, deep down, what she’d just done.

“Don’t tell me we ate it all? We did?”

“Who else but you guys?”

“That’s weird? I don’t feel like I ate that much…”

Not much?

Not muuuuuuch??

“I only got two pieces of rice cake.”

“I’m really sorry! I’ll order more!”

So we ordered another three servings of rice cakes.

While we waited, my stomach rumbled.

At this rate, I really was just a regular person who couldn’t live without meals.

“I thought I was going to die waiting.”

Once the rice cakes came, I took a quick bite.

And was about to take another…

“Huh?”

Nothing got picked up.

What?

Why was there nothing there?

The culprit was right in front of me.

Slurp. Slurp.

Chomp chomp chomp.

A red-haired girl with dragon horns was wolfing down the rice cakes.

This time, even Ah-rin didn’t get a single bite.

“Kwon Sang-ah!!”

“Eek! Why me…”

“What do you mean, why? You ate all of it!”

The three servings of rice cakes had disappeared in no time.

When did all that food go in her stomach?

I couldn’t believe that amount had fit into the belly of a little first-year middle school girl.

“What the hell is up with you? Are you planning to starve me to death?”

“I’m really sorry! I honestly don’t know either. When I came to, it was all in my stomach…”

Why’s she acting like this all of a sudden?

She used to eat moderately, but now she’s stealing everyone’s food.

Does she have a death wish? Or is this some weird sign?

“If we order again now…”

“Never mind, it’s fine. I’ll just grab something at a convenience store later.”

Judging by her reaction, she wasn’t lying.

Sang-ah was so innocent; you could tell her mood just by looking at her face.

“Haa… I want a beer…”

Feeling like my meal had been thoroughly robbed, I sighed and grumbled.

“Ma’am, do you have beer here?”

“What?”

Suddenly, Ah-rin yelled out, making my heart drop.

“Seongjin wants some, so could you bring us a beer…”

“Are you crazy?!”

I quickly clamped a hand over Ah-rin’s mouth.

What snack shop sells beer?

And didn’t she know this is a bargain fast food joint?

If we got caught drinking or smoking, we’d get expelled on the spot.

“Seongjin, what’s wrong? Don’t you want to drink?”

“Shut up!”

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