Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan

Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan – 142

“If there are two vertical lines, it means no, right?”
“Correct.”
“Then, could it be the work of a demon? They might fear the healers entering the subconscious to purify themselves.”
Isaac shook his head slightly at Seo Eun-ha’s suggestion. He seemed troubled by the sturdy boundary of Baek Hwa-ran’s subconscious.
“If it were a demon, they would set traps to devour the healers. This seems more like an attempt to block both demons and healers from approaching.”
“Are you saying Hwa-ran is refusing treatment?”
“It could be an intrinsic contradiction of avoidance and pursuit. If her self has been eroded for a long time, her desire to stay safely within the subconscious might have strengthened, weakening her will to return to reality, thus forming such a boundary.”
“Ah…!”
While Seo Eun-ha exclaimed and nodded in understanding, Isaac took a moment to ponder. After deliberating for about ten minutes, he decided to forcefully break through.
“Whatever it is, we’re breaking through. Hold on tight.”
“Yes!”
Seo Eun-ha clung to Isaac’s waist with all her strength.
[Used Final Finish.]
[The next attack is enhanced with the power of a ‘Finishing Blow’.]
Boom! Swoosh―.
Swoosh!
The winged black tiger, Gunggi, dove into the sea with all its might. At the same time, a shadow of darkness enveloped Gunggi’s entire body as it opened its jaws wide.
As they plunged into the sea, the surroundings quickly turned pitch black, and the shadow began to spin like a massive drill at the bottom of the abyss.
Whirr!
The shadowy vortex pierced through the seabed and started to gain momentum.
Screech―.
The shadowy vortex, which seemed to drill deep into the underground, suddenly struck something with a thud.
Isaac frowned and focused on the vortex. As he did, its size tripled, and its rotation speed increased.
Screech―.
Boom!
The enhanced vortex pierced through the solid inner wall in an instant. Surprisingly, beyond the wall lay the scenery of an ordinary-looking village.
As Gunggi descended through the path it had drilled, they entered a verdant world, and the hole they had come through quickly sealed itself.
Above their heads, instead of a solid ceiling, a clear sky stretched out. Isaac waved his hand where the hole had been, but nothing obstructed his arm.
“So, this is Baek Hwa-ran’s subconscious.”
Isaac surveyed the village with a hazy gaze. After roughly grasping the structure of the subconscious, he nodded lightly and guided Gunggi to the ground.
“How do you think we should proceed?”
“I believe we need to find Baek Hwa-ran first. As you mentioned, Leader, it seems the patient has lost the will to return to reality, trapped in the subconscious world. We need to make contact with Baek Hwa-ran and help her recover the memories manipulated or lost due to the demon.”
Seo Eun-ha responded clearly to Isaac’s sudden question. However, Isaac didn’t stop with just one question.
“How do we find her?”
“We can spread our senses at regular intervals to detect her or seek assistance from the external team.”
“You’re half right. Spreading our senses here would trigger the boundaries of the subconscious. We must move stealthily, hiding our magic completely. The external team will soon secure the map, so we should wait for now.”
There were quite a few people walking around. This place resembled a coastal residential area, with many colorful houses reminiscent of cultural villages in the southern regions.
The signal from the external team arrived about five minutes later, as they hid in a shaded alley.
Whir―.
In the distance, a very thin beam of light shot up. The magical waves emitted by the pillar were so faint that ordinary people wouldn’t notice its presence.
Isaac and Seo Eun-ha changed into casual clothes instead of their hero suits and strolled through the streets.
The village exuded a peaceful and charming atmosphere, as if painted with watercolors. The people they passed, whether children or adults, greeted them with bright smiles, and there were quite a few students in school uniforms.
“I don’t sense any traces of a nightmare.”
“Indeed… It feels more like a nice place to live than a nightmare.”
“Split personality. Or intrinsic contradiction. The dream exhibits typical patterns of a mental disorder. External team, how have you observed the characteristics of the nightmare demon? Send the information via text.”
At Isaac’s command, a golden beam of light descended from the nearby sky once again. The beam landed at a small neighborhood stationery store.
Inside the store, a notebook was faintly glowing. Pretending to browse, Isaac discreetly slipped the notebook into his inventory where the shopkeeper couldn’t see.
“Seems like we didn’t find what we were looking for. We’ll be back.”
“Take care!”
Isaac examined the notebook’s contents using his memory retrieval technique.
Strangely, it noted that the nightmare demon often appeared even before reaching the subconscious stage, causing trouble for the healers. However, Isaac hadn’t sensed any demonic presence since descending to the subconscious level.
“Something has been controlling the demon. External team, I’ll ask again. Has Baek Hwa-ran ever received training in mental defense or self-control techniques?”
Whir.
This time, a clear ‘X’ was drawn on the blank page of the notebook. Isaac’s brow furrowed slightly.
====
***
====
Half a day later.
Isaac and Seo Eun-ha had perfectly identified Baek Hwa-ran’s residence, appearance, identity, and daily routine.
She lived in an ordinary house painted blue. In the subconscious stage, Baek Hwa-ran lived with a kind-looking couple, and their home was filled with laughter throughout dinner, indicating a harmonious household.
“We need to be cautious. Eun-ha, approach Baek Hwa-ran as a classmate and build a rapport. The external team will create your identity. It would be best if you were a transfer student. Meanwhile, I’ll search for traces of the nightmare demon and uncover the source of this anomaly.”
“Understood!”
====
***
====
A week had swiftly passed since they entered the subconscious stage.
The external team informed them through the notebook that less than a day had passed in real time.
During this period, Seo Eun-ha, who had infiltrated Baek Hwa-ran’s class as a transfer student, made continuous efforts to befriend her. Although Baek Hwa-ran didn’t recognize her childhood friend, traces of their past bond seemed to linger.
“Are you having a hard time these days?”
“…Huh? Oh, no.”
Whenever Seo Eun-ha showed kindness, Baek Hwa-ran would get flustered or stutter.
Seo Eun-ha, being perceptive, suspected that Baek Hwa-ran might have recognized her identity, but she knew better than to jump to conclusions.
Despite this, Seo Eun-ha managed to create many new memories with her childhood friend over the week.
They shared bread like they used to, chatted and got scolded by teachers, and visited each other’s homes to talk about movies and music all night.
The two girls got along well, rekindling their unfinished conversations from the past, even if only in a dream.
“Are you okay? Should I take you to the infirmary?”
“Huh? Oh, no. I’m fine.”
Then, one day, Hero Seo Eun-ha, who also had the qualities of a purifier, noticed that Baek Hwa-ran was deeply troubled.
She had realized the truth long ago.
But both of them wanted to spend a little more time together, like old friends.
“You won’t forget me, right?”
“Huh? What are you talking about? I’m right here beside you.”
“Hehe, just saying. How about karaoke later?”
“Sure. But you’re bad at singing, remember? Haha.”
“No way. I was just sick that time. I’m great at hitting high notes!”
They spent the day together as if it were their last. And soon, the real last day arrived.
====
***
====
14 days into the subconscious stage.
The villagers had disappeared. The students who had been diligently going to school just a day before were nowhere to be seen.
The once clear blue sky had turned ominously overcast, as if it would start pouring rain any moment.
Whirrr…
Observing the strange phenomenon occurring on the school rooftop, Isaac clicked his tongue briefly.
“So, that’s what it was.”
He had searched the entire village with his five-star senses but found no trace of the demon. That left only one possibility.
Flash!
Riding Gunggi, he leaped through space and landed on the rooftop, where he saw two students facing each other.
Seo Eun-ha and Baek Hwa-ran.
“…Disappear.”
“No. We’re here to save you.”
“I’ve been at peace here. This place is good to live in. But… you ruined everything.”
Tears as large as chicken droppings streamed down from Baek Hwa-ran’s crimson eyes. Above her head, a faint demonic figure began to materialize.
Whirrr…
“It’s the limit now. Please… Dad, are you watching? Wake these people up! They’re all going to die. They’ll be devoured by the demon… Ugh. Ugh!”
Crack— Crack!
Baek Hwa-ran’s forearm twisted grotesquely. Her hands no longer resembled those of a human.
“I was happy… So… even though I knew I shouldn’t, I delayed. But now it’s the limit. The demon and I are one. With my innate talent for ‘soul binding,’ I will forever keep this demon bound within me.”
Even as she tearfully explained, Baek Hwa-ran’s entire body was transforming into the demon’s form.
“So… please stop. I don’t need your sympathy. This is my fate. A hero… righteous, pure, with noble sacrifice. Protecting people… I am of the Sword Emperor family. I wanted to protect people in my own way.”
Seo Eun-ha’s shoulders shook violently as she covered her mouth. Behind Baek Hwa-ran, who had confessed the truth, demonic wings sprouted, and a pair of horns emerged from her forehead.
“Go back! This demon is stronger than my father. I don’t want to hurt you. Please…! Don’t be foolish any longer… Ugh. Ugh. Ugh!”
Baek Hwa-ran’s face, which had been human, twisted and discolored grotesquely.
As she convulsed and lifted her head, a demon with blood-red eyes and a long tongue stared back at them.
Flash!
As Baek Hwa-ran’s transformation into a demon completed, the black tiger carrying Isaac landed on the rooftop.
A faint glimmer of clarity seemed to flash in his previously hazy eyes.
“So, you weren’t possessed; you were trapped.”
“…Heh, it’s already too late.”
Whirr―.
Slash!
The demon swung its long claws. Isaac swiftly moved in front of Seo Eun-ha, blocking the demon’s sudden attack with his hardened forearm.
Clang!
“Grrr! Stay buried and out of my way!”
The demon, with its grotesque face twisted in anger, spread its hands and unleashed a high-density wave of dark energy.
Roar───!
“Ugh, argh! I said get lost!”
However, as the demon shot crimson beams, it seemed to struggle against an invisible force, swinging its long claws erratically.
Suddenly, the demon, which had been throwing a tantrum, stiffened as if struck by lightning, and its blood-red eyes turned black.
“Take my sister… and… disappear… please.”
“Baek Hwa-ran, can you break the bond with the demon?”
“Stop talking nonsense…! Hurry…! Ugh. Heh, heh. Heh, heh, heh!”
Baek Hwa-ran’s will was soon overtaken by the demon again. She laughed maniacally, then suddenly began to cry, pleading.
“No… don’t go! The demon… the demon is controlling my mind…!”
Despite Baek Hwa-ran’s desperate plea, Isaac’s expression remained unchanged. He stared impassively at the demonized Baek Hwa-ran and spoke emotionlessly.
“Seo Eun-ha, calm the patient’s compulsion. External team, project the Sword Emperor’s voice. Help Baek Hwa-ran break the bond with the demon.”