I Became an Illegal Cheat User

134 – Breaking Through the Demon Realm (2)

Commonly known as the fog of death.

Lee Seoyeon’s impression upon entering it was this.

Disgusting.

Of course, I had thought so from the outside.

But once I actually stepped inside, I realized how shallow that thought was.

‘…It’s too unpleasant.’

The stench of rotting corpses mixed in the air.

The ominous energy wrapping around my body.

And then.

A violet sky.

A violet land.

No matter where I look, it’s all filled with violet.

It torments not just my sense of smell, but my sight as well.

Indeed.

Just as Lee Yujin said.

The demon realm.

This place is a demon realm.

A place where no human can possibly survive.

‘Is this why the death energy is said to be more vicious than the demonic energy?’

Noah, who spoke of death energy before entering the fog.

He said.

If the demon is specialized in corrupting people.

Then deceit is specialized in killing the very essence of a person.

Lee Seoyeon now understood those words.

Not as deeply as Yoojin, but having fought against the corrupted, she had been exposed to the demon both directly and indirectly many times.

Noah’s words made her feel the malice of deceit even more acutely.

And it was only natural.

‘…The fact that, even after spreading this much presence, I can’t feel any signs of life.’

There is none.

‘As soon as I entered the fog, it must mean that they scattered in all directions.’

Neither in sight, nor in presence.

Of course, she couldn’t see Yoojin, nor Arthur, nor Noah—those two as well.

That meant.

“Singularity.”

A new singularity beyond what Yoojin had informed her about.

‘The singularities Yoojin told me about were three in total.’

Rapid corrosion of objects not affected by the holy sword’s power.

In the absence of mana, recovery of magical power is impossible.

Doubling of magical power consumption due to deceit.

A new singularity added to those three.

Forced isolation.

And.

‘…The distance of visibility is roughly 10 meters.’

Darkness.

As if caught in the eye of a storm, in a circular shape.

Surrounding the position where Lee Seoyeon stood, a radius of 10 meters blocked her sight.

‘It’s bothersome.’

Beyond the unseen darkness.

The characteristics of the darkness that blocked not only her sight but also her presence made Lee Seoyeon slightly furrow her brows.

It was unpleasant.

It’s quite overwhelming.

The air, the wind.

The sky, the earth.

Everything here makes me shudder.

“Huh.”

I exhaled deeply.

In doing so, Lee Seoyeon steadied her churning stomach and mind.

For now.

‘First, assess my surroundings.’

To be honest.

Assessing my surroundings and all that.

I want to kick the ground and find Yoo Jiin right away.

But.

Step by step.

Discomfort, unease, impurity.

The darkness of this place is filled with a malicious energy.

That darkness follows my footsteps like a shadow.

‘The distance is still 10 meters.’

Neither more, nor less.

It neither widens nor narrows.

Is it simply blocking my line of sight?

As Lee Seoyeon thought this, a question arose in her mind.

‘…Did I really come in properly?’

What if, for some reason, I failed to enter and am drifting in some space?

What if that’s why I feel so isolated?

But just as she entertained such doubts for a moment.

Grrk, grrk.

The rough texture felt through her shoes.

Not a sensation of floating in the air, but the texture of the ground confirming that she was firmly on solid ground.

With the same texture of earth as outside, Lee Seoyeon realized she was not alone in her isolation.

And decisively.

Hum, hum hum.

A golden aura enveloping the entire body.

A necessary condition to enter this fog of death.

The divine power granted through the Asga holy sword, the strength of the hero, was exerting itself even more strongly than when observed from the outside, indicating that she had entered the fog normally.

Because of these facts, Lee Seo-yeon, who was convinced that she had entered the fog normally, let out a short sigh of relief.

‘…Thank goodness.’

There was nothing wrong with helping Yoo-jin.

‘I’m sure I’m in the same area as Yoo-jin.’

Now she must find him and move.

He too must be alone, just like her…

– Could that really be the case?

As she thought this, a voice echoed from beside her.

Lee Seo-yeon turned her head toward the voice.

And there, she saw.

– Could he really be alone?

A translucent ‘Lee Seo-yeon’ that looked exactly like her.

“……”

Without a word, Lee Seo-yeon gazed at ‘Lee Seo-yeon’ with cold eyes.

It was a familiar sight.

A familiar phenomenon as well.

Midterm evaluation of the first semester.

No, to be precise, even before that.

It had appeared when her talent ‘Sword Genius (S)’ evolved into ‘Sword Master (S+)’ due to Yoo-jin’s influence, so it was only natural to become accustomed to it.

But the ‘Lee Seo-yeon’ spouting negative words beside her was not the ‘Lee Seo-yeon’ she had grown accustomed to.

And understandably so.

– I don’t think so.

Her eye color was black.

– I think you’re the only one who has moved to a different place. Yoo-jin is with Arthur, that girl, and Noah, the prayer warrior.

And ‘Lee Seo-yeon’s’ eye color was also black.

But.

– Aren’t you anxious? About Yujin being with those two… no, Arthur, that girl?

The ‘Lee Seoyeon’ who is now whispering doubts and anxieties is not wearing black, but has red eyes.

Different from the form of talent that she had seen until now, which had controlled her desires.

– Isn’t it just infuriating? They were glued together all summer break, and now she’s still by his side.

That despicable girl.

That loathsome girl.

That damned girl who dares to cling to Yujin.

– Don’t you feel wronged? You hardly had any time with him, yet that girl has so much?

So what?

I could just get rid of that girl…

– Let’s stop there, shall we?

– …You.

Just as ‘Lee Seoyeon’ was about to cross the line with her words, a voice came from the opposite side of Seoyeon.

At that voice, Seoyeon turned her head away from ‘Lee Seoyeon’.

– Any further comments wouldn’t be good for either you or Seoyeon.

A translucent figure, just like ‘Lee Seoyeon’. But this time, the form of talent that appeared had black eyes, just like Seoyeon.

It was the familiar form of talent that she often saw.

At the sight of that figure, Seoyeon felt the throbbing in her head ease.

Did she sense Seoyeon’s state?

– …How dare you!

The face of ‘Lee Seoyeon’, which had been whispering like a devil, twisted grotesquely.

– Hmm… could you refrain from using such harsh words in Seoyeon’s form? It just doesn’t suit you.

– Shut up!

– I just said it, and now you’re…

– I told you to shut up!

‘Lee Seoyeon’ stomped forward, her voice sharp and loud, approaching ‘Lee Seoyeon’.

– How dare you question my words?

– How dare, how dare… can we stop with that? In Seoyeon’s form, it’s really hard to adjust.

I feel the same.

Lee Seoyeon nodded at the words of ‘Lee Seoyeon.’

In response to Lee Seoyeon’s reaction, ‘Lee Seoyeon’ glared fiercely and shouted.

– How dare this fake!

– …….

Fake.

At that word, ‘Lee Seoyeon’ fell silent.

Seeing this, ‘Lee Seoyeon’ wore a triumphant expression, as if to say, “So you finally understand what I mean.”

– Yes, fakes should keep their mouths shut like that.

No, that’s not right.

‘Lee Seoyeon’ shook her head.

– Disappear. Stop babbling and just vanish!

‘Lee Seoyeon’s hand moved to her waist. And the moment she grasped the hilt of her sword.

– Um…, sorry, but I don’t understand what you’re saying right now.

With her mouth closed, ‘Lee Seoyeon’ spoke with a face that showed complete confusion as she listened silently.

– Why am I a fake?

– What?

– You keep calling me fake, fake, but I am undeniably the talent of Lee Seoyeon. And that goes for you too.

– That’s because you…

– Ah, is it because of this?

‘Lee Seoyeon’ raised her hand as if she finally understood.

Then.

Thud!

She thrust her hand into her chest, precisely towards her heart.

And from within.

– Is this why you call me a fake?

She pulled out a bright white sphere that sparkled like a star.

At that, ‘Lee Seoyeon’ frowned as if it were the correct answer.

Seeing this, ‘Lee Seoyeon’ tilted her head, still not understanding.

– How strange. You must know what this sphere, the source of this power, is, right?

And yet you still call me a fake?

Why?

This sphere does indeed make up who I am.

But for ‘us,’ it must be something very important, right?

As ‘Lee Seoyeon’ said that.

– Yes, it is important! To me, and to you, Lee Seoyeon!

But!

– You came into existence through that unreasonable power, when you shouldn’t have!

– Ah, was it a problem that I gained consciousness before you?

What is this?

Just simply.

– It’s jealousy, isn’t it?

At those words, ‘Lee Seoyeon’ looked at ‘Lee Seoyeon’ as if in disbelief.

But that was only for a moment.

– No!

She shouted with a voice filled with absurdity, irritation, and frustration.

– Trials!

‘Lee Seoyeon’ shouted that while pointing her finger at the ‘Lee Seoyeon’ who was watching the amusing tussle of talents from behind.

– It’s because of the trials, you damn girl!

– Trials?

– Yes, trials!

Having spoken so directly.

You must have understood why I was angry and why I was expressing that anger.

‘Lee Seoyeon’ thought this as she looked at ‘Lee Seoyeon.’

But contrary to ‘Lee Seoyeon’s’ thoughts.

– Trials? What trials?

‘Lee Seoyeon’ had no idea about the ‘trials of talent.’

Ah.

Is this right?

‘Lee Seoyeon’ looked at ‘Lee Seoyeon’ with a face full of emptiness.

Now, she wasn’t even angry anymore.

No, even if I wanted to get angry, I was too exhausted to do so.

Still.

I opened my mouth.

– …Fake, listen closely.

A white sphere.

Born from some unprecedented power that Yoo Jin possessed, this fake—an irregular being that, under normal circumstances, would not have two intelligences arising from a single talent—was informed about the ‘Trial of Talent.’

But.

– Do you really have to do that?

Damn it.

– I feel like Lee Seo Yeon could become strong enough without undergoing such trials.

The fake, this irregular, not only failed to understand the ‘Trial of Talent,’ but also refused to engage with it.

– Ha…

Damn girl.

We’re not communicating at all.

‘Lee Seo Yeon’ let out a hollow laugh as she looked at ‘Lee Seo Yeon.’ Then, she quickly wiped the weary smile off her face and said,

– Fine… just stay in that state of misunderstanding.

After all, whether it’s me or you.

Even if the trial of talent isn’t imposed, or even if I don’t want it to be.

Lee Seo Yeon, the

A man steps out of the darkness with a sigh of relief.

“Thank goodness. I searched for a long time.”

Lee Yoo-jin.

The one I wanted to see right away is slowly approaching with a gentle face.

But.

Strangely.

“…….”

– …….

– …….

Lee Seo-yeon, who is looking at Lee Yoo-jin, and the expressions of the two figures of talent are extremely cold.

Seeing Seo-yeon’s demeanor, Yoo-jin asked with a rather flustered expression.

“Uh… did I do something wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?”

But even with that question, Seo-yeon did not open her mouth.

Instead.

Quietly.

Srrng.

She drew her sword.

“…Seo-yeon?”

At Seo-yeon’s sudden action of drawing her sword, Yoo-jin halted his steps.

Regardless.

Whack.

From Seo-yeon’s sword, the crimson blade of the Dainsleif ignited with flames made of magic.

Flames the same color as the blade.

Seeing those flames, Yoo-jin looked at Seo-yeon with a hardened expression and said,

“Hey, Seo-yeon? It’s me, Yoo-jin. I’m not a monster.”

As Yoo-jin spoke, the intensity of the flames rising from Seo-yeon’s Dainsleif weakened.

Seeing this, Yoo-jin thought that Seo-yeon understood his words and began to move his steps again.

But in that moment.

Screech!

Something sliced through the air with a sound.

At the same time.

“Someone like you is Lee Yoo-jin?”

Lee Seo-yeon’s cold, yet furious voice whispered into Lee Yoo-jin’s ear.

At that voice, Lee Yoo-jin’s face twisted in disbelief as she tried to shout. No, she wanted to shout.

If only her head hadn’t been severed.

Thud.

“Y… Seo… yeon…?”

Lee Yoo-jin called out her name with a face that couldn’t believe what had happened.

“…Why?”

“Why do you ask?”

Lee Yoo-jin, questioning why this was happening to her.

To that, Lee Seo-yeon glared at her with eyes as sharp as a blade and provided the reason.

“Hair, 0.3mm; nails, 0.1mm.”

Because it was different from what she had seen today.

And, decisively.

“Lee Yoo-jin doesn’t act like that in the middle of enemy territory.”

Especially not in a scattered situation like this.

“Th… that’s true.”

Lee Yoo-jin.

Wobble, wobble.

No, it was Lee Yoo-jin.

The hideous form of the monster, returning to its true appearance, spoke as if it understood.

“So that was it.”

The monster, made of melted, violet flesh, rose with a chilling sound.

But even before it could fully rise.

Rustle.

Rustle, rustle….

Rustle-rustle-rustle-rustle-rustle-rustle─!

The blade of Lee Seoyeon, moving at near-light speed, shattered everything into pieces.

Thud, thud, thud…

The monster—no, the pieces of flesh that had once been a monster—were scattered across the floor.

Lee Seoyeon, watching the scene with cold eyes, swung her sword down toward the ground as if shaking off blood from a dying life.

Of course, there was no flesh clinging to it, as the sword fire was still present.

Still, Lee Seoyeon flicked her sword as if it had something dirty on it.

Next to her, the two figures of talent quietly observed the situation and spoke.

– Even though I manifested the sword fire as weakly as possible, the mana consumption is significant.

– That said, we can’t avoid using mana.

– True, looking at the monster we’re facing now, it seems like it regenerates unless the attack contains mana.

– Still, if there’s a silver lining, it’s that we have a way to recover mana.

– Right, that’s a relief. Yujin packed some mana recovery potions for us.

– The amount of mana recovery potions Yujin gave us is quite substantial. We should be fine using mana freely for at least five hours.

– That’s good, but it might be better to minimize mana usage just in case.

– So, let’s avoid combat as much as possible?

– Yes, evasion over combat.

– Evasion over combat… not a bad thought for a fake.

‘Hmm.’

Is the relationship really bad?

At this point…

‘Isn’t it actually good?’

The moment Lee Seoyeon thought that.

– Right?

– No!

Positive and negative voices echoed simultaneously.

Seeing the two figures of talent, Lee Seoyeon thought, ‘No matter how I think about it…’

She tried to retort with a flushed face, but—

“Lee Seoyeon? There you are!”

“Lee Seoyeon, were you here?”

“Lady Seoyeon? Were you here?”

Voices echoed from all around.

The words I had intended to say vanished at the sight of the monsters transformed into the shapes of my friends.

– For now, we need to get out of here.

– …I also agree with the words of the fake.

But.

Before that.

“After I sweep away the audacious monsters that take on the form of Yujin.”

– After I sweep away the audacious monsters that take on the form of Yujin.

– After I sweep away the audacious monsters that take on the form of Yujin.

I need to move.

Whoosh!

The blade of Lee Seoyeon flared brightly.