"I'm sorry. I was planning to tell you the truth eventually… But to think things would turn out like this."
"I can't understand it," Gaia said while making a shocked expression.
"How could Mr. KangWoo, a human, become the Demon King of Hell… and what do you mean when you say Satan caused a rebellion…?"
"I'm going to explain it from the beginning."
He opened his mouth.
"Five years ago, during the Cataclysmic Day, I was absorbed by a black gate and fell to Hell."
"Yes…?"
"What does that…?"
"I'm also not sure why I fell to Hell. I'm also not sure if it was a simple coincidence or if someone did it on purpose, but I can tell you that, on that day, I fell to Hell."
"…"
There was a heavy silence.
KangWoo kept explaining.
"I wasn't even a player. I was only a weak human, so I did everything I could to survive. While doing that, some of the demonic energy of Hell entered my body, and—"
"You became a demon," Gaia said with a trembling voice.
He nodded.
Someone who had demonic energy within their body couldn’t stay human.
You either died because you couldn’t resist the power of demonic energy, became a demonic monster because you couldn’t go against the lust and desires of the body…
Or you became a demon.
"That's right. After becoming a demon, I fought to survive for a very long time."
"What do you mean? It's only been five years since the Cataclysmic Day,” Chae YeonJoo said with a hardened expression.
KangWoo made a bitter smile.
"It's been five years on Earth, but much more time has passed in Hell."
"Just how many years did you spend there that you're saying such—"
"Ten thousand years."
"What?"
"I was locked in Hell for ten thousand years."
"…"
There was a heavy silence.
Ten thousand years…
It was a period of time that was so long that it was hard to even imagine.
It was hard to get a grasp on how long that was, so no one was able to say anything.
[It's true. Over ten thousand years, the Demon King went from the 1st to the 9th—]
"Balrog, be quiet."
[I'll follow your orders.]
What Balrog said was of help to him that time.
Everyone began mumbling after hearing someone who could testify to what he was saying.
Chae YeonJoo was so surprised that she couldn’t close her mouth.
"R-really? You spent ten thousand years in Hell?" she asked with a trembling voice.
"Yes."
"And… you became the ruler of Hell?"
"I did, for a bit."
"Does that mean you aren't anymore?"
He nodded.
Everyone's attention focused on him.
'This is where it starts.'
From then on, he needed to be careful.
Everything he'd said until that point was the 'truth.'
How, five years before, he'd fallen to Hell during the Cataclysmic Day and eventually become the ruler of the Hell of Nine Skies while spending ten thousand years in Hell.
'But a real lie…'
Was made by mixing 1% of lies with 99% of the truth.
KangWoo began telling the story he'd thought of.
"There are very strong demons called 'archdukes' in Hell. I fought against them and was holding them back."
"Holding them back?"
"Yes."
He nodded and kept talking.
"Because they were after Earth."
"…"
"Among them, Satan was especially very interested in Earth."
"Th-then did Mr. KangWoo become the Demon King to stop the archdukes from invading Earth?"
"No, that's not it."
He smiled bitterly.
'I mustn't exaggerate the story.'
He didn't have to look overly altruistic.
A setup that went against normal human comprehension ruined the story's relatability.
"I'm not a person with a strong sense of justice. I became a Demon King while fighting for my life."
He kept talking with a calm voice.
"But still, I couldn't stand still while looking at them trying to invade the world I was born in. Although it was long in the past, I still had fond memories of Earth."
"But if Satan ended up coming to Earth…"
"Yes. You're probably thinking right."
He clenched his fists and bit his lip.
'Getting into the mood.'
The most important thing was his timing and acting.
He spoke while trembling and used a suppressed voice.
"I lost against Satan. It didn't matter how much I tried, I couldn't win against someone with the Sea of Demonic Energy who had awakened 666 Authorities."
"Ah…"
"Satan took out my strength and took over as the Demon King. He consolidated his forces, created a huge fissure, and crossed to Earth with the archdukes."
"…"
"I followed Satan to Earth," He said with sunken eyes and a strong voice.
"I followed him here to stop him."
Gaia remained silent.
You could see the confusion in her eyes.
'I guess they're confused.'
Of course they were. They wouldn't think that he and 'Satan' were the same person.
KangWoo had created many alibis, so there was no way they'd think that.
But leaving the fact that Satan and KangWoo were different people, they would probably have a hard time believing in the words of 'Oh KangWoo', a demon.
'From here on…'
They said that trust was contagious.
One could experience that in their daily life.
Humans were simple. If you were unsure as to whether you should buy something or not, the chances you would buy it were higher if someone nearby said it was a great item.
There was a reason why the word 'wingman' was a thing.
'I just have to make things start flowing in my favor.'
He turned his head to Kim ShiHoon.
ShiHoon’s eyes were blurry as he looked at KangWoo.
[Using the Authority of Subordination.]
[The control over your familiar spirit has succeeded.]
* * *
"I believe in Hyeongnim."
"G-guardian Kim ShiHoon?" Gaia asked in a flustered voice.
Kim ShiHoon nodded without hesitation.
"Ms. Gaia, think of everything Hyeongnim has done until now."
"…"
"If Hyeongnim was on the demons’ side, why would he fight so hard against them?"
"B-but…"
Gaia hesitated.
She understood what Kim ShiHoon was saying…
But still, could she trust what a demon said without any doubt?
"I also trust Mr. KangWoo."
The next person who took a step forward was Han Seol-ah.
She gave KangWoo a mournful look.
"At first, after seeing how much Mr. KangWoo liked kimchi stew, I thought he was a weird person."
Han Seol-ah extended her hand and carefully touched his cheeks.
"But… now I can understand. So you spent such a long time alone in Hell."
Tears dripped from her eyes.
She wasn't sure what kind of place Hell was, but she could guess based on KangWoo's reactions the first time they'd met.
'How lonely was he?'
She bit her lips.
Among all the people there, she was the one who'd known him the longest.
She thought of all the times she'd spent with KangWoo.
'Yes. That's why he had such lonely eyes.'
She saw a deep sadness in KangWoo’s eyes from time to time.
She was finally able to understand the reason behind it.
"It's okay. Seol-ah, after meeting you, I've never been lonely."
KangWoo grabbed her hand.
'I didn't expect this.'
He didn't think Han Seol-ah would take such a step forward to defend him.
But thanks to her support, the flow he'd made through Kim ShiHoon had gotten stronger.
'I'm going to twist things even more.'
He couldn't stand still and wait since things were already going so well.
Just like playing hard to get, pushing and pulling were important while in a relationship; it was also important while lying.
KangWoo extended the white mask to Gaia.
"It doesn't matter what the situation was. It doesn't change the fact that I've lied to everyone."
He put the mask in her hand.
"From today onwards, I'm going to quit Guardian. I'm not going to appear in front of you again."
"Ah…"
"H-hyeongnim!"
"Mr. K-KangWoo… what are you talking about?!"
Everyone was astonished by his explosive declarations.
Even though he hadn't controlled Kim ShiHoon with the Authority of Subordination that time, he quickly came running toward him. Han Seol-ah shouted as if she were about to cry.
There was no need to mention how Cheon SooYeon, who had publicly said she had feelings for him, reacted. Kang TaeSoo also shook his head in denial.
"Don't say bullshit, you bastard! Do you know how much I've invested in you?!" Chae YeonJoo shouted with her face turning red.
After everyone’s heated reactions, all of their attention was placed on Gaia.
"Mr. KangWoo…"
She touched the mask he had returned to her while making a sad expression and biting her lips.
'Can I trust Mr. KangWoo?'
She thought of everything that had happened with him.
To be honest, she hadn't known him for a long time.
It had only been a couple of months…
But she'd learned a lot from the human 'Oh KangWoo' during that time.
'Mr. KangWoo…'
He was the one who got the angriest after discovering that Satan had killed Alec and had targeted Kim ShiHoon's life.
He was the one who learned about the Demon Cult’s plans and tried to stop them.
He was the one who made the Guardians return to their senses after Satan attacked the vault.
He was also the one who noticed Reinald was in danger and shed tears after he died.
He always gave her advice when she was about to fall into desperation.
'Mr. KangWoo…'
How could she suspect him?
She tightly gripped the mask he’d given her.
Her thin hands were trembling.
"I'll trust you."
"Ms. Gaia…"
"It doesn't matter if you're a demon or a Demon King…"
Gaia kept talking.
"No darkness can block the light that's within Mr. KangWoo."
The Hero God Tyrion had chosen him.
A 'god'…
'There must be a reason for Mr. Tyrion having chosen Mr. KangWoo.'
When she felt Tyrion's energy through Reinald, she discovered how much he hated demons.
Despite that, Tyrion had chosen KangWoo.
'There's no way he wouldn't know.'
There was no way Tyrion didn't realize KangWoo's identity after connecting to him.
But the fact that he still remained inside him despite that must’ve meant something.
'He probably realized the true light that's within Mr. KangWoo.'
She couldn't help but think that.
"Mr. KangWoo… Please remain as a Guardian. We… need your help."
Gaia gave him the mask again.
KangWoo acted as if he was surprised and accepted the mask.
"Thank you for believing in me."
It was at that moment…
Paf-!!!
The black demonic energy flowing out of his body started to change color and shine with golden light.
"Ah."
A bright light started to shine from KangWoo's body.
A short exclamation left peoples’ mouths.
"I'll save the world along with the Guardians, no matter what."
They could sense the strong will in his voice.
KangWoo put the white mask back on while being surrounded by golden light.
Someone that was born in the dark but had entered the light…
A hero who, despite having the body of a demon, did his best to save the world.
It was the birth of the warrior of light, Oh KangWoo.
'What an incredible production~!!'
