Chapter 245: Victor Poison, President of the Association (2)
F3NTThe greatest challenge for ancient humanity was survival. They constantly thought about how to survive today, tomorrow, the next year, and what came after that.LT5
zRJt9AgHuman beings, with their bare bodies, were weak. Against beasts with sharp fangs and claws, they were easy prey. They couldn’t even compare to a chimpanzee of lower physical class.HwAz
6j9j7eOur ancestors accepted the limits of the human species without resistance. The combat power of a single human barely surpassed that of a rabbit.qP9k
AiKMThey also didn’t have enough fur to protect against the winter cold. Their nails would break when striking stones. Their skin would tear from branches. They were vulnerable to disease.SWRZ
tzsAll they had were a few leaves to cover themselves. So, humanity put their heads together.kUE
zjvm“If we want to thrive…”naFz2Ep
Imqh‘Let’s gather more people!’ZQM3
MuOGrouped together, they reasoned logically and responded with collective intelligence. Even if the solutions weren’t perfect, they acted convinced it was the best path.ohOCI
tMaThanks to that, humanity created civilization.USBJn
25IOEeAThey learned to hunt wild beasts and face natural disasters. Freed from the yoke of mere survival, humans multiplied. They expanded their reach from land to sea, and then to the sky.o0rY
EBL6OKThey even ventured into places beyond their physical reach. The fangs and claws of beasts became mere trophies. And natural disasters stopped being threats.rAuP
Ze4T‘Humanity became arrogant.’zWZpHR
jMMF5nThe spears that once pointed at predators now turned toward each other. From a cosmic perspective, they just wanted to control a bit more of this tiny blue planet. And those blind blades took lives without hesitation.rHl
85R1X6tHumanity became corrupted.k6WL9H9
ELQ9gWwIt was a dark era, overflowing with greed and selfishness. Speaking of humanity became a vulgar, tasteless joke.Bnq4O8
KK364And then… when human history was already stained with black and red blood, an unexpected enemy arrived.LBE
sfnaSThe Demon King’s Army. The first war between humans and demons.TbCZTET
YmBAs soon as the war broke out, humanity was pushed to the brink of annihilation.6tVav1
pQXThey suffered defeat after defeat on every front. It was only natural—while humanity had grown complacent, the demons had been organizing with a purpose.tlUpEE
mks61The eradication of humans.UwXEex
StWZs“That beautiful land, overflowing with milk and honey, is wasted on humans! Drown it all!”IKI
OKt3wlDeclared the Third Corps Commander, Vesna, as she summoned a tidal wave.tROX
NHQooDe…eXi
o28“Expel the humans! Burn every last trace! Show that true evil is like fire!”eSOMYQ
tkkFeShouted the Fifth Corps Commander, Agor, as everything burned in flames.2oz
hMt6…I3eN
FNfxO“Soak the land in human blood to fertilize it!”uUG4W
RVXSaid the Fourth Corps Commander, Fermush, as he assembled bones and human flesh.GYcpN
xx1n1…Y8BhH
Aejb“When the air of this blue planet turns completely red…”eba
gATeEWhispered the Second Corps Commander, Kuarne, with a bloody smile.4Ibp
OFm0P…P6Z
MxwN“Prepare for the Lord’s arrival in the promised land.”inqa
H7vIDckProclaimed the First Corps Commander, Lycan.ufCAz
zD210…oOiS
ngCOnly that declaration of extermination made humanity drop their weapons and unite. Because they knew—begging for mercy wouldn’t work on those demons.J9Cc
ACNeUnder the forgotten banner of “survival,” humanity came together again.8PcY
QOwJIxBut the development of the war was hopeless. The demons surged like an avalanche, while human soldiers merely ran from side to side.
They couldn’t even start a proper battle. One-sided massacres were a daily occurrence.d99
8CDAt the root of it all was the internal rot of human society. They couldn’t unite overnight. That wasn’t a miracle—it was just dumb luck.FYiWY
DtedHuman banners fell. The morale of their armies plummeted. The demon army’s war horns blared louder and louder.WHJ
lT7WHumanity seemed to be losing its last hope, a light like a candle about to go out. Humanity’s fate was sealed.nme
CPKEveryone thought so. Everyone had given up hope. But heroes only appear when everyone has surrendered.cq8e
glkas“Humanity will prevail.”cku8lIG
NNCTmI“It’s possible.”5HJv
9ww53“The spark of humanity won’t die here.”FN78u
f2kOKCA hero of dark times lit a flame of hope and brought victory.5Pq
I6W69The founding hero, Balor Joaquin.4nzb
kE60TQQAnd at that moment, Victor Poison thought.UuGGT
gASW624‘Humanity is weak, but arrogant. Without support, it collapses and rots.’Ta0
rMgKAPStanding just one step away from the humans who barely lived a hundred years.AzqD
D4gp07‘Even now, it’s the same. Our society is rotten to the core, and soon the demons will invade.’5LNQekC
07hkK5EWith the eyes of an observer, he watched human history and its wickedness.1lla
PEnHe had plenty of time to reflect. Because he was an ancient, free from the chain of mortality.XD8K
ZRMTrxL‘In times like this, we need a savior. Someone to keep humanity from sinking into the swamp of evil. And not just humanity—I want to be saved too!’4mwz
CbldZQBAnd to that goal, Victor added a deeply personal desire.Nxc7FSt
5sjA2‘If only I could end this cursed life…’j2ms28C
ziAxbjnA twisted wish—but a wish nonetheless.DM7UVJ
Nrx‘I want to die at the hands of that man!’OAHHt
RFIA thought worthy of a true lunatic.TOl
4yD6Py4***JlU
2CGMakgI couldn’t believe it.kDbyS
lx5VuonThat was all I could say, my thoughts tangled in knots.bXPCLU
DD0ah“…What are you saying?”9IFh
C0DMa“Please, Heavenly Sword, end me with that hand!”vphRs
fPIQjuThe words of the President of the Association made no sense. But his clear gaze, locked onto me, overflowed with madness.9voB5CF
G7EHwaWas this the infamous “madman with pure eyes” people had been talking about lately? To think this old man, over two hundred years old, still lived so youthfully.mSdQV
ivzU8gS“Dad!”R8KLNG0
DG1TmifMedia, unable to hold back any longer, intervened. She grabbed his wrist tightly, as if she were about to dislocate it. She looked like she might break his arm.AK1gTR
uGwLC“What’s wrong with your brain?! Asking Geom-Ma to kill you?! Do you have any idea how stupid that sounds?!”n4mWwS
ARYtwShe screamed in fury. Her voice was sharp, but her face had gone pale.f3CEQ3
c2QlnY9“My daughter.”8Za
i7jWhether or not he understood her torment, Victor only looked at her calmly.ChVK1
mzAEfM“You already know. No member of the Poison family has ever lived to the end of their life. That’s why…”gol
MDWJust as he began his speech, Media’s hand flew toward his cheek.rvKNOxl
Ir9C24Slap.oMzu
eLidLfHe didn’t even have time to look surprised. Her arm came up again in an arc.GdTKvv
d5bQRlSlap.BUPtL
7QpicHThis time on the other cheek.2mHa
EhN32Ac‘…Ouch.’pJaY
Hh4JcMaybe the tyrant’s hand really did hurt more than normal? Victor’s cheeks swelled instantly.bbcm
S1NZpuhOur society is built on respect for elders. Even talking back to your parents is considered a serious offense. And hitting your parents? We call that an atrocity. Another word for it, unfilial child.OhD
S27yHAnd now Media was one. In front of three witnesses, she’d just slapped her father without hesitation. She, who had always been an exemplary role model for the students.mdM
YJUZLNc‘…Though, I don’t blame her.’vApq
mJ4Seeing your father beg to be killed—how is a daughter supposed to feel? It was as if I could see a large, rusted nail embedded in the left side of Media’s chest. A nail her father had driven in without realizing.lvVJO7N
19fKBThe pain of being an Ancient wasn’t exclusive to Victor. His daughter, Media Poison, bore it too. But unlike him, Media hadn’t gone insane.g47HD60
Ua3‘…….’kgU
s0xFI looked at her, sadness in my eyes. From her position as Director, she lit the way for students like the light of a new era. Since she didn’t age, she was always there, the lighthouse guiding future heroes.9DY2
VKeel92She lived that life with gratitude. She was willing to give everything for the students she so dearly loved.VuHyO
BiPzF81Her love for them was evident even in the records of Miracle Blessing M.
As soon as her [Poet’s Blessing] gave her a sense of the coming war, she took action.NQKkA
iIiHShe reported it first to the Hero Association and the International Union, but they ignored her.gfa
9x27‘A war? In this era of peace?’dpBSiST
K0R‘Stick to education and leave politics alone, Director.’rz6WcAL
YfmQ3noBut Media knew those fools only understood hard evidence. And since reading scripture to a cow was pointless, she immediately set out to inspect the Demon Realm herself.NdB
0MLpH6aAnd there, in that desolate land, she found death. At the hands of the Second Corps Commander, Kuarne. Slowly, painfully.BJfhy
U17It wasn’t until her cold corpse returned that humanity understood she had been right. Her death awakened the world, which had been asleep and complacent.IOZ
rzhUQcFrom that moment on, the Academy, the Association, and the International Union united immediately. At the center of that great alliance was Media’s sacrifice.5Y1
YYod‘Sacrifice.’eFFNs
xXzIss8Whenever someone tried to give up, Media sacrificed herself. And that selflessness became the seed that bore fruit in the form of victory for humanity.UWiOCnk
VKZYears later, the wise Media, alongside Balor Joaquin, was the only one recognized as a Saint Hero (聖雄) on the altar of the gods.clL
EP7bQOB“Dad…”LvXhtEZ
o5e54P1And now, that same Media, shoulders slumped, sobbed.w2Z
0ehB1N“You… you weren’t like this. Why have you changed so much?”siA9
FYI“……”QgR4
dkdCAv4Victor didn’t answer. At this point, it seemed Media already sensed it. That her father was gone—and not just halfway.wpTD
aCLE“You two, leave us for now…”UF0niEK
ccOBTXWithout taking her eyes off Victor, she ordered the assistant and secretary to leave.X5mrtNx
HdYI4“Y-yes, ma’am!”DHFX
WQCWith sharp instincts, both quickly left the lab. Even then, they remembered to salute with a military gesture. Not out of professionalism—but out of caution, no doubt.qi4Ip
S7xX1‘Well, if you’re around a tyrant like her, no wonder you’re that sharp.’xsyIGaA
SAsHNzI turned my gaze from the door back to the two who remained. Father and daughter of the Poison family argued.IyV7LC
qYJCyT“Daughter… I don’t want to say this, but I can’t go on living like this.”U0h
x7hGlA“And so you’re going to give up? What about the Association you founded? And Changseong, that gorilla who followed you for decades? Is he an idiot?”d6LR3Al
0M6h“The Hero Association has shown it can survive twenty years without me, an old recluse. Besides, there’s a successor now. That Mura you mentioned will surely do better than me. After all, he’s a normal human, like the rest of them.”6mD9XOa
SmADg8Hearing that excuse, Media let out a scornful chuckle and replied.R5s
JQt9“Wow, I can tell you’ve been preparing this speech. But you forgot the most important part, didn’t you? Asking Kang Geom-Ma to kill you? What is that? Another excuse to give up? Or one of your senile delusions?”OD2aPT
xJsB“Suiciding like our ancestors is a terrible tradition. We must break that cycle. And if so, I’d rather die at the hands of the savior…!”esmnl8L
v5Zf“You crazy old man!”EoF
0N61wMedia raised her hand again but stopped. I stepped between them.kRbEIC
M8SeAI shook my head.2Qhuq
cVD“No matter how bad things are between you and your father, hitting him isn’t right. He’s lost his composure, Director.”IOqUz9
7pmAWP3Media couldn’t say anything more. Guilt froze her face.1Jd
q0jeJVI spoke to her softly, as if to comfort her.DY1h8w
R8w“But I’m not saying you’re wrong. In my opinion, the President has completely lost his mind too.”CgH
T6G9vII gently moved Media aside and addressed Victor.wSdv
heQLX0“I understand why you made that request, President. You’re tired of living. Everything feels empty to you, and you’re exhausted.”5Ri02
gNG“……”LpLiIaf
3NWFd6“I get that… but even so, you’re crazy.”oAp4BJL
oYZnZOXVictor looked at me, bewildered. Was he surprised someone told him he was insane? No, that wasn’t it. A true madman doesn’t even realize he’s mad.78b
JLlxfR“You’re not in your right mind. Even though you could die fighting demons, you come to me asking to be killed.”PaR
Rip1I won’t deny my words were sharp. I was angry at the President.22Q
ONXRSZ7For making such an absurd request, yes. But more than that, for hurting Media.SH7hj
TL1It infuriated me that someone so pitiful could wound someone like her.naKVbBX
luHH“So I have a proposal.”5C46
OQuIpI pulled out my sashimi knife, just like Victor had wanted.iBQyR
IdsyMedia, alarmed, reacted, but I calmed her before continuing.Mp78
A56“I can’t kill him, but I can cure his madness. Through physical therapy. Consider this knife as an injection or a scalpel.”W6Va
2ktDqTx“……?!”LJHND92
feqI ran my finger along the blade.88DB
U7Yi“They say the best remedy for a madman is a clean cut. I already tried it on Saki Kojima, and the results were remarkable.”92xghy
Crjn1AhThe look the President gave me, like I was the crazy one, was the best part.XUjcM
aiwxWhat’s with that face?uPL
xE5sgC2“It’s going to hurt a little.”fde5
EHCNAnd I proceeded with the treatment.Bd4AZd
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Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaYou have my condolences Victor.