Chapter 245: Victor Poison, President of the Association (2)

The greatest challenge for ancient humanity was survival. They constantly thought about how to survive today, tomorrow, the next year, and what came after that.

Human 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.

Our ancestors accepted the limits of the human species without resistance. The combat power of a single human barely surpassed that of a rabbit.

They 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.

All they had were a few leaves to cover themselves. So, humanity put their heads together.

“If we want to thrive…”

‘Let’s gather more people!’

Grouped together, they reasoned logically and responded with collective intelligence. Even if the solutions weren’t perfect, they acted convinced it was the best path.

Thanks to that, humanity created civilization.

They 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.

They even ventured into places beyond their physical reach. The fangs and claws of beasts became mere trophies. And natural disasters stopped being threats.

‘Humanity became arrogant.’

The 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.

Humanity became corrupted.

It was a dark era, overflowing with greed and selfishness. Speaking of humanity became a vulgar, tasteless joke.

And then… when human history was already stained with black and red blood, an unexpected enemy arrived.

The Demon King’s Army. The first war between humans and demons.

As soon as the war broke out, humanity was pushed to the brink of annihilation.

They suffered defeat after defeat on every front. It was only natural—while humanity had grown complacent, the demons had been organizing with a purpose.

The eradication of humans.

“That beautiful land, overflowing with milk and honey, is wasted on humans! Drown it all!”

Declared the Third Corps Commander, Vesna, as she summoned a tidal wave.

…

“Expel the humans! Burn every last trace! Show that true evil is like fire!”

Shouted the Fifth Corps Commander, Agor, as everything burned in flames.

…

“Soak the land in human blood to fertilize it!”

Said the Fourth Corps Commander, Fermush, as he assembled bones and human flesh.

…

“When the air of this blue planet turns completely red…”

Whispered the Second Corps Commander, Kuarne, with a bloody smile.

…

“Prepare for the Lord’s arrival in the promised land.”

Proclaimed the First Corps Commander, Lycan.

…

Only that declaration of extermination made humanity drop their weapons and unite. Because they knew—begging for mercy wouldn’t work on those demons.

Under the forgotten banner of “survival,” humanity came together again.

But 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.

At 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.

Human banners fell. The morale of their armies plummeted. The demon army’s war horns blared louder and louder.

Humanity seemed to be losing its last hope, a light like a candle about to go out. Humanity’s fate was sealed.

Everyone thought so. Everyone had given up hope. But heroes only appear when everyone has surrendered.

“Humanity will prevail.”

“It’s possible.”

“The spark of humanity won’t die here.”

A hero of dark times lit a flame of hope and brought victory.

The founding hero, Balor Joaquin.

And at that moment, Victor Poison thought.

‘Humanity is weak, but arrogant. Without support, it collapses and rots.’

Standing just one step away from the humans who barely lived a hundred years.

‘Even now, it’s the same. Our society is rotten to the core, and soon the demons will invade.’

With the eyes of an observer, he watched human history and its wickedness.

He had plenty of time to reflect. Because he was an ancient, free from the chain of mortality.

‘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!’

And to that goal, Victor added a deeply personal desire.

‘If only I could end this cursed life…’

A twisted wish—but a wish nonetheless.

‘I want to die at the hands of that man!’

A thought worthy of a true lunatic.

***

I couldn’t believe it.

That was all I could say, my thoughts tangled in knots.

“…What are you saying?”

“Please, Heavenly Sword, end me with that hand!”

The words of the President of the Association made no sense. But his clear gaze, locked onto me, overflowed with madness.

Was 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.

“Dad!”

Media, 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.

“What’s wrong with your brain?! Asking Geom-Ma to kill you?! Do you have any idea how stupid that sounds?!”

She screamed in fury. Her voice was sharp, but her face had gone pale.

“My daughter.”

Whether or not he understood her torment, Victor only looked at her calmly.

“You already know. No member of the Poison family has ever lived to the end of their life. That’s why…”

Just as he began his speech, Media’s hand flew toward his cheek.

Slap.

He didn’t even have time to look surprised. Her arm came up again in an arc.

Slap.

This time on the other cheek.

‘…Ouch.’

Maybe the tyrant’s hand really did hurt more than normal? Victor’s cheeks swelled instantly.

Our 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.

And 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.

‘…Though, I don’t blame her.’

Seeing 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.

The 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.

‘…….’

I 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.

She lived that life with gratitude. She was willing to give everything for the students she so dearly loved.

Her 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.

She reported it first to the Hero Association and the International Union, but they ignored her.

‘A war? In this era of peace?’

‘Stick to education and leave politics alone, Director.’

But 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.

And there, in that desolate land, she found death. At the hands of the Second Corps Commander, Kuarne. Slowly, painfully.

It 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.

From that moment on, the Academy, the Association, and the International Union united immediately. At the center of that great alliance was Media’s sacrifice.

‘Sacrifice.’

Whenever someone tried to give up, Media sacrificed herself. And that selflessness became the seed that bore fruit in the form of victory for humanity.

Years later, the wise Media, alongside Balor Joaquin, was the only one recognized as a Saint Hero (聖雄) on the altar of the gods.

“Dad…”

And now, that same Media, shoulders slumped, sobbed.

“You… you weren’t like this. Why have you changed so much?”

“……”

Victor didn’t answer. At this point, it seemed Media already sensed it. That her father was gone—and not just halfway.

“You two, leave us for now…”

Without taking her eyes off Victor, she ordered the assistant and secretary to leave.

“Y-yes, ma’am!”

With 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.

‘Well, if you’re around a tyrant like her, no wonder you’re that sharp.’

I turned my gaze from the door back to the two who remained. Father and daughter of the Poison family argued.

“Daughter… I don’t want to say this, but I can’t go on living like this.”

“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?”

“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.”

Hearing that excuse, Media let out a scornful chuckle and replied.

“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?”

“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…!”

“You crazy old man!”

Media raised her hand again but stopped. I stepped between them.

I shook my head.

“No matter how bad things are between you and your father, hitting him isn’t right. He’s lost his composure, Director.”

Media couldn’t say anything more. Guilt froze her face.

I spoke to her softly, as if to comfort her.

“But I’m not saying you’re wrong. In my opinion, the President has completely lost his mind too.”

I gently moved Media aside and addressed Victor.

“I understand why you made that request, President. You’re tired of living. Everything feels empty to you, and you’re exhausted.”

“……”

“I get that… but even so, you’re crazy.”

Victor 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.

“You’re not in your right mind. Even though you could die fighting demons, you come to me asking to be killed.”

I won’t deny my words were sharp. I was angry at the President.

For making such an absurd request, yes. But more than that, for hurting Media.

It infuriated me that someone so pitiful could wound someone like her.

“So I have a proposal.”

I pulled out my sashimi knife, just like Victor had wanted.

Media, alarmed, reacted, but I calmed her before continuing.

“I can’t kill him, but I can cure his madness. Through physical therapy. Consider this knife as an injection or a scalpel.”

“……?!”

I ran my finger along the blade.

“They say the best remedy for a madman is a clean cut. I already tried it on Saki Kojima, and the results were remarkable.”

The look the President gave me, like I was the crazy one, was the best part.

What’s with that face?

“It’s going to hurt a little.”

And I proceeded with the treatment.