Chapter 246: True Madness
EmqJCvDialogue is probably the most ideal way to resolve conflicts between people.pcnNzLJ
k9hKWeUnfortunately, reality isn’t so generous. Sometimes, there are situations where one must abandon dignity and resort to violence. For example, when the other person doesn’t listen—or when they’re crazy… or very crazy.SXn
ccr4340Anyway.LFf
s9snThis is exactly one of those cases. A moment when dignity must give way to violence. Because the President of the Association, now fleeing and trailing blood, is a lunatic with whom dialogue is impossible.PT3Kn
zelFuJThok.Xfs9v
tNZDxI couldn’t just stand there with a patient this critical, so I inevitably administered an injection—with my knife.8HBqg
HdrfnThe President’s eyes flew wide open as the sashimi blade pierced his side.xxU3Lo
3nqY“Gaaaaaaaaaaah!”e1a8
YRLYA bloodcurdling scream filled the laboratory. Since the entire interior was lined with metal, the echo thundered back with force.nZl6ms
fv9YrFdAt the center of this hellish wailing were him—vomiting blood in torrents—and me.2Wz
iwtl4“It’s just a stab.”qtAXI1
ASn7TRThe President convulsed, foaming at the mouth after taking the injection to the abdomen.JFSF
ClrsZAIHis rolled-back eyes made it clear he wasn’t in good shape.2ULt1Ih
gQnWWhat a shame… His madness was worse than I thought.yE0hDq3
nTW80In moments like this, one has to harden their heart. Hearing the screams of a man over two hundred years old tears your soul, but this is all part of the treatment.aJk
69uAnd let me repeat this is not gratuitous violence. This is medicine. It’s not like I want to treat the Director’s father like this.HCDFn
VzePjy‘My heart hurts.’cuIJ5A
H4c8KAs if something were being torn inside.db0F1
he4fDWhich is why I must cure his madness as quickly as possible. Besides, I only had about 40 seconds left on my [Blessing of Insensitivity to Pain].dIqQ0BP
Z4i1UYA“I’ll administer another dose.”wdvkObO
2qr“P-p… stop… please, stop…!”RfWo
BQ53URB“If you move, it’ll hurt more—ah, right.”P9CDUr
uh28jyLI scratched my head with the hilt of the knife.AEmd5
geC“This is supposed to hurt!”4VTcx
aE1ACnD“Kaaaaa!”wQd1BCe
szgwl8Ignoring his attempt at resistance, I stabbed him again with the sashimi. Splash. Blood sprayed across my cheek.VtEKi2
Edm7M3“Damn, I’m going to need a lot of soap to wash my face.”lIIxz
K02The President’s face began to turn as pale as a corpse. It was the perfect moment to activate the [Blessing of Regeneration].GSgWq
sUnoolThis kind of blessing even regenerates blood, so there’s no risk of bleeding out or dying from shock.eTNj6d8
Kcr2raIf timed right, the patient won’t die. Or rather, they can’t die. I won’t let them.3cV0Q
3R9vNow that I think about it, if this blessing were made widely available, the entire medical system would collapse.vxLE
xxo‘And even I, self-taught, have already “cured” several people.’qKdyGG
JZsQUOf course, the blessing alone doesn’t perform miracles. It’s thanks to my precise cuts and genuine desire to save lives that this has been possible.9vR
G4MyAt this rate, shouldn’t I be considered a divine doctor?8IRqK
fF8rj·
·
·DOOwU
o2MWell… maybe not.Px2
XKH***xpts
RoUTx“It hurts, doesn’t it, President?”kRr
g2bfZNThok.NkLd32
cQd“Feels like having a giant nail driven into your chest, doesn’t it?”Vexu4
dH1FThok.YBnbp7
ZBO6Zd7“That’s the same kind of pain the Director felt just a moment ago.”nBooX
V5QBYThok.GtF3zaQ
WiF8d8l“And don’t think it’s only children who get nails driven in.”c90J
C5IThok.HBEJvV
BplL“Parents drive nails into their children’s hearts too.”ib29w
DfiThok.Cz5CH
pETGiD3“I know it well—because I was one of those victims.”2iTo
QJRC***ltKNadl
gSV29“…Hey, Geom-Ma.”tC9lIg
nN3Nw8cMedia called out to Kang Geom-Ma while witnessing the “madness treatment” being administered to the President of the Association.hK1Rh
yOmVWhen he turned around, he saw her completely pale.qKb2TY
nBU0b“I understand how you feel, Director. It can’t be easy, especially considering it’s your father. But don’t worry, this will all be over soon.”FJf
89VaqnGeom-Ma tried to reassure her, but Media lightly bit her lip and shook her head.LzBkyOO
dxI3CHx“Geom-Ma… No matter how I look at it, this doesn’t seem like treatment—it looks like torture…”J85muDd
25uXR0“Director.”4Lpq3W
Z61SKang Geom-Ma cut her off with a stern gaze.suKjFg
AJwO“It may seem a bit extreme, but you know better than anyone that this is the only way to treat the President’s madness.”NPq
E7hRBxMedia didn’t respond.bvQ1w
cibkD“……”0JqPJb
3D1But she thought. Victor Poison was a lunatic, yes—but a lunatic who was aware of his own madness.DzoL
rNVkRAnd Geom-Ma? Though she didn’t want to think that way about a student she cared for… Kang Geom-Ma was also a lunatic. Just a glance at his record was enough to see how unhinged he was.Kt1g6cA
1ocGcHowever, under normal circumstances, he acted with morality and common sense. As long as his “madness switch” wasn’t triggered, Geom-Ma was a model student.lxzq9t
PU66uhGMaybe his premature maturity and mental instability were side effects of growing up without parents.gOpq
MP2ifFIn this world, he had no one to rely on but himself.VtCtQO
W2VlvzgAnd despite all the adversity, he achieved miraculous feats, as if Heaven had granted him a special talent.AdByA
N1rD1ww‘Despite everything, Geom-Ma has endured.’8asEWf
NHd9Yf9Media reminded herself it was her duty to act as a guide, to make sure that this prodigious youth didn’t stray from the path.UpIVe
Fbz7PEven if he swung wildly between sanity and madness, with the right environment, he could change.5wYr
wg1‘But the problem is…’tZY
cqhrKang Geom-Ma didn’t know he was mad. He wasn’t aware of it. He genuinely believed he was a normal person.oVIx
Scfs“It may look like simple violence. But to understand the value of life, one must feel the pain of death firsthand.”T7kaml
7Sk“……”3Z2ww
Des“I don’t like doing it. It’s uncomfortable. But it’s necessary. It’s all part of the treatment.”LsN
3LUFmEven then, while speaking as if convincing himself, Geom-Ma said it with complete sincerity.lm6m0fN
K8OAnd that’s exactly why he acted without hesitation.qlsn
RPGbI‘Fine. Let’s suppose he’s right about everything.’6kD
PIydDtHIn the world of heroes, solving problems with violence wasn’t that unusual.PFbYYu
KCpouiOtherwise, what Geom-Ma did to Kojima would’ve been totally inexcusable.dM9
AAJ5V3Media, for her part, had her own reasons for not hitting him.pt5HXLj
lLgBydiEven though she would’ve loved to, she restrained herself.qH7taow
MaDBut Geom-Ma didn’t. He went straight to the hospital and stabbed him with sashimi. And deep down, Media found it rather satisfying.5W5
aY9u6U‘With those high-and-mighty, arrogant heroes, sometimes violence is the only language they understand.’p48
7j8jUWKAfter all, she slapped her own father. The difference was only in degree, but in the end, violence is violence.bEGgw
FHVJStsShe couldn’t criticize Geom-Ma without being a hypocrite.xogWN
WJJMbBut still…iTjM
nqYbt“Aaaaaagh!”yFPG
1gu68How could he treat Victor Poison, the President of the Hero Association, like a fish on a cutting board?Qi6VI
MsZJX‘And saying things like “it’s just a stab,” “this is treatment”…’JPp
0OSHPAnd when she tried to speak up about how extreme it all was, Geom-Ma just treated her like she was being overly sensitive.YCu
eujy1w‘They say the mad don’t know they’re mad.’WwVD
HQiMedia sighed. She was seriously starting to doubt whether she’d ever be able to “correct” Kang Geom-Ma. If his madness was that pure and uncontrollable, then even she didn’t know how to deal with it.6TOYB
T88F8SAt that moment—mXjgt4L
v2M“By the way, wasn’t the President of the Association a combat-type hero? I mean, he’s hanging in there, but for someone in his position, he’s weaker than I expected.”ygmMC9
t5C18fGeom-Ma asked casually while cleaning his knife on his sleeve. Next to him, the President sat unconscious in the chair.qrCW6U6
zXpdeHMedia swallowed hard before responding.eZr
Noy“My father isn’t combat-specialized. But he’s at least at an average warrior’s level.”sEHBdC
mjcy“Really?”D3z
KsrEvGeom-Ma looked at him, surprised.jqdN91
pRAfNnThat wimp who looked like a dainty noble?BxmAn9W
hyr7Qux“Doesn’t look like it at all.”BMi
6Sn“That’s because you…”7UX
r7v…Are ridiculously strong, Geom-Ma.8f7d9
scnThe words caught in her throat as she saw that Geom-Ma now had two sashimi knives instead of one.xv5lale
4AIy“If he’s at warrior level, better prepare another just in case.”ZDXCzUc
adFZ“Don’t you think that’s… a bit much?”JkxtoA
3iGBdYJ“Can’t be too careful.”KmAmqwo
Pk0Geom-Ma shook his head.RZwzp5Q
ZBCuV“If the President decided to resist seriously, he might accidentally strike a vital spot. It could be a fatal accident.”HHl
ixqg1M8Geom-Ma said it with utter conviction. Media could only rub her temples, dizzy with fatigue.hCUQPI8
wbR4EAt that moment, the President, who until recently had hung limp like a rag doll, cracked open his glazed eyes.iKjP
zWqdBIt looked like he’d returned from his third trip to the other side. Victor groaned in pain. His gaze was unfocused. Drool slid down his chin.C6eaJ5
TiB0“Please… save me…”FL2ZfN
tgaiKVHearing that, Kang Geom-Ma approached.e1UM
A3q“Say it clearly. Are you asking to be saved—or that you want to live?”mc5PG8i
RHK6“I—I want to live!”b8q6
ExkpeTGeom-Ma lowered his voice. Then the President began to beg as if his life depended on it.qmdkW
BIhUZT“Heavenly Sword, thanks to you I’ve realized that dying hurts more than living forever. I was wrong. Life isn’t a chain of suffering. Even wallowing in mud is better than dying…”pF4Aoi
JHPMPJ“Shorter.”UTE
t9We“I want to live. I don’t want to die. I want to live—without a doubt!”rJR2JF
3UMs4mVictor kept pleading for his life. A pitiful sight, nothing like the dignified head of the Association.LwrZ
Z92UW21“Don’t say that ‘I want to die’ stuff again. Because if you do, I’ll come again.”JKSAw
6Xpf“Even when my time comes, I’ll accept intensive care if needed!”fRqT0yR
AkI0EKang Geom-Ma looked at him for a moment, then turned to Media.Z5S9
xM0cyPk“Looks like the madness treatment was successful.”BCXm
aXoaILIGeom-Ma smiled, baring his sharp teeth. They gleamed like blades.BHO1
zcw“If additional treatment is needed, just let me know, Director.”SNnJ8Q
5wEaGtS“……”NTZ
4ZJ3qMedia couldn’t say a word.svrTlTw
UdzShe just let out a sigh so long it echoed like a fading wind.pta
ouR***XCMpa
JSv78Thus ended the physical therapy session. Media called the assistant and the secretary to return to the lab.88I
JbGm“……!”WBlZCc
zo5YeAaThe moment they stepped inside, both of them covered their noses. The stench of blood hit them like a rock to the head.B0mK
XFpvd“What is this?”Si0Xv
yOfThe lab was splattered with blood everywhere. It looked like at least twenty people had bled out there.6wt
RanPAnticipating their reaction, Media briefly explained what had happened. Both were left in shock.BEfjSn
u5KThey looked at each other, unsure of what to say. From what the director said, it seemed that the Heavenly Sword had beaten the president.kYLr4t
Nt5“I know it’s hard to take in. But please understand. Accept reality.”2Q59
tC3“If you say so, Director.”c68
j1FP1c4“And of course, this stays between us. If anything leaks, you know what to do. Understood?”MTq
a1Cn“Yes,” the secretary replied.BU48e
QSnDtgj“If anything leaks, we’ll both take our own lives. That was our vow.”OjR49St
lOFHj3S“What? I never made such a vow…!”6IW
FT75The secretary shot him a glare. The assistant cursed internally.KKYN3F
paaf‘Damn it…’rvavR
JtzAlways with the suicide talk. And now that the president ended up like this, the last thing he wanted was to go down the same path.sOQF
IzHzDiscreetly, he glanced toward a corner of the lab. There, Kang Geom-Ma and the president were chatting cheerfully in front of an old computer.4LnT
wVDseUThe scene left him speechless.UNIGHT0
QylThey talked completely normally, as if nothing had happened.jrZu
2Mu6OMadmen operated on a logic beyond all understanding.iLqkaP
crx6km“So, what the president wants is to launch these cyborg angels into space, right?”xOY6LSw
4S9Geom-Ma summarized the conversation so far.qOoCQM8
2QJzuvw“But why bother sending them into space?”FF6GaWB
QJL“Sending something into space does require a lot of resources, yes. But once they’re out there, there are many advantages. For instance, they use solar energy, and the vacuum prevents decomposition. See?”jvGm
Sju“That makes sense. But if you want to launch them, you’ll need help from the United States. That would take a long time.”G5JlZ
bPI“And why should I rely on the Yankees? Beneath my base in Antarctica, I already have facilities ready to launch a rocket. I just have to press a button.”rpzR
izPAl“By yourself?”hkjyT
XgsR“I’ve got too much free time to do it all alone, but in other parts of the base I have robots that help me.”Ai3YnO
PInVictor operated the keyboard and switched the monitor screen.xtaeJVp
tdJaVUlRobots appeared, working actively. Though they had quite humorous designs—penguins, seals, Arctic animals.pyP
IYkE“Why do they look like that?”NoUUWo
iAJ“Personal preference.”8GKM
yGqUUv“I respect that.”KCMTZO
rtgIX“In any case, the rockets will orbit the Earth like satellites. And they’ll only descend as meteorites if you, Heavenly Sword, give the order.”thz
TGRWIod“Falling from the sky, that really would be a fitting entrance for angels.”rURYA
1Dx“If we’re going to do this, it should have style. I’m sure if angels fall from the sky, even Fermush will be a bit intimidated. What do you think of my plan?”H4AF
kWM“To be honest, it sounds completely insane. From start to finish.”b1FtJxz
pg7EKang Geom-Ma said it with utter seriousness.4RcX9dI
QBFwMk1“Let’s do it.”HrDBc
ny640Humanity was ready.36nbfe
dsMUOMsAll that remained was a worthy enemy—the demon that would breach the gate to invade.oHd
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Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaLooks like treatment worked.
Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaDexter op in the chat.
Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaHis jokes never ends