### Chapter 408 – Room 206, The Curse Room – ‘The Demon King Who Revives After 100 Days’ (10)
—
A peculiar sound echoed from the mayor’s office in the heart of Paradise.
“I can’t let him go like this! Ah! If I end up alone, I’m—”
This was the most popular drama in Paradise, and the female lead’s beauty was simply exceptional.
Leon’s secretary remarked with interest, “Do you watch stuff like this, Mayor?”
“…”
The mayor, who seemed to be staring through the TV, shifted his gaze to the secretary.
“No! I mean, it’s just a popular drama. It’s, uh, entertaining, right?”
“…”
“I didn’t mean to overstep—”
“Timothy.”
“Y-Yes?”
“Who usually writes the dialogues for dramas?”
“Uh, the scriptwriter? I guess?”
“What if dialogues and plots suddenly change on set? Who could be responsible for that?”
Timothy looked utterly flustered. He had never paid attention to the drama production process.
Fortunately, a somewhat knowledgeable staff member chimed in.
“Usually, that’s due to actor improvisation or directorial influence. And…”
“…”
“…”
“And? Why do you keep stopping?”
“S-Sorry! The set is currently filled with Grade 2 high-level informants, so they often intervene.”
“Got it.”
As Leon continued watching the drama, he grew increasingly uneasy.
Of course, he had never enjoyed such popular dramas, not before or after his return. However, before the rewind, he loved his daughter, who never missed any drama featuring the actress named “Elena.”
It was different.
This drama was far too different from what he used to watch.
In such cases, the answer is clear.
There exists a being aware of the return and that being has interfered with the broadcasting side.
Why?
There are too many reasons to consider, so listing them isn’t necessary.
The influence it might wield over the city when acquiring control of the broadcasting station is truly colossal.
Therefore, it must be identified.
—
“What do you think Leon would think after seeing the changed plot of the drama, Elena?”
“That someone is aware of the rewind and is intervening?”
“Exactly. Leon will likely suspect the Demon King cultists. They can go outside the city. He probably thinks they happened to be outside when the time rewound.”
“W-What if the mayor just starts killing every broadcast-related person, including me?”
“That won’t happen. He’s a time-traveler.”
“W-What?”
—
Who among those interfering with the drama is a Demon King worshiper?
Leon, pondering all night, let out a hollow laugh.
“I wish I knew nothing at all.”
If he had known nothing, he might have dispatched secret agents to eliminate everyone from the director to the actors, using his power as the city’s ruler.
But Leon was well aware.
“There are no Demon King worshipers among these people.”
Before the rewind, he had sent secret agents to infiltrate the cult and grasp the members.
None of the director, writers, actors, or high-level informants on set were worshipers of the Demon King.
Thus, the conclusion was clear.
“Has the Demon King worshiper approached them? Timothy!”
“Yes, Mayor.”
“Call the people on this list by the end of next week. Just tell them… we’re giving out an award for a job well done on the drama.”
“Understood.”
—
“He’ll probably want to meet the production team for interrogation. He will do it himself, as his subordinates don’t understand the rewind.”
“W-What if I end up alone with Leon Kardirov?”
“Exactly.”
“So that means we have to assassinate him then!”
“…”
“… No?”
“Nope. At the point where Leon can’t trust Elena, there will probably be informants nearby.”
—
— Creak!
With the sound of a door opening, a girl with dazzling golden hair entered the room.
“Elena, I’ve been really impressed by ‘Disappearing with the Typhoon’ lately.”
“Wow! It’s an honor that the Mayor is watching my drama!”
“Honor, is it? By the way, Elena, can I ask you a personal question?”
“Of course!”
“Have you had any unusual encounters recently?”
“…”
“What’s going on?”
“Mayor…”
“Haha, no need to misunderstand. I know very well that nothing is wrong with you, Elena. Flowers naturally attract bees.”
“… Thank you. Actually, I did meet a rather strange girl recently.”
“Was she a girl with black hair?”
“Y-Yeah. How did you—”
“Were her eyes dazzling like sapphires?”
“Um, not sapphire; I would say ruby.”
“Ah, so you did meet her. I was just testing you.”
“…”
“Elena, that girl is an Apostle of the Demon King cult.”
“W-What?!”
“Listen carefully to me from now on. This is a very important matter for both Paradise and for you, Elena.”
*
Late at night, a woman stepped outside her home alone.
She walked along the road, suddenly turned left, then unexpectedly spun around.
Amidst her confusion, she leaned against a wall in an alley.
— Knock! Knock!
“…”
“You’re here.”
“Yes.”
“Elena, do you have an answer for my earlier proposal?”
“Of course!”
“I hope it’s a good answer.”
“…”
In the next moment, a whistle emerged from Elena’s waist.
— Peeeeeep!
“Ugh! What is this—”
Informants rushed in from all sides, as the black-haired girl with a shocked expression attempted to escape.
The outcome of her fleeing was inevitable.
The informants sent by the mayor had surrounded the spot where Elena and Ahri had arranged to meet from the very beginning.
In the last moment, the eyes of the captured Ahri and Elena met.
Ahri mouthed, “You did well.”
—
“What should we do after revealing we met with Ahri?”
“Sell her out.”
“W-What? What did you say?”
“Don’t worry, Ahri agreed too.”
“D-Do we have to do it that way? Is there another way—”
“Leon has to truly trust you. That way, there will be an opportunity for Elena.”
—
With a tired expression, the mayor approached Elena, leaning against the wall.
“Good job. This task will surely be a great blessing for the future of Paradise. Of course, you also have a new supporter in me—”
“Mayor.”
“Hmm?”
“I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
Elena’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.
“Do you trust the informants?”
At that moment of confusion for the mayor, the informants standing nearby glared at her.
“Hey! Just because you’re a popular actress doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want! Who do you think you are—”
“Jonathan.”
“Yes?”
“Am I not in the middle of a conversation with Elena? Who gave you permission to interrupt?”
“… I-I’m sorry.”
“Elena, please continue what you were going to say.”
“I’m sorry. Of course, the loyalty of the informants protecting the city is indisputable. However…”
“However?”
“Recently, when I met someone from the cult—they, um, of course, I didn’t know they were from the cult at that time!”
“Since you know, please take your time speaking.”
“When I met someone from the cult, they mentioned that there was someone embedded among the informants. Their name is… uh, Cha Jinchul?”
The mayor’s gaze sharpened as he looked at Elena.
The name that came out of her mouth, Cha Jinchul, was undoubtedly a traitor among the informants.
“Please, go on.”
Elena looked around awkwardly at the informants, signaling that it was hard to speak in front of them.
Leon nodded immediately.
“Do you have time for dinner this evening?”
“Of course.”
“It’s a privilege to have dinner with the most famous actress in Paradise.”
“Thank you, Mayor Leon.”
—
“By the way, while you’re selling out Ahri, make sure to sell Jinchul too.”
“…”
“If you’re going to sell them, you might as well sell them all at once. That way, the mayor will trust Elena. Either way, Jinchul is highly likely to be dead at that point, so it’s not much of a loss.”
—
*
– Elena
As I stepped into the elevator heading up towards Paradise’s sky, I thought to myself.
I really did it.
The “assassination plan for the Mayor” created by Kain and Ahri.
I doubted whether it would succeed, but here I was, so close to success.
If it’s complex, it’s complicated, but the core plan is simple.
There is just one goal.
To somehow get me, Elena Ivanova, into the wealthy mansion!
If I can just reach the mansion, everything will fall into place.
That place is where the “unyielding reason” cannot suppress our supernatural powers.
What must I do to get sent to the wealthy mansion?
The mayor must trust me.
He must believe I’m not a worshiper of the Demon King and that I possess valuable information.
Lastly, if I can make the informants suspicious too, we would hit the jackpot.
I succeeded. Really.
If the mayor were an ordinary person, he might have watched the drama without noticing anything wrong.
Even if he did notice the oddity, he might have tried to eliminate the production crew.
But being a time-traveler, he saw through the pretense.
Because he is a time-traveler, he noticed the anomalies in the drama and instead of dealing with the production crew, he tried to find who’s hiding behind it.
— Ding!
“…”
Finally, I arrived at the wealthy mansion.
I felt my strength returning.
Just as I was preparing to end everything quickly, I tried to push down those ominous thoughts.
— Click!
Machine guns emerged from everywhere in the mansion, aiming at me.
The security system of the wealthy mansion was activated!
“Uh?”
“…”
I can’t understand.
What in the world is happening?
Just then, the mayor’s calm voice echoed.
“Come here and take a seat. Be careful, or you’ll be turned into a bee’s nest the moment you try something pointless.”
“…”
“You don’t seem to have grasped the situation.”
“…”
“Who brought you here?”
“…”
“That young man? Or the Apostle of the Demon King? Either way, it seems someone’s thinking quite well.”
At this point, I accepted it.
The mayor had caught wind of our plan.
From the beginning? No.
If he had known from the start, he wouldn’t have brought me this far.
He figured it out partway through. When exactly?
Did I make a mistake in the elevator?
“I have something I want to ask. I’d appreciate an honest answer.”
“What is it?”
“What’s your plan? Were you going to kill me here?”
“… And if I was?”
“What next after that?”
My head began to throb more and more.
I couldn’t understand the intent behind the mayor’s questions.
“What the hell are you trying to say—”
“Hmm…”
He let out a weary sigh, sounding rather tired.
“You know nothing at all. You’re like a pawn on a chessboard. Do players know something? Or are they just as clueless?”
“What does that mean? You’ve been saying that since before?”
“Let’s stop here. I enjoyed the drama. Just kill me without pain.”
As I watched the mayor lightly gesture towards the security system, I thought.
Sure, I’ll admit it.
I don’t know what’s going on, but you’re really smart, Mr. Mayor.
Kain and Ahri are very clever, but I get it; you’re no less intelligent.
I admit it!
Your brain is sharper than mine.
But.
Leon Kardirov overlooked one thing.
He’s fallen into this trap because he’s lived in the world of “ordinary humans” created by unyielding reason.
— Raaaaah!
In the swirling wave of gold— I watched as the mayor’s eyes filled with shock.
“Guess you should’ve saved your daughter.”
At the moment I arrived in that location, the mayor no longer had a chance to turn the tables.
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