By Zephyria 
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Otsuka laughed at Suzuki’s anger.
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Suzuki’s eyes darted to the river. Was it already too late? No way. There was no way Ki Jae-eon could have been defeated so easily. But on the other hand, the thought that it was the ‘Mermaid’s River’ made him feel uneasy.
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Otsuka pointed to the river with an exaggerated gesture and mockingly explained Ki Jae-eon’s end.
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His will was broken.
With even his last resort taken away, there was no hope left.
‘
Should he have prepared more? He shouldn’t have trusted Ki Jae-eon’s words that a plan wasn’t necessary. Even if he was strong, he was so powerless before the Mermaid’s River!
A bitter sense of defeat washed over him like a wave. Suzuki slumped to the ground and hung his head. Master, I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. This incompetent disciple ultimately couldn’t protect anyone. It’s all over now. This world will fall into Otsuka’s grasp. I’m frustrated and resentful.
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Just as he was pounding the ground in a fit of emotion and despairing of reality,
“Oh-. Is this that river?”
A cheerful voice that made him doubt his ears was heard.
“Yeah, well. It’s clear.”
A follow-up reply followed.
Even if he couldn’t understand the meaning, he could roughly sense the apathy. Suzuki tilted his head up, bewildered. Two Korean men squatting down came into his view.
“Do real Mermaids live here? But I don’t really feel anything?”
“Isn’t it because hyung is investigating?”
“Ah, I guess you’re already taking care of it. Um, fighting-! Little Master!”
“Fighting.”
The two of them kept shouting ‘fighting’ at the river. So, ganbare? Cheer up?
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The two Japanese men were more confused than ever, thanks to the two Korean men chatting as if they were on a picnic. What, what is it? Why are they so cheerful? Suzuki blinked his small eyes and staggered toward the two men.
“<…Hey? Do you know what's going on right now?>”
“Hey, what’s he saying?”
“How would I know?”
“You’re no help. I should have brought Gyeong-hak instead.”
“The guy who says he’ll protect the world, but can’t ask where the bathroom is?”
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The two men’s attitudes were as carefree as people without any worries.
Only Suzuki was going crazy.
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When they learn the truth soon… how much grief will these two fall into?
‘
He couldn’t even begin to imagine it.
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Otsuka’s sneer was low. However, in the face of the undeniable situation, Suzuki could only look at the two men with a pitiful expression. Kim Ju-won frowned unpleasantly at his moist eyes.
“Why is this bastard looking at me so creepily? Can’t you look straight? Jeez.”
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Sumimasen-. Just as Suzuki was about to prostrate himself before the two men with sincerity,
Thump! The ground shook, and a moment later, a huge whirlpool began to form in the middle of the calm river. Wooong- A vibration that made it hard to keep one’s balance was transmitted through the ground.
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Leaving the two surprised Japanese men behind, Kim Ju-won and Ahn Seo-myeong smiled slightly. No, they even crossed their arms and watched with amusement.
It was then.
Chwaak, a miracle occurred as the water split in all directions, and someone slowly walked out. It was a scene that was hard to believe even when seen. Otsuka’s expression, in particular, was incredible. His face, a mixture of shock, horror, and surprise, made one wonder if he was the same person who had been so arrogant until now. His philtrum stretched like a monkey’s, his eyes widened, and snot dripped down his face in embarrassment!
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However, it was Suzuki who made the surprised sound. He was staring intently at the collapsing river with a similar, hateful expression, as if he were a fellow disciple. Was he dreaming? Suzuki quickly pinched his cheek. Ouch! He felt the pain. That meant it was reality!
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The Mermaid’s River, or the River of Immortality. Breaking the absolute rule that no one could escape, a man confidently stepped onto the ground.
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Otsuka let out another “
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He had heard of him. Those who had studied abroad in Korea or had even seen him once all said the same thing.
Genius.
An unparalleled Genius.
“Haa…….”
Behind Ki Jae-eon, who was shaking his wet hair, the river, which had dried up, could be seen. And one by one, the people who had been freed from the river’s bondage began to cough and open their eyes.
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Otsuka, who had been staring blankly at the murmuring people, dropped to his knees on the ground. His pale face was filled with nothing but despair. His River of Immortality…….
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Was he going to face the final LFG so anticlimactically?
“<…It's a lie. Humanity's hope, my eternity!>”
A new era was fading away in the distance. All because of that demon-like guy from Korea!
Otsuka’s eyes turned red. He couldn’t forgive him. Absolutely, he couldn’t forgive him. He twitched his upper lip like an angry stray dog and took out a sharp knife from his pocket. He couldn’t go on like this. This Otsuka Tennoji will punish the evil that has thwarted the will of God! He kicked off the ground and charged toward Ki Jae-eon.
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However, before the sharp tip of the knife could reach him, Otsuka’s body floated into the air. His body, having been struck squarely on the chin, flew away powerlessly.
The owner of the roundhouse kick was Kim Ju-won.
“Ah, damn it, you scared me. Where did that bastard get a knife?”
Someone like that needs to be beaten properly to come to their senses. Kim Ju-won clicked his tongue and lowered his leg.
“What a crazy bastard. Hey, Little Master, are you okay…….”
Kim Ju-won’s lips snapped shut like a clam as he worried about Ki Jae-eon.
That was because Ki Jae-eon was holding a strange scepter in his gaze. A golden scepter with nine rings hanging from it.
Strange. Why did it look familiar?
‘That kind of scepter…….’
He blinked.
A scene flashed through his mind.
The Evil God summoned by the Wish Eater.
The scepter he was holding.
‘Why is it the same…….’
Huh? Kim Ju-won’s pupils widened even more.