Chapter 120
I stared blankly at the being before me.
A woman with dull ash-gray hair, completely naked without a single thread on her body.
Her face looked exactly like mine reflected through the glass.
To the point that I wondered—if I became a woman, would I look like that?
Biden seemed to feel the same, as he remarked:
“This test subject is different from the others. She resembles the Devil Knight even more.”
“Of course. She is a true clone created from the Devil Knight’s DNA.”
The researcher’s answer carried a strange sense of pride.
I stared at the being before me.
It was… a very strange feeling.
To think I would encounter the third playable character like this, before the story had even properly begun.
But curiosity aside…
What kind of reward was Biden planning to give me by bringing me here?
At that moment, the researcher beside him began introducing No. 66.
“Her research results are extremely promising. She shows minimal rejection to Demonic Authority. Among all test subjects so far, she is the closest to a complete prototype.”
“I see.”
A glow flickered within Biden’s hollow eyes.
Even from the side, I could feel the intense greed he had toward No. 66.
But it would be a problem if she fell into his hands.
She was supposed to become a dagger aimed at Pandemonium—
not a blade serving it.
“Of course, the experiment is not yet complete, so further research is required.”
At the added explanation, Biden clicked his tongue in disappointment.
Sensing his interest, the researcher quickly continued.
“While No. 66 is closest to completion, the other test subjects are also quite interesting.”
He pointed to another test subject beside her.
The moment I turned my gaze there, I failed to control my expression.
What he pointed at was something that could no longer be called human—screaming as if begging to be killed.
Seeing that, Biden’s gaze shone even brighter than when he looked at No. 66.
“This is… interesting. The body has completely collapsed, yet the remnants of a Demon are extremely strong. You’ve been playing quite an amusing game.”
The researchers’ faces turned pale under his chilling gaze.
But Biden continued to observe the subject with interest.
One of the researchers explained with a trembling voice.
“That subject was originally a Demon used for experiments to enhance Demonic Authority. However, during the process… a Great Being descended.”
“A Demon’s descent. But only temporarily, I presume. A human body cannot withstand such power.”
“Yes. It briefly acted as an avatar before ceasing all function.”
“Heh heh heh.”
Biden’s ominous laughter echoed through the lab.
Hearing their conversation, my expression hardened.
Their words were familiar to me.
So this is where the ‘Avatars’ were created?
In Become a Hero, there were several enemies that gave players a headache.
Overpowered mobs—stronger than bosses despite not being bosses.
And at the very top of them were elite mobs called Avatars.
Beings directly possessed and controlled by Demons.
They had overwhelming physical abilities, boss-level patterns, and came in various types—driving players into despair.
Even I had been defeated by them countless times.
Of course, even the developers knew those mobs were broken.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have given them a time limit.
After a certain period, Avatars self-destructed.
But to think that the birthplace of those horrific elite mobs was here…
Originally, I hadn’t planned to interfere with this lab unless the story demanded it.
But now I had no choice.
If Avatars started appearing, the already hellish difficulty would become a complete disaster.
And right now, I wasn’t even at the Academy.
If Park Siwoo or Dan Chun-woo encountered one and got overwhelmed by some bizarre pattern…
That was a horrifying thought.
At this point, the original story flow was already broken anyway.
Biden suddenly stopped laughing.
His gaze turned toward me.
“Devil Knight, you’re like a bluebird that brings fortune. Originally, I planned to use a suitable test subject here as a sacrifice to enhance your authority. But at this level… I can’t think of a reward worthy of your contribution.”
“I only happened to come across the information. I was lucky.”
“That luck is part of your achievement.”
Then his gaze shifted to the researchers.
And suddenly, Biden shouted with excitement.
“From this moment on, I will provide full support to this laboratory! Test subjects, ritual artifacts, security—whatever you need, just say it! I, Biden, one of the Absolute Beings of Pandemonium, promise it!”
A shocking declaration.
…Of course.
I cursed inwardly.
The worst possible situation had just occurred.
This lab falling under Biden’s control.
Calling it “support” was just a fancy way of saying he’d take it over.
Everything here would fall under his surveillance, and under the pretext of security, powerful undead would be stationed here.
That meant the third playable character—who was supposed to escape easily—would now face far greater difficulty.
The scenario could spiral even further out of control.
I fell into thought.
What should I do?
There were two things I needed to accomplish.
First priority: ensure No. 66 escapes safely.
Second: stop the research on the Avatar elite mobs.
In the process, conflict with Biden would be unavoidable.
Then…
Countless thoughts rose and fell in my mind.
But in the end, there was only one choice.
Rescue No. 66—and eliminate Biden.
It was the option I most wanted to avoid, but there was no alternative.
Defeating a High-ranking Executive of Pandemonium within two months.
An absurd mission.
But I had to do it.
Let’s think positively instead.
At least, Biden was easier to deal with compared to other executives.
His power came from the undead he commanded.
Without his undead, the difficulty of his fight dropped by about two-thirds.
So I just needed to seal his undead…
And I did have a way.
Still, this difficulty balance is completely broken.
Going from Berid, a mid-boss, straight to Biden?
Well, that’s just how this game was.
I already knew that when I threw my life into it.
I was the one who cleared every ending everyone hated.
I was the one who took down Berid, the hidden mastermind of the Academy.
So I’d deal with this fight too.
Organizing my thoughts, I looked at No. 66 inside the glass container.
She stared back at me with golden eyes—just like mine.
Slowly, I reached out toward the glass.
The cold surface met my hand.
I knew her past.
And I knew what awaited her.
Born from the deep darkness of human malice—
she would have to endure countless trials to become the light that pierced that darkness.
That path would be painful.
But…
She would smile far more than she did now.
She would be happier.
That’s why she had to escape.
For the sake of the ending.
And for herself.
There was another reason I cared so much about No. 66.
Out of all the playable characters in Become a Hero—
she was my favorite.
Because she was another version of me that I found in that game.
Park Siwoo, who lived a happy life in a normal family and grew into a Hero with pure talent.
Dan Chun-woo, who was born into wealth and power, receiving every advantage.
Playing them was fun—
but I could never truly relate to them.
After organizing my thoughts, I turned to Biden.
He was still discussing support with the researchers.
The researchers, who had looked uncomfortable earlier, now wore smiles.
His offer must have been that appealing.
Then Biden looked at me.
“Devil Knight, I promised to give you a reward worthy of your contribution.”
“I will gratefully accept whatever you offer.”
“After some thought, I believe this is best. You will be satisfied.”
He reached into the air.
From a subspace, he pulled something out.
My eyes widened.
That was—
A gemstone emitting a dark, ominous aura.
A familiar shape.
The Heart of the Demon.
He’s giving me that as a reward?
Even in Pandemonium, the Heart of the Demon was a rare treasure.
Noticing my reaction, Biden spoke.
“It seems to interest you. But this is not what you think.”
“…Not what I think?”
“Heh heh. It is not the Heart of the Demon.”
Not…?
It looked identical, and the aura felt similar—
Wait.
Looking closer, it was slightly different.
The energy, the form… it wasn’t quite the same.
Like a well-crafted imitation.
Unable to contain my curiosity, I asked:
“What exactly is that?”
“This is the essence of black magic—the equivalent of a Lich’s heart.”
A Lich’s heart…?
At that moment, a certain item came to mind.
My thoughts overlapped with Berid’s voice.
“Life Vessel!”
A pinnacle of black magic chosen by humans to transcend death and achieve immortality.
Instead of a human heart, life energy is stored in an artificial object modeled after the Heart of the Demon.
That was the reward Biden offered me.
I stared at the Life Vessel.
Human magic could never perfectly replicate the Heart of the Demon.
Because of that, those who used the Life Vessel in the game gained immortality—
but lost their living bodies.
Biden let out a grotesque chuckle.
“Heh heh… you know why I’m giving this to you, don’t you?”
“……”
“I like you. Too valuable to remain under the Heavenly Demon. Abandon her and come under me. I will name you my successor!”