Suicide Before Defeating the Final Boss

Suicide Before Defeating the Final Boss – 102

EP.102 Ten Friends

Shin Si-ah hesitated, her face shifting into a mildly awkward expression as she responded to Jeong-hyeon’s question.

“… Of course, demons are living beings, so they feel pain. Though their tolerance for it is higher than humans.”

Higher tolerance, huh.

To Jeong-hyeon, it sounded less like a durability advantage and more like, ‘Instead of dying in one hit, they’ll die in two.’ Essentially, they were the perfect punching bags for grinding skill levels.

‘In other words, a golden opportunity to max out unused skills.’

Suppressing an eager grin, he replied cheerfully, “I don’t really know much, but demons sound like a great species.”

Caught off guard, Shin Si-ah gave him a startled look before nodding with a confused smile.

“Uh… I don’t know if I’d call us a ‘great’ species, but we’re not so different from humans. Just different values.”

Her comment wasn’t quite what Jeong-hyeon meant, but he couldn’t be bothered to correct her. He simply nodded along, his mind already spinning with plans.

The next step is preparing to enter the Demon Realm.

Unlike the crumbling elf village from before, this time, serious preparation was necessary. The scale of this endeavor was far larger, and the demons were still regarded as one of the most powerful factions in the world.

‘For now, it’s better to focus on building a solid foundation and biding my time.’

With that in mind, Jeong-hyeon resolved to work with Shin Si-ah to ready himself for the journey to the Demon Realm. Meanwhile, he decided to address some of the lingering tasks he’d put off until now.

***

Lucia, holding the sleeping Hana in her arms, practically sparkled with joy. Her flushed cheeks and uncontrollable smile made it clear—she was over the moon.

The reason? Someone had complimented her for the very first time in her life, calling her talented at “making conversation fun.”

The unexpected praise left her so giddy that her lips kept twitching upward, no matter how hard she tried to stay composed.

‘A talent for entertaining others…!’

Lucia didn’t know when she’d developed such a skill, but if someone else recognized it, then it must be real. She felt a newfound determination to nurture this talent.

‘Who knows? Maybe someday, just by opening my mouth, I’ll make everyone laugh or captivate them with my words…!’

With dreams of a charismatic future, she entertained the idea that she might even achieve her seemingly impossible goal of making ten friends.

‘Then again… ten might be too many. Maybe eight? No, five would be more realistic…’

As she debated the number, it kept shrinking, making her shake her head quickly. No, she wouldn’t compromise. She’d stick to her original goal of ten friends.

‘Dream big—that’s what the books say!’

Determined, she decided to practice her newfound skill right away. Her first target was none other than Miria, who was lounging nearby.

“… Miria!”

She called out, her voice brimming with enthusiasm.

“Hmm? What is it?”

Miria replied lazily, not even bothering to lift her head.

“You see, um…!”

Lucia paused, struggling to come up with something interesting to say. The pressure made her freeze, and all that came out were hesitant gasps as her mouth opened and closed repeatedly.

Miria, propping her chin on her hand, sighed.

“What is it? Just spit it out. I’ll listen to whatever you have to say.”

“W-Well… did you know that when you’re torturing someone, stabbing under their fingernails really hurts?!”

“…What?”

In her panic, Lucia blurted out something she’d recently heard from Jeong-hyeon. The result was immediate: Miria stared at her with wide eyes, visibly disturbed.

“… Lucia, is something going on with you? Why are you turning into Jeong-hyeon?”

…Isn’t that a good thing?

After all, Jeong-hyeon was a hero—a truly remarkable person. While Lucia didn’t fully grasp his greatness, she was sure he was someone worth admiring. Becoming more like him had to be a positive sign.

“… Miria!”

“Huh? Oh, sorry. Did I go too far? I was just kidding—forget it…”

“Thank you so much, Miria!”

“…What?”

“Being compared to Jeong-hyeon…! It’s the best compliment I’ve ever received!”

As Lucia spoke with heartfelt gratitude, Miria’s expression grew increasingly awkward. She nodded stiffly.

“Oh… uh, sure? Well… never mind.”

Miria seemed to have more to say but ultimately clamped her mouth shut. Smiling uncomfortably, she slowly backed away, retreating toward the door. Before long, she was gone.

Though disappointed to lose her conversation partner so abruptly, Lucia still floated on cloud nine from the compliment.

‘Two amazing compliments in one day… Could anyone in the world be happier than me right now?’

Her grin stretched so wide it felt like it might touch her ears. To calm herself, she rubbed her cheeks with her palms. Just then, Charlotte walked in.

“Is Jeong-hyeon here?”

“Jeong-hyeon? He’s out with the Demon King for a bit… Did you need him for something?”

“Not really need—just something I have to say. If he’s not here, I’ll come back later.”

“Okay!”

As Charlotte turned to leave, Lucia felt her instinct to say something funny stir again. Acting quickly, she called out.

“…Charlotte!”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Um…!”

Once more, her words failed her. But having learned from earlier, she resolved to rely on the trusty Jeong-hyeon repertoire.

“If you pre-load a healing spell into a container and compress someone into it, you can keep them alive longer!”

“…What?”

Charlotte blinked at Lucia, her face blank with confusion.

“What… are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Well, it’s…”

“Why does it feel like you’re turning into Jeong-hyeon too? Seriously, people need to choose their company wisely… Not that I’m one to talk.”

Charlotte’s words were a jumble of exasperation and concern, but Lucia only focused on one part: She said I’m becoming like Jeong-hyeon!

It had to be a compliment. Surely!

Excited by her apparent success, Lucia decided to try her newfound skill on the ultimate target—Jeong-hyeon himself. She pondered what to say as Charlotte left. Soon enough, Jeong-hyeon returned.

“Jeong-hyeon!”

“What’s up?”

“I’ve been thinking, and… crushing someone with a mace isn’t a bad idea!”

Jeong-hyeon paused, then slowly covered Hana’s ears with both hands. His expression turned a mix of awkward and pained as he sighed.

“…Lucia? I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? For what?”

“Just… sorry. Don’t ask.”

Lucia tilted her head, confused by his cryptic apology. Meeting her eyes, Jeong-hyeon reached out and gave her a light flick on the forehead.

“Anyway, stop saying things like that. It doesn’t suit you, and Hana might hear. It’s not good for her.”

Though she didn’t understand why, she felt a bit deflated by his scolding. Seeing this, Jeong-hyeon sighed again and ruffled her hair gently.

“Alright, enough of that. Let’s grab some food and have a little welcome celebration.”

“Okay!”

“Hana, what do you feel like eating?”

“Snacks… I want snacks…”

Hana mumbled sleepily.

“Sure, sure.”

Watching them, Lucia felt a sudden shift in her perspective.

‘Maybe making ten friends isn’t so important after all…’

She realized she already had Jeong-hyeon, Hana, and Miria by her side. Instead of chasing after quantity, perhaps it was better to treasure the people who truly mattered.

Satisfied with her decision, she smiled.

“So, Lucia, what do you want to eat?”

Jeong-hyeon asked.

“Me? I want you, Jeong-hyeon!”

“What are you even saying? Anyway, hurry up. Everyone’s waiting.”

“Yes, sir…!”

Lucia stood, practically glued to Jeong-hyeon’s side. She smiled, thinking how moments like these were their own kind of happiness.

***

The Shattered Church

Once a symbol of reverence and piety, the cathedral now lay in ruins, stripped of its former grandeur. The faithful, who had once drawn strength from its towering presence, now looked upon its broken remnants with despair.

Amidst this scene, the Pope pressed a throbbing temple, desperately searching for a way to reverse the tide.

‘Something drastic is needed.’

Without a bold, game-changing move, the collapse of the Church was inevitable. As he racked his brain, a possibility suddenly presented itself—a solution.

‘A deal.’

Whether called a negotiation or a betrayal, the Pope couldn’t afford to dwell on the semantics. He rose from his seat, pacing slowly through the silent corridors.

‘The biggest problem right now is that the faithful no longer trust the Church.’

The ongoing war had ravaged their lives, and the supposed divine strength, divine power, meant to oppose the demons had faltered. Initially, the conflict had driven unparalleled growth for the Church. People clung to it as a bastion of hope and strength. But the destruction of the cathedral shattered that illusion.

Doubt crept in among the faithful, suffocating the once unshakable belief that had sustained the Church’s rise. Now, the same faith that once filled its coffers and pews had become a noose tightening around its neck.

The Pope surveyed the prayer hall, once packed with devout followers, now riddled with empty spaces. The sight underscored the grim reality. He closed his eyes, contemplating his next move.

‘The Church must quickly prove itself to the people—prove that it remains strong and capable of protecting them from the Demon King.’

But such trust could not be restored through ordinary means. The peace required to rebuild faith wasn’t something he had the luxury to wait for.

Instead, the Pope had decided to fabricate it.

‘I have only one path forward.’

He would strike a deal with the Demon Duke. By offering terms that would benefit him, he could orchestrate a spectacle: a staged victory where the Church would appear to drive out the demons.

This performance, carefully crafted and strategically delivered, could reignite the waning faith of the followers and restore their trust.

His mind made up, the Pope allowed himself a faint smile.

‘Once this crisis is resolved, I can refocus on the hero’s endeavors.’

Given the current state of things—no contact with the Duke and Daisy incapacitated—this was the only viable option left. Resolute, he summoned his most trusted followers to set the plan in motion.