Chapter 62: Song of the Four Seasons (5)

“If you add all three of our ages together, we’re older than you. So that makes us the big sisters.”

Ianna stared up at their faces, stunned.

Age.

It might seem trivial, but for Ianna—who had little left to show beyond her experience and years—it was no laughing matter.

It directly tied into her authority. Her dignity.

She never even imagined such a “miracle” of arithmetic.

That these kids would dare try to rank above her—she hadn’t seen it coming.

Until now, this had never happened.

Most magical girls were emotionally scarred—timid, melancholic, withdrawn.

If she approached them warmly, they’d open up.

Never had she encountered such defiance or blatant disrespect.

So Ianna made a decision.

A decision to restore order and reaffirm her rightful place.

Crack!

“Aagh!”

At Ianna’s subtle signal, Byeolhwa didn’t hesitate.

She cracked all three of them on the head in one swift motion.

“…Don’t say things like that again.”

Hierarchy was restored.

It might take time to build rapport, but if she wanted to keep these brats in check, this was necessary.

Ianna’s goals were simple:

Make them her allies.

Train them—pass on her experience, her hard-earned skills and knowledge—and help them grow into outstanding magical girls.

And, in doing so, block Hojoon’s twisted plans.

All three girls had a faint red glow in their eyes.

Artificial eyes—implants.

Mechanically enhanced but eerily human, indistinguishable without close inspection.

Their skin looked normal, but their bodies were lined with internal circuitry.

More heavily modified than any other artificial girl she’d seen.

Ianna pitied them.

She didn’t yet realize what kind of catastrophe that misplaced compassion would bring.

“Then, first lesson…”

Dressed in a tailored women’s suit, Ianna pushed her glasses up.

Instead of a piece of chalk, she held a candy in one hand.

***

“The space itself was a trap. All our attacks were being reflected through the environment.”

“Ngh… no wonder…”

Heosang and Cheonching, both battered and bleeding, retreated as the misangche closed in.

“Every attack hits. No matter what we try, whatever it reflects always lands a blow…”

Heosang was burning through ether at an extreme rate.

To nullify the enemy’s attacks, he had to deploy a massive barrier to protect both himself and Cheonching.

‘…Just like last time. Something’s not right.’

The misangche threat hadn’t disappeared.

Even if their appearances were less frequent, the individual entities were becoming more and more dangerous.

They didn’t know the cause or purpose yet—but there was no doubt: something terrible was coming.

Anyone that dared threaten the reign of his thousand-year empire—he would not forgive.

“…Close your eyes.”

Cheonching obeyed without question.

There were things in this world better left unseen.

Heosang’s growth had not stopped—it simply remained hidden beneath the surface.

He had now obtained a power so overwhelming that not even Ianna in her prime could withstand it.

A power that could erase the existence of anything that recognized him.

There was just one catch: with every use, he crept closer to madness.

But so long as he lived, that didn’t matter.

Heosang activated his Lemegeton.

His lances traced lines of light through the air, stabbing into his own chest, one after another.

His body drooped forward, limp.

For just a moment—

The misangche’s black eyes looked down on him.

And in an instant, the darkened sky cleared as if nothing had happened.

The rain vanished without a trace.

The sounds of cicadas and chattering people returned—reminders of summer’s end.

The shrine, once destroyed, had been fully restored.

The dimension created by the misangche—and the creature itself—had been completely erased.

It took Cheonching several moments to realize what had happened.

It had all vanished in the blink of an eye.

“Heo… Heosang…?”

“What?”

Cheonching felt Heosang’s cold hand touch her cheek.

She opened her eyes without thinking and looked up at him.

He looked calm—eerily so.

Of course, he was only pretending.

All he wanted now was to go back to his room.

Because he missed his photos of Ianna.

Out of the thousands of shots stored on his smartphone, a few had been printed in high definition.

There was the moment Ianna, covered in tears and drool, crawled on the floor like a dog.

Another, when she stared up at him in fear.

And another, of something a little girl should never expose—slipping out, trembling in pain, as she clutched her stomach.

Heosang had something he had to do when he looked at those pictures.

Because of his ability’s side effects, his body was burning hot with arousal.

The increased madness only fed his cruelty.

“Shall we head back?”

“…Okay.”

Their ether reserves depleted, the two walked back to their hotel.

Cheonching watched curiously.

Heosang kept fidgeting, shifting her legs, breathing heavily.

Her face was red under his straw hat.

Something about it amused her—and maybe, even pleased her.

She pressed tightly against her side and squeezed her hand hard.

‘…Idiot.’

She didn’t follow Heosang just because she promised her power.

Sometimes, without realizing it, she seduced her in other ways.

Whether showing vulnerability in her sleep, or accidentally exposing herself like a b*tch in heat, she left tempting openings.

That’s why she stayed close.

Heosang didn’t know.

She had no idea about her lewd, twisted thoughts.

But still—

She never looked at her that way.

Not even once.

Not when they bathed together.

Not when they slept side by side.

Not a flicker of arousal.

‘…Ianna.’

Heosang pretended to hide it, but it was obvious.

All her attention—emotional and sexual—was directed at Ianna.

‘That b*tch…’

Why?

Why not her?

Why not the beautiful, curvy, young Cheonching?

Sure, Ianna looked younger—but that was hardly the kind of appearance anyone would call attractive.

Too childish.

‘…’

If Ianna disappeared, would Heosang finally look at her?

That incident, too.

She had only intended to tease Ianna—but the girl’s frailty had ruined everything.

Both she and Heosang had paid the price.

Those days in solitary confinement were still fresh in her mind.

Not bad, exactly—but she hated being restrained.

Cheonching began seriously thinking about how to end Ianna’s life.

…Or perhaps.

Maybe she should take Ianna for herself first—before Heosang did.

Wouldn’t Heosang grow jealous?

Wouldn’t it be cute to see her begging, eyes full of need?

Either way was fine.

If Ianna submitted, she’d take her innocence.

If not, she’d kill her.

Of course, she had to hide her identity.

Getting caught would do her no good.

She couldn’t take on the Bureau yet.

Even Heosang hadn’t fully overcome them.

It was a shame to limit such blessed power, but—

There was still time.

Cheonching browsed through the photos of Ianna on her own phone.

She thought Ianna looked pathetic, wailing under Heosang’s “training.”

And yet—

The longer she stared, the more something began to stir inside her.

“…”

The two of them descended the steps of the shrine.

Completely unaware that something ominous was watching them from afar.