episode_0012

Unconsciously, he tightly gripped the silver rocket pendant hanging around his neck. In an instant, a fierce anger rose in him, turning his head white with rage.

It had been a long time since he dismantled and killed those detestable creatures one by one. The witch should never appear in Sa Jaehyuk’s life again.

Yet, without getting tired of it, she appeared before him once more.

Sa Jaehyuk instinctively sent a living gaze towards the boy. As if sensing his intentions, the boy’s trembling intensified. His face turned as pale as a corpse.

However, the fact that he did not avoid the gaze only fueled Sa Jaehyuk’s anger. He tightly gripped the handle of the blade he had inserted.

And just as he was about to draw his head back to strike, Yejin suddenly blocked his path.

“Captain! What are you doing all of a sudden! Have you lost your mind?”

“…”

Pausing at Yejin’s resistance, Sa Jaehyuk looked back at the boy. Though still with fearful eyes, the boy’s gaze was fixed straight on Sa Jaehyuk.

“…If you’re going to kill me, do it quickly.”

The boy spoke softly, his voice trembling. It was a hollow tone, as if he had resigned to everything.

Upon hearing those words, Sa Jaehyuk felt the tension that had gripped his entire body loosen slightly. He regained some composure and was able to think rationally again.

In front of him was just a boy who had let go of the thread of life.

There was no trace of the mocking and destructive behavior shown by the witches.

Moreover, though somewhat effeminate, it was clear that the figure before him was not a woman.

“…What’s going on? What happened…?”

Yoon Chaewon, who had returned, made a puzzled expression. She glanced between Sa Jaehyuk and the boy, trying to gauge the atmosphere.

Only then did Sa Jaehyuk push the blade back in and turned to Yoon Chaewon.

“It’s nothing. What about the interrogation?”

“…Sorry. The guy was more tight-lipped than I thought.”

Yoon Chaewon continued her report in a whisper. The captured dark mage had begged for his life in a pathetic manner, but he had remained silent to other questions.

Criminals of this kind sometimes showed useless loyalty in unexpected situations. It seemed to be one of those cases.

“Still, there was some gain. I confirmed that he had a tattoo of a three-leaf helmet on his body. The magic was very potent. He’s definitely a member of the Shadow Troupe.”

“…Not a wandering bandit, but a member of the Shadow Troupe?”

The Shadow Troupe was one of the rapidly expanding criminal organizations. Their main clients were not small-time crooks but various mage noble families.

The Shadow Troupe was known for cleanly handling their dirty work, which usually involved assassination contracts.

At first, he thought the boy, who had run away from home longing for his hometown, had encountered the bandits looting the ruins by chance.

However, the Shadow Troupe was an organization where only skilled individuals could enter. It was highly unlikely that well-paid members of the organization would be looting such a remote ruin.

Considering all these circumstances, there was only one conclusion.

Someone with considerable power, enough to put a contract on the boy, had schemed his elimination.

“Hmm…”

Sa Jaehyuk let out a light sigh. It felt like a headache was coming on.

The commotion may have ended, but nothing had been resolved satisfactorily.

Despite some suspicious points, the boy was nothing more than the unfortunate sole survivor of a remote wasteland.

The reasons for the powerful individuals to hire someone to kill such a pitiful boy were not clear. They must be individuals who lack the time to waste on eliminating threats and power struggles.

As Sa Jaehyuk pondered, he turned back towards the boy. The boy still stared at him with empty eyes.

Seeing this, Sa Jaehyuk let out a wry smile and offered an apology.

“Sorry, kid. I think I made a mistake just now. We are soldiers of the Republic. It’s our duty to punish criminals like those and stabilize the security of the border.”

“Soldiers?”

“Yeah. We have no reason to harm you. We actually came to help. You can relax now.”

Sa Jaehyuk’s more relaxed tone seemed to ease the boy’s guarded expression a bit. Not missing this, Sa Jaehyuk continued.

“It’s regrettable that the village turned out like this. Just asking, do you have any relatives or places you can trust other than this?”

“…No.”

“…I see.”

Before the sentence could finish, the boy lowered his head. His gloomy gaze shifted towards the ruins of the village behind Sa Jaehyuk.

Sa Jaehyuk thought. To find answers to the series of mysterious incidents, the boy’s survival was essential.

The best course of action at the moment was to keep him under his protection. This way, continuous exploration of the boy’s connection to the witch’s powers and the mastermind behind the order to kill him would be possible.

…And if things went south, he needed to be there to act swiftly.

Of course, there was a part of him that felt sympathy for the boy. There was also a strange sense of camaraderie he felt.

The boy’s current state clearly showed that he was caught in an unwanted storm.

But if his survival became known, he would be targeted again. There was no criminal organization that existed without wanting to tarnish their reputation by failing a contract.

“Kid. What’s your name?”

Sa Jaehyuk, who finally came to a conclusion, approached the boy. After hearing his question, the boy hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Lee…Hyun. My last name is Lee, and my name is Hyun…”

“That’s a good name.”

“…My mom…gave it to me…”

Upon hearing Sa Jaehyuk’s praise, Hyun bowed deeply. Sa Jaehyuk briefly resented himself for lacking this kind of meticulousness.

“…I see. How old are you?”

“I just turned 16 not long ago…”

Sa Jaehyuk felt a bit relieved after hearing Hyun’s answer. At 16, he would legally become an adult in a year.

He had worried because of Hyun’s small stature, but he could somehow manage to cover it in a year.

“Let me ask you this, do you have any plans for the future?”

…”

Hyun remained silent, lowering his head. He discreetly hid one hand behind his back.

But Sa Jaehyuk saw the glint of a glass shard between the boy’s fingers. That alone gave him a rough idea of the situation.

“Just in case, it’s better to give up on following your family’s footsteps. Think about it the other way around. If you die before your family and they follow you to the afterlife, how would you feel? They would want you to do your best to live.”

…”

After hearing Sa Jaehyuk’s words, Hyun flinched, then bowed his head deeply. A few small drops of water fell beneath him.

Sa Jaehyuk felt the sharp gazes of his comrades behind him as he touched on the boy’s painful past. But it was a necessary persuasion for his purpose. Sa Jaehyuk turned away from the stares and spoke to the boy again.

“…So, kid. I have a proposal for you.”

“Me… a proposal?”

“Yes. A proposal.”

In response to Lee Hyun’s question, Sa Jaehyuk nodded his head.

“You must have been through a lot. You must have experienced truly indescribable hardships.”

“…”

“But that’s how irrational this world is. Waves always come crashing in unexpectedly, taking away precious people. I have experienced such things myself.”

Sa Jaehyuk unconsciously fiddled with the silver rocket pendant around his neck.

“However, if there is a way to avoid the waves, then you don’t have to go through such sadness.”

As Sa Jaehyuk finished speaking, Lee Hyun flinched for a moment. Unhidden feelings of regret and longing were deeply evident.

Naturally, Sa Jaehyuk continued speaking, observing Lee Hyun’s reaction.

“So, I have a proposal. Kid, come with us. If you do, I will help you.”

“Help… me…?”

“Yes. I will help you overcome your helplessness. I will help you gain the strength to resist the irrational waves. I will pour all my knowledge and power to help you.”

“…”

“Earlier, I said I can’t force you to follow us if you want to go back to your family. But if you plan to keep living… isn’t my proposal worth considering?”

Each of Sa Jaehyuk’s words pricked at Lee Hyun’s heart. They unearthed the weak parts he had hidden deep inside.

After listening silently for a while, Lee Hyun spoke up.

“Are you… a magician?”

“Yes. I am, as are my colleagues.”

Sa Jaehyuk nodded.

“So… when you say you’ll help me, does that mean you’ll teach me magic…?”

“Exactly. Although I don’t usually say this, I belong to a powerful group of magicians. And so do my colleagues.”

“In that case… it’s impossible.”

“What?”

“…It’s impossible. I am a complete Null, unable to use magic at all…”

A look of surprise crossed Sa Jaehyuk’s face upon hearing Lee Hyun’s words.

A Null, something he had only heard about in theory during his childhood. It was clear that he knew nothing about magic or witches.

“No, you can use magic.”

“…It’s okay. You don’t need to reassure me…”

“I don’t reassure men. That’s a fact. Let me say it clearly again. You will be able to use magic. I guarantee it with my life.”

Upon hearing Sa Jaehyuk’s confident assurance, Lee Hyun’s eyes widened.

“…What’s the price?”

“What?”

“…What’s the price? Why would you go to such lengths for someone you just met…?”

Despite trying to remain calm, his trembling voice betrayed his hidden desires. Sa Jaehyuk, confident that his persuasion had worked, smiled lightly.

“You asked well. There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. You have a fair amount of caution for your young age.”

“…And the answer…”

“Let me be straightforward. You have a remarkable ability. And I am very interested in that ability. You may not be aware of it, but…”

“…”

“Here’s the deal. I will teach you magic, and in return, you will occasionally help me with that power. This is not a one-sided benefit. It’s a fair exchange. So, you have no reason to be anxious.”

Upon hearing Sa Jaehyuk’s words, Lee Hyun fell into deep thought. If they were plotting something, there would be no need for such persuasion.

If he had the power to subdue dark magicians without a scratch, he could just take them along.

Although the man had a somewhat fierce appearance, he didn’t seem like a liar.

Having a remarkable ability still seemed like a foreign concept to Lee Hyun.

Above all, because of what Sa Jae-hyuk said earlier, I completely abandoned the thought of ending my own life.

Being alone was still painful and agonizing. However, I couldn’t bring myself to go through with it when I thought about how sad my mom and friends would be once again.

After a long silence, Lee Hyun finally spoke up.

“…If that’s the case, then okay.”

“Okay. It’s a deal, then…”

Upon hearing the response, Sa Jae-hyuk let out a sigh and made a resigned expression. But everything needed to be wrapped up.

Sa Jae-hyuk approached the members who were looking in his direction.

“…Captain. What’s all this sudden commotion about? And what about the abilities?”

“I think an explanation is needed…”

“Sorry. I’ll tell you everything later. Let’s finish up here first. Se-hwa. What about that guy from earlier?”

“I just subdued him. I don’t think there’s anything more to get out of him without interrogation.”

“Go with Chae-won and bring him here. We have a place to use him now.”

“…Do we really have to explain later?”

Se-hwa and Chae-won, despite their uneasy expressions, went to retrieve the dark wizard. There was no intention to hide anything anyway. They were all aware of their circumstances.

“Captain. Surely…?”

However, Yae-jin, who had experienced the inexplicable phenomenon earlier, was more perceptive.

Yae-jin made a serious expression alone, then turned to look at Lee Hyun, showing a sense of wariness.

Sa Jae-hyuk chuckled and reassured Yae-jin.

“No, it’s not like that.”

“But…”

“You don’t need to worry about it. I’ll explain later.”

“…Alright.”

While they were having a conversation, Chae-won and Se-hwa returned with the dark wizard. Unlike before, the scene was extremely brutal.

The dark wizard was covered in blood, bound all over his body. Blisters were visible on his exposed skin, and a faint smell of burning flesh permeated the air.

“…Looks like you had a good time torturing him.”

Seeing the marks of torture, Sa Jae-hyuk furrowed his brows slightly. Then he turned to Lee Hyun and asked.

“Kid. Do you have anything to prove your identity, like an item or proof?”

“Item… proof…”

At Sa Jae-hyuk’s words, Lee Hyun momentarily lowered his head. Suddenly, he stopped and looked at his left hand.

Following Lee Hyun’s gaze, Sa Jae-hyuk soon confirmed the ring on his fourth finger.

Seeing his hesitation, Sa Jae-hyuk said.

“If it’s something precious, just…”

“…No.”

“Hmm?”

“…Not anymore…”

Lee Hyun shook his head upon hearing Sa Jae-hyuk’s words. Then, with trembling hands, he took off the ring and handed it to Sa Jae-hyuk, his voice filled with moisture.

“…It’s best to think carefully.”

“…Alright.”

“Okay, got it.”

Sa Jae-hyuk didn’t ask any further questions. If he had made a choice, that was the end of it.

Taking the ring, Sa Jae-hyuk approached the bound dark wizard and sat in front of him. Seeing Sa Jae-hyuk’s actions, the dark wizard, Lang, trembled in fear and asked.

“Cough…! W-what are you… trying to do…”

“You’re lucky. You’ll at least die somewhat useful as society’s trash.”

“L-last… words…!! I-I surrendered…”

“Did I ever say I would spare you?”

Lang was shocked by Sa Jae-hyuk’s words and could only stutter in response.

Regardless, as Lang adjusted his posture, Sa Jae-hyuk found Lang’s left hand and pulled it forward. Then he grabbed Lang’s fourth finger and tried to insert the ring given by Lee Hyun. However, the ring was too small for the boy’s finger.

“Oh, it doesn’t fit. Then what…”

After struggling for a while, Sa Jae-hyuk let out a deep sigh. Seemingly giving up, Sa Jae-hyuk then pushed the ring deeply into Lang’s finger with force.

“Screams!!!”

The weakened skin, already burned, was pushed into the ring. The dark wizard writhed on the ground, screaming in pain.

“…Still full of energy. Chaewon, just incinerate this guy. Leave only ashes.”

“Got it.”

Although Sa Jaehyuk’s actions seemed strange at first glance, the other members who had already grasped his intentions did not raise any objections.

Sa Jaehyuk was trying to cover up the boy’s death.

While others stepped back, only Chaewon remained in place, preparing to cast the spell.

“Just a moment, Captain.”

“Why?”

“It’s just… in front of the kid…”

However, Sehwa briefly stopped Chaewon. Sa Jaehyuk thought again that he was quite insensitive in that regard.

“…I guess you’re right. Then, as troublesome as it is, take him back over there…”

“No.”

The voice from behind made all the members turn their heads. Hyun, who had suddenly stood up, was now watching this side.

“…I’ll watch too.”

“Hey. What are you going to do by watching this? Just wait here for a moment…”

“…I don’t want to. I have to see.”

“Well…”

The members looked awkward at Hyun’s insistence. But Sa Jaehyuk, who had been observing the situation, instead supported Hyun.

“Fine. Let him do as he pleases.”

“Captain. But…”

“It’s his own choice. He’ll handle it. Let’s finish this quickly and go. We have a lot to do.”

“…Sigh. Alright.”

Unable to do anything about Sa Jaehyuk’s words, the members reluctantly stepped back. Chaewon prepared the spell again. A burning line was drawn around the dark wizard, gradually forming a circle.

Struggling with the pain of his dried skin, Lang barely regained his senses and desperately shouted at Chaewon.

“W-Wait!! What are you doing right now…!”

“What do you think? It’s your funeral. Farewell, trash.”

Without even looking at Lang, Chaewon responded in a cold voice.

“N-No…! I’m not ready…!”

Before the dark wizard could finish his sentence, as soon as the circle was completed, a pillar of fire shot up and engulfed him.

***

“Screams!!!”

Before the pillar of fire rose, there was a moment when it felt like the dark wizard and I made eye contact.

Now he was trapped in the flames of magic, constantly screaming in a hoarse voice.

“It hurts…! It’s hot!! Aaah!!”

“Oh, it’s really noisy…”

“I should have pulled out his tongue beforehand…”

A strange scene unfolded before Hyun. While a person was burning to death, the women in front were casually chatting as if they were grilling meat.

Strangely, Hyun, too, did not feel any human pity while watching the dark wizard screaming.

Instead, he felt a small sense of satisfaction in his heart.

“It hurts…! It’s hot!! M-Mother…”

Hyun thought. Even villains look for their mothers when they’re dying.

Before he knew it, the screams had stopped. Only the pillar of fire continued to burn fiercely into the sky.

After a while, even the pillar of fire dwindled. All that remained where the dark wizard had been was a pile of ashes. From the edge of it, the ring that had once been on Hyun’s finger sparkled.

Hyun was staring blankly at the ashes. Suddenly, the man who was once called the captain stood in front of him again. And reaching out his hand, he said,

“Welcome to the 66th Crow Division.”