episode_0139

139

In front of the building in Sinhwa Bridge, Sinan County, Jeollanam-do.

“The building looks unnecessarily grand for a cult headquarters.”

Kang Dae-han, looking at the imposing Sinhwa Bridge building, chuckled and expressed his admiration, not for the grandeur of the building.

The majestic white building, reminiscent of a castle, made me slightly surprised as well.

Although I already knew about the size of the Sinhwa Bridge building through games and internet research, seeing it in person felt quite different.

“It seems like Soyeon didn’t cause too much trouble here. It’s a relief that we’re not too late.”

I looked up at the seemingly intact Sinhwa Bridge building and let out a sigh of relief in my mind.

I was slightly worried that Soyeon might have arrived before us, but it seems like that wasn’t the case.

As I was thinking that.

“Wait, are we already late?”

Sinsia, who had followed along to escort Roxanne, looked at the building with a strange expression.

Late? What does that even mean?

“It seems like uninvited guests have arrived before us.”

“What?”

At that moment.

Thud!

Crash!

Unidentified noises echoed.

It was coming from inside Sinhwa Bridge.

It was quite noisy. What’s going on?

I could see people rushing out of the building in the distance.

Someone was requesting help with a frantic expression.

It seemed like something had happened inside the building, contrary to Sinsia’s words.

“If it’s uninvited guests… could it be Soyeon?”

“I don’t know either.”

Sinsia shrugged.

“But you know, right? There’s only one person who could cause a ruckus at a time like this.”

“…”

I stole a glance at the distant figures of the followers running around in panic and thought to myself.

Damn it.

Did Soyeon arrive slightly later than us?

It’s quite disappointing.

I wanted to meet Soyeon before she caused chaos.

“There’s nothing we can do.”

I let out a deep sigh.

There’s no easy way out, no easy way.

I wanted to be a bit reckless this time.

“Let’s go with Plan B.”

Plan B.

It means going into the building to find Soyeon.

It’s risky, but there’s no other choice. I can’t just stand by and watch Soyeon run wild in that dangerous place.

“As I mentioned yesterday, we’ll split into two teams.”

In a situation where we need to find Soyeon as soon as possible, it’s inefficient for everyone to act together.

The building is very large, including underground.

And it’s quite complex, like a maze.

I’d love to tear down the walls of the building to find Soyeon, but being underground, a wrong move could easily get us buried alive, so we need to be careful.

“If you find Soyeon, don’t approach her or try to persuade her recklessly.”

If Soyeon knows about the artifact of resurrection, persuading her might be easier, but judging from her actions so far, she seemed unaware of the existence of the artifact of resurrection.

It seems like she didn’t fully understand all the contents of the notebook.

Well, thinking about it, it makes sense.

I hastily scribbled down the contents alone, making it very difficult for anyone else to understand.

“In case a situation arises where we need to use force, make sure to contact the other team first.”

Only two teams can be fully armed.

In that church building, there’s not only Soyeon but also a monster known as Surapa Cheon.

In case we have a clash with Soyeon or Surapa Cheon due to bad luck, we needed a certain number of people to be prepared.

“Team A consists of Ishiwoon, Kang Daehan, and Yoo Seolhyun. And we will divide into Team A and Team B, with me and Roxanne.”

Team A, composed of Ishiwoon, Kang Daehan, and Yoo Seolhyun, each brought bodyguards, so they would be able to handle Surapa Heaven even if they encountered it.

Our Team B, with Cynthia included, is well-equipped to hold out until the other team arrives or to fight against Surapa Heaven.

“Alright, then. If everyone is ready, let’s move in.”

I said, looking at everyone’s faces.

Everyone seemed ready to go.

Ishiwoon, Kang Daehan, Yoo Seolhyun, Roxanne, and others quietly started moving inside the building.

As we entered the building, it was a complete mess, with a loud commotion echoing from all directions.

We scattered in different directions to find Soyeon.

Somehow, I instinctively knew that Soyeon was not far away.

That she was waiting behind the walls, layers upon layers.

“Wait for me, Soyeon.”

I’ll be there soon.

***

“These people…”

“Tsk.”

“Ugh, the smell of blood.”

Team A.

The members of Team A paused for a moment.

Ishiwoon, Kang Daehan, and Yoo Seolhyun stared blankly at the white corridor.

What filled their sight were none other than people.

No, they were people who had become corrupted by a cult, twisted and tainted with malice. What in the world was going on here?

“Ugh, ah, ahh.”

“Ah, ugh, ugh.”

“My arm! My aaaaarm, my arm…!”

“Ughhh, ahhh, ahh.”

The corridor was filled with followers, writhing in agony like discarded trash, only letting out cries of pain.

It was quite a gruesome sight.

The once pristine white corridor was now a mess, stained with blood.

The followers’ arms and legs were broken or severed, writhing in agony.

All they could do was groan, calling out the name of their god.

“Is this really what Soyeon did?”

Yoo Seolhyun was at a loss for words at the sight before her.

Even though these people were trash performing human sacrifices, she never imagined Soyeon would go this far.

Yoo Seolhyun bit her lower lip tightly.

The screams, the smell of blood, the scattered body parts, all of it was unsettling her mind.

She felt nauseous.

“Soyeon, you really…”

When she reunited with Soyeon who had gone missing a few months ago, it wasn’t to this extent.

She had become quite cynical, but she thought she still had some sense of reason.

But this… what was this?

To mercilessly cut down evildoers like this.

Of course, Yoo Seolhyun had heard rumors about Soyeon.

And she knew what Soyeon had been doing to the evildoers.

Through rumors, news, newspapers, and personal investigations, she was well aware of it.

But seeing is believing, isn’t it?

There’s a clear difference between hearing about something and seeing it firsthand.

“Soyeon.”

Ishiwoon quietly called out Soyeon’s name as he looked at the grim scene.

Could he really persuade Soyeon?

What if Soyeon, seeing Ishiwoon alive and well, decides he’s a fake and attacks him?

Ishiwoon was no different from Soyeon’s target.

It was hard to predict what Soyeon, who seemed excited to see Ishiwoon alive, would do.

If Soyeon truly tried to kill him with all her might, Ishiwoon honestly didn’t know if he could stop her.

…It could be a job that could lead to Jin So-yeon killing Lee Jin-hyuk with a single mistake.

Such a disaster had to be prevented at all costs.

Isn’t that why Lee Si-woon and his companions were here?

“….”

Lee Si-woon shook his head briskly, as if to dispel dark thoughts for a moment.

Yes, it will be okay.

Believe in Lee Jin-hyuk and Jin So-yeon.

Then surely, I can persuade Jin So-yeon.

Surely, she will understand Lee Jin-hyuk.

Believe, Lee Si-woon.

“Lee Si-woon, what’s wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Lee Si-woon regained his composure at Yoo Seol-hyun’s words.

Lee Si-woon and his companions continued to move forward, leaving behind the bloodstained corridor.

Would following this bloodstain lead him to her?

But the bloodstain did not continue.

He had no choice but to search aimlessly for Jin So-yeon, who was likely surrounded by villains.

“….Where am I now?”

As he searched the underground areas,

He discovered a wide space reminiscent of a central hall.

With numerous chairs and sculptures packed together, it seemed to be a place of worship.

In the center of the distant church, a monstrous creature lay sprawled with wounds all over its body.

And there, he saw the familiar In-yeong.

“Haah, haah….”

It was a beautiful woman covered in sticky blood, using a blood-soaked sword as a staff to support her body.

Although she was covered in blood and wearing a black trench coat, Lee Si-woon could recognize her at a glance.

That woman was none other than Jin So-yeon.

“K-K-K, H-How…. How can you have this much power…?”

The human-shaped monster looked down at Jin So-yeon and scattered bloodthirsty veins.

He was Ma Yong-taek, who had the ability to transform into a monstrous form.

Once a high-ranking representative of South Korea, he had amassed considerable wealth and fame but had fallen into villainy and become the leader of a cult.

“Haah, K…. Ugh, Ah….”

He had built a reputation as the leader of the Shinhwagyo.

He had gained significant influence, enough to control a region, but to be brutally defeated by a mere child was unexpected.

Would the great Ma Yong-taek be defeated by such a weakling?

Ma Yong-taek looked at Jin So-yeon with powerless eyes, as if unable to comprehend.

“G-Gulp, Gulp…. You, you, what… How… do you see through all my weaknesses, you… villain…?”

“….”

Jin So-yeon raised her sword without saying a word.

Ma Yong-taek could only watch her.

Whether a hero or a villain, the loser could do nothing.

They could only silently await the winner’s decision.

But sitting idly waiting to die was not in Jin So-yeon’s nature.

Since it had come to this, she had to fight tooth and nail.

“Haah, K, Gulp, covered in blood, Gulp, your honest desire… You’re no different from a villain. You, woman… You’re not a hero….”

Mocking Jin So-yeon as another villain like himself, Ma Yong-taek.

Her appearance, covered in blood and not blinking an eye, cutting down anyone who stood in her way, was reminiscent of the rumored monster.

Bloodthirsty.

She was truly a monster craving blood.

“….I know, I am too.”

Thud!

Jin So-yeon coldly plunged her sword into Ma Yong-taek’s chest, uttering a short word with a chilling voice and gaze.

“K, Wh-What?!”

“….I know it well.”

She didn’t kill him.

She just twisted his body as usual.

My body is in shambles, so even with the help of a healer, it will be impossible to fully recover.

I must live in agony for the rest of my life, without being able to die or live, paying for my sins.

It can be considered a fitting punishment for a villain.

“…Hoo.”

Jin Soyeon exhaled deeply, looking quite exhausted.

Her hands, arms, and legs were trembling.

Having single-handedly brought a group to ruin and defeated a high ranker, it was no wonder her body was in such a state.

But she couldn’t afford to collapse just yet.

There was still work to be done.

Finally, Jin Soyeon raised her sword as if to say it wasn’t over yet, shifting her gaze towards where Lee Siwoon and his group were hiding.

And with a sharp voice, she threatened, “Come out if you don’t want to die.”

Swish!

Before the words had even finished, she unleashed her sword energy towards where Lee Siwoon and his group were hiding.

The sharp sword energy cut through the inner wall of the building, leaving a large scratch.

Seeing this, Lee Siwoon tensed up.

He had tried to conceal his presence as much as possible, but she had noticed him so easily.

She had definitely grown a lot since they last met a few months ago.

“It would be better for you to come out peacefully…”

“Soyeon.”

Lee Siwoon reluctantly revealed himself from behind the concealment.

Of course, he didn’t forget to signal to his group that Jin Soyeon was here.

Jin Soyeon, realizing that the hiding mice were Lee Siwoon and his group, remained cold and expressionless.

“Hah.”

And with a tone of weariness, she said, “…You again?”