episode_0156

I feel my head heating up.

What was hanging around Yeongjeongmun’s neck, and what the widow gave him.

And this decoration the woman just handed me.

No matter how you look at it, it’s the same thing.

I stared at the woman in front of me again, holding the cross decoration in my hand.

Just looking at it makes you feel purified. Its appearance truly feels like a model of a devout religious person. On top of that, it still has an unidentified sense of friendliness…

Her face was still covered with a veil, so her expression was unreadable. However, it was clear that the woman was maintaining a calm expression.

“… ”

Considering his words that seem to be well-versed in some doctrine, and his attitude in treating me like a lamb… he is definitely not a mere fanatic.

At least executive level. Maybe higher…

But what on earth was that person thinking, exposing his own tail like this?

Rather, I feel a bit empty.

“It’s the perfect symbol that unites us. Always keep it on you. Then the miracle that came last night will never go away… ”

As I nodded slightly, thinking about my answer, the woman folded her hands in satisfaction and continued speaking.

“There is a dawn service at A38 today. You should attend too. Then… ”

The woman who had greeted me quietly turned around and disappeared into the shadows.

“… ”

Perhaps because the children were nowhere to be seen today, there was only silence and stillness around.

I turned my head and stared into the distance.

The toxic fog that had been pushed away by the blowing wind was once again rushing in like a fierce wave.

As if to completely cover this peace.

***

“What? Heresy?”

First City Security Bureau Branch.

The branch chief of the security bureau, who had been smoking a cigarette with his chair leaned back as far as he could, asked back with an annoyed look on his face.

In front of him stood a tall man, clearly a low-class person from the countryside looking for work, wearing a gas mask and a shabby appearance.

“Why are you suddenly crawling in here and talking nonsense… Get out now. I’m already so busy… ”

He waved his hands as if he was chasing away a swarm of annoying flies. The man with the magician’s badge pinned to his chest treated him as if he were an untouchable the whole time.

But the arrogant attitude of the branch chief of the security bureau was dramatically overturned when a man wearing a gas mask presented a cradle school ID and a purple ID card symbolizing top citizenship.

“Oh my… Why is the noble child of the Black Lotus in such a shabby place… ”

He jumped up from his chair and lowered his head almost to the floor as he spoke.

Those words can be easily turned around like the palm of a hand depending on the person you are talking to.

When Lee Hyeon saw him, he was reminded of the arrogant security guard from the pioneer village where he used to live.

‘The person who is said to be the head of the Security Bureau branch…’

Heresy, black magicians, demons. Those cancerous seeds are becoming more and more active, and I wonder if these guys who don’t even do their jobs properly are also contributing significantly…

“… I just told you.”

Lee Hyun had to resist the urge to punch him in the jaw. However, he tried to suppress the feeling and not let it show.

It was a difficult task that made me feel proud of myself, but now I need his cooperation anyway.

And Lee Hyun only had one wish for him. He just had to fulfill his responsibilities.

Lee Hyun gave him a rough outline of what had happened so far.

“So, where is this A38 address?”

“A38, A38… So… ”

The branch chief of the security bureau, who was sweating profusely, glanced at the map of the residential area and made a puzzled expression.

“A38 is… a sewage treatment plant… ?”

“… Sewage treatment plant?”

“Yes. It is old and not in use now.”

***

“An old, unused sewage treatment plant. It’s a great place to gather without being noticed by others.”

Before we knew it, the sun was setting and the alley was covered in orange fog.

Jin Ye-seo, who was following behind Lee Hyeon, muttered.

“It’s a place fit for gloomy guys. But it’s better than the ones I caught before. It was a barn… and the smell… ugh.”

Jin Ye-seo, recalling that scene, furrowed her brows as if she had a headache.

“But I never imagined that the person who was called the blind sister would be you.”

“Okay.”

Jin Ye-seo’s bewildered reaction was not much different from Lee Hyeon’s.

“Why not arrest him at the scene?”

“If you tell me to come to church, you must have already built up a considerable force.”

Lee Hyeon answered while walking briskly through the smog.

“Since we’ve already stepped on their tails, we should catch them all at once. I’m on my way here to ask for the cooperation of the Security Bureau branch.”

“Bait? That sounds right… but it’s a bit strange.”

Jin Ye-seo tilted her head as if she was puzzled.

“What makes you believe that I’m giving you something like this?”

In Jin Ye-seo’s hand was the symbol of the heresy that Lee Hyeon had given her earlier.

“How can you be so sure that someone you’ve only known for a day is on your side? Even their appearance is so suspicious.”

“… ”

Jin Ye-seo’s gaze was directed at the gas mask covering Lee Hyeon’s face.

Lee Hyun was also sharing the exact same kind of doubt.

I didn’t do anything particularly brainwashing or anything. If anything, it’s that I had a bad dream last night.

But the woman treated him the whole time as if he was already in her grasp.

“… You said it was just an ordinary decoration that didn’t really feel like anything?”

“It’s clear from the fact that there’s no reaction to the disintegration magic.”

Jin Ye-seo nodded.

“I can’t feel any traces of particles at all. It’s just regular metal. It doesn’t contain stellite, and it doesn’t have circuits engraved on it like a magic tool… ”

“… ”

– It’s the perfect symbol that unites us. Always keep it with you. Then the miracle that came to you last night will never leave you…

‘But why did that woman say that earlier…?’

No matter how much I thought about it, no answer came to mind.

There was only one person who could answer this question right now.

“… You’ll know when you try it.”

“What?”

“No. And by the way, I heard that the air around the sewage treatment plant could be filled with flammable toxic substances. I don’t think your special magic like black flames or something will work. I’ll go in alone, so you wait outside with the police officers… ”

“What are you talking about? I don’t like it.”

Jin Ye-seo immediately made a displeased expression at Lee Hyeon’s words.

“Didn’t you hear? I said you can’t use the black flame. But what can you do in there? If a demon or mutant comes out… ”

“You can fight with something other than black flames.”

“Something else?”

“… Uh.”

Jin Ye-seo hesitated a little as she answered. A small metallic clanking sound could be heard the whole time she was following behind Lee Hyeon.

Only then was Lee Hyeon able to realize its true identity.

“Blade?”

“I prepared it in advance before coming. Something suitable… for circulation… and to gain some practical experience… ”

Jin Ye-seo trailed off, seeming embarrassed. She seemed a little nervous, perhaps worried that Lee Hyeon would reject her.

“… ”

Lee Hyun looked at her with a slightly bewildered expression.

“I will never hold you back… !”

Jin Ye-seo poured out her words urgently.

“You said the same thing last time… I said I was growing really fast… Hey, you said I was talented… !”

“Don’t say it like that… ”

“Ah, anyway…!”

I’ve given honest answers when I’ve been asked before. I couldn’t lie about something like that. But I didn’t know it would be used like this.

But it wasn’t a feeling that was completely incomprehensible.

He too was anxiously waiting for his first real match.

“… Ah, okay. Do whatever you want.”

Hyun Lee finally let out a light sigh and turned around again.

At those words that were almost like consent, Jin Ye-seo could not hide her rare expression of joy.

“… Yeah!”

In fact, the man’s worries could be said to be excessive.

Jinyeseo had already dealt with believers before. Most of them were ordinary people who couldn’t use magic, and at best, they were a few mutants.

Even if she were holding a branch instead of a blade, she could easily subdue those guys with one hand.

Of course, since they were mobilizing the security bureau’s officers, there was no way she, who was a much more valuable talent than them, would not be of help. So he probably agreed, pretending not to be able to win.

For Jin Ye-seo, other things were more important.

‘… I’m finally done with this suffocating city…!’

Although I felt a bit disappointed by the tail being revealed so suddenly, it’s still a good thing.

The destruction of the gang is almost a done deal. What I am most happy about is that I can finally leave this city.

Jin Ye-seo recalled the humiliating days of the past.

Out of the blue, I ended up sharing a bedroom with another man for two days. One day, I even held him tightly in my arms.

And she had to whisper sweet nothings to him, as if she were trying to appease a lover.

In addition, from the first day, he made me misunderstand by washing my body, and without me knowing, he made me take her as his wife, and even made me walk the streets during the day with soot on my face like a commoner…

‘Of course I did it myself… but still… no matter what…!’

The shameful things that I can’t tell anyone.

As she recalled him, Jin Ye-seo was glaring at his back.

“… ?”

Jin Ye-seo frowned and tilted her head as if she was puzzled.

Surely we should be happy about that liberation… we should be…

Somehow, rather than that, my heart was filled with feelings that felt more like regret and sorrow.