episode_0206

“Then what the branch manager said… All the countries that the signal couldn’t reach must have been taken over by witches… ?”

“Well, that could be possible. I sincerely hope not. It could have been destroyed for some other reason, or maybe we just lost contact for a while. ”

Mok Jin-woo shrugged his shoulders as if to lighten the mood.

“Anyway, to be honest, the outlook doesn’t look all that bright right now. And… it’s clear that something is happening again on this land.”

He lit a cigarette and took a drag. Then he took a deep drag and exhaled before opening his mouth again.

” Things are different now than they were 15 years ago. Back then, the witches revealed their presence everywhere. They were only interested in spreading corruption by destroying and killing. ”

“… ”

“But the ones that showed up this time… are more cunning, more sophisticated, and more skilled. Yeah, it’s almost like they’ve become more like us. Did they survive and learn, or did they inherit knowledge… Phew… ”

The five-colored smoke that reached the ceiling dispersed and covered the surroundings like fog.

“Religion? The witches of 15 years ago couldn’t even imagine such a formality. They were just covering themselves with leather and trying to imitate us.”

His words bring back memories. A city covered in orange smog. A strange chapel that used to be located underground. Even the tyrant and pious-looking woman who was its leader.

“If you hadn’t accidentally stepped foot into the first city, it would have become a hive spreading erosion and mutants. And we would have suffered much greater damage. Right now, we can barely contain it with a city blockade.”

Mok Jin-woo’s body trembles. After hearing his words, I was able to immediately realize the problem at hand.

“There may be more… things that have infiltrated disguised as us.”

“Yeah.”

***

“I can’t trust anyone anymore. My biggest fear is not knowing where they are hiding and what they are doing.”

Mok Jin-woo answered again, spitting out smoke.

“You could check by examining the brain or squeezing the body, but… it’s virtually impossible to check millions of people one by one in that way. They’d probably catch on a lot too.”

Then he turned to me and joked.

“Would you like to check it out?”

“Confirm… ?”

“Yeah. What if I’m a witch? How about cutting off my finger? Huh? ”

“Please don’t say that even if it’s a joke. It’s horrible. If the branch manager was a witch, there’s no need to tell me this. Especially since he’s a man.”

“Tsk, this isn’t fun… ”

When I answered with a frown, he clicked his tongue as if he was offended.

“Anyway, that’s the situation. And I think… you’re the only key to solving the current difficulties.”

“I… am I right?”

“Yeah. The power you have. You said it was the power to completely control particles within a certain radius, right? ”

“That’s right.”

“I can’t tell you how relieved I was when I first heard that story. That the power was in your hands, not the witch’s.”

Then he closed his eyes for a moment and fell into thought.

“… The witches of 15 years ago were enemies close to disaster. They had near-infinite magical power, and even powers whose principles were unknown. ”

“… ”

“Of course, that doesn’t mean it was completely impossible to take them down. We had to make great sacrifices, but we succeeded in subduing all of the guys who were active at the time.”

He slowly opens his eyes and stares at me, as if trying to see inside me.

“But your power is… unlike anything we’ve experienced before.”

“… Because it makes it impossible for the person dealing with it to do anything.”

“That’s correct.”

He nodded.

“If that power was in their hands, there would be no need to plot secretly like now. Even the most talented wizards wouldn’t be able to deal with them. What’s the use of magic if they can’t use it in the first place?”

“… ”

“Maybe the Republic has already fallen, and you and I would be lying in the coffin together.”

“Please stop saying such horrible things.”

“Phehe, I see. Anyway, by the way… Do you still not remember how you got that power?”

Perhaps this question is the main topic of today.

But all I can do is shake my head.

“… Not at all. If the captain hadn’t told me in the first place, I wouldn’t have even known I had that power. ”

After a moment of silence, he asked a question with an expression filled with regret and concern.

“By the way, do you remember what kind of person your late mother was?”

Of course, I could immediately tell what he meant by his question. And the reason for the regret and worry on his face.

Maybe my mom is a witch, or something like that.

I survived by running away or something… and I, as a child, may have inherited my mother’s power…

“… It’s probably not what you’re thinking.”

But this time again I could only shake my head.

“I know that my mother settled in the village more than 15 years ago. She didn’t really go out of the village to begin with… ”

“Umm… ”

A slightly disappointed look appears on his face.

“And my mother… was just an ordinary person. Even though she had a bit of a temper, she always cared for me and loved me. I don’t think she was the monster you mentioned… ”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I touched your sore wound… ”

“It’s okay. It was necessary.”

“Thank you for understanding. Then, have you ever met a suspicious person in your life? Or experienced something?”

“No. I have never left the village before the leader took me in. It is such a small settlement that if there was anything suspicious, rumors would have spread by now.”

“… Okay, I understand. But keep all possibilities in mind. Including what I just said. If you can figure out how the power was transferred to you, you might be able to find a clue to deal with them… ”

“… Wait a minute.”

“Huh?”

When you say clue, something suddenly comes to mind.

This is a dream I had after returning from the South. A ruin with a view of the sea to the east. A group of people sitting around there, talking about something unknown.

But now that I think about it, I think I have a vague idea of what it really is.

The women sitting there were all witches. The stories they were sharing were about a conspiracy to stain the earth.

I couldn’t say anything because I was afraid I would be treated like a lunatic, but now that I’ve heard this inside story, I have no reason to hide it any longer.

I told him everything I saw in my dream in as much detail as possible: the date, the surrounding scenery, the number of people sitting around, etc.

“What the… nonsense… really?”

Then, Mok Jin-woo opened his mouth and muttered as if he had heard something unbelievable.

“I’m sure it’s true. I wrote it down right after I woke up from my dream. If you don’t believe me… ”

“No, no. That’s not what I meant.”

He waved his hand urgently.

“… That’s right. There was definitely something like that at the Wall Guard. I remember it clearly. There was a lot of noise for a while about desertion and kidnapping. But if that woman had her body stolen by a witch…!”

Then he continued asking questions passionately.

“Who else did you say there was?”

“A florist, a PLF member, a nightclub singer, a nun. I think the nun is the woman I killed. Her name is Betelgeuse… ”

“Oh my god… ”

Mok Jin-woo, who let out an exclamation, rested his chin on his hand and fell into thought. After that, he muttered something passionately for a long time.

“Then is it certain that they are not survivors but newly emerged individuals? Judging from the use of the word hatching, they are viviparous… They are scattered all over the place… There are 347 flower shops in the capital, and among the nightclub singers, there are those who are less than 2 years old… PLF members are from the south… enemies? Could this be… ”

Then he looks at me with a dumbfounded expression.

“… You have no idea what a big hit you just made.”

“But I haven’t figured it all out yet. Even if we leave Polaris aside, there’s no real information about the witch named Spica… And besides that… ”

“How fortunate that we found out even a little bit. Being discovered is basically the same as losing an arm and going to fight. It’s no different for a witch.”

There was a hint of excitement in his voice.

“Okay, I understand. Leave it to me to figure that out. And… ”

He stopped talking, looked at his wristwatch, and chuckled, his voice clearly relaxed.

“It’s already time to send off the young master.”

***

“… The spirit’s natural enemy?”

“Yeah. That’s why the spirits didn’t have much power in witch hunts. The spirits were always terrified of them. ”

“Umm… ”

On the way back, I continued talking to him.

“I don’t understand.”

“What?”

“Why did you keep the existence of such a dangerous monster a secret? People know about the witch, but they don’t know about the alien inside.”

“Because it wasn’t a situation like that.”

Then Mok Jin-woo answered simply.

“The witch incident was over, but its aftereffects spread throughout the country. The five families that supported the country were no exception.”

“… ”

“Black Lotus and Paechon each lost their successors in different ways. Red Flower was obsessed with taking over the power that had been vacated, and Baek Gwang was struggling to protect himself. Wol Young had never been interested in worldly affairs to begin with.”

If it’s Wolyeong, it seems like it was the headmaster’s family.

As expected, it seems that the excuse of sloth’s seaweed flower is not just an excuse.

“Of course there was an investigation. It lasted for a full three years. But in the end, it was concluded without finding any traces.”

If the witches of that time were all killed, and the witches of this generation are newly hatched from eggs… it may be natural that the investigation failed.

“So everyone thought it was a temporary danger. No, I guess they couldn’t help but think that way.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s hard to guarantee tomorrow, so what good would it do to claim the existence of alien monsters in the meantime? It would only make the people anxious. And so the existence of witches was forgotten… The families were only focused on the power struggle… Well, in the meantime, we ended up here.”

He shrugged his shoulders and muttered with a slightly regretful voice.

“The only one who kept insisting on their return was Jaehyuk. Even Principal Nana should have listened to me earlier… ”

“… ”

“Well, it’s just a belated atonement. In any case, there will be an official announcement about the existence of witches soon. Active countermeasures will be sought, and even though it’s difficult, the search operation will continue. After all, the situation is different now.”

He scratched his head with a complicated expression.

“You said you used your power when you were dealing with that Betelgeuse bitch, right?”

“… Yes. I saved it until the last moment and used it. ”

“Did your power work on them too?”

“It worked. Probably not only magic, but even her powers like brainwashing were blocked.”

“Who else witnessed the fight besides you?”

“There is one person, but it’s okay. He’s a trustworthy friend.”

“Who are you… Aha.”

Mok Jin-woo, who was bewildered, lets out his characteristically mischievous smile.

“Is that the girl in white light?”

“… ”

“Get serious. Got it, you punk.”

Then, for a moment, he changed his expression and said.

“What are the chances that your power or your existence has become known to the witches?”

“You’ll be fine too. Even before I died, I was going wild about having to let my people know. If my existence had been communicated, there would have been no need to exert so much effort.”

“I see. That’s fortunate. I’m really fortunate… ”

Only then did Mok Jin-woo let out a sigh of relief.

“Until the decisive moment comes, I think it would be better to keep your existence hidden.”

“I was thinking of doing that anyway.”

“Okay. You go back to the cradle for now. Go and be quiet for a while. As if you don’t know anything. But you’d better keep a close eye on the movements that happen there.”

He lowered his voice and spoke in a whisper.

“The disaster of the last social gathering. No matter how much I think about it, it’s suspicious. Each of them was not a vagrant, but a well-selected celebrity. There was no reason for them to make such a fuss.”

“… ”

“I don’t know the purpose, but it is certain that it was an excessively unnatural commotion. If the disaster was a well-planned plot by someone… ”

Even though he swallowed his words, I could immediately understand what he meant.

“… And there’s no law that says students can’t become the target of a witch’s parasites.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Then… ”

“Wait a minute.”

As I was exchanging greetings and about to leave, Mok Jin-woo suddenly stopped me and there was a look of hesitation on his face that didn’t suit me.

“And then… umm… ”

“If you have something to say, please tell me. Didn’t you promise to tell me everything without hiding anything?”

“So… Ha, this… !”

He scratched his head in agony, and finally opened his mouth as if giving up.

“… Yeah, Jaehyuk isn’t around, and you’re the person involved, so you have the right to know. You’re clearly an adult now. ”

I wondered if there was something more to the witch that wasn’t being told to me. Otherwise, there would be no reason to worry so much.

“… By any chance.”

“Please speak.”

“… Two years ago, an unfortunate incident occurred in the pioneer village where you lived… ”

“… ?”

But the story that came out of his open mouth was something I had never expected.

“If that wasn’t an accident but someone’s planned plot… what are you going to do?”

***

-Turtle!

“Ah, ah… !”

It was a wonderful day. It must have been so.

He shook his hands in pity. What was clearly filled with fear was his red eyes.

In front of her was her father’s diary, crumpled and in disarray, half-read.

“Why on earth, why on earth… Father… why on earth would you do something like that… ”

Yeonminha’s voice was filled with tears. It was more like resentment toward someone than sadness.

“Why… that child’s village… !”