#34 How to Conquer a Gate (4)
My words brought a chilling silence over the basement.
"A murder log? If that's really true, then the thing in that spire is the count's own daughter, right? And you're saying he tried to kill his own kid?"
At Lee Jae-eun's question, I gave a bitter smile and nodded.
"Yes. The count didn't consider her his daughter."
"That's awful."
"Were any of the methods in that log actually effective?"
At Yuseonje's question, Lee Jae-eun gaped at him. It was just like the Yuseonje I knew.
"No. The child survived being starved, thrown into roaring flames, and drowned—everything. In the end, Count Herman locked her in the spire and forbade anyone from approaching. Maybe he hoped she'd die there alone in isolation."
But the child survived in the spire all by herself. Without anyone's help, attention, or care. And when Count Herman heard of it, his rage only deepened. Everyone in the castle came to see the child as a monster.
"Count Herman kept researching ways to kill her. Right here in this laboratory."
"And he failed in the end."
I nodded at Yuseonje's words. Every method in the log had failed. There were horrific experiments too gruesome to speak of, but the child endured them all—what he called 'murder attempts'—and lived.
"And that's why the castle ended up like this. Revenge, maybe?"
Before I could respond to Lee Jae-eun's question, Yuseonje cut in.
"Does that even matter?"
"Pardon?"
"There's no weakness listed there, right?"
Well, if he was asking how close we were to a strategy, this info might not help much.
"Whether that woman—or monster—in there had a tragic life or not, it doesn't matter, does it?"
No one could argue with Yuseonje's point. Han Seohyun glared at him with a fearsome expression, but it wasn't entirely wrong.
"What good is pity? We have to kill the monster there to get out of here anyway."
"Ugh..."
Lee Jae-eun clenched her fists with a strangled noise.
Damn, this guy had a real talent for souring the mood.
I sighed inwardly and spoke up.
"Yuseonje has a point. This info won't directly help with a strategy. We still don't know why the castle froze over, either."
"So everything you've done so far is a total waste of time."
I shrugged at Yuseonje's jab.
"But it's not like we learned nothing. For starters, the child in the spire..."
"Monster."
"...Yeah, the monster is a half-demon, half-human hybrid. And non-mana attacks can't hurt her at all. Though that's par for the course with monsters."
I added, "Finding a way to kill her right now is impossible for you or me. But I've been doing my best with what I can. While you've found 'nothing'."
I had no intention of making an enemy of him, but I couldn't let that slide.
Yuseonje fixed me with a terrifying glare. No joke—white shadows flickered in his pupils. He'd even drawn up mana.
If there were no witnesses, he'd have zapped me good.
"No hobbies fit for time-wasters, so I'm out."
With that, Yuseonje stormed toward the stairs.
I called after his back.
"Don't forget to close the door on your way out!"
BAM!
The door slammed with a thunderous crash. Like he was trying to shake it off its hinges.
What a foul temper.
The remaining group glanced at me nervously. Great, I'd shown an unsavory side. With so few of us left, we could barely afford infighting.
I looked to Team Leader Lee Hyewon. She met my eyes and spoke.
"We're thinking of heading out now, Agent Smith. What about you?"
"Mm... I'll stay and check the info again."
"Didn't you say you'd already read all the books here?"
To be precise, Ray had read and memorized them. I'd just flipped through diligently.
I grasped the broad strokes but missed the fine details.
"I'll review them to see if I overlooked anything. Unlike Count Herman, we have mana. His failed methods might work for us."
Lee Hyewon glanced at the shelves crammed with tomes, her expression distant.
"I'd help, but only you can read them, so..."
"It's fine."
"Then, John..."
She turned to Han Seohyun, who shook his head slightly. His face said he had plenty to say, so I didn't urge them to leave this time.
Maybe I should lift his vow of silence soon. The chatty teen had been mute for hours.
In the end, the two of us stayed, while the others went outside to search.
"Don't forget to shut the door tight when you go."
"Yes, sir!"
Unlike with someone else, the door closed gently. The moment they left, Han Seohyun gasped like he'd been holding his breath.
"Ugh, I thought I was gonna lose it in there."
"Good job."
"Ugh."
He shuddered for a moment, then blurted at me.
"Oh, right! You know those guys were plotting to take out the boss?"
"What?"
"They've been eyeing a chance from the back."
"Huh."
Considering Yuseonje's hostility earlier, it wasn't surprising.
"They gonna attack us for real?"
"Nah, they don't think they can beat the gate's boss without us."
"As long as they're not jumping us right now, fine."
"That's it?"
Han Seohyun sighed at my nonchalant response, steam practically coming out. He clearly hated allying with the distrustful Sirius raiders.
"Oh, and something bugs me. Why'd he decorate the room of the daughter he hated so much so nicely?"
"Right, you said the room in the spire was beautiful."
It didn't match the log's hatred at all. He barely fed her or cared for her.
"Maybe it's made of ice. Like that Disney princess with ice powers."
As he rambled, Han Seohyun's eyes lit up like he'd realized something.
"Hey, if I say it without filtering, will Disney come save us?"
"What're you talking about?"
"Sue us for copyright infringement..."
Locked up too long, and the kid's gone weird.
"You go upstairs. Not the basement."
"Ugh, can't I stay? I'll be quiet. You know how suffocating it is not talking? I feel like I'm choking."
—Definitely not ideal for a pubescent teen.
Hiding behind a fake face in a den of enemies. Too much pressure for a seventeen-year-old. I nodded to Han Seohyun. He needed a break anyway.
Good thing he was decent enough to hold out this long. If it were Kim Jae-ho, he'd have wrecked the place by now.
—You didn't leave him behind because of his mask, right?
'Mm.'
—Thought it was weird.
'Doesn't suit him for missions like this.'
Kim Jae-ho was awkward with people. Unlike me or Han Seohyun blending in seamlessly, he'd give himself away. Bringing him probably would've blown our cover day one.
Made me miss the guy terribly now, though.
Hope he's doing okay. Eating properly? I'd drilled it into him before leaving, but it felt like leaving a kid by the water.
Mm...
I shook my head to clear thoughts of Kim Jae-ho. He's not the type to get beat up, so he'll be fine.
—Unless he's the one doing the beating.
Priority now: find a way to conquer this gate.
I scowled at the books crammed into the shelves.
'Not sure if the answer's even in here.'
"It's a waste of time. Reading those books won't change a thing."
Yuseonje declared. Smith's obsession was pointless. Lee Hyewon rolled her eyes. As team leader, she had to lead, but the situation had long slipped from her control.
Truth be told, she respected Agent Smith's judgment. She had no desire to belittle someone who'd uncovered a hidden chamber and pored over crumbling tomes for a strategy.
But siding against him would just piss off the narrow-minded hero.
Lee Hyewon sided mildly with Yuseonje.
"We can't leave it all to him, so let's investigate on our own. Lee Jae-eun?"
"Yesss!"
Lee Jae-eun dashed over at her call.
"Scout around and report anything suspicious. There might be more hidden spots like before."
"Got it!"
"It could be dangerous, so don't get close. Tell us if you find something. And Shin Maru and Oh Hyo-jun..."
Shin Maru and Oh Hyo-jun had combat-related talents useful in fights, but here they were iffy as assets.
Their physical abilities were average at best.
Reading her expression, the two spoke up quickly.
"We'll make some food?"
"S-sure?"
Lee Hyewon smiled faintly, grateful for their initiative.
"Yes. Then, Seonje..."
"I'll train."
"Ah, training."
"Got a technique unfinished before coming here."
"Well, if so. But don't go too far..."
Before she finished, Yuseonje bolted away on his long legs.
Lee Hyewon rubbed her forehead.
"Feels like no one's listening to me."
Lee Jae-eun, overhearing, raised her hand.
"Not true! I'm here. Let's search the village!"
Lee Hyewon smiled at her cheer.
"Good."