The Angel Forming a Club (13)
The Dalgoyang cat clan possessed many treasures. Of course, most of them were items of dubious origin, the kind where explaining how they became clan property would be rather awkward.
But this one was different. The Box of Indeterminacy, a small box labeled "Schrödinger" on its surface, used the power of modern magic engineering to keep the presence of a cat inside in an indeterminate state until observation. In that indeterminate state, it evaded any detection device. Truly... a treasure made for the Dalgoyang cat clan alone.
'The box is opening...'
As the dragon soldiers gathered their gazes elsewhere, the pink box began to creak open little by little. Refri gathered his angel power and activated Night-Walking Reverse Angel's Steps.
Angelic divine abilities represented the heavens, boasting power superior to any earthly skill. Thus, Night-Walking Reverse Angel's Steps could be called the ultimate stealth skill.
With the angelic divine ability activated, every surveillance device in the museum—except for the dragon soldiers—suddenly lost track of Refri. And as the box opened halfway...
'Moon said not to look while the box opens.'
Refri squeezed his eyes shut. A moment later—
"Phew, that was stuffy."
Hongwol's voice rang out. "Moon, you ready?"
"Refri. Ah, wait a sec!"
The Box of Indeterminacy could only be entered in cat form. And cats didn't usually wear clothes. So, had Hongwol entered wearing clothes? Or naked?
The answer was clear from Refri's beet-red face and his hands covering his eyes as he stammered, "I-I didn't see anything."
The shy angel tried to banish the sight of her flawless white skin and quickly opened his mouth. "H-Hurry and put something on."
"Ahh."
Cats got embarrassed too. Hongwol swiftly snatched a displayed coat, slipped it on, and called out to Refri. "Ugh, boy, you can open your eyes now."
"Okay."
"Even if the dragon soldiers are focused on the entrance, there have to be plenty patrolling. So... we don't have much time. Maybe ten minutes?"
"Ten minutes... enough?"
"Yeah."
Hongwol grinned. "Only I can pull this off. That snake or witch couldn't dream of it."
Without hesitation, she crouched low, baring her upper body. "It's something only I can do."
As Hongwol dashed down the corridor in just the coat, Refri squeezed his eyes shut again. Aaah. I... I've fallen...'
Refri had taken one step closer to becoming a fallen angel. But oblivious to this, Hongwol gleefully began pilfering the Emotional Club's treasures.
Her hands didn't stop until the new moon swelled to full.
In place of the stolen items, Soya's illusions were set up. Even at worst, they'd hold for an hour, Soya had guaranteed.
'Hmph, probably won't last ten minutes.'
But Hongwol figured they'd spot the fakes in under ten. It wasn't that she disliked Soya; it was just the nature of the place.
What was this place called? The Emotional Club headquarters and museum. And what was their main job? Appraising items, of course.
Would experts like that take long to discern real from fake or illusion?
'The Emotional Club nerds will notice it's an illusion within ten minutes. Activate alerts, and we've got maybe eleven or twelve minutes left. Plus, it takes about fifty seconds per line.'
Each line held twenty items, and Hongwol was using Dalgoyang secret arts to swipe one per second—even with dense security magic on each.
'Plenty of time!'
Hongwol struck her hunting pose again. Jump—
In just ten minutes, the Emotional Club's major artifacts were all looted in an unprecedented heist.
Of course, Refri couldn't care less about such historic events; he just wanted to get back to his little cathedral.
'T-Tired... Refri's so tired...'
The whiny angel let out a tense whimper. As they reached the museum entrance crowded with dragon soldiers, he released his divine ability and stepped out naturally—of course, pink box in tow.
It was a dual structure: Hongwol in the pink box in his arms, stolen goods in her subspace via secret arts. As long as the pink box stayed closed, Refri was in the clear.
As long as it stayed closed.
Beep— Beep—
As Refri, swept in the crowd, nearly exited, a massive buzzer enveloped the museum. Dragon soldiers blocked the exiting citizens.
"What's going on?"
"What happened?"
People panicked, muttering. Refri, among them, was no different.
'Did they catch us?'
Thump-thump— Refri's heart raced for the first time in ages.
"Don't let anyone out!"
"Everyone stop! Quick inspection!"
Emotional Club students and student council rushed out, shouting before the crowd: "Sorry, theft reported. Quick checks."
They scanned each person with dragon soldiers. Refri's heart pounded faster.
One by one passed scans and exited.
"Next!"
Refri's turn. The dragon soldier's glowing red eyes scrutinized him.
Heavenly-related race: low suspect probability. No detected artifacts. No anomalies on museum sensors. Clear—
"No issues."
"Thank you."
Refri bowed and moved to leave. That moment—
"Wait, aren't you that noisy first-year causing trouble lately?"
An Emotional Club senior eyed him suspiciously. "Dragon soldier, you scan him properly?"
"Thorough scan. No issues."
"What? Really? No way."
Refri muttered tensely. "I-I was just touring the museum."
"Nah, too suspicious... timing's too perfect."
The senior approached, his cold hand on Refri's shoulder. "Junior, let's chat inside."
Malice laced his voice. As terror gripped Refri—
"Enough."
A student council exec shielded him. 'No way this idiot—who's dumb enough to stop scary Professor Hexi to save the council—robbed the whole Emotional Club. Ridiculous.'
The exec spoke. "He's not the type. Let him go."
"What? How do you know, Facilities Chief?"
"Refri's... well, ridiculously nice. I guarantee it. Not him."
The senior snapped. "How do you know? Suspects need interrogation."
"Interrogate him?"
The chief's voice dropped. "Ha, fu—"
Refri spotted the sword sheath at the chief's side. 'Oh, Facilities Chief... Swordsmanship Department senior.'
Swordsmanship ran half-military under Park Jinho—strict discipline between seniors and juniors.
"Hey, Kim Suhyun. You nuts?"
"Facilities Chief. Uh, Senior."
"Told you it's not him. Doubt me? Call the guys for a spar? You on top, me below?"
The senior trembled. He had a sheath too—same department.
"Sorry."
"Whatever... dorm tonight."
With that, the Emotional Club student slunk back silently.
"...Refri."
"Yes, Senior."
"Th-That last time... really thanks."
Turning away: "And... sorry for what we did."
The Facilities Chief left. Something warm bloomed in Refri's heart.
'Hexi, Mari, Moon, Soya... all mocked protecting the council as dumb. No rewards for good deeds. Just a sucker.'
Refri had thought so too. In a world branding the kind as suckers, the passive as sweet potatoes. He always craved that fizzy satisfaction.
But.
'Getting rewarded for good deeds? Fairy-tale stuff. Just luck this time.'
Refri smiled softly. He'd sleep easier tonight.
'Still.'
Refri smiled. 'Feels nice.'
"Success."
"Obviously, snake... you didn't doubt me, right?"
Hongwol's smug laugh. Refri ignored her, stone-faced. "Next."
"Mari."
"Yes."
"Let's talk."
During the museum trouble, Refri made a small resolve. 'Good deeds deserve proper reward.'
Firm, he spoke slowly. "Mari. What scheme are you plotting?"
"...A plan so the council can't harass our club anymore. Almost done."
"Won't tell me what?"
Refri had guessed Yumari's plan. Now confirmed. Maybe knew before, just cowardly ignored.
No more. 'I'm an angel.'
"Mari. You've been allied with the mega-clubs from the start, right?"
Silence. Then: "Why think that?"
"Everything we've done benefits the mega-clubs. Attacking weak ones, now stealing from the top Emotional Club."
Refri continued. "Tripping chasers while leaders advance. Other mega-clubs profit. And this club war's fishy."
Yumari watched silently.
"Professors' clubs out on my request, minors booted, our victims excluded. Just a few clubs left dominating."
"Council must succeed the club war. Winners become the bosses, not underlings. Total bosses."
"Yes, free from council control."
"You aimed for this? Make them bosses, they protect us from council tyranny? Knowing how they treat others... how can you empower them?"
Yumari replied. "Refri, my half-sister's council will keep targeting you and us. This war's just the start. No other way."
"So... Cookie Club and others cry and get expelled?"
"Only way."
Refri fell silent.
"Only way."
Yumari's voice was icy, expressionless. 'Yeah, gaining without sacrifice is fantasy. This world's no dumb novel.'
Refri had sworn off fantasy novels, especially classic hero-vs-demon king tales.
'And Mari's no novel hero.'
Think about it—why does the demon king suddenly doom humanity, so overpowered without reason? But heroes are worse. Chosen by god to slay him? Heroes existing... that's the dumbest.
Heroes don't exist.
Yet...
Yet...
"I..."
Angels couldn't abandon faith. "I'll show you another way."
The boy took the girl's hand.