Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Azalea's Petals Fall (6)
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Time passed.
"Tomorrow is the day, Apostle Lee Si-heon."
"Understood. You may leave. I'm fully aware of my duties."
"Yes. And please take this."
On the eve of the ritual, a follower who came to see me handed over a red crystal orb etched with a magic circle.
"Using this crystal orb will teleport you and one person within 3 meters to the basement of our cult's headquarters."
"I see."
"Yes. While we carry out the main objective, Apostle, we ask that you bring the provisional apostle Azalea to us."
"Understood."
I accepted the crystal orb. Inside it were magic circles so complex even I couldn't decipher them.
'This is like handing fish to a cat.'
But the more they did, the more vigilant I became.
One-sided orders usually hid true intentions.
-Swish.
The black-hooded figures vanished. By now, I could roughly read their movements.
'Let's see.'
I rummaged in my pocket, pulled out my handphone, and called Lee Se-young.
"Hello? Teacher. Could you prepare one... no, two items for me?"
In the late hours of the night, I didn't sleep.
*****
My heart was too restless for sleep.
Because today was the day Lee Si-heon had warned me about.
It was an important day when I couldn't lower my guard, but tension kept sleep at bay no matter how much I tried.
I drank to force sleep.
The alcohol warmed my body.
I hugged a pink pillow and buried my face in it.
[Calm yourself. Remember this.]
Between my puffy eyelids, the image of my father's will from that time flickered.
[Don't trust that man.]
A little girl clutching a bloodstained letter. Hugging her rabbit doll, she looked utterly pitiful.
The child was sobbing hoarsely, and before her lay a man with a broken neck, lying desolate.
[Sorry for showing you this pathetic sight. I lacked the will to live. I'm sorry.]
The faded letter repeating apologies. The tear stains soaked into it.
Just recalling it made my chest tighten, longing for those long-lost happy days.
[Daddy's sorry.]
The only person in my life who truly loved me.
Young and naive, I knew nothing. Of the expressions on someone on the verge of collapse, or the slowly crumbling human face.
The night before that man died. The hollow, desolate expression I saw then still haunted my dreams sometimes.
I remember his resentment.
Only at twelve did I understand the meaning behind his perpetually furrowed brow.
-Chirp, chirp?
A small bird, reacting to my surging emotions, flew to me and tilted its head.
A mid-level spirit unable to speak. The last gift that man left me.
-Zing, zing.
Rubbing my face against the spirit's pleasantly chirping cheek, I finally drifted off.
*****
"I brought what you asked for. These two are enough?"
"This'll make some fine rice cakes."
Lee Se-young recoiled at my words and handed over one red-glowing and one purple-glowing crystal each.
"Use them well. These two are worth one Tree Pill. They're insanely expensive."
"How much is one Tree Pill anyway?"
"Varies by market. When rare, the price is whatever they ask."
Got it, ridiculously pricey. Anyway, I'd gathered what I needed and finished preparations. All that remained was waiting for them to come.
'They're definitely coming. As for Azalea...'
Was I supposed to cook her myself, or would they set the table and I just bring her?
Honestly, it didn't matter.
I shouldered the backpack I'd set on the floor momentarily. Se-young sighed and spoke.
"There's an academy-wide meeting around 2. They're probably aiming for that. It's under the World Tree's decree, so no skipping. So, Si-heon."
"Yes."
"I won't be here today."
I nodded silently, and Se-young wrapped an arm around my neck, tapping my crown.
"Kid. Putting on the mask and brooding."
"No fuck, aren't you the one setting the mood, teacher?"
Se-young giggled at the curse.
"What? You have no idea how much I suffered because of you. I grabbed my academy classmates' legs, wailing north, south, east, west. 'Help my kid.'"
"'My kid'?"
"You're still a baby. Baby."
"Wow, teacher's tastes run that way? Kinda disappointing."
"You crazy punk won't shut up."
Silence.
Still holding my neck, Se-young relaxed her tapping hand and stroked my hair.
"Eh, just don't get yourself killed. My sex friend's death would give me nightmares."
"Why not just say you'd be lonely without me?"
"Not at all? Self-consciousness is cute only in moderation, punk."
After a laugh, I subtly handed her a letter.
"What's this?"
"If it takes me a while to get back to the academy, please give this to Azalea. Gotta explain the whole story, right?"
Se-young tilted her head then gladly took it. After a brief eye contact, we parted.
-Creak.
Lee Se-young entered the classroom as a teacher, and I as a student.
-Thwack!
She slammed the podium, drawing all cadets' eyes.
"Alright!"
Smirking faintly, Lee Se-young addressed the cadets.
"I'm here, everyone stand! Jin-su, drank last night? Seon-woo, met another guy? To shake off sleep, we'll do a special morning cheer I made. Complaints?"
No one dared complain.
She was gesturing she'd make them pay if they didn't.
"Train like it's real combat. Never drop your guard."
-Train like it's real combat. Never drop your guard.
"If unexpected events occur, assemble at the auditorium."
-If unexpected events occur, assemble at the auditorium.
The auditorium housed defensive magic creatures. No aggressive acts allowed inside, guarded by a protector.
"You know where it is? Central building."
-Yes!
"Good! Teacher has a meeting, so early flight. Self-study, good luck!"
-Creak.
The door shut once, and cadets dozed or studied.
I patted my backpack, running simulations in my head.
Time flowed slowly.
The gap—long if long, short if short—I quietly savored.
10 AM. Math quiz was tough.
11 AM. Absent professor let me organize thoughts.
12 PM. Ate alone in the cafeteria.
1 PM. Took a spot where Azalea couldn't see me, watching her.
A subtle anxiety pressed me to flee.
-Whummm.
Mana stirred in the air. Sharp cadets whispered, sensing anomaly.
I pulled out my handphone from my pocket and called the number Se-young gave.
-Rrring. Click.
[Hello~ Se-young's partner?]
"Yes, noona. Partner here. Heard teacher owes you."
[Oh my, bold one.]
"Looks like it's starting right now."
[I know, that's—]
-Crackle.
[—happening now.]
Splat—flesh bursting from the phone.
[Special forces, guards, police together for once. Thanks to you, smooth sailing. Grateful. Boosts my record. Show those baldies' power.]
"Yes, hang in there. No backup?"
[......Tough. Ah—]
-You fucking punk, backstabbing during a call!
[Gotta hang up.]
-Click.
"Kyaahhh!"
A shrill scream followed.
I turned to a class in session. Where the instructor stood, blood sprayed everywhere.
The severed head rolling on the floor made nausea surge.
"......Hoo."
Thump, thump, thump. No time to adapt to the first sight. Black shadows encircled the lab. I stood.
Tucked the broken phone in my backpack, drew my honed sword.
Behind me, a black-hooded figure appeared.
"Apostle Lee Si-heon. Ready. Now, operation briefing—"
"Yeah, sure. Speak."
"......Apostle?"
The woman's panicked voice.
The hooded follower stared at her chest in disbelief, trembling.
"Why—"
"Good thing mental strength's up. Otherwise, I'd be puking buckets."
-Squelch!
Pulled the heart-piercing sword out.
Blood drenched the alley between buildings. Droplets splashed my cold cheek.
The crumpled woman revealed her face and slowly collapsed.
First kill.
The feel of flesh parting through the hilt.
Foul sensation. Never want it again.
But no stopping.
-Slash.
Sliced another follower's throat.
Resolved mind—second felt nothing special.
Slash, burst, sever. In hidden spots, cut down over ten.
In accumulating experience, even briefly, I grew adept.
Bone and muscle positions. Where to cut for quick death.
Followers fast, but adapted—no mana needed, eyes tracked them.
"You traitor!"
"Aah, Apostle, why!"
Exiting the alley, a follower shouted.
Followers surrounding us cadets glared murderously, faces hardened.
Terrified cadets glanced at me, recoiled at my state.
"......Si-heon, you."
"Si-heon. I kept the promise."
Jeong Si-woo looked mildly surprised; San Su-yu expressionless.
Both held swords taken from followers.
"Apostle Lee Si-heon! Your actions are unforgivable!"
Fanatical eyes gleamed on the shouting follower.
I breathed once and spoke to the man before me.
"Looks like you expected this. Right?"
A familiar figure in the same robe hood.
He removed his hood, giving a wry smile of true regret.
"Pity, brother. Hoped you'd complete this splendidly and join us."
"Is that so?"
"But oracle can't be defied. This time, yes. Her trial. Must repay love. Repent now, no punishment."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ['World Tree of Purity' flips the bird!] "World Tree just said. Fuck off."
"Haha. Joking here?"
"For real."
"Well, no choice. Guess we'll capture and brainwash. Last chance, Apostle Lee Si-heon."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ['World Tree of Purity' snarls viciously!] "......World Tree says your mom's a whore."
"You've crossed the line."
I laughed at his hardened face.
"World Tree's a bitch, yeah."
I aimed my sword tip at Seong-han with clear hostility.
Seong-han grimaced, clicked his tongue, and signaled aside.
There, higher-ranking followers in pure white masks—ones I hadn't seen—swung swords.
Azalea blocked them with a barrier.