Unexpected (6)
Unexpected (6)
[ (`A´) No matter who comes, you absolutely can't let them through!! ]
Rovel, the head of the London Branch, had given up his day off and rushed over without knowing why. Looking at the holy knights and priests lined up at the entrance, he let out a small sigh.
As much as Rovel revered and served Vuar, he also knew all too well what a mischievous god he followed. The branches actually received revelations or oracles like today's two or three times a year, like clockwork.
'What on earth have you done now...?'
The four girls who had just entered the temple.
All four matched the girls in the photos sent in the message. One of them was the white-haired girl Rovel himself had spoken with several times before—the one sponsored by the Executor.
He had followed the revelation and guided the four girls to the private prayer rooms on the second floor, but he dearly hoped they would finish and leave before anyone else arrived to cause a confrontation.
Wooooong—
That hope vanished. The temple doors, which should have been locked with two or even three layers, began to split apart with a booming sound befitting their massive size.
Red sunset light seeped through the widening gap.
Shiiing!!
The holy knights didn't know who was coming, but they drew their swords in unison to obey the revelation: no one was to enter. The moment two figures—a man and a woman—revealed themselves in the gap.
"Hhk...?!"
As if on cue, the knights in the front rank sucked in startled breaths.
Eyes colder than a north wind swept over the line of knights pointing their swords at the entrance.
Clack!!
At once, the front rank snapped their swords to their left chests and parted to either side.
"Hhk...?!"
The rear rank, who had been blocked and couldn't see ahead, recoiled without a chance to question it and scrambled out of the way.
Clack!!
One by one, the knights cleared the path and raised their swords in a synchronized motion. The priests stationed behind them reacted no differently. The knights at least kept their heads up, but the priests didn't even dare to do that, lowering their eyes to the floor and bowing deeply.
It took barely five seconds.
That was all the time it took for fifty holy knights and sixty priests to open a path.
"Rovel."
"...Yes, Executor!!"
The senior cleric, who had already descended to the floor, forgot his age and ran so fast his hair whipped behind him.
'Oh, God...'
What have you done?!
Rovel felt a genuine urge to cry.
The target of all that mischief was the very man he had endlessly praised moments ago—the esteemed Executor—and the lover beside him.
As a servant of Vuar, he ought to prioritize the god's will above all else. But unlike other orders, the god himself was free-spirited and unbound by rules. So the servants of the God of Amusement had become an odd group that prioritized the will of the Executor, the god's proxy.
The position of Executor existed to carry out the god's will, after all. So the Executor's will was effectively the god's will.
...That belief had taken deep root.
The two had never actually had a disagreement, but the sudden arrival of Claire left Rovel and the gathered servants with no choice but to prioritize her will. Anyone in the know was well aware that even the great being they served was mindful of the Executor.
"Send them all back where they belong."
"Yes, Executor..."
Before Rovel could even finish answering, the holy knights swiftly sheathed their swords.
Clack! Clack! Clack!
Moving like a practiced drill, they fell into step and rushed out through the wide-open doors. The priests quietly followed, retreating with hurried little steps.
Gulp.
Now abruptly alone, Rovel swallowed hard.
'Damn it, you cowards! Even the ones on duty today just ran off?!'
He wanted to shout at the craven lot who had fled, but he couldn't raise his voice in front of a superior. Rovel filed away his grievances for later and bowed his head again.
"You can return to your duties. Don't concern yourself with this."
"...Yes. I shall."
Rovel had been afraid the sparks might fly his way. The moment Claire gave him permission, he turned on his heel and strode away without a backward glance.
"......."
"......."
Once Rovel vanished, Claire's icy demeanor began to crack. The face that had seemed capable of freezing people with a look slowly flushed, like someone who had just been caught in a deeply embarrassing secret.
Clack— Clack—
The sound of footsteps echoed through the empty chapel.
Claire followed quietly behind Baek Woo-jin as he approached the towering statue of Vuar at the far end of the chapel.
"That's enough. Wait there."
"...Yes."
His voice held a mix of worry and anger, and Claire had no choice but to stop. And then, the moment Baek Woo-jin reached the statue.
"Stooop!!"
Fwoosh—!!
A brilliant light burst forth, and a child's carefree voice filled the entire chapel.
"W-what do you think you're doing?!"
A child far smaller than the statue flailed both arms and clung tightly to Baek Woo-jin's arm as it stretched toward the statue. But that was all.
"Huh?! Why won't this stop?! Hold on!! Wait?!"
"You're noisy."
"Claire?! Quick, stop your husband!!"
"Wh...?!"
"Eek!! They say daughters are useless after they're grown, but you're already taking your husband's side?! BlackBlack!!"
Vuar clung to Baek Woo-jin's arm like a cicada, chattering without pause. And in that moment, Baek Woo-jin's hand touched the statue's leg.
"I'm telling you, you'll regret using that power!!"
"You'll be the one regretting it."
Baek Woo-jin ignored Vuar's playful warning and was about to release the Power of Void.
"Woo-jin...?"
Baek Ha-na's voice rang out. Baek Woo-jin immediately clamped down on the Void's rampaging force.
"......."
"I told you it was for real~?"
Vuar met Baek Woo-jin's piercing glare over the rims of his glasses and smiled smugly.
Crack!!
Veins bulged on the back of Baek Woo-jin's hand where it touched the statue.
Vuar had completely erased the presence of Baek Ha-na and the other children with holy power.
"Looks like you've got holy power to spare."
"Well, I'm not short on it, unlike some people!"
Vuar hopped off Baek Woo-jin's arm, planted both hands on his hips, and puffed out his chest proudly.
It was clear the two did not get along. Watching from the stairs where they had followed Baek Ha-na, Maria and Na Yeon-ju trembled. The fairy dove into the pocket of Nam Seo-hee, who looked reasonably unbothered.
"Um..."
While the tense standoff continued, Baek Ha-na cautiously approached them.
With every step she took, the pressure radiating from Baek Woo-jin noticeably lessened.
"Woo-jin...?"
Once at his side, Baek Ha-na gently tugged his sleeve and looked up at him.
Tug.
She pulled a little harder, and the gaze fixed on Vuar finally shifted to her.
"...I'm hungry."
Baek Ha-na blinked her eyes and leaned her head lightly against his arm.
"Can't we go eat dinner...?"
"...Wait outside for a bit."
Glance.
Baek Ha-na quickly side-eyed Vuar.
Vuar's golden eyes darted left and right.
"P-promise you won't use violence..."
"......."
When Baek Woo-jin didn't answer, Baek Ha-na pressed closer against him.
"...Violence isn't good..."
Her face, pale until just moments ago, began to flush a soft pink. Baek Woo-jin silently watched her for a moment, then raised his free arm.
"Mm..."
"Fine. I promise."
He gently stroked Baek Ha-na's head.
"I just have a few things to discuss. Wait outside."
"...For real?"
"Yes."
Baek Ha-na glanced at Vuar once more.
Vuar grinned and raised a chubby little thumb up. Thumbs up!
Only then did Baek Ha-na smile brightly and nod.
"Okay! I'll wait outside, then!!"
She rubbed her cheek against Baek Woo-jin's arm a couple of times, then pulled away and ran to her friends.
"Let's go!!"
"Y-yeah."
"Quick, we're leaving quickly..."
The three who had followed Baek Ha-na in quickly followed her out of the temple.
"Claire. You wait outside too."
"...Yes."
She bowed her head slightly toward the two of them, then turned away quietly.
Boom!!
The massive doors that had stood apart rumbled shut. At the same moment, an intangible force began to seep from Baek Woo-jin.
"W-wait?!"
Realizing what that force was, Vuar recoiled and shrieked.
"You promised no violence?!"
"Ahh, I promised."
Clack— Clack—
Baek Woo-jin turned and leaned against the nearest pew. He looked at Vuar and the statue behind him and continued.
"As you can see, I'm only planning to talk. That's 'me,' of course."
"W-wai—"
Swoooosh!!
"Kyaaaaak?!"
The unleashed Void lunged at the statue.