7
Chapter 7
Red Fang.
A gang that recently appeared in the empire's back alleys and started causing havoc. Though they hadn't been active for long, they were already notorious for their ruthless cruelty.
"But why are they chasing you?"
"I... I. Well... you see."
Morse couldn't find the words, stealing glances at Enoch. Her fingers fidgeted nervously with the hem of her clothes.
"It's okay. Just tell me comfortably."
Despite Enoch's kindness, Morse remained silent.
Unable to watch any longer, her younger sister turned her head slightly and spoke in a low voice.
"Stealing."
"Sancta! How could you just say it like that!"
Flustered, Morse's eyes widened and her fingers twitched. Sancta looked up at her sister, then back at Enoch as if wondering what the big deal was.
"The... truth is, I used mana a few times to get some food for my sister. And the Red Fang gang caught me."
"And they tried to capture you and sell you as a slave?"
"Yes."
Morse's response became a tiny whisper, as if she were ashamed of her actions. Her gaze fell to the floor.
Honestly, for children in the slums, it's either begging or stealing. I don't intend to judge her for that. It's not like she killed anyone.
"But with looks like yours, I don't think your ability was the problem."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
The sisters tilted their heads slightly, clearly confused by Enoch's words.
"Because you're both far too pretty to have been hiding in the back alleys."
"Haa... ugh..."
Flustered, Morse grabbed a handful of her sister's black hair and pulled it over Sancta's face.
Sancta remained still, buried in hair without knowing why. Through the gaps, Morse's teary eyes were barely visible.
"It's... it's too embarrassing when you say things like that!"
"I'm just stating the facts."
And please, be a little more suspicious.
'She's absolutely thrilled just because a stranger called her pretty. Is it really okay to survive in the slums with that kind of mindset?'
"Haa... uuuugh."
Look at her.
'Sancta's mana should have already healed the leg wound. Why is she still shaking?'
But Saintess, why are you shaking too?
After a while, Morse seemed to calm down and spoke.
"Actually... I spread some rumors among the other children."
"What rumors?"
"Rumors that anyone who approached us would be cursed."
'Since you probably would have cursed them if they did. Isn't that basically the truth?'
"And I wore layers of rags! I even hid my face with a hat!"
"Wait... you went that far?"
"Because the future of a woman living in the slums is predictable."
The embarrassment from before vanished, replaced by a shadow over her face. Her voice grew low.
'There's a lot I want to ask, but first, I should get back to the Academy.'
I can learn more about her past later. It's not like it's urgent.
"I'll keep watch, so get some rest. You're hungry, right? I'll bring you some food."
When the door closed, the sisters looked at each other.
Even without speaking, a thousand words passed between them through their gaze.
At first, they just stared. Then, they smiled simultaneously—the kind of smile they hadn't shared in a long time.
Eventually, they leaned on each other and lay down on the bed. Morse, exhausted from mana depletion, fell asleep first. Sancta stared at the ceiling for a moment before quietly closing her eyes.
When Enoch brought breakfast, he found the sisters fast asleep. They were huddled together, embracing one another without even a cover.
Enoch placed the meal on the table and quietly left the room.
#
"They say the prey has been found."
Upon hearing the news from his subordinate, the man slowly rose from his seat. He had a menacing look, wearing a red bandana as a blindfold, with muscles that looked ready to burst. Just by standing there with his arms crossed, his subordinates' shoulders stiffened.
"Make sure they understand clearly that you cannot escape from a wolf."
The deep voice issued a command to the entire Red Fang gang.
"Tear them apart."
#
"Now that you've eaten and recovered some strength, shall we head out?"
"Mm. I'll get ready right away."
The sisters woke up, rubbing their eyes, quickly finished preparing, and left the inn with Enoch.
Perhaps because they had slept well, their complexions looked much better than yesterday. As soon as Sancta stepped outside, she sniffed the morning air.
"The sun is already up, will it be okay?"
"Don't worry even if they attack. I can handle everything. We're short on time, so I want to take a shortcut. Is that alright?"
"Yes, of course."
The effort of feeding and resting them had paid off. Wearing my robe, the sisters' faces looked vibrant again.
'They're already glowing after just one worry-free night of sleep. People really do need to eat and sleep well.'
"Where are we going?"
"Somewhere. A safe place."
'Hehehehe. I'll make you my assistant! And you'll live with me at the Academy forever!!!'
Unable to reveal his dark inner thoughts, Enoch smiled slyly. He looked quite satisfied with himself.
Seeing that eccentric expression, Morse couldn't help but smile.
'He's such a strange person.'
He had saved them when they had nowhere to go, providing warm meals and a place to sleep. Now, the sisters had no choice but to rely on this man who promised to protect their lives.
He was the kind of person they had never encountered in the slums.
Knowing he said it would be okay put her at ease.
— Thump-thump.
'Why is my heart beating so loudly?'
#
Following Enoch's lead, they were cutting through the center of town.
Then.
Shadows emerged from the corners of alleys, rooftops, and narrow passages.
Silhouettes appeared one by one before the group. Every single one of them wore a red bandana on their head.
'Those Red Fang bastards. They're certainly fast at finding people.'
The thugs swaggered forward, blocking the group's path.
The sisters jumped in surprise and looked back, but they were already surrounded.
Front, back, left, and right. There was no gap to slip through.
'Only thirty of them. Maybe because it's a new organization, there are fewer than I expected.'
From among the thugs, a mass of muscle slowly stepped forward. It was the man wearing the blindfold.
"Hey. Get lost, wizard. We're here for the silver-haired girl."
He wondered if they had seen the man he froze with runes.
These thugs were all flash and no substance; before the regression, they would have run away the moment they locked eyes with him.
"I am Enoch, a teacher at the Academy."
His introduction was met with nothing but mockery.
"Look at this. A teacher. If you're a teacher, go teach your students. Why come to a place like this?"
"Maybe the teacher took a wrong turn?"
"We don't converse with ink on paper here; we talk with blades."
He wondered if they were all insane. Who talks with blades? And he hadn't taken a wrong turn; they were the ones blocking the way.
He had plenty to say, but it was too tedious.
"Sigh... just move. You can't possibly beat me."
Absolute confidence radiated from Enoch's voice. It wasn't an exaggeration or a bluff; it was a simple fact.
He doubted they even knew what a monster was.
The leader of Red Fang frowned.
The man couldn't believe this brat was talking down to him, the future king of the empire's underworld.
"Don't you know that numbers are the basis of a fight? I didn't expect a teacher to be this stupid. Blame your own ignorance."
As the leader signaled, the thugs charged all at once, their footsteps thundering against the stone floor.
"I don't know... given your skill level, I don't think numbers are the issue here."
Everyone watched blankly as Enoch etched characters into the air.
ᚱᛟᚲ
— Thud.
— Crash!
— Smack! Crunch.
With a heavy sonic boom, dozens of boulders slammed precisely into the thugs' heads. Those hit collapsed instantly, their faces crushed.
"This is impossible... how is this magic?!"
Magic has great power, but it requires a long preparation time. The leader knew this well.
This common knowledge was true for magic,
"True. But this isn't magic; it's the Demonic Path."
But for the Demonic Path, it was completely wrong.
Dozens of boulders flew in every direction.
Some charged, some retreated, and some screamed.
No one could escape.
"Maybe it's because I lack mana... the power is lacking."
Enoch closed and opened his eyes with a look of disappointment.
"I told you to move before, but I've changed my mind. Just give me your necks. I'll send you on your way painlessly. I might as well clean up the empire while I'm at it."
With every gesture, the Red Fang gang collapsed like piles of pebbles on the roadside. Resistance was futile.
Enoch utterly devastated his enemies.
Morse couldn't take her eyes off the gang that had been hunting them as they fell one by one.
A mix of awe and admiration swelled within her at his overwhelming strength.
'I felt it when he saved me, but... to think he's this strong.'
"You look hurt."
For Morse, who had lived her life in despair, it was the first time a hand had ever reached out to help her.
The hand that touched her wound was gentle, and the words he spoke were filled with deep compassion. That warmth melted her frozen heart.
That brief moment of warmth from Enoch had been her salvation.
Having surrendered her soul to that kindness, she felt as if she could no longer breathe without him.
Love had enveloped her entire world.
#
Enoch looked around.
The leader lay sprawled on the ground, his face crushed. The muscles he always bragged about to his gang were useless.
"How did you manage to terrorize the back alleys with this level of skill?"
'I'll ignore the few who escaped. With that level of skill, it's pointless for them to return for revenge anyway.'
Enoch slowly turned his head. Morse stood frozen, her mouth half-open.
'What's with her now? Was I too brutal for the kids to watch? Maybe I should have used a gentler rune.'
"Morse, are you okay?"
Enoch's concern brought her heart to a standstill.
An intense pulse surged through her chest, like a crashing thunder.
It wasn't fear or terror, but the sweet and dangerous taste of love.
Morse gazed at Enoch with unfocused eyes, as if her soul had been plucked away.
"Yes..."
Looking at the dazed Morse, Enoch thought to himself.
'She's zoned out again.'
Saintess. Use your heal. Use it.
Ah, right. She doesn't know how yet.
'She's completely out of it... it'll take a while for her to come back. Maybe I'll play a little prank while she's like this?'
Enoch gently cupped the back of Morse's head.
— Gasp!
Morse trembled violently, forgetting how to even breathe. She was losing control of her body from excitement, her ears turning beet red.
Enoch whispered softly in her ear.
"Morse, wake up."
— Zap!
It was only a few words, but they were enough to send a shiver through her entire body.
"Haa... haah! Ugh... haaaa!"
Morse let out a moan as if she could no longer contain herself and collapsed.
Enoch hurriedly caught her as she fell.
'Oh no... was the prank too much?'
Enoch let out a bewildered laugh as he held the unconscious Morse. He paused, wondering what to do.
'What on earth should I do with her?'
While he was contemplating, Sancta approached Enoch and gently patted his thigh.
Enoch looked down. Sancta glanced at her unconscious sister for a moment before turning her gaze to him.
Then, she spoke the longest sentence she had said so far.
"Please take good care of my sister."
Not fully grasping the intent behind the words, Enoch answered reflexively.
"Alright... you take care of me too."
Sancta gave a satisfied, beaming smile. It was an expression he had never seen before. Her smile was so bright that Enoch was momentarily speechless.
The night breeze drifted through the alley.
The Red Fang gang lay fallen on the road. A man stood holding an unconscious girl. A child smiled beside them.
It was a completely mismatched sight.
Yet, strangely, it looked peaceful.