Night Parade of a Hundred Demons (3)
Suddenly, the glider and Se-ah appeared. I was curious why those two were together and how they'd made it here, but the most important thing was Se-ah's safety.
I shouted urgently at her.
"Why are you here?! Run away, quick!"
"Hold on a sec, mister!"
Whether she grasped the situation or not, she didn't flee—instead, she drew her weapon and aimed her bow at Chiwu.
The taut bowstring gathered divine power, forming an arrow.
"Exorcism Heavenly Thunder: Shattering Flash!"
[Insolent whelp!]
"Die, you yokai bastard!"
Chiwu reached out to grab her, but Se-ah loosed her arrow first.
Piuuuung!
Though Se-ah and Chiwu were separated by a considerable distance—her in the sky, him on the ground—the arrow struck his eye in the blink of an eye.
Se-ah's attack didn't pierce Chiwu's retina, but as if that had been her intent all along, she swiftly chanted another spell.
[Aaaargh!! My eye!!]
The embedded arrow exploded, unleashing a massive flash of light. Since it was piercing damage, Chiwu staggered.
Se-ah didn't miss the opening, firing off several more arrows: arrows of flame, ice, and vines.
None truly damaged Chiwu, but they were more than enough to stoke his rage.
[I'll kill you, you worm!!]
"Fly like the wind, glider buddy!"
Chirruruk!
Chiwu drew the massive sword from his waist and swung wildly, but the glider's flight speed was far superior. Dodging every strike, it looked like he was just flailing at empty air.
[You, at least—I'll definitely kill you!!]
[Wait a minute! Weren't you supposed to help me?!]
Gonggi tried to calm Chiwu with words of power, but the enraged beast ignored her completely. Stomping the ground hard, he chased after Se-ah and the glider.
I could see Se-ah thumbs-upping from afar.
"I can't catch a break..."
I hadn't expected backup like this, but it was a huge help regardless. The only concern was Se-ah's safety...
"Oh."
Spotting the old shaman sprinting from a distance eased my worries. Se-ah might be iffy on her own, but with the glider and the old man teaming up, they could probably handle it.
"Now it's just you and me?"
[Grr...]
Only Gonggi and I remained nearby. No more interruptions from Nugu, and with us at the barrier's edge, there was nowhere left to run.
"Can't escape outside the barrier, huh?"
[Don't talk nonsense.]
"Right answer? Thanks for the tip."
[...You're really unlikeable.]
I hadn't been certain at first, but now I was sure. Gonggi was in the middle of some ritual inside this barrier and couldn't leave until it was complete. That explained why she'd circled the city without exiting.
"Come at me quick. No need to drag this out."
[Hoo... No choice, then.]
I tossed and caught my dagger, beckoning her. Gonggi sighed and drew her ceremonial sword.
She was cornered, and I was confident I wouldn't lose to her. So come on, Gonggi!
[If you desire my death so much, I shall oblige!]
"What...?"
But then, Gonggi acted strangely. She turned the blade of her ceremonial sword toward her own neck, as if to slit her own throat.
The edge touched Yu-hwa's neck, and a bit of blood trickled out.
Can I save her?
In that split second, I was already charging. Even as I ran, my mind raced through every possibility, but no clear solution emerged.
Do-cheol's magic wouldn't work. The spells I'd cast included absolute defense and reflection—in this case, it'd reflect back and kill her.
Intercepting mid-motion was impossible too. The distance was too great, and the remaining evil spirits were grabbing my ankles, slowing me down.
What do I do?
Conventional methods wouldn't save Yu-hwa. Was I really just going to watch her die right in front of me? Give up on her like this?
Bullshit.
I severed those weak thoughts and whipped my spinning mind into overdrive. Think, Lee Jin-seok. Find the one way to save Yu-hwa.
Instants stretched into eternity. Millions of plans flickered into existence and vanished.
After exhausting every scenario, I seized the single remaining possibility.
[I shall make an offering.]
[What will you offer?]
[...]
In that instant, all warmth vanished from the world. Next went my breath, then my movement.
The deep sea was silent, filled only with Her voice.
[I offer my left ring finger.]
[Accepted.]
She accepted the offering, and my ring finger vanished into the abyss. No pain, no blood—as if it had never existed.
A bizarre sensation washed over me.
[What is your wish?]
[Eliminate Gonggi.]
With the offering accepted, it was time for recompense. She asked my wish, and I demanded Gonggi's death.
[Service: If Gonggi vanishes, that human dies too.]
[...Why?]
[Partial fusion.]
But it wasn't so simple. Gonggi had already partially fused with Yu-hwa—killing her would take Yu-hwa along.
[Eliminate all of Gonggi except the fused portion.]
[Confirmed.]
The key was precision in the wish. Vague ones birthed tragedies in anomalies like this.
It could still go awry, but the god I beseeched was endlessly gentle with me, so it didn't matter.
[Granted.]
[Oh...]
The wish took effect. She caressed the world directly, and it bent to her will without resistance.
Perception warped; reality twisted. Instinctively, I knew: my wish succeeded. Gonggi was gone from this world.
[Thank you, Shin-nim! I shall serve you eternally!]
[Whatever. Bring Melona on the way back.]
With that, Shin-nim withdrew. Only then could I gasp for the breath I'd held and escape the deep sea's pressure.
"...."
"Eek."
The world resumed motion. At the same moment, Gonggi—no, Yu-hwa—lost consciousness and collapsed.
I rushed to her, catching her as she fell.
"She's fine."
"Hmnya..."
I'd worried about injuries, but she was just asleep from exhaustion. My demon eyes showed no major issues. Her mana composition had shifted slightly, but nothing harmful.
"...Gone?"
Supporting Yu-hwa with one arm, I examined Gonggi's sword with the other. The bladeless ceremonial sword, once brimming with her mana, now felt utterly empty.
"Running around the scene with this old body is exhausting."
"Elder."
A voice came from behind. Turning, I saw the grandfather from before leaning against a streetlamp, his body slick with blue blood. He'd taken down Chiwu, it seemed.
"Thanks largely to your summon, young man."
"Glad I could help."
"Gave me an opening by burning its life force at the end. Otherwise, I might've been in danger."
He gave a thumbs-up, his cheer defying his age. Seemed like an interesting fellow.
"Where's Se-ah?"
"Got knocked out by debris mid-fight. Probably waking up soon."
Se-ah was safe too. With her barrier magic, no real impact, so likely just startled into fainting.
"Heh heh, never thought I'd see this girl here."
"You know her?"
"Granddaughter of the Great Elder, as I recall."
So he knew Yu-hwa. I'd heard her grandmother was a shaman.
'Great Elder'?
Someone older than this grandfather? Yu-hwa, early twenties, having a grandmother that old? The age gap felt off, but not worth dwelling on now.
"Anyway. Got any strength left?"
"Plenty."
I'd been set for a final showdown with Gonggi, but the offering shortcut left me with reserves.
The grandfather asked for aid.
"Head that way—you'll find the Snow Fox Shaman. Mind helping her out?"
"What's the situation?"
"Fighting Do-ol, one of the Three Evils. She won't lose, but she's struggling."
Do-ol... From what I knew, he'd already been summoned in China, massacring tens of thousands to gather power while manifested.
I didn't know the Snow Fox Shaman, but she wouldn't have an easy win.
"Got it. On my way."
"Thanks. I'll watch this one."
I entrusted Yu-hwa to him and dashed toward the barrier's eastern sector.
En route, a snippet from earlier resurfaced.
"...Three Evils?"
Something felt off. Surely not what I was thinking...?