The Cult's Grip and the Necromancer's Graveyard (1)
To sum up Jeong-hu's story about the cult and the Necromancer's Graveyard: A few years back, when his parents' business started failing and the family fortunes declined, they began fighting constantly at home, and the atmosphere grew toxic. But then, out of nowhere, the arguments stopped. They got hooked on some religion they'd never believed in before and started heading out for prayers all the time. At first, Jeong-hu figured they were just going to some church, but one day, his parents brought home a woman they called a missionary. They even dragged him and his sister Jeong-hwa into something called Bible study.
Even to Jeong-hu, who was in elementary school back then, the stuff they were spouting sounded off. Yet his parents followed the missionary's words like they were absolute gospel, with fanatical zeal. Jeong-hwa, a high schooler at the time, had already sniffed out that it was a cult. After the missionary left, she tried talking sense into their parents, but they snapped at her instead, insisting there was no way their precious missionary could be part of a cult.
From that day on, their parents' religious activities ramped up. They liquidated the entire business and donated every penny. The family, which had lived comfortably despite the business woes, slowly slid into poverty. Jeong-hwa couldn't stand it anymore and planned to move out the second she turned legal, but she held back because of Jeong-hu. She wanted to take her freshly minted middle-school brother with her, but their parents blocked it. Unable to leave her little brother alone between their cult-obsessed parents, Jeong-hwa had no choice but to stick around.
"When you suddenly awakened your unique ability and became a hunter, I was shocked and worried, but seeing you do well made me relieved. My sister talked about you a lot too."
"What'd she say?"
"At first, she said you seemed a bit shady, but for some reason, she trusted you. Said you treat her well and... um, you take good care of her with money too. Ever since our parents got into the cult, it's been up to my sister to bring in the living expenses. We've always been strapped for cash. She's even saving up separately so I can move out the moment I turn eighteen."
'No wonder she's so obsessed with money. That's the reason.'
Listening to Jeong-hu, Han Yeoul finally pieced together Jeong-hwa's behavior. With the family in that state, they must have debts piling up. Paying those off, covering living costs, and stashing away independence funds? Yeah, she'd be pinched for cash.
"Anyway, seeing my sister so full of energy lately is a first in ages. That's why I was worried you might be some cultist too."
"It's fine. Your story makes it totally understandable why you'd suspect that."
Cults. One of the major social issues bubbling up alongside doomsday preachers in the wake of the dungeon outbreaks. Sure, in a world where real gods exist and sincere prayer could actually turn you into a divine follower, cults might seem quaint. But shockingly, far more people fell deep into these fake religions than you'd expect.
Believe what you want—real or fake—it's your freedom. But post-dungeon society saw most cults tangled up with doomsday cults, marking them as potential threats to humanity's survival. There were massive crackdown operations, but they barely made a dent. These weeds just kept sprouting back up. These days, the government had half-given up, basically washing their hands of it. Reports to the police usually went nowhere.
Jeong-hwa's parents' group sounded like one of those.
'This is worse than I thought.'
Jeong-hu must've needed to vent to someone, because he spilled every detail about his parents and the cult. The more Han Yeoul heard, the more he marveled at how the kid survived in that house.
"Lately, they've been trying extra hard to drag me and my sister into the cult. It's pissing me off. They've always pushed, but it's gotten worse since she became a hunter. They must be after her money—telling the cult to reel her in."
And now they were targeting Jeong-hu and Jeong-hwa too.
'Han Se-ah warned me cults are surging again. Be careful.'
The Cheonma Shin-gyo had faced cult suspicions early on. But they flipped the script, partnering with the government to wipe out cults and earning recognition as a legit group with their own autonomous district—all because their actions benefited humanity and promoted good.
Those experiences left Han Se-ah with a visceral hatred for cults.
'Should I reach out to her?'
If anyone would jump at helping with a cult, it'd be Han Se-ah. But...
'Nah. If Jeong-hwa asks for help, then I'll call. Jumping in now would just be meddling.'
The situation sucked, but nothing had blown up yet. Her parents were civilians; they couldn't strong-arm a hunter like Jeong-hwa. She had her own plans in motion—barreling in would undermine her. Plus, bugging the Cheonma herself over someone else's family drama? Not a great look.
'Best to just keep looking out for her.'
With that settled, Han Yeoul listened to Jeong-hu's gripes, chatting until they were buddies. They swapped numbers and added each other on messaging.
"Hehe. Bro, your unique ability's really S-rank? My sister bragged to me nonstop about it being S-rank. For real?"
"It is S-rank, but it's still kinda weak right now."
"Ooh!"
As they bantered about nothing, Jeong-hwa and Brina returned from shopping, entering the café.
"You two got close quick? Jeong-hu can be picky about people."
"Welcome back, Master."
Brina waddled over, lugging shopping bags as big as she was.
"All clothes?"
"Including this one. She had zero outfits, so this is actually light shopping."
There was an extra bag too. Han Yeoul, who only bought one or two matching sets at a time, wondered what could need that much.
"Just the essentials, so don't worry. And just so you know..."
Jeong-hwa leaned in, whispering so only he could hear.
"Try anything weird with Brina, and you're dead."
"What? I wouldn't."
"Anyway. Next time, order online. I taught her how to check sizes and all that, so no more lame excuses."
She was still salty about him wanting to dress Brina up. Han Yeoul felt wronged. What "weird" stuff? He'd only ever used her as an onahole, like one should. Nothing else.
"See you Monday, then."
"Yeah."
After parting with the siblings, Han Yeoul headed to the dungeon with Brina. They'd bought a hooded tracksuit too, which he had her wear. The rest went into his inventory.
Now 6th-grade, he could freely enter 7th-grade dungeons. Perfect chance to test Brina's skills at the nearest one.
"Only this one's close, huh."
"I smell the dead, Master. What a foul place."
The dungeon was the 7th-grade Necromancer's Graveyard. As the name suggested, it was a cluster of graveyards—perpetually dim, shrouded in fog that cut visibility. Low-tier undead like skeleton warriors and archers roamed, with the occasional zombie shambling around, bits of rotting flesh dangling.
"Boss here's a dullahan, right?"
"Those headless ones?"
"You know 'em?"
"The legions of the dead were shunned even in the demon armies. I hate dullahans most—no head, yet they move."
"Yeah, creepy as hell."
Dullahans rode black horses, clutching their severed heads at their side—powerful undead, mid- to high-tier depending on the specimen. This dungeon's version didn't have a mount, so it scraped by as mid-tier.
Humanoid undead made it a solid spot to gauge Brina.
"Came here today to see your combat skills in action, Brina. Go wild."
"Understood, Master."
"Do well, and there's a reward."
"...I'll give it my all."
Reward dangled, Brina's eyes lit up. She grabbed the throwing daggers he'd given her, strode to the entrance, and flung the door open.
Clatter-clack.
Inside the gloomy graveyard, three skeleton warriors and an archer awaited.
7th-grade dungeon skeletons were properly armed, unlike the passive mobs in 10th-grade spots. The archer loosed bone arrows at Han Yeoul the moment they spotted them.
"You half-rotted boneheads dare!"
Furious at the attack on her master, Brina deflected the arrows mid-flight with her dagger, then darted into the warriors' midst.
Crack!
The skeletons tried blocking with sword and shield, but Brina used her small frame to step on a shield and leap, smashing her dagger into the archer's skull from behind—core shattered.
She spun, striking the exposed backs of the warriors.
Crack-crack-crack!
The remaining two charged, jaws clacking, but Brina was faster. Her dagger pierced their skulls.
Crash!
Cores destroyed, the skeletons crumbled. Brina sheathed her dagger casually and trotted back.
"All taken care of, Master."
"Good girl."
He stroked her head. She beamed up at him, ears flapping happily.
"Hehe~"
"At this level, you could solo the 7th-grade boss easy."
Brina claimed her power was about what it was when they first fought, but seeing it firsthand, she seemed stronger. Plus, as his onahole under his authority's influence, unlike her monster days, she could recover from wounds anytime by expending his semen—like against Han Se-ah.
Factoring that in, her combat prowess matched his without Moon Shadow Sword.