Heretic (2)
Peaceful Seoul. Beyond this remarkably modern city lies the Great Cavity, a forest said to seal away a world steeped in centuries of accumulated darkness. It is the distant, sealed realm that heretics once called humanity’s perfect ideal—an abyss they were never meant to claim. This is the tale of the young guardian who stands against them, and of Niyu, the wandering attendant haunted by a forgotten past and bound to the Abyss, desperately grasping for a distant fate of rest.
Some days had passed since then. Shinryong had been unable to shake an ominous feeling lately. The Abyss was completely sealed, and even if an ordinary human somehow found the seal and tampered with it, she had reinforced it so thoroughly that it would not break easily. Even the traces of the Abyss within the city had been largely purged thanks to the guardian deities and shamans. Yet Shinryong spoke of an inexplicable anxiety that kept rising within her from some unknown source.
Because of this, she had taken to patrolling the forest and then meticulously checking the city as well. Worried that she might be overexerting herself, I had begun giving her devoted massages in the afternoons. Fortunately, it seemed to help; she showed no signs of physical fatigue. However, perhaps due to that constant, nameless unease, the efficiency of her divine power storage had dropped sharply. Compared to the stable period before, her stored divine power had grown unstable, with greater natural consumption and loss.
Though I could not wield divine power myself, I could see it with my eyes and feel it on my skin. I did my best to help Shinryong regain her stability, but the only thing I could truly offer was preparing her delicious meals. After finishing our morning routine together, I opened the refrigerator with a clatter and froze in surprise.
“Nngh.”
It hadn’t been that long since we finished cleaning up after the incident, yet the fridge had been completely emptied of ingredients. Of course, that was because I had used them generously while cooking all sorts of lavish dishes. Still, I had thought I was being reasonable, so facing the now-bare refrigerator left me flustered. Had I really used that many ingredients?
“...Hmm.”
I pondered for a moment. Aside from the toys Shinryong had bought after the Abyss rampage, we hadn’t gone shopping in quite some time. Having stayed cooped up in the annex for weeks, it was probably time to head into the city. With that in mind, I began considering lunch options and listing several possibilities. Then, with light steps, I went to find Shinryong.
Soon enough, I found her meditating atop the rock in the courtyard. I approached her quietly as she sat with her eyes closed. Sensing my presence, she swayed her tail gently and spoke without opening her eyes.
“...Did you miss me?”
I smiled softly. “Yes. It feels lonely when you’re not around.”
Her tail fluttered more vigorously. She opened her eyes with a faint smile. Meeting my gaze with her radiant ruby eyes, she said, “It’s time for lunch.”
I nodded with a smile at her gentle voice. After a brief hesitation, she added, “...Let’s keep it light today.”
I looked at her with mild disappointment, but she closed her eyes again and spoke firmly. “We have been indulging in overly luxurious meals lately. I feel we must exercise some restraint.”
Watching her gently pat her own stomach as she spoke, I wanted to point out that it was simply due to lack of exercise, but I held my tongue this time. After all, I wasn’t exactly active either, so weight gain was mutual. If I wanted to live, I had to endure. I didn’t want another flick on the forehead from Shinryong...
“Then for lunch today, how about—”
Just as I was about to suggest the simplest options from my mental list, Shinryong’s expression hardened while her eyes remained closed. She suddenly cut me off.
“I sense a gaze.”
“Pardon?”
Startled, I looked at her. She slowly raised her tail while keeping her eyes shut. As I quickly scanned the surroundings, she tilted her head and murmured, “...It’s gone.”
I grew wary of the mysterious presence. If someone had been watching us, why? What reason could they have?
“Are you heading to the market, Niyu?”
While I was still glancing around, Shinryong called out to me. I nodded, and she relaxed her posture on the rock before continuing.
“With this ominous feeling and now an unknown gaze... be careful on your way.”
She reached into her robes and handed me something—an upgraded artifact imbued with her divine power. The pure white blade fragment had grown slightly larger.
“...It may be a little more difficult to use than before, but its power has been enhanced.”
I accepted it gratefully. Shinryong wrapped her tail around her waist and added, “You are strong, yet you have not shed all your vulnerabilities... If a stranger approaches you with kindness, remain vigilant.”
She was worried I might fall into the hands of some suspicious being. I gave her a confident smile. “It’s fine. I only show this cute side to you, Shinryong.”
She stared at me with wide eyes for a moment before breaking into a soft smile. “...Is that so? I’m glad.”
Her warm hand gently stroked my head. Carrying her concern and trust in my heart, I tucked the artifact into an inner pocket and returned to the house with her. She told me not to worry too much about the gaze, as it hadn’t felt particularly threatening. Since there weren’t many reliable allies in the city right now, she advised me to avoid anything dangerous if possible. But if I got dragged in anyway, I was to use the artifact to call her immediately.
I nodded vigorously, ears perked, committing every word to memory. Soon after, Shinryong returned to her usual calm demeanor and said she was hungry. I prepared to go shopping and suggested a simple stew for lunch. Her eyes sparkled at the mention of stew, and she sat on her cushion, tail swishing happily.
“Then go safely, Niyu.”
I nodded at her gentle smile. “I’ll be back, Shinryong!”
With cheerful steps, I headed into the city, eager for a pleasant afternoon. Since the Abyss rampage, strange phenomena had begun appearing around us, growing more vivid. Perhaps the moment I descended into the city today, that color would finally take shape. So I assumed the most harmless appearance possible, hoping whatever it was would approach without suspicion.
“....”
Reveal yourself, threat hidden in the dark. What are you?
“Cardinal Dawon, the attendant has left the shrine.”
From behind a large tree near the shrine, a girl dressed as a nun spoke into her phone to the one called Cardinal. He acknowledged her report and began moving. Addressing the girl who had informed him of the attendant’s location, he said, “...Will you begin your operation as well?”
The girl hesitated slightly before asking again at the apostle’s voice. Upon receiving confirmation, she took a deep breath. “Understood.”
She spoke to the apostle beyond the phone. “—May the blessing of the Abyss be upon the future of the Order. Amen.”
The call ended. “...Haa.”
With a sigh of discomfort, an ominous darkness began to emanate from the girl’s fingertips, teleporting her away. The girl who had been behind the tree moments ago vanished without a trace. All that remained was a broken old payphone, emitting a feeble beeping sound as it died.