Missing (3)
“Is that really true?”
Song Jiseok stared at Jehyun in shock, asking again for confirmation.
“Yes. If you'll just follow me, I can read the traces of this energy...”
He was about to tell them to come along when—
“What... is that supposed to mean?”
“......”
A low, heavy voice rumbled from beside him. Turning his head, Jehyun saw Jo Inhu glaring at him with eyes blazing like infernos.
—Half out of his mind already.
Alkasha muttered as it eyed Jo Inhu. In truth, the man was teetering on the edge of losing his reason entirely. He had already been anxious and on edge, and now, faced with a site thick with the aura of death, his unease boiled over, ready to erupt at any moment.
“It means exactly what I said. I believe I can track the energy they left behind.”
Jehyun met Jo Inhu's gaze calmly and replied.
But the response from Jo Inhu was a cold snap.
“What... is that supposed to mean? Don't talk nonsense!”
Jo Inhu growled through gritted teeth, suppressing his emotions with effort.
“Not even the Tower Master could properly analyze this energy. And you're telling me a fresh 5th Circle punk like you can read it?”
Jo Inhu's eyes burned red with fury as he continued.
“Do you think this is some playground for kids? I don't know why the Tower Master put you on this tracking team, but if you're just going to spout bullshit, then pack up and go home!”
Unable to hold back any longer, Jo Inhu bellowed at the end. It was a rough, agitated outburst utterly unlike the usually polite and gentlemanly faction leader.
In truth, Jo Inhu's behavior was remarkably reckless. This was a search team assembled by the Tower Master himself—pushing his own standards on Jehyun, questioning why he was even here, and telling him to leave was tantamount to challenging the Tower Master's authority.
'He's that worried about Jo Yeonho's safety.'
Jehyun understood Jo Inhu's state of mind. It must have seemed suspicious that he, who could detect an energy even the Tower Master couldn't read, was claiming such a thing. If their positions were reversed, with every second counting, some kid like a blood clot claiming he could do what they couldn't might look like he didn't grasp the gravity of the situation and was just flailing around.
“It's not nonsense. I really can detect it.”
Jehyun stared straight into Jo Inhu's eyes and replied calmly.
“......”
Jo Inhu was momentarily speechless. For some reason, he suddenly sensed an overwhelming presence behind Jehyun—an immense entity that defied imagination.
“Faction Leader. Let's trust him this once. He's not the type to spout nonsense.”
With Song Jiseok chiming in, Jo Inhu finally realized his mistake.
“I'm sorry. I let my emotions get the better of me. I apologize.”
True to his position, Jo Inhu offered an immediate apology the moment he recognized his error.
“No need. I fully understand your feelings, Faction Leader.”
“Thank you for understanding. Then... I'll put my faith in you. Please, find them.”
Jehyun nodded at Jo Inhu's desperate plea. It was rare for a 7th Circle faction leader to show such raw vulnerability. His attitude weighed heavily on Jehyun's heart.
Jehyun began tracing the energy's remnants based on the traces left at the site.
* * *
“This place...”
After following Jehyun for a while, the group finally stopped.
Ahead lay the edge of the mana field the Tower Master had deployed.
They had reached the boundary where the mana field was spread.
'The trail ends here.'
Jehyun thought as he surveyed the surroundings. It was a desolate area dotted with half-broken marble pillars, devoid of human presence.
“Looks like the site of one of those cult temples from the old days when those fake gods were all the rage.”
Song Jiseok scanned the area and spoke up. There had been a time when pseudo-religions ran rampant, and this seemed to be one of the spots where their temples had sprouted up like mushrooms.
“So... the trail cuts off here?”
Jo Inhu, who had been silent, finally spoke. His eyes still burned with urgency.
“Yes. It seems they're hiding somewhere around here.”
Jehyun lowered his voice in reply.
“......!”
At his words, Jo Inhu and Song Jiseok whipped their heads around in alarm, but nothing pinged on their senses.
“Is... this really the place?”
Jo Inhu asked again, suspicion creeping back in.
Jehyun nodded with unwavering certainty.
“Yes. Their energy feels strongest here.”
It wasn't empty words. The unidentified energy was thicker than ever.
As Jehyun scanned the area, his gaze locked onto one spot. There, a strange mix of unidentified energy and dark aura emanated.
'That's it.'
It looked like ordinary temple ruins at a glance.
Dragon Eye
Amber light flashed in Jehyun's eyes. Suddenly, the empty air revealed a weave enveloped in bizarre black and purple energy.
'I need to disrupt that energy.'
Decision made, Jehyun immediately summoned a Wisp.
'Wisp.'
Fwaaah!
White light gathered in the air, forming a fluffy, cotton-like Wisp.
“Th-this energy!”
“No way... is that a light spirit?”
Song Jiseok and Jo Inhu gaped at the Wisp in astonishment.
“Yes, that's right.”
At Jehyun's confirmation, their eyes widened even in this dire situation—they had never seen a light spirit in their lives. Rumors of anyone summoning one didn't even exist. Jehyun was the first.
“Wisp. Clear away that energy.”
The Wisp's eyes curved into crescents at Jehyun's command. Adorably fluffy, it flew straight to the spot he indicated.
Hwaaaah!
The shadows cast by the ruined temple vanished, bathing the area in brilliant light. The air twisted, revealing a curtain shimmering with black and purple hues.
“......!”
“Yeonho!”
Jo Inhu bolted forward in shock. Behind the curtain lay Jo Yeonho and several others, collapsed.
“Wait—!”
Jehyun shouted urgently, but Jo Inhu didn't hear.
And the consequence—
Pshhh! Skrrt!
“Guh, urk.”
Purple thorns erupted from his shadow, striking Jo Inhu. He barely avoided a gut pierce, but his side took a deep gash. Clutching the bleeding wound, he staggered.
“What a shame! I could've sent you off painlessly.”
“......!”
The group tensed as a masked woman—Jin Boram—appeared out of nowhere.
“Urgh, you bastard...”
Jo Inhu glared daggers at her.
“Oh my, old man, you still have the breath to talk?”
Jo Inhu's face twisted at her words.
'My mana won't gather properly.'
The side wound was bad enough, but the alien energy seeping in disrupted his mana flow.
“Heal!”
Fwaaah!
Song Jiseok urgently cast Heal from behind. But the wound knit only to reopen. Purple energy tainted the area, blocking recovery.
“Why isn't it working?”
Song Jiseok paled in confusion.
“Hehehe. Think a little heal will fix it? Better give up~.”
Jin Boram cackled at his panic.
“You scum! What did you do? Do you even know who we are?!”
Song Jiseok snarled. They were Magic Tower mages—daring to toy with them like this? Guts spilling out, clearly.
“Aigoo, scary~ But can't you read the room? That old man's dying?”
Cough.
Jo Inhu spat blood again, clutching his wound. Song Jiseok caught him as his legs buckled.
“Faction Leader!”
“I-I'm fine. Worry about Yeonho first...”
Jo Inhu's lips trembled, pale as death. He'd lost too much blood.
“Hold on.”
Jehyun stepped forward.
'Alkasha, you can absorb this energy, right?'
—Yes. But the energy spread inside is hard to absorb right now.
'Then at least absorb what's left in the wound.'
At Jehyun's request, Alkasha absorbed the lingering energy in Jo Inhu's wound.
[Alkasha absorbs a small amount of @!^#%!#$'s power.]
[@!^#%!#$ comprehension slightly increases.]
With the energy absorbed, Jehyun immediately cast Heal.
“Heal.”
“It's pointless any—huh?”
Jin Boram opened her mouth to mock them, but a gasp escaped instead.
“Impossible!”
Jo Inhu's wound was closing rapidly. Her eyes bulged at the sight. It couldn't be—their energy had lingered in his wound. How?
“Th-thank you.”
Jo Inhu expressed his gratitude, face ashen. His haste had nearly ruined everything—not just for himself, but for Yeonho and everyone. For the first time since reaching 7th Circle, shame burned deep.
“Who the hell are you?”
Jin Boram demanded sharply, unable to comprehend.
No one had ever countered their energy before. Even this 7th Circle guy had been helpless after one hit.
“Who knows.”
Jehyun asked Song Jiseok to watch Jo Inhu and stepped in front of Jin Boram.
—Wouldn't it be better if I handled her instead of you?
—This woman's tougher than she looks. I'll buy time against her, so tend to the Faction Leader and rescue them when you get an opening.
Song Jiseok messaged via magic, and Jehyun entrusted Jo Yeonho's rescue to him. Securing their safety came before taking down the woman.
—Understood. Don't push yourself too hard.
Jehyun gave a slight nod and fully blocked Jin Boram's path.
“Hah, fine. Not talking, huh? Guess I'll just take you too.”
Jin Boram licked her lips with her tongue.
Dragon Eye
Jehyun activated Dragon Eye to scan the woman.
'S-rank.'
Her rank was a solid S. No pushover. The old Jehyun wouldn't have dreamed of facing her.
But he wasn't that Jehyun anymore.
Jehyun drew his mana to its limit.
Fwhoosh!
Vast mana exploded from his body. Dragon scales erupted across his skin, and dragon horns sprouted from his forehead. Thunder Bird and Vulcan materialized at his sides, with Wisp beside them.
“Try taking me if you can.”
With those words, Jehyun's eyes slit vertically.
Authority. Dragon Fear Manifest
Jin Boram's eyes widened as Dragon Fear's aura crushed down on her from Jehyun's body.