Chapter 13
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Tanjueo
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"Put that over there."
"Here?"
"Yeah."
It had been quite some time since Sejin met Do Jaegyu at the gukbap restaurant.
Following Breaking Army Star's advice to keep a low profile for the time being, Sejin was finally taking a break and fulfilling her duties as the eldest daughter for once.
In other words, she was running errands at her mom's café. Of course, for family pay that went beyond the usual passion pay.
'Should I report this to the labor department?'
An hourly wage of zero. Sejin wondered if she should wrap a red bandana around her head like some overworked part-timer, but she shook her head and swept every corner with the broom instead.
Doing that might get her kicked out of the house on the spot.
With their finances being tight, she gritted her teeth and bore it.
"Seriously... did they forget?"
Sejin stared blankly out the café's floor-to-ceiling windows, broom in hand.
The location had decent foot traffic, so plenty of people passed by. Tilting her head as she watched them go, Sejin murmured to herself.
[What are you talking about?]
"I mean... there's been no reaction at all."
She'd been on edge, wondering if Do Jaegyu would dig up her info and come barging in here. But nearly a month had passed since then, and the memory of that day was starting to fade.
[Do Jaegyu? That lunatic?]
It seemed like 'Do Jaegyu = lunatic' was etched into Breaking Army Star's mind. Honestly, Sejin's thoughts weren't far off.
Hmm. He did seem pretty crazy.
"Wait... did he give up on me?"
His eyes had burned with certainty about her identity. Recalling that day still left her uneasy.
And what was with that interview? The contents of the one she'd read a few days ago were still fresh in her mind.
"He really gave up? What's he thinking?"
"What are you mumbling about?"
Sea walked past Sejin, who stood frozen with the broom, and snapped curtly.
"Mind your own business. What's with that tone toward your sister?"
"Jeez. Must be nice having so much free time lately, Miss Unemployed."
"Don't get cheeky."
"Don't... get cheeky."
Sejin shot Sea a rotten glare as she mimicked her, sticking out her chin defiantly.
Seeing that annoying face made all thoughts of Do Jaegyu—who'd haunted her for days—vanish in an instant.
"Ugh."
"How old are you two, still bickering like this?"
Mom's exasperated voice cut through the standoff between the sisters, who were glaring daggers at each other.
"Sea! How many times has Mom told you not to tease your sister about being unemployed? It doesn't hurt people who aren't actually jobless, but your sister really is!"
Sejin pondered Mom's words, unsure if they were taking her side or not.
'What... is this some advanced sarcasm?'
It felt like she was defending her, but it stung anyway.
[That's cutting, alright.]
If even Breaking Army Star felt that way, Sejin knew she was right.
This must be what they call a 360-degree roast.
"Yeees."
Sea drawled the word as she brushed past Sejin.
'Argh, she used to trail after me like a duckling when she was little.'
"I shouldn't have said anything."
"Pot calling the kettle black."
Sejin gripped the broom tighter at Sea's parting shot.
[Endure it.]
Before Breaking Army Star could finish, Sea fired back.
"You must have a lot of free time these days?"
"Huh?"
"I asked you to help on café opening day, but you blew me off saying you were busy."
She must have been harboring some resentment, because Sea glared at Sejin.
"Ahem. Well, I had my reasons."
"What reasons does an unemployed person have? On Mom's café opening day?"
That explained the cold shoulder for the past few weeks.
Sejin finally realized the root of Sea's grudge.
"Oh dear... look at all that dust."
Sejin turned away with the broom, pretending not to notice, and heard an irritated tongue-click from behind.
"Such a slacker. So prickly."
On opening day, despite Mom begging her to help, Sejin had no choice but to head out to close a Gate.
It was the day she met Do Jaegyu.
Sea, who was diligently studying at school, got summoned in her place instead, and all that resentment got dumped on Sejin.
From Sea's perspective—the straight-A student who'd earned a full scholarship and was practically the family's breadwinner—it was understandable to be pissed.
"S-Sea."
The problem was that dull Sejin was only realizing this now.
"What? Heading out again today?"
"No, absolutely not. How's school life treating you?"
Sejin reflected on how she'd neglected her family, too focused on preventing the apocalypse.
And with Do Jaegyu thrown into the mix, it was even worse.
Her body might be at the café, but her mind was elsewhere half the time. A pang of guilt hit her.
"Second semester started ages ago."
Sea spoke curtly, but her sidelong glance made Sejin feel even sorrier.
When was it... fall already?
"Sorry."
Sea smirked at Sejin's straightforward apology.
"Words alone?"
"I'll handle all the dishwashing for the next month!"
"No take-backs."
With her anger somewhat appeased, Sea accepted the offer with a pout.
Sejin nodded, forcing a smile.
Damn it.
Two days after striking the dishwashing deal, Sejin let out a deep sigh.
"Gonna get an earful again."
Breaking Army Star had warned of a Gate opening, so she'd ditched the dishes and bolted.
She squeezed her eyes shut, staring at the darkening sky.
I'm gonna get reamed.
Imagining Sea's 'I knew it' face made her future look bleak.
'Closing my eyes makes it dark? No... that's my future. Heh.'
With a self-deprecating chuckle, Sejin asked Breaking Army Star.
"What's the rank this time?"
She'd arrived at a Gate site the detector couldn't predict and wiped under her nose.
[C-rank.]
Not overwhelming by any means. Plus, she now had Queen Hornet alongside Bulgasal, making her feel more secure.
Of course, she still couldn't wield both Spirit Beasts' powers at once. But better than nothing.
'Right?'
Queen Hornet let out a cute chirp, but picturing her true form—a massive queen wasp—sent chills down Sejin's spine.
'Insects are kinda...'
Queen Hornet was undeniably useful, able to rival Bulgasal.
She could carry Sejin through the air and pack decent attack power.
She was a high-tier specimen, no doubt. But her creepy looks were hard to ignore.
'She's disgustingly ugly... Maybe stick to summoning Bulgasal for now?'
As Sejin zoned out, Breaking Army Star's low voice echoed in her mind.
[It's close.]
Sejin nodded, scanning the wide park.
On the outskirts of Seoul, a park no one visited. Alone in the dead of night, she sniffed from the cold, double-checking her hat and mask.
"Gotta wrap this up quick."
Kicking at the dirt, she waited. Soon, the air warped grotesquely.
Black energy condensed, spreading like spiderwebs.
Sejin frowned at the eerie sight.
The growing black hole soon yawned wide enough for ten people.
Sejin tugged the strap of her black bag and stepped forward slowly.
4. Tanjueo
Sticky tendrils brushed her body as she entered the Gate. She shuddered in disgust.
Looking around, she saw a dense forest.
Squinting ahead, a misty area caught her eye in the distance.
"That place?"
Her legs carried her toward the obviously suspicious spot.
[Evil energy flows from there.]
"Will they show up today?"
Even Breaking Army Star, linked to the other gods, couldn't predict when their seals would break.
They could only wait for the freed gods to sense his energy.
Probably because the gods had poured everything into sealing Cheonmyeong. Sejin guessed as much without needing it spelled out.
Breaking Army Star occasionally lamented their fates.
Even the playful Sejin fell silent when he trailed off, reminiscing about commanding the world and making hell's demons tremble.
Cheonmyeong's power to destroy the world was truly immense.
Supreme Sorcerer Cheonmyeong, who sought to summon hell to the surface, and his twin sister Cheonhui, who sacrificed herself to stop him.
The reason Cheonmyeong aimed to end the world was his fiancée, Yohee.