The Heart-Eating Demon Bug
Jin Ju-je slowly turned around and stood before the demonic form of Ak Hong-hyang. She parted her lips and began to recite an ancient, sorrowful Divine Script.
Her voice seemed to resonate with the very heavens and earth, and the dozens of statues of the Sword Lord within the temple began to emit a strange light. A magnificent and warm radiance, beyond description, enveloped the entire mountain where the temple stood.
Jin Ju-je, who usually remained so serene that her thoughts and depth were unfathomable, was now radiating an indescribably powerful aura. Her divine power, shining with a brilliant light, illuminated the surroundings like a full moon. The murderous intent that had risen in everyone's hearts vanished, replaced by a solemn and calm resolve.
On the back of Jin Ju-je's left hand, a strange silver pattern appeared—one that had never been seen before. It was a pattern in the shape of a severed finger. A bright silver light of divine power poured from it.
Soon, the outline of a finger rose above the back of her left hand. The phantom finger, formed of light, grew increasingly vivid until its joints and wrinkles were clearly visible. A brilliant light poured from Jin Ju-je's eyes as she let out a low, focused shout.
The sound that escaped her lips was an ancient melody of unknown origin. A mysterious force spread in all directions. The phantom of the severed finger floated into the air. The silver divine power Jin Ju-je was emitting concentrated into that finger, and it soon transformed into a small, white hand glowing with a silver hue.
A manifestation of supreme divine power, capable of grasping the intangible and purging the corrupt.
"Is that... the Hand of God?"
The 7th Prince recalled a record he had once seen in the secret archives of the Imperial Palace. The moment the thought occurred to him, a shiver ran down his spine, and he let out a gasp of wonder. Im Gun-hyeon stared at Jin Ju-je with wide eyes.
Upon closer inspection, the small white hand created by Jin Ju-je's divine power had its thumb touching the back of her hand. Only that thumb held a vast, immeasurable divine power; the other four fingers and the palm were relatively faint, appearing like translucent illusions.
Nevertheless, the appearance of the small white hand caused all the Sword Lord statues nearby to vibrate slightly. A brilliant silver light covered the statues. These statues, which had stood tall in silence for hundreds of years through wind and rain, were now becoming clearer and brighter, as if they were coming to life.
The countless priestesses within the temple were already kneeling where they stood. The citizens, who had been in a state of chaotic turmoil, felt a sense of awe before this majestic and mysterious power. Their hearts calmed, and they gradually fell silent, kneeling one by one.
A look of astonishment crossed Dam Gogeum's face. Baek Hae-geum was unconsciously tensing up, his heart feeling as though it might leap out of his throat.
In the next moment, following Jin Ju-je's movements, the small white hand slowly moved toward the chest of the demonic Ak Hong-hyang. The five fingers of the hand passed through her chest and touched her heart, quickly grasping it.
A moment later, as the hand withdrew from Ak Hong-hyang's chest, it was clutching a mass of black demonic energy. It was a bizarre sight. Even though the white hand had reached through her chest to grab her heart, there was not a single wound on Ak Hong-hyang's body.
As the black demonic energy was pulled out by the white hand, the signs of demonic transformation on Ak Hong-hyang's body began to subside rapidly. The demonic patterns on her skin dissipated into black smoke, and her body gradually returned to its normal form. Her skin regained its original fair and lustrous texture, and her long, blade-like nails crumbled into dust and fell away.
"Ugh... What happened to me?"
It was as if she were waking from a long nightmare. Ak Hong-hyang let out a pained groan and looked around with dazed eyes. The mask that had covered half of her face was already shattered, revealing the long, hideous scar across her features. Furthermore, her clothes had been torn in several places during the transformation, leaving her nearly half-naked.
Jin Ju-je, standing before her, quickly removed her own priestess cloak and draped it over Ak Hong-hyang's body.
"It's alright. Everything has passed now," Jin Ju-je comforted her in a warm voice. Her words were imbued with the power of light, and Ak Hong-hyang, who had severely exhausted her vitality, felt a surge of warmth and immediately fell into a deep sleep. Her breathing gradually stabilized.
"Screee! Skreee!"
Suddenly, a piercing, shrill cry erupted from within the Hand of God. The sticky black demonic energy that had been pulled from Ak Hong-hyang's body shrank upon contact with the divine power, eventually becoming a fierce, black insect the size of a finger. The black bug struggled violently, screeching as it tried to escape the Hand of God.
A parasitic demon bug that takes over the host's heart and triggers a forced demonic transformation (Ima).
"The Heart-Eating Demon Bug!" Im Gun-hyeon shouted in shock.
"Correct. It is indeed a Heart-Eating Demon Bug," Jin Ju-je said calmly. "Both Ak Hong-hyang and Mi Yeo-yeon were victims of this bug. That is why they underwent demonic transformation in a situation they could not control. None of this is the fault of these two students. They are victims."
Her voice rang out like thunder. Everyone present felt a chill in their hearts, their minds reeling as if struck by a massive wave.
Cho Heun, Ban Oe-min, Ryu Gye-hae, and the others from the 3rd Academy let out long sighs of relief.
Thank goodness.
We've avoided the worst-case scenario.
The three of them rushed forward to the side of Baek Geum-un and Han Bul-bu.
"How are they?"
"They're still breathing... their pulses are very weak! But they aren't dead."
"Phew, that was a close call!"
After checking their condition, the three of them slumped to the ground, exhaling in relief. The injuries the two had sustained earlier were severe—their clothes were soaked in blood. Yet, miraculously, they were still alive, and the wounds on their bodies had already vanished. Of course, their internal Hyeongi was extremely depleted, and their pulses were sluggish, but they had at least survived.
"The protective barrier Bukjin deployed saved them," Cho Heun said with a complicated expression.
A bitter feeling lingered in the hearts of Ban Oe-min and Ryu Gye-hae as well. Still, they felt it was a great mercy. Perhaps Bukjin isn't a demon worshipper after all. If he were, he wouldn't have cast everything aside to save Baek Geum-un and Han Bul-bu first.
As they reflected on the situation, they felt something was still amiss.
"So it was the Heart-Eating Demon Bug, a creature of legend!" Dam Gogeum said, feigning surprise. He frowned as he looked at the black insect held in the Hand of God. Then, as if remembering something, he added, "As far as I know, infecting someone with a Heart-Eating Demon Bug is an incredibly difficult task. It must be done secretly by someone the victim is closest to and trusts most. Furthermore, it takes at least two or three days for it to fully reach the heart and allow the victim to be controlled. In my opinion, Im Bukjin must have secretly infected them with these bugs to prepare for an emergency. These two poor girls were undoubtedly used and harmed by Im Bukjin."
Even as he spoke, he could not take his eyes off the Hand of God.
Damn it. To think a priestess in a temple in a small coastal city like this would have such an extraordinary identity! I never imagined she would know that forbidden divine art. But fortunately, the tide has already turned. It seems she hasn't noticed me yet. If that woman had sensed anything, I would have been in real trouble!
Jin Ju-je said nothing in response to Dam Gogeum's assertion that Bukjin was the culprit. She slowly clenched her own hand, and the Hand of God followed suit.
"Screee!"
The fierce black bug let out a scream of agony and was instantly annihilated. She picked up the deeply sleeping Ak Hong-hyang and approached Cho Heun and the others. After a moment of thought, she spoke.
"The injuries of Baek Geum-un and Han Bul-bu may leave lasting effects. They require treatment. Bring them and follow me."
Joy flickered across the faces of Cho Heun and his colleagues. But right then...
"Wait!" a voice rang out.
"You may take the student named Baek Geum-un, Jin Ju-je! But leave Han Bul-bu to me!"
Tension returned to the teachers' faces. They turned to see that the speaker was none other than Dan Si-bi, the commander of the Unmong-wi. Clad in sturdy armor made of dark iron, he stood like an iron tower, radiating a fierce aura.
The citizens of Unmong City regarded Dan Si-bi as their guardian deity. He was a renowned commander who had led the Unmong-wi to resolve every pirate raid in the past with a single stroke.
"You say you will take him?" Dam Gogeum snapped back to reality and sneered. "Ak Hong-hyang, Baek Geum-un, and Han Bul-bu—all three are those most closely associated with Im Bukjin. Whether they are innocent or not requires further investigation and judgment. No one can take them. I intend to imprison and interrogate them."
Dan Si-bi furrowed his brow. Im Gun-hyeon could not hold back and countered.
"Jin Ju-je has already stated that Ak Hong-hyang and Mi Yeo-yeon are victims. Furthermore, Baek Geum-un and Han Bul-bu are children who nearly lost their lives! How can you say they are not innocent?"
Dam Gogeum gave a cold smile. "City Lord Im. Have you lost your wits after living in this small city for so long? To think you cannot even grasp the situation as it appears on the surface! Hmph. A Heart-Eating Demon Bug can only be planted by someone the victim trusts most. Who is to say Ak Hong-hyang and Mi Yeo-yeon didn't accept the bugs willingly and gladly? And what do you mean Baek Geum-un and Han Bul-bu nearly lost their lives? Are they not perfectly alive right now? If there is even a shadow of a possibility, I cannot simply stand by!"