Chapter 20 - Anger
Anger
Translator : Elizabeth
Chapter 20. Anger
Knock knock knock knock.
A knocking sound was heard.
For a moment, I wondered if it was a delivery I ordered before, but soon shook my head. It wasn't the delivery date yet.
When my steps toward the front door were about halfway, a small voice was heard from beyond the door.
“Excuse me. Is anyone there.”
It was Im So-young's voice.
But it was strange. That wasn't calling me. Like a person visiting this house for the first time, it was a tone deliberately keeping distance.
At that moment.
One Arcana emerged in my head.
[THE DEVIL]
I chewed on that meaning for a moment, then opened the door.
Clack, creeeak.
Hu-da-da-dak!
Thud!
As soon as a gap appeared, So-young came inside quickly and closed the door immediately.
And poured out words without even a moment to catch breath.
“Unni, thugs near here. Seems they are targeting this house. The atmosphere isn't good. For now I’ll say a tattooed muscle pig gangster lives here, but still I think it’s better not to come out of the house for the time being. Or calling the police-”
After spitting out all words rapidly like that, she turned her body.
“Ah.”
Then suddenly turning only her head, she smiled brightly and gave a thumbs up.
“And also! Unni’s talisman is really good! The only flaw is that it’s too good to leave at home!”
Like that, leaving a review totally unmatched with the situation explanation, she opened the door and went out again.
“I, I, I, I am sorrryyyyy—!”
Making a voice louder than necessary. As if telling someone to look and hear.
Thud.
As the door closed again, the commotion from just a moment ago disappeared like a lie inside the room.
In that silence, the Devil Arcana was still shimmering in my vision.
“…So-young.”
Tarot Arcana's meanings of positive and negative are not distinct. Commonly, people encountering Tarot for the first time tend to think of Death or Devil as negative cards, but rather the one with strong negative meaning was the Tower.
Among them, Devil usually signifies intense desire toward the opposite sex or contract, etc.
In this case right now, it signified a contract.
I raised my head and looked at the Devil Arcana.
A giant body with waist reaching the ceiling. The room was so small that just crouching with waist bent deep filled the vision.
The goat head was dropping its gaze from the ceiling. Faint shadow casts on me.
The forehead engraved with inverted pentagram shone faintly in the darkness, and the square pupils below it stared straight at me.
Baphomet. No, the Arcana borrowing that existence’s form opened its mouth.
—Flower bud ahead of full bloom shall be trampled by muddy feet and torn away.
—You who placed chains on yourself.
—The time has come to keep the promise with another soul connected by those chains.
—However that restraint is loose, so you can turn away at any time.
—Will you keep it, or discard it.
—Choose.
It was the Devil Arcana listing such words, but I didn't lend an ear to that voice.
Because I was already changing into clothes comfortable to move in, preparing to go out.
As if noticing my choice wasn't shaking, the Devil Arcana fell silent for a moment, then.
This time, brought up words with a different point.
—All existences are woven with large and small chains, the only path to escape that restraint is extinction.
—However deficiency is proof of existence, someone’s absence calls for remaining ones’ gaze.
—You.
—Are you prepared to handle the gaze that will approach tracing back the broken chain.
“Prepared?”
I stopped moving for a moment.
“….”
The night I fell into panic due to blackout, the moment Im So-young took care of me silently by my side came to mind.
“Don't know such sh*t.”
I opened the door.
Then far away over there. In that spot where the angel of Temperance stood on the night of blackout.
Clearly the Devil Arcana that was inside the room until just a moment ago stood there.
I moved my steps toward that place without an inch of hesitation.
“I, I, I, I am sorrryyyyy—!”
As Im So-young shouted so and came out of the house, Jo Sung-gyu who was leaning in the alley raised his head. A gaze blatantly mixed with distrust, containing the meaning of why coming out so fast.
“…Why coming out already?”
Im So-young poured out without even catching breath, unable to meet his eyes straight.
“Inside… inside there was a strange person, that. Tattooed muscle, totally pig-like gangster was… no no. There was a gangster-like pig. Felt like I’d get hit if spoke wrong…!”
She blurred the end of her sentence and lowered her head.
“Uh… Th, this is my fault. So I just won't receive money.”
“…Gangster?”
Jo Sung-gyu narrowed his eyes and asked back.
“Certain?”
“Y, yes! Probably? No, but really really really. Atmosphere was too… too strange. There were tons of delivery boxes in the house, by any chance isn't he a person wanted somewhere?”
Im So-young waved her hands wildly.
“I, I’ll just go. F, feel like problem will arise for no reason, can't do it.”
Jo Sung-gyu looked down at her silently for a moment. After about a few seconds passed, clicking his tongue, he rummaged through his pocket.
“…Ha.”
Then took out one ten thousand won bill and held it out.
“Forget it. Take even this.”
“N, no no no no! Really okay-”
“Take it when I say take it.”
At the low and firm voice, So-young couldn't speak further.
Eventually receiving the ten thousand won, she bowed her head hurriedly.
“Th, thank you! I’m going!”
Before the words she was saying ended, Im So-young literally scrambled out of the alley.
“Ay shit. So is money a lot or little.”
It was when Jo Sung-gyu remaining alone was standing in the alley ruffling his hair roughly.
Creeeak.
From the opposite side of the targeted house, meaning the house next to the alley where he stood, a middle-aged woman holding a dustpan came out. Seeing Jo Sung-gyu, she spoke as if glad.
“Oh my, isn't it delivery driver? Suffering a lot coming all the way here for delivery. Resting right now?”
Jo Sung-gyu let those words flow in one ear and out the other saying yes, yes moderately.
Then suddenly.
Suddenly a certain thought occurred and he asked toward the middle-aged woman.
“But Auntie, heard a gangster lives in that house, is it real?”
The middle-aged woman waved her hand.
“Aiyoo, what gangster. One young lady lives alone.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes! Just how much money is rotting away, always ordering delivery only. Bachelor also suffers a lot because of that house.”
Then she started grumbling saying she wraps her whole body tight going around, face isn't seen well either etc. While revealing subtle jealousy saying looking at the body shape she is certainly a young lady.
“Ah, is that so?” “Yes, yes.” “Then shouldn't do that, yes.”
Jo Sung-gyu chimed in moderately as usual.
And.
Creeeak, thud.
As the middle-aged woman who shook off dust from the dustpan outside entered the house and the door closed, his expression distorted in an instant. Grinding his teeth glaring somewhere in the daldongne with a face like an evil spirit.
“…This f*cking bitch.”
Im So-young's father Im Gong-sik was clearly a human avoided because dirty, who had no back (nothing to lose). But Jo Sung-gyu also was already trying to cross that line.
Muttering if that human is there just kill that human together, he dashed out instantly down the daldongne.
It was when Im So-young just arrived in front of her house.
Pabababababat!
Sound of someone running full speed was heard from behind back.
One moment was enough to realize that that sound, was coming toward herself.
The moment So-young looked back hurriedly.
“…!”
Jo Sung-gyu's heinously distorted face appeared briefly in vision and.
Thwack—!
A kick loaded with running force as is planted into So-young's abdomen.
Kuang!
As the gate was pushed open forcibly, So-young's body flew inside as if bouncing.
Kudangtang!
Slender body flung onto the yard as is.
“Kkeo, kkeok…!”
As if all air inside body escaped, unable to even breathe properly, So-young only trembled on the ground.
Trudge trudge trudge.
Jo Sung-gyu approached with fast steps.
Kicking flew in along with curses.
“Dare to deceive me?”
Thud!
“Did you also see me lightly because I deliver packages?”
Thwack! Crack!
“Trusting Im Gong-sik that retard bastard and look down on me?”
Crunch! Stomp! Grit!
Foot stomping down continuously.
Jo Sung-gyu muttered eerily.
“I’ll beat you to death.”
At that moment, static popped from the talisman inside So-young's pocket.
Titles of internet articles flashing through mind and.
—Woman in 20s found dead in detached house… Investigating traces of external intrusion…
—Woman found brutally murdered inside house, culprit still in the mist…
News anchor’s comments.
—Today dawn, a woman in 20s was found dead in an old residential area in District OO. At the time of discovery the victim was…
—Victim woman is reported to be found after contact with family or acquaintances was cut off…
That was a prophecy no different from a sentence in effect, informing that Jo Sung-gyu's words were sincere.
‘…Stop.’
So-young curling her body at ruthless violence thought.
—If become adult next year.
—If save a lot of money.
—If have this mysterious talisman.
Holding onto such hopes and living barely, to reach this miserable end at the end.
‘…Stop now.’
Im So-young's heart.
No more.
Can't endure.
About to shatter into pieces.
Then.
‘…Just stop now-’
Thwack—!
“Kkeueok!”
This time Jo Sung-gyu flew.
It was a flying kick same as what So-young suffered just before. Hit squarely in the side, he rolled on the yard.
“Y, you what the f*ck!”
What entered his vision was a silhouette of someone with hood pressed deep.
One who intruded out of nowhere.
“…Me?”
That figure approached slowly toward So-young, and knelt in front of her.
“When too hard…”
One hand extended, and organized So-young's disheveled hair carefully.
“-When life is too overwhelming that can't possibly stand up…”
That person flipped back the deeply pressed hood slowly.
“-Just once.”
Beautiful black hair like obsidian flowed down softly.
“Person who promised to help.”
That face touched by light, was beautiful enough to be felt as divine.
“….”
Jo Sung-gyu forgot the situation, staring at that face blankly.
But Ah-jin's gaze stayed only on So-young.
After touching So-young's cheek who couldn't even speak properly in pain and only shed tears for a moment, Ah-jin raised her body.
And approached striding toward Jo Sung-gyu standing blankly.
When Jo Sung-gyu snapped to his senses-
Thwack!
“Aack! F*ck!”
Kicked in the face, he rolled on the ground again.
“This f*cking bitch…!”
Jo Sung-gyu was used to fighting. As heat rose to head pain was pushed back, and he raised body straight away.
And threw fist toward approaching Ah-jin.
Shwit, shwishwit—!
Jab thrown exhaling breath. In his own way trace of learning boxing properly was evident.
Shak- shashak.
But Ah-jin dodged all those attacks by a paper-thin difference.
“F*ck why not hitting!”
“….”
Utilizing Hermit card as talisman raising reflexes to extreme, and perfectly controlling body, it was very easy task for her.
…If asked what martial arts is.
A few model answers will come to mind. Like to protect oneself or someone, or to subdue opponent.
There were various perspectives.
But among them.
If looking in the meaning of technique controlling oneself perfectly and handling body as willed….
Current Ah-jin stood at that highest point throughout human history.
Trudge. Even at moment taking one step.
Pa-at! Even at instant extending fist.
To each of those trivial movements, all muscles of whole body responded exquisitely creating flow of power without waste.
Seut! Seuseut!
While Jo Sung-gyu's fist brushed only hair vainly as if hitting tissue.
Thw—ack! Bb—ak!
Yu Ah-jin's fist embedded deeply as if absorbed into opponent's body like hitting a standing sandbag.
“Aaaaaak! This dog f*cking bitch aaaak!”
Jo Sung-gyu screaming took out a pocket knife from bosom. Although shabby blade less than 10 centimeters, it was sufficient object to harm person.
Flutter—!
To that Ah-jin took off hoodie without a word. Appearance spreading loose top in empty air, reminded of matador wielding red cloth.
At the same time.
Vivid curves that couldn't be hidden even with thick knit were revealed to world barely covered by one piece of underwear.
Spectacle reminiscent of Valkyrie's descent. That graceful figure exuded erotic yet divine atmosphere.
Jo Sung-gyu who almost blurred mind again, but seeing Ah-jin approaching striding, swung knife reflexively.
Hwiririk!
However his hand holding knife was caught too easily in top Ah-jin swung and spread.
“Wh, what!”
Instant two people’s arms tangled with top in between. Like matching beat, strange movement path rotating round and round as if dancing waltz.
Kkwadeudeuk!
As top twisted cloth tightened like hard chain. Following that Jo Sung-gyu's arm bound deeper gradually.
Eventually.
Thud!
With both hands bound behind back Jo Sung-gyu was slammed roughly onto yard floor.
“Keo-euk!”
At the same time Ah-jin's foot pressed down his back.
Kwaduk!
“Aack! Not removing that foot right now?!”
Ah-jin didn't mind struggle wriggling like bug at all. Just turned head, met eyes with So-young looking at herself blankly.
“….”
“….”
Moment her tattered appearance entered vision, heat fire soared from inside.
Ah-jin's gaze pierced down to Jo Sung-gyu again. In those eyes cool killing intent was pooled.
“I’ll kill you…! I’ll kill you bitches all…!”
Speech and behavior where not a grain of reflection can be found.
If according to heart wanted to gift more miserable pain to him in this spot right now. But So-young's state didn't look good.
“Phew.”
Ah-jin exhaled short breath suppressing boiling anger. And still pressing down with foot bent body and whispered low in his ear.
“You can't kill anyone.”
“Shut up! Think I can't kill just one person?! You! And your family! Your friends! I will kill them all!”
“I am going to kill you right now so with what means do you kill whom.”
“Wh, wha…?!”
Before those words ended, Ah-jin's hand pressed down Jo Sung-gyu's back of head shaking in panic violently.
Then.
—Pajijijijijijit!
Along with sparks popping like violent chemical reaction, Jo Sung-gyu's body crumbled down whitely.