Charity Holy Mark! I Believe Only in You!
After leaving the building, Ma Yu-hyeon walked away from me and shouted back. I didn't respond. Even so, he waved vigorously over his head and stubbornly greeted me. I gave a slight nod to acknowledge it, and only then did he turn away with a satisfied look.
He'd be heading off now with Yeo Min-seo to search for the missing students. And finally, I was alone.
The building we'd come out of only housed administrative offices like the chairman's office and principal's office. It was the most remote spot among all the school buildings, a place hard for unfamiliar freshmen to find.
I glanced around. No one in sight. The CCTV had probably been smashed by Satanists or broken long ago. As I'd mentioned, this building was so out of the way that hardly any students passed through.
In other words, no one was watching me now. No one could see me. Completely alone.
Realizing that, the tension drained from my body, leaving me languid. I drew in a deep breath. Cool air heavy with the scent of rain filled my lungs. The wind slipped over my skin, seeping into every part of me. The wind was kind to me. Of course it was.
"Bade."
It was Bade's wind, after all.
This is natural wind! My wind is fiercer and stronger!
"Why lie? It's nice and refreshing."
Hmm, actually, you're right!
Praising the wind got Bade excited.
You were sweating, so I figured I'd cool you off.
"Thanks."
I was hoping you'd catch a cold. Don't thank me!
All the while, Bade's wind kept blowing. It wrapped my skin softly and coolly. My muddled mind from hanging around Ma Yu-hyeon and Yeo Min-seo was gradually clearing.
I looked up. The sky was turning dark and overcast. Heavy and low, like it could unleash a downpour any second.
Great weather, right?
"Yeah. Sure is."
I humored Bade, who loved foul weather, and flipped my palm over. The hand that had been holding up the sky now faced the ground. The wind currents shifted.
The breeze, which had been scattering lightly, began gathering around me. Whoooosh! The wind picked up force. Weight added to the light, crisp gusts. The scattered strands converged into one, swirling around me.
I stepped onto the wind, treading air until I stood in midair. My stance wobbled at first, but with the Mighty Strength Blessing stabilizing my center, I floated steadily.
Let's go all the way to Mars like this!
"Just take me to that spire over there."
Aw, too bad. The moon's so pretty tonight.
The wind strengthened. I entrusted my body to it, struggling to keep balance. It carried me past the trees planted throughout Florence Academy. Leaves brushed my cheeks, tickling; branches waved hello.
We're here.
Shhh... The wind set me down on the main building's rooftop spire, then retreated gently, rustling branches. The leaf-rustle faded from near to far. Bade's voice went with it.
But the wind lingered by my side. From within it, I surveyed the view below the spire.
The gymnasium ruins lay scattered in the corner of the sports field. Students who'd left their classrooms wandered aimlessly across it. All freshmen, by the look of them. For some reason, their faces were filled with fear and confusion. Some had dark bruises like they'd been punched.
Something ominous was happening inside the freshman building, though I couldn't pinpoint what. From the main building spire, I could see nearly the whole school. But from below, no one could spot me up here. The angle and circumstances made it impossible.
I could see them. They couldn't see me. It felt cozy. Safe.
Screeeeech! Then, a blaring noise erupted from the speaker right below the spire. The comfort and daze filling me vanished, replaced by a chilling tension.
Static crackled from the speaker, followed by a frantic voice.
Thud! Crack! Crunch! The vice principal's words cut off. Sounds of him getting hit—again and again—something breaking.
Fear deepened on the faces of the kids milling on the field.
Silence fell briefly, then static returned.
No need to listen further. The broadcast room was in Satanist hands. Not surprising—I'd half-expected it. The odd part was the hospital bombing threat.
Why the hospital suddenly? To lure students? But then why add "to prevent greater casualties, don't attempt rescues"? Who'd believe such a blatant lie?
"..."
In that moment, instinct hit me. The Satanists weren't luring students to the hospital. Students were never their target. They were luring me.
While I was tied up saving hospital patients, they'd pull something else. But I wasn't playing their game.
"Dan Wedo."
Today's... weather... nice... Go on... a date...
Dan Wedo's mutter was clearer than before. Thanks to the hearty offering last time, probably.
The sky stayed dark and heavy. As his words ended, thick black clouds blanketed it. Sunlight pierced gaps, only for clouds to swallow them. Darkness painted the heavens.
Shhhh... Rain fell. I stood in it. The drops were fierce and sharp, yet kind. Like Bade's wind.
My uniform soaked through. The world blurred in rain and shadow.
I didn't know how the Satanists planned to bomb the hospital. If taxidermy dolls, even I couldn't stop it. But if conventional bombs, Dan Wedo's rain could douse secondary fires.
I wasn't an expert, but it felt right. Besides, with the threat's truth unclear, rushing to the hospital was risky. And I had other priorities.
"Granbwa."
...Was the medicine tasty?
"No, I used it."
Should've given it to me.
"...Next time."
I gave a wry smile at Granbwa's gruff tone.
Okay! Doesn't sound like a lie.
Ivy vines climbed the main building, leaves rustling. Rustle, rustle... Drowned by rain at first, the sound grew closer, tickling my ears.
Soon, vines crested the spire, swaying in greeting. I grasped one with blue-glowing fingertips. My consciousness plunged down the vine to the roots.
Plants' voices filled me. My dark vision brightened; their world unfolded. Sounds and sights split into dozens.
I absorbed the voices while thinking. The Kim Jin-seo taxidermy had no rosary on her wrist. Seong Ha-yeon's had the scar on her palm. Jeong In-ah and Seong Ha-yeon's matched the real ones perfectly. But Kim Jin-seo's didn't.
Satanists pursuing "perfect taxidermy" replicated Jeong In-ah's usual clothes and Seong Ha-yeon's scar. So why no rosary on Kim Jin-seo?
They didn't skip it. They couldn't.
Satanists make perfect taxidermy based on what they know. They can't replicate unknown traits. No rosary because they didn't know Kim Jin-seo had started wearing one recently.
But Seong Ha-yeon's scar was there. They knew about it.
They didn't know about Kim Jin-seo's rosary but did know Seong Ha-yeon's scar. Proud, aloof Seong Ha-yeon wouldn't flaunt a palm scar. So someone she showed it to—intentionally or not. Someone who met Jeong In-ah this morning but not Kim Jin-seo recently. That person was the Satanist. Had to be.
First, find Seong Ha-yeon. Ask who knew about her recent scar.
Using Granbwa's power, I shifted consciousness from flowers to trees to weeds, searching.
Voices from the freshman building. No sign of Seong Ha-yeon. No voice either. She spoke up when you wished she'd shut up, and clammed up when she should talk. Suppressing irritation, I searched calmly.
Found her. On the third-floor hallway of the freshman building, with Kim Ra-hee.
Maintaining Granbwa, I summoned Bade's wind. Raindrops scattered as it rushed to me. I'd ride it straight to Seong Ha-yeon.
"Ugh...!"
A sharp, booming scream pierced from somewhere. Not one—multiple girls and boys, tangling into a deafening cacophony. Loud enough for ringing ears. Focus shattered; Granbwa's link broke. Consciousness snapped back.
Kieeeek! No time to catch breath or calm down. The same shrill roar from the freshman building now echoed across the field.
In the field center, a massive something reared up, bellowing.
Kieeeek! Kieeeeeek!
A magic beast. Far bigger than the dog or bird ones from the barn or Eden Hill. Three heads, six legs. Six red eyes on those heads scanned students in the dark.
Kyaaa... Kyaaak... Students screamed, fleeing. Faint with distance, but terror clear.
Thud! Thud! The ground shook with each pursuing step.
Students' legs were too thin, too slow.
Look, there's one kid like you.
Amid the scattering panic, one kid crossed the field toward the beast, sword in right hand. Kim Jin-seo advanced steadily, crude blunt blade aimed at it.
The beast sensed her hostility. Six red eyes fixed on her. Six legs stomped; huge claws surged to bisect her.
Her sword targeted its neck, but looked pathetic next to the claws. I pointed my index finger at its central head.
Craaaack! Light struck like unheralded lightning. The claw trembled, slamming down short of her. She stared in shock, then whipped her head around.
Kieek! Kieeeeek! No time to relax. It wasn't dead. Huge body, multiple heads—tough and resilient.
Rumble! Sobo arrived with thunder, spouting nonsense. Storm winds howled; thunder boomed. The sudden tempest engulfed the school.
I pointed at its right head. Even in crisis, Sobo's tone was playful.
"What kinda nonsense—!"
Boom! Contrary to Sobo, lightning hit the same spot twice, incinerating it. The roar cut my words.
Dan Wedo's rain fell on the ashen corpse, melting it black into the field.
"...Twice, huh?"
Rumble! Thunder echoed Sobo. Clouds clashed, birthing light—sharpened, piercing.
Craaaack! Lightning split the ashen corpse's belly. Exposed guts belched black, ominous smoke—not rising, but sinking to coil around students.
"...Yeah, impressive."
I humored Sobo and stared toward the freshman building where Seong Ha-yeon was.
(Continued next chapter)